The Tories have loudly boasted of the success of Sir
FRANCIS HEAD in packing the House of Assembly of' Upper Canada, dur- ing the last election, with Government supporters. They imagined that their principles had become perfectly triumphant in that pro- vince, and that the principles of the Liberal party would be sup- pressed. Their opponents predicted opposite results ; and the following resolutions, brought before the House of Assembly on the 9th of February last, against the attempt of the late Governor, Sir J. COLBORNE, to establish the Church of England in that country, will show that they have not erred in their anticipations.
" 2d. Resolved, That the power thus vested in the person administering the government and the Executive Council of this province, not having been exer- cised for a period of nearly half a century, the inhabitants of the province had good reason to believe that no attempt would be made to carry it into effect, snore especially when the Provincial Legislature had been invited to legislate, by the Imperial Government, in relation to the reserves, from which all endow- ments must necessarily be made."
Carried, by 29 to 25.
rr3d. Resolved, That the late Lieutenant-Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, established certain rectories under the power so long suf- fered, in deference to the public feeling, to remain dormant."
Carried, by 29 to 25.
"4th. Resolved, That while this House must unequivocally condemn such proceeding, under the peculiar circumstances of the province, and pending the question as to the disposition of the clergy reserves, it regards as inviolable the rights acquired under the patents by which rectories have been endowed ; and cannot, therefore, either invite or sanctiou any interference with the rights thus established."
Lost, by 12 to 41.
"5th. Resolved, That in the opinion of this House, the rectors who have been, or who may be established in this province, cannot and ought not to exer- cise any ecclesiastical or spiritual power or authority whatever, over any pots thin of the people of this province, other than the members of their respective congregations."
Carried, by 46 to 7.
"6th. Resolved, That as an impression seems to prevail, that rectors so established, are entitled to enjoy and exercise general and exclusive spiritual and ecclesiastical powers. and it is expedient to remove all grounds of apprehension on this bead, a humble address be presented to his Majesty, praying in earnest and strong but respectful terms, that his Majesty will be graciously pleasedIto convey to the Imperial Parliament, the anxious desire of this House, io behalf of the great body of the people of the province, that as the Provincial Parlia- ment are restrained from legislating on the subject, except under peculiar and embarrassing circumstances, an act of the Imperial Parliament may be passed,. to declare in plain and explicit terms, that the establishment and endowment.ot rectories in this province shall not be construed to confer any right to exercise any ecclesiastical or spit itual power whatever, except over the members of the Church of England.'
On this resolution the following amendment was proposed-
" That this House regards as inviolable the rights acquired under the patents by which rectories have been endowed, and cannot therelbre unite or sanction any interference with the rights thus established." The amendment was lost, upon a division, by 21 to 32; and the sixth resolution was adopted, by 33 to 20. The Colonial gentry of Downing Street imagined that Sir FRANCIS HEAD bad silenced the Upper Canadians for a few years; but they will discover, that as strong a feeling in favour do change in the administration of the Upper Province prevails, as ut the Lower. Acting upon the precedents they have lately sought to establish, the Ministry will be bound, when the declaration by the House of Assembly of Upper Canada of hostility to the Esta- blished Church is brought under the notice of Parliament, to send over to the complainants, at least two A rchbishops, end a sufficient complement of Bishops, Deans, and Prebendaries! n 1st. Resolved, That by the 39th clause of the Act 31 Geo. III., chap. 31, power is given to his Majesty to authorize the Governor, Lieutenant. Governor, or person administering the government of this province, with the advice of the Executive Council, to constitute and erect within every township or parish, one or more parsonages or rectories according to the establishment of the Church of England, and from time to time to endow such parsonage or rectory with lands authorized and required by that act to be reserved fur the support of a Protestant clergy."
Carried, by 31 to 23.
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