eated, and that the
restoration of legislative harmony and good government required its
reconstruction on the elective principle.[214] The inhabitants of the
Lower Province felt still more strongly on this subject than did their
fellow-colonists in Upper Canada, and had made urgent representations to
His Majesty thereupon in ninety-two resolutions which had been adopted
by the local Assembly during the session of 1834. "The greatest defect
in the constitution of Canada," said they, "is the right of nomination,
by the Crown, of the Legislative Councillors." These resolutions had led
to the appointment by the Imperial Government of a commission of
investigation into the affairs of Lower Canada, and as the principles
bearing upon the question of an elective Legislative Council were the
same in both Provinces, Lord Glenelg now contented himself with
appending the instructions issued to the commissioners, and referring to
the views therein contained as having received the deliberate sanction
of the King. A similar device was adopted with respect to the demand for
the control by the Assembly of the territorial and casual revenues of
the Crown.

The one great overshadowing question of Executive responsibility was
dealt with by Lord Glenelg in a most perfunctory and unsatisfactory
manner. It was apparent that he either wholly failed to grasp the real
significance of the theme, or that he fenced with it for the mere
purpose of beguiling the colonists with a counterfeit presentment.
"Experience would seem to prove," he wrote, "that the administration of
public affairs in Canada is by no means exempt from the control of a
sufficient practical responsibility. To His Majesty and to Parliament
the Governor of Upper Canada is at all times most fully responsible for
his official acts. That this responsibility is not merely nominal, but
that His Majesty feels the most lively interest in the welfare of his
Canadian subjects, and is ever anxious to devote a patient and laborious
attention to any representations which they may address to him, either
through their representatives or as individuals, is proved not only by
the whole tenor of the correspondence of my predecessors in this office,
but by the despatch which I am now addressing to you. That the Imperial
Parliament is not disposed to receive with inattention the
representations of their Canadian fellow-subjects is attested by the
labours of the committees which have been appointed b