IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^ .<5» i4^w » *a% 1.0 I.I 1.25 [flu m m in M ^ us, 1.4 1^ 22 2.0 1.6 Photographic ScMices Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRiiT WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716)872-4503 ^ V N> ' I > Kl ^i ! i|! 34 and soon after this clause appeared in the act be- fore mentioned. And here I may be allowed to ex- press my feelings of gratitude to that Right Hon Gentleman for the great benefits which he conferred on Newfoundland, and for the consideration he gave to the very humble individuals to whose xe- comnoendation he was pleased to attend. I think I have shewn sufficient cause for the want of general cultivation in Newfoundland, without placing it to account of the soil and climate. As •I shall have occasion to revert to this subject be- fore I conclude, I shall take no further notice of the opinions of the writer of the " enlarged view" •upon it. Having already expended much more of mv time upon this publication than its palpable absurdity rendered necessary, I shall take no notice of his objection to Roads, Hospitals, Public Mar- kets, and, what makes his hair almost stand an end, '** in due time, perhaps, an University !" What dark age was this man born in ? What materials must his mind, his body, or his soul be composed .of? What kind of a head or heart must he possess, who can attempt to throw the slightest obstacle in the way of such noble objects ? The opinions of this man of " enlarged views," and those of whom he is the mere mouth-piece, remind me of a nation of savages, who inhabit the banks of a remote river of Africa, they adore darkness as their deity, and on the approach of night they assemble to offer incense at their infernal shrines — but as soon as the dawn appears, they set up the most dreadful bowlings and yells, to frighten 35 of away the approach of light, and on the rising tli€ blessed sun they fly affrighted to their dark and filthy caverns. The best apology I can make for this digression from the subject I commenced with— the proving the ne<;esBity of a Constitutional Government for Newfoundland— is, that I owe to the wise men of the West, on the part of that colony, a debt of gratitude, and the sooner it is paid off the better. I shall now proceed to meet the objections that have been made to the establishment of such t government at Newfoundland, and conelude by endeavouring to prove that it would promote Ihe welfare of the parent country, a* well as that of tke cdonj. The objections arc. First, by those who admit the principle, but say that the country is not ripe for such a government, and that there would be a di«* Gultyin finding at Newfoundland persons suffieieirtly qualified or educated to constitute a represcntAtivi^ Secondly, That the country could not raise a sufficient revenue to pay the charges oi a Consti- ttttional Government, which ''ould be much more expensive than the present system. Thirdly, That it is only for a stationary agricul- tural population that such a government is required; that Newfoundland is only calculj^ti^d for a place of trade and a fishery, and that the soil and climate present such insurmountable obstacles to cultiva- tiott, that the idea of making agricultural improve- ™^^*„ „4 \r«».f/^inHli«id is wild and visionary. irrciiis res' i.T\-rT " F !:n li '■f Hi I ) 36 Fourthly, That if such a government was esta- blished at Newfoundland, in consequence of the prevailing influence of the mercantile body, par- ticularly in the out ports, that an assembly would be almost entirely composed of persons elected through the mercantile influence in this country, which has been so inimical to the internal im- provement of Newfoundland. . Fifthly, That Colonial Assemblies have been found troublesome and inconvenient, in conse- quence of the great differences which have arisen between the Assemblies and the Governors. • I shall endeavour to reply to these Objections in the same order that I h-ve stated them. As respects the ripeness of Newfoundland for such a government, I am at a loss properly to un- derstand what is meant by the term ripeness. It occurs to me that those who make this objection want to invert the order of human events. In the vegetable world, before the fruit can arrive at matu- rity, the seed must be sown, the plant must be nur- tured, when the p .^'^uce at length crowns the anxious care of th bandman. In the progress of infant countries, to the maturity of civilizatt* ^n and government, the same order prevails; audit would be just as reasonable to expect fruit or ripe- ness without the germ being planted, in the one case as in the other. This point will be better il- lustrated in the language of Mr. Baring, on present- ing a petition from the inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope for f Constitutional form of Govern- ment, in renlv in iht^ Hi H/^p W ViT U^-*^,, ,..u^ J ' 37 stated that there were other English Colonies that had not a Representative Government ; — I made use of thes^ opinions of Mr. Baring before, and to en- force a similar object, but they are so much to my present purpose that I think it necessary to repeat 4|iem: — " The^ight Hon. Gentleman had said that there " were other Colonies in v/hich the same system of " Government prevailed. That was true, and dis- *' graceful it was to this country. But the Colony of " the Cape of Good Hope was difterent in its cha- " racter from the Colonies to which the Right Hon. " Gentleman had adverted. It was not inhabited by " the stewards of individuals, who themselves, per- h. ,ps, resided in Portman-square. It was settled by Engl'GQ firmers, by men of English habits " and feelings. It was not circumscribed in extent *' like a West India island. Its population might " eventually be augmented to many million^. The " cases, therefore, were wholly dissimilar. The " Right Honon ble Gentleman talked of the Cape " not being rip for the enjoyment of free institu- " tions. J.t never would be ripe unless these insti- " tutions were introduced. The same had been •* said of South America. It was with a country " as with a child. Unless a child were placed on '- its legs, it -icver would be able to walk like a " man. Unless free institutions were introduced " into a country, it could never become capable of " enjoying them imbecility must continue to be " the characte ^^ any country not inoculated " with the principles of strength.' t< suppose t^at a small rate can be imposed on arti- cles of luxury, quite sufficient to meet all necessaiiy 43 expenses. From the papers published on Mr. Hume's motion, by order of the House of Com- mons, it appears that — A duty on rum of 6rf. per gallon, for ten years, from 1813 to 1822, produced £85,368 11 On brandy and gin, Is. 6d. ditto 19,982 18 On wines from British ports, at 10s. per tun 938 10 1 Ditto from Foreign ports, at £7 do. 2,386 10 I £ 108,676 9 2 ^ A duty of Is. 6d. on rum, at this average, would give, awwMfl% 25,610 11 3 On br mdy and gin, at 3s. per gallon 3,996 117 On wine, 221 tons, 56,576 gallons, at 3s. per gallon . . . 8,486 8 A moderate impost on other articles of luxury 20,000 ' £58,093 1010 To which may be added rents of lands, licenses, and many other sources of revenue.* This would be quite a sufficient revenue for all the purposes of the country. It appears that the re- venue of the neighbouring colony of Nova Scotia comprising a duty on spirits and wine, and a duty of f:om 3| to 5 per cent, on importations, (extracted from a statement now before me) amounted for the year 1 822 to 39,940^. 18s. bd. By ' * My object in making this statement is merely to prove that the people have the means, if they possessed the constitu- tional power, of raising a revenue. . I W I"f looking over the History of Newfoundland you will find it a favourite system with those opposed to its improvement, to misrepresent the resources of the country; to prove that I am not singular in the opinion which I have given, that Newfound- land is capable of raising a moderate revenue, I beg to call your attention to an extract from a Memorial of the inhabitants of Newfoundland, presented to the Right Honorable Earl Bathurst, under date of December 6th, 1822. " It has been said, that the people of Newfound- " land are not in a situation to pay the expenses " necessarily attending a local government. The " Committee have no hesitation in saying, that such " is not the case ; and have not the lightest doubt " of the competency of the country, even in its present depressed state, without inconvenience, to bear all the necessary expenses for that pur- " pose. It has been a favourite object with inte- " rested persons to throw a cloud of misrepresenta- tion on everything connected with the country; its resources were little known, except to those who *' were making them subservient to their interest. " If Newfoundland has not possessed the means of paying the expense of a civil government, it must appear extraordinajy that so many persons " who came there without a shilling in their pockets " were able, in the course of a few years, to realize " fortunes, to retire from the island, and live in " splendour in other countries. The Committee can point out to your Lordship individuals re- siding in London, Poole, Dartmouth, Bristol, ct ft ti tt (t ■:*■ provisions from Dantzic and Hamburgh^ when, if we were not permitted to get our supplies from those places, and obligated, as under the old restrictive system, to purchase them at Liver- pool, and other ports in England and Ireland, ves- sels would gladly take them out at lOs, or 12s. per ton freight. Since the opening of the trade from the north of Europe I have had every year to char- ter vessels to take out supplies for my trade, and have given the freights I have mentioned, whilst I had vessels of my own going out from ports in Britain, in '»* " h I had sufficient room to ship them. If they could have been procured at the same, or even near the same rate, in British ports. If I have taken a correct view of the subject, the shipping interest have been gainers, not losers, by the change that has been madein the colonial sys- tem; and for the mere offer of acting liberally on the part of our government, of which foreigners have not, nor do I think it likely they will, take advan- tage, a great and substantial benefit has been con- ferred on the shipping interest of this country. It may appear a species cf knight errantry on my part to shiver a lance of straw in your defence, on this subject, when it is recollected that you wielded the thunder of Jove against your opponents on the even' ing of the 7tb May last, when General Gascoioe brought forward his motion, in the House of Com- mons. Notwithstanding your splendid defence on that occasion, which made those who came to curse remain io pray, you must have observed that you are stili the object o\ attack from persons who ate • 49 determined not to be convinced, however clear the proof, however lotrong the argument. 1 shall now endeavour to reply to the third ob- jection, That Newfoundland presents insurmounta- ble obstacles to agricultural improvement; that it is viewed more as a fishery and a place of trade, and that, consequently, it does not require a local repre- sentative government. — I am at a loss to understand the logic of those who object, on the ground of Newfoundland being a place of trade and fishery. Trade and fishery require the aid and support of good laws and g-overnment as well as any other interests. This truth is b. clear, that it would be an insult to the most common understanding to use* arguments to prove a proposition, so evident in it" self; I shall therefore confine myself to replyirg to the objections brought against the soil and climate, for if, as it has been attempted io be proved, they » present insurmountable obstacles to cultivation, or if I cannot prove that the soil can be made a source of profitable employment, it would be the extreme of folly to attempt it. The advocate for Newfoundland is called on to prove, on every occasion, that white is not black, and black is not white ; and I can assure you. Sir, it is a more difficult task, than at first appears, particularly when people are determined ot to be convinced. I think that any man, taking the map of New- ibundland, and looking at its geographical situa- tion, will be Csiivinced, from its great extent, that there must be land capable of cultivation, particu- i__i.. 1 L _ .'_ '—x? 1 j.i-_i j._"__ 1-. J: iiil'iy WliCU iiC i!S$ iiliOi iiiUU Uiui COUiitriwa VHiy Ui- I ^!!i|- 50 vided from it by a few leagues of sea, abound with rich soil ; that in the interior there are tribes of native savages who have no intercourse with ci- vilized man, and who support themselves by hunt- ing and fishing ; and that there are thousands of deer, and other wild animals in the country, that subsist there both summer and winter ; it must re- move all reasonable doubt from his mind that if the savages and wild animals can support themselves from the spontaneous productions of the eaith, tLat the same country would give far greater facilities to the subsistence of civilized man, when agricultural improvement is brought into active operation, so as to incr***"^ and multiply the pro- ductions of the earth. These being my own spe- culations, which I do not presume to offer as authoritie8> I shall state fact& aad opinions, both of ancient and modern date, which I hope wilt be sufficient to convince any mind not impervious to the rays of reason and common sense, that the prejudice that has been riised against the soil and climate of Newfoundland is uiyuit and unfounded. Captain Hayes, second in command to Sir Hum- phrey Gilbert, who made a voyage to Newfound- land in the year 1583, writes in " A brief e relation of the Newfound lande, ana " the commodities thereof, " That which we doe *;all the Newfoundland, and the Frenchmen Bacalaos, is au Hand, or rather (after the opinion of some) it coosisteth of " sundry Hands and broken lands, situate in the North regions of America, vpon the gulpL and eu-^ ft tt (( M tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tl tt tt tt tt tt t* tt tl tt tt (t tt *( tt tt **! tt M tt ft it tt tt 4t ft tt tt tt tt tt «l ti tt it tt tt tt 4t ft tt tt ft tt tt t* tt te it m trance of the great riucr called S. Laurence in Ca- nada. Into the which, nauigation may be made both on Oie South and North side of thin Tjand. The land l^'eth South and Nortl. containing in length betweene three and 400 miles, accounting from Cape Race (which i^ in 46 degrees 25 minuts) vnto the Grand bay in b)i degrees of Septentri- onall latitude. The Hand round about hath very many goodly bayes an ^ harbors, safe roads for ships, the like not to be found in any part of the knowen world. " The common opinion that is had of iirtempera- ture and extreme cold that should be in this counr trey, as of some _ ^rt it may be verified, namely the North, where I grant it is more colde then in countries of Europe, which are vnder the same eleuation : eueu so it cannot stand with reason and nature of the clime, that the South parts should be so intemperate as the bruit hath gone. For as the same doe lie under the climatt of Rriton, Aniou, Poictou, in France, betweene 46 and 49 degrees, so can they not so much differ from the temperature of those countries: vnless vpou the out coast lying open vnto the Ocean and sharpe windes, it must in neede be subject to more colde, then further within the laude, wher'^ the mountaiues are interposed, as wallcs and bul- warkes, to defende and to resiste the asperitie and rigor of the sea and weather. — Some hold opinion, that the Newfoundland might be the moresuiect to cold, by how much it lyeth high and neere Vflto the middle region. — 1 grant that not in m t n ■l^^mmsmAi'M » I ill ? i it 'lit (t €( (,( (( ft et ft ps, which commeth to passe by the same reason hat they are extended towards the middle region: yet in the countries lying beneth them, it is found quite contrary. Euen so all hils hauing their discents, the valieis also and low grounds must be likewise Lot or temperate, as the clime doeth giue in Newfoundland : though I am of opinion that the Sunnes reflecticji is much cooled, and cannot be so forcible in the Newfoundland nor generally throughout Amerin, as in Europe or Afrike : by how much the Sui le in his diurnall course from East to West, passeth ouer (for the most part) dry land and sandy countries, before he arriueth at the West of Europe or Afrike, whereby his mo- tion increaseth heate,with little or no qualification by moyst vapours. Where, on the contrarie, he passeth from Europe and Afrike vnto America ouer the Ocean, from whence it draweth and carrieth with him abundance of moyst vapours, which doe qualifie and infeeble greatly the sunne's reuerberation vpon this countrey chiefly of Newfoundland, being so much to the North- ward Neuerthelesse (as I sayd before) the cold cannot be so intollerable vnder the latitude of 46. 47 and 48. especiall within land, that it should be unhabitable, as some doe suppose, see- ing also there are very many people more to the North by a great dcale. And in these South ts ^ ^ 57 " struction from the cultivation of the soil, but to " encourage and protect it by every means in their *' power. To preserve the transient fishery has " been found impracticable ; to attempt to revive " it \vo"ild be to shut our senses against the light of " rem n and the lessons of experience. As a broad " proposition, it may be maintained that if the " fishery were to be taken up as it is, de facto j and " a system adapted to the present state of things, " openly avowed and directly pursued by the local " authorities, Newfoundland would become, what " it ought to be, a prosperous settlement, subsisting itself by internal resources, drawing its manufac- tured supplies from the mother country, and re- " paying her care by a valuable trade, and a nume- rous race of seamen, trained for her service, and ready to attend her first call in the di:fence of " the empire." The Committee of the Inhabitants of Newfound- land in their Memorial to Lord Bathurst, dated the 6th of December, 1823, state tl^ — ". Having endeavoured to trace the principal " causes that have led to the present state of New- ii foundland, they now beg to recommend to your " Lordship such measures as they confidently hope " if adopted, will lay the foundation of its future ** prosperity, and make it a more valuable append- " age to the empire. " It is admitted by every person conversant with ** the affairs of Newfoundland, that the trade and " fisheries are not capable of affording employment ** and subsistence to the large population that has et tt if r doing the king's business, they were bribed for promoting what the Americans vainly atteuipted by their arms. I am far from attributing much of the blame to the distinguished officer who now goveras that country. Whilst governor oi Nova Scotia, he was both a wise and a popular governor, and that pro- vince is mn-h indebted to him for its agricultural aad other im- provements. In consequence, I shall be .low to attach much of the odium of his unsuccessful government to him, but I shall put the saddle ou viie right horse, and say at once tVat it was the council w!)^ led hira into error} they cannot see a jot beyond their own petty, paltry, interests, and, i verily believe, they are not capable of acting wisely, even by mistake. ■t 'il mi i 80 I am not at all apprehensive ihat those who are acquainted with the history --f Newfoundland, down to a very late period, will think my language too strong, when I say, that the distant provinces of Rome in her worst days, and under the most bar- barous of her piietors, were not treated with more injustice than Newfoundland has been for centu- ries. The whole course of her unhappy history presents a scene of oppression and petty tyranny I sincerely and honestly believe not to be paralleled in the history of either antient or modern despotism. It was not one cruel prsetor, that at each period ruled the country ; every Jittle town, every little settlement, had not one, but twenty praetors, with all the ferocity of more dignified tyrants, and even with a more keen scent for prey and vengeance — the consequence of having unlimited power, united with irreclaimable ignorance. These persons ex- ercised their power under the authority of the Star chamber— of Charters without number — Orders in Council — Rules and Regulations, and additional Rules — and, lastly, under the Act of the 10th and 1 1th of William and Mary : the cry for justice was continually raised by the unhappy people of Newfoundland!, but it was drowned it* the deep bosom of the ocean, before it reached the quar- ter where hunu nity and justice are presumed to dwell! • In 1615, Captain Richard Whitburne was sent out with a commission from the High Court of Ad- miralty, authorizing him to impannel juries, and make enquiry upon oath of sundry abuses, and dis- f( tc tt tt 81 orders committed every year, among the fishermen upon that coast. In the year 1650, the Council of State gave a commission to John Treworgay, merchant, who was then in the island, to order affairs there for the best advantage of the state; which commission was renewed in 1653. A commission was also obtained in 1655 by Sir David Kirk (who had been one of the grantees in the charter of 1628), together with John Claypole, John Goffe, and others, but it does not appear that any thing was done thereupon. In 1667 the fishery of Newfoundland underwent a more mature discussion than it seems before to have received. In August of that year several petitions were presented to the Privy Council from the merchants, owners of ships, and other inhabi- tants of Totness, Plymouth, Dartmouth, and places adjacent, concerned in the trade. They stated that several persr s, upon specious purposes, and for sinister ends, were endeavouring to establish a governor, which had always been pernicious to the fishery." In 1669, Captain Robert Robinson petitioned for a governor. In 1675 we find another petition '' for a governor and government," but the merchants, and owners of ships in the west of England, protested against a settlement, together with what the petitioners could allege in behalf of a colony. It was further stated by these antient worthies, *• that besides the charge '* of forts and a governor, which the fish trade '* could not support, it was needless to hare any t< tc tt tt i I I I 1 1 I I 82 *' such defence against foreigners, the coast being '• defended in winter by the ice, and in summer by " the resort of the king's subjects ; so that unless " there were proper reasons for a colony there *' could be none for a governor" From these representations, their lordships pro- posed, " That all plantations in Newfoundland " should be discouraged, and that the western char- " ter should be put in execution, by which all plan- *« ters were forbid to inhabit within six miles of the *' shore, from Cape Race to Cape Bonavista." In 161^5 we 6nd Sir John Berry denouncing the conduct of the adventurers, and most strongly re- commending to His Majesty's Government the establishment of a colony at Newfoundland. In 1676, John Downing, an inhabitant of New- foundland, petitioned the King against the ad- venturers for pulling down the houses, and burn- ing the stages of the planters, in order to drive them out of the country. In 1677, to bring this matter (a colony) into full discussion, it was ordered by the King that both the adventurers and planters should be heard by their counsel, and thus was the questior. of the convenience and the inconveniences solemnly ar- gued before the Council. I shall pass over a great variety of petitions and remonstrances, all tc the same effect, and opposed by the same interest, and shall confine myself to a very few, which, I con- ceive, bear more immediately on the subject. Mr. Reeves remarks—" In the year 1711, 1 find, " what is called, a record of several laws and re (f it tr *€ t€ tt *t rt tt tt tt tt tt tr 83 ** orders made at St. John's for the better disCt- *' pline and good order of the people, and tr cor- recting irregularities committed contrary to good laws, and acts of parliaments, all which " were debated at several courts held, wherein were " present the commanders of .nerchant's ships, " merchants, and chief inhabitants ; and witnesses " being examined, it was brought to the following " conclusion between the 23rd day of August and " ^rd day of October, 1711. Then follow fifteen " articles of regulation, that must have been very " useful ; and it is worth considering whether such " a local legislature, which the people seem in " this instance to have created for themselves, " might not legally be lodged somewhere, for ''making bye-laws and regulations, as occasion " should require. The commander Captain Crowe presided at this volunta,.^ assembly. His suc- cessor, it seems, followed his example, and held i meeting of the same sort. These assemblies '' were somewhat anomalous, a kind of legislative, " judicial, and executive, all blended tog'e^^he. ; *' anu yet perhaps not more mixed than I ^ iiro- " ceedings of parliaments in Europe, in very early *' times." About the year 1728, we find a ^^ood govern- ment for Newfoundland recommended, " so that " the people may be governed as Biitcas, and not *' like a banditti, or forsaken people." I have quoted a number of authorities, but if. Sir, yv J have a taste for antiqmiif's oi this descrip- tion, you have only to re>iir to the archives of the .* tt tt tt fWJ i I 84 Colonial Office, and, 1 think, scarcely a year has elapsed for the last two hundred, that some repre- sentation or another has not been made respecting Newfoundland. I sha'l now call your attention to some few re- commendations and petitions, that have been made at a much later date, for something like a Colonial Local Government, on the principles of Represen- tation. John Reeves, Esq, Chief Justice of New- foundland in 1793, whose invaluable and impartial History of its Government I have had so often occasion to refer to in the course of this letter, and who, you know. Sir, has not been celebrated for recommending much extension of popular privi- leges, suggests, whether '' a local legislation, which " the people seem, in this instance, to have created " for themselves, might not legally be lodged some- " where for making bye-laws and regulations, as " occasion should require." Mr. Chief Justice Forbes, in 1823, recommended something similar, in a communication to the Co- lonial Office. In 1821, petitions were presented by Lord Hol- land in the House of Lords, and by Sir James Mackintosh in the House of Commons, praying for the same, out o^ which has arisen the late very beneficial change iU the administration of justice. In 1822, a Memorial was presented to Lord Bathurst for the same object, from a Committee of the inhabitants. In 1823, another petition was signed by the in- habitants, and the heads of a Bill drawn up at d l- it 85 Newfoundland, which was lodged in the Colonial Office. In the Act of 18^4 a clause was introduced, empowering his Majesty to create corporations in the principal towns in Newfoundland, which com- pletely admits the principle. After a great deal of discussion, and various meetings at St. John's, for forming a plan of a local Government for that town, which was opposed by many, in conse- quence of being confined to that place alone, and not including the whole island ; one was ulti- mately arranged, and forwarded, through his Ex- cellency the Governor, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with his recommendation. Notwith- standing which, no measures have been adopted to carry it into eflfect by his Majesty's Govern- ment. On a review of these facts, I think. Sir, it must be admitted that; if Newfoundland has not been well governed, it is not for want of remonstrc*nces, representations, and petitions from the inhabit- ants. We find various measures recommended, every one has his own nostrum. Do, Sir, for the sake of justice and humanity, put an end to this quackery; like a good physician, infuse a little of the wholesome blood of the Constitution into the government of that neglected country; let it no longer be the theatre of experiments. If Mr. Ma- ryatt had cause, and just cause, to complain in the House of Commons, a few evenings since, of the manner in which Trinidad has been treated, with how much more justice has an advocate of New- ! ; 'if 86 foundland cause to complain ; and to nse the words of the Hon. Member, I shaii say, let Newfoundland " in future be a field for improvement, and cease to be a field of experiment." And, Sir, great as your fame is, important as the advantages are that you have conferred on your country, and on mankind, and it is only future ages that will be able to form a just estimate of them. The giving to the people of the oldest colony belonging to his Majesty, the most faithful and the most important, the rights and privileges of British subjects, will not be amongst the least of the claims which you will have on the applause and gratitude of posterity. The expediency of granting to Newfoundland any privilege calculated to draw forth into action all the dormant energies of the country, must ap- pear not only advantageous to the country itself, but equally so to the parent state. This is a pro- position laid down by yourself, in your Speech on the Colonial Policy of the country, March 21st, 1825, wherein you say, " and I feel myself equally " warranted, in my next inference, that whatever ** tends to increase the prosperity of the colonies, ** cannot fail in the long run to advance in equal ** degree the general interests of the parent state." If the truth of the doctrine is admitted, in reference to the coloni^'S generally, surely it will not be disputed, as respects Newfoundland, individually. The trade, fishery, agriculture, and other interests of the neighbouring colonies and countries, receive the greatest support from their respective governments, and they have prospered. It is not too much to say. I ;. \. il. f :, m tbat the same causes would lead to the same effects in Newfoundland. The trade and fisheries, as well as agriculture, require the aid of local laws, and how, I would ask, is agriculture to improve in a country, no matter how rich the soil, or favourable the climate, without roads; yet at this time of day, after three hundred years of the mockery of legislation, there is not any legal power in the governor, the magistrates, the juries, or in any other authority i»i the island, to make roads, or any other local improvement or regulation. The improvements that have taken place, have almost been effected by stealth, and in opposition to the government. But the greatest part of a country, competent to give employment and support to millions of inhabitants, still remains in a state of useless waste. The injury is not alone felt by that neglected country, but it also reverts back upon the parent state, and is in its consequences more ruinous and alarming than, I fear, I shall be able to make you. Sir, believe. But the facts that I am about to state, and the conclusion I am about to draw from them, can be easily enquired into ; and if false or erroneous, can be exposed, with very little trouble. I state as a fact, that has appeared clear to every intelligent man in Newfoundland, who ever gave himself the trouble of making observations on the subject, that that colony is a stepping-stone to the United States of America; that in consequence of the difficulties in the way of making settlements in Newfoundland, the fishermen and other emigrants^ irr f: , t \i n ^ I i ,i ^^mtm I 88 in a short time direct their course to the United States, carry with them often the fruits of their labour at Newfoundland; but always, what is more important, the experience and knowledge which they have gained from their employment in the cod and seal fisheries ; thereby giving the Americans all the advantages of men nursed in our fisheries to prosecute their own, and, in case of need, to man their navy. I am prepared to prove that, for the last fifteen years, the great bulk of. our fishermen, not less than from forty to fifty thousand, have emigrated to America. In former periods, the fishermen generally rcHirned to Great Britain and Ireland ; but the tide has turned the other way, and at present scarcely any return to the parent country, except old or disabled per- sons, to add to the mass of human misery and dis- tress already existing. The only remedy, and I think it is worth the trial, to prevent our seamen and fishermen from proceeding from Newfoundland to America, is to give them the means of battlement by encouraging the internal resources of the country,which can only be done by giving due encouragement to agricul- ture and roads, the first necessary step to improve- ment in cultivation. Khis Majesty's go\ ernment does not soon direct its attention to this important subject, Ibeg to recom- mend to them a preamble for their next Act of Par- liament for Newfoundland, and instead of com- mencing in the words of the 15th Geo. III. " That the Newfoundland fisheries have been found to be 89 the best nurseries for able and experienced seamen, always ready to man the royal navy when occasion requires, and it isof the highest national importance to give all due encouragement to the said fisheries," substitute the following:" That the Newfoundland fisheries have been found the best nurseries for sea- men to man the British navy, but as they are no longer required for that purpose, be it enacted that the advantages be now transferred to the United States of America/' Whatever appearance of reason there was at an early period, and whilst the other provinces in America remained true to their allegiance to the British crown, to prevent cultivation and settle- ment in Newfoundland, it exists no longer; it was then unjust ; but at present, madness and folly is added to injustice. No sooner was the flag of in- dependence raised in America, than it was the ob- vious interest of England to reverse the course of her former policy towards Newfoundland ; to en- courage settlement, to encourage agriculture, to encourage the trade and fishery, by which means the foundation of a naval power could be laid there su- perior to any other that could be formed on that side the Atlantic. Newfoundland is a country as large as England, is situated nearly in the same position with reference to the continent of America, as Eng- land is to the continent of Europe ; it is an island that can always be defended by a superior naval mrce ; her shores are indented with harbours, some of the finest in the world; with an iron-bound coast, is the key of the St. Lawrence, and could command i' 11 'I I !h 90 j^mt a great part of the American coast ; possessing more of the elements of commerce than any other country in North America, her fisheries the greatest in the wcrld (only limited by the means of consumption), the produce finding a market in every quarter of the globe; her situation, placed midway between the old and the new world, evidently points her out as the porper emporium for the productions and commerce of both, with a soil capable of giving sustenance to millions of inhabitants, and a climate possibly more favourable to the health of the human species than most others on the face of the globe. With such advantages, is it, I ask, too much for me to say,that under the fostering care of a local government, under the mighty shield of England's protection, Newfoundland would in a short period become the Holland of America. [^Note 1.] The policy of granting to Newfoundland a con- stitutional government I shall prove, chiefly from authorities which the country looks up to, and I trust ever will, with veneration and confidence. My first shall be that great and good man, that " statesman, yet friend to truth," whose name and character is the property of posterity, and now, when the political and angry contention of the eventful period in which he lived has subsided, no man will be found in this mighty empire who has one spark of the Promethean fire of the constitution animating his breast, who will not mention his name with gratitude and respect. — My second shall be yourself; and I do it with the greatest* pleasure, as I find the statesman of 1625^ 91 thougli belonging to a different party in the state, uttering the same sentiments which brought down upon the statesman of 1791 the obloquy, not only of his political opponents, but of his oldest and his dearest friend : but though those men in high stations who make undeviating principle the guide of their conduct, may be misrepresented and ma- ligned by the corrupt and interested, yet their pure and honourable motives will sooner or later shine with redoubled splendour. I believe it is Sir James Mackintosh who says that " in politics, as well as in morals, there is a stern undeviating principle which admits of no relaxation, that, in politics, as in morals, a breach of a part is a breach of the whole." A little reflection must convince every man that the observation is as pro- found as it is generous and noble. During the first discussion on Mr. Pitt's celebrated Canada Bill, Mr. Fox expressed himself as follows. " He agreed with the Right Honorable Gentle- " man, that it was impossible to concur in any " plan like that proposed, until the Bill was be- " fore the House, but he was willing to declare " that the giving to a country, so far distant from '^England, a legislature and the power of go- "verning for itself, would exceedingly piepos- " ses8 him in favour of every part of the plan. "He did not hesitate to say, that if a local legisla- "ture was liberally formed, that circumstance " would incline him much to overlook defects in "the other regulations, because he was convinced " that the only means of retaining distant colonies N ¥■ 11 i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ills ■^ 1^ ill 140 111112.0 M 2,2 1.8 U 11.6 6" Photographic Sciences Corporation S ^^ \ ,v \\ .A \ , "^^'^ ^A^ & 4- •m^fi^mmmKiffmHin a €t tt it it « €t tt tt n " with advantage,wa3 to enable them to govern them- " selves." On the llth of May, he further said — *' He trusted that the House would seriously con- sider the [^articular situation of Canada ; it was not to be compared to the Wes^ Indies, it was a country of a different nature ; it did not consist of a few white inhabitants, and a number of slaves, " but it was a government of great growing popu- " lation, which had increased very much, and which, he hoped, would increase much more. It was a country as capable of enjoying political freedom, in its utmost extent, as any other country on the face of the globe. This country was situated near " the colonies of North America; all their animosi- " ties and bitterness on the quarrel between them " and Great Britain was now over, and he believed there were very few people in those colonies who ''Vt^uld not be ready to admit every person belong- ing to this country into a participation of all their privileges, and would receive them with open arms. The governments now established in " North America were, in his opinion, the best " adapted to the situation of the people who lived " under them, of any of the governments of the an- " cient or modern world ; and when we had a colony *' like this, capable of freedom, and capable of a " great increase of population, it was material that " the inhabitants should have nothing to look to " among their neighbours to excite their envy. 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