Memoir of the Life of the Honorable William Blowers Bliss - Page 28 |
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This was bold language to be used towards this banking Company then comprising the wealth and power of the Province, but Mr. Bliss was evidently no coward. On other questions before the Legislature he delivered his views with his usual force, and lucidity, but none of them are of sufficient importance to call for special notice except one. Alexander Stewart, member for Cumberland in the Session of 1834, made the first attack on the old Council by moving a series of resolutions condemning its composition, its methods of doing business with closed doors, and demanding that its executive functions should be separated from its Legislative powers—in other words that there should be a separate Legislative Council. Mr. Bliss, in a temperate and able speech, gave his support to these resolutions. Although they failed to carry at that time, later or when Mr. Bliss had left the Assembly for a seat on the Bench and Howe had entered the arena, resolutions of a much more drastic character were passed, and the Council as then constituted ceased to exist.From notices in the press it would seem that Mr. Bliss came to the House as one of the old Tory Party, and it was supposed that he would ally himself with and uphold those who were interested in maintaining the privileges, and abuses of the existing regime, but both his friends and opponents were greatly surprised at the free and independent course he took in all matters, and discussions which came before the House. During the period he sat in the Assembly some of the ablest and most distinguished men of the day were his colleagues, such as Archibald, James B. Uniacke, Alexander Stewart, C. Rufus Fairbanks, Beamish Murdock, John Young, Huntington and others, and it is quite evident from reading the proceedings of the House that he was able to hold his own amongst these brilliant and capable legislators. In February, 1833, Chief Justice Blowers resigned, and Judge Halliburton, afterwards Sir Brenton Halliburton, was appointed Chief Justice. In February 1834, Judge Uniacke suddenly died, and in the following April Mr. Bliss was elevated to the(continued on Page 29)
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