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•'1

BUITISII AMERICAN LEAGUE.

l-'.if..

8PEECH

»,!''

OF'

J. W. GAMBLE, Esq! ^

: .,; . ^- / '' 'y-»-r\

1'; 'i

.■■'1

DELIVERED AT THE

,;„.... , . ■

.... , .:,'.■

CONVENTION OF DELEGATES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 184.9

') . I

, ' ••.•' Mil ■< *

- ■> I, 1 f , »*r?lt •

FOR

( 'I

AN API"
A

..'AT TO THE LEGISLATURE, FOR AUTHORITY TO HOLD .u. -,

cony^'nimon of delegates, to draw up a new

rONOTUTlON R)U THE UNITED PROVINCES

OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.

-,■'!■' -•.-?*■

TORONTO:
PmjSTED AT THE PATIUOT OFFICE, lONGE tiTREET.

IS-iU.

BltlTlSII AMLltrCAN LEAGUli.

SPEECH OF J. W. GAMBLE, Esq.

Saturoay Morning, Nov. Srd.

Mr. Gambi.k moved hi.s third resolution,
seconded by Mr. John Young, of Hamilton, as
follows : —

Rtiolvtd— Thai while the three remodial mcaauros,
Proieetinn, Ketreuchmeut and Union, hold I'orlli by
the British American Leagtie. are nianireatly tbuse
belt ualculated to effuct the desired change, and restore
prosperity to our drooping imerests, it is equally ap-
parent that thoic luensures cannot he currind into
•uccessful operation, the necessary reforms accom-
plished, and a just, wise, and cheap system ol"overn-
inent estahlished, without important alterations in our
constitution, requiring joint and concerted action with
our sister Frovinces, To this end it is expedient to
obtain ihe authority of tha Legislature, for holding a
General Convention of Ualegates, for the purpose of
considering and preparing, in concert with Delegates
from those Provinces, a new constituiion, to be attcr-
wardt lubmitted for ratification to the people of
Canada, and of such of the other Colonies as may
decide upon acting in unison with them, preparatory
to itt being brought under the cuusideratiun of the
Matropolilan Government.

4t their former meeting the convention, artcr
Considering the various causes that led to the
depressed state of the interests of the pnivinee,
and the remedies that most prominently pre-
sented themselves, determined thiit they were
these: protection to native industry, retrench-
ment in the public expenditure, and a u.ion of
the Britisli North American provinces. In
those measures he most heartily concurred ; he
believed then as he believed now, that if these
measures were properly and efficiently carried
out, they would accomplish the objects the con-
vention had in view, and brin^ the country into
such a state of prosperity, that when we look
on the other side of the lines we shall sec nothing
tt» envy. The convention havin;j done that, it
seemed to him a proper course for lliem to pur-
sue on the present occasion, to show the people
the way in wh'cli these remedies can be car-
ried out ; it was with that view that lie rnovi.'d
the resolution, subsequently witlidrawn ; he
trusted, however, that on rellfctinn the mem-
bers of the Convention would see the propriety
of re-considering that resolution, and adopting
it. Rethought that the proper coprse to pur-
sue would be, to endeavour to have their views
reflected in the Legislature. If public opinion
did not coincide with their views it was useless
at present endeavouring to enlwice them, — he,
lor one, had no desire to adopt other tlian con-
stitutional means to attain that end ; ihe good
of the country was the sole object he desired,

he had no selftsli ends to gratify, — office was no
consideration with liirn, he cared not a straw
about it ; and though ht- luid discharged many
public trusts anil duties li'iitig his life, he had
never held an office of profit or emolimient,
and he did not suppose he ever shuuld, but
what he desired was, that he and those like him
who had notliing to do with the laws but to
obey them, might not be disturbed in their avo-
cations by the bickerings of party, and that tht!
laws might be such as to prevent one i)arty
when in jMiwer from wreaking their vengeance
on the parly out of power. Since the last Coti-
vention he had spoken with a \aT<rc number of
people on the state of the country, and as to
what they thought the best means to restore its
prosperity ; he had consulted many persons of
the soundest judgment and strongest minds, and
had been told with few exceptions, that the
true remedy for our evils is, the establish-
ment of maimfactures. You nmst get manu-
factures betijre the country can prosper, and
that being his own conviction he felt his pre-
vious opinion greatly slrengtliened. The next
thing to onipiire is, how are we to obtain these
manufactures l You cannot obtain them with-
out protection. The only way in which you
can establish manufactures in a young country,
exposed to competition with foreign countries
where manufactories have been established
for ages, is by placing such a heavy duty
on the articles you manufacture as wdl shut
out the foreign article. Without the aid of a
high tariff it is impossible lor begiimei . o com-
pete successfully with the experience, the skill,
the minute division of labour, and the capital of
those coimtries where manufactures have long
beiMi domesticated. It was contended by the
advocates of arniexation, that even if we had
protection it would not eflect all the objects
sought. He would ailmit that protection will
not produce the changes we desiie at once — it
would not pay overdue bills, neither would
annexation; you cannot say — change, pass,
begone, and the thing is ' complished, but
protection will produce a state of affairs that
will soon result in ])rosperity ; because, when
people find that their labour is profitably
and liberally rewarded, they will be induced
to turn their capital into those channels from
which the greatest returns are obtaineil. —
You will encourage the artizan to take up
his abode among you and increase his business,

SPEECH OF J. W. GAMBLE, ESQ.

ppausc then ho will fiiul In; makes nioio monny
it here than <.'lsp\\lu'r(' : you will stirriiilatf
ibiHir \^y laijjciy icvvaniinj; it, and then it is
Llonis^iin^ how npitlly ii change takes place in
^very interest in afjiiciiltnre and cornrneice as
ivell as in manuliicture.-i. '" ley acted and
reat'led uimii eadi other: he showed tVom sta-
tistical returns the manner in which Ihc rapid
Increase of manuliictures in England during the
Batter part of the last century had stimulated
igriculture; from 17S() Id 18;j4, every 11)0 in-
[•reiise in the population .idded 68 acres to the
cultivated lands — while if the calcidation he con-
jiine'i to the iirst t\v(Mity-live y(\ars of the pre-
sent century, the proportion is ordy thirty-seven
icres to every hundre.i. Sucli was the effect
England, and similar results may fairly be
Anticipated here. He for one, diil not hohl to
the idea, that large sums of money were to be
made on cai)ilal accnnnilated by working solely
Iwith borrowed capital ; lie believcrd that to pros-
jjier, we must accunndate capital by our own
Ijabour and industry, and adopt such a policy as
Jwill not only reward labour well and tend to
[the accunuilation of cajiital, but, after it is ac-
Icunndated, will kce|) it where it is acciimula-
Ited. Horiowing capital, es|)ecially from Jbr-
jeign countries, must not be lookeil nj)on as a
I good without alloy to tbi^ countiy that borrows
lit. For instance, look at the large loans con-
jlracted in England for the completion of our
'public works ; the interest on tiiat money is so
much every year subtracted from the iai)ilal of
the country ; that is the view taken in England,
and the financiers there undei stand it. Jt was
[only the other day ho read an arl icle in an Eng-
jlish paper, calling atlenlion to tli(!larg(! amount
jof English stocks hekl by foreigners, ami point-
ling to the consecpiences as prejiidieial, and not
Ifontributing to the ))ros|)riily ol the c<immuni-
Ity. If we borrow capital, the ])rofit deriv(!(l
Jfiom that cajiital must go out ol the country ;
[the interest on the; money borrowed to tinish our
[canals goes to England, A large <piantily of
bank stock is held in England, and thither
flows the prolits of banking on such capital;
then come the life assurance oflices of Englisli
companies, like a sponge, to suck up the little
that may he left, and take it out of the .•onntry.
]f we desire to jirosjier, we nnisl shut out tin
I maniifactmes of foreign nations, and import the
I mechanics that make them, to consume in the
country our agricultural produce. Then we
I should prosper. He could assure gentlemen
that it would not take a long time — a ll^w years
would suffice — to bring about a different state
of things from that which wc; see at present.
From the (irst British legislation for Canada, we
never had a policy calculated to benefit the in-
terests of this country ; the interests of the
country never had been consulted. He had
before him some of the slatnt(\s passed. 'l"he
first act to regulati! lh(> 1iad>' of the province to
which he would iefer,\vas Uie l4tli (Jeo. 111.,
which imposed cert a in duti<!S on loreigns()irits,as
distingiii.shed from British, imi>orted into this
colony. For whose benefit was this law enact-
ed? Not for the benefit of the people of this

country, nor was that advanc«l by paying fid.
a gallon nioie for siiirits liecauseit came from a
loreign country instead of (ireat Britain. The
law was enactetl to foster the tratle of England,
to protect the carrv'Mg-trade of (ireat Britain,
without any regard had to our interest. Look,
then, at the British Possessions Act. That act
imposed a duty of 20 per cent, on sugar, the
produce of or refined in foreign countries. For
whose benefit was it that Ave had to pay 20 per
cent, for foreign silk and glass manufactures,
while British articles of the same description
paid a duty of 2^ only "? It was to secure to
fjieat Britain the supplying us with those arti-
cles. Next we find a duty of 15 per cent, on
all oils, the produce of foreign fi.sherie8. For
whose benefit was this 1 Was it not for tlie
purjxise of encouraging the fishery trade of
(jJreat Britain '{ But to come down to later
times — the repeal of the corn laws, the sup|)o-
sed causo of all our troubles. In 1825, the
legislature of Great Britain passed an act, ad-
mitting the importation of grain from Canaila
at a fixed duty of 5s. per cpmrter. In 1841, an
agitat ion was commenced in Canada, to accom-
plish the free admission of our llour and grain
into (ireat Britain. Gentlemen might remem-
ber the petitions to the Queen and the lmj)erial
legislature, that were signed by almost all from
one end of the jirovince to the other, it wa.s in
Lord iSydenham's time, and he forwardeil the
niovement. In 1843, we obtained our re-
quest ; but was it obtained because it was
Ihoiigiit necessary for us, as likely to benefit us j,
— or had our interests anything to do as a pro-
curing cause of that measure >. Nosuch thing.
It was granted because Sir Robert Peel felt that
it was necessary to adopt some other system
ai:ainst the fuliin.', besides that adopted in the
iiiodilied corn bill of 1842, that the grain of the
weslern States of America might lie introduced
through ihe " liack floor of Canada," as it wiis
styled by Mr. Cobden. It was not done with
a vi(;vv to our benefit, but to meet 1 heir own
])articular emergency ; they felt that it was
necessary to let liiod into England in some way,
and they thought this a good one, and they invi-
ted lis to join in it. Two or vhree years after,
they determineil to do away with the corn laws
altogether — did they consult our interests then'}
— did they do us common justice 1 He wouM
ask any gentleman acquainted with the trans-
actions of that period, if they did us common
jiisticf! l Whs it not perfectly competent for
Sir Robert Peel, at the same moment that he
did away with that protection on our products,
to have done away also with the distinctive du-
ties here in favour of British manufactures'?
But whilst our protluce had no protection in the
British market, these duties remained in force
here, until the Canadian legislature at last re-
pealed them. Common justice required, that
wht'ii the corn laws were repealed, they should
liavi; repealed these distinctive duties also,
and he would go further and say the Navi-
gation Laws as far as related to our sea-
jKirts. |Mr. (ramble then read an extract
from an anicle in the London Efonomist,

BRITISH AMfmiCAN LEAGUE.

admittiniG; that the British Govcrnmont had been
guilty of a breach of t'ailh on the oc<"a.sioii lie re-
Icrred to ; that Canada had rontriicleil a debt lo
Iniild the St. Lawrence Canal on the I'uith that
jnolection wonlil be continued. It was all very
well alter this to lalk about " the Ibsterini,' Lc;;-
islaliou of the Imperial Government." Tlutt he
l)elitjved was the phrase, used in the Address
adopted at the lost Convontioii, which hi; had
the honor of reiK)rtin:i from the Comnittec. al-
though he disaj)prov('d of the expression. To
liim these acts appeared not the losterinsj; \cgis-
lation of a wise )uiiH>rial (ioveniment, bii'. the
acts of an luniatural parent whose intense selhsh-
nes.s has bejjj^ared her otlsprinj;;. (Cheers.) —
The great nn'stake whi"h has been made in this
country and which tenils to lessen its produc-
tion, is fbrcing too much labour into one chan-
nel. The particular channel into which labour
has been thrust is the productien of wheat; we
pnxluce more wheal in projxJitiou lo oin- num-
bers than other jieojile, and the consecjuence is
that the whole production of the .country is
wonderfully diminished. In support o( iliis he
•would just reler to statistics pubushed by autho-
rity. The whole jiroduciion of wheal in the
U/iitwl States in t)ie year 1817 was U l,2-l,j,a()()
busliei-j, or ."j busliels and M) parts to each hi-
habitaut. At the same timi; in 1817 the quan-
tity ofwhe.T.1 inoduced in Canada was 7,558, 77.S
or U) bushels and -)5 parts lo euch iidiabitant.
Thir. was vaultuiyly jiut forward, asshewiui: that
Canada, in proportion to its extent and popula-
tion, was a more agricultural country than tlie
United Stales, and coidd exiwrt one half the
produce yielded by its .soil. Now mark the re-
sult of thus forcing our people to liecome agri-
culturists — groweis of wheat. That same year,
1847, the whole (juantity of grain and potatoes
grown in tlie United States was -l(i busliels anil
rVii" ''^'" '^'^'■'^ inhabitant, while in Canada it was
only 32 bushels and -f^-,f lor earh inhabitant.
Many, many were the evils that llovved from
this system of compelling |)cople. whether lilted
or not for the employment, to become farmers.
The artizan on reaching Canada, linding no em-
ployment in that pursuit to which he has been
brought up, either leaves the country lor the
States or aUemi)ts lo farm ; ignorant of agri-
cult\ire, and unaccustomed to lariii labour, his
utmost exertions tail in procuring sufiicient for
himself and lamily; little by little his means
decrease, till, having exhausted all he brought
with hinri; discouraged and desixinding, lie too
frequently becomes a druid.ard, then an inmate
,ot the gapl and Penitentiary, unless indeed lu-
nacy or jfremature death anticipate that event.
We have ample means of becoming wealthy
and independent, but capital will not accumu-
late with us without manufactures. The reason
is plain. The material used in cotton and wool-
en manufactures doubles and trebles in value
fronti the time it leaves the hand of the producer
till it is returned to him in the .shape of cloth.
The quantity of cotton consumed by the B.itish
manulacturers in 18 17, estimatwl by McCidloch,
was .')OU,(H*),()()() of poiuids, costing in Britain
,•$4.5,000,01)1), ibr which the planter received

$35,000,000; four-finhs of this was American.
The value of British cotton manuliicture in
that year was iJt2,(KK),000; and the number
of operatives employed .540,000. The amount
of capital employed and the annual product i sj
estimated to be about the same. This .shews,
that alter deducting the cost of the material, the
miinutacturer produced $11.5,000,000 worth of]
gotxls, or $"2(56 per hand. The planter with an in-
vested capital of $1 7(),0()0,00() and 250,000 hands
produced $35,000,(M)0,or $1 40 per hand, she wing
that |)roducing the material yielded $122 per
hand le.'^s per annum ihan'manufacturing it. He
had made a similar ealcidation from data ob-
tained in the Provincial Statistics, which shew-
ed that while the average product of each hand
emi)loyed in agriculture for the year 1847 was
about .iJ22 lis. 6d., that of the wool-manufac-
turing o])eratives was at the rate of jEI 2(5 15s per
hand. Having said this nnich. heshould now pass
on to the (piestion of a union ol the Provinces, and
before entering into the sid)ject itself he would
say a few words with regard to the report of !
the meeting ol Delegates in Montreal, that had
been laid on the table^last evening, and for which
considerablt- blame wiis thrown u])on some one :
lie (Mr. G.) did not deny that blame existed,
but he woulil take the opportunity of saying
that none of it belonged lo hiin, althougli he was
one of the committee appointed at the Kingston
Convention, ft would be recollected that at
the tinii! he strongly urged u{)on the gentlemen
to whom the matter was entmstrtl, the absolute
necessity of writing to New Bnui-swick, Nova
.Scotia and the other provinces, to obtain all the
statistical information possible, in order that
they might have .something to act upon ; he
urged that the Delegates from the other provin-
ces should be re(|uested to bring such statistics
as they could get of their Inuh;, resources, and
othi!r matters which should have formed part of
the re}V)rt now laid on the table. From the time
ho left Kingston he heard nothing of the meet-
ing of Delegates till he received a notice on the
evening of the lOlh of Oct., that the meeting
was to take ))lace on the 12fh. He immediately
set out, and reached ]VIontreal on the morning
of the 1.3th, when the meeting was over ; the
gentlemen did him the kindness to re-assemble
and talk the matters over, but they had agreed
to the proi)ositions thai had been submitted to
tjie Convention, and he (Mr. (r.) assented also
after hearing them read, but was not satisfied
that the matter should end there. He went
down prepared to see what arrangement could
be made, but he found that the gentlemen
from New Brunswick had no authority to
agree to anything. He for one could not see
any insurmountable difficulty in carrying out
such a union as that proposed, a federal union,
hut he could see vast benefits that would arise
to all parti<.s out of a close and intimate union.
These provinces .might Ibrm the nucleus of a
great and mighty nation. When he looked to
the vast extent of territory, and natural resour-
ces that the connection would give us, the inex-
haustible treasures of coal, the fisheries and tim-
ber ol the other provinces, he was convince^

SPEECH OF J. W. GAMBLE, ESQ.

IS Americnn.
nutacture in
the number
The amount
il prfKltipt i Bl
This shews,
material, the
•00 worth of
r with an in-
:50,()()() hands
land, she wiiijo;
ed $122 per
uriiijj it. He
om data ob-
which shew-
of each hand
ar 1817 was
(X)l-mannfac-
£120 15s per
mid now pass
'r(>vinces,and
,'ir he would
the report of
•oal. that had
and for which
lon some one :
amn existed,
lily of saying
liou^h he was
the Kingston
ected tiiat at
he gentlemen
I, the absolute
swick, Nova
obtain all the
in order that
>ct upon ; he
other provin-
such statistics
resources, and
ormed part of
^rom the time
of the meet-
notice on the
the meeting
' iaimediately
the morning
[is over ; the
i re-assemble
■y had agreed
submitted to
assented also
5 not satisfied
;. He went
rement could
i gentlemen
authority to
ould not see
carrying out
etleral union,
would arise
mate union,
nucleus of a
le looked to
iiral resour-
us, the inex-
ries and tim-
s convinced

[wit nothing but a wise system and policy was
kecessary to make us a great and pr<»spfMdus
heople, and if we could only draw rioselyai nuid
ns the bands of union, we sho^ild soon b«! cna-
pled to stand on our own feet, and maintniii our
x^sition and rights among the nations ot the
vorld. He would carry out the proposed union on
Jhe veiy principle on which the new Municipal
let is based — that same a(!t alluded to and con-
ilemned by two gentlemen of the ('onvention as
uncalled tor anil useless ; those gentlemen, how-
5ver, had admitted nevei- having read il — the
katne act that, when notice was given of it in
pe Legislature, he himself, with the rest of tlie
!:!ouncil ol this District, had declared against, as
not required by the people, and which he feared
Ss emanating Irom those deemed visionaries,
[ind imjmicticable — that same act, having now
closely examined, he felt convinced was the
greatest Xumn ever conferred u|)on Canada by
Its Legislature — it was based upon the great
principle of concentration as opposed to centra-
lization, the foiuidation of good and lasting gov-
ernment ; a government that could never break
flown, because it would be nwted in the hearts
of th(! people ; the power of governing theirown
^ocal affairs is fully conceded to the people by
that act. Although he believed it to be a little
In advance of the times here, he was satis/ieil
[hat nothing but goml could redoumi from it. —
This was the principle on whit'h he would base
^le projK)st'd union, and he would state to the
convention, as briefly as possible, the general
outline of the plan upon which iie proposed to
ftccomplisli it. The act he had mentioned found
khe |M'0]ile of this Province desirous ot associat-
ing in little communities for purjioses in which
ill were interested, and it gave them the power
lo associati; i()r those purj)oses : enter, for in-
Btance, one of the farm-houses in the township
from whicli he came, and what will you find
Jhere 't The owner of the household turning his
ey^s inwards ; his wife, his children , his farm,
lis cattle, and his house stfind first in his
thoughts, ill these he finds his happiness ; bui if
from wliat appeared such selfishness we con-
clude that man incapable of associating with his
"allows, because his thoughts were concentrated
upon home, we would be greatly mistaken ; he
Jiscusses with his immediate neighbours the
Baying out and improving of roads, the institu-
of schools, required by his children, the ar-
mgement of the little village, and the necessary
Icontributions for those purposes: then he com-
|bines with more distant neighbours for main-
taining roads he sometimes uses, the support of
Igrammar schools, the maintenance of security
Ito person and property, the settlement of differ-
lences, and the regulation of matters of general
jiriterest, by which he may at times be affected.
[First, there is the home, then the home of the
llitlle community, then the home of the several
[communities — two more swec'ps of the circle,
leach time with increased diameter, and you
(have the home of the Province, and then the
I home of several Provinces ; witli each step the
[tendency to luiion will ho found to spread. Tn
;the event of a federal union, Canada might bo

divided into three Provinces — East, Central, and
West (Canada ; tlien we should have New
IJiuiiswick, Nova .Scotia, Newfoundland, and
Prince Kdwaril Island, in all 7 provinces, unitwl
in one confederacy. Such an union he felt sat-
isfied would contribute to the welfare of the
whole, and enable us at the same time to con-
tinue the connexion with Great Britain, and
have the British flag still waving over us. Kach
province should exercise sovereign power with-
in itself, except 'n those cases where it is ex-
pressly specified. With Great Britain should
remain the jiower of legislating on those sub-
jects, which concern the honour of the Empire,
namely, allegiance to the Crown, treaties with
any foreign power, commercial treaties except-
ed, political intercourse between any foreign
|)ower and the (-oloiiy, employment, command
and discipline of her .Vlajesty's troops, and ships
within the (/olony, and defence of the Colony
from trueign aggression, including the command
of the militia and marine in time of war, and
whatever relates to the crime of high treason.
To the confederation he would cede the power
to levy duties, which duties should be uniform
throughout Ihe confederation, and be divided
ain(;iig th(! several |>rovinccs in proportion to Ihe
amount payable upon the articles subject to
su(;h duties im|K)rted into each respectively — to
borrow money on the credit of the confederation
— to legulcite commerce with Great Britain,
foreign nations, and among the several provin-
ces — to establish unilbrm laws of naturali/.ation
and of bankruptcy — to coin money, regulate its
value and that of foreign coin — to provide for
the punishment of counterfeiting the coin or
securities of the confederation — to fix the stand-
ard of weights and measures — to establish jiost
offices and post roads — to provide for the issu-
ing of patents — to provide for the punish-
ment of piracies and felonies committed on
the high seas, and offences against the law of
natior.s — to provide for calling out the militia to
execute the laws of the confederation and sup-
press insurrection — to make regulations affect-
ing emigrants from Great Britain and foreign
countries, and to impose a tax thereon — legislate
on all subjects relating to the internal commu-
nication of Canada, by its lakes, rivers and ca-
nals, and to establish a tribunal for the decision
of questions arising from alleged infringements
of the rights reserved to either party, somewhat
similar to the Supreme Court in the Unitetl
States. These matters provided for, he could
see no difficulty about the plan — each part of
the confederation would be able to make its own
laws, to carry out its own views, and pursue
the course it deems most for its interest, with
Free Trade between all the provinces. A union
of this kind would leave the people nothing to
desire from annexation, because, in a few years,
this country would be in quite as prosperous a
state as the other side of the lines ; by this
means we should be securetl from that which is
no longer to be endured. Downing Street rule ;
whether it was want of inclination or want of
knowledge, the results to us were alike, our
interests were neglected, the ignorance of th

BRITISH AMERICAN LEAGUE.

Ii ;

Oolonial Offirp wtm provorbi;.!— it m as not an
jiffair ofytsl^^rduy. H«' it;in('inl)i'i<'(l an an»'c-
dolf, reconled l»»'li)n' Im? was lM)rn : — An Kn;{-
lisli gentleman (lesirt<<l to introdiift' liis ncplu'W
at the levee of a MinistiT iilthc down, in the

reign of George the Second, the Duke olN .

On arriving he found the duke not yet risen. —
The comiMny were n^ooived liy a Captuin C.,a
sort of half spy, half attache. That gentleman
amused them by running down his employers.
Since they turned out (sirenville, iie said, llng-
Jand had not had a Minister worth the meal that
powdered his periwig — tiiey are so ignorant
there is no making them comprehend the sim-
plest projwsition. Ah lor this numskull, the
best thing he can do is to sleep on till Christmas.
It was only the other day that he came running
to me — niv «Iear C, have you heard the
news 1 What news t The French have
marehe<l 3(),(K)0 men from Nova Scotia to
Ca|)e Breton. Where did they get the trans-

Eorts ] Transjx)rts, I tell you t'.icy marclicd
y land. By land to the Islam! of Capt Bre-
ton ! What! is Cape Hreton an island} I
pointe<l it nul to him on th(! map. Kgad. I'll in
and tell the King Cape Breton's an island. —
(Cheers and great laughter.) He now came
to what woulil perhaps have obtained little
favour three months ago. He entertained
the same opinions as to the constitutional
changes he was about to projMise then that
he did now ; but he saw a greater reason lor
these opinions being carried out now, because
the annexation movement has greatly progres-
setl since the Convention last rnet. If tiiis
scheme of tniion were carrieil out, he should ])ro-
pose a great constitutional change in our Covern-
ment. He said constitutional, because it would
affect the appointment of two ol the legislative
bodies, so as to adapt them to the circumstances
of the tirres. He supposed lie should be met at
the outset by that sort of thing which they had
heard before in this Convention — that no kind
of change ought to be permitted, because when
changes once begin there is no knowing where
they may end. He woidd be opposed, doubtless,
by that extreme admiration for existing institu-
tions that can see no fault, and that acute .sensi-
bility that can endure no cjiange. But he would
ask these gentlemen what was the course of
mankind in all things 1 Are we not going on,
going on, perpetually advancing in improve-
ment 1 Is not our course onward — onward .still 1
And are those portions of our laws, termed the
constitution — the constitiition of the country — to
be the only things to remain stationary 1 He
ima^ned that, in former ages, men adapted their
institutions very much to their circumstances.
He believed that when knight errantry was the
order of the day, it was very well adapted to the
circumstances of the times, but is it calculated
for these times 1 So the feudal system was well
calculated for the purpose for wliicii it was in-
tended, viz., to protect [)ro))er1y from the attacks
of marauders, but does that answer (lie circum-
stances of our age ? Arc not a portion of the
people of Canada oppre.ssed by Ibis system
and desirous of throwing it orf? The lejiis-

lat ion with regard to the const itutioit of tln^ coini-
Iry, like everylliiiig else ninsi be proirressive, it I
siriulil lie associated with progress; that greal

principle, wliicli has I n defMied by the iriosi

<Ho(jn(;nt of men us the nobtisl ileni in the charter I
of the privileges of biuiian natuie, who has said I
that it is that same principle which belongs to I
us in our adinily witli lieuven — that il raises us j
to a higher gradt! of being — that it i.iliises into!
us a oneness with that being wim rules every I
where, educing gcKnl from evil, and niak-j
ing that good more vast and more lasting;!
that ])riiii'iple that apj)eals oidy to our best I
powers, that is allied with our briglilesl pros-|
))ects ; that has in it a tendency to make man
worthy of the |Kisit ion he occupies on earth, and
not unworthy of having within him a princijile
of enduring life, for which ai-mler sjihert-s, and
noble enjoymenLs an<l occupations are provided.
LCIieers. J To this (k'scri|)tion of progress, as a
principle of action, his heart and soul, every
ti'eling within him responded ; and those gentle-
men who would confine us to the present
system, and seek to establish a sort of fixed
standard from which we nuist never dt'part, are
at variance with inniKin nature. We must make
tlidse changes which the circumstances ol the
times call lor. Now, one of the first of llie.se
clian^es is siu'h a one as will idenlil'y the person
at the headoriheGovi'rnnuuit with tlie inleresis
of the country. [Loud cries of hear, hear.] How
are we at present eircimkstanced '{ W.' iiave a
stranger sent out to us from a distant lauil ; he
comes here ignorant of the circuriislanc(;s of the
country, and of what is wanted, he has eveiy
thing to learn ; he remains here a few years, and
if he is industrious and desirous of studying the
wants ol the people, he is sent to govern, he
will, atV-r three or four years, have accumulated
the necessary knowledge to enable him to ac-
(juire a proper undeislanding of our circumstan-
ces; when three or lour years have elapsed la;
is ordered home and replaced by another
stranger. [Loud cries of hear, hear.] He would
ask was that consistent with common sense an<l
reason 1 [Cheers.] Then, according to the pre-
sent system, the Governor is unaccoiuitable, and
is to do nothing himself. He [Mr. Gamble]
jiroposed to have a man elected fronu^ among
omselves, and instead of giving him $.'|JT)(J() per
annum, he would give him $2,000, and He .should
have the veto jiower, with proper restrictions,
like some of the Governors on the other side of the
lines ; he should have the same means of checking
the power of legislating under sudden ebullitions
of popular feeling, which might afterwards be re-
gretted. The next reform lie would propose
would be an elective Legislative Council.
[Cheers.] He [Mr. Gamble] did not believe in
the divine right of Kings to appoint Legislative
Couru'illors any more than in the divine right of
constables ; the circumstances of the country
mad(^ a reform of the kind necessary. The
Legislative (Council, as at present constituted, is
not an inde[)endent branch of tin.' Legislature,
and his object was to make it so. He wished
this branch of the Legislature to be secured due
deliberation, to have a (Conservative lendein.'y ;

rawn u
at the
ommon
guilt
tand wl
roducec
m of ci
salaries,
lawyers,
Chief Jt
the man
ornamer
sion, an
is bright
lor Mr.
to Mr.
mission-

iiof iIktoiiii-
ii'DiircsNivr, it I
is ; I hill uii'iil
l)y \Ut' inosi
ill llicclmiti'i-
who hiis Muiil I
cii h('l)>ii<;s to I
at it' iiiiscs IIS
t i,iriis(!s iiitol
o lilies cvi'iyl
ill III niak-l
iioic liistin;; ;|
to our l)i'stl
lii^hlcsL pros- 1
to iiiiike man
DM i'iirth, and I
uii u principlf
.>*j)h(!rf'8, and |
aiL' provided.
])i(iirn'HS, as a I
(I .soul, every
d tliosc jinitlo-j
) \\[i' pro.si.'iit
I sort of (ixt'd
vcrdtipart , un!]
Wv iimst inakf
stiiiiccs (il iht'
liist of lli(;se
itil'y th(! piT.-joii
the iiiti'icsus
ir,h<nM'.] How
■{ W.- liiivi! a
statu land ; hoj
iislaiic<:s of the
L h(! lias cvtMyl
ii'.w years, iuidj
if studyiiij; the
to ;^o\'erii, he
veaecuniiilatt'di
ihle him to ac-
)iir eireuriistun-j
luve elapsed hi; I
d by anoliierj
;ar.] He would]
irrioii sense and
linji to the pre- 1
.'countable, and"
[Mr. Gimible]j
d fronu amonj; |
him $:nH){) per
I), and ne should I
ler restrictions,!
other side of the I
■ans of checking I
Iden ebullitionsf
fterwards be re-
would propose j
iative Council. •
d not believe in i
)int Legislative j
> divine right ofi
of the country j
icessary. The
t constituted, is j
le Legislature,
o. He wished
be secured due
itivo tendency ;

SPEECH or J. W. GAMBLE, HStJ,

Lr while hu desired to go forward luid jiiogress

Jith the spirit of the iigi', he also desired ih.itthat

[tirit might be kept Irom riiiiiiing rampant hy

lose. checks common to free iiislitiilions. 'That

^as tilt! object lit! suiighl toiiviiiiiie.iuidthey who

jreed with him would go tor an elective Legis-

tivt! Council. LChiMMH.) There wfMe other

M'orins mii(;h ni'eded — those ol (iiuuict! wen;

|i»t the only ones re(|uired, and none moie so

fian with reijard to the legal pr.ifessioii. [Hi'ar.

r'ar. ] For a long period, a large propoiiion ol

le Legislature Ims been composed of the meiri-

ursofthat jirofessioii, and lh,;y have iK.'dged it

Dund in such ii way ;is lo foriu a perfi.'cl mono-

j|y; they have appropriated large sums of the

iblic money l()r the purpose of b(;iie(ittiug

hose at the head of the profession, that when

tieir members have got worn out in the service,

(ley may have a comlbrtable sh<!lf, on which to

Bcline, with twelve to lifieen hundn.'d a year ;

tien they have extended their privileges in

/ery jwssible manner. The new niiiiiicipai i

ct provides thiit the person to administer justice

towns and cities must bo a barrister of live

^ears standing; and the local Courts, for the

lecision of lo(;al ilifTerences, have been taken

from those who iidmiiiistored tiiem before,

id supplied with banisters of five years staiid-

[Mear, hea"*.] The expenses of litigation

^ere enormous. In England with 20 millions

'inhabitants, they had 15 superior judges; in
]!anada, with 1^ millions, they had 20. Now,
^e would like to know if the public were pre-

ired to submit to this incubus — this excres-
feence of the body politic, that seems to have
kot so firm a grip that, like the leech, it will
never let go its hold till ii is gorged with the
life blood of its fainting victim. [Cheers.]
le would propose those legal reforms
irhich had been adopted in the State of
Jew York, to simplify the pleadings in
lie first place ; do awiiy with the whole
/stem of legal fiction, the John Does and
lichard Roes ; he would sweep them away at
►nee. [Cheers and laughter.] He would have
de pleadings in the language of common sense,
that any man of common sense should under-
stand them. The plaintitT should set forth Ids
case, the defendant reply, and the plaintitFinake
nis rejoinder, in the language of common sense.
rhen with regard to indictments, they should be
Irawn up in the language of common sense, so
"lat the unfortunate criminal and the men of
[;ommon understanding who are to pronounce
guilt or ac(piittal might be able to under-
nd whereof he is accused. Mr. Gamble then
produced a blue-book, which he styled a muse-
im of curiosities, and read a tremendous list ot
salaries, and sums of money paid aimually to
[lawyers, beginning with 1)1,(166 13s. 4d. to
if Justice Robinson, who, he remarked, was

tie man to be paiil if any one was ; ho was an
ornament to his country, as well as to his proles-
Ision, and his name was associated with all that
lis brightest and purest : there also he founil JL'tiOO
llbr Mr. Killaly's travelling expenses, and Jt'lSOO
jto Mr. George Brown lor the Penitentiary com-
Iniissiou — uii iiislaluiunl,husup|)osed,on account;

these commissions,
di'iluliy increased

he understood, were won-
in niiiiiher, and used an a
means of rewinding |H>litical friends, and that
the amoiini of money ex|M>iuled in this way wim
very great. Kor his \miI, being desirous of
iisceitaiiiiiig the truth (ti thes<! allegations, he
iiail lately, when in Moiilicid, applied ibr infor-
mation to a party there, who appeared to bo in
the government si-crets ; thiit |virty wasPuncA;
having ^ xpressed his desire lo the old gentleman
to be informed in the nvitter of these commis-
sions, hi! kindly raised a ciirtaiiv with his slick
— the sam.! stick with which he tilted the thim-
l)le and discovered the pea under Montreal-
exposing to his view the thimble-riggers in
deep coiicliive, trying to classify the disburse-
rneiils Ibr these same commissions in the public
accounts, so iis to fit them Ibr the public eye,
and over tiieir h(!;ids was written —

Then l''rnnk sii'.il to Hob, we are binwti, my dnamigger,
Wi- at Inst are t'ouml out to lie loose in tliu flgurc,.
Wi:'ve sacked it, and s|M'nt It, itnd cannot npiiy,
I^et us blow out our brains in a ijemman like way.

[Circat laughter,]

But to have done with this badinage, and re-
turn to that which was serious, too serious indeed
to be laughed at. He must next allude to the
Constitution of the country itself. Supposing
he should ask any of his friends there, where that
Constitution is? His legal friends surely know
it is a mutter for antiquarian research. Ho be*
licved it was contained in five diflereut Acts of
Parliament, each act amending and repealing
parts of the other acts ; he believed parts of it
were to be found in the Ordinances pusiied by
the Council appointed under the lUh George
HI., the Ordinances of the Special Council and
elsewhere for any thing he knew. For his part,
he desired iu have the Constitution written, and
plain, so that the people of the country might
know their rights as secured to them by the Con-
stitution, and be able to point to it when neces-
sary ; he did not wish to sec it so hid in a moss
of rubbish that they cannot find out what rightu
are secured to them, without going to the legal
genilemen ; he wanted it to be made plain and
simple, so that those who run may read. He
should be told, no doubt, this was downright
Republicanism, but he contended it was down-
right Anglo-Saxonism. Go to the very founda-
ti(jn of the thing — the Municipal Act alluded to.
Where did that come from 1 The gentleman
who drew it up derived it, inaU probability, from
the lawsof Massachussetts, and partially engraft-
ed on it the law of New York — whence did the
people of Massachusetts derive that system,
doubtless they brought it with them from Eng-
land. This very municipal system is Anglo-
Saxon. In former times the parish affairs in Eng-
land were managed by the select vestry, and the
select vestry was elected by the congregation,
then the whole people of the parish, and he be-
lieved to this day, the term select-men was re-
tained in the Netv England States— indicating
plainly its origin. England itself, has been
styled a nest of little republics, one small repub-
lic within the other ; look ut the voluntary asso-
ciations for railroads, canals, and innumerable
utlicr purposes beyond tlic reach of individual

SPEECH OF J. W. U AMBLE, Uctt^.

eiertion, src Uiey not baaed upon the very prin-
ciple of election wSiclihewoa advocating. In
Banking alone, wei9 Mich auodationa cumlwrcd
with reatrietive regulationa, and he believed it
would be well for Knglund, and well Tor all thuBC
connected with her commerce, if these regula-
tions were abolished. Then with regard to the
outer case, or covering of these associations, the
empire itaeir, what was it 1 At the time when
Her Majesty ascended the throne, she was only
18 years of rje, and a girl 18 yearsorage nomin-
ally swayed the destinies of a hundred millions
of people. He said no-ninally, for what does
the thing itself prove ? nut that the real power
rested somewhere else ; thai it in truth rested in
the House of Commons — the representatives of
the people, and that the power of the realm was
exercised by those whom the people's represen-
tatives willed should exercise it. Gentlemen
would see from this, that there was nolliin^ con-
trary to the spirit of the lirjlish constitution in
tlie plan he proposed, and that it was one which
could be carried out in connection with Great
Britain. Mr. Gamble concluded, bv declaring
his conviction that Great Britain would desire to
BiMntain her posilion on this continent, and ne-

ver would consent to annexation The wholJ
commercial murine of the world, is IU,U0O,(M>|
tons, of which -^OOU.UUU belong to Great Bri{
tain, and 3,(M)(),()()0 to the United Statea, th
other 3,0(KMXK) are owned by tlie various otlieJ
nations of the world ; now of the 4,UU(),000 toii(
that <ireut Britain owns, 50U,U(X) are Brit
North American; annexation would ut once placJ
the commercial marines of England and the UJ
nited Slates on an equal footing, and for thai
reason alone, he did not believe England woultl|
willingly, consent lo annexation, though, at tiiT
same time it was hia conviction that Great Bril
tain was not prepared to go tu war, either on
that question, or on account of the Mosquiti
King ; the advocates for annexution need not fea
Canada being made a battle field for British aiiij
American armies, the interest of both cuuntriej
forbids collision. The consumption of cotton iij
Great Britain in 1849, is estimated at 2,0U0,C
of bales ; four-fifllis of t))is came from the Unit
States, from this cotton alone was derived 2|
tof her 55 millions of exports, and the supply i
this material hiu to Great Britain become
mailer of national interest, second only to
of tooi for bcr luyriada.

.nf of ,ti;

ERRATUM.

In page 6, second cohimn, 18th and 19th lines from the Iwttom, in place of " instead of givitj
him $3,000 per annum, he would give him *2,00(»," rwad. " instead of giving him ^30>l
per annum, he would give him $2,000."

■i I ■'
If < r ,

•' ,;.:«.*

t ■ ', !,

'. ' > .

<i -Hw. -

ton

I The whoM
,h 1U,UOO,0(J(|
( to Ureat Brij
ted State*, th
e vurioua o
4,U(K),000

00 are Brit
lid at once plac^
Eind and the ' '
g, and for tha
blnglund wouli'

tliuugli, at tiM
that Great Bril
war, cither oq
r the Mosquito
lon need not fea

1 for British
r both countriei
tion of cotton i
Led at 2,0U0,()<ll
from the llnitti
was derived 2i|
ind the supply
itoin become
)ndonIy to

instead of gi
him ^30)1