.

other day, state that he had received a communication from Lord Dufferin in which he expressed a wish to be remembered to his friends in Canada, and I was struck very much with the remark which His Excellency made, "that it would be almost impossible to remember his lordship to all his friends, because he could not possibly see every person in the Dominion." It was an expression which I think must give the people of this country very great satisfaction. The interest which the Marquis of Lorne has taken in this country is evidenced by his labors since he returned to the old country, in laying the claims of Canada, as a field for emigration, before the people of Great Britain, and in holding up this country in its true light to a people who, to a certain extent, have hitherto been ignorant as to the resources of Canada. He has never ceased since he left here to place this country before the people of England in its proper light.

His Excellency has only been a short time amongst us, but I think, from what we have seen and heard of him, that we will be able to say at the end of his term of office that he has been a worthy successor of Lord Dufferin and the Marquis of Lorne in filling the vice-regal chair in this Dominion.

country have been changing their mode of agriculture, and to-day, if the wheat crop (which is only one crop out of the many, and is the only one below the average) should fail altogether, the farmers have sufficient other crops, and the raising of cattle, and other resources, to fall back upon, which would prevent them from seriously feeling the loss. I think if an estimate was made to-day, of the net profit of the farmers on their produce during the last year, taking everything into account, that it would be much larger than it has been in any previous year in Canada.

At that time

A portion of this clause refers also to the disarrangement of trade and commerce. This, in my opinion, is chargeable, to a very great extent, to over-importations, but I have every confidence in the business men of our country, who are generally men of means, shrewd men, who can foresee difficulties when they arise, and by careful management on their part I do not see any reason to be alarmed at the result. This disturbance has arisen principally from the fact of the supposed failure of the wheat crop and an expectation that returns from creditors outside will not meet their liabilities. But in talking with many of the business men of the country, and bankers, I find that payments have never been made so promptly by The next clause in the Speech to which creditors as during the past year. The I shall refer is that with regard to the difference between a stringency with comharvest. It is a very serious matter for mercial men this year, and a stringency ten almost every country when the harvest years ago is quite apparent. has been a failure, or has not produced they had nothing to fall back upon exwhat is generally thought to be an average cepting the crops, and when these failed, crop. A good deal has been said about as I said before, a crisis was inevitable. it in the country, and it is a dangerous To-day we have an accumulation of capital element in disarranging business when the belonging to the consumers of this country impression gets abroad that the harvest which has been growing for the last five or has been a failure. I would just draw six years. Tradesmen, mechanics, and the attention of hon. gentlemen to the laborers have all during the last five years difference between a failure of the crops been enabled to lay by a proportion of some years ago, and the failure of the their earnings, and to-day there stands crops at the present time. After the over $20,000,000, as I believe, to their Crimean war, for instance, every farmer credit in the different banks of the country, turned up all the land he could possibly from which in times of difficulties and distill, and sowed it in wheat, neglecting all tress they can draw for a living. This the routine of crops which farmers ought keeps up the consuming power of the to observe, and the raising of cattle and country, and our wholesale merchants and everything else but wheat was abandoned. importers need not for a moment dread When that crop failed, it was the only the result; this, with an influx of immigraresource of the farmer, leaving him nothing tion increasing the consuming power, must to fall back upon; but fortunately since so balance trade that I see no reason why that time the farming community in this any difficulty or distress should come up

on us. I think we might say, with His Excellency that the general condition of the Dominion is such as to justify him in congratulating us upon its prosperity. The marked success attained by Canada at the International Fisheries Exhibition in London is a matter for congratulation, and it is, I think, a sufficient justification for the expenditure that has been incurred. It has shown to the millions of the old world who have visited the Exhibition, that we have other resources besides our cereals, minerals and timber, and that this country is worthy of consideration as a place to emigrate to. It is an advertisement on our behalf, the fruits of which, I think, will appear in due time.

The revision and consolidation of the Statutes is a recurring necessity. should, every few years, be and consolidated, and I think matter for congratulation to us that before the next session it is expected that the revision and consolidation of our Statutes will be fully completed.

that where such difficulties arise prompt action should be taken to send the matter at once for settlement to the highest tribunal. I know that difficulties have heretofore occurred, the settlement of which have been put off for years for certain purposes which to my mind were improper. It should be laid down as a principle that interprovincial difficulties should go at once to a tribunal that can and will settle them permanently and forever.

It is gratifying to know that our NorthWest Territory is increasing in population to such an extent that it requires extra legislation. Any young territory, while it is progressing, requires legislation from time to time to keep pace with the increasing population and the necessities of These the country. It is satisfactory to know revised that amendments to the North-West it is a Territories Act will be laid before Parliament, and that no doubt it will be properly considered by this House, and that in that legislation the Indians of our North-West will not be forgotten. When we contrast the character of our Indian tribes and the treatment they have received, and the manner in which treaties with the Indians have been kept by our Canadian Government, with the treatment received by the Indians of the United States, we find it is entirely in our favor, showing that the policy of our Government is worthy of all commendation, and it is a policy which ought to be perpetuated. These Indians, of course, require care and guardianship, and I think it is the duty of the Government of any country to pay strict attention to that guardianship.

It is a source of satisfaction to us, also, to find that there has been an increase in emigration. While there are a great many avenues through which emigration has hitherto been diverted from us, the efforts of our statesmen who have gone to England, the efforts of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and of our emigration agents, altogether have greatly increased immigration to Canada. Large immigration is what we want, and I trust that this year will see a very largely increased number come to our shores.

It is also gratifying to know that the settlement of the difficulties between British Columbia and the Dominion is about to be arranged, and that the papers connected with it will be sent down at once for our consideration. It is gratifying to us to know when difficulties arise between Provincial Governments and the Federal Government that a peaceable means of settlement may be at once suggested to prevent any collision, and whatever these may be (I am not prepared to say what they are) I have no doubt that it has been arranged between the Governments and will be brought down for consideration. There are means whereby all matters of difficulty between Governments may be arranged, and I think it is a principle that ought to be strictly carried out,

Another important question referred to in the Speech is that of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Some legislation is about to be proposed with respect to that road. This is a question, to my mind, of the greatest importance to this country. Without the Canadian Pacific Railway, all that has been done in the North-west would be undone. Separate it as you please, it is purely a Canadian institution, a Canadian enterprise, which must be maintained. I was gratified with the statement made by the Marquis of Lorne in British Columbia when he said to those people that no Government in the world, governing four and a half millions of people had ever attempted an enterprise of such magnitude for the benefit of its subjects. I

gentleman who is supposed to be in warm political sympathy with the Administration. Your utterances, sir, on the various questions which have come before the Senate while I have had the honor of a seat here have not, in my judgment, been marked by a strong political bias that could make me, at all events, in any way regret the selection of yourself to fill the important position which you now hold. The only re

believe that is a fact, and the progress which has been made since the commencement of the building of that road is creditable to the Company and creditable to the Government. It would be marvellous, indeed, if nothing turned up to temporarily mar the prosperity and progress of an enterprise of such magnitude some time before its completion. But whatever may be the legislation that is to be brought down to Parliament, to my mind the gret I have is that it removes one from Government is in duty bound to maintain the progress of that work, and keep that progress in motion until it is thoroughly completed.

Without the railway the North-West would be just worth what it was the day when it came into our possession. The different Provinces are bound together, not only by ties of trade and commerce, but also by this railway, and I may say that we can boast, of soon having what no other country on this continent posseses, a continupus line of railway from one ocean to the other. The Americans have two or three such lines but they are all composed of a number of links, each one under the control of a company independent of the others. A few years ago if you met an American and hinted at rivalry or jealousy on their part he would simply laugh at you and say: "we will let you alone and you will drop into our arms in good time;" but to-day they look upon us as rivals in many ways. With the ingenuity and intelligence of our people, with a fertile soil and the many advantages and vast resources which we possess, Canada will ere long be a successful rival of the United States. In this instance of the Pacific Railway we can boast that to a certain extent we have surpassed them.

I have occupied your time now almost too long and I ask you to exercise forbearance and sympathy in criticising my remarks, because this is the first time that I have ever addressed a large public audience. I have now much pleasure in seconding the motion.

HON. MR. SCOTT-Before proceeding to make any comments on the resolutions now on the desks of hon. Senators I desire to call attention to the selection of an hon. Senator from Nova Scotia to fill the Chair of the Senate. In making such an appointment the Government naturally select a

the debates in the House who always brought to the consideration of every question a mind well stored with facts bearing upon it, and at the same time with a degree of clearness that enables hon. gentlemen frequently to comprehend the subject before them. And, sir, although the scope of the duties that the President of this Assembly is called upon to discharge is much less than those that usually fall to the lot of gentlemen who preside over deliberative bodies elsewhere, yet there are occasions when the Senate appeals to the Speaker for the decision of very important questions. At those times I am quite satisfied that your judgment will be marked with that clearness, with that intelligence and, I may add, with that impartiality that will make them at all times acceptable to this House. I can say no more. These few words I trust, at all events as far as I am myself concerned, will convince you (and I hope carry some weight with this House) that I have every faith in the impartiality, wisdom and prudence with which you will discharge the duties that devolve on the Chair, and more particularly that of giving advice to the younger members of the Senate. We have in this Chamber many gentlemen who are not familiar with the forms of Parliamentary procedure. Your familiarity with that subject will enable you to be of material aid to them on all occasions.

Now, addressing myself, as is usual, to the mover and seconder of the resolution on the table, I desire to say that I think the mover had no necessity for apologiz ing for the manner in which he discharged the duty allotted to him. He has had experience in addressing public bodies before, holding a position at the Bar of the Province of Quebec, and I believe also in one of the deliberative bodies of that Province. He has to-day given us the clearest possible proof that he will be enabled at all