| Summary: | This is a record of events which were of immense importance to the British Empire, as they clearly defined the limitation of the power held by British colonial Assemblies. In 1838, Newfoundland House of Assembly member John Kent accused Dr. Edward Kielley of violating Kent's rights as a member of the House of Assembly by threatening him and calling him a liar during an argument between the two. Kielley was brought before the House, and having used language offensive to the House and Kent in trying to explain his actions, was illegally jailed without trial. Keilley was released from jail several days later, and upon hearing of this, the House then had both the judge and high sheriff responsible for his release arrested. Governor Henry Prescott stepped in to diffuse the situation by temporarily proroguing the House, with the final result being that in 1843, the Privy Council in Great Britain denied colonial Assemblies the right to commit citizens for contempt of House privileges. Includes bibliographical references.
|
|---|