May 12, 1840.

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If we cannot sustain our power in the Canadas, we must necessarily lose all our dominions in North America.

June 30, 1840.

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Colonial responsible government, and the sovereignty of Great Britain, are completely incompatible.

June 30, 1840.

Importance of Colonies to the Mother Country.

I have observed in this country, for some length of time, a growing desire to get rid of our North American dominions—­a desire that they should become republics.  This desire prevails amongst a very large party in this country.  I am aware that there are also others—­not, however, acting from the same motive—­who desire that the separation should take place; tranquilly, if possible, but that at all events it should take place.  In my opinion, these gentlemen are mistaken.  It is my decided opinion, that, considering the resources and the power of these colonies, this country would sustain a heavy loss, indeed, if these colonies were to be separated from it.

June 30, 1840.

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Religious Education must be provided out of the Funds of the Church.

It appears to me that there is no difference of opinion amongst us on these points—­namely, that means must be found of preaching the word of God to the people of England; and I go further—­for this point is also not disputed—­and I say that those means must proceed, in the first instance, from the church, and that they must be exhausted before the public is called on for other means; in providing those means, you will not only be performing a duty incumbent upon you, but you will also be following the example of every other nation in the world.  It has been my lot to live among idolaters—­among persons of all creeds, and of all religions; but I never knew yet of a single instance in which public means were not provided sufficient to teach the people the religion of their country.  They might be false religions; I know but of one true one; but yet means were never wanting to teach those false religions; and I hope that we shall not have done with this subject until we have found sufficient means for teaching the people of England their duty to their Maker, and their duty to one another, founded on their duty to that Maker.

July 30, 1840.

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Necessity of administering Oaths.

I entreat your lordships to pause, and recollect that the foundation of all justice is truth; and that the mode of discovering truth has always been to administer an oath, in order that the witness may give his deposition under a high sanction.  I hope your lordships will not adopt another of those bills which have been before your lordships only a few days, and which suggest, in truth, nothing more than a way of enabling a witness, who thinks proper to say he has conscientious scruples, to escape the solemnity of an oath.  I admit that the inconvenience of the present state of the law falls on the community rather than on the individuals; but, at the same time, I think that, by every one of those relaxations, we shake the foundations of justice.