Читать книгу Canada and its Provinces - Various - Страница 6

Table of Contents

Since the representatives of the colony were manifesting so much interest and enterprise in its affairs, it was natural that they should endeavour to obtain some voice, if only an advisory one, in the government of the colony. We find, therefore, that immediately following the transfer of the trade monopoly from the Company of One Hundred Associates to the local corporation, an agitation began for the establishment of a council at Quebec to assist the governor in the administration of the country.

It has been commonly assumed that the introduction of a regular administration by a governor and council dates from 1663, when the charter of One Hundred Associates was finally withdrawn and the Sovereign Council was provided for by royal edict. As a matter of fact, however, this system of government was introduced in 1647, amended in 1648, and, as we shall see, was simply remodelled and enlarged in 1663.

The inhabitants complained strongly of certain abuses connected with the administration of the country which was apparently too autocratic and unmindful of the welfare of the general body of the inhabitants. The French court referred the whole matter to a special commission, before which were laid the representations of the inhabitants, the claims of the Company of One Hundred Associates, and the views of the chief officers of the country, together with the recent articles of agreement between the old company and the colonists. As a result of the report and the recommendation of this commission, the king ordained, March 27, 1647, that there should be established in Canada a council to be composed of the governor, the superior of the Jesuits, until there should be a regular bishop appointed, and the commandant, or local governor of Montreal. The deputies of the governor at Quebec or Montreal might act for him in his absence. This council was to meet at Quebec and was to appoint a permanent secretary to take charge of its papers and registers and of all other public documents of record. The council was to appoint, on the recommendation of the commander of the fleet, the captains and other officers of the vessels belonging to the colony and conducting the trade with France. The council would supervise the detailed administration of the colony and see that the duties of all special officers were properly performed, without the corrupt use of their powers for their own private benefit. The commander of the fleet and the syndics, or representatives of the people of Quebec, Three Rivers and Montreal, might appear before the council to represent the interests committed to them, but they should not have a voice in the council itself. The syndics referred to were to be elected by the people of these towns annually by ballot, but should not continue in office for more than three years in succession. All the responsible officers of the colony should render to the council an annual report of their duties, accompanied by all the accounts and vouchers, which should be deposited with the secretary, and copies sent to the colonial commissioners in France. The secretary should also transmit to the home government, for the information of the king, a concise account of the affairs of the colony, including certain specified items of information. Henceforth no official of the colony should hold office for more than three years without being reappointed by the council and taking the oath of office before the council.

The expenses of the colonial establishment, including the allowances for the support of the governor and minor officers and for the garrisons at the chief posts, as also the annual grant to the Jesuits, should be paid out of the profits made on the fur trade. The profits consisted of the difference between the fixed price paid at the official stores of the colony at Quebec and the price realized by the agent of the colony on disposing of the furs in France. The amounts to be paid on each of the above accounts were specified. It was also provided that of the provisions or supplies for the officials, the garrisons, and the Jesuits, so many tons should be brought out from France free of freight charges in the vessels belonging to the colony. No vessels other than those belonging to the colony were permitted to visit the St Lawrence or trade there.

This important edict of the royal council, establishing the council at Quebec and defining its general powers and obligations, was proclaimed in Canada in the spring of 1647. It did not, however, altogether satisfy the leading colonists. They seem to have objected particularly to the composition of the council, which made no provision for representatives of the colonists themselves. They also objected to the extent of the financial burden imposed upon the colony. A petition was prepared on behalf of the people of the colony, and was signed by the Sieurs d’Ailleboust and des Chastelets for the others. The former represented the district of Montreal and succeeded Montmagny as governor in 1648. This petition declared that the colony was being depopulated and the trade of the country destroyed, partly for want of proper administration, and partly because of the debts which had been contracted, owing to the excessive expenses of government. It was also complained that several of the conditions laid down in the charter of the Company of One Hundred Associates had not been carried out, neither had the new edict of last year been properly enforced. Chief of all the colonial troubles, however, had been the incursions of the Iroquois, who were pillaging the country by land and water.

Taking into due consideration the petition of the colonists, the king in council amended the act of the previous year in several important particulars. Henceforth, the term of office for the governor and chief officials should be three years, though in some cases they could be reappointed. The composition of the council was altered. It was now to consist of the governor, the head of the Jesuits, pending the appointment of a regular bishop, the former governor, if in the country, and two citizens of the colony, to be selected by the other members of the council, thus constituting a council of five members. Should the former governor not be available, three, instead of two, citizens of the colony should be selected. Three out of the five councillors were to constitute a quorum. Provision was made for filling vacancies in the council, according to precedence. Thus, for instance, when the commandants or lieutenant-governors of Montreal or of Three Rivers are in Quebec, they should have precedence over other substitutes. Three prominent citizens were named as suitable members of the council, the Sieurs Chauvigny, Godefroy, and Giffard. The arrangements for the defence of the country were considerably altered and the expenses of the garrisons greatly reduced. Besides the small standing garrisons, there was to be established a flying squadron of forty trained soldiers to move from place to place in the colony in order to protect the settlers from the invasion of the Indians. Apparently, quite unconsciously as to its future effects, direct encouragement was given to the people to become coureurs de bois, or rangers of the forest. It was provided that such settlers as were accustomed to the country might, if they chose, go in the spring of the year to the regions inhabited by the Hurons, under the leadership of a captain appointed by the council. They should act as escorts for the missionaries on going to the Indian countries, as also for the Indians themselves who wished to come down to the French posts to trade their furs. These rangers should have the liberty of undertaking such trade as they pleased with the Indians, on condition that they turn over their furs to the official colonial store at the prices fixed by the council. Provision was made for encouraging the settlers to clear and cultivate more of the soil and to prevent many of the indolent from becoming a burden upon the resources of the community, as appears to have been the case with too many at the time. Ample authority was given to the council to pass ordinances and to have its orders obeyed, in spite of the pretended power of any other organization or court. Apart from the amendments made by this second act, the provisions made in the act of 1647 were to be faithfully carried out.

It is rather noteworthy that in these early days of the colony, the colonists themselves both claimed and were conceded much more freedom and influence in determining the character of the colonial government than at any later time. Thus, the first syndics of Quebec and Montreal exhibited much influence both in local affairs and in their representations before the council.

Up to the time at which this important departure—the establishment of a council—was made, the commission of the governor furnished an ample, yet autocratic, system of government for the colony and its inhabitants. When the council was established, however, the governor had only one voice in it, though doubtless at first the chief one.

That the establishment of the council at Quebec in 1647-48 did not immediately result in introducing important changes in the colonial administration was undoubtedly due to the fact that the colony was at the time passing through a very critical period, owing to the increasing attacks of the Iroquois. These invasions virtually paralysed the progress of the colony. After 1650 the arrival of new colonists practically ceased, and a little later a decree was issued prohibiting the people from leaving New France. In 1653, however, Maisonneuve, who had been devoted to Montreal from its beginning in 1642, brought out 105 religious warriors to strengthen the advance guard against the Indians. But few others followed this example, and, despairing of the future growth of the colony by voluntary immigration, it was seriously proposed by the authorities in France to make of it a penal settlement.