December 19, 1867

PROHIBITION ON UNLAWFUL DRILLING

Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) moved second reading of the Bill to prevent the unlawful training of persons in the use of arms and the practice of military exercises. The Bill is an extension of law that was in force in the late Province of Canada. In moving second reading, Cartier said that reports of Fenians storing arms in New York State and trying to smuggle them into Canada make it necessary to extend the legislation across the whole Dominion.

Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal, Lambton) opposed the legislation on the grounds that it gave too much power to magistrates to jail anyone found in possession of a gun, a power he feared could be used to jail their opponents. Mackenzie further opposed the Bill because it suggested the existence in the Dominion of disloyal people and he would not consent to make that charge.

Hon. Timothy Anglin (Conservative, Gloucester) echoed Mr. Mackenzie’s opposition to the Bill, worrying that it conveyed the message internationally that Canada was a Dominion of traitors.

The prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald rejected Anglin’s concern. Canada was a nation of people loyal to their Sovereign, he said, but amongst them lay some who were disloyal.

The Bill passed its second reading without a division.

ONTARIO SPEAKERSHIP

The Globe’s Ottawa correspondent suggests Ontario premier Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald will be happy to see either Sir Henry Smith (Conservative, Frontenac) and Richard Scott (Ottawa, Liberal) assume the speakership in the legislature there.

The Ontario Conservatives will caucus in Toronto on December 26 ahead of the December 27 meeting of the legislature. The legislature is hung with the Conservatives and Liberals each having 41 seats.