CHAP. IV] THE GOVERNOR AS HEAD 219
than by means of official memoranda which become part of
the Records of Council.
In conclusion, IT may be permitted to say to Your Excel-
lency that, under the British constitutional system which
Canada has the happiness to enjoy, the Queen’s representa-
tive, like Her Majesty, is the executive head of the country,
removed from the arena of public controversy, however fierce
the conflict of parties may be; and in my judgment no more
fatal mistake could be made than any interposition in the
management of public affairs which would cause the Governor-
General to be identified with either one party or the other.
Adhering respectfully but firmly to the opinions I have
ventured to express in this memorandum, which I regret to
find do not agree with those of Your Excellency, it remains
only for me to tender the resignation of my colleagues and
myself, and to ask that we may be relieved from our responsi-
bilities as Ministers of the Crown at the earliest convenience
of Your Excellency.
To this memorandum Lord Aberdeen simply replied on
July 9 as follows :—
My action at the present time has been guided solely
by a regard for the following facts, namely, that—
1. Parliament expired on April 25th.
2. The result of the General Elections on June 23rd was
the defeat of the Government.
3. The supplies for the public service came to an end
on June 30th, and by the view that, pending the assembly
of Parliament, the full powers and authority, unquestionably
possessed by the Government, should be exercised in such
directions only as are demanded by the exigencies of the
public interest, and so as to avoid all acts which may tend
to embarrass the succeeding Administration.
Sir Charles Tupper also very vehemently attacked the
Governor-General’s action in the House of Commons, and he
was defended by ministers as having vindicated in a signal
manner the rule of democracy by resenting the abuse of
power by a minister after he had ceased to enjoy the support
of the people! The beneficial results of the whole affair were
! Canada House of Commons Debates, 1896, Sess. 2, pp. 1631-60 (Sir C.
Tupper}, 1660-71 (Sir W. Laurier). The Speaker had to call Sir C. Tupper’s
attention to the rule that he must not attack the Governor-General
personally, but the Ministry, ibid., 1638, 1656.
