they were forced upon my attention is now enjoying. I could cite, were it by the Speech which His Excellency necessary, the improved position of seve was pleased to deliver to both Houses ral interests which have of late years of Parliament yesterday. The first been much depressed, as evidence of the question which naturally engages the commercial prosperity alluded to. I attention of hon. gentlemen is the fact allude to the shipping interest as that we have been called together at one of them. Our shipping has a time which is rather out of the natu- been earning much better freights ral order, looking, as we invariably do, during the past year or two than to February as the month in which Par- in years preceding, and this has aided liament should be convened; but, as I materially in bringing about the pros. have already stated, the grave questions perity of the country. Then, if we look to be presented for your consideration at the question of inter-provincial trade, warrant this early meeting. The first of which we may, perhaps, judge to some subject to which His Excellency calls extent by the returns made of the Interour attention is the fact that Canada colonial Railway traffic, we find that it has been blessed by a bountiful harvest. must have been very materially increased, I think you will agree with me that it and has also, to a considerable extent, was right and proper that His Excel- contributed to restore the commercial lency should begin his gracious Speech prosperity of the country. Then again, by referring to such an important fact. our increased exports, I am happy to That Canada has been blessed with a say, show that many of our industries bountiful harvest is, indeed, a matter of have been stimulated by the National gratification. Although not as good and Policy, and, though not yet in full blast, bountiful as one could wish in some parts are feeling their way into foreign marof the country, yet, taking it as a whole kets. I make the statement advisedly --looking at it from an average point of that many manufactures have been exview His Excellency is quite warranted ported not only to England, but to the in making the statement found in the far off colonies of Australia, as well as Speech now in our hands. This has, no to one of our own provinces, Manitoba. doubt, contributed to the prosperity on These industries, which have been feelwhich His Excellency in the next para- ing their way in other countries, have graph congratulates the country. That met with a degree of considerable sucthe harvest will tend, and has tended, to cess, and I hope they will be warranted bring about this desirable end is a point in exporting more largely than they have that will be readily conceded by every yet done. Not only has this contributed hon. gentleman who had the pleasure of to the undoubted prosperity of the counlistening to His Excellency, or of road- try, but also to the substantial develop ing the Speech since it was delivered. ment of our various industries. Not only has there been a bountiful har- connection I may state the fact that vest, but, I think, taken in connection some sugar refineries, which had been therewith, the legislation of two sessions closed before the passing of the National ago has contributed in no small degree Policy, have been stimulated so far as to to bring about the prosperity to which be re-opened, and that operations have His Excellency alludes. I am not going been recommenced with every promise of to discuss to-day whether the National success. Not only this, but I may also Policy, as it has been termed, has brought point to the fact that in the city of Haliabout the prosperity with which Canada fax, towns of Moncton, Tilsonbury and is blessed at the present moment. I West Farnham, sugar refineries are also think it would be, perhaps, out of place in course of construction, involving an exon this occasion, but I cannot help re- penditure of, perhaps, a million of dollars marking that there have been during the or upwards. I do not think that I am last few years seasons in which an abun- stretching the point, or going beyond the dant harvest has been reaped without the record, when I state that all these indusprosperity ensuing which has attended tries are dependent, more or less, upon the reaping of that of 1880. That policy the continuance of the policy which was has contributed in no small degree, in my adopted in this country in 1879. opinion, to the prosperity which Canada might refer also here to many other in In this I dustries of the country, and I am happy | (entered into with certain parties in to know that one of the largest of them Europe, the United States and Canada) -the lumbering trade-though I do not have by some means or other found their say this arises from the adoption of the way into the public press, and that the National Policy-has vastly improved, main facts have been correctly stated. largely owing to the returning prosperity However, as we are yet in doubt and in the United States, which, reflecting on uncertainty on the subject, I do not us, has benefitted this industry in the most think it will be wise or becoming to disI trust that the cuss terms which have not yet been extraordinary manner. prosperity which is now enjoyed through- made known officially, or to say whether out the country will be continued and it is wise, prudent or advisable to enter increased in the future. But the most into that contract. One thing, however, I important question that will be submit- think I may say, and, I believe, hon. gented for your consideration is that which tlemen, you will entirely concur with me, relates to the construction of the Pacific that whatever number of millions of Railway, and is couched in the language acres of lands, whatever number of milof the succeeding sections, upon which I lions of dollars in money, may be granted will speak for a moment or two. His to any incorporated company as a subsidy to aid in the construction of this Excellency informs us : "During the recess my advisers thought the great public undertaking, Parliament time opportune for making another attempt will see to it that such safeguards surto carry out the declared preference of Parlia-round this contract, and such guarantees ment for the construction and operation of the Canadian Pacific Railway by means of an incorporated company, aided by grants of money and land, rather than by the direct action of the Government." am shall be given for its performance, that by no possibility shall it return into the hands of the Government incompleted; or, if completed, that the I take it there is but one opinion parties shall faithfully adhere to its upon the propriety of adopting the terms and operate it for the time during course recommended in the section which which, under that contract, they have I have just read and the two or three agreed so to do. I believe that we can I have but one feeling with reference to others which immediately succeed it. Having considered the believe there is a fixed determination in that point. the minds of the people of this country, principles laid down for the construction and, I doubt not, in the minds of the of this work-and I believe scarcely members of this Parliament, that, if pos- anyone will be found to object to them -Parliament will see to it that all nesible, the construction of this railway shall be executed in the way indicated. cessary precautions shall be taken to The propriety of doing so has been con- insure the faithful fulfilment of the concedod not only by the members of one tract by those who have undertaken to party, but by both political parties in construct this gigantic work. I this country. Parliament has adopted happy to know, and this House will also resolutions embodying that principle on be glad to know, that the parties who are reported to have entered into this more than one occasion, and I am sure are not only residents of the that you will be glad to learn that this contract great enterprise is to be built by an in- Dominion, but also of the United States corporated company. It would be idle and the Continent of Europe, and I presume by the use of the words "finanfor me now to discuss the merits of a question not yet placed in the hands of cial standing in Europe " we are to infer hon. gentlemen. I am myself as much that gentlemen of high financial characin the dark as any member of this House ter in England and France, and perhaps can possibly be (outside of the Govern- Germany and Belgium, have become ment) with reference to the terms of this parties to this great contract, and that contract. I only know what it is having brought them into it-having supposed to cont in from the public made them parties to it--we shall have prints, but I should not be at all sur-organized by those who have undertaken to build this important work, prised if, when the contract is placed on system of immigration the table, the salient points of the agree-a ment for the construction of this road North-West Territories, which into the will make that country what We desire to see it-the home of millions, and of happy and prosperous people. We are also congratulated by His Excellency upon the fact that steady progress has been made with the construction of this work; and yet, although we are told that 264 miles of this railway are now in operation, we have scarcely entered upon the threshold of this gigantic undertaking, and the number of miles already in operation forms scarcely a tithe of it. We are glad to know that progress is also being made in the construction of other portions of this great work, and that soon, by the opening of a new line of railway extending from Lake Superior to Winnipeg (410 miles), with the additional two or three hundred miles being constructed into the interior, probably onethird or nearly one-half of this great undertaking will then have been comploted. His Excellency also informs all system which has been adopted, though You will be glad to learn that the measures adopted to promote economy in the working of the Intercolonial and Prince Edward Island Railways have resulted in a large reduction of the difference between revenue and expenditure; and that the steadily increasing trafic warrants the expectation that during the current year these railways will be self-sustaining." This, I am sure, is a matter for congratulation to every hon. gentleman, the fact that the revenue and expenditure are coming so nearly together, that the time is not very far distant when these railways will be self-sustaining. I remember when making some observations upon the construction of the Intercolonial Railway, a number of years ago, when Confederation was being discussed-its construction was made a part and parcel of the British North America Act-that any hon. mem ber who ventured to assert that that road would ever be used for com mercial purposes, in any sense whatever, would be regarded as little less than a madman. There were hon. gentlemen who opposed the construction of that road at that time who showed very forcibly and, in their own opinion, very conclusively, that it would be utterly impossible to carry a barrel of flour on it to the Maritime Provinces-that the cost of doing so would make it impossible. The We That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, to offer the respectful thanks of this House to His Excellency for the gracious Speech which His Excellency has been pleased to make to both Houses of Parliament, namely :— John Douglas Sutherland Campbell (commonly called the Marquis of Lorne), Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the "To His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir bistle, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Dis Linguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint 4eorge, Governor General of Canada, and ViceAdmiral of the same, &c., &c. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: "We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Senate of Canada, in Parliament assembled, respectfully thank Your Excellency for your gracious Speech at the opening of this Ses sion. "We derive great gratification from the an nouncement that Her Majesty's Government has generously presented to Canada, for training school purposes, the steam corvette Charybdis, lately returned from service in the Chinese Seas; and we thank Your Excellency for saying that the correspondence on thi subject will be laid before us. "We hear with interest that Your Excellency has thought it well, in consideration of the increasing duties thrown by the development of the country upon the Civil Service, and for the more efficient organization of such service, to issue a Royal Commission to examine and "We also thank Your Excellency for your "We are glad to learn from Your Excellency that during the recess your advisers thought the time opportune for making another attempt to carry out the declared preference of Parliament for the construction and operation ( of the Canadian Pacific Railway by means of an incorporated company, aided by grants of Doney and land, rather than by the direct action of the Government; that three of Your Excellency's Ministers therefore proceeded to England for the purpose of carrying on negotiations to that end; and that their efforts "When the Report of the Commissioners is laid before us, as Your Excellency has been pleased to intimate that it will be at an early day, we shall apply ourselves with pleasure to the consideration of such report and of the whole subject of Civil Service Reform. "We thank Your Excellency for informing us that a measure for the enlargement of the boundaries of the Province of Manitoba will be submitted to us. "We greatly regret to hear from Your Excellency that the entire failure of the usual food supply of the Indians in the North-West, to were so far successful that a contract has been which Your Excellency called our attention entered into, subject to the approval of Par-last session, has continued during the present Hament, with men of high financial standing in Europe, the United States and Canada, for the speedy construction and permanent workng of this great national enterprise. "The contract, and the papers connected therewith, which Your Excellency has been pleased to say will be submitted to us without delay, will not fail to receive from us that early and earnest consideration which Your Excellency has invoked for them. season, and has involved the necessity of a large expenditure in order to save them from absolute starvation. We are glad to learn, however, that several of the Bands have already applied themselves to the cultivation of their reserves and the care of their cattle, and that no effort will be spared to induce the whole of the aboriginal population to betake themselves to agricultural pursuits. "It affords us pleasure to learn that several "It is with that view, we note, that Your measures of importance will be submitted to Excellency has summoned us before the usual us, and that, among them, will be Bills for the period, as no action can be taken by the con-winding up of insolvent banks and incorporattractors to prosecute the work, and no perma-ed companies; for the amendment of the nent arrangement for the organization of a *ystematic emigration from Europe to the North-West Territories, can be satisfactorily made until the policy of Parliament with respect to the railway has been decided. "It affords us pleasure to be informed by Your Excellency that steady progress has been made in the construction of those portions of the railway now under contract, and that two additional sections have been recently opened for traffic, one from Winnipeg to Portage la Frairie, the other from Cross Lake to Keewatin; so that there are now in all 264 miles in operation. Railway Act of 1879; for the revision and consolidation of the laws relating to Government railways; and for the improvement, in several respects, of the criminal law. "We are pleased to learn from Your Excellency that there are now good hopes of our being able to place the naturalization of German settlers on a more satisfactory footing, and that a measure will be submitted, with all the papers connected with the matter, for our consideration. "Our best attention will, Your Excellency may be sure, be given to the subjects you have mentioned, as well as to everything that affects the well-being and good government of the Dominion." We are glad to learn that the measures adopted to promote economy in the working of the Intercolonial and Prince Edward Island Railways have resulted in a large reduction of Hon. Mr. MCLELAN.-It affords the difference between revenue and expendi-me very great pleasure to second ture; and that the steadily increasing traffic the Address which has been moved warrants the expectation that during the enrrent year these railways will be self-in answer to the Speech from the Throne. Huetaining. The task that has been left for me is an easy one. the other all The hon. gentleman, I we left undeveloped with that skill acquired in 1866 and vast natural resources which that since, has left but little for me to say same good Providence had placed or do in the matter. He commenced at in our hands. The same bounti the paragraph which refers to the har-ous hand that dropped down fatness from vest, and, passing over the entire the clouds, that gave the dew and the field, reaps the whole harvest of rain, and the sunshine that warmed and speech which it affords. Had I invigorated the seed cast into the ground; anticipated that he would have gather- the same hand that, with golden suned so closely, I should have said to beams, gilded the ripening corn, cast in the leader of the Government, I would profusion all over this Dominion, from thank him to instruct his young man to sea to sea, from the Atlantic to the Paleave a few handfulls for me to glean cific, an inexhaustible supply of every after him. But, under any circumstances, material required in building up this hon. gentlemen, the task would be com- great country, and making her prominent paratively easy, for this Speech from the among the nations of the earth. But we Throne, I believe, in its main features, left these comparatively untouched---we commends itself to the intelligence of used but one of the many talents that this House, and of the country at large. were committed to our care. We gath We are asked in the opening paragraph, ered the bountiful harvests Providence as has been stated by the hon. mover of gave, and spent the surplus, as well as the Address, to accept the congratulations large loans, mainly in foreign countries, of His Excellency for the bountiful har- in the purchase of goods which gave evest with which Canada has been blessed. | ployment to the people of those lands, The blessings of a good harvest, hon. thereby sustaining their industries, develgentlemen, are very widely diffused, and oping their resources, and adding to their I was reminded upon looking at that property and greatness. For five long volume which lies on the table before ine, years the craft upon our rivers and lakes but which is seldom quoted in Parliament, were comparatively unemployed; the cars except by our chaplain, of a very on our railways ran half filled, except in excellent authority, who says that "the bringing to us the produce of foreign profits of the earth are for all, and the industries; Our factories comparaking himself is served by the field ;" and, tively idle or closed, and the pubtherefore, hon. gentlemen, as the bless- lic records and exchequer, year by ings of the harvest are widely diffused year, proclaiming our growing poverty. from king to people, all ranks and con- So manifest had this become, notwith ditions of life, high and low, rich and standing the benefits of the good harpoor, can with grateful hearts to the vests, that the public attention Giver of all good, accept the offered con- turned to the consideration of a remedy, gratulations for the blessings of this and the public sentiment of this country, bountiful harvest which has been given with a unanimity rarely seen, declared to our whole land. But, hon. gentle- that the policy of the Government should men, as has been remarked before by be changed. That change was made in acmy hon. friend opposite, it is not in this cordance with the will of the people, s year alone that we have had good har-declared in 1878. And we are now, as vests. These words of congratulation have become familiar to our ears. For many years in succession Canada has been blessed with good harvests, and yet, as he says, the results that might naturally be anticipated from good harvests, have not been realized. We were for a period of years, to a certain extent, content with those good harvests. We were content that Providence should give us sunshine and rain, and should bring the seed which the agriculturist cast into the ground to maturity, but was the hon. gentleman opposite says, seeing some of the fruits of this change, and that part of the paragraph of the Speech which has so often met our eyes has been expanded and completed, and we are congratulated not only for the bles sings of a bountiful harvest, but the returned prosperity, and the substantial development of the industries of the country. The next paragraph of the Speech refers to a question that has for a long period occupied the attention of this country. There is, perhaps, no question |