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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 p MP r^.^ A LETTER TO ■^ THE ELECTORS OF ANNAPOLIS, BEINO A REPLY xo *' ^mMnisdxm tm%\ikm(i mx \t% xa,tx\\%:' BY AN ACADIAN. HALIFAX, N. S : PUBLISHED BY li. T. 1867. " TO THE ELECTORS OF ANNAPOLIS COUNTY. A FEW Canadian einissaries arc busily engaged in distribnling a pamphlet entitled " Confederation considered on its merits," and are endeavoring to make us all believe that the author has discov- ered a new and better argument in fa^i'or of Canadian Confedera- tion than has yet made its appearance. I am glad that thoy have shown by their actions, and their great zeal in proselytizing thnt down to the appearance of that pamphlet, they did not really believe in Confederation, although you will remember that the half dozen employees or pamphlet (distributors were just as willing to cry out for Confederation before they saw this pamphlet as they now are. Yet at that time they believed in Doctor Tupper. They said as he said. They believed us he believed. They cared nothing for the merits of the question : they simply knew that Tupper supported the pro- ject and that was quite sulllcient argument for them. It was ii happy change when, instead of producing Tupper as an authority, they could pull from their pockets and quote an anonymous pamph- let as authoiity for despoiling you of your constitutional rights, — as authority for denying you the privilege of being consulted as to the disposition of your revenues and property, and as the apolo- gist of Tupper and Archibald in voting this Province into being an appanage of Canada. While a few shop-keepers are retailing extracts of this' pamphlet to every person who has patience to listen to them, — while mem- bers of the Legislature are distributing them in sheaves through- out Nova Scotia, — while shoddy politicians wax eloquent in lealing out brilliant passages of " Confederation considered on its merits," — ^while fossil pensioners are announcing readings of this new and brilliant page of Confederation literature, and when till the crawl- ing race who believe they have neither brains nor intelligence to understand the question, but rest satisfied with what Tupper and Archibald say to them, are in a state of wild excitement over a new sensation Confederation novel, — let us see if they are not the victims of a wild delusion, — the creatures of a frenzied excitement, — and the ready victims of a mad scheme, startling and ruinoua to us all. And while engaged in the discussion you will bear in mind that Tupper and Archibald, with a majority of the Legislature, declared in England— iu Nova Scotia— through the press and on the- platform, that the electors of this Province were too ignorant to understand this question — that they had no right to be consulted, and that they should bow in submission to the Jiat of Mr. Tupper. In New Brunswick two elections have been run on the question in two years, and yet in Nova Scotia we have been denied the right — our inalienable right — to pass upon the measure at the polls. Was there no other argument against the whole scheme the people should indignantly protest against the measure upon this ground, and show to the world that they understand their rights and know how to resent so grievous an insult to their intelligence and inde- pendence. It would be a fair and legitimate rejoinder to every advocate of Confederation from " Prime Minister" Tupper down to your penny half-penny shop keeper to say — that there must be something weak and rotten in the scheme — something in it unfair and ruinous to the people at large — something inimical to the well being and future of Nova Scotia — or else the "Prime Minister" Tupper, aided and abetted by Adams Archibald and a packed majority of the Nova Scetia Legislature, \^ould not be afraid to dis- cuss this matter fully and freely with the people of this Country, and after such discussion invite the people to express an intelligent opinion upon its merits at the polls. This we all know they have despotically refused. We know they have paid no attention to the petitions of the people — they have treated them with scorn and contempt, and by their false representations have succeeded in pre- venting the petitions signed by nearly forty thousand Nova Sco- tians from being respected in the Parliament of Great Britain. This is a great fact, and in itself an argument against everything ad- vanced in favor of this peculiar kind of union. You will very naturally say, if this union is for the benefit of Nova Scotia, why should Mr. Tupper refuse to let the people judge of its merits? why reject all their petitions? and why bring the influence of the Lieutenant Governor and Coun- cil of Nova Scotia to bear to cause the rejection of our petitions by the Parliament of Great Britain. Mr. Tilley in New Brunswick allowed the people there to give their opinion at the polls. Why did Mr. Tapper refuse the same privilege to the people of Nova Scotia? This is now the great question between Mr. Tupper and the people of this Province. I should be quite content to leave the matter here, and insist that Nova Scotians should not condescend to argue with either Mr. Tupper or any of his staff of pamphleteers until he recognised the right of the electors to judge of the merits of the argument by an expression at the polls ; but I will not leave the pamphleteers even the small consolation of thinking that irrespective of the rights of the people this scheme of Confederation has anything to recommend 5 f(i itself to the favorable consideration of the people of Nova Scotia. It will be necessary to consider the country proposed to be united. Of what does it consist? New Brunswick, to the north of us, contains nearly 29,000 square miles of territory—nearly 18,000,000 acres — of which, according to statistics, 200,000 acres are under cultivation, leaving 17,000,000 acres yet to be cultivated and peopled. A large portion of this territory is covered with dense forests, which yield immense quantities of timber, which of course fiiad no market in Canada, but arc shipped to England. In Canada we find commencing with the valley of the Saguenay river, and ending with the vast tract of wildernesss extending north-west from Quebec, nearly 150,000 square miles of territory- one vast forest — a great howling wilderness. Turning to British America next we find ovei- 500,000 square miles of t'erritory, or nearly 350,000,000 acres of land, the greater portion of which is still covered with tiie forest primeval. This vast extent of wilderness covers the whole of Central British Am- erica, the valleys of the Frazer and Thompson rivers— the Atha- basca districts, "British Columbia and Vancouver's Island. Such is the country proposed to be consolidated and raised to the dignity of a new nationality— which is to be a rival of the United States of America, and which is soon to take upon itself the burthens and responsibilities of a separate existence, free from and independent of Great Britain. Such is the country— such the forest— such the wild, desolate tract extending over half a continent, which Mr. Tupper has proposed to unite under one government, which he has laid your revenues" under contribution to protect, and to defend which, he claims to take the bone and strength of Nova Scotia, the Militia of this country, and march them off to the shores of the Pacific, through thousands of miles of wilderness, to upheld the honor and glory of the now flag that is to be the grand herald of the departure of British troops from this continent, and of the withdrawal of British protection from our Atlantic Provinces. " Union is strength " says the anonymous pamphleteer, as he dis- courses of Canadian annexation. How beautifully will the truth of this axiom be exhibited, when this country is called upon to defend British Columbia, away back on the Pacific coast— when a vast wilderness, which would bridge the Atlantic, has to be penetrated— where not a road is blazed, nor an inhabitant exists. Union is strength, when the vast barrier of meuntains, rivers and wilderness proclaims its weakness, when not one inhabitant exists, nor a log fort frowns defiance at the wild beast or the prowling Indian. Union is strength, when miles of forest intervene between cue in- habitant and the other. Union is strength, is it? How long will this axiom hold good in presence of a mighty military power, whose ■■■ip boundaries uro formed by so-called IJritish territory, from the PaciQc to the Atlantic. Union is strength, is it? Suppose the United States to-morrow were to seize upon British Columbia? Wo can fancy some unfortunate resident of that country crying out '-Union is strength. A paper constitution has designated us a grand nation- ality. "Where, O where, are the brave warriors and sailors, who dwell away bej^ond on the Atllantic coast." " Union is strength," says the pamphlet, andtoprove this assertion we are told that " two thousand years ago, Ca^sai- found England parcelled out among a multitude of petty chiefs and kings, whose strength was wasted in internal dissensions. The Saxon Heptarchy was a stej) ibrward ; and the annexation of WdIcs another ; and the union of the crowns of England and Scotland, what gave Britain a first place among the nations." How the writer intended to have these remarks apply, does not very clearly appear. When the Canadians, two years ago, set in motion the machinery to annex these Provinces, they did not lind the Maritime Provinces parcelled out among a multitude of petty chiefs and kings — our strength was not wisted in internal dissensions, Wales was conquered and redijced under Edward the First. It yfas only known to England by incursion and invasion. Within itself there was chronic disorder, contentions, strife and bloodshed, keeping the frontier of England in perpetual alarm But wc have no Wales in British America. England and Scotland united after centuries of bloody and barbarous warfare. They united to save harrassing and cruel wars. They united to save fighting about rival kings and royal supremacy. We in British America have no rival kings — we have no wars, one Province with the other. We are not called upon to unite foi any of the reasons which led to the Saxon Heptarchy, to the annexation of Wales— to the union of the crowns of England and Scotland. The arguments drawn from the page of history, from the time of Caesar to ihe union of England and Scotland, to prove the necessity for a union of the Colonies of British America, have therefore no application — are unworthy of serious consideration, and shew the sandy foundation upon which the Canadian annexationists stand, whenever they attempt to draw a parallel betv/een their scheme of union and all great unions from the time of the Heptarchy down to the present. Now, it is very plain that a union of the Colonies was not neces- sary to avoid any of the fearful ills which led to the union of England and Scotland ; it was not necessary to put an end to bloodshed and war ; it was not necessary to prevent border wars between the people of Canada and tiae inhabitants of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Why, then, did Canada seek this union ? Why o did her Htatesiiicu pray for this Confederation? And what has Canada to give us that we do not now enjoy? I have ah'cady shown that there was notiiing in our social or political relations to render union .an absolute necessity. Canada lias her own representative government — New Brunswick the same, and Nova Scotia was flourishing and happy under her free institu- tions. Wq had no enemies at home or abroad. We had no wars — we were rapidly advancing in trade, agriculture and commerce — our revenues wer3 full — our ships were found in every sea, and our mines were being rapidly developed. Peace, prosperity and con- tentment reigned in our midst. The Hag of England was oar pro- tection and our own people were ever ready to defend themselves. We did not ask for any alteration in our system of Government. We did not ask for a union with Canada. England did not ask us to be governed by Canada. Why then did Canada press this union upon us? For whose advantage was she seeking when urging in hot haste this unfair and one-sided union ? Ever since the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1842 that country has presented a strange and often very anomalous aspect to the world. Sect has been arrayed against sect — creed against creed — a war of races, bitter antagonism, and lamentable bickerings have marked its tv/enty-five years of union. That union was brought into existence by unfair and unjustifiable means. The Province of Lower Canada was never consulted in the matter. While tbe Upper Canadians approved of the measure the Lower Canadians were in open hostility to it. Protests were sent to the House of Commons. Forty tliousond signatures of the iniiabitants were appi.nded to petitions to the British Legislature against the measure. But it was of no avail. The bill passed almost without a discussion. From that hour to the present what has been the political his- tory of Canada? In what way has that Union proved the truth ot the axiom that " Union is strength?" On the contrary, did it not result in rendering that country so distracted, so utterly unable to carry on representative government, that dead locks became the rule in their legislation, changes of government occurred about once in every fifteen months, and the whole country became involved in such strife and confusion, that the Canadian Government in 1858, in a despatch to the Home Government, confessed that representa- tive government was with them a failure — that they could no longer work their Union, and that the only way of ridding tliemselves of their difficulty was to secure control of the Maritime Provinces. They there suggest the necessity of a Federal Government for all the Colonies. 8 The application was promptly rejected at that time by the Br'tiali Government, and since tbat date (1858) they have gone on lighting and wrangling until at last ihc favorable opportunity offers for them to seize hold ui)on the Maritime Provinces and drag them into a Union for no other reason than to assist the Canadians, as make weights, in their governmont. Why is it then that the author of " Confederation considered on its merits," instead of dealing so largely in fiction, has not given the plain facts in connection with this Confederation movement? Why does he put out of sight the history of Canada while ho enters upon the (ield of prophecy and fortells what is to happen when Canadians shall give laws to our country, — when they shall rule from Lake Superior to the Atlantic. "We in Nova Scotia have never been cursed with dead locks, with double majorities, with a war of races and creeds ; and we have protested against being dragged into the strife because the Canadians cannot govern themselves. That protest has been 'em- phatic and should have received the attention of our own Legisla- ture and the government of P^ngland. It has not been bo received and upon the ehoulders of others must rest the responsibility of subsequent results. The writer under review gives us the position and assumes the wants of Nova Scotia. He imagines in the next place "■ a difh- culty," and then proceeds to poirt out an imaginary remedy for his imaginary difficulty. His whole argument may be condensed into u few words. Nova Scotia, he says, is a British Provinoo, (a valuable piece of information) and that it abounds in mineral wealth and that it has an extensive line of sea-coast, besides other valuable resources, and he condescends to acknowledge that considered practically " we might be called a prosperous people." " Our manufactures are few and on a stunted scale, that openings for young men and women are rare, and that many of them have to go abroad to seek a liveli- hood," and then states "these are facts , Inch every eye can see that chooses to look for them, and if wo retain our present political isolation they will continue to be facts in spite of us." The remedy suggested is " the union of the Colonies under the new dominion Act." — the domination of Canada, — the annexation of Nova Scotia to a country hundreds of miles away from us, — to a country that has not a pound of capital to spare us, — that has not an inhabitant to give us. The question is asked — " What has hitherto prevented the full development of Nova Sootian resources and the growth of manu- factures?" and the answer given is — everybody will at once answer — " The want of capital and the want of a market." Hav- ^ ing proposed the qucBtioii and given the answer, it would have been itai; for the writer to have informed us who is to supply tfui capital f It wont for u raomert be pretended that Canada has any capital to part with, or if she . .^s, that she has not uso oncugh for it at home. If Canada then has no capital, Confederation will be of no advantage to us in that resi)ect. We are well aware that '' capital will purchase skill," but that is a poor argument in fa^or of a Confederation, that I shall presently show, takes from i.s ouv revenues, that places a high protective tariff around our shores, and that is seeking to drive us inLo a trade with a country with which we have, and can have, but little social or commercial inter- course. The reference to the State of Massachusetts is simply .ibsurd. That State has had her manufactories fostered under a protective, iiol house, system. She has had a market among 30,000,000 on her own side, besides the markets of British America, the West Indies, South Imeric-^ and elsewhere. While building up Massa- chusetts the Americans were pulling down the Southern States — laying the train that has eventuated in building up die large nation- al debt of the United States— caused millions to be shuightoied iu battle, and devastated the fair fields of the South from the Potomac to Florida. A protective system is wliat Canada is looking after. She is eagerly seeking to drive us up tlic St. [.uwreiieo to buy her manufactures, while she will endeavor to exclude from the markets of British America everything that can possibly compete with her. In this way the people of the Maritime Provinces are t(j be Ix'nelitted u-ader Coiifedei-ation. And, after all, what advantage will it be to us? If we can build a ship, send it to the markets (jf England, and bring bring back its value in the wares and merchandize of that country, cheaper than any skill or capital could produce the same articles here, why give up sh-pbuilding, in which we cau compete with the world, and establish other factories in which we cannot compete with any one beyond oin- own doors? Confederation, then, while it will give us free trade with four millions — while it will enable the Canadians to rule the whole Dominion— will virtually shut us out from the markets of the world. Why preach of " isolation " when the policy under Confederation will be isolation from the mother country — isolation from otlier nationalities— in fact a Chinese policy of legislating, forcing us to look upon the great forests of Canada as the true representatives of wealth, intelligence, refinement, skill, capital and labor. With our present low tariff, with the sea before and around us, with the vast reseurces we have at our command so long as we remain unchecked and uncontrolled by the cupidity of another colony, Nova Scotia might look forward to years of happy prosper- 10 i!?io.?"^ ^^"^ absuniit}- ot legislating for us in Canada in order to advance oiu interests ; in order to build up a grand national tv- in order to deyclope manufacteres ; in order to brin" ha flood of a glance. If Canada had any capital o- surplus tioulation to spare, tbe case inight be different, but we all know tff Ca Sa is now owned by English bankers. v^anaaa is A tabular statement of a few items of expondituro which his causea Canada to resort to high tariffs-.nay not be unhiteSing 2. Great Western Railway 2,810 500 f T L n''lT°'? r^"^^ 7,000 000 4. The jYeliand Canal 7,500 000 o. Chankly Canal .433 800 C. Lake 8t. Peter's improvements V ' * Vo98'22o 7. Harbors and Lighthouses on the St. Law-' ' ' S Vn ;"f "^"^ rf V*"^ ^'^'''' 2,550,000 b. x\ortliern Railway connecting Pluron with Lake Ontario 2 311 rrr 0. Interest on Railway debentures. .'.*.*.'.*.*.*.' *1),g'42,'o25 waJ^erooo'oOol^fv^T'' ''' 'T''^''^ at the Quebec conference. rnno.1 'i ?' "^*^' ^'""^ """'^ ^'^^«'"« a Charge, not only upon Canada, but upon the people of Nova Scotia. I know this fac Ts carefully avoided and sometimes denied, but the first dause n the 1. The public debt and property. 2. The regulation of trade and commerce. 4* Tho hnrr!^^''^ 'T'^' ^^' ^'"^' "^^'^^ ^^" «3'stem of taxation. 4. Ihe borrowing of money on the public credit. Here we find the whole resources, tariffs, credit, and evervthino- available as security, placed in the irrevocable keepi^ot the <.ene '^1 government. The resources and wealth of New l^.unswickTd in.^nl '"''"' "'" ^'' ^^'' «"^'^^™«'-' t laid under contribuuoi To the general government is confided unlimited powers of taxation and just m proportion as the necessities of Canada increase so wHl tre=b contributions be drawn from the industrial iXrTes' o'nov^^^ Scotia Every cent of our revenue, in the first place, Jes to the general government, and it will not be the fault of tha ^^overnment amount " '""''" '''' '''' '"'"^>' '' '' '''''' '^'' us double that oui all. Why the very creation of this "New l^ominion" is i standing menance against every attempt to benefit our polion, to I 1 11 develope our resources, or to embark in any enterprizc which miaht Have a tendency to promote our best interests. ° ludedV^'^'^ ^^ Belgium, I think has been rather unfortunately al- Belgium and Holland were united in 1815. The laws of the new Kingdom were assimilated somewhat to those of Great Britain, but trom the frst it was evident that there was a want of common feel- ing between the Dutch and Belgians. Taxation, which largely in- creased under the union, was a constant theme among the Belgians, ancl as they had been forced into that union against their consent! trouble and dissension grew out of the connecaon, and a reciprocal aversion of the Northern and Southern people was exhibited amongst all classes in the State. ° Eebellion subsequently broke out, the Union was broken up, and Belgium declared herself a free and independent State. Again proving that union is sometimes the very reverse of strength.— iielgium was forced into a union against her wishes. She had to resort to arms to regain her independence, and after she had regained it then was seen that " iselation," as understood bv Canadians, was her salvation. If Belgium has made the rapid strides which our author says it lias, laboring under the disadvantage of being " a small country," —little larger than Nova Scotia, if she has in a state of " isolation" done that which under a Union with Holland she could not have tone, what becomes of the pages of beautiful similes to prove that Ln-.on is strength," and that isolation is weakness? CANADIAN TARIFF. I hp.ve under my hand a rather more reliable authority than the author of Confederation merits" on the " Canadian tariff." Bv that authority I find that the Canadian tariff of 1849 on spirits wines, tobacco, tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, spices, &c., were charged with duties, partly specific and partly ad m/orm, which were gradually made exclusively specific. In 1859 this was ciianged, and ad valorem duties, ranging from thirty to one hundred per cent, and averaging fortji per cent, were adopted and mostly prevail at this time, although additional specific duties have been imposed since 18G2. The average percentage on good paying duty by Canadian tariffs was 13 per cent, in 1854, 19 percent, in 1859, and during the fiscal year ending- June 30, 1865, it was 23.3 per cent. The same authority gives the public debt of Canada in 1864 not -if $65 000 000, but at $76,233,061, which will be founi in all probability, the true statement of Canadian liability. Now, what has Canada to offer us in exchange 'for our present 12 position? We collect our revenue unfler a low tarifl— Canada under a tariff averaging 22.3 per cent. Our revenues meet our requirements. In Canada they have an annually recurring defi- ciency. What has Canada, then, to offer us in exchange for our revenues j^ We have shown that she has no capital, no men, nothing that can in any way, at present, aid us in building up our Province. Without capital and labor, what can be done? Has Canada either the one or the other to offer us ? Look at the matter as any three practical men would look upon a proposed partner- ship, and what would be the answer? Why, that the whole arrangement is an idle day-dream— a visionary project— destined to wreck and ruin the future growth and expansion of our country. And yet our author writes gaily of " The Benefits to be Realized,'^ and says that the " oneness of the Confederacy will direct skill fincl capital to the most available points," a broad assertion, with- out a particle of evidence to sustain it. Where is the capital to come from? What is to cause such a wonderful change? In what way can a mere paper constitution make such miraculous results without the ord'narv appliances of capital, labor and machinery. Why not offer some proofs rather more m point than the case of Massachusetts or Belgium? The author of " Confederation on its merits" seems to deny the iact that the debt of Canada is entirely unproductive, and refers to ner railways as paying a dividend of three per cent, on the capital. hrv-en If this were true it proves nothing in favor of Confederation. Ihe rates charged upon Canadian lines are ffty per cent, higher than those on leading United States lines. To quote from a late 7^^*ni~" ^^ present a respectable woman in Montreal cannot pass her Christman with relatives or friends in Toronto short of an out- lay of tw;enty dollars. The fatigue of a sixteen hours' journey, and the risk of a broken rail (and neck) are such as to' require decided temptations to travel." But why pass over the canals which our revenues are now liable to pay for? No less a sum than $19,000,000. Are these product- ive. Do they pay anything to the general revenues of the coun- try .'' The interest has to be met, and we in Nova Scotia have to submit to be taxed for their payment and upholdance. Why tlien did not this writer who had t!ie material at his command exhibit a fair and impartial statement to the people of this country? The reason is obvious. He was dealing in fiction. Ho was afraid of the truth, and so avoided the issue. But then Ave are told that Union is going to do wonders for the farmers. Is it? Let us see. I have already shewn that under Union we have to share in a debt of $76,233,001, not a cent of which lias been expended on our soil, in the pontractino- of which I 13 we had no part, ami as a matter of j-icrUt, should not ho ,.o1i„h m any way to provide for either in whole o'Tnolt TirM T" to the farmers of Nova bcotia is to lav n.Jw ?!, f '"'*' ^"°" gage to Canada for their resiet 4% ^aref i'^ t^Tdebt oTcard'''" amonntiug to over seveuty-e x millions of dollai tt! °"'""'"' senting to help Canada p^y this enoZl t'ou, t-S^^XThe" ught and full power to fix our tariffs and regulate C tax^tiln »C8,000,000. Andyetthfs'w r avs "tint rf'"'?" "f "''' do something great for our flrmei's " °" " ^"'"^ *" r»J'*M'^l-"°",""' '""'.' "*■ "■■''"''"' »o"W be the rival of Mont at all events befo're they caS S h sl°l t rniL' tat""'^ Tn;":;^ sraiX'j'tr ?±S^^^^^^^^ 3^1^ ti:t™dliro?'r^T^T^^'"^" ^»™'^ -^^^^^^^^^^ Pdy^ratSi;it^rdt;^i::7ti;,ro;t'Lr'"^™^"'r^ author for special refe^nce ^ '"''^ ^^ ^"^" ^^^f^^eration nnrestrieted'as they ean-^u"der confederat^'^ last year as free and ing to assist them in paying over IW^fofooo ' "" '"' °"' ='^''"'- vii;r<:^{,:xrrorarSo^n':™ '"'•""'-"-- ■■*'™ *■■ At page 27 our aiitkor gives us i snmmniMr ^e »> To.show how utterly unreliable are ..is. facts, flgures, similes. \ u and precedents, I shall here give a review of this part of his pamphlet from a leading Halifax journal : '• The total resources, on the scale of last year, are $479,000, including the increased grant of $60,000, and the total expenditure is 8465,090, leaving, the author triumphantly adds, $14,000 for contingencies. On comparing this statement of expenditure with that of the Financial Secretary, it will be observed that the author of the pamphlet has wilfully understated the amount granted last year for roads and bridges, and at the same time has not taken any account of the large sums expended on the Asylum for the In- sane, &c., in excess of the grants. According to him, the estimat- ed expenditure for roads and bridges is $160,000, whereas the amount actually voted and expended was $274,000, or only $114,- 000 more. If this sum alone, leaving all others out of view, be added to the $465,090, it makes the amount expended for local purposes last year $579,090, to meet which we are to receive $479,000, showing a deficiency of over $100,000. True it is that this $11^^,000 was for special purposes; but every year there are special services to be undertaken, and new require- ments springing up, for which our increasing revenues enables us amply to provide. Thus this $100,000 was paid out of the revenues of last year, without the imposition of any new tax, and we still had a considerable sum to apply to other special purposes. But if Con- federation had taken place a year ago, the improvements repre- sented by this $100,000 could not have been made, unless the amount had been raised by direct taxation. Our revenues last year were sufficient to meet this expenditure, whereas if we had been Confederated, it would have been absorbed by Canada. This one fact alone most clearly demonstrated the injustice to which we shall be subjected if this scheme of Union is ever consummated, and proves that we must either refrain from all new improvements, or resort to direct taxation, in addition to our other increased taxa- tion, to cv J them on." I think this disposes pretty effectually of the farmers, fishermen, and distribution of revenue. vSTRENGTH AND RESOURCES OF THE CONFEDERACY. By this expression I understand the pamphlet to mean our ability and strength to take upon ourselves the responsibility of our own defence- to set up a separate existence — to become tlie rival of the United States, or, as Dr. Tupper put it, the " enemy of the United States." Already we have a debt to pay, upon starting, of over Ninety- one millions of Dollars— a debt now fastened, by an act of Parlia- ' i 15 ment, upon the resources and industry of this country— a debt out omat,rooT'""1 '"' f -000,000, leaving the c^normous sum laetinf Thn ''°f "J . "« ,^^^^^ ^« have been no parties in con- tiftil picture of Confederation. Add to the $91,233,000 for the building of the Intercolonial Railroad, for the benefit of Canada and ^ve have at starting, even before the scheme can be put in ope-' ration, a national debt of more than $106,000 000 ^ Ihen we have half a continent without a ship of war or a gunboat Should our young nationality be called upon to defend itself— to place gun boats on the Canadian lakes Jhips of wn the s7 .m7[nTht^ro7?'^'" ''' !!^;'^" «^ ™'^^- «"d Saint John; Croiv «hnnuf Passamaquoddy-with gun boats up the Sain countrv To «tv tT/!" "'"'^ ^"'''^' P^^^^«^'«" «*' '^^' great foLt the A L"t c to tt l4^T TT '^'1^ '^' ^''^'^ f^'^^^t^^r from rine orS ^J^^^^^^ "" ^'^^ "P^" ""^- '^^^cantile ma- timna for TlfvT, ^^7 e«\Ployraent the hardy fishermen who are toiling for a livelihood, and where everv head is to be taxed to wou?d';^e''!T''"H ''^. Canada-under-such circumstances, what S inrnl ' '"?^^^"'V'''^"''"'' ^^ '^^ Confederacy " amount to Suppose a war to break out with the United States is anv man mad enough t« think that we could cope with them That Ti?. TdT vVTtliat^' clistricts could contenXirh" U drlM arm^^^ and navy of that great military and naval power. Whoever thinks South Thlr'^1 '""T'^-'othe war Ltween tL Xrth and feouth. There we bad the spectacle of the Southern States orrm bining their wealth, capital, skill, men, and everSnt tS; noT sessed to overthrow the government of the uS Spates /nd^es" If}, S ^;?^^t°'^bs of their bravest sons and failed. The dow4- of the North was too much for them. Ana vet we are isked to be r^,'^-T7lT^^' '^'^''''^ «"^«^^^^« agains thJXle powe's of the United States, embracing North and South. The absurdTtv of the idea can be seen at a glarfce. aosuiaity ot The conclusion of the whole matter is that we in British America ommand Tn 'wLf:^' "'!!""' ^T^ '' "^ ^^^ not th^ mattrTarat Sperimentl population to undertake so rash an The enormopf dobt wc shall have upon us at starting should have retarded tue growth of this new nationality idea as it is plain that the contemplated future of this " New VoSion " can never be realized so long as the gi.at country streSnv J«° 16 '■**. from New Brunswick to the shores of Lake Supev'or is compara- tively a forest. : Tiie absurdity of the " isolation " argwoent, as put in this pam- phlet cannot bo better shewn than by wferring to Great Britain. She has no connectiou with the gre«t back country of Europe. She stands alone, with the sea washing her boundaries. Yet Eng- land is not isolated because she owns a vast portion of the globe. Nova Scotia cannot be "isolated" as long as she dwells beneath the shadow of the British Crown. Isolation arguments will only be applicable when we are dragged from beneath the protecting wing of the Mother Country, and made to look to the forests ot Canada for protection instead oi tr Great Britain. Such then is a fair view of what Confederation will do for us. It is the creature of Canadian faction. It was conceived in the womb of Canadian necessities. It will paralyze our industry and cramp our resources. It loads us with a heavy debt for which we never can nor will receive any benefit. It places the power of taxation in a government 800 miles away from us. It destroys our self-government; breaks down our institutions; seizes upon our revenues, and renders us liable at any moment to be dragged into a separate existence and finally swallowed up by the. United States. These are the true merits of Confederation. These are the reasons why in Nova Scotia Mr. Tupper has been afraid to discuss the question fully and freely, and then take the opinion of the people at the polls. It is for the people of Nova Scotia then, by all lawful ways and means, to break, down a consti- tution reared in defiance of their wishes, inimical to their interests, that shatters their independence, and that, if unchecked, will speedily sweep them into a separate existence, rendering thejn indeed isolate and defenceless. ■V