Page:The Life and Times of Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt.djvu/231

SECTIONAL CONFLICT an overwhelminglyoverwhelming [sic] and sorely needed majority from the eastern section of the province.

The coalition was strong not merely in its leaders but in its programme. It had inherited the policies of the old Liberal party. By its sudden acceptance of the popu- lar will on all the main contentious issues of the day, it robbed the Opposition for the time of a constructive definite policy, and established its own place as a party of sober achievement.

In the first session under the new administration, in 1854-55, both the Clergy Reserves and the Seigniorial Tenure questions were at last laid to rest. The advocates of secularization had their way. In each section of the province the funds arising from the sale of the reserves were henceforth to be set aside for the use of the muni- cipalities, in proportion to population. The vested rights of the existing beneficiaries were recognized by the grant of life pensions. So far there was practical unanimity. The Opposition, however, fought vigorously against a clause permitting the commutation of the pensions and the establishment in this way of an endowment fund for the several churches, but the majority in parliament and out alike regarded the concession as of little weight, and the bill became law virtually as introduced by Macdon- ald. The privileges of the seigniors soon followed the privileges of the church. All feudal rights and duties, alike of the seignior and of the habitant, were abolished. Gen- erous compensation was awarded out of provincial funds, supplemented by a further vote five years later, when the Commission appointed to administer the Act found the first provision inadequate. Here, again, there was agree- ment upon the essential provisions, but the Canada West section of the Opposition attacked the financial arrange- ments as imposing a grossly unfair burden upon the western part of the province. 197