The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2066, 18 December 1869, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1869.

The division of this morning was in favor of the Resolutions substituted by the Executive for those introduced by Mr Reid. Thus ends the _ debate on the Hundreds Regulation Bill, and it remains to be seen what will be the effect on the country and its prospects. It cannot be said that the victory was so decisive as in any way to influence the decision of the General Assembly when asked to introduce amendments into the Act. And herein we think Mr Reid acted against the dictates of cool judgment. In order to ensure such alterations as the Provincial Council think needful, there should have been an almost unanimous vote of the Council; but where two parties ill an Assembly are so equally divided as they were on this question, notwithstanding the influence that every Executive can bring to bear to secure votes, it will not have sufficient weight to secure the adoption of the alterations suggested in the resolutions as passed. Yet every member who spoke, freely acknowledged that amendment .is necessary, and it is therefore fortunate that the Council resolved that full reports of the debate should be published, in order that members of the Assembly may have evidence before them of the opinions entertained on each side of the House. This is the next best thing to an unanimous vote, for in the speeches made by the various members, their ideas of the alterations necessary will be clearly seen. The chief objection to the course adopted by the Government is the delay that must ensue in the declaration of Hundreds. Necessarily in a debate where numbers are so equally balanced personal feeling must be evoked. This forms an essential in the matter for it proves that both sides are thoroughly in earnest. There was no wincing in the fight—no smoothing over of hard thoughts by wrapping them in honied words. The mind of each speaker was stated plainly and in an outspoken manner, not only to ; the question at issue, but as to the doings of members in regard to it. These incidents in every debate tend to relieve hard logic of its dryness, and to enliven the proceedings by*enlisting the sympathies of parties in the strife of intellect and interest. In this contest both sides may fairly claim a victory. The Government had to recede from the position originally taken by them, and to modify their first resolutions ; the Opposition, though strong enough to drive them to this course, was not sufficiently numerous to compel a conference by which the required amendments could be arrived at. It was said that the country is not well informed on the nature and tendency of the Hundreds Regulation Act. We believe there is much truth in this. Much that is urged against it has been taken for granted, because there have been those who on one ground or another have condemned it publicly. Nov/that its provisions and incidence have been so fully discussed, the various arguments for and against it will bo laid before the inhabitants of the Province, who, uninfluenced by the heat of debate, may, if they will, calmly weigh them over, and thus be enabled to use that influence with the General Assembly that the divided opinion of the Provincial Council will tail to command. In this view the Act may be said to be committed for decision to the constituencies, who have a light to be heard by petition when the Assembly meets. For _ the present the strife of party is over, and it will he well if the asperities that marked the debate, leave no poison tending to alienate those who have hitherto been friends. Hard words, used even in a Parliamentary sense, cut keenly, but, excepting in cases where confidence has been abused, tlinre should be no memory of these beyond the boundaries of the House, We have given our opinion of the Act more than once. We have heard nothing calculated to change it._ The majority has spoken, and to discuss the Bill further at present would answer no

good end. We therefore dismiss the subject to the future, leaving time and the diffusion of more accurate information to prepare the public mind to enter upon it uninfluenced by party feeling.