Artist: Frederic Steiger
Portrait Hung: 1951

Election and Apporbation of the Speaker (3 July 1837, Journal)

“The Members then returned to the Assembly Room, and having taken their seats— Mr. Morris, addressing himself to the Clerk, and seconded by Mr. Doyle, proposed to the House William Carson, Esquire, M. D., and Member for the district of St. John's, to be their Speaker.

And the choice of the House having unanimously fallen upon the said William Carson, Esq. he stood up in his place, and expressing the sense he had of the honour proposed to be conferred upon him by the House, submitted himself to their choice, and he was taken out of his place by Mr. Morris and Mr. Doyle, and conducted to, and placed in the Chair accordingly, whereupon Mr. Speaker elect addressed the Members as follows:

Gentlemen— I return you my warmest and most cordial thanks for the honour you have now done me, the highest honour which it is in the power of the Representatives of the People, in a British colony, to confer. I wish the choice had fallen upon a Member more able to enforce the power, and to support the dignity of this House; I shall, however, bring to the performance of the service the warmest admiration of the principles of the British constitution. The Rules, Orders, and Laws of the Imperial House of Commons I am desirous should, as far as circumstances will permit, be made applicable to our House of Assembly, as the best and safest guides. In all things right I shall claim your support—in many things, I shall require your indulgence.”

(…)

2^nd General Assembly, 1^st Session (3 July 1837).