The Shadow of Great Britain

Lady Dalmo heard this, and finally showed a hint of genuine smile.

”Yes, he does like to keep these words in his mouth.” She said softly, then turned her gaze back to the dance floor, as if what she was about to say was not suitable for looking directly at anyone: ”Unfortunately, not everyone is like you, willing to listen to him finish, especially in the Upper House.”

Arthur did not inquire further, but he already had a vague idea of who she was referring to.

Sure enough, Lady Dalmo soon mentioned that name.

”I really cannot understand Lord Brougham’s speech in the Upper House a few days ago. He accused John of overstepping royal power in Canada, even suggesting that John’s proclamation intended to restore colonial order inherently carried a dangerously unconstitutional tendency...If such words came from the mouth of a Conservative Party member, I wouldn’t be so upset. But Brougham...I really cannot understand...”

Arthur guessed immediately that Lady Dalmo would definitely bring up this matter.

However, Arthur’s attitude towards this matter was completely contrary to the lady’s understanding; if Lord Brougham did not fall out with Earl of Dalmo at this moment, that would be peculiar.

Because after Earl of Dalmo arrived in Canada, he sentenced several rebellion leaders to exile in Bermuda without trial or formal hearing, and announced that if they left the place of exile and appeared again in Canada, they would be hanged.

Don’t be fooled by the short length of this statement, as it stepped on several of Lord Brougham’s red lines.

First of all, the rebellion leaders in Canada, such as Papino, had never pleaded guilty, nor had made even the slightest semblance of a confession, and under such circumstances, it was not permissible to directly enter the sentencing phase and pronounce judgement. However, Earl of Dalmo bypassed the court trial procedure, which definitely violated legal processes.

Secondly, within the legal system, only a court with legitimate jurisdiction can order execution when sentencing death. A Governor does not possess the authority to directly order the hanging of someone.

Finally, and most intolerable for Lord Brougham: according to parliamentary acts, only if a prisoner returns from exile ahead of time, would it constitute a crime punishable by hanging. Therefore, Earl of Dalmo’s verdict of ”lifelong ban from entering Canada, otherwise hang,” fundamentally was not valid.

Although the commission previously granted to Earl of Dalmo had already granted him tremendous power, it merely allowed him to formulate general laws, not establish heinous crimes like hanging.

Even more laughably, even if Earl of Dalmo had the authority to create a death penalty charge, the detail-oriented Lord Brougham found that the publication date of this regulation was the 28th, while one of the five members of the Special Committee investigating Canadian rebellion had only arrived in Quebec on the 29th.

Therefore, when the regulation was passed, only four members were present, and with the committee members not fully assembled, Earl of Dalmo could not even convene a formal meeting of the committee, let alone pass any regulations.

Truth be told, compared to Earl of Dalmo’s series of operations in Canada, Arthur’s performance in the Police Commissioner Committee and the Poor Law Commission was simply a model of the rule of law.

Although Arthur acted quite authoritarian and monopolized power in the Police Commission, all his operations at least were within the procedural framework.

Even though Arthur did not favor Chadwick’s performance regarding the English Poor Laws and constantly ostracized Sir Charles Shaw within the Police Commission, as long as the two of them did not resign voluntarily, Arthur had no better way to handle them and could only bypass them from the grassroots level.

But Earl of Dalmo?

Judging from this series of operations, his remarks last year about going to Canada to become the Tsar were truly not just momentary mouth-offs; he sincerely did not regard legal procedures seriously. His operation enraged not only Brougham but even drew ”friendly nations” into astonishment.

Quick-to-react American newspapers not only immediately reported the matter, published the list of members appointed by Earl of Dara’s Special Committee, but also pointed out that Earl of Dalmo cronyed up, with his military secretary, adjutant, and administrative secretary all being part of it, yet there were no local Canadian members among the committee.

Once such reports were published across the Atlantic, the effects were immediate.

It is well known that Americans have long been enthusiastic about such news, especially when seeing the words ”British,” ”colonies,” ”hanging,” ”special committee” appearing simultaneously.

They almost gleefully checked the list repeatedly and then pretended to earnestly, as though in a position of superiority, draw a conclusion—this is a committee meticulously designed by the British, specifically to judge whether people in the colonies should be hanged by British tyranny.

These days, Arthur has also seen many excerpts from American newspapers in British papers.

Such as the piece from the New York Herald used to showcase Americans’ poor math skills:

A military secretary,

An adjutant,

An administrative secretary,

Plus two gentlemen conveniently agreeing with the Governor’s opinion,

Adds up to be: the public will of Canada.

The only regret is that we have yet to discover any Canadians on the list.

But readers need not worry, because the people being judged apparently do not need to attend the judgement.