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THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIE JOHN ALEXANDER MACDONALD O.C.B., P^ • FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA. BY JOSEPH POPE. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. OTTAWA: J. DURIE & SON. (All rigkti ruervtd.) nf^ ^^ 42534 aT (D 'i O P' INTRODUCTION. During one of those strange and bewildered days following that supreme and solemn hour which closed the earthly life of my husband — days when I tried hard to move forward from the horror of a great darkness into the sad twilight of resigna- tion — on one of those days the necessity forced itself upon me for naming a writer, who, having had a close personal inter- course with Sir John, should, aided by the contents of such papers and letters as he had left, be able to give a more intimate and detailed history of his interesting personality than would be possible for any other biographer, however competent and faithful, not possessed of these special advan- tages. Happily my husband anticipated the possibility of this necessity, and, as was his custom in the regulation of my daily life, had given me in a few slight words the direction I should need. The subject had been brought under his notice, some three or four months before the time of our parting, by two letters addressed to me. Both these letters were from literary ))ersons unknown to us, each offering his services as Sir John's biographer, one of whom was good enough to ask my assist- ance in the preparation of his work. When the second of these letters arrived, though Sir John was apparently as well as usual, deeply engrossed by important business and in the full tide of public affairs, I had already with VI INTRODUCTION. ( a sinking heart been visited by strange and unusual misgivings as to the state of his health. It was move from his words and ways of late I had learned to fear, for it seemed to me that in some mysterious manner the veil of the great Hereafter was lifting for him, and that his tired eyes saw beyond it. In one of his rare intervals of leisure — sadly do I remember how difficult it was to find even a few unoccupied minutes for the purpose — I showed both these letters to Sir John, as I had shown others on the same subject received at intervals during the last ten years of our married life. I see my husband now as he spoke in answer, wearied and thoughtful on his return home at Ottawa from a long Cabinet meeting. " They must wait till I am dead," he said, slowly, "and then I think Joe shall write it." He thus spoke of Mr. Joseph Pope, his long-time private secretary and friend, who for more than ten years had been a frequent inmate of our house, for whom Sir John had a warm regard, in whose honesty of purpose and ability he had always great confidence, and to whom he spoke, I feel sure, as confidentially as so naturally reticent a man was ever able to speak to any other. " Yes," he repeated, " Joe shall write it ; he knows more about me than any one else ; and you, Agnes, shall help him." In accordance with the first part of this desire, so soon as it was possible for me to see him, I sent for Mr. Pope, and asked him as a personal favour to undertake the work. The second, alas, it was impossible to fulfil. Suffering, weakened, and unfit, it was then, and it has been ever since, not only impossible for me to add a line or word to them, but even to read over Mr. Pope's pages, for which I now in this blind unusual manner venture to ask public attention. Having consented, not without many misgivings, to the pre- paration of these memoirs, Mr. Pope naturally asked for such material as I could furnish. INTRODUCTION. VI 1 A large collection of letters and papers had been carefully jjreserved during many years by Sir John with a view, as he more than once told me, to writing some account of his life and times in Canada when, too old for longer devotion to the public service, he should retire altogether from political life, and enjoy, what he had always eagerly looked forward to, a few years of rest and quiet before the end should come. To these letters and papers, except in this way to me, I cannot discover that my husband made any further reference whatever. They remained at my disposal ; and, entirely unfit as I was to read over and examine or select from their pages, I had no choice but to give them unreservedly to Mr. Pope, with a request that, in making use of their contents, he woulf^ exercise nis best judgment. That Mr. Pope has duUc ..his in all things rel?».tiiig to these memoirs, that he 1: -^ used his great ability and spared no pains to write honestly, faithfully, and usefully, I know full well; and if in his writing and my introduction there is more that is faulty and ill-judged than is usually the case in memoirs and their prefaces, I hope and believe we shall be forgiven these results of our inexperience, and at least get the credit of having done our best. MACDONALD OF EARNSCLIFFE. ^ ^1 1 1^1 Sydenham, London, 1894. PREFACE. The Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe, in the foregoing pages, has rendered unnecessary any further narration of the circum- stances under which the duty of preparing these memoirs has devolved upon one so little qualified for the task. I may be permitted, however, to offer a word of explanation in my own behalf. I ask the public to remember, in the first place, that Sir John Macdonald was naturally the most reserved of men, and that his confidences were very few. I desire them also to bear in mind that I knew him only during the last ten years of his life, that he was sixty-seven years old before I ever spoke to him, and, lastly, that the relation in which I stood towards him was the subordinate one of secretary. It is true that I have had the inestimable advantage of access to his private papers, but the very richness of the materials at my disposal has proved a fruitful source of embarrassment. The difficulty of selection, great in any case, has been heightened by the shortness of the interval that has elapsed since his death, and by the fact that many of his contcmporuvies are still living. Beyond a general hint conveyed at rare intervals in phrases such as " llemember that — it will be useful hereafter," and " I want you to be my literary executor," Sir John never alluded in my presence to the subject of his memoirs. I have a strong impression that he wished his correspondence on the subject of X PREFACE. the Treaty of Washington to be given to the world. In regard to its publication, therefore, I feel I have had no option. There can be little doubt also, from its very form, that he intended his letter to Lord Dufferin on the subject of the granting of the first Canadian Pacific railway charter to be read by posterity ; but, with these exceptions, I alone am responsible for the appearance of whatever this book contains. In its preparation I have endeavoured to avoid, as far as possible, giving offence ; at the same time, I have kept steadily before me the fact that my first duty is towards the memory of my late chief. In conclusion, I can only say that I have tried to discharge this grave responsibility, which I did not seek, as honestly and faithfully as I could — I would fain hope in a manner not altogether unworthy of the great statesman whom I loved and served. JOSEPH POPE. Ottawa, 1894. ! |!| CONTENTS OF VOL. I. .4 CHAPTER I. EARLY DAYS. 1815-1842. Sir John Macdonald — Parentage — Arrival in Canada — Kingston — Hay Bay — The Stone Mills — Incidents of childhood — Enters upon the study of law — Admitted to practice — Incidents of the rebellion of 1837-38— Story of Von Shoultz— Visit to England in 1842— Letter from Mr. Macdonald to his mother I'Aua CHAPTER II. A DIl* INTO IlISTOKV. 1841-1844. State of Canada in 1844 — Mr. Macdonald returns from England — Forms a partnerahip with Mr. Alexander Campbell — Elected to the Kingston City Council — Review of political events — Lord Durham — Lord Sydenham — Union of Upper and Lower Canada — Robert Baldwin — Deatli of Lord Sydenham — Sir Charles Bagot — Sir Charles Metcalfe — William Heiuy Draper — Dissolution of first Parliament of Canada — Election of Mr. Macdonald for Kingston ... 1(] k ■\ )i CHAPTER III. KNTKANCB INTO I'UHLIC LIFE. 1844-1848 Mr. Macdonald's first session— Closeness of parties — IllncsB and death of Sir Charles Metcalfe — Negotiations with the French Canadiati Xll CONTENTS. tkOt. party — Their failure— Session of 1846— Changes in the Ministry — Lord Elgin — Mr. Macdonald enters the Cabinet— Questions of university endowment — Rebellion losses— Dissolution of Parliament — Defeat of the Ministry 35 CHAPTER IV. IN opposmox. 1848-1850. In Opposition — Literary pursuits — Marriage — Family letters — Rebellion Losses Bill — Burning of the Parliament Buildings — Removal of capital from Montreal — Annexation manifesto of 1849 — Seculariza- tion of King's College— Division in the Government ranks — History of the Clergy Reserves — Rise of the Clear-Gri<^ Party 60 CHAPTER V. IN OPPOSITIOX. 1850-1854. George Brown — Session of 1850 — Clergy Reserves — Retirement of Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin — Probable reasons therefor — Formation of the Hincks-Morin Administration — General Election of 1851— Session of 1852— Mr. Macdonald's criticisms of the ministerial policy — Growth of the breach between the Government and the Clear-Grits— Mr. Macdonald's policy 78 CHAPl'ER VL . THE COALITION OF 1854. Railway development in Canada — Reciprocity Treaty of 1854— Seignio- rial Tenure — First Session of 1854 — Defeat of the Ilincks-Morin Government — Abrupt prorogation — General Election of 1854 — Second session — Government again defeated- They resign— Formation of the MacNab-Moriii Administration — Birth of the Liberal-Conservative Party 105 >i -fi CONTENTS. Xlll #' CHAPTER VII. IN OFFICE. 1855-185G. Sir Edmund Head — The MacNab-Tache Administration— George Etienne Cartier — Session of 1855 — Mr. Macdonald's views on the question of separate schools — Seat of Government — Session of 1856 — Mr. Macdonald's charges against George Brown — Un- expected defeat of the Ministry — Discontent of the Ministerial Liberals— Sir Allan MacNab — Resignation of Messrs. Spence, Macdonald, Morrison, and Cayley— Formation of the first Tach^ Macdonald Government PAOI 133 CHAPTER VIII. PRIME MIXISTEK. 1856-1858. Mr. Macdonald's home letters — Session of 1856 — Chief Justice Draper's mission — Session of 1857 — Seat of Government question — Inter- colonial Railway — Mr. Macdonald visits England— Retirement of Colonel Tachd — Succession of Mr. Macdonald to the Premiership — General Election of 1857-58 — Contest in Kingston — Reconstruc- tion of Cabinet — Difficult position of Mr. Macdonald 159 CHAPTER IX. TIIR SHORT ADMINISTRATIOK. August 2-4, 1858. Selection of Ottawa as the seat of Government — Consequent defeat of the Ministry — Their resignation — Mr. Brown sent for — Formation of the Brown-Dorion Administration — Its defeat — Mr. Brown tulvisos a dissolution— Refused by the Governor General — Resig- nation of the Government — Dissatisfaction of Mr. Brown 185 II XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. THE "double shuffle." 1858. Alexander Gait — Formation of the Cartier-Macdonald Administration — The " Double Shuflfle "— Government's policy announced — Federal Union — Mr. Macdonald's wish to retire — Session of 1859 — Mr. Macdonald's views on protection and free trade — Dissensions among the Opposition — Revolt of the Lower Canadians against George Brown ... PAOK 198 CHAPTER Xr. IK OFFICE. 1859-1862. Narrow escape from drowning — Mr. Macdonald's letter ot resignation — Bereavement of the Governor General — Reform Convention of 1859 — Mr. Brown's "joint authority " scheme — Rejected by Parliament — Session of 1860 — Mr. Macdonald's reply to charges of subserviency to Lower Canadian influences — Visit to Canada of the Prince of Wales — The Orange difiSculty — Session of 1861 — Dissolution — General Election — Contest in Kingston — General result of Election — Lord Monck — Chancellor Blake— Reconstruction of the Ministry — Defences of Canada — Appointment of a Commission to inquire into them — Defeat of the Ministry on the Militia Bill 215 CHAPTER XII. DEADLOCK. 1862-1864. Death of Mrs. Macdonald— Mr. Macdonald visits England— Return to Canada — State of parties — Policy of Mr. John Sandtield Macdonald — Opposition of Mr. Brown — His disposition to coalesce with the Conservatives — His compact with Mr. J. S. Macdonald — Reorgani- zation of Ministry — General Election of 1863 — Difficulties of the Government — Resignation of Mr. J. S. Macdonald — Formation of the second Tachd-Macdonald Administration — Its defeat — Dead- lock ... ... ••. .<• ... 241 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER Xlir. THE COALITION OF 1864. Formation of the Coalition Ministry — Reception by the country — Mr. Macdonald's efforts to insure its success — Confederation — Con- ference at Charlottetown — At Quebec — Dr. Tupper — Mr. Tilley — Retirement of Mr. Mowat — Meeting of Parh'ament — Adoption of Quebec resolutions — Mr. Macdonald's theoretical preference for a legislative to a federal union — His views on constitution of the Houses of Parliament — Delegation to England — Death of Sir E. P. Tach^ — Formation of new Administration under Sir Narcisse Belleau — Dissatisfaction of Mr. Brown — His withdrawal from the Ministry I FAOB 258 CHAPTER XIV. CONFEDEUATION. 1865-1866. Removal of the seat of Government to Ottawa — Negotiations with the United States — Retirement of Mr. Brown from the Ministry — Reasons therefor — Progress of Confederation scheme — In Canada — In Nova Scotia — In New Brunswick — Causes of delay — Fenian invasion— Departure of Confederation delegation from Canada — Meeting of Conference at London — Proceedings of Conference — Evolution of the British North America Act — The " Kingdom of Canada " — Mr. Macdonald's imperial views 291 CHAPTER XV. THE NEW DOMINION. 1867. Mr. Macdonald's second marriage — Occasion of his first meeting with Miss Bernard — Presentation at Court — Special audience with the Queen — Return to Canada— Cabinet-making — Difficulties in the way— Attitude of Mr. Brown — Of Messrs. Howland and McDougall —Continuance of the coalition — Composition of the Ministry — Birtli of the now Dominion— Honours to Mr. Macdonald 314 XVI CONTENTS. APPENDICES TO VOL. I. APPBNDIX I. Letters to Mb. Macdoxald fbom Sir Allax MacNab ... II. Correspondence belatixq to the Ministerial Crisis of 1856 III. Correspondence relating to the Ministerial Crisis of 1858 IV. Letter relating to the Prince of Wales' Visit, 1860 ... V. Ministerial Explanations, 1864 VI. Extract from the Minutes of Quebec Conference, 1864 VII. Memorandum setting forth certain alterations in the Resolutions of the Quebec Conference VIII. Letter from Dr. Tupper to Lieutenant Governor Mac- DONNELL re Confederation IX. Memorandum of Conversation between Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Brown on the occasion of the Death of Sir E. P. TAcnfi X. Resolutions of thi. Confederate Council on Commercial Treaties XI. Correspondence between Mr. Cuitier and Mr. Brown, 1865 ... Governor General's Memorandum on the Progress of Confederation Negotiations, 1866 Minute of the Privy Council setting forth Reasons for Delay, 1866 XIV. Resolutions London Conference, 1866 XV. Letters from Lord Monck and others on the Subject OF Confederation '. XII, XIII I'Aoa 333 335 337 342 344 351 355 358 362 369 370 372 374 377 387 Portrait of Sir J. A. Macdonald, from a Photograph by Notman, Montreal, 1862 Frontitpiece Facsimile Letter from Sir John Macdonald to his Mother, 1858 To/ace page 178 ill ! . : % MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN ALEXANDER MACDONALD, G.C.B. i'ri CHAPTER I. EARLY DAYS. 1815-1842. SIR JOHN MACDONALD — PAKENTAOE — AKKIVAL IN CANADA— KINGSTON — HAY BAY— THE STONE MILLS — INCIDENTS OF CHILDHOOD — ENTERS UPON THE STUDY OF LAW — ADMITTED TO PRACTICE — INCIDENTS OF THE RE- BELLION OF 1837-38 — STORY OF VON SHOULTZ — VISIT TO ENGLAND IN 1842— LETTER FROM MR. MACDONALD TO HIS MOTHER. Two hundred miles northward from Edinburgh, on the east coast of Scotland, lies the eld town of Dornoch. Anciently the seat of the bishops of Caithness, and a royal burgh since the days of Charles I., Dornoch, like many another Scottish town, lias not maintained its importance, and to-day its only claim to distinction is such as may attach to the fact of its being the county town of Sutherlandshire. About a century ago there lived in Dornoch a certain Mr. John Macdonald, a native of the neighbouring parish of liogart, who had removed to Dornoch when a young man, and established himself as a merchant. Gifted with excellent judg- ment, prudent, thrifty, and economical, it was not long until his business grew to be the most considerable in the place, while VOL. I. B -J i I J! 2 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. T. the uprightness of his character and his kindly disposition won for him the respect and good will of his fellow-townsmen to such a degree that they elected him again and again to the provost's chair without opposition. Mr. Macdonald married, on the 18th of August, 1778, Miss Jean Macdonald of Eogart parish, who, so far as I can gather, was not otherwise related to him. Their union was blessed by a large family of sons and daughters,* For many years did this worthy man pursue his calling and exercise the functions of provost, retaining all the while the esteem and regard of the community in which he dwelt. He died in the year 1822, at the advanced age of eighty-six, leaving to his children the best heritage that a father can bequeath — the record of a well-spent life, of duty honestly and honourably performed, Mr. John Macdonald had, as I have said, a large family ; but it is only with one of his children that this narrative has any concern — his second son Hugh, born, like his father, in the parish of Eogart, on the 12th of December, 1782. Hugh Macdonald began life as an apprentice in his father's shop, but from an early age manifested a disinclination to remain in the narrow sphere in which his lot had been cast. More ambitious than his sire, he chafed under the monotony of a village life, and would fain know something of the great world that lay beyond the Grampian Hills. Accordingly, on reaching his majority, he set out for Glasgow, where he formed a partnership with one McPhail, and embarked in business as a cotton manufacturer. Subsequently he engaged in the manufacture of bandannas, and the style of the firm became " H, Macdonald & Co." About the year 1811 he married Helen Shaw, daughter of James Shaw (of the Kinrara branch of that family) and Margaret Grant, whose father, John Grant, was nephew to the Laird of Eothieniurchus. Mrs. Macdonald's mother was twice married, her first husband being William Shaw of Dalnavert, There was no relationship between the two husbands. James Shaw, her father, was " out in '45," and fought in the battle of CuUoden, He afterwards entered the * Annie, born September 8, 1779 ; Donald, born March 28, 1781 ; Hugh, bom December 12, 1782; Isabella, born October 1, 1784; Alexander, bom April 20, 1786; Jane, born July 17, 1789 ; William, born July 16, 1792. 1815-42.] EARLY DATS. ^nm British army through the influence of Lord Seaforth, who got him his commission.* To Mr. Hugh Macdonakl and his wife were born five children, all in Glasgow : — William, who died in infancy ; Margaret, afterwards the wife of Professor Williamson, of Queen's University, Kingston ; John Alexander, the future Prime Minister of Canada ; James ; and Louisa, who never married.f Business did not prosper with Mr. Macdonald, and in tlie year 1820 he resolved to try his fortunes in the New World. Accordingly, he embarked for Canada with his family, and, after a voyage, long and irksome even for those days, landed at Quebec, and journeyed overland to Kingston. Here he began life anew ; but his ill-fortune followed him over the sea, and, after trying Kingston for a few years, he determined upon going farther west, and moved up the bay of Quinte, to a place in the township of Adolphustown, in the county of Lennox, called Hay Bay, where he opened a shop. Subsequently he migrated across the bay of Quinte to a locality then known as the Stone Mills, in the county of Prince Edward, where he started a grist-mill; but he was unsuccessful at both places, and he finally returned to Kingston in the year 1836, where he fell into ill-health, and died on the 28th of September, 1841. Notwithstanding his repeated failures, and despite an apparent instability of purpose, Mr. Hugh Macdonald, I am assured, did not lack ability of a certain order, and, in different circumstances, might have achieved distinction. Fortune, however, was unkind to him at the outset ; nor was his training such as to qualify him for the life of an immigrant. Few people now living have a proper understanding of what Ontario was like three-quarters of a century ago, nor of the * My authority for these particulars respecting the family of Sir John Macdonald's mother is a letter from Jliss Louisa Macdonald to Sir John, dated March 28, 1879. Miss Macdonald goes fully into the subject, and says that she obtained her information directly from their mother. t Margaret, born July 7, 1813; John Alexander, born January 11, 1815; James, bom October 17, 1816; Louisa, bom March 29, 1818. These dates arc taken from a memorandum-hook of the late Mr. Hugh Slacdonald's, who, not satisfted with recording the year and the day, has marked down in every case the minute of his children's births. Readers of the stars may be interested to know that Sir John Macdonald was born at a quarter-past four o'clock — whether a.m. or p.m. does not appear. I|;: •amnai!* MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAC DONALD. [Chap. I. if hardships undergone by the settlers of that period, compared with which the trials of the North-West pioneers in our own times are as child's play. Seventy years ago almost the whole of Upper Canada was covered with the primeval forest, which disappeared slowly, and only by dint of painful and unceasing toil. The means of transporting the necessaries of life were expensive, uncertain, and slow. Railways, of course, were unknown, and macadamized roads, which were then looked upon as as great luxuries as railways are to-day, were few and far between. The climate, too, was more severe than, owing to the cultivation of the soil, it has since become ; and the settler, after having, with incredible toil, cleared his land, transported his seed for miles through the forest, and sown it, ran the risk, and sometimes experienced the misfortune, of having his grain destroyed by summer frosts. A few years ago, when certain pessimists were dismally predicting that the North-West would never become a wheat-producing country, by reason of its liability to summer frosts. Sir John Macdonald observed to me : " Such people are always to be found. I remember, when a lad, hearing my father express an idea of moving up to the vicinity of Port Hope and trying farming. An old neighbour shook his head. ' There is no use in your going up to Port Hope,' said he ; ' you cannot grow wheat there, for the summer frosts kill everything.' " When Mr. Macdonald moved from Hay Bay to the Stone Mills, his son John, who was then about ten years of age, returned to Kingston to pursue his studies. He attended the gr. nmar school in that town, until he reached the age of fifteen, when he began the world for himself. Five years at a grammar school was all the educational advantage Sir John Macdonald enjoyed. When one reflects upon the vast fund of knowledge of all kinds which he acquired in after years by his reading, his observation, and his experience, one realizes to the full the truth of the saying, that a man's education often begins with his leaving school. He always regretted the disadvantages, in this respect, of his early life. " If I had had a university education," I heard him say one day, " I should probably have entered Tipon the path of literature and acquired distinction therein." He did not add, as he might have done, 1815-42.] EARLY DAYS. U m that the successful government of millions of men, T - strengthening of an empire, the creation of a great dominion, call for the possession and exercise of rarer qualities than are necessary to the achievement of literary fame. ]Mr. Hugh Macdonald died, as I have said, in 1 841 ; but his death v:as not the first break in the family. Before they moved to Hay Bay an accident occurred, if it can be called an accident, by which his younger son lost his life in a most distressing manner. Mr. Macdonald had in his employ an old soldier by the name of Kennedy, who, unknown to his employer, was addicted to drink. Going out one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald left the two children, John and James, aged seven and five years respectively, to the .' t3 of this man, who, as soon as his master and mistress were ut of sight, resolved upon spending the evening in his own fashion. Taking the two boys with him, he made his way to the nearest tavern, where, not content with drinking himself, he endeavoured to make the children follow his example. After a great deal of persuasion, he prevailed upon them to swallow some liquor. Going to the next drinking-place, he repeated his exploit. The children, however, not liking the beverage — it was gin — stoutly resisted, and John, taking his little brother by the hand, started for home. Kennedy ran after them, and in the pursuit the younger boy fell down. As he lay on the ground, the drunken soldier struck him with his cane. The blow, the fright, and the liquor combined were too much for a child of his tender years. He fell into convulsions, and shortly afterwards died. Of my late chiefs childhood I know but little. He remembered Glasgow very well, though scarcely five years old when he left it. His first recollection was finding himself in the police court. Always a thoughtful child, he had a habit when walking of holding his nurse's dress, and running along beside her with his eyes fixed on the ground. One day, in a crowd, he awoke from his reverie to find that he had got hold of somebody else's dress in mistake, and that his nurse was nowhere to be seen. He was taken to the police station, but was too young to tell his story ; so he remained there until discovered by his father, who took him home and administered a sound whipping. Of his boyhood he seldom spoke. From ■' I' ■ : "'•T - m U ^ I 6 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALB. [Chap. I. one or two remarks dropped by him, I infer that it was not altogether free from that res angv k domi, of which Juvenal speaks. " I had no boyhood," T heard him say. " From the age ol fifteen I began to earn my own living;" and, I suspect, more than his own living. His father, though not without parts, seems to have been unequal to the responsi- bilities of the head of a family, find much of the burden in consequence fell upon the young man. He once related an occurrence which gives an insight into the domestic arrange- ments of his early home — how, on returning from school one day, he found the door locked, and had to get in through the kitchen window ; how he discovered the whole family ill in bed, and but indifferently provided for; how it devolved upon him to bake the bread ; how he had not the requisite knowledge for tlie task; and how he overcame the difficulty by carrying his invalid sister downstairs on his back, and, laying her on a sofa before the kitchen fire, kneaded the dough under her supervision. I have seen it stated that Sir John Macdonald went to school at the Stone Mills, but am inclined to think this is a mistake. If he did, it must have been for a very short time. It was there, however, he spent his holidays, roaming about with rod and gun. To the last he never forgot tlie bay of Quinte, and, wlienever I passed through that charming locality in his company, he would speak with enthusiasm of the days when he lived there, pointing out one spot after another, and recalling some event connected with each, until, between Glasgow, and Kingston, and Adolphustown, and Hay Bay, and the Stone Mills,. I used to get puzzled as to which was really his native place. I told him so one day, and he laughingly replied, " That's just what the Grits say. The Globe has it that I am born in a new place every general election." In 1830, Mr. Macdonald, then fifteen years of age, entered upon the study of law in the office of Mr. George Mackenzie of Kingston, a close friend of his father, with whom also ho lodged. In 1832 Mr. Mackenzie opened a branch office in Napanoo, to which place Mr. Mac(U)nald was occasionally sent to look after the business. In 1833, by an arrangement made I 1815-42.] EARLY DAYS. l)etween Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. L. P. Macpherson — a relative of the Macdonalds — he was sent to Picton, to take charge of tlie latter's law-office during his absence from Canada. This seems to have been an important step in the young man's career. Among several letters in regard to it, I find one dated the 3rd of December, 1833, from Thomas Ramsay of Napanee, who was quite enthusiastic over his young friend's promotion. " You will believe me when I say that I was not more pleased than proud to learn that my friend had made so positive a stop to preferment. It certainly is a very high compliment paid to yc ur head, that one so young should have so great a charge (and I hope not less a bonus) invested [?] on him ; it is good and well merited, and I only pray that I may ever live, as I do now, to pay the same tribute of praise to your heart which has been so amply dene to your pow. I know not whether to admire more, McKenzie or L. Macpherson; the former assuredly claims the character of unwonted (lisuiterestedness, for truly he sacrifices much to your good, and the latter is 80 well known to me through his good deeds, that, had he done otherwise, it would have been more foreign to his general disposition than any trait which marks his manly character. May his generosity be rewarded by a vigorous employment of those talents in his service, which you so fully possess." I have also before me a bundle of letters written in 1832-33 by Mr, Mackenzie, then at Kingston, to his student at Napanee, which indicates, equally with that of Mr. Kanisay, that, even at the very outset of his career, Sir John Macdonald inspired more than ordinary interest. Dome sentences in these letters fall strangely on tlie ear after the lapse of sixty years. Thus, on the ITtli of December, 1832, Mr. Mackenzie writes to liim : — " Meantime be assiduous, and, above nil, iiidustrious. ] do not think that you are so free and lively with the people as a young man eager for their good will should be. A dead-and-alive way with them never does." Again, in 1833, he writes : — ''1 am sensible of your attention to the duties of the (iflico, and trust tliat I may have it in my power to mark my sense of your zeal and lidelity." Witli Mr. ^lackenzie's letters is a venerable document emanating from Osgoode Hall, and attesting tliat — 8 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACBONALD. [Chap. I. " John Alexander Macdonald was by the Benchers of the Law Society of Upper Canada, in Convocation on Saturday, the 6th day of February, of the term of Hilary, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, duly called to the degree of Barriwter-at-Law, taking precedence as such in this Society next immediately after William Henry Boulton, Esquire." On being called to the Bar, Mr. Macdonald opened an office in Kingston, and began the practice of law on his own account. In the first year of his profession there entered his office, as student, a lad destined to become in Ontario scarcely less eminent than himself. I refer to Mr. (now Sir) Oliver Mowat, the son of Mr. Macdonald's intimate, personal and political friend, Mr. John Mowat, of Kingston. Oliver Mowat studied law four years with Mr. Macdonald, leaving his office in 1840. About the same time, another youth, likewise des- tined to achieve more than a local celebrity, applied for admis- sion to the office — Mr. (subsequently Sir) Alexander Campbell, who began his studies with Mr. Cassidy, and after that gentleman'? death completed them with Mr. Macdonald. Few circumstances in our political history have been more dwelt upon than this remarkable association, and few circumstances are more worthy of remark. A young man, barely twenty-one years of age, without any special advantages of birth or education, opens a law-office in Kingston, at that time a place of less than five thousand inhabitants. Two lads come to him to study law. Tbe tlu'PG work together for a few years. They afterwards go into politics. One drifts away from the other two, who remain in close association. After the lapse of twenty-five years they meet again, at the Executive Council Board, members of the same Adnimisfcration. Another twenty- five years roll by, and the principal is Prime Minister of Canada, while one of the students is Lieutenant Governor of the great Province of Ontario, the other his chief adviser, and all three decorated by Her Majesty for distinguished services to the State. I venture to doubt whether the records of the British Empire furnish a parallel to this extraordinary coinci- dence. In his first case, which was at Picton, Mr. Macdonald and the opposing counsel became involved in an argument, which, waxing hotter and hotter, culminated in blows. They closed 1815-42.] EARLY DAYS. 9 and fought in open court, to the scandal of the judge, who immediately instructed the crier to enforce order. This crier was an old. man, personally much attached to Mr. Macdonald, in whom he took a lively interest. In pursuance of his duty, however, he was compelled to interfere. Moving towards the combatants, and circling round them, he shouted in stentorian tones, " Order in the court, order in the court," adding in a low, but intensely sympathetic voice as he passed near his protege, " Hit him, John ! " I have heard Sir John Macdonald say that, in many a parliamentary encounter of after years, he has seemed to hear, above the excitement of the occasion, the voice of the old crier whispering in his ear the words of en- couragement, " Hit him, John ! " In 1837, the rebellion broke out, and Mr. Macdonald hastened give his services to the cause of law and order. "I carriea niy musket in '37," he was wont to say in after years. One day he gave me an account of a long march his company made, I forget from what place, but Toronto was the objective point : " The day was hot, my feet were bli=»tered — I was but a weary boy — and I thought I should have dropped under the weight of the old flint musket which galled my shoulder. But I managed to keep up with my companion, a grim old soldier who seemed impervious to fatigue." The next time he spoke of carrying his musket, I ventured to remark that that was no mere figure of speech in his case, and I recalled to his mind the sentence in which Kin^'Iake brilliantly portrays CJeneral Scarlett's peril at the battle of Balaclava, where " tlie Brigadier's tenure of life was by the sword, and not by the sword which is a metaphor, but by that which is actual and of steel." In 1838 took place the famous Von Shouitz affiiir, about which mucli misunderstanding oxists. The facts of the case are these : During the rebellion of 1837-38, a party of Americans crossed the border, and captured a windmill near i'rescott, Avhieh they held for eiglit days. They were finally dislodged, arrested, tried by court-martial, ami eleven of them were luvnged. The quarter-master of the insurgents was a man named Gold. He was taken, as was also Vcn Shoultz, a I'olish gentleman. Gold had a brother-in-law in Kingston, I 10 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. I. m named Ford. Ford was anxious that some effort should be made to defend his relative. He tried Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick, wlio refused, as also did Mr. (afterwards Sir) Henry Smith. One morning Ford came to Mr. Macdonald's house, before he was up, and, after much entreaty, persuaded him to undertake the defence of his kinsman. There was practically no defence, however, and Von Shoultz, Gold, and nine otliers, were hanged. Colonel Marks was the presiding officer at the court-martial, and Mr. Draper, afterwards Chief Justice, Judge Advocate. Von Shoultz's career was a chequered one. He was born in Cracow, as was his father before him. The latter, a major in a Cracow regiment, was killed in action while fighting for the cause of Poland, and his son was selected by the corps on the field of battle to fill his father's plr.ce. He afterwards drifted about Europe until he reached Florence, where he taught music for a while. There he married an English girl,* daughter of an Indian officer. General Mackenzie. Von Shoultz subsequently crossed to America, settled in Virginia, took out a patent for crystallizing salt, and acquired some property. The course of business took him to Salina, N.Y., not fur from the Canadian boundary, where he heard of the rebellion going on in Canada. He naturally associated the reljels with his Polish brethren, and, having been told that the Canadians were serfs, and that it was a case of I'oland over again, he crossed the frontier with a company and Avas captured. He was only second in command, the nominal chief being a Yankee named Abbey, who tried to run away, and who. Von Shoultz declared to ^Ir. Macdonald, was a coward. Von Shoultz left to Mr. Macdonald a hun'^^ad dollars in his will. " I wish my executors to give Mr. John A. Mac- donald iiflOO for his kindness to me." Tliis was in the original draft, but Mr. ]\Iacdonald left it out when reading over the will for his signature. He observed the omission, and said, '• You liave left that out." Mr. ^Macdonald replied yes, that he could not take it. "Well," replied Von Shoultz, "if it cannot bo done one way it can another." So he wrote with his own hand a letter of instructions to his executors to pay this money over, but Mr. Macdonald refused to accept it. * Mr, (llmi'li'» lli'uth, o[ Tmouto, was, I bulicvo, present nt the wedding. 1815-42.] EARLY DAYS. 11 % It has been generally stated that it was Mr. MacJonald's "eloquent appeal" on behalf of this unfortunate man which established his reputation at the Bar, but this is quite a mistake. Mr. Macdonald never made any speech in defence of Von Shoultz, for two very good reasons. In the first place, the Pole pleaded guilty at the outset; and, in the second place, the trial was by court-martial, on which occasions, as is well known, counsel are not allowed to address the Court on behalf of the prisoner. This erroneous impression leads me to say that a good deal of misapprehension exists respecting the early manhood of Canada's late Premier. As I liave already stated, he left .school at an age when many boys begin their studies. He did this in order that he might assist in supporting his parents and sisters, who, from causes which I have indicated, were in need of his help. The responsibility was no light one for a lad of fifteen, and to my mind is abundantly sufiicient to account for the "dead-and-alive" manner which Mr. Mackenzie dei)rccated. Life with him in those days was a struggle; and all the glamour with which it is sought to be invested by writers who begin their accounts of him by mysterious allusions to the mailed barons of his line, is quite out of place. His grandfather, as we have seen, was a merchant in a Highland village. His fatlier served his apprenticeship in liis grandfather's shop, and he himself was compelled to begin tlie battle of life when a mere lad. Sir John Macdonald owed nothing to birth or fortune — not that he thought little of either in themselves, but \t is the sim])le truth to say that he attained the eminent position whicli he afterwards occupied solely by his own exertions. He was proud of this fact, and those who thought to ilatter liim by asserting tlie contrary Uttle knew the man. Nor is it true that he leaped at one liouud into the first rank of the legal profession. On the contrary, 1 believe that his progress at the Par, although uniform and constant, was not extraordinarily rapid. He once told me that he was unfortunate in the l»eginning of his career with his criminal cases, several of his clients, of whom Vou Shoultz was one, having been hanged. This piece of ill luck was so marked that somebody (I think it was Mr. J)raper) ti P""***^^*"* 12 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. I. I i;| said to him, jokingly, one day, " Johr A., we shall have to make you Attorney General, owing to your success in securing convictions ! " Mr. Macdonald's mother was in many waj'S a remarkable woman. Of great energy and strength of will, she it was, to use his own words, " who kept the family together " during their first years in Canada. For her he ever cherished a tender regard, and her death, which occurred in 1862, was a great grief to him. In the early part of 1840, Mr. Macdonald experienced a severe illness, the effects of which did not wholly disappear for some time. In 1842 he visited England, partly for the benefit of his health, and partly to purchase his law library. While in London, he wrote to his mother the following letter, which, in view of the great interest attaching to it, I think it right to give in full. " 12, Craven Street, Strand, London, " March 3, 1842. "My dear Mother, " Some anxiety will exist, I suppose, in Canada in consequence of the non-appearance of the Caledonia at Boston in her usual time. As I mentioned in my last, we were exposed to the same storm that drove her back, but, fortunately for us, the wind, tho' blowing a tempest, was in our favour. The return of the Caledonia, however, is a great disappointment, both to Wilson and myself, as it will probably prevent us hearing from Canada until the end of this month, and leaves me in uncertainty as to the period of ray return. I have, you see, not left London yet; the sights and wonders have kept me busily employed since the 17th February. I have not seen half of them, and indeed it would take months to do it pr-^ric.'v f»o. having taken a cursory view of the principal ones, •. .iij... • I'mving this on Saturday or Sunday evening for ';-;'; it . .1 3hall stop a day or two at Chester on my way, a. is stationed there, has written me to do so it' possible, i rihall then proceed to Arbroath, and, having spent a few days with Mojor and Mrs. Bruce — I beg their pardon — Gardyne, I shall direct my wandering steps wherever my 1315-42.] FAULT DAYS. 13 m fancy leads mt thro' Scotland. Unless Edinburgh detains me longer than I anticipate, I shall not remain in Scotland more than a fortnight, but shall return to the south, and meet Wilson and Evan at Kendal in Westmoreland, where we shall have a roam round the lakes, and then to Oxford and Cambridge. Since my arrival in England, my health has been remarkably good. You would be surprised at the break- fast I eat. Wilson laughs as he sees roll after roll disappear and eggs and bacon after roll. My dinners are equally satis- factory to myself and expensive to the chopman. Harper will tell you what a whole beefsteak is. Now, only fancy my commencing dinner with a sole fried, with shrimp sauce, demolishing a large steak, and polishing off with bread and cheese and a quart of London stout. This I assure you is not exaggeration, but I find it necessary to support myself against the tremendous quantity of exercise I take every day. I brought a gooJ many letters to people in London, but have hardly found it necessary to use them, as Wilson and his friends here have put me in the way of seeing everything and going everywhere. Mr. Edward Wanklyn, who resides in London, is very attentive to us. He lives in a nice style and is a very gentleman-like person — and his wife is one of the sweetest women I ever met with. From ill-health she is obliged to live a secluded life, but we always find her cheerful and hospitable. Wilson's sister, and brother-in-law Mr. John Wanklyn, were here, as I wrote you, for some days after we arrived, and through their means I was lionized everywhere. I think one of the most delightful days I ever spent was with them at Windsor Castle. Mr. Wanklyn obtained from Lord De la Warr an order to see the Queen's private apartments, so we saw all the domestic conveniences of Her Majesty, and I can assure you that things are as l)lain and snug as in the family of a private person. Com- fort is in no case sacrificed to magnificence or show. The State apartments are usually open to the public, and the private ones not shown. In our case, however, it was reversed. The State apartments were closed, as the para- liliernalia of royalty which had been prepared for the recep- tion of the King of Prussia had not been removed. By , II ii ' iiii; 14 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. I. remarkable good fortune, however, we slipt in, and saw tlio whole magnificence of the royalty of England. I shall not attempt to describe the fairlies, as they will form the subject of a great many conversations when I return. In one of Scott's novels he speaks of the unrivalled scenery of Windsor, and certainly the prospect from the terrace opened to my eyes a view which I could not before conceive. I saw it under favourable auspices. The day was clear, the weather warm, and I had a very pretty girl, Margaret Wanklyn, on my arm, to whom the scene was also new, so we were very agreeably engaged in comparing our impressions. Our ideas sympathized wonderfully. The engraving of Windsor Castle from the Albion is a very correct one, but gives an inadequate idea of the extent and magnificence of the most splendid royal residence in the world. Theatricals I have seen again and again, together with a countless number of exhibitions of all sorts and sizes. At every • ne of these places I have purchased a catalogue raisonne, or de oriptive account of the exhibition. These I will bring with me — even to the very play-bills — so that you will have every opportunity of tracking my progress thro' the capital. " I have formed acquaintances and dined with two or three lawyers here, by whose assistance I have seen all the great guns of the law. Indeed, I have been lucky in all my sight- seeing. The first time I went into the House of Lords they were sitting as a Court of Appeal, and there I saw the four great law lords, Lyndhurst, Brougham, Campbell, and Cotten- ham. At Guildhall I saw Lord Denman and Sir Nicholas Tindal presiding over jury trials ; and when I went to the House of Commons, I heard speeches from Peel, Goulburn, Lord John Eussell, Lord Stanley, O'Connell, Buncombe, Wakley, Sir James Graham, and most of the leaders in Parliament. I go to-day to the Tower and the Tunnel, and dine this evening with Harpie's old friend, Mr. Stocks, who has invited two members of Parliament to meet us. The Queen is at Brighton and the Duke of Wellington at Strathfieldsaye, so I have not seen either, nor do I now expect to do so until my return to London. I have formed, thro' a kind letter from Hitchings, a very desirable acquaintance with a young lawyer named ;||l 1815-42.] EARLY DAYS. 15 Leach (a nephew of Sir John Leach, late Master of the Eolls), who has been of great assistance to me. Notwithstanding all this, however, I feel oftentimes a yearning for home and an uneasy desire to be at work. To a person obliged during all his life to be busy, idleness is no pleasure, and I feel assured I shall return to my desk with greater zest and zeal than ever. At Manchester I am going to purchase a quantity of damask, an iron railing for the house, and a kitchen range. Paper- hangings and some chimney ornaments I shall buy here, and send all out by Quebec. By the bye, I am going to a Bachelors' Ball at Manchester on the 30th. Will. Wanklyn, "Wilson's oldest nephew, is a manager, and has given me a ticket and sent one to Evan. The cab is waiting to take us to the city, for you must know we live in the west end, so I must close my yarn. Love to Moll and Louisa, and to all friends, and believe me ever to remain, " Your affectionate son, "JouN A. Macdonald." m This letter was written in 1842. Forty-two years passed away, and again John Alexander Macdonald stood within the portals of Windsor Castle ; but under what different circum- stances ! No longer an unknown visitor, peeping with youthful curiosity through half-open doors ; but as the First Minister of a mighty Dominion, he comes by the Queen's command to dine at her table, and, in the presence of the Prime Minister and of one of the great nobles of England, who alone have been summoned as witnesses of the ceremony, to receive from the hand of his Sovereign that token and pledge of lier regard which, as such, he greatly prized — the broad red riband of the Bath. --*nr ,"^,^KrA^jy^2^3jjSvg^^j^g^^jjJj^j(J^^^^ wmm 1-1 16 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. CHAPTEE II. A DIP INTO HISTORY. 1841-1844. STATE OF CANADA IS 1844 — MU. MACDON'ALD RETURNS FROM ENGLAND — FORMS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MR. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL — ELECTED TO THE KINGSTON CITY COUNCIL — REVIEW OF POLITICAL EVENTS — LOlii) DURHAM — LORD SYDENHASI — UNION OF UPPER AND LOWER CANADA — ROBERT BALDWIN — DEATH OF LORD SYDENHAM — SIR CHARLES BAGOT-- SIR CHARLES METCALFE — WILLIAM IIENItY DRAPER — DISSOLUTION OF FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA — ELECTION OF MR. MACDONALD FOU KINGSTON. "It is thirty years since I first went to Canada, but even before that time my old friend — one of the most eminent men wlio have been Governor General, Sir Edmund Head — told me he had a very remarkable man as his Prime Minister. Well, that man is Prime Minister still. Just fancy I At the time when Louis Napoleon was Emperor of the French ; when Bismarck had not been heard of; when Italy was not united; when Lord Palmerston was Prime Miultjier ot England — Sir John A. Macdonald was Prime Minister of Canada; and now, after an interval of more than thirty years, though not without intervals, generally short ones, ho is still at the head of the Government." So spoke a retired Colonial Governor at a meeting of the Koyal Colonial Institute, held at London in the early part of the year 1891. His words are suggestive, and serve to illustrate the length and importance of that career, the consideration of which we are about to approach. Yet, if we go back only a few years prior to the period to which Sir Arthur Gordon* had reference, and look round at the time when Sir John Macdonald entered Parliament, the contrast in point of time is still more marked. Then Louis Napoleon was a prisoner in * Now Lord Stimmore. 1842.] A DIP INTO BISTORT. 17 the fortress of Ham, and the Second Empire was unborn ; the long reign of Pius IX. had not begun ; Sir Robert Peel, at that time champion of the Corn Laws, was Prime Minister of England ; Mr. Gladstone's Toryism, if perhaps less " stern and unbending " in its character than at the outset of his career, was Toryism still; still John Henry Newman lingered in the Established Church. Many and great indeed are the changes, the world over, which have taken place since that eventful day in 1844, when the youthful member for Kingston took his seat for the first time in that Assembly over which he was destined to wield a paramount influence for well-nigh fifty years ; yet nowhere is the contrast more strongly marked than in the country of his adoption — I had almost said of his creation, for in 1844 Canada, as we understand the term, did not exist. Four scattered provinces, having nothing in common, save their common allegiance, together with an almost untrodden wilder- ness over which the Indian and the buffalo roamed at will — there was nothing else from sea to sea. In 1844 the whole population of what is now the Dominion of Canada did not greatly exceed one and a half millions ; it is now considerably more than three times that number. Then there were only sixteen miles of railway in operation throughout the length and breadth of the land ; now there are fifteen thousand. Then the whole volume of trade amounted to thirty-three and a half millions of dollars ; it is now (1893) two hundred and forty- eight millions. Then the provinces could borrow in the markets of the world with difficulty at six per cent., and sometimes could not borrow at all; now our three-and-a-half per cent, bonds are subscribed for many times over witliin a few hours , after being placed on the market. Nor is the contrast between then and now to be measured I only by counting heads and dollars. Though it is true that, in common with all young countries, Canada's intellectual and artistic development has not kept pace with its material growth, it is nevertheless a fact that in every condition of life our advancement has been marked ; and deep in the minds of the j Canadian people is fixed the invincible persuasion that no [Bmall part of their national prosperity is due to the commanding II ;i .'.il ill VOL. I. C 18 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. intelligence, prudence, forethought, anJ devotion to their interests of him who, during by far the larger portion of this interval, directed public affairs. Mr. Macdonald returned from England in the spring of 1842, much improved in health, and applied himself with renewed vigour to the practice of the law. He brought with him the nucleus of his law library, which he purchased from H. Sweet, of Chancery Lane, London, and for which he paid £161 9s. 6d. sterling. During the six years which had elapsed since his admission to the Bar, Mr. Macdonald had been steadily making his reputation and building up an extensive and profit- able business. In 1839 he became solicitor for the Commercial Bank, and a little later for the Trust and Loan Company ; while at Mr. Mackenzie's death most of his old friend's clients trans- ferred their business to him. On the 1st of September, 1843, he formed a partnership with his quondam student, Mr. Alexander Campbell, who had just been admitted to the Bar. This partner- ship lasted until September, 1846, when it was renewed for a further period of four years, but was dissolved in 1849. The head of a prosperous legal firm, it was not long ere Mr. Macdonald became prominent as a citizen of Kingston. In March, 1843, he was elected to the City Council for what is now a portion of Frontenac and Cataraqui wards, and took his seat at the Council Board. But a higher destiny awaited him. At this point it is, I think, convenient that I should endeavour briefly to outline the state of public affairs in Canada at the dissolution of the first Parliament of the United Provinces, in September, 1844. In order rightly to understand the reasons for that dissolution it is necessary to go back a few years. This is not the place for a lengthenel rnview of the political events of these troublous times. I do not propose, therefore, to dwell upon the rebellion of 1837-38, nor to detail any of the incidents of that unhappy period. In his admirable report. Lord Durham has outlined with a master hand the position of affairs in Canada when he landed in the country in 1838. That remarkable State paper is, in fact, an epitome of the | liistory of Canada from the division of the province in 1791 to the reunion of Upper and Lower Canada fifty years later. Living under a form of government professedly based upon that ; 1791-1841.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 19 of England, the Canadians vehemently complained that they liad no potential voice in tlie administration of affairs. Kuled over by an Imperial officer, who was assisted by an advisory Council, the members of which were irresponsible to the Legis- lature, and answerable only to the Governor General for their actions, the conviction forced itself upon the peopli- of Canada that what was called Representative Government was little else than a sham. It is true that the privilege of electing repre- sentatives to sit in the Assembly was theirs, but this branch of the Legislature had little to say in the government of the country. They might pass Bills, it is true ; but every measure adopted by them had first to run the gauntlet of the Legis- lative Council — the members of which were appointed by the Governor General for life — and then to receive the Eoyal assent before becoming operative. The Assembly saw, with great and ever-increasing dissatisfaction, all power centred in the hands of a few persons often eminently distasteful to them. They witnessed every public office in the colony filled without refer- ence to them, often in defiance of their well-understood wishes ; and the measures which in their judgment were best adapted to promote the welfare of their province strangled in the Legis- lative Council or at the foot of the throne. Such was the position of affairs alike in Upper and Lower Canada sixty years ago ; but in the latter province the situation was greatly aggravated by questions of race, from which Upper Canada happily was free. In Lower Canada an immense majority of the inhabitants was of French origin, a sensi- jtive and proud people, smarting under the mortification of a defeat for which they were not responsible and which they [could not have averted. To be governed by a despot was bad enough, though to them and their fathers it was no new thing ; but to be ruled over by an Anglo-Saxon despot was a liumilia- Itiou not to be borne. The Governor General was always an [Englishman. The members of his Council, with here and there m exception, were of the dominant race. Such also was the composition of the Legislative Council, while from the highest josts in the law, the departments of civil government, and the army, the French Canadians were rigorously excluded. The popular branch of the Legislature was, as might be expected, ml m 20 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. I.i !!ll!i 11'^ If overwhelmingly French, and in its impotence presented a strange contrast to the Imperial body of which it was supposed to be a reflection. The old-fashioned Tories who surrounded the Governor General witnessed the exclusion of the House of Assembly from all power and patronage with a fulness of enjoy- ment not given to the " family compact " of Upper Canada. The pleasure of keeping down the representatives of the people was indeed common to both ; but the former had the additional satisfaction of knowing that in their case the people were of an alien race, and that in vindicating their political principles they were gratifying their national prejudices. Thus was the struggle between the Executive and Legislative bodies in Lower Canada embittered by the ancient hostility between the two races which for more than a century had been contending for the mastery in North America. From bad to worse did matters proceed, until at length the contest was one of race rather than of principle, and ♦^^he constitutional question became obscured in the bitterness of the national feud. Nor was the struggle by any means one of Tory against Radical. The French Canadians were then, even to a greater extent than they arc to-day, a conservative people. A few demagogues they had in their ranks, to be sure, oven as tliey have now ; but in their habits, customs, laws, and religion they adhered scrupulously to the traditions of their fathers. Yet, for the reasons I have indicated, these people found themselves, almost to a man, arrayed against the constitutional authorities of the land. Nor is it to be supposed that the English popula- tion of Lower Canada was imbued with a profound veneration for the existing order of things. Among them were to be found men of all shades of political thought. Many whose sympathies were on the side of the Governor's party would, had they lived in the Upper Province, have been strenuous champions of| reform. But with them racial animosity was stronger than political principle, and impelled them to aid in the main- tenance of a system repugnant to their notions of justice, because it operated to the repression of the French Canadians. In Upper Canada the issue was simple, and divided the people into two camps. Those supporting the Assembly in their pretensions were the Radicals, who naturally attracted to I m 1791-1841.] A DIP INTO EISTOBY. 21 5^:'1 tlieir ranks all those who, from one cause or another, hated JJritish connection. On the side of the Crown was arrayed the Tory party, which at a later period was strengthened by the adhesion of many persons who, while they were not Tories, were not disposed to become rebels. While it is natural that those who have been brought up under the full measure of Constitutional Government, which we in Canada enjoy to-day, should sympathize with the struggles of our fathers for Eesponsible Government, it cannot be said that a study of the course pursued by the Legislative Assemblies of Upper and Lower Canada, in their efforts to secure that desirable result, is calculated to increase our sympathy for the cause they espoused. If the executive denied the Assembly any share in the administrative power of Government, the violent language, and often grossly unconstitutional actions of the leaders of those bodies were frequently such as abundantly to demonstrate their unfitness to exercise that power. If the members of the Assembly were compelled to undergo the mortification of seeing their cherished measures vetoed by the Legislative Council (I speak now more particularly of Lower Canada), it was because, to quote the words of Lord Durham — " tho national animosities which porvailed the legislation of tlie Assembly, ;ind its thorough want of legislative skill or respect for constitutional [irinciples, rendered almost all its Bills obnoxious to the objections made by tho Legislative Council ; and the serious evil wliich their enactment would liave occasioned convinces mo that the colony has reason to congratulate itself on the existence of an institution which possessed and used tho povvcr of stopping a course of legislation that, if successful, would have sacrificed every British interest and overthrown every guarautee of order and national liberty." It is an undoubted fact that by their extravagant claims, by their systematic abuse of constitutional forms, more particularly by their vicious practice of " tacking " together various legislative measures for the avov/ed purpose of compelling the Lc'<;islative Council to pass some objectionable Bill — a rare and extreme course in constitutional procedure which tliey converted into the ordinary mode of legislation, — by tlieir systematic jobbing with tho public funds, and finally by their absolute m I n •t •'{ •.a>aai:;isilt^fif ■'^iliviiri.t ni,' *;^42;t-'^":^» 22 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. 11 ill \ III refusal to vote the supplies necessary to the carrying on of the Government, the Assembly furnished the opponents of the introduction of responsible government with a series of arguments difficult of refutation. Lord Durham came to Canada charged with the arduous duty of ascertaining the causes of the grave disorders which afflicted the colony. With rare skill he executed his difficult task, and his report to the Imperial Government is a monument no less to his powers of observation and analysis, than to the clearness and vigour of his literary style. In Lord Durham's judgment the constitutional question, though important and calling for adjustment, was not the primary cause of the troubles which he was commissioned to inquire into. Deeper than any dispute between the Executive and the Assembly over the distribution of power and place, lay the fatal feud of origin in Lower Canada, which must first be allayed before abiding peace could be looked for. Lord Durham's proposed remedy foi this paramount evil was simple and drastic. As a preliminary step to the union of all British North America, which he strongly advocated, he recommended the fusion of the two Canadas in a legisla- tive union. This course, he was persuaded, would restore tranquillity in respect of the main issue by submitting the French Canadians to the vigorous rule of an English majority. He was of opinion that the French Canadian , people were destined speedily to lose their distinctive nationality and to become merged in the Anglo-Saxon communities which surrounded them ; and he conceived that nutliing would conduce to that result so effectually as the union of Upper and Lower Canada. To the united province he would grant responsible government, " placing," to quote his words, " the internal government of the colony in the hands of tlic colonists themselves." Thus, all sources of dissatisfaction being removed, Canada would advance in the path of peace and prosperity, and form one of the brightest ornaments in the British Crown. The suggestions of Lord Durham commended tliomselves to the Homo Government, and Mr. Charles Edward Poulott Thomson — better known by his subsequent title of Lord Mlii 1839-44.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 23 Sydenham — was sent out in 1839 as Governor General, with instructions to bring about the proposed union. This task was accomplished without much difficulty. The necessary resolu- tions were passed by the Special Council of Lower Canada and the Legislature of Upper Canada, the requisite Imperial legisla- tion was obtained, and on the 10th of February, 1841, the union was proclaimed. On the 13th the members of the Executive Council were sworn into office.* Writs for the election of a new Assembly were issued forthwith. On t!.3 9th of June, twenty-four gentlemen were summoned by the Governor General to the Legislative Council, and on the 14th of the same month the first Parliament of the province of Canada met at Kingston, which place had been selected as the capital. But peace was not yet. I have said that the Imperial Government approved the suggestions of Lord Durham ; but the statement requires qualification. While they readily adopted the scheme of union, and were not unwilling to concede a larger measure of representative government than had hitherto been enjoyed by the Canadian people, they did not deem it advisable at once to carry out that nobleman's recommendation, viz. that — " the responsibility to tho Unitetl Lcgislatiiro of all olTicors of tiio Govorn- inent, exceiit the Governor and his secretary, should bo secured by every means known to the British Constitution. The Governor, as tho representative of the Crown, should bo instnicted that ho must carry on his Government by iieads of departments, in whom tho United Legislature shall repose confidence, ftiid that ho must look for no support from homo in any contest with tho Legislature, except on points involving strictly Imperial interests." Lord Sydenham's course makes this plain. At tho very outset of his administration he gave it to bo understood that he wou)'^ never submit to yield up tho authority with which ho liad boon invested to any set of men in the colony. Ho was willing to admit that his Council ought to bo com[)osod of men ♦ The foUowinjf '\* tho conipoHition of tlio first Cabinet under tlio Union : — Tlio Hon. U. It. Hulliviin, President of tlie t'oiiueil and Commissioner of (howu Liuuls ; tho Hon. J. 11, Dunn, Iteceiver Oenornl ; tlio Hon. 1). Duly, Provineiid Secretary, l.iiwer Cinindii ; the Item. S. J{. Iliirrison, Provhu'ial Seeretury, UpixT Ciinadii ; tliu I loll. ('. 11. ()f;den, Attorney (Jeiieral, Lower Caiuuli ; tlio Hon. ^V. II. Dniper, Attorney (Jeiieral, Upper Canada; tho lion. Robert lluldwin, ^(dieitor (jiiierul. Upper 'Janiulu ; tlio IIou. C. I). Day, Solicitor Oenornl, Lower Canada. M' I :i •^"Ai'. ■' Hi III Hill 24 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOEN A. MACDONALB. [Chap. II. possessed of the confidence of the representatives of the people ; but he reserved to himself the right to accept or reject their advice as he thought proper. It was impossible, he argued, for him to divest himself, or allow himself to be divested of any portion of the responsibility attached to his office. The local knowledge and experience possessed by the members of his Council would, no doubt, prove of the greatest advantage to him in the carrying on of the Government ; but he let it be clearly understood that he looked upon them merely as a consultative body, useful, but by no means indispensable, to the proper execution of his functions. The Executive Council, as constitu^c-3 lyLord Sydenham, was a coalition, and contained men of various and varying shades of politics, including one Radical, Mi. i^obert Baldwin, who, finding himself unable to act with his colleagues, or to agree in the policy of exclusion which the Governor General thought proper to adopt towards the French Canadians, resigned office on the day before the meeting of Parliament, in June, 1841. This, though an embarrassment to the Governor General, could not have taken him by surprise, inasmuch as Mr. Baldwin, on accepting office, gave Lord Sydenham clearly to understand that he did so solely on the ground of liis confidence in him personally, and actually took the extraordinary step of notifying certain leading members of the Council that they were not to regard his accession to tiieir body as indicative of any political confidence in them. It appears that Mr. Baldwin considered this notice as sufficient to relieve him of the ordinary obliga- tions which are supposed to govern the actions of Cabinet Ministers in their relations towards the Crown and each other, for that gentleman, while holding office in the Administration, thought it not inconsistent with his own honour and his duty towards his colleagues, to enter into negotiations with the leaders of the Opposition, with a view to the retirement of three members of the Government in favour of certain members of the Eadical party. And not only so, but he actually attended meetings of the Opposition, and discussed with them the best means of coercing the Adnunistration of which he wn.r\ at the very time a member. Mr. Baldwin was the soul of honour, and doubtless felt himself justified in his course throughout ^ m 1839- 44.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 25 this transaction, which I relate because it serves to illustrate, perhaps better than anything else, how imperfectly even the leaders of the Radicals understood that system of responsible government for which they were so loudly clamouring. It will be observed that the list of Lord Sydenham's coun- cillors does not contain the name of a single French Canadian. This omission, which was deliberate on the part of the Governor General, seems to have been singularly ill-advised. The French opposed the union, and at the general election had returned a large majority hostile to its continuance. Ostracism was not likely to reconcile them to the new order of things. On the contrary, it had, as was to be expected, precisely the opposite effect. Lord Durham's prediction as to their national extinction was destined to remain unfulfilled. Not unnaturally, the French Canadians entertained objections to such a fate and joined hands to avert it. By that tactical movement known to politicians of a later period as " the solid column," they were enabled to present a united front against the common foes who, divided into two bitterly hostile factions, were powerless to do them harm. Thus in the first Parliament under the Union there were three distinct groups — the Tories, the Radicals, and the French Canadians, the last devoted to the maintenance of their nationality, and prepared to act with that party which would concede most to them. Lord Sydenham was a man of much force of character, of excellent tact, and distinguished for his practical knowledge of affairs. He had, I have heard my late chief say, a charming manner, was thoroughly a man of the workl, and devoted to the fair sex. Though by no means a Tory, he was deeply impressed with the idea that it was his Con vatives, and the French Canadians, to turn out what were then termed the "office holders," but whom we shoid^^ designate the Ministry. The Governor General, fearing a vote of > mt ui confidence against his Council, determined upon anticipating the action of the Legislature. Accordingly he opened negotiations with the combined forces of the Opposition, and the result was the with- drawal from office of Messrs. Draper, Ogden, Henry Sherwood, and the introduction of Messrs. La Fontaine, Small, and Morin, all of whom were either Eadicals or French Canadians. It does not appear that at this time any one member of tlie Council occupied what is now the recognized position of First Minister. Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot certainly filled that office in their own persons. Down to Confederation the leadership was (at least nominally) a double-headed affair, consisting of one Upper Canadian and one French Canadian. In Sir Charles Bagot's reconstructed Council Mr. Eobert Baldwin was the leader of the Upper Canada wing, and Mr. (afterwards Sir) Louis La Fontaine was the acknowledged chief of the French Canadians. The Eeform party naturally was highly elated over the change in its fortunes. Now for the first time in Canada were heard the words " Administration," " Cabinet," " Ministry," and so forth, which the members of the Executive Council applied without qualification to themselves. The briefness of Sir Charles Bagot's term of office, and hi* 1839-44.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 27 continued ill-health during a large portion of the time, make it difficult to predicate anything with respect to his views on the great question of the day. His correspondence with the Colonial Minister has never been made public ; but it has always been understood that, while the Governor's right to cliange the personnel of his Council was undoubted, his course in confiding the administration of affairs to men remarkable chiefly for their undisguised hostility to British connection did not merit the approbation of the Home Government. Un- fortunately he was not permitted to develop his policy. Towards the close of the year failing health compelled him to ask to be relieved of his duties. His request was granted after some delay, and Sir Charles (afterwards Lord) Metcalfe was appointed his successor. Sir Charles Metcalfe arrived in Kingston on the 29th of March, 1843, and assumed the Governorship on the following day. His predecessor, too ill to travel, remained at Government House until the opening of navigation, when he returned home to die. Sir Charles Metcalfe had already approved himself an able colonial administrator, first in India, and subsequently in Jamaica. In 1842 he resigned the government of the latter colony, and returned to England in consequence of an ulcerous affection of the face, which at last caused his death. The progress of the disease having been stayed by a series of painful operations. Sir Charles Metcalfe again began to turn his attention to public affairs. His idea seems to have been to enter parliamentary life. Of office he had no thought, being of opinion that his pronounced Liberal views operated as an insuperable bar to his advancement under the Conservative Government of Sir Eobert Peel. He was, therefore, much suri)rised to learn in the month of January, 1843, that he had been selected for the arduous post of Governor General of Canada. His personal inclinations and his delicate health alike j)rompted him to decline an honour which was no new thing to him ; but his strong sense of duty overbore all other considerations, and in the belief that it was incumbent on him to place his services at the disposal of Her Majesty's Govern- mont, he accepted the responsibility, and sailed for Canada in March, 1843. ■ In 1:1 ^:^ i.ii '':::! 28 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. Upon his arrival he devoted himself to a study of the political liistory of the colony and of the characters of those with whom he was most closely to be associated. Though not unprepared for anything, he found matters, he tells us, in a worse condition than he thought possible. Responsible Government — the all-absorbing topic — was being vigorously illustrated by Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin and their colleagues, who during the illness of the Governor General ruled with a high hand. Sir Charles Metcalfe's political sympathies at home were, he says in one of his letters, entirely with the Liberal party. He favoured the abolition of the Corn Laws, the extension of the franchise, and other " planks " of the Liberal " platform ; " but he was also a loyal and devoted servant of the British Crown, resolutely determined that the authority which had been delegated to him by his Sovereign should be exercised by himself alone. He found among his advisers men animated by a feeling of scarcely concealed disloyalty towards the motherland, and a desire to weaken if not to sever the Imperial connection of which he was the visible sign. Nor did he derive any assistance from the Tories. Thus he writes to the Colonial Secretary in the summer of 1843 : — " My chief annoyance at present proceeds from the discontent of what may he fairly called the British party in distinction from the others. It is the only party in the colony with which I can sympathize. I have no sympathy with the anti-British rancour of the French party, or the selfish indifference towards our country of the Republican party. Yet these are the parties with which I have to co-operate ; and because I do not cast them off, the other party will not see that I cannot, and construe all my acts as if they were the result of adhesion to anti-British policy." Upon the question of Responsible Government Sir Charles Metcalfe's attitude was that of Lord Sydenham. Though strongly opposed to party government, he recognized that it was the system which obtained in Canada, and that he had no option in the matter. In like manner he was quite prepared to form his Council from among those who possessed the confidence of the Assembly; but he strenuously resisted the proposition that he should abandon the Royal prerogative to his advisers. It was all very well, he argued, for Lord Durham to theorize upon the question, and to elaborate a system mi 1839-14.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 29 of government which he was never destined to put in action ; but the responsibility of administering the affairs of the colony- was upon him, and he could not divest himself of it. During the summer of 1843 the Governor General managed to avoid an open rupture witli his advisers, though he notes that, as a whole, they entirely failed in their duty towards himself, as evinced by their persistent determination to keep him in ignorance of their proceedings. Parliament met in September, and passed among other measures certain resolutions providing for the removal of the seat of government from Kingston to Montreal. In November the crisis came. Upon the question of patronage Sir Charles Metcalfe took high ground, holding that the right of appointment to office was peculiarly a prerogative of the Crown, for the proper exercise of which the Governor General was alone responsible. Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin combated this view, and insisted that no appointment should be made without their advice. This the Governor General would not hear of, and continued on the lines he had marked out for his guidance. Among other appointments which he thus made was that of a French Canadian ofi&cer, Mr. de Salaberry, to his personal staff. Mr. de Salaberry happened to be objectionable to Mr. La Fontaine, whose colleagues made his cause their own, and vigorously protested against Sir Charles Metcalfe's action, though in our day no Ministry would think of interfering, even by way of suggestion, with the Governor General in the selection of his staff. There were other grounds of friction between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his advisers ; but the appointment of Mr. F. C. Powell to the clerkship of the peace for the Dalhousie district, against the advice of his Ministers, who had recommended a partisan of their own, brought matters to a dead-lock. What made this act of the Governor General the more aggravating was the fact that Mr. Baldwin had actually promised the office to tlie person whom they recommended. The Ministry felt tlieir position to be intolerable. They, or a majority of them — for in those days unanimity of action or joint responsibility on the part of members of the Executive does not seem to have been recognized, waited in a body on the Governor General, and II il!iil!|l 30 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. sought to obtain from him a pledge, that in future he would make no appointment without their advice. This Sir Charles Metcalfe positively declined to give; whereupon all the members of the Council, with the exception of Mr. Daly, the Provincial Secretary, resigned their offices. The Governor < reneral at once prorogued Parliament, and was for some months in the anomalous position of being without advisers, save only Mr. Daly. Men might come and men might go, but the " perpetual secretary," it seems, went " on for ever." The Conservative party stood manfully by the Governor General in this emergency ; nor were there wanting among the French Canadians men who preferred country to faction. Prominent in the ranks of the Conservatives was Mr. William Henry Dra]3er, who had filled the position of Attorney General for Upper Canada in Lord Sydenham's Administration. Mr. Draper was a Toronto lawyer, in the enjoyment of a large practice. He was a Tory, though not of the straightest sect, of iinblemished reputation, and a devoted upholder of British connection. With him was associated Mr. D. B. Viger, a French Canadian, who, in the days of his youth, had been a rebel, but had grown wiser with advancing years. Both these gentlemen offered their services to the Governor General. Neither of them appears to have had any motive for so doing beyond a sincere desire to serve the State. Mr. Draper had just quitted official life. All his professional interests lay in Upper Canada, and to sever his business connections and remove to Montreal could be attended only with inconvenience and loss to himself Mr. Viger was seventy years of age. His course was well-nigh run, and he must have known that his acceptance of a seat at the Executive Council Board under existing circum- stances would assuredly alienate from him the regard and respect of his fellow-countrymen. On the 12 th of December Messrs. Draper and Viger were sworn as members of the Executive, the former without port- folio, the latter becoming President of the Council. At a later period Messrs. William Morris, D. B. Papineau, and James Smith joined the Government. Mr. Morris, the father of the late Hon. Alexander Morris, was a member of the Legislative Council for Upper Canada, a moderate reformer and a most iHIIII ■;;* 1843.] A DIP INTO HISTORY. 31 estimable man. To liim was entrusted the portfolio of Eeceiver General. Mr. Papineau was a brother of the notorious rebel leader, and his accession to the Ministry was a sore trial to the Radical party. He accepted the Commissionership of Crown Lands, and Mr. Smith, a member of the Montreal Bar, and representing the County of Missisquoi, became Attorney General for Lower Canada. That his new Council did not possess the confidence of the Assembly Sir Charles Metcalfe knew full well. After some hesitation he resolved upon an appeal to the country. Accord- ingly, on the 23rd of September, 18-14, a proclamation was issued dissolving Parliament, and ordering an election to be held forthwith. It was at this crisis that Mr. John A. Macdonald first sought the suiTrages of the people of Kingston, It must not be supposed that the issue before the country .vas simply whether the Governor General was bound to follow on all occasions the advice of his Ministers. I have said that there were three groups in the Legislature. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that there were five — the extreme Tories, the moderate Conservatives, the ultra Eadicals and the moderate Reformers ; besides the French, who themselves were divided by the action of Messrs. Viger and Papineau. It is difficult, in view of these ever-shifting party divisions, to determine the relative strength of the various groups, or the exact relation in which they stood to one another ; but this much is certain, that the unbridled violence and openly dis- loyal utterances of the Eadical party, which formed the back- bone of the opposition to the Government, had the effect of impelling many loyal citizens who knew nothing and cared less about questions of prerogative, to vote for the Ministerial candidates. Many Conservatives there were in Canada who, while not prepared to swear by the personality of Sir Charles Metcalfe, or to accept his views of Eesponsible Government, saw in him the representative of the Sovereign to whom their allegiance was due, and indignantly resented the manner in which he had been treated by the Radical party. For some time it had been seen that a General Election was imminent. The people of Kingston were early on the alert. On the 14th of June, an address signed by upwards of two i il.'jSl m ill ,lfe jliiiii 32 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. hundied electors was presented to Mr. Macdonald asking him to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for the repre- sentation of that town. He acceded to their request, and on the 5th of October issued this election card : — "To THE Free and Independent Electors of the Town OF Kingston. " Gentlemen, "The approaching election calls upon me to redeem the pledge made in March last, in answer to the flattering requi- sition addressed to me by 225 electors, inviting me to become a candidate for the representation of this town. " A residence in Kingston since infancy has afforded every opportunity to me of knowing the wants and claims of our ' Loyal Old Town,' and to you of ascertaining my political opinions, and my qualifications for the office I now solicit at your hands. "I, therefore, need scarcely state my firm belief, that tlie prosperity of Canada depends upon its permanent connection with the Mother Country, and that I shall resist to the utmost any attempt (from whatever quarter it may come) which may tend to weaken that union. " The proposed measures for reducing the enormous expense of the public departments, for improving the system of common schools, and for opening and extending the advantages of our Collegiate Institutes, will receive my cordial support. " It is alike my duty and my interest to promote the pros- perity of this city and the adjacent country. No exertion will be spared by me in forwarding the settlement of our rear town- ships, by the formation of public roads, iu assisting and con- centrating the trade of this port, and In such other local measures as will in any way conduce to your advantage. " I am deeply grateful for the confidence you have already reposed in me; and trusting that I have done nothing to forfeit it, I have the honour to be, " Your obliged and faithful servant, "John A. Macdonald." It will be observed that neither in Mr. Macdonald's reply k 1844.] A DIP INTO niSTORY. 33 to the signers of the requisition, nor in liis formal address to the electorate at large, is there any direct reference to Eespon- sible Government. Eather does he deprecate "fruitless dis- cussions on abstract and theoretical questions of government." lint on the larger issue, as forced by the Radicals, he gives forth no uncertain sound. " I, therefore, need scarcely state my firm belief, that the p .Ity of Canada depends upon its perma- nent connection with the Mother Country, and I shall resist to the utmost any attempt (from whatever quarter it may come) which may tend to weaken that union." Thus, on the very threshold of his career, did Sir John Macdonald lay down the principle which was to guide him through life. More than twenty years afterwards we shall see liim in the prime of manhood reaffirming it in the presence of his Sovereign, and at the close of his long and eventful life, when for the last time he stands before the electors of Kingston, he can find nothing nearer his heart to tell them than that " with his utmost efforts, with his latest breath, he will oppose the ' veiled treasor which atOempts by sordid means and mercenary proffers lure the Canadian people from their allegiance ! " From his youth politics had interested Mr. Macdonald. 1 1 recollect his telling me of a political demonstration at I Kingston in which he took part, which wr,« attended by far- 1 reaching consequences. In October, 1842, Mr. Eobert Baldwin, [who had vacated his seat on being appointed Attorney General jfor Upper Canada, was defeated in Hastings by Edmund Murney. jWhen the news reached Kingston, where Parliament was sitting, jit caused much excitement. The populace, among whom Mr. Macdonald was prominent, had a great jubilation, their shouts Df triumph reaching the ears of the legislators. This so irritated Mr. La Fontaine, who was leading the House at the time, that le vehemently declared that he would have the Government Removed from among such a turbulent lot. He carried out his threat, and this is how the seat of government came to be trans- lerreil from Kingston to Montreal. I once asked Sir John how he came to run in 1844. " To 111 a gap/' he replied. "There seemed to be no one else [vailable, so I was pitched upon." VOL. I. D • rss* I il ' 'I i! 34 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. II. His opponent, Mr. Anthony Manahan, had been a member of the old Legislature of Upper Canada. He has been repre- seutt;u as an uncouth and illiterate person ; but if he wrote the letter to Lord Durham on the subject of the disabilities under which the Irish Catholics of Upper Canada laboured, which appears in the appendix to that nobleman's report over his signature, I scarcely think the description accurate. Mr. Manahan was returned for Kingston at the general election of 1841 : but was induced to resign his seat in favour of the Hon. S. B. Harrison. His political opinions do not seem to have been clearly defined, but there is little doubt that, had he been elected, he would have supported Messrs. Baldwin and La Fontaine against the Governor General. The contest resulted in an easy victory for Mr. Macdonald, who polled an absolute majority of ohe voters of Kingston.* All over the country the fight was keen. When the smoke of battle cleared away it was found that victory rested with the Government. Of the forty-two members representing Upper "anada, thirty-four were elected to support the Administration. Lower Canada sent a large majority the other way ; but in the aggregate the Government was sustained by a working majority of about six in a house of eighty-four members. The most notable incidents in the contest were the defeat of Mr. Viger, President of the Council, in Eichelieu, by Dr. Nelson, a L :.ding rebel of 1837, and of Mr. Francis Hincks, a member of the old Council, in Oxford, by a supporter of the Government. The result of the elections was highly gratifying to the Governor General, who throughout the whole crisis had acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government. * Tho iiolling began on Monday the 14th of October. At the close of the first iliiy Mr. Mauahau retired. Tho poll stood, Mncdonuld, 229 ; Muuuhau, 40. ( 35 ) * ^ CHAPTER 111. ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 1844-1848. MK. MACDONALD's FIRST SESSION— CLOSENESS OP PARTIES — ILLNESS AND DEATH OF SIR CHARLES BIETCALFE — NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FRENCH CANADIAN PARTY — THEIR F.ULURE — SESSION OF 1846^-CH.VNaES IN THE MINISTRY— LORD ELGIN — MR. MACDONALD ENTERS THE CABINET — QUES- TION OF UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT — REBELLION LOSSES— DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT— DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY. The new Parliament met in Montreal on the 28th of November. Political feeling ran high. The fierceness with which the battle had been fought, the closeness and uncertainty of the result, and, above all, the impression that the Ministry, apart from its Parliamentary support, was far from strong, rendered the occasion one of peculiar interest. Of the members of the Government, Messrs. Draper and Morris sat in the Upper House: Mr. Vigor had been defeated at the polls, and only three, Messrs. Daly, Papineau, and Smith, had seats in the Assembly. Mr. Daly, while a capable administrator, was not a public speaker ; Mr. Smith had never sat in Parliomont ; and Mr. Papineau, though a good all-round man, was handicapped to some extent by partial deufness. Opposed to them were Messrs. La Fontaine, Baldwin, Morin, and Aylwin — all men of I'arliamentary experience and strong in attack, the last named reputed to be the best debater then in public life. It is not surprisi'ig, therefore, that the Opposition congregated in Mon- treal with high hopes of geitiug even with the Governor General. The first test of strength was on the election of Speaker. The Ministerial nominee for that office was Sir Allan MacNab, 1'^ ■ ! 'I i{ ; t M .• :ll ''i >i' 36 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. mm who was proposed by Attorney General Smith, then leading the Government in the Assembly. The Opposition, led by Mr. Baldwin, proposed Mr. A. N, Morin. The House divided on the motion of the Attorney General with the following result : for the motion, 39 ; against, 36 ; majority, 3. Six members were absent, and one seat vacant, making with the two can- didates the full number of 84. This division is memorable as being the occasion on which Mr. Macdonald gave his first vote in Parliament, His name appears among those who voted for the motion. A majority of three was close work, but a more satisfactory result was obtained a few days later, when the Opposition moved a series of amendments to the address, which involved — what a vote on the Speakership does not — a direct question of confidence in the Administration. Tne amendments were voted down and the address adopted by a majority of six in a House of seventy-eight members ; and this fairly represents the relative numerical strength of parties during the session. The position of the Government, however, in other respects was far from satisfactory, and, with the object of improving it, Mr. Draper — who, though I cannot find that he was ever so styled, seems to have come nearer being what in our day is called the Prime Minister than any other member of the Executive — resigned his seat in the Legislative Council, and contested the representation of London in the Assembly, where a vacancy had occurred. He was successful, and his presence in the Lower House had the desired effect of considerably strengthening the Government. But it wns not only on the floor of the Assembly that the Ministry needed strength. The Executive was not complete, and, what was more serious, was not united. ShorLly after the meeting of Parliament, Mr. W. B. Eobinson, the member for Simcoe, was sworn of the Council, and appointed Inspector General,* which place Sir Charles Metcalfe had not succeeded in tilling up. He did not long hold office. A measure dealing with the university question had been introduced bj Mr. Draper, but the ditference of opinion among his supporters was so great . that he was forced to abandon it. Amongst those who voted * Corresponding to tlio Fiuauuo Miuistor of to-day. 1844-45.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 37 against the second reading of this Bill was the Inspector General, Mr. Kobinson, who shortly afterwards resigned his place in the Administration. Early in the session the Ministry executed a strategic move, thereby averting what might have proved a serious embarrass- ment to them. By the terms of the Union Act (1840), it was provided that all the proceedings of Parliament should be printed in the English language only. Considering that the French Canadians formed a very large proportion of the people of Canado nnd that the great majority of them knew no other language .an French, this provision was felt to be a hardship, and tended to embitter the Lower Canadians, already hostile to the union. The Upper Canadian Radicals conceived the idea that it would be a politic stroke on their part to move in Parliament for the removal of this restriction. If the Govern- ment supported the motion, it would carry, and the credit of it, the Opposition argued, would belong to those who initiated it. If the Government opposed the motion, their course would provide a telling cry to be used against thera in Lower Canada. The scheme was an ingenious one, but, unfortunately for the Opposition, the Ministry discovered it. The greatest secrecy was maintained by the latter, and when, on the 20th of December, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Papineau, rose in his place, and moved a resolution similar in effect to the one lying in the desks of the Opposition, the chagrin of the Eadicals knew no bounds. It is said that, as Mr. Papineau was reading his motion, Mr. Baldwin whispered in the ear of the member who sat next to him, "Again has the subtle Indian delved a yard below our mines." The " subtle Indian," it may bo explained, was a term of reproach which the Radicals were wont to apply to Lord Metcalfe. Though not exactly a fitting appellation to bestow on the representative of the Queen, it was, it must be admitted, a marked improvement on " Charles the Simjde " and " Old Square-toes," by which epithets the more vulgar of the Radicals were in the habit of designating him. Mr. Baldwin, no doubt, had reference to tlie Governor General when he spoke. Without any precise warrant for saying so, I am inclined to think that on this occasion the " subtle Indian " was none other than the youthful member for Kingston, who ' '-Si- ;1 ■■ liiui iianiHiiiiii !l ■ '11 i! 38 MEMOIRS OF SIS JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. from the first possessed the confidence and friendship of Mr. Draper. During the whole of this session the Governor General watched the progress of events with keen anxiety. He was full of apprehension lest the coalition of Eadicals and French Canadians, which pressed the Administration so closely, might at any time prevail over them — a result which he was persuaded would be fraught with disaster to the country. The difficulty in completing his Cabinet was a cause of great embarrassment to him. "During nine months of last year," he writes the Colonial Secretary, " I was labouring in vain to complete my Council, and now I have again to fish in troubled waters for an Inspector General, and for a Lower Canada Solicitor General." Throughout this trying period his malady had been making rapid progress, and, by the beginning of the year 1845, it had destroyed the sight of one eye and threatened the loss of the other. His sufferings were extreme ; yet with rare courage he would not resign, because he felt that his strong personality was essential to the existence of the only party in the country which could be counted upon to preserve the interests he had been commissioned to guard. Burdened with responsibilities which would have drawn upon the resources of a young and vigorous constitution, this old man, though in the grasp of a remorseless disease which was dragging him to the grave, stood bravely at his post, exposed all the while to the malignant attacks of those of his enemies for whom the cancer ate too slowly.* But Sir Charles Metcalfe's services were not destined to go unrecognized or unrewarded. Towards the close of 1844 he received an intimation that Sir llobert Peel, in order to mark * The following allusion to tho mnlady from which Sir Charles Metcolfo was suffering is only one dogrco more brutal tluin many otliers of a siniilnr character to be found scattertKl through tlie speeches of tlie Governor General's leading opponents. Tho words I quote were uttered by Mr. Drununoud, oue of the Opposition candidates for tlie city of Montreal, in a speech to his constituents delivered ou the 10th of October, 1844 : " And they accuse us, us ! gentlemen, of disloyalty. And to whom, do you think F To Sir Cliiirles Metcalfe ' is Sir Charles Metcalfe tlio embodiniuut of tho Uritish Constitution F Is the Uruint Conatitutiun liahk to bo carried off by a cancer i" 1845.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 39 liyj; the high appreciation of his course by Her Majesty's Government, had advised the Queen to raise him to the I eerage. Accom- panying the official announcement were private letters from the Prime Minister and Lord Stanley, the Colonial Secretary, couched in the warmest terms, the latter stating his opinion — "tliat the opening of the session was the time at which the honour of a peerage might be conferred upon you with most satisfaction to yourself, and with most advantage to the public service, as marking in the strongest and most decisive manner how entirely the Queen's Government approved, and are prepared to support, the line of policy which you have indicated and the sentiments which you have expressed." The title chosen by Sir Charles was "Baron Metcalfe of Fern Hill, i • the county of Berks." Both Houses of Parlia- ment voted addresses of congratulation to His Excellency on his ennoblement : the Legislative Council unanimously ; the Assembly by a vote of forty-five to twenty-five. I may as well anticipate the little that remains to be said of Lord Metcalfe. In the autumn of 1845 his malady had reached a stage vhich rendered his further continuance in office a physical impossibility. Most regretfully, therefore, did the Home Government accept his resignation. He sailed for England in November, where he lingered for almost a year, until death relieved him of his sufferings on the 5th of September, 1846. His memory has been assailed by every demagogue in Canada during the last fifty years — no small commendation in itself Notwithstanding the assurances we daily receive from those whose personal freedom from aristocra+^^ic taint at any rate is beyond question, that this is " a democratic country," I am persuaded that there yet remain in Canada some persons old- fashioned enough to appreciate the qualities of devoted courage and inflexible resolution manifested in the service of the Crown. To such, few names on the roll of Canada's Governors can be more worthy of admiration and respect than that of Charles Theophilus, first and last Lord Metcalfe. The session closed on the 29th of March, leaving Mr. Draper and h.j colleagues stiU in possession of the Treasury benches. In April Mr. Robinson resigned the office of Inspector General, in which he was succeeded by Mr. W. Cayley, who obtained a seat in the Assembly for Huron. In July Mr. Viger, who had :mkiMmi'''m^imemamih 40 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. been without a seat since his defeat at the general election, was returned for Three Kivers, and Mr. J. A. Taschereau, the Solicitor General, for Dorchester. The success of these gentle- men indicated a favourable change of feeling in Lower Canada, induced, it may have been, by the Government's action on the French language question ; but vacancies seldom occurred, and, in the meantime, nearly all the French representatives were arrayed, with the Upper Canada Eadicals, against the Govern- ment. The experience of the session had been such as to confirm Mr. Draper in his opinion that it was extremely desirable to break up this alliance, and with this object in view he opened negotiations with uue leaders of the French Canadian Liberals, through the Hon. E. E. Caron, Speaker of the Legislative Council. Mr. Draper's proposition was, in effect, that Messrs. Viger and Papineau should make way for two members of the opposite party. He suggested Mr. Morin as one of those with whom he should be glad to co-operate, but he was prepared to accept the choice of the Liberals, merely stipulating that Mr. La Fontaine, whose personal relations with the Governor General made it impossible for Lord Metcalfe to have any communication with him, should not be one. This proposition was not favourably entertained by Mr. La Fontaine and his friends, who contended that each portion of the province should be represented in the Executive Council in accordance with the wishes of the majority of its representatives in the Assembly. Inasmuch as Mr. Draper's friends were in the majority in Upper Canada, Mr. La Fontaine acquiesced in the propriety of forming the Upper Canada wing of the Council from among the Conservative ranks, and intimated that, so far as Messrs. Draper, Morris, and Cayley were concerned, all was well. But the French leader, and those who acted with him, insisted on the extension of the do ible majority principle to Lower Canada, and, inasmuch as they were in the majority in that part of the province, they declined to be satisfied with two portfolios, and dem9,nded that Me3S/s. Daly and Smith, as well as Messrs. Viger and Papineau, should retire, and that the four seats thus vacated should be placed at the disposal of Mr. La Fontaine and his friends — the former agreeing, in view of the 1845-46.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 41 antagonism between the Governor General and himsel F, to waive his personal claims. The effect of this arrangement would be to place the Radical party in the majority at the Council Board, to which the Conservatives naturally objected. The negotiations accordingly fell through. On the resignation of Lord Metcalfe in November, Earl Cathcart, the Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's forces in Canada, assumed the administration of the Government, and, in the following April, was appointed Governor General. In 1846 the Legislature met in March. On the 6th of April, Mr. La Fontaine gave notice that, on the ensuing day, he would communicate to the House the correspondence which had passed between Messrs. Draper, Caron, and himself respecting the negotiations of the preceding autumn, and this without Mr. Draper's consent having been asked or obtained. Indeed, Mr. Draper has left on record that he was not aware that Mr. La Fontaine had ever seen his confidential letters to Mr. Caron until the former announced his intention of making them public. Mr. La Fontaine carried out his intention, and an acrimonious discussion on what certainly appears to have been a breach of confidence took place. With the exception of this incident, nothing of remarkable interest occurred during the session. During all this time, Mr. Macdonald was quietly making himself familiar with the business and forms of Parliament. He spoke but seldom. In fact he has told me that he did not think he made more than five speeches during his first five sessions. The first occasion on which he addressed the House was a debate on a petition, praying that the election of Messrs. Moffatt and de Bleury, of the city of Montreal, be annulled on tlie usual grounds of bribery and corruption. This was on the 19th of December, 1844. The Government opposed the reception of the petition on the ground of certain informalities wliich they judged to be fatal to its validity. Mr. Macdonald supported the contention of the Government, and moved a resolution deferring further consideration of the matter, which was carried by the narrow majority of one, the vote standing thirty-two to thirty-one. A little later in the same session he spoke on the law of succession. On the 27th of April, 184G, M .i'li !ii. f 42 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. lie addressed the House in favour of the repeal of the usury laws. This he himself regarded as his first speech in Parliament. He also urged the support of a Government resolution calling for the adoption of a differential scale of duties on manufactures of leather, on the ground that the measure was a protective one, and, as such, deserved unanimous support. For, said he, "if lion, members did not make up their minds to carry it through, then they must give up all they had fought for, all they had gained, and resolve to put our manufactures in competition with the convict labour of the American penitentiaries. . . . The danger to our markets was not from British but American manufactures ; and whilst British manufactures coming through the United States must, of course, pay the high duty, coming by the St, Lawrence they would pay an ad valorem, duty of five per cent., and if hon, gentlemen wished the country to enjoy that protection they must vote with the Ministry." These words have a familiar sound. Like his election address of 1844, they recall his last manifesto, and form the second illustration we have so far met with of that "total absence of all fixed principles and settled convictions," which, we are told by his opponents, characterized Sir John Macdonald. But if Mr, Macdonald " made little off his own bat " — to use his own expression — during these two sessions, he was not the less diligent in the performance of those duties which, though often not so agreeable to the inclinations, and perhaps less gratifying to the vanity of a young member, are calculated equally to enlarge his usefulness both to his constituents and to his party. The division lists show that he was rarely absent from his seat; and his appointment, at the beginning of the second session, as member of the important Committee on Privileges and Elections, which then consisted of only seven members, indicates that even at that early period he was coming to the front. So much and little more is to be gleaned from the public records of the time. It is, however, when we peruse the con- fidential papers of the late Prime Minister, which it is my privilege to unfold to the public, that we realize the position which Mr. Macdonald occupied so long ago as 1846, in the estimation of his leader and in the councils of his party. 1846.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 43 The session of 1846 closed on the 9th of June. On the 10th, Mr, Draper addressed this memorandum to His Excellency the Governor General : — * " Mr. Draper begs leave to submit the following confidential observations to His Excellency the Governor General : — " On former occasions, Mr. D. ;had the honour of submitting to the late Governor General the indispensable necessity of remodelling the Executive Council. The subject has been partially brought under the notice of Your Excellency. " So great did Mr. Draper feel the difficulty, that he hesitated to meet the session of Parliament without a change, and the many embarrassments which arose during the session confirmed him in his views of the necessity of strengthening the Government. " It cannot be denied that the proper functions of President of the Executive Council are not discharged by the gentleman who fills that office. He does not, in fact, do any part of the public business of that department but sign his name to reports prepared by others. But for the labour of Mr. Morris principally, the whole business of the Executive Council would be undone. As it is, there is a sad want of system and regularity. The office must be tilled by some person well acquainted with the land business of the country and capable of drawing up the necessary reports. If Mr. Morris could be prevailed upon to accept the appointment, the public service would be greatly benefited. " This change, however, would be but a part of what is necessary. The administration of Your Excellency can only be made strong in the support I if the province generally by a due infusion of gentlemen of the French Canadian party. Mr. Draper had the honour of stating to Your Excellency that Mr. Papineau was desirous of retiring. Mr. D. has also had an in- timation that probably there will be a vacancy in the office of Provincial Secretary. Should this be the case, no moment can be more favourable than the present to form a strong Government, and Mr. D. has reason to hope that, should Your Excellency see fit to undertake it, success would attend the eH'ort. " In reference to the situation of Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Draper humbly submits that a man of activity of mind and familiar with business details is imperatively required in this department. Mr. Draper would tliink a great advantage gained if Mr. .J. A. Macdonald, the member for Kingston, would undertake this office. " it is Mr. Draper's painful duty to bring under Your Excellency's notice the conduct of the Solicitor General of Upper Canada during the past * This correspondence between the Governor General and Mr. Draper was sent by Mrs. Draper to Sir John Macdonald a few years ago. He had never seen it, and was much iuterested in it. These papers are among the few documents he charged me specially to preserve. ill :w.fU,.M^^k-^)m^ "^sdifekis. I 44 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. session. His repeated absence on important divisions, his lukewarm support and occasional (almost) opposition, his habit of speaking of the members of Your Excellency's Government and of the policy pursued by them, his more than suspected intrigues to effect the removal of some members of the Council, have together destroyed all confidence in him and all hope of mutual co-operation in the public service. Mr. Draper respectfully prays your Lordship's interference in this matter. Should your Lordship deem it advisable to remove him, Mr. D. would be prepared to recommend a gentleman of great legal eminence, considerable talent, and irreproachable character, who could readily obtain a seat in Parliament. " The numerous and important appointments Your Excellency will shortly be called upon to make will tend to facilitate arrangements such as are above suggested. " Mr. Draper has only to add that, as regards himself, he wishes to be considered in all respects at Your Excellency's disposal. «' Montreal, June 10, 1846." To which Lord Cathcart replied : — "The Governor General fully appreciates the importance of the several subjects which Mr. Draper has brought under his consideration, in the note received from him of this date. " In regard to that which relates to matters to which, in consequence of recent enactments, attention is immediately required, Lord Cathcart is anxious that no time should be lost in entering upon these subjects, and is accordingly prepared to receive the advice of His Executive Council upon the several points therein specified, in the order and at the time that may be deemed the most expedient to give effect at once to such as may be of tiie most immediate urgency, and with a view to carry into early operation the whole of these enactments. '* Government House, June 10, 1846." " With reference to the confidential observations submitted by Mr. Draper, the Governor General has long been aware of the indispensable necessity to which Mr. Draper alludes, and of the views which he has entertainei! in respect to the means of so remodelling the Executive Council as to give increased strength and stability to the Administration; in all which the Governor General has fully concurred. "Such changes, however, under the circumstances occasioned by the sudden departure of Lord Metcalfe, could not conveniently be eflected previously to the meeting of the Provincial Parliament ; but the prorogation having now taken place, there appears to be no longer any obstacle to the attempt being made with a view to the successful accomplishment of this highly important object. " The Governor General has therefore very great satisfaction in confidmg the management of this diffi ^ult and delicate negotiation to Mr. Draper, with '•' Mu 184C-47.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 45 tlie fullest powers to bring about such retirements from oflSce as the good ,if the service and the success of the undertaking may require ; as also to till up the vacancies consequent thereupon, in the manner he may consider to be the best calculated to promote the great end in view, by the persons who may be the best qualified to discharge the duties of their respective departments to the advantage of the public service, and w^ith the efficiency and influence so essential to acquire and to maintain the confidence of the country. "The Governor General has a very high opinion of Mr. J. A. Macdonald, and his appointment to office in the Administration would afibrd him much satisfaction. " Mr. Daly has signified his wish to be appointed Civil Secretary in succes- sion to Mr. Iligginson, but with the express understanding that thi^ should not take place without the entire consent of his colleagues, or, if it would leave the slightest embarrassment in filling up his present situation as Provincial Secretary. " In regard to the Solicitor General for Canada West, the Governor General has witnessed with much pain the line of conduct which that gentleman thought proper to adopt and to pursue during the late session of the Provincial Parliament, and is quite sensible that his removal from office must be the indispensable consequence. " The Governor General can only add that nothing has given him more lively and heartfelt satisfaction than the gratifying assurance with which Mr. Draper has concluded his observations. " Government House, June 10, 1846." Armed with this authority, Mr. Draper was not long in setting about his reconstruction. Within a week of the receipt of the Governor's answer, Mr. Viger disappeared from the Executive Council, and before the end of the month Mr. Henry Sherwood ceased to be Solicitor General for Upper Canada. He was succeeded by Mr. John Hillyard Cameron, who was " the gentleman of great legal eminence, considerable talent, and irreproachable character " suggested by Mr. Draper in his memorandum to the Governor General. Tlie other changes contemplated by M' Draper, including the appointment of Mr. Macdonald, were deferred for a time, owing in part to the diflSculty, and, as it turned out, the impossibility of arranging matters to suit the French Canadian element, which Mr. Draper was most anxious to conciliate. On the 29th January, 1847, Earl Cathcart resigned the office nf Governor General, and was succeeded by Lord Elgin. The advent of a new Governor, always an important and interesting nil- 1 mat 46 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. illiiiSiii ■■ > event in the days when the representative of the Crown wielded a personal influence in the administration of affairs, never exerted now, was to Mr. Draper and his colleagues a matter of deep concern. Possessing, as they had in the past, the active support and sympathy of the Governor General, who made their cause his own, they naturally were most desirous to know how far Lord Elgin was likely to maintain the cordial relations which for the last three years had existed between the Governor General and his advisers. In this frame of mind, Mr. Draper had recourse to his friend and supporter, the member for Kingston, to whom he wrote : — " [Private.] "Montreal, March 4, 1847. "My dear Sib, " I think your paying a flying visit to Montreal just now, i.e. as soon as possible, might be of great service. I have such confidence in your judgment and discretion that I think it safe to tell you that I now am quite satisfied it will be to the fault of the Conservatives if they have not Lord Elgin's personel {sic) as well as his position as Governor General, all with them. That he will give to any administration the support to be derived from the constitutional exercise of patronage and prerogative, I doubt not, because I believe that he thinks that due to those advisers who are placed in their position by the support of a majority. But my decided impression of Lord Elgin is, that his feelings would make it a far more agreeable duty to take such a part with the Conservatives rather than their opponents. " Circumstances, which I shall be better able to explain when we meet, have led to a decided conviction that the French Canadians will not take office without their Upper Canadian allies — at least, such appears to be the deter- mination of La Fontaine and Morin, for such is the tenor of a reply of the latter to some sort of overtures which he received. The Conservatives must, therefore, recruit from their own ranks, and must present an united front. " My object in urging you to come down directly is, that I wish Lord Elgin to hear from others than Executive Councillors the state of parties, and the feelings of distrust that mistaking ultra Toryism for Conservatism (i.f. selfishness for patriotism) might give rise to. The object should be to combine both, and by convincing the French that they have made a political blunder in their Upper Canada alliance, beat them into a knowledge of their true interests and position, as they will not learn it otherwise. I am not without a suspicion that Morin has assumed to express this conclusion without direct communication with the Quebec section of his party. If so, it may have ulterior consequences. iiiiiiiiir '.nmljliii 1847.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 47 'm "I think it exceedingly desirable Gowan should accompany you, but, tho' I am writing to him, I cannot invite him as I do you. Knowing your views, I am certain to lead to no false expectations. But if I invited him down it might give rise to surmises not justified by the reality. I am quite prepared to agree in his being employed in the public service, but the proposal will not in the nature of things pass through my hands, and therefore any- thing that looks like invitation must not come from me either. " Besides, there is an additional reason for your coming and giving inde- pendent information and answers to such queries as I am sure Lord E. must wish to put. The last news from Toronto renders it but too probable that Hagermau's place will soon be vacant, and then you will want an Attorney General. Pray be prepared to suggest some mode of healing difiSculties and meeting this contingency. " I appeal to your patriotism to come yourself, prepared, and to bring Gowan, or procure his coming. I wish him to become known here before I move decidedly in pursuance of our previous correspondence about him, but I do not wish him to have tho slightest idea that I, or any one of the Government, have invited him. " Faithfully yours, « W. H. Draper." '\m This letter shows, among other things : (1) that Mr. Mac- donald's judgment was sought after by the party leaders before he had entered upon his third session ; (2) that, while a Con- servative from the beginning, Mr. Macdonald was not an ultra Tory, nor in entire sympathy with what Mr. Morris, in his letter of the 6th of IVIay,* calls " the family," whom he regarded as a selfish coterie of Toronto exclusionists, — they, on their part, returned the compliment, and, years after the date of which I am speaking, looked askance on the audacious young man from Kingston, who, with scarcely sufficient consideration for them, was rapidly gathering round him a strong and united Liberal- Conservntive party, having interests and aspirations beyond Tor iio; (^ Jiat Mr. Draper's early retirement from the Cabinet :hen cont(?mplated, to be accompanied by a reconstruction ilhuut the I of the French, and that Mr. Macdonald was awan^ in a general way of the views which Mr. Draper enter- ain ; with respect to his own advancement. lliose changes took pi ice almost immediately. On the 22nd of April, Mr. Smith, thi Attorney General for Lower Canada, accepted a judgeship and retired from the Ministry, his place * See p. 48. ;iii 48 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. being taken by Mr. W. Badgley, who also succeeded to the representation of Missisqvroi. On the 6th of May, Mr. W. Morris addressed the following letter to Mr. Macdonald, who a short time before had declined the Solicitor Generalship for Upper Canada. " [Private and confidential.] " Montreal, May 6, 1847. "My pear Sir, " Would you have any objection to take the Receiver Generalsliip with a seat in tlie Council, if I were to give it up and retain the Chair of Committoes and the Speakership of the Upper House ? "You would not have full employment as Receiver General, but you might do Council work enough to occupy your time and relieve me of much that I have always done. "I make this communication without advice, but if you say 'Yea' I am sure it would be acceptable. Please answer me as soon as possible, and keep this to yourself, always remembering that if you will not put your shoulder to the wheel, you assist those who, it may be, desire to regain power which you and I helped to deprive them of; I mean the ' family.' " Yours truly, " W. Morris." Mr. Macdonald replied, accepting the offer, in these terms :— t " [Private.] " Kingston, May 9, 1847. "My deae Sir, " I was quite taken by surprise by your note of the 6th, and have given it every consideration. Appealed to as I have been by you, and with the assurance that you will remain in the Council, I have, after some hesitation, made up my mind to ans\N er in the attirmative, and to accept the oflSce of Receiver General if offered to me. " I suppose Mr. Draper will, whatever happens, remain in tlie Ministry till tlie end of the session ; and it appears to mo tluit, with him in the House of Assembly, and yourself in the L.C., some disposition of the uni^'orsity (question might be made, which would be satisfactory to the country, and at the same time remove a great stumbling-block from our patli. " Many questions of more real importance may arise, but 1847.] ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE. 49 none which operates so strongly on the principles or prejudices of the public, and if the Conservatives hope to retain power, the must settle it before the general election. "There seems to be a general desire among the Conser- vatives to forget all minor points of difference and present a united front to the common enemy. Gowan tliiuks himself aggrieved, and I think with justice; for he is convinced that the opposition to him arises from his continued hostility to Family Compactism, and particularly on account of his supporting the Ministry in their quarrel with Sir Allan MacNab abcul the Ailjutant Generalship. Whatever may have been his original demerits, he lias long been gladly received and welcomed by all sections of our party as an ally, and during the present Par- liament been courted by every Ministerialist. "We cannot expect to obtain his services and refuse the reward, and, highly as I appreciate his powers of benefiting us, 1 confess that I fear his means of doing mischief more. Next to yomself, I think I have most influence with him, and would almost undertake to secure his support, by promise of office — he not to be appointed until after the Toronto party are recon- ciled to it. That would easily be managed early in the session, and all would then go well. " I suppose I shall have to prepare for an election before the 1st June. If so the sooner *\\q better, giving me two days start of the Gazette; and I shall be elected, I think, without opposition. " I am, my dear sir, very truly yours, "John A. Maudoxald." The arrangements contemplated by Mr. Morris were carried out without loss of time. On the 11th of May, Mr. Mac- donald was sworn of the Executive Council, and on the 21st was appointed Keceiver General, Mr. Morris taking the port- folio of rrcbidcnt of the Council, which had been vacant since Mr. Vigor's retirement a year before. On pres(mting himself til his constituents for re-election, Mr. Macdonald was returned I'V acrlumation. ^Ir. John Hillyard Cameron, the Solicitor General for Upper Canada, was admitted to the Executive Council on the 22nd of VOL.1. B mn t ' ^ mil )i. 1 li^l ! ■ j • 60 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. III. May, and on the 28tli Mr. Draper accepted a puisne judgeship of the Queen's Bench of Upper Canada, and bade adieu to public life. I do not find that his resignation carried with it those of his colleagues, or necessitated the formation of a new administration, as happens in the case of the death or resigna- tion of a Prime Minister in our own day. He was succeeded in the office of Attorney General by Mr. Henry Sherwood, whom he had relieved of the Solicitor Generalship only a year before. It is somewhat singular that Mr. Draper should not have justified Mr. Macdon aid's surmise that he would remain at the helm until the Government had weathered the session. The probable explanation of his coarse is that it was essential, in order to propitiate " the family " (of whom Mr. Sherwood was a scion), that the latter should enter the Government, and that Mr. Draper would not consent to serve in the same Cabinet with a man whose removal from office he had so recently advised. Mr. Draper was an honourable, high-minded gentleman, who, during the whole of his public career, laboured unceasingly for the good of the country and of the Conservative party, with which he believed the best interests of Canada to be bound up, It must have been no small satisfaction to his fellow-members, as for tlie last time in Parliament they heard his melodious voice, to know that Canada was not to be deprived of his services, that his sphere of usefulness merely was to be changed. For thirty years he adorned the Bench, and it seems only yesterday that the dignified form of the venerable Chief Justice disappeared from our midst for ever. A quarter of a century after Mr. Draper's retirement from political life, Sir John Macdonald wrote thus of him : — " I should be pleased to see C. J. Draper a K.C.B. His services have been not merely, or principally, judicial. He was I had been eminently disloyal, and the whole opposition to it was on the ground that it proposed, not simply to condone the jKist but actually to reward for their treason those who had lately been in open rebellion against their Sovereign. The proposal was fiercely resisted by the Opposition, and called forth ii Hvelv and acrimonious debate. Amongst the strongest opjionentH oi the measure was Mr. Macdonahl, who dcu'lared his views with no uncertain sound. According to his custom, ho listened patiently <":> the arguments for and against tln" measuM' Kising towards the close of the debate, he tirst protested agdius' 1848.] IN OPPOSITION. G7 the Government's course in introducing a subject of such importance without notice, anJ hurrying it through Parliament without proper explanations.* He charged the Administration with cowardice in seeking to evadv'i the indignation of the people of Upper Canada by forcing the measure tlirough the Legislature with indecent haste, and prophesied a day o>' reckoning for them all. Continuing, he denounced the measure as " a most shameful one," and concluded by announcing the determination of himself and his friends to resist its passage through the House to the utir^st of their power. The line of defence adopted by the Government, and subse- quently by the Governor General, was to the effect that in introducing this measure the Ministry was merely completing that which the Draper Administration had begun — tliat, in short, the task was a necessity imposed on it by its predecessors. In view of the instructions issued in 1845 to the Com- missioners, limiting their inquiry into " losses sustained by Her Majesty's loyal subjects," as well as the positive declarations of the Conservative Ministers in Parliament, that it was not the intention of the Government that any persons wlio luid borne arras against their Sovereign should participate in the proposed indemnity, it is difficult to understand how such an argument could have been seriously urged ; yet Lord Elgin, who himself styled the Bill " a questionable measure," regnrded it as " one which the previous Administration had rendered alim t in- evitable by certain proceedings adopted by thein." Despite the protests of the Opposition, the lUU passed its diird reading in the House of Assembly on the 9th of March, by a vote of forty-seven to eighteen. Outside the walls of i'arliament the clamour grew fiercer every hour. jMeetings were held all over Upper Canada and in Montreal, and petitions poured in to the Governor General thick and fast, praying that the obnoxious measure might not become law. lu Toronto some disturbances took place, during whi(di the * TImt tliis ()l)jo(!tiiiii of ;\Ir. Miicdimiilil wns well tnkiin, is ovidt^nt Irinii tlio fiu't that liven Mr. (toiirf^o Hrowu, tluni Hiipportiiis tho (iDviM-innciit with nil liis iiii. IV. houses of Messrs. Baldwin, Blake, and other prominent Liberals were attacked, and the Eeform leaders burned in efFigy. The Government, whicli all along seems to have underrated public feeling, was so unfortunate as to incur the suspicion of deliberately going out of its way to inflame popular resentment. It having been considered expedient to bring into operation immediately a Customs Law, the Ministry took the unwise course of advising the Governor General to assent to tlii' Rebellion Losses Bill at the same time. Accordingly, on the 25 th of April, Lord Elgin proceeded in state to the Parliament Buildings and gave the royal assent to both Bills out of tlic usual time. Not a suspicion of tlie Governor's intention had got abroad until the morning of the eventful day. His action was looked upon as a defiance of public sentiment, and, fallin;,' on the popular mind already violently excited, produced con- sequences of the direst kind. His Excellency, when return- ing to Monklands, was grossly insulted by the mob, his carriai,'i almost shattered by stones, and he himself narrowly escaped bodily injury at the hands of the infuriated populace. A public meeting was held that evening on the Champs de Mars, and resolutions adopted praying Her Majesty to rocall Lord Elgin. But no mere passing of resolutions would suffice tli fiercer spirits of that assembly. The cry arose, " To the Par- liament Buildings !" and soon the lurid flames mounting on the night air told the horror-stricken people of Montreal thai anarchy was in their midst. The whole building, iucludiiiL; Ihe legislative libraries, which contained maiiy rare and priceless records of the colony, was destroyed in a few minutes. This abominable outrage called for the severest censure, imi merely on the rioters, but also on the C>.vernment which, whil>' it must have been aware of the state of the ])ublic mind, took no ste]is to avert the calamity. An eye-witness states that half ;i dozen men could have extinguished the fire, which owed it^ tiou, who ucvorthuless lost iu hiui one uf tlieir most powerful support' rs. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) %^ A <'^ MP. i/ V, . ^< /. 1.0 I.I 1.8 A. 1.25 1.4 1.6 -^ 6" — ► V] V] ^a V y^ V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTIR.N.Y. )4S80 (716) 873-4503 ,\

^^ 'Q" ^^\ "^J^ ^v^ ^ 6^ [^ 6^ '^> 74. MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. IV. direct the legislation of the country. They resented the dic- tation of the irresponsible individuals composing the Clear- Grit party, and determined, so long as they occupied their positions as members of the Government, to administer affairs as they conceived best for the interest of the whole community. Foremost among the subjects which the " Clear-Grit " party pressed for immediate settlement was that of the clergy re- serves. A few words of explanation on this troublesome question may not be out of place here. The clergy reserves were an appropriation of one-eighth of the public lands of both Upper and Lower Canada made by the Imperial Act 31 George III., c. 31, commonly called the Constitutional Act of 1791, for the support of a " Protestant clergy." * These reserves were claimed, and at lirst exclusively possessed, by the Church of England, whose ministers contended that they only were meant by the phrase " a Protestant clergy." Tiie word clergy, they argued, was technically employed to desig- nate the priesthood of the Roman and Anglican Churches, and was never applied in any Act of Parliament to any other ministers of religion. The Roman clergy obviously were excluded by the word " Protestant," whence it followed that they were the sole beneficiaries. This view prevailed for many years, to the great dissatisfaction of the Church of Scotland, the Methodists, and other bodies dissenting from the Church of England. The Presbyterians contended that, inasmuch as the Church of Scotland was recognized in the Act of Union between England and Scotland as a Protestant Church, it followed that ministers of that Church must be a Protestant clergy, and, as such, entitled to share in the reserves. The Dissenters generally argued that the term " Protestant " was merely used to exclude the clergy of the Church of Rome, and that it embraced all Christian ministers save those acknow- ledging the supremacy of the Pope. In 1819, the law officers of the Crown, to whom the question had been referred by the Imperial Government, gave * Tho HtntuU* (wect. HO) (lirectH tlio netting iipiirt in each township for tho clergy roscrvcH u ({uantity t'(iuiil in value t«) oui'-Hovoutii ot ull grnnt« ninilo hy tl»o Orown, i.e. uno-oiKhth of all publiu litndN. Yet from tho beginning thore had boon appropriated U\ the clergy iu Upper (.'iinadn ouo-Hovonth uf ull thu luud, which is u ((uantity i'(|ual tu <)Uo-Hi\th uf tho luudH grantotl. 1849.] IN OPPOSITION. 75 it as their opinion that the term " Protestant clergy " embraced with the clergy of the Church of England, the ministry of the Church of Scotland, but excluded ail denominations of those commonly known as Dissenting bodies. The Church of England, whose inflexible champion was Dr. Strachan, of whom I have already had occasion to speak, always resisted the claim which ou the strength of this legal opinion the Church of Scotland put forward to share in this grant. Tlie old Reform party of Upper Canada for many years had advocated the secularization of these reserves, by which they meant that the lands should be confiscated and sold by the State, the proceeds to be applied to purely secul.ar uses. Measures to tliis effect were repeatedly carried in the Assembly, only to be thrown out by the Legislative Council. In 1836 the situation was still further complicated by the action of Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, who, on the eve of his departure from the province, established fifty -seven * rectories, which he endowed out of the reserves, appropriating more than seventeen thousand acres of land to that purpose. These endowments were ultimately * Fifty-seven rectories were endowed by the Order in Council of tho 16th of Januar)-, 1836, but when the patentH ciime to bo examined it wiis found that only fiirty-four of them had been signed by the Lieutenant Governor ; the remaining thirteen were never recognized. Inasinuch us Sir John Colborne left the province a very few days after the passing of this Order in Council, it hao beon naturally assumed that his omission to Kiiupleto tlie grants in question is to be iwcribed to tho hurry of departure. Tliis luuy bo tlie case so far as regards the manual act of atllxing his signature, but the iafercnco sought to be adduced therefrom, viz. that tlio ineiwuro was hastily tonci'iv«l, and, as it were, clandestinely cxcoutwl, is, I think, disprove*! by the following extract from Lord Ooderich's confidential despatcli to Sir John Colborne, dated April 5, 1832, which shows tiuit the project had been resolved upon by the Miuttnunt Governor and approved by the Uomo Government lour years before it was carri.nl into effect: — "And I am happy to find that your practical views, founded upcm personal kuowlwlge and experience, are bo coincident with those wiiicli, up(m a more speeulativo view, 1 Imd been led to entertiiin. I (piito concur with you in tliinking that the IfTPutcHt benefit to the Church of Enghintl would be derivtsl from applying n portion, at Icaiit, of the funds under the control of the Kxeeutive Govt, in the building I't Hi'('tVTII OF THE BREACH BETWEEN THE GOVERN- MENT AND THE CLEAR-ORITS — MR. MACDONALD's I'OLICV. George Brown, like Sir John Macdonald, was a Scotchman by birth, and, like him, emigrated to America at an early age. In 1838, his father and he landed in New York, where they almost immediately engaged in journalism, the elder Mr. Brown estab- lishing a paper, known as the British Chronicle, in the year 1842. In 1843 father and son moved to Toronto, and commenced the publication of a weekly paper called the Banner, a semi- religious journal largely devoted to the interests of the Free Church party, then on the verge of separation from the Estab- lished Kirk of Scotland. The first La Fontaine-Balihviii Administration was then in power, and the Browns lent them- selves to a vigorous support of that Ministry in its conflict with Sir Charles Metcalfe. The Reform party, at that time in need of an organ, welcomed the trenchant support of the war-like young Scotchman, who, in the columns of his paper, assailed the Tory party and the Governor General with a vehemence that left nothing to be desired. Mr. Brown soon found that the quasi-religious character of the Banner interfered with the propagation of his political views, and in March, 1844, he established the Toronto Gloh. Possessed of great force of character, immense energy and 1850.] IN OPPOSITION. 79 activity, and a determined spirit which overbore all opposition, Mr. Brown speedily became an important factor in the Liberal ranks. From 1844 till 1847, he was unremitting in his (lemmciations of the Draper Administration, and, through the Globe, worked up a feeling against the Conservative Government which largely contributed to its defeat at the general election of 1847-48. For some time after the formation of the second La Fontaine- Baldwin Administration the Globe gave it a vigorous support, but ti ''ards the close of the year 1850 the relations between it and Mr. Brown grew less cordial, and a few months later became decidedly unfriendly. The disaffection within the Reform ranks kept growing apace, not only in the Upper, but al-^a in the I/)wer Province, where a movement among the irreconcilables led by Mr. L. J. Papineau, corresponding to the Clear-Grit schism in Upper Canada, had produced le parti lioii;/c, which, equally with its counterpart, displayed hostility towards the Government. The policy advocated by Mr. Papineau and his friends involved changes of a sweeping character, embracing a general application of the elective principle, a llepublican form of government, and, ultimately, annexation to the United States. To add at this time to the embarrassments of the Ministry, Mr. Brown, in the columns of the Globe, which was still supposed tO' reHect the views of the Government, began a furious crusade against Roman Catholics in general and the French Canadians in i)articular. The re-establishment of the Roman hierarchy in Knghmd gave the signal for an assault which, I venture to thiuk^ is without a parallel in the records of polemical strife.* The session opened in Toronto on the 14th of May. Arrayed against the Government were the regular Opposition, led by Sir Allan MacNab, having under him, as Lieutenants, Mr. Cayley, Mr. Sherwood, and Mr. Macdonald ; the Clear- Grits ; and Mr. Papineau and his followers. The question of the clergy reserves proved during this session a source of great discomfort to the Ministry, the members of which openly avowed their want of agreement on the subject. By the Imperial Act of 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 78) the matter had been removed from the jurisdiction of the • «!.(/., Olobe, Fobruary 9, 18, and 22, 1860 ; oIho August 7, 1867. '|i||J|MMMUi||W|i ' f Vfflilmlliqlilni i It iliMli Viimi^niiiiiil €0 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap, V. Canadian Parliament. On the 18th of June, Mr, Price, Com- missioner of Crown Lands, moved the first of a series of resolutions advocating the restoration of the clergy reserves to the jurisdiction of the Canadian Parliament, as a preliminary step to secularization. It was well known that the members •of the Government were at variance on this question, and that Mr. La Fontaine and his supporters were not only averse to committing themselves on the larger subject of the relation which should subsist between Church and State, but were •equally opposed to any procedure that would have the effect of prejudicing the vested rights of those persons who had acquired interests under the Act of 1840. Mr. Price, in moving his resolutions, regretted that the Government were not unanimous on the question, and not ])re pared to stand or fall by it. He would never concede the principle that one Church had the right of being set up above nnother. The Churches of England and Scotland had got the lion's share, and he contended that the reserves were for purposes of general education within the province, and should no longer be allowed to remain a bone of contention. The voice of the country, he said, was in favour of applying the reserves to the general purposes of the province. Mr. La Fontaine spoke at some length. He began by expressing his opinion that the term " Protestant clergy ' included the clergy of all the Protestant denominations. He did not consider an Act of Parliament a finality, but if private rights were conferred by that Act, they must be held sacred or there would be an end of everything. He was in favour of ^'etting back the control over the reserves ; but he did not agree with his colleague, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, in asking support for a resolution which would have the further effect of pledging the House to alienate these reserves. He disapproved of such a course, believing that the endowment should be held sacred. Mr. Baldwin said that, however much he differed from liis colleagues, he deemed it his duty to express his opinion. It was true only in a qualified sense that the lands were the property of the people of the province. It was after the Constitutional Act had been passed that the people came to 1850.] IN OPPOSITION. 81 the province, and they should abide by the state of things that thev found. He did not believe that by the terms of the Act the Church of England was exclusively meant. He desired that the reserves should be applied to purposes contemplated by the statute as nearly as possible. Until the passing of the Imperial Act he had considered the application of the reserves to purposes of education to be nearest to the intention of the law. He had changed his mind in that respect since the passing of the Imperial Act ; but while he did not consider that a final settlement, he could not regard an Act of Parliament as so much waste paper. He had never made this question one of party warfare. It was true he had imputed weakness to gentlemen opposite when they were in power for not being united on the question of maintaining the Imperial Act, and he knew he would be accused of inconsistency. There was a difference of opinion in the present Cabinet on this question of the reserves. For his own part he would liave preferred tlie matter to have been a Cabinet one. This division of opinion within the Ministry on a subject so important afforded a rare opportunity to the Opposition, of which they were not slow to avail themselves. The Clear-Grits were eager for immediate legislation without waiting for the npeal of the Imperial Act, wliich, they argued, could follow. They strove by every artifice to make the Government commit itself to some definite line of policy with respect to this i|uestion, but in vain. Mr. Papineau took advantage of tlie occasion to make a savage attack on the Administration, whose course on this iiuestion he declared was an apt illustration of their skill " in shuffling and trickery." The measure, he contended, should have been a Ministerial one. Thus, divided within and attacked in front, rear, and flank, the unha[)py Ministry was in danger of being defeated then and there. Mr. Price's resolutions were ultimately carried. One of them, which affirmed that "No religious denomination can be held to have such vested interest in the revenue derived from the proceeds of the said clergy reserves as should prevent further legislation with reference to the disposal of them " was opposed by Attorney General La Fontaine, Messrs. Cauchon, Chabot, VOL. I. O t 82 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. Chauveau, Ducliesnay, La Terriere, and other Lower Canadians, and passed only by a majority of two, notwithstanding the qualifying clause, " That this House is nevertheless of opinion that the claims of existing incumbents should be treated in the most liberal manner." The spectacle presented by Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin voting against «3ach other on this important question, and the general demorelization of the Government ranks afforded to the little band of Rouges led by Papineau, as well as t<) the Clear-Grits, a satisfaction no less pronounced than that experienced by Sir Allan MacNab and his followers, whri felt that they had really nothing to do but look on while the opposing factions within the Liberal party performed their work. The close of the session of 1850 found the Government in a precarious situation. The Globe still supported it in a per- functory manner, but its anti-Catholic policy, which it had developed, compelled the Ministry to disavow it, with thi^ effect of still further widening the breach which had for sonii' time existed between Mr. Brown and the Government. In the session of 1851 the Ministry had no more bitter opponents than the malcontent Liberals, who, though divided by personal animosities, were a unit against the Government. In April, 1851, a vacancy occurred in the representation it Haldimand by reason of the death of the sitting member. Mr. David Thompson. Several candidates presented them- selves for election, among whom were William Lyon Mackenzie and George Brown; the former was a political Ishmaelite, opposed to all existing parties, the latter a qualified supporter of the Government. Mr. Brown was unsuccessful. He naturally attributed his defeat to the Catholic voters, wliose nearest and dearest interests he was at the time foully attackin;; through the columns of his paper. This rebuff seems to have finally determined his political course, for almost immediately afterwards we find him attacking the Government in tliis wise; " The Reform party are in power now — they have been so for four years. . . . These four years have been palmy days of priestcraft. . . . The sectarian grants which should have been swept away, have been increased. . . . Wlit?" mm<* 1851.] IN OPPOSITION. 83 the present party camo into power, the common school system was free from Rectarian elements — hut they introduced the wedge which thrcatend to .Icstroy the whole fahric." * Parliament met in May. On the 2Gtli of June, William Lyon Mackenzie moved, seconded by Mr. Hopkins, for the appoint- ment of a committee of seven members with instructions to report by Bill for the abolition of the Court of Chancery in Upper Canada. This proposition was aimed at Mr. Baldwin, under whose auspices the Court of Cliancery had been recon- stituted. Mackenzie's motion was voted down by thirty-four to thirty ; but of the minority no fewer than twenty-seven were Upper Canadians. This result was a deep mortification to Mr. Baldwin, who felt that it amounted to a declaration of want of confidence in himself by the representatives of the people of Upper Canada, whom the Court of Chancery alone concerned. It was the culmination of a series of annoyances wliich he had suffered during the past two years at the hands of those who had been elected to support him, and whose co-operation he had a right to expect. So experienced a politician as he could not but see how matters were drifting. The Liberal party formed and kept together by himself and his friend Mr. La Fontaine, was gradually going to pieces, and he was weary of the struggle. Accordingly he made this quasi defeat the occasion for announcing his withdrawal from public Hfe. Mr. La Fontaine expressed his deep regret at Mr. Baldwin's decision, and added that he himself intended to follow the example of his colleague at the close of the present session. IJoth gentlemen resigned in the following October, and the second La Fontaine-Baldwin Ministry ceased to exist. In the general election which ensued, Mr. Baldwin offered himself for the representation of his old constituency, the North Riding of York, and was defeated by a Clear-Grit m consequence of his refusing to pledge himself as to his future course in Parliament on the clergy reserves question. The people, he said, knew him, and his political record was before the world. If they wished to have him as their representative they nmst judge his future by his past. He would never consent to go to Parliament otherwise than as a free agent, at liberty to use his * 0/o5*, July 17, 1861. 84 MEMOIBH OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. own judgment as he thought best for the interests of the whok country. His opponent, not troubled by such scruples, was ready to promise anything asked of him, and thereby proved more acceptable to the electors of York. After his defeat Mr. Baldwin retired finally from public life. His history affords a remarkable illustration of the ingratitude which too frequently rewards public men, and of the selfishness and meanness of a certain class of politicians. Robert Baldwin had his faults. Who has not ? But it did not lie with the Clear- Grits to reproach him with them. His fall from power, th(; breaking up of the party he had devoted his life to form and to maintain, the bitter humiliation of his defeat at the polls by an obscure demagogue, were all the work of the faction which finally hounded him out of public life. Why ? Because he ceased to hold liberal principles ? Far from it ! Upon all the great quescions of the day which divided parties, Robert Baldwin was, up to his retirement from office in 1851, substantially where he had always been. I cannot find that he ever voted otherwise than with his party. On Mr. Price's clergy reserve resolutions respecting vested interests, he voted " aye " in accordance with the bulk of the Reform party and against his own colleague, Mr. La Fontaine. His crime was that he adhered to the prin- ciples of responsible Government which he fought so hard to obtain, by declining to hand over to a knot of disappointed politicians, with no seats in the Legislature and no responsi- bility to any one, the functions of chief adviser of the Crown. Mr. Baldwin, as I read his history, was a Reformer to the end. He was, at the same time, a just and honourable man, wholly desirous of serving his country according to his light. The chief defect in his character seems to have been a certain lack of robustness, which I think he sometimes displayed, notably on the occasion of the formation of Lord Sydenham's Ministry in 1841, and at a later period by his attitude towards the rebellious element within the Liberal party. His gentle nature was ill-fitted to contend with those turbulent spirits who sought to force him onward at a pace he could not go. Had they been at all amenable to reason, I am inclined to think they might have obtained from him a considerable measure of those reforms for the carrying out of which they professed such deep 1851.] IN OPPOSITION. 85 concern. In regard to the clergy reserves, Mr. Baldwin was, I think, })repared ultimately to take a long step in the direction of their wishes. He asked only a little delay. " Wait," said he, " until the Imperial Act is repealed, and we have power to deal witii the question." But no : they would wait for nothing. He must pledge himself unreservedly to secularization, unqualified, immediate, absolute ; and the instant carrying into effect of a series of reforms, some of which, as declared by the Globe, were incompatible with the working of the British constitution, — or go out. He chose the latter course.* Mr. Baldwin never allowed political differences to interfere with his private friendships, and he had the good fortune, when he quitted public life, to carry with him the respect and esteem of the Conservative party. Shortly after the accession to power of the Liberal-Conservative Ministry in 1854, Mr. Macdonald pressed upon his acceptance the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas in the fol'j. iiig flattering teims : — "Quebec, February 1.3, 1855. "My deak Me. Baldwin, " Chief Justice Macaulay only awaits, as you probably know, the appointment of his successor to retire from the Bench, which he has so long occupied with honour to himself and advantage to the country. We are extremely anxious that this eminent judge should be succeeded by one not less com- petent than himself to perform the duties appertaining to the high office he is about to vacate, and by one possessing like liim the confidence of the people of Upper Canada. We are satisfied that these requisites are to be found in yourself, and that no more worthy successor to Mr. Macaulay could be selected. " I am therefore instructed, or rather authorized, to offer the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas for your acceptance. * Mr. IJiiUlwin's attitude in 1851 towards the Clear-Grits suggests a story told of Horace Greeley. It is related that, in the course of conversation, Mr. Greeley made ("me reflections on the antics of a spiritualistic society then flourishing in Boston. "Hut," said a friend, "are you not yourself a spiritualist r"' "Yes," replied Mr, Greeley, " I am a spiritualist, but I am not a d d fool." One can imagine Mr. littldwin answering AVilliam Lyon Mackenzie, Malcolm Cameron, and the other extremists of the Liberal party, if not so epigrammatically as Horace Greeley, yet much to the same effect. 86 MEMOIRS OF SIP JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. " I need hardly assure you of the great gratification I should feel, on personal as well as professional grounds, at your accept- ance of the office. " I hope soon to have your answer, which I trust will be one of consent, and am, my dear Mr. Baldwin, " Very faithfully yours, "John A. Macdonald. "The HoiiouraMe R. Baldwin, Toronto." This offer Mr. Baldwin declined. His career, he felt, was drawing to a close, and he desired to spend his remaining years free from responsible office of any kind. He died on the 9tli of December, 1858, at the comparatively early age of fifty-four years. Mr. La Fontaine, who abandoned political life at the same time, differed in some respects from his colleague. Both were men of ability, both loved their country, and both were without stain ; but Mr. La Fontaine was, I take it, more a man of the world than Mr. Baldwin, more ambitious, and, as indicated by his Napoleonic cast of features, possessed of greater firmness and clearness of purpose. Both began life as Radicals, but while Mr. Baldwin was a Liberal on principle, and could never have been anything else, Mr. La Fontaine's Eadicalism, though no doubt as honest as that of his colleague, was accidental rather than constitutional, and visibly weakened with advancing years. Mr. La Fontaine did not assign any specific reasons for his retirement. There is little doubt, however, that the disaffection among his Lower Canadian followers, together with the Clear- Grit movement, indicated serious complications, and the with- drawal of his Upper Canadian colleague rendered the outlook particularly unpromising. The time, moreover, was opportune. The year 1851 ushered in a period of great commercial activity in Canada. I'ailway enterprises of all kinds wore being projected on a scale which bade fair to revolutionize the existing state of things. Now, Mr. La Fontaine knev; nothing about railways. He was a great constitutional lawyer and Parliamentarian, but totally unversed in those questions of commerce and finance which were beginning to engage public 1851.] IN OPPOSITION. 87 attention. The battle of constitutional goverument, to which lie had devoted his energies, was over, and he may have felt that it was time for some one better qualified than he to promote the material development of Canada, to undertake all the direction of affairs.* In August, 1853, Mr. La Fontaine was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Lower Canada, and in 1854 he was created a baronet. His death occurred on the 26th of February, 1864. No name ill the Province of Quebec is to-day more venerated, alike by Conservatives and Liberals, than that of Louis Hippolyte La Fontaine. On the retirement of Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin, all the members of the Cabinet tendered their resignations, where- upon the Governor General sent for Mr. Hincks, the senior member from Upper Canada in the late Ministry, and entrusted him with tiie formation of a new Administration. Mr. Hincks* first act was to associate with himself Mr. A. N. Morin, the Speaker of the Assembly, and after five anxious weeks these gentlemen succeeded in forming a Ministry.! Of the new Cabinet, Messrs. Eolph and Cameron were leading lights in the Clear-Grit party, which Mr. Hincks judged it expedient to conciliate. Both were extreme Eadicals, and Dr. liolph especially, from his active participation in the events of 1837, was particularly distasteful to moderate men of both parties.^ He had not at the time a seat in Parliament, but he * It is sail] that Mr. La Fontaine's resolution to retire was strengthened by a ill-trust of Mr. Iliucks, who was known to be largely interested in several of the lead- ing railway enterprises of tiie day. f On the '28th of October, 1851, the members of the Ilincks-Morin Government were sworn in as follows : the lion. E. P. Tachd, Kecciver General ; tlie Hon. B'rancia lliiitks, Inspector General ; the lion. James Morris, Postmaster General ; the Hon. A. ,\, llorin. Provincial Secretary ; the lltm. U. E. Caron, witliout portfolio ; the Ibiii. Malcolm Cameron, President Executive Council ; the Hon. John liolph, Com- missioner of Crown Lands ; the lion. L. T. Dnimmond, Attorney General, L.C. ; the 11(111. W. U. Ilichurds, Attorney General, U.C. ; the Hon. John Youu},', Chief Com- missiiiuer of Public Works. t " It is not to bo doubted that the appointment of John Rolpli to a seat in the • '"Uiicil is as near to an insult to the people of Canada us Lord Elgin could well dare. A iimn who has never been a member of the Parliament of Canada, who is perfectly iinkiinwn in public life, whose opinions on government or on the various iiuestions which have agitated the ccmntry in times bygone, or on those which are now before th" people (mV), i« certainly not a man to be selected to govern people of any intelligence " (Montreal Oaxette, November 1, 1861). 88 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. was a man of ability and influence. It was at his instance that Malcolm Cameron was taken into the Cabinet. The Hincks-Moiin Government, though perhaps as good as could then have been formed, found no favour with George Brown, who attacked it in the columns of the Glole with much asperity. Not satisfied with his editorial declamations, Mr. Brown about this time wrote and published in his paper a series of open letters addressed to Mr. Hincks, in which he charged him with having paltered with Liberal principles for the sake of French-Canadian support. Mr. Brown's position certainly was peculiar. Originally a strong partisan of Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin, he gradually grew lukewarm in his support, until, on the pretext afforded by the re-organization of the Ministry — to all intents and purposes the same as that formed in March, 1848~he passed into open opposition. The ground for his defection was the apparent unwillingness of the leaders to carry out the reforms to which he said they were pledged — precisely the same reasons as those given by Messrs. Rolph and Cameron and the Clear-Grit party for their opposition to Mr. Baldwin. Yet in the early days of the movement the Globe had no condemnation strong enough for the Clear-Grits, who on their part hated Mr. Brown most cordially.* One would have thought that the disappearance of moderate men like Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin from the Cabinet, and the introduction of extremists like Messrs. Rolph and Cameron, would have been quite in accord with Mr. Brown's views ; yet the chief grounds of the Globe's wrath against Mr, Hincks was the presence of those two gentlemen in the Cabinet. The Government stood pledged to secularization, to increased Parliamentary representation, to an elective Legislative Council, and other drastic reforms. Yet * The following circular issued, [at the outset of this canipnifijn, by Mnltnliu Cameron, is nn indication of the nature of the relations then subsisting between him and Mr. Brown : — "My dear Sir, "George Ilrown is offering ns n candidate for the counties of Kent luul Lambton on the Reform ticket. Give him ' a coon hunt on the Wubosh.' Stir up the electors of — ogainst him, ond drive him home. " Yours, etc. "M. Camkuon." 1851.] 7.V OPPOSITION. 89 Mr. Brown, from the first moment of its existence to its last hour, never ceased to condemn it, and was, indeed, the chief cause of its overthrow. It has been stated that the reason for his course was that he resented liaving been passed over at the formation of the Government. This may be so, although proof of it is lacking, and it is difficult to see how any one holding his views on the Iloman Catholic question could hope to sit at that time in a Canadian Ministry. Tlie Globe then, and for years afterwards, actually teemed with abuse of the religion of the vast majority of the people of the Lower Province, and, in so doing, put it beyond the possibility of any French Canadian to have dealings with its proprietor. It was equally clear that no Government could exist in Canada without French-Canadian representation. Mr. Brown may not have seen the inevitable result of his fatuous conduct on his own political career. Politicians who adopt this line seldom do. However that may be, I think it is obvious that his political course from 1850 till 1854 is best explained by the theory of personal antipathies. The new Government was sworn into office on the 28th of October, and, on the 6th of November following, Parliament was dissolved and a general election ordered. The contest, though animated in many places, lacked as a whole much of the excitement which marked the elections of 1844 and 1848. Mr. Hincks had played his cards well, and, despite the combined attack of the Conservatives, Brownites, and Pouges, emerged from the election with a considerable majority. All the members of the Government were returned. Of the Upper Can.'ida Conservatix es Sir Allan MacNab was re-elected for Hamilton, and Mr. Macdonald for Kingston — the latter practically without a contest; but Messrs. Cayley, J. H. Cameron, and Henry Sherwood were defeated, and altogether things resulted rather unfavourably fur the party. This result cuiuiot be ascribed to any lack of zeal on the part ot Mr. Macdonald, whose walk-over in Kingston left him free to Iielp his friends in the adjacent counties. He had a vivid recollection of some of the incidents in this campaign, one of which lie related to me as follov.-s : — Tlie elections took place in December. In the county of I'rince Edward the Conservative candidate, who was opposed mi 90 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. by K. Conger, was E. B. Stevenson. The fight was keen and every vote was called out. The day before the election, Mr. Macdonald, together with Messrs. Alexander Campljcll John Forsyth, and Henry Smith, went from Kingston in a sleigh driven by a negro named Mink, and put up at a tavern in Adolphustown. One James O'Reilly, a Eadieal, had gone up from Kingston the day before, collected all the skiffs along the shore near Adolphustown, and rowed them across to the Stone Mills in Prince Edward county, where he secured them. Durinc; the night it froze sharply, so much so that the bay was caught over at the Stone Mills. The only way of crossing whicli the party from Kingston could devise in the morning was for each man to take two planks, lay them end to end on the ice, which was very thin in some places, crawl out to tlie second plank, pull the first one after him, and push it ahead of the second one, and so on. When lialfway over, Mink, a > hud been selected to accompany the party, chiefly on accouu d" his physical qualities, encouraged them greatly by volunteering the statement that he would give five hundred dollars to be on either shore. The distance across was about a mile and a half, and the water was very deep. On reaching the Stone Mills they proceeded to Picton, and recorded their votes for Stevenson, thereby deciding the election in his favour.* In Lower Canada the Rouges lost ground, their leader, Mr. Papinean, being defeated in Montreal by !Mr. Badgley. He was, however, returned for another constituency (Two Mountains) before the meeting of Parliament. George Brown was elected for Kent despite the opposition of Malcolm Cameron, and came up to Parliament full of fight. The Conservatives likewise were eager for the fray. During the past three years there had been little for them to do save to stand by and watch the growing dissensions within the Reform party. But now that the progress of disintegration was well advanced, it behoved them to play an aggressive part. Since the close of the session of 1851 another stage had ♦ A few weeks before Sir Alexmuler CiuiipbeH'H ileiitli I wrote to him lutkin^' liim if lie would kindly look over my vornion of this story, mid mv.eiid it if necessary. He very kindly took menus to refresh his memory, mid wrote mo some ndditioual particulars, whieh I hiivo inserted here, telliufr me thiit he reenlled with great interest these events of hng n^fo. lb51-52.] JN OPPOSITION. 91 been reached in the matter of the clergy reserves. In July, 1850, the address embodying the resolutions of Mr. Price, to which I have already alluded at some length, had been forwarded to England, and in the following January a despatch was received from the Colonial Secretary (Earl Grey) to the effect that, while Her Majesty's Government deprecated any disturbance of *' the existing arrangement by which a cer- tain portion of the public lands of Canada are available for the purpose of creating a fund for the religious instruction of the inhabitants of the province," they were of opinion that the 'luestion was one so exclusively affecting the people of Canada that its decision ought not to be withdrawn from the Provincial [.egislature. They, therefore, stated their willingness to pass the necessary legislation. Various considerations compelled the postponement of any action on the part of the Imperial authorities, and in February, 1852, Lord John Kussell's Govern- ment went out of office, leaving the clergy reserves practically where they found them. The incoming Ministry, of which Lord Derby was head, and Sir John Pakington, Colonial Secretary, was indisposed to touch the question, and Sir John Pakington intimated this decision "of Her Majesty's present advisers " to Lord Elgin, in a despatch dated the 22nd of April, 1852. Such was the unsatisfactory position of this never- I'liding question when the Government met the new Parliament. The first session opened at Quebec on the 19th of August.* The Government candidate for the Speakership was John Sandfield Macdonald, Solicitor General in the late Adminis- tration, who was elected by a vote of fifty-five to twenty-three. At the formation of the Hincks-Morin Government he had been olfered the Commissionership of Crown Lands, but held out for the Attorney Generalship, which Mr. Ilineks bestowed upon Mr. W. B. Richards; whereupon Mr. J. S. Macdonald refused the Crown Lands portfolio with disdain. The Speaker- ship was intended as a salve to his wounded feelings, but, as we shall see, the remedy failed in its effect. * Tile position of pnrtiu.s wiis soniowhut iis follows: Out-iind-oiit MiniHtoriiilistM, •I'); ('ou»orvntive«, 20; Roujfcs (Mr. Pnpinouu iiud four followers), 5; Cluiir-Orita (Mcxsrs. Smith of Diirlmm iiiul Iliirtnmii), 2; Indi'pemU'uts i)f nil similes (iiuliKlinj; (iwT^i) llrown, Williiiin Lyon Mnckenzic, John .Simdlleld Miifdoiiuld, and ntliurs, t'knr.Urito iu nil but tho uunic), 1'2 : totiil 84. 92 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. The defeat of Messrs. Cayley and Sherwood, and the growing infirmities of Sir Allan MacNab, gave Mr. John A. MacdoiiaM that prominence to which, by admission of both friends ami foes, his aptitude for public affairs entitled him. The session of 1852 marked an important stage in his political career, During the period which had elapsed since his retirement from office in 1848, his position in the ranks of the Conservative Opposition had not been one of greater prominence than necessarily attached to the fact of his being an ex-minister. He appears to have studiously kept in the background, to have loyally folio, ed his leader, and to have bided his time. That time had now arrived. The debate on the address continued for several days, and disclosed the fact that the alliance made between Messrs. Hincks, Cameron, and Rolph had not been successful in healing the breach in the lieform ranks. In the speech from the throne the Governor General made no reference to the faihue of the Ministry to obtain Imperial legislation in the matter of tlie clergy reserves, and no regret had been expressed at the decision of Her Majesty's Government to withhold from the Provincial Legislature the powers for which it asked. This action, or rather inaction, of the Provincial Government did much to stimulate the opposition of those who, whether calHug themselves Clear-Grits or Independents, cried out for immediate legislation. Mr. Hincks in ottering the usual explanations consequent upon a change of Ministry, stated that when Mr. Baldwin tendered his resignation the Government did not think it their duty to advise the appointment of his successor, because Mr. La Fontaine had also expressed his intention of retiring almost nt once. Soon after tliis all the members of the Government handed in their resignations. He and his friend from Lower Canada (Mr. Morin) had been consulted by His Excellency, and they liad tendered their advice. As regards the Lower Canadian representation, it was judged expedient to reinforce the Administration in the Lower House, and this had been done. With respect to Upper Canada, it was thought necessary to strengthen the Government by the aid of gentlemen wlio enjoyed the confidence of a section of the party between whom 1852.] IN OPPOSITION. 93 unci certain members of the late Adiiiiiiistration there had been difference of opinion, though none of conse(iuence with himself. As to the principles of the new Ministry he could say nothing in particular. He was for progressive reform, and had the confidence of the Liberal party, though he knew that some of that party represented by Messrs. [W. L.] Mackenzie and Urown had tried to deprive him of it. With respect to the clergy reserves, on which it had been represented that he differed from his party, he had no hesitation in saying that lie believed the only way to obtain peace was through their secularization. He admitted that he and his colleagues did think it proper to express regret at the course of Her Majesty's Government in the matter of the non-repeal of the Act of 1840, but stated that they did not think it advisable to put into the mouth of the Queen's representative words reflecting upon the action of Her Majesty's Government, of whom the Governor General was the servant, and whose injunctions he was bound to obey. Mr. Brown replied, and in the course of a two-iiours speech made a terrific onslaught on the Administration, accusing them, among other crimes, of collusion with the Imperial authorities to prevent a settlement of the clergy reserves question. He found fault with the Ministerial explanations, and affirmed his conviction that the members of the Government were in entire disagreement upon every leading question of the day. "The Inspector General " (Mr. Hincks), he said, " had explained the mere outwork of the Ministerial arrangements, but did not throw any light on the philosophy of the thing. Mr. Hincks had stated that he brought into the Ministry certain members of the ultra section of his party in order to produce unanimity, and yet he had said, shortly before, that there were no serious differences in the party ranks. Serious differences! Wliy, there was not one principle of government, not one practical measure, on which they did not differ ; and there was just as much estrangement of feeling as there was difference of opinion." Mr. Brown proceeded to review the politics of the country since the rebellion, and the growth and progress of the divisions in the Reform party, which, he said, began at the very formation of the La Fontaine- Baldwin Government 94 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. V. in 1848, The difference of opinion on the question of religious endowment was the primary cause of the disagreement in the La Fontaine-Baldwin Ministry. He accused that Government of having been under the domination of their French-Canadian allies, at whose bidding they had sacrificed the interests of Upper Canada. In the matter of secularization, this very important question was postponed for the Eebellion Losses IJill, which had never been heard of in Upper Canada until it was laid on the table of the House. Upper Canadians had been led to expect that the first act of the La Fontaine-Baldwin Administration would be to settle the clergy reserves question for ever. Instead of which the Eebellion Losses Bill was proceeded with, and the question which most concerned the people of Upper Canada indefinitely postponed. Then it soon began to appear that the clergy reserves was not to be a Government question, and all because Messrs. La Fontaine and his followers objected to the principle upon which a satisfactory solution of the vexed question alone could be reached. Mr. Brown predicted that the same influence would still operate to prevent the realization of the hopes of the people of Upper Canada on this question, so vital to their interests, stating his belief that Mr. Morin held practically the same views as Mr. La Fontaine on the clergy reserves question, and that the split in the party would go on widening. Eeferriug to the coalition with Messrs. Eolph and Cameron, he taunted Mr. Hincks for associating with those who had waged against him for the past two years a bitter and relentless war ; with men to whom on every great question of the day he was diametrically opposed. Continuing, Mr. Brown criticized the railway policy of the Government ; and, after warmly eulogizing Lord Elgin, concluded by announcing his determination to vote for the address, on the ground that, while he ha-'i but little confidence in the Administration, he was not yet prepared to put the Tories in their place. This — Mr. Brown's maiden speech in Parliament — was regarded at the time as a powerful arraignment of the Ministry, Possessing no graces of diction, lacking almost every quality which constitutes true oratory, destitute of humour or sarcasm, George Brown, by the very fact of his intense vehemence of 1852.] IN OPPOSITION. 95 expression, and by the air of deep conviction which clothed his every utterance, obtained from the outset the ear of the chamber, and before long came to be recognized as one of the most effective speakers in Parliament. Mr. Macdonald, who made by far the best speech from his side of the House, followed Mr. Brown, and from a different standpoint attacked the Government with equal vigour. He believed that the country had a right to expect more satisfactory explanations as to the origin and composition of the new Ministry than those which had been vouchsafed by tlie leader, which he criticized as meagre and unsatisfactory. No cause had been shown for the breaking up of the late Administration and the formation of the present one. No one knew better than the Inspector General upon what questions of policy the present Ministry differed from the last one, or whether there was any difference at all. The Inspector General had not explained why he threw overboard his old friends ; yet he was exceptionally well qualified to give those explanations so necessary to the exercise of the proper judgment of the members of the House. He was the leading member of the present Cabinet — no one knew better than he the reasons for the clianges which had taken place; wherein Mr. La Fontaine's Ministry had fallen short, and that of Mr. Hincks excelled. The spectacle presented by a Ministry apparently possessing the confidence of a majority of the people's representatives, riding the province for five years, and then, when the time comes for its members to render an account of their stewardship, evading their collective responsibility by resigning office was unparalleled. The truth was, the late Administration had lost the confidence of the people, and the honourable gentleman found it necessary, for the purpose of maintaining liimself in office to seek aid from outside. And how had he strengthened liimself? By casting out all that were good in the Cabinet, and replacing them by men whom he had denounced again and again in language which would scarcely bear repetition. He could tell the honourable gentleman that, despite his preference for his new-found friends, he would yet look back upon his alliance with Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin as the most honoured period in his political life. He concluded by ^m^ 96 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. affirming his conviction that the only principle which held the members of the Government together was a common desire for office. On the 14th of September Mr. Hincks introduced a series of resolutions on which to found an address to Her Majesty exprv^.ssive of the deep regret of the Provincial Parliament at the refusfl of the Imperial Government to repeal the Act of 1840. This entailed another debate upon this everlasting question of the clergy reserves, in the course of which Mr. Macdonald crave his views at some length. He expressed his great surprise at hearing from the Inspector General the reasons wliich had induced the Ministry to omit from the speech all reference to the refusal of the Home Government to re-open the question. To hear from the lips of a Eeform Minister who had been one of Lord Metcalfe's most violent opponents the acknowledgment that, after all, the Governor General was primarily responsible to the Imperial Authorities, and that he was not a mere puppet in the hands of his Ministers, was indeed startling, and must have fallen strangely on the ears of Lord Elgin, who had defended his course with the Eebellion Losses Bill on the ground of his being the mere servant of the Ministry, and without responsibility. He condemned the renewal of the agitation, which, he said, had been laid at rest by Lord Syden- ham, as evidenced by the fact that in the general elections of 1844 and 1847 the subject had scarcely been broached ; and asserted his belief that the opposition to the settlement of 1840 had been got up by the Liberals as a counter-irritant after the windows of the Parliament House had been broken over the Rebellion Losses Bill. He traversed the idea that the lands belonged to the people of Canada. Was the whole of this vast country from the St. Lawrence to the Hudson's Bay the property of the few people who first settled it ? Were the four or five men who first settled in New Zealand the proprietors of the entire islands, or were they not proprietors of just so much land as had been granted them ? He ridiculed the voluntary principle, which, he said, if it meant anything, meant that every man should support his own religious teacher by liis own means. He, for his part, was in favour of endowment and of all the Churches having an equal share, and if there was not enough 1852.] IN OPPOSITION. 07 unappropriated land in these reserves to emlow all alike, ho would take enough Crown lands to do so. During the dehate Messrs. Morin and Chauveau expressed themselves unequivocally in favour of the policy of seculariza- tion as advocated by Mr. Hincks ; so that the Government stood squarely committed to the scheme. At the same time they would not state their intention of taking any definite action, though invited to do so by Mr. Brown, who vainly endeavoured to obtain from them a declaration as to what they proposed to do with the power over the reserves when they got it. He reaffirmed his opinion that the Government was subservient to the French Canadians, who, as a body, were averse to commit themselves to a course which involved the presumption that there should be no alliance between Church and State. Mr. Brown undoubtedly was right in his surmise that some restrain- ing influence was at work, for the leading members of the Government, though they openly declared themselves in favour of secularization in the abstract, did not venture to commit the Ministry as a whole to any particular line of action in relation to this question. The address was duly forwarded to England, but was not favourably considered by the Government then in office. In December, however. Lord Derby's Ministry was defeated, and a coalition Government under Lord Aberdeen succeeded to power. Early in 1853 it was announced that the new Adminis- tration was prepared to pass a measure authorizing the Canadian Legislature to deal with the measure subject to the preserva- tion of existing rights. In November, 1852, the Provincial Parliament adjourned until February, the reason assigned being tho prevalence of cholera in Quebec. In February it reassembled, and the session continued until June. Among other measures passed was one for the increased representation of the people in Parliament. Under this Bill the number of members of the Assembly was increased from 84 to 130 — 65 from each section of the province. The Government of Messrs. La Fontaine and Baldwin had more than once endeavoured to effect this change, but were unable to secure the requisite two-thirds majority prescribed in the Union Act. Mr. Brown condemned the .system of equal VOL. I. H 98 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V, representation, and moved an amendment to the effect tliat the representation of the people in Parliament should be based upon population, without regard to any line of separation between Upper and Lower Canada, on which he was defeated. This measure involved a redistribution of the constituencies, and the arrangement proposed by the Government was resisted by the Opposition on the ground of the unfair advantage wliieli it gave to the Government supporters in Upper Canada. Thi Clear-Grits, on this occasion, stood by the Government, and tlie lledistribution Bill passed the Assembly by sixty-one vote< to sixteen. An Act extending the elective franchise was also passed, to take effect from the 1st of January, 1855. Another important step taken by the House during thi> session was the adoption of an address to Her Majesty prayini; for a grant of power to the Canadian Legislature to alter the constitution of the Upper House by rendering the same elective The resolutions were introduced and carried through by the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Morin, whose hobby it was, and opposed by Mr. Brown, who contended that two elective Houses are incompatible with the true working of the British Constitution. The close of the session of 1852-53 saw the breach between the Government and the Clear-Grit party sensibly widened. and the Ministry correspondingly weakened. For many months, as we have seen, George Brown had been urging upon thi Government the extreme desirability of proving their sincerity by dealing with the clergy reserves question. Mr. Hincks had again and again declared himself in favour of secularization, and had persuaded two of his French-Canadian colleagues in the Ministry to state their agreement with his views ; yet, when urged to legislate, his invariable reply was that, until the necessary Imperial legislation was passed, giving them power to deal with the subject, it was futile to attempt anything. The Imperial Act conferring on the Canadian Legislature the long sought for powers passed in May, 1853. Upon this fact being announced the Clear-Grits renewed their demands for an immediate settlement ; but the Government pleaded the lateness of the session, and showed in a variety of ways that they intended to do nothing. 1853.] JN OPPOSITION. 99 This policy of laisscr-faire brought matters to a crisis. Mr. Brown and his friends denounced the Government in I'arlianicnt, in the press, and from the hustings, declaring tnat they had at length thrown off the mask and stood before the country in their true coloms. Tlie Gluhc, which had completely lost its wits on the question of Iloman Catholicism, and saw the cloven foot of the Papacy in everything, jeered at the Admini.stration as being wholly the slave of clerical influence. The (ravazzi riots, which occurred in Montreal a few days before the prorogation of Parliament, and the deplorable events in connection therewith, afforded Mr. Brown an admirable occasion to develop his theory, of which he took full advantage. He was aided in this endeavour by the fact that the Mayor ;et away for a visit t" liis ((nmtry house at llivicro du Loup, and, oneo there, his friends know how ililtic'tilt it was to get him to leave it until his holiday was spent. Often have I heard liini say tiiat he had no ])atienco with those persons who, absolutely ignorant of every- tiiiuir pirtaiuing to Lower Canada and its people, aifeeted, when speaking of French ' .tiiailiaiis, a tone of contemptuous dislike. I remember very well, on one oeeanion in I iimnto it was during the time of the Kiel agitation, — hearing some uncomplimentary tiling's said of the French Canadians by a popular speaker. 1 said to Sir John, in a «lii«lMT, " I do not suppose I\Ir. has any personal knowledge of Lower Canada," ".Nut tile slightest," replied \w, in a tone thai indicated, unmistakably, what hu tlinu<,'lit (if the sentiments which were then being expressed., 102 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. V. years old) I am justified in making public. It confirms much of what I have said as to the Conservative "plan of cam- paign" in 1854; and it effectually disposes of the insinu- ation, sometimes heard, that during that election Sir Join; Macdonald intrigued against his leader with a view to sup- planting Sir Allan MacNab. This letter, written to Mr. Macdonald's personal friend, Captain Strachan, bears on its face the impress of perfect sincerity. The writer was evidently expressing his inmost sentiments, to unfold which is the principal object I have in view. " [Private.] " Kingston, February 9, 1854. "My dear Captain Strachan, " You will pardon my not answering your note front Trenton before, when I tell you tliat I have been preventer 1 from attending to business matters for some time on account of my mother's illness. I am delighted to learn that Vankoughnet is to get a requisition. He is, I think, the best choice that can be made for Toronto. His abilities are un- doubted. They are not confined, as Hillyard Cameron';? are to a good memory and a vicious fluency of speech. His niiml is liberal and suggestive, and his constituents will bo sure that their interests will never suffer for the purpose of forwardiii'. any selfish interests of his own. I trust he will be placed at the head of the poll. Cameron was useful in legal matter^ when in the House, but he lacks general intelligence, and i- altogether devoid of polit'cal reading ; so that he was altugothei a failure as a states "lan. Lord Elgin truly called him ';i presumptuous young gentleman.' He seeks I'arliament again from selfish interests, and I would be sorry to see him repre- sent so powerful a constituency as Toronto. If he ne in fm Xiagara, or fought some doubtful county, it would bo all very well, and ho could be kept in his place. I should have no objection to see William ]3oulton in ; ho can always bo made useful. By allowing him occasionally an opportunity of show- ing off his eccentricities, he can be kept in harness generally. I never found any dilliculty in getting him to act with otn party. His chief fault is impatience. He destroyed two or 1854.] IN OPPOSITION. 103 three marvellously good plots of ours by premature disclosure. However, with all his faults, let us have liim, unless, indeed, you can get George Allan in. I have not the pleasure of knowing ]\Ir. Allan, but, from all that I hear, he would be a valuable addition to our feeble ranks. You say truly that we are a good deal hampered with ' old blood.' Sir Allan will not be in our way, however. He is very reasonable, and requires only that we should not in his ' sere and yellow leaf ' offer him the indignity of casting him aside. This I would never assent to, for I cannot forget his services in days gone by. There is no chance of a change of Ministry before a general election. My belief is that there must be a material alteration in the character of the new House. I believe also that there must be a change of Ministry after the election, and, from my Mr V relations with the French, I am inclined to believe my assistance would be sought. " There would be a new House and new people to choose from, and our aim should be to enlarge the bounds of our party so as to embrace every person desirous of being counted as a 'progressive Conservative,' and who will join in a series of measures to put an end to the corruption which has ruined the present Government and debauched all its followers. " Meyers, I liope, will get in ; whatever his demerits may be, his vote is always right. In fact, he never fails you ; and this, as you know, is a most valuable quality. D'Arcy lloulton is, I suppose, the best man to run against Wellor. Vour opinion and mine coincide about him ; but we must take people as wo find them, and not look the gift horse in the mouth. " If the two Boultons come in, it would be of great import- ance that Mr. Cayley should bo in also. He would serve to keep tho'^vin order; and from old acquaintance 1 can assure yuu of his \Cay ley's) trustworthiness and ability as a states- man. There is an opinion very prevalent in the country that he is insincere and scheming. This arises altogether from his manner, which he is conscious of but cannot amend. I can assure you, however, that his merits far outweigh his faults. If he ciiu't get in for Huron, ho would lead Uie party admirably in the ' Lords.' I have pressed Lewis Wullln-idge to run against 104 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Ciup. V. Eoss, and think he will come in. What say you to the rumnur of lioss running for Toronto ? Take care that, amid a multi- plicity of candidates on our side, a Ead. may not succiicd— especially a Ead. armed with the Crown patronage, which we know would be unscrupulously exerted or, rather, distributed. The only way to cure this is an early choice of candidates at a Conservative caucus or convention. I am opposed to the Yankee system of caucus as a general rule, but sometimes, as in your case, it is the only way to avoid disunion. Benjamin, if elected, is sure. He will not, for he dare not, break from us. I am sorry to see Murney thrown over ; he has not done much, but he has suffered much for his party, and if they can, hereafter, he must not be overlooked. I have great fears for Lennox and Addington. Seymour won't come out again. We are trying to get a nomination for my old partner, Alex. Camp- bell. He is a worthy fellow, and all right, "You had better destroy this after you have read it. 1 have written with perfect candour, but I may have to act here- after with some of the ' Gemmen ' I have spoken of. " Pray let me hear from you occasionally. Believe me, " Yours very faithfully, "John A. Macdonald." ( 105 ) CHAPTER VI. THE COALITION OF 1854. liAll.WAY DEVKLOI'MKNT IN CANADA — KECIl'KOCITY TUEATY OF 1854 — si;it;xiouiAL tenure — fikst session of 1854 — defeat of the uincks- MuUlN OOVEKNMENT — ARRUPT PROROGATION — GENERAL ELEl'TION OF 1854— SECOND SESSION — GOVERNMENT AGAIN DEFEATED — TIIEY RESIGN — FOKMATION OF THE MACNAll-MORlN ADMINISTRATION— BIRTH OF THE LIIJEHAL-C0N8ERVATIVE PARTY. The period between 1849 and 1854 was one of material progress in Canada — a progress which, perhaps, can best be illustrated by a short consideration of the initiation and development of its railway policy. And first a word with reference to the canals. The improvement of our inland navigation had long been recognized as a work of paramount importance. In 1846 the canal system of Canada was to a great extent completed, at a oost to tlie province of not less than twenty millions of dollars. The anticipations formed with regard to the volume of western trade which would thereby be attracted to the St. Lawrence route were just beginning to be realized when the repeal of the Corn Laws and the consequent abolition of the differential (hities on foreign and colonial grain deprived the province of the advantage over the United States in the English market which it had formerly enjoyed, and, as a necessiiry result, a hirge portion of the St. Lawrence trade was diverted to American ports. In addition to tliis blow Canadian commerce was further liampered by the Imperial navigation laws, which restricted the carrying trade of the lakes to IJritish vessels, and was also injured by the policy of tlie Home Government in snl)si(Uzing tlie Cunard line of steamers to iJoston and New York, thereby giving to these ports a further advantage over the St. Lawrence route. In 1849 the navigation laws 106 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cha p. VI. were repealed by the Imperial Parliament, but, in the mean time, the extension of railway communication within tlk- province had provided new channels for trade. The first passenger railway in the world — that between Stockton and Darlington — was opened on the 27th of September, 1825. Within a very few years of that date the idea of buildini; a line of railway to connect Canada with the maritime provinces began to be mooted. Amid the stormy events of 1837-38 the project was for a time lost sight of. But, while the rebellion had the effect of temporarily arresting consideration of this scheme of an intercolonial railway, it was ultimately the means of drawing the attention of the Imperial Government to the military advantage of a line of railway connecting Halifax with Quebec, thus rendering Canada accessible to Her Majesty's forces at all seasons of the year. As this scheme would cost a large sum of money, and as the colonies would be primarily benefited thereby, it was thought right that they should con- tribute to the expense of construction. The colonies admitted the propriety of this decision, and, in 1846, the House of Assembly authorized the co-operation of the Canadian Govern- ment with the sister colonies of Nova Scotia and New lirunswick in procuring a survey and a general estimate of the feasibility and cost of a line of railway between Quebec and Halifax. A survey was accordingly made, in the year 1848, by Major llobinson and other officers selected by the Imperial Government, but at the expense of the colonies. Several lines were explored by Major Eobinson, but he reported the one eventually adopted as preferable, although the longest and most costly, for several reasons (principally of a military nature) given by him. This route was considered by thv colonies at that time as being comparatively of small vahu- except in a nulitary point of view. It was objected to as being long and circuitous; as passing through a country bni ' "i settled, and, consequently, as one that could not be ■■>:■' f -^-fid for years to make any pecuniary return on the cost 0. :;>'", .'ruction. It was urged, therefore, that the interest on .1 .^v oney borrowed by the provinces to build the railway would fall entirely on their general revenues, a burden wliiih they were littlf able to bear. These considerations being 1849-54.] THE COALITION OF 1854. 107 strongly ^ ressed on Earl Grey, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, he acknowledged their justice ; and, in a despatch dated March 14, 1851, agreed that the British Government would guarantee the payment of the interest on moneys borrowed by the provinces for the purpose of making the roud, on the condition that it should pass exclusively through British territory ; but he stated that it need not of necessity be built on Major Eobinson's line. Any deviation frorn that line was, however, to be subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Government. Misapprehension arose between Lord Grey and Mr. Howe, of Nova Scotia, then conducting the negotiation, as to whether, in case Major Eobinson's line were adopted, the Imperial guarantee would not also be extended to a lateral railway running from the main line through New Brunswick westward to the frontier of the United States, known as the European and North American Eailway. Acting on the belief that the guarantee was to be so extended, the three provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia made an agreement to construct the railway from Halifax to Quebec in equal proportions, and proceeded to legislate on the matter with a view to the immediate carrying out of the work. On its being ascertained that the British Go\ernment had not intended to grant the guarantee to the local line above referred to, all the objections to Major Eol)inson's route revived, and the arrangements between the provinces fell to tlie ground. Anxiously desiring the construction of the railway, the provinces, although much disappointed at the frustration of their expectations, entered into a new agreement, to the effect that, if the railway were built along the valley of the river St. John, Nova Scotia would advance three-twelfths, Canada four-twelfths, and New Brunswick tive-t\velfths of the cost of construction. This line promised great commercial advantages and a fair pecuniary return, and, at the same time, satisfied the con- dition imposed by the Imperial Government that it shoulil puss exclusively through British territory.* • So much of tho f()re(,'oinp as relntes to tho project of an intercolonial railway in tiikeu almost verbatim from tlie original (halt of a memorandum on the sul)je('t TS« 108 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACBONALD. [Chap. T]. m In the early part of the year 1852, Messrs. Francis Hincks, E. B. Chandler, and Joseph Howe were appointed delegates from the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Xova Scotia, respectively, to proceed to England for the purpose of submitting this scheme to the Imperial Government for their sanction. Mr. Hincks sailed on the 4th of March, but Messrs. Chandler and Howe were unavoidably detained. Mr. Hincks therefore spent some time in London alone. A fortnight later he was joined by Mr. Chandler, but still Mr. Howe's sailing was unaccountably delayed. After waiting six weeks for him, Messrs. Hincks and Chandler received news that he would not be able to come at all. The Canadian and New- Brunswick delegates were therefore obliged to conduct the negotiations with which they had been charged without the assistance of their Nova Scotia colleague. They were not long kept in suspense, for on the 20th of May a despatch from Sir J. I'akington, then Colonial Secretary, conveyed the intelligence that Her Majesty's lovernment disapproved of the proposed deviation from the eastern line, and therefore found themselves unable to recommend the required guarantee to Parliament. The negotiations thus fell a second time to the ground. No further action appears to have been taken by the Government of Canada on the subject of the proposed intercolonial raihvay until 1857. This mission of Mr. Hincks to England in 1852, while a failure as regards its primary object, was nevertheless attended with highly important results. While awaiting in London the arrival of his Nova Scotia co-delegate, he received a proposal from certain eminent financiers, among whom were Messrs. l*eto, Brassey, Betts, and Jackson, to construct a railway from Montreal to Hamilton, at which point it would join the Great Western. Mr. Hincks was not slow to see that such a line would be of far greater importance to the province of Canada than the one he had come over to promote, respecting which the chances of success were highly problematical, for it was known prepared by Messrs. Jolm A. Macdonnld nnd John Rose, wliich was laid before the Imperial Government in 1857 ; printed in appendix to Journals, House of AssemhUj, I'or 1858, No. 49. See also appendix to Journals, House of Asseinbly, 1852-5;!, vol. iii., Nos. P and 7,; "Reminiscences of the Hon. F. Ilineks," pp. 438-l.')0; " Speeches and Letters of the Hon. Joseph Howe," vol. ii. pp. 444-448. 1852.] THE COALITION OF 1854. 109 at an early period of the negotiations that Her Majesty's Goveinnient did not favour the route by the valley of the St. Joliii. Accordingly he entered into negotiations with the above-named financiers, the outcome of which was the Grand Trunk Eailway. Mr. Hincks was subsequently accused by Mr. Howe of having sacrificed the interests of the maritime provinces by throwing over the intercolonial project in order that his hands might be free to negotiate for the western line, in which he afterwards became personally interested. The coincidence of the purely Canadian scheme arising, as it were, out of the failure of the interprovincial undertaking created a prejudice against Canadian public men in the mind of Mr. Howe, a feeling which, as we shall see, was destined to bear fruit in after years. In 1845, Acts were passed by the Canadian Parliament* and the Legislature of the State of Maine f incorporating, under the name of the " Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad Com- pany," an international line of railway connecting Montreal and Portland wit\\ a branch to the city of Quebec. This road was subsequently acquired by and now forms part of the Grand Trunk IJailway, not then in existence. In this session, also, the Act of the Legislature of Upper Canada incorporating the "London and Gore Eailway Company" was revived. J By another Act power was given to extend that road to the Detroit Eiver and to any point on the Niagara River, and the name of the railway was changed to that of the " Great "Western Rail- road." § In 1849 an Act was passed empowering the Government to guarantee the interest on one-half the cost of all railways not less than seventy-five miles in extent chartered by the Provincial Legislature.il Under this Act the above-named railways were commenced. In consequence of representations made by Messrs. Baring Bros, and Co., and Glyn, Mills and Co., financial agents of the Government in London, who feared the effect of the indefiniteness of the general guarantee upon the credit of the province, the governmental aid was afterwards * 8 Vict., c. 25. t Statute of Maine, 184.5, c. 19,). X 4 WUl. IV., c. 29. § 8 Vict., c. 80. II 12 Vict., c. 29. no MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VI. limited to one main trunk line of railway.* In 1852 tlie Grand Trunk Eailway Company was incorporated — or, rather, two companies bearing that name, one for the construction of a railway from Toronto to Montreal,! the other, under the name of the " Grand Trunk Railway of Canada East," for a line from Quebec to Trois Pistoles.^ This line was never carried beyond Riviere du Loup, which accordingly became the eastern terminus of the Grand Trunk Railway. To these roads an advance was made of £3000 per mile. During the same session an Act was passed providing for the amalgamation of all the companies forming the main trunk line, including the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway. § The Great Western Railway, though a corporation distinct from the Grand Trunk, was considered, for purposes of Govern- ment aid, to form part of the main trunk line, Avhile the line which was subsequently amalgamated with the Grand Trunk from Toronto westward was not entitled to any guarantee. On the 18th of July, 1853, the Grand Trunk was opened to Portland. The Great Western, between the Niagara and Detroit Rivers, was opened in January, 1854 ; and the follow- ing year witnessed the completion of the Grand Trunk from Montreal to Brockville, and the Great Western between Toronto and Hamilton. The Grand Trunk Railway, which had up to that time received from the Government of Canada under the provincial guarantee nearly one million eight hundred thousand pounds sterling, applied, during the session of 1854-55, to Parliament for further financial aid, which, as the Government could not aljibrd to see the enterprise collapse, they were obliged to grant. A Bill authorizing a loan of £900,000 was introduced and carried, not without opposition from Messrs. George Brown and Sandfield Macdonald, who considered that the Government was too closely connected with the railway. |i This large sum * 14-lo Vict., c. 73. t 16 Vict., c. 37. ; 16 Vict., c. 38. § 16 Vict., c. 39. II The Hon. Mr. lloss, Speaker of the Legislative Council, and a member of the Government, was president of the Grand Trunk Railway. Mr. Cartier, likewise a member of the Government, had been solicitor for the railway and was a sharclioidcr in the road, as was also Mr. Ilincks. Nor was the Grand Trunk witliout influence uu the left of the Speaker. Mr. Ilolton was largely interested, and so was Mr. Gait. 1S54.] THE COALITION OF 1854. Ill of money, tliouyh affording temporary relief, was not sufficient to enal)le the company to overcome its difficulties, and we shall find the Grand Trunk applying more than once again to Parliament for further pecuniary aid. Mr. Macdonald, in company with Mr. Brown, strongly and persistently opposed the grant to the Grand Trunk as proposed by Mr. Hincks in 1852, but all their efforts to defeat it were unavailing, and the road became a fact. In 1855 he supported the further aid of £900,000, on the ground that the country having become interested in the railway to the enormous extent of nearly two millions of pounds sterling, which would be thrown away in the event of the collapse of the company, it was the duty of the Government to finish the undertaking. Immediately after his return from England, in May, 1854, Lord Elgin proceeded to Washington in the capacity of Imperial High Commissioner, charged with the negotiation of a reci- procity treaty between Canada and the United States. He was accompanied by Mr. Hincks, who had previously visited Washington on a similar errand. Contrary to general expecta- tion, Lord Elgin was successful in his mission, and, on the 5th of June, the arrangement subsequently known as the "Reciprocity Treaty of 1854" was formally concluded. It endured until 1866, when it was terminated by the United States. In Lower Canada the sparseness of the Protestant population and the slow progress of settlement on Crown grants prevented the question of the clergy reserves from reaching the importance which it attained in the Upper Province.* When, in 1760, Lower Canada passed under English rule, the whole French population outside of Montreal, Three Rivers, and Quebec fhvelt on lands bordering on the St. Lawrence Eiver and extending back a comparatively short distance. Protestant if: Indml, tlmt gentleman was supposed by some members of the Opposition to be so iliwely iileutified with the railway that, when, in 1858, Mr. C'artier announced the personnel of his Ministry, W. L. ^lackenzie, who never was renmrkable for self- tmitml, shouted, at the mention of Mr. Gait's name, " Grand Trunk Jobber," and, auciinlinir to the account of the debate, became '* very much excited, and stamped and gestic'uiutod in a most ferocious manner." * Lord Durham, in his report, states that, in 1838, nincteeu-twcntieths of these IjTunts were then unsettled and in a perfectly wild state. 112 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOim A. MAC DONALD. [Cuap. VT. 1: i' f i ' -s settlers coming into the country naturally preferred movini,' on to Upper Canada and making their homes among their kindred, the united-empire loyalists, to taking up lands in remott districts of the French province. This fact, an impression among those French Canadians who had heard of the clergy reserves that they were the equivalent of privileges enjoyed by the Church of Rome, and above all, the existence of graver causes of discontent, sufficed to keep the question, so far as Lower Canada was concerned, well in the background. But if the French Canadians felt comparatively little interest in the subject which so stirred the people of Upper Canada, they were not without a similar grievance of their own. I refer to the seigniorial tenure, which, after having been for many years a cause of agitation, was finally settled by the MacNab-Morin Government in 1854. From the earliest times of the French occupation the Crown lands of the Colony were gi'anted under a species of feudal tenure analogous to the system which prevailed in Europe in the Middle Ages. These grants were made in large blocks of land held of the king by the tenure of "faith and homage," which involved, in addition to certain formal acts of fealty, performed at stated intervals, conditions more or less rigorous, of which the obligation to clear the land within a limited time on pain of forfeiture was, perhaps, the most important. These vassals of the Crown, or seigniors, carried out the feudal principle by subdividing their lands into holdings, which they in turn granted to the tillers of the soil, the haUtants, who held by the inferior tenure, en roture, which consisted in the obligation to make certain small ;mnual payments in money or farm produce, known as cens cC rent(.\\ to their feudal superiors. These charges which, under the ppiernal government of the French kings had been exceeding iy light, grew more onerous in later years, and were attended with other obligations of a vexatious nature, imposed partly by custom and partly by agreement, though seldom strictly enforced. The principal grievance under which the censitaire laboured was the charge known as lods et ventes, by which, at each transfer of land, one-twelfth of the purchase-money went to the seignior, who also was liable to a similar charge if he 1H54.] THE COALITION OF 1851. 113 sold his seigniory. In his case the amount was called a quint, liein-^ one-fifth of the purcliase-nioney. As time went on, this mediaeval system of land laws was felt to be more and more unsuited to the nineteenth centuiy, iind, as in the case of the clergy reserves in Upper Canada, jirofessional agitators were not wanting lo inflame popular Jiscontent. The liadical portion of the i;ommunity was in favour of settling the question by the simple process of con- tiscation, but moderate men of all parties admitted that the ^tirfniors of their day were not responsible for a system which had been in vogue two hundred years, and recognized ihe justice, in the event of the abolition of the tenure, of their light to compensation. Ill ilr. ]\Iacdonald's first session there was passed an Act providing for an optional commutation of the tenure of lands held en roturc into that oi franc-aleio roturicr, which corresponds to the English tenure of free and common socage. Inasmuch, however, as no change could be effected under this Act without the mutual consent of seignior and censitaire in every case, this legislation gave but little relief to the liaUtants. As originally introduced, it promised something in the direction • if reform, for on the journals of the Assembly of February 17, IS-to, I find the following order of the House : — "Tliat it be an instruction to the said committee to expunge from the I'ill so much as provides for any compulsory commutation, leaving the ■orarautatioii to be entirely free and optional with the parties, and in no case by constraint." Tiie amending Act of 1849 merely repeals certain parts ill for the secularization of the clergy reserves was inti,>dueed in the Assembly by Mr. Macdonald on the 17tli of October, and gave rise to a prolonged debate, iu the course of whiidi the well-trodden ground was again gone over. The measure provided in effect that in future the moneys arising from the clergy reserves in each part of the province should form a separate fund, to be called respectively the Upper C.iUada Municipalities Fund, and the Lower Canada ]\Iunicii)alities Fund. The annual stipends or allowances which had beeu given to the clergy of the Churches of England and Scotland, and other denominations of Christians in either section of the 1854.] THE COALITION OF 1854. 129 province under the Imperial Act of 1840, to which the faith of the Crown had been pledged, should continue to be paid during the natural lives or the incumbencies of the persons receiving the same, and should be a first charge on the municipalities fund for that section of the province, in preference to all other charges or expenses whatever. In the case of the Koman Catholic Church in Upper Canada, and of the British Wesleyan MethocUst Church for Indian Missions, the payment o^' the annual allowance was to cease on the expiration of twenty years from the date of the passing of the Act. Provision was made for an optional commutation within a limited period of such annual stipends, or allowances for the value thereof, to l)e calculated at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum upon the probable life of each annuitant. This clause met with much opposition, and was carried only with difficulty. Subject to these charges, the whole of the proceeds of the reserves was to he divided equally among the several county and city munici- palities in proportion to population. In a speech delivered in London in the year 1800, Mr. Macdonald thus alluded to this memorable piece of legislation : — "You know that in 1840 there was an Act of Parliament passed by the Imperial Legislature, which alone had the power i)f dealing with the question, making a certain settlement of tlie clergy reserves. An agitation, however, arose in the country against that measure, and there was a strong feeling that the settlement should be altered, although it had been adopted as final by the lieform and Conservative parties, and although Mr. Baldwin (whose patriotism, now that he is in his grave, nobody doubts ; or his sincere desire, according to his light and conscience, to act for the benefit of the country) stated in my presence that the man who should attempt to disturb the settlement of 1840 would be an enemy of his country. However, it was again agitated, and to remove that •iccasion of sectional strife we were obliged to apply to the Imperial Parliament to allow us to legislate upon it. That loavo was granted, provided wo preserved the faith of the british Crown, which was considered pledged to the clergymen whose stipends were paid out of the reserve funds. We knew VOL. I. X 130 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VI. that we could not get the Koyal assent to any measure which dii! not preserve the rights of these clergymen, and we introducoii a clause for the purpose of settling that for ever, providini; that, instead of being paid their incomes from year to year, until the last clergyman should have died, there should be n commutation of these stipends upon commercial principles; that each man should have his life valued, and the value ot his salary capitalized and invested for the good of the Church This clause we had great difficulty in carrying ; and one source of attack was, we were giving a large sura of money to favour Churches, that we were showing undue favour to the doiiiinn. Church of England and the Established Church of Scotland. and were making a special grant to Eoman Catholicism, whicli had the small sum of £500 a year charged upon the fund. Yju must remember that every clergyman who had £150 or ^200 a year charged upon the fund had by law a mortgage on the whole of the clergy reserves, and we could not devote a farthing of their proceeds to any purpose so long as one sucli clergyman remained alive. Under our plan, however, we paid them the fair value of their incomes, and were thus enablod to apply the whole of the enormous balance to the local purposes of Upper Canada. To the credit of the Cliurclk'> concerned, and of their clergy, be it said, that, great as was their loss, and enormous their sacrifice — for they had a claim on the full half of the proceeds — they ac(|uiesced in the settle- ment we proposed, because they felt that they ought not to be the cause of strife, and would not be placed in a I'also position, and have it said that they looked more after teiupural than spiritual things. Though the pittances paid were small, I am happy to have personally received assurances from tln' clergy of these Churches — from their bishops downwards— that they are glad our legislation succeeded." * The Bill for the abolition of the seigniorial tenure, which * T'.iu extent, of tlio siu'i'iflco niiiilo by tlio olerpy of the Cliureh of Eii<;liinil ntthi- critioiil j)erio(l is not jfeneniUy i\i)preciiit(!il. As Mr. Miicdonnld, licro iind olsmvlnri', hus pointed out, tlioy wore entitled to re(,eivo a very Inrfifo sum of niouoy. Yet, f r tiio suko of peace, in a spirit worthy of tlieir liiijli ealiin;;, they volnntiirily .lulmiittcil to this deprivation ratiier tl\an prolong nn a)fitation which was fran|;ht with ovil t>i the country. Tho patriotic conchict of theso fjentlemon on this trying wmm was in ovory way houourahlo to their order, and dosorvos to live in the history oi Canada. 1854.] THE COALITION OF 1854. 131 was presented to the House by Mr. Attorney General Dnim- mond on the 20th of October, and passed through all its stages concurrently with the measure dealing with the clergy reserves, abolished all feudal rights and duties in Lower Canada, whether bearing upon the censitaire or seignior, securing to the latter fair compensation for every pecuniary right of which, under the old tenure, he might stand possessed. In order to deter- mine the amount of such compensation, a Commission was appointed. The payments under this Act were to be a charge against all local funds of Lower Canada available for the purpose. These proving inadequate to meet the amounts declared by the Commission to be due to the seigniors as com- pensation for their rights, the sura of £30,000 a year was taken from the general revenue to make up the deficiency. The seigniors were forced to content themselves with a yearly pay- ment of the interest on their claims, or submit to a reduction of 25 per cent, for cash. The Act provided that from and after a certain date every censitaire should hold his land in franc-alcu roturicr, free and clear of all cens, lods et rentes, droit de hanalitS, droit de retrait, and other feudal and seignio- rial duties and charges, excepting only the reiitc constituec wiiich was to be substituted therefor. Both these Bills, opposed at every stage by Messrs. Brown, Dorion, and other i^rofessed champions of secularization and abolition, passed the third reading * in the Assembly on the 23rd of November — the clergy reserves by a vote of 62 to 39, the seigniorial tenure by 71 to 32. On the 18th of December they received the Royal assent.*!* Thus were finally laid to rest the two great causes of strife which for many years had distracted the province of Canada. To Mr. Macdonald more than to any other public man is tlie credit of this settlement due. The old lladieal party had fully demonstrated their inability to cope with the difHculties sur- rounding these (luestions. The Liberals had been in i)ower for more than si.x: years, and so far as a vigorous policy in * Mr. Dorion votod for the tliird rendiiifijof tlio Soipiioriiil T«muro Dill, nnd nj,'iiiii,st that ri'liitiiijr to tlio clcrjfy reserves. Mr. Drown voted nf^niii.st the third reiulinjjr ol iKitli iiu'usuriw, iind the Cleiir-Orits nnd Itoiiffes, an a hody, did nil in their power to iraptHlt' tiin pasMiiijT of hoth Dilla. t 18 Vict., r. 2 mid 3. 132 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MAODONALD. [Chap. VI. relation to the reserves and the seigniorial tenure \yas con- cerned, could command the support of a large majority in the Assembly. That the Conservatives during these years were opposed to the re-opening of the question of the clergy reserves is not a material consideration — for this reason, that the Liberals outnumbered them in Parliament by three to one. Notwithstanding this strong support, the Liberal Governments did nothing, and actually went to pieces because of their inability to give effect to a policy which they themselves liad repeatedly declared to be essential to the peace and prosperity of Canada. Yet what Messrs. Hincks and Morin could not perform in six years, Messrs. Morin and Macdonald accom- plished in six weeks. I say Mr. Macdonald ; for while I have no wish to disparage Sir Allan MacNab, nor to undervalue his loyal and patriotic services to his party in former years, it is a fact that in 1854 he had seen his best days, and leaned heavily upon his friend and colleague the Attorney General for Upper Canada, who was generally recognized as the master mind of the Administration.* The year 1854 marks the close of the first of five periods into which the life of Sir John Macdonald naturally falls, The ten years which had elapsed since Sir Charles Metcalfe appealed to the people of Canada to support him against the Radicals had been fruitful in change. Mr. Baldwin had dis- appeared ; Mr. Brown had arisen ; Messrs. Draper and La Fontaine had transferred their usefulness to another sphere; new men had come upon the stage, old men had gone off ;— but no change was more remarkable than that which trans- formed the young Kingston lawyer, who had come forward in 1844 merely " to fill a gap," into the leader of a great party, largely recruited from the ranks of his opponents. Had Sir John Macdonald's career prematurely come to an end in the autumn of 1854, it would still have beeu worthy of interest and admiration. Fortunately for Canada it was then only in the morning of its greatness. * " Then we Inve Mr. Attorney General Macdonald, the only man of any work- ing qualities i" "iie Oovemraent, the only one who could make a Ht>t Bpeeeli intlit House, the man who must he the leader in the Asuemhly " {Qlobe, September, 1834), ( 133 ) CHAPTER VII. IN OFFICE. 1855-1856. SIB EDMU.VD HEAD — THE MACNAB-TACIlfi ADMIN'ISTRATION — GEORGE ETIEKKK CAKTIKR— SESSION OF 1855 — MK. MACDOXALd's VIEWS ON THE QUESTION OF SEPARATE SCHOOLS— SEAT OF GOVERNMENT — SESSION OF 185G— MR. MACDONALD's charges against GEORGE BROWN — UNEXPECTED DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY — DISCONTENT OF THE MINISTERIAL LIBERALS — SIR ALL,\N MACNAB— RESIGNATION OF MESSRS. SPENCE, MACDONALD, MORRISOS AND CAYLEY — FORMATION OF THE FIRST TACHfi-MACDONALD GOVERNMENT. In December, 1854, Lord Elgin, whose term of ofi&ce had expired, was succeeded in the Governorship of Canada by Sir Edmund Head — a man of rare scholastic attainments who, (luring the previous seven years, had occupied the position ol' hieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. I have already observed that, in Sir John Macdonald's opinion. Lord Elgin's administration of affairs in Canada was not characterized by that absolute impartiality becoming a Governor General. Of Sir Edmund Head I never heard him say much ; but from tlie little he did say I infer that he found the change from Lord Elgin very agreeable. Indeed, I think I am not wrong in stating that Sir John was never so intimate with any Governor General as with Sir Edmund Head. Various circumstances contributed to this intimacy. In the first place there was less difference in their ages than was the case with many subsequent Governors. They had a common love of literature, and during the greater part of Sir Edmund's adminis- tration Mr. Macdonald lived in bachelor's quarters in Toronto, a stone's-tlirow from Government House. Thus the Governor General saw a good deal of his Prime Minister, and, as happened 134 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. to all who came within range of Sir Jolin Macdonald's personality, was attracted by it. In this way lliere grew up a close friendship between these two eminent men. In the early part of 1855, Mr; Morin, who was not in robust health, retired from the Cabinet and accepted a seat on the Bench. In consequence of the system of dual leadership which at that time prevailed,* the Lower Canadian members of the Cabinet considered that the resignation of their sectional leader carried their own with it. Accordingly they placed their portfolios at the disposal of Sir Allan MacNab, who requested Messrs. Tache and Drummond to remain in office. Messrs, Chauveau and Chabot retired, the place of the former being filled by Mr. (afterwards Sir) George E. Cartier, and that of the latter by Mr. Franfois Lemieux. The Commissionership of Crown Lands vacated by Mr. Morin was bestowed upon Mr. Joseph Cauchon. As reconstructed, the Ministry (known as the MacNab-Tache Administration) stood as follows : — The Hon. E. P. Tache, Receiver General. The Hon. J. A. Macdonald, Attorney General, U.C. The Hon. L. T. Drummond, Attorney G'^ueral, L.C. The Hon. John Eoss, without portfolio. The Hon. Sir A. N. MacNab, President of the Council, ami Minister of Agriculture. (First Minister.) The Hon. W. Cay ley. Inspector General. The Hon. Thomas Spence, Postmaster General. The Hon. Joseph Cauchon, Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Hon. Franfois Lemieux, Chief Commissioner of Public Works The Hon. G. E. Cartier, Provincial Secretary. Under these circumstances were brought together, for the first time, the two men who for the ensuing eighteen years governed the country almost without intermission. George Etienn«"! Cartier was born in St. Antoine, P.Q., on the 6th of September, 1814. Ho received his education at the college of St.^ Sulpics, Montreal, and was called to the Bar in 1835. In early life he became a follower of Papineau, and fought against the Crown in the rebellion of 1837. At the * Ihe newspapore of tho peritHl alhulo to Mr. Morin us "The Lowor Caniiilin" Primo Minister." 1855.] IN OFFICE. 135 suppression of the outbreak he sought refuge in the United States, and was one of those persons against whom Lord Durham decreed sentence of death in the event of their return to the colony. On the restoration of peace Mr. Cartier came back to Canada, and resumed the practice of the law. He soon attained a prominent position at the Montreal Bar, and became the solicitor of the Grand Trunk Eailway. In 1848 he was elected to Parliament for his native county of Verch^res, which he continued to represent continuously for thirteen years. Beginning his political career as a supporter of Mr. La Fontaine, Mr. Cartier was one of those who followed Mr. Morin in the latter's alliance with the Conservatives, and on the retirement of his chief succeeded, in effect, to the leadership of the French Canadians. The nature of the relations which existed between Sir John Macdonald and Sir George Cartier during the whr»le of the official life of the latter, and the affection which Sir John cherished for his colleague during the eighteen years in which they laboured together, can best be stated in his own words. On the occasion of unveiling the statue of Sir George at Ottawa, on the 29th of January, 1885, the right hon. gentleman spoke thus of his deceased friend : — " We are assembled to-day to do honour to the memory of a great and good man. The Parliament of Canada has voted a sum of money for the purpose of defraying the cost of erecting ii fitting statue to Sir George Cartier. In doing so, I believe Parliament truly represented the desires and wishes of the whole people of the Dominion to do honour to the memory of that statesman. That lamented gentleman, during the whole of his official life, was my colleague. As we acted together for years, from the time he took office in 1855 until 1873, when he was cut oflf, it is almost impossible for me to allude to his services to the country without at the same time passing in some degree a laudation upoi: the Government of which he and I were both members. But there is no neces- sity for me to recall to your memory the deeds of Sir George Cartier. Ho served his country faithfully and well ; indeed, his life was cut short by his unremitting exertions in tiie cause of this country. I believe no public man, since 136 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. Canada has been Canada, has retained, during the whole of his life, as was the case with Sir George Cartier. in such an eminent degree, the respect of both the parties into which this great country is divided. He was a strong, constant Lower Canadian. He never disguised his principles, he carried them faithfully and honestly into practice. But while he did this he allowed others the same liberty he claimed for himself, and approved of the principle that each man should do according to his conscience what he thought best for the good of the country. The consequence was that even those gentlemen who were strongly opposed to his political course and views gave due credence to his honesty of purpose, and believed that, whether right or wrong, he was acting according to the best of his judgment and the impulses of his conscience. As for myself, when the tie between us was broken, no man could have suffered more keenly than I did at the loss of my colleague and my friend. I shall leave it to others to expatiate upon his labours more particularly. Sufficient for me to say that he did what he regarded to be in the interest, not of a section, but of tlie whole country. Nevertheless, he was a French Canadian. From the time he entered Parliament he was true to his province, his people, his race, and his religion, At the same time, he had no trace of bigotry — no trace of fanaticism. Why, those who were opposed to him in his own province used to call him a French-speaking Englishman. He was as popular among the English-speaking people as he was among his own countrymen, and justly so, because he dealt out even justice to the whole people of Canada without regard to race, origin, religion, or principles. Gentlemen, he was true to his province, he was true to the institutions of his province, and if he had done nothing else than see to the complete codification of the law of his native province, if he had done nothing else but give to Quebec the most perfect code of law that exists in the whole world, that was enough to make him immortal among civilized people who knew his merits, knew his exertions, and knew the value of the great code of civil law he conferred on his country. I shall say no more respecting what he did, but I will speak of him as a man, truthful, honest, and sincere ; his word was as good as his bond, and his bond was priceless. A true friend, he 1855.] IN OFFICE. 137 never deserted a friend. Brave as a lion, he was afraid of nothing. He did not fear a face of clay. But while he was bold, as I have said, in the assertion of his own principles — and he carried them irrespective of consequences — he respected the convictions of others. I can speak of him perfectly because I knew his great value — his great value as a statesman, his great value as a man, his great value as a friend. I loved him when he was living ; I regretted and wept for him when he died. I shall not keep you here longer by any remarks of mine. Others, coming from his own province, will speak of his merits. Gentle- men, I shall now unveil the statue. It is, I believe, a fine work of art, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that in the hands of the sculptor it has been a labour of love, that the statue has been moulded, framed, and carried into successful execution by one of his own countrymen, Mr. Hebert. It is a credit to Canadian art, and it shows he was a true Canadian when he felt his work a labour of love, and cut such a beautiful statue as I shall now have the pleasure of showing you. I think those who knew Sir George Cartier and were familiar with his features will acknowledge it is a fine portrait of the man. I can only conclude in the words of the song he used to sing to us so often when he was with us in society : — " * II y a longtemps que j ; t'aime, Jamais je ne t'oublierai.' " * Parliament, which had adjourned on the 18tli of December, 1854, re-assembled in Quebec on the 23rd of February, 1855. The session continued until the 30th of May, and was marked uy the passing of much useful and important legislation, including a measure to reorganize the militia, which was practi- cally tlie beginning of our present system of defence ; an Act establishing the parish municipal system in Lower Canada; and a measure dealing with the school system of Upper Canada. * In tlie course of our drive back from the ceremony of that afternoon, I remarked to Sir Jolm that the position of the statue with iis back to the province of Quebec (lid not seem a happy one. "There I do not agree with you," he replied. " He ctands in the position of defender of his native province ; what couhl be more appropriate ? Cartier was as_ bold as a lion. lie was just the man I wanted. But for )ilm confederation could not have been carried." Sir John continued, "Cartier failed greatly during the last few years of his life. Those who knew him only after 1870 could form no just conception of the George Cartier of the preceding decade." - 1 W^ ^i 138 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOIItJ A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. VI[. The latter was introduced into the Assembly by Mr. Macdonald, who stated that the principle of the Bill was not new, for already under the law separate schools existed in both sections of the province, so that the people would keep, only in a more acceptable form, that which they already had. Petitions, numerously signed in Upper Canada, had urged upon the Government and Legislature the necessity for a change. The old law provided that, if twelve householders petitioned for a separate school, tlie municipal council was compelled to grant it. The Bill introduced by Mr. Macdonald enacted that five heads of families could establish a separate school ; that trustees would be elected precisely as before. The old law was retained to this extent, that Catholics might set up a school in a Protestant community, or Protestants in a Catholic community, or Jews or coloured people in either ; but Protes- tants could not dissent from Protestants, nor Catholics from Catholics. Mr. Macdonald said that he was as desirous as any one of seeing all children going together to the common schools, and, if he could have his own way, there would be no separate schools. But we should respect the opinions of others who differed from us, and they had a right to refuse to accept such schools as they could not conscientiously approve of It was better to allow children to be taught at school such religious principles as their parents wished, so long as they learned at the same time to read newspapers and books, and to become intelligent and useful citizens. A Bill altering the constitution of the Legislative Council passed the Assembly, only to bo again rejected by the Upper House. The Seat of Government question, which was destined to occupy, in the near future, a large share of public attention, came up during this session. An attempt on the part of the Lower Canadian members was made to retain the capital permanently at Quebec. It was, however, unsuccessful, and the House, by a large majority, resolved to continue th" perambulatory system which had been adopted in 1849. The session of 1854-55 was, in many respects, one of the most memorable in the history of Canada. In point of time it was the longest, having lasted (including adjournments) 1855.] IN OFFICE. 139 [ffejl from the 5th of September till the 30th of May, a period of 268 days. In respect also of the amount of work accomplished, I think it is unequalled, no fewer than 250 Bills having received the Koyal assent. But its chief claim to distinction rests upon the character of the work performed. The settle- ment of the clergy reserves; the abolition of the seigniorial tenure ; the reorganization of the municipal, school, and inihtia systems ; the assistance granted to railway extension ; and the encouragement to private enterprise, gave it an importance ail its own, and demonstrated the strength of the new Government, which was able to carry all its measures through the Assembly by large majorities. Mr. Hincks loyally carried out his part of the compact by giving the Administration his cordial support; and there is every reason to believe that, had he remained in Canadian public life, the Government would have continued to enjoy the advantage of his aid and counsel. The session 1854-55 was, however, destined to be his last in Canada for many years. During the summer of 1855 it was announced that the Imperial Government had offered him the Governorship of Barbados and the Windward Islands, which he accepted, and bade farewell to Canada for a season. I have heard Sir John Macdonald describe Mr. Hincks as a man in most respects of ordinary abilities, but distinguished by an aptitude for finance which amounted to genius. It is in his quality of financier that we shall meet him again. The important position in the Government of the country which their representative had obtained was a source of great satisfaction to the good people of Kingston, among all classes of whom "John A." was immensely popular. Of Mr. Mac- (lonald's many correspondents, few understood the art of le*^ ;r writing better than his friend Mr. Campbell, who, encouraged by tlie success of his late partner, began himself, about this time, to indulge in political aspirations which were destined to be abundantly fidfillcd. Shortly after the forma- tion of the MacNab-Taciie Government, lie thus addressed Mr. Macdonald : — Mm. -p 140 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. VII. " Kingston, March 8, 1855. "Mr DEAK Macdonald, "I have been intending every day since ray return to write you, but in one way or another have been prevented from doing so. Kirkpatrick paid me a long visit the other day, on his return from Quebec, and gave me the latest intelligence. I am delighted to hear that your Ministry is thought likely to be a permanent one, and that you consider it as strong with the French Canadians, with Cauchon and Lemieux, as you did with Morin and Chauveau. I never thought Morin a man of ability or energy, but he was respectable in position and character, amiable, and well thought of by his fellow-countrymen, and I was afraid that his loss would weaken you. Chauveau seemed to me only suited to make himself agreeable at ladies' parties. Cauchon is a man of energy, I fancy, and will more than replace him. I hear from Kirkpatrick, and at all hands, that the Hon. John A. Macdonald, Atty. General West, is the head, centre, and tail of tlie Ministry, however, and is to it as Mr, Hincks was to the last one. I con- gratulate you with all my heart. There can be only a few — I will not admit that there are any — who sympathize with you in your political success more than I do. You will remember that throughout your long and apparently hopeless opposition I always deprecated your retiring from Parliament, as you often threatened to do ; that a change of any sort, any new shuffling ol' political cards would be sure to put you on the Treasury benches, I always looked upon as so extremely probable that you were justified in calculating upon it and governing yourself accordingly. In politics, political connection, influence of a personal character, ability, the art of managing mankind, you were far before any one in the House the most 'available man' there save Hincks, and it was not in the nature of things that you should not sooner or later occupy a leading position there. You were never so desponding as to [)rospects political as before and during the last canvass and election here. The disgusting electioneering arts you felt compelled to resort to, the defeat of many of your schemes as to candidates, the defection of some who promised to stand — the defeat at the polls of many others — all these influenced you — do you recollect? 'The party is nowhere, damned everlastingly. I will go down and get the Bank Bill passed and retire. I am resolved upon it.' And now you rule Canada; what a change! Your Clergy Reserves measure was a bad pill to swallow, but in the state of the country there seemed nothing else for it. Mr. Herchmer wrote me a long note on your ' lamentable and surprising course ' when I was in England. I happened to have placed in my writing-desk a note you had written me from Quebec, explaining your step and your reasoning on its necessity. I sent this and a letter of my own to the parson, and satisfied him that 'better this than a worse measure.' Kirkpatrick tells me that John of Toronto and all the priests and deacons of his stalV are now satisfied with your arrangement of the loaves and fishes. "Is there anything up between you and Vankoughnet ? I had a letter from him when I was in London, in which he wrote quite rabidly about the 1835-56.] IN OFFICE. 141 country being degraded and betrayed. He does not reflect upon what was possible. I presume if you could have arbitrarily settled the reserves as you thought best, they would not have been secularized, but you could only direct, not stem the torrent. It was better to have it directed by friendly hands than run riot. " I trust you will not vacate your post for the Chief Justiceship. Your Ministry cannot want you and live, I fancy ; and you cannot, and, I should think, will not leave them just yet ; because the becoming gravity of a judge will not sit easily on you for some years to come. Let me into your projects on this head. " I hope you will be able to tip me a stave on things political, but dare say you are very busy from night until morning, and then again from morning until night. Try and write mo if you can spare time. If not, I will take for granted that your intentions are good. "Yours very sincerely, "A. Campbell." The session of 1856, which opened in Toronto on the 15th of February, was marked by an unusual degree of acrimony, from which the previous session had been comparatively free. Within a few days after the meeting of Parliament, Mr. Brown, who had come to be recognized as the leader of the Opposition, delivered himself of a philippic against the Ministry in general, and the Attorney General West in particular, which surpassed all his previous efforts. Mr. Macdonald, aroused by the insolent manner and abusive language of his opponent, replied with great warmth, and gave Mr. Brown a veritable Eoland for his Oliver. Troceeding, he charged that gentleman, who in 1849 had acted as secretary to a Commission appointed by the Government to investigate certain abuses said to exist in connection with the Kingston penitentiary, with having in that capacity falsified the testimony of witnesses, suborned convicts to commit perjury, nnd obtained the pardon of murderers confined in the penitentiary ,.,'luc' them to give false evidence. Mr. Brown, having given a passionate denial of these accu- sal IS, a committee at his own request was appointed to inquire into the matter. The committee set iu work, and in due time made a report, or rather two reports. That presented by the majority found that grave irrt.^ularities had been committed by the penitentiary committee, of which Mr. Brown was secretary, but abstained •^ 142 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAODONALD. [Chap. VII. 1856.] 1 ■■L' -; from expressing an opinion as to his individual responsibility therefor. The minority completely exonerated Mr. Brown from any impropriety in the matter. These reports, after havinj^ furnished material for many long and inconclusive debates, were allowed to drop. Mr. Macdonald, in his subsequent explanation, stated that he had no personal knowledge of the accuracy of the charges, but he had believed them to be true.* He pointed out, what seems to have escaped general attention at the time, that these charges were not new,t as he had already brought them before Parliament during the sessions of 1849, 1850, and 1851, and on each occasion had vainly endeavoured to obtain a committee to inquire into them. There happened about this time another sensational incident in which Mr. Macdonald took part, which deserves a notice here. I allude to his passage at arms with Colonel Eankin, M.P.P. for Essex, in after years one of his personal and political friends. The affair can best be explained by the subjoined correspondence, which is interesting as showing the manner in which political differences were sometimes settled in Canada so late as the year 185C. " Toronto, July 1, 1850. "My dear Smith, " As you have kindly consented to act as my friend, I think it right to state to you the exact circumstances connected with my difference with Mr. Rankin. " In the course of debate that gentleman used language not only insulting to the Ministry as a body, but personally offen- sive to every member of it. " I spoke, in answer, with some severity, but in a manner not, in my opinion, too severe for the occasion, and in language declared by the Speaker to be strictly within the limits of parliamentary propriety. Mr. Rankin's reply was equally insulting to mo and discreditable to himself * In view of tho fact that tho investigation from first to liwt was carried on witli closed djors, it is obvious that Mr. Macdonald ninst have been dependent upon otlion* for tho information on which his chrrpos were l)osed. t See tlie Olobo of the 20th of Jnne, 1851, wliich devotes four o, aiul tluit any other course would bo that of a ruffian, and, secondly, because it was due to Mr. Macdonald, whom ho now felt he had treated with great injustice, and whose pardon he now desired to ask. " Mr. Macdonald said, ' Sir, you have it ; ' and both gentlemen then shook hands. " Tliis explanation was brought about in consequence of some blander or difficulty having arisen in an interview between Mr. Smith, as Mr. Mac- donald's friend, and Mr. Rankin, which, being mentioned by Dr. Clarke to Mr. v., and Mr. Smith being out of town, Mr. V. thought it a favourable opportunity to enable others to "jhow to Mr. Rankin how unjust and unfair he was to Mr. Macdonald in the Insults whicii he had offered to him in tho House. "2nd July, 18.%. " P. M. Vankouoiin'kt. " Read over in tho presence of tho gentlemen assembled." On the 10th of March the Ministry met with an unexpected reverse, being defeated by a majority oi '"our votes. The circumstances were in this wise : — In the [.receding autumn a muriler had been committed in tlie county of Lotbiniore, in the province of Quebec. The victim was a man named I'Mward Corrigan, wlio happened to bo an Irish Protestant. Those accused of the crime wore said to bo Irish Koman Catholics. T'^oy wore duly brought to justice, and, after a regular trial before the Court of Queen's Bench at Quebec, wore found " not ;,'uilty." Instantly tlio cry was raised in Ui)per Canada that those men had been acquitted by a I Ionian Catholic judge and jury, because they were lioman Catholics. To George Hnnvu and the Globe it allbrded another instance of Papal aggression, VOL. I. L 146 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. ij I Ell such as had not been heard of since the Gavazzi riots three years before. The Church and the people of the Lower Pro- vince were bitterly assailed, and the Government accused of a desire to "^hield the murderers of Corrigan. The matter duly came up in Parliament, on a motion of Mr. John Hillyard Cameron for an address to the Governor General, praying for the production of the judge's charge. The Government opposed the motion on the general ground that it was an infringement on the independence of the judiciary. It was the old story of politico- religious debates over again. The Upper Canadians, as a body, voted for Mr. Cameron's motion, and the Lower Canadians against it. The address was finally carried by forty- eight to forty-four. The division being announced, Mr. Cartiei immediately moved the adjournment of the House. On meeting next day the Attorney General East, on belialf of the Ministry, asked for a further adjournment of two days for purposes of consultation with the leader of the Government (who was confined to his bed through illness). Mr. Drummond took advantage of the occasion to inform the House that the Cfovernment had not thought proper t6 present the address to his Excellency. He added that it was their intention to pro- pose a reversal of the resolution on which it was founded, and gave formal notice to that effect. The House adjourned until the 13th, on which day the Attorney General East moved that the resolution ordering the presentation of the address to His Excellency for a copy of Mr. Justice Duval's cliarge to the jury be rescinded. With the object of preventing any friendly amendments from the Government side, and of forcing the vote at once, ]\Ir. J. S. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. A. A. Dorion, moved tlie " pre- vious question," which was treated as a motion of want of confidence, and defeated by a vote of seventy-five to forty-two, Ee-assured by this vote, the Ministry presented the address, and on the next day brought down a message from His Excellency declining to comply with the prayer of the petition for the following reasons : — 1st. That the judge's charge was not in the possession of the Governor General, nor could it be presumed to exist as a distinct document. 2nd. If it did exist, the Governor General had no power to enforce its production. 3rd. That 1856.] IN OFFICE. 147 to call for words used by a judge on a specific trial is, in effect, to call that judge to account for his conduct on the bench ; and that for the Crown so to call a judge to account, especially on the address of one branch of the Legislature, would be at least an evasion of the spirit of the Act, and might serve the Crown as a precedent to interfere with the independence of the judiciary. The Ministry declared that they had advised the Governor General to decline to comply with the prayer of the address, and that if the House, on reflection, disapproved of their action, they were ready to resign. On the 7th of April Mr. A. A. Dorion moved a vote of censure on them for having tendered to His Excellency advice " calculated to disturb the good under- standing between the representative of Her Majesty and this House, which it is of the highest importance to support and maintain." This motion was defeated by sixty-one votes to forty-five. Tliis incident was not without effect upon the Ministerial party, which about this time began to show signs of disinte- uration. The coalition formed in 1854, while it had been successful so far as regards the union of the moderate Conser- vatives with the Upper Canadian followers of Mr. Hiucks, seemed to the latter gentlemen to call for, within the Conserva- tive party, a process of selection similar to that which had taken place in their own. They had separated themselves from the Eadical element of the old Liberal party, and it was nut without dissatisfaction that they looked in vain for a corre- sponding movement in the ranks of their allies. The extreme Tories still shared with them the emoluments and, as they coniphiinod, monopolized the patronage of office, and they were obliged io acknowledge as their leader the highest Tory of them all. The coalition had been formed for the special purpose of carrying the clergy reserves and seigniorial tenure measures. Now that these (questions were happily settled, the priiuiiry object of the alliance was accomplished, and the time for a new understanding had arrived. Sir Allan MacNab's jjronounced Toryism, his habit of bestowing an undue share of i)atronage among his immediate friends, and his growing age and physical inruiuities contributed to develop a feeling among the "Baldwin," i.i 148 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. TII. or, as they were generally called at that time, the " Hincksite Eeformers," unfavourable to the continuance of the coalition under existing conditions. It must not be understood that Messrs. Ross, Spence, and their friends were in any way desirous of resuming political relations with the Clear-Grits. What they wanted was a change that would have the effect of dropping Sir Allan MacNab, Messrs. J. H. Cameron, Gamble, Murney and others, who bore the same relation towards Messrs. J. A. Macdonald and Cayley as Messrs. Brown, Dorion, and William Lyon Mackenzie did to themselves. Their discontent grew apace, and from it sprang the movement to depose Sir Allan MacNab and ccplace him by Mr. Macdonald.* The follo\fing Ic'^^-er," from the Speaker of he Legislative Council to his collcctgue, thu Attorney General "V ^st, indirectly throw some light upon th(i condition of political aftairs at the time we are considering. The intimate friend of Mr. Hincks and son-in-law of Robert Baldwin, Mr. Ross had long been an influential member of the Reform party. " Eeform Club, London, August 23, 1855. " My deah Macdonald, " You are correct in supposing that told you a thumper. Tlir Order in Council which we passed must govern the settlement, and I had iin authority to make bargains of any kind with him, and made none. I desiroil that tliey should be liberally dealt witli, and they were and ought to be satis- fied. Thanks for you for putting me on guard. has been writing to London to know when he will find me here, and I have not re|dic(l, as I had quite enough of him in Canada. Tachd went to Paris immediately after liis arrival here, and Sir Allan returned last night from Paris to London. lie tells mo the ordnance matter is pretty nearly arranged. " I observe that the newspapers state that a Canadian battalion is to bo raised, 2800 strong. I suppose Sir Allan will provide all the Compact, root and branch, with commissions, and the blame will all come upon us as a Govt. — blame that wo cannot well shako oft. PLad wo fixccd the raattei' and taken the resi)onsibility we should have controlled the api)ointment of the ollicers, and had them taken from all ranks and parties in the country. " I think Sir Allan's judgment would dictate all that is reasonable and fair * It is only fair to the ii.>..nory of Sir Allau MaeNab to say tliat, durini!; bin tenn of otHco as Priniu MiniHtor, be was siufrularly uiodorato in \m views, aud over shnwiil tt disposition to nicut the wishes oi' tbo Liberal members of bis Cal)iiiet. I am mmlj endoavouriug to state tlio case of Messrs. Ross, Speuce, aud their su]ii)iiitow m Purliumout, who, I tiiiuk, fouud it dilliciUt to dissociate Sir Allan fi'diu bis past. im 1856.] IN OFFICE. 149 enou<^h, but he has such an infernal lot of hangers on to provide for, that ho finds it diflScult to do the needful for them all. I am trying to get out of the l)resi(lency of the Grand Trunk, and to get Hincks to go in, but cannot yet say how I shall succeed with him, as he hangs fire. '• The Times of Monday notices favourably, in its money article, Cayley's pamphlet, which I was glad to see. ' Regards to all friends. " Yours very sincerely, " Jno. Ross." " [tltrictly private.] "Reform Club, London, September 17, 1856. "My de.vb Macdonald, " Thanks for yours of the 3"d instant, written after your trip to the Saguenay with Sir Edmund and Lady Head. The contact with His Excellency will do you good, and as you have a great game to play before very long, this excursion may have facilitated in some measure that which must come. " In 80 far as the results of the late session go, ours cannot be said to iiavo been an idle Government. On the contrary, a better Govt, for practical work has never been brought together. There was no need of MacNab coming to England, and, had I been in his place, I should have avoided the trip ; perhaps the same may be said of some of our other colleagues, but I tliink the whole may be easily defended, and it is hard to make people believe anything to our prejudice so long as the country is prosperous and, as you say, luxuriating in abundant crops. I believe that by coming here and remaining here as I have done, I have been the means of smoothing down difficulties lietweon the London directors and contractors of the Grand Trimk that would liave otherwise resulted in the stoppage of the works. I hope everything is f;oing on well, but I do not wish to return until the seat of Govt, is fairly liack in Toronto, as I have no department to manage, and during the removal there cannot be much done beyond mere routine work. Besides, to be frank with you, I thought it better to be absent for other reasons. Cauchon lui ■ been rather ferocious ever since he came into the Govt., and Lemieux suspiu'cus and sullen, and, on the whole, I did not get on well with either. Drammo-Hl and I wore always at loggerheads about something or other in which he happened to be interested, and a blow up might have been the consequence some fine day had I remained at home this summer. As it is, !ill tiiose old matters that Hincks had bequeathed to me when he went out will have been Ji8j)0Bcd of, and I hope I shall not have reason to differ so much with some oi them as heretofore when I return. Had I been in Canada, for instance, I would have broken up the Govt., if I could have done so, rather tiian let Drummond get municipal loan fund bonds to throw upon the market and depreciate all the rest for the sake of an imaginary road running through the Co. of Shcfford which will never bo made. Our policy heretofore Ims been not to lot these bonds go out, unless they wore taken by banks at par, 150 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. under an agreement to hold them until wo could find special funds to invest in them. The bonds in question were handed over to the British Bank, ami sold at twelve dis., and the worst of it is the railway is not being made and never will be, while Drummond is in the hands of , that every man you meet in will tell you is an infernal scoundrel and ruins every man he has anything to do with. If they want any more bonds, therefore, for the Sheffoi il road, pray look after the matter. " When I do go back we shall only have our measures for the session to discuss, and I hope I shall be able to get on more pleasantly than formerly. It is a grand thing to get the " commutation fraud " cleared off, and George Brown may vapour away about it as much as he pleases. " You must look carefully after the seigniorial business, and see that the money we have voted accomplishes all that we intended by our measure. There is nothing that will so surely break do\vn the Union as the leechin;.,' process going on towards Upper Canada. If they will insist on tiirowing away from year to year large sums of money which bring no return and are productive of no real good to the country, the Union cannot be preserved, and although W. L. McK. has failed for the present, some younger and stronger man will arise and agitate with more success. "The money we vote for education in L.C. produces no corresponding results, and the priests for the most part pocket the cash. The special vote for colleges, etc., in gi-eat part goes to the priests, and but for the way in which the people are leeched by the priests they could easily raise and would raise large sums for educational purposes. " I hope we shall hear no more of appropriations for piers below Quebec. and that the estimates for a custom-house at Quebec are reduced to some- thing like what the Kingston and Toronto custom-houses cost ; and I beg of you again to keep the sharpest possible look out after the seigniorial business and its management, from beginning to end, to prevent any further drain out of the consolidated revenue on that score. " I think with you, that the representation by population question may he staved off for the present, as there is no such disproportion between the respective sections of the province as to justify an agitation for the readjust- ment of the proportions of the representation to each. "I have thought a great deal of the Upper Canada judgeship when Macaulay retires, and trust you have made up your mind to give it to Hagarty. Harrison would never do, and Connor's appointment would be almost as bad. The Doctor is unpopular with the profession, and the recolleetions of the " flourishing concern " have not yet passed way. Joe Morrison is the only one of that establishment left who has claims upon us, and as be and his brother stick to us we must not disregard them. If you like to talk the matter of the judgeship over privately with Baldwin I think he would give you some advice that you would bo glad to get. " Ilincks told mo ho would write to hiform you of his appointment to the Govt, of Barbadocs and the Windward Islands, and therefore 1 did not do so. Ho and I have been like '>rother8 for so many years, that I llnd it 1856.] 7^^ OFFICE. 151 liard to part with him, but advised him to accept, which he hesitated at first to do. We shall all miss him in Canada. The fall of Sebastopol has filled Kngland and France with great rejoicings, and we are daily hoping to hear of a pitched battle and the surrendei' of the Russian army in the Crimea, unless tlie allied generals give them a chance to run away. Regards to all my colleagues, and believe me "Yours very sincerely, "JoHX Ross." I have already shown what the views of Mr. Macdonald on the subject of Sir Allan MacNab's retirement were. They remained unchanged throughout the crisis of 185G-57. Toryism has been defined by a great Englishman * as " loyalty to per- sons," and Sir John Macdonald, tried by that standard, was eminently Conservative. From the day that Sir Allan MacNab offered him the Attorney Generalship down to the latter's resignation of the Premiership, he did his utmost to serve his chief with that fidelity with which in later years he himself was served. That Mr. Macdonald was not in entire sympathy with the extreme views which Sir Allan was supposed to represent, I am (^uite ready to admit.f From an early period of his career he recognized the fact which guided him through his political life, that, in order successfully to govern a people comprising men of various races, professing different religions, and having distinct (and often conflicting) interests, a leader must — certain great principles apart — be prcYared to submit to compromise. He must deal with facts us they are. If he cannot order all things exactly as he might wish, he must bo content to have them proceeding as far in the right direction as circumstances permit. He must recognize the fact that there are others in the world, as honest and well-meaning as he, whose views, equally with his own, are entitled to respect. Holding these opinions, it is not surprising that Mr. Mac- donald sometimes found hin self unable to agree wiHi the old • Cdrdiual Newman. t " It is wdl known, sir, that, while I hiivo always been a member of what is iiillwl the Consul \ alive party, I could never have been called a Tory, althoufjh there is 110 man who more respects vimt is called ohl-t'orospect of a change ; that I was mucli obliged to them for the expression of their confidence, but that I had a leader, and as long as he would lead I would follow. Hence all the rumours which liave arisen. It is very wrong to allude to these rumours in Parliament, but I wish to state that I have no desire for a reconstruction, to cause it, or to hasten it. It must be understood that, so far as I am concerned, the meeting of the 154 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. Conservative party was called without any knowledge of mine. I did not know that that meeting was called until after it had been called, and the deputation came to me and stated what I have just related. There have since been rumours of other meetings, but I will not fall into the bad habit of alluding tf» them. Those gentlemen meet on their own responsibilities. They are responsible for their course, and for the consef[uencf of that course. I am responsible for my own acts, and for my own course, and for no more." The movement, however, was deeper than Mr. Macdonald at that time was aware. No man likes to be told that his usefulness is gone, and Sir Allan was no exception to the general rule. The representations of his friends had no other effect on him than to cause him to cling all the more closely to office. This determination of the Premier was ill-received by the "Hincksite" Eeformers, and in April Mr. Eoss, their senior representative in the Ministry, resigned the office of Speaker of the Legislative Council and his seat in the Cabinet. He was succeeded in the Speakership by Mr. E. P. Tache, whose place as Eeceiver General was shortly afterwards taken by Mr. J. C. Morrison, M.P.P. for Niagara, and an old-time Liberal. Meanwhile the Opposition, under Messrs. Brown and Dorion, were not idle. The former, despite his fierce intolerance of anything approaching political inconsistency (in others) had, after coquetting with the Conservatives and denouncing the Clear-Grits, become the recognized leader of the latter, antl gradually became the apologist for and ultimately the defender of many of the democratic notions of William Lyon Mackenzie and his friends. Mr. Brown, who, in the Globe, continued with undiminished vigour his crusade against the Eoman Catholic Church, lost no opportunity in Parliament of condemning the Government for their alleged subserviency to ecclesiastical infiuences. He stood forth as the champion of common schools in Upper Canada, and was particularly severe upon Mr. Mac- donald for his separate school measure of 1855. He alsi> opposed the Militia Bill with great persistence, holding that the country had no need of the elaborate system of defence contemplated by that measure. He strongly urged the adoption 1856.] IN OFFICE. 155 MM of such changes in the constitution as would provide for representation in Parliament based upon population, as opposed to the system then in vogue, which gave to Upper and Lower Canada an equal number of members in the Assembly. This he claimed was unfair to Upper Canada, the population of which in 1 855 exceeded that of the Lower I'rovince by upwards of one hundred and fifty thousand. Others of the Opposition, chiefly Eouges, went still farther than Mr. Brown, and clamoured for the repeal of the Union, the election of all public officers, and other changes incompatible with British connection, of which Mr. Brown was always the earnest advocate. The seat of Government question, which bade fair to vie with the clergy reserves as a continually recurring subject, came before the House in April, 1856. On the 16th of that raontli a motion, declaring the city of Quebec to be the most ehgible place for the future capital of Canada, and recommend- ing that, after 1859, Parliament be permanently convened in that city, and that suitable buildings be forthwith commenced for the accommodation of the Legislature and Government, was carried by a vote of sixty-four to fifty-six. The Government, in conformity with this expressed opinion of Parliament, pluced m the estimates the sum of 3200,000 to provide for the con- struction of Parliament buildings in Quebec. On a motion to go into supply (on the 14th of May) for the discussion of this resolution, Mr, Papin (Eouge) moved an amendment, and Mr. Helton a sub-amendment, censuring the Government for the action they had taken on the seat of Government question (apparently in declining to consider it a Ministerial question), which the latter's amendment declared "does not inspire the House with the confidence necessary to entrust that Admini- stration with the moneys required for the construction of the necessary buildings at the seat of Government." On the 20th instant, after a continuous sitting of thirty-two hours, a vote was taken, and the sub-amendment defeated by a vote of seventy to forty-seven. Of the minority, however, thirty-three were Upper Canadian, while only twenty-seven representatives of that section voted in the majority. The Government, there- fore, while sustained by a majority of twenty-three, were in a minority of six votes as regards Upper Canada. In consequence 156 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VII. 185G.] of this vote Messrs. Spence, Morrison, Macdonald, and Cayley at c^ce resigned office. It is worthy of note that, while almost every member of a Government forty years ago regarded an adverse sectional vote as a serious blow to the existing administration, few could be found to affirm directly the soundness of the double majority principle — that is, that no ministry should be held to possess the confidence of Parliament unless it could cominarid a majority in each section of the province. Thus, in 1851, when Mr. Baldwin resigned in consequence of the vote on the Court of Chancery question, he was careful to explain that his action in so doing was not determined by the simple fact of a majority of the Upper Canadian representatives being against him, but by the hostilitv of the legal profession. Yet he resigned in consequence of a vote which supported him by a majority of four in a House of sixty-four members. In like manner, Mr. Spence alleged as his reason for resigning his seat in an administration which had just issued victorious from a severe Parliamentary contest, not that there was an adverse majority from Upper Canada against them, but the fact that the "Hincksite Peformers," whom he especially represented in tlie Ministry, had withdrawn their allegiance from the Government. Mr. Morrison, as successor to Mr. Ross in the Cabinet, felt bound to follow the example of his colleagues; while Messrs. Macdonald and Cayley, after expressly disclaim- ing their adlierence to tlie principle of dou.le majorities in the abstract,* declared that, in view of the defection of so large a body as the Ministerial Liberals, any attempt to carry * " I did not luid I do nottliiuktliat tlio doublo-raajority system sliould hi- iidoptwl MS a n'lo. I t'lH'l, us tlio fjiilliiiit mfiubur for Ilniuiltoii stiiti'd, tliiit so loiifi; us we arc ouo province and one I'lirliiiniciit, tlio iiict ol' ii nioasnro liciiii!; carriod by a Wdikini;- majority is sntlicieut tvidcncr tliat tliu Oovernmi'nt of thu day is in powiT to I'liuduct tlie affairs of tlu; I'onntry. lint I conld not disfiiiiso from inysuU' that i( was imt a vote tm a measure, but a distinct vote of eontidenee, or want of eontidiiu'c ; ami thoro haviu),' been an adverse vote aijainst us from Ujiper Canada expressing; a want of eimlidenie in (lie (Jovernmeiit. I tilt that it was a s tfUcient indieation that tlu measures of the (iovernment woidd be met with the ei»positinn id' those iKaumiaiilf jtentlomen who liad by their solemn vote withdrawn their eonlidenee from the Government. I felt that without the id of tluise j^entlemeii. represent iiij; the Hcl'orni party in Fjiper Canada, no (Joveriinieiit, as parlies aie now eoiistituted ia CaMailii, eoiild be carried on, '.nd that the withdrawal of the rostmastcr Oi'iieral and Mi' Morrison wouhl break iiii the Government. If these honourable ffcntlemen retired. 1856.] IN OFFICE. 157 on the Government would be futile — wliich, like IMr. Baldwin's lawyers and Mr. Spence's " Hincksite " Refovuiers, sounds very like saying that they could not govern with a majority from Upper Canada against them. Sir Allan MacNab dissented from his colleagues in tlieii' view that the situation warranted the extreme course they had seen fit to adopt, whicli he interpreted as a determination to force him out. Under the circumstances, however, there was no alternative left him but to follow their example. Accord- ingly the Prime Minister and the other members of the -Vdmini- stration placed their resignations in His Excellency's hands, Sir Allan advising the Governor General to send for Mr. Tache, the leader of the Lower Canadian section in the late Cabinet. Sir Edmund Head acted upon this advice, and charged i\Ir. Tache with the formation of a new administration. !Mr. Tache sought the assistance of Mr. Macdonald, and, in a lew days, the now Ministry was announced as follows : — The Hon. E. P. Tache (without portftdio), First Minister.* The Hon. John A. Macdonald, Attorney General, U.C. The Hon. W. Cayley, Inspector General. The Hon. R. Spence, Postmaster General. The Hon. Joseph Cauchon, Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Hon. F. Lemieux, Chief Commissioner of Public Works. The Hon. G. E. Cartier, Attorney General, L.C. The Hon. J. C. Morrison, Iteceiver General. The Hon. T. L. Terrill, Provincial Secrecary. The Hon. P. M. Vankoughnet, President of the Council and Miuist(3r of Agriculture. It will bo seen that the 'pcri^onnel of the new Cabinet did not differ greatly from the previous one. Sir Allan's ])lacu as Prosulent of the Council and IMinister of AgiiculLuu; wn.s taki'U liy Mr. P. M. Vankoughnet, a ch)se personal and political friend of Mr. Macdonald; and Mr. Drummond, who had huUl out for the leadership of the Assembly (which, obviously, as a tiny would (uku witli tlicm tho whole llt)l'((nn purty of tlic lloiisi'. It Wdiilil, tlnnl'iirc, \w wnAvn^ (o mo on if (Iicmc ^fcntlnucii lolirwl " (^Sju'ttli ol Hkj Hon, .1. A. MiK'iloimlil ill the Asrtimilily, Miiy 2(), IMod). * Mr. Tiiclie WHS Spiiikur of thu Li'gi.slativu Council from tho I'Jtliof .April, IHOG, till till' 'JiJth of NovimiliLT, 1S")7. ■f""" 158 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONJhU. [Chap. ^1 1. Lower Canadian, he could not have, seeing lat '.he Prime Miniister, also a Lo^\e^ Canadian, was leader of the Upjier Jlouse), made way for Mr. T. L. Terrill, M.r.P. for Stanstead. On the 2r)th of May the retiring' Premier gave the House a rather dramatic oxi^lanation of the causes wliich had lod to his retirement. Messrs. Spence and Macdonald justified their own course, the latter reading to the House certain com- munications from His Excellency the Governor General which will be found elsewhere.* To the Government thus recoEstr noted the term "coalition" Wiis no longer applicable. Indeed, as regards the Lower Canadian members of the Cabint- , it never accurately described their course, for the union of Messrs. Morin and Tache with tlie Conservatives ''^' Upper Canada, though a coming together of men who had previously sat on opposite sides of the House, could not in strictness be styled a coalition, such, for example, as the alliance between Messrs. Macdonald and J3rown in 18G4, where statesmen difl'ering v/idely in their general views joined hands to accomjilish a special purpose. In Upper Canada the position of parties was somewhat different, though even there the action of Messrs. Eoss and Spcnc(\ representing as tliey did the party of liobert Baldwin, from which the Radicals had separatinl themselves, W;is a •coal tion only so long as Sir Allan MacNab renuiined at the head of affairs. With his disappearance the Reform members of the Cabinet felt that there was no longer any reason why the moderate elements of both the old parties, forgetting the division which had separated their fathers, should not unite under the leadership of the man who inspired ecpially their conlidence and their rcf^ard. Upon Mr. j\iacdoiuihl, as a matter of course, ilevolvcd the leaderyhip of the Assembly. There remained but one step ere he became in name, what he already was in fact, Prime Minister of Canada. * Soo Appt'udix TI. ( 159 ) CHAPTER VI r I. PRIME MINISTER. 1856-1858. Ml!. MACDOXALD'S home LETTKKS — SKSSIOX OF 1850 — CIIIKF JUSTKIK DKArRU's MISSION' — SKSSIOy OF 1857 — SEAT OF (JOVEKXMENT QUESTION — INTEK- COLONIAL KAILWAY — MR. MAC'DONALl) VISITS EN(JLANI) — RETIIiEMEXT OF COLOXEL TACIIE— SUCCESSION OF JIK. MACDOXALI) TO THE I'HEMIEUSUir — CEN'EltAL ELECTION OF 1857-58— CONTEST IN KINGSTON— UECONSTRUC- TldN OK CAIUNET — DIFFICULT POSITION OF MU. MACDONALI;. TiiiM <;')>'' r the whole of this stiiTin<;- period the state of his wife's heaiLh was to Mr. Maedonald a source of ceaseless anxiety. In 1855, wheii, in consequence of the transfer of the seat of (lovernment to Toronto, lie was obliged to remove to that city, Mrs. Blacdonald's health would not permit her to undertake the cares of housek'oeping. ]\Ir. ]\Iacdonald was, therefore', oliligcd to live in lodgings.* During the winter of 1855-50 he was joined by his wife, who, while in Toronto, experienced one of her many relapses, and for weeks together lay at death's door. I have heard Sir John say that many times during the session of 185G he used to dread going home at night lest he shouUl iind her dead. During the spring she rallied somewhat, liut 1 do not think he was was ever free from apprehensions on her account until the closing day of the I'oHowing yeor, when he laid her in the grave. We have followed Mr. Maedonald in his political career, now approaching its meridian height ; have seen him in the heat of Parliamentary strife, and viewed him in his relations with his political friemls. Let us now turn a few moments to another side of his character, not so gencn-ally known, and learn, * During tlio yiMirs wlicn \\w soiit of (Jovfrnnioiit wax at Tni'unto, ]Sli-. Manloiuilil loilffi'il in tlu' lumsi' (if u Mr. Salt tin Itiiy Htroet, " a vi'ry wmtliy man." ,: i 160 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. YIH. ill the light of his letters to his mother, how the keen politician and brilliant man of the world was no less a kind and loviiuf husband and father than a dutiful and affectionate son and brother.* ' " Toronto, January 20, 185G. " My dearest Mother, " Isabella has been very ill since I wrote last. She was so low one day that the doctor sent for me to my office, thinking slie was djnng. She has rallied wonderfully ac;aiii, and though still very weak and scarcely conscious, slie is evidently on the mend. I sent Hugh every day to Mrs. Cameron's to keep him out of the way, and not to interfere witlt Janet, who was constantly employed in looking after Isaltella. Hugh is very well and in good spirits. He is quite a favourite at the houses which he visits. They are Cameron's, Van- koughnet's, David Macpherson's, and Lewis Motfatt's. At nil these houses there are young people, well brought up, so that he has the advantage of a good companionship. He and T play beggar-my-neighbour every evening, and you can't fancy how- delighted he is when he beats me. He knows the value of the cards as well as I do, and looks after his own interests sharply. " I get lots of invitations here. I wi^.s asked out for every day last week, but I declined, of course, on account of Isa's illness. Next week, or rather this week, it is the same thinji. But I am obliged to refuse as I am getting ready for Tarlia- ment. " I trust, my dear mother, you are keeping well, and tluil Moll is all right again. Pray give my love to her and Loo, not forgetting the l*rofessor. " iJelieve me, my dear mother, "Your affectionate son, ".ToiiN A. Macdoxald." * I am uudcr oblifjutmu to I'mfcssor Williani.sou lor these letters, wliicli lio von kindly ncut tlio Hiirouess Miu'ilonald ol' Eiiniscliffo, who plncod tlieiu in my Imtnl". ThiH rt'iimrk npjJiK's to nil Idtcrs licrc piihliwlu'd IVoiii Sir Joliii to liin nintiior iiml »i( out of one Imndred and twelve. Tlie Government was saved hy the narrow majority of four in t}ie whole House, but was in a minority of no less tlian fifteen as regards Upper Canada. While the position of the Ministry, in view of the late crisi-, was decidedly embarrassing, they nevertheless felt that tln' large majority opposed to them was the result, jiartly dl' momentary annoyance on the i)art of friends, and partly of a combination of circumstances not likely to recur, and that the vote did not therefore correctly indicate Mie relative strength ot parties in the chamber. lAtr these reasons they determined tn hold on, and the result proved their foresight, for (lining' tlif remainder of the session they were sustained by a niajorit\ \vlii(di sometimes reached twenty. rnrliameut was prorogued on the first of July, having passed 1856-57.] PRIME MINISTER. 163 ;i goodly number of bills ; among tliem the measure altering the constitution of the Legislative Council, which had been twice rejected by the Upper House.* That honourable body, finding that the people were in earnest with regard to this change, sullenly ac([uiesced therein, a determination to which its members were the more readily brought by the knowledge that the Lower House was led by a man accustomed to carry out what he took in hand. They took their revenge, however, by refusing to vote S200,000 for the Parliament Buildings at Quebec, on the jrround that they had not been consulted in the matter. In order to accomplish this, they threw out the Supply Bill, and at the last moment a uew Bill had to be introduced and rushed tlirouLfh the Assembly with the objectionable item eliminated. The recess of 1856 was not marked by any events of special interest. Towards the close of the year the Imperial Govern- ment, taking advantage of the expiry of certain trading privileges granted to the Hudson's Bay Company in the year 1838, resolved upon bringing the vast and undefined claims of that company under the investigation of a Committee of the House of Commons, and invited the Canadian Government to be represented thereat. The Ministry accepted the offer,! and selected Chief Justice Draper a.s their Commissioner. This action of the fiovernment was chuUengcd by the Opposition immediately after the opening of the session of 1857, which took place on the 26tli of February. Messrs. iJorion, Wilson, •lolin llillyard Cameron, and othur members of the Assembly censured the Administration for having, in the first place, taken this important step without consulting Parliament, and, in the second place, for disturbing the administration of justice by withdrawing a judge from his duties. Mr. Macdonald replied on liehalf of the Government, expressing his great surjivi'-L' :ind regret at hearing Chief Justice Draper's friend and forni«jr colleague speak of him in the way Mr. John ilill}:ird CanK^roii iiad th(tught proper to do, in that, whUe professinu friendshij) lor the Chief Justice, he had openly insinuated lii. hf would * This Hill wiw rcscrvod by tlm (iiivorimr (ieniTiil tm ilic si^ruiticiition "i liri Unjwty's pk'ii.sure. 'i'lio U(iyul nswnt wns >rivt)U (in the 24th nl' imw. IttuO, iiml |iiiiiliiinatinii thciiMii nnuh' in the Cnnadn (hi-ctto of tlin lltii of .Inly. IS.Jii. t i^ir Apii. JuunHUn, Lrij. Ass., CiiiuHla, 1867, No. 17. ? \i I 164 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAODONALD. [Chap. VIII. break the constitutional laws of the country. Mr. Macdonald considered Mr. Draper to be quite as good a lawyer as Mr. Cameron, and the Chief Justice, with his usual caution, accepted the appointment after calm and mature deliberation. Mr. Macdonald argued at some length that there were prece- dents for such an appointment, and that, if tliere were not, the Government would make a precedent. The Crimea, ne said, liad exhibited the effect of red-tape government. This Govern- ment had happily got beyond red-tapism. He added tliat Lord Mansfield and Lord Ellenborough had both taken similar, or, if anything, more objectionable commissions, and the Chief Justice of another colony was sent to Canada upon an errand infiniteh" more political in its character. The chief aim of the (lovorn- ment had been to find the best, and, at the same time, the least objectionable man on political grounds, and they could find no man at once so unobjectionable and able as Oiief Justice Draper. He was emphatically the right man in the right place. If they sent Mr. Drummond they would be accused of buying; off an opponent. If they sent a political friend they would lie charged with rewarding a partisan. If they selected one of the Opposition, they would be accused of trying to bribe him. Sa they determined to appoint Chief Justice Draper, who was at once impartial, non-political, and eminently fitted for the mission. It would be, he said, an act of cowardice to fear Par- liament in making such an appointment. These reasons were felt to be unanswerable, and Mr. Dorion's motion of censure was defeated by fifty-two votes to thirty. Among the important measures passed during this session was one providing for the codification of the civil law of Lower Canada, which was under the especial core of Mr. Cartier; as were also Bills for the introduction of the French law of real property into the eastern townships — thus making the tenure uniform throughout Lower Canada, — and for the local adminis- tration of justice. Several legal reforms affecting Upper Canada were prepared and carried through by j\Ir. Macdonald. With the object of establishing direct postal coninnmicatiou with England, which should not only stoj) a large contribution to the revenue of the United States, but attract to the colony a share of that trade and immigration which was being diverted to the 1857.] PRIME MINISTER. 165 former country, and also uunteract, as far as possible, the injurious effect of the policy of England in subsidizing, to the extent of £180,000, the Cunard line of steamers plying to American ports, Parliament, during the session of 1857, voted a subsidy of ^£50,000 per annum towards the establishment of a direct line of ocean steamers to run weekly between Canada and the United Kingdom. An Act for improving the organization and increasing the efficiency of the civil service of Canada — the first of a long series — was passed under the auspices of Mr. Spence, Postmaster General. It established deputy heads of eacli department, provided a system of classification of clerks, and organized a board for the examination of candidates for the service. Bills relating to the militia, to agriculture, and to asyhnns for the insane were also passed, as was a further measure of relief to the Grand Trunk Eailway. In April, Mr. Cauchon, being unable to induce his colleagues to agree to the grant of a further subsidy to the North Shore Eailway, resigned office in the Administration. His portfolio of Com- missioner of Crown Lands was taken by the Premier, Colonel Tache, whose duties as Speaker of the Legislative Council were, except during the session, largely nominal. The seat of Government question came in for the usual share of discussion, the action of the Legislative Council at the close of the previous session in rejecting the vote for the erection of buildings having left the matter unsettled. Early in the session of 1857 the Ministry, in view of the difficulty of arriving at a choice which would be acceptable to all parties in the Assembly, proposed to submit the question to the Queen. Accordingly they introduced and carried certain resolutions, praying that Her Majesty would bo graciously i)leased to exer- cise the Royal prerogative by the selection of some one place as the permanent capital of Canada, and directing that the sum of £225,000 should be set apart for the erection of suitable buildings and accommodation for the Government and Legis- lature at that place. The reference to Her Majesty was fiercely "l»posed by the Clear-Grits as being a tacit acknowledgment of our untituess to exercise that responsible government for whicli we had contended so long. The Gluhc, in a series of articles, denounced the " very idea as degradation." It was, 166 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Ciiai-. VIH. according to Mr. Brown, both " revolting " and " humiliating," the only palliative to the proposition being that " its absurdity and ridiculousness exceeded even its humiliation." Neverthe- less the motion was carried by sixty-one votes to fifty, and the vote of money by sixty-four to forty-eight. Early in the year 1857 the Clear-Grits had held a meeting in Toronto, and formulated the policy on which the approach- ing elections were to be run. Chief among their "planks" were " representation by population," and no sectarian grants to churches or schools — which, in plain English, meant the raising of the Protestant cry. During the session Messrs. Brown and William Lyon Mackenzie defined their policy on these questions in many amendments, which were all defeated : and when Parliament was prorogued, on the lOtli of June, tho Clear-Grits and Eouges seemed as far as ever from the Treasury benches. Shortly after prorogation Mr. Macdouald, at the request of Ids colleagues, proceeded to England with the object of urging upon the Imperial authorities the reasons which, in the opinion of the Canadian Ministry, shoukl induce her Majesty's Govern- ment to aid in the construction of an intercolonial railway from Eiviere du Loup to Halifax. The minute of Council charging Mr. Macdonald with this duty left him free to call to his aid the services of any gentleman whom he might deem most qualified to promote the success of his mission. He selected Mr. John Eose, at that time a young and comparatively unknown lawyer in Montreal, in whom he had detected signs of great promise. The occasion, which was the beginning of a close friendship that continued for more than thirty years, had no little bearing on Mr. Eose's future. Unfortunately, they had scarcely landed when the news of the Indian Mutiny reached England. In the presence of that emergency Her Majesty's Government had but little leisure for the discussion and consideration of Canadian railway schemes. Messrs, Macdonald and Eose, however, acting in concert with delegates from Nova Scotia, had several interviews with Lord Palmerston and other Imperial Ministers, and explained their views at length. Feeling that the circumstances of the time precliuletl any immediate decision on their proposals being come to, they $, ITdME MINISTER. 167 Imvin? stated their case, sailed for Canada, leaving,' the question with the Imperial Government for further consideration. Briefly stated, Mr. Macdonald's proposition was as follows : [n the year 1841 Canada obtained from the Imperial Govern- ment the loan of a million and a half for the construction of public works, for the redemption of which a sinking fund had been formed. Mr. ]\Iacdonald suggested that the amount of this loan, including the sinking fund, be granted in aid of the Intercolonial railway; and that Canada be relieved from its repayment in consideration of expending the whole amount in the construction of the line from Riviere du Loup towards Halifax. Her Majesty's Government, for reasons solely of a financial nature, ultimately declined to grant the required aid. The harvest of 1857 was a failure, and in the autumn of that year Canada passed through one of the most severe periods uf fimncial depression with which she has ever been afflicted. The period between 1854 and 1856 was an era of great com- laercial activity. Vast sums of money had been spent in constructing railways. This outlay, three bountiful harvests, and the Crimean war, combined to produce a period of almost unexampled prosperity — a prosperity more apparent than real. The usual reaction followed, and the advent of peace in Europe coinciding with a bad harvest, produced the inevitable result in Canada. For a time an almost complete prostration of business f iisued. Every class and interest felt the strain ; nor did the ^linistry escape. It was at this gloomy period that Colonel Tache relinquished the cares of State, and Mr. Macdonald, full tif hope and courage, assumed the position of First Minister. The retiri)ig Premier, by profession a physician, and fami- liarly known to his constituents as Dr. Tache, had held Cabinet ofilco cf)ntinuously since 1848. Ho was a man of largo and liberal mind, and of wide experience in public affairs. I should say that he owed liis success, not so much to exceptional ability, as to the repi'tation he enjoyed of being a moderate and safe man. He does not appear to have been distinguished by any particular aptitude for political life,* and the prominence he * IIo (lid not liko polities. I linve heard that he jUco said to a lady, wlio Imd Miujjlit his inHiii>ii('iMu sonic inipossihlo matter,!" ^fadaini', un homnie politique ostun Imnimc ^ans entrailU)s, je dirai presipio, sans consciciict'." IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A M/. 1.0 I.I 1.25 'r' ^ 1 2.2 2.0 1.6 1.4 <^ y] ^^ '/ « p Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTH.n.Y. i4sao (716) S73-4S03 close to, the Ilonourahlo John A. ]\Iacdonald during the whole of the speecli made by liim to his constituents on that occasion. That my recollectiim of that part of his speecli in whicli lie referred to the scat of Goveniment ([Uestion is quite disli?ict, and I am positive that he made use of no such words as ♦ humbug ' or ' trickery,' or words of a similar signification. Tluit he endeavoured to explain, without using those words, that by voting on the seat uf Goverumeut question as he did, it waa most for tlie interest uf his constituents. "Wm. II. Wilkison. ' Sworn at the city of Kingston, this seventh day of Fobnmry, 1869, before me, " .loHN M. Hamilton, •'J. P., and Aldormau of City of Kingston." ^■■ml 1858.] PRIME MINISTER. 175 ami such prominent Rouges as Papin, Doutre, Fournier, and Letellier were given abundant leisure to deplore the fanaticism of (Jeorge Brown. All the Lower Canadian members of the Ministry were re-elected, and Mr. Cartier had the satisfaction of couiing up to Parliament with almost the whole representa- tion of Lower Canada at his back. The election took place in the latter part of December, 1857. Early in the year 1858, Colonel Tache, who in his retirement had been watching with anxiety the progress of the tight, wrote to Mr. Macdonald the following interesting letter, which shows how deeply he had the success of his friend at heart : — " [En confidence.] " Montmagny, le 18 Janvier, 1858. "MoN CHER Premier, " Quoique je no vous aie pas dcrit avant co jour, — je savais que vous t'tiez si occup(?, si tracassd, je n'en ai pas moins compati aux afflictions domc?'- tiques que vous avez eprouvdos, sachant bien que rien de ce que j'aurais pu *J rr 180 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. VITI. Mr. J. S. Macdonald evidently did not find this proposition sufficiently liberal, for on the next day the following character- istic reply by telegraph was received from him : — " No go. " Cornwall, January 27, 1858. " J. S. Macdonali.." The future showed, however, that Mr. John A. Macdonald's instinct was not at fault in this case ; he was merely a few years too soon. Notwithstanding his failure to come to an agreement witli ilie member for Cornwall, Mr. Macdonald was not unsuccessful in his negotiations with the moderate element of the Liberal party. Shortly before the meeting of the new rarliamoiit, which took place on the 25th of February, Messrs. Spence ami Morrison, being without seats in the Legislature, resigned office in the Administration. Mr. Spence was succeeded in tlie rosl- master Generalship by Mr. Sidney Smith, the member for West Northumberland, who had hitherto acted with tlie Oppo- sition, and whose recent election the Globe had welcomed as a great party triumph. Mr. Macdonald also invited his friend Mr. Alexander Campbell to share with him the responsibilities of goverunieul, which offer Mr. Campbell declined in these terms : — " TluiiHiliiy iiioniiii:;.* "My dkau Macdonaij), " As you will readily beliovc, I have carefully cnnsidcroil tlio olVci- with which you lioiiourod nic yesterday. I nni very setisiMo that to your personal friendship I nnist ho much indchted for it, and I shall always retain a grateful recollection of your kinchiess. "My conclusion is — most respectfully and most gi-atofidly to decliiioit; but I sliould make hut a sorry return for your frankness, if I did not sock to give you the reasons which iuivo led me to this decision. " During lust session I was on several occasions amongst those wlm wore voting with tiio Opposition ; not by any means that I was or could he of llicui, * It was one of Sir Aloxiuidur Caniplu^irs pncuiliarities Heliloni to iiuliiiitt' llir dates of his letters liy aiiytliiiig uiort! (It'liiiito tliuii tlie day of the wci^k, anil lii-* pnirtiro in this respect adds greatly to tlie diltirulty ol ciassilyinif liis concnimiiiliiKi'. To the hest of my judj^inent this Irtter was writtni on the 2 1st of January, IH.J.S, iiiul the I'oUowiuy; one on tlie 'JDtli ot the same month. 1858.] PRIME MINISTER. 181 liut that in tliese instances my sense of duty was best discliargod by voting witli tlien". A condemnation of the temporary removal to Quebec pending the erection of the public buildings at Ottawa was one of these instances, and there were one or tvvo others. I think, after those votes and whilst the policy tliey condemned is being carried out, it would be inconsistent in mo to join the Government ; and any use which, under other circumstances, I might possibly be to you would be much impaired. And I think that this reasoning apiilies with particular force at this moment. "Again, I am not quite certain that my lameness would permit mo to discharge the duties of office even of that one which you were kind enough to propose for me, and which is the one I should desire of all others if I held iiiiy. '• I intended to have called, but perhaps as you have so much sickness in tlie house, this plan may be more convenient. " 1 have not felt at liberty to advise with any one upon the subject of your ntler, and you may rely upon my treating it as absolutely confidential. " I sincerely desire your continuance in power, and may perhaps, in lending you an independent support (as I hope to do), bo of some little use. " Believe me, more than ever, your obliged and grateful friend, " A. Cami'beli,. "The Ilonblo. John A. MatdouaUl." " Friday. "My dkau Macdoxali), " I enclose memo, of money due to you and check for tho amount. " Private. I will see you to-day or to-morrow about the other matter. I may say, however, that my conviction of tho inexpediency, so far as I am concerned, of taking any step in it at present remains the same. " I have no right to discuss anything with you but tho present ofi'er, and would not for a moment desire the postponement of any other arrangement which the convenience of the (jovernnient may render desirable at this time, hilt the character of tho conversation wo have had on tho subject will excuse my adding that I would be very glad to render assistance at some future time, if it was thought I could lend any, in trying to keep together tho Conservative (lemont in the party which you lead. " I do not foci that I can satisfactorily do anything at present, but I hcc in the union between tho moderate lleformers and the Conservatives tho only clianco we have ; and without being able to suggest anytiiing definite, I see tliat something should bo done to beget more friendly feelings towards tiie (ii)vurniiient amongst the old Conservative party, and to satisfy then tiiat the uiiiuii witii tho Ilincksite Reformers is essential to their having any control in governing the country, and that lliey should freely concur in any arrangement nccoHsary to secure that union. In this part of tho country I think tho tie 1ms been generally somewhat adverse, especially in Lennox and Addington ; Imt with anything to go upon, it would be leadily turned, I think. So far as my inliuenco goes, I boliove it would be mucli weakened by taking the step ■»T M. 182 MEMOIBS OF Sin JOEN A. MACDONJLI). [Chap. VTII. you propose now, and that without oflice I may possibly advance a little tin- views I mention on the whole. With very many thanks to you, I keep to mv first determination. " Very faithfully yours, " A. CAMntELI.." "The Houble. John A. Macdonald." Mr. John Eoss having returned to Canada was prevailed upon, now that the '* family compact " influence had ceased to dominate at the Council board, to accept the office of Iteceiver General. The Government proposed for the Speakership Mr. Henry Smith, late Solicitor General, and elected him by a vote of seventy-nine to forty-two, which showed the Ministry still to be in a minority of six votes as regards Upper Canada, a minority which afterwards grew to ten or twelve. In view of the fact that the Opposition w o not agreed about the double majority question, one wouh aave thought that their true policy would have been to let it alone, and so undoubtedly it was ; but with singular lack of judgment Mr. J. E. Thibaudeau, member for Portneuf, brought forward a motion declaring " that in the opinion of this House any attempt at legislation which would affect one section of the province in opposition to the votes of the majority of the representatives of that section would produce consequence^ which wonid hv detrimental to the welfare of tlie province and give rise to great injustice." This resolution, after a protracted debate, was defeated by a vote of two to one, Messrs. I»rown, Dorion, Mowal, and other members of the Oppf)sition voting with the Ministry against it.* * On pngcH 77 and 78 of Messrs. lJuckiii}j;lmm and Koss's lit'o of tho llonmiriiblc Alex. Muckeuzio I tind tlio t'ollowin)^; : — '• Mr. Urowii I'liiiio l)m'k with a huji;i' tullnw- m^r from Tpper ("auiidii, so tliat in tho session of 18.)S Mr. Miicdoniild Imd to ahundun the principle of the 'double majority' and keep liiniself in power by the piepondciiitin;' votes ot tlio Lower Canadian inen\l)ers." Tho words I liavc! itnliei/ed evidently refer to tlie events whieli l)ron.i;iit about tin resignation of Uppi;r ('anadian niendiers of the ]\[aeNal)-'rai'lie Oovernnient in IHiJO, 1 luivo already siiown (p. 150, note) that Mr. ]\Iaedonald did not on that occiisinii admit the prineiplo of| tiio double majority. On tlio eontrary, be expressly diMlaiincd it. But even supposing that ho hud ehanged his views on tliis (piestion since May. 185(5, ho uuist have done so long before 1808, for, as we have seen, a lew days al'tn bis resignation in May, 18/50, tho liovernment of wbieli be was a nu'inber, tlieiifili sustained on a motion of wiuit of eontidenee by a majority of four in tho wbolo llou-f weru in u minority as fur as rpperCunuda was eonverned of no less tban lit'teen, \il 1858.] FBIME MINISTER. 183 The Opposition, notwithstanding the division in their ranks, upon the mutually contradictory questions of representation by population and the double majority, made a vigorous fight against the general policy of the Administration, and, rein- lorced by three ex-ministers, Messrs. Cauclion, Lemieux, and Drummond, were sufficiently strong to call forth all the resources of the Government in the Lower House. Upon the I 'rime Minister naturally fell the brunt of the conflict, and the participators in those stirring scenes bear unanimous witness to the tact and resource which Mr. Macdonald displayed in his conduct of the business of Parliament, and in the manage- ment of his party. During the years between 1855 and 1862 he was the animating spirit and moving power of the Adminis- tration. Without pretension to oratory in the strict sense of the word, the intimate knowledge of public aflairs, joined to the keen powers of argument, humour and sarcasm, the ready wit, the wealth of illustration and brilliant repartee, gave to his speeches, set off as they were by a striking presence and singularly persuasive style, a potency which was well-nigh irresistible. Those of us who knew Sir John Macdonald only when his voice had grown weak, his figure become stooped, his tliu Governmeut did not resign. Witli reference to the crisis ot' 185G, tlio tnitli is tliat tliu Lilicrul element in the Caljinct was dcti'miincd to ijet nd of Sir Alluii Miu'Xiil), and Mr. ilaedonald realized tliat it was inipossilile to remain in power withmit tlieir aid. At pai^es 1,'U and 1.3.3 (.f tlieir work, Jlessrs. Itnckiiij^liam and lloss ulhido to Mf. J. E. Collins, who wrote a hook called " Life and Times ol the lliijlit Hon. Sir •h.ilia A, Macdonald," as Sir John Macdonald's '* hiojjrapher," hi such a manner as to Imivi' tlie iiii|)ression that Sir John was, to somo extent, at ah events, rcsponsihle for tlic ii|iiiiions therein expressed. This seems ii fittiuj? op[)ortunity for sayinp;. wiiat I always tlioufrlit sliould have heeu declared loii;jj afj;i), tliat^Sir Joliii knew nothing of Mr. Ciilhus, never had any comiiiunication with him, never saw him, and never read a line uf ids l)o()k. 1 remarked to Sir John one day, speakhig of an incorrect state- ment (if Mr. Collins, that I thonglit it a pity sucli niiauthori/ed Ijiograiihies were iillnwcd to go forth without contradiction, us it seemed to me tliey were calculated to produce erroneous impressions, particularly at a distance. " My dear fellow," replied lie, nitlier testily, "auyhody can write aiiyhody else's life ; you cannot stop tiiem, and «o lung as I give ilieso chaps no information or eucouragemeiit, how can I he hold ifsponsihle for what they chooso to sny P" 111 staling this I have no wish to disparage Mr. (!ollins' hook, which, taken as a wiiiijc, is ail agreeahle presentatiim of well-known historical facts, and, so far as I am aware, does not profess to ho anything more. Hut the u.se which has heen made of it cimipcis nie to say that Sir John jMacdonald was no more respmisihle for tlie statements "f Mr. (!ollius than he was for those of Mr. Dent or any other writer of (.'aiiudian liislmv. 184 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACLONALI). [Ciur. VIH. hair thin .^nd grey and his face seamed with lines of anxious care, and remember the power which under these disadvan- tages of age he exercised over the minds and hearts of lueu, can well understand how it came to pass that, in the days of liis physical prime, he inspired, not merely his followers with a devotion which is almost without parallel in political annals, but drew to his side first one and then another of his opponents, until he could truly say at the end of his days that he had the proud satisfaction of knowing that almost every leading man wh" had begun political life as his opponent ended by beint^ his colleague and friend. ( IBS ) CHAPTER IX. THE SHOUT ADMINISTRATION. August 2-4, 1858. SELECTION OF OTTAWA AS THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT— CONSEQUENT DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY — THEIR RESIGNATION — MR. BROWN SENT FOR — FOR- MATION OF THE BROWN-DORION ADMINISTRATION — ITS DEFEAT — MR. BROWN ADVISES A DISSOLUTION — REFUSED BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL —RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT — DISSATISFACTION OP MR. BROWN. Eakly in the year 1858 it became known that Her Majesty, in compliance with the request of the Legislature, had chosen Ottawa as the fixed seat of Government. This announce- ment, somewhat prematurely made, gave rise to a good deal of dissatisfaction in Quebec, Montreal, and other cities that aspired to the honour, and was far from acceptable to many members of the new Parliament. The Ministry, however, promptly caused it to be understood that they were prepared to abide loyally by the choice of Her Majesty, and that they purposed to erect the I'arliament Buildings at Ottawa without further delay. On the IGth of July, Mr. Dorion moved an amendment to a motion to go into supply, expressive of the "deep regret" with which the House viewed the selection of Ottawa as the capital of the province. This motion being one of straight want of confidence, was rejected by a vote of sixty-three to forty- tive. The Opposition, thus foiled in their first attempt, resolved to proceed by way of address. On the 28th of July, Mr. Dunkin moved, seconded by Mr. iJorion, "that a humble address be presented to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, to repre- •scnt that tliis House humbly prays Her Majesty to reconsider the selection she has been advised to make of a future 186 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cn.vi>. IX. capital of Canada, and to name Montreal as such futuni capital." Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Mr. Chapais, an amendment, to the effect that no action should be taken towards the erection of buildings in the city of Ottawa for the per- manent accommodation of the Executive Government and Legislature, or for the removal of the public departments to that city; to which Mr. Piche, seconded by Mr. Bureau, pro- posed a second amendment, setting forth that " in the opinion of this House the city of Ottawa ought not to be the permancut seat of Government of this province," which was carried by a vote of sixty-four to fifty. Directly on the announcomeut of this vote, Mr. Brown, with that incapacity for self-restraint which ever distinguished him, rose in an excited manner and said that no one could doubt that the motion which liad just been carried was an express disapproval of the whole policy of the Government, and, in order to test the sense of tlie House, he would move the adjournment, which he did forth- with. Mr. Macdonald replied that he accepted the test pro- posed by Mie leader of the Opposition, and added that, if the majority of the House agreed to an adjournment, the Govern- ment would consider that the administration of affiiirs had been taken out of their hands. Mr. Cartier echoed the senti- ments of his colleague, and said that he and his friends wen- prepared to accept the vote on the adjournment as indicating; tlie position of the Government. After a few words from Mr. Dorion, a division was taken. Fifty members voted for the adjournment, and sixty-one against it. Mr. Brown thus having been made to feel supremely foolish, tlie question was again proposed that the House do adjourn, and the motion possessing this time no ulterior significance, was agreed to by the tired legislators, who separated at ^alf-past two in the morning, each one wondering what the day would bring forth. A few hours later the Ministers met and decided, notwith- standing the fact of their having been sustained by a majority in Parliament, thnt it behoved them, as the Queen's servants, to resent the slight which had been offered Her Majesty by the action of the Assembly in calling in question Her Majesty's choice of the capital. The most marked manner in wluch they could testify their disapproval of what had been done was 1858.] TEE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 187 to resign in a body. This they determined to do, though possessing the confidence of both Houses of Parliament. The announcement of their intention was not long delayed. On the re-assembling of the House, on the 29th instant, the Prime Minister stated that, in view of the vote upon Mr. Piche's amendment, the members of the Administration felt it their duty to tender their resignations to His Excellency, which, he was authorized to say, had been accepted, and the members of the Government held office only until their successors had been appointed. The rude and offensive motion of the member for Berthier, which did not even ask Her Majesty to reconsider her choice, or so much as give a reason why that choice was unacceptable, but merely told the Queen bluntly that she was wrong, that, in fact, she did not know what she was talking about, left no other course open to them. Immediately upon receiving the resignations of his advisers, the Governor General addressed IMr. Brown, as leader of the Opposition, in the following terms : — "Toronto, Tluirsday, July 29, 1858. " Tlie members of the Executive Council have tendered their resignation to His Excellency the Governor General, and they now retain their several oIliceH only until their successors shall bo appointed. " Under these circumstances His Excellency feels it right to have recourse to you as the most prominent member of tlio Oppositioa, and he lieroby oilers you a seat in the Council as the leader of a new Administration. " In the event of your accepting this oder His Excellency requests you to signify such acceptance to him in writing, in order that ho may bo at once in a position to confer with you as one of his responsible advisers. '' His Excellency's first object will bo to consult you as to the names ol" your future colleagues, and as to the assignment of the offices about to be Viicated to tho men most capable of filling them. " Ki)MUNi> Head. "George Urowu, Esq., M.P.P." Then it was that the character of George Brown displayed itself in its true light. Though in a minority in the House (as he had occasion to know by the vote of the preceding niglit), with Lower Canada almost unitedly opposed to him, iind in the absence of any reasonable hope of a dissolution, he uuliositatingly responded to the invitation of the Governor General. "Mr. Brown," he writes, "has the honour to inform J I . I ■., m 188 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. IX. His Excellency the Governor General that he accepts the duty proposed to him in His Excellency's communication of the 29th instant, and undertakes the formation of a new Administration." The date of this communication is Saturday, the 31st of July. On that day Mr. Brown had an interview with tho Governor General, in the course of which Sir Edmund Head took occasion to inform him in so many words that he must not count on a dissolution, and, "in order to avoid all mis- apprehension hereafter," he addressed to him the same day a memorandum,* which was delivered into Mr. Brown's hands on Sunday evening, the second paragraph of which reads as follows : " The Governor General gives no pledge or promise, express or implied, with reference to dissolving Parliament^ That, surely, was plain enough. Yet, notwithstouding this warning, Mr. Brown persisted in his course ; come what might, lie was resolved that men should speak of him hereafter as one who had been Prime Minister of Canada. On Monday morning he addressed the Governor General a curt note declining, on behalf of himself and his proposed colleagues, to discuss the questions referred to by His Excellency in his memorandum "until they had assumed the functions of constitutional advisers of the Crown." On the afternoon of Friday, the 30th of July, the House presented an animated scene. Great crowds of people thronged the galleries, and much interest was everywhere manifested in the events which were taking place in the political world. Upon the floor of the chamber members stood in little knots, talking over the situation, and indulging in good-humoured speculations upon the personnel of the new Administration. ^Ir. Cartier chaffed John Sandfield Macdonald on his prospects of oflice, and offered him the key of liis desk ; while Mr. John A. Macdonald was busily engaged in clearing out his desk in order to make room for his successor. Mr. Piche, who, as the mover of the resolution which had caused the defeat of the Government, felt himself the hero of the hour, occupied for the nonce a prominent seat on the Treasury benches, and * See Appendix III. for the text of this niemoranduin and such other documents rchiting to this crisis as are of interest. 1858.] THE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 189 looked as though he were leading a phantom Government. A little later he relaxed his dignity, and favoured the Assembly ^^th a song, " Vive les gueux," the title of which was felt — no one knew exactly why — to be appropriate to the occasion. The entrance of the Speaker put a stop to the general hilarity. After the ordinary routine of preliminary business had been gone through, Mr, J. S. Macdonald rose and informed the House that, on the announcement which had been made by the leader of the late Government, Mr. Brown had the honour of being requested by the Governor General to undertake the formation of a new Administration. This task he had accepted in con- junction with Mr. Dorion, and negotiations were then pending. Under these circumstances he would ask the House to adjourn until Monday. Mr. John A. Macdonald thought that the House could not do less than accede to this request. He added, with a rather mischievous expression of countenance, that he hoped all due speed would be had in forming an administration and proceeding with the business of the country. The House then adjourned, and Mr. Piche was given an opportunity to finish his song. On Monday the 2nd of August, Mr. Brown waited on the Governor General with a list of the gentlemen whom he proposed should form the new Government, and at noon of the same day he and his colleagues were sworn into office* At three o'clock the names of the Ministers were announced in the Assembly by Mr. Patrick, M.P.P. for South Grenvillo, who added, amid ironical cheers, that the Government had not had time as yet to consider the public measures before the House which it might be necessary to pass. He was therefore uot in a position to announce the policy of the Administration, * Tlie following composed the Brown-Dorion Cabinet: the Hon. Georpe Brown, Inspector General; the Hon. A. A. Dorion, Commissioner of Crown Lands; the Hon. James Morris, without portfolio ; tlie IIou. L. T. Dnimni(md, Attorney General, L.C. ; the Hon. Fran9oi3 Lemieux, Receiver General ; the Hon. Joiin S. Macdonald, Attorney General, U.C. ; the Hon. L. II. Holton, Chief Commissioner of Public Works; the Hon. Oliver Mowat, Provincial Secretary; the Hon. J. E. Tliibaudeau, President Executive Council, and Minister of Agriculture ; the Hon. M. n. Foley, Postmaster General. Messrs. Charles Labergo and S. Connor, Solicitor General for Lower and for Upper Canada respectively, were not members of the Cabinet. The Hon. James Morris was Speaker of the Legislative Council from the 2nd till the 6th of August, 1858. 190 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. IX. tliough he hoped to be able to do so on the following day. A motion was then made in the ordinary course for the issue of a new writ for the election of a member for Montreal, in the room of Mr. A. A. Dorion, who had accepted the oflice of Com- missioner of Crown Lands, to which Mr. Langevin moved, in amendment, seconded by Mr. Eobinson, that the followin'^ words be added to the end of the original motion : — " And that this House, while ordering the issue of this writ, feel it thoii duty to declare that the Administration, the formation of which has created this vacancy, does not possess the confidence of this House and of tiie country." In the debate which followed, the late Government, as an act of courtesy towards the members of the Ministry whose acceptance of office had vacated their seats, abstained from taking part. The principal speakers on the side oi the Opposi- tion were Messrs. Langevin, Gait, and Malcolm Cameron, each of whom in turn inveighed against the Government with such effect that somebody, with a grim sense of humour, proposeil that the new Ministers should be heard at the bar of the House in their own defence, which suggestion provoked roars of laughter. At midnight the vote was taken on Mr. Langovin's amendment, which was carried by a vote of seventy-one tn thirty-one, each section of the province giving a majority against the Brown Government. In the Legislative Council a similar motion of want of confidence was carried by a vote of sixteen to eight, and communicated to the Governor General by an address presented to His Excellency in due form by the whole Council.* The reasons for this prompt and apparently premature condemnation of a Government which had barely come into existence, and had as yet but scant opportunity of defining its policy, are to be found in the reports of this debate. Briefly summarized, they are — (1) an intense dissatisfaction with the personnel of the new Ministry, (2) the absence of any statement as to the policy of the Government, and (3) a feeling among * This address, which was presented on behalf of the Council by the Speaker. 4'xpre»sed the entire dissatisfaction of the Legislative Council with, and their wmit of confidence in, the Government of which Mr. Morris himself was a member. mm 1858.] THE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 191 the Upper Canadians that George Brown harown, more than any living man, was responsible, cried out in horror at the sight of the I'rotestant champion calling to his Ministry no less than six Roman Catholics, or one half of the whole Government. People recalled the fact that " John A." slave to the priesthood though he might be, never had more than four Eoman Catholic col- leagues at the same time in his Cabinet. The advocates of representation by population viewed with dismay the presence of such opponents of that principle as Messrs. Dorion, Drummond, ^•.I^»^ 192 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Ckap. IX. iind Thibaudeau, and shortly afterwards learned without surprise from tlie lips of one of them* that in Mr. Brown's Administration were seven members (an absolute majority) pledged against it. So also with the question of the seat of Government and otlier issues which had divided parties. It was fresh in men's minds that Mr. Brown strongly advocated alternating Parliaments, wliile Messrs. Doric j and Drummond had declared themselves in favour of a permanent seat of Government, the latter con- sidering Parliament pledged to carry out Her Majesty's decision. The very names of the new Ministry were sufficient to arousi' the gravest suspicion with regard to the change whicli office had already produced upon the mind of Mr. Brown. Nf»r was (hrect evidence wanting. During the debate on Mr. Langevin's motion, Mr. Morin, M.P.P. for Terrebonne, one of those who had voted non-confidence in the Macdonald-Cartier Government a tew evenings before, made the followi'ig statement to tlie House : — "On Friday morning I met Mr. Drummond, and said to him, ' IIow dn you do, Attorney General East?' 'Do you think, sir,' ho replied, ' tlmt I woidd, under any circumstances, consent to accept oflice under Mr. lirawnV Last night," continued Mr. Morin, "when I was entering the llossiu House. I was 8topi)ed by ^Iv, Drummond, wlio said to me, ' I iiavo been twiee to your room to see you. You know tlio news.' ' That tiio AtbniiiistnUion is formed?' Tasked. 'You know the names,' he continued. I nientioncil the names of tlio Lower Canada section, with the exception of that of tin- Attorney General East. On his remarking on the omission, I answered that I did not like to mention the remaining name. ' Why ? ' lie asked. ' Bo- cause,' I said, ' it would bo to oUer an insult to yourself.' I repeated what I had hoard. I did tell him, adding that I did not believe a word of it, as he had told mo and many others tiiat he would never j'oin Brown. ' Thiiis^s are dill'erent now,' he said. ' Mr. Brown is our man ; he has abandoned all his principles.' On this confession I said, ' It is a shameful alliance ; your conduct is disgraceful in the highest degree, and I will to-morrow make your statement known on the floor of the House.' I then left him, refusing to listen to anything more he might have to say." On Monday morning Mr. Drummond, notliing daunted, called upon Mr. Morii to ascertain if he could rely on his m\\- port of the new Administration. " How is this ? " said Mr. Morin. " STesterday you thought it a disgrace to be supposed * Mr. Tliibiuidcau, in seeking ro-eioction, gnvo two roosons lor Hupiiovtiiiu Mi. llrowii : (1) tluit theri) wuro nioro llonum Catlioli(',>i in his (Jaliintit than in any Ministry sinco tlio Union ; and (2) tliat ii nnijority of Mr. Ih'own'.s I'olleu^^uu.s wiTc pledged agaiu»t reprccoutiition by jjopiihition. 1858.] THE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 193 capal)le of such an act, to-day you are ^Ir. Brown's Attorney Gonoml." " Oh ! " said he, " I never dreamt that Mr. lirowu would swallow all his platform, and j,uve every thinjf up to Lower Canada." ]Mr. Morin replied, " If he has I would despi'^e him the more, and think it a still greater disgrace to join him." * This, coming from an opponent of the late Administration, filled the minds of the Upper Canadian Reformers with dismay. Notwithstanding the considerable majority which that section of the province had so lately given against the Macdonald- Cartier Ministry, of the fifty-two members present twenty- seven voted non-confidence in the Brown Administration;! while as regards Lower Canada only six members out of the fifty present supported it. The feelings of the people of Lower Canada, outraged by a long series of insults, were not to be so easily allayed. On the morning after this vote the members of the Govern- ment waited on tlie Governor General, and advised an imme- diate dissolution of Parliament. Sir Edmund Head requested that the grounds for this advice should be put in writing. A few hours afterwards His Excellency received a memorandum setting forth that, in the opinion of his advisers, the House of Assembly did not possess the confidence of the people ; that many seats at the last election were carried by corru})tion and fraud; that strong sectional feelings had disturbed the peace of the country, and engendered difficulties which the lato Administration had made no attempt to allay. The memo- mudum further expressed the intention of the Ministry to * '\\\\ ArcDdUf^dll nt'Uirwiinls, on bolialt' dt Mr. Uniwii, stiitod to tlie IIou.so tlmt Mr. Dnnnmoiid's liin,n'Uiifi,o on tliis occusiou wus to tlio utlVct that " ^^l•. IJinwn liiid (let'iilwl to I'mr^o his cNtrcnio viuws in rc^iinl to Lower Canada." To " l'on;;;o " i.s II moro I'lcnant, and po.isihly in tliis oaso a nioro correct word than "swallow," hnt in this onMiiection liotli mean pvi-tty mncli the same thiiiii', tor the meaniiiu' intruded to 1)0 conveyed by each wa.s that "representation by popnlation " was not to bo preswd. that thu iifj'itatimi M;i;aiust se|)arati) schools was to coaso, that the "casual iii;hts" oi tlie seigniors in Tiower Canada were to l)e purchased with public money, imd that objections against ecclesiastical corijorations were no mon^ to bi' beard, t In consideriufj these numbers it is only fair to beur iu mind that the llel'ormorsi were live men short, in consequenci^ ot the acce])tance of otlice by Messrs. Itrown, .1. S. Macdimald, Alowat, Foley, and t!onnor. Countiu;^ tbeiu all in, the vote would Imvo been thirty, still not half the representation of Upper Canada, luasinucli us the Uei'orniers of Upper Canada in this Parliament were jjfeiu'rally tbirty-si'ven or tliirty-ci;;iit strong, it will bu .seen that seveu (tr eight of theui lacked coididunce iu Mr. Ilrown. VOL. I. 194 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. IX. propose measures for the establishment of that harmony between Upper and Lower Canada which, in the opinion of Mr. Brown and his colleagues, was essential to the prosperity of the province. At two o'clock on the afternoon of Wed- nesday, the 4th of August, the reply of the Governor CJeneral was received by Mr, Brown. In this memorandum His Excel- lency went fully into the question, and answered Mr. Brown on every point. He began by calling attention to the fact that, while the late Administration resigned office on a vote of one branch of the Legislature, which did not directly assert any want of confidence in them, both Houses had repudiated his present advisers by two-thirds majorities. As to whether the action of the Legislature was or was not in accordance with the courtesy of Parliament, His Excellency declined to express an opinion, observing that he had to do only with tlie con- clusions at which they arrived. The Governor General then proceeded to take up the reasons for which his advisers asked a dissolution. As to the allegation that the existing House did not represent the people, he pointed out that, if that were true, there was no sufficient reason for the resignation of the lato Government. As to the corruption and bribery said to have been practised at the last election, what guarantee, Sir Ednuuul asked, could he have that a new election, held under precisely the same laws, six or eight months after the last, would differ in character from the preceding one ? " If the facts are as they are stated to be, they might be urged as a reason why a general election should be avoided as long as possible — at any rate until the laws are more stringent, and tlie precautions against such evils have been increased by the wisdom ul Parliament." In regard to the state of feeling existing bctweoii Upper and Lower Canada, and the ability of Mr. Brcnvn and Ids friends to restore harmony between the two sections of the province, the Governor General admitted that if it could be conclusively shown that his present advisers were the only men capable of allaying the jealousies unhapjjily cxistin},' between Upper and Lower Canada, it would be his duty to at once grant them their request. In the absence of any proof of their exclusive possession of that specihc, ho submitted that " the mere existence of the mischief is not in itself decisive ■vinn IX. 1858.] THE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 195 ccisivc as to the propriety of resorting to a general election at the present moment." The Governor General, having drawn atten- tion to the fact that a general election had been held only a few months before, and that much unfinished business was before Parliament, expressed himself as by no means satisfied as to the impossibility of forming out of the present House a Ministry possessing the confidence of Parliament, which would close up the session and carry on affairs during recess ; and concluded as follows : — "After full and mature deliberation, therefore, on the arguments submitted to him by word of mouth and in writing, and with every respect for the opinions of the Council, His Excellency declines to dissolve Parliament at the present time." Upon receipt of this communication the Ministry tendered their resignations, which were verbally accepted by the Governor General, and the door of the Executive Council chamber closed upon the Honourable George Brown. He had yet to learn that the only means of entrance for him into that much desired (■hamber was by the favour of Mr. John A. Macdonald. Thus, like certain of the humbler forms of animal life, came into being, existed for an hour, and died, what is commonly known as the "Short Administration.'' IJrief as was its tenure of life, it was long enough to show the lengtlis whicli Mr. Brown was prepared to go in order to taste of that " gilded servitude which is mocked with the name of power." As for that gentleman's feelings during the days immediately suc- ceeding his enforced resignation, are they not written in tlie Olohr. newspaper for the month of August, 1858 ? To one placed in his ridiculous position, much must bo allowed. Tlie hiimiliiition of having surrendered his cherished convictions to Lower Canada for nothing, the declarations of the tliree l)rauches of the Legislature that they had no confidence in him, and, last of all, the loss of his seat in the Assembly, must have been gull and wormwood to him, whom Colonel Tacli^ described 118 " tlie honest and conscientious Mr. Brown." Yet with every allowance for these smarts, and taking into account his liead- strong and passionate nature, one is scarcely prepared for the storm of invective with whicli the ex-Prime Minister visited everybody wlio hi fancied in any way liad contributed to his 196 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. IX. \m defeat, or for the language of amazing violence which he applied to the Governor General.* Sir Edmund Head was a statesman, a scholar, and a man of the world. But, before all things, he was an English gentleman, and all that the word implies. That he acted throughout this affair otherwise than independently and with a single resolve to do his duty, no one who knew him doubted for a moment, and few could be found to say that even his judgment was at fault. The insinuation that Mr. Macdonald had any communion tion with the Governor General from the day on which he resi^nied office until the day when he resumed his position as one of his advisers, is utterly baseless, and one which he himself scorned in the very strongest manner. Looking back calmly at the whole matter, and bearing in mind what the offence of the Governor General really was — a refusal to dissolve a newly elected House on the advice of a Ministry which did not possess and never had possessed the confidence of either branch of the legislature, nay, had been expressly declared unworthy of confidence by both — there is nothing to suggest that Mr. ]\fac- donald, or anybody else, interfered ; f there was no necessity * See Olobe, Aupust 6 and 6, 18/58. It mil bo observed thnt I hdhitiiallv allude to the utterances of the Olobe as those of Mr. 13rown himself. T do tin's, not merely because of the general similarity between his spoochos and the Ol(Ae editoriid<. but also for the reason that both Mr. Brown and hLs paper wore nlways nssoiiatcd, nay, completely identified, in the public mind. As Messrs. nuokimrhnni niul llnsi well say in their life of the Hon. Alex. Mackenzie, p. 80, the marked individuality of Mr. Brown was seen in his paper, wliich was "his exact rotlex." Mr. ]\la(kcnzii', in his " Life of Georjre Brown," himself writes that " George Brown and tlio Qlolie became in fact convertible terms." t The Olobe, in its blind fury, variously charged that the Oovemor Goncrnl liad been instigated by Mr. Macdonald, Chief Ja.tice Draper, and tlie Iliglit Hon. Kdwaid Ellice, the seignior of Beauharnois, who was then cm a visit to tlio ])ri)vin('(', in the course which he thought proper to pursue. These random attacks, lunvcvci', had little effect, even among Mr. Brown's own colleagues, one of wlioiu writc- Mr. Macdonald during the very week in whicli these things were liapixning : — "And now that I may say it without rendering myself liable to iiiipntatiims (it selflsb interestedncss, permit mo to add that, politics altogether nsidc, no oin' entertains a liigher admiration of your confessedly great abilities, nor a stroiigcr and a more sincere belief in your persomil honour and integrity, nor will be readier at auv time to acknowledge the one and defend the other than, in baste, " Y(nn-s verv truly, "M. ir. For.Kv." (Prom the Hon. M. IF. Foley to; the Hon. John A. Macdonald, dated Augii4 0, 1858.) ■•^IW 1858.] THE SHORT ADMINISTRATION. 197 of interference on so plain a point ; and when an act can be sufficiently accounted for without introducing a hypothetical cause, it is bad logic to introduce it. For the injury done to his party by the events which cul- minated on the 4th of August, 1858, and for his own personal mortification, Mr. Brown's overweening ambition and inordi- nate vanity were alone responsible. Had he taken even the precaution of stipulating for a dissolution before he undertook to form a Government, much would have been spared him ; though it is true that, had he followed this course, he would not have been entitled to the prefix of " Honourable," nor to such gratification as could be afforded by the assumption, for a fleeting moment, of " the functions of constitutional adviser of the Crown." 198 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. CHAPTER X. THE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE. 1858. ALEXANDER QXLt — FORMATION OF THE CARTIER-MACDONALD ADitlMSTKA- TION — THE " DOUBLE SHUFFLE " — GOVERNMENT'S I'OLICY .VNNOtJNC'KI)— FEDER.VL UNION — MR. SLVCDONALD's WISH tO RETIRE — SESSION OF 1859— MR. MACDONALD'S VIEWS ON PROTECTION AND FREE TRADE — DISSENSIONS AMONG THE OPPOSITION — REVOLT OF THE LOWER CAN^VDIANS AGAINST GEORGE BROWlf. Prominent among the members of the sixth Parliament of Canada was Mr. (afterwards Sir Alexander) Gait, M.P.P. for Sherbrooke. Mr. Gait entered the Legislature in 1849, and soon came to be looked upon as a rising man. His political sympathies do not seem to have been sharply defined. He appears, after the excitement following the Rebellion Losses Dill had died away, to have given the Liberal Administration of the day a qualified support, and, on the break-up of the Piefonn party in 1854, to hn,ve generally, though not uniformly, acted with the Liberal- Conservative Government. At the time we are considering, Mr. Gait was distinguished by his advocacy oi' a federal union of the British North American provinces, b}' his familiarity with questions of trade and finance, and by his championship of English and Protestant interests in Lower Canada. Belonging to neither party in the Legislature, he enjoyed the respect of both, and thus was specially qualified td advise the Governor General in the difficulty in which Sir Edmund Head found himself on the resignation of Mr. Ikown. To Mr. Gait, therefore, His Excellency applied, and invited him to form a new administration — a task which that gcntleiuan, with more prudence than the late Premier, respectfully declined. Sir Edmund Head thereupon sent for Mr. Cartier, and charged 1858.] THE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 199 him with the formation of a new ministry — a duty which he accepted and fulfilled, having persuaded Mr. Maedonald to undertake the leadership of the Upper Canadian section. I say " persuaded," because, for private reasons, Mr. Maedonald, fiver since the general elections of the preceding year, had been desirous of retiring from public life.* It was felt, however, that he could not be spared just then, and, yielding to the entreaties of his friends, who represented to him that his retirement at that crisis would imperil the interests of the party, he consented to lend his assistance to Mr. Cartier in the task of forming a Government. Their joint efforts were successful, and on the 6th of August it was known that the new Ministry would consist of Messrs. Cartier, Maedonald, Vaukoughnet, Sicotte, Belleau, Alleyn, Sidney Smith, Gait, Rose, George Sherwood, and John Eoss. It will be observed that tlie Cartier-Macdonald Administra- tion differed but slightly from the one which had resigned office ten days previously, the only changes being the retire- ment of Messrs. Cayley and Loranger, and the entrance of Messrs. Gait, Eose, and Sherwood. Things were just where they had been, and the practical result of the vote — the bare aunouncement of which had thrown George Brown into trans- ports of joy — was that Mr. Brown and eight of his friends found themselves outside of the Legislature for the remainder of the session. Those members of the Cartier-Macdonald Government on the contrary, who had been members of the Macdonald-Cartier Administration, did not vacate their seats by reason of their resumption of office. The seventh clause of * See his letter to Mrs. "Williiimsoii (p. 177). There was another reason l)esides ill health wliy Mr. Mucdouald desired to disenf;aij:e himself from polities ut tiiis time, llo was poor, and found great ditlieulty in ade(|uately fulfilling the social duties attaching to his position on a salary of tivo thoiisaud dollars a year. Nntwitiistauding Mr. Maodouald's inii)lied injunction of secrecy, some hint of his wish to retire must have got abroad, for, in the midst of the crisis caused by Mr. lirown's acceptance of otHce, we find the (t/o6c, with that prescience which has ever ilistinguished it, annoimcing that " Mr. John A. Maedonald is about to retire into piivato life, a thoroughly used-up character" {Otobe, August 5, 18^)8). One cannot withhold a certain uibuiratiou for the innate audacity which enabled Mr. Ihown, in the midst of his defeat and in the deptii of his biuuiliation, to apply to his successful rival language such as this. Hud Mr. Maedonald lived two moutiis longer ho would liavo survived the Globe's prediction just thirty-three years, during twenty-six of which he was a member of the Government of Canada. iMHI 200 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. i^, iiji i;'' ill!!! 1 lljiilil' 11 m the Independence of Parliament Act, passed in the year 1857,* provides that — " whenever any person holding the office of Receiver General, Inspector General, Secretary of the Province, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Attorney Cjreneral, Solicitor General, Commissioner of Public Works, Speaker of the Legislative Council, President of Committees of the Executive Council, Minister of Agriculture or Postmaster General, and being at the same time a member of the Legislative Assembly, or an elected member of the Legi.slative Council, shall resign his office, and within one month after his resignation accept any other of the said offices, he shall not thereby vacate his seat in the said Assembly or Council." These words are clear. Any member of a government could resign his office and accept another within one month without vacating his seat in Parliament. Thirty days had not elapsed since Mr. Macdonald had held the portfolio of Attorney General. There was, therefore, no legal necessity for his taking the sense of his constituents on resuming it. Elections no more in 1858, t. m in 1894, were run for the fun of the thing. One technical objection alone stood in the way. The Act says that if any member resign office, and within one month after his resignation accept any other of the said offices he shall not thereby vacate his seat in the Assembly. It says nothing about the effect of accepting anew the office just deniitted, though it seems only reasonable to infer that, if the acceptance of a new office by a minister did not call for the approbation of his constituents, a fortiori the mere resumption of an office, whose acceptance had already been approved by them, would not necessitate a fresh appeal to the people. In the judgment of Mr. Macdonald and several of his colleagues there was nu legal impediment to the direct resumption of their former offices, but a difference of opinion existed on the point, and, in order to keep clearly within the law, the Ministers were first sworn in as follows : — The Hon. G. E. Cartier, Inspector General. The Hon. John A. Macdonald, Postmaster General. * 20 Vict., c. 22. This provision reniniucd uuehnngcd on the Statute Look lor twenty years niter the time we are cousideriug. In 1878 (41 Vict., c. 6) the following words were (uUletl : " uuless tlie Adiiiiuistrntioii of wliicli lie was a uiember shall have resigned, and a new Administration shall luive been I'onued and shuli liuve occupied the said oUices." ^^Ifl 1858.] TEE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 201 The Hon. P. M. Vankoughnet, Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Hon. L. V. Sicotte, Chief Commissioner of Public Works. The Hon. Charles Alleyn, Provincial Secretary. The Hon. Sidney Smith, President of the Executive Council and Minister of Agriculture. The Hon. John Eose, Receiver General. Messrs. N. F. Belleau, A. T. Gait, and George Sherwood were sworn of the Council without portfolio, and the first- mentioned was re-appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council. Under this arrangement no member of the old Government held the portfolio formerly occupied by him. On the following day Mr. Macdonald resigned the portfolio of Postmaster General and accepted that of Attorney General West. Mr. Cartier* became Attorney General East ; Mr. Sidney Smith Postmaster General ; and Mr. John Rose became Solicitor General East ; Mr. Gait was appointed Inspector General, and Mr. George Sherwood, M.P.P. for Brockville, Receiver General. Mr. John lioss was sworn of the Executive Council, and appointed its President and Minister of Agriculture, Messrs. Alleyn, Sicotte, and Vankoughnet remaining as they were.f Such was the celebrated " double shuffle," which proved, I need scarcely say, a source of acute dissatisfaction to Mr. Brown and his friends. The Ministers were accused by them of having perverted an Act of Parliament to a sense it was never intended to bear, and their action in swearing to discharge duties attach- ing tu offices which they did not intend to retain for any length of time was characteri,::ed as little short of perjury. The latter * Mr. Curtier appears to have re.sij^ncd the office of Inspector General on the (lay of his appointment, and to have been succeeded by Mr. (ialt on the same day (tlie Gth). t When nil these arrr.ngements had been completed the Cal)inut stood as follows : tlie Hon. George E. C.irtier, Attorney General, L.C. (Kirst Minister) ; the Hon. Jdlm A. Macdonald, Attorney General, U.C. ; the Ihm. P. M. Vankoughnet, Commissioner of Crown Lands; the Hon. L. V. Sicotte, Chief Cimimissioner of Public Works; the Hon. N. F. lielleau, witlumt portfolio (Speaker of the Legislative Council) ; the Hon. Charles Alleyn, IVoviucial Secretary ; the Hon. Sidney Smith, I'ostmaster General ;-the Hon. A. T. Gait, Inspector General ; the lion. John Kose, Siilicitor General, L.C. ; the Hon. George Sherwood, Receiver General ; the Hon. John Koss, President of the E.xecutive Council and Minister of Agriculture. II ill i i^*' ill! 202 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. charge was, in the opinion of the Opposition, their strongest point against the Ministry, and the impression of moderate men at the time was that, if there were anything wrong in the trans- action, it was in the exchange of offices. Yet it appears that the Ministers, in taking the course that they did, followed a procedure at that time and still common in England. A member of the Imperial House of Commons, it is well known, cannot resign his seat. "When he wishes to leave Parliament he accepts the office of Steward of the Cliiltern Hundreds, gets his commission, the duties attaching to which he never intends to perform, vacates his seat by becoming an office-holder, and then resigns the office for the convenience of the next member who wishes to follow his example. In precisely the same spirit did Mr. Macdonald and his colleagues act on the occasion of the " double shuffle." The charge of perjury advanced by the Glohe is absurdity itself. Perjury consists in stating as a fact that which is not a fact, and swearing to it ; but when Mr. MacdonaUl accepted the position of Postmaster General, intending to resign it the next day, all he promised was that so long as he held the office he would perform the duties appertaining to it. When he relinquished the portfolio, his oath of office surely ceased to bind. That seems obvious; but in any event it ill became Mr. Brown to bring this accusation against anybody. He, with a full knowledge of the fact that both Houses of Parliament were awaiting the first opportunity to turn him out ; without a hope of dissolution (for the Governor General told him as much on the very first day he accepted office); with the moral certainty that he could not retain his place for more than two days, swore to discharge duties he knew he would not perform. This point, which I venture to think is of great importance, in the consideration of this charge against Mr. Macdonald, can be established out of Mr. Brown's own mouth. At a public meet- ing in the election campaign of 1861, he, with his usual indis- cretion, spoke as follows : — "When the Bro^vn-Dorion Administration consented to be sworn in, it was with the full knowledge that they might not hold office for twenty-four hours, but there was this among other arguments in favour of our mnning tin; risk of Sir Edmund Head's machinations, that if we took office and were kicked out by the Governor General we could all be returned again, while 1858.J TEE ^'DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 203 the others would have to undergo the same ordeal but would not have the same success." So that, although he knew he could not obtain a dissolution, with the certainty that he was not going to perform any executive acts (because, not possessing the confidence of Parlia- ment, he knew right well the Governor General would not permit him), Mr. Brown accepted the portfolio of Inspector General, and swore to execute the duties attaching to that office, with the sole object of putting a few of his opponents to some trouble and annoyance. And then, when he found that matters had turned out differently from his expectation, and that it was he himself who was out in the cold, he was not ashamed to charge Mr. Macdonald with something akin to perjury for doing simply what he himself had done the day before. "I left Baby Charles and Steenie laying his duty before him," says King James of Dalgarno ; " Geordie, jingling Geordie, it was grand to hear Baby Charles laying down the guilt of dissi- mulation, and Steenie lecturing on the turpitude of incontinence." The legality of the Government's action wa>s, however, destined to go before a higher and more impartial tribunal than the Glohc. Tlie question had at once a constitutional and a legal aspect, and in both directions appeals were taken. On the 10th of August a motion was offered in the Assembly declaring that, in the opinion of the House, — " the manner by which several of the members of the late Administration, of which the Honourable John A. Macdonald was Premier, have come back to their old offices by accepting other offices during the short period of a few hours only, to avoid vacating their seats in this House, is a fraudulent evasion of tlie Act for the Independence of Parliament, and a gross violation of the rights of the people by the members of the Administration ; and that they have thereby forfeited all title to the confidence of this House and the country." This was rejected by a vote of fifty-two to twenty-eight, and a similar amendment to the Supply Bill, on the 12th instant, by i'orty-seven to nineteen. Defeated in Parliament, Mr. Brown and his friends had recourse to the courts. Actions were taken in the Queen's Bench and Common Pleas against Messrs. Macdonald, Smith, and Vankoughnet, for sitting and voting in the Assembly when legally disqualified. These suits duly came to trial, and five ^^" m ' i*y !!•;;: I!l!l!t! 204 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. judges unanimously decided that in exchanging and retainiii" their offices the Ministers had acted within the law ; whereupon the Globe turned fiercely upon the hench of justice, and openly insinuated that the judges were under the influence of Mr. Macdonald.* It is proper that, having recorded the misfortunes of the Clear-Grit party arising out of the affair of the " double shufHe," I should mention the solitary triumph which accrued to them. When the party leaders brought suit against Mr. Macdonald and his friends, they entered not one action, which would have served their purposes equally well, but a number at £5000 apiece. Despite their wild language about "trickery," and " illegality," and " evasions," and " subterfuges," and " perjury," they were much too wary to risk a farthing upon the issue ; so they brought these actions in the name of a man who was insolvent, and, when they were non-suited, Mr. Macdouald had a pauper to look to for his costs.f The entrance of Mr. Gait into the Ministry was regarded as having an important bearing on the policy of the Government. At an earlier period of the session he had spoken on the (|uos- tion of a federal union, and submitted a series of resolutions which called for the appointment of a committee to ascertain the views of the people of the Lower Provinces and of the Imperial Government on this momentous subject. These reso- lutions did not come to a vote at the time, but Mr. Cartier, in announcing the composition of his Ministry on the 7th of August, informed the House that the Government proposed to take steps in the direction sugget-iteJ. Mr. Gait had also spoken on certain tariff resolutions which v.ere generally understood to foreshadow the adoption of a pvor jctive policy. While agreeing with the Inspector General (Mr. Cayley) that the proposed changes were necessary to enable the country to meet its liabilities, Mr. Gait made a decidedly protectionist speech, in which he dissented from the opinion expressed by Mr. Brown that an increase of duty would be detrimental to agriculture. * See Globe, December 20 and 21, 1858, t In this account of the "double shuffle" I have ch)sely followed Mr. Macdonald' s own version of the transaction, given at various times and places duriiij,' the election campaign of 1860~G1, and particiUarly at St. Catherines. 1858.] THE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 205 He instanced the States of Elaine and New Hampshire, as show- ing that the indnstrial results of labour increased enormously under the protective system, and declared that he should be glad to see the Canadian tariff so altered as to keep in the country, and probably to em])loy, the great numbers annually leaving the province. He apparently succeeded in impressing his colleagues with his views on this subject, for Mr. Cartier, in the speech to which I have alluded, announced that the opera- tion of the new tariff would be closely watched and readjusted from time to time, with a view to maintain the public revenue, to uphold the provincial credit, and incidentally to encourage native industry and domestic manufactures. Mr. Cartier also announced that, in view of the recent vote of the House on the seat of Government question, the IMinistry did not feel warranted in taking any steps towards the erection of public buildings at Ottawa until Parliament had had an opportunity of further considering the subject in all its bearings. An address to the Queen was unanimously passed setting forth the advantages which would accrue to Canada from the speedy construction of an intercolonial railway, and praying for Her Majesty's early and favourable consideration of the project. The Cartier-Macdonald Government found themselves sup- ported by a sufficient majority, and no further trouble was expe- rienced during the session, which closed on the ICth of August. In fulfilment of the Government's promise, a delegation, consisting of Messrs. Cartier, John lioss, and Gait, proceeded to England early in the autumn, to ascertain the views of Her Majesty's Ministers on the subject of a federal union of the British North American provinces,* and to request the Imperial Government to authorize a meeting of delegates from each colony to discuss the expediency and conditions of such union. They were informed that only one colony besides Canada had expressed any opinion on the subject, and that, until the other provinces had made known their sentiments. Her Majesty's Ministers would be acting prematurely in authorizing, without any previous knowledge of their views, a meeting of delegates * Tliis (lelepration also pressed the (Hiestion of the intercolouiiU railway upon Her Majesty's Government, apparently with no hetter result than had attended the clloits of Messrs. Macdouald and Rose. ilillili'^iii 206 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAODONALD. [Chap. X. which might commit thera to a preliminary step towards the settlement of a momentous question, to the principle of which the colonies had not signified their assent. On the return of the Canadian delegates the Governments of the Maritime Provinces were put in possession of all the proceedings which had taken place; but a change of ministry in England occurring shortly after- wards, nothing more was heard on the subject for some years. Early in 1859, Mr. Macdonald renewed his wish to retire from the Government, and, I believe, had fully made up his mind to go out. His parliamentary supporters, much alarmed at the intelligence, waited on him, and represented to him that persis- tence in his design would certainly result in the disintegration of the Conservative party. Sorely against his wishes, he yielded to their solicitations, as expressed in the following letter : — " The Hduble. John A. Macdonald. Toronto, February 19, IS.jO. "DeAxI Siu, "Wo liavo heard with vegrct a report, wliicli is daily repeated. that you contomplato retiring from your position in the Ministry ; and our object is to express a hope that you will delay such a step, at least until tli(! close of the present session. Should you retire wo cannot fail to see tlmt others, who with yourself represent the Conservative interest in the Ministry, will retire also, and wo cannot suppose for one moment that you will allow the great body of your Upper Canada supporters to be handed over to those to wliom they have been opposed ; they therefore ask you not to retire. But if you feel that you must retire, then wo hope that you will not do so until tlu' close of the session ; and wo trust that whenever you do retire you will seu that the Conservative interest is fully and justly represented. " Wo all feel nuitnal sacrifices must bo made, wo have to surrondor opinions in sustaining a (iovcrnment, and, when that Government is prcparod to make changes, wo think some consideration may reasonably bo e.Npoctod, whereby its supporters may be loft in a ju-oper position. Wo arc sure tlicBe opinions are yours as well as our ov/n, and therefore you will receive tlioni as coming from a body of gentlemen who have long been pleased, and arc still j)leased, to acknowledge you as their loader, " Yours very truly, " A. W. i'LAVKAIR, "T. M. Daia, " Bkn.ia.mis Tirrr, "O. Bknjamin, "H. W. McCann, "John Caulinu, Makcuh Tami-it, John Simivsox, II. W. Sl'OTT, Jno. M.vcLkod, F. II. Ih'KTOX, Oko. Macukth." 1858-59.] THE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 207 Shortly before the meeting of I'arliaraent in January, 1859, Mr. Sicotte resigned office in the Administration in consequence of a difference of opinion with his colleagues on the question of the seat of Government. The Ministry had decided to abide by the Queen's choice. Mr. Sicotte was unable to agree with his colleagues in this resolve. Accordingly he withdrew from tlie Cabinet, and allied himself with the moderate section of the Opposition. He was succeeded in the Commissionership of rublic Works by Mr. John Eose. The speech of the Governor General at the opening of the session of 1859 recited the history of the proceedings which tenninated in the selection of Ottawa as the seat of Government, and expressed the hope that Her Majesty's choice would be acquiesced in. To the paragraphs of the Address echoing this sentiment several amendments were moved, chief among which was one proposed by Mr. Sicotte, and seconded by Mr. Langevin, to the effect that in its vote of the 28th of July, declaring that the city of Ottawa ought not to be the permanent seat of Government, the House expressed its views and opinions on the suliject in the ordinary and constitutional exercise of their privileges. This was defeated by the narrow majority of five, the vote standing fifty-nine to sixty-four. The session of 1859 was the last occasion on which the Parliament of Canada sat in Toronto. Shortly after prorogation the construction of the public buildings was begun at Ottawa, and when, in Xovember, the seat of Government was transferred to (Quebec, it was with the understanding that it should remain there until the removal to Ottawa. Thus was this vexed question finally disposed of. Among the chief events of this session was the submission of the tariff policy of the Government, by the Finance Mi.i. ;' „., Mr. (ialt.* The changes, wliich were on the sumo lines as those of the previous year, were made with the view of protecting the Caiiiuliun manufacturers. We have already seen that, so far hack as 184G, this policy commended itself tc Mr. jMacdonakl, and ill 1859 his opinions as to the advantage of Canada having • Durini,' this sesstion an Act wiis imHsutl (22 Vict., c. 11) wliicli, intr alia, pniviilcd timt the Inspector Guneriii wliould llierunl'tcr liu stylwl tlm " Jliiiistor of l'"iimucL'." I |f:f E::S: 208 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. a home market, had undergone no change. In a speocli delivered at Hamilton during the year 1860 he made tin- following remarks upon the tariff changes which had lately been adopted : — " It is, as I have often said before, useless to discuss the abstract principles of free trade and protection, but it is a matter for congratulation that the tariff has been so adjusted as incidentally to encourage manufacturing industry hero. I hope all will see the advantages of a home market. I cannot go the length of the chairman (Mr. Buchanan), who lias so loni; applied his mind to finance and questions of political economy, in stating that it would be well almost to increase our dcltt tur the purpose of securing protection to our manufacturers, Init I feel that, whoever created this debt, the Governments of which I have been a member have the credit of commencin'T the a system by which, through it, to raise up a home market, and give a double market to the farmer and labourer. If we were altogether an agricultural country, we should be dependent for the value of our produce on the quantity of the harvest on the Baltic and Black Seas. As it is, when we have atttuned our full development, we shall not be so. Manufactories are springing up, east and west, and I hope tliis great commereial city will see the advantage of encouraging them. If y(ju ■^o to Montreal and look at the enormous factories at work near the canal basin, you will realize what a source of wealth to a city and country they are. You have here no o her source of woakh save your commercial intercourse, and business with the Ijack country. When I look at that, I think how, by the encourau;e- ment of manufactares, you might quadruple your population, and relieve Hamilton from its present temporary state of depression ; and I hope, then, we should hav": as stroni: supporters here as we have in every other part of the country where manufacturi!s are considered to be of value." At London he spoke as follows : — "It is not necessary for the Government to discuss the question of protection or free trade. In order that the ])roviiice might keep its faitli with the public creditor, in order that Canada might l)o honest — and I am sure that every man here would be willing to nuiko a sacrifice of his wealth and his 1859.; 1859.1 THE ''DOUBLE SHUFFLE: 209 means to keep her credit — there has been an adjustment of the customs duties, from which our revenue for provincial purposes is chiefly derived. While we keep up the taxation on luxuries, and on those articles which we can manufacture ourselves, there has been a diminution in taxation on those articles of prime necessity which our manufacturers can work up. The consequence is, that in every part of the country, both in Upper and Lower Can^'da, there are manufactories springing up. We hear of hundreds of industrious mechanics and artisans combining together to establish woollen and cotton mills, etc. ; and it is (|uitc certain — I am satisfied, and you must be so too — that the wants of the country, owing to its rapid material progress, will so press upon the Treasury, that they will always be in advance of the revenue. The manufacturer can, therefore, safely commence to apply his capital to his business, without fear that, by one stroke of the pen, all his enterprise will be destroyed, through tlie reduction of the duties. Though we have so adjusted the tariff as to encourage every manufacturing interest in the country, I wish it to be understood that we have not increased the taxation over the taxation of our predecessors. It is true we have put a higher duty on some articles, chiefly those we can manufacture ourselves, but the free list has been enormously increased. Goods that were heavily taxed in the days of our predecessors are free, and under the tariff as it now stands, after having been adjusted under the responsibility of the present (loveruniont, the amount of taxation levied in Canada on each man does not equal what was levied in the time when Mr. Hincks was the financier of the country." An incident of the session of 1859 was the exclusion of Mr. Brown from the Committee on Public Accounts. Mr. Macdonald has thus left on record his explanation of this unusual course on the part of the House : — " The reason why Mr. Brown was left off was, that if he liad been put on, you would not have got gentlemen to sit with hiui. Mr. Gait, the present Finance Minister, iuid just taken ollico when Mr. Brown was left off that conuuittee. He had no sins to answer for — he had had no opportunity of com- mitting any — his accounts could not bo wrong. He might well liiive Hiiid, ' Lot Mr. Brown bo on the connnitteo if he wishes it.' VOL. I. r 210 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. But he remembered how Mr. Brown had acted to his pre- decessor, the Hon. William Cayley, a man of the highest worth, one of nature's noblemen, a man of large family, whose feel- ings were wounded by every attack made on him, and who himself felt a stain as acutely as a wound. When Mr. Brown was appointed by Mr. Cayley a member of the committee, year after year, instead of acting as a faithful committee-man, he used the whole of his power for the purpose of trumping up false allegations to write in his newspaper every morning. Although it was solemnly ordered by the committee that, until their invest ;'ations were complete, there should be no pub- lication of tii^Ti, and although the allegations made*were as false as those T '.ave been exposing, he used the evidence in his newspaper for tiie purpose of ruining his political oppo- nents. When Mr. Cayley vindicated himself, as he did vindi- cate himself, refuting every calumny, overthrowing every charge against him, establishing fully how faithful had been his stewardship, and how carefully upright had been his management of the public finances, these statements were garbled by the Glohe, and some of them altogether suppressed. More than this, however, forgetful of his duty as a committee- man, as a member of Parliament, as a man and a gentleman, Mr. Brown hpd the baseness to tell Mr. Cayley before the committee that he was a liar; and Mr. Cayley would liave been well excusable — though, as Attorney General, I could not have justified him in such a course — if he had given Mr. IJrown a severe castigation on the spot. This is why the Government, sustained by the House of Assembly, thought it necessary to mark its sense of Mr. Brown's misconduct by leaving him oil the connnittee. We put on the same number of his party— the same number of Eeformers ; but for him we substituted an abler man, Mr. Howland, and even Mr. Brown caimot say that committee was inferior to any other ever appointed. That, sir, is our answer to this charge." A more agreeable incident was the adoption by both Houses of an address to the Queen, praying that Her Majesty wouM deign to be present at t'lo opening of the Victoria Ih'idgc, accompanied by the Prince Consort and such members of the lioyal family as might be selected to attend Her Majesty. The T""'^— "^IHl •^ 1859.] THE "DOUBLE SHUFFLE." 211 Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was deputed to proceed to England to present this address to her Majesty. During his absence, Mr. Smith wrote Mr. Maodonald a series of inte- resting letters, from one of which, giving an account of the formal presentation of the address, I have made a quotation : — " Oil arriving at the palace the page asked me if I was the Speaker of the Canadian Commons, and on my replying ' Yes,' he said he had orders to conduct myself and friends to the room allotted to the grand circle. Here we found tl-c ambassadors of the foreign powers, and remained some ten minutes, when iie Duke joined us, and gave us news of the great battle. I introduced my friends to him, and he went through the general reception room to the Royal closet, and afterwards returned with the Lord Chamberlain, who said Her Majesty was prepared to receive us. The Duke presented mo to the Queen, who was sitting near the door as we entered the closet. I bowed as I walked towards her, and, kneeling, handed her the address. She took it from me with her own hands, and said, ' I am pleased to receive this address ; ' and, turning to me, said again, ' Much pleased.' She then gave me her hand, which I kissed, as loyally and, I hope, as gallantly as I knew how. The others were then presented, and the same thing occurred —except one, who laid hold of Her Majesty's hand and kissed it. I mention no names just now." * The question of the capital having been disposed of, the Government found themselves sustained throughout the session by a majority which, if not large, was sufficient. In the accom- plishment of this result, Messrs. Cartier and Macdonald were aided to no small extent by the growing disaffection in the ranks of th3 Reform party. Ever since the fiasco of the Brown- Dorion Government, there had existed in the minds of many Keformcrs in Upper Canada an impression that George Brown on tliat occasion had, in his eagerness to obtain power, played a double part. The very announcement of the names of his Cabinet carried with it to the remotest portions of the province an unensy suspicion which would not down. Men waited in vain for explanations, which were never given. Early in the sessiun of 1859 Mr. Brown made a speech which was far from satisfactory, even to his best friends. He stated that liis coUongues had agreed to the adoption of representation by population, subject to certain "checks" or "guarantees" to protect the interests of Lower Canada ; yet ho would not say * From Mr. Ilcnry Smith to tho IIou. John A. Maedouiild, dated Loudon, Juno 27, 1859. ?;.r 212 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. X. what those " checks " or " guarantees " were : while, on the other hand, it was notorious, and so declared (as we have seen) by one of his own colleagues, that a majority of his Government were pledged against it. In March several Ileform newspapers began to indulge in grave misgivings as to the wisdom of further continuing Mr. Brown in the position of leader of the party. As regards Lower Canada his position was even more insecure, and, towards the close of the session, an event occurred which still further estranged him from the Liberals of the Lower Province. A measure in amendment to the Seigniorial Tenure Act of 1854 was introduced by the leader of the Government. It provided for the assumption by the prov'nce of so much of the constituted rents representing the I ds ■ f . cntcs and other casual rights of the seigniors as the provision made by the Act of 1854 had not been sufficient to rcleen^ and ^ir their payment out of the public treasury. This appropriation, which was supported by all the members from Lower Canada irrespective of party,* was met by a deter- mined opposition from the Clear-Grits, headed by George Brown, who from his place denounced the proposal in language offensive in the highest degree to the French Canadians. " It was," he said, " wholesale bribery " of Lower Canada with the money of the Upper Canadian people — an act of robbery of the most shameless kind ; while the Globe, true to its " reflex " character, declared that "a Lower Canadian majority, aided by a small band of western plunderers, are robbing Upper Canada for the benefit of the eastern province. Mr. John A. Macdonald," who on all occasions was the chief offender, *' has reached the lowest point of degradation." t It had been Mr. Brown's fortune to experience more than one rebuff in Parliament, but I question if he was ever more mortified than when, at the conclusion of his speech on the subject of the proposed relief to the censitaircs, Mr. Laberge, the Rouge member for Iberville, who was Mr. Brown's Solicitor General in the two days' Administration, rose and stated that when he took office it was with the distinct understanding that the seigniorial dues should be redeemed, and redeemed ♦ Save out), Mr. Somorville, tho member for Huntingdon, who voted ugiiiuat it. t Olohe, April 16, 1859. "^ 1859.] TEE "DOUBLE SEUFFLE.'' 213 out of the provincial funds. Mr. Brown admitted that it had been agreed that these casual rights should be paid, but con- tended that the money was not to come out of the public treasury, but was to be paid for out of a " local fund." When challenged to explain his plan, he could not do so, merely replying that " it was perfectly absurd to ask the late Ministry, after they had left office, to come down and state chapter and verse." He added that, if any misunderstanding existed in the minds of the Lower Canadian members, he was not to blame. This explanation availed but little, for if by the term "local fund" it was understood that, out of certain sources of revenue, the necessary sum should be taken to pay the casual rights, and these sources were part of the public revenue, it amounted to an admission of Mr. Laberge's statements. The point was that these casual rights were to be paid out of the revenue of the province, and not from any purely local fund of Lower Canada, which must be chiefly the property of tlie very persons on whose account the redemption was to be made. Messrs. Drummond and Thibaudeau, members of the late Government, confirmed Mr. Laberge's assertion, and, at a later period, Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald bore public witness to its truth.* Mr. Cauchon, in a speech of inordinate length, charged Mr. Brown with having played a game of deception all round. Finally, from the unwilling lips of the Kouge leader, Mr. Dorion, was forced the reluctant admission that the money was to have been taken from the Lower Canada Municipal Loan Fund, which was merely another way of saying that the obligation would have fallen on the whole province.t * " It has been said that Upper Canada was niado to pay for Lower Canadian inipiovcments ; people spoko of the ini(iuity of the Government in redeeming' tho iiisuid rifi-lits of tho seigniors. They did not say, wiuit 1 will now say, that the casuiil rif^lits were agreed to bo paid by tho Brown- Dorion Administration. That redeiiiption was tho basis on whicii the Brown- Dorion Administration was formed. I wait to bo contradicted by anybody. Since the constitution is attacked, I will make a clam breast of tho matter" (Speech of Hon. John Saudlield Macdimahl in tho AKscmbly, May 3, 18(iO). t Tliis is evident from tho concluding words of tho debate : — " Mr. Drummond explained that ho understood distinctly that tho amount of the casual riglits was to have b'leu paid out of tho public funds. IIo uudorstood tho lion. nu'nd)er for Montreal to soy so. " Jir. Sicotto ilid not so understand the member for Montreal. 214 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Ciup. X. These revelations produced a complete rupture between the Clear-Grits and the Lower Canadian Liberals. "Within a few days of this debate the members of the latter party held a meeting, and deputed Mr. Drummond to inform Mr. Brown " that unless some understanding could be speedily arrived at, they would consider themselves bound to declare publicly that they could no longer act under his leadership." * Thus, to the manifest advantage of the Government party, were both wings of the Opposition at once in a state of mutiny against their common leader. " Mr. Dorion said that he had declared distinctly that this amount was to have been taken from the Municipal Loan Fund for Lower Canada. " Mr. Cauchon : ' If that was the scheme of your Government, let the hon. member for Toronto say so.' " Mr. Bro^vn was silent. " Mr. Cauchon : ' The hon. member won't say so. He dare not.' •' Mr. Dnunmond explained that it was solemnly agreed that these rights should be paid out of the public funds — and the only fund available was the Lower Canadii Municipal Loan Fund. And it nev^r was his intention that the censitaires should borrow money to pay it back again." * See correspondence between Messrs. Drummond, Laberge, and Brown, published in Globe of Mav 6, 1859. ( 215 ) CHAPTEK XI. IN OFFICE. 1859-1862. .NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROW>aNQ — MR. MACDONALD's LETTER OF RESIGNA- TION — BEREAVEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR GENER.VL— REFORM CONVENTION OP 1859 — MR. brown's " JOINT AUTHORITY " SCHEME — REJECTED BY I'AKLLVMENT — SESSION OF 1860 — MR. MACDONALD'S REPLY TO CHARGES OF SUnSERVIENCY TO LOWER CANADLVN INFLUENCES — VISIT TO CANADA OF THE PRINCE OF WALES — THE OR.VNGE DIFFICULTY — SESSION OF 1861 — DISSOLUTION — GENERAL ELECTION^CONTEST IN KINGSTON — GENERAL UKSULT OF ELECTION — LORD MONCK — CILVNCELLOR BLAKE — RECON- STRUCTION OF THE 5IINISTRY— DEFENCES OF CANADA — APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO THEM — DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY ON THE MILITIA BILL. During the summer of 1859 two accidents occurred affecting those high in position in Canada, by the first of which Mr. Macdonald and four of his colleagues very nearly lost their lives. On the 1st of July, a party, among whom were the Hon. John and Mrs. Eoss, Mrs. Baldwin, Messrs. Macdonald, Hose, Vankoughnet, and Sidney Smith, left Toronto on an excursion to Sault Ste. Marie. At Collingwood they took the steamer Plouglihoy, intending to call at places of interest along the route. Shortly before the arrival of the vessel at Lonely Island in the Georgian Bay, an accident happened to the machinery which made it necessary to shut off steam. A gale springing up, the Ploughhoy being unprovided with sails, was left at the mercy of the winds and waves. Danger being imminent, some of the crew volunteered to proceed in an open boat to Owen Sound, a distance of seventy-five miles, to procure aid. In the mean time the vessel drifted helplessly towards l: • 216 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. the coast until, on Sunday morning, she was within fifty yards of a lee shore, with a heavy swell setting in towards it, and a gale driving her directly on the breakers. All on board gave themselves up for lost, and, taking leave of each other, prepared to meet death with such fortitude as they could command, when, at a distance of only forty-five yards from the land, and in 180 feet of water, the anchors, which had been dragging for twelve miles in the hope of postponing the fate of the ship till dayhght, caught bottom and held the vessel fast. She remained in that position from half-past two o'clock on Sunday morning until midnight, when the steamer Canadian, from Owen Sound, which had been sent to the rescue, took her in tow, and landed all her passengers safely at Collingwood. The party gave up their excursion, and returned to Toronto, where Mr. Macdonald lost no time in apprising his mother and sisters of his safety. To Mrs. Williamson he wrote : — " Toronto, July 7, 1859. " My dear Margaret, " You will see by the papers what a narrow escape we had. None of the party will again be nearer their graves until they are placed in them. The people behaved well, the women heroically. " I am none the worse of the trip. The Governor General will be here to-night, and I hope, therefore, in a few days to get away to Kingston. " Love to Mamma, Hughy, and Loo, not forgetting the Parson. " Yours always, " John A. " I send you specimens of the letters of congratulation I got." Within a few days of his return from this excursion Mr. Macdonald placed his resignation as a member of the Government in the hands of the Prime Minister, for reasons which are best explained in his letter to Mr. Cartier. 1859.] IN OFFICE. 217 "Toronto, July 11, 1859. " My dear Cartier, " I was much surprised and chagrined at hearing from Sherwood, in your presence this morning, that the Finance Minister had assumed tht responsibility of giving £100,000 of exchange to the Bank of Upper Canada without such advance being submitted to and approved by His Excellency in Council. " In my view of the matter, the expediency of making such an advance is not a justification for its being made without the authority of His Excellency. There was no urgency ; the matter might have been discussed in Council on Saturday, and the amount is very large. If the principle is once admitted, the whole revenue for the year might be at any time disposed of without the knowledge or consent of the Governor General or his Council, and on the judgment of one minister alone. *' I cannot subscribe to so dangerous a principle, and as I do not feel myself safe, and am unwilling to incur responsibility in matters in which I have no voice, I think it advisable to relieve myself therefrom by tendering to you my resignation, which you will be kind enough to submit to His Excellency. " At the same time I must beg leave to say that I am quite sure Mr. Gait has acted as he thought best for the interests of the province, and that from my confidence in his judgment and ability I have every reason to believe that those interests will not be prejudiced by the course adopted. •' Believe me, my dear Cartier, " Yours faithfully, " John A. Macdonald." ^fl I am not aware of the circumstances under which this letter was withdrawn. On the 25th of September a great calamity befell the Governor General in the death of his only son, a young man of much promise, who was accidentally drowned while bathing at the foot of the falls known as La Grande Mere, in the river St. Maurice. Much sympathy was expressed by everybody for Sir Edmund and Lady Head in their affliction. No one shared their sorrow more than Mr. Macdonald, who was on intimate terms of friendship, not only with the Governor General, but ■•^fn^ 218 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. XI. with every member of his family. Mr. Spence * thus alludes to the sad event, which made a great impression on the whole community : — " I greatly sympathize with Sir Edmund Head in the sad blow with whicli Providence has seen fit to visit him in the loss of the hope of his house. ' gave me pleasure to hear from you just what anyone would expect wl;o knc His Excellency as well as we do, namely, that he went through his work like a man. He, who has home quietly and uncomplainingly persistent attacks more vile than I ever remember being directed against a public man in this country, would not be wanting to himself or to what belonged to his position even in the moment of his heaviest calamity. " I have often thought that what constitutes the highest ornament in an ordinary man, has exposed Sir Edmund, more than anything else, to the vile attacks of the crew Avho hate him because he refused to bend the constitution to their purposes — I allude to his straightforwardness. A man like Sir Edmund Head, whose great object is to do what he believes to be right, and to do right by the most direct means, will not be so popular as lie who is skilled in polished clap-trap. It is painful to witness that, at a time like this, when all men, whose natures political rancour has not blunted, tender their liveliest sympathy with their Excellencies in their great loss, the Globe stil' pours out its slanders. In this course, I can assure you, Brown has tc admirers. Men feel for Sir Edmund and Lady Head, as men who have domestic ties ought to feel ; and all classes in this city feel for Lady Head, whose miostentatious charities, whose unceasing eflbrts to carry consolation to tlie abodes of gi'ief and suffering during a most trying period of prevailing distress, will long cause her name to be cherished alike by those whose hearts were gladdened by her bounty, as by those whose labours in benevolent objects Lady Head so generously aided." Mr. Spence goes on to give his views on the position of political parties, and his remarks are so interesting that I make a further quotation from the same letter : — " And now, my dear Macdonald, you will expect mo to give you some news. There is little here of a provincial nature. I am firmly of the opinion that Brown lias been losing ground since his joining Drummond and McGee in July, '58. I have frequently told you that he was strongest at the moment he accepted the Governor's commission to form a Government ; from the moment he took the oath of ofiice as an Executive Councillor to the i)resent time he has been getting weaker and weaker — and 1 should say at this moment * From the Hon. R. Spence to the Hon. John A. Macdonnld, dated Toronto, October 14, 1869. Mr. Spence, it will be remembered, was a close friend of Mr. Iliucks, and had been nominated by that gentleman as one of ttie representatives of the Reform Party in tlie MacNab-Morin coaUtion of 1854. In 1858 he became collector of customs at Toronto. <"^ 1859.J IN OFFICE. 219 he is weaker than ever before, and that he will be weaker to-morrow, and so on until he finally sinks to the level of Mackenzie.* " It is not easy, as you are well aware, to reach the masses of Upper Canada in the direction of removing their prejudices, and tlie cxjiosure ul' Brown has consequently been a work of time. It is, however, being thoroughly performed. ... I am inclined to think that Brown is floundering, lie has no settled policy. . . . " Cartier's course is clear, and so is yours. He must keep the ship and all hands ; and you must forego your desire for retirement, and stand by him, and his Lower Canadian colleagues— and by your own foithful personal friends —and by the little band of moderate Reformers, who, tine to you, will, under your leadership in the Lower House, defy the seductions of those who have deserted them and have gone to the enemy, but who without your leadership might bo driven to a corner where I, for one, would be ashamed to see them. In the desperate condition of the Brownite party, you must expect desperate elForts, and a succession of crises wherewith to win popular support. All this should only the more cause you to stand firm, and, even at great personal sacrifice, stand by Cartier, who unquestionably is the strongest man in Lowei- Canada, and who, by his extraordinary pluck and industry, is highly respected in this province. You and I have known cry after cry give way; and, depend on it, when Brown declared that Rep. by Pop. was inadequate to the accom- plishmc'it of what he conceived Upper Canada desired, he gave up his best plank. He has now no policy, therefore his friends are wavering. With returning prosperity, men, who have no leisure from the pursuit of profitable business, will abjure theoretical politics, and rather i)lace their reliance on the men who weather the storm, than in those who impede the current which carries wealth to their doors, and oft'er tliem revolution rather than a manly combat at the p "Is. " Stand together, and, if possible, just as you are. You have all taken the worst— any change would only ofl'er a point of new attack. One word more of advice. Meet Parliament in January if you have to call them in unfurnished rooms. Depend on it this move will place you well before the country. The old stale cries are exhausted — they are, indeed, new hashed, but there is nothing in the Olobe which you may not :;eo an ordinary politician in his office or the railway car dispose of in five muiutes. Be it your aim to afl'ord the enemy no new points of attack. In the autumn of 1859, the Eeformers of Upper Canada, under the auspices of Mr. Brown, held a convention in Toronto to consider the position and define the policy of the party. At that meeting there was adopted a series of resolutions setting forth that the union of Upper and Lower Canada had failed to realize the anticipations of its promoters, advocating its repeal and tlie establishment in its place of two or mori; * William Lyon Mackenzie. 9^^ I 220 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. XI. local governments for the administration of all matters of local concern, and the creation of a "joint authority," charged with the control of such affairs as were common to both sections of the province. This proposal, which has been incorrectly styled the germ of confederation, had reference solely to the province of Canada, Mr. Brown declaring that, " after mature deliberation, the conference had arrived at the conclusion that a feaeral union of the British North American colonies would be no remedy for our present difficulties," The larger scheme had already, as we have seei", been advocated in Parliament by Mr. Gait, and its prosecution announced as a part of the policy of the Cartier-Macdonald Government. In Mr. Gait's sclieme, from which that of the Clear-Grits was evidently adopted, the joint authority was clearly indicated.* This cry for repeal of the Union and creation of a "joint authority " originated with Mr. Brown, who, in view of the disaffection then rife in the ranks of his party, felt that some new and startling move was imperatively called for. For some time past the Opposition had shown a tendency to regard the cry of " representation by population " as unworthy of being called a policy, and at the convention it was openly repudiated as such.f The convention, assembled with the object of pro- moting unity, signally failed in attaining this result, for the lack of agreement among the leaders of the Opposition was at no time more manifest than during the ensuing session, and that, too, in regard to these very resolutions, which were supposed to embody the tnited judgment of the Liberal party. I * " Tlierc ouj^lit to bo a p^enerdl government for the manngcment of m'.bjocts (if » common clmriictur, uml tlmt thereloro would utt'oul no ouo's religion or projuilicis" (Speech of Mr. A. T. Gait, delivered in the IIoiiso of AHsembly, July 5, IHoS). t " ll is plain tlmt if wo desire the interests of this country — if v.e wisli to sceurc ourselves ii^iiinst bankruptcy, if we are not ready to submit to the grossest (legnulatitui, wo must look out for soaie other meahure than representation according to poi)ulation to obtain relief" (Speecii of lion. 0. Mowat at ConventionV Mr. Mowat sulisiMnaiitly disclaimed any intenticm of having meant by these woras to imply that he no loii^'i r reganlod representation by population as a thing to bo desired, but only tliat in view of the acute stage whieii all'airs liad reached it could no longer bo viewed as "a sutlieient reuiedy." Tliis qualilled sense accm'ately delines tlie ciiange in tlie pnsitinii of tlio lleform party with respect to what previously iiad boon ita nniin " plank " (see Globe, May 18, and June 10, 18r)'J). % " it is abundantly evident tliat the resolutimis of tlio Toronto Convuutiou are I860.] IN OFFICE. 221 Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald, perhaps the most important personage after Mr. Brown, in opposition to the Government, was not present at the convention, and made no secret of his determined opposition to any policy which involved a tampering with the Union. Nor was he alone ; Messrs. Foley and Connor, who, with him, had been members of the Brown-Dorion Administration, together with Messrs. Buchanan, Patrick, and other Reform members, objected to Mr. Brown's convention resolutions being introduced in Parliament — to tlie great wrath of the latter, who, in the Globe of April 24, 18G0, practically read them out of the party. Some other Liberal members signified their disapproval of Mr. Brown's course; but that gentleman, who, in the face of this hostility, had gone through the form of tendering his resignation as leader of the party, was not to be dissuaded from what he had undertaken. In a speech of remarkable vigour he introduced his resolutions embodying the constitutional changes resolved upon at the conference. He declared that the union of the two Canadas had proved a failure, and he described in detail the grievances under wliich, from his point of view, Upper Canada had laboured for twenty years. He concluded a long and able speech by stating his conviction that, if the people of Upper Canada diil not soon obtain relief in a constitutional manner, they would have recourse to the Imperial l*arliament. After a vigorous debate, in the course of which Mr. John A. ]\Iacdonald warmly defended the Lower Canadians against the charges made by the Clear-Grit party, Mr. Brown's resolutions were outvoted by a liU'ge majority, among whom were men distinguished by their opposition to the Government. The session of 18G0, enlivened as it was by domestic quiirrols in the ranks of the Opposition, proved an cisy one for the Government. Mr. Macdonald, however, laboured under the serious disadvantage of having to carry all his measures by Lower Canadian votes. Unable to obtain the confidence of Parliament, or even of the Upper Canadian section of it, Mr. Brown, by his iixed i)olicy of appealing to the national, provincial, and religious prejudices of the people, had contrived to meet (lit'ir first (liflk'ultioa from iiorHonn who have boon munil)er.s nf tliutbiHly" (OWxr, April 'lU 1800). 222 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. to array the two sections of the province in open hostility to each other.* To bring about this state of things he had spared no pains, even going the length of declaring himself to be " a governmental impossibility because he would not cringe under the dictation of Eoman priestcraft." So palpable were his objects and so violent his methods that Mr. Drummond, then in full sympathy with Mr. Brown in his opposition to the Government, when speaking on Mr. Gait's motion, made in July 1858, for a federal union, felt constrained to apply this language to them : — " If we calleJ in the Hon. member for Toronto lie (Mr. Dru nmonfl) would ask whether he could organize a government which would ho supported by a majority from both sections ? And yet what did we find in the way of it ? The accumulated falsehoods of ten years ; a power in this House and without this He ise endeavouring to misrepresent the people of Lower Canada to tlu- people of Upper Canada, endeavouring to lead the people of Upper Canada to behove that the people of Lower Canada have no sympathy with them,luit that they are a people composed of pagans, heathen-hke Papists. If the member for Toronto would use his pen and his eloquence as ho did when the first proposal was made to disturb this system of equal representation, a great deal would be gained towards this end. But he (Mr. Drummond) was loatii to give up the Union on its present basis, merely because the member for Toronto stood in the way." Yet, however much this state of things was to be deplored, it existed and had to be faced. The Ministry, though supported by a majority in the Assembly of about twenty-iive, were in a decided minority as regards Upper Canada, not because of any dissatisfaction with the Government's policy, 1)ut simply tor the reason that the cries of " French domination " and " subser- vience to Roman Catholic influence " had taken firm hold of the public mind. In a speech delivered at St. Catharines in 1800, Mr. ]\Iac- donald thus alludes to the prevailing prejudice : — " Another charge sown broadcast over the country is, tliat the Upper Canadian section of the Cabinet is overridden by * Tlio t'dlldwing, tiikcm from Mr. Tlrown'H spoech in tho Assembly on tho Hth ot March, 1858, w a common o\nmplo of his usual manner of addressing liiniseK \» tlic T''p])er (^madiaii supporters of tlui Oovernmont : " Let tlieso gentlemen vote against my motion for Representation by INipulation, mid so prove that tiiey are determined to kw]) Upper Canada, for several years more, beneath tlie lieel of Lower Canada, and I tell them there will come a burst of indignation from tlic country that has not hceii witnessed in some time." I860.] IN OFFIGK 223 the French members of the Government, and overruled by the Catholics. It is said that John A. Macdonald and his five Upper Canadian colleagues are merely the tools of the Lowei Canadians, and are obliged to do just as they please. Yet when I ask which of all our measures has been passed owing to French domination and influence I can get no answer. Has Mr. Brown pointed out a single step of ours he wishes now to have repealed ? No, sir ; though he and the factious Opposition have fought from the beginning to the end against all the measures we have introduced, the moment they have become the law of the land, that moment they are admitted to be all right, and no attempt has been made to repeal any one of them. Well, sir, it is very strange, if we are governed by French influences altogether, that our whole legislation with respect to Lower Canada has taken an Upper Canadian direction, while I pause in vain for a reply when I ask what we have done to make us like to Lower Canada. Lower Canadians laws are becoming every day more and more like those we have here. At the time Mr. Cartier, my able and respected colleague and friend at the head of the Government, assumed his important duties as Attorney General East, there were but three courts in Lower Canada — Quebec, St. Francis, and Montreal. Jurors were obliged to go, not as you do, to their county town, but hundreds of miles away, to stay in the cities for months and months, at a great expense, and away from their homes and families. All the judicial business of the country was con- oMitrated in two or three towns, to which tlie people from the farthest; point of Eimouski, etc., were obliged to come. This was the old French system, which centralized everything, and under whicli the expenses of the administration of justice were enormous and ruinous to the people. Mr. Cartier did not allow this state of things to renmin. He considered what our position in Upper Canada was, and found that we had courts in every county, while our two superior courts of Common Law were l)rought to every man's door by the assizes hehl in each county twice a year. So, when in Upper CaimiUi wo took our chn|,'y reserve lands and divided their proceeds among the municipalities, ho took those of Lower Canada to built court- liousos and gaols, and to initiate a system by which law in 224 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. Lower Canada is now brouglit home to every man's neighbour- hood. That's one instance of French domination." While this was the ground of attack in Upper Canada, in Lower Canada it was precisely the reverse. There the cry against Mr. Cartier was that he was completely undeT- the influence of Mr. Macdonald, who, in turn, was the slave of Orangemen. Upon this subject Mr. Macdonald has said : — " Amongst the accusations brought against the Government, it has been said that I and my Upper Canadian colleagues sacrificed the interests of Upper to Lower Canada ; and that wo hold to our Lower Canadian connection simply for the sake of office. They say we are traitors to our race ; that -."e knuckle to Frenchmen ; that we are faithless to our religion ; and that we are under Eoman Catholic influences. These are the charges most frequently made ; because, were they true, they would involve such an amount of misconduct, both personal and political, as would cause us to deserve condemnation — to deserve to lose the confidence of the people of Uppe^'' Canada. But, gentlemen, it is very strange that the Opposition, while in Upper Canada they make these charges against the Government — while in Upper Canada they say that I and my colleagues have sacrificed the interests of Upper Canada to Lower Canada and French influence — pursue precisely the same policy in Lower Canada, but from a different point of view ; for there the Rouge party, which is the Opposition in Lower Canada, as the Grit party is the Opposition here, make it a cry against us that Mr. Cartier, my colleague, is far too British in his principles ; that he is under my thumb as an Upper Canadian ; that he is governed altogether by me and by my friend, the Postmaster (Jeneral, both of us being Orangemen. But, sir, I say here distinctly, that the charges against both of us are equally untrue, — neitlier Mr. Cartier nor myself is actuated by any such feel- ings as iire attributed to us — we attempt, in our humble way, to advise the head of the Government for the good of the whole country and the equal interest of all." The summer of 18G0 was marked by the visit to Canada of thfi Irince of Wales, the joy of which event was, unfortunately, marred by the refusal of the Duke of Newcastle to allow the Orange Societies of Upper Canada to participate in the welcome 1660.] AV OFFICE. 225 to tlie Prince. Tliis action of the Duke was a source of ifreat annoyance to Mr. Macdonald, not only as the leader of the Liberal-Conservative party in Upper Canada, but also as member for Kingston, where the Orangemen were particularly imthusiastic in their demonstrations of loyalty to the Heir Apparent, and prepared to receive him with great eclat. The news of their intention coming to the ears of the Duke, he requested their leaders, through the Governor General, to lay aside their regalia and dispense with party emblems during the reception of the Prince, intimating that if they did not do so the Royal party would pass by the town. On receiving the letter of the Governor General, a deputation, headed by the Mayor,* proceeded to Brockville, and waited on the Duke, with the object of representing to him the strong feeling which his decision had called forth. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Macdonald, who explained to His Grace that an excited state of feeling among the Orangemen extended to many Protestants not belonging to that body, owing to the opinion, wliicli widely prevailed, that His Royal Highness had favoured Iioinan Catholic institutions in Lower Canada in his progress through that portion of the province. His Grace informed the deputation that, at the request of the Queen, he accompanied the Prince of "Wales, and that he was responsible to Her Majesty for seeing that His Royal High- ness did not in any way compromise himself by acknowledging any religious party, or sanctioning any act which would be illegal in Great Britain or Ireland. He said that his attention had been directed to the Orange (juestion by a letter from a Protestant gentleman at Toronto, and by an advertisement in line of the papers of that city calling a meeting of the Orange body, and, on discussing the point with the Governor General when they were leaving Montreal for Ottawa, their views were strengthened by the resolutions of the Roman Catholics of Kingston, passed at Regiopolis College, a copy of which was t'orwarded to each of them, and had been only just opened. ' Till) lIoiKiurulilo (ufli'vwards Sir) Ali'MiiuU'r funiplti'll, ^fy arcdUiit of tliii iiilcnk'w is takon from Mr. 'I'liomiis Kiikpatrirli's notes of tiiu muctiiifr, wliicli Mr, Cuiniibcll sont to Mr. Aracdoiiald. Mr. C'aiupbi'll wub«t'(iuuntly wrote to Mr. Macdonald on tlie nubjoct ("fc Appendix IV.). VOL. I. Q !l i 'I ■ J9' 226 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. The letter of the Duke was then written and handed to the Governor General, and by him forwarded by special messenger to the mayors of Kingston and Toronto. Nevertheless, the Duke strongly impressed upon the depu- tation that, in acting in this matter, his decision had not beeu influenced by the Eegiopolis resolutions, but by Imperial policy, adopted and determined on before he had perused them. This was corroborated by the Governor General. A discussion then took place on a suggestion of Mr. Macdonald as to M'hethor a compromise could not be effected by allowing the Orangenieu to open their ranks and permit the procession to pass througli. The Duke replied that he could not see any difference between passing through their ranks and allowing them to follow the procession. This decision of the Duke was received in Kingston and elsewhere with much dissatisfaction, which was shared by Mr. Macdonald, who felt that His Grace had made a gieut mistake in offering what, in the circumstances, amounted to a " wanton insult " to a lai'ge and respectable body of men. The extent of Mr. Macdonald's mortification may be jiidged l)y a letter written from Toronto to him by one of his colleagues in the Government: — "My DKAIt Macdon'ai-d, "I think for your own sake yon slioukl conic up. it is dillii'iilt fur you and for us to explain your absence. Tlic G. CI. spoke to nio altout it to-day, and said he felt keeidy that you were mortified. But it was no fault (pf his that the Duke gave notice that in those matters he would take im ndvlcc, as ho was alone responsible, and to the Queen and his coIleagiic\ which we were not. Wo cannot afford just now to imitate the conduct of tiu' rowdies and kick up a row. Carliiig, Macbetli, McLeod, jMcMcekin, Augib ^Morrison, and all implore that you will go to London. The ball is to lu' there Wednesday night. I spoke to the (Jlovernor on Saturday night, uml In (rcneral Bruce on Sunday morning, to get the Duke not to notice an arch on King Street which has a likeness of K. William, but to let the Prince pas^ down king Street in the ordinary way to church. They both said it was im use, the Duko was inexorable. The Duko himself walked down King Sticct or. b"'unday evening, and stood looking at tiio nrch. The mob hooted liiin, ainl followed him up King Street, doing the same. Wlien lie got to (iovenimoi;i House ho stopped and faced them for about two minutes, when they Itiuki out ill three cheers for him. lie was cheered at three places on the routi' up t'l day, the last being at Collingwood. He will ai\nomico that ho alone i^ responsible. I think that till the visit is over you should be -;ere. IJoiucmbei, 18G0J IX OFFICE. 227 von are to blame a ^oocl deal yourself. I think, and so do all your friends here— the most rabid Orangemen — that you should come up. " Yours ever, " P. M. V.VNKOUOIIXET." Xotwitlistanding this appeal, Mr. Macdonald did not go to Toronto or London during the Prince's visit. One does not require to be told that the occasion was taken advantage of by Mr. Macdonald's political opponents to stir up a feeling against him in Upper Canada. It was, the Globe pointed out, but another instance of the many that often occurred which served to prove that "John A." was the slave of the priesthood and the tool of Lower Canadian influence. The Orangemen were adjured to resent the slight which their un- worthy brother had suffered to be put upon them. Among a jieople who for years had been told that Mr. Macdonald kept himself in power by sacrificing the interests of Protestantism to Eninan Catholic aggression, this affair of the Orangemen was not without effect, and, in order to repel the many slanders wliicli the Globe was daily spreading against him, Mr. IMacdonald undertook, in the autumn of 18G0, a political tour through Up[ier Canada, in the course of which he delivered a series of speeches on the public questions of the day, including this Orange difficulty. In an address delivered at ]irantford he replied at some length and with great effect to these attacks upon him. He showed, what of course every well-informed person already knew, that the Duke of Newcastle was charged by the Queen with the duty of advising the Prince during this tour, and that for the advice given he was accoimtablo to Her Majesty alone. The attem])t to hold the Provincial (lovernment responsible for the programme of the Prince of Wales was preposterous. Their function was to advise the Governor General respecting the interests of Canada ; there their duty Iie;.;an and ended. All this appealed with much force to the counnun sense of the community, and, as in the case of other attacks of the Globe upon Mr. ]Macdonald, the latter had no ilidiculty in turning it upon Mr. Brown, whose course at •lillerent times upon this very Orange question had been con- tradictory in the extreme.* Ill 1813 Mr. Ui'owu wiH of opiuioa thiit " Oruuguiam ia a bauuful imtltutiun, ii I f:i- 228 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. The session of 1861 was remarkable chiefly for lonij; and wearisome discussions on the well-worn questions of double majority and representation by population, both of which were once more pronounced against by the Assembly, although the latter had ceased to be regarded as a party question and the Cabinet was divided on it. Mr. Macdonald once more declared his personal opposition to the principle of representation by population, on the ground (1) of its being a violation of the Union compact, and (2) because it was a recognition of the principle of universal suffrage, which, until the last day of his life, he viewed as one of the greatest evils that could befall a State. " Unless," said he, " property were protected, and made one of the principles upon which representation was based, we might perliaps have a people altogether equal, but we should cease to be a people altogether free." In the course of this speech * Mr. Macdonald thus expressed himself on the great question of confederation, then looming in siglit : — "The only feasible scheme which presents itself to my mind as a remedy for the evils complained of, is a confederation of all the provinces. In speaking of a confederation, I must not be understood as alluding to it in the sense of the one on the other side of the line, for that has not been successful. AVlien I say this, I do not say so from any feeling of satisfaction at such a result. Far from me be any such idea. I heartily agree with the junior member from Montreal (Mr. McGee) in every word of regret that he has expressed at the unhappy and lamentable state of things which we now witness in the States ; for I remember that they are of the same blood as ourselves. I still look hopefully to the future of the United States. I believe that there is a vigour, a vitality in the Anglo-Saxon character, and the Anglo-Saxon institutions of iniiligimut society." In 18(37 lio tliiiukod God for tlie battle of the Boyue, and liml nn sympathy with the view that Oraugeimn was " iutcuded to keep alive those old national hatreds which might uatuially be associated with revolutionary struggles iu Iicliiud" {Globe, July 13, 18,>8). In tlio beginning of the ditJiculty over tiie Prince's visit, he, wishing to stand well with the Duke of Newcastle, declared in effect that tlie Kiugstou Orangemen were a parcel of blackguards, but when he found that the Duke was uotto bo made use of, he turned round and accused Mr. Macdouuld of having wuutouly iusulted tliem. * Delivered in the House of Assembly. April 10, 18GI. 1861.] IN OFFICE. 229 the United States, that will carry them through this great convulsion, as they have carried them through in our mother country in days of old. I hope with that honourable gentleman (Mr. McGee) that, if they are to be severed in two, as severed in two I believe they will be, two great, two noble, two free nations will exist in the place of one. But while I thus sympathize with them, I must say let it be a warning to ourselves that we do not split on the same rock on which they liave split. The fatal error which they have committed — and it was, perhaps, unavoidable from the state of the colonies at the time of the revolution — was in making each State a distinct sovereignty, in giving to each a distinct sovereign power except in those instances where they were specially reserved by the constitution and conferred upon the general Government. The true principle of a confederation lies in giving to the general Government all the principles and powers of sovereignty, and in the provision that the subordinate or individual States should have no powers but those expressly bestowed upon them. We should thus have a powerful Central Government, a powerful Central Legislature, and a powerful decentralized system of minor Legislatures for local purposes." During most of this session Mr. Brown was prevented by a serious illness from attending Parliament ; but, whether present or absent, his day of leadership had passed away. Mr. Dorion likewise found himself supplanted in the Lower Canadian leadership by Mr. Sicotte, who, since his resignation from the Ministry in 1858, had gradually drifted from his old associations. Mr. Sicotte was a man of ability and moderation. He and John Sandfield Macdonald, who was, after Mr. Brown, by far the foremost man in the Upper Canadian Opposition, and who had a considerable following, now formed an alliance on the principle of "double majority," to which they both subscribed, and the Opposition thus reformed became, under their joint leadership, more formidable than it had hitherto been. Yet once again the tact and skill of Messrs. Cartier and Macdonald prevailed, and the last session of the sixth Parliament of Canada closed on the 18th of May, leaving the reins of government still in their hands. Almost immediately after prorogation Parliament was dissolved. At the general 230 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. election which ensued a determined effort was made to defeat Mr. Macdonald in his constituency of Kingston. The old cries of subserviency to French and Catholic influences received new- life from the Orange difficulties of the previous year, which had affected Kingston. iN'o thing was left undone to arouse tiie Orangemen against their old member, and, when all was ready, Mr. Oliver Mowat was brought out against him.* Mr. Mowat was a native of Kingston, and, although at that time a non- resident, well known to the electors of the limestone city. He was a gentleman of high character, and, I should say, the strongest candidate the party could have brought against the Conservative leader. Yet Mr. Macdonald beat him by nearly two to one. Shortly before the dissolution of Parliament, Mr. Eosc withdrew from the Cabinet on personal grounds. He was succeeded in the Commissionership of Public Works by Mr. Cauchon, who, since the Brown-Dorion fiasco of 1858, had been steadily growing in accord with the Conservative party. The general issues of the campaign were confined chiefly to charges of corruption against the Government, the members of which were accused, individually and collectively, of almost every crime under heaven — among other things, of having advanced large sums of money to the Grand Trunk llailway without the authority of Parliament. That the Government had at various times aided the Grand Trunk Eailway was undoubtedly true; that they had done so with- out the sanction of Parliament was true only to a very limited extent. In referring to this charge, Mr. Macdonald took tlie line that neither he nor the Government of which he was a member was responsible for the Grand Trunk Ivailway, which had been created and subsidized by the Liberal Govern- ment of Messrs. Hincks and Morin ; but, the enterprise having been set on foot, the Government were bound to sustain it in order to prevent disaster to the country. Another ground of attack was furnished by the retention * The Glc^, ill obetlience to a law of its being which impelled it whenever it most felt Mr. Macdonnld's power to imagine his early withdrawal from public lite, frequently announced during this campaign its conviction that " Mr. Jolm A, Macdonald is about to retire." The general election of 1861 did indeed cause a retirement, but not that of Mr. Macdonald. 1861.] IN OFFICE. 231 ia tlie Cabinet of Mr. J. C. Morrison, who had been twice defeated at the polls and did not possess a seat in either branch of the Legislature. The result of the elections was on the whole rather favour- able to the Government. They did not succeed in carrying a majority in Upper Canada, but George Brown was defeated in Toronto, and Mr. Dorion in Montreal. On the other hand, Mr. Sidney Smith, the Postmaster General, lost his election for the Lower House, but chortly afterwards was returned for the Legislative Council. Among the new members elected to this Parliament was Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, afterwards Prime Minister of Canada. In October, 1861, Sir Edmund Head was succeeded in the office of Governor General by Viscount Monck, an Irish peer, who had held office under Lord Palmerston, as a Lord of the Treasury, between 1855 and 1858, during which time he represented Portsmouth in the Imperial Parliament. Those persons who are wont to deplore the bitterness of party spirit in Canada, sliould take comfort from the fact that, forty years ago, matters in this regard were very much worse than they are to-day. At that time political animosities raged with a violence almost unknown to us, for the inter- change of amenities which, at rare intervals, enlivens our parliamentary proceedings, Affords but a faint illustration of the "scenes" often witnessed on the floor of the House of Assembly, where, in the heat of debate, language of au extremely personal nature not infrequently led to physical encounters, and sometimes resulted in challenges to mortal combat. Amid this incessant political warfare Sir John Macdonald's life was spent. Ever a conspicuous mark for the Opposition, it is not surprising that, with all his patience and self-command, his naturally quick and impulsive temperament occasionally got the better of him, and led him into excesses of language and, in rare instances, exhibitions of temper strangely con- trasting with that courtly address and dignified manner which habitually distinguished him. To acknowledge this, is to say that he was human ; but where Sir John Macdonald differed 'it: 232 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cum-. XI. from most men was that, with hhii, the feeling of irriiation always passed away with the occasion that had called it forth. His generous nature was incapable of resentment. Ho cherished no animosity against his opponents, for whom (with, perhaps, the single exception of Mr. Cleorge Brown) he htid always, in private, a kindly and pleasant word. Among the most prominent of these was Mr. William Hume Blake, be- tween whom and Mr. Macdonald some very sharp words and, I believe, a challenge once passed. Mr. Blake subsequently became Chancellor of Upper Canada, INIr. Macdonald Attorney General, and, as such, was charged with all matters relating to the administration of justice. His correspondence of this period shows that, in making changes in the procedure of the courts, or in appointments to the Bench, he frequently took the Chancellor into his confidence, as though Mr. Blake liad been one of his intimate political friends. When failing health compelled the latter to apply for a protracted leave of absence, Mr. Macdonald, in his own kind and considerate fashion, thus met the request : — " [Confidential] " Quebec, March 19, 1800. " ]\Iy dear ClIANCELLOri, " I have just had your note, and can assure you that I am deeply distressed at the intelligence it conveyed. I regret your ill health, not only on your own account and on that of your family, but for the sake of the country, which can ill afford to lose the services of so able a judge. "Having said so much in all sincerity, I will say at once. in answer to your letter, that the Government will at on. i grant you six months' leave of absence. This will ^ d e by Order in Council to be passed at once, and the s. ler will state that if, at the expiration of six months, yo i])plicatiou is renewed, it will be granted, and the usual retiring illow nice or pension granted. We pass this order now, so as i > be bin'ling on any Government that may then exist. We do not anticipate any change within six month.s, but still, in the uncertainty of things, the Order in Council may as well b(^ binding. 18G1.] IN OFFICE. 233 " I sincerely trust the rest for six months will restore you, if not to complete health, at all events to comparative ease. Should you retire, I presume you would like to be a member of the Court of Appeal, as Sir James Macaulay was ? " Believe me, my dear Chancellor, " Yours truly and faithfully, "John A. Maciioxali). '• The Hon. W. Iluinc P.lake, Toronto, "P.S. — If at the end of six months there appears to you any reasonable probability of your restoration to health, of course the leave would be renewed, "J. A. M,D," Mr. Blake appreciated this courtesy. ■ '• Quebec, Auijust 5, 18G1. "Many thanks, my dear Attorney General, for your kind niessajxe, which duly ilelivcred. Under other circumstances I would liave gladly availed myself of your kind hospitality; but F was so tired out with the bustle of the past few days that I felt it unsafe to venture on another move before setting out on our voyage. '•I caimot say good-bye witiiout thanking you once more, my dear Attorney General, for the kindness with which you have uniformly striven to lighten my troubles, which shall ever live in the grateful recollection of " Your faithful friend, " W-M. IIlme r.r.AKK." * Shortly before the session of 18C2 Messrs. lioss, Yan- koughnet, and Morrison resigned their seats in the Cabinet — Mr. lioss, in pursuance of his long settled determination to retire from politics ; Mr. Yankoughnet, to accept the Chan- cellorship of Ontario, vacant upon the retirement of Chancellor Blake ; and Mr. J. C. Morrison, who also accepted a seat on the Bench. The selection of men to fill the vacancies caused by these appointments was a work of extreme delicacy and * Afr. Macdonald's good opiuion of the Chancellor was not confined to nnapprecia- tiiin Mr. Blake's legal and judicial (pialities, for, three years after the latter's retirement, I find Mr. Macdonuld thas expressing himself conceniiug liim : " lie (Mr. Bluke) is a man of large and liberal ideas in money matters, and ahvays hud an Kbhorrencoof anything mean." (From the Hon. John A. MacdonaUl to C. J. Brydges, Esq., (luted Quebec, December i;J, 1864.) 234 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. difficulty, and one which occupied much of Mr. Macdonald's time between the elections and the meeting of Parliament. The primary cause of his difficulties was the doctrine J repre- sentation by population, which had made such headway among the Liberal-Conservative party, and more especially among the Tories, that the liberty of opinion respecting it, which Mr. Macdonald was willing to allow,* would no longer satisfy some of them, who, while loyal to tlieir chief, and entertaining an abhorrence of Mr. Brown and the Glohe, secretly chafed imder the preponderating inifluence of Lower Canada. The following, from the Ministerial whip, written the day after a vote on an amendment to the address, shows the embarrassing position in which a considerable number of Upper Canada Ministerialists were placed. "Hon. Jno. A. MacJouald. " Legislative Assembly Room, Quebec, ' April 2, 18G'2. " DEAit Sns, " A meeting of the general supporters of the (lovernment was licM to-day, at wliicli wore present — lion. J. Ilillyard Cameron, Messrs. McCaiiii, ^Morrison, Walsh, Crawford, McLauchlin, Pitman, ^lorton, Scott, Simpson, Jones, Jackson, Rykcrt, Anderson, Powell, Bell, Ross, M. C. Cameron, Morris, Street, Macbeth. I have been directed by the unanimous voice of the meeting, to state to you, that in tho votes which were given on Mr. Cameron's inotio.i on the question of representation, as well as on tlio motion of Mr. McDougall on tl'O same q\iestion, it was nut their intention to veto a want of contidence ; that they felt tho Government was perfectly safe, and had upon this particular question given jiledges wiiich they felt in li inonr bound to redeeni, and they feel sure that while tiiey assure you, through me, that tliey acknowledge you as their leader, in wlioni they Imvn ovcry confidence, that you at tho same (time) will sympathize with them in * " I am glad you have induced Hooper to bo rcasounble. lie may vote Rep. liy Pop. as nuu'li as ho pleases. It is an opou (piestion, and you know two ol my I'olk'agucs voted in its favour. All I want him to do is to give a general snpi)ort ti> tho Government, and not join in liicti(nis votes of want of coniidcnce, or Viimtw" amount to tliat. It will never do to have a cauius of tho Conscrvativo M.lM'.'s, whother supporters or not, and it Avould bo especially wrong to submit the rcc'oii- struction to tho f upportcrs of a Ministry. Cockburu 1 consider gone, iraultuin 's in a li\, as ids cvuntygavo a largti vote to iSid. Smith, llooptir and Rykcrt 1 will consider as friends, and as such will ask them to attend a caucus at tho opening of tlui House, and will then talk over (tur polic;, and measures, but not tho question cl' reconstruction, for which we nuist bo s(dcly responsible " (Hon. J. Ilobin- ?on, one of the members for Toronto ; Mr. John Carling, who sat (and still sits as Sir John Carling) for London ; and Mr. James Patton, who liad been one of the elected members of tlu; Legislative Council. All these gentlemen were in lavour of representation Ijy population, but were at the same time content to let it remain an open question. "Mv. Itobinsou hceame President of the Council ; Mr. Carling Receiver General, ill place of ]Mr. Sherwood, who took the department of Crown Lands ; and ^Ir. Patton, Solicitor General West.* The Speaker- ship of the Upper House under the new law having l)een iiiatle elective, Sir AllfiU JNIacNab, who had recently been returned to the Legislative Council, and Mr. ^Vie.xander Camp- bell were nominated for th.\t ofllce. Sir Allan was clioscu by * During the debute on tlic ^[iuistiviid i'linn'!;cs -.t tlio openiiif; nt tlic session of ISG'i. Mr. J II. Ciiiuerou stated that lu; hud declined ollico in the .Xihiiiiiistration, and liii Wdrds ('(ii.\ey the impression tluit ^Ir. ^Miu'donuld pressed liini to ueccjjt. Now. tlic ciirRspdntL'ueo iu my possession does not beur tliis out. The ciicitmstunci^* "t tills reconstructiou were an follows : Iu tiio nntumu of 18GI the ntinment of Mr. Viink(in<,dinet and 'Mr. ^I inison, tliouffh probuble, bad not been (piitc dctennineil upon. Mr. John Ross's (i\ed intention to retire at an early date wus, lio\v('\ev, known •'1 Mr. ^[uidoiiuld, who otfered the j)rospeetivo vacancy to iiis friend Mr. .Mexander ('iini|ilicll, at that time an elected member of tlm ',e;;i..]utive Council. ^Ir. Campbell expressed his unwillingness to enter the Cabinet unless in eomo'iny with .Mr. .John Hillyard Cunieron, whom, aloiifj; with s(mio <> 'vrs, Mr. ^facdonalii bud in bis mind lia'iironKition. I never beard >Ir. Macdonald spenk of Jlr. J(din Killyard Cameron, liut it is evident from his letters that, while hi^ thou;.'bt him a j;ood lawyer, thirty years ajfo bo did not consider that his accession to tlie Cabiiu't would strenythen tho Ministry. On the 11th of December, IKdl, be writes INIr. Cutnpbell, "I nmy not iiccil f^trect luul I do not wunt Cameron." In .January, IHdJ, .Mr. Cumphell asks ti) li' considered in connection with the Solicitor (ieneralship. and expresses bis nnwilliii.irness to accept any ollice which wmdd take him away from l\in;,'ston. -\ few ilnys later bo writes askinjf Mr. ^lacdonald's su])p(n't for the Speakership of the I'C^rj^Iiitive Cou'U'il, to which Sir .Mian MacXab was std)se(pientiy ehcted. In view "t .Mr. Cameron's statement, it is ohvions that .Mr. Macdonahl had tonnd it expedient tills on the above subjects, to be submitted to Parliament at its next session. The Commission performed the duties assigned to it wilh despatch, and on the 25th of April Mr. Macdonald presented to Parliament the fruit of its labours in the form of a Bil' to promote the more efficient organization of the Militia of Canada.* On the motion fur the second reading he made one • Tliirt meiisuro jji-oposod tlio ostaliliftliinout ol iiu orffiiuizution « liori'liy flO.ODO men would bo at all tiiiu's availuMo for active Hm-vicc, with AO, ()()(» men in iTxeivi'. Tho nnmuil coHt of niaintainin^f thin forco was entimatt'd at $1,110,000. As an illustration of tlio canMvith which ISIr. Macdonald |nosi'r\('d hi- impcrs, I nuiy moutiou that the printed copy of thin Hill, which was used by iiim in its progrc-s 1862.J IN OFFICE. 237 of his loyal ana patriotic speeches, explaining at length the reasons which made this legislation necessary. The measure liad been carefully thought out, and was well adapted to the requirements ol the time. It entailed, however, the expenditure of a large sum of money, and on this ground was unpopular with a certain number of Mr. Cartier's followers. On the 20th of May the vote on the second reading, which was taken without debate, resulted in the rejection of the Bill by a majority of seven. This defeat was entirely due to the defec- tion among the Lower Canadians. Of the Upper Canadian members the Government had a majority of seven votes. The result was received in silence, tlie Prime Minister immediately moving the adjournment of the House. On the 23rd the Ministry resigned, and on the same day Mr. Macdonald wrote to his sister the following note : — •• Quebec, Jlay 'J.'J, 18G2. "My dear Margaret, " You complain of my not liaving written. It is true, Imt I had the excuse of overwork. I liave that no longer. You will ha e seen that I am out of office. I am at last free, thank Godl and can now feel as a free man. I have longed for this hour, and only a sense of iionour has kept me chained to my post. If I had to choose tlie mode of falling, I would have selected the way in which wc were defeated. 1 have now fulfilled my duty to my party, and can begin to thin): of myself I do not know wli'u the House will adjourn, but I hope to be able to run up shi .iy and see you all. " I have been very ill, but am crawling round. I intend to go to N"ahant for a month to recruit. You must have my room reiuly. I don't know when I may be up to take possession. " Gi\ e my love to the whole household, and believe me, my iloar Margaret, " Yours affectionately, "J. A. M.I.)." To those who realize Mr. Macdonakl's position, the satisfaction tlirmigli the Ilmiw, lios before mo, Ac(Miiiii)iiiiyiii){' it iiri' nmny It'ttoi-n, iliiofly from I'lipir Ciiuadn, which, ou the whoh', imliwitt' that thf iiieusuie wum ixipiihu' in tlio iiiuutrv. I . ■I 238 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. which this letter shows ha felt in being released from office is extremely natural. Tho;igh nominally second in comiuaiul, he was, so far as Upper Canada was concerned, the head of the Government, and the ditficulties inseparable from that position were much aggravated by the fact of the Administra- tion not possessing the confidence of that part of the province to which he occupied the relation of Prime Minister. His Upper Canadian colleagues, though estimable men, and fur the most part good administrators, did not bring him political strength ; nay, in their manifest weakness was to l)e found the chief cause of his many embarrassments. Messrs. Eoss and Vankoughnet were members of the Upper House, and us such seldom came in contact with the people. The others were so far from being of any assistance to Mr. Macdonald in his task of holding the province against the Clear-Grit party, that there was not one among them (with the exception of Mr. Sherwood) who could even carry his own election. Messrs. Cayley, Spence, Morrison, and Sidney Smith, each of them had beei' dofeateil at the polls, and the difficulty, and in some cases the impossi- bility, of providing them with seats, added not a little to the cares of his position. Sir John Macdonald was always a com- manding figure in any Government to which he belonged ; but I question if he were ever, so to speak, the whole Government to such a degree as during the years from 1858 till 1862. The duties of his departmental office claimed a large share of his attention, and demanded his almost constant presence at Quebec, which lay, as it were, altogether outside his special domain. His constituents at Kingston were not less exacting than in later years, while from all quarters of Upper Canada the cry reached him continually, " Come over and help us." It appears from his papers that he was almost ubiquitous : one day at (Quebec conferring with the Governor General upon matters of State ; another, explaining to his constituents how it was not in his power to do for them some impossible service; the next al Toronto endeavouring to persuade some reluctant i)arty man that it was his duty to enter the Government, or arranging for another's retirement ; or, it might bo, receiving a deputation which had come from the West to warn him that, if the I>oard of Works adhered to its intention to erect a posl-ulUce in some ■ 1862.] IN OFFICE. 239 village upon a particular site, they would not answer for the future of the party.* I do not mean to say that these things in themselves were more than the ordinary work of a Prime Minister ; but it must never be forgotten that during all these years Mr. Macdonald was playing a losing game — at all times a hard thing to do. The appeals of the Globe to sectional and religious prejudice had been heard and answered, and not es'en Mr. Macdonald's transcendent power over his followers could altogether prevent the development of a feeling of antipathy to Lower Canada, which it needed no foresight to see would sooner or later result in deadlock. There was that, too, in the circumstances attending the over- throw of the Government which robbed it, for Mr. Macdonald, of much of the bitterness ordinarily connected with such an occasion. Upper Canada, the scene of his labours, the portion of the field committed to his charge, had approved his course, and in going out he had the satisfaction of knowing that he carried with him into retirement the confidence of a majority of its representatives. Well did Mr. Cartier understand his colleague when, in announcing his resignation to the House, he thus alluded to the circumstances of their defeat : — " At nil events it was most gratifying to mc to see my late coUeaguo from Upper Canada, who had been so long taunted with not enjoying the confulenco of his own section of tlio country, on the most important measure of the session falling Avith glory, supported by a majority of seven from Upper Ciinada, which majority, liad all the members been in their places, would have been fourteen." Apart from political considerations, IMr. Macdonald's health was such as to call fur a period of rest. It was thought at the time that lie would have taken the Chancellorship, which hud been vacant by the retirement of Mr. IJlake, or the Chief Justiceship of Upper Canada, which the resignation of Sir J. 15. Kobiuson placed at his disposal. As Attorney General, an • Tlio following iwU\ addressed to the Deputy I'ostmunter Gcni'nd, alVords an illiwtriitidn of what I ri'Icr to : — " My ukar CJuirviN, " I'ray lut mc know all al)out the post olflpo at Tilsonlmrp:. I uni borod to (li'ath about it, and my lite was made uueoml'ortablu wlicn in London. " Yours t'aithfully, "John A. Macuunalu." '^^'liiiiii*! m 9 i'^ f.' •i% \% ■A • 240 MI^MOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XI. unbroken tradition gave him a right to either office, a tradition which his predecessors had not been slow to follow. Several reasons combined to render the position attractive to him. lie was Aveary of politics, his health was bad, and he was poor. The Chancellorship offered a position of ease, dignity, and freedom from cares of every kind. The office was not for the first time in his gift; in 1855 he could have had it, had he Avished, though taking it then might have called for comment; but everybody felt in 1862 that his acceptance •would have been the proper thing. With an unselfishness which was ever liis v.onspicuous mark, he declined the honour, and passed out of office a poor man. liiiii ( 241 ) CHAPTER XII. DEADLOCK. 1862-18G4. DEATH OF MRS. MACDONALD — Mlt. MACDOXALD VISITS ENGLAND — IlETURN' TO CANADA — STATE OF I'AKTIES— POLICY OK MR. JOHN SANDKIELD MACDONALD —OPPOSITION OF MR. DROWN — HIS DISPOSITION TO COALESCE WITH THE CONSERVATIVES — HIS COMPACT WITH MR. J. S. MACDONALD — KEOROANIZA- TION OF MINISTRY— GENERAL ELECTION OF 18G3 — DIFFICULTIES OF THE GOVERNMENT — RESIGNATION OF MR. J. S. MACDONALD — FORMATION OF THE SECOND TACHE-MACDONALD ADMINISTRATION — ITS DEFEAT—DEAD- LOCK. On the 24th of October, 18G2, Mr. Mactlonald experienced a great sorrow in the death of his mother. She had long been an invalid ; so long, indeed, tliat the fact had ceased to serve as a warning to the members of her family that the dread separation was near. Shortly after his mother's death, Mr. Macdonald went to England on professional business, and remained there until the following January. Twenty years had passed since his first visit, and if in the interval he had not gained that celebrity which afterwards was his, lie at least had become widely known. Invitations from many distinguished persons ilowed in upon iiim, and during iiis stay in London he enjoyed the privileges inferred by membership of the Athenceum. \V' "3 Mr. Macdonald had in England many personal friends, it is by no means unlikely that the circumstances which caused his retire- ment from office contributed to the cordial welcome he received in many quarters at home. The news cf the rejection of tho Militia Bill by the Canadian rarliament had been received with great disfavour by the English people, whose dissatisfaction was VOL. I. It ir ilM 242 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XII. duly reflected in the press. The opinion was freely expressed that, in refusing to make adequate provision for its own defence, Canada had shown a selfish disregard of the interests of the Empire, which ill contrasted with the professions of loyalty evoked by the visit of the Prince of Wales. A member of the Canadian Parliament, then in England, thus describes the feeling which prevailed : — "You have no idea of the feeling that exists hero about the Militia Bill and tlie defences of Canada generally. No one will believe that there is not a want of loyalty among the Canadians, and whenever I try to defend Canada the answer is always the same, that 'the English look for actions not assertions ; ' many hard and unjust things are now said about the country, all of which add strength to the ' Goldwin Smith ' party, which, after all, is not a very small one ; and the Derbyites make no secret of what they would do if they were in power, viz. let Canada take her chance. India is such a bugbear to some people that they are for getting every available man home from foreign service, to be ready for an outbreak there. I hope that you aro going to buckle on your armour to make a fight against the present Ministry and turn them out speedily after we meet, as by so doing we can put ourselves right in the eyes of this country. I am very sorry to hear of poor old Sir Allan's death, and all the unseemly conduct that attended his last hours." * Mr. Macdonald returned to Canada shortly before the meeting' of Parliament in February, 1863. On his arrival he found things political in a perplexing condition. In order to under- stand the position of affairs, it is necessary briefly to review tlie events which took place on the retirement of the Conservative Ministry in May. The leader of the Opposition at that time was Mr. Foley, and to him it was taken for granted that the Governor (reneral would have recourse. It was therefore learned with some surprise that Lord Monck had departed from custom on this occasion, and that Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald had been charged with the duty of forming an Administration. Now, Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald, equally with Messrs. Macdonald and Cartier, was averse to the principle of representation by population. Nay, he was even more resolutely opposed than the Conservative leaders to any interference with the constitution. * From the lion. 3I?"ncn T'ortnian, M.P.P. for East Middlesex, to the Hon. John A. Macdonald, September 1, 18G2. fl 1863.] DEADLOCK. 243 For this reason his selection by the Governor General for the office of Prime jMinister was especially distasteful to Mr. Brown and the Clear-Grits, by whom he was declared to have no influence or following whatever. The event, however, was confirmatory of the view entertained by some persons that the GloMs estimate of a public man's position and influence was not always correct, for Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald had little difficulty in persuading such advanced Reformers as Messrs. Foley, AVilliam McDougall, W. P. Howland, and Adam Wilson to act with him. Mr. Sicotte was the Lower Canadian leader ijf the Government, and under him were Messrs. A. A. Dorion, McCIee, Tessier, Evanturel, and J. J. C. Abbott.* The governing rule of the Administration was declared to be a recognition of the double-majority system, it being under- stood tliat the principle of representation by population was to remain in abeyance. No opposition was offered by the members ut' the late Administration to these arrangements, and Parliament was prorogued a few days after the usual official announcements Iiad been made. But while Messrs. Cartier and Macdonald an ere willing that the new Government should have a fair trial, Mr. Brown was in no such complacent mood. The Globe, which never did things by halves, at once opened its batteries upon the Upper Canadian members of the Ministry, whom, with a singular forgetfu ness of Mr. Brown's course in 1858, it accused (if having compromised principles for the sake of office.f This want of unanimity in the Eeform ranks was ominous for the stability of the Administration, which, never very strong, was further weakened by the resignation, in January, 18C3, of * On the 24tli of May, the ^[ucilonald-Sicotto Administration was sworn us ImIIows: the Hon. J. S. Macdonahl, Attornuy General, U.C. (First Minister); tlie Hon. L. V. Sicotte. Attorney General, L-C. ; the lion. Junies Morris, Receiver General ; the Hon. A. A. Dorion, Provincial Secretary ; the lion. M. II. Foley, Postmaster • iiiicnil ; the Hon. W. rtcDouf!:all, Ctmimissioucr of < own Lands; the Hon. M'. 1", llowland, Minister of Finance; the lion. J. U. Tessier, Cojnmissioner of l'iil)lic AVorks ; the Hon. T. D. McGee, I'residcnt Executive Council ; the llou. V. Eviinturel, Minister of Agriculture ; the llim. A. Wilson, Solicitor General, U.C. ; iIh' Hull. J. J. (;. Abbott, Solicitor General, L.C. t " Better, a thousand times better, had it been that the Cartier-]\Iacdonald 'iovcrnraent with all its wickedness should have been recalled tliau tliat so many Iiiiiliii!,' men of the liiberal Opposition should havo sacrificed their principles and ili'stroycd the niovul iiifluenco which they justly ])osseased witl\ the electors of Upper '';iimdu" [Globe, May 2C, 1862). \ih 24:4: MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuap. XH. Mr. A, A. Dorion, who withdrew from the Cabinet on account of his inability to agree with his colleagues in their policy with respect to the construction of the intercolonial railway. Mr. Macdonald's brief respite from the cares of office had done wonders for him,* and he took his seat at the openintr of the session, on the 12th of February, ready for the fray. On the 7th of April he was entertained at a banquet given by his political admirers in the city of Kingston. His speech on that occasion recounted the advantages which had accrued to the country during his administration of affairs, and expressed confidence in the future of the Liberal-Conservative partv. His experience told him that the Macdonald-Sicotte Govern- ment, pledged to the impossible scheme of the double majority, could not hope to weather the session in the face of the opposition rising against them, not only among the Conservatives, but also in the ranks of the Reform party. A new ground of dissatisfaction against them was speedily afforded by the separate school measure of Mr. R. W. Scott, which the Ministry supported. This action of Messrs. Foley, McDougall, and Wilson was reprobated by the Glohe,vfh.m\\ unsparingly denounced them for their political recreancy in thus yielding up another principle of Liberalisnu Representation by population and nd sectarian schools had long been watchwords of the Reform party, yet here was a so-called Liberal Ministry basely sacri- ficing their principles to the exigencies of party. That Mr. John A. Macdonald should aid in riveting the fetters of Eome upon a free people was to be expected — such a course was in conformity with his whole record; but that such men as Foley, Howland, Wilson, and, above all, William McDougall, who had sat at the feet of ]\Ir. Brown himself, and drawn his first political inspiration from the lips of that great man, should, for the sake of office, league themselves with tlie foes of religious liberty, was enough to cause one to despair of humanity.! Mr. Macdonald warmly supported the Bill, which had been before the House during his term of office, when it was bitterly opposed by those members forming the Upper * In a private letter, he speaks of having returned "sound in wind and limli," which happy condition he ascribes largely to the ocean voyage, t See Globe ol' March, 18G3, passim. 1803.] DEADLOCK. 245 lan section of Sandfield Macdonald's Cabinet. The spectacle presented by these men now speaking and voting ill its favour was, in the judgment of Mr. Macdonald, " a splendid vindication" of the policy of the late Government, ami of the principle which he had long advocated with respect to the school system of Upper Canada. The appeal of the Clobc to religious prejudice, however, was not made in vain, for, while Mr. Scott's Bill passed, it was carried by the votes of Lower Canada, and of Mr. John A. Macdonald and his personal friends. A large number of the Upper Canadian supporters of the Government, greatly to the wrath of Mr. J. S. Macdonald, voted against it, thereby placing the Ministry in a minority of nine votes as regarded Upper Canada. Having formally announced their resolve to abide by the double-majority jirinciple, the Ministry by this vote were placed in an embarrass- ing position. The question was put direct to the Premier whether he proposed, in the face of a declared opposition of the majority of its representatives, to force the Separate School Act upon Upper Canada. To this pertinent question Mr. Sandfield Macdonald made an evasive reply, but the double-majority principle was then heard of for the last time. On the 1st of May, Mr. Macdonald, who had been unani- mously elected leader of the Opposition, brought forward a motion of want of confidence in the Administration. His speech on the occasion was one of his great efforts. It was subsequently printed in pamphlet form, and did good service as a campaign document. In offering the motion, Mr. Macdonald took occasion to say, that he made it only in a political sense, and as the usual mode of ascertaining whether the Ministry constitutionally ought to hold office. He added that among the members of the Administration were gentlemen for whom, socially and personally, he entertained the highest respect, A he expressed the hope that any vote he might feel it his duty * o .i^ive would not interrupt the friendly relations which had always existed between them.* To a Parliament accustomed to the savage attacks of George P>rown, who, on similar occasions, was * I gather from his correspondence that these remarks had special reference to Messrs. John Sandfield Macdonald (with whom lie appears always to have heeu the Prime Minister, and urged upon I'.mu, in view of the want of confidence vito which was known to be coming on, the necessity of reconstructing his (.iovernmcnt. Mr. SaiuUii'ld Ma donald, awakened to a sense of hi. hiiigor, pledged hiu.seU" 1SC3.] DEADLOCK. 249 to !Mr. Brown, that, in the event of a general election being necessary, he would change both the policy and ijcrsoiiiicl of his Cabinet in order to bring both into accord with the views of the people of Upper Canada, The l*rime Minister was further induced to consent to an abandonment of his policy respectintr the intercolonial railway. Eepresentation by population, which formerly had been proscribed, was to be an open question. These conditions being fulfdled, Mr. Urowu promised the Goverumei.t his cordial support. Such was the substance of the storv which Mr. Brown made public more than a year after the events of wliich I speak had taken place. Notwithstanding the charm of frankness which distinguished tliis confession, it is evident that Mr. Brown did not take tlie good peo^de of West Northumberland fully into iiis contidence, for I do not find that he made any mention of the idea which occupied his mind when he came up to Parlia- nieut early in April, 18G3, of eftecting an imderstanding witli the Liberal-Conservative leader. There is nothing to show how Mr. Macdonald regarded Mr. Brown's advances in 18G2. It will be observed that 18G3 found Mr. Brown in a less exacting frame of mind. Instead of stipulating for the im- mediate carrying out of "representation by population" in its entirety, his desire was only that that difficulty should he "in some way got over," and he broadly hinted that an addition of two or tliree members from the West would satisfy hiui. Whether this modified proposal was entertained by Mr. John A. Macdonald I have no means of knowing. Sub- sequent events indicate that Mr. Brown had two strings to his bow, for he has himself t(dd us that, within a very few days of his interview with ]Mr. Cameron, lie saw ^Ir. Sandfield Macdonald, and made with liini what he must have considered better terms than he could pcssibly have obtained from Mr. John A. ^lacdonald. Thus it happened that IMr. IJrown, who in March was consumed with a desire to " upset the ship," on the 7th of May voted confidence in the very Clovernment the measure of whose inic^uities was almost full six short weeks before. The ''cneral election tame off in June. Mr. [Macdonald was opposed in Kingston by ^Ir. U. S. (iilderslecve, who hud 250 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN I I'i'ACDONALD. [Chap. XII. behaved so handsomely in 1857. ]\Ii'. Macdonald wa.s again '.'intorious, and it is worthy of notice that he polled exactly tin.' same number of votes as he did in 1861, while Mr. Gildersleeve polled one less than Mr. Mowat.* The elections excited but little interest in Upper Canada. The result was rather favourable to the Government, wliicli <4'ained several seats ; but as they made no headway in Lower Canada, where the three Ministers, Messrs. Holton, Dorion, and Drummond were defeated at the polls,! their position on tlu' whole was unimproved, and when Parliament met, on the 13th of .Auj.;ust, -Tties were evenly balanced. The ousted ministers, Messrs. Siootte, Foley, McGee, Abl)ott, and Evaulmel, were in opposition. The position of the hrst-named geutlo- num, .ind the expectations entertained by the Op])i>s, jii in regard to his probable course, are set forth in this letter from ;Mr. Carticr : — '• [l! -vate.] '■ Muiitiv;il, July 0, 180;). " Mv i)i;.\i! Mac1)()\.vi-i>, "I am liappy to inform yon tliat, the day after I saw yon last in MoMtrcal, I wrote to Sieotte (i)rlvately, as a matter of com'se) to o.xiilaiii In him my views and yours resiiecting the present political situation of nianns ill our conntry. Since tliat letter, I saw Sicotto in Montreal the day heforo yesterday, and we have had a long colloquy together. In the course of tin.' conversation, I brought hel'ore Sieotte what I had already brought befiMv Iiim in my letter to him, viz. the question of the substitution en enticr of tlir Lower Canada portion of the Government for the one in po'"er wlun tin' advice for a dissolution was given to the (iovcrnor, and when the vutc ol want of contidenee took place. 1 explained to him my views on that qinjstioii, fts well as those expressed by you and Clalt when we last met. Sieotte in tlir main agrees witii us. I told him that it will bo my duty at the tirst iiropci' opportunity in rarlianient to ask for an ap/propriatecxijlanation respecting tlu' .substitution of another Lower Canada Government for the one in existciuv ui the time of the giving of the veto of want of conlidonco, ami I have a(lil( ' h- .Sieotte that my expectation was that, out of such explanation, sucii slateiiu'iit- of facts will be nuule out so as to jilace the Goverinuent in a false iin.sitioii, not only witii regard to him (Sieotte) and his former l,ower Canada colleui;!"'"' but also with regard to oiu- cijustitutional practice, which has been vinlatou and set at nought. As a maiter of course, Sicotto could not give im' wIm' * Tlie figures woru— MacdoiiaUl, "Srj ; GililorHleevo, 173: majority lot Mn- ilouald. a 12. t 'J'liu lust-nuimil iu twn uoustitucuciu.s. isr,3.] DEADLOCK. 251 wdulil lie the nature of the cxiilaiiations, but I could gatlicr from wliat he said that the facts will be stated veiy nearly in the manner you and myself think tliey have taken place. I asked Sicotto to write to Foley to put liim on his iriianl. He told me he was not inclined to do so, and that it was better ho shoiili I not do so. lie added that Foley was of such temper and character that it is hotter to let him alone, and to deal with him only before the opening of Parliament. I mentioned to Sicotte that you did not feel inclined to write him, and on that he remarked that you were correct, lie intimated to \\w that, for the present, your best manner of dealing with Foley is that, tluougli some judicious friends of yours, you should see that he be kept in good humour. iSicutte says that Foley might iind some escape out of his last si)e(>ch at the ■ * dimicr. I mentioned to Sicotte your intention of trying to coiu'iliati! llie moderate Baldwin Reformers; he was pleased to hear it. Respecting the Sprmkership, Sicotte dof not think that the (Jovernment will bo so injudicious as to jiropose Drown as a candidate for that ollicc. He thinks they will IK'.-ipose Street. "I approached with him the question of censuri! of tlie present (ioverii- incnt. He mentioned that he could not endorse anj' ])roposition whicii, tlioiigh censuring the present tloveriuuent, might be an expression of appro- hatiou in those who had voted want of confidence in the (lovernment to which ho [hadj belonged. 1 then said to him that in that he was right, and t'; it no one could expect that from him or his followers ; but I then intimated to liiin that sucii a [proposition of censure could be drawn so as to be unobjectionable to him or any one of his or my friends. I did not likt' to press further ir.y views. Sicotte is, as I expected, and as I mentioned to you, ill a good mood of mind. He will write to his friends to be in Quebec on the llth (eleventh) of August next, and Canchon, Turcotte, and m\-self are to write to our Lower Canada friends to bo in Quebec on the same day. At tliat time wo will discuss in a Lower Canada poii t of view what it will be better to do respecting the Speakership and censure of the (lovernment. As it is necessary that the action of our Lower Canada members should harmonize witii your views and those of your U.C. friends, yon will have to write privately to yonr friends of U.C. to bo in Quebec at the latest on tlio llth (eleventh) of August next. I have written to Rose by the steamer which left Boston yesterday. I tell him that it is absolutely necessary that he be here lor the opening of Parliament. 1 wrote to U. iJell (of Russell) : he has not yet answered me. I think it will be well if you would write liiin. I men- tioned to Rrydges and to Watkin (who arrived the other i-i.*li vs^as sworn into office on the 30th of j\la h, as follows :— The Hon. Sir K. V. 'Jache, lleroiver General. (First Minister.) * Frmn D. Ford Joiius to IIou. J. A. MacdonulJ, diilfd Jumiorv- 1, 18C1. ^ j^i 256 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XII. The Hon. John A. Mactlonakl, Attorney General, U.C. The Hon. G. E. Cartier, Attorney General, L.C. The Hon. A. T. Gait, Minister of Finance. The Hon. A. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Hon. ]\I. H. Foley, Postmaster General. The Hon. T. D. McGee, Minister of Agriculture. The Hon. Isaac Buchanan, President Executive Council. The Hon. J. C. Chapais, Commissioner of Public Works. The Hon. John Simpson, Provincial Secretary. The Hon. H. L. Langevin, Solicitor General, L.C. The Hon. James Cockburn, Solicitor General, U.C. Letters received by Mr. Macdonald about this time show- that the wish to retire from politics was again strong with him. " You must not think of retiring from the Upper Canadian leadership. From a party point of view it would be disastrous," wrote one friend, a member of the Legislature. Another wrote: — " The Leader, to-day, contains bad news, that yon are disinclined to go into the new government. Surely this is not true. If you take the hcliu all is well, if not, disaster is sure to ensue. There are some Reformers, liki' myself, who have followed you through good report and evil report, and will yet, but you cannot transfer us to the tender mercies of your friend . We want a man who we know will not funk at the approach of danger. The lioman Catholics will go with you, mind, and nobody else in the Conservative ranks need try. Surely all our fights, our conquests, our triumphs are not to end in this way. John A. not the Upper Canadian leader— bosh! Tho Oovernment won't stand." To those who were not new to official life, the prospect of office in the early days of 1861 was not alluring. To Jlr. Macdonald it was eminently distasteful. When first approached by Sir Etienne Tach(i he expressed his strong desire to be con- sidered apart from any arrangements that might be made, ami it was only on Sir Etienne representing to him that his presenct; was absolutely essential to success, that he overcame his dis- inclination to enter the Government. The history of the second Tache- Macdonald Administration, during the months following its formation, is nearly a repetition of the neck-and-ncck struggle which luul been going on for years. The expectations formed with regard to it were not 1864.] DEADLOCK. 257 fulfilled, and afcer a series of hard-fought combats in the Assembly, the Government was finally defeated on the 14th of June, by a majority of two votes. The situation was indeed critical, and fraught with grave dangers to the country. In three years four Ministries had been defeated, and two general elections had failed to break the deadlock which threatened to make all government in Canada impossible. At the root of the evils which oppressed the State lay the feeling of mutual distrust and antagonism between Upper and Lower Canada, for which one man above all other? was respon- sible — he who, for years, by his ceaseless whipping of racial and religions strife, had inflamed the minds of the English and French, the Catholic and Protestant sections of the province, till it seemed, at last, that the Union, formed only twenty- three years before, about which so high hopes had been indulged, was on the point of being broken up. It was therefore fitting that, at the time when these unhappy truths were receiving their last illustration, public attention should be attracted by the spectacle of George Brown pressing forward in the strangely unfamiliar garb of a peacemaker, with his remedy for those national ills which were largely of his own creation. VOL. I. 258 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAGDONALD. [Chap. XIII. CHAPTER XIII. THE COALITION OF 1864. FORJIATION' OF THE COALITION MIXISTUV — IlECEI'TIOX BY TIIK COINTHY— Jlli. MACDOXALD'S efforts to insure its success — CONFEDERATION— cox- FERENCE AT CHARLOTTETOWN — AT QUEBEC — DU. TUITER— 31R. TILLF.Y— RETIREMENT OF MR. MOWAT — MEETINO OF PARLIAMENT — ADOI'TrON- OF QUEBEC RESOLUTIONS — MR. MACDONALD'S THEORETICAL I'RKKKRKNCR FOR A LEGISLATIVE TO A FEDERAL UNION — HIS VIEWS ON CONSTITUTION OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT — DELEGATION TO ENGLAND— DKATII OK SIB E. P. TACHfi — FORMATION OF NEW ADMINISTRATION UNDER SIl! NARCISSE BELLEAU — DISSATISFACTION OF MR. BROWN — HIS WITilDR.VWAI, FROM THE MINISTRY. I DO not propose to enter here into a detailed account of the negotiations which brought about the coalition of parties in the month of June, 1864. Elsewhere will be found the official record of the proceedings which led to that result, as com- municated to the House of Assembly by Mr. Macdonald.* It is very full, and, so far as I am aware, contains the whole story. This coalition, like other arrangements of a similar character, sprang from compromise. At the basis of the agree- ment was a recognition of the fact that the state of public affairs called for a radical change in the constitution of tlie country. On this point there was complete unanimity. But what changes were best adapted to remove the evils complained of, was a matter of difference and discussion. Mr. ^lacdonald and his friends proposed a union of all the British Xorth American provinces. Mr. Brown, on the other hand, was averse to the immediate adoption of so large and indefinite a sedieme. He preferred that we should settle our own disputes without outside intervention, and saw in the grant of represeutatiou * See Appeudix V. ^^ 1861.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 259 by population to Upper Canada the sovereign remedy for existing evils. The Government having declared the im- possilnlity of carrying such a measure, Mr. Brown showed a disposition to accept the views of Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, and Gait, with the proviso that, if the difficulties which he saw iu the way of the larger union should prove insurmountable, the Government would introduce legislation applying the federal principle to Canada alone, leaving the question of admitting the outlying provinces open for future consideration. It has been stated by the admirers of Mr. Brown that to him chiefly is due the inception of the great scheme of Confederation, and they point to his conduct at this crisis, and the resolutions of the Keform convention of 1859, in support of their assertion. I have no wish to endeavour to deprive Mr. Brown of any of the kudos that rightfully is his. It is undoubtedly true that but for his patriotic course in 18G4, Confederation could not have been carried at that time. Sir John Macdonald has freely admitted this.* He has declared the same thing of Sir George Cartier and Sir Charles Tupper ; and the remark, I doubt not, is applicable to other statesmen of the time. It is, however, one thing to say that Mr. Brown made union possible in 1864, and quite another thing to assert that he was the father of Confederation. History has already awarded that distinction to one who, like Mr. Brown, sacrificed his private feelings to the public good, and, unlike Mr. Brown, did not weary of well-doing. Not even in point of time does the claim to paternity, made on behalf of Mr. Brown, hold good. The Canadian statesman who first demonstrated the practicability of Confederation, and urged its adoption as a policy, was Sir Alexander Gait, in a speech delivered in the House of Assembly * " Tho Government was at a deadlock, and Mr. Brown at last became sensible lit' tlie cuuseiiuences of his unwise and factious course ; and tho only patriotic thing that niau ever did in his life — impelled by a sense of fear for the conse(juences lie had him eh' rendered imminent by liis course — was to coalesce witli me tor the jjurposo tit' fiiriiiini^ a larger union, and carrying out tlie Confederation of all the British American provinces. To be sure, gentlemen, he deserves tho credit of joining witii me; lie and his party gave me tliat assis^inco in Parliament that enabled us to 'UiiT ('(infederation, and if we now are a Dominion, we must not forget tiuit it was owing in great measure to Mr. Brown's momentary feeling of patriotism, of Hhiili, however, he soon repented" (Speech of Sir John Macdonald, "White" liuuiiuut, Montreal, November 21, 1875). IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ^ iSi IIIIIM 'V IM |||||Z2 ■iu m ^ li^ 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 -m 6" — ► V] vw '-> /: y /^ w Photographic Sciences Corporation V 4^ $ 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WiBSTIR.N.Y. MStO (716) 872-4S03 ^ ^ O ^ >> St U. 1^, , ^ n- I ml 260 MEMOIRS OF STR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XII[. on the 5th of July, 1858, more than a year before the Piefonu Convention met in Toronto. We have seen that the Con- servative Administration of the day adopted Mr. Gait's views, and pressed the scheme upon the favourable consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and that, in 1861, Mr. Macdonald gave it as his view that in a union of all the British North American provinces would be found the remedy for the evils of which Mr. Brown and his friends from Upper Canada com- plained. The assertion of Mr. Brown's admirers seems not a little strange, seeing that, at the beginning of the nerjotiations we are considering, he deprecated the idea of Confederation as " uncertain and remote," and gave his voice for representation by population as a preferable alternative. Parliament was prorogued on the 30th of June, and, on the same day, an extra of the Canada Gazette announced that Messrs. George Brown, Oliver Mowat, and William McDougall had been sworn of the Executive Council, and appointed, respectively, President of the Council, Postmaster General and Provincial Secretary.* Although generally recognized as a necessity, the coalition v."^,s not popular throughout the country. Messrs. Dorion, Holton, and the other Lower Canada Liberals were not parties to it, and, consequently, regarded the whole arrange- ment with disfavour. In Upper Canada George Brown had inspired the Conservatives with such an aversion towarils him- self that it was with the utmost difficulty Mr. Macdonald could persuade them to accept the new condition of things. Some- times he was unequal to the task, as, for example, in the oasi- of Mr. McDougall, who, on returning to his constituents, was defeated by Mr. (afterwards Sir) Matthew Crooks Cameron, a prominent Conservative. The correspondence arising out of this contest is highly interesting. On the 6th of July Mr. Brown telegraphed Mr. Macdonald, from Toronto : — ''Most injurious impression got abroad, you dosira AIcDougftU'rt defeat. Your friends acting on that. Boliovo a word from you will counteriiet it. I'loaso write or telegraph Harrison, Morrison, and Perry at oneo." * On the 29th, Measrs. Buchnuan, Foley, and SimpMuu rosiguod their porttolin^ and their seats in tlio Cabinet. .«4.. ...» 1864.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 261 On the 7th, Mr. Macdonald addressed this circular to some of his political friends in North Ontario : — " Dear Sir, " I take the liberty of writing you on behalf of the Hon. Wm. McDougall at the coming election. "I need scarcely remind you of the circumstances under which the present coalition of parties has taken place. For years past, whilst the Conservatives had a large majority in Lower Canada, those in Upper Canada have been, since 1848, hopelessly in the minority. " l>y a coalition in 1854, under Sir Allan MacNab, and by taking up the great questions which then agitated the country, a majority in both sections was obtained until those questions were settled. The result of the two last elections has shown the same state of things, and it was more than doubtful whether a new election this summer would have made things better. " Both parties had, in the present Parliament, attempted to carry on the affairs of the Government, and had failed. " In order to prevent anarchy, something had to be done, and a new coalition, which would attempt to settle the great constitutional question of Parliamentary Eeform, was accord- ingly entered into. "This coalition, if it meet the support of the country (as I believe it ought to and will), will give the country a strong Government, and restore the credit of the province abroad, which has been sadly shaken by our domestic dissensions. " I am so strong a party man, and, as a general principle, so •apposed to a coalition, that I strained every effort to form a Government, in March, on purely Conservative principles ; but yuu see tl'e attempt has been unsuccessful, and no other course was left than that completed by the lute arrangements. " I therefore feel that I may call upon you to lay aside, for the present at least, party feeling, and to aid in rescuing the cuuiitry from her present position. With this view it is that 1 veiilure to ask you to support Mr. McDougall, and shall feel mueii obliged by your doing so. " 1 am, dear sir, yours faithfully, "John A. Macdonald." iiiilLLit^; i w^ m M il' !h lliil 4 !j|v' ■JJife'i k 1 A 262 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. xni. On the 8th he wrote to Mr. McDougall, in reply to a letter from that gentleman asking for his co-operation. "There is in your note a tone which I candidly tell you I don't like. You say 'my defeat in North Ontario, as I told you, won't kill me by a long shot, but it will kill the coalition.' In fact, you consider yourself an injured man if those who formerly opposed you won't support you now. " Now, I thought it my duty to tell you that, from the information I received, I was very much afraid you would meet with a serious opposition. I also told Brown so, and, to avoid an open imeute in the House, advised that the selection of his colleagues should be postponed till after the prorogation. I have acted, and so I have no doubt will all your colleagues act, loyally by you ; but we cannot control our friends. Just as in 1854, the coalition is disapproved of by some of your friends and some of mine; and those strong party men who cannot look beyond or rise above party are certain to be the most bitter in their hostility. The fiercest enemies I had in '54 were Hillyard Cameron and the high Tories; and poor Spence met the strongest opposition from his quondam friends, as did Joe Morrison. I trust and believe, however, that you will get a sufficient support from the moderate men of both sides to secure your election. In the present case much harm was done by Brown's well-meant but mistaken announcement, that this was not an ordinary coalition, but a temporary junction for a temporary purpose, which, being obtained, old party lines would be redrawn. The Conservatives, therefore, may not feel themselves called upon to dissolve their organization and be powerless at the next general election. " Enough of this, however. I wish you all success." On the 9th Mr. M. C. Cameron wrote Mr. Macdonald as follows : — " My dear Sir, " I have been Rpokon to by A. Morrison and U. A. HarriHon on the subject of letters from you, asking their interference to prevent my coiitcKting North Ontario against the Hon. "W. McDougall. 'Wliilo I admit tlio pro- priety of your doing nothing ogainst a collcagiie, I regret you should have thought It nocesBary, octively, to interfere to the prejudice of a ConsfrvutlYc 1864.] TBE COALITION OF 1864. 263 who seeks nothing in the contest except to relieve your Government and tlie country from the reproach of having so objectionable a politician in your Council. My candidature is not in opposition to the new Government, and, though I am told that the defeat of the Provincial Secretary will defeat the coalition, I see no reason why it should ; but under any circumsiances I am DOW pledged to go to the polls, and will do so coute que coute. " Yours truly, " M. C. Camekon." On the 15th, Mr. Brown wrote: — " [Private.] " My dear Sib, " I duly received your telegram and letter, and would have written before now but have been so overjjowered with business of all sorts and descriptions that I have hardly had time to eat. The 'new combinatioii ' eems to go down wonderfully well. I have seen people from all quarters and of all shades of opinion, and the satisfaction, not to say enthusiasm, in really amazing. The only class really hostile, as far as I can judge, is the Orange body, or at least the violent part of the body. I fully expect a break out in that direction, but of course you have better means of knowing about this than I possess. The respectable Conservatives appear all to be delighted. I have not met with one who did not approve of the movement. " I thmk McDougall's election, from all I can learn, is safe ; but still, at this season of the year, all depends upon energy and good tactics. If he carries the election with a respectable majority, it will have an electrical cSbct upon the public mind ; the ministerial barometer will go up mai.y degrees. If ho is beaten, there wUl bo a storm from the Reform side that will seriously aflfect matters. It appears to me of immense importance that the election should bo carried sweepingly, and that every effort should bo put forth to secure that result. I have done all I can in every direction. I mean to bo at the nomination on Tuesday, and, if necessary, I will hold some meetings immediately after. "I have been asked to write you requesting you to be present at the nomination on Tuesday. McDougall is very anxious for it, and so are all his friends. Even without speaking a word, they say your presence would neutralize, if not bring over, many votes. Of course you must judge, but unless there are very strong reasons to forbid, I am sure it would bo a good and successful move. For one thing, it would entirely remove any lingering ground of insincerity that may remain among the extreme Liberals. "Gait telegraphed me to know when I would bo down, and I answered that I would come so soon as tho Ontario election wap made safe. IIo replied that I had better not leave till that was suro, and that nothing important would bo done till we got down. Had you not better put through tho I'orth judgeship and attorneyship as proposed? I hoar Tom Ferguson '" ■■■*•■ ^ ■' - J^' 264 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chat. Xin. m-y t -..'I' m i has been down about the Barrie shrievalty, but suppose nothing will be done in that till we get down. " I go to Bothwell to-morrow and return on Monday ; go to the nomina- tion on Tuesday, and, if all is right, can leave at once for Quebec. I am writing with a horrid pen and vile ink on abominable paper, and only hope you can read my scrawl. " Yours sincerely, " George Browk." In order to illustrate the feeling which prevailed among the Conservatives of North Ontario, I give, as a specimen of many, a letter received by Mr. Macdonald at that time, together with his reply. " [Private and confidential.] "Newmarket, C.W., July 13, 1864. " The Honble. Jno. A. Macdonald, Atty. General, C.W. " My DEiAR Sm, " As I occupy a position with respect to a large number of the voters in North Ontario, which at the coming election might turn the scale, I should feel obliged by your informing me, in strict confidence, whether it is the desire of the Conservative portion of the Cabinet that the Hon. Wm. McDougall should be defeated or otherwise. An earl" answer in strict confidence will be desirable, as I cannot be certain what course to take until I know the desire of your section of the Cabinet as to the results of the contest, and early action is necessary in case it is desirable to operate for either result. " I have the honour to remain, my dear sir, " Faithfully yours, " Thomas Pyne." " [Private.] " Kingston, July 16, '64. "My dear Sir, " Your private and confidential favour, dated the 13th instant, and directed to me at Quebec, only reached me this morning here, and I regret greatly the inevitable delay. It is the sincere desire of the Conservative section of the Cabinet to secure the return of their colleague, the Hon. Wm. McDougall. They unitedly, and I individually, will feel much obliged by your interesting yourself actively in his behalf. The recent coalition, although a strong measure, was one imperatively called [for] to relieve Canada from the deadlock — the virtual 1864.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 265 anarchy that the equality of parties had produced. A new election would not have greatly mended matters, and would have left the sectional difficulty (which threatened to become of the most formidable dimensions) unsettled as before. "The leaders on both sides of the House became alarmed at the perilous state of affairs, and thought they would not be guiltless if party resentments or individual ambitions should prevent them from joining together for the common good, or rather for the cure of the growing evil. " Under these circumstances, you will see that it is all important that the Eeform section of the Government should be elected for the purpose of carrying out this great object. " Believe me, my dear pir, faithfully yours, "John A. MACDONAiD. " Thomas Pyne, Esq., M.D., Newmarket, Ont." The letters written by Mr. Macdonald on behalf of Mr. McDougall are important in showing his views of the coalition and of the causes which produced it. That it should be successful was his earnest desire, and to that end he bent all his energies during the summer of 1864. Although for ten years Mr. Brown and he had not exchanged a word in social intercoiirse, both statesmen, from the moment of their political association, resolved that no personal differences should be per- mitted to jeopard the attainment of the common object they had in view. They therefore arrived at an understanding by which, in Sir John Macdonald's words, "we acted together, dined at public places together, played euchre in crossing the Atlantic, and went into society in England together. And yet on the day after he resigned we resumed our old positions and ceased to speak." * After Mr. McDougall's defeat in North Ontario, Mr. Mac- donald set to work to find a seat for him, and, after some difficulty, succeeded in procuring his return for North Lanark. Mr. Brown, being of an energetic temperament, was provided with a series of missions which occupied l»'m fully and kept liim in high good humour. Among other places visited by him in the course of the summer was Ottawa. Upon his return to • Written iu 1887. ,. I 'I 'i^ I \ ii~ H-: 266 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. Toronto he wrote Mr. Macdonald the following letter, whicli will be interesting to those familiar with the Government Buildings at the capital. " [Confidential.] " Toronto, August 15, 1864. " My deak Sik, " McDougall and I made an examination of the Ottawa liuilditifjs on Friday night, and we came to the conclusion that it was utterly impossible to take possession of the departmental buildings this fall. By paying an enormous sum— say $75,000 to $100,000 extra to the contractors— the tiling might be done in December, but it would be at the risk of the floors bursting up, and sickness to all who take possession of the rooms. What can be done is, to have the departments moved early in the year, and Parliament summoned on the first of May, if that is thought to be better than another session at Quebec : it is open for adoption. But removal this fall would bring groat discredit on us all. " I write all this very unwillingly. It would suit me vastly better to go at once to Ottawa, and I know how anxious you uU are about it. But it was impossible to come to any other conclusion, after seeing the Avorks and con- versing with Mr. Page and the contractors. "The buildings are magnificent; the style, the extent, the site, tlie workmanship are all surpassingly fine. But they are just 500 years in advance of the time. It will cost half the revenue of the province to liglit them and heat them and keep them clean. Such monstrous folly was never perpetrated in this world before. But as we are in for it, I do think the idea of stopping short of completion is out of the question. I go in for tower, rotunda, fountains, and every conceivable embellishment. If wo are to be laughed at for our folly, at least let us not be ridiculed for a half-tinished pile. I go in for making it a superb folly that will bring visitors from all countries to see a work they can't see elsewhere. To say the truth, there is notliing in London, Paris, or Washington approaching to it. *' The Governor General's residence is a miserable little house, and the grounds those of an ambitious country squire. To patch up that building will cost more than a now one, and 10 or 12 acres on the river ought to bo taken into the grounds. " In haste, " Yours sincerely, '• Geo. Buowx." •« Hon. J. A. Macdonald." This letter bears out a statement I have heard Sir John Macdonald make, when passing the departmental building known as the Langevin Block : " — ^ 1864.] TEE COALITION OF 1864. 267 "When we were putting up these buildings I did my utmost to secure the land through to Sparks Street, in order to have the four sides of the square. I also wished to acquire all that property " (pointing in the direction of Nepean Point), "and to build Government House there; but some of my colleagues would not hear of it, and said that what had already been appropriated would suffice for the requirement of the next century. The consequence is," continued he, " that already we are crowded for want of space, and we have spent more money patching up Rideau Hall than a palace would have cost at Nepean Point." Immediately after the re-election of the new Ministers, the Government diligently applied themselves to the great object of the coalition. In the Maritime Provinces the idea of union had for many years been talked of; although the interminable postponements, frequent political crises, and constant changes of policy in Canada had caused the people of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island to give up all thought of coming to any arrangement with Canada, They resolved, tliereforc, to confine their efforts to an alliance among themselves, and, to that end, in 1864, the Legislatures of the Lower Provinces authorized their respective Govern- ments to hold a convention, which met in Charlottetown on the 1st of September. The occasion was felt by the Canadian Government to be opportune, and they determined to take advantage of it. Accordingly, eight members of the Ministry * repaired to Charlottetown, where they were hospitably received, and invited by the conference to express their views. This they did, and unfolded the benefits to be derived from their larger scheme, with such effect that the Maritime Conference agreed to adjourn till a time to be fixed by the Governor General, when the members should meet at Quebec to confer • Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Urowii, Gait, McDoufjall, McGee, Campbell, aud Lanj^evin. The presence of Sir Alexander Campbell at tiio Cliarlottetown Conference has recently been questioned, and no less an autliority tlian tlio lion. Mr. McDougall quoted in support of the oasertion that ^Ir. (Jani])bell did not accompany his colleagues to Charlottetown. A visit to Earnsclitl'e will show tliat Mr. McDougall's memory has failed him ou this occasion, for on tlie walls of Sir John's old ottice there hangs a photograpii of the members of the ('unference, as they stood on the steps of Uoverumeut House at Charlottetown. Among them cau bu seen the well-kuowu face uf the late Lieutouant Governor of Ontario. If '% I' Vt. Si' :; I; Mil H !l^^ i ■■ it? !.•. lllllitllHlIf I^^H^^^^^X^^ , 268 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. with the Canadian representatives on the subject of a federal union of all the British colonies. The Quebec Conference assembled on the 10th of October,* and continued in session until the 28th of that month. Their deliberations were con- ducted with closed doors, and no official record of the pro- ceedings exists. The copious notes and memoranda, however, preserved by Sir John Macdonald enable one to follow the discussions from day to day, and to trace the process by which the form of each resolution was developed. Wlien the time arrives for the publication of these notes, they will be found full of interest to the student of Canadian history. It is, of course, out of the question for me to attempt to give even the most general rSsume of them here. Elsewhere f will be found one or two extracts from Colonel Bernard's report of the proceedings, from which I think it will be seen that the members of the Conference as a whole were impressed with the expediency of laying aside local prejudices, and uniting for the establishment of a strong central Government. At the first session of the Conference, Sir Etienne Tache, the Canadian Premier, was unanimously elected chairman; the Provincial Secretaries of the provinces were appointed joint-secretaries, and Major Hewitt Bernard, executive secre- tary. On the second day the order of proceedings was agreed upon, and it was resolved that, on all questions (except those of order), each province should have one vote, and that, iu voting, Canada should be considered as two provinces. A resolution, proposed by Mr. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. Tilley, was adopted, to the effect that " the best interests and present and future prosperity of British North America will be promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain, provided such union can be effected on principles just to the several provinces." In moving this resolution, Mr. Macdonald spoke at some length. After declaring his conviction that the time for union had arrived, and that, if the opportunity were let slip, the scheme might be abandoned * At (liM)bec, the Canadian delegation was reinforced by Sir Etienne Tnchd, Messi-s. Mowat, Chapois, and Cockburu, uud, thus augmented, comprised the wliole Cabinet. t See Appendix VI. 1864.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 269 in despair, he continued, "Canada cannot remain as she is at present, and, if we come to no decision here, we Canadians must address ourselves to the alternative, and reconstruct our Government. Once driven to that, it will be too late for a general federation. We cannot, having brought our people to accept a Canadian federation, propose to them the question of a larger union. It is stated that, in England, federation will be considered as showing a desire for independence. I beUeve the p';ople of England are strongly bent on keeping up her position as a mighty empire, which can only be done by helping her colonies. Gold win Smith, the Manchester school, and the Times — the property of Eobert Lowe, a recreant colonist — to the contrary notwithstanding. The colonial question has never been fairly represented to the people of England. The Englisli newspapers were alive to the designs of Russia on Australia, a favoured colony of England, for which the Manchester school would fight. The British North American colonies are not so profitable as Australia from a money point of view ; but, if organized as a confederacy, our increased importance would soon become manifest. Our present isolated and defenceless position is, no doubt, a source of embarrassment to England. If it were not for the weakness of Canada, Great Britain might have joined France in acknowledging the Southern Confederacy. We must, therefore, become important, not only to England, but in the eyes of foreign States, and especially of the United States, who have found it impossible to conquer four millions of Southern whites. Our united population would reach that number. For the sake of securing peace to ourselves and our posterity, we must make ourselves powerful. The great security for peace is to convince the world of our strength by being united. In framing the constitution, care should be taken to avoid the mistakes and weaknesses of the United States' system, the primary error of which was the reservation to the different States of all powers not delegated to the General Government. We must reverse this process by establishing a strong central Government, to which shall belong all powers not specially conferred on the provinces. Canada, in my opinion, is better off as she stands than she would be as a member of a confederacy composed of five sovereign States, •i ^MmmLiii. *■ j-r" mi': h ■ 1 i 270 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MAODONALD. [Chap. XUI. which would be the result if the powers oi the local Govern- ments were not defined. A strong central Government is indispensable to the success of the experiment we are tryin". Under it we shall be able to work out a system, havin-,' for its basis constitutional liberty, as opposed to democratic license. With the Queen as our sovereign, we should have an Upper and a Lower House. In the former, the principle of provincial equality should obtain — the Confederacy for this purpose consisting of three divisions, Upper Canada, Lower Canada, and the Maritime Provinces. In the Lower House the basis of representation should be population, not by universal suffrage, but according to the principles of the British constitution. "With respect to the mode of appoint- ment to the Upper House, some of us are in favour of the elective principle, more are in favour of appointment by the Crown. I will keep my own mind open on that point, as if it were a new question to me altogether. At present I am in favour of appointment by the Crown. While I do not admit that the elective principle has been a failure in Canada, I think that we had better return to the original principle, and, in the words of Governor Simcoe, endeavour to make ours ' an image and transcript of the British constitution.' " * On the third day it was decided that the resolutions intended to be moved should be prepared in advance by a committee composed of the Canadian delegates. A series of resolutions, or rather suggestions, based on the views that had been generally expressed at the Charlottetown conference, was then introduced by Mr, Macdonald, and debated seriatim. The questions which proved most difficult of satisfactory adjustment appear to have been (1) the apportionment of the financial burdens, (2) the distribution of powers between the federal and local Legislatures, (3) the allotment of representation in the Lower House, and (4) the constitution of the Upper House. On all these and other matters there were, as might be expected, differences of opinion, more or less pronounced. At times, indeed, it looked as if agreement would be impossible, and the failure of the negotiations inevitable. Thanks in great * The forepfoing extracts from Mr. Macdonald's speech are extended from notes taken by Colonel Bernard at the time. 1864.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 271 part to tlie spirit of conciliation and of compromise which pervaded the assembly, such a misfortune was averted. Eventually the result of long and animated discussions was embodied in seventy-two resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the Conference, and transmitted to the several Governments, to be communicated to their respective Legisla- tures. At these conferences Mr. Macdonald met, for the first time, Messrs. Tilley and Tupper, with both of whom he was much impressed. I recollect his telling me, that, on the very first day of their acquaintance, he formed the opinion that Dr. Tupper was exactly the man necessary to the accomplishment of the great work they had met to consider. At Qu ^- 'C he proposed to him that they should form an alliance, ofTendivt ad defensive, and the arrangement there entered into remained unbroken until dissolved by death. This is the ' ' jmpaci; " to ,> iiich Mr. ^T"'vlonald alludes in the followinj^ letter, witLeu shortly after the meeting at Quebec. " [Private.] '' Quebec, November 14, 1804. " My dear Tupper, " I am sorry I was too unwell to join in the Toronto festivities or escort you to Niagara. "We have settled that our Legislature shall meet on January 19th, and intend to press the Federation resolutions through without delay. Canada, on the whole, seems to take up the scheme warmly, but yet we shall meet with considerable opposition. Dorion, you see, has come out with a manifesto against it. Sandfield Macdonald will join him, and 1 hear they aie beating up for recruits everywhere. It is of the utmost importance that between now and the time of the meeting of Parliament nothing should be done to strengthen the hands of the Opposition, or to give them the opportunity of getting up a new cry. With this view, I cannot too strongly impress on you the necessity of carrying out the policy of not in any way giving any party the slightest control over the construction of any portion of the Intercolonial Piailway. Brown's confession of faith in favour of the road at Toronto has astounded his ^tumm 272 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALB. [Chap. XIII. li' J* ht\ !1 » supporters, ; nd dismayed a good many of them who have hitherto been educated by him to oppose it by every means and at every stage. They are powerless in consequence of his desertion, but there is a muttered growl about it that I don't like. Were it suspected that any considerable portion of the road for which Canada is going to pledge itself was given away to contractors without the consent or sanction of the Government, a storm would at once arise which could not be allayed, and would peril the whole scheme. " I intend to commence next week to draft the Bill to be submitted for the consideration of the Imperial Government, and shall be glad to get from you such hints or suggestions as may occur to you. " Have you formed any plan as to the mode in which you will submit the subject to your Parliament ? " In looking over our resolutions, I see a mistake has crept in. We have given power from time to time to the Local Legislatures to alter the constituencies sending members to the General Parliament. Now, this is an obvious blunder, and must be corrected. " I shall be obliged by your giving me your ideas as to the general administration — the number of the Executive and the distribution of Departments. This must all be wrought out, and, if possible, form a portion of the Imperial Act. I have not thought this branch of the subject over, but mean to do so at once. So soon as I can form a projet I will transmit it to you. So please reciprocate. " I have not forgotten the compact we made here, and will act strictly and cordially up to it. " Always, my dear Tupper, " Faithfully yours, " John A. Macdonald. " The Hon. Charles Tupper, TInlifax." -'-fl|! Of Sir Leonard Tilley I do not remember Sir John Mac- donald's first impressions ; but I may say here that, in later years, there did not exist in Canada, a man for whom he enter- tained a higher regard and respect. Mr. Gladstone has been described by some one as " a good man in the very worst sense 1864.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 273 of the term." Sir John Macdonald's opinion of Sir Leonard Tilley was, that in every relation of life he is a good man in the very best meaning of the word. A few days after the close of the Conference Mr. Mowat retired to the Bench. His place was taken by Mr. (now Sir) W. P, Rowland, who was tlie choice of Mr. Brown.* Despite a good deal of sulkiness on the part of some of the Conservatives, the new Postmaster General was returned without opposition. Ou this subject Mr. Macdonald wrote to one of his friends : — "I am glad that Howland is returned without opposition. It would have been a great mistake in the Conservative party to have defeated a moderate man like Howland, and have forced Brown to take a more extreme man. In fact, this kind of thing won't do at all, and if the Conservatives have not sense enough to see that the coalition must be carried through and supported, the consequences must be that the whole Government will be handed over to the Grits. I have been strongly tempted, several times, to do so, from the inconsiderate folly of my own friends. I think it was a pity that you interfered at all in the matter. Situated as you were, you could have no object in making enemies of the Grit section of the Government. Having once got an official position, it was your business to have supported the Government as it was, or to have abstained most religiously from any interference." While this change was in progress, Mr. Brown went to England to sound the Imperial Government on the scheme of Confederation. From London he wrote to Mr. Macdonald this letter : — " [Private and confidential.] " Abden House, Toronto (sic), December 22, 1804. "Mv DEAIl MaCOONAM), " I went up to London on the 2nd Dec, and was detained then» until the day before yesterday. I sail by the China m the .'Jlst, and hope to 1)0 ill Quebec on Tuesday the 17th Jany., or at latest by Wcilncsday the 18tli. 1 suppose Parliament meets on the IDth, as wo arranged. * New York, November 10, 1804. "Hon. J. A. MArnosAtn, " Please submit Ilowlaud's uamo tor Postmaster Oenon Isliip ; just startiiijf. "(1. iluowN." VOL. I. T %''' ■^' 1 i pi , :; ii If '•■' Km M ! ■I ! » I ■ 274 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. " Our sclieme has given prodigious satisfaction here. The Ministrj', the Conservatives, and the Manchester men are all delighted with it, and cvorv- thing Canadian has gone up in public estimation immensely. You would seo from Mr. Cardwell's despatch that the Government object to one or two points, but they explained that they only did so to save themselves in the House of Commons in the event of attack. I do not doubt that if we msist on it, they will put through the scheme just as we ask it. " The invasion fear seems greatly to have passed away, and there will be no trouble I fancy now in making any arrangement we desire about our defences. Your despatch will be answered in January. " In ^,he Hudson's Bay matter I have liad a great deal of negotiation, and think I I'avo got it in such a position as will enable the Government to determine finally what course it will adopt. " I saw all the members of the Government who wore in town, and received much kindness and attention from them. Indeed from all classes uf people you hear nothing but high praise of ' Canadian statesmanship,' and loud anticipations of the great future before us. I am much concerned to ol)scrvo, however, and I write it to you as a thing that must seriously bo considered by all men taking a lead hereafter in Canadian public matters— that there is a manifest desire in almost every quarter that, ere long, the British American colonies should shift for themselves, and in some quarters evident regret that we did not declare at once for independence. I am very sorry to obscrvo this, but it arises, I hope, from the fear of invasion of Canada by the United States, and will soon pass away with the cause that excites it. " I have left myself hardly time to got this to the post-office in time for the mail. I wish you would send me to New York a line telling what arrangements have been made for the session. Address it to the care ot * George Mackenzie, Esq., 7, Broadway, New York.' " I oxpec't to be in New York by the 11th January. " Faithfully yours, " (ilCOKdli Biiows." ITpon receiving the resolutions of tlie Quebec Conforonce, the iirst act of the Governor General was to transmit them to Her Majesty's Government, who were much interested in the successful issue of the scheme. In a laudatory despatch of the 3rd of December, the Secretary of State for the Colonies expressed the lively satisfaction with which Her Majesty's Government had watched the proceedings of the Conference and received the result of its deliberations. While convoyinr; the general approval by the Home Government of the pro- ceedings of the Conference, the Colonial Secretary took exception to two provisions, the more important of which was that con- tained in section 44, with respect to the exercise of the prerogative 1864-65.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 275 of pardon, which the Conference proposed should be vested in the Lieutenant Governors of the various provinces. On this point Sir John Macdonald has thus expressed his opinion : — "You will remember that I was always strongly in favour of the pardoning power being entrusted to the Lieutenant Governors of the different provinces. This was a provision in the Quebec resolutions; but Mr. Cardwell, then Colonial Secretary, objected to it : and in 1866-67, when we were settUng the B. N. A. Act, Lord Carnarvon, his successor, took the same position. We argued with him very strongly, and I thought we had the best of the argument, but we found it of no avail, as he declined positively to surrender the Itoyal prerogative." * The second point upon which Her Majesty's Government desired reconsideration, was the constitution of the Legislative Council, i.e. the Senate. They expressed some misgivings wliether, if the members were appointed for life, and the numbers fixed, there would be any sufficient means of restoring harmony between the Upper and Lower Houses in the event of a serious difference of opinion arising between them. Parliament met on the 19th of January, and on the 3rd of February Mr. Macdonald introduced the resolutions adopted at the Quebec Couference.t Speaking thereto, he showed that from the summer of 1858 the idea of confederation had ever been present to his mind. This is not the place for any extended reference to his remarks, still I am tempted to give one or two short extracts in which he expressed his personal views upon those points of the contemplated arrangement on which some differenco of opinion existed. And, first as to the kind of L^nion which it was most desir- able to effect. Mr. Macdonnld's theoretical preference, as is well known, was for a Legislative as distinguislied from a Federal Union. On that point he spoke as follows : — " Now, as regards the comparative advantages of a Legis- lative and u Federal Union, I have never liesitated to state my * From Sir John Miiedoimld to tlio lion. Oliver Mowiit, datoil Ottawa, .' •i^^nist 28, 18"U. Tilt) rouso" aHuignod Cor tliu Imperial (ihjci'timi wan that tlio Crown conld not part with its prerojjativu of mercy, which must bo vested in, and alone administered liy Her Majesty's representative, the Governor General. t Sue Juurnala JLeij. Aas,, vol. xxiv., IHOo, pp. 203-209. fcieo also Appendix Vll. P i H' w>. -■ It I h I ! 276 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. own opinions. I have again and again stated in the House that, if practicable, I thought a Legislative Union would be preferable. I have always contended that if we could agree to have one Government and one Parliament legislating for the whole of these peoples, it would be the best, the cheapest, the mo.st vigorous, and the strongest system of government we could adopt. But, on looking at the subject in the Conference, and discussing the matter as we did, most unreservedly, with a desire to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, we found that such a system was impracticable. In the first place, it would not meet the assent of the people of Lower Canada, because they felt that, in their peculiar position — being in a minority, with a different language, nationality, and religion from the majority,— in case of a junction with the other provinces, their institutions and their laws might be assailed, and their ancestral associ- ations, on which they prided themsel , attacked and preju- diced; it was found that any proposition which involved the absorption of the individuality of Lower Canada — if I may use the expression — would not be received with favour by her people. "We found, too, that though their people speak the same language and enjoy the same system of law as the people of Upper Canada, a system founded on the common law of England, there was as great a disinclination on the part of the people of the Maritime Provinces to lose their individuality as separate political organizations as we observed in the case of Lower Canada itself Therefore, we were forced to the conclusion that we must either abandon the idea of union altogether, or devise a system of union in which the separate proviiu'ial organizations would be in some degree preserved. 80 that those who were, like myself, in favour of a Legislative Union, were obliged to modify their views and accept the project of ii Federal Union as the only scheme practicable, even for the Maritime Provinces." Next, as to the constitution of the Upper House : — " As may be well conceived, great difference of opinion at first existed as to the constitution of the Legislative Coun(3il. In Canada the elective principle prevailed ; in the Lower Provinces, with the exception of Prince Edward Island, the nominative principle was the rule. We found a general .11 •' % } ' :I.«!|!)T 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 277 disinclination on the part of the Lower Provinces to adopt the elective principle ; indeed, I do not think there was a dissenting voice in the Conference against the adoption of the nominative principle except from Prince Edward Island. The delegates from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, as one man, were in favour of nomination by the Crown. And nomination by the Crown is, of course, the system which is most in accord- ance with the ]iritish constitution. We resolved then that the constitution of the Upper House should be in accordance with the British system as nearly as circumstances would allow. An hereditary Upper House is impracticable in this young country. Here we have none of the elements for the formation uf a landlord aristocracy — no men of large territorial positions —no class separated from the mass of the people. An here- ditary body is altogether unsuited to our state of society, and would soon dwindle into nothing. The only mode of adapting the English system to the Upper House is by conferring the power of appointment on the Crown (as the English peers are appointed), but that the ajjpointments should be for life. The arguments for an elective council are numerous and strong ; and I ought to say so, as one of the Administration responsible for introducing the elective principle into Canada. I hold that this principle has not been a failure in Canada ; but there were causes — which we did not take into consideration at the time — why it did not so fully succeeil in Canada as we had expected." In regard to the constitution of the Lowjr House : — " I was in favour of a larger House than one hundred and ninety-four, but was overruled. I was perhaps singular in the "pinion, but I thought it would be well to commence with a larger representation in the lower branch. The arguments against tins were, that, in the first place, it would cause additional expense ; in the next place, that in a new country like this, we could not get a sutlicient number of ([uulillud men to be representatives. My reply was that the number is rapidly increasing as we increase in education and wealth ; that a larger Held would be open to political ambition by having a larger l)ody of representatives ; that by having numerous and smaller cuustituencies, more people would be interested in the workinm ^MdlMi^^riM piM^'fl!^ M|- r I' I 278 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. of the union, and that there would be a wider field of selection for leaders of governments and leaders of parties. These are my individual sentiments — which, perhaps, I have no right to express here — but I was overruled, and we fixed on the number of one hundred and ninety-four, which no one will say is large or extensive, when it is considered that our present number in Canada alone is one hundred and thirty. . . . " In considering the question of the duration of Parliament, we came to the conclusion to recommend a period of five years. I was in favour of a longer period. I thought that the duration of the local Legislatures should not be shortened so as to be less than four years, as at present, and that the General Parlia- ment should have as long a duration as that of the United Kingdom. I was willing to have gone to the extent of seven years ; but a term of five years was preferred, and we had the example of New Zealand carefully considered, not only locally but by the Imperial Parliament, and which gave ♦ ^e provinces of those islands a General Parliament with a duration of five years." With respect to the franchise : — "While the principle of representation by population is adopted with respect to the popular branch of the Legislature, not a single member of the Conference, as I stated before — not a single one of the representatives of the Government or of the Opposition of any one of the Lower Provinces was in favour of universal suffrage. Every one felt that in this respect the principle of the British constitution should be carried out, and that classes and property should be represented as well as numbers." In conclusion, Mr. Macdonald dwelt upon the unalterable determination of himself and those eugaued with him in the great work of building up a new nation under the protection of the British Crown. " If we do not take advantage of the time, if we show our- selves unequal to the occasion, it may never return, and wo shall hereafter bitterly and unavailingly regret having lailed to embrace the happy opportunity now offered of founding a great nation under the fostering care of Great Britain, and our Sovereign Lady, Queen Victoria." ip^ 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 279 Messrs. Brown, Cartier, and Gait also made vigorous speeches in favour of the scheme, and the Opposition leaders, led by Messrs. Dorion, Sandfield Macdonald, and Dunkin, criticized the measure. After a long and animated debate the address to Her Majesty embodying these resolutions passed the House of Assembly, on the 11th of March, by a vote of ninety-one to thirty-three. So far all was couleur de rose, but in the early days of March the movement received a decided check, by reason of the defeat at the polls of the New Brunswick Government, which very imprudently ventured on an appeal to the people before the question had been brought before the Legislature of that province.* This untoward event was a great discouragement to the Canadian Government, who feared its effect upon the other Maritime Provinces. They nevertheless put a brave face on the matter, carried the scheme through their Legislature, voted a million dollars for the permanent defences of the colony, and despatched a mission to England to confer with Her Majesty's Government upon the following subjects : — " 1. Upon the proposed Confederation of the British North American Provinces, and the means whereby it can be most speedily eflected. * Among the cries raised by the opponents of Confederation in this election was oue to the ett'ect thut ]Mr. Macdonald, iu the Canadian Parliament, had declared that an agreement to bnild the Intercolonial RaUway (npon which the New Bnmswickers set great store) was no part of the scheme of union. In reply to an iu((iury on this head, Mr. Macdonald telegraphed Mr. Tilley on the 20th of February, I8G5, m follows : — "Your letter received. My remark was that an agreement to build a railroad could not be a portion of a constitution. In our case it was one of the conditions on which constitution was adopted. Such condition will, of course, be inserted iu tlio Imperial Act." In Canada and Nova Scotia the scheme was never submitted to the people at the polls. On the 3rd of February, 1865, Mr. Macdonald thus replied to an inquiry ou this head : — " The Confederation has now been before the country for some time, and it seems to meet Avith general, if not universal, favour. I hear of no meetings against it, and as yet there have been no petitions transmitted adverse to the policy. Under tliese circumstances the Government have a right to assume, as well as the Legislature, tliut the scheme, in principle, meets with the approbation of the country, and as it would be obviously absurd to submit the complicated details of such a measure to the people, it is not proposed to seek their sanction before asking the Imperial Government to introduce a Bill in the British Parliament. The Conservative Associations should, however, prepare for elections, as they cannot bo very far off, sliould the Confederation scheme be carried into effect." jJ^jlUmMm 280 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. Uh^ m W' il 5 ■'i ■ 1" " 2, Upon the airangements necessary for the defence of Canada in the event of war arising with the United States, and th } extent to which the same should be shared between Great Britain and Canada. " 3. Upon the steps to be taken with reference to tlie Reciprocity Treaty, and the rights conferred by it upon the United States. " 4. Upon the arrangements necessary for the settlement of the Nortli West Territory and Hudson's Bay Company's claims. " 5. And generally upon the existing critical state of affairs by wlxicli Canada is most seriously affected." Shortly before sailing, Mr. Macdonald wrote to Colonel Gray, one of the members of the Government of New Brunswick. " [Private.] " Quebec, March 27, 1805. "My dear Col. Gray, " I need scarcely assure you of the deep regret with which we Canadians heard of the defeat of so many of our con- freres at the Conference. You seem to have had a continuous run of ill luck, but it may yet be all for the best. Nil despcrandum should be your motto, and indeed I see that you have already adopted it. It is easy to be wise after the event, and, looking retrospectively, one would say that Tilley would have adopted a surer course had he called the Legislature together, and had the matter fully discussed as to all its merits and demerits before going to the people. Had that been done, the subject would at least have been understood, and you would have been saved the consequences of the enormous lying and misrepresentation that, by all accounts, must have been used against you. It is said that there was a general weariness in the country of the long duration of the Administration. How that may be, of course, I am ignorant. I cannot understand how the Catholic Bishop went against the scheme — here they are strongly in favour of it. I have good hopes that the ^^ishop and his clergy will, on full communication with their brethren here, change their opinions. As you say truly, whatever may be said of the course of the New Brunswick delegates in agreeing to the scheme, all must admit that they have fully and honourably carried out their engagements, even to the present sacrifice of their political l)Osition. I have no doubt that they will get their reward from a repentant people. 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 281 "As to the Intercolonial Ity., I conceive that it would be utterly impossible to get any Canadian Legislature to favour it, unless as a means of connecting the Maritime Provinces with Canada, and that no Government here would venture to propose it. I am told that, in your elections, they had all sorts of stories as to the route. As far as Canada is concerned we are perfectly indifferent as to the route, provided the best one is chosen. We have no opinions formed on the subject, and await the publishing of the report of competent engineers. So soon as Sandford Fleming's report is in print I shall send you a copy. " I fear much that the credit of all the provinces, especially of the maritime ones, will be affected in the English market by the failure of the confederation scheme. A great reaction in favour of British America had taken place from the hopes raised as to the new federation. Those hopes are all dashed to the ground, and our mission to England is in a great measure directed to the attempt to keep up that credit, even under the present adverse circumstances. Unless an unexpected change takes place the delegation will consist of Cartier, Brown, Gait, and myself, and we shall talk over the questions of confederation, defence, and the future relations of the colonies to the mother country freely with the Colonial Office. We will not, however, attempt in any way to induce the Imperial Government to force the Maritime Provinces into confederation. . . . " The indiscreet publication of Col. Jervois' report in England has at present caused a panic in Western Canada, as it shows the defencelessness of most of our provinces, unless protected by permanent works ; and the wretched debate in the House of Lords has not diminished the dread of forcible annexation, and abandonment by Great Britain. Eancy the British Empire, for the purpose of defending Canada and the British flag from an impending war, voting £200,000 in all, to be expended at £50,000 a year ! Any war with the United States must occur witliin two years, and by that time a hole may be made in the mud opposite Quebec, and the foundation of a single redoubt laid. In order to shame them we carried the vote for a million of dollars, to be immediately expended, and we go home with that sum in our hands. By the way, we intend to sail from 282 MEMOISS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALB. [Chap. Xlll. T*'; ^•1' P-I lit ^> Boston on the 12tli of April. Could you not look into Halifax and have a quiet shake of the hand. " Pray present my best regards to Miss Gray, and believe me, my dear Colonel, " Sincerely yours, " John A. Maodonald. "P.S. — This letter is written by my confidential clerk, Drinkwater, whom you know. I am forced, from the amount of my correspondence, to dictate to a shorthand writer, or I should never get through. — J. A. M.D." The expectations of Mr. Macdonald and his colleagues with respect to the influence of the New Brunswick elections upon the people of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New- foundland were fully realized. The anti-confederates in all the provinces were strengthened and encouraged in their oppo- sition to the scheme. Nova Scotia showed a disposition to revert to the original plan of a maritime union,* Newfound- land remained inert, and the Prince Edward Island Legislature went so far as to repudiate the action of the delegates at the Quebec Conference, and declared themselves hostile to union with Canada on any terms. Meanwhile, the Canadian delegation, consisting of Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Brown, and Gait, proceeded to London with little hope of seeing the speedy accomplishment of their scheme, and met a committee of the Imp6rial Cabinet, con- sisting of the Duke of Somerset, Earl de Grey and lUpon, Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. Cardwell. After a great deal of dis- cussion upon the points I have mentioned, they received assurances that Her Majesty's Government would adopt every legitimate means for securing the early assent of the Maritime Provinces to the Union. They also obtained a renewal of the promise of an Imperial guarantee of a loan for the construction of the Intercolonial Railway, and other assurances respecting the important questions of defence, the acquisition of the * The interesting letter from Dr. Tupper to Lieutcntint Governor MacDonncU, which ynW be found in Appendix VIII., shows the feeling which existed iu Nova Scotia at that time. 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 283 North "West Territories, and the renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854.* The conference took place during the month of May, and, like everything else in London, adjourned for the " Derby." Sir John related to me how he and his Canadian confreres spent their holiday, and, fortunately, I am able to give his account of the excursion almost as it fell from his lips : — "We all went down to Epsom in company with Russell, of the Times, by road, in order to see the fun. llussell invited me (there was room only for one) to Mr. Wheatley's (the great wine merchant's) stand, which was just opposite the Royal party. When Gladiateur passed the winning-post, about the lenf;th of his nostrils ahead of the second horse, I could have dropped my handkerchief on his head. What struck me more than anything else on that occasion was the effect produced by the sudden turning of the crowd in order to follow the horses with their eyes. A vast concourse of people witnessed the race, the enormous black mass stretching as far as the eye could see, all looking the same way as myself. Suddenly, as the horses rounded the corner, the crowd turned as one man, and the multitude of faces coming instantaneously into view looked like a flash of lightning. Coming home we had lots of fun ; even George Brown, a covenanting old chap, caught its spirit. I bought him a pea-shooter and a bag of peas, and the old fellow actually took aim at people on the tops of 'busses, and shot lots of peas on the way home. Russell, too, was great fun. In the drive, as we stopped, he would suddenly declaim to a gaping crowd, making a speech a la Jack Cade. Striding up to a stupid pcliceman, he exclaimed suddenly and with great earnestness, as he caught his arm, ' Is the multitude appeased ? ' * Ah ! no, no, sir, no more peas ; do not give them any more peas ! they have had enough already,' was the reply. " I made twenty guineas on that race, the only one I ever bet on. A lot of us got up a pool of a guinea a draw. Gait drew the favourite, Gladiateur ; I drew The Field. * You are a lucky fellow,' said I to Gait. ' I do not know about that,' replied he. ' There are fourteen horses running, and it is a great chance if one of them does not come in ahead.* ' Well,' * ^te Journals Leg. Ass., 1865, 2nd Sess., pp. 8-15. id 284 MEMO JUS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. 5 1 '■M 1 I't't* «h said I, ' I will swop, and give you a guinea to boot.' ' Done,' said he. We swopped, and Gladiateur won." While in England Mr. Macdonald wrote thus to his sister :— "London, June 17, 18G5. "My dear Louisa, " Gait and Brown both sail for Canada to-day, but I am detained for another week. I have had a good deal of private business to finish, and, besides, the University of Oxford is going to confer on me the degree of D.C.L. on Wednesday next. This is the greatest honour they can confer, and is much sought after by the first men, so that ',, of course, am only too happy to wait for it. We have finished all our work here in the most satisfactory manner, and in the way most advantageous to Canada. " I have seen Dr. and Mrs. Eomaines, and go to see them to-day. To-morrow I spend at Strawberry Hill, the house built by Horace Walpole, and now occupied by the Countess of Waldegrave. I stay there until Monday morning. " I write in a great hurry, and must bid good-bye, with my love. I sail on the China to Boston on the 24th. With warmest love to Hugh, Moll, and the Professor, believe me, " Yours most affectionately, "John A. Macdonald." Sir John always set a great value on his Oxford D.C.L, respecting which he used to tell the following story. On landing at Quebec, a few days after his visit to Oxford, he proceeded at once to pay his respects to the Governor General. With his mind full of State affairs, he paid little attention to anything about him, until the door was thrown open, and he found himself announced by the novel appellation of " Dr. Macdonald." " Lambkin ! " exclaimed he, turning to the orderly after he had shaken hands with Lord Monck, " evidently you have been reading the papers." Mr. Macdonald returned to Canada early in July. On the 13th of that month a proclamation issued, calling Parliament for the 8th of August. Between these dates died Sir Etienne Tach6, full of years and honours. A few days before his death 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 285 iie wrote to Mr. Macdonald, whom he loved as a son, the following touching note, from which 't is evident he felt his end was near : — " Quebec, ce 15 Juillet, 1865. "M05r CHER CoLLfeOUE, " Je compte sur vous, comme par lo passd, pour remplir Ics fonctions iittiichds au ministre de la milice. J'ai ecrit un mot ii "Adjutant Crdn^ral ik cet effet, I'informant que vous me remplacerez durant mon absence dans toua les cas oil mon approbation est indispensable aux actes de son d^partement. " N'oubliez pas de me faire savoir qiiand vous serez do retour de Kingston ; raimerais h. vous voir encore une fois avant le long voyage que je vais bientot entreprendre, " Tout .\ vous, "E. P. TACiifi. " A I'hc: orable J. A. Macdonald." The death of the Prime Minister, as a matter of course, dissolved the Cabinet, and rendered necessary a new under- standing between the parties to the coalition. Sir Etienne died on Sunday, the 30th of July. On the following Thursday the Governor General wrote to Mr. Mac- donald. " Thursday morniug. "My dear Macdonald, " I should like very much to see you this morning before I go to Quebec. We breakfast at 9.30, if you could come out for that. " Truly yours, " MoscK. " The Hon. J. A. Macdonald." Above the words " Thursday morning," on Lord Monck's note, is the following memorandum, in Sir John Macdonald's handwriting : — "This is the 3rd of August, 1865. On going out, Lord Monck asked me to form a Government, which I agreed to do.— J. A. M.D." On receiving the commands of His Excellency, Mr. Mac- donald immediately saw Mr. Brown, and informed him that ita^t M w 286 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIII. Lord Monck had requested him (Mr. Macdonald) to assume the position of First Minister, and to carry out the poHcy of the late Government with as few changes in the imsonnel of the Ministry as possible. Mr. Macdonald furtlier stated that Mr. Cartier had assented to this arrangement. He Llien invited Mr. Brown to accede to the proposal of His Excellency. Elsewhere will be found a report of the communications which took place between Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Brown on this occasion.* It is a matter of history that ]\Ir. Brown refused to serve under either Mr. Macdonald or Mr. Cartier, and that a compromise was finally agreed upon by whicli Sir Narcisse Belleau became Prime Minister, and all went on as before. To the suggestion of Mr. Macdonald that Mr. Cartier take the Premiership, Lord Monck replied as follows :— " [Private] " Thursday livouing;, 'Ar> »c. "My DEAR Macdonald, "I could liave no possible objection to Cartier as Prime Minister. " Should that fail, and you cannot agree on some fourth mi\n uihIlm- Avhom you, Cartier, and Brown can consent to serve, I shall entrust you with the formation of the Government, but I most fervently trust you will be able to devise some moans for holding together the i)rescnt Admiiiistriitioii. "I told Mr. Brown that my commission to you was to take the jnist of First Minister vacated by the death of Sir E. P. Tache, at the same time requesting all the other Ministers to retain their oflices. " Truly yours, " MOXCK. " I shall be glad to hear from you again to-night if anything occurs." The choice of Sir Narcisse Belleau proved, on the whole, satisfactory, though it appears that some members of tlic (iovernment, apart from Mr. Brown, received his accession to the leadership in the light of a personal disappointment. Among these was ]\Ir. Campbell, as appears from tliis letter, as usual, without date : — * Soe Appcmlix IX. In thcHe monionnula and notes I linvc cluscly i'nllownl t'ii' tirigiuals wliicli aro in uiy possussioii ; (lio copy ol' Mr. Macdoiiald'H rcniarkH ami notoM lu'iiiff in his liamlwiitiuf,', wliiio Mr. Brown also at'tud as ins own fccictaiy. Somo of tlic i)an('s aw written witli a lead peneil, and tlio words seem to have iieeii talien (h)wn as spolien, and to liavo lieen eorreeted afterwards. 'V\\v wiioie is enilnisci! by Sir .Tolin Maedunahl in a lit of ahsentniindedness. " Hon. (Jeo. Drown, It'll'), currespoudeueu on liis entering Govornnieut, etc., after deatli of Sir George Cartier." 1865.] THE COALITION OF 1864. 287 •' [Private.] "My dear Macdoxai.d. "In case Brown's answer should be satisfactory, and that Cartier should in consequeuco propos-j to you that Bollear should succeed Sir Etienne, pray bear in minJ Jiat lie must come in as a new and junior colleague, and that I must sujceed to the baton of leadership. This is due to me, and I trnst to you to see it done. ''Ever yours, "A. Campbell." e same tinn' The session which opened on the 8tli of August was the last held at Quebec. Tlie report of the delegates to England was laid before the Assembly, and the various issues raised thereby fully discussed. The Commission appointed eight years before to solidify the laws of Lower Canada had finished their labours in 1865, and a measure, bringing the civil code into operation, passed during this session. Prorogation took place on the 18th of September, after a comparatively short and uneventful session. The Opposition were numerically weak, and, while the alliance between Messrs. Macdonalil and Brown lasted, were powerless for harm. To all appearances the coalition had taken a new lease of life in August, but to those behind the scenes its continuance grew more and more problematical every day. The chief reason for this was the morbid jealousy with which Mr. Brown, after the novelty of "exercising che functions of constitutional adviser of the Crown" had worn off, viewed the manifest pre-eminence of his colleague, Mr. Macdonald, who was regarded in everything but ill name as the leader of the Government, and the mainstay of the scheme of Confederation. Mr. Brown was also intensely jealous of the Finance Minister, ]\Ir. Gait. His chagrin showed itself in various ways during the autumn of 1805, until, at length, as.sociation with him became almost unliearable. This disposition on the part of Mr. Brown to break loose from the restraints imposed by the coalition was not shared by his KcCorm colleagues, both of whom loyally acted their parts thmughout. In October an election was held in North Went- wortli, conse(iueiit upon the death of the sitting member, Mr. Notman. Two candidates presented themselves, Mr. A. IJrowii, a Conservative, and Mr. McMonies, a Liberal. Tlio "is^l 288 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap, XIII. Globe espoused the cause of the latter with great earnestness and said, editorially, some very unpleasant things about tlie Conservatives, all of which tended to widen the breach growiiu' between Mr. Brown and the other members of the Cabinet including Messrs. McDougall and Howland, the former of whom, in a letter to Mr. Macdonald, thus expressed his dis- approbation of Mr. Brown's course : — "The Wentworth affair was not satisfactory to me, and 1 took care to let that fact be known in Hamilton, where I was for a day. My ilissiitisfuctioii was probably for other reasons than yours. If party lines are to ho drawn in any case while the coalition lasts, it ought to bo done witiiont aii\ member of the Government showing his hand. My impression is tiiat Brown will be elected in spite of the Globe, and, I fear, the feeling that will bo aroused in the minds of our Liberal supporters in the House, and out of it, will not make our task very easy next session. We have the most difficult game to play to keep the press and aspiring politicians in tlic it mood, and, therefore, I deprecate these splurges of G. B. and the a ,,t. when a little managemeni; would carry us over the difficulty without troulijc. But we must not allow the mistakes or idiosyncrasies of any one or two men to upset our great project. My firm conviction is that, if we don't canv Confederation, it will not bo seen by this generation. Upon your slioujdors as much of the responsibility of failure rests as upon any man. You have done well thus far — don't break down now. I have great confidence in your good faith, in your skill and judgment, and in your temper, and will give you all the aid in my power, so long as there is any hope of success. We must be prudent and forbearing towards one another in matters that involve •party feeling, and wo will triumph." * Mr. McDougall's advice was sound, but there were limits even to Mr. Macdon aid's patience. What he endured at the hands of his jealous colleague will never be known, for he kept thofjo things to himself; but scattered hero and there through his papers are evidences which lead one to believe that, for personal reasons, at any rate, he must have welcomed the announcement of Mr. Brown's resignation. Hero is ;i sample of what I refer to : — " [Private and confidential.! "Quohoc, Monday. "Dear Macdonam), "I see you have arcseut Administration was formed, I think scarcely justifiable. "I most fully admit your right as leader of the Government to taka your own line in a matter of party or Parliamentary management, but I felt and still feel that you would have good right to complain if I had pernntted you, without remonstrance, Jo pursue a comse of conduct which I consider injudi- cious, and then had made the results of your course of action the ground for strong measures on my part. "I need scarcely say that any step of mine which would tend to dissociate me from the completion of the great work of Union would bo personally most (lisngi'ecable to me, and could be induced only by a sense of duty. "I have received in the |)ast, and am likely to receive in the future, much more credit for the business than — I say it most unafiectcdly — I feel I hav(5 any right to claim. " To you and to yoin- colleagues is really due the honour of having founded a ' new nationality,' and one of the incidents of this policy of delay which gives me most uneasiness is that it makes you, who havo hitherto led tlic way, appear to hang back now when all other parties to the matter are lirepurcd to move on. " However, liberavi an imam meam. I have put you in full possession of my opinions, and I feel that now no one can complain of my adopting any line of conduct which may appear best to me. " Believe mo to bo " Yours most truly, " MONCK." * I do not liiiJ that, after this date, Lord Mouck over * Not tlio Iciwt sinjfular leatuvc of tlii^t corrcspondcnci) is tho laot tluit it tlocH not n])])t'ar to luive inti'rruptod for an hour tlio friendly relations which existed between tho (ioveruor (.ileu(!riil uud liis (Jhief Minister. Lord Monek's llrst letter is dated Juno -Ist. Both on tho 20th and 2'2ud of tho snmo month, Mr. JIactlonuld received notes from liini m trivial niattcrsi, couched iu his usual faniili.'.r style of address. 304 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIV. \ f complained of delay. Nay, circumstances so ordained that in n very short time lie was actively co-operating with !Mr. Macdonuld in his endeavour to restrain the impatience of the Nova Scotia Government, which pressed for immediate action. On tin; very day that Mr. Macdonald had the above correspondence with the Governor General, he received a letter from Dr. Tupper pointing out ihe expediency of losing no time in despatching a delegation to England for the purpose of seem- ing the immediate passage of the British North America Act. Towards the close of the month Messrs. Tupper and Archibald arrived at Ottawa, and urged in person the extreme desirability of no b.-jge^' delaying the departure of the delegation. Whi'.i doubting the possibility of procuring the requisite Imperial Le^7~ Nation during the then current session, Canadian affairs were at that moment in such a condition as to justify Mr. Macdonald in yielding to the solicitations of his Nova vScotia friends. It was therefore agreed that the Canadian delegates should sail on the 21st of Julv ; those from the Maritime Provinces starting on the 19 th. Scarcely had Messis. Tupper and Archibald left Ottawa when a change of Ministry at home disconcerted the plans of the Canadian Government, and converted Lord Monck into as great an advocate for delay as he had been for immediate action. Mr. Macdonald, however, found the Nova Scotia delegates less open to conviction than the Governor General, who had become such a convert to Mr. Macdonald's views, that he positively forbade his Minis- ters to sail, and telegraphed Sir Fenwick Williams, the Lieu- tenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as follows : — "JulyU, 18GG. " I have seen Dr. Tiipper's telogrftm to Mr. IMacdoiiald. In tlio prosoiit condltiou of political alVuirs in England, it is simply absurd to send delegatos liomo until wo linvo some oomiiiunication with the new Secretary of State. I have a letter from a political friend in England to-day, to say that tlic general impression there is that the session will he immediately woutid iiji whatever Ministry is in oflice. Please keep your people (piict if you can, ami all will bo right. "Monck." Notwithstanding this advice the Maritime delegates, intent " upon playing their own hands," as Mr. Macdonuld obsei\cd 18*36.] COXFEDERATION. 305 to Lord Monck, sailed on the 19th, and spent the next four months in London impatiently awaiting the arrival of the Canadian delegates, vho did not leave Canada until the 7th of .Xovember. The reasons for this long delay are set forth in the Privy Council Minute, approved by His Excellency on the 24th of September, which will be found elsewhere,* and they are still more fully explained in this letter, addressed by .Mr. :Macdonald to ^Ir. Tilloy :— " Ottawa, October 8, 18GG. "My DEAlt TiLLEV, " Gait sent nie, some six weeks ago, the enclosed letter, which I did not then send you, as I fancied from his state of feeling that its tone would not be conciliatory. As, however, 1 now propose writing you on the subject of Canada's conduct with respect to Federation, I may as well enclose the letter to you, as showing Gait's view of the matter. "We Canadians think that Canada is the only province that carried out its engagements with respect to the Union. It was agreed at Quebec that the resolutions then agreed to sliould bo submitted by the several Governments to their respective I-oiiislatures at the then next .session, and, if possible, carried 'ih hloc and M'ithout alteration, lest any change should create the necessity for a new conference. Canada carried the resolu- tions in Parliament according to promise. Nova Scotia and Xew lirunswick did not pass them, and their Governments did imt even attempt to pass tliem. I do not mention this by way III' cliargo against the Maritime Provinces, but simply as show- iii<,' that the compact was Ijroken, not by us but by you. The t'iiilure in the IMaritinio Provinces caused Canada the greatest iinbarrassment. It perilled the existence of the Government, mid what was of more conset|Uence, it raised the hopes of the .Vmcrican or annexation party ; it discouraged the loyalists, and il .sliook the faith of tlic English people in the permanence of the connection with Great ]>ritain. To cure this, we were obliged to send a delegation to England, and happily succeeded in keeping the (^[uestion alive there. When wo submitted the ivsolutions to our Parliumont, we were of course obliged to * Stc Ali]irlltli\ .\III. vol.. r. % 306 MEMOIRS OF Sin JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIY. lit' l.'l pledge ourselves — in pursuance of one of the stii»ulations contained in them — to submit the scheme for the local Govern- menLa of Upper and Lower Canada at another session. The meeting of that session was delayed in accordance with your views, to enable the Government of Xew IJrunswick to inake another appeal to the people. " Had we met early in the year and before your elections, the greatest embarrassment and your probable defeat at the polls would have ensued. We should have been pressed by the Opposition to declare whether we adhered to the Quebec resolutions or not. Had we answered in the aflirmative, you would have been defeated, as you were never in a position to go to the polls on those resolutions. Had we replied in tlie Ti' u ave, and stated that it was an open question, and that the resolutions were liable to alteration, Lower Canada would have iirisen as one man, and good-bye to Federation. We, tliere- foi\, po.'^cponed the meeting of Parliament until you had an opportunity of following the example of Nova Scotia, and passing a general resolution and address without any embarrass- ment from debates, etc., in our Legislature. This policy proved successful. When our Parliament met, it had three things to do, which brooked no delay and must precede any delegation to England. It had to provide for — " 1st. The settlement of the local constitutions. " 2nd. The defence of the country, which luul already been invaded, and was threatened with a repetition of hostile attacks. This involved a series of military and preventive measures. " 3rd. The re-adjustment of our financial system, and the ])rovision for a floating debt of seven millions, which, in the state of the money market in England, could no longer bo renewed. We had further to provide for a million and a lialC expended on our militia, and for some two millions which were voted for future defence, and this in addition to our own ordinary expenditure. We had made great progress in our legislation on these subjects when Messrs. Tui)per and Arcliibald arrived here. They pressed our early departure for England, and we felt that the public business was in sucli ii position that we might safely iigree to sail on the 21st of ^m 1866.] COXFEDERA TION. 307 July. Scarcely had those gentlemen left Canada when Lord Monck received letters from Mr. Cardvvell, stating that there was no chance of a Bill being passed in the then session of the Imperial Parliament, and this was followed by the news of the defeat of the Ministry. Lord Monck lost no time in informing Mr. Gordon and Sir Fenwick "Williams that Canada could not send a delegation on the 21st, and begging that the delegates from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick should not sail. In answer to a telegram from Tapper I said that Lord Monck could not go, and would not allow any of his Ministers to go to England. Lord Monck felt that he ought to wait for further instructions from the new Colonial Secretary, and that, after Mr. Cardwell's letter, it was useless to go to England and waste our time there until next January or February, when Parliament would meet. The delegations from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, therefore, went at their own risk and after full notice that they would not be joined by a deputation from Canada. Since our Legislature rose we have been obliged to be j)erpetually on the watch. Again and again have the Fenians made prepara- tions and combinations for attacks on Canada. We have been obhged to increase largely oiir IMilitia force, and to extemporizi' a provincial navy. Lord Monck, under the circumstances, would not have been justified in abandoning his post or allowing liis principal advisers to leave Canada, unless for some great purpose. Now, I do not see what purpose would have been gained by his or our going to England after the English Parliament rose. Even had we sailed on the 21st of Juh' I do not believe that Confederation could have been carried. The settlement of the terms of the Bill is not the work of a (lay — it must take weeks of anxious and constant labour. The measure would have been easily drafted had the Quebec vesohitions been carried, but we are all at sea and obliged to commence dc novo. " Let us now consider the state of things as thoy are. In the first place, we think it of great consequence that Loril Monck "hould be in England during our deliberations. Canada is bound by the address to the Queen praying her to submit a iiu'asuro to Parliament based on the Quebec resolutions. Novii 308 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDOXALD. [C ilAP. XIV. Scotia and New Brunswick require modifications of that scheme. How are we to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the difficulty ? Only, I think, through Lord Monck. lie thoroughly understands the question, has been completely behind the scenes, and knows and can appreciate the points of difference between the several provinces. The Imperial Government is not entirely free to act as it pleases, as, in Her Majesty's answer, or rather the Colonial Secretary's despatch in answer to our address, Canada was informed that they (the Imperial Government) would be ready to submit a measure to Parliament embodying our resolutions. Air. Cardwell in his despatch alluded to one or two points which he thought might be amended, but he made no objection to the scheme on account of those points. He merely suggested them as worthy of reconsideration. The Imperial Government cannot, therefore, without the consent of Canada, act entirely as if it were a new case. In this state of affairs it is that Lord Monck's presence will be especially valuable. He will be the solvent and the intermediary between the paramount power and the Provinces. Again, it appears to us to be important that the Bill should not be finally settled until just before the meeting of the British Parliament. The measure must be carried ^)er saltum, and no echo of it nmst reverberate through the British provinces until it becomes law. If the delegation had been complete in England, and they had prepared the measure in August last, it would have been impossible to keep its provisions secret until next Jaiuiary. There will be few important clauses in the measure that will not offend some interest or individual, and its publication would excite a new and fierce agitation on this side of the Atlantic. Even Canada, which has hitherto been nearly a unit on the subject of Confederation, would be stirred to its depths if any material alterations were made. The Act once passed and beyond remedy the people would soon learn to be reconciled to it. "As you have been informed, it is our intention to sail (D.V.) on 7th of November for England. We hope to find you nil in good health and spirits, ready to tackle to the work, and in no degree enervated by the dissipations of London. ^mm 18G6.] CONFEDEUATION. 309 " Pray pardon my long yarn, but ' I had no time to make it shorter.' "With best regards to all your party, and to Tapper and his, " Believe me, my dear Tilley, " Very faithfully yours, " John A. Macdonald." Meanwhile the Canadian Parliament had not been idle. The resolutions providing for the local Governments and Legislatures of Upper and Lower Canada were duly passed ; the necessary changes in the tariff legislation were made, and the code of civil procedure for Lower Canada adopted. Shortly before the close of the session Mr. Gait resigned the uffice of Finance Minister and his seat in the Cabinet, by reason of his inability to agree with his colleagues on the educa- tional policy in relation to Lower Canada. Mr. Gait, however, remained in agreement with the Government on their general policy, and, as we shall see, formed one of the delegation to England on the Confederation question. On his retirement the position of Finance Minister was taken by Mr. Rowland. In August and September there occurred a revival of the Fenian alarms, which caused much anxiety at the time. During the general excitement which prevailed by reason of these threatened invasions, many imprudent things were said and (lone, and Mr. Macdonald was more than once obliged to rebuke certain ultra-loyalists in this fashion : — '' Ottawa, September 29, 186G. "My dear PtOLLAND, " I have yours of the 2Gth, and am rather surprised at your advice to allow parties to be arretted on mere suspicion of Fenianism. Now, this is a country of law and order, and we cannot go beyond the law. The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act gave no authority to the Government or the magistrates of the country to proceed without information on oath. All that it did was to prevent any application for bail or Habeas Corpus after final commitment. " You surely must remember that in Ireland, when Stephens 310 MEMOIliS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XIV. and the other Fenian leaders were arrested, they were so arrested on information on oath, and were brought up and examined before Mr. Strong, Police Magistrate at Dublin, in the usual way, and then, and not before, the Act came in force. " The consequence of allowing illiterate magistrates to arrest every man whom they chose to suspect — and that would be, in rural districts, every Roman Catholic — would be to drive tliat class out of the country, to ruin many a respectable family by forcing them to sacrifice their property, and to swell the ranks of the Fenian organization in the United States by every man who has been obliged to leave the provinces. " In all cases of final examination the County Attorney should be present, and, if he thought it proper, the examination might be private. " Yours faithfully, " John A. Macdonald. " To Holland Macdonald, Esq." At length the condition of affairs j)ermitted the leading members of the Government to devote their thoughts to the great subject of Confederation. On the 7th of November a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Howland, McDougall, Langevin, and Gait, sailed for England, and joined the delegation from the Maritime Provinces in London, On the 4th of December the conference was organized in the Westminster Palace Hotel. On motion of Dr. Tupper, seconded by Mr. Tilley, Mr. Macdonald was elected chairman, and Lt.-Col. Bernard secretary. At the outset of the proceedings the New J3runsvvick dele- gates stated that their authority to act in such capacity was contingent upon their success in securing the construction of the Intercolonial Eailway, and invited a general expression of opinion on the subject. All present concurred in the view that the road was " desirable," and agreed to press upon Her Majesty's Government the necessity of " making provision for security for its construction by Imperial action." Dr. Tupper then informed the Conference of the action taken in relation to Prince Edward Island. It wa? resolved, as at Quebec, that on all questions, except those of order, Canada should have two votes. i80»;.] CONFKDERA TION. 311 LCDONALD, Xova Scotia and Xew Brunswick one vote each. The Quebec resolutions as far as Xo. 21) were then considered. Such in brief is the record of the iirst day's proceedings of the Confer- ence, which continued in session dc die in diem until the 24th of Deceniber, when a series of resolutions based upon tliose of the Quebec Conference, the Xew Brunswick and Xova Scotia Legislatures, and those providing for the Local Govern- ments of Upper and Lower Canada, were agreed upon and transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.* After the holidays the Conference resumed its sittings. Long and earnest were the deliberations which finally resulted ia the British Xorth America Act. It was mutually determined that no minutes of the various discussions should be taken, and no official record, therefore, exists of them. But a multitude of notes, drafts, and memoranda were preserved by Sir John Macdonald, and lie before me. They are, as might be expected, oxceedingly voluminous, so much so as to preclude the possi- bility of my giving even the most general resume of them within the narrow limits at my disposal.f The members of the Conference were assisted in their labours by the Governor General, who liad come over for the purpose,, iind also by the Colonial Minister, Lord Carnarvon. From their frequent communications witli Mr. Macdonald, both of these I^entlemen appear to have exhibited much interest in the negoti- ations. In another place % will be found a few letters from oacli of them. At Westminster, as elsewhere, the guiding hand throughout * i"\)r the text of these resohitions, sec Appendix XIV. t From those papers I gather tliat when the Conference rc-assembled after the New Yciir, it set to workou a draft Bill, and at tlie same time the Imperial law officers weiti similarly engaged. The iirst draft of the Conference is witiiout d;ite. and marked " Rough draft." The next draft is the work of tlie Imperial li."- Diirers, and i'* miirked "Revise, 23rd Jannary, 1807." What I call the third drull, i.e., third in ]i(iintof time, is the work of the Conference. It is marked, " 1st draft, January 30th, 18G7." The fourth draft, in point of time, is also of the Conference. It is marked, "2nd draft, A.G,, January 31st, 1807." The fifth draft, also of the Conference, is marked, " 3rd draft, A.G., Feb'y 2nd, 18G7." What appears to he the sixth draft, also of the Conference, bears no date or number. The seventh and last draft is printetl in the Imperial form. It is marked, '* Ilevise, 9th Feby., 1867," and is ivideutly the fruit of the joint labours "f the Conference and the English law iillirers. X See Appendix XV. T^ P 312 MEMOIRS OF SIR JO IIS A. MACDONALD. [Ciiai>. XIV, M' the whole of these negotiationg was that of Sir John Macdonald, who, amid much discouragement, devoted all the energies of his mind to the work of building up a new nationality on this continent. When I speak of discouragements, I do not refei' to the difficulties inseparable from the task of reconciling the different and sometimes conflicting interests of the several provinces, but rather to the want of appreciation v. by the Imperial authorities of the great work in hand, iney were, as I have said, interested in the negotiations, and freely lent their assistance to the carrying out of the scheme, but their idea of what was to be attained fell far short of the lofty conception of Mr. Macdonald. He was intent upon founding a kingdom, they upon affecting an arrangement which would result in tht" simpler administration of the Colonial Office. With his mind full of the Imperial idea, he seized upon the occasion as affordin;^ an opportunity for consolidating and strengthening British rule upon this continent, while they do not seem to have been animated by any higher notion than that it would be a good deal more convenient to deal with one colony th' with half a dozen. Sir John himself has illustrated verj rly what I have attempted to say : — " A great opportunity was lost in 18G7, when the Dominion was formed out of the several provinces. This remarkable event in the history of the British Empire passed almost without notice. The new Confederation had, at the time of the union, about the same population as the thirteen colonies when they rebelled and formed a nation imbued with the bitterest feelings of hostility towards England — feelings which, by the way, exist in as offensive a form now as they did on the day of the * declaration of independence.' "The declaration of all the B.N.A. provinces, that they desired as one Dominion to remain a portion of the Empire, showed what wise government and generous treatment would do, and should have been marked as an epoch in the history of England. This would probably have been the case had Lord Carnarvon, who as Colonial Minister had * sat at the cradle ' of the new Dominion, remained in office. His ill-omened resig- nation was followed by the appointment of the late Duke of . 1 i- 1 1.SG6.] CONFEDEUA TIOX. Buckingham, who had as his adviser the then Governor General, Lord Monck — both good men, certainly, but quite unable, from the constitution of their minds, to rise to the occasion. The Union was treated by them much as if the B.N.A. Act were a private Bill uniting two or three English parishes. Had a - at Ellah's Hotel, Front Street, with his friend and colleague, Mr. J. C. Morrison, when Miss IJernard and her brother Richard came in. " Who are those people ? " said. Mr. Macdonald to "Joe Morrison," as he invariably ''ailed him. "An English family settled on Lake Simcoe. I do not know their names," was the rejtly. This was in the year 185G. I have heard liady Macdonald ask Sir John what his first impressions were. He made some jocular answer, and finally said, "I thought you both very tall, very much alike, and that you had iine eyes." In 1858, her elder brother, Colonel Bernard, became Mr. Macdonald's private secretary in succession to Mr. (after- wards Chief Justice) Harrison. Soon after tliat event Miss l)Crnard was present with her brother at ii concert in Shaftes- Itmy Hall, Toronto. During the evening the Colonel pointed out his chief, who was sitting in the middle of the front gallery with some ladies. " I remember distinctly," Lady Macdonald lias said, " how ho looked ; a forcible, yet changeful ^;ice, with such a mixture of strength and vivacity, and his bushy, dark, peculiar hair as he leaned on liis elbows and looked down." In 1859 the Government reniovid to (ijuebec. During that winter Sir John called upon Mrs. Bernard, saying to \\(\v, in liis kind way — which, though cordial, was never patronizing — that ho liked her son so much, that ho wished to have the pleasure also of her ac(piaintanco. It was on the occasion of this visit that Sir John and his future wife iirst met. During the next few years they saw little of each other. In September, 18G5, Mrs. and Miss J>ernard left Canada with the intention of taking up their residence in England. A year later they accidentally met Sir John in Bond Street, who was very glad to see them. A few days before Christmas lu5 proposed to Miss Bernard, and they were married after the holidays, Sir John alleging one reason for the shortness of the engagement that his wife might go out with him and see something of F.ondon, of which Just then he was in the way of seeing a good deal. r> '■ 316 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Cuai-. XV. I must not omit to mention lir^e one of those narrow escapes from death whicli Sir John Macdonald more than once experienced. The story is thus told by himself: — '• Westminster Palace Hotel, London, " December 27, 18GC. "My dear Louisa, "I sailed from New York on 14 Nov. There have been bi-weekly steamers ever since, and yet I have not had a word from Heathfield, altho' there hav ' een 10 regular mails since I sailed. This is not right. Hu it not beeu for some business letters from Shannon, I should have been with- out any news from Kingston. "We have got on very satisfactorily with our work so far, and confidently expect a successful issue to our labours. When I am to return, however, it is, as yet, impossible to say. "For fear that an alarming story may reacli you, I may as well tell it you as it occurred. Cartier, Gait, and myself returned from Lord Carnarvon's place in the country late at night. I went to bed, but commenced reading the newspapers of the day, after my usual fashion. I fell asleep, and was iiwakened by intense htat. I found my bed, bed clothes, and curtains all on fire. I didn't lose my presence of mind — pulled down the curtains with my hands, extinguished them witli the water in my room. The pillow was burnt under my head, and bolster as well. All the bed-clothes were blazing. 1 dragged them all off on the floor, and, knowing the action of feathers on flame, I ripped open bolster and pillows and poured an avalanche of feathers on the blazing mass, and then stamped out the fire with my hands and feet. Lest tlio hair mattress might be burning internally, I then went to Cartier's bedroom, and, with his assistance, carried all the water in tliree adjoining rooms into mine, and finally extin- guished all appearance of fire. We made no alarm, and only Cartier, Gait, and myself knew of the accident. After it was all over it was then discovered that I had been on fire. M,v shirt was burned on my back, and my hair, forehead, and hands scorched. Had I not worn a very thick flannel shirt under WW 18G6-67.] THE NEW DOMINION. 317 my nightshirt, I should have been burnt to death. As it was, ray escape was miraculous. It was found that my right shoulder-blade was much scorched. So I got it dressc^l and tliought no more of it. In a day or two, however, I found that it would not do, and have been under the doctor's hands for a week. The wound at one time took an ugly look. I was kept in bed for three days, and have not left the house these eight days, I shall take a drive to-day if the doctor allows it when he calls to look at my back. So much for that story. " I had a merry Xmas alone in my own room, and my dinner of tea and toast. I drank all your healths in bohea, though you didn't deserve it. I was to have gone to Evan Macpherson's to dinner, if I did not go down to William The town is quite empty, and wliether I can have anything Clark, but I could do neither. 1 liave no news to tell. " I shall know to-morrow like a holiday before the British Parliament meets. " Love to Hugh, Margaret, and the Tarson, and believe me " Affectionately yours, "Joiix A. Macdoxald. " I got all kinds of ])raise for the presence of mind, and admonitions against reading in bed. I still read, however. Tell the Professor to write what he wants me to got for lum. Prepay all letters. "J. A. M.D." Among the numerous congratulations received by Mr. Mac- tlonald on the occasion of his marriage was one from his colleague and friend ]Mr. Cam])bell, who, in his absence, had charge of affairs in Canaila. •• Ottuwii, Jamiiiry 'J.'i, 1807. "Ami HO you mo ^uiii^ to siilisiilc into iiiiitrimoiiy ? I am dclif^lituil to lieur it, ami ollbr my Lost wishes and cuiij,'i'atnlatioiis to JUsh Ucriiard. I <:onfcH8 to old Wollor's incrodidity, ' I didn't think you'd a done it.' Come lack a K.C.U.— Sir John and Lady Maedoiiald. This I think Kliould he done ahsolutely, a dosrcc of khit is essential. 1 had thou^dit of framing a eonitly I»aragrni)Ii, ' a matrimonial alliance is wc believe,' etc., but Htund)letl upon th(» iiidoHcd in th'j Kin,i,'ston Jhtily Nt'ws of the IHth. two days l)cfore I receiveil mm^ m 318 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Ciiap. XV. your letter of the 2ncl. The cable has been at work perhajis ! Can I order anything or do anything here ? It would gratify me to bo of service on tlic occasion in some way. Thanks for the Confederation news. Your clmnijo.s liarmonize with our iirevious work in their spirit of conciliation and c'omjtiomisc. and will, I doubt not, be well received when made known." Shortly after their manidgo Mr. and Mrs. MacJon;ilJ were presented at Court. Just before the ceremony, Mr. Macdonalil was honoured by a special audience of Her Majesty. Tlu^ occasion was the first on which he had ever met the Queen fact- to face, an honour which so impressed him that, on issuiiin from the Royal presence, he wrote down a lerlatim account of what had p . sed at the audience, and, afterwards, this Icttm- t(i liis sister. Miss Macdonald : — " 48, Dover Street, London, Marcli 21. l>. at 3. In the morning at half-past twelve, I and four others, as a special honour, had private audiences ol" Her Majesty. We went in separately. I went in Ih'st, as head of the Conference. There were only in the room the (i>ueon, Princess Louise, and Lord Carnarvon, the Colonial {Secretary. < )u entering, the Queen put out her hand, on which I knelt auil kissed it. On rising she said, ' I am very glad to see you on this mission.' I bowed. ' I liope all things are going well with you.' I said I was happy to inform Her Majesty that all things had been prosperous with us, anC by tlie aid of Lord Carnarvon our measure had made great progress and there had been no delays. H.M. said, ' It is a very important measure, aud you have all exhibited so much loyalty.' I rcjdied, 'We have desired in this measure to declare in the most snlomn and IHHW 1867.] THE NEW DOMINION. 310 eraphat'c manner our resolve to be under the Sovereignty of Your Majesty and your family for ever.' And so ended the aiidience. She had kind words for all those who followed me, Cartier, Gait, Tupper, and Tilley. Lord Monck is to return to Canada as Governor General, and has, but this is cntrc oioux, charged me with the formation of the first Government as Premier. We have been quite lions here. My wife likes it from its novelty to her, but it rather bores me, as I have seen it all before. " Give my warmest love to Hugh, Margaret, and the Tro- fessor, and accept the same from " Your affectionate brother, "John A. Macdonald." With this short digression we must now revert to politics. Mr. Macdonald returned to Canada early in May, and at once set about putting in motion the machinery of the new Dominion — a Herculean task which the Governor General, who had remained in England, confided to him by word of mouth, and subsequently l)y the following letter : — "Loudou, May '_'l. l«{)7. " Mv DK.VH MacOOXALK, " Tlic jjioclanintioii appointing the Union to come into operation on July Ist, and nominating the members of the Senate, was agreed to by the Queen in Couneil on Wechiesday last, and appeared in the (lazetlo, of that evening, so that our work so far lias been fniisiicd. " .t now remains for us to take the necessary steps to put in motion the machinery which wo hav(^ created, and I write this note to authorize you (o tnko the needful measures, so as to have a ministry ready to bo sworn into olTice and to conmienco the performance of their several functions on the 1st July. I entrust this duty to you as the individual selected for their chair- man and spokesman by the unanimous vote of the delegates when they won' in England, and I adojit this test for my guidance in con8e(iuenc(> of tlic impossibility, under the circumstances, of ascertaining, in the ordinary con- Ktilutional manner, who possesses the confidence of a I'arliaincnt wliicli docs nut yet exist. "In authorizing you to undertake the duty of forming an adniinistrution for the Dominion of (!anada, I desire to express my strong opinion Ihut, in future, it shall bo distinctly understood that the i)osition of First Minister shall bo held by one person, who shall bo responsible to the Governor Cieneral fur the appointment of the other ministers, and that the system of dun! First Ministers, which has hitherto |)rcvnilcd, fllmll be put an end to. i. it !■ Is.' 11 ■! 320 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XV. " I tliink this is of importance, not only with reference to the maintenanccr of satisfactory relations between the Governor General and his (Jabinet, but also with a view to the complete consolidation of the Union which we have brought about. "I may mention that I have communicated with Sir F. Williiinis ami General Dojle, and they have both expressed their willingness to undertake the duties of provisional Lt. Governors, should it be found desirable to avail ourselves of their services. " My purpose is to sail on the 14th of June, direct to Quebec. I shall i^o in the first instance to Spencer Wood, but I can, of course, come to Ottawa whenever it is necessary. " Believe me to bo " Most truly yours, '• M0X( K. " The Ilouourable J. A. Mucdonald." (H The difficulties of the situation were greatly aggravated by the conduct of Mr. George Brown, who, despite his assurances of amity on leaving the Cabinet, before long was found in open hostility to tlie Government, and imbued with a rancour against Mr. Macdonald which personal intercourse had served only to deepen. Confederation being assured, Mr. Brown devoted all his energies to breaking up the alliance which subsisted between the parties, and made every effort to induce his old colleagues, Messrs. Howland and McDougall, to return to the Liberal ranks, in which, however, he signally failed. To this end he brought together in Toronto a convention of the lleformers of Ontario, in the latter part of June. This meethn; was attended by Messrs. Howland and McDougall, who defined their position and gave their reasons for continuing in alliance witli Mr. Macdonald. Mr. Brown's style of oratory, as exhibited at the convention, is thus described by a Liberal gentleman who was present : — "^Ir. IJrown's shrewd manipulations were manifest throughout, lie brought every man that he was afraid of, and whom he could control, iiitu a position of promhicncc, with the double purjiose of flattering and comniittiii- them. There were not many there who will bo candidates for the Comnioib, and several who were there will 8Ui)port you. What he lacked in arguiuLMit. he made up in acting, rant, and physical gyrations with his arms, head, and long legs. The attitudes of the conqueror were absurd in the extreme. Tiiey cannot be described — perhaps at some future public meeting I shall be able to give you an Idea of lac strut and style of Brown in the character of '1 aii> 1867.] THE NEW DOMINION. 321 lyllOUt. III? monarch of all I survey, etc' Perhaps the most ridiculous scene in tlio whole play was when he came to that part of his speech which commences with tlio words ' Tell me, etc,' and to emphasize the ' impudent conception ' that he should ' get on his knees to Jolm A. Macdonald.' TIio idea was accompanied by a physical demonstration which for a moment held every breath in suspense, for it threatened tlie annihilation of poor Mr. Howland. You have seen boys bathing wlio, before diving head foremost, would take a run with head inclined and arms outstretched as a sort of cutwater. Tiiis was something of the iippearance of Brown Avho, before running into the finance Minister, made up his mind to take the whole length of the platform, and, with clenched fists outstretched and crouching head, advanced upon him with rapid strides, roaring, ' Tell mo that I should follow these gentlemen, and upon my knees fall down to worship John A. ]\Iacdonald,' etc. The eflbrt was so overpower- ing that even Mr. Brown's ungainly proportions were exhausted, and he quietly subsided for a few moments in a chair to draw breath ! Tlie effect might have been greater were it not that the attention of the audience was nirested to ascertain what had become of Mr. Ilowland ; and when it Avas discovered that he was composedly sitting down enjoying the ridiculous performance, all joined in merry laughter. It was Mr. Brown's chef iVawrre, liut by no means the only ridiculous effort that he made in gymnastics. It would require pages to describe the proud strut of the conquering hero, as he appeared that night ; sometimes pensively pacing the platform before the wliole audience ; now with arms akimbo ; now witii uplifted head and chest expanded by force of the attitude, while in his terrible mood you might see him rushing to and fro in more violent passion than Richard when he comes upon the stage exclaiming, ' My kingdom for a horse,' etc. Yesterday the convention passed a resolution requesting him to become a candidate, etc. Well, this was a plain business transaction, which you would expect to see met in a plain business way. But no — Mr. Brown had to cry about it, and run away into the ante-room, api)urerit]y to hide his blushes and to bottle those precious crocodile tears. In his confusion he was waited upon by his faitiiful henchman, Mr. Mackenzie, and, leaning on his arm, Mackenzie produced tlio suffering object to the atulience after a siiort interval. !Mr. Ih'own had not spoken long before the flood-gates burst upon him with more violence than at first, and poor Mackenzie, exhausted by fatigue in faithful watcliings, etc., again came to the rescue ' to wipe away them tears.' My opinion is, thai if tiio whole performance was well travestied and put into good hands, and placed upon the boards, etc., it would be the greatest card to play in the coming (.'lections. " The efl'ect of Messrs. Iliwland's and McDougall's speeches was capital. Tlieir bold, manly, intelligent oxplanations, without rant or stage effect, so I'lmtrasted with the bad acting of their chief opponent, that it riveted itself unmistakably upon every man present. I take some credit for their appearance there. It was my conviction from the outset that they should go, and the success was so marked that it was the common subject of conversation with I'very one, the whole of the next day. Mr. Brown's reply was made up of more VOL. I. Y i'P . la 322 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XV. physical demonstrations, mere 'passion torn to pieces,' contortions and gyrations similar to what I have described, and misrepresentations and deductions anything but creditable to a good pious Presbyterian. Tliis convention will be remembered for its lack of talent and ability by its pro- jectors, for its uselessness to their purposes, for its want of purpose and direct- ness except to influence men with prejudice, and for its bad logic and inconsistencies throughout." Mr. Macdonald's policy was in marked contrast to that oi' Mr. Brown, whose advocacy of Confederation sprang from a desire to "set Upper Canada free," as he expressed it. No other constitutional means existed for severing the connection which bound her in legislative union to Lower Canada ; which union, in Mr. Brown's opinion, was the great drawback to her prosperity, therefore he adopted Confederation and pressed it with all liis might. As for the Lower Provinces, he regarded them merely as the means whereby the French Canadian vote might be overborne. Mr. Macdonald, on the other hand, aimed at something far higher than any mere provincial object; his energies were devoted to the founding of a kingdom, and to accomplish that result he was prepared to sacrifice even the interests of his party. In the month of November, 1866, the Conservatives of South Oxford were desirous of testifying, in a public manner, their admiration for him, but he declined to accept the demonstration, for reasons which he thus sets out in a letter to a friend : — " I am infinitely obliged to the Constitutional Association of the South Kiding of Oxford for their kind invitation, ami I can assure you that nothing gives me greater pleasure than to receive the personal compliment which that Association lias offered me. But I have declined all such invitations (except from my own constituents) unless they were addressed to my colleagues. Conservative and Reform, as well as myself. I believe that a great party is arising of moderate men, who, casting aside the petty politics of past days, are willing to join together for the good of the future of Canada. " There arc many men who think alike now of the future of British America, who have been hitherto divided by their political antecedents. All this ought to be forgotten now ; and, after Confederation, I hope that men, whatever their [Chap. XV, 1867.] TEE NEW DOMINION. 323 ntortions and ;entations and yterian. This ity by its pro- 3se and direct- 3ad logic and it to that of ■ang from a setl it. No J connection lada ; whicli 'back to lier \ pressed it he regarded inadian vote hand, aimed I object; his iom, and to ce even the r, 1866, the estifyiug, in declined to s sets out in Association Station, ami leasure than lociation has ions (except ddressed to I as myself. 3 men, who, lling to join f the future led by their ^'otten now; atever their antecedents may have been, who think alike, will act together. This is the true and only principle of party. "On returning from England, and after Confederation is carried, I shall be happy to renew, in conjunction with my colleagues, the acquaintances that I have already made in South Oxford, and, by personal intercourse, to enlarge the number of our friends." * Besides interfering with the free intercourse which should exist between the leader of a party and his followers, the strict adherence to the compact made in 1864 often laid Mr. Macdonald open to the charge of sacrificing his friends. In reality, no man less deserved the imputation. There was only one thing he valued more than friendship, and that was his word. With the object of carrying Confederation, he had made a solemn compact with certain members of the Opposition. One of the conditions of that compact was, that in Keform constituencies, where the member supported the Government, he should have the patronage of the county. To be large-minded is not given to many ; people, as a rule, are local, and the Conservatives living in the constituencies repre- sented by Messrs. Howland and McDougall and their sup- porters thirty years ago were no exception to the general rule. They had supported " John A." for twenty years ; had helped him into power, and had gone with him into Opposition. " John A." was in office now — was head of the Government — yet every position in the constituency fell to their political opponents — to men who in the past had devoted all their energies to put it out of Mr. Macdonald's power to have any offices to bestow. This condition of things was intolerable. They did not believe that Mr. Macdonald could be aware of what was going on. They would acquaint him ; they would write to " John A.," which, among Conservative Canadians for many years, was the equivalent of writing to the Times in England. And they carried out their threat. Between the years 1864 and 1867 Mr. Macdonald received hundreds of letters reproaching him with forgetting his old friends, who had stood by him for so many years. No charges hurt him * From the lion. John A. MiicdonaUl to Alexander McClcuaghan, Esq., dated November 8, 18G6. ir 324 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALI). [Chap. XV. more, for he knew full well that in the majority of cases they were made in good faith. His correspondents, as a rule, could not be expected to understand that he was doing violence to his personal inclinations in order that he might build up a nation. Occasionally he used to reply in this fashion : — "I am very sorry, for I did all that I could for him, as I would have done for you had the opportunity offered. But you see how I am placed. When Brown left the Govern- ment I had to sustain Howland and the Eeform section against him, and I had to repeat in writing the arrangement originally made witli Brown, that in Reform constitueiuies, where the member supports the coalition, he (the member) should have the patronage. Brown is anxiously waiting for an opportunity of showing that Howland, McDougall, and Blair had sacriticed the Eeform party and become my tools, so that I have been obliged to throw over personal considerations altogether. It is, as you must see, of the greatest importance to the future of Canada, and especially to your countrymen and co-religionists, that we should commence Confederation as a united party against a fanatic like Brown, and therefore I have been obliged to make my own feelings and desires to help my friends secondary altogether to the ultimate good of the country." There was, it is true, another side to the picture. While the coalition cost him some friends it gained him others, who, in the depth of their loyalty and devotion to the chief, after- wardr. proved second to none. His Liberal colleagues stuck closely to him, and endeavoured to show him in various ways that the continiiation of the coalition was by no means dependent upon the good pleasure of Mr. George Brown. Nor was the conciliatory spirit shown by Mr. Macdonald responded to only by Messrs. Howland, McDougall, and Fergusson Blair. Among the Eeform party were those who, while they remained steadfast in their opposition to Mv. Macdonald, did not think it inconsistent with their Liberalism to acknowledge his great abilities and his desire to further the best interests of his country. These gentlemen were, I doubt not, more readily induced to give expression to these views in order to mark their disapprobation of the course pursued by the Glohc, which, 0. [Chap. XV. 1866.] THE NEW DOMINION. 325 during the year 1866, was especially virulent in its abuse of the Attorney General. It is not to be denied that, for some years prior to his second marriage, Mr. Macdonald's habits of life were marked by an occasional irregularity similar to that which, in a much greater degree, characterized Pitt, Fox, Sheridan, and many other eminent statesmen. Of my late chief's failings in this respect I have no personal knowledge. As was both natural and fitting, he whose life was a succession of triumphs over others, eventually gained the mastery over himself. This liappened long before I knew him. At the same time, it would be futile to ignore the fact that there was a period in the life of Sir John Macdonald when excess in the direction I have indicated interrupted his usefulness, gave pain to his friends, and furnished his enemies with a weapon of which they never hesitated to avail themselves. In this latter respect the Globe was incomparably the worst offender. The violence which it displayed in its attacks upon all those who ventured to differ from Mr. George Brown can scarcely be conceived by those whose knowledge of that newspaper is derived from acquaint- ance with the Globe of to-day, while the extent of its habitual exaggeration in all that told to the disadvantage of Mr. Mac- donald would almost surpass belief were it not that litera scripta manet. That paper, in its issue of the 5th of Sep- tember, 18G6, contained a more than usually vile attack upon Mr. Macdonald's private character. A few days afterwards Mr. Alexander Mackenzie made some allusion to the Globe's article. What he said I do not know, but the nature of his remarks can be surmised from the following letter, which is especially valuable, as showing Sir John Macdonald's generous estimate of his distinguished political opponent : — " Ottawa, October 9, 18G6. "My dear Sir, " Many thanks for your kind letter of the 11th ultimo, which absence from Ottawa has prevented my answering before. "I can quite appreciate the generous course taken by Mr. McKenzie, and it is not more than I expected from him. hi':- I'. I 326 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XV. I have "watched his course ever since he entered Parliament, and, although he is a strong party man, he has always acted in the spirit of fairness and has sliown himself to be above anv of the meannesses which are often exhibited by politicians of a lower grade. I think that he is a man of too much ability and independence of character to be misled by any one. He will take his own course and act according to his conscientious convictions. I am glad to say that he and I have always been good friends. " Again thanking you for your note, " Believe me yours faithfully, "Jonx A. Macdoxald. " Wm. J. Macdoiiald, Esq., Bear Creek, Sarnia." I shall give one more illustration of the respect which Mr. Macdonald has extorted from his most bitter opponents. The name of Edward Goff Penny was long a synonym in tlie city of Montreal for Liberalism of tlie most imcomproniising type. The editor and joint proprietor of the Jlcntreal JlcruhJ — a newspaper which, if less violent than the Globe, was uqiuilly devoted to the advocacy of what is called reform — Mr. Penny was, I think I am not wrong in saying, an oracle of the party, and his private office the rendezvous for the heads of the Eni;- lish-speaking Liberals of Lower Canada. It was thitlier that Mr. John Young bore the purloined letter in 1873, and there that Mr. Holton uttered his memorable exclamation on the 17th of September, 1878.* Those who knew Mr. Penny do not need to be told that between him and Mr. Macdonald tliere was little in common beyond the feeling of loyalty which * The day that witnessed the defeat of the Macken/ic Adn... tioii. Alxnit half -past sesen in tlie eveninjij of tliat day, Mr. !!■ 'ton. ,- accordant r with ,i uistdiii of many years staudinjf, "dropped in" to wh iili;irly known 'm Moutrtal us the " hack ofKco of the Herald.^' It was rat; \, and lie sat d' on a beudi somewhat apart from the yoiinf^er meinhers ol l>arty, who were nuK-iiij^ niorry in the centre of tlie room. Presently the news hegiiu I i com^ m. Its import was soou divined hy the >uhdued manner of the onto noisy group. Without moving from his position, Mr. Iloltou gathered that the news was had; hui he said not a wnl, nw had the ever-swelling tide of disaster that came rolling in ahout nine o'clock tiic rtFeit «if breaking his silence. At length ho rose quietly, buttoned his coat, drew m lii gloves, struck his stick on the floor, and with the single observation, "'Well I Jolm X. beats the devil," he pas.sed out into the sUeut uight. I haye heard Sir John Mac- donald tell this story himself. m 1866.] TIIE NEW DOMINION. 327 animated them both. Yet we find Mr. Penny addressing the Conservative leader in these terms : — " My dear Macdo.vald, "I should not adequately express my feelinpjs if I did not say to you that I and Mr. Wilson are very, very much gratified by your kind note of last evening, which forms, so far as I know, a new incident in Canadian political life. If, liowever, you will allow me to say so, I think the occasion is one which renders anything like thanks on your part quite unnecessary. You had some need of support in this conmmnity when you passed the Alien Bill, and might, perhaps, have done so again if you had got your recent propositions for reciprocity accepted ; and as I gave you what help I could on the first, I should, I dare say, have done the same on the second, though in cither case I was at liberty to choose my course. But just now there is no clioice for any sensible man. You want no backing in taking precaution, and any one who is not a fool, and who possesses any property, to say nothing of a ftvniily, must feel that even excessive precaution is to be commended. " There is just one word in your letter — that about my English instincts —on which at another time I should probably have said something ; but this is not the place, and I, therefore, merely add that Mr. Wilson and myself had nearly made up our minds before I. received yours of last night, that I should put myself into communication with you, for the purpose of lotting you know tiiat, in present circumstances, and for the sake of a cause about which tiiere can be no party or controversy, we would hold ourselves at your disposal if there were any line of address to the public wliicli you thought it desirable to take or any subject which you might wish to avoid. " I hesitated, because of those relations of the press to Colonial Govern- ments which unfortunately make it necessary for a man who values his reputation to exhibit a high degree of courage almost before he speaks to a minister not of his own party leanings. I now see, however, that we judged our duty correctly, and that our motives would not have been misconstrued by you. If, therefore, we can render any service in this regard, I beg you will command it.* " Believe me yours very truly, " Ki)\v. Goi'K Pknny. " Saturday morning, ^larcli 10, 18GG." * The following is the letter wliich drew forth the above reply. Tlie coj)y in my pnsscH.siou has uo date, hut ^Ir. Penny's letter iudieates that ^Ir. Macdonald's wiw written on the Otli of Murcli, 18G0, on which day two articles appeared in the Mouti'eiil Herald approving of certain precautiimary measures wliich had heun taken hy the Goverumeut iu view of the rumours of au impeudiug Feuiau invasion. "[Private.] " My nEAii Penny, " I cannot aUow the day to pass o^er witlioiit thanking you for your well considered and patriotic article of tiiis morning. " I scarcely expected it, for I know what a stern (Oppositionist you are ; hut tlio WT [f"^' m. 328 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. [Chap. XV. Strong in the affections of a united Conservative party, urirl supported by a powerful wing of tliose Keformers who would not follow George Brown, Mr. Macdonald could ..fford to wait with confidence the verdict of the people of Ontario. Quebec was almost unitedly at his back, and the only quarter which caused the future Prime Minister of the Dominion any anxiety was the Maritime Provinces, and more particularly Nova Scotia, where the feeling against union with Canada was, owing to a variety of causes, very pronounced, and, as we shall see, destined to increase in bitterness. Il was, indeed, fortunate fur the success of the Confederation, that Mr. Macdonald possessed in Messrs. Tilley and Tupper lieutenants able and willing to cope with the difficulties which surrounded them, in a spirit of loyalty and devotion which ever distinguished those eminent men ir their long political intercourse with Sir John Mac- donald. With the Maritime leaders Mr. Macdonald had mucli correspondence during May and June. To Dr. Tupper he wrote on the 30 th of May : — " We are to be united, you see, on 1st July, and there is an infijiity of details to be worked out by that time — the personnel of the Ministry to be fixed, the offices adjusted, Lieutenant Governors appointed, and the whole machinery to be set in motion. Most of these things imxzt be done before 1st July, and therefore no time is to be lost. I have written Tilley that we nuist meet by 1st June at latest here. Will you come on so as to be at Ottawa by that date, and bring Archibald with you ? I am glad to say that we are to continue the Government quoad Canada proper on the old coalition principle ; McDougall and Ilowland are strongly sustained by their friends, and will leave CJeorge lirown nowhere. Ihe old (Jonservativcs as a uiut support us. So that we look for a very large majority. Lord Monck will be here about the 2()'^b Juni-, just in time to bo sworn in under his new connnission." gratifkntiou to mo is all the {rroatDr. Ai'tcr all, my dt'iir I't'iiiiy, yom' Eiifili.-li instinct,'. Liop out, and you have hIiowu yourHoU' iNjual to tho occasion. " ISty coUoaffties join with mo in admiration oi tho lino you have taken, and I hcu to convey to you our best tlntuks. " Yours ''iiithinlly, "John A. MAcnoNALU." I ^^1 [Chap. XV. J party, and vvho would ford to wait io. Quebec arter wlucli my anxiety ^ova Scotia, owing to a iee, destined ate for the )ossessed in ting to cope a spirit of ise eminent Jolm Mac- liad much Tupper he and there time — tlie s adjusted, ichinery to lone before [ivo written lere. Will and bring to continue d coalition [Stained by Ihe old ; for a very 2(^b June, .n." I your Eiijjfli^li im, imd I lii'j;' ;IU)NALI)." 18G7.] THE NEW DOMINION. 329 s And to Mr. Tilley in the same sense, adding — " I leave to you to select an associate from New Brunswick. Is it to be Mitchell, Fisher, Wilmot, or who ? Make up your mind, and bring him with you. The appointment of Lieutenant Governor must be made, and communicated by telegraph, so that he may be sworn in on the 1st July. In fact there is no end of detail to be worked out before that date. I must answer two letters from Fisher and Mitchell, but I will avoid particulars. I am going to invite Tupper and Archibald from Xova Scotia. Pray write in fuil." Towards the close of the month of June, JMessrs. Tilley, Tapper, Archibald, and Mitchell arrived at Ottawa for the (iurpose of conferring with the Prime Minister upon the forma- I ion of the Privy Council — a task of great difficulty and delicacy. The leading idea in Mr. Macdonald's mind throughout these arrangements was a recognition of the fact that the old party issues, which had so long divided men, were dead, and that the best interests of the new Dominion required a strong and united Government, drawn as nearly as possible in equal proportions irom the old Conservative and lleform ranks. And, first as to the number of the new ministers and the ratio of provincial representation, it was decided that the Cabinet should consist of thirteen members, of whom five should be from Ontario, four from (Quebec, and two from each of the Maritime I'rovinces. Tiie Ontai'io Ministers chosen were Messrs. John A. Macilonald (First Minister), Cam])bell, Forgussou l>lair, Howland, and McDougall; of whom Messrs. INIacdonald and Campbell were Conservatives, and Messrs. 1 It)wland, INIcDougall, and Fergusson lUair Pteformers, it being agreed that, inasmuch as in the last rarliamtnit there had been more Keformei- than Conservatives horn Upper Canada, the Liberals should have three Ministers nut of the live allotted to Ontario. From the province of fALn, " Wo were disappointed at not seoinsj you, citlier on your way up or down. All would go on well here if our friend B. would only rest quiet. His address, together with the fellows he lias had going about with requi- sitions, have nearly started an opponent. I spoke to him yesterday, and I think ho will take my advice as regards Essex. In the present state of affairs I think the wisest plan is to leave things alone. It matters little which of the present batch of candidates is returned, as they are all on the Con- servative ticket. . . . Vankoughnet says that he has settled tlio ditlerences at Niagara. I hope so. You must have your bands full about this time. " Yours truly, "Allan N. MacXam." " [Private and conlidential.] " Ilainllton, February lo, 1802. " My dear Mac'doxali), " I liave received your letter of the 11th inst., marked ' private and contidcntial.' / do heh'evn it was with a view to serve me that you sup- ported the purchase of my land ; and I supposed, from Mr. Gait's note, that he intended doing the same. Under these circumstances I folt [uirfectly certain that it woidd bo carried out at once, and acted upon this con- viction. ... I hope you will be able to read thia. My old lingers are getting 80 stiff and crooked that I can scarcely use them. " Very truly yours, "Allan N. M.\( Nam." The former letter was written during tlio campaign of 1801, in which Sir Allan took a lively interest. The latter appears to be the last but one he ever wrote to Mr. Macdonald. Sir Allan died on the 8th ol August, 1802. i 334 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MAODONALD. See Sir John's kindly reference to his memory made in the House of Commons on the 20th of April, 1870, " Dominion Prcscnt session. But if ho does so, it ought. His Excellency thinks, to lie nn an express understanding that Parliament shall meet again as soon as liossible — say in November or December. Until the new ministers meet Parliament, His Excellency has no assurance that they possess the confidence fif the maj. rity of the House. The bu^ 'ss transacted in the interval ought, ill his opinion, to be confined to matters necessary for the ordinary adminis- tration of the government of the Province. " If Parliament is prorogued, His Excellency would think it very desirable that the Bill for the Registration of Voters, and that containing the prohibition of Fraudulent Assignments and gifts by traders, should bo proceeded with and become law — subject, of course, to such modifications as the wisdom of either House may suggest. Besides this, any items of supply absolutely VOL. I. Z mmmm 338 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. necessary, should be provided for by a vote of credit, and the money for the repairs of tlie canals, which cannot be postponed, should be voted. " His Excellency can hardly prorogue until these necessary steps are taken. If Parliament merely adjourns luitil after the re-election of tlio members of the Government, the case is different, and the responsibility is on the House itself. A prorogation is the act of His Excellency, and in this particular case such act would be performed without the advice of ministers who had already received the confidence of Parliament. Ills Excellency's own opinion would be in favour of proroguing, if the conditions above specified can be fulfilled, and if Mr. Brown an. pper and I-ower Canada, and assuring them that he was prepared to fo-operate with the existing, or any other administration, that would deal with this ipiestim) promptly and firmly, with a, view to its linal settlement. " ^lossrs. Morris and Poiie asked and obtained leave to communicate ?ho^i? conversations to Mr. .Tohn A. Maedonald .'id Mr. (Jalt. "On Thursday, at .'{ i).m., just before the Speaker took the cliair, Mr. .lolui A. Macdonnld said to Mr. Brown, while standing in tho centre of the Assembly Room, that he had been informed of what he, Mr. Brown, hml stated, and ho wished to know if Mr. lirown had any objection to meet Mr. Gait and discuss the matter? He replied, ' Certainly not.' "Mr. ISIorris accordingly arranged an interview with ^Ir. Brown, and on Friday, the 17th of June, about 1 p.m., Messrs. Maedonald and (lalt ealled on Mr. Brown at the St. Louis Hotel. Mr. Brown stated that nothing but tho extreme urgency of the present crisis, and tho lu)})0 of settling lite sectional troubles of tho province for ever, could, in his opinion, justify tlieii- meeting together with a view to common political action. Messrs. ;\bii'ilnniiM and (ialt were ('qnally impressed with this, and stated that on that footing alone tho present meeting had been invited. "Mr. Brown asked in what position these gentlemen came to him, whether as d(>puted l>y the Administration, or simply as leading members of the Ministerial party. " They replied they were charged by their colleagues formally to in\ ite In's nld in strengthening tho Administration with a view to the settlement of the sectional dillicnlties of Cpjiei and Lower ("anada. Mr. Brown then sliitid that, on grounds jmrely personal, it wa.. (juite impossible that he could be a member of any administration at present, mid that, even had this been olliei- wiso, lie would have conceived it highly objectionable that parties who had Ikh'u so long and so strongly ojtposed to each other, as he and some menil"'i> of the Administration hud been, should enter the same Cabinet, lie thoii_^iit APPENDIX. 345 the piiMic niiiiil woiil'l bo allocked by sncii an arraiigeincnt, Imt lio felt very ^trouj^Iy that the presuut crisis preseiitLHl an oitportunity of doahng with tliis ([uestion that might never occur again. Both political parties had tried in turn to govern the country, but without success, and repeated elections only ■ui'ayed sectional majorities against each other more strongly than Ix'forc. Another general election at this moment i)resented little hope of a nuuh altered result ; and he lielievcd that both parties were far better prepared than they had ever been before to look the true cause of all the difficulty lirnily in the face, and endeavour to settle the ri'prcsentation ijuestion on an erpiitalilo and permanent basis. Mr. IJrown added that, if tiic Administration were jtrepared to do this, and would pledge themselves clearly ami publicly to Iiriiig in a measure next session that would be acceptable to Upper Canada, the basis to be now settled and aiuiounreil in J'arlianiciit, he would heartily co-operate wit' them to try to induce his friends (in wliich he lioped to bo successful) to sustain them until they had an opportunity of presenting their measure next session. " yh. Macdonald replied that he considered it would be essential that Mr. Brown himself shouM become a menilier of the Cabinet, with a view to give guarantees to the Opposition and lo the country for the earnestness of tiie (toverninent. " ^Ir. Brown rejoined that other members of the Opposition could erjually with himself give that guarantee to their party and the country by entering the (iovernment in the event of a satisfat'tory basis being arrived at. He felt that his position iiad i)een such for .nany years as to place a greater bar in the way of his entering the (ioveriunent tlian in that of any other member of tlio Opposition. '• ;Mr. Macdonald then said that he thought it would bo necessary that .Mr. Brown himself should, in any ease, be identified with the negotiations that would necessarily have to take pla-^e, and that, if lie did not himself enter the Cabinet, ho might undertake a mission to the fiower I'rovinces, or to Hngland, or both, in order to identify himself with the action of tiio Canadian (Iovernment in carrying out the measure agreed uiion. "It was then suggested by Mr. Brown, and agreed to, that all (luostions of a personal character, and the necessary guarantees, should bo waived for the present, and the discussion conducted with the view of ascertaining if u satisfactiu'y solution of the scctionnl dilliculty could be agreed upon, "^Ir. Brown asked what the (Iovernment proposed us a remedy for the injiisticc complained of by Upjier Canada, ami as a settlement of the sectional trouble. !Mr. Macdonald and Mr. (lait replied that their renu'dy was a Federal riiion of all the British N'drth American i'rovinces; local matters being committed to local bodies, and matters common to all to a (ieneral Legislature.* * In the priiitiil repy n) tlii- nicmoriUKlinu wliirli .Sir ,Iolu> Miirdoiiiilil imwrved, tliere iipix'tus, iiniiiediiitely tMllnwiiig tlie wonl " brgi'-liiture" iit tla^ end ol llii^ |mriigrii])li, in the luuidwriting el Mr. Urown, IIkm! \viird"<, '• Con-tituted on tliu well nndersteiid priiiciplei* of Iwkrtil unv." 146 MEMOIRS OF Sin JOHN A. MACDONAID. '•Mr. Brown rejoined that this would not be acceptable to the pcoi»lo of Upper Canada as a remedy for existing evils. "That he believed that federation of all the provinces o\\%\\i to come, ami would come abcMit ere lonpf, but it had not yet been thoroughly considered by the people ; and even were this otherwise, there were so many parties to lu' consulted, that its adoption was uncei-tain and remote. '• Mr. Brown was then asked what his remedy was, when he stated that the measure acceptable to Upper Canada would be Parliamentary l{cfon!i. based on population, without regard to a separating line between Uj'per iiml Lower Canada. "To this both Mr. Macdonald and Mr. (ialt stated that it was impossililc for them to accede, or for any (loverimient to carry such a measure, and that, unless a basis could be found on the federation principle suggested by the report of JMr. Brown's committee, it did not appear to them likely tliat anything could bo settled. " After nuu'h discussion on both sides, it was found that a oompniinisr might probably be had in the adoption either of the federal principle for all British North American Provinces, as the larger question, or for Canada aloin', with provisions for the admission of the Maritiiiu> Pnivinces and the North Western Territory, when they should express the desire. ^Ir. Brown eim- tcnded that the Canadiaii Federation should be constituted first, in order thai such securities might be taken, in regard to the position of Upper Canada, a- would satisfy that section of the coimtry, that, in the negotiations with thr Lower Provinces, the interests of Upper Canada would in no case be over- looked. " Fiu'ther conversation ensued, but as the hour for the meeting of tln' House had nearly arrived, an understanding was come to that the state of the negotiations was such as to warrant the hope of an ultimate unkn- standing; and it was r.greed that tliat fact should be communicafoi'i to ]*arliament, and an adjoiu'nment until Monday asked for. . "On Friday evening Mr. (ialt saw Mr. Brown, and arranged for an interview next morning, at which Sir Etieime Tache and Mr. Cartier slioiiM be present. "On Saturday, at 10 a.m., other engagements requinng a change in tin' bom- appointed, Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Gait called on Mr. Brown, and, nftiv further discussion, a second appointment was made for 1 p.m., when ili'' entlemen named, with ^Ir. Cartier, met in the Provincial Secretarv's ronii Sir Ktieinio Tacho being out of town. " Tim consideration of the steps most advisable for the linal settlement of the sectional dilViculties was then entered upon fully, and a general aovonl seemed to exist that, as the views of I'pper Canr.da could not be met uinh'i' (itir present system, the reme'.y must be sotight in tin adoption of the federal jirineiple. " Mr. Brown then requested to have the views of the Administratioti, i^ expressed to him, reduced to willing, for the pinjiosc of being snbinitlod coididentially to liis friends. The following nuMuoiainliiiu was then |«ro[ioseil, APPENDIX. 347 and, liaving to to submitted to tlio Cabinet and to the flovornor (jencrul, ^Ir. Brown inquired wiiether any objection existed to his weeing Ilis Excel- lency, waereupon lie was informed that no objection whatever existcil. " Mr. Brown accordingly waited on the Govei'nor General, and on his return the memorandum ai>; roved by Council and by the Governor Geni'ral was handed to him, and another interview appointed for (J p.m., Mr. Brown stating that he did not feel at )iberty either to accept or reject tin; proposal without consulting with his frien^ls." " ' Memova ml am . [Confuk-iitial.] " ' The Government are prepa'^ed to state that, immediately after the pro- rogation, they will address themselves, in the most earnest manner, to the negotiation for a confederation of all the British Xortli American ProviucCvS. " 'That, fi\iling a successful issue to such negotiations, tliey are prepared to pledge themselves to legislation durmg the next session of I'arliament for the purpose of remedying existing ilifTicidtics by introducing the federal prin- ciple for Canada alone, coupled with such ]irovisic)ns as will iiermit the jMaritime Provinces and the Xorth-Western Territory to be hereafan- incdi- jtorated into the Canadian system. '"That for the jiurpose of carrying on the negotiations ai d settliag tli(' details of the promised legislation, a Uoyal conunission shall be issued, cdim l)Osed of three members of the Government and three members of the Opposition, of whom Mr. r)rown shall be one; and the Government pledge themselves to give all the influence of the Administration to secure to the said commission the means of advancing the great object in view. "'That, subject h) the House permitting the Gover.sii;'!;t to carry through the public business, no dissoluti' ii oi' Parliament shall take place, but tin- Administration will again meet the present House.' " Shortly afier G p.m. the parties mot at the same place, when Mr. Krown stated that, without communicating the contents of the confidential papci- entrusted to him, he had seen a suflicient number ol' his friends to warrant him in expressing the belief that the bulk of his friends would, as a coni- ja-omise, accejit a measure for the Federative Union of Canada, witli provisioii tor the future admission of the Maritime Colonies and the North-West Territory. To this it was rejilied that the Administration could not co!isent to waive the larger question ; but, after considerable discussion, an aineudnnMit to the original proposal was agreed to in the following terms, subji-ct to tin' approval, on Monday, of the Cabinet and of His Kxcellency : — "'The Government are prepared to pledge themselvt's to bring in .i measure next session for the purpose of removing existing didiciiltii's by introducing the federal prin(,'i[)l(! into Canada, couphnl with such provisioiiN as will permit the ^biritime Provinces and the North-West Territory to bo incorjiorated into the same system of government. "'And the Government will seek, lu- setidin-- representatives to the 348 MEMOmS OF SIR JOHN J. MACDONALD. Lower Provinces and to England, to s:;cure the assent of tliosc intercut.- Avliich arc beyond the control of our own legislation to such a moasin-e as mav enalilc all British North America to be luiited under a General Logislatuii' based Tipon the fcileral principle.' '' Mr. Brown tlien stated that, having arrived at a basis which he l)eIiov(,'il would l)e generally acceptiible to the great mass of his political friends, ho liad to add that, as the proposition was so general in its terms, and tlv-. advantat,'t' of the measure depended so entirely on the details that might finally lie adopted, it was the very general feeling of his friends that security must In- given for the fairness of those details and the good faith with which the wlioji' movement shonlil be prosecuted by ;ho introduction into the Cabinet of a tail representation of his political friends. ^Ir. Brown stated that he iiad not put this question directly to his friends, but that he perceived very clearly that this was the strong opinion of a large majority of them, and that his nwu personal opinion on this point (to which ho still adhered) was particiiiatod in by only a small number. Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, and Gait re]>liod that they liad of course understood, in proposing that Mr. Brown should enter tliv Government, that he would not come alone, but that the number of seats at his disposal had not licen considered by their colleagues. Mr. Brown wa- requested to state his views on this point, and he replied that the Opposition were half of the House, ami ought to have an equal iniluence in the Govoni- ment. jMessrs. JIacdonald, Cartier, and Gait said this was impossiI)le, Imt they would si.'C their i olleagues and state tiieir views on IMonday. " On Monday, at 10.30 a.m., Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, and Gait calliil on Mr. Brown at tin' St. Lonis Hotel, and stated that Sir E. P. Taclie \iA returned to town. Mr. Brown accompanied them to the Prt)vincial Secretary' - room, when Mr. Brown, having been asked to explain how he |)roposeil tn arrange CMpial representation in the Cabinet, replied that ho desired to !"• luulerstood as meaning four members for Upper Canada, and two for Lown Canada, to be chosen by the Opitosition. "In reply, Messrs. Cartier and Gait stated that, as far as related to tlie constitution of the Cabinet for Lower Canada, they believed it alreaily afforded ample guarantees for tlunr sincerity, and that a ciiange in its jitr- sound would be more likely to produce endiarrassment than assistance, a - the majority of the peoj)lc of Lower Canada, both French Canadians aiMJ English, had implicit confidence in their leaders, which it would not bo desir- able to shake in any way. That in approaching the important question ol settling the sectional difliculties, it appeared to them essential that the party led by Sir E. P. Tache shoidd have ample assurance thai their interests would bo protected, which, it was feared, would not bo strengthened by the intro- duction in the Cabiiu>t of the Lower Canada Opposition. "i\Ir. ^lacdonald stated, as regards Upper Canada, that, in Ins opiin'oii the reduction to two of the nundicr of the gentlenu n in the Cabinet who now represented Upper Canada would involve the witiidrawal of the confidenci) of those who now sujijiort tiiem in the House of Assembly, but that he would be prcimrcd for the admission into the Cabinet of three gentlemen of the P : Op dp :i itq&!t.. LD. APPENDIX. 349 • lioso iiitore.st> leasuro as ina\- liil Legislature L'li ho l)eiiov(;il friends, lie liad tlvi advantaLte ;lit filially lif> urity must ht- icli the whole binet of a fair e hail not ])iit ■y clearly that that his own 'articijiateil in t replied timr 3nl(l enter Ww er of seats at r. IJrown wa- 10 Opposition 1 tlio Govern - ipossihle, lint 1 Gait callr.l :'. Tache liiid il Secretary'. proposed tn x'sired to lie vo for Lowi't dated to the \ it already i ill its ittti- issi.stanee, as nadians and ot bo desir- qiiostion ol it tho party erests would y tho iiitro- opiiiion til'' et who iiiiw eonlidoiu'o lit he would inon of till' Opposition, on its being ascertained that they would bring with them a support equal to that now enjoyed by the Government from Upjier Canada. " Mr. Brown asked in what manner it was proposed the six Upper Canada Ministers should be selected — was each i)arty to have carte hianrhe in suggest- ing to tho head of the Government the names to be chosen? To which Mr. Macdonald replied that, as a matter of course, he would expect Mr. Brown to be himself a member of the Administration, as atlbiding the best, if not the only guarantee, for the adhesion of his friends. "That Mr. Macdonald, on Mr. Brown giving his consent, would confer with liim as to the selection of Upjier Canada colleagues from both sides, who should bo the most acceptable to their respective friends, and most likely to work Iiarmoniously for the great object wdiieh alone could justify the arrange- Hient proiiosed. " Mr. Brown then inquired what ^Iv. IMacdonald ]iroposed in regard to the Upper Canada leadership. Mr. Macdonald said that, as far as ho was concerned, he could not with propriety, or without diminishing his usefulness, alter liis position, but that he was, as ho had boon for some time, anxious to retire from the Government, and would be quite ready to facilitate arrange- ments by doing so. Of course he could not retire from the Government without Sir Etienne Tache's consent. " Mr. Brown then stated that without discussing the propriety or reason- ableness of the proposition, ho would consult his friends, and give an early reply. "Tuesday. — The respective parties being occupied during the forenoon in consulting their friends, a meeting was held at 2 [i.ni., at which were present Sir E. r. Tache, Mr. :\Iacdonald, Mr. Cartier, Mr. Gall, and Mr. Brown. " i\Ir. Brown stated tbat his friends had held a meeting, and a[i[iroved of the course he had pursued, and the basis arrived at, and authorized him to continue the negotiation. " Mr. Macdonald and ^Ir. Cartier also said that they had received satis- factory assurances from their friends. "Mr. Brown then stated that it was now for him to consider what course he should pursue, cntcrtaiiung, as ho still did, the strongest ''pugnance to accepting office. " A further meeting was apiiointed for half-past X p.m.. at win h the details of tho arrangements, in case Mr. Crown uid Iii> friends ucci-h. d tHliee, wore discussed at much length. " Mr. Brown contended stroiiglv thfit the Govonimont -^ft tild coneedo a larger representation n the Cabio t tliiin tiuee mombcrs 'i' • whiiii it wuh icplied that the Adnniistration beh vod it was quite iiiini»08wlde to satisfj,' their own friends with a dilTereiit aruuiigoment. "Mr. Brown then askei. wbciher ho emil ' '"•• ''vorn m m tin Kvpcutivo <'ouncillor, without depintinont or sj\lary. >i. addition H lift ilree depavt- iiHiital ollices to bo filled by his friends. " Mr. Macdonald replied that the principli- of fqiialil} would in Aia case be destroyed, and he was satisfied it could not be done. 350 .MEMO IBS OF SfR JOHN A. MACDONALD. "3Ir. Brown asked whether it was a shic rjud non that ho kIiouIcI himself enter the Cabinet. To which it was replied that, to secure a successful issuo to the attempt to settle the sectional difliculties, it was considered that .Mr. Ihown's acceptance of oftice was indispensable. " A meeting was then appointed for the folio wing day. '• On Wednesday, a little after one, the same parties met, when ^Ir. Brown stated as his final ilecision that he would consent to the reconstruction of the Cabinet as proposed, but inasmuch as ho diil not wish to assume the responsi- bility of the Government business beft)re the House, ho preferred leaving till after the prorogation the consideration of the acceptance of office by himself and the two gentbmen who nn'ght bo ultimately selecteil to enter the Administration with him. " Sir E. V. Taehe and Mr. Macdonald thereon stated that, after the prorogation, they would be prepared to place three seats in the Cabinet at the disposal of ^\r. Brown." '■3 ( 351 ) APJ'ENDIX VI. (See p. 2CS.) EXTHACT FKOJt ;MiN|-II:.S or TIIR CONFKDEUATIOX Co.Nl KHKNCF: IIl'-Ll) AT QrEBEC, OcTOBKU 10-28, 18G4. Tlairs'laij, '20(h of Odohcr. Morniiifj SittiiKj. '' Mr. liroirn. As to local (lovcnimoiits. We desire in Upiior Caiiiulft tliat they kIiohM not bo expensive, ami should not take up political matters. We ought not to have two electoral bodies. Oidy one boily, members to bo elected once in every three years. Should have whole legislative power- subject to Lieutenant Governor. 1 would have Lieutenant Governor ajipointdl by General Government. It would thus bring these bodies into harmony with the General Government. In Ujjper Canada executive oilicers would be Attorney General, Treasurer, Secretary, Commissioner Crown Lands, and Commissioner Public Works. These w'ould form the Council of the Lieutenant Governor. I would give Lieutenant Governor veto without advice, but under certain vote he should be obliged to assent. During recess Lieutenant Governor could have power to suspend executive oilicers. They might bo elected for three years or otherwise. You might safely allow County Councils to appoint other olHccrs than those they now do. One Legislative Chamber for three years, no power of dissolution, elected on one day in each third year. Lieutenant Governor appointed by Federal Government. Departmental oflicors to be elected during pleasure, or for three years. To be allowed to speak but not to vote. " Mr. Carticr. I entirely diil'er with Mr. Brown. It introduces in our local bodies republican institutions. " Mr. Broivn moves : ' That in the local Government there shall be but one Legislative Chandler.' " Sir E. Tache. This motion is made merely to elicit ojjinion of conference. "jl/r. Tiller/. New Brunswick diiVers from Mr. Brown. They propose to keep the existing things as they are, so far as consistent with expense. They propose Lieutenant Governor, live departmental oflicers, with seat in House. " Mr. Dichey. Before details, settle i)rincii)les. Will conference tako present local Governments as models ? " Mr. Fishcr. I am ojtiiosed to ^Ir. Brown's views. 1 a])i)rove of the mm 352 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOFhV A. MACDO^\iLD. jtrcsent S3'stem of local Legislatures. I agree with Mr. Pirown that the Lieutenant Governor should he appointed hy the Federal fiovernmeut. "ilfr. Carter. In 1842, we had one Chamher in Newfoundland, partiv appointed hy Crown and partly hy people. It worked well. An ohjoct ti reduce expense. ^^ Mr. Henri/. I think uniformity is very desiraMe. But you shouM tir.st consider what is to ho left to the local Legislatures hofore you proceed to discuss their constitutions. " Mr. McOee. No. Institute your hody, then assign its powers. " Mr. Chandler. Wc are here to form a constitution for Federal Govern- ment. Let the provinces otherwise remain as they are, so far as possihlo. "Dr. Tapper. I agree with general princijiles laid down hy ]Mr. Uidwn that the Governments should ho as simple and inexpensive as possihlo. \\\) should diminish the powers of the local Governments, hut wo must not shock too largely the prejudices of the people in that respect. " Mr, McCully. We must have miniature responsihle Govermnoiits. " Adjourned at 2 o'clock. " Monday, OcUiber 24. "^fj*. Mowat moved [a resolution defiumg the powers of the local Legislatures], " Mr. Chandler. I ohjoct to the proposed system. Yon are adoptinc; a legislative Union instead of a federal. The local Logislatin-es should not have their powers specified, but should have all the powers not reserved to tlio Federal Government, and only the powers to he given to the Federal Govern- ment should be specified. You are now proceeding to destroy the constitutions of the local Governments, and to give them less powers than they have hail allowed them from England, and it will make them merely large municipal corporations. This is a vital qnostion, which decides the question hetweon a federal and legislative Union, and it will he- fatal to the success of Confedera- tion in the lower provinces. " Dr. Tapper. I have heard ]\Ir. Chandler's argument with sm'priso. Powers — undefined — must rest somewhere. Those who were at Charlottctown will remember that it was fully specified there that all the powers not given to local should ho reserved to the Federal Government. This was stated as heiiii;- a prominent feature of the Canadian scheme, and it was said then that it was desirable to have a plan contrary to that adopted by the United States. It was a fundamental principle laid down by Canada, and the basis of our deliberations. ]\Ir. Chandler says that it gives a legislative instead of a federal Union. I think that a benefit. Is the Federal Goverimient to be one of mere (k'legates? We have provided for a legislative representation and for tlie representation of every section of all the provinces. Such a costly Govern- ment ought to bo chargeil with the fullest powers. It will bo easier for over\ one of the remotest settlors in Nova Scotia and Now Brunswick to roach tin' Federal Legislature than the present local Legislatures. If it wore not for the peculiar condition of Lower Canada, and that the Lower Provinces have not APPENDIX. 353 of tlie loeal municipal systems sucli as Upper Canada, I should go in for a legislative Union instead of a federal. We jiroposo to preserve tlio local Governments in tlio Lower Provinces because we liave not municii)al institutions. If Conference limit tlie powers of tiie General Legislature, I feel that the whole platform is swejit away from us. " Mr. Coles. I did not understand this was laid down as a basis at Cliarlottetown. I thought there the only thing s])ecified was representation liy population in Lower House. 1 agree with ^Ir. Chandler's view. " Mr. Ilaviland. I disagree with Messrs. Chandler and Coles. I understood the basis of our scheme, so as to avoid dilliculties of United States, is to givo limited powers to local Legislatures. " Colonel Gray, N.D. i[r. Coles' memory is short. [Quotes from Mr. IMac- (lonald's s})eecli at Charlottetown and from Mr. Brown's, that Federal Government was to have general powers and limited as to local.] Whatever conclusion we may now amve at, such was the basis of the Canadian scheme. " Mr. Cliandler. My argument is not met as to merits, but as to wliat was laid down at Charlottetown. We all agree that local Govermuent should have local powers, we differ as to whether such powers should be defined. " Dr. Tapper. Under Islw Chandler's view, tlio Governor General would lie less than the Lieutenant Governor and the Federal Government less than the local. •' Mr. Dickey. I propose a Supreme Court of Appeal to decide any conflict between general and state rights. I am rather inclined to agree with Mr. Chandler. Immense interests omitted in ^Ir. Mowat's motion. " Mr. Brown. This matter received close attention of Canadian Govcrn- liicnt. I should agree with ^Ir. Chandler were it not that we have done all we can to settle the matter with suflicient powers to local Legislatures. I would let the courts of each jtrovinco decide what is local and what general (iovernment jurisdiction, with appeal to the Appeal or Superior Court. " Mr. McCully. I refer to New Zealand Act, which is evidently framed to meet difficulty. It strangely defines what the local Governments shall not do. In 53rd clause General Assembly to make laws, etc., for government of New Zealand, and shall control and supersede those of local Governments repug- nant thereto. Mr. Brown will land us in position of United States by referring matter of conflict of jurisdiction to courts. You thus set them over tiie General Legislature. " Mr. Attorney General Macdonald. New Zealand constitution was a legislative Union, ours federal. Emigrants went out under difierent guarantees. Local charters jarred. In order to guard these, they gave the powers stated to local Legislatures, but the General (jlovernment had power to s\voe[) these away. That is just what we do not want. Lower Canada and the Lower Provinces would not have such a thing. There is no analogy between New Zealand and ourselves in such respects. Our courts now can decide where there is any conflict bouween the Imperial and Canadian statutes. I think the whole affair would fail, and the system bo a failure, if we adopted Mr. Chandler's views. It wouM bo adopting the worst features of the United VOL. I. ^ A ^>. # IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 '- IM IIIII22 «- IIIIM u U III 1.6 7J^ % C^J /. "^ ;>' ^ I '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation ^^\ S V ^> '^S^ :\ \ v^ ■ ^ <^ "o- .^ ^2^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 873-4S03 ^ C^ <> 354 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. m- States. Wo should concentrate the power in the Federal (iovcrnmcnt, and not adopt tho decentralization of the United States. Mr. Chandler wotiM give sovereign power to tho local Legislatures, just where the United States failed. Canada would be infinitely stronger as she is than under snch a system as proposed by Mr. Chandler. It is said the taritV is one of tiic causes of difficulty in United States. So it would be with us. Looking at agricultural interests of Upper Canada, manufacturing of Lower Canada, and maritime interests of lower Provinces, in respect to a tariff, a fedeial Government would be a mediator. No general feeling of patriotism exists in tho United States. In occasions of difficulty oach man sticks to his individual State. Mr. Stephenp, the present Vice President, a strong Union .nan, yd. when timo came, ho went with his State. Similarly we should each stick to our province and not bo British Americans. It would be introducing a sourci- of radical weakness. It would ruin us in the eyes of the civilized world. All writers point out errors of United States. All tho failings prognosticated by Do Tocquevillo are shown to be fulfilled. "Mr. Johnson. Enumerate for local Governments their powers, and >j;\\\' all tho rest to general Government, but do not enumerate both, " Mr. Palmer. Easier to define what are general tiian what are local subjects, but we cannot define both. Wo cannot meet every possible case or emergency. ^^ Mr. Henry. We should not define powers of general legislature. 1 would ask Lower Canada not to fight for a shadow. Give a clause to give general powers (except such as given to local Legislatures) to federal Lcgis- lacure. Anything beyond that is hampering tho case with difliculties. If we are to have Confederation let us have one on tho principles suggested by Attorney General Macdonald. In United States there is no power to settle constitutionality of an Act. Hereafter wo shall bo bound by an Imperial Act, and our judges will have to say what is constitutional muler it as regards general or local legislation. " Mr. Dickey. Why did Imperial statutes give tho powers tlicy ilid to New Zealand General Government V " Mr, Chandler. My plan is not precisely the same as United Stales, because Govermnent does not in United States appoint tho Licuteiianl Governors and tho legislative councillors. If my i)lan is not adopted, I sliould havo elective legislative councillors. " Colonel Gray, N.D. The power flows from Imperial (lovernmeiii We propose to substitute tho Federal Govermnent for tho Imperial (Joverninent. but tho Federal Government is itself subordinate to tho Imperial (lovcniiueiit. And as to tho policy of tho thing, I think it best to define tho powers of the local Governments, as tho public will then see what matters they have resiTVcd for their consideration, with which matters Ihcy will bo familiar, and so the Immbler classes and tho less educoted will comprehend that their interests are protected." I Si', ( 355 ) rnnicnt, and ■luUcr woiilil nited States nder such a 1 one of tlif Lookin.i,' at Canada, and If, a fiHleral tism exists in iiis individual on .Tian, yet, ;ach fitick tn cinj^ a sourif d world. All rognosticated rers, and give hat arc local )ssilile case or .'gislatuio. 1 ;lau80 to give 'ederal Lcgis iltics. If we snggestcd by wor to settle mpeiial Act. it as regai'd> .•y did to Now [nited States. Lieutenant lited, I should I- APPENDIX VII. (Seep. 275.) Between the closing of tho Quebec Conference in October, 18G4, and the meeting of tho Canadian Legislature in January, 18G5, certain alterations were made by mutual consent of the delegates in tho 24th, 29tli, and 43rd resolutions. (1) The 24th resolution originally read as follows : — " The Local Legislature of each Province may, from time to time, alter the Electoral Districts for tho purjioses of representation in the House of Commons, and distribute the representatives, to which tho Province is entitled, in any manner such Legislature may think fit." (2) The 3rd division of the 29th section originally read :— " The imposition or regnlation of duties of customs on Imports and Exports, except on Exports of timber, logs, masts, spars, deals, and sawn lumber, and of coal and other minerals." (3) Tho first division of section 43 originally read :— " Direct taxation and tho imposition of duties on the Export of timber, logs, masts, spars, deals, and sawn lumber, and of coals and other minerals," It will bo observed that the change in the 24tli resolution is a material one. Tho reasons for making it arc to be foimd in a memorandum addressed by tlie Provincial Secretary to the Clovcrnor General on the 4th of May, 18G5, from which I make tho following quotation :— " Tho 24th resolution of the Quebec ('onforenco, as it stands in tho original report by certain members of tho Conference (and which report is now in tho possession of the undersigned), is in tho words and figures following: — " ' Tho Local Legislature of each Province may, from time to time, alter the Electoral Districts for tho purposes of representation in tho IIoiiso of l-'ommons, and distribute the representatives to which the Province is entitled in any manner such Logislatiuo may think fit.' " In the paper submitted to tho Canadian Parliament, tho 24th resolution was made to road as follows : — " ' Tho Local Legislature of each Province may, from time to time, alter tlio Electoral Districts for tho puqioacs of representation in such Local Legislature, and distribute tho rei)resentativos to which tho Province is entitled in such Local Legislature, in any manner such Legislature may see fit.' " Tho above chongo was made because it was found that tho resolution, 356 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. (t. as expressed in the original rcj)ort, did not convey the tnie meaning of the Conference. As Your Excellency is aware, tho proceedings of the Conference towards the close of its deliberations were very much hurried, and it was subsequently discovered that several errors had occurred in revising and rearranging its numerous resolutions, which were adopted in tlie first instance •without that exactness of t-xpression and logical sequence so necessary in an instrument intended to present a complete scheme. Some of these errors were discovered and corrected at Montreal by the unanimous consent of tho delegates present at a meeting held in that city for tho purpose. There was no doubt in the minds of tho Canadian delegates (when their attention was called to the point), that the gentlemen who undertook tho duty of rcilucinj,' into form the minutes and resolutions of the Conference had misapprelionded the meaning of the Conference in reference to the subject embraced in tho 24th resolution. It could never have been intended to destroy tho in- dependence of every member of the General Parliament, by giving power to the Local Legislature of his Province to ' alter,' and thus practically to abolish his constituency, whenever, by speech or vote, ho might happen to displease a majority of that Legislature. The power to divide each Province into the j)roi)er number of Electoral Districts in the first instance (as provided by tho 23rd resolution), was given to tho Local Legislatures pa; necessitate, but tho power to alter or readjust tho constituencies after Parliament is constituted, belongs naturally, logically, and according to every constitutional precedent, to that Parliament, and not to an inferior body. Tho undersigned is informed, tliat, on discovering tho en-or in the 24th resolution, and also important errors in tho 29th and 43rd resolutions, in reference to Export duties on timber and coals, communication was had with the leading members of the Governments of tho several Maritime Provinces. " The undersigned is also informed that answers were received from those gentlemen, expressing their concurrence in tho suggestions of tho Canadian Delegates, as to the fact of error in both cases, and as to the mode by whicli it was proposed to correct them." In tho course of his speech submitting these resolutions to Parliament, Mr. Macdonald thus adverted to these changes : — " A good deal of misapprehension has arisen from the accidental omission of some words from tho 24th resolution. It was thought that by it the Local Legis- latures were to have the power of arranging hereafter, and from time to time of readjusting tho diilerent constituencies and settling the size and boundaries of tho various electoral districts. The meaning of tho resolution is simply this, that for tho first General Parliament, tho arrangement of constituencies simli bo made by tho existing Local Legislatures ; that in Canada, for instance, tho present Canadian Parliament shall arrange what are to be tho conscituencics of Upper Canada, and to make such changes as may bo necessary in arranging for tho seventeen additional members given to it by tho constitution ; and that it may also, if it sees fit, alter tho boundaries of tho existing constitucnciofi of Lower Canada. In short, this Parliament shall settle what shall be tito diilerent constituencies electing members to tho first Federal Parliament. And APPENDIX. 357 80 the other provinces, the Legislatures of which shall fix the limits of their several constituencies in the session in which they adopt the new constitution. Afterwards, tlie Local Legislatures may alter their own electoral limits as they please, for their own local elections, but it would evidently be improper to leave to the Local Legislature the power to alter the constituencies sending members to the General Legislature after the General Legislature shall have '>»en called into existence. Were this the case, a member of the Gencrul LegislatTiro might at any time find himself ousted from his seat by an altera- tion of his constituency by the Local Legislature in his section. No, after the General Parliament meets, in order that it may have full control of its own legislation, and be assured of its position, it must have the full power of arranging and rearranging the electoral limits of its constituencies as it pleases, such being one of the powers essentially necessary to such a Legislature." 358 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. s fc ■■■• n APPENDIX V:J (Seep. 282.) J^ "Provincial Secretary's Office, Halifax, May 10, 1865. " My dear Sir Bichard, " I beg to submit the following observations in reply to your letter of May 2nd, in order to place on record the reasons which induce my colleagues and myself to think a delegation to the Imperial Government inadvisable at the present moment, which subject had already received the careful consideration of the Cabinet. "It is quite obvious, from the confidential despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State to yourselfj that the action of this Govern- ment upon the Confederation question has been entirely misunderstood by Mr. Cardwell, but I hope that a frank explanation of the facts will suffice to remove any misapprehension that may have still existed after the perusal of your confidential despatch of , which explains our views and policy so fully. " When in Canada last autumn, I assured Lord Monck that there was every reason to expect that the scheme of Union arranged at Quebec would be accepted by the Legislature of this province. The groimds upon which I gave that assurance were that for many years the Union of British America had been regarded with great favour in this province, that it had received a very general support from the press and had obtained the public advocacy of the leading public men of botli parties, but especially because the leaders of the Opposition to the Government in botli the Assembly and Legislative Council who were on the Delegation cordially supported the plan of the Union agreed upon. " On our return, an opposition to the proposed Union was organized in this city by a number of the mercantile men of both parties, associated witli activp opponents of the Government. " The Government, although supported on general questions by a largo majority in the Legislature, were in a most disadvantageous position to meet this unlocked for opposition. During the previous session, they had imperilled their popularity by a patriotic effort to improve the common school education of the countiy by introducing the obnoxious system of compulsory assessment. Under the operation of that law, the whole country had been recently excited, and an immense amount of hostility towards the Government induced, destroying the confidence of many members supporting APPENDIX. 359 the Government, in iho security of their positions in case of an appeal to the jMJople. " Notwithstanding the zealous efforts of Messrs. Archibald and McCully, the opponents of Confederation rallied round their standard the great body of the party opposed to tlie Government, largely reinforced by those whom opposition to assessment for schools had rendered disaffected, and by numbers whose fears had been excited by the statement that Union with Canada would involve a large increase of taxation. On the other hand, the Government, having obtained tlie aid of leading members of the Opposition upon the delegation, could not rely upon the party support which would, under other circumstances, have been available. I am sure tliat I need not say to you who have witnessed our efforts, that all that the members of your Government, ably aided by Messrs. Archibald and McCully, could do, to stem the cun'cnt setting thus strongly agairst Confederation, was done. In the press and on the platform, in various sections of the country, the most determined exertions wero used to disabuse the public mind of the prejudices raised against the proposed Union. Just at this crisis, when the demand was loud that nothing should be done without a previous appeal to the people at the polls, the Legislature of New Brunswick was dissolved in order to afford the electors of that province an opportunity of expressing their opinion on this question. "When our Legislature met it was at once ascertained that it was impossible to obtain a decision in favour of the scheme on account of the feeling of alarm which had boon excited throughout tho country. It would have been obviously fatal to the cause of Confederation in New Brunswick to allow a hostile vote to be recorded here pending their elections, and all we could do under those circumstances was to postpone the discussion of tho question. When tho election in that province resulted in an overwhelming defeat of the scheme, but fourteen out of forty-one members having been returned in favour of it, the difficulty of obtaining any expression of approval here was increased, as members who might have been disposed to sacrifice their own position to achieve an important object would not bo willing to do so without any practical result to bo attained. It was considered by the Government and tho delegates belonging to tho Opposition to bo of the highest importance to prevent the Legislature being committed to an expression of feeling against Confederation, and, after tho most anxious deliberation, it was decided that that object could be best effected by tho passage of a resolution authorizing negotiations to be re-opened for a Legislative Union of the Maritime Provinces. " There were many reasons which stiggestcd this course of action as desirable. While the opponents of Confederation professed great favour for the lesser union, tho Government and friends of tho Quebec scheme here had ever regarded the legislative union of the Maritime Provinces as not only calculated to promote tho larger union, but in the highest degree desirable in «!ase of federation. Two of the principal objections urged against tho proposed Confederation, the want of unity of action among tho Maritime iiiii iiiil Jiili 360 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. Provinces, and the insignificant position of the local Goreramcnts and Legislatures under Confederation, would both be effectually removed by the legislative union of these three provinces. In the present condition of New Brunswick, some such step appeared to be the best calculated to remove the obstacle to Confederation which had arisen there. " If, on the other hand, as was not unlikely, the proposal to carry out the scheme for a union of the three provinces was not entertained by New Bnins- wick, it would remove the consideration of that question out of the way of the discussion of the greater union, and thus favour the adoption of the latter. " I confess I was quite unprepared to find this project regarded in any quarter as hostile to the Confederation of the whole, as the members of the Canadian Government had individually and collectively assured the delegates from the Maritime Provinces that the proposed Confederation of British North America did not in the least degree conflict with the legis- lative union of the Maritime Provinces, and many of the most prominent of the Canadian Ministry did not hesitate to avow their opinion that sucli a union of the Maritime Provinces was, in view of Confederation, higiily desirable. Yon are well aware that, in moving tlie resolution in favour of the legislative onion of the Maritime Provinces, I advocated the Confederation of the whole so zealously, and treated the lesser union as so entirely subsidiary and calculated to promote it, as to excite no small amount of opposition on the part of the opponents of Confederation. Looking witli a single eye to the accomplishment at the earliest possible moment of the union of British North America, I cannot now see how any more judicious course could have been pursued than that which we adopted. It certainly would not have promoted the object in view had we recorded a hostile vote to Confederation in our Assembly either before or after the New Brunswick election ; and there can be no doubt that an appeal to the people here on this question, under existing; circumstances, would have resulted, as it has in that province, in placing the opponents of Confederation in power, and affording them the means ol obstructing that great measure, which they do not now possess. " In our present condition, with the representatives of the people to a large extent uncommitted on the question, and the people relieved from the appre- hension that their constitution was to be suddenly taken away without an opportunity of expressing their opinions, I am sanguine that the proposed Confederation will ere long be approved by the great body of the people, and receive the sanction of a largo majority of their representatives, and I can assure you that I and my colleagues are prepared to make any personal or party sacrifice that may at any time be found necessary to attam that object. At this moment, however, I doubt whetlier volunteering a delegation to England would not be calculated to influence the public mind unfavourably, incited, as the people would undoubtedly be, to regard it as intended to promote some coercive measures on the part of the Imperial authorities. There can bo no doubt that much advantage would result from free communication between this Qovemment and the Colonial Office on this and other subjects of deep Hi APPENDIX. 361 importance, but it would, I fear, be just now prejudicial to the cause of Confederation here. " With the most anxious desire to accomplish the object upon which your Ministry and the Imperial authorities are so entirely agreed, " I remain, my dear Sir Richard, " Yours faithfully, "C. TurPER." "% s .iii'i 362 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOEN A. MACDONALD. it-' f? nit ''5 APPENDIX IX. (Seep. 286.) " MEMORAXni'M, MADE 4tII AuOUST, 1865, OF rOXVEHSATIOX HELD YESTERDAY BETWEEN MESSRS. MaCDONALD AND BrOWN. tl'f . i H' " Mr. Macdonald, yesterday, sought an interview witli Mr. Brown, and informed him that His Excellency the Governor General had sent for him that morning, and had stated his desire that the Administration, as it was formed in June, 1864, should continue in office, with as few changes as possible, in order to carry out the policy announced by the Government on its formation ; that, with that view, His Excellency had expressed the opinion that the most obvious mode of supplying the place vacated by the death of Sir Etienne Tach(5 would be for Mr. Macdonald to assume the position of First Minister, as being the senior member of the Ministry ; and that Mr. Cartier would, on the same principle, become the leader of the Lower Canadian section of the Government; and that, for the purpose of carrying those views into effect, His Excellency had commissioned Mr. Macdonald to take the post of First Minister, at the same time requesting all the other Ministers to retain their offices. Mr. Macdonald further informed Mr. Brown that he had assented to this proposition of His Excellency, and had seen Mr. Cartier, who at once agreed to it. He then invited Mr. Brown to acccile to the proposal of His Excellency. "Mr. Brown replied that he was quite prepared to enter into arrange- ments for the continuance of the Government in the same position it occupied l)ievioi8 to the death of Sir Etienne Tach^; but that the proposal now made involved a ..rave departure from that position. The Government licretoforo had been a coalition of three political parties, each represented by an active party leader, but all acting under one chief, who had ceased to be actuated by strong party feelings or personal ambitions, and who was well fitted to give confidence to all the three sections of the coalition that tlie conditions which united them would bo carried out in good faith to tlio very letter. Mr. Macdonald, Mr. Cartier, and himself (Mr. Brown) were, on the contrary, regarded as party leadera, with party feelings and aspirations ; and to place any one of them in an attitude of superiority over the otliers, with the vast advantage of the Premiership, would, in the public mind, lessen the security for good faith, and seriously endanger the existence of tho Government. It would be an entire change of the situation. Whichever of the three was so preferred, the act would amount to an abandonment of the mm APPENDIX. 363 n, as it was coalition basis and the reconstruction of the Government on ordinary party principles, under a party leader imacceptable to a largo portion oi' those on whose support the existence of the Ministry depended. Mr. Brown reminded Mr. Macdonald that, when the coalition was formed, the Liberal party in opposi- tion constituted a majority of tlie House of Assembly : that, solely for the accomplishment of a great measure essential of reform to the peace and pro- gress of the country, they had laid aside, for the time, party considerations, and consented to form r, coalition with their opponents, on conditions which nothing but the strongest sense of public duty could have induced them to accept. He reminded Mr. Macdonald of the disadvantageous and embarrassing position he (Mr. Brown) and his colleagues, Mr. McDougall and Mr. Howland, had consented to occupy during the past year, united as they were with nine political opponents who held all the important departments of State; and lie asked him to reflect in what light the Liberal party must regard this new l)roposition to abandon their distinctive position, and place one of their chief opponents in the Premiership, though his Conservative supporters in Parlia- ment were much inferior, numerically, to the Reform supporters of the coalition. Mr. Brown stated his conviction that the right mode of settling the question would be to invite some gentleman, of good position in the Legislative Council, under whom all the three great parties to the coalition could act with confidence, to become the successor of Colonel Tach^. In no other way, he thought, could the position heretofore existing be continued. ^Ir. Brown concluded by saying that the proposal of Mr. Macdonald was ])alpably one for the construction of a new Government, and that, if the aid of the Reform party of Upper Canada in the Assembly were desired in its formation, a distinct statement of the policy of the new Government must be made, and a definite proposition submitted. Speaking, however, for him- self alone, he (Mr. Brown) occupied now precisely the ground that he had held in the negotiations of 1864; he stood prepared to give an outside but frank and earnest support to any Administration that might be formed, pledged, like the coalition Government, to carry through Parliament, in the spring session of next year, either a measure for the final completion of the Confederation scheme of the Quebec Conference, or one for removing existing difficulties in Canada, by the introduction of the federal principle into the system of government, coupled with such provisions as will permit the Maritime Provinces and the North-West Territory to be incorporated into the system. "Mr. Macdonald stated in answer that, at the time the coalition Avas oft'ected, in 1864, Sir Etienno Tach6 held the position of Premier, with him (Mr. Macdonald) as leader of the Lower House, and the Upper Canadian section of the Government. That, on reference to the memorandum settled as the basis of the coalition, it will be seen that Mr. Brown at first preferred to support the Government in its policy as then settled without entering the Government, but that it was afterwards settled, in deference to the wishes of his supporters and at the pressing instance of Mr. Macdonald, that he and two of his political friends agreed to enter the Government. These terms 364 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. S-S-* ?{' ] S f' < « i Hi m t, > were acceded to, the offices that liappened to bo then vacant placeil at Mr. Brown's disposal, and the coalition was completed. Mr. MacdonaM further stated that Sir Eticnne Tachd was not then selected as First Minister as a part of the agreement for the coalition ; but he had been previously, and was then, the head of the Conservative Government, and was accepted witli all his Lower Canadian colleagues without change. That, on the lamented decoase of Sir Etienne, His Excellency had, without any previous communi- cation of his opinion to him or (as ho understood) to any one else, come to the conclusion that the best mode of carrying on the Government was (as already stated) for Mr. Macdonald to take one step up ; that Mr. Carticr, as next in seniority, should do so also, and that the other arrangements should remain as before. That he, Mr. Macdonald, thought with His Excellency that this was the best solution of the matter, and could not b.it accede ti) it ; that, however, he had no personal feeling in the matter, and that if he had, lie thought it bis duty to set aside such feeling for the sake of carr}'in<; out the great scheme, so happily commenced, to a successful issue. He therefore would readily stand aside and waive his pretensions, so that some other person than himself might be appointed to the Premiership : that he thought Mr. Gartier should be that person : that after the death of Colonel Tach^, Mr. Cartier, beyond a doubt, was the most influential man in his section of the country, and would be selected by the Lower Canadian sup- porters of the Government as their leader; that neither Mr. Brown nor Mr. Macdonald could dictate to Lower Canada as to their selection of leader : that the Premier must be, according to usage, the leader or senior member either from Upper or Lower Canada : and that as he (Mr. Macdonald) had, in consequence of the position taken by Mr. Brown, waived his own pretensions, it followed that Mr. Cartier should be appointed as Prime Minister. Mr. Macdonald stated in conclusion that, although he had no reason to suppose that His Excellency would object to the selection of Mr. Cartier, yet he must, of course, submit the proposition to him, and obtain his assent to it. " Mr. Brown replied that, in some of the views suggested by Mr. Mac- donald, there was a difference between this proposition and his original one ; but still that this, liko the other, would be a proposal for the construction of a new Government, in a manner seriously affecting tlie security held by the Liberal party. Before saying anything upon such a proposition, however, were it formally made, he would desire to consult his friends, Mr. McDougall and Mr. Howland. "The interview then terminated, and the following correspondence took place : — iV " * Hon. John A. Macdonald to Hon. George Brown. «• • Quebec, August 4, 1865. "'My dear Sir, " * Immediately after our conversation, the heads of which we have reduced to writing, I obtained His Excellency's permission to propose to you APPENDIX. 3G5 that Mr. Cartier, as being the leader of the MiniHtcrial majority of Lower Canada in Parliament, should assume the position of Prime Minister, vacated by the death of Sir Etienne Tachd, the other members of the Administration continuing to hold their positions and offices as before. All the Lower Canadian members of the Council assent to this proposition, so do Mr. Campbell and myself; and I am sure I can also speak for Mr. Solicitor General Cockburn, who is now absent. " ' May I request the favour of an early reply. " ' Believe me, my dear sir, " ' Yours faithfully, '"John A. Macdonald. " ' To Hon. George Brown.' " ' lion. George Brown to Hon. John A. Macdonald. " ' Quebec, August 4, 1866. " * My dear Sib, '"I have received your letter of this rftemoon, irvitin^; mo to retain my indent position in a Government to be formed unuer he Premier- «^^p of Mr. Cartier. In reply I have now to state, after co); sultation wiih Messrs. Howland and McDougall, that we can only regnrd this proposition as one for the construction of a new Government, in a manner seriously affectin;; the security heretofore held by the Liberal party. Anxiously desirous as wo are, however, that nothing should occur at this moment to jeopardize tho plans of the coalition Government on the constitutional question, wo cannot assume the responsibility of either accepting or rejecting it without consulta- tion with our political friends. This I am prepared to do without any delay, and to that end it will be necessary that I have clearly stated in \vriting tho basis on which Mr. Cartier proposes to construct the new Government. " ' I am, my dear sir, yours tndy, " ' George Brown. »' ' To Hon. John A. Macdonald.' •' ' Hon. John A. Macdonald to Hon. George Brown. " ' Quebec, Saturday, August 5, 186.5. "'Mv DEAR Sir, " ' I regret to learn from your note of yesterday that you cannot assume the responsibility, without first consulting your political friends, of either accepting or rejecting the preposition that Mr. Cartier shoidd be placed at the head of the Government in tho stead of the late Sir Etienne Tach^, with the understanding that the rest of the Council should retain their present offices and positions under him. I have conferred with Mr. Cartier on tho subject, and we agree that, at this late hour, it would be highly inexpedient to wait for the result of this consultation. " ' Parliament is to assemble on Tuesday next, and, in our opinion, it would greatly prejudice the position of the Government as well as the future iiii'i 366 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. H-, prospects of the great scheme in which we are all engaged, if we met Parlia- ment with the Administration in an incomplete state, and, therefore, with no fixed policy. "'I have His Excellency's permission to state his concurrence in tliis view, and his opinion that the public interests require the immediate recon- struction of the Ministry. " ' Under these circumstances, and to prevent the possibility of the scheme for the Confederation of British North America receiving any injury from tlie appearance of disunion among those who coalesced for the purpose of carryinj; it into effect, Mr. Cartier and I, without admitting that there are any sufficient grounds for setting either of us aside, have agreed to propose that Sir Narcisse Belleau shall assume the position of First Minister and Receiver General, vice Sir Etienne Tache : that the position and offices of other members of the Executive Council shall remain as before : and that the policy of tiie Govern- ment shall bo the same as was laid before Parliament in July, 1864, as tlu! basis of the coalition which was then formed. His Excellency authorizes me to to make this proposition, and expresses his desire for an early answer. " ' Believe me, my dear sir, yours faithfully, '"John A. Macdoxald. "' lion. George Brown.' " ' Hon. George Brown to lion. John A. MucJouiild. " ' Quebec, Auj?ust .'5, 186.'), " ' Saturday. 5 p.m. "'My dear Sir, " ' Your note of this afternoon was handed to me by Col. Bernard, and, having communicated its contents to my colleagues, I now beg to state the conclusions at which wo have arrived. "'Without intending the slightest discourtesy to Sir Narclsr.e Belleau, we deem it right to remind you that wo would not have selected that gentle- mnn as successor to Sir Etienne Tachd; but, as ho is the selection of Mr. Cartier and yourself, and as wo are equally with you desirous of pre- venting the scheme for the Confederation of British America receiving injury from the appearance of disunion among us, we shall offer no objection to his appointment. " ' I think, however, it will bo necessary that Sir Narcissc Belleau shall have stated to him, and shall accept, in more distinct terms than you have indicated, the policy on which our coalition now rests. It is quite right that the basis of June, 18G4, should bo stated as the basis still; but ho should also clearly understand the modification of that agreement, rendered necessary by succeeding events, and which was ratified by Sir Eticnno Tache, June, 1865. The agreement of June, 18G4, was as follnvs : " The Government aro prepared to pledge themselves to bring in a measure next session for tho purpose of removing existing difficulties by introducing the federal ininciplo into Canada, coupled with such provisions as will pernut the I M ; APPENDIX. 367 Maritime Provinces and the North- West Temtory to be incorporated iiitu the same system of government. And the Government will seek, by sendiiii; representatives to the Lower Provinces and to England, to secure the assent of those interests which are beyond the control of our own legislation, to such a measure as may enable all British North America to be united under a general Legislature based upon the federal principle." " ' Sir Narcisse Belleau should understand that occurrences in tlie Maritime Provinces unfortunately prevented this agreement from being carried out, so far as regards time : that it became necessary to consider what course ought to be pursued in consequence of these occurrences : and that we came to an agreement that we should earnestly strive for the adoption of the scheme of the Quebec Conference; but, should we be unable to remove the objections of the Maritime Provinces in time to present a measure at tlie opening of the session of 186G for the completion of the Confederation scheme, we would then present to Parliament, and press with all tlu^ influence of Government, a measure for the reform of the constitutional system of Canada, as set forth in the above agreement of June, 18G4. " ' I remain, my dear sir, yours truly, " ' George Browk. '"Hon. John A. Macdonald.' " ' Hon. John A. Macdonald to Hon. George Brown. '"Queboc, Aujfust 7, 180-"). '"Mr DEAR Sir, " ' Sir Narcisse Belleau returned from the country yesterday, and I am happy to inform you that he has, though with great reluctance, accedeil to the request of Mr. Cartier and myself, and accepted the position of First Minister, with the oflice of Receiver General. " ' Ho accepts the policy of the late Government, as stated in your note of Saturday to me, and adopts it as that which will govern liis Administration. " ' This policy will, of course, be announced in both Houses of Parliament as soon as possible. " ' Believe me, faithfully yours, '"John A. Macdo.s'ai.d. "' Hon. George Brown.' " The following may also prove of interest :— "Cow or A Memorandum ok a conversation uetween the Governor General an^ Mr. Brown, August 3, 18G5. "Mr. Brown was informed by Lord Monck that he had come to the conclusion that the best course ho could adopt for the purpose of filling the vacancy caused by the death of Sir E. Tacho was to entrust Mr. Macdonald with the reconstruction of the Government as the member of the Cabinet ?i 368 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. next in seniority to Sir E. Tach^, and with the view of making as little change as possible in the personal character of the Administration; and, having asked Mr. Brown to give him his views on the present state of affairs, he (Mr. Brown) expressed his opinion that the course he anticipated the Governor General would have taken would have been to have maintained the Government in the same position that it held previous to Sir E. Tache's death, by placing at the head of the Ministry some member of the Legis- lative Council under whom he himself, Mr. Macdonald, and Mr. Cartier might serve as they had hitherto done under Sir E. Tach^. That he greatly feared that, were the leading representative of either of these great political parties, between whom the present coalition had been formed, placed 1 1 the head of the Ministry, the result would bo to imperil the coalition of parties which has prevailed for the last thirteen months. " That he (Mr. Brown) had entered office at the sohcitation of his party solely for the purpose of can-ying constitutional changes which he considered essential to the best interests of the province ; that he is desirous of retiring from office at the earliest possible moment, but that the Governor General might rely that, in any event, any administration formed on the basis of the agi'cement of July, 1864, will receive his most hearty support." l^ \ . ( 369 ) APPENDIX X. (See p. 293.) Resolutions adopted by the Confederate Council of riiE British North American Provinces on the negotiation of Commercial Treaties, held at Quebec, Seitember 15-18, 18G5. " 1. That the existing Treaty of Trade with the United States is accept- able, and that its renewal, as it now stands, would bo assented to by the respective provinces. " 2. That in the opinion of the Council, any reasonable proposals for the modification or extension of the Treaty, that may be suggested by the United States Government, ought to be entertained by the provinces. " 3. That in the event of a new Reciprocity Treaty being negotiated, it would be highly desirable that the coasting trade, and the registration of vessels, should be included in its provisions. " 4. That in the event of the abolition of the Treaty by the United States Government, it is the opinion of this Council that all the British North American provinces should combine cordially together in all commercial matters, and adopt such a common commercial policy as will best advance the interest of the whole. " 5. That in the opinion of this Council it would be highly desirable that application be made to Her Majesty's Imperial Government, requesting that steps be taken to enable the British North American provinces to open communications with the West India Islands, with Spain and her colonies, and with Brazil and Mexico, for the purpose of ascertaining in what manner the traflic of the provinces with these countries could be extended, and placed on a more advantiigeous footing. " 6. That in the event of negotiations for a new Treaty of Reciprocity with the United States being opened by Her Majesty's Government, but not con- cluded before the 17th March next, application bo made to Her Majesty's Government suggesting that an arrangement bo entered into with the United States Government for such a continuation of the existing Treaty as may afford time for concluding the poiuling negotiations. " 7. Ihat Her Majesty's Government be requested to authorize tlio members of this Council, or a committee to bo appointed from amunc;Ht them, to proceed to W".!!hington, in the event of negotiations being opened for tho renewal of tiie Reciprocity Treaty, in order to confer with tho British Minister there, and afford him information with respect to the interests of tlio British North American provinces." VOL. 1. 2 B 370 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. APPENDIX XI. (See p. 294) " Executive Council Chamber, Ottawa, " December 19, 1865. 2J p.m., Tuesday. " My DEAR Brown, "I have just called at your hotel with Campbell with a view to have with you a friendly interview. We were very sorry and much dis- appomted to find that you were out. Both of us left our cards. We intend calling again this afternoon to see you, in the hov ■ of being more successful. If perchance you happen to be in when this note hes you, be kind enough to send me word that you are at your hotel. I hope, and every one of your colleagues hopes that after a friendly interview you will be induced to recoii- •sider your present intention. Believe me, my dear Brown, " Your devoted colleague, "G. E.G. " The Hon. Geo. Brown, Russell Hotel." " [Private and confidential.] " Russell House, " December 19th. J to 4 p.m. " My dear Caktier, " I have received your kind note, and think it right to state frankly at once that the step I have taken cannot be revoked. The interests in- volved are too great. I think a very great blunder has been committed in a matter involving the most important interests of our country, and that the Order in Council you have passed endorses that blunder and authorizes persis- tence in it. " I confess I was much annoyed at the direct personal affront oifercd me yesterday, but that feeling has entirely passed away after a night's reflection, in view of the serious character of the matters at issue which casts all personal feeling aside. I desire to leave you in perfect harmony. I shall of course place in writing my grounds of resignation, but, seeing the prejudicial eft'ect their prv, sent publication might have on the negotiations, I propose that no reason be given for my resignation until the reciprocity question is settled one way or other. I propose to state in to-morrow's Olobe that my resignation has occurred from a grave difference in the Cabinet (in which I stand alone) on an important public question — that the explanations will bo given to iZ). APPENDIX. 371 I., Tuesday. ith a view to id much dis- . We intend •re successful. ) kind enough y one of your ced to recon- Parliament in due time, and that it would be inexpedient for the public interest that they should be given sooner. I make this suggestion believing it the best thing for the public interest, and on that ground alone, but any other proper course of procedure I am ready to adopt at the wish of my late colleagues. " In conclusion, let me say that if you stick to the compact you made with me when Sir Narcisse came into the Government — my being out of the Government will not change my course in the slightest, and that you will have my best aid in carrying out the constitutional changes we were then pledged to. " Believe me, my dear Cartier, " Faithfully yours, " Geo. Brown. " Hon. G. E. Cartier." " I pray you not to commit any mistake in that New Brunswick matter, but we are pledged of course by Macdonald's letter, and must do all that in reason we can be asked to do. But what is proposed would be wrong and most hurtful hereafter. However, I am ready to give a cheque for $500 towards the fund, and will not be behind if further aid is required. — G.B." state frankly interests in- mmittod in a and that the orizcs persis- it oiTered me t's reflection, ■) nil personal inll of course udicial eflect pose that no B settled one y resignation Btatid alone) bo given to " Executive Council Office, Ottawa, " December 19, 1865. 4} p.m., Tuesday. "My dear Brown, " I feel very, very sorry at your telling me that the step you have taken cannot be revoked. Whatever might be at this moment the strength of your determination I flatter myself, that, after a friendly interview between you and Campbell and myself this evening, you might bo induced to change your mind. As Campbell happens to bo at the same hotel with you, arrange with him the time and place at which we may meet after dinner. Campbell will let me know where and when, and I will lot fail to hasten to the rendez-votis. Until we see you try to bring your mind to a listening mood. I must frankly say that if unfortvmately you cannot be induced to retrace the step you have taken, the terms and mode you suggest to make known your resignation are the most consistent with the public interests — the same announcement wll have to be made by us. Allow me to say to yon that, whatever may bo the result of our interview this evening, I will always feel very tliankful to you for the patriotic and generous sentiments you arc so kind to express in your note to me. •' Believe mo, my dear Brown, " Yours very truly, , " G. E. C. "The Hon. Geo. Brown, Russell Hotel." 372 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. V it APPENDIX XII. (Seep. 300.) " Memouaxdum. " The Governor General desires to lay before the members of the Executive Council the strong opinion he entertains as to the imperative necessity vv-hich exists for concluding what remains to be done in the Canadian Parliament in order to complete the plan for the union of the provinces during the present session. " The reasons which have produced this conviction in the mind of the Governor General are derived partly from the effect which the ;ourse that may now be adopted will have on the fate of the measure, both in the other provinces and in England, and partly from the peculiar constitution of the present Government of Canada and the circumstances under which it was originally formed. '* The advance in public opinion which has appeared both in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia proves that an early accomplishment of tlie subject is possible. " This province has hitherto always taken the lead on the subject, and the Governor General cannot help thinking that a bad moral effect will be produced in New Brunswick if this session is allowed to pass without con- cluding Canada's portion of the scheme. " The Governor General will not conceal from the Council that ho also entertains apprehensions of the effect on the public mind, both in Upper and Lower Canada, of allowing the unfinished scheme to continue still a matter of public discussion and criticism, after the adoption of the principle by Ni)va Scotia and New Brunswick shall have rendered its final success so mucli more nearly approaching to a matter of certainty than it has hitherto been. " There are not wanting in the public press indicatioi.s that this danger is not imaginary. " The Governor General also is strongly of opinion that advantage should bo taken of the probability of a very late session of the Imperial Parliament this year to secure the passage of the Act of Union in England this year. " Should the present session of the Canadian Parliament be allowed to pass wthout dealing with the questions which still remain unsettled, this will bo impossible, oven if there should bo — which seems far from improbable — an Autumn Session of the Imperial Parliament. " The Governor General may add that it is within his own knowledge that I; APPENDIX. 373 the Secretary of State expects that the work referred to shall be done in the present session. " These are some of the grounds connected with the fate of the measure of Union upon which the Governor General has formed the opinion that this session should not pass without witnessing the completion of the scheme. "There were also circumstances connected with the formation of the present Administration which make the Governor General feel himself personally bound to press upon the Council his views on this point. "The coalition of parties which was formed in 1864 was — at least in some measure — brought about by the exercise on certain parties to that measure of the personal influence of the Governor General. When that influence was used the Governor General felt that he was in some measure overstepping the strict line of his constitutional duties. He trusted, however, to the importance of the object sought to be gained as a sufficient excuse for the steps which he then took. The Administration which was then formed was constituted avowedly for the purpose of passing, at the earhest possible moment, the measure for the Union of the provinces. " It was for this purpose alone that the Liberal section of the Cabinet yielded to the Governor General's persuasion to join the Administration, and it is for this reason that the Governor General feels personally bound, not only to that section of the Government, but to the people of the province, to press for the speedy completion of the plan of Union. '* The Governor General, in addition, desires to remind the Council that the session was postponed to this late period of the year avowedly in reference to the course which it might be desirable to take on this question. •« Ottawa, June 6, 18C6." Ulil. 374 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. APPENDIX XIII. (See p. 305.) Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Execuiivk COXJNCIL, approved BY HiS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IN Council on September 24, 1860. " The Committee have had before them a despatch, No. 39, dated 31st August, 1866, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick delegates have been now for some weeks in England with a view to the discussion of the various questions relative to the Confederation of the B.N.A. provinces, and have repeatedly inquired of him the period by which their Canadian colleagues may bo expected. ♦' That he shall be glad to be informed at the earliest possible date of tlie course which it is proposed by them to adopt. " His lordship stateo that any unnecessary delay in the settlement of this question is very undesirable, and that also the prolonged detention of the delegates now in England is attended with much inconvenience to them and to the Governments of which they are members. " That if any appearance of impending Fenian disturbance should render it unfit for Your Excellency to quit your post, or if the same causes should make the delegates feel that they cannot all of them leave the province, it might deserve their consideration whether some of their number could repair at once to England to enter into the proposed discussion. "The Committee would respectfully state, for the information of Lord Carnarvon, that the Canadian Parliament, at its first session in 1865, after the meeting of the Quebec Conference, adopted repjlutions approving the scheme of Union proposed by that Conference, bu that the Legislature of Nova Scotia declined to approve of that scheme, or to adopt resolutions in favour of a union of the provinces until the spring of the present year, and the Legislature of New Brunswick did not adopt such resolutions until the latter ])art of the month of July. " That so soon as it appeared probable that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would assent to a scheme of Confederation, the Canadian Parlia- ment was summoned, and measures to provide for the local Governments which, under the Quebec scheme, were required to be adopted by the existing Legislatures of the respective provinces, were submitted for its consideration. D. APPENDIX. 375 Executive Jknekal in fist August, e Colonies, ' been now tlie various ) and have colleagues late of the ent of this tion of the ' them and uld render ses should rovince, it 'uld ropaii- » of Lord I after the le scheme of Nova in favour and the Jie latter nd New I Parlia- rnmcnts existhig 3ration. " That while the measures were before Parliament it was proposed by the Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that delegates from the three provinces should assemble in England about the first of August, with the view of discussing and agreeing to a Bill for Confederation to be sub- mitted to the Imperial Parliament, which it was supposed would still be in session. "That although the Canadian Government doubted that any measure based on the resolutions of the Quebec Conference could be prepared and carried through the Imperial Parliament at so late a period of the session, they promised to advise Your Excellency to send a delegation of their number to England by the steamer of the 21st July, if the progress of legislation and the state of public business would permit. "That before the date mentioned, and before the delegates for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had sailed for England, Your Excellency received information which convinced Your Excellency that it would not be possible to carry through Parliament at its then session any Bill for the Confederation of the British North American provinces. " That shortly afterwards, and before the delegates had left for England, Your Excellency received notice of the resignation of Mr. Cardwell and his colleagues, and the accession of a new Government. " That in view of these circumstances. Your Excellency was advised to inform the Governors of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and Your Excellency did inform them, that, as it was evident that no measure for Confederation could be prepared and carried through Parliament in the session then about to close, the Canadian delegates would not leave Canada at the time stated. " That the prorogation of the Imperial Parliament on the twelfth of August proved that the apprehensions of the Canadian Government were well founded. If, therefore, the delegates from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had post- poned their departure, as they wero requested to do, they would not have suffered the inconvenience to which Lord Carnarvon refers. " The Committee respectfully submit that it would not be expedient for any of the leading members of the Canadian Government to proceed ti» England while the province is threatened with invasion by a formidable bod}- of Fenian marauders from the United States. " The Committee believe that by the close of navigation this danger will be passed, or, if not, that such preparations will have been made to meet it that no apprehension need be felt for the result. " The Committee are further of opinion that as the next session of the Imperial Parliament will not probably be held before February, 1867, ample time will be afforded for the discussion of any question that may arise between the representatives of the provinces and the Imperial Government, if the delegates assemble in England about the 20th of November. " They would therefore respectfully recommend your Excellency to inform Lord Carnarvon that the following gentlemen have been appointed by your Excellency, viz. the Honourable John A. Macdonald, the Honourable Geo. E. ■'<;; ■^ . h ft' it 376 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. Cartier, the Honourable A. T. Gait, the Honourable Wm. McDougall, the Honourable W. P. Howland, and Hon. H. L. Langevin, and such other gentlemen as may be hereafter named, to be the delegation on behalf of Canada, and that it is their intention to leave Canada for England on the 7th day of November next. " Certified, " Wm. H. Lek, C.E.C." f m i 1 ( 377 ) APPENDIX XIV. (Seep. 311.) CeSOLUTIOXS ADOITED at aC'OSFEKEXCEOF DELEGATES FUOM THE PuOVIXCES OF Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Bkuxswick, iielu at the West- .MixsTEK Palace Hotel, Loxdox, ox the Foukth Day of Decembei;, OxE Thousand Eiuht Huxdked xsu Sixty Six. lillf 1. The best interests and present and future prosperity of British North America will be promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain, provided such Union can be effected on principles just to the several provinces. 2. In the Confederation of the British North American provinces, the system of government best adapted under existing circumstances to protect the diversified interests of the several provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony, and permanency in the working of the Union, is a General Govern- ment charged with matters of common interest to the whole country, and Local Governments for each of the Canadas, and for the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, charged with the control of local matters in their respective sections, provision being made for the admission into the Confede- ration, on equitable tei-ms, of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, the North West Territory, and British Columbia. 3. In framing a Constitution for the general Government, tlie Conference, with a view to the perpetuation of the connection with the mother country, and the promotion of the best interests of the people of these provinces, desire to follow the model of tho British Constitution, so far as circumstances will permit. 4. The executive authority or government shall be vested in the Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and be administered according to the well-understood principles of the British Constitution, by the Sovereign personally, or by the representative of tho Sovereign duly authorized. 5. The Sovereign shall be Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval militia forces. 6. There shall be a General Legislature or Parliament for the Confedera- tion, composed of the Sovereign, a Legislative Council, and a House of Commons. 7. For the puq)oH'^ of forming the Legislative Council, the Confederation ehall be considered as consisting of three divisions : (1) Upper Canada *,' 378 MEMOIRS OF 8IJt JOHN A. MACDONALD. i-y.Of.> 'I (2) Lower Canada, and (3) Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Each division with an equal representation in the Legislative Council. 8. Upper Canada shall be represented in the Legislative Council liy twenty-four members, Lower Canada by twenty-four members, and tlie Maritime Provinces by twenty-four members, of which Nova Scotia shall have twelve, and New Brunswick twelve members. 9. The Colony of Prince Edward Island, when admitted into the Con- federation, shall be entitled to a representation of four members in the Legislative Council. But in such case the members allotted to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall be diminished to ten each, such diminution to take place in each province as vacancies occur. 10. The Colony of Newfoundland, when admitted into the Confeil ration, shall be entitled to a representation in the Legislative Council of four members. 11. The North-West Territory and British Columbia shall be admitted into the Union on such terms and conditions as the Parliament of the Confederation shall deem equitable, and as shall rereive the assent of the Sovereign, and in case of the province of British Columbia, as shall be agreed to by the Legislature of such province. 12. The members of the Legislative Council shall be appointed by the Crown under the Great Seal of the General Government from among residents of the province for which they are severally appointed, and shall hold office during life. If any Legislative Councillor shall for two consecutive sessions of Parliament fail to give his attendance in the said Council, his seat shall thereby become vacant. 13. The members of the Legislative Council shall be British subjects by birth or naturalization, of the full age of thirty years, shall each possess in the province for which they are appointed a continuous real property qualifi- cation of four thousand dollars over and above all incumbrances, and shall be and continue worth that sum over and above their debts and liabilities, and shall possess a continuous residence in the province for which they are appointed, except in the case of persons holding official positions whicli require their attendance at the seat of Government pending their tenure of office. 14. If any question shall arise as to the qualification of a Legislative Councillor, the same shall be determined by the Legislative Council. 15. The members of the Legislative Council for the Confederation shall, in the first instance, be appointed upon the nomination of the Executive Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick respectively, and the number allotted to each province shall be nominated from the Legislative Councils of the different provinces, duo regard being had to the fair repre- sentation of both political parties; but in case any member of the Local Council so nominated shall decline to accept, it shall be competent for the Executive Government in any province to nominate in his place a person who is not a member of the Local Council. 16. The Speaker of the Legislative Council (unless otherwise provided by APPENDIX. 379 Parliament) shall be appointed by the Crown '-" n among the members of the Legislative Council, and shall hold oflSco during pleasure, and shall only bo entitled to a casting vote on an equality of votes. 17. Each of the twenty-four Legislative Councillors representing Lower Canada in the Legislative Council of the General Legislature, shall be appointed to represent one of the twentv four electoral divisions mentioned in schedule A of chapter first of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, and such Councillor shall reside or possess his qualification in the division he is appointed to represent. 18. The basis of representation in the House of Commons shall be population, as determined by the official census every ten years, and the number of members at first shall be one hundred and eighty-one, distributed as follows : Upper Canada, eighty-two ; Lower Canada, sixty-five ; Nova Scotia, nineteen ; New Brunswick, fifteen. 19. Un' ; the first general election after the official census of one thousand qi^ t hundred and seventy-one has been made up, tliere shall be no change in the number of representatives from the several sections. 20. Immediately after the completion of the census of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and immediately after every decennial census thereafter, the representation from each province in the House of Commons shall be readjusted on the basis of population, such readjustment to take eflFect upon the termination of the then existing Parliament. 21. For the purpose of such readjustments. Lower Canada shall always be assigned sixty-five members, and each of the other provinces sliall, at each readjustment, receive for the ten 3'ears then next succeeding, tlio number of members to which it will be entitled on the same ratio of representation to population as Lower Canada will enjoy, according to the census then last taken by having sixty-five members. 22. No reduction shall be made in the number of members returned by any province, unless its population shall have decreased relatively to the population of the whole Union to the extent of five per centum. 23. In computing at each decennial period the number of members to which each province is entitled, no fractional parts shall be considered, uiilcs.s when exceeding one-half the number entitling to a member, in which case a member shall be given for each such fractional part. 24. The number of members may at any time be increased by the General Parliament, regard being had to the proportionate rights then existing. 25. Until provisions are made by the General Parliament, all the laws which at the date of the proclamation constituting the Union are in force in the provinces respectively relating to the qualification and disqualification of any person to be elected, or to sit or vote as a member of the Assembly in the said provinces respectively, and relating to the qualification or disqualification of voters, and to the oaths to be taken by voters, and to returning officers, and their powers and duties, and relating to the proceedings at elections, and to the period during which such elections may be continued, and relating to 380 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. the trial of controverted elections, and the proceedings incident thereto, and relating to the vacating of seats of members, and to the issuing and execution of new writs in case of any seat being vacated otherwise than by a dissolution, shall respectively apply to elections of members to serve in the House of Commons of places situate in those provinces respectively. 26. Every House of Commons shall continue for five years from the day of the return of the writs choosing the same, and no longer ; subject, never- theless, to be sooner prorogued or dissolved by the Governor General. 27. There shall bo a session of the General Parliament once at least in every year, so that a period of twelve calendar months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the General Parliament in one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session. 28. The General Parliament shall have power to make laws for the peace, welfare, and good government of the Confederation (saving the sovereignty of England), and especially laws respecting the following subjects : — (1) The public debt and property. (2) The regulation of trade and commerce. (3) The raising of money by all or any mode or system of taxation. (4) The borrowing of money on the public credit. (5) Postal service. (6) Lines of steam or other ships, railways, canals, and other works connecting any two or more of the provinces together, or extending beyond the limits of any province. (7) Lines of steam ships between the confederated provinces and other countries. (8) Telegraphic communication and the incorporation of telegraph companies. (9) All such works as shall, although lying wholly within any province, be specially declared by the Acts authorizing them to be for the general advantage. (10) The census and statistics. (11) Militia, military and naval service, and defence. (12) Beacons, buoys, light-houses, and Sable Island. (13) Navigation and shipping. (14) Quarantine. (15) Sea coast and inland fisheries. (16) Ferries between any province and a foreign country, or between any two provinces. (17) Currency and coinage. (18) Banki.ig : incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper money. (19) Savings banks. (20) Weights and measures. (21) Dills of exchange and promissory notes. (22) Litcrest. (23) Legal tender. (24) Bankruptcy and insolvency. APPENDIX. 381 (25) Patents of invention and discoveiy. (26) Copyrights. (27) Indians, and land reserved for the Indians. (28) Naturalization and alie,iS. (29) Marriage and divorce. (30) The Criminal I^aw, except the constitution of Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction, but including the procedure in criminal matters. (31) The establishment, maintenance, and management of penitentiaries. (32) Rendering uniform all or any of the laws relative to property and civil rights in Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and render- ing uniform the procedure of all or any of the courts in these provinces ; but any statute for this parpose shall have no force or authority in any province until sanctioned by the Legislature thereof, and the power of repealing, amending, or altering such laws, shall henceforward remain with the General Parliament only. (33) The establishment of a General Court of Appeal for the Confedera- tion. (34) Immigration. (35) Agriculture. (36) And generally respecting all matters of a general character, not specially and exclusively reserved for the Ijocal Legislatures. 29. The General Government and Parliament shall have all powers necessary or proper for performing the obligations of the Confederation as part of the British Empire to foreign countries, arising under treaties between Great Britain and such countries. 30. The powers and privileges of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland shall be held to appertain to the House of Commons of the Confederation, and the powers and privileges appcrtainiui;- to the Hcuso of Lords in its legislative capacity, shall be held to appertain to the Legislative Council. 31. The General Parliament may from time to time establish additional (Jourts, and tho General Government may appoint judges and ofliccrs thereof, when the same shall appear necessary, or for the public advantage, in order to the due execution of the laws of such Parliament. 32. All Courts, judges, and officers of the several provinces shall aiil, assist, and obey the General Government in the exercise of its rights and powers, and for such purposes shall bo held to bo Courts, j. .,es, and ofliccrs of the General Govcrnniont. 33. The General Government shall apjxjint and pay the salaries of the judges of the Superior and District and County Courts in each province, and Parliament shall fix their salaries. 34. Until the consolidation of the laws of Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, the judges of these provinces, appointed by the (Jencral Govornment, shall bo selected from their respective Bars. 35. The judges of the Courts of Lower Canada shall be selected from the Bar of Lower Canada. 382 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. 36. The judges of the Court of Admiralty shall be paid by the General Government, 37. The judges of the Superior Courts shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall be removable on the address of both Houses of Parliament. 38. For each of the provinces there shall be an executive officer styled the Governor, who shall be appointed by the Governor General in Council, under the Great Seal of the Confederation during pleasure ; such pleasure not to be exercised before the expiration of the first five years, except for cause, such cause to be communicated in writing to the Governor immedi- ately after the exercise of the pleasure as aforesaid, and also by message to both Houses of Parliament, within the first week of the first session after- wards ; but tlie appointment of the first Governors shall be provisional, and tliey shall hold office strictly during pleasure. 39. The Governor of each province shall be paid by the General Government. 40. The Local Government and Legislature of each province shall constructed in such manner as the Legislature of each such province sudu provide. 41. The Local Legislatures shall have power to make laws respecting the following subjects : — (1) The altering or amending their Constitution from time to time. (2) Direct taxation, and, in the case of New Brunswick, the right of levying timber dues by the mode and to the extent now established by law, provided such timber be not the produce of the other provinces. (3) Borrowing money on the credit of the province. (4) The establishment and tenure of local offices, and the appointment and payment of local officers. (5) Agriculture. (6) Immigration. (7) Education; saving the rights and privileges which the Protestant or Catholic minority in any province may have by law as to denominational schools at the time when the Union goes into operation. And in any province whorj a systom of separate or dissentient schools by law obtains, or where the Local Legislature may hereafter adopt a system of separate or dissentient schools, an appeal shall lie to the Governor General in Council of the General Government, from the acts and decisions of the local authorities which may afl'ect the rights or privileges of the Protestant or Catholic minority in the matter of education ; and the General Parliament shall have power in the last resort to legislate on the subject. (8) The sale and management of public lands, excepting lands belonging to the General Government. (i)) The establishment, maintenance, and management of public and reformatory i)riHons. (10) The establishment, maintenance, and management of hospitals, asylums, ciiaritioB, and eleemosynary institutions, except marine hospitals. APPENDIX. 383 (11) Municipal institutions. (12) Shop, saloon, tavern, auctioneer, and other licenses for local revenue. (13) Local works. (14) The incorporation of private or local companies, except such as relate to matters assigned to the General Parliament. (15) Property and civil rights (including the solemnization of marriage), excepting portions thereof assigned to the General Parliament. (16) Inflicting pxmishment by fine, penalties, imprisonment, or otherwise, for the breach of laws passed in relation to any subject within their juris- diction. (17) The administration of justice, including the constitution, mainte- nance, and organization of the Courts, both of civil and criminal jurisdiction, including also the procedure in civil matters. (18) And generally all matters of a private or local nature not assigned to the General Parliament. 42. All the powers, privileges, and duties conferred and imposed upon Catholic separate schools and school trustees in Upper Canada, sliall be extended to the Protestant and Catholic dissentient schools in Lower Canada. 43. The power of respiting, reprieving, and pardoning prisoners convicted of crimes, and of commuting and remitting of sentences in whole or in part, which belongs of right to the Crown, shall, except in capital cases, be administered by the Governor of each province in Council, subject to any instructions he may from time to time receive from the General Government, and subject to any provisions that may be made in this behalf by the General Parliament. 44. In regard to all subjects over which jurisdiction belongs to both the General and Local Legislatures, the laws of the General Parliament shall control and supersede those made by the Local Legislature, and the latter shall be void so far as they are repugnant to, or inconsistent with, the lormer. 45. Both the Englisu and French languages may bo employed in the General Parliament, and in its proceedings, and in the Local Legislature of Lower Canada, and also in the Federal Courts, and in the Courts of Lower Canada. 4G. No lands or property belonging to the General or Local GovernnicntH shall be liable to taxation. 47. \H Bills for appropriating any part of the public rovoinio, or for imposing any tax or impost, shall originate in the House of Commons, or House of Assembly, as the case may bo. 48. The House of Commons or House of Assembly shall not originate or pass any vote, resolution, address, or Bill for the aj)propriation of any part of the public revenue, or of any tax or impost to any purpose, not first recommended by message of the Governor General, or the Governor as the case may be, during the session in which such vote, resolution, address, or Bill is passed. 49. Any Bill of the Jeneral Parliament may bo reserved in the nsna! i :ii •■■■ 384 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. manner for Her Majesty's assent, and any Bill of the Local Legislatures may^ in like manner, be reserved for the consideration of the Governor General. 50. Any Bill passed by the General Parliament shall be subject to dis- allowance by Her Majesty within two years, as in the case of Bills passed by the Legislatures of the said provinces hitherto ; and in like manner any Bill passed by a Local Legislature shall be subject to disallowance by the Governor General within one year after the passing thereof. 51. The seat of Government of the Confederation shall be Ottawa, subject to the Royal Prerogative. 52. Subject to any future action of the respective Local Governments, the seat of the Local Governments in Upper Canada shall be Toronto , of Lower Canada, Quebec ; and the seats of the Local Governments in the other provinces shall be as at present. 53. All stocks, cash, bankers' balances, and securities for money belonging to each province at the time of the Union, except as hereinafter mentioned, shall belong to the General Government. 54. Tue following public works and property of each province shall belong to the General Government, to wit : — (1) Canals. (2) Public harbours. (3) Light-houses and piers, and Sable Island. (4) Steamboats, dredges, and public vessels. (5) Rivers and lake improvements. (6) Rai'ways and railway stocks, mortgages and other debts duo by rail- way companies. (7) Military roads. (8) Custom-houses, post-offices, and all other public buildings, except such as may be set aside by the General Government for the use of the Local Legislatures and Governments. (9) Property transferred by the Imperial Government, and known as Ordnance property. (10) Armouries, drill sheds, military clothing, and munitions of war, and lands set apart for general public purposes. 55. All lands, mines, minerals, >• ^d royalties vested in Her Majesty in the provinces of Upjier Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, for the use of such provinces, shall belong to the Local Government of the territory in which the same are so situate ; subject to any trusts that may exist in respect to any of such lands or to any interest of other persons in respect of the same. 56. All sums due from purchasers or lessees of such lands, mines, or minerals at the time of the Union, shall also belong to the Local Govern- ment. 57. All assets connected with such portions of the public debt of any province as are assumed by the Local Governments, shall also belong to those Governments respectively. 58. The several provinces shall retain all other public property therein APPENDIX. 385 I subject to the right of the General Government to assume any lands or public property required I'r fortifications or the defence of the country. 59. The General Goverrmient shall assume the debts, and liabilities of each province. 60. The debt of Canada not specially assumed by Upper and Lower Canada respectively, shall not exceed at the time of the Union sixty-two million five hundred thousand dollars; Nova Scotia shall enter the Union with a debt not exceeding eight million dollars, and New Bnmswick with a debt not exceeding seven million dollars. But this stipulation is in no respect intended to limit the powers given to the respective Governments of those provinces l)y legislative authority, but only to determine the maximum amount of charge to be assumed by the General Government. 61. In case Nova Scotia or New Bnmswick should not have contracted debts at the date of Union equal to the amount with which they are respec- tively entitled to enter the Confederation, they shall receive by half-yearly payments in advance from the General Government, the interest at five per cent, on the difterence between the actual amount of their respective debts and such stipulated amounts. 62. In consideration of the transfer to the General Parliament of the powers of taxation, the following sums shall be paid by the General Govern- ment to each province for the support of their Local Governments and Lcgis- tures — Upper Canada, $80,000 : Lower Canada, $70,000; Nova Scotia, $60,000; New Brunswick, $50,000: total, $260,000, and an annual gi-ant in aid of each province shall be made, equal to eighty cents, per head of the population, as established by the census of one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and in the case of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, by each subsequent decennial census until the population of each of those provinces shall amount to four hundred thousand souls, at which rate it shall thereafter remain. Such aid shall be in full settlement of all future demands upon the General Government for local purposes, and shall bo paid half-yearly in advance to each province ; but the General Government shall deduct from such subsidy all sums paid as interest on the public debt of any province in excess of the amount provided tuider the sixtieth resolution. 63. The position of New Brunswick being such as to entail large immediate charges upon her local revenues, it is agreed that for the period of ten years from the time when the Union takes effect, an additional allowance of sixty- three thousand dollars per anmmi shall be made to that province. But that 80 long as the liability of that province remains under seven millions of dollars, a deduction equal to the interest on such deficiency shall be made from the sixty-three thousand dollars. 64. All engagements that may, before the Union, be entered into with the Imperial Government f>r the defence of the country shall be assumed by the Gonerol Government. 65. The construction of the Intercolonial llailway being essential to the consolidation of the union of British North America, and to the assent of the Mftritimo Provinces thereto, it in agreed that provision bo made for itK VOL. I. 2 C 386 MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD, ^iti" immediate construction by the General Government, and that the Imperial guarantee for three millions of pounds sterling pledged for this work be applied thereto, so soon as the necessary authority has been obtained from the Imperial Parliament. 66. The communications with the North Western Territory, and the improvements required for the development of the trade of the Great West with the Sea-board, are regarded by this Conference as subjects of the highest importance to the Confederation, and shall be prosr uted at the earliest possible period that the state of the finances will pcrmi 67. The sanction of the Imperial Parliament shall bt "'ht for the union of the provinces on the principle adopted by this Conference. Go. That Her Majesty the Queen be solicited to determine the rank and name of the Confederation. 69. That a copy of these resolutions, signed by the chairman and secretary of the Conference, be transmitted to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 1 - D. t tlie Imperial this Avork bo lined from the iory, and the e Great West of the highest it the earliest for the union the rank and and secretary Secretary of ( 387 ) APPENDIX XV. (See p. 311.) " [Private.l " Charleville, December 29, 1866. " My dear Macdonald, " Thanks for your letter. I am glad to find that you have had no difficulties with your colleagues, " Lord C. has written to me to say that he purposes being in London early next month, and will then enter upon the consideration of your proposals. I shall be ready to come over whenever ho calls for me, and I hope we may be able to arrange everything in a satisfactory manner. " I wrote all my individual opinions very fully to Lord C. so long ago as the month of September last. I think you will agree with most of my views, and the only reason I had for not communicating them to you was that I thought you would be more free to act with your colleagues of the Lower Provinces if you could say that you were not aware of my confidential com- munications with Lord C. " Believe me to be, in haste, " Yours most truly, " MONCK. " The Hon. J. A. Mncdonnld." " 24, Hill Street, Jnmmry 18, 1807. " Mr DEAn Macdonald, " I had a long interview to-day with Lord Carnarvon. The draft bill is prepared except the clauses respecting the constitution of the local Govern- ments, and in these and the financial arrangements they trust to you. Lord C. proposes to send you a copy of the Bill — as chairman of the delegates — as soon as it shall be printed, and I think he will propose next Wednesday for a formal conference between you and your colleagues. " I tell you in order that you may sound the ' Assembly ' in time. "If you could conveniently call on me to-morrow (Saturday) at about 11.30 I should like to have some conversation with you about the Iludhon's Bay question. Gait seemed yesterday to think that something might now bo done about it. " Believe me to bo, " Yours most truly, " MONCK." ijl ■ u 388 MEMOIRS OF SIB JOHN A. MACDONALD. " 66, GrosTenor Street, January 29, 1867. "My deak Sir. " Can you let me have your mem. in writing of the schemes which you proposed to-day with regard to the constitution of the ' Senate ' and the pro- mulgation of the lists? A mem., however brief, is all that I need, and it is only, as lawyers say, ex abundanti cauteld, that I may not fall into any mistake in considering the proposals. "Believe me, " Yours very sincerely, " Carnarvon. "The Hon. J, A. Macdonald." ""Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria Street, " London, S.W., January 30, 1867. " My dear Lokd Carnarvon, " Our propositions were : — " 1. That the tenure of office for the Senate should be for life. " 2. That to preserve sectional interests, each of the three sections should be eijiially represented. *' We left the case there, but Your Lordship called our attention to the chance of a deadlock. To meet Your Lordship's views, and, as we under- stand it, the opinion of the Cabinet, we offered this suggestion, that whenever a money Bill was rejected once, or whenever any other Bill passed by the Commons was rejected by the Upper Chamber three times, it would be a justification for the Governor, with the advice of his Council, to add to the Upper House a sufficient number to carry the measure, provided that such Bill was caiTied at its third reading n the Commons by a majority of two out of the three sections of which the Confederation is composed. This majority is to be an absolute majority, and not merely of those voting. " In making the additions equality is to be preserved. As vacancies occur they are not to be filled up until the normal number of twenty-four for each section is reached. Of course provision must be made for the contingency of another deadlock before we get down to our original numbers. " With respect to the constitution of the Senate on its first formation, we propose that the names shall be settled by the Governors of the respective provinces with their Councils. Should any irreconcilable difference of opinion arise — which I cannot well anticipate — the parties shall be appointed by the Imperial Government on the Governors' recommendation and on their personal responsibility as Imperial officers. " It is suggested that the names should be inserted in the proclamation declaring the Union. I can say now to you, what I could not well say at the meeting yesterday, that any immediate nomination would be prejudicial to the existing Governments in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Legis- latures of both those provinces meet in March, and if the list were settled now, D. r 29, 1867. nes which you and the pro- eed, and it is ) any mistake VRVOX. APPENDIX. 389 a Street, 30, 1867. tions should ition to tlie we under- it wlienever sed by tlie would be a add to the 1 that such of two out I majority is ncies occur r for each Dntingency nation, we respective of opinion ted by the ir personal clamation say at the udicial to he Legis- ttled now, every man in the Upper House of both those provinces who is omitted, rifi;litly or wrongly, would vote against the Government. " Believe me to be, dear Lord Carnarvon, " Very sincerely yours, ".ToiiN A. M.vcnoxALu." "Colonial Office, Febniary 21, 1867. "My deau Sik, " I undei-stand that the amendment which it is desired to introduce in committee in the Bill with regard to the Protestant minority in Lower Canada is a provision to the effect that such minority shall have the same relative representation always secured to them in the federal and local Legis- latures as now. I conclude that this would be a gi-ave infraction of the terms agreed to and embodied in the Bill. " Believe me, " Youre very sincerely, "CaI!XA|{VON." " [Private.] " Felminry 28, 1867. "Mv DEAll MaCDOXALD, " I should be very glad if you would bring before your colleagues the strong opinion which I entertain on the subject of the unrestricted power of borrowing money which is conferred on the local Governments by the Union Bill as it stands at present. I don't think this provision will have any effect on the passage of the Union Bill. "The injurious effect which I apprehend from it is with reference to the Bill for guaranteeing the cost of the Intercolonial Railway. " It is true that power is only given to each local Legislature to bind the resources, by loan, of its own province ; but, as the only security foi the debt of the united province is the aggi'cgate of the local resources, it is obvious that anything which tends to diminish the solvency of the local Governments will depreciate the value of the debentures of the General Goverinnent. " Everything which reduces the solvency of the principal debtor renders it more likely that his guarantor may be called upon, and this is the point of view in which the unlimited power of the local Governments to borrow will probably be placed in the debate on the Guarantee Bill. "I think, with the object of meeting this objection, some restriction ought to be put on this power. One mode of doing it would be to compel the local (iovernments to borrow through the Central (lovernment. To this there are obvious objections from the undue pressure which such a system would enable members from particular provinces to bring upon the Central Executive. " I think, however, the object might be attained by introducing a provision analogous to that which I believe exists in the municipal law of Upper Canada, and which compels the municipality when the loan exceeds a certain amount, to appropriate specific taxes for the payment of the interest. I think 390 MEMOIBS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD. some provision of this kind might prevent the evil I have pointed out, and I think it is of great importance that no argument from the circumstances of the present case should — if it can bo avoided — ^be allowed to strengthen the abstract disinclination to guarantees which undoubtedly exists in the House of Commons. " Believe me to be, " Yours most truly, " MOXCK. " The Hon. J. A. Macdouald." " London, April o, 1807. " My DKAii Lord Mo^•cK, " As the Confederation Bill is now law, and must shortly be put in force, I think it well to \vrite yon on some preliminary matters for your consideration. " In the first place, I would suggest the ex^jediency of the opinion of the law officers of the Crown being obtained as to the necessity for a new commission to your Lordship. By one of your present Commissions you are Governor General of British North America, including Prince Edward Island, and, by the other. Governor of the Province of Canada. Under the Union Act you will be Governor General of the Dominion of Canada, not including, however. Prince Edward Island. British North America is now merely a geographical description, and, as such, includes not only the provinces named, but all the British possessions to the Pacific. I believe that since India has come under the direct government of the Queen, Her Majesty's representative there is styled Viceroy and Governor General, and I am sure that it would be gratifying to the people of Canada if a similar rank were accorded to the Governors of the Dominion. " In a separate memorandum I propose to submit for consideration some suggestions as to provincial ranks and precedencies. " 2. This seems to bo a proper period to revise the terms of the Com- mission and the Royal instructions under them. These were framed at a time when the provinces were more dependent upon a parent State and had less liberty of action. " .3. Her Majesty's Proclamation of the Union should bo issued with as little delay as possible. As, however, the list of the first Senators must form portion of the Proclamation, it would be well that the Governors of tho three provinces should bo called upon by despatch from tho Colonial Office for a return of tho recommendations. If no imneccssary delay takes place, the Proclamation could bo issued by tho end of May. An earlier day could scarcely be fixed, as by the 127th clause of tho Act any of tho existing Legislative Councillors to whom seats in tho Senate may be offered are allowed thirty days for acceptance or rejection of the offer. " 4. The day from which the union is to take effect must be inserted in the Proclamation, and I would suggest Monday, tho 15th of July, aa a conveniei\t day for that purpose. I do not think the provinces can bo united APPENDIX. 391 sooner, as the preparations for consolidating and amalgamating the diflercnt departments, administrative and legislative, must take a considerable time. These must all be completed before the day of the union, so that the whole machinery of Government may be set in motion without delay. " 5. I understand from the delegates from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that they desire that their present Lieutenant Governors should be requested to act as the first provincial Lieutenant Governors for the purpose of inaugurating the new system. Should this suggestion be adopted by the Government of Canada it may be necessary to obtain the consent of the Imperial authorities to Sir F. Williams and General Doyle acting as such, as they would be no longer officers directly appointed by the Crown. " These are the only points that suggest themselves to nic at present. Should any others occur to me I shall communicate them to Your Lordship. " Believe me, my dear Lord Monck, " Faithfully yours, "John A. Macdonald. rted in as a united " Memorandum. " It is submitted — "1. That the title of 'His Excellency ' should be formally conferred on the Governor General by Her Majesty, for the following reasons : — " (1) The title has always been used in all addresses from the Legislatures and all memorials and petitions from the people of the British North American provinces presented to the local Governments, and — " (2) Because the title is not only always addressed to the President of tiie United States, but to the governor of each State in the American Union, and the Governor General of Canada should certainly at. least possess the same rank and dignity. "2. That the Lieutenant Governor of each province should be addressed us ' His Honour the Lieutenant Governor,' etc. This title, like all others, must of course be confciTcd by Her IVIajesty's authority. " 3. That the members of the Privy Council should bo styled '' The Right Honourable.' Canada will soon have as large a population as Ireland, and the duties and responsibilities of Privy Councillors in Canada are much greater than those attaching to similar offices in Ireland. " 4. That the Executive Councillors of the provincial Governments should be addressed as ' The Honourable Mr.' " 5. That the Senators should have a similar designation, but only so long as they retain the office. " It has been suggested by several persons, and especially by Mr. Gordon, late Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, that the Senators should hold the rank and title of Knight Bachelor. This seems objectionable, as the office may be forfeited from any of the disqualifications mentioned in the Act, and it would look like a degradation to deprive a person who may have enjoyed the position for years of hia accustomed rank and title. Besides, it must be 392 MEMOIRS OF SIS JOHN A. MACDONALD. remembered that the conferring of knighthood on a Senator would entail a title on his wife, which might not in all cases be considered desirable. " 6. That it would bo a gratifying comi)limont to all the Legislative Councillors in the several provinces at the time of the Union if their present designation of Hou^/Urable were formally conferred upon them for life. " 7. That the Legislative Councillors appointed after the Union shall have the rank and designation of ' Esquire.' If the title of * Honourable ' were given to them, it would soon become so common as to lose all value. "8. An irregular and unauthorized practice has obtained in the provinces of styling the Speaker of the popular chamber as ' Honourable ' virtute officii. This has probably arisen from the fact of the Speaker of the House of Commons of England being addressed as ' The Right Honourable,' and its not being known that the Speaker does not possess such a rank or title as such, but derives the same from his position as a Privy Councillor, to which office, of late years, he is, as a matter of usage, aj)pointed. As the principle should be distinctly laid down that all titles should emanate from the Crown, fms honoris, their improper assumption should bo discountenanced. " 9. That some general rules or table of precedence should be prescribed." END OP VOL. I. II- PKIMTBD BV WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND OECCLESt r (1 entail a e, legislative lir present fe. shall have bio ' were provinces ute officii. House of ,' and its )r title as , to which I principle 10 Crown, escribed." .ES.