n^ ^:^%^ V^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 4 "«: 5/ ^^^^^'#^ A f/. & ^ •«»- 1.0 I.I 1.25 Uiyi 12.5 i^Bi |22 bfi 12.0 IIS R 116 ^ ^ l 0^ 'V^- *^** ^ > HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WItSTIR.N.Y. MSIO (716) 173-4503 : signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre ffilmds A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d psrtir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. irrata to pelure, n d n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 y^. -^^.'! t- -ifj^ff^'f'iVtijgmtlt- K, <:r, 5 "■?■ ill! / ^'l*Uf«tl '''^Vi iii __^- i % ■V BRITISH NORTH-AMERICAN OOI^FEDER^VTIOIN^ OF THE BRITISE NOETK - AMERICAN PEOVINCES, BEING EXTRACTS FROM SPEECHES KECENTLY DELIVEllKU ON THIS SUI5JECT IN CMADA, l^OYA SCOTIA, & MW ERTJISWICK, By the Honourable Messks. ArcniBALD, BROWJf, C ARTIER, CARTER, EISITER, GALT, GRAY, McCULLY, ^rACDOXALD, McGEE, PALMER, ROSS, SHEA, TILLEY, & TUPPER. MEMBEES OF THE CONEED ERAX ION CONFEltENCE HELD AT QUEllEC, On the 10th OCTOBER, 1864. i^ LONDON: K. AI.CiAlt, 11, CI.EMENT'S I.ANMC, EOMnARD STREET. MllCClI.XV. ,-*!«i' ■i CONTENTS. I'AGI! lutroiliiction "^ Ikrcmornndiuu ndnptcd at the Qucl)cc Confercnco 5 Eesourccs of tlie British North Aiiicritau I'rovincos 15 Speech of Hon. Mr. Carter (Canada) 19 „ „ Shoa (Xowf.)undlaud) 25 ,j „ rahnor (I'riucc Edward Island) 29 „ „ Carter (XewHundland) 30 „ „ Ross (Red River) 33 „ „ Brown (Canada) 3;> ' „ „ Gait (Canada) 40 Summnrjr of Financial Tosition of the rrovinccs C'-i Speech of llou. Mr. D. Me'Goc (Canada) 73 „ „ Mc' Cully (Nova Seotia) 77 „ „ Archibald (Nova Scotia) 87 „ ,, C. Tupper (Nova Scotia) ''1 „ „ Tilley (New Brunswirk) ^S „ ,, Gray (New Bniuswiik) 10l> ,, „ Fisher (New Brunswick) 117 „ ,, John A. ]^la(donald (Canadii) 117- Letter from Right lion. Edward Cai dwell '■ ■ ■ l'"7 Import and Export Trade of the I'rovinceo 138 li J 3 '-) :^ I INTKODUCiiON. TuK Union of all tlie British Nortli-Amorican rroviuccs has, from time to time dm'injj,- tlui past twonty years, been an oft (lisciipsod subject on both sides of the Atlantic ; bnt, until tlio action of the recent Conference at (inebec, no actual steps fur its accomplislunojit can be said to have been taken. The history of this gathering, of all the leading Statesmen of the rroviiiees at Quebec in October last, may be thus brietly stated. In the course of last Suninier i\u) Provinecs of Nova Scotia, Xew Brunswick, and rrince Edward's Island, agreed to hold a Conference at Chai'luttctowu, the Capital of the last-uanuHl Colony, to consider the proi)riety of uniting themselves under one government and legislature, and a meeting of Delegates from the Lower Pro- vinces Avas accordingly summoned for the 1st of Septeml)er lust. It was not proposed in the first instance that Canada shoidd take part in these procei'dings, but the Executive of that Province, con- sidering the period an op]iortune on(>, iinited the Delegati s tlun about to assendile, to take into their consideration, not only tlio question of the Union of the Maritime Provinces, but also the larger and more comprehensive scheme of a Union — Legislative or Federative — of the whole of the British Xoith-Aineriean Colonies from tlie Atlantic to the Pacific. The suggestion was at once adopted, and the result arrived at by the Charlotti'town Conierencc was that a Confederation of all the lUitish Noi-th-American Colonies •' would be highly advantageous to all the Provinces." A ineefing lo include the lleprcsentatives of tlie Government of Can;i Union, would lie a General (Joveniiueut iliargt'd witli uuiU( is of common interest to the -wliolc country, and Locid (iovt iiniieuts i'or each of the Cauadiis and lor tlie I'roviuces of !Nova Srolia, ^'e\v lininswick, and I'riuce Edward 1 Ml'MOKAIHUUM AlMini.l) \i JUK Ul'IiHiX' fOM'HUK.M'J-;. Island, charpi'd with the control of local nuitters in tlicir rcsj)cctivc geclions, provision liiini;- niiulc I'or tlic iulinissiou inlo tlio Union, on c(iuital)lc terms, of New t'oundlaud, the North-west territory, British Cohnnlna, and Vancunvcr. III. In tVainiii}? a Constitution i'or \]u- General Government, tho Cont'crcnecs Avitli a view to the perpetuation of our connection with the ^lother Country, and to the prouuitiou of the best intciists of tho peojile of these I'rovinces, desire to follow the model of the British (.'onstitution, so far as our cin umstanees will perniit. rm; i:.\K(rTi\ i; u'Tiioiaxv. IV. The Kxcciitivc Aullmrily or Govennnent shall be vested in the Sovereign o| the luited Kiuj^doni of (ireat Britain and Ireland, niid be adniinisteved aceordinj; to tlie well understood piineiples of the liritisli Constitution by the Sover(ii;n ])ersonally, or by the Bepnseutativo of the Sovc rei{;u duly authorizi'd. V. The Sovinifiii or Uejiresi'utative of tlii' Soverei;;n ol.'all bo Comiaandcr-iu-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia Forces. eoNsTiTriiox 01' Tin: i'.vKT,r.\Mi:xT. Vi. A General Legislature or I'arliamcnt is jtrnvided for tho Pederatid I'rovinces, composed of ii Legislative; Council and a House of Cominoiiv. Vll. For th( purposes of forming the Legislative Council, tho I'Vilerated I'roviiHes are to lie considered as consisting of th irce (inisiens -1st., r )l)cr an ;ida : 2nd., Lower Canadi • >r( Acadia, or Nova Seotia, >'ew liriiuswiek, and I'rincc Kdward Ishnul, each division with an c([Ua.l representation in the Legislativo Couui il. VI II. T'ppir Cmiada is to be rcprescutnl in tlie Legislative by 21 nu'iubers. bower Canudii by 'J 1 mendiern, and the tbrec^laritinio members, of -whirh No\ a Scotia shall have 10, Now I I'liiiie F.dward inland I uundicrs. Brovinccs bv '•! 1 )1UUS\\ l( k 10, ir.i L\. The Colony of >«ewfoundlanfl will be tntitled to enter the pro])(wtd Vninn, wilb a ii'])resentatien in the Legi.-hitive Council of 4 memlteis. X. Till N' ith-we-t tiiiitorv, Hritisli Coluiul'ia, IIIK 1 Vi ta ouV(T will be admitlcd into the Union, on such Icrm.s and conditions i;i> tho I'arliamcnt of the l'\dcral«d i'rovimi's shall deem ciputable, and as thai! re((i\e the a-^i nt ot JL !■ 'Majestv; and in tlie case of tlie I'mviuec of i'.iilisli ( nliiuilaa or Vancouver, a.; ^hall Le agr(e fairly represented. yv\ Tiie Spealvor of the Legislative Council (until otherwise provided by I'arliaiuent) is to be a])pointed by tlie Crown from among the McMubcrs of tho Legislative' Council, and to liold offico during pleasun>, and shall only be entitled to a casting vote on au e(|uality of voti'S. XVI. Each of the twenty-four Legislative Councillors repre- senting Lower Canada in the Legislative (Council of tlie (Jeneral Legislature shall le aiijiointed to rejjresent oiu' of t]u> twenty-four Electoral Divisions nientioiad in Schedule A of Clia])tt'r i''ir4 of the Consolidateil Statutes osses8 his (jualilieation in the division he is appointed to represent. XVI I. The basis of representation in the IT mso of Commons is to be po]tulation, as (letei'uiined by the ouvpos(' of mkU iv-adjustinciits, Lowht Canada -will nhvays 1). as: ■iiiiied !?ixtv-live iiuiul)('i> an d each of tlie otlitT Bt'ctious shall at each re-adjiistnu>nt ix-ceivc, for tlic ten years next pucceidinu', till' ninnlicr of ^liinhers to ^vhi(']l it will bo entitled on the same ratio of rejjresentatioii to i)oi)u!ation as Lower Cunadii will enjoy according to tlu; eeusns then taken by having sixty-livo Alendiers. XXI. Xo rednction is to be made in tlie nnmbcr of !^^emhcr3 returned liy any sc( lion, unless its |)o])uliition shall have decreased rfdativeiy to tlie whole population of the Union, to tlic extent of five per centum. XXII. In conipnlinir, at eadi decennial period, the number of "Meniliers to wliicli eacli action is entitlid, no fractional parts \s ill he considered, unless wlien excec'dinfj one-lialf the numl)er entitlinp; to a ^It mber, in which ca'-e a Menilier shall be j;iven for eacli such fraction;d jKirt. XXI II. The Legishiture of each Province will divide such Pro- vince into the proper nun\ber of constituencies, and deline their boundaries. XXIV. The nnndicr of Mcndters may at any time he increased by tlie (ieneral Tailianient, ngaiil being had to tlie proportioiialo rights then existing. XXV. Tlie I.o(;d Legislature of eadi Province may. from time to time, alttrthe Klct toral Districts for the ])uipos(s of J{e])ri sentatiou in the JIousc of Commons and distribute the l{c])resentative.s to wiiiih the Province' i> entillcd, in auv maunci' such I.egi'-lative may 1hii;l< tit. XXVI. I'lilil provisions are made l-y tlie (ieneral Parliament, all the Laws which, at tlie date of the PiocJuniatioM const itutiiu;- tho Vnion, are in lortc in tlie rro\inces respectively, relating to tho t|Ualitication mid disi|t!alitication of any jierson to be elected or to (■it or vote ^hnilier of the .\sscndilv in the said Prov inces n s])( ctivily — and relating to the c|Ualili( ation or (lisc|Ualillcaticiii of \(itei-. Mid to the oaths to Ic taken by \otcis, and to b'etuining Otlicers and the ii poWd- i nil chitics — and relating to the pi'ocK dings nt Kleetions— and to ll.c j'c liod duiing which such Klections may bo eontinuicl, and relating to the fii.d of Controveitcd j'llecl ic)ns, ami llie proc II clings incident theicto, and relating to the \aca1ing of seats of Miuibirs, and to the i-^uing and cNecntion of m w AViits en o s( Wv lU ovinccs n ii^e of my lat bi in:i van. led othirwiso than by a di.vcluti — ,-hcll It -])ec lively apply to l.l.c lions of Mdulers 1 the lloii-^e of Coll, mc IIS, for places situate in tho>e Pr n >pc I tively XXVI I. K\iry lloiisi of ('. i I'.mon.s is to continue ioi livt; years MEMOIlAXDLll ADorrEl) AT THE QUEIIEC CONrEKENCE. 1 !:'! of i. from the day of tlu retiini of tlio Writs choosinp; tho same, and no loiigor, sulijrct, ucvortliolcss, to lie sooner prorogued or dissolved by the (lovernor. XXVIII. Tliere shall be a Session of tho Gencnd Parliiimcnt onee at least in evi!ry year, so tliat a ])eriod of twelve calendar months shall not intei'vene between the last sitting of I'arliument in one Session and the first sitting of Parliament in the next Session. rOWEUS OF I'AltlJAMEXT, XXIX. That the General rarliament will have power to make LaAVS for peace, welfare and good (Jovcrnniont of th(> Federated rruvineea (saving the Sovereignty of the ^lother Country), and especially Laws resjieeting tlie following subjects: — 1. The rublic T)ebt and Pi'opcrty. '2. Tho Kegulation of Trade and ('ommerce. li. The imposition or regulation of Duties of Customs on Tm])orts and Exp(n'ts, exeej)! on K.\]>orts of Timlie?', l-ugs, blasts, Spars, I)eals and Sawn Lumber, and of Coal and other ^linerals. 4. Tlie imposition or rogulaticm of Excise Duties. 5. The raising of money by all or any other modes or systems of Taxation. 6. The borrc.whig of !Money on the Public Credit. 7. Postal Seiviee. 8. Lines of Steam or other Sliips, llailways, Canals and otla r works, ci-unecting any two or more of tlie l'ro\in^e^i together, or extending licyond tlie limits of any I'l'dviix c. 9. Lines of Sti aiiishilis bitween the I'eileratLd Pruvliiees and other countries. 10. 'J'elcgraphic Communication and the incoiporati'tn of Telo- gra])li Ci)ni])ani( s, U. All such works as shall, altlunigh lying- wholly Mitliin any Province be sjiecially dtclaied by the Acts authorizing tin iii to he for the general advantage. 12. The Census. l;5. Militia — Military and Naval Service and J)el'ence. 1 I. Iteacons. Ihioys and I.iulit llonsis. 1."). Xavigaljiiii am 10. (iiiarantiiu ISh ppii 17. Sell Coast and Inlainl Lislieries. IH. I'Vnii s hi t ween any Provinci mid a fon ipn country, or belwun any two I'roviiic, s. I'l. Cmreiicy and Coinage. 20. Hanking and the i sue of I'aper Money. '21. Savings It.iiik-', 2'2. Weights aiil MciiMires. I 4 10 .Mi;>roHANi)rM .U)oi'Ti;i) at tuk (Ukuix' cd.m'kkknci:. 2;5. Pills of Exchange and rrouiissory Notes. 2i. Interest. 25. I,eg;il Ti^nder. 20. bankruptcy and Insolvency. 27. Patents of luveutioii aiul DisoovciT. 28. C;opy nights. 2!). Indians and Lands roerved lor the Indians. 'M. iSatwralization and Aliens. 31. Afar riage and Divorce. oJ. The Criniiiinl Law, excepting the Conslitution of C-onrts of Criminal Jurisdiction, but including the procedure in Criminal matters. Oo. luiidcring nnitorni all or any of Ihe laws relative to property uid civil rights in Upper Canada, Xova Scotia, N v\v AVli k, I'rince Kd \v,nHicers of the several I'rovincen are to aid. assist, anil oliiy the (ieneial (iovernnieiit in tlio e.xerciso of its rights and powers, and for such jiurposes will Ik^ held to be ("(purts, .lodges, and ( )llii( is uf the (ieiural (Jovernmeiif. XXXIII. The (Jeiural (JIature of sucli Province sliall ])rovi(le in tlie Act eouseuling to ibe Liiion. XLL The Local Legislatures will have jiower to alter or aiiU'ud their Constitution from tiuie to time. XML The Local L( gishitures will have power to make Laws respecting the following subjects: — 1. Direct taxation and impositidu of duties on the export of liudier, logs, masts, spars, deals and sawn lumber, and of coals and other uiiuerals. lionowiug momy on the credit of the Pinv ince. 'J'he cstabiislnnent and tenure of local oiHces, and the appoint- ment and paymeut of local ollicers. Agricidture. Immigration. Ldueatidu : sa\ing the rights and privileges which the Protes- tant or Catholic miimrily in 1 nfh Caniidas may possess as to their denominalional schools, ;it the time wlun the I'liiou goes into operatiiiu. Tile sale and maii:igenient of Public Lands, excepting Laud belonging to 1 Ik (Jeitend (J(i\(rnin( ut. "^U 12 MKAtORAXPl'M ADornj) AT TUK QUKIIEC COXFJlltENTK. ff f 8. Sea Coast and Inland Fislierios. !). Till' cstablisliiiicnt, niaiiitrnancc, and manafi'onu'nt of roniton- tiarios, and of l*ublic and lifformatory I'l'isons. 10. Tlio cstablislunrnt, mainti'Uancc, and nianaiicniontof Ilospitals, asylums, charities, and (doeiuosynary institutions. 11. ^luniripal Institutions. 12. Shop, Saloon, Tavern, Auctioneer, and other Licenses. 1.3. Local Works. 11. Tlio Ini'oii)oration of Private or Local Companies, except such as relate to matters assi^rned to rarliament. 1"}. Projterty and (!ivil Ivights, e.Kccptiug those jiortions thereof assiiiiied to Parliament. 10. Intlictinp; Punislmient Ity Fine, Peualties, Imprisonment or otherwise, for tin; breach of Laws passed in relation to any snliject witliin their jurisdiction. 17. The aduiinistratioii oi' Justice, iiicludini:; the constitution, maintenance and Druauization of the Courts — both civil and criminal jurisdiction, and including; also the procedure in civil matters. 18. And generally all matters of a private or local nature. XLTIl. The jKiwer of respiting, reprieving, couimnting, and ]>ard(tning ]>ii-oncrs convicted of i rimes, diid of remitting of sen- tences in whole or in ])art, •whi( h lnhnigs of right to the CroAvn, Avill be adtninistered by the Lieut enant-(»overnor of each Province in Council, subject to any instructions lie may from time to time receive from tlie General (idvernmcnt, and subject to any provisions that may be made in this lieludf by Parliament. M ODNKHAL I'ltoVlSIoNS. }^T;!V. In re;_'ard to all sulijt els o\(r Avhicli jnrisdirtion belongs to both the (icniral and ],o( al Legislaturis, the laws of the (Jenoral Parlianunt are to I'ontnd and supers( de those made by the Local Le;;i>iatnre, and tile latter to be void so hir as they are npugnaiil to or inconsi^lint with the foinier. XLV. hn\\\ the |ji;'li-li am! l''reiich langnagt s may be employed in the (ieueral Le;:i>hiture and in its jiroccciliiigs, ai-o in the l,ocal Legi>lalnif of l,owcr Canada, and in the Ledeial and Local Courts of Low rr Canada. XLVl. >'o hinds or inopcrty belonging to the (>(neral or Ltical (Jovernnient are to be liable to taxation. XLVll. All iiills for aii])roiirialiiig any part of the ]'uMf(! lb\( nue, or for imposing any m w Ta.\ or Imjiost, mu-t origin. ,te in the House of Commons or the ],ocal Assianbly, as tlu' e.si may 1 e. Xl.Vlll. The lloUM' of ('nmmii('r;il, or Lieutenant (loveriior, us tht; ease may be, ibii'iuy' the Session in wliicli sucli Vote, Resolution, Address or JUll is ptissed. XLIX. Any JJill of the (fcneral Lej>islature may be reserved in llic usual manner for Her ^lajesty's Assent, and any J?ill of the Local Lefiislatui'es may in like manner be reserved for the consi- deratitm of the {governor Gene ral. L. Any lUll ])ass{'d 1)y the General Parliament is to ])e suliject to disallowance by Her ^[ajesly within tv. o yeai'S, as in tlie case of lUlls ])assed by the Legislature s of the said I'rovincrs hitherto, and in like manner any Hill passed liy a Local Legislature shall be sul)ject to disallowance by tlie Governor General within one year after the passing thereof. LI. The Scat of Government of the Federal Provinces will bo at Ottawa, subject to the lloyal Prerogative. LLl. Subject to any future action of the respective Local Governments in respect thereof, the Seat of the Local (ral Government for the use of tlie Local Legislatures and (lovernments ; 9. Property triinslerred by the Imperial Government and known as ordnance pro])erty ; 10. Armories, drill sheds, military clothing and muniti(ms of war ; and 1 1 . Land.>5 set apart for public purposes. LV. All lands, mines, minerals and royalties vested in Her Majesty in the Provi?ice3 of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Xova : I 4 :-'■ '■/. 14 MKMnRAxrii'M \n:ii'ii:ii at tiik »jn:nKr coxi'ioiu'.xci:. Scotia, Now Brunswick and I'riuco J'xlwurd Island, for the use of such ['rovinccs, will holonp; to tho Local (iovoi'nincnt of tho ton-itoiy in which the sanu; are so situato ; suhjoot to any trusta tliat may ixist in respect to any of sncli lands or to any interest of otiier persons in respect of the same. LVI. AH sums due from purchasers or h^ssees of stich lands, mines or mhicrals, at tho time of tho Uniou, also arc to hclouj;' to the Local (governments. LVII. Tlie se\eral Provinces aro to remain vested with all other public property therein, subject to the rifjilit of the (.'onfederation to assume any lands or public property reiiuired for fortifications or the defence of the country. LVIIl. The (jeueral Government is to assume all tlie debts and liabilities of each I'rovincc. The debt iif Canaila net spi rially assumed by I'pper lUid ]jO\ver Canada n sptctively, not to exceed at tlu' time of the X'nion .SG2,oO(),()00 Nova Scotia to enter into tlie Confederation with a delit not exceedin;;- 8,()00,()0() And New liruuswick, ,vith a debt not exceidiiig. . 7, 000, 000 But it is expri ssly ]irovided that in (a>o Xo\a Scotia or New Brunswick tlo not incur lialiilities lirymid those tor which tlieir (Jovernments are now bound, and whiili shall iiiake theii' rt^lative autbun'ty, Iiut only to limit the maxinuim iunount ot' chaij.',e to be liidn,uht by them apiinst tiie (leucral (jIuMni- meut. The powers so conferred iiy the rcspuclive JA'^islatures to be I'Xercised within live years from this date or the same shall then lapse. LIX. Newloundlaiid and riime Ivlward Island, not ]iavinf]j incurred debts e(|ual to those of the other rrovinces, are entitled to receive by half-yearly ]iaymejdr, in adxance liom the General Government the intirest at o per cent, on the ditferc^nce between tho actual amount e)f tluir respective de'])ts at the time of tho I'nion, and the' average amount of iude'bleelne ss ])er head of the jioimlati'iu of Canada, Nova Sceitia, and New Uruiiswick. I,X. In consideration of tlu traiisler to the (ieneral Le'^iislaturo ot tile ]iMW< IS to taxation, an annual .uraut in aid of each I'roviiu'o shall lie made, equal to an amount ot HO eciits per lu'ad eif the ])opulation, as established by the census of IK()1. The' ])opulation oC N'ewfe)unillanel Vteinj; cBtimated at l.')0,OU(). Such aid shall be ill I ill l!i;snabh's it to rank sevi'uth among the nations of the earth, and in the last decade its trade has more than (|uadrupled. Its Exports and Imports reach £27,000,000 a-year, and the agricultural produce lunounts to not less than £;)0,000,000 per annum. Its total revenues during tho past year of 1804 arc estimated at £3,000,000, and the expenses at £2,700,000. Its greatest length from the Atlantic frontier of ±s^ova Scotia to the Tacitic Ocean at Vancouver's Island is -'5,000 miles, and its greatest breadth 1,000 miles. The public di'bts of tlu' whole of the British North- American Provinces amount to about £10,000,000. And first as to Canada, as the largest of the group. In area this Province is about tlirce times as largo as England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It is bound on the East by the Labrador (!oast, on the West by Kiministi([uia, a stream near the bead of Lake Superior, on tlie Xorth by the Hudson Bay, and South liy tlio Great Lakes, tho Iliver St. Lawrence, and tho Unit-.d Statis boundary. Its length is about 1,000 miles, and its breadth 2.50 mih's, and its area covers about ;{.jO,000 square miles, or 240,000, 000 of English acres. Its popuhitiou is now roimdly estimated at nearly 3,000,000. In 1803 the Imports amounted to £9,2:)0,0()0, and the Exports £8,;j00,000, one-third of the latter was oi the forest and of the field. The sea- going tonnage of vessels passing up th(> St. Lawrence was upwards of 2,130,000 tons. The public delit (if Canada is, at the present time, about £1;),;)00,000. The revenue of 1804 was about £2,200,000, and the ixpenses about £2,000,000. Xor Jinoifiicid-, whirh lies between Nova Scotia and Canada, is estiiiiuted to comprise an area of 27,020 s(puire nules. After agri- culture, the forests of New Brunswick constitute its next greatest resource in furnisliing nudcrials for its staph^, export of timber, and its priiicii)al manufactures, slii[i luiilding, and sawn lumber. The Imports in 1803 amounted to £l,oo.'),000, and the Exports to £1,800,000, and the tonnage to l,380,!)8O tons. The population is estimated al 2oO,f)00 souls. Tlie public debt of this Province is about £1,200,(10(1. The revenue of 1801 is estimated at £20o,000, and the expmditure at £182,000. RKSOrnCKS OF THK PROVINCES. 17 The Province of Nova Scotia, including Capo T) re ton, contains a superficial area of about 18,()0() s(iuarc miles. This Colony is rii'li in mineral productions — especially gold, copper, and coal. The fislieries of Nova Scotia, like tliose of New Brunswick, are also a source of great and increasing wealth. The coast line of Nova Scotia embraces a distance of not less than 1,000 miles, studded with excellent liarbours. That of llalifax is the finest harbour in the world, and as it lies in the direct course of vessels sailing between the North of Europe and America, it must always possess great commercial advantages. The Imports in 18G3 were £2,100,000, and the Exports £1,700,000, and the sea-going tonnage 1,432,954 tons. The population of Nova Scotia is now about 350,000 souls. The debt of Nova Scotia at the close of the past year was put down at £1,000,000. The revenue of this Colony during 1864 is estimated at £265,000, and the expenditm-e at £220,000. The coutiguous Colony of Prince Edward^s Island is separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by Northumberland Strait. Its length from East to West is about 130 miles, its greatest breadth about 34 miles, and its area about 2,170 square miles. The Island is essentially an agricultural countiy, but its fisheries are among the best in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. Ship building, it may be mentioned, is also earned on to a considerable extent. The popula- tion is about 80,000. The Imports of 1863 were £300,000, .and the Exports £320,000. The public debt of Prince Edward's Island is about £50,000. Newfoundland is an island lying between N. lat. 46" 38' and 51° 37', W. long. 52° 44' and 59° 31', and, consequently, the first land made by vessels passing to the westward from hence and bound to North American ports. Its area is about 36,000 square miles, and its coast line is estimated at about the same length as that of Nova Scotia, viz., 1,000 miles. The importance of this Colony is mainly derived from its exceedingly valuable fisheries, but as the Island lies midway between the Coasts of Labrador and Cape Breton, and so commands the ^loutli of the St. Lawrence, its position in a strategic point of view can hardly be overrated. The present population is estimated at 130,000. The imports for 1803 were £1,200,000, and the exports something more than that amount. The revenue is at present a liltle over £100,000 per annum. The debt is considerably under £200,000. I V I' 18 SPEiX n OF THE UON. MH. CARTIER (cANADa). Vancouver Island, on tlio Pacifie Slioro, has an area of 16,000 square miloa. Its length is aliout 270 miles, and its mean In-eadth from -10 to 50 miles. The recent discovery of Gold, in addition to coal and the other valuahle minerals with wliich the Island ahounds, has given a j^'eat impetus to the tnido and commerce of this Colony. The population is about 20,000 souls. The neighbouring Colony of Bn'fish Cohmhia ■which, with Tancouver Island, until recently formed part of the Hudson Bay Company's Territories, has an area of nearly 300,000 s(iaare miles. In length, from Xorth to South, it is about 700 miles, and about 600 miles in breadth, from the lloeky ^lountaius to ^Jn; i'ncilic. The population of Eritish Columbia is roughly estin...f ,, ,>' 5't 000. Tlie intervening Teriitory between the boui,i! irir ot ^. : uada and Uritisli Columbia, known as the Jfu(hn»'s 7'V' / 7/ -ritory, is a tract of country stretching from thi' Atl.'i.ti' to the Pacific, and roughly estimated as containing about o,Ofi(),UOO square miles. The population is about 12(),000, of whom upwards of 100,000 are Indians. The lli'd River settlement at Fort (Jany, the chief post of the Hudson Bay Company, contains a i)o]>ulali(m of about 6.'), 000 souls, viz., 10,000 of a white population, 15,000 of half-castes, and abdut 40, ('00 Indians. It is beli.'xed lliat arrangements are coutenqtlated l)etween the Lmperial and Canadian (lovernments, and the Hudson's Bay (,'ompany, by whi( h this Settlement may ])e erected into a Croxni Colojiy, and tlie vast Tenitory, known as the "Fertile Belt," a tract of lauil extending westward from the Red River f ■ ''in Jfini- said : — The qui stioii thai tie might s;iy bad brouglit them together that evening wms, as every one knew, whether it was ])ossil)le for tho Biiti-ih American rro\inii's un lliis side of tlie .\tlantic to iunu a til til, riy ou of th pail coil Bi oUfJ iji\j IIKll nic Sl'KEClI OF TUK HON. Mil. CAnTIEll (c.VNADA). 19 ptrnng Oovcrament imdor a system which might allow all the gcnci-al inttii'sls, thoso whidi conceriK'tl all tliu rrovinccs, to bo dealt with liy u gciicnil govcniiiK'ut and those of a purely local ( harauter to bo lil't to local tinvcriiinoiits. i^CIheers.) Xow in vi(nv of tliis question which was ugiutin;^ all the ])iibli<' men, and iudicd evtiAouo who took an interest in the jtolilics and in tlie welfare oi Biitish AnK'rica, they nmld not lose sij;;lit of this fact, th^t wot ignite 90 years ago thei'e vas a (^rciit ('onfcderatioii on the other ^idc of our ])resent frontier trying to do all in its power to form a stiong Union and desiring to carry out democrat it; institutions. Well, at that time, Lower Canada, wliich happened to bo the most d< -'- ly populated of the Ihitish Xorth American Provinces, was add 1 by no less an individual than General Oeorgo Washington, suppoit< I liy a French General, who desired to iiiduce tlie Prench C;inadiaux of Lower Canada to join tlie American movement of 1771 and 1775. (Hear.) Well what was the answer of the Fren'h Canrlians who in those days had not the advantage which they had no .v of having, as dwellers amongst them, a large lumiber of peopb' hailrig iVom the llritish Isles. He called this an advantage, sp.aking it- a liower Canatlian. (Hear, hear.) in those days tlie^ were rv themselves, and it should he recollected that they had not lon<< been severed from the French and l-i^en joined to the Eritish nation. Their priests, their clergy, however, understood well in those days the hoUowness of mere democ.atic institutions, and they did not respond to the address of Gen. Washington and Gctn. llocham- baut. (Hear, hear.) Although the liglits to which they though tlu'y were entitled had not yet been given to them, nevertlieless, tliey preferred to stick by the monarchy 1 rule of Government (Right, rigid.) Well, at tliis moment they wcie trying to biing al)out hero a confederation, and to estahlisli a genei d govei'nment, not to carry out purely democratic institutions, bui to helj) tlie monarehical element to take more deep and lasting root in this IJriti-h. ]!^orth America. (Cheers.) He knew it was exj-eited, and the e.\_. relation was perfectly natural, that on the presen oecasiou the proceedings of the Conference might be divulged. T) it, however, could not be, and ho lioped the people of ^Montreal, the peoph' of Canada, and the people of all the Provimes A\liose ivpri'sentatives had taken part in the late deliberations, would agrei with him that before a report of the proceedings, which Avero to a great extent confidential, could be published, it would have to be made to the I'espeetive Governors and to the Imiieiiid GoverniDent. (Hear, hear.) Eveiy Ih'ilish subject here woidd at once uaderst lud that such a course ought in delicacy to be followed, and lau v that such was the imariable Ihitisli ])raetiee. In every ease, where grave ])oUtieal matters had to l)e discusscil, they had to be i id Ijefore the Govern- ment to deliberate ujxm them before tlierh; ps, not be committing B 2 I' ihll iH 'II 20 spEErn OF Tire iroN. mh. cartieu (r.vNAi).\). i ] an iiiiHsicrotiou if ho iillowod liimsolf to npcak in a lij^iDtliotic luaniior, mid to us.' a scries of supitositions. v'^^""'-) ''^ll '^^''"* lioanl him, and did him tlu' honor to listen, would please bear in mind thai he laid no elaim to e]o(|ueiui — he was a niero dry poiitii laii H e w; liowever, always m earnest, speiikmi!; some rlia])s rather too hlunlly, hut at all times sincerely, as his tuue^ friends well knew. ,11 cai', hear. N OW, AVI thout re\ealin any- tiling- whicli it mi^ht he indiscreet to make knowu lu> mij;ht say that {■\t'i\ one knew tliat at this nionient he ha])])ened to he in tlio Govei'umenl of Canaila allied to a jj;entleman who for the last fifteen years had lieen his f,n'eat o])])onent in Upper Canada, ho filliidcd to tlio lion. (i( or; H rown. (^llear, n(>ar. Xot tlic l(>ast douhl, A\hen |;rcat matters of ])nhlie ])oIiey had come up foi' consi- deration tliat p'ntlemaii and himself had been ])itted ojie anainst the other, Mr. Jinnvn for Ujiiwr Canada and himself for lioweor anada Tliat useless war had heen wajied hetwoen the t wo BC'ctiniis witliniit heiictit to either of them, when on the frroiind of trying to tiiid if they cdiild not agree on a great s.heme of cdiifcde- ration to unite in one common hond of government all the liiitish American I'mvinces, Mr. (itoige Jh'own consented to he his Mi-. Cartiev's ally in the gnveinmeiit. As a ]i(i]itician under the Hritish pystem, he knew that in order to he in a jxisition to give advice to His Kxcdlency the (iovenior (Jeiieral, it w as necessary to h Mill led by jml illc op iiiion ; but at th(> si line timi> a gentleman in that position must understand that lie must not be nnreiy the rcllex "f vulgar prejudices and jmlilic npinion, l)nt must rather try to lead ]ml)Iie, oiiiiiioii. iCIieers.' That was the way bo understood the Hi'itish constitutiiiiial svstcin — thai the Ministry of the day stond as it were hi twecu the ]>eoplc and the ci own, am 1 if anything jireseiited itsidf to disturb tlie even baliiiiei' of nionarcbieal government to bartle and defeat it. li'edid not nu an to !-ay that the jinlilic man ought not to listiii to public oiiiiiioM, hilt be did say that a public opinion was one tl m iilig aiMl public prejudice aiiotl ler. \V1 leii a gale ])revail( dat wea it i^ht drive \\\v ship in one direction and then in aiKpther, if it was nut well manned; but tlie gond pilot \\>aild use tiie wind in order to bring tlic? sbi]) into a snt;. miil y. i ure jiaveii ; mid at tlie end evi ly cmo would be witistied — the pilot and tlu' cnw, as well as llio-e on board the ^hip. iCiieeis. .\sa lower Caiiiidian, he was not one of those who would not recognise ami admit that the I'liion of I'pper and i.owir Canada had nut done a great deal of good. vCheers.) lie must confess, and hi' iiad stated it on many occasions, lliut the In ion liatl ai hit \ed uoiidcrs for the ]irospeiity of the two I'rovinces, imd that |)ros])erity (ommandcd lar^e ics|iect and esteem in Knglaml iiikI llie world. iHear,liear. lie was not one of tin likt) to see I'lipi r and F 08C who wou Id MW I 1 Canada se|piiratcd into distinct I'ro- viliceH — one having the right to make its taiill', and 1l tlier tluj snmo right, both thus warring upon each other. What would bo SPKKCH OF XnE noX. MU. fAKTllOU (CANADA). 21 the consequence of tliis if ^lermittcd ? The city of ^^[ontroal would !)(' made a city in the conuT. lie had no reluctance to confess it, Dial the prosperily of ^lontreal was due, to a great (^xtent, to Lower Canada, l)ut to a still greater extent to the trade of Ui)per Canada. (Loud clicers.) It was well tluit tlungs as they Avere should he stated. (Hear, hear, and clarrs.) And lie would let it lie known to them, as one of their representatives, that he would never consent to any system of Clovernment under wliii h U])])er and liower (Canada should have a distinct powi'r with regard to tlie tariff, trade, and commerce of the country. (Cheers.) In fact, we saw to-day that a large party in Lower Canada, forn^erly o])posed to the Union of tlu- two Canadas, were now (lelending and ui)holding it. Why } Hecause the Unicm had realized a great amount of prosperity for the two Provinces. (Hear, liear.) Hut must the politician r)r stidesman who saw that everything had Iteen riialized out of tlu? Union remain quiet and still, or enqtloy his talent to j)atch u]) the dilKculty respecting reinesentatioji hetween Ujiper and Lower Canada. "NVas that the ])rovince or the duty of any pidilic man? No. Su])posing that to-(lay or to-morrow we shouhl adjust our dilKculties, what woidd be the consei|uencei' Canada wouhl still remain the I'rovince tlmt it was, as hail been saiil by one of tho IK'legales from the lower Uroviiues, blockaded witli ice during six months of the year. Tlu' only difl'erence such an adjustment might make, W(udd be, that there Avould be another basis for political operations in the Lower House or Hotise of Assenilily of Canada, but with regard to the Lower Provinces they wouhl still be tho same. There would still remain those customs houses between us which nnist be ])ut down. (^Loud cinders.) Well, those Provinces, liad been placed in a rather modest position by the gentlemen re])ie- M'Uting Iheiu who bad addressed them to-night. He ^.Mr. Cartier) nuist repiat here what be had already said to those geutlenun. He had told them that the three great constituent elements to mdioiial j)o\'. er and greatness were the territorial element, the jM'rsonal iU'ment and the maiitinie element, lie had also told them that two of these elements — the territorial and per.sonal — were possessetl by Canada, but that we wanted the maritime dement. In fait, as it had been said by one of (he gcnlliiiun whom he had the Imuor to addiess at this* monu'nt, during si.v months of (he year we had to knock at the door of our neighbours in order to carry on our trade (lirough their (t iiidny. Now, (he (wo Canadas were (oo populous and (lu'ir (ei'ridiry (oo ex(ensive to ])ermit us to do as was done twenty yeais a('o — carry on (lu ir wlioh' (rade in nIx months of (ho year. That could no( be done now. (Cheers.") I)i view of (his l'ae(, (his Confeileiii(iiin had (o lie carried out, and if we did nut accomplish it we int\i(ably i'all into the .\uicric.iii Coiifideration. (Cries of "ni ver."^ He knew (ba( (he word " never" would bo pronounced w Inn be made (lad stad nn nl, and he wan glad lo hear \\^'^- I 22 SPEKCII OK Till:; HON. Ml!. CAKllKK (CiNADA). it. He kiK-^v thiit all ])r('-^('nt, Avlu^tlior citi/cns of Montreal or not — it iiiiiUtrcil not to wliat jtlaci' they bcloii^fd — tlioy Avcrc IkhuhI to ticliitvc tlic national work which wouM hrinjj; all the <;Tcat iiittTOsts of tlicst' rrovinct's toiictlicr, and conihino tlicni so as lo make ns ii great nation. Loud clu'crs.") Wlicn ho said a great nation, he did nut nuan a nation distinguished from the mother country. (Ueiiewed cheers. I When he >aid this, too, he nitant that all thitse p>)wern granlid hy tlif Inipeiiul (lovernnient to the dilferent Provinces conihined topther to inaki' a nation under a p'lieral i^ovenunent ; and if that was done he felt we slionld have done a great (U'al. (Loud cheers.) ^Vith ngard to the general government, ho sniiitosed some gentlemen woiihl like to know liis su])])ositions. (Laughter, and s (ould not lu' given up with sali ty. Well, tl Canada was iinadid liy an .Vun rir;iu army, althoug u preater number (.f nan than the other I'rovini'CH, would' they 1 Hutlicieiit to d( f( n was a good deal of Sl'KECH OF THE UON. MB. CIRTIEE (cAN.lD.v). objection with regard to this system of general government. (Hear, hear.) A great deal of object iou was made against it because wo liave nut at ouee a legislalivi' union of ull the rroviuccs; but at this great and critical moment we had to take into account the dillei'ent and, to some extent, coullieting ojjinions and interests of tlie i'rdvinees to lie brought into union, and if we ])roceeded to present for tbe atloption of these J'rovinees and the British Govern- ment a scheme which would be tlie basis for the formation of ij geiuial government, we must take care that such measures be adfjpted as to protect every race, and advance tlie prosperity of e\iiy ojie. If we did tliat, would we not have elfected a great deal? (Loud cheers.) He was told that in Lower Canada there was great opposition t(.> the silieme, because it was stated that under it the Ihitish in that section would be at the mercy of the French popu- lation. Well, what was tlie best answer to tliat? lie thouglit the Jjritish-born inhabitants of Lower Canada ought not to be led away by any such arguments, and tliat they ouglit to bear in mind that if tlie French wouhl preponderate o^ ei' them in numliers in the local government, the latter, in tui'Ji, would be in a great minority in the general govi'rnnient. (IL'ar, bear.) Tlie French population, in committing their interests to that government, trusted in the good judgnuiit and in the liberality of their Ihitish fellow-countrymen. (Knthnsiastic cheers.) Was it too much to ask from the British popuJatio!! that they should trust in the good juilguieiit and in tho justice of the French jieoph' in the local government? i^llenewed cheering.) To which would the greater interests be eontided — tlio general or the local government — by tlie respective jxipulatinna of Lower Canada? For liis ])art, he was proud to confess to-day that the i)rosperity of both the Camidas was duo to tho commercial cntiTprise and undertakings of the Ihitish element in the country. (Cheers.) lie had no oiijectiou that they should be, as it weie, tho go\erning element ; but, at the sanu' time, why should thev ohject to the local govi'rnnient in tho manner proposed to be established — with the Fnuich Canadians, as a matter of course, represented nccoiding to tln'ir number. lie would tell this to his triiiids of British as will as Fn nch origin. As a Fnnch Canadian, and as a Catholic, he would never consent, so long as he was a Minister of the Ci'own, that any injustice should lie done, either ( (institutionally or otherwise, to his lello\v-( iti/eiis belonging either to the i'rotestaut leligion or to his own religion— i^loud cheers) — nor would he consent thai his count rynan, the French C;in;idians, because they hap])en to be of a dillerent race and religion liom the people of Lp[per Canad;i, should be injured on that account. (, Renewed cheeis.) We heard a great di>al of the (picstion of races in connection with the formation of this great Conl'cderation. I it was found that the latter had some of the qualities wliich distinguish the fonuer, such us the con(pU'ring power. Konu' could con(|uer Colonies, but, unlike Britain, could nut hold them, wanting tiiat great element of ]M)wer possi ssed by the latter — t!ie Kininicii ial eh inent. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Without detracting from tlie nchievemcnts of the British iirmy and navy, or the results of the wisdom of her legislature, it would be ;idniitt(d that the ]>ow(r of Britain ( nuld not lie jiroperly estimated Mitlaiut taking into a< ( ount tbe cunnnenial element. Inmiediat( ly a Colony was (ontpiered liy the braveiy of the army and navy, wlio followed uj» and (onsolidatcd tlu' work but tbe nn r- cbants of Britain? (Cheers.) They settled there, went to Avurk, and liecame generally so jirosperons atter a few \eai's that it was tin; intirest of England Iktm If to ])rotect tbat new-born comnuTce with Ik r army and navy. As to the Confederation. Canada had out- grown tlu' la^ of St. .Tolin's, N.lb, nii'l Halifax. (Cheers.) With n g:ird to New t'oumlland, as had been eloquently ^tated by Mr. Sin a, it stood at the niiaith of tlie St. Lawrence, had cunnnenial relui ions with every nation, and by a union with Canada, would (Oilier ( oniineiciiil advanliejo^ o| vcrv great inqiortaiice. (Hear, licar.^ It bad been ^:\'u\ tbat tlie Itritish Colonic s ot' >'oitli America could ai bievc tbe saini' n i by /ollverein nsliya ]ioIiti(al lUlioli. He '^aiil tliat wa-. Iiaidiy -ullii ii lit, and lidievcd tbat what tile people of tla Ihitisli Nortli American rrnviiices dcsii'i'd lor tlicir H ^' SPKECn OF THE HOX. Mil. SJIKA (XEWFOUNDLANl,). 25 common (Icfcnco and prosperity could not be attiiincd hy a Zollvercin Buch as tluit of Germany. Tliey wanted a closer, political union. (Cheers.) The p'cat comnien ial current ndcd everylliiiifi;. The capital of Eniiland made every nation tliat hecanu' lier l)orrower, to some extent, gravitate towards her and feel her inHuenco The Confedi'ration would produce an increase of the trade of the Pro- vinci's with each otiier and with En<;lant/: — lie had the gnatcst |)leasnre in rising on this occa- sion to return his most hearty thanks for the honor done in drinking the toast in so la arty ii manner. Sinrc the iirrival of the delegates « f 26 SPKKCn OF THE HON. MR. SIIKA (nEWFOI'NDLAN'D). in this country they had been the recipients of most princely hospi- tiility, and such was truly the cliaiaetcr of that which tlu'y wero now pcnuitti'd to enjoy. Though the renu'iubranct' of such .scenes ns the jii-esent would not soon by effaced from their lucmories, these deministratioiis liad a much hiji'her si;;nitlcanc(' than that of mere good fellowship. Tlicv demonstrated lu)w much general interest was taken in the question of Confederation. i^Hear, hear.) When he considered tlie ability with which the general ciuestion of the Coufederation of the Provinces had been laid belore Canadians by their own public men, and by an able and intelligent ])ress, he felt that were he to enter u])oii it here in the ])reseuce of the e//fc of this great connnercial community, he woidd be simjdy trespassing upon tlieir time and jiatiencc. No, no.) Canada had, no do\d)t, many great advantages, l)ut he would say, Avith his friend from ]S'ova Scotia (Mr. Anldbidd', tliat its material i»rospecls would bo in- creased by union with the Lower I'roviuces — the honu's of a kindred and generous jjcoph'. i^llear.) Cau;ida, he repeated, had numy great advantages. — that he was ])ei'fectly willing to admit — but it would be his duty to nu'ntioii a few facts which would show that it would be no disadvantage for her to unite with Xewfoundlaiul. (Hear.) In considering the quistiou of the union of the I'rovinces, it became necessary to takt into account the ]iosition of the proposed Confederation with regard to safety and defence. i^ilear.J In this view, the ])osiliou of the Island of Newfoundland hc-anu' one of marked signiticaiue. Look at it, gentlianen, stretching right aci'oss the tJulf of the Saint Lawrence, commanding botli the ])assages by wliirh the vast trade of that gulf ngiou and of that Saint Lawrence lliver found its way to the ocean. Were this Colony in the hands of a liostile Power, then in war tinu' the trade of Canada would be as heruu'tically sealed as if pel]>etual winter ]tre\ ailed there. (Hear.) Considt'ring tiii^, the statesmen lately a-^-eini)led at (ineiiec at once perceived that the position ol' the Confe'( w louuiHand were not, he admitted, of the highest ord( r. Its Miil and « limate Wire not well calculated foi- the highest conditions nf agricidlnic, but it still derived eoii- sidiral'le advantages froui tin ni, and >ouie agiicnltural opcratioii.s had bet n (onilueted with marked suci ess. It posxsMil laige tracts of country which wen; highly \aluable I'or grazing purposes, and but for the presente of a race of dogs, I'or which its people exhibited HPEECII OF THE HON. MR. SIIIiA. (NEWFOUNDLAND). 27 a markoy jndtlic buildings of various descriptions, the i'rovince having ampli' and tangible value for all the money it liad exix'uded, while such Avas the credit in which its securities were hchl, that the Uovenunent had no dilhculty, even at the present moment, when the rate of interest iu Kngland was unusually high, iu raising money at 1^ per cent. (Loud a])plausc.; They had a pavings bank iu St. John's, gmuanteed by the (Jovomment, in which were (U'posited the earnings of the industrious population to the extent of nearly $000,000. (Hear ) The country had not been wifticiently ex])b)red to enabh- him to siiy a great deal as to the mineral deposits which lay Avithiu its bosom, but it was known that tliere were some very imixntant lead mines; eo])])e[' mines, too, had been found in various localities; and it was believed that a very valuable gold mine would be found on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while investigations were now biing nuide under the direction of Sir William Lof>an, to wIkhu he took ijiis o])portunity of retuiiiiiig his thanks for the great assistame he had atbirded to the ])eople of that island. i^Heur.) There were aliout 1,200 vessels enti'ring and dealing annually, going to all countries. Keeurriiig to the linaiieial ])osition of the ishiiul, he might say that it was jjiihaps rounder tiiaii that of any ot the Colonies or States of America, spite of tlio fi'eiiueiuy ot the vici-situdes of its stajile trade. Jn ]irool' ot this he woidil oiisirve that some years ago, in 18 Hi, a serious cahunity bef(d tiie town of St. John's, and il was \isited by a serious firu which HWejit away the wlioh' of the business part of that place, leaving not a store, nor even a wharf, so that some thought the city never loiild reco\( ■• Ironi its clfccts. The anioiiut ol loss was betweea St), 000, 000 iuid :5ii,000,000, uut oue-lourlh of which was covered by ^i^^ M .1 :^ I I I '- 1 28 si'KFX'n or riii; tidn. mil siika (newfoundlaxb). V. iTisuranco. Tin' city did, however, recover, and no one man foiled to iue(>t liis ])iisin('ss onp;iif!;(iiieiits in conseciuence of the calamity, (('lu'ers.") Tlic ]?ank of JJritisli Xorth America was then the only hank doinjr business in tlu' community, and at the tiine of the fire the amount of ])aper it held was larger than it had been for several years jn-evious. Ycl he could asstTt that not a sini!:le man failed to discharijc iiis olili^natioiis to the bank. Nay, more, ■when the Bank of ]{ritish North America, which had been doing business for twenty years, at last wound up its affairs, the whole of the paper it held was handed over to amiiher bank, and taken at its face value, without any reduction. (Hear.) These .statements might appear extravagant, but he made them in the presence of gentlemen who Avere a((piaintcd with the facts, and his position relieved him from the sus]iicion of indulging in niisstatcnu'nts. (A])plause.) Under these circumstances, Newfouiidlaiul might claim to come into the Confederation on lionorable and inde])endent grounds. It would eonti'ibute its share to tlir general rtock of advantages to be enjoyed. (TTear."l He had said that the imports auKninted to between So, ()()(•,()()() and Sli, 0(10, ()()(). Now, of this they received from $l,o()0,()0() to Sl,7;)0,()()0 in value from the United States, chietly tlour, liuttcr, and otlier articles of that d<'scri])tion. A very small proportion of th<' imports came from C'amida. Why was this? Was it because the United States offered superior commercial advantages? This was net th(> case; fiiey could generally ]iurchase on better terms in Canada llaui in the United States, (llt'ar.) It would no doubt be said that jtolitical iirrang(>ments could have no eifcct, could exercise no c(»ntr(d over matters of this kind. That doctrine, however, had its limits, wliiih were, in some cases, very remarkable. Let tlu in look at the intcreuluuial railway as an illus- tration. That road would be jtroductivo of the most ini])ortant conimerciid advantages to tlie ])cople of these I'rovhices, and yet everyone knew that it miglit have remained foi' years without any progi'css towards completicm h;id it not now become a political necessity. Hs disired ; and speakiuji' for Newfoundlaiul, ho would say that he hoped the day was far distant when she would have forced ujxtn her any other allejfiance than that she now rejoiced to a(dvnowledj;e. However remote the contingency of a change in this respect might be, yet when such issues were involvi'd, it would be unwise and sliort- sighted if due Aveight were not given to it by nu'U charged witli the grave task of laying the foundation of a m!W Empire. (Ap])lause.) J[e would say but one word more, for he felt he had already tres- ])assed too long \i\)im his hearers' patii'uce. (No, no.) It Mas that the (piestion of Confechration had never been prominently brought before the public of that Colony he re])resenti'd, or much discussed in its press ; he and his fellow-lal)orer being here simply as expressing tlieir own opinions cm the subject; but he did not hesitate to say that he would think it a grave ernn- if the peo))le failed to enter into what had been the unanimous feeling of the Conference, and hesitati'd to become members of a Coiifedendion charged with so high a mission, and the grandeur of whose future it was impossible for the wildest imagination to over-estimate. (Cheers.) At the ]5an([uct gi\-en at Toronto in honour of the Delegates, tlie Hon. ^fr. Palmkk replied to tlic toast of the Lowi'r Provinces on behalf of J'riiice Edward Islnid and his co-delegates. The island from Avhich he c;nne was a very small ((luntry, and reipiired little to be said on its behalf; and most fortunatidy so, as the task of responding hafKWFOUNDLANI)). into the centre of one of the Canadian lakes. If such a thing were pliysiciiUy possible lie (^Fr. I'almer) did not know they would have much reason to rofjiret it' it were done. The ])eo))le of I'rince Edward Island were an afxi'ii'ultural community ; but he would not take up mucli time in eiilojj,isiiif^ it. Tiicy could send away a million and a half bushels of liarley and lliemselvcs consume as much more per anuiun. ThcyAvere swarminiij Avith all kinds of tish all round them. They were asked to join in this union. Their Canadian fiiends came over to them, and they listened to them. And they were proud to hear tlu-m. They n^solved very soon that there Avould 1)0 a union, as far as i ircumstances would permit, on the model of the IJritish nation. The Provinces were unanimous on that. Tlu'V next resolved tlint each Colony and each Province should jireserve its i)rivilege3 and free institutions. In that tliey were all unanimous. They next ai^reed that the trade of tlie whole Colonies should be dealt with fairly and eiiuitably: that the tariffs should ])e equalized thro\i<;hout, as far as it was ])iissilile tn do so. Tliey next aiii'ced that whatever necessity misht require tluin to i\x the tariff at, as r(>p;ards the out- side world, they Avould I'ujoy free tiade amonj; themselves. (Cheers.) The Islanders were a carefid and Tiiinkin,!.^' ))eople. Perhaps they Avcre a little dou])tful at hearinc; those pro])ositions at first, because they were at present as Inqipy a'ai contented a peo])le as any under Ih'itish I'ulc. Yet he woul lion. u'enlleni;in expressed satisfaction with Avhat h(> had seen, especially witli llie sclio.ils. ;ind with tiie skill of Canadian mechanics, as ]>roveil in the a|q)aratus tlH\v (luistructed for those Schools. Ho conchi'l'Mi by e\-])rcssiim' ii ho))e that the union of the Provinces Avould souu l>e consunimalt'd, and I'esunn'd his seat amid loud cheers. Hon. "Mr. Cvi!TKn, of Xcn-foun(JI(Vi(l, also res]i(nided. IFe said — • I intend now, with your permission, to oHer a few oliservations for myself and ci-dele-iates for the Colony of .Vewfonndland. Some of you nniy know -iomethinfj: of that Colony, hut by the majority, I fear that little ioforniation is ])ossessed as to its ca])abilities. AVe have bet n iilaced, as it were, at the fajr-end of this confedenition ; init in anollicr ^cnse our };eo.Li;ra])liical jiosition places us at the \erv should, in fact, form part of a great wliole. In the Conference held at Charlottetown we took no ])art ; Ave were not invited ; and the first invitation we had came from Canada, but a short time before our visit here. To show that we liave long been alive to the advantages of unicm, I may mention that in IH.'iH, wlu^n a des])atch was received from the Government of Canada, recjuesting the Lower Provinces to co-operate in bringing alxnit a union, Newfoundhmd was the only Cohmy which responded. (Cheers.) From that time U]) to the y)resi'nt we heard notliing further on the subject, Imt I think that when you shall have heard from nu! that scarcely a day elapsed from the time the telegram was received in our colony until we were appointed to come to (iucbec and started on our jouriu'y, you will admit tliat it is a proof of the deep interest our pco])le have continued to take in this matter. (C beers.) Newfonndhind. as you are aware, is a commercial ])lace, and is not very celebrated for its agricultural ca])abilities. The reason of this is, that the attention of our peo])l(> bus been chietly taken u]) by the prosecution of the fisheries, which have been most valuable to the pco])le along tlie coast, furnishing inexhiiustible mines oi" wealth, from which, from tinu' to tinu', immensely large fortunes have been drawn. Jiut unfortunately those who have amassed those fortunes have retired to spend them, not in the country, but in their mansions on the Clyde and the Thames ; and we hope that when this Coufederati(m shall have been accomplished we shall not find our men of wealth deserting us, and spending tlu ir money in the old countrv, but remaining with us, finding tluir homes as congenial to their wishes as the mansions of Great Britain. (Cheers.^' On tho subject of our territorial areas, it will not be unimportant that I should say u few words, though 1 do not intend to go into elaborate statistics, as these were vi-ry well g(/ne into by my hon. friend, Mr. Shea, in Montreal, lie there stated that we wi>i'e ivady to receive from Canada to the extent of some fi\e or six millions a year, if wo had increased facilities, and ])articularl\- increased shipping. ;Ilear, hear.) He also shewed that our i)ublic"dcbt is only £i!()it,()()()— that our ex])orts always exceed our impiats— that we are able to raise Avitbin the Colony eveiy ])enny which is required lorpulilii' purposes —-and that uur live ])or cent. <1e])en tares are woith a jircniium of five per ; t ! ^, 1 .^i I I: « I 82 SrilUCn OF THE IION. MU. CAKTER (.\KWFOrM)I,ANP). cent. (Hear, hear.) This is a good proof of the stato of trade in this Colony, and shows tluit wo can come to join witli you in tlio chararti-r, at any rato, of indcixndonoc. (Cheers.) We have mutual wants, and may he of f;rcat l)i>netit the one to the other. You want tlio maritiinc clement, and we are ahh' to jj;ive it to you. You may by- aiid-hy require seamen to man your navy, and where will you be able to jji't them more readily than in Newfoundland? A more hanlv and enterprisinu; peo])le than that colony contains are not to he found. From their earliest days tliey have been " rocked in the cradhi of the deep." (Applause.) (ireat Britain has given large bounti(>s to create a nursery for her navy; and there are no class of lu-r subjects who stand more ready witii willing hands and stout arms to come to her defence when necessary than the people of Ni'W- foundhmd. (Loud cheers.) Sir, the area of this country, so little known in Canada, is over 10, ()()() square miles, and that is no little to add, if anything were wanting to be added, to your present terri- tory. It is lai'ger a great deal tiian Xew Brunswick ; it is larger than Xova Scotia ; it is larger than either of the countries, taken separately, of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And its resources, when developed, cannot fail to be of tiie greatest value. We have valual)le mines of gold — I believe silver mines will be discovered, to bo worked to advantage — and wv have rich mines also of lead and (■o])pcr. Will not all this, 1 may ask, be sonu'thing to bring into tlie proposed confederation as the free-will otfering of Newfound- land. (Cheers.) Then, too, as I said before, avc; have our lisheries. AVe art> supposed, however, to be almost altogether buried in fog; and when I meet with gentlenum abroad, the first thing they say, on hearing I came from Newfoundland, is — " I believe you are noto- rious for fogs, and liighly eelelirated for tisli and hogs." (Laughter.) T desire as far as ])ossil)le to disptd so erroneous an idea. These fogs do not, in truth, ])revail more with us than in Xova Scotia and New Brunswick, and [ can assure you that in Newfoundland you will tind as cdoiidless and as bright a sky, and that y(tu can breatlio tbcre as free and dry an atmos])here as in any part of the known world. (Cheers.) Afany of you may think that this subject is becoming tlircadl)are from being so fre(|uently spoken about; but my excusi' for mentioning it again is sudi that it cannot be too fre- fpicntly referred to, pro\ided one does not trespass on the time of others. Now, the rccei)tion — the enthusiastic reception — of last niglit, and magniticeiit enterl.iinmeiit to-day, are strong proofs of tlie flccp iiitercsl taken iii tliis (piestion in Canada. We do not come here as distinguished men — we do not conn? with titles or himours — we do not come ennol)led ; but we do come as brother Colonists on our iicaccl'ul mission, i)roclaiming the desire of our peoph' to unite tlicir destinies witli yours. (Cheers.) We knew that you would rcdive us for the cause, and no stronger proof could be given us of tlic (u(p-roi>t(Hl feeling which ])revails in this I'ro- ; i 111 sl'Kixii OF ,Mit. lioss (iii;i) i;ivi;it). 33 ado in tliis clumu'tcr, mil \vimt'<, I Wiint the II lUiiy liy- ill you hv ' A inoro •(> not to 1)0 U'd in the [yen lar^o 10 c'liiss i.)[' and stout io of Nl'W- y, so littlo ti no littlo iscnt ti'i-ri- t is larger rios, taken resources, We havo lovered, to ■ lead and bring into 'yowt'ound- r iislieries. d in tog ; oy say, on arc noto- aughtcr.) a. These ■^cotxji and Hand you 11 hreatlio lie known su])ji'et is liout; hut )(' too fre- le tinu- of . — of last proofs of )'o do not titles or IS brotlier ro of our Wo knew I'oof eould this Pro- viuee, in favour of union, than is allorded liy these receptions. AVo conio here representing all sjiades of i)olitics — my co-delegato from llie ()])]iositiun and myself Irom the (ioverinnent. We lu'eak all ili-tiuctions oC jKU'ty down for tliis oceasioii, and I hope for ever, iioud elieers.) If y(ni -were Io a>k iiiu hy what dilferences wo ari' kepi asunder in Xewfouiidlaiid, I confess I sliould have great ditH- 1 iilty in telh'iig you ; and were the same quostion to lie put to my 111 her friends from the Maritime rrovince, I fancy tlie responso w oiild he tile s;inie. I Itopo sincerely it this confederation is formed, tliat it will lend to do away with tliis jxtty pari:y sjiirit and those prcjiidiees, iiiul that acerbity of feeling which at one tune was eliaracteristic of us; for we generally iind that the intensity of the arerbity is pro]iortionate to the narrowness of our limits. (Ap]dause.) And Vihat do avc iind here ? Do we not Iind here a? everywhero cNe, a combination of nu'U who, like (Uirst'lves, are of ditferent sliades of politics, but who have united together to promote the same rei'orm ? (^Ilear, hear.) ]lave you not the alilest men from liotli Hiles of the .Ilouse represented in tlic Administratinu, cucbint'il legctlier to carry out this noble object? They are no longer tighting at the "ins" and the "outs," ])ut striving to promote the good of the Country. Hear, he.u'. In siicli an arrangement as is hero proposed, we mu-^t nccessaiily lose some of our individualism ; but if we (h) we look forward to laiger anil brighter and greater pros- ]iei ts — wc look to your glory and to oiii' own. We know that as yiMi advame wc must advance, and tliat if you fall we are in danger el railing too. When we blend all our interests together and beccmio a> one, we know that Avhatever honour aiul uiorv you may obtain be I'ellected on us as wi and for th esc res ults, L cai'c not for giving u]) what is calh'd jiart of our indi» lualism. (TFcar, hear.) I thank you, gentlemen, for the handsoi manner in which you have leceixed tlii-^ toa^-t. ^Ir. Iioss, rein'escntiiig the AV(/ Jiircr settlement, said: I feel that L owe you an a])ology tor intruding upon your time this even- ing; but seeing that you have .-o kindly received the toa-^t of tho ^'oilh-AVest, 1, as the only leitiesentative of that region, feel myself obliged to respond. The ])eoph' of the country which 1 represent have been hillicrto little heard of, but they must nevertheless be taken into account in the scheme of Confederation which has, for sonu' tinu- ivist, been under consideration. Clu'crs.^ This, I fancy, is a new toast. In all the meetings hitherto ludd a great deal has lueii said M-ith refenucc to the resouri'cs, the progress, the charaeter and standing (»f the various Colonit's rci>reseute(l in tho Confeience; but lor the tir-t tinU' the far West, the true Far "West, i- toriually recognised. The peoph' of Red llivei' cannot ])i'etend to coiupele, in poiut of nniiibei:; with anv of tho olhei' members of tho Couiederaliuu ; but the exleiit aud iuuin^iu value ul ihut couulry 1 * 31 M'l.ixir nv Miv. unss ( i;i;i> nrvini iii 'I iiiii>l iii.iko U]> (nv want of p()))iilatiou iiiid the dtlicr symptoms inaU'riiil iiioirn'S;^. Wc liavo ahoiil 1 (),()()() ot a wliite poimlation 1 o.OOO of a lialt (■as h\ and lO.OOO Iiiili ins rin' Kovc'i'nmi'ut of the country is in the liamls of the Hudson Hay ('om])any, ami is of an cxtirnu^ly pi'imitivc and ))atnarchal character. Tiiis p;ovoni- nu'iit it is nono of my duty, at tlic pnsout time, to critiiisi-; l)>it I may say, that it is anytliin;:' luit favnuialilc to ihv progi'i'ss of tliat country. To many in tliis vast asscnddap;o it may he somctliing now to state th;it th(> country of wliic'u 1 now sjx'ak is ;),()()(), ()(l(> of ;;ouar(' miles in ixtcnt. Two-tliirds of llnit nniv he too cohl for dtuial whicl tniai imrposcs, hut tlu' southern portion one-lliird of tlm wliole, or 1, ()()(),()()() of sijuare ordinary a^vnu (uihraces al)out milrs, i.s eminently aihipled for sittk'nunt, and I wish the fact to go far and wiik- as autlu'ntic and vcliahlc. Jieing u native of tliat leiiion, and a represintativo in an I'tlmohitrical as m'cU as a geo- grapliical sense, I Ixg to expi'ess my guat jdeasure in seeing this measure of Coufethration likely to he eonsuiumated, for 1 hclievc it wdl hciuiit the West. Ajiart from the extent of tlio (lamtry, its intrinsic valu(> forns an important element. It is capahlc of su-taining a vast ])opnlatioii, hecansr (>xtensive and I'ertile. Vov oxer l.")() miles widtli along the honndaiy line, there is a'^ hutiitahle a country as i an he found on the surface of the glohe. The climate has lien rejirc^euttd hy cx]>loring expeilitions sent from {•aiglaml and from this cumitry as vi^iy -imilar to that of Canada. 1 know for a certainty that if it is. on the wlmle, (older, it is also more uniform and r( liahlc. The air ma^- lie (did, hut it is hracing and healthy. In truth, it is ;i most salulirious climate, .\part from *!he fertility of the soil, a source of li.ilihood to innnigrants wmihl In the lisli affurdcd hy the waters of the coiintiy. There i?askalc]ie\\aii, and (.m the :tri sn-.TiciT OF Tin; nt)S. (iKORCiK liKOAVN (caxvua) V OO Kill liraiK'hcs wliiili flow into llic .Vssinilxiino. (Juld, loo, Ims hcen loiiiiil ill llic Siiskiitcliowaii region, and in such (|uautiti'js olscwlu'i'o alt' the Red lliver country, aud its soh' rcjiresenta- tive here — to express the deej) <;Tat ideation I t'cel in haviu;; that ]tart '){' the country so ]n'oinuiently broui;ht before the attention of tlio delefi'ates from the Lower Provinces; and allow nic to express the liope that in the scheme now being devised, the vast extent, the re- sources, the cai)abilities aud vabio of the North-west, may be fully reiiiemliered. There is a country there to which the overcrowded pnpulations of European couutries may resort and tiud a comfortable b'inie. (Cheers.) lion. Mr. BitowN', on risiufi'to re-])ond to the toast of lli i' Majesty's CiiiKu/itin Ifiitisfcrx, said: It is an old .sayiuj;', that England loves imt coalitions. And I am --ure, if the statement is true of Enjilaiul, it is doubly true of Canada. Ami I am free to say now as I have already ■-lid, that, except undir tlu' pressure of a <>Tave and urgent necessity, llie combinations of public juen of opposite political sentiments to form a (loverument, under llic iiritish J'arliamentary .system, is very 'trontily to be deprecated. ^^JIeal•, hear.) ]{ut if ever there Avas ;i coalition that bad a sutlicieiit object to justify its formation, I do tliink it is tliat Administration whidi I re])resent here to-day. ^Cheei's.) The ])resent .\dministration was formed for a s])ecial piir- po-ic — for a gnat public end— it was formed in tbe light of day — its wbole ol)ject and end was fully aud openly ])roclaimed to the world — and no charge of intrigue or desire for jue.-ient aggraiidlscmeiit could witli jie^tii c be laid at the do(U' of any jKirty to the compact. Hear, liear.^ I -hall i ndeavour to j^lauce at our iiroceedings of tlio last few week-, ^o a- to couxcy at least ii general idea of the selieme which has bi cii unaniiiioii-ly adopted by the Conference. \^llear, hear.) Kvery one is aware that, at the very time the present (io\ eminent was formed, a coul'ereme of delegates from the Mari- time I'roviiices wu"" alioiit to be laid, for the purpose of considering the propriety of uniting Nova Scotiii, New IJrun-wick, and I'rincu Kdward Island under one (lovernmetit. Instantly wo opened eoni- municatiim- with the (lovennnent- of the-e Province-, a-king to be p"rmitted to send re]n'c-entali\es to their Conference, and in the isind(-l ami most prom[tt manner they sent us a hearty welcoim to Mil ir meeting. We arrived at Chailotletowii on the 1st of JSep- leiiibcr, ami mostly kindly and hospitaldy wire we neeived. Wo ueie iuvitcd to take sial^ iu thu Coulcamc aud to adilivss itb « 2 si'i.ixii 111' Tin; HON. fir.oiiciK jiitowx >< wada; i I 111' ;u1h'1'^ mill wc iiiuiouiiciil t" tlieni the ol)joi-'t of our luission. Wc ;,,ii,| — " \Vc in Ciiiiadu liiivc luul Pcrioiis soctlonal (Ull'cri'iiccs ; \vc a.uTird to a ^iltU'inciit of llioso evils on a basis just and ciiuitablc to all sections of our Luiintry ; \vc aio alxiut to lianu' a new coiistilu- tiiui, ^^lul:ll will lii" ai(H ptahlf to the ixwvA uiass of our ])(di)li' ; and it has occurred to us, on hoaiinu,' tliiit you too were considering- a iliauiic of your cf)ustitution whether it wmdd not be wril for us all to sit down to.u'ellK r, and eousidi )• how far it would lie for the wtlfare and ji;ood ijoxcninunt of all our Provinces were we to unite th( ni all undrr one system of ^ovei'nnu'Ut." Well, Sir, we did sit down toiicther — we ilisiussed tlie wlioh' subject in all its liearinji's — wr looked at it from every ]>oint of view, and after li^ht or ten dav^' dililn ration we came to the unanimous conclusion tliat if the details lould 111' settleil u]>ou a basis just to all, it would lie for the ad\antaii'e of the whole of these Vrovinces that we should be united. lUd cht ( i> 1 crnaii 1 liol dd state tliat we from Canada were not cont( nt witli mere ar^iument in (oniimi: to this coiKbision — for Ml' ]) (1 !irou :h a 1; ir"' ])ortii n ot the Lower I'rovii lee: ani 1 aw w nil our iiv till Ilea n ( ves the fairness aid of his island home — till' ;i nioi'e deli^litful spot — a P])ot more likely to bit onie, ere loll"', the Ule of Wii'ht of the Anierii all Continent, if sible to find. (Clieer> Mere ini- And assui'cillv thc-e I'mxinres will not lie IniiLi nniird before the licalth and iileasure-seekin^ jiortion of our lieo|)le will lie tiudiii;^- their way in thousand- annually to her shores. Ilcer' -the Fi roiii Cliarlotteldw 11 we ])roeeeded by steamer to I'iet ou hii)|uii^- ]iiiit o| til,' iirea t Ni iva Siotia tl-b \V ( xamiiied the works of one Coin]iaiiy. ((Hiduited on a very (xteiisive SI all-. I'lidi r the able niana};eiiient of .Mr. Seutt. the |irodnet of that oiu mine, in a very Uw year-, am- found had bei n iiKi'iascd im lod tniis ]M r da\ to the vast ijiiaiility of 'J,ili)(l tmi ]iei- day. We loiind Iviii;',- at llie wliar\i •' of I'iitouiii.t fewer I ar, leal. ,11 than from (iu to SO ve>-e|s lakin;^; in (oal; and wen told that IVe- i|iiiiitly imt fewiithan ItlOmal M—el- were Iyiii,u in tin- harbour. 1 Hear, Inar. I. it it lie n memberi d that this j- a trade whii b has ly be^un lo 111 (lliiniitl_\ ilevt'|o|)id, and that I'loiii I'iitoii i- on liiliiiid oti till- |iiodiiir of Hilly a mall poll ii'ii 1 if 11 le \a-l eiial (ll>trir if .\. olia. iHi I" ' loin 111 toll We iia— ed mi llii-oii;:h a 'leaiitiliil a;ii i> ultiiiid country to the town of Triiio There wi- fonud iion (l.iimed to be eijiial to the be-t Suedts iimi id Works (-tiiliji-heil by an Kii;ilisli Cmiijiany jor tin- manul'acturt of -te( 1, tiirnin;^ out, an- a-viired, not le-s than i "i, ()()(» tons 1" r annum ot i \, , ||ent -t< el. We wi re told that this valuable iron oil I \t( mb o\er a V( rv iarae -irti.iu .,{ the coimtrv, anil 1 believe that tb Heo;j-l-|l|i lii< al «lir\i \ - liiat h iVe b( II I imiile )|-o\e tb act Ul'iic) of the -taleiueiit. l''io),i Tnii", a rapid ride o\ir lla rail >ii' -I'KIXII 01' TllK IIO.V. (iKOltf.i: llltOWX i,'(\XAD.v\ liroiiulit US to tlic "old rouiitrv, find avo Iktc I'liiovtd aiiii)l Ull])l(' 0])]-)OV- tiiiiily of cxMiniiiiiiji- tlir wovkiniv of the f^xiW iii"!"-'^- '^'J'^' ii'iiui:il impression of tliis liiiiiic]'. of iiidustiy is tliat it is a spoiiis o!' nam liliim— Hut 11 (l-s,rl< CIS ( lin I'l ) saiiu l'-'^ it tl iiMU^Ii a sic\c, net littlr or notliiiij;- for tluir labour, possiitly for many days tojictiiir, but some haky day nudco a lut andnali/c a fortune. ]iut \( ry ditfcU'Ut from tbis are the j;i)ld mines of Xo\a Scotia. Tbe precious ore is obtained re^ulaily and ( crtainly by jtaid and pi i- sistt'iit labour. We found 200 ])ersonsi employed at tl u' mines we visited, fidtinji' at that time SH a week, the whole weekly e.\i)ense beiui;' Si, 000, and in 11 successi\-e weeks the product of the works had been not less than S3, 000 a wt'ck, and sonutimes nuudi more. W'v wiTe assured by the intellip,cut superhitenchnt that toe £!;(tld-bearin the exhaustless tishiui; vesouivrs of iha.t (ountrv, an not far astray in siig' she won d its ship-l)uildinji' industry, I think my friend, Mr. !Mi Cully, was stiie^' that if Nova Scotia canu' into the Tnion Id not by any means come in empty hand* x\ leer? Wi proceeded next to Jlalifax, a most thri\inf;' city, and one of the first harbours in the world, but on (Uir doui;4s 1 neeil not enlaviic, for who does not know the enterjtrise and the hospitality of the ji'nod tizi'Usof llalilax':' From ^.'ova Scotia we jirocieded to the J'ro- cl \iuce f X' e\\ li runswuk, au( d tl are we sa w St. John, a city of '\hich, as Ihitish-Amerii alls, we may all will lie proud; a city showiiiii' marked evidencts of vitality — e\t(iisi\c comnu ice, ]ar;;c ship-buildiuji' interests, and a va-t timber tradi — and a harbour iill. <\ Willi ships from all parts of the world. (ClHcrs.^ I'rom St. .) ■Iiii We iiassed bv the beautil'ul St. John Hivir to [''rederii ton, the ' - - - ^^^^ ,^,| >untry political (a|ii tal .if N cW H luii^wn Iv ami we Were one tin am hiulily delighted with what we saw of the r( -oiiivcs thmuiih wliieli we passed. Want of time forbade eiir xi-iling the Island of New ioundlaiid, but I am satisfied that no oia who has read anytliing as to the resonicts of that 1- friend, Mr. C'ai'til', has over-stated its capabiliti ami w ill '-.ly that my 'i'lie li-hiuii' and mineral resouni's are very good — a \ast licit ol -hips i< con^ta1ltI\ (iiiployed ill their trallh— tlie revcnm s of the l-laiid are v( ry large. ami evi n Ik yoiid tiie-e as aigunieiit-- in favnur of it> coming into the pro]iosed I'liioii ill this »on>idi ration, that Niwlbundhmd i-^ tli< li' \ to the St. I.awrenie, and iliiring war wouM be absuliiti ly ncdv-ai' to us for purposes of uJleUie and lU fence, i^llear, hear.; Vou will 38 Sl'KlXll *i r Tin; jion, oKOKfiK bkown (cax.vda'). ' j fl f h thorofoiv undtrstiiiiil, Sir, lliat tlic iiiciiilurs of tlio Canadian Guvcrn- inent all ritiuncd to this coinitrv witli a most earnest desii'e to earrv ou t tlir U mon o 1' Canada witli all tlie 'Maritime I'roviuces it' it ( (iiUd l)()ssil>ly be accomplislied. In tliis spirit, \ve nt once sou^lit tlir aid of If is Exoellenoy tlie (l>)veini»r-(I(n(ral, in snniinonint;' a fornud Conference tur tla niatin( ( of the debt tlie country nnist owe hini for tlie eartiustness with which he has sontiht to promote this measure, and the lu arty desire lie has ever shown to <^[\v effert to the wishes of the peojile of this Province. i^Loud dieers. His Excellency, witlKUit delay, snm- moned a Conference of Itepresentatives from the several Coveru- monts, ;ind the late Mttinjis nt (jueluc were the lesult ef tiiat summons. I'or sixteen davs we w ere eariK ■stlv en"a"ed in consider- ing all the details of the scluiiie, and Ihouiih, of c(mrse, it was impossible that such a body of nu n could l)e without dilfereiices of opinion, jookiniiat matters as we did from different ]ioints of \iew, and with different intdcsts to pinttt t — still it i- bijilily ([uestionable wliether any body of tliii'ty-tbree ^eiithiuen, e\t'n if coiiiiiosed of men of the s;uiie country Tind Ili(> smne jiariy, could liave sat together for so long a i>i rioil disi ii-sing matters of such grave importance, and i>ait((l with more hainioiu and more thorough good-will and res])eet than iirevaihd thiou;iliout llie_ w hole of our diliberations. (('heer'^.) 'I'lu' varion- details of the 'Confederation scheme were brought uj) for ( ousitU'iatiou Ijy the Conference in the form of re-olutions. Tliese resolutions wdV si parately dis( nssed, amended, and adopted: and as finally ailoplcd liy tlie unauiniious consent of tile whole Conference, they now stand on recoid. (Cheers.) Tlie jirecise coui'se hereafter to be "a(hii)ted has not yet bet n finally settled — but the first step in any ( asc is to snlmiit tlii' results of our oftieial delilieratioiis to the Imperial (iovi innient. Tlie next stej) that will jiiobably lie takdi is 1o submit the s. lu liie to thi' I,egis. Ifttures of till' (iiffiicnt I'rovimis for their iipi>ro\al. Ami, if they are adoptid, as 1 doubt not they will lie adopttd liy iMiy one of tbe I'lovinci > — clmiN — the intdition is to emboiiy thei'ii in our addresses to Jj, r Majesty and the two Ifouses df I'ar- liaineiit, praying for an A-t of ihe lin]i(rial I'arlianieni, whi( h Act will 111 i,nd ninaiii as the foinidatioii of our ]toliti(al system, tlie (o||,iitutiou inidt i whidi ttu' law ('(.nfedei'ation shall be brought into tNistmie. ^Ilear, li.ar, and i beds.) A friend asks if the Kdieiiie is to go into oiuration without being suliiiiitt(d to the )m ojile y 'Jbal is a matter for ibe (liticrent jiarliamenls lu (insider w he liar it -hall be done or whelher it shall not 1 v done. It is not, I aiiprdand, for the adiniiiislral ion of tiiis j.iovince or any other )iio\iii.r to sjy that lliis measure shall oi -ball i,o| lo Mill s|i.ciall\ to the pioplc. We ale ill tlie hands ol tia It presentatives of the peeipje, and by their dtci'^iou I srEKCU OF Till-: HON. (UCOIKJK DRoW.N (caxada). -TJ wo arc ready to abido — (hear, hear) — and it ouj^lit over to Ix' Imnio ill iniiid, that Avlicii wc caiiie toiiX'tlior to ((insider tlio nature of the new constitution we were al)out to found, there Avere very many interests to he considered. In tiie first ])larc', \vu liad to (ousider that this country is of immense extent, presemiufi,' a p'eat variety of interests, great and small, for which it would ])e ex'^eed- iuf-ly difiicult tor one body to lc_i>islati'. And in the second ])lace, even liad it been desiral)le to p,overu so vast a (imntiy l)y one executive and lei^islatuiv, it Mould have been im])ossilile to caiuy it, as (lur Lower Canada feiiow-subje( ts M'ould never have conscuted to it. As the only practicable scheme, therefore, and as in my luunble ()])inion the best scheme, we ad(jpted the ])ljn of constitu- iim>' a "general uo\ernment and I'l'neral h'^islaturc, to whicl i SllOUl( ind local "overn- be ( ommitted nuittei's common to all the I'l'ovincc: nu'nts and lepislatuies for each section, to which should be com- mitted matt( rs ])cciUiar to the locality, and in which the otlicr ]iroviiiecs were not concerned. I hear the objcdion sonu'tinus made, *' Oh! we do not like a Federal Union, we want a Lc,i;islative Union, which would brinji' the whole un(Ur one le;iislatuic and government." Now, witliout referriuf*' to the fact that this could n(jt possibly have been obtained, even if desirable, I think any one who looks into the mattt'r, will feel that the local and sectional jealousies which have sjjrung up b( tween Ujijur and Lower Canada, ought to have warned us tliat tho ;e things which in our jMcsent rniiiu have stood in tin; way of the ])eace and harmony (if tliis ( ouutry sho\il(l be avoided in the larger Uedd'ation. Ibar, heai'.) And 1 am llrmly convinced tliat I'y pro\iding for lo(aI matters by jDcal govi'ruments, wo have secured the ])ci'manence of the Confederation in a way we uv\\\ could have acconqilisluct by a legl>lative union. (Cheirs. ; I tim sure it is unnecessary to say that the (iovenior-Geueral of the L'uited ]*rovin(es is to be ap- ])oiuled, as heretofore, by the Crown. The duration of I'arliamt nt will ])ro))alily be limited to ti\e years, and of ceurse it will lio comi)osed of two branches, a Legislative Coum il a))]ioinfcd Ity tli<' go\( rnnunt of the day on the principh' of i(iuality of the si'ctions, and in the lower brau( h we are to obtain tliat so long desii'cd, so long earnestly contended for reform, lt( presentation by l'o]»ula- lion. ^(ireat cheering.) Objedioiis will no doubt be urgxd against the mannci' in which the Upjier House is to be c(instilut( d, e-]i( - (ially liy those who would picfer that the numbers of that iiody should be ele( ti(l ratla r than a])i)oiuted. i ('ries of No! >'oI) Jhit I do confess tlial, in my ojiinion, an ajipointed Upper House and an I h'ded Lower House would be mucli more in JKirmoiiy with the spirit of tile iirili-h I'ailiameiitary -ysteiu than two elec ti d Iiodif^. (Olieers.) J was one of those who, at the tiin( the change was made from an a]i]ioiiited House to an iIc(tKl House, resist((l llie iiinovalioii. ^Cheers.) Is'ot because I was ul all afraid oi popidar 40 .SrKECK or THK HON. (i]:OUflK RKOAVX (cAXADA). 1.1' " I: 1.; li t II i influonfo tlial, while tlif LrAvir JToikc rout rolled the oovommciit of tlie (lay, and tlie povcninieiit of the day ai)i)oiiited iiiendMVs of the rpjHT House, tlu' \)VO])]v liad full and ftHeiciit control ovci' the ]nihlio alfairs of the country. ]5ut I am free to admit this, and I say it Avitii the pvatt'st ]ilca.sure, that the apprehension I and others entertained of a i ollision hctween the two elective liodies, and a (U'ad lock enpuing, has not heen realised. 1 am hound to say that un(U'r the operation of the eh ctivt- ])vinciple, we have had a hody ofiuen sent to the Upper House mIio would do honor to any Le.nishiture in the world, and v,ho would have M-orke(l with a dei^ri'e of harmony and a desire to lieuelit tlii' i ountry, which have really heen admira- Me. Ihit we cannot I'orpt that, when a new ]iower tii'st passes into the hands (jf the ]ieo])le, iii'eat seusiti\ iiiess and cai'o ar(> exhihited in actini: u])on it, much more than wli'.'.i ;lu' ntw ])ower has lost its freshness, and its ixirdse sinks down into a tliini-- of every-day ■wont. Th'Klcdive Tjiiu'r House has i.ol long' existed ri ('anada. I5esi(ics, when the elected Couudllors first took their seats, they found aln'ady in the Chamlier a lar.u'e numht r of old, ap])ointed inomhii's, who, no douht, (>xeited a certain dejiice of inliuenic over their proceediiifis. ]{ut it may fairly ho (luestioned whether, ■when tlu' elective system had gone on foi' a nundicr of years, and the appo;v:tcd mcndiers had all disai)])( ared, two l^lcctivc Chamhers, both rei)i'esenting the people, and both i laiming to have a control over the ])uhlie tlnances, could work togellur in harmony. lUiar, hear.) And there is another olijection to Klecli\e Councillors. The electoral divisions are la i cssarily of enormous extent, some of them 10(1 miles long hy (id wide, so large that the camlidates have great ditKculty in olitaining ])ersonal access to the ele(toi's, and the expense of ell (tion is so great as to banish from the House all who arc not able to ])ay ^•ery large sums of money for the possi-ssion of a scat. From all these considerations, it did a])i)oar to me, when our tiiends of J.ower Canada, who were most inti rested in the eonstitution of the Ujjpc)' Chamber, desired to have the meinlu'rs appointed by tlu Crown, that acting in the interest of Up])er Canada it wa-my duty to (onsi nt. Ami 1 thiidc that those who have objected to our allise in I.owcr Canada getting e([ual re]rte-enla1ion with us In the Upju !• House, do so without ])ro])ei' i ousideratioii. I am one of tho^r who have ah\ays stood lii'udy up fni' the I'ights of the up]ier seiiion of the l'rovi]ii e. lint n^w that (jur rights arc adnuttcd. now that we aic sk king a coin]iromi>e nuasure of settle- ment tif all our tioubli -— iii.w that we are -ceking to Imild u]) a new constitiition that will be iu--t to all — I for one am ready to cast aside old ft clings of hostility and to considi r not only what will lie ubstractly Ju-t, but what will (airy with it the hearty sympathy and nsscut ot all the parties to tlie new iom])a( t, and lay the foundation of oiii- ni w labiii deep and p( rmaneiit. I'Cheer-. 1 could not but feel that lia\ lim obtaiiad, a- reuanU the Lower ChamI ii'i', IV I [ipi r I'llltiill^ .SrEECll OF Tin; UOy. OEOHOE BKOWN (i:\-S\1>\'\ 41 Ciiniula tlie position ^yr liavo so long desired, wo (m2,lit to ;dlo\v the }iciitlrnu'ii tVoiu Lower Ciinada, so \^>^\<:; as no injiistiee Avas done, to frame tlu- Constitution of the other Cliamber very much as tlu-y cliose. (^ILear, hear.) In the view taken of this matter hy the Lower ''anadians, all our friends of the Lower Proviiu-e t'ntirely agree. 1 am afraid I am enlartiuig on these matters at two much length. (Cries of "Go ou I Co on I") iJut tlu're is one point to which I ■would particidarly wish to call attention. In tlie forma- lioii ol' 1liis Constitution wi' huvc heen compelled to commit cei'taiii matters of an im])ortant charaeter to the local liodies, wlui-h many of tla' ])eo])le of Ujjper Canada would ju'ohalily luive l)icn well con- tent to have seen left to the Ceniral (Jovernment. Jint, if they will examine closidy the particulars of tlie scheuu' it will he sei'U that we havt' given nothing to the local hodies Avhich did not necessarily and ext lusively Itdong to the localities, exci'])t one or two nudters, such as the school law and the rights of i)roi)erty, and the civil law, whit h we were eom])elled to h'ave to tlie hical governments, in ordir lo afford that fair and just protection which the Lower Canadians ( laiin for their language and their ju'culiar legal institutions, I am sure we are all glad that they should have that security. (Cheers.) 1 am sure, notwithstanding all that may havi' h(-en said to tlu' contrary, tluit none of us have had any desiiv to interfere with the mere local institutions vi' our feUow suhjects of Lower Canada. (Cheers.) Ami if you look at the sulijects committed to the lotal governments, you will linil the aiTangemeiit has heen made in u '^liirit of fairness and jusli(c to Lower Canada, and with the view of securing that iKuniony and iiccord which are so doirahle in tlie fulnre govi'i'unu'nt of this conntiy. (Cheers. > There is another lioiut I wish to dwiil on for a moment. In forming our Constitution we have carefully avoiihd \\hat has proved a great e\il in the I'niteij i States, and tluit is the acknowledguu'nt of an inliereiit sovereign ])ower in the separate States, causing a roUisioi. ol' autlioiity lietween the (Jeiieial and State Governments, which, in times of trial lilvc the jiresent, has liccu found to interfere gra\ely with the ellicient administration of thi' puhiic ser\ice. In tiie (loxcrnnunt to he formed under this new Constitution 1 helit vc we will he I'ound to h;i\e avoided that dillii nlly. l''or, while we haxc lomniitlid to the lo( al goxcrnmeuts all that uecc-^sarily and ]M'o])ei'ly helongs to the lo(alilie.-. A\ e ]\[i\v I'cserved for the (hiu'ral (lovcrnnn'iit all those powers which will eiiahle legislative and administrati\c ])rocee(lings of the ceniral authoiityto lie carried on -with a turn hand — with ( omplete elliciem y and harnniuy thr(uig]iout the country. Among the unitters necessarily hit to the (ienei'al Covernnu iil, are tlie ijues- tious of trade and counntrce; all (|Uc^lions of < urremy, Ihiame, an 1 (oinage ; all ([Uestiou- of navigation and ship]iing, !Uid the lislurie-^; all ((uestioiis of defence and nulitia cheers , all matters connected with the postal service, weights and mea-uri"-, and all (piestiuns \\ 4 ■■', 42 si'KECii (IF Tin; iiox. OKoitc'E nuoAvx (o.vxada). «:1 ■ i i , t affoctins tlio (rinnnal Lnv. I am sure it will Jiratity many who hoar nic to ))c inibrnu'd that the Avholc of the Judges, those of the County Courts as well as of the Su])erior Courts, are to he appointed and paid hy the (ieueral (jovcninu nt. iCheers.) I may mention also that the Lieutenant-CJovernors of the different sections are to be a])pointed hy tlie General (iovernment, so that we have a euniplete ihain of authority, extending' down from Her Majtsty the Qmvu to the hase of our political faluic The (iueen will api)oint the (Jovernor-General. Tiio (!o\( iiior-General in Council will api)oint tlu' ]aeutenant-(Jovernors. And the Lieutenant-(iovernors will l)e advised hy lleads of j)cpartments res])onsihle to the people. Thus AVc will liave the (Je'ueral (iovernment Avoihing in liarmony Avith tile local Executives and in hearty accord Avith popular sen- tiiiicnt as expressed through tlie peo])le's representatives. (Ciieers,) As to the constitution of the L)cal legislatui'es, we found thei'e Avas so much diiference of o])inion on the suhject — tliat some of the ]'iiivin(('s ih'siii'd to retain their i)resent institutions, Avhilo Ave in Canad:i had new ones to establish — that Ave thought it th(! Avisest plan to leave the constitution of the local legislatures to the existing rarliaments of the differeid' sections. At the next nucting of the pnseiU Parlianuids of the dilferent rrovinces the re])res(ntatiA'es of the peojjle Avill determiiu' the forms their future legislatures shall assume. Amongst thi' nK(ttcrs jiroposed to be leil to the hual goA'ernments there are, as I ha\e already stated, all (picstions affecting projierty and ci\il rights; all coin])elled to ado])t a comproiuise. I hope the day is not fai' distant when we may be all abh' to ado])t diiect tiixation to a much <;Teat( r extent than we have yet seeu in Canada — but at pre- sent it was vei'y chnir that confederation could not b(> carried out unless we conceded on this point. \W agreed to ii compromise. We made the Finame ^linisters of each section go canfuUy t)Ver the putilic expense of his J'l'ovince, and cut down every item to the lo\\'est point practicalile after tlu' new duties shall l)e thi'own on the general government, and we found that the smallest sum foi' which the machiui'ry of government in the dilferent Provinces could be carried on was 82,(333, 000. This sum is to l>e distributed annually as a full settlement for all tinu' for local purposes in the Pl■o^ inces, and 1 am happy to say it is to be distributed on tlie basis of ])opula- tiiin ; and as our population in V])per Canada is very large, of course we get a handsome share. The ])rincii)le is so just that \ do not see liov." any one can n^asonably object to it ; and as the sum distrilmted is not to increase, a very lev,' years of ])rogress will make it of com- ])arative unimportance. There is a very pleasiug feature in the iinance (piestion. A con fide ratis. Ihit 1 cannot conclude without ri't'ei'iiug to some other things which have received the gravi' attention "f tlie Conferem e. And the tlrst point to which I (h'sin^ to call attention is the fact that the delegates liave unaninionsly resolved that the I'nited ]'rovinct's of Pritish Anurica shall be ])laced at the earliest moment in u tliorongh state of defence. (Lttud clu'crs.) I am not of those who conceive that Canada stands in danger of attack from our neighlxnirs aci'oss the lines. ] cannot doulil lli::1 tiny liave ]ihiity alrtady on tht ir hands for vears to come without ru'^hiug on fresh emliroil- nuiits. (Hear, hear.; Of couist', many of those v,ho hear me will H ; I «. 4-1 M'T'Kcii ui- Tin: irox. dKoitfii-; nuowx (c.vxada). m I not a-ivii' witli iiio ; Imt I cdntcss \h:\{ iKitwitlistandiiii;' the fuiHO (■Imllitiniis of tlio Amcriciin press — to wliiili we luivc, pirliiips, attiuluil a Iriu r valiic tlian is usually tlouf in Kn-iland — 1 have I'aith ill the lidod sense and i;n(ul recliiij;' of our ni.'i;;liliours to believe tliat the idea of an uni)i'ovoked aggnssion on the soil of Canada nt'Ver seriously entered tlie minds of any lari^e number oi the inhabitants of the ^sorthein Slates ; liut assuredly, eonie Avar Avhen it may, lam sure I s]ieak the sentiments of (>very man in U])i)er Canada when 1 say that the first hostile foot iilaei'cl uixm our shores would be the sii^nal and the summons for every nnui eapalde of bearinj;' ai'uis to meet the enemy nuthe thresliold of our eounlry — ^'idhusiastie eheei'- inu:' — and that the pi(i])le of ('ana(hi "Would show in tlie hour oi' trial that that >])ii'it which was manifested in ldl2 has not died out in 1S{)1. Renewed cheers.) And, Sii', -while on this point of defenct', 1 have one woid to say on a matter which I know is deeply felt in Canada. Sii', no man in Canada ajipreciates more than 1 do the ai'Uerous ((Jiisideration that has ever been shown by the nmthcr (i)untry towards this l'ro\ iiice. jJut 1. desirt' to enter a lirm jirotest uuaiiist the manner in whiili of late our duty has b(>en laid down ibr us, d towards this i'rovinee is neither Just, nov yet calculated to jjioniote a (K>irable end. ^Cheers\ This Colony, like; other Colonii s of tlu' Itritish i iiqiire, was founded on a cinniiact entered into lietweeii the Ciowu and the pio])le ; all assurance was virtually _e who eniii;iated to tliis I'lovimc that they shiiuld be ]»i(;tectt(l liy all the stixiiulh of Jbitish arms. {^Chet'i's.) And nobly has (ireat liritain fiiltilled that jiromise. ^'ever has sh(> liesitated tor a nu im lit to expend )ur best blood and treasure in de- feiidinii' her Colonial Kuijiire. ■^Cheers, ^ 1 hold that (Jreat IJritain is bound to fuitil on hei' part the conditions on which the settlement of this and other Colenies took ]ilaee, and to continue to aid us until wi' have pnnvn to that de,nree o[' maturity and striiijrth which will fairlv (hniaiid at our hands a ri -cdnsideratiou of the teiiiis of the eonlra( t. If 1 am a>ked whether Canada, united with tlu' J.ower I'rovinci s, i alile tn take u]i(in her-elf a larsi'i'i' ^hare of the burden oi' defence than -lie has heretofore borne, J an>wer without any liesi- tatioli — uiiiloubtedly, " Yes.'' ;('lieers;. It was nnre:isonable to (ex- pect that to these Colonies 1 he peo])le of I'lnj^laud should send armies and nasies for their defence, whilst they cimtinued (hvelopin^ the I'esinirces of their cnuntiy, and accumulatinfi \veaUli untaxed for thu a]ipliances (if War. Hear, hear., lUit Avhat 1 do say is this, that wluii the time arri\es that a < oloiiy has out.iii'own the eondiiioiis of lier tii'st -eltleiiunt, and when she is faiily Ibrnied to assume new mid hit!,hi'r lelulimi- to the ninther country in the matter of diieuce, «i-i;ixir oi' jiiE iiox. (iKoitoK beowx (caxada). {.-) il is oiilyright tliiit \hv ninth V should ho approiiLlietl, uiul the whole .iil)jc(t di«ou8sc(l in a caiKlid and reasonable sph-it. (Clux-rs.) .Vud 1 am Irci' to express my ophiioii ilml had the Canadian ]ieople heen invited frankly to enter on a discussion ol' tiie ehiur^ed rchdions, in matters of (Ud'eneo, they oujiht to oecupy to Great Britain, the demand would have l)een responded to heartily, and readily and sineerely. ^Loud elu'erin.u;.^ And it is only due to the jiresont Colonial Minis- ter >^rr. Cardwell^ to say that this is tlic sjjirit in whieli he seein.s di -ii'Diis of a])pi'oa(hinji' the ([uestion — Vheers) — and that sueh is the ■jiirit in wliieh I helieNc uepitiations hereafter will he curried on liclwei'U tlu'si' (!oh)uies and the Parent State. > llenewed eheeriii.n'.) it is not to be eoneeah'd that \vt' in Canada are deeply interested in this whide (|Uestion of Coloiual defence beinj;- tliorouj;hly discussed and settled. We all heartily desire to ])er])etuate connection with (Ireat Jhitain ; l)ut we must leel that tliis union cannot be ])er- petuated if the burden of defenct' is wholly thrown upon the I'arent .'■>tate. It is (piite e\ ident that a feelhii;' is <;rowin,n' up in Ennlaud wliich may])rove danji'erous to that !;ood feelinn' and attachment, un- less the duties and respmisihility mutually due are fairly i)erfoi'med. I [ear, lu'ar. ) And thcic is anothci', thou,uii a uuicli inferior motive. The attacks which ha\e ])een made upon us have ei'eated the impression not only in l<]nj;land, Ireland, and Scotland, but in tlie lliuted States, and in other parts of the world, that these Provinces are in a mdurally weak and feeble state, that tlu'y are in i)oint of fact almost inilefensible. (H\'ar, hear.) Sueh a feelinp;, Sir, interferes mori' than one can estimate with th(> permanent prosperity of tlu' country, and if we would do away with thi^ falser impression, so unjustly cre:di'd, and ])lace oursel\es on a tiiin and sc( lire I'ootiuii' in the eyes of the world, our I'ourse must lie to ])ut I'ur couidry in sucli a ])osition of defence that wi' may fearlessly iodk our enemies in tlie face. ; lioud checrinj^. ) HuMiuii' tlu'se views, ami kuowin;;- tliat tlay are the views of the ^n'reat mass of the ])enph' of this cuiintiy, it i-> a plca-nre fur nu' to be aide testate, ami i am sure it will be a ph asure to all i)i'esent to be informed, that the Conference at (Quebec did not sei)arate l)elbre entcrin;;' into I jiled^v to ])ut till' military and iia\al defences of the United l'ro\iiiees in the most complete and sati.--fa-toiy iiosition. (Cheers.) N^ir let me omit to say, that iu comin;; to this ilecision, there is no Mini^tir of tlie Crmvu ^ittin.n' at tiiese tabh"^ who would nut lie picpiired to rise now luid express his conviction that notwithstaml- iiii;' all that has come and finm — nothwitbstandini;' all the diatribes 'if the newspajier press of Knuland, the Miitish Covernnu'nt is prcpareil now as ever to do its duty hy these cDluuies, and to send lis their armies and tlwir navy at any nnanent to aid us in our ilcfeiice. Clu'ei's.'i I now ajiproaih another delicati' i|uestion — delicate, that is to say, as rej;ards the ]n'ople of the West. We have agreed — 1 anuouiicc it iVaukly — t'.' build the iutereuluuiul j ; ih i 10 sniKCii OF Tnr, nnx. \. r. f;Ai,T (caxada). II M; H ! Kaihvay. iCliccrs aiul laii-lilci.) I liav(> not been in I'avouv ol' tliat srlH'iiU''/;^/' .v', "^itualrd a-< we liaw bciii. But 1 liavc at tlu; saino tiiiic luiii (iiiite williii,;;' to admit — ami I repeat it lieartily to-day — that without lite lutercoloiiial Uailway tlieie could be no nnioii of this.- rioviiKcs — ^ilu^ers) — and after a caretul consi- deration 111' til" ([Ur^ritin iu all its l)earin_us, and after counting- tlio lull (est, I .nu pre])artd to advocate tiie buildiniJ!,' of that road, iu order to ac-umjilish the i;Teat objects we have in A'iew in the scheniu (if ((infedei'atiou. , Cheers."^ It may, howiver, be some comfort fur my friends to know that we ha\e a ])riispect of .n'cttinji,' that road built upon tonus unicli more reasonable than we had ever liopcd to ohtain. I shall not tell you of the tempting oilers that have lieeii ?iiadi', bccatise I hav(> had some expei'icnce that what is pnmiiscd in such offei^ is not always realizt'd in the end. (Laughter.) in agreeing to liuild the intercolonial Uailway, it should also bo stated that due regard \\a- had to the intei'e^ts of the West. 1 am 1iap]n' to be able to say that with the unanimous consent of the members of tlie Conference, we have resolveil on the exttusion of our canal systcan. (Cheers.') Still further, 1 think it well to state that whih' we have sought confederation with A'ova Scotia, Xew Ib'unswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Kdwai'd Island, we have not bien neglectful of the Far West, but Ave ha\ c made it a (>ondition of union that the (iresit Xorth-west may conu' into the federation on e(|uitable terms at any time it pleases, and that Ih'itisb Columbia and Yancoincr Island may also lie incorporated with us. (Hear, hear. We have likewise made it a condition that so soon as the state of the tinanccs \vill jiermit, commuuicatiou is to be ojiened up from Western Canada to the Noi'th-west teri'itoiy. ( Hear, luMir.) There is another little announcement which will not be without its interc'-t to you, Sir. The (h'ci>ion was unanimously arriveil at by the delegates that the old ;uid respectable city of Toj'onto should be the future cjqiital of the l'ro\int'e of Tjjpcr Canada. ; Loud cheers.) On the whole, Sir, when we look at the ]irobable results of this union, I think there is no nnm, li'om one end of the I'rovincesto tlie other, who ought not to give it his most hearty aiiprobaliou. (Loud cheer-.) il . Shortly after the dclrgit' s had ret'.irned to their Ikhucs the Hon. A. T. (!\i;r, ^lini-ii r of I'inanco, issued an invitation to his con- stituent.-, and a 1 irge meeting as-i milled at the Court House in the Town of Shiibro.ike, Xovi niber 'J.'Jrd, LSO I, to listen to such explana- tions a> the hon. genthni in (h( nied it ])ro]ier to make in ivlation to the ]ilan for the ('onfeder:iti'in of the Kritisli American I'rovinces. .Ml (l\rr, who, on rising, was riceivcd with gi'cat ajiplause, addressed the Chairman, ai said, The iiradice had obtained in I i^rKKCii ov xuE iiox. A. T. c,.\j:t (caxaoa). 47 I Kiigliiiul ol' late yoiwr- I'm' llic Icinliiig pulitii'iaiis ami tliose chiirgod with tlu> admiiiistnilioii of llic i^'ovtruim'ut to iiioot their constituents and llic pulilic (liiiiiiii- tlic ni;e- greatly against tin success of the measure it-' If. lie would ask the ])ermission of llie meeting for a few loments before entering on the ]»laii of Confederation, to recur to the I'Veiits which had r( iidered it necessary to lu'ing before the |>coi)le of Canada a lueasuic for the alteiatiou of their constitution. And with that view he might ])erhaps be allowed to refer biii'Hy to the circumstances under Avbich the union of the two Canadas took jilace, and tlu" ]iolitical action which had taken ])lace under that union. (Hear, hear.) Tlu' union of Canada was an act of liii])erial ]iolicy not sought foi' by the iieO])le of Lower Canada at all events. It was a(h)pted by tlu' lm|)erial Legislature with the view of remedying difliculti<'s whii h then existed between the two Frovinces. The inherent defect in th' lni])erial Act for the union of the two Canadas was this : it attempted to combine the federal ]>rinci]de w ith unity of action. It i ndeavonred to give eipial i'e])rcsentati>' as tin y conlrilmltd in sonuwlial (•i|nal iiroportion 1o ijic cxjk uilitui'c — tlii' system worked well, luit wli( 11 ilio I'lililc iaml- of llio Wi'sl atti'artcd ciuiiiTation in fiTcalcr nnmlicrs to I'liiiii' than to Lower Canada ; wlu-n the wealth and |)o])ulalion of that se( lion inricascd in a greater ratio than it did i>i low, tilt n the dilUiuIties wliirli were inliei'ent in the Aet of Union lu'jian to a]>|iear; then lie^^an to I'isc ilu' claim that in r])i)ei' Caniula there was taxation willioiit I'ejn'escntation. wliih' the resistance whicJi was made lioiu Lower Canada arose finin the feelin,u: thaf if inunaxil re]irescntation was gixcn it would he not simply an intei'- fcrenei' with the mere ic]iresentation in Parliament, ))ut would atl'ecf the whole piini ipli' upon whicli tin- Union Act had heen hascd, Conse(|iicntlv iV'~ist;ii|i c was ofl'ci'ed, and had heen systematically maintaini'd to the claims of I'^pjicr Canada. Those claims were in themselves undonhledly founded in ju>liie — luit at tile same linie there was i^rcat rea-ou in the ohjeitioiis taken to them — they iii\ol\el an inteifereni-c w ii h the Im ihial iiriuciple recogiiizid in tile I'nion Alt, an iulrrfi reiirc wJiii h amounted to an entire chang'e in th<' luini iph- on which the (lovernnient of the country was to I'c administer! il. and coiihl not he recei\cd, otht rwise tliaii with dread hy a larjic ( las--, if not liy the whole, o|' the ])o])n]ation ol' LowerCanada. (Hear He need not detain llnni Sy any refci'cipc to the political strii,i;ul( - that had marked the la~t few years. It wa- within tluii' know h due that the claims made liy Ult])er Camilla, ami the intense li cling (\imed in I pper Canada with reference to llu'se claims, were of Mich a ( haiacter that tiny to a great extent (leltarred puMic men from joining the government of the country, liecaiisc they were ii'il alih to pledge theinstdvc- to grant tJic demand- of the \\ C'-ti ill section, I'or that rea-on, many wllo^.e servico would lia\e lic( n iieful to the ( niintlA had heen l'< je( ted hy Hie ( oii-titiH licie- o| \\i-!( rii Canada, and the I'lexiine had heen dc]iii\ed of the s(i\ir, -, ot' null who, under othii ( ii( iim-tances. Would lia\e hei n \aliiahlc iiu iiiher- of \\< ivveiiitive and ornaments to lis !e-i-.|ali\( hall-. Mm lit-, .i- tiny weiv aware, had lipem d rapidly during the la-t two or tlire( years, and williin the prc-eiit \e,ir lliiy had -ecu the machine of govi rnmcut aliiio-t I'loiighl to a dead lock, till' claim- of I'ppi r Canada nprc --enti i| mi the one hand liy a \(iy large m.ii'"ily, and tin n-i-laine olfcnd liy Lower Ciinadii represented i>n the ntlu r liainl hy an ei|nally large majority lioiu that I'roviiiK — thc-c two gnat contending- itartiis luing >n tipially mall lied that tin work of ii-i fill ligi-lation for Hie (oiintry came \(iy near heing ah-oluti ly -topp(d. rndir tlie-c i iicnm- stiiiiie- ^Miiie iciniily had to Ik found either h\ way of loiii cs^ion on the oiic sill, ni' Hii othi r, m h\ Iiiking out a new coiir-e whi' h miiiht |iii serve the luiielitswe h.id i iijoyi d midi r the I'nioii \,|, al till, sime tiiiu llial it icinuwil lln apiuvhcUsivUrs kit IwHi Kast ' -I'KIX'M OF Tin: lluN', A. T. (;AI,T ((AXAD.V 49 it could only linvc 1)itii. iaUs liad t'liilcd. hl("en attended with an a.^ilatiou most disastrous to the whole country, instead of In iuj;' in any Avay conducive to peace and eontentnuut, it v.'ould have' been resisted in a way that would have imperilled the best interests of the Trovine c, and with such u warninji' :is we now lia.l to tlu' -mth of u taken when all uthei' iciiiedii > foi' the exi-tiiiii' (Hear.) We could, however, try to retain tin I'nioii, and, indeid, extend them in such a way a> to piomole the peace, conteutnunt, and prosperity of the pe()plc, at tlu' .ame tinu^ preserving' in the mw coustitntiou tho-v' riuht- they were afraid would be subjected to injustice. While r> ferriui;' to llepresenlatiou by I'opidatiou as oiu' of the reuudies, he niii;ht also s;iy that another, and ]irol)ably one that would have inuncdiate'ly followed it. Would havi' been the dissolution o| Hie riiiou between Cpiiei' and Lower Canada; for the -Iniiiiile would iiaxe- a^-unied -lU'li an alarinin.n' a-pect, that itwoiihl have resulted in an attenipt to conii»ass that. Now he did not think any nuiisiire' ever ado])te(l in aii\ enuntry luid bioiio-ht greater ble-dniis in its train than the' I'nion thus threatened uilh destriietioii. When they le'llected foi' a lueuneiit eiu what had passed dui'ing the' twe uty-two or twenty-lhii c years sine e the' Union took e'U'eet, they weudel with elilUeidty tind a iiieasiire fraujiht witii such be'Uelits te> the- pe'ople \\ ho had liveil iiiider it. We had sceu the' population of the eouutry more' tluiu doiibh el ; we' had seen it traverseel by railway^; its ediiiational sy-.te'ni improved; feudal tenure' in Lower Canada abolisheel ; the great Ch'rgy Jlise'rvu 'lueslion hial been settled — it woi.ld tidie muie time than he' ejoiihl Venture to oi'iiipy even --imiily to go '■- rin/im through all the' gnat tiiiu'ltts that hail resulted from the' Uni.ii — a uie a-iiii' be It reiiieiii- I'el'l'd Whieh hid not lieell -.eiUuhl fnl bv llle |nee|.le', aU'l V. lliell had ihereieii'e Hot eiiiiie' iiite) prope I' |il.iv until ^eviral veai- alter its (iiai tine lit. lie'ar,' !Sn enn , i eii-~id( i iiig :dl Ihl^, v\oulil sav wu myht lighllv I'j n the e. 1". lie lit , but evi.1 \ oue would at vucc ' \ li' oQ -vv.v.cn or iiir iiny. a. t. o.u.r (caxada 0. iiif that, Mliile iIk iiva 1 iiitri(.>t> (if tlir wliolc idiiulry slioiild bo l.i( Wed as llu'V liiiw MiTc, tlie -irtKnial iiitcivsts — it lie lui: lilt us Uiat tonu, whiuli luMvas vi'iyroluclaiit to do — slioiild lie assured and fiiiaraiitrcdto racli |)a]t of it, so r.s not todninjiistit'c toany. (Clu'iTs.) In ]M)int III' pdpulati'in, \vouId loiiii, it' unit.il, r<(\in(i's o t]ic J: a \i'iy I'cspi M:'ii\" 1 (iniitrit's wliidi Ixiastrd of kintj' f l'.ritisli Xoitli Anici'icii tal.l am ])o\\ cr 111 t :\v M'or Id. 1 tiniJi'Vors M-(Tc not as -tioiiji' or as unat litlicr in jiopulatioii or territory, in trade and eoniin erce, in industry oi' in tlie intelliuciiee of tlnir iii]ialiitaiil> as til'' united I'li'vimes of Jtritish North America Avoiild be, mIuii nilttl under one Coidederalion. Will u now ni popii lat ion mini herinj;' Illy four millions of ])eople, with a tt rritory ( xteiidin;; fioni the Atlautir to the raeitic, Avitli a longer coast Hue than that of the I'liitid States, Avitli a river, commeivially speakiii;j, tin' greatest and most important in the Avoild, passing; tliroitgli the ( ciitre of our eoiintiy, eoniuitiiig tlio Kastwilh the West, and hearing on its boHim the trade and eoimneive of tbe A\liol" inteiior of tbis great I outimnt^with all tl" .' advantages avc might look forward to a fntnie for this (ounti ., wliieb, Avliethir we lived to sec it or not, our . hildi'i 11 would rejoice to see, and I'eel that a jiower was being e^tablisli((l on the iiorlhern part of this continent which would be aide t■( w Hruiiswirk to .-^7,7(il,8-' J ; the exports to sS,U()l,7HI; toge- llicr Sl(>,7L'!t,(i(IK. The imports of N(.va Srotia to slO,'J()l,;li)| ; the I \])orts Jiiclndiiig .-^1,H7 I, ISO, the valm of ship]iing built iu tbr l'ro\inrr,' t., .'ss. I ij(),!)(;s ; together, .•~'IH,(;J2.."..V,). Till imports ol Prince Kilwaid Island ameiuntiel lei .-1. l'JS,(iL>H ; the' e'Xpe)rts ' iiii hiding i'l'J I,',!.").") sterling, the' \ alue' eif the' shipping bnill , to .Sl.Ci'JT.oKi; log, th.r s;{,(l,j,",,.')(;,H, The impeirts eif NeMfeiumlland to ,»',-,,o|i.>,70(i; tlir exiteirts to S|iii ntly. th. Iraele of tli(-.e' Colonies, s,]iarateil as they we're by liostilr taiilf-, pie \e iiling ]i|o])er e dinme nial inti imur-e' lietWei n the in — with all I hi elisidvaillages eif being -e palate el, disuniteel, ami having lie I essiiily -mailer l,e gislal llle s, iitiel vuialler vie ws on till' part of the ii public me n — auioiinte el la-t year to no less a total than one' huiielieel and thiity-se \eti ami a-lialf millienis — in jiieeise ti:;uii •• S|;i7, 1 l7,oH7 — a Milnme'e.f tiaeh' snipa'-'^Ing that eif alimtst !iii_\ Kiiiopi nil I oiiiitiv . Chiirv. Ueleiiiiig again to the' tonnage' < Uiployi d in I ,iii\ iiig 111 that traele , wc Would liml, in the ea-e of si'Ki:( 11 01 Tin; jiox. a. t. (i.vLX (^r.vxADA '. ol hoiild Ito lijilit use uitil and ^Clucrs.) Anu'ricii Av<»rl»l. •I' not iis viulc and litaiils, as )(>, wluii innlHiiui;- liiiii; tVdiii \llt of the 'iiti'st anil !•(• of our ii<; on its :liis t^nat ,var(l to a if or not, ivas ]n\\\<^ wonld Itc [Id fiirni>li of tl.y iJi- !(\ ■■■.) V o 1, >< •■! I till' most n sourer^;. ,0(10; tlif iiii]iorl^ of FHI ; to^c- ),'20l,.i',>l ; ti linilt in 111 iniiior1>* ic ( NiKirt^ i luiill, to \ fdiindland l,.'15,o;}2. tin V were .(■ bctwn n di--nnit( il, r \ it w > oil CHS 11 tolid -ill lilriisf t of almost lie lounilRf till, (an of (';iii;id:i, a sca-gx.hm' tonnage liolli ways) of i2.1;};5,()00. In tlie ■ of X( '^ '■ ■- ' -' ^ ■ - ■ 111 ( -;■ ..f Xos a Sroliii— inwards, 712,!);}!); outwards, 7i:),91o; togc- M r, l,l;}2,!).j 1. ^sVw ]5ninswirk — outwards, 727,727; inwards, ■>!),2o8 ; toj-vtluT, l.;].sr.,l).SO. Xut iiK hiding i'riucr Edward l-laiid and Xowfoiindland, for wliidi hr had nut the official returns, llu tonnage enii»loyed in the sea-going business of Canada, Xovu St iitia, and Xew J^riinswiek, amounted to no less than five millions ol tons, l)esides lU'arly s( wii niillions ;(),9()7,00()) of tonnago eni- liloyed oil the great inland lakes in the Canadian trade. (Cheers.') \iiw, these figuns were so great, so vast, that the mind rei^uired -oine little time l»efoi'e it could take them in. They represented u hade which was prohahly the third in the world — exceeded only bj llic trade of (ireat Britain and tliat of the United States, am |n liiaps the traile of France, which la>l, liowtver, did not much, i il all, exceed tlie figures he liad just given. With these twj o ^'■iin iiitu iiinv .ri.i<«i^ 11 v'_»iii.t iinv lilVJlL ill, XIH > H.|Mt>eUlHl tL trade which was probably the third in the world — exceeded only by the trade of (ireat Britain and tliat of the United States, and if or |ii iliaps three exceptions no oilier country in the world eni])loyed llic ing as tliese I'roviui.'es did a large and iu- (ira-iiig ])o[)ulation, a va-^t tirritoiy, iind a tradi' and lommerei; wliicli, united, would vit' with tliose of iihnost any other countr\ in tlic world, it musl be admitted tiiei'e were materia! interests wlii' li "iiiiid be greatly ])roiiioted if AVe could agree on a measure of such ;i nature as to imhice tlie several I'roviiices to entrust the luanage- iiK 111 of their general aifairs to a ( oinmoii goveiiiuunt and legis- liliire. (Hear.; In eoiisidi ring tiie mode in wliich >ucb a uuioii 1 "iild be carried out, it liciame iieccs-ary to determiiu wlielher it •lioiild lie a Federal or a J.cgislat i\ c Union, A Legislalivi' Union, ;i-tliey Were a I . awaii, had ci rtaiii advantag'.s owr one ba~ed on liic l'"e(Uial system. It was a more cuiiiiilete union, and implied a more direct action and <'Oiitrol of ilie govi rnmeiit over tiie int( re-Is "I tlie people at laigi . And, where a ]ieo]iU' Mere homogeneous iiud llirir interests of siicli a character as to admit of uniformity of H tioii with regard to tluin, it could not be doubted that a govern- ment on the ]irin( iple of a l^egislativt' Union was the one which pioliably oinrateil most lieiuticially for all. Ihd in the case of the people of tluse l'i'o\ iiK ( -, Iii'oiigiit up as they had been under Mparat( le;;islatures, having iiiifoit inuttely for our eoninioii interests c.piiiparatiNcly little intercourse with laili other, the ditliciilty was lilt that, if we atti niptiil to make a Legislative riiioii of these rroviiicis ill the lir-t instaiK e, the dread, in the ca-e of the Lower I'loviiiees and piolialily of many among oui-cIms that pi cnjiar inlcre-ts miuht i wampecl and iiitain le< lings ami )M( judiics "iitraged and lram]ili(l upon, wa-. so gK at Ilia' smb a inra-uie could iio| be eiitcitaim (I, and We were romp' Ucd to look for what was ■oiij^hi in a loim of ;.,o\i.inuant ll.ul would cwiumil all sulijeeh ui' J. 2 '{ 0'^ si'Kicir in- nii: iinx. T. (.\I.T CWMlA 'Ui •ral interest td ii ffciicr; niM'i'inneiu ilK 1 Lcuislaturc, I'cscvn in.u- d!;£* i:! i.ciiislaturi's tiiid (idvi-niiiu'iit'^ siuli siihjcits ns troiii 1 [\\\vvd to lie rercnrd to tliose bodies. :^Clirci> ii'ir i'lie (111, tor Im nature r'i_ li'iiii Federation was used with rei'ereilee to tlie j)r('])iised Ulli because it was lliat with wliii h tlie jmhlie mind was most tamiliai'. Ihit It ]nn>( not Ik- sniijiosed, on account of the usi' y tlie State (lovernnieiits at the time tlie union was foinu'd. Kadi State was ren'archd as a s(i\( reijiii pow( r, and it ehuse tnr tlie coiumoii interest to tU'letiate to the (.Jeiieral (J i\eiiimeiii the rin'lit of di lidiii^' upon certain (lUestioiis, which were expressly statid. All the nndehiied ])owers, all the sriMreijjii rifi'hts, remained with the (ioveriuueiits of the several States, And he lu lieved that nearly all the writers and statesmen who had liiveii much thonjiht to the subject of the dillicnlties uom coinulsiiifi' the United Statis \\ere of the o])iiiioii — and he sliared that ojiinion himself — that the reservation of what were ])opularly known as Stale ri<>lits had been tw a,iiitatiii,u' tliat ,uTeat I'cuntry. lie thoufiht will n \\i had before us tlu' lamentable results which we now witiu-sed, when we saw tlu evils wliii h had arisen there, and pcrci iAcd that tin I'e was a])pari'ntly iKt remedy for tlu in within the limits (if the cdiistitutioii, we ini;;ht well hesitate to adojit any syslciii that wiiuld be similar in its cliarai ter. If we did so we should Ic- lacl\iat;' in that wisdom learned frtun the experience of others whi' h wa- hi ]ieculiarly \alualile. Hear, hear.) Therefore, ill la\in,ti a basis tor the union of tla^c Provinces, it was not ]iro- ]Hjs( d that th( (ieiieral (io\ eruiuent should have Murely a delejL;alion of po\\i \v liruiiswick, and I'rince Hdward island, charged with tlie control of local niattta's in Iheir respective sections, iiro\i>ioii hein,n' made for tlie adniissiou into the riiioii on e(|uital)le leniisof Xewfoundlaud, tlie ^'oi■th-west l\'rritory, iiritisli t'oliiniliia, aiiil Vancouver. Xow the next ])oint, liavini^dc chh'd that the Fede- ral ive ])Lin, as he had l)iieliy eniU'avonred to explain it, was the one whidi ought to lie adopted, was whether they ought to adopt the mode of goNcrunient whicli they now saw in use in the United State--, 111' wlietlier they should endeavour to iiicoi'])orate in the Union the ]aiMci])les under which tlie iiritisli Constitution had been for .so iiiiiiiy years hap])i!y administered ; and upon this ])o!nt no dilhrence of n]iiiiion arose in the Conference. They all ])refcrred that system which tlicy had enjoyed for tile last eighteen years, by which tiie Crown uiis alloweil to choose its own advisers; but those advista's must lie in hai'inony with the well understood wishes of the country a> cxpri'ssed by its representati\ es in Parliament. (Chctas.; Theyweie unaniiiKiusly of the opinion that this system was more likely io o|iei'a1e for the beiietit of the iieojile than any attem])t to introdiire the American system of Government. They certainly believed that tliey enjoyed mole ])ractical freedom under the Ih'itish Sovereign 111 III they could under a dictator who Avas chosen foi' only four yiars. lie belie vi'd that the administration of the country could lie cari'iv'd on with more advantage to the jicople and moi'e in haiiiioiiv with their wishes if that administration \\a~ ibliiii ciiiistanlly to retain the coiitidence of the pcojile ; and if the monieiil the people Ceased to have coniidcnei' in those in powci' they must give place to others who wouhl bo able to goxeiii the country mor(> ill harmony with their wislies. Tiie s< .n I of thi' freedom of the liiilish nation from revolution and distui'bance was that the ])eo])lc li;iil at any lime the ])owir of making the (fovernment harmonise with till ir wishes— it was, in fact, the greatest safeguard the i.lritish Coii- slitulion gave. \o (iovernmeiit in Canada could venture to set public o])iiiioii at defiance. No Government could exist, (X((p1 for a few short mouths, uiile-s they had the people at their back ; tor although jiarliamentary majorilii s could be pres,a\ed I'T a sbort time against the wishes of the majority of ilie peu]ile, Mill it was Iiii|iossilile to deny that public opinion wa^, in a eoin])le1e sense, leprisciited by the opinii.n ol ;he uiciiibiis of the Legislature, flu v all knew ]»erfectlv well tiiat their ivpr, m iitativ, s wdv chosen tioia among>l tin ni-^ehi till- lUiiti V loM' that cHiiliol w li tiii-.tcd Ihal we h had bi'cii so -lioiijil r.e\(r 111 lappilv ( Xi I'ei -ed t , *.!i ' ;1 ' II H 54 si'Kixn or Tirr. iiox. a. t. (iau' (fAXAiu Ity llic p(npl(> over ilic Gdvcnmunf of tlir day. Tt aviw, tliovrforf, couiludcd tliiit ill Jiiviiiinjx :ni Vnioii "1' llu's'' Proviiiros it Avas (Icsimblc, in llic interest of tlic jicoplc at large, that tlie sy-tciii of i('s])()iisil)lc uoveniiiK lit now in iVirce slioiild l.c maintained. (Hear.) Tlie (|neslioii tlien arosr as to the form of j>(iverninenl ■which shonld he adojited for the administration of the f;'eiieral alfairs of the v.hole Union, and that form \\as (o]>ied almosi Jiterally from tht' system oxistinu in tlie several J'rovinees. It was proposed to liave a CJovernor (ieiieral, who slionlil lie ap- pointed by our (iraiions Sovireii;n. Hear.) It was |);'npt ol' them. The J^cgi-^lative Council had, from oin- laiisc or other, tinder the iioniinati\c system, fallen into ])ublii- discredit. The eleetixc ]iegislati\e Council, uj) to this time, had given tin iii a. number of very t'Xcellciit men iiidei d. lie ddublnl, for in-tance, whetht'i", und( r any system, -tin y cnuld ha\e had a letter rtpreseutative than the gentleman wJio iiom' re])!!-! nted tlii-- distiid. (Hear.) Tliei'cfoi'e, as far as Canada Avas coiiceriird, lii' was uot aware that they (laild s;iy that tin ]iriiici]ile ol' an t h ( ti\c Legislntive Council had ]iroV( d in any degree a failure. Tla re wa'- no deubt that, in .lati\ e Council which would have indie CI I us to d otl o diNirc I, chaii'.ii . Of luiiivr some wmild de-ire it, ills would not. In lb of the Lower I'liiAil e f liowe\( r, thev had maintained tl le llolM Island, and the lii ntliiiieii wlm i ;ii illative jihiii, (Mijit in I'liiiie Kdward lie Iriilll tllove rii\ lllees- -both the members iif lb' (ioMinment and the leaders of the ()p]iositiiin A\lio aieonipaiiied thcin — were jicifntly iinaiiinioiw in the (leilaralieii »^ *, ^::k' si'j;i;cii or 'juk uns. \. x. ci\i;r (rAMADA). !«;5 i < that the opinion of tlie pcn])h^ in the Lo-wor ri'(j\iiicoi^ Avas aji'ainst tl\o ohvtivc priii(i])h'. UiiAcr thcsf ciivimifstaiucs it -wus hclicvcd that tlic iioiniiiiitixf phiii in suiiic R's])(.'(ts otf'crcd gTiiitiT iulvantii.ncs we sliDXild (•('ssiiry than till' ch'ttivc ])iiu(ipU% and it was (hcidcd tlutt ain n^vert to nomination i)V tho Crown. It then ])t'fanu' ik to sctth> tho nnnd)(T of nicnilK'i's tor tlio ('i)i)('i' iloi ISO, aiK ni oro so hiH'ausc liio rp])cr Housr Avas intended to he the i I tla> iicans wlicrohy certain h)cal interests and hxal ri,ulds unidd bo pintccti'd in tlie fJoneral Lojdshitnn I'or tliis ri'ason it was ((iiitdHhd tliat, whih' t!i" jirinsiph' of nprt'siiitation ])y pupuhdinn niiuld ii(> ])ro]M'rly enong'h oxtendod to the Lower Jtousc, (Mpiality of territorial re])resentation shonhl he ]m'served in the Vpper llousc; and it u as proposed, in its formation, that tlie Conlederation shonld ho di\i(U'd into three large disti'iets, rpjter Canada lu'inn- one, Lower Caiuida anotlier, and tlie '^^aritinle rrovimcs the third. N( w tonnd- laiid not liaving joined the pielimhiary Confennce, ananjicnients W( m re made for its eoniinii,' in with tl le a(l( litioi lal nnniDci' ot loiir )lan end)ers. AVith regard to the o])eration of the noniinati\c ] for the Legislative Conneil for the pnr|)eses of protection, he might say that in his own view he AVonld have heeii '^atistiid nndei- tlie eh'itive ])lan. He thonght that so far as the interests wei'e atfeited ihich he personally repi'eseiited, th:oii> Mliicli ill tuiili'd ^■iiitlciiicn iVdiu tlic Lower rroviiici's ill rciiunl lo lliis iiiiittcr, he thoiifzlit it iui,u,lit hr siifticii'iil to iHiiiit (Hit t)i;i1 in ('an;iil;i, wluiv we luul toity-iij;Iit jAOiitlciiicii sittiiij>- in llio rjipcv llou>c l>v tlic li-ilit of cKctioii, it \\imlled to the Government without restriction they mii;ht lie iiK lined to appoint tlu'ir own iiolitical friends, in the e\(lu-ioii ef the nlheis ; hut it A\as intended that the nomination should he so made that Hot only the memheis (omjx.sinii' the (iovernmeut, hut also the Opposition to the (iovernmeut, shonld he fairly represented, in tlu" Legislative Couucil. So far as Canada was coiici'rned there was uo liktlihood of diiliiulty ari-iiiii' on this point, because the coalition which was foniud heiweeu tlu' Lilieral and Conservative parties Would ])rcclu(h' any attempt cabnlatid to injure the intert'sts of either. Tliar, hear, and (heels. In the ease of the Low(r Provim es the -anie reasons did not exist. Their liovenimeiits Were still ]iarty j;i»V( rnmeiits, and thoiijih they had associated ■with them, in the Contereuce which had takdi ]ilace, the leadds of the ()])position, still the ai iiou to be taki n would iiecessai dy be the latioii of the ^owriiinents of the Lower i'rox iiK-es. It Mas therefore ]iro]io-ed tliat there should be a iiuaiantee i;iveu that all ])olitical ])arties should be a^^ nearly a> possible fully represented. J'assing now to the eomposilion of the Lowi r House, the important (haug'e was to be nuuh' of basiii;^' re]>resentatiou therein upon ro]m- hitiou. Now iiidess this were done, it was plain that I'pper Canada Avoiild not, umhr any ciicumslances, have consent( d to be a ])arty to tile rniou, since for many y( ars it had been (laiming addilional repn sciitation as a iiiatti r of right, and would certainly not have entered a Ceiifoh r:ition, unh ss a due share of (oiitiol were givcii it over the expenditure and taxation to which it -o largt ly coiilributed. The LoW( 1 rioviiices at oiici a(iiui(-ird in tin-. ]'o])idatiun was made the basis, and to jircvcnt any undue aiigiiieiitatioii in the numbers of the lov, ir lf,,use of popnlatioii increase d, it was s,.ii!,.,l that theiv should be a fixed simidard on \\ hi( h the niiinbi is of the Hous(' shiaild b( (aleulat(d, and Lower Canada was sele( ted as iili'ordin- the prop( r basis. Although Lower Canada had not the liirjiest, still it had a very large population, wliich was more e(iuable in its iiii-rcase than any of l!ie olla i-. not iia n a-iiig on the one band -o i'a-l a.- V[iper Canada, er on Ha.' otji, i- hand -, sl,.,\\lv as (he ( 'H iiilj s-rivKCir ui' Tin; ikkn. a. f. \i;i- ;rA.\AI)A\ 57 Lower Province^;, and the iiunibcis ol' \]\v ITouse ot Coiinnons {{ov tluit Avas the name selected) would mA l)e siihjcrt to siuli inegidar Aiiriutions iis if the population of any of tlie other rro\in(('s were taken a^ the ba^ (le'siralile that tin y -lumld !» dealt will throughout the Coiifederatioii (111 Uie ^aiiic priiuiple-. The regulalii'ii ef dulie- of 58 -ht perhaps 1)0 eousitlcrotl mi iutiiiiatcly (■"iiiU'cted Avitli t1i(> subject of trade and commerce as to require no separate uuiition in this place; lie would howevir, (dlnde to it, because one ot the cliiet bi'uetits exi)eetcd to flow from the C'onfederatitin was the tree interchange of the ])i'oducts of the labour of each rrovince, without' beiiij; subjected to any fiscal burden Avliatcvcr ; and another was tlie assimilation of the tariffs. It was most important to see that no local lojiislature should by its se])arate action lie able to put any such restriction^ on the free intercliang-e of commodities as to prevent tbi' manufactures of the rest from iindint;' a market in any one province, and thus from sharinj;- in the advan- ta_ii-es of the extenirable that all the works of a nu lely lo( ;il character should bi in the hands of the authorities of the Province w ithin which they weie situated. Hut in the case ef such work.- as the Wi Hand Canal, which though situated in U]»]ier Canada, wa.-, as regards tin (eninierce ef the country, equally ])crtaining lo Lowei' Canadi, they woul '. not be regaidt d as lo( al, and nuist li" iimhr the control of the (Jenernl (ioverument ; while if any eidargement i-r iniiiroxeiueiit of such woiks had to lie undei'takeii, it should not be at the chaigc of Uppci Canada oi' 1 he otlui' l'ro\ iiices '^o conceruM!, I ■«;i 'i\\ I! ll lU ,ii ( e intended to be nnder tln' control of the (ienei'al (iovcrnnient, Avho Avould administer them tor the common interest. They Avould be jtut beyond the power of any local goA-ernmeiit to ol)strnct or interfere with, they iHing- a means by Avliich the trade ami indnstry of the eountiy at large would bcnelit. Jt would not be ibund possible in any part of the United Tei'ritory to oti'er objection to tliat Avhich Avas in the common interest, simply on aceoimt of its lieing situated in any ])articnhii' hicality. The cimtrol of the mililia was certainly a subject which they mnst all fet'l ought to be in the hands of one central power. If theiv was one thing more than aiiotln r Avhich re(pured to be dircMted l)y one minil, governed by one iurtuenci' and (me policy, it was that Avhidi concerned the (h'fence of tlu country. ^C'heeis.) It might l.'c that Canada would l)e attacked at some time, or it might be Js'ova Scotia ; but it wa'< desirabh' that, on AvhatcA-er part of the Confe(h'racy the hostile foot was placed, the blow slumld be felt at every extreniity of the country. (Cheers.) Every man in the United l'ro\inc(>< shoidd feel that his own home was in danger though the attack were made a thousand nules away, and t'':it every assistance should be rendered to the (jeneral Goveni- nu'iit in enabling it to re- thonght they AV(mld all cordially agice A\ith him that ]iutting the difence of the conntry nnder the control of the (Jeneral (jovciiuiient was a Avise measnre, and slionld, nnder any eiivumstaiiccs, rcceivt a])])ro\al. It must be remembered thai, in cmning into tliis Conf((h'iation, their means of (lcfenc(> Avould be greidly angauiit( (1. In Canada 1 here was a large po]mlation available for the iidand defence of the country; Avhiie in tile .Maritime I'mvinces tlure was a huge -^la-faring piqailation, who, though not ]ierha])s re(|uii'ed for thi ii own (iefence, W(aild lie a\ailaiih' to strike a l>low \\liich might have the ell'ect of v> ithdrawing or weakening the hostile attack on I pijcr or Lowei' Canada. Hy a nnion Avith the Maritime rmvinces we should be able to strike a blow on sea, and, like the glorious old ^Motiu'r Country, caiiy uur llag in triumph over the Avaters of the great ocean, i, iOntliusiastic cheers.) In a(hliti()n to the military and naval -eivice and defence, the (Jeneral (iovernment wduld legislate r( gaiding beacons, buoys and light-houses, navigation and shi]iping, (|uarantine, sea-coast and inland tisheries, and all tlaise subjei ts connected with the navigation (if the country. Coming to anothci- ini]»ortaiit i lass of (pnstions, he wiiuld >])eak of the (urrciay and coinage of tlu country. He thought it would be adiiiilted by all that it was nies( desiraMe the ctii'i'ency of all the l*i'o\ ince- ■ lieuld lie one. Tin y had al\\ .ly- been ju'nud of the way in which Canadian < liiiviii y had niaintained its par \alne under circun:~tances of great dillii ully. lie hopeil it would alwa\ s 60 svEKCU OF 'nn; iioy. a, r. (i.vLT (caxada}. M-t n-i '■!'■ if eonllnuc to do so. lie \yn^ fj^lnd also to bo iiblo to say as to tlio otlior rruviiicfs, lliei'i' liad iicwr ]hvn a l)lot or sti{;nia oast upon llicir romnicrciul honour. It was dcsinililc tlic Cu'neral OoviTiiuifnt i'hould liav(^ tho control of the nirdiuni tlinmi;h whitli tlic trade and f'oniniorcc of tlic country M'as earned on, and tliat in tUo eslaldislnnent of banks, tlie issue of ])a]K'r money, and in offering' to tlie public tlu' paper represcntativi' of tbeir lalicnr, in wliatever ]iart of the country, there should be tlie same lej;islalive see urity for tlie peoph' in every section. lie thei'efure l)eliev(>d tliat, in iAiviiig to the (feneral Govern- ment control of bankiii,^-, curreucy, coiiia};e, and the issiu^ of papi'r money, and the rej;ulation of savings' banks, representing the savings and accumulated industry of the poorest portion of the people — Avliich ought to be niad<' as safe as jmssibli — the Conference had done Avisely, and he was sure their louclusion was (nic tliat would receive the sanction and ap])ro^•al of the peojih of all parties iu the Jh'itish North AiiKiicau I'lovinces. ^Cheers. The ([Uestion of the rate of iuteri'st on money was one which hail causnl a great deal of dis- cu.ssion in this country; it was oiw in \\liiili allhadiiu interest, and was so intimately connecteil with the subjects just named, that it naturally fell within the sc(i])e of the general authority. The sctth- nient of the suiijiit of bankruptcy and insolvi'ucy, the adjustment of olaims between dibtor and crtditor, wi re matti'i's in which all liad a common intenst, and tlu' adiiiiuistratiou in regard to tluin could lie betti'r entrusted to the (leueial Legislature than to any local body Avhatever. Cheers." The protcdiou of the Indians, and the na- turali/ativiit ot' aliens wer(> matters whii li necissarily fell to the (ieiural (loveiument. 'Tlui'e ought clearly to be the same law enabling foreigmrs as wi'll as ( itizeiis to enjoy ]U'oi)ii'ty and devise it to their children. "With regard to aliens, i( was char our object in future must be to attract hither ])o])ulation from foreign coun- tries. "\Vi' had, and he hoped would ((mtinue to possess, a very liberal alien law by which strangers coming into this country might feid they were plai cd on the same footuig as the sid)ji'cts of Iler]\Iajesty asearly as ])ossilile; and in framiuga union of the I'rovinces, it was de- sirable that whatcxer might be the indm enicnt that bnnight foreigiiei's liither, whether a desire to embark in the tislu'ries of Newfoundland, in tile Luiubi ring of ]S'ew Prunswick, or iu the agricultural and manu- facturing industries of l'p[i( r or Lower Canada, we sbould hold out to them tlie utmost facilities for beci.miug subjects of ilu' liritish Crown here. (Cheers.) ITe had now, -umewhat too brielly, ])erha])s, endea- voured to go over the niacliiiii ry and the powers with which the (jtiie- ral and the Local (fo\eiiiiucnts were ixpeclcd to work, and it becaiiie ne( t'ssary that be sbould say a frw words as to the e.vtelit of the liabili- ties and asx Is of the pai'tnershi]) into which they were about to enter. In that res]H'Ct there had not as yet liecii very much iniormatiou gi\eii to the public, and he ])r»Ji)osed now to sulmut a statement of the li:ioiliii( - di' ilu; ■>; \' lal I'inx iu' i s, iif tic ir luionie alld OXln li'lii ai i , 1 i si'i:i;(.ir of tiii; uon. !• (. Vl.T ANA HA 61 nudficiU'i'iilly of llir rcsomvcs wliicii mouM he ;it ihv (Us]iiisiil (if tlic ('(iiifrdtTiitioii, sliould it 1)1! hroii^ht alxuit. Tirst, he would ivk'v to tlie ivspcrtivc debts of the rroviucis, and us a <-reat deal of disputo h!id arisen oecasionally with reference to the amount of onr public diht, hi' M'ould take tliis opixH'tiiiiity el' i;'ivinj;' a statement of the lial)ilities ol' Canada, as made ii]) )>\- the Anditor-Geueral, '-itli a Aiew to this (|uestioii of Coiifeih i':i1ion. This niu^uestionahle and reliable dminiienf, he nii;.dit say, contained a statement not merely i'[ the Ue1)ent!irt> l)el)t of Canada, that ihie to the pnhlie creditor ahroad, and covered hy honds and other securities, hut all other enjjja.u-ements, such as that foi- the Sei.n'uorial Tenure, wdiich A\as one n|' the lar,!ii'st. Tlioujih we were not ohlit;-ed to pay the ca])ital of tliat (h'ht, still Mc w<'re ohli^ed to ])ay the interest, and for the |)urposo of considerinji' our position in the Confederation, it was necessary to capitalize it, or to consider it as capitalized. The Deben- ture Debt of Canada, dii'ecf and indirect, on the 1st Januaiy last, amounted to Sl)o,'Jo8,(; I!) ; miscellaneous liabilities, SGi[,42() ; Indian Fund, SI,o77,8()2; Bankinji' aeccants, exilusive of Crown Lands, S;5,;5!)(),!)82 ; Si i^iiorial Tenuvr — capital to Seignors, S2,Hi)!»,7ll ; charii'iahlc on 'iunici])aliue> Fund,' S19r),719 ; on account of Jesuits' Kstates, oM(),27i , indemvitv to Townships, 8891, oOO; total Sei-norial Tenure, S4,]18,2()2 The. iigjire-ate of these amomits was S71, ■"<•.)(), ()G3. On the flur liand we had a Siukinj;' Fund, S-1,8S;;,177 ; and cash and bunk account, exclut-ive of Crown Lands, S2. 2-18,821 : tosVl,. ■, S7,l;32,0()8. ■,!akin£>' the net liabilities of the rro\ince, cm th ■ 1st Tanuary last, SG7,2();>,!)94. Jiesides tliat a\ c had, as the ju'opeity of Upper and J.ower Canada, what was known as the Common S( hool Fund, reiu'esentin^' a halanee of >Sl,181,9.jS, Avhidi could not he properly considered a liability of the j'rovince, and mi,t>;ht be done away with to-moiTOW if the Lejiislatuie thought ])ro])er. The Act settini; apait that Fund was, indeed, so siniiularly worded, ;hat it coidd not beconu' useful for the purpose of su])])ortinij,- ((location for the next hundred years. For the Fund to be made in any way usefid, tin Act W(mld have to be altered. Jhit, as he had stilted, the net liabilities of Cauadii wei'e S()7,2r;i,i)!M. The liabilities of jSVixa S(()tia, dednctin;;' cash in hand, were on the 1st .lanuary last S l.,s.')S,,yi7. Those of Xew Jh'uuswick, S.), 702,991. Those (jf ^cwlbundluud, S91G,000. And those of J'rince ]']dw,i,.! ! land, $2 1(),()7;). The agjiTe,i!,ute debts of the whole Frovince- ; the 1st .laiuiary last- — and they had not increased since, but had rather diminished — were S7!(, 012, 20.5. Now, in tlie scheme of Confederation, it wa^ ])roposed that there shoidd be a cert liu tixed rate at which each J'rovince should have the ri.uht of cl::ii'i;in,u' it- (Ubts ajj,'ainst the Coiifeihration, and for that iini'p .-( the (l( bt oi' Cini.ida wa^ placed at S(i2,.J00,OO(l, ^vhi(•h was somelliini; like ll\e millions h ss than the nominal amount of the net del4. The mode in wliieh that rcdiieliou wa^i made was 62 -I'Kr.l'lI or Till' H(1V. A. 1. <.\I,T (VNADA n 1 t til puip lici'O* wi'iv I'ci'liiin liiiliilitiis ol' Ciiiada coiitraitcd lur local osi's, and certain assets comitclrd with those liahilitiis. Jle rcfcm'd inoiv paiticuhu'ly to the .Municipal Loan Fund, and sonu! similar niattiTS which were more local than ,u,-eneral. It had not heen ihoufiiit desiraliU' that a transference of tliose securities should he made to the (ieueral (iovernnieiit. It was better that each Id as>;ume that portion of its deitt whicli was ])arti- ities which it held for its J rovuici' shou il cularlv local and take with it (ho.-i rei leiiipt ion. And in that ■cUl wav tliere was ( -taiilisheil for the deht of ('anaer head — >'o\a Scotia, in addition to her deht, lunl incurred certain liahilitie< for the lomplition of the railway sy-teiii within that J'roviiice, for wtiii li ^he had nndertakeii eiiLiam nunts aiiKinnliiiji; to three" millions nf dollar-, whidi would hriiui up her debt to eif;lit millions, or S'io ik i luial 11 1m I ; w hile Xew Hruii>\\ il k, for the con- struction of lur iail\\a\s, had ( iiua^ienii iits incnrn(l and liahilities maturinfi: which amounted to SI ,;K)(l,00(t, hiiuuin,:^ uji her deht to seven milliou^ — a fraction jxr Scotia anil Canada. 'I' head -liuhtlv alio\e that of Nn\a 111- hv assiimiii the luciil liii hiliti am assets, we were i naMed to ])ul the deht of Camuhi at the same rate ]i('r head iis those of Nova Scotia and Xew Mriuiswiik, and therefore, as regarded the (hi'ee larj:cr l'io\ inces, tiie a'-iimiition of their dehts liy the (.Jeiieral (loxirnimnf did not oiler any ditlicullv wliate\er. In the (a-e of Ni wfoiiiidlaiid and Prime Kdward Island it was dill'erent. Tho-c rioviines, iVom their in-ular iio>itioii, had not hi I n iii|nir(d to im iir the same laiy:e oliIiLi.ilions fop nuldii; works. Th y pO^M'SM lis ) d, fortnnali Iv fm- them-ehcs, eas, iu ]>ropiirtion to tlnir pnpulatiou, than tho-c of theotliii». 'I'o place thiin on a ])arwilli Ciiiiada, Xu\ a Scotia, iind New |{riin-.w i( k, it tlieii lull hi c. line iieci-ary to ;.i\e tin ni all indemnity for the amount of deht whicli tlcy had not iinuiied; lucan-e, in a-^stimin^ their ri \eniie--, we called iipiiii tin III to cDiitriliute to the paMiK ut of the int( re-^t on tin ih ht wliiih wi iiad im nrnd, and we could not iiiil'ly expect till III to do -11 mile-, till \ Wile in smm ineasure indeninitied fm it. .Viid it w.i- found that, in lakinu' this ciiisc, We Were eiial.li d ti. pt o\ernii, ijleat dilHilllty wllicji )iad met IH, >\liitli ^\a•5 thai Iho-c parlii ulir rroxinn.- posse-scd uo loeal au- sri;i:cii ok -nii; nox. a. t. gai/i (caxada). 63 lilies, iind that in clmi'f'iiifj tliciii wltli llic adiniuistnitioii of tlicir Jjdc ill (iiivei'iiiiu'iits, iiiid tukiii.n iVom tlinii tlic ivvciiuc iVdiii Customs and Kxcisc, wo slioiild leave tiie (i(jvernmeiits of Xewfouudlaiid and rrinee_Ed\yard Island -\vithont any means whatever of diseharginj!; their liabilitii's. Witli rep,ard to "Xewlbiiiidlaiid, he inii-ht remark that tlie people in that Colony Ixinj;', in regard to agrienltiiri', iillogvther eoiisuniers, and not producers, ])eeause they wei'e a lishiiig and inaiitiiiie population, tlu- anionnt of dntiahle goods they eoiisimied was alioiit douhle per head what it was here. They would, therefore, in the shape of Customs' duties, he con- Iriliiitiug to the Coiifedtratioii a largi'r ])roporti u than projierly Iielouged to them, and accordingly it was ariangeiT that for the amount of (hht which tiny IukI not incurred, np to S2') per head, they sjiould be allowed iutu'est, for the purpose of meeting their hieal jiayments and jiroviding for their local wants. He might n inaik, while n]i '.i this jxijut, that in aihlition to the lialiililies to wliieh he had referred, there was the (piestion of the liiti rcolonial Kailway. This was one which nnist nuijucstionahly lie loiisidcred as most intimately asxiciutcd with the carrying out of the Cnnfederation, and it was juihed plain that no political union I'luM take phici" lietweeii the rroviincs unless they had means of I 'imniuni( atini; with each other. Although tin' constrnctioii of tliis lailway might, peihajis, he more advaiitagi ons, as to its Im al effects, to New Mrunswick and Xova Scotia tlianevento LowerCanada — without ([Uestion nxire advantageous than to Up))er Canada — yet as a means tiy which the Union was to he accomplished, and hy which alone it could lie hroiight about, tin re was an intc rest belonging to it which coidd not be attai bed to it so long as the I'rovinces rcmaineil separate. In the lasi' of the Lower I'rovinces, the completion of the Inter- cnlouial llailway liy tlie (iiiicial (ioMinnient v ould be h^s bunh'n- "•oiiie than il' it were done liy them alone. They would ha\e bien ( utering njion a large and expensive undertaking with but a 'uiall pn|iulation, and it would nndoubti illy lia\e l)onu moic heavily npon th'ii' re^oiu'ccs; liiit, a- he Would in a few moinciits have ociasidii to shew, the etl'ect of theii' nnion with Canada woidd hi' to increase the duties to which they were subject, so that bnt for the largir ■hare ol' tlie railway expmdilure, to he borne by Canada, thty would havt hail a larger portion of the burden than if they had undertaken the laihvay without at the same time going into the I'nion and subjecting themselvis to incica-ed duties of Customs and K.MJsc. We therejore olitiiined the Inti ivolnnial Itailway on terms I i|uitable alike to Canada and the Lower l'io\iniis. ileal.; In II felling to the liif( rcolonial Hallway, he would lake oceasluu to remark that the imblic dtlits ut Nuxa Si. ilia and Ni w Ibuiisw iik had b.'eu almii-t eiitinly iiiciiired fur the eoii^trin timi of railways, 'riieic were in operation in tlio-c two I'rovinces ujiwards of two hiindiid iniU-; of railway belonging to the (jlu\(. nmn.nl-, for the (14 si'i:i:cii i)i" Tin: ih'n. a. t. (i\i,t (c.v>"ai>a\ ]t()liiy llicy liiiil i)iirsiU'd lnul imt hvvu to cdii'^tnict I'.iilwiiys 1)y iiR'ans of cnc'iur.i'^cnu'nt to ])riv;it(' iiini])niu('s, but to l)uilil tlicni its Public "Works. Uv lliou^'lif iudrcd tluy \\\\\- hi'.iiiuuiug to i'i'}>Trt tliis ])ol)(V, iiud see tli;it it would liiivc hvvu licttor if tlicy luid i)i'o- ruri'd tli(> r((|uisit(' cjijiital l)y otlicr means. Hut in assuuiinu' the debts of tlu'sc I'rovincis, the C'oiitWU'ratiou would of roursc bn-ouu- at the' sainr timo the possi'ssoi' of thinr railways, and out of the 200 uiik's of raiiioad there were over 100 nides, he uiif^lit even say thei'e were nearly 200 miles, that wiiuld lieiiini' a\ailatile in cenneitiou with the Intereohuiial lioad. Hi' would now jirorcc'd to state to the meetinn' sonu' mntteis ((iniieeted with the expenditures and i'\enue> of the Provinces hist year, 18().'!, and to give an idea loundt'd on the infnrmatinn he had ren'ived from tlu' members of the Conferiui e of what they wei'e likely to ])v in IHG I, for the near ii])- proadi of tlu' end of tliis ycm- Kiuhrcd it ])ossibie to state, without the ri--k of scnmis erior, what tlu' tij;ures wouhl Ite. I'irst, as to 18(3;]; in that year we found the revenues and expenditures to be as f'dlows: — XOVA SCOTIV. Itevenne SSl, iHo.llJO Expemlitnre , l,o7'2,'-'7l Sliuwinj; a Italaiiec in its fav(nir. NrW Ilia'N'-WK'K. Iteviinie .S.SH!I,!I')I Ex]ienditure 88 |,()1;! AIm) showing a balance in its favuir. Mw rurNhi.vMi. llivtnui' S 180.000 l']xp mt ^ Irom N'ewfoiindland bad not broujiht the l:itc>t returns v.ith incm, -o tliat the Conteieiice had to take tiie tiunrc'- ,<"t I Outlay 2,(i(l8,(>2,» SIk winji a Miridii- ot no Ic s than JSI)I,07'.<. It S\a- tlairfoie .ipjiaiint th;it \M v.irc not ■.••■. imi intn a partnership with ('olo)ii(> which reipiired iili'il)ulr our- scivc 111(1 tliis lu'ciiiisc Ih.'v were ;i iiiofc cousiiimim' pc(.i])lc tli;in 11 ■-ur- rrv til -;iv, tliuL ill 1 SO.'I, instead nf we. in Cimmln, lie was so jiliis there was a (leliiieiicv — a deiii-iiinv el' S''S'J, l!)l, iiearlv a •leed ti iie tlie detit. d( inilliou dl' dollars. It \va-~ imleed tiiie the deluieiiey liad iiet'U iiuidc. up and more tliaii made u]) in 18()l, and lie was happy to have this ojiporluiiity oi' slatiii.^' that the rcMiiue of raiiada I'or the prix iil; year woiiM lie eoiisideralily in ex<(-ss of the outlay, even Avithout takinj;- into eonsiileration tlu' additional taxation the lej^islatuie im- posed at its last session. (Hear.: The Customs revenue ahme would show an iiu-rease over last year of nearly a million and a hall' —a lint wliieh wiiiild roitunalely ])laee us in the ])usition n|' iioL heiiiii' ohlii;fd to lio into the ('onrederatioii with a d( lieiemy, while our si: 4(r I' roMiiees wen goiu.i; in with a sTiqilu CI leer:- Th iwcniies of the other I'rovinees had lariidy imreased in IHfii, and their united surjilu-- woiiM he ionsideiiilil\ lirealer. Without look- in,;;' at the new C'aiiadiaii taxes, whieh W( re only mnv l'e,;;iniiin;;- to he ])i'oduitive, We found the I'.iUuw iiig lo be the increase of revenue in 1801 as o\er ]HC,;] : — aiiadi .Sl,:,()0,(iO() New ]{nin-wii k No\a Scotia. . . , l()(),(i(l() 10(1, (Hid lOO.mio The Tol; the I'roviiice- lor ISOl woiiM he : — 'J'otal Ihviu ,, Olltl: lie ihoul IV SI l,U'-J.'!.(i(i(i Thus tl are won 1(1 h, dit »o\e the ( x[ii iiditure ol all (h scnpliniis. -uijihi.s ol luariv a uiilliun o cheers. f d Loud oHar, >ow il was nei issiry to provide hy -ome means for maintaiiiiii.u' cerlaiii local expeiidituris of the variouK l'ro\iiice-. There wire tlie imhlic works to he kejit in order, the edu-cl\ es at oiHc to any one who reflected on llic -iihjii I. l''or this pnipo-e it was found neie->ary lo a-^iun tin in cciiai., ioi ; 1 ie\( hues, of whicli the li rriloiial revinue- fornu d the I dk. TIuvi loi al rc\enu(s anion follciw iiiL: ■■nni'- : nt(d, in IN();3, in the ^lariliiiie l*ro\ii tl ^ o\a Scotia ,Sl'.'",li"l' N'l w Ihnn-svvitk I'l iuce Kdw aid Ni;wl'ounillaiid- • and SIt.ddO u'J.ddd .'., (!(»(» i'.i lU, • t « I ( • • t t ,y,» ,(J0(» CiG srKixir oi' Tin: ikin. a. T. tiAI.T KAXAHV N ii Tl irsc \vt iv llic ixAcniics l!i;it wiuild imt lie traiisrcri'cd to lli (iciKi-al <.l(iv( rniiit'iil, Init would ln' disposed ot' liy llic J,or;il tiovcriniRHts, fan was ida ton'cl lOI' lo,al and 1I11|-|)0M': Ju 11 ic case o f U nuT and yowcr ii'it'drcd takinn' tlicni touctlicr, since it lor (he l.oi;islatni'o ami not I'or liim to indicate what tlic sc\cr; ilit laiuiuie.s 01 case o anioun f I; I'ppei' and Lowir Canada res])e7,0(IO, hut had unchitaken to ])erform tlie saiiie service in futui'c under a ( ont'edeiation at S'>71,0()(), or a I'cductioii of Id per cent. The e.xpenditui'e of New iirinrswii k in IHGl f(]',' the same ohjects was estimated at s Id t,()()(». From causes explained at the time and shown to he satisfac tor\ , she ))ro]i(i-.ed to redui c llie exi)emlilure to S''>oo,ddd, and at the sanu' time undei- took Avitiiin ten yeais to make a fidtht r reduction of .S(>.'!,dd(», makiiiii a total reduction to $2'.)d,0d(). Trince Ivlward hland Would reduce her ixpeiiditure I'mm *17d,ddd to 8I'-I,d(td, ami Newloimdland from Sl7d, ()()() to .S;),3d,dOd. in ref;ard to Vyyvr aiitt iiowi r Canada he would not inidt rtakc to say what '( diK tioii Avould he mad( ; hut he could show th.it undi r the si hi me pro]Mse(l till y wonlil have th nn ans of limitini; the juc'-cnt oiilhiy whiili wa-, lakini; the asera^^i of tin li-t four years, S:.',du'l,'.»7l». J>( sidi s thai ihi le would he an iiilditionai item hroiifilit ii^iniiist them I'oi' the iiiti rest I'M the <\(essof their d(ht o\ ( r tliat of the other i'rovinces, niakin;; their lull local eliaips .S.>,'2d(), I Id, which was the presint oulhiy of (,'anada for wniks wliii ii would not Ikcouic a chai'iic umi( r a (oiifedi ration. The oiitlaA' of all the pro\iu(es l.ein;;' hoAVcAir nva ter tl lan th(ir local revenues it hecanie nece aiv o make provisiiiu out of the (ienei'al I'uiid for the purpo-e of enalilin;j,- tin u- l(;il 11(1 l.dwcr , since if IC SCVCl'ill .', ill till' revenues iiti'Hi was lis, every ineiil-^, so hie, i'or il Icll tliein I TV iiisi^,'- I'rovinees e ^()V(.ili- WilS llllllUt (lis])(isitiiin iits III the its nl' lociil 111 exju'ii- lei'toriii the 1,000, er il uiiswick ill r"r(im ciiuses ])1II])(1S((1 to liiiic iimlci - of .S(i:l,0 of i,ower CaiiaiL e i)r •>ent dav, I was a t lea4 aileiiuate with the jiiosent local funds that would hecmiie avaihilile to lier. Hiil it Mas (■fit that in .siivinu' a siilisidy from tlu' ])uhli(' chest it was iin]>o--! Ilicv should I'esort to dired ta.xatioii. lie Ihouuht no -urer I 111 i k could he put upon them than thus ti.xinn the grants they were ies])ectively to ivdive. Ifear, and eheer<. 'i.'o ]iul the position of the s(\(ral I'loxinces into one \iew, taking' the h.isis of iKCil, and a'^-umiiuj,- thai a< the ha-i^ of the Coiifederii- lioii, M'ere it to take place lo-day or on the 1st ol' .laiiii.nry ne\f , I he -eveial rroviiui s united Mould ]ioss( ssa reveiiiu o|' SI l,'JoO,on(i : liom Mhich they wmild lia\e to dishiirse Si , 000,0 1;-; and M'ould ;d>o lia\e to t-ive as a siil-idy 1" tlu' l'ro\ inic .■s;],0.)('.,S I!). Then lore, there M-ould rt main axailalile for the purpose-' of the ('on- lederatioii SO,(;i;i,lOH. The ( xiHinlitiire of all tlu-e I'roviiae-. amoiiiiteil, ill IHOI, to .STJ.oO?..")!!! , of Mliicli for 1 ical outlay then; were 110 less than .S;!,!lo l.'-M'J, which Mould In as.sumid in consiilera- tioll of reciiving the ^uh-idy and Im al nxenucs. Tim- the expeii- dituie Mould lie rednced, as 1 icon-ed upon tin' ficiieial revenue, to .H,. •).■);!, ;;7',», or ."^IJOdidilO les> :iian the aiiioiint tliat M-onld in IH(; 1 he availahic I'm' the piii])oscs of the Confederation, lie thoiijiht this sliitenu lit Mas one Mdiich M-ould here'ii\((l a- .sal i-fai toiy 111 V( '.aid to the ](io]ioed co-]iar1 IK r^liip tiny w< le alioiit to i titer into. In tl- i leseiit Mate of aifaiis \y found l' il hy nnitiilg all 0111 1111 an-, ;md taking' out 1 M wanted tor lo( al piirpo-. -, there moiiM f lell for the Cieiural (.Ion iuikuI niiwaid- of ' ic''liou and a ipiaiU 1 \^^ 08 si'i:i;cir nv nil: im-v. a. t. (..vi.r (r.\.vAn.\"" 1 I ii 1 ( ilolhii- ii\-rr ;i!iil ;:i)iivi' miv ]ii\sriil (■\])on:liUin'. Coiisidt'riiiLi; llii ■ tiny lui.nlit hope lluit in linH.iiing [hv (jiriieral Ailiiiiiii-tnilion of tlic iMu'iilrv msdiT one (lovciiniuni, tlicro winilil 1)0 a co'i'liiin amount >>[' .'.■(iiiDinv cftVcti'il, ami an aiMitinniil clHcicncy iinjiarlfil lo tho (il('\( rin'nont. II nii.uhl "lu- wur tiny wonld hv ohliuvd to iucni' sonic cxponditnre in luH'iMn'j.- uii Loi-al !.( 'Hsl; : .ires, and lie was not iin'iiar'.d to deny I hat ; I'ut at )i s;;nn' tiin( iny nnjvlit r(asonal>ly iiupi' that; when liiriv ^\:'^ taiccii livip tlu'w ■< lai'.iic sliarc of tl siiiiji'it- iii.jviouU' kL:i-i;'tfd u] wn, now i:-:ic UIWL'- 1' li\ f o! .iii: 1' nnilcr oni' Inad uilli'ivw, .:( ail an ci-ouoniv dd 1 ■wonhl D' V nc'i till- lint \\J'Lout niakini;' an\ dlowanrc for wliat would h. arhiccd ''n this way, ihoy wonld liavo means lo meet rospci'trdjlc suipln^ over. .!-> for ISii!, and 1 lavo a tdl thr <\ That Imuuli' hia\ to a \crv i:i 'lortanl imint as 'o whet In'tlu'i' ('onfrdr- ; '..n' . in .I'caM'd la\ai.ain. ol ■..Imli ap])i'clU'iisions i1. in tlir tlrst idaioth'' c'.\i>tin,L;' laxalion in all raimii wouio p \> I ri' cntti ; llu' I'roximt's wn.dd a.i\c jin/vidr'' uorc than one million dollar.- ovtrand ahow ]]iv ]iulilic demand, out ai the same lime it was >|nilc Irm- that in a Cwiifrd-raiiou tlry would have to incnr ctrtain lialiilitii-, sih'Ii a> ibr tlio Inlcrioloiual Uailway, and foi-thc coniph'- li'iu 1,1 works now m pro^i' ss in the L ow'i r I ro\ nil It must he plain that a- tho ri'ViniU' rais( d liv the Colonics under inistnt larilfs was more than sutih i' nt, if we were to raise the tariti's of all the to that o| Ciinada we ^honld lia\'e inmh more i-e\cnne I ni\ iia o ihaii We reonm ( 1. Intl ir c-asr o f tlie Lower l'ro\iiires the avcri iLie lariir wa- ahoiit ]-\ p. r (int., and wliei'e thev now eolheted dnlios lUt two ;illd if million dollars \iiid( r a liiulier taiiff li that o| ('iiniala at le.i^l three million dolhirs wonhl hi' rais'il. Tliere- foie, to maive ad,i|Uate pro\i->ioii foi' all the want-> ol the eountry, liii y UM il not hrini:' np tluir tariffs, hnt we nn.uht irdnee oiu'-; and ia tin- raidnu' oj' ditti^ ^ it would he i)rai tii ahlo to find a medium of taxiition lulween ihr a\i ra^v- of 10 and 'JO pel' ci nt., ■wliii Ii would I nil > I the wanl~ of till lountiv. Cheer-. lie iiiu-l lie -utlii it nt ti liiji-r to the nii'etini' for ha\inu drliimi'd them O loll- hut wiiuld Hilly lirep Hum a fi \v niinutr- ion,;:-i r while rlosiiii; llir I'l mark- to whii h la hail in\it.d tlnin to li-li n. Jle hail goiii o\er the prim ipa! inini whiiji were arianu'ed liy the Conlen m i nl (jiK i M , ;ind (sii:i! la now fill calhd upon to aihert lo wii^ Ihi laoiir in \\ nu i! ill liopulaliiiii ■. ! I wa- i|a dinv.s W ell, likely to alfeil oui re-prrti\e iti plain tlial tosduie the -iipporl o| iho I'liiiniuuily a! laivv ii. loiy iIm me oj' ilii- kind, it was necessary th.i! tluy -hould he sati-ticd that no ilijii-tiic would he done hy the lli'd'' ill w Idi h ii wa- to he worked mil. It Wa-]ierliap- illl])os-ihli' 1 , ■ saiiii- ti o 111 i:\\i- ii;:.iiii t or to nil ct iiuie \ uuiic appreln ii-ioii-. Itiit at til lea-l li -I that !l ll wii Mil wi re I i-itaiu -ulij hii ri', 111.' d ■!■ tl C ivi rnim iit> 1 t.' h I in. le • r lo tin ii] lilut ii,|i ; w liu- I alin;j iii; 't hi •. . jjidi -i'i:i:('!i oi' !i[i: iiox. .\. t. cm.t (i\y 11 \' 69 i iiiili- viiliiaily ;iii(l lufally iiii-lil t< el iiid-l intcrr<1('(l in. TTc rolVrinl, or (dui'sr. iiviirviilly In tile |)osiiiiiii, fiist, ol' uwv Fn'iicli Cainsdian tVicnds ill I.DWcr Canada, and tluii (.f ilic liritisli jiopiilati.m ol' l.iiwt'r Caiiad.a. ]-nv, in reality, llic dillicnlty dl' dialiii- Avitli tins (|Hcsti(in was to l)f Idund in ihc li ar-< and a])pvi.lunsi()iis of llicsc two ])o])ulalioiis ; and il was a forlnnalc (liin-;-, as we were ol)liiicd t') inivl a dillicnlty of llial kind, lliat a\c had inv :-,) many years i^ot (m witli so iiiiuli IiaMiiony l<>i;(llirv— thai, if aiiiavl'an'sions existed tlii-y conlil not l)e sliowii to ln' foiiiid( d. on aets of lajsiilify liy one -[lart of oiir e.unninnity a.uaiiist anotlier part — tliat, it tli; I'c was an a])])ri'lR'UsioUj it was an apprelimsion of wroniiin tlie future, not a liitter reeolleetiou of wronii' in the ])asl. J:"or over tweuly-ftvi! years liarinoiiy liad I'eigned in Lower Canada, and tlie J'.i'itisji and i'Veiieli CaiKuiian ])o])uhit ions had felt flu y (.aihl 1:0 ha.nd in hand in iironiolinu' tlie eoninioii interests of tlie counlrN'. AVhat was wanted now was to luainla'n that feeliiru ot i ontideiire, to sliow tliat 110 wroiii;' was tlioniiht of iiy one or the otiier. The trutli -wiis tliat while tlie Freiieli Canadian pepnlation must look to our snpiiort in the (Jeiieral Legislature firihe protertioii of their I'iuhts — while they must look to us as Lower Canadians, to stand --houlder hy shoulihr with them for the jiroteetioii of their ri.i.dits in tlie (i( ueral i,e'j.isla- Inre — we in the Local l.eiiishilure siajuld (h niaial lh;it no wroui;' should he attinqited against us. II it -linuld lie otli'Twi-^e, the result would lie most disastrous to those who atti niiitcd it. A minority so larjic as the Fiemh minority \conM he in the (itinral l-egislaturc could not he ali'ronted without daugc i', and such a iiii- iioiity as the Eritisli minority of Lower Canada, cousjiicuous lor its Wealth and inte!li;.'cnce, thouuli iiut so much for ii- numlter-, ((Hild not he outraged without imiioitanl r(^ull> following that would hiing their own remedy withllicm. He llierefore fell that, in taking his |iosilion in the Coiifcri'iK e, he was charged, not allog-tlier wiih the siinjile duty oi' a k presentati^(■ of the Hritish ])ortion of the po])uiation of Lower Canada, hut he felt thai la' i (piidly repi'eseiited • Ills French Canadian friends; and his ( i.nxiclion wa-tliat, instead of there heiiig any (lashing and division ot inleiest, lliey woiihl he fiaiiid in the futnri' more' e lo ely h.ainel l'ig< tlu'r than e'Si^r hcfori\ it Weiulel he' feiiniel that the' e'il'e 1 1 eif the' e'lnhiliat i.iU eif all the' I'rovinees Mould he lei heiutit Lower Caii;.'ela, ii'it French Lower Canaela eiilhitish i^owe'i' Canada — hnt the w hole eii Lower Canaela — h\' gi\ing it till' ))eisiliein eif lieing th> I'oiiinaicial lieai'l eif the • onutrv — that tiiat jieiMtion we- -houhl --h I'e together, and that nnytliiiig whit h teiiile el to damage' that ]io-ition w e>nlel he' f.tal te) Ihc intire'sts heilh eif the' oil'' ami of the eilhe I'. Ilea!', he ar.', Jji' Ihought eiiir niatciial inle,'rr-ls woidd ha\e to go\iiii us in this le-.pi ct. Ill' fell that tlloM' iote n -t ^ re-pcelil 'i' which aJipM lu'iwie US 1 xi'leel e>li the' part ol hi eolUlt IV me 11, eoohl llol ho a--aile e] hy tile' i'lcmh Caiiaelian iioiinlMi'ili, ifllaN' hoehl ' e' o nuwise' as io I 70 si'KKiir or iiii: iin\. \. r. om.t (axapa I ■ ■ tliink of Miili 11 Ihiiiii', Avitlioiit n tiDnitioii lalliufi' upon Ihein in (■()iisc(|iun((' (iftlic arli.m taken )iy tlic <»iitiii!i('(l poi)ii]atii)U im dtlni' mattcis in tlu'dcnci'al Lcii'islaturc or t'\ en in tin' .i,ocal JiCpslatnivs. It (Dulii not !•( . 'I'licir intcn sis could not be scveri'd. Tliey woiild livo to,i;i tli( r, as they now way he hoi)ed wr should ovcu'onir any ap])irlunsiuns whi( h niijiht cxi-t. iiut at thr same time it was well lliat, so far as miuht he, w( shouhl make pi'ovision apiiust thi> possihilitv of wronii. if security were taken that \vroni;' cuuld not lie done on the oiu' -ide or tlie other, then then' was less cliance of its heiiiii' alteni]i1((l. Instiad of havini;' to remedy an injury, we skould ]tre\en1 il. And to -pc^k nion- particularly witli regard to file T^ritish jiopulation of Lower Canada, he wouhl ri uiai'k that, in the (hneral (Jo\'ernnunt they i-ould have nothing- to fear. Tiieir raee would of ( ourse he the dominant race in the ( Jeneral J'arlianient, imd, (oii>e(pientIy, he uuLiht -ay, in the (JetU'ral (iovii'iiment. Their interests wouhl he safe there. Tlu' interests of trade and commerce, those in whii h they fell more paiticnlarly concerned, ulii'h conicrned the nnrchauts of ^Montreal and (iuehec, would he in ;he hands uf a fody w heri' they could ]ia\e no fear that any adver-.' r-'i or i iced < oidd aliert them. .Vll tho^c suhjccts wouhl he taken out of the category of h)cal questions, wduld he taken away Irom the lontrol of those ^vliu mifilit he under the intlnein e of m ( tional feeliiifjs animated either hy rare or reliuion, and would lie jihn (d in the hands of a hody avIktc, if the interests of any class rould lie i x]iect((l to hi -ecure, snrely it would he tliose of tlh I5iiti-h ])opulation of Low. i- Canada. Hear, hear. AVitli n.2:od to ih( jxi-ition they wnuld .m, upy in the local Le^ui-latnic there wivi twii or ihice (pie-.tioi!- in whi< h they nuist feel very {j;j'(;it inteii'i, and in which they miiilit liar that hostile action nii;;ht he takdi towai'd them, if such an unwi-e course should he atti in])tcd Iiy tlnir Fn nrh Canadian fellow sidijects. He would reft r tir-1 to ila (jue.stion oi' Kniijiration and Lands. No duidit la re ill till- Kasfi in Tow)is)ii]).s u had lu'cn felt hy many that possihly, in lea\inji the hnids in iIk liaiids of the local fid\ crnnunts, sonu' rules uii;jht le made whjih woidd restrict the oc(U]-»ation of those lands to till ir Fn IK h Canadiiui friends solely. So far as his experience went, we had always h( i n (hli;ihted to see our wild lands sitt led 1-y Frcnih Canadians. Tiny had ivone in like the rest of the ]iniplr mill lioii^ht the lands tin y ociii]ii( d. With repud to the puhlic <1oni:iin il \k . 'le.irthut no distinction Ullj(Tts '. woiiM udci' the I'cli.iiioii, intcrc-t-^ ll tllov,. ' ^villl si'icixir or the iiox, \. t. nAi.t (c.\^•.\])A). 71 interests of Lower Canada, but in tlic interests oftlio whole country, to have seen them at the disposal ol' the General Government. ]{iit eirvunistanees prevented that — not the i)ositi(ni of Lower Canada, lint tlie <«;reat im])ortan(e attached to the ])ub]ie domain hy the l'l)per Canadians, and in the ease also of Nova 8eotia and "Xiw l{ruus\viek hy tlieir respeetiv(> Governments and jx^oplc, who wen delerniined to have control of their own huK Thouii'h he tho\mht the jieneral interest miji'ht have been promoted, if wc coidd have jiune to Europ(^ and put one eoniprehensive scheme of eolonizatit^u and emigration before the world at lar"e, tluit wa s pi'eve ntt'd now, and all we could liope for was, tliat such wise mea: iires mij^lit be adopted by the Local Legislatures as would luive the same results. While it was necessary to leave in the hands of the Local I'arlia- nn nts and Governments the ])ower of deti'rnuuing the rates ur terms on wliidi hinds might be olttained by emigrants Avheu tliey ri'aclied u<, or wlien the natural im U'lise of oiu' own ]K)])ulation required our young nu'ii to take u]) lands in tlie back coiintry, lie did not think it sliouhl be a])prelien(h'd tliat tlie Local (Jovi'rnmeut> Would aiiojit any policy which would clu'ck tliat whidi was inanifi slly for till' interest of the community at large. Whatever policy weio ado])t((l, wlietlier a wi.;e or a foolish one, must be a itolii y apiilying ( ijiially to all. Xo distinction coidd l)e di'awu with reference to nationality or crei'd among those Avho went upon the Crown domain to l)uy lands. }\r did ho]>e and trust tliat Lower Canada would set an e.\am]ilc ol' lil)erality, in regard to tlu' disposal of lur lands — w hich lu' was satisfied was lier true ])olicy — and especially in regard 1o her mineral lands, which were now exciting so much attention, and he liopcd it would be the case that Lower Canada, in seeking to (li^])ose of lur lauds, would look ratiier to tlii" advantage of liining an iiidu 'ii.'us po]»ulation sittleti. njioii tlnni, than to tlie diicit jMcuuiary lieiietit slKMiiight get from tlu 'r sale, in ( (nidusinu, he would remark tliat the ])oliti(al necessities (u f nada seemed to render a measure of union oi' all the jirovims of Itritish IS^^th .Vineiica necessary in itself. Me thought that thosi who examine1 -. i lors in the c(mstitution ot tluir (loverniiu lit which were now jiroving the wreck of tlie rnited States; so that in the future tlay Would tind the sy-^tem tins Were trving to iiiaiigiirate a ba-^i-; of unity among the jieoph', ^•-■. 'Mm^ c: MTirir 111' lUr II'IN, A. I. (.\IT KA.WIIV, M I'. (■ ; X 'Mi u • ! 'iinlty of n'dvc I'liiMfiit iiiiiliiim llir ])iii|ilc iiimit aiul niitrc liKiuDiiiiicou- lill lit l('iiL:tli tlhv Illicit !it no (lisliiiil (lay lie ciialilcd ti) ilii nwiiy with iliosc arliti( ial luuiiKhiiiis wliiili s{'])arat(.(l one pioN iiiccHVoiii aiiotlici, ami (iiiiic toiivtlicr a-; mu^ iinitiil i)i'o])lr. ^Loiid ('liocrs, ) It \va- \i!y in'iilialilc \vr iiiiulit imi li\r to sec that day, lu'causo it \vould take a 'oiil; tinic ti'. (niturow jjicjiidiccs and scctioiialisin, and tiio>i' tiamnicls \\luili luid uidwii !i]i, Icadinu' to mistaki'ii jiidumcnts and estimate- ot mii' lellow nun; Imt ^till lie ludieved that the ])riiici])le laid down tliat the idiiiiiiistratidii ol the ailiiirs of all should he ha^ed ii|i(iii the prineiples 'if i iiiiiiiion jiistiee, would in the end prodiu (• a ],ei!(( 1 nni^n nf all. He was eonviuii'd tliat under such a system tli'' jn .>])K' nf the ilitiereiit iiiuviiiec ■ would hecoine OU'' i" > ■' i;. i.-peil. instead ef Ik in,u imw uieiely the inhahitants of diilrreiit sei U(iii> — instt.id nf heiui;- iS'ova Si-otians, Canadians, etc, — lliey wiiuld all lie the ^uhjerts of one LiTcal lialioll. JiOud cheer-.. lie cniild iiul helji fur ;, lUduu lit ad\r;'tiii^ (u the i;reat I'utuu' l.elure U-. Ilestiuo w iih (lur hack tn lli<' lev ii'iiinns of the "Nerth — with the linest ii\(r in the wmld jiassinii' throni;li the centre of uiir land, wlci iniild ]irediit our fiiluic ])owei' and greatness? (Uemwcd ( 1,1 er>. True wi' -iHiuld have a loiciiiii frontier, hut the iiHiM lucnt now lakiie^ |ilace appeart'd to he iiiiii'Miii'; fiuth more ti'itniily sciitinieiit - nu liie part ni' diii' fiicuds to I'le S.iulli, wlio A\-ei-e discU:Mi.;, the -uhject in a favdialile spirit. AvA he helievi'd that anyil.iii;.' which had a tcndenty Id prdinote that IVieudly fceliuL': ouulil td meet their hiaity suppdil and concunviice. i^ Cheers. ; Tin y had --ei ii a dci^ive nf !nisliu>t iirowiiiL;- u]i on the ]iart of their Anieiicaii lii( ml- w hi( h ihey ,.. i-t try and lenidxe if they could. Tluy were liduiid to slaiw them in all relali< :i- esc justice, hut at the saim- time tla y were alsn lidiind hy the hi.^lier d , y to thenisehi s td re-, lid v.ith jialdu- care their dwn rights aia, interests, and slioiild lluir x.il ever l;e de.-ccrated hy a forci-n foe to hurl hack ihe enemy and defend lla ir cdii-litution and laws Avilh (Any eiierj;v at their cijinniaiid. I, dial cheers. I, el us cwiue lemilKT ;i.s ,,u'e jicdple and he united in diie linn finnt td work in cdiijunclion w itli the ^iHai empire to which we helen.^vd, to lahoiii' loi' the jiciu ral ji'ood. ,Ap]ih,use. I,;t it not he said hm.ucr thai Canada was ui! Me or unw iUin- td dd uidic in her own si>if-(U'fence — 1{ n< tliiij- haclc that n]iid;i,h, and In dealiii- Avith that suhjcct let it he kiidwn that wi' di(l our whele duty with the dciciuiiiiatiou to di-chart;c the liahilities ef a iialion "deVdUIim upon u -, , Chceis. ; l^et It he diii- ])iidi td dd -d ; U\ it Udf hi' said that we W(iv .so ,seUi>h or nu:,n-piM;(d that, while williii- td enjoy the heiieiits and privileL'c •• of dill fa\dred -itiiatidn, we wiiv iiii'willin- td ])ay Iheii' cost or huht I'. I tlaiu. ('iiccr-. In cdmin- Idrwa'rd as w"e were ohlip.l Id ,[,, trdiii the n(ccv.iti( of the case, to coiisi(l( r a remedy '"■ ' "■ "^\" '"^iis it Ufc- hdjiid 111,, piililie niind df Canada woulll ;il'pi V [\k rcnady now iird|„,ad. We had tiled ai.!.l found, he H -I'KIX II 1)1' Tin: IIM.N. |i. jr.,|;i.; CcAXADA^ to ncoiis away |(^ In 111) iClTS. ) ausc! it II, ami at llic or all ill till' umlcr hccuiiu' litaiil^ bclicNcil, lU'dv tor Diir own (lifllcultics — not in disuiiioii, not in scvcriim tli( til' liclwccii V\)]hv and Lower ('aiiada, lad by iiicludiiiL': ill one bond all tlic Jiritisli Nortli Aiiurican I'lMvimi-;, "wliicli had all a common alk',i;ian (■(• mil loiiiiiKJU iulcrcsil. And instead of vemainiiifi' sopaiale as we Imd done for the lust 24 years, let iis g(j loiward with a iiiillioii more lellow-eolonists staiidiiiu at our side in the slru.n'ji'le Ibr national existenee ; aia trusted the peo]>le ol' Canada, a-' \\i I whalever niij^ht hetide, he 11 as those ut tlio other Jiritisli Ts'oitli Amei'ieaii Colonies, would he Worthy of the Kivat interest;- onllded to Ihe 111, and 111 \cr he Ibiinil haikwai'd in deieiidiii';' tl leiii. no matter I'rom wliat iiiiarterd, luti'ir 1111 'j}\\ arise. > I'l'olonued cheers.) At aiiotlier ^leetiiii; liehl 111 tlie Kasteru Townsliips shortly alter the Sherl)rooke hanqui t, the lion. ^tr. McCJia-; availed himselt of the o]i|)ortunity of makinj;' a few remarks on the all-ah-oi'liin^u' tojiii , the C'oiil'ediTation of tho Proviiires. lie said: .\t the start, 1 i aiinot hut eoiiL;ratulate the ])eo]de of all tlie l*ro- viiieeson tlu' fortunate i (injiimtiou of lireumstanees whieh makes this the liest possihh' time for ;i searehiii!.;' examination and a tlioroii.i:li over- liiilinj;' of our politieal system. AVheii I as in the Ka'^terii I'i'm luces last sumnu'r — when the Conli remcs weri' still a thin;; to lonu — 1 a])])ealed on lii'half of the ])rojert to the ])ress mid the |mhlie there, that it should not lie ])rejudj;ed, and 1 must say i think a \i ry ;;reat dej^ree oi forliearaiu e and ^ood feeling' Mas maiufested in this respeet. But I should he sorry, sjieakin^- for myself, now that the sta^e of intellijieiit diseussioii has lieeii leaehed, now that wi' lia\e t;ot sometliiu,u,' hefore us to di>eu>s, that siiih a \ast seluiiie shoidd jiass, if that were ])ossihle, .v/f// sUcntio. So far from depreeatiiiLi- disrussioii now, 1 should welioiiie it, for there i ould not he, there ne\er i an he, a more propititious time for sm h a disriissiou than tlie present. ^Cheers. Under the mild sway of a soveiiifiu, Avliose rei;.zii is eoiniideiit with i'es])oiisihle linvernment in these Colonies —a sdvereiiiU whose jiei-i'iuil virtues have reiidiied monarihieal primi- ])les re-pi'i-tahle evi'ii to thosi' wlio ])re!er aiistraetedly tlu' '•epuhliiaii system — with ])eaee and iiro.-peiity at present within our liorders — we are ealled onto eousider what finlher i oiistitutioiial safeji'uaids we need to i arry us on for the futun' in the sunie patli of pi-areahle jH'oirression. .\iid iie\ir, finely, ;i,cntlemeii, did the wide field of Ameriean puhlie life present so Imsy and so iii^trm live a ]iros]iert to the thouiihtfiil oliserver as in ihis same nood year of jiiaee, I.SOI. ()\irlookiiig' all minor details, wli;,l do we liiiil — the oiu' ])ri\ ailing' and all hut univiial ehara; (ei i-i ii of Ameriean ]iolitii s in those day-':' 1- it not that " I'nion " i■^ at thi- moment ihroufihout the entire new world, the inul iCurdri' of Slate- and statesmen? If We look to the far South, we ]ii irei\i a Coiii;re>s nf Central Ameriean State;: endeavuiuijiy to rei-y\ei their lo^rl unity; if we drawdown 71 srKlX'IT OF TIIK IK/ :v M'-'l-.K (cANAHaV a ' ii I , HI to Mexico, wo p(>rf('ivc' licv now Kiuikm'ov ciidi'iivonrinc!,' to ostalili--li his tlu'oiU' ui)on tlic basis ol union ; it we coinc turtlicr Xortli, \vi' find olovon States liattlinp; lor a new Union, and twtnty-fivo on tlu- otluT side hattlinji- to restore the old Union. (^C'lieers.) 'L'lie New AVorld lias evidently liad new lijilits, and all its States and states- men liave at last diseovend that lilierty without unity is like rain iu the desert, or rain ui)on f^ranite — it produees nothiuii', it sustains iiotliiufi', it pr;illtetli nothin;:;. (CIuhts, i From tiie bitter ex- perience of tlie ])ast, the ("(Uiiedevate States have seen the Avisdoni, anu)n.u' other tliin.us, of ^ivinji their .Ministers seats in Coujiress, and oxtendiufi' the tenure of executive oHice lifty l)er cent, iteyond the old Vniteil States jteriod ; fnnii hitter e\])trience, also, tlu' nio^t enlightened, and what Mc may con-ider tlu' most yiatriotic amou!.v tlio Mexicans, di'sirini;' to estaliliute my mite at the present static of the discussion, that I aice])t<'(l .Mr. l'o])e's l;iud invitation, and am now here to oifcr you as clear a view as 1 can ])ut into words, of the ju'ocess of reasonin;/,' and observation by which those who com- posed the late Cunfeicnces ariived at the decisions at Avliich they have arrived, in relation to the ((mstitution and powers of the (ieneral and Lo( al (Jovernments in the future Coufederati' on, ir licar." 1 will take as an instanci' of the irrationality of suci ear, I an iirmiuu nt — the particular (pu'stion, the >ireat test (|uestien r cmam- ing between Canada and Kni;land ; the (juestion of th'feuce. (Hear, hear.) Th" future (Jeneral (iovernuant has reserved to itself, savini th i\( reiii-ntv of Kniiiaiid, the control of oui' militia aii' 1 nu lit; iry ex]i(n( litui 1 '..very one can that a wai' bet ween Kn"land and the United States would be lar; a naval war, a a Wiir tiiat ml Hear, hear) AVould interest and stir the heart of En<;land even .sucli a naval war as tlie ocean lias never bet ore se( n, beyond the pitch that made her staid mercluints astonish Lloyd's ii 18l;i, with "three til mes three clie( when they heard that the Shannon '' had Ibufiht andVaijtui'ed, and carried the " Ches:i])eak( jirize into Halifax harbour. (Cheers. > Suppose, then, in t event of an in\a 11., ^iiri-boat'<, but 'o have Ivaiita^c to Canada t not the skilled seamen; would it be no a( the .'30,000 Atlantic sailors of the Lower i'loviiices, to call upon Ibr SPKKCll Ml Tin; lli.N. I). M'OEK (cANAPA). 7.1 tlicir f'liiitinji'f'nt to sucli ;i scni(c ? No doul)! tliocmpirc ^voul(I call ic pn'ss-|4an^- it could not ill lliciii now, l)id unless it restored tl mil cla ke llicni come. l^iit it' hy our Union avc uum! that valualde s,s of nu'U the ieclin;:: of common couiilrv; if \>\ the inter conrse and commerce which must IbUow on our Uniim, that fecliu};- jjrew to the strenj>th of identity, we would havu all the help of that description — draAvn from Avhat my collcaj;ue ^li'. Cartier calls the ■Nfaritime elen\ent — for the askini;. (Cheers.) TIk; Imperial Power havinfi' concedi'd to all tlie ^vorth-Anu'rican Cohmits res])(msil)lc jiovernment can only secure their ( o-ojieiation, even in militarv nu'asures, throng'li those several separate governments. (Hear, hear.) Every one can see at a .iilauce how much the Im])eiial Puwer, and we ourselves would jiaiu in any i uier<;'ency — if there were but two (iovenuuents instead of six to lie consulted — how much in prompti- tiidi', in decision, in time, in unauimity, and in ell'ectiveness. i need not eiilarp,e 1 am sui'e, on so self-evidint a jn'ojio.sitioii as this ; llie man that will not see it, will not, that is all 1 need add (jn that ^core. (Lauiihter.) It has, indeed, heeii asserted by tlie sceptics in oui' woi'k tliat all our theories of a > loser connnenial intercourse are chinurical ; and yet, oddly enoujjli, these are the very same people who think a conuuercial \inion woidd " sceure all tlu' bent 'tits " of tliis chimerical prospi'ct. (Laughter.) W< 11, I will not meet asser- tion by assertion, but I will answer a conjecture by a fact. At tlio very tinu' the ^Lendier lor ]Iochelai;a was issuing' Ids rather incon- sistent declaration ajiainst a political union as anutiif^ other reasons, wholly nnprotitable in a commercial pohit of view — and in favour of a conunercial nnion as all that was to be desired in itself — at tliat namient, the first steamship, laden with breadstuifs, direct from Muntical to "Newfoundland, was dro])ping' down the St. Lawi'ence, as a residt of the ]iartial and hrief intei'conrse bi'ought about Ix'tween the two tt luad, and then I Avill drop the topic Avhere it is ; the security I'ur i)eace Avhich a lai'yc political oiiiauiza- ^I'l'i'i I! Ill' I HI' iH'N '■'. ^\''^^.r^■. : i\y \u\'. linii lias (i\cr a ^la.iU mic. lic-^ iml mily in it- .ni'catcr inlcrcsis a]iil ilisposalilc lone. Imt in tin's otliir considc ratiim, tliat the aii'iiri'ssor must risk nr Ihm' tlic ht luiit «>!' nnicli larger tiansac lions, in attack- inji' ii iaruiT tlian in a^sailin.n a sniallir State Jl', lor cxaniijlc, in iiur s\>lrni til (Ul( iici'— in addition tt> all tlu' Iniiuiial (invcin- incnt (ini'id (io iui' ns — it' we ronld, liy our joint representative aetion, 1)e sure to ~liiit u|i llie l{i\ev St. .lolm u])on the jieojilc III' 'Maine --to ext lude I'luni the (Inlf the tisheiin; n of Massa liiisc It . — to withlKilil t'liiiu the iiearths and fuiiiatos ol' New Knuhind tln' coal ol' ('a]ie ifictoii — no man can ipn -tion iiul that We wonld u ield MVi'ial additional means of det'en -e, not now at the command of Canada. And so with the Lower I'liniiice^, if tiieir statesmen ( ould wield (iiir amis iunl onv resources in addition to their own, doe- any sane man ]iret( nd that Avould not he an imnicnsc finin to IlKni':* lldir, hiar. I may he told auain the Imiieiial (loveiii- nient can do all tliis foi' ns, if tin y will ; 1 I'ejieat that the Imperial (ioxernimnt alone can neither do any ol these thin.n's so ^iroiiiptiy, so folly, imr with -o little ticvpa— on mir responsihle (li)\crnments, lis an united Lej^i-latiiii could, iliroiii;li an united iml'lic l'oie, -tieii^lh ; hut a- the iir-l iirojiosiiioii to which we all ajireed at the lirst Confeieiice, 1 thoii'^ht I Would jiive .-ome »X]iliination why wc had iinanimoii-ly arrivid at that re-nlt. ('heirs. ..\nother olijcitor ojipuses our ]irojeci heean-e Colonial I'nion i.s incon-i-tent with Imperial concdion, '\\'( 11, to that, we mitilit answer tliat w t' aie (piite willing to have it to the statc-na ii (■I the Km])ire tlunischcs, to iK ( ide that jioiiit. If I'ln^hind does not tiiid it ■". 1 think we may safely assume it is not so. And, in point of f.iit, tln' Imptiial rarliameiit se\eral Nearsumi dei ided the i|uestion when tin \ ]ia--((I the New Zealand Constitutional Ait, estalilisjiini; six or ^ivcn Local (ioNirnmonts, under one (hiicral (ioxeinnii nt. in that Colony. Chicrs. Slill another oiijidor coiiti nds that the ( oni]il( nieni of r'ldcrali^m is Hi puhlii anism, heiause mo-t of tla States with wliiili wc are familiar as j-'edeial Stati s, an :il-o Jtcjnililic-. Iiul thi- 'liitction i- hy no meuus unaii^weralih. It i-trui Swit/iilaiid i- a Kt pnldie ill the s( n-e ol liiivin;; no irieditaiy head, hut tlieCniltil Ndherlands, when a Coiiledeiacv, were not a Itcimhlic in that s( n-e ; it i-- true the I'nittd State> and .Mixico, and the Ainmtine jMtleralion- wire all |{iliuhlio, the e(iiii]iany at the hotel, or the Company who WWII the Imlel; hnt the orpini/atlon el' each is widely dillereid. Our I'ederation will I'e British; it will he of the fonrlh-class of Lord Colve's division, rA nintid niuilii — lor mutual aid. The only 1 1( uietit in il not I'litish is the si'ctional e(|iiali1y ]ii'ovided for in the I li])er House, a ]ainci]ile \\lii(li is Iciiown to he alik<' applicidil • to tin democratic Coiilederalion ne.\.l lis, aiul the monarchical Coiifi delation of (iennany. The hoii. iiciitlemau then )iroicedrd to uive an outline ol llio scheme ai;ree\vick, deliscnd hefnre tluir lonstitiieiits on tlair return from their Canadian tour. .V ;:realniass nieetin.iA was laid at Halifax on tli<' Dth Dccem'ier, to allord the opportunity to llu' dch u,;ite- of expressing their \ieMs on the -uhjcct of colonial union. \ltera few [irelimiiiai\ ohser\.ilion-, lloii. .Mr. .Mi Cully said: — Mr. flavor and (ieiit.lemeii, — I'ciliaps there has nevei heeii an ocr;i>ioii ill v\ lii( h an audience lilu' this has hei n called to^iether to cou-iih r a- iiioineiitous a (|ueslion as the one to he presented to this iiicttini;. The sidtject is one which ha- loiiu heeii discus>ed, hut it has hull K ceiitly preeijiitatMl u]ioii the ]aihlie iilleiitioii of Ihili'li Noilh .viiuiica in eonsecpK nee of i in iimstaiiK > ovei \\hiih Nova Si olia has iii> ( lUitrol. While our jnil.lic men were di-cii-siii;i the ;'d\anlaj;es of iiiiioii of the maiitinu' pcovinci s, Cjiiiada e.vti iided hi till 111 an invitiilioii to a more eiilarj;eil eoiisideration of tin ipn stioii, and out of that has aii^ni the Kpeit ol tin dehjiatt which \ve are called ii]ion lliis eveiiiiij; to e\]ilaiii. Hnt hi lo|e doiiii; so, i will call the altelitioii of the nu lim; to t he i oinliiioii in u liich tlicso provinces stand at lln pii ■•( iil iiioiim iit, and what in Ihi- di.u--iiiii wc liavc lu deal willi. J-vl Jiie le.U, liavi. Wi iheeUmeiil lu the J ,) . I 78 M'i;i:rn ov Tin: nov, mk. mwim.v now scotia ' I ' ■ ? i B !{ rmpiix' wlilili we arc ( inlravouriii;;' l)(),000 — \vc have n ])rolitic soil, a healthy climate, and in the vital pfatistics wo can compare favour- aMy with an_y otlni- ])nrtion of the iilol)e. We have, in tliis Hi'itish America, a mineral wealth une(juallcd in the same extent ef terri- tory in ai.y i)ait of 'lie world. ('ana(hi aliounds in iron and c()p])or ore — ''lu^ has 7, (•()() sipuire miles of territory pMihu in,u^ coal oil — slie ha-^ her honndlcss fonsts and lier mighty rivers — the St. Lawrence, Sajimnay, and the Ottawa. New lirunswick is a p;rcat and expaiid- inu: country, with liiuantic resunrces, contaiuini; the elements of wealtli. ^'ova Scotia is hchind in none of tliese particulars, ami can bring- lier ample (piola to the empire. I'rincc Kilward's Island, the little i^arden in the Straits of Xortliunihcrland, is nnrivalle(l in her a;i'rii ultni'al ca]Kiliilities; and Xcwfouudland, standiii;^ like a sen- timd in tlie St. Lawri me, lia:9 lier map:nitic(nt tisherics and lur mini ."f of ( o])p( r and lead. With the-e nmterials it is ]iro]ioscd to huilil \\]\ in th( St lititiidcs an ( nipirc under the Ihitish sw.iy. The nen s-ity of col.inial union was lln'l)ranc]i of the suiijcct con- lidcfl to th' Attorncy-fjcneral's < are, l>ut I am lia]i]n' to say, from till stat( of the pulilic mind, that there apjiear-- |o lie Ijlilc, if any, dJM rsify of ojiiiiion on the neec-sity of sunic kind of union; and I have yet to h arn th:it there exists in Ihes,. Culonies a pulilic nniii who denie^ tin iiice-sity of n muou. There will, perhaps, never he a time more l'a\onraliit to the s( till 1111 nt of thi> (|uestion than the present. We are pn sseil hy no exteinal inflium i >., hut, in a jtcace- ful I onditiou. \vc are iin iteii t O ('.111 -id( r the union of Col onu' and sneh a union n- will he (umluciveto tin lie.»t iatirest-- ol Oie pioplc. If, thin, the nice-- to our notice — le^'islativ. and federal. .\ h-risjatixt^ union means that there should he a unilorni >y.|,ituie. In refe- ri ni I to thi- kind of union, I ha\e Ik iid it said, and not in llalifiix alone, tli.it it woiild hi moiv iMnduci\e \n the iiiteri sfs of this Trovince thati anyotlnr; and we li,i\e had )iresented to ns the n-xnranee that it the Cojoin were uniti'd as (■real Itiiliiii I I- united, v\;\vonMhaM m >.tati' of tilings nion e.inimendatile than that whi' h will helnouuht ahout hv tin 1 1 K nu w hich W ( J lopiis(. . )i M'Ki'xir 01 run ikin. mi;, m cii.i.y .nova >c'i)Tia\ ' will ask your iiUciitioii lor a t'cw moments to that iiuioii oi' Great Jiiitaiu. \Vv liavc Iteei?. told that our system j^ives to Xova Scotia a rci)i'esriitatioii ol'oiily nineteen menihers in tlie IFousool' (,'oiumons, and tliat tliat nnmhtr is not sutlieient, and sliould never Inive been agreed to, and that tlie smaller Provinces are in danger of being ()verl)alan(ed and ovei])oweri(l by tlic pr( |ionir union with England. '{"here is aiiotbi r point on wliirji our terms are nioi'e favouralile iban tbeirs. It is will liiiowii tliat Irish and Scotch piers do not iiold ibcir dignities liy tlie same tenure as English lords; tlie latter are pc'crs by virtue of iioliility, wliile the former are elected 1o their scats, the Scot' b for •! railiaiuiut, tlic Iiisli for life, merely. Our eoiistitulioii, ri"-entation by iiopulatioii ill our logislatii ' 1 hold ' be fair, eipiitabli , and just. 1 have been a-ked, can you liiiiy represent u colony by taking iiojiulation as tlie s' :iley 1 iin>wer ) es, as to I olony against colony. 1 do not ]iro- niMiiiee il a jiropc r sealc for laifc cities like Loiiiloii ngaiiist a louiitv, but Imi- rioviin . with their ^niall towns and i \pan-ive (oiintiy ili-tn-ts, I niuiiitaiii it to be the tiic giiidi . Tbis prinei])le of II liic-eiitation iiy population is not the only ad\.iiitagi we gain, iis ' oiaparing onr positions with that of Sinllaiid and Ireland. What lia\e wi -eiuied'f' Not oiily ill the Lower llon»c bave we obtainc'l a fair repre-*ent.ition, but in ibe Ltgisl;(ti\e Council wi' Imvc secured a double repii SI ntation for Il»t Lower I'n^ iiu is. No\a Sfiolia, New lliunswicji, ami I'riln e Kdward's I-I.ihI lane a combined pojiiilatiMii "f about (i6t»,0, the jioimlaUoii oi Ipper Canada is l,;i«M»,UUO, 80 sl'KIXU ll!. M I'l n.V 'XOV.V StOTIA , 2 '1 ^ u "Thiit, ill till I'\'<1( Tilt ii 111 1)1' till r>riti-li Nu; ;li Aiiu rii in Piii\ iiiic-', tllr ^-y -trill >>[' f;n\crillllrllt In -t ;ii|il]itril, Iliuli I till' cxisiiii;;- ( in um- ^l;lliir<, til ]ircitn 1 tllr (liv( r-ili< il illtrli-t-- "1 tlir -.\(l;il lintv ilici ■-, ami tn -I run clHi ji m y, liiinimiu , ami ]u rniaiiciiry in ilir wiiikinn o|' (lie I'lii.iii. w.'iilil III .1 p'ii()';il L>i)\(rniiHiit iliargnl wiili niatti i of cimimim iiiti ii -t t^ (In w Imlr < o;nitiy ainl Imil f^oNrninu nl . |m| (aril i.r llic Caiiaila-. ami liir tlw I'ntvimo •<{ Nomi Snitia, Ni w ItniP^wi. Iv, aiil I'riiiK Kilwanl h!aml, - liar^cd with lln. emiln.l ul Imal matUr- ill tin ir iv-jnitivi -u tinii-.' It \\r liail -II nil il J ii ;'i-lali\r miii'ii, all tlii- Im a) liii-im— wmiM liav( ^fi'in tu till (iiiuial I'iiiiiaimiit. N«i\a S utia i mil'l iml liaxi a single Innlp ruiitnilli il m lia\« iii' i.i|iiirati il the imi I in- i;jiiili ml .i-MHiatimi : tin niaiiauvnunt nf -m li iiiatl' i wiui.j Im.i -Mm tun liiuiiamvut kii'jwiii^^ littlv m iiulhiiii; ui' um .ui.cru- ; wliik it i 'If Sl'KIXII (>V Ttn-; HON. MK, M'Cfl.LY (X0V\ SCOTIA;. 81 res (lnulil<'il, l(:lf i'Ul in tllc gcs (iT Sinn II 1 Scdtiii luivr I .'iiiil ;im])!c iricllj to ])Vn- ir. J I'cvl it t IIksc ciiH- II ,i;'(ii(.rn>ily, ^\o -todd mi if l(',!,n'sla(ive Diic dl' thoc Mu ivprcscii- tllr (iilM'Tll- iiitii's, Imt in tiiti'iu at all, lir tumid tliat I I'roviiK cs. ill till' lci;i-- \ irtiic III' a liavc I'l I 11111- -I.itixi' rninii aA'fs cacll tlir I 111' its Imnl IT a'hiHita.uc, II lie (Icrivril iweis til the Html a lai-i' .iiplc (if cai h 'I' Diir iv]iiirl 111 Piiix inn -, •liii;;' ciri iiin- al iirii\ ini'i --, till wiirkiiii; w illi matti I rl'linii III . Ill)' Siotia. Ni w 111. (iintrnl dl I -nil— woiijil |||| mil Ikim ill' iuiiili ant I.I '-:"ii( In a ; wliiic it i th" ])riii(i[)]i' uf till' I'cilcral union that llic Gciirral Govci'limeut dials Diily with those iiialtt-Ts whidi ath'ct tlio wliolc ))ody of the nation. ]5y rorcrciicc you will sec that the local iioviTunicuts arc rliaijiytl with thr matters of education, sale of provincial lands, lisheries, inaiiaj;vment of ])eiiiteiitiaries, prisons, loeal Avorks and local sulijeits of eveiy kind, which llicy are hcst ahle to control. .Nor liav( we too servilely ailojited any I'orm, tor I. contind that the union we jiropose is a lej;islative union t'oi' all heneiicial ])ur])oses, and a leih ral union for all hemhcial purposes. We have adopted no such lederal union as e.\.ists in the Uuili'd Stati's, hut haviup the liistory of that ri]niiplie iiefore us, and peretivinj; the AVeaker portion III its constitution, we have taken caix to avoiil tlii' rock on whidi tliey secju to have s])lit. That ro))uhlic was composid of a society of slates, and in formiiif;- their union they coiil'erred certain limited pi'Wersoii the General Government, reservinp' sovirei^n ])owers to the individual states. This it was that (livi(h(l Jefferson and Hamilton in their early liistory, hut our sehenie ]U'ovides that the liowcrs of till' hical }>overnnuiits shall he .so s]iecitii' and definite that all tlie powers lucessary for the management of the natiou -liall resifU' in the Gi'iierai Goverumeut. in our (on-titutiou wo I an have no such disturhin<;' elements as shivery and state rights. There was, howevir, another most im])ortari'i dilHciilty in the way I't a le^islativi' union. If we had four millions of people, all iiii- liia^sed and uu]irejmli(ed, it ini;iht lia\( heeii liron.dit ahout; hut it was not a prinii easy with ns — the materials were jiivcn and Ave had to deal Avith them as we found tlieiii. In Xova Scotia, \ew liriins- w i( k, I'riine Edward's Island, and Xcwfouiulland, we have ii homo- ;:eneoUs ]ieii]iU>, similar in laws, laiiiiiiaiif, and lelijiion, and with these colonies then v .mid lia\e hi c n hiit little ditliculty in hriiij:ing ilioiit an nnifoi'mit . ; luit in I, ower Canada tlnie wen the doceii- ifints of a pioiid ])eople, AVI ddcil tinnly tu the iii'-titntioii> which llii \ had iiiln rited, and aci u-toineil to Ik ini;' i-oNiini'd liy the i ivil, ill I oiitra-di-linction to the loninion law. Tin se ])eople Avoiild have looked on sin h a nn asure a-- roMiinu' tlnni of their aciv hoi|s( lioM ,uods. My own leanin:;s had hceii in faMHii of a lii;islati\e uniori of the Colonic-, hut whin we came to \ie\\ the dittii iiltic - and adAaiilajics Jilt -iiilcd, 1 foiiind the iipiniou emhodied in tin report, and fmm that I have sime -i cii no rea-oii to iicedi. ! hille\c that any man, \ iewin^' these matters fairly, will come to the lonclu-ioii at which we have all arrivi d ; Im it is rmt to he ■•aiu-aid that the lon^- (-taldished customs of a people like the Lower Canailians were not to he tou« lied without ( xtrcme tmdi mess and (arc. and to lia\e funiied a Coiifcili latioii ot ihitish North Americans, csi liidin}; mori' tliaii a million of the pi opl. , would have lui n an ahortioii. Iiidi- |M ndeiit III that I I'lisidi latimi, I li.iMioini to the louclusion that ■uili all union a- wc piopobe, diNe--liiiii the I'Vdeialiun of the dilii- 1 b-2 sri;i:i ii I ill; ll hccn>sit)n, we will he most ha])py to ado] it it. The time ha- arrixed in e.i' histniy, sir, when nun hegin to feel the necessity of having a '^vstci!) of governnu lit which will centrali-e our poweis and enahh^ u^, when danger and ditlicuhy come, tn know where our .-trength \u>. Eight or ten years ago 1 remeiiiher passing thi-e lohmie- under the same (leliisio)i still. It Would he no siirpri-ing thing, after what \m- havi' seen there, if in one, two, or three years, we were called ujion to sumiiinn all our em rule 1- tor the jirotei tion of our lilnTties and our country, i ask it not wi-eand pi'iidcut to provide against such a jiossihilily '.•' That i- another of the reasons why tlie puiilic men of the ]iro\inc(- -ent o]iiiortunity, which [ do not think will nouli I not allow th ]>]V (\ir jivcsiiit it-elf again, to jia-s nnimjiroved. Is it not the duty ^incc liitii in the a-eciidaiit. Is it nothing for liki iiur-. w ilh a tlioii-aiid mile- of -ealioard, l, m.v.v. nova scotia.) 8;3 (111 tliis suliji'ct ; (iiic ivpii — 'lit- till' iiiiiiuy iimdc aiiil llic ntluT llir iimiicy iniildiiu-, mid I tiiul (lint i)(()]ilc wlm li.ivc money lu nuiki' an' all ill t'avoui' of Coiit'cdcratioii. It (i|miis a Jicid for youiii;' ami cntcr- jirisiiii^' men siicli as has ii('\cr ])rrsfiitr(l itstlt' hilnrc in any pai't ol' till' world. Tlic cdiirationist, tin' a.^riiulturist, tlir nuinnla.etiircr, tlir artisan, and tlic prorcssional man will liav( a bound' ss realm Ibr entevjirise. I dn not auree with tliose wlio would clieck the rising' amliitiou ol'lhe youni;' men of dur cMuiitry. I deliL;ht to see tlieiii elaimiiiii- to take a liift'her stand, and I leel we have heeu ton lon;^' ehatinj;' within the liars which di\ide us tVein the outer world. As one of the ])ul)]ii; men of tlie country, and as mie of llu' Oppositidii, 1 do nut feel ashamed to say that 1 am williuu,- to work side by side in siieh a srlienie as this with nun to whom in otlur matters 1 stmid oii])osed ; if others M'ould but -hAs their ])ri\a(e iiiti'i'ests, tin y might aid II-- in edueatiu;^- the ]iidilie mind to the re(|uii'em> nt of sueh a plan as we ])ro])ose. If time ]iermi1ted 1 miiilit iKcitjiy another hour, but I refrain and eoni-liide by e\pre--in,u' my eonvietion that it is alike the juivileiic of IIm-c op])osed to (he idau wbieli lia> bet'U laid before you to pi\e a [)\c expression of (heir o]>inioii as it is the duty of others to sup]toit it, in order that the '-ub- jeet may reeeive that consideration and attention which its vaat iinpovtunce deserve applause. .\. (}. .\ia.iiiHM,ii, lvi[., ^l.r.r., tiieii roH' and -jioke to the followlnn' elfect : — It is an in)])or(ant fact in the history of the Cimfereuci^ held at (iuebi (• (hat its main conclusious ha\'e I'eeeixi'd so unanimous a -iqiport from (he ^euth men who wc re a--embled as (lie leiu'eseiidi- ti\(s of (he ditfen lit l'ro\in<(s, 1 do not mean to as-ert lliat in ( \ei'\ particular (here was a unaiiinioii- voice — that lias ni ver heen loiind in anv loufercmi'; imt we ap])eai' before yoii with the state- ment (bat We Were all ailiiated by om desire and (hat our cou- rliisiniis ujioii (he main points were unanimous. My colleaii'iie lias remarked that he is not surprised (o tind the cNisteUd' of opposition to tin SI heme jirojioiiuded. Mad it iiosMssed no elements of imper- fection, i( is inipossiblc that i( woeld liaxe received uuixi'i'sal saiictoiu, but impressed as it is, and miis( ]<,-, we suliject it most williniziy to your eii»ici».m. It is a iiroviileiitial eir( um^taui e tint e\eii jterlect s(']ieine>v .1- far as perfi etion in anything,- human can tie had, are not iieeixed without great I are and delilu ration ; .hkI I can assure you that amoiiL; (hos(> griideinen w bo went u]> to s live in atlhume and die the owners of a shijt, a nunc, of a farm. Well nuiy the peoph' of Kngland ask us what, with all our advantages, we do for our own defcuct'. We thought ourselves veiy gi uerous last yi'ar when we voted an annual a]ipro]>riation of ,S'J'J,00(l to our militia organization, and what does that amount to':' Littli' more than six ct uts per head, while last year tlie Army and >iavy cost the peoph' of Knglanil l''iit,(l()0,()t)O steiHuM, amounting to ti\( dollars ]nr man. Does anyone bcliext that wluii tli" peoi)le of the old woild are paying a hundred cent'^ to our one, th.ey are going to coutiiuie jintting theii- hands in their pockets to do the work of wln{ h we refuse to bear u fair share r (ii>a1 llritain has bt en and is a generous parent, Itut it is tinu- that the <\\\\,[ should do siiniething for its own su])])ortaud liiat wt -hould liegin to put onr own slionldeis to the wheel, if we d' 1 Urn to do this, i- tlien anyont .so silly as to suppose that Kngland Avill continue To lii:ht oui- Iialtles'.' W<' uird not talk aljout tlie M.n li.-t er liool of iMiliticial I- or any otuei •hool IS it common SI ii-c to cspi 1 1 l-higland to do all \\ bile we do iiothing '.■' Let us do w liat \\i ought toward- lair own deieiict ell' ' i-|'iill\ h ml tlun Kngland will ip her ranks aud nuiu lar licet- in our suppnrt. While M si'Ki;cJi ()!•' .Mi:. .vjtcnJisAi.i), M.r.r. (^xova son'i.v. Hj tl;ib t'ccliiiii' of ]'i ..ictaiicc to do our work is i^rowiiig' u]) in Eiip:l;ni(l, Ihorc is j.«T0Aviiifi' up side l)y sid(^ witli it on tliis sidu the Atlaiitii.'. )(iur- lic the dauiicr tliat slic may lu- culled ujion to do it. In our mi,u,liJ Hood \vv s fc a nation, fonncrly ccltljiatcd lor its devotion to t Ijiaceful arts, suddenly beconiinj;' a nation ot "wiirriors ; we find an :inny of five or six hundri'd thousand disciidimd men en^ati'd aud •stained l)va ])eo]^le wlio foni' y ears an'o were um ler tl le "D police force of 10,000 nun. Is if jjos'^ible tlie l)eop Kn.iiland can look at tins witliout seeiii;^ the daUiier it iirvolvts HI vernment of It iiv 1)0 said that tlie nu,llier-eonntrv derives a ureat ;idvanta"'e fi'oni lii'elyto increase our taxation, ('; ada has a hii;li tariff of twenty ])er cent., ami ours must be raised to conformity." If that were true, there Would be somethinji' subst.i:itial in the ol)jection, but let us ibr a moment look at our leal . aditioii. Do peojde imai:iiie that at our ])i'esent rate of taxation we are iioin^- to have all tlie iiuijrovenuiits ])roinised us in Xoviii Scotia, even leaving' out the (iiustioii of couledi'ratiim ? There is the railroad contracted for to I'ictou ; there is the mythic ;d one to Annaiiolis ; and if you will have .i i;'overnnunt which it, determined to fasten that expense on you, that is not my fault but your own. (I.au^hter. Hut are you to enjoy tluse advantai;cH without i)ayir;j,' for them':' It 1 can show you that without eonfe(U'ration yi..ii taxes mu>t 1k' incn^ased, you must ]>ut the tax to the rijiht acceunt ; it does not beloUii' to federatiou. Our present public debt is five millions, in addition to whii h we have contracted for a road to rictou, the iirobabh' cost of whith is a niatter in dispute betwein the editin' of the Clirdiiirlr and the editor of the Culnnlfit. Suipo.-e this Avould cost S2, 000, 000, and sujipose anotlur iiullioii of (h)lh .s to he incurred, whether iminei)eily or not, for the Annapcdis :-oa(l— this liives you !i sum of S8, 000,000, on whi( h von liavt' intvrest to pay. The inttre>t amounts to SISO.OOO. iNow last year we had a iv\eiiue of SH(')1,000 ; we sjh nt on interest S-*01,000," and Wi' divoted to -eueral iiurjiosis the lialaiice of S(100,000. Let us -ive iie.xt year an eipial sum, and anybody may see that we wi'dneeda leveiiiie which will pioiiiiM^ us Sl,O«O,00t). Are voii .U1U11I4, then, witii the prisent taiilf. to meet this expiuscV Your ttirilt' uuisl be raised. You ha\e bad the misfortune to select ;i (lovciiimeiil of whiih 1 did not appio\(, imt beinii' i)os-^essed courideiicc tiicv base thoULiht proiiei' to im iir certain I tell y.ai'lbe result i^ a burden ot 81, ()«(). 000. And h:d of del'c'iae : Are Voli p'W^ to till the jit ..ple of o| \our expenses, ami tbell, w: 8fi ^I'l'iicii 111' Ml!. .\i;iiMii\i.ii, M.r.i'. :n(iv\ ' >n\. if EuiiLiinl lliiit --ix cent'- ;i licml is nil you arc .H'oinij,' Id ]);iy I'm' yuui' security? 1> that the price at wliieli you value your lilicrties and your coinieition with the firitisli cni|iir(' y As ouc, I should l)c asliauii'd to stand U]) in the 1,< 'islatuu' and say 1 was content with -ueli an apiiiu]>riatiou. 1 ! > I that that man is not wortliy the name of Nova Scotlan wlio is iinwillinji' to contriljutc his fail' share I'oi Ids ( ountry's dehiire. 8100,(100 would not he an e.\ees-.ive \()tc. That Would add to the ]U'es(iit exixnscs s7,S,00(), that makes an amount of $1,1.")S.OOO, and tlii^we must meet without cout'ederation. in addition to this, 1 supiiost' you will aslc for tlie Intereohiuial railroad. That ini]ili(s Confederation, for 1 ask yon to dismiss the delusion tlial that hoon ^\ ill e\ei' he ohiained withmii union. My aiiamlonin^- the Ainiaixilis sihenic we uii<;hl i)ossilily secui'i' a connexion with Monctou. that v ould ( (jum • t ilalii'ax and St. John'.s, lint alter that is done you are just where you hei: !i ; but let ('onfi'derali"n come, and il hrinus with it eonuection with c\eiy part of ..Xoitli Ameri( a. in addition to the Intereulonial line, if Lii\c-- you the Xorth Ameriiaii and Muropi an llailway, rouueetiiit;- you with the thirty nnllious of peo]ilf o| the I'luted States. Are the-e surli -mall advantaiics as to he refu-ed, if they are olier( d to 11- on !■( asona'ile t( rms ? It has lieeu stated to you that we (an ha\e the In ueiils of Confi deration without inenrriuu' a laip' ;idilitioual exjicn-e 1m \dnd what we -hoidd lia\e to frai- without it; and yon will ])roliahly ex]p(-et me to |»i(jve it. 1 am ]H(|)aied to do so, ami if any one can rhalleiip the -lat( na nt, I w ill h( inepared to ^i\e up thc' aijiunu nt. What 1 I onti lid tor i- that w i in -s have, hy acre] ii in:;' this scheme, all the ad\untai;cs \ \]:[\r (numerated, without iiieurrini; a hitiher rate of taxation than thric dollars a head. Without Coafedeintion and without any of the works at ine-ent in contenqdalion — without the I'ietuu l!ailwa^ — without tin Annapolis itailway, y(ni jiay S'J.Oi) pir head. If you lia\ e the I'ietou Uailway — if y(Hi must lia\e eitlur the Annaiiolis Kailway or the eonneetioii with .Moiietoii, yon will hu\^ to pay thive dollars a head at h a-1 : hut take ( 'oufedcra- tion, and you can ha\e all these and the Inleivoluuial and J'luropeau besides, ami pro^ iiie fairly for your defeuee. AN e are, therefore, ]ironii cd eveiy advanla;:e whieh a pro\ iuee can have; we will retain ■«U( h funds a- are iieces.-aiy for our loi al wants, and as will siitKi c for all othi r i'e(piircmcnts. If tluic be a iai-t;dcc in thesi ealeulations I. (an only say I have decei\cd mvself. They arc such as re(piire no fiuam ial ability to make, but -ii'eh as any iitutlcman aecii-tomc'l to iiiiain ial calculations can make for liiiiix If at tlu' cx]i( use of a little tiiia . I have -aid that our revenue la-t^ y(ar \\a- SS'lKooo, but it i< unfair to count on this as our ordinary n \( nuc J,a-t year our -liip|)iuu iutere-ts were ju'osjierous to an ( xtraoidliiary ( xl( lit ; we ( icated •-liiiipinii liy buildinii' to the ( xt( 111 in Nalih o| S-J. (Mill, (100, and the aitis'.ii./cii.-ai'cd in this si'Kr,( ir nr .-mi;, AiiCiiir.M.ii, M.r.r, (nova ^^cotia, !W - and Id 1)C with IV the sIkuc \ otC. Jraliiiii. |i)lnnial i-< llic II. liy iirr a .Idlm'.s, but let rWlV iiic, it lu rtiiij;' A IV ■led tij lirancli of indiistiy imist have ((msiiiiU'd a laruo amount of diiti.ibU ^■00(1 ictiiniiiu Tl nil, a a"iuii, we liad SU,0()0,()()0 worth of slu])s alloat, iiiotlicr luillioii was Hi pi fit of 12i per ctnt on llu' cajiital su invrstcd; tlic rcsidt ; and i ask you, with these liu.ts hit'oic you, if 0111' sliijipin^' interests slaiuld delinc, if our sliip- anldinn' shouhl (U'crei an revenue lie sustaiiie( 1? A- d freijihts become prolitli'Ss, will aiii, oui' (1(1 roll)) rni ( Int our 1C3 are in an ihnonnal state owiiii^' to the eondilien of affairs in tlie United States. .Let pcaoe eoiiu — let eotton conic down to its former \alue and a — let Avoolleii and otlier "oods follow they would follow, arnc sum wi 11 ' 'riierefore, it wil iis a criterion, averaji'e from t which w ill of the Atlantic, attracted liithei' by the trad(> which will be broiijiht by a p,'reat line of imilway connecting I'very part of the coutinint ; we Avill then most need a steam service C()nne' ourselves with the islands of I'rince Ed\\'ard and Is\^wfi)undlan«l, jind for that and for what Canada mav still desire for the St. Lawrence I allow S3()(),()00. The revenue of Xova Scotia will be taken out of our hands ; its collection costs us ;it ])resent about 7 i)er cent. — that of Canada costs abou^ fi jicr cent. I therefore allow, for the expenses attending' the collection of the revenue, S7C(),0()0, and having done all this, I throw in for contiuficncies a sum of Sl!)7,(i();5. Here is a total of S12,0(H),()()(), which, iimonf^' 4,()()(),()00 of people, comes to S;J man for man. To show yon that I have madi' allowance for everthinf>', I have not ert dited one shilling for the revenue which the ])ublic works will yield, and which in ISIW amounted to SOdO, (){)(). I iini coiitiih'nt that our railways will be(ome year by year more and more i)ro(luctive until they ultimately, when in full blast, will M-i]»e otf the debt they have tlii'owu on the Confidiratinu. 'L'he time may be distant, but it cannot be doubted that when our lines of railway have c(mnected us with the Cuiteil States and Canada, s,,iiie i)oi1ions of those lines will begin to add largely to the e.M he(|uer. 1 think you will all confess that when i have put down no su( li credits I have evinced no desii-e to over- colour or ovir-value tlie ])i(tui'e, and if that be the case, who is there, bearing the name of a Xova Siotiaii, who would not be lager to seouT for liis country blessings at so low a price ? Js there a man in this audience who will stand up and say he is not willing to have these advantages in return for a tax of U) cent- a head? If there he, such an one shoidd be daguerreotyped for ])osterity. The term " abs.iq)tion" has been very fret'ly used in this discussion. Sir, I never yet beard of the absorption of a ])oor ((Mintry into a licli one ; Scotlanil was afraid of being absoi'bed in Knglaial,' but it has been found that Sioti hnien have lieen suci essfnl in absorbing whatevei' was go(jd in Kngland. 'J'here will be a gre:ilei- scope given by union to the brains (.r our ])eo]ile, and if Xo\a Siotiaus have the sliare of that commodity which they (laim. tliey will have a good Held for enteriuise here. It is evident that "by the growth of "Western Canada that sc( tion of the Conl'edi racy will lie ahle to lift the d"bt from oar shonMers in the sana' rate"astliat in wliitli it increases, and ean any one iloubt the jn'obaliility of a vast increase when it has so exi)andcd itself during the la-t dVcade, when the Avhole stivam of immigration was pianvd o\er the piairies of the Western States. Diiring that linu , with all thi> tide of Mumigratiou llowing in upon Sl'JiECn Ol' mi. AliCIlIIIAM), M.lM'. f\UVA SCOXIA.) 89 tluiu, the population of the United Htatcs incrodsid only at tlio rate of 3^ per cent, per anmini, while the population of Western Canada during- the .same period increased at the rate of 4^ per cent, per annum. Let peace come, and Avheic Mill immif>ration flow ? Look at the state of industry on the different sides of the British frontier. In the States at thi' closo of this ycai' their deht cannot be less than S2,000,000,()00 ; their annual int'erest will he SI2(),()()(),0()0, Avliicli will be a burden on the jxipulation of the loyal states — men, wonu'n, and children — of S.3 a head. Tliis has to be raised year l)y year, and therefon' tlu' industiy of every American must bear the burden ; every man must pay on what he eats, or drinks, or wears, or uses, this enormous annual tax. And what have they to represent this hufiv expenditure? Devastated homesteads, pil'lajicd towns, tiiousands of men drawn from the ait and industry of the country to till its hospitals as cripples, Itut not by a single pidilic woi'k. Our Confedi'ration Avill lane its debt iiprest-nted by extensive and productive Avorks, built on tlie l»road siul'are of tiie soil, cicating and developing the resources of our conutry. Tla'refore llie nun who lu'reafter go to seek their fortunes witliin tlie bounds of tin' American republic will hud tlial they must su])port a tax of Sj per liead to pay tlie interest on a debt Aviiiili re])resenls nothing; Avhile with us they can have a country a;- good with small taxation, Avilh more security, and under freer institutions. Under these circum stances, is Canada to go on increasing only in tlie sanu' rate as when she reieived but the dribldets of this tidi' of immigratitm ; and can any reasonable man say that this tide shall not be ( liaiiged from its I'ornier ess. With a ( ountry tilled with to 1S(>1 avc h'lve doubled our (i>al trade, ami the ri'vcniie lias risen from S2i),0()0 to S 1(»,0()0. will it not double itself again in a Ic'AV years, and enable us >n |)rovi(h' IVom that fund alone all that Ave re(|uire for educalion and for the maiiagenunt of our roads and bridges, and our ittlar hical conciiiisy This does not include the revenue from our gold lields, and that ba-^ yiehhd this year S1-"), 000 abuve till' costs of its i ollei tioii. See if thl^se aihaiitages do not plai e us in a position superior to thai i>f our neighbuurs. This statement of our iniiieral resiain cs is mie that I wiiuld imt like to have made in Canada ; it is too nnu h like " letting the cat out of the bag," for, although we lbu> tilitaiii iin unfair advantuge, yet the superiority is one that might ha\e lieeii linked on with suspicion. M'.: I h- 00 si'KKcir OF Ml?, Alien niA Ml, M.r.r, (.\ -way of uianufac- tures that has only for its market about 50,000 heads of families? AYheii we can undersell everybody else the whole M'orld will be our market, but till then our home market is our only market. It is the union which the United States have had, and which has given them a market of ;jO millions of lonsuincrs that has made them the manufacturing' country tlu'y are. Wi' have all the elements Avhich Great JJritain had, and which have madi' her the manufacturer ol' the worhl. The coal, in every hillside where it lies, is a reservoir of undi'veloped energy, which reprt'scuts exhaustless manufacluring power. Ill refeu'iice to our manufacturing capabilities L will take- one instance. The manufacture of spirits has Ih'I'U abolished in this l)roviiKe, hut sup])osing it to be can'ii'd on ; in the first plac(>, for nearly every cargo of fish ^\■e export we get back a cargo of molasses; how easily couhl that be cliaiiged into the mmv ])(irtable artich' of spirits, enabling Halifax alone to siip])Iy tlif wants of till' mIioIc cdiifederation ? Then, again, what is lo prevent us em});ii'king in nianufaitiires of Piiielteil iron? Our coal is at our doors. We have in.'u in any (piantity ; but if our iron is too good to bo put to the commoner uses, let us take the iron A\hi( h nniy be bnaight to us in ballast day by duy, and what is to ])revcnt us Iroin sujiplying at a cliea])er rate than any other part of the Confederation the whole of the large demand Avhich the Union Mill create ? Possessing, as Ave do, these great resources, it is Avitli the gi'eat(>st ho])efiilness that i hiok ujjon the future of our peojjle ; and if we look at the Aast Xorth-'W'est, avo must sec that the time is not fai' distant Avheii Ave ■>' '" have there four, five, or six million coiisuniers of our geods. j secure tiicse advantages by breaking doAvn our hoNtile tarilf's, a,^. Avill say that Ave have not leceiM'd the value of this forty cents per head? AVlien your rc])resentatives Avere at the ('onfereiic(>, they felt they had your interests in their liamls. They thouglit not of tlieir parly or till ir politi' -.; they thought not of personal animosities or political rivalries; they felt and acted as Xova Scot ians, and they did tlieir best to SCI are your interests. There is something in tlie grandeur and iiiiiiiensity of this ([uestioii to r:iise it al»ove the siuall feelings wliich the discussion of our ordinary jiolitics engenders ; and I am ])roud to say to you that in all fiiir deliberations avc had Imt one voire and one feeling when Ave felt tliat your interests were at --take. It is for tile peojtle of Nova Scotia to ratify or njeit what we liavi' done. If it will not ]iromote their iutiMcst — if they believe the result Avill be injurious and not Ik net'u iai, h t theiu reject it ; but if they fill, as we have felt, that their future prosperity and happiness Sl'KKCII (»r TTIK nox. C. TUl'PER (xOVA SC()T1a\ 91 It's i aiv identified with and iiisciwvabU' iVom union — if the time i.s now ronie forit, — let them be equal to the emer»eney; let tliem accept tlie position whieli we believe the i)ro}>Tiss of events and tlieir omu true interests render necessary fur their future happiness and pros- ]ierity. (Applause). l)r. Turn:!!, the Hon. IVovineial Secretaiy, said : — During tlio able and eloquent address of the Hon. Mr. MeCully, in opeiiiu}!;' this Meetinp;, in the warmth of arjiument tlie ho'n. L'litleman forji'ot tV: not th moment that he of the Lej-isiature of liis country, and said "the House v.'ill l)erceive." I felt at the time tlie full furc(> of tlie words and the appropiiateness of the term lie us^;d. If we l)e not in tlie l)resence of I'arliament, M'e are in a more iiujwrtant presence still, — we are addressiiiji' those who make tlie Parliiiment. To the honour of Nova Scotiaiis be it said, to the honour of every class of ])ublic men and to the ])i'ess (if the country be it said, that the fi'reat (juestion of intercolonial union bus been held too sacred and exalted to lie made tnie of ])arty disjmte or factional feclinj;'. Ten years a.n'o, when the lion. AJr. Johnston, mIio I am now proud to see on the lU'Uch of his country, drew tlu' attention of the lief;islature to tliis subjc'ct, it was taken u]) in an exalted spirit by both ])arties in the ILaise, Down to tlie present time no parly called upon to exercisi' the functions of p,'oveiiiment e\t'r touched this subject Avithout feeling that i»u it they could safely ajipeal to the patriotism of the cimutry, therefore the ])eople have tln' assur- ance that the matter shall bi' dealt Avitli purely on its own merits, nd that it will stand or fall according as its advocates are able to carry to the iiitelligeiit minds of their fellow-countrymen the (on- viction that their inti'ivsts are bound up in the great question of Con federation, \\\' are determined that this scheme shall be thoroughly sifted by you, so that if it does not (onimend itself to the favour of the ])eople, those opposed to it will have the ojipor- tunity of knowing that their oimiioiis have received due attention. Your delegates have dealt with it in the most careful mannei'; they liave met togethei', as called, to ( misider the ni'cessity of providing a new constitution for their country. 1 believe there is a gicat seiitiineiit of loyalty pti'Aading every section of Ihitisb Aiiieriea fiom one end to the other; there is as much of seiitinieiital and jiersoual loyalty as ever existed in any country under the snn, but ajiart from that there is a strf>r.g current of that loyalty which liroceeds fi'om self-interest, and Avhiih springs from the feeling that, uiah'r Jhitish institutions, the ])eople have an amount of pcixonal security for life, ]iro])erty, and liberty not enjoyed under any other fiovernnieiit in the Avorld. The ])eo])le sent n-* together not to onsi(hr the iik ans of -on on the Thi'oiie, l)iit to iiii|uire how I far we could advance our interest iu toujieetiou A\ith the parent •h . if,, im n;! i! I 92 si'Ki;cif «ti' Tin: uox. c tvi'1'i;r (nova scotia). Stiito, and tlioy wisely sent iis :it ii time when avo wore not oon- vulst'd by the tlnoos of civil strife, but wlion Ave can meet in the midst of peace and pvcspority to consider the means of securin;^' onr privile}>'es. Thc>re is no man acfiuainted with our institutions wlio does not know that they must chanssiug, independent of the Eed Kiver country and British Columbia, an area of 40(),0()() square miles, a population of 4,000,000, and a trade during the i)ast year auiouuting to $137,250,000, aa'O feel aa'c liaA^e the materials of Em])ire. Onr rcA'enue Avill bo betAveeii $14,000,000 and Slo, 000,000, and these facts have forced the couAiction on the minds of the people that our prosperity may be still fuither enhanced l)y removing the Avails of psu'tition thai divide us, and by uniting our common inteicsts and abilities. ]liit the ([uestion has recently assumed a ])osition of more importance than couM attach to it as a meic (luestion for ])hilosophical discus- sion. We have bi'cu called upon to measure the efHciency of our energies as a united peojjle as comjjared Avith those of a diA'ided State. AVe have seen, Avithin the last fcAV yi'ar>, u great commercial country in our ntighbourhood plunged in a civil Avar, become one of tho most gigantic militaiy PoAvers the Avorld has ever seen. !N^ot only that, but Ave have l)een inqiressed Avith the fact — Avhich the exponents of public opinion in that country show — that from one end of it to the other there exists a groAving feeling of hostility in the pu})lic mind to oursehes and the State Avith Avhich Ave are connected, — a fact Avhich must conAiuce us that all our inten sts and ])rospects require that Ave should assume noAV such an attitude of determination as Avill insuri' tor us tlie respect of our livals and the assistance of the mother country. And Avho is there Avho does not see that England recjuires that our attitude should be changed, and that the time Avhen slie felt called on to provide all the means of our defence has passed aAvay? If \vi' value the lUitish conmction Ave must assume a neAV attitude — oni' tliat Avill give the peo])h' of Eng- land the assurance that her ettbrts on our behalf have been appreciated and sustained by co-operation on this sidi' of the Atlantic^ There is a?iother reason still Avhy this pioposal has been forced on the public mind — it is the tact tliat Canada has outgroAvn her Constitn- ti(m, and that Avhether Ave wished to join her or not, the time had arrived Avhcn she nnist have a change. I need not tell yo\i that the vice Avhicli has grown u]) in Canada is one whieh Ave have avoided — that vice AVas the amount of representation irrespective of populu- si'KKCu 01' Tui; HON. c. iitpku (nova scotia). 03 tion, iiiid it is one that has culiniiiati.'(l in icmlorinf;' govciiruent impossible. Of hite years Upper Canada liad advanced with a f^ant l)aee, but that arranf;-enient of represi-iitatiou under Avliieh slic hiy ])roduced sueh an amount of antagonism as rendered government under the same Constitution, as I have said, a practical impossibility. It therefore became necessary that new measures should be devised ]»y the statesmen of that country, and as tlu'y found we were all actuated by the feeling that the time had arrived for a universal ihange, they took the stt'p of soliciting co-o])eratiou on our part. Fi'om the tirst we felt the greatest barrier to a union to be tlie want of a sufficient eounectinn, and you will all admit that when that difficulty is removed th(.' most insuperable barrier will have been l>r()keu down. We are able to tell you now that, although without tlie intercolonial line there will be no lasting Confederation, yet if Confederation takes place that means of connection is secured. Another objection to the union arose from the argument that Canada would come into the Confederation burdened with a lieavy debt; tliat objection has been removed, for Canada, by the present scheme, enters on perfectly ('(jual tenns Avith the rest of us. From tlic financial position of Canada this other difficulty arose, that for the last few years that Province had to meet a deliciency in its revemie ; J am happy to say that also is i-cmoved, and that Canada not only comes "into the scheme with an e(iualiscd debt, but that, in common with the n-st of us, she can i>nter with a surplus of many hundred thousand dollars. 1 need not tell you that, this being tlie, case, the delegates cami' to the conchisnm that if arriingenu'nts could be made in i)roviding this Ctmstitution, by which the rights and intt'i'ests of Nova Scotia could not only be secured but greatly enhanced, we were Ixmnd to give every attention to the uknius of obtaining such a provision for tlie country. What we wish is tliat i'wry one of these arrangenu'uts may be submitted to tlu' greatest scmtiny. If it ajjpears that they possess the advantages which we lu'lieve' they do, it will be strange if thty do not commend theiu- si'lses to the active-minded i)eo])le of Xova Scotia, and do not receive tlie sup))ort to M-hiih they are entitled. The gentlemen who have ]U'ecede(l me have shown you most ch'arly the advantages of a federal as compared witli a legishitive >iiiioii. I do not think it necessary to taki' that view of the (juestion at all, for 1 believe it to l)e ustlcss lor men and statesmen to sjicnd time and attention on that which is ]iiacticallv impossible. J,oolxiiig at the character of the Jlritish American jieoph', we felt it would be idle to urge ui»(in the Con- fereiii'e suih a union as that Avoiild signily, and I feel it, therefore, unnecessaiv to dwell more at hirgc iip(Pii that ]>ortiou of the subject, but woiild"say thai I believe no one could li-^1eii to these gentlemen without feeling coiiviiieed lliat this ledeial iniioii i> not only wisely and judiciuu'^ly arinnge(l, hut that it cuiifer> on us large advantages Ironi which a legihul u-< out. With regard if) 94 si'KKcir OF rm; iioy. c. rriTKU ;'\uva scotlv; to the inundation of tlii-^ sclicnic, I bcliovc tliiTC MMs not n man \<.\ tlic ContV'ivnco -who -would not liavo I'olt humiliated by nskiufj; any otlu'V rcprosi'ntalion than that hy population, and I can salVly say that no otlu^i' ])rincipli's would lunc f>iven to Xova (Scotia all the Avt'i<);ht and intlucuco to which she is entitled. The other advantages of th(> sehenie are, that the pjrcat interests of this country are eon- '■ded 1o the General Parlianu'ut, drawn fairly from every section of the country, Avhile all that comes especially home to the feelings of the people is placed under the control of the Local Legislatures. You have been told also that no sei-vile copy of the Ameriian Con- stitution has ])een made by us. I believe that in the United States the (juestion of slaveiy and the di\ision of interest Avould ncA'er ha\-e culminated in so great a trouble had it not been for the doctrine of the sovereignty of each State. In our Constitution you -will find that the Ueneral (rovermnent lias that general ci'utralised power ■which will enable all the nati(m to be cunsolidated and combined. If, then, the (piestion of legislative union is not a subject for discussion, the (piestion for your consideration, and for consideration from one end of British .Vmerica to the other, is this — "Is the scheme now ])roposed better for the peojde of Ih'itish Xcu'th America than the systems of (iovi'rnnunt which -we at ]ircsei:t enjoy?" There is no one of us who can look ;it the state of Hritisli America and see that, instead of being one of u community of ;5()0, ()()() members, lie may 1)elong to a nation with a i)o]>ulation of 1, 000, 000, but must feel that such a schenu' must give elevation of ciiaracter to our ]mblic nuMi and advance the status of every freeman in the country. I feel it my duty to cx]u'ess tla^ gratilicatinn 1 experience at seeing that genth'iuen who differ with nu' in hxal concerns, M'lieu called togetlu'r to consider the interests of British America, hav(> forgotton that Ave Avere divided at all, and, ii'r(>s]ie( five nf anything that could make a division, have ((ime to deal in the most lil)eral spirit with the in- terests Avith Avhirh they were charged. That to Avhich British Aiiurii'a must look is a Confederated union of all the Colonies. Supjiose th:i1, looking over the ))order, our American neighliourssh(udd st'c, instead of a firm and substantial combination among us, an antago- nism wliich we sliowed no disposition to lay aside lor the purposes of nationality and security, liow longciui we rely on the jxrmaneuce of our institutions ^ Ijook at the effect of this movement on the commerce of our country. "What connnercef;in rriinelMward's Ishiud have against the hostile tarilts of the woild ? llow (an ^'ova Scotia, with her ]iopulation, maintain a eonnnerce against the tariffs which a union woulil break down r Sujipose the jiolieyhad been adoi)ted power combined, discussion, n from one clicme now a than tlie riiere is no id see tliat, rs, lie may must feel our ])ul)lic try. I leel seeinp: tliat 'd toLi'etlier on that we aid iiiiike a ith tlie in- ch ]{ritisli • Cohmies. »urssli(Uihl an antaiio- |)ur])oses of lence of oni numerce of avi'iiiriiinst , with licr cli a union in settling;- d some of ha\(' ji'one ' l()(),0()(» ed. i/ook lircciate or undervalue her projixess, hut I Avoidd as^k this (lUestion of the most enterprising lirm in Halifax:— If one of you wislies to pLint his sou in husiness, to follow his parent in making a name and a ])osition, will he not have to expatriate that son and send him away from the mitural Held of his enteiT»rise ? It has heeu shewn to' you that manufactures require jjopulation. I Avas much struck recently with the remark of a young man Avho had visited the Northern States. He inipiired, in viewing some of their manufactures, Avhere Avas the market for their products ? The answer Avas, "From the CJulf of ;^[exico to Poi'tland." A Xova Scotian has, in that sentence, the reason Avhy his country has to stand still until such a scheme as tliis can o])en up these four inillion consunu'rs of his manufactures. Is there a man avIio looks at the face of i^ova Scotia, Avith lur mines in every section of the Province, Avitliout seeing tlu^ great position as a manufacturing country wliich nature intended her to occupy, and in Avhicli a British ]S\)rth Ameiicau CVmfederation will tend to jdiice her? Is it any Avonder that Canada Avishes us to join Avith heri* When Ave remember that tlutt great country is so henuned in as to liave to seek an outlet to the ocean through the tenitory of a hostile rival, can wo be suii)rised at thi' terms she offers ? And while such a seaboard is lu'ct'ssaiy to her, Ave will be for ever insigiii{i<'aiit Avithout a great back country like Cauiida, extending our coniu,'ctiou to tlu! racilic. Whil(> at prcst'ut we have no influence in the Canadian I'arlianient, the action of their ])ublic men has a tendency to clog our pi'ognss and to check our credit. The dei'eat of tlie !Militia lUU in Canada, it is Avell known, struck a severe bloAV at the debentures of Xova Scotia, and what else is it that has hemmed our credit but that the gigantic power of the United States and the sons to hold an honourable position among the imblic men of tlie nation. Xor is tluTc any reason for su])posing that our interests will be jeopardised in a Parliann'nt of 194 mend)ers. What object could Canada have in attempting to oppress us? Just in i»ro|)ortion as they oi)])ress us would they o])press their own right arm, but I feid assured tliat under an e(|iuilised system of repre- s,'i\tatiou by iHipnlatitm our ProAince has nothing whatever to fear, and 1 know tliat tlu' man who seeks to prove that Ave luiA'e not olitained our fair share of intlucnce Avill have to achlress himself to intellects more stolid than any to ])e found in Nova Scotia. 1 Avill now ask your attention to one of the statements miide on a linancial view of the subject in aii e.\])onent of public o])inion a short time ago. 'I'be editor thiidcs the statements of his correspondent so conclusive as to rii|uii'e no connnent : — "The next and most im))ortant ])oint to us Nova Scotians is the ( ost 111 whii li this change is to be accom]ilislied, and if not mistaken, 1 tliink L c;in sIuav that wi' shall be the loseis to the extent of half- a-niiliioii of dullars ])er annum. C)n reference to the (inel)i'c ja'o- giiunine, it will be :^ccu that Nova Scotia is to enter the Con- I srEKcn OF Tuji uoN. c. Tnu'iiu (nova scotia). 97 I ii Fc'doral kf Justice cd by Mr. that if auy • was blind bat in the strile have if the poi'- nicb should u-e told, for Avas to be I do not •t (•t)uld we We have, lenie, to the )!■ the talent Illy feel that best for the ion like this we lose that \is that AVe jv the enter- eet to losing' Oie is proud las tilled the itity for one, that she can • public men n<; that our dA nu'nibers. ■Srt US? Just c'ir own right em of repre- itevi'r to fear, we have not .'ss himself to cotia. 1 will on a linancial a short time •espondent so 5cotians is the not mistaken, 'xtent of half- c (iuebi'c i)ro- iter the Con- federation with a debt not exceeding 88,000,000, and the interest thereon at 5 per cent., as agreed upon, makes $400,000— add to thifc $280,000, which is the amour.t we arc to receive for our pro- portion of expenses for the Local Govemment, and this gives 5*680,000. Now, mark this is all we are to receive, and for this $680,000 wo arc expected to suiTcnder our entire revenue, whicli last year amounted to over 81, 100,000— and this year, if all accounts are correct, Avill come up to near'81, 250,000. Now, if you deduct the 8680,000 we are to receive from our revenue as above, it will leave a balance of 8570,000 to go into the hands of and bo controlled by the General Government, and with our small representation of 17 members out of 194 it can easily be seen what chance we Avould have of getting much of it back again." When I draw your attention to this statement, I think I can shew you how hard it must be for those opposed to our scheme to make out a case against us. I will shoAV you, in a few words, what remarkable eiTors this editor and his vouched-for Bluenose have fallen into, and that not only is his statement (j^uite without foun- dation, but the balance is at the other side. In the first place, we are to get a subsidy of $264,000, which is omitted in the calculation. It is well-known that our revenue has been and still is increasing, and, therefore^, when I take the revenue of last year, it will be admitted to be a fail- and legitimate estimate. (The Hon. Provincial Secretary here went on to shew large <>missions in the calculations under consideration, and continued as follows:) — There has been omitted, then, a credit of 8264,000 for our subsidy, $480,000 for interest on oiu' debt, and $226,000 left under our local control, making a total of $970,000, and leaving a bahnico in our favour of $75,668, instead of a balance against us of $578,000. When I shew you that such shifts as this nuist bo used to support the opposition to a Confederation, I think you will say I am justified in concluding that our scheme has most eft'cctuallj^ secured the rights and interests of the country. In addition to all other benefits, . Confederation Anil bring you the Intercolonial Iload, and I will tell Y'jv what the Legislature of Nova Scotia valued that work at. They offered for it $220,000 a-ycar, for forty years, and for that sum were unable to obtain it ; I must, therefore, add that to the balance in em' favoiu". It is not a (question with us as to whether we shall remain us we are, for, Avithout progress, Halifax must be left out of all the benefits of the system of railroads which will be secured. I have not been in favour of GoM'rnment raihvays, but that has been the policy adopted by the Legislature, and I am free to confess that the result of our entei']:)rise has b(>en more favourable than I expected ; but if 1 were to ask you this evening if you were willing to go back to the old tariff of (\l per cent., and take aAvay these public works, 1 think there is uut a man who would be willing 98 SrEKClI 01' TllK IIO.N. !S. I.. TILLKY (NEW BRrXSWICK). '^^iii to do so. In the same way, I ask you, shall we keep our tariff at 10 per cent, or shall we i)rogress and make it 15 ? I have heard it asked, why can we not have the establishment of a Commercial ZoUverein ? 1 reply that the effort has been made before by our ablest piiblio men, and thi> atte;apt has proved a failure. I was glad to hear the patriotic cheer which arose when |niy colleague spoke of the necessity of making some more sufBcieut provision for our defence. It has been suggested that Nova Scotia is vciy secure, and thut Canada is delenccless and would recjuii-e an exhaustive effort on our part ; but I have no hesitation in saying that we met in Conference better prepared to discharge our duties to each other and to British America by knowing that the time had come Avhen it was necessary to provide for a different system of defence, in com- pliance with the wishes of the parent couutiy. Nor is it the ease that the Confederation proposed will sever the tic which binds us to Great Britain ; the contrarj- will be the effect if we act with energy and spirit. It is stated to be the intention of the British Govern- ment to withiUaw everj- man from Canada, while his presence can only be a menace to other Powers and while the people neglect their own defence. We have seen near our borders what a people of our numbers can do when fighting in defence of their homes against a great militaiy Tower ; but we will have the additional protection of the unrivalled army and na^•y of Great Britain if we shew ourselves alive to our situation. I feel, therefore, that we are not in a position to choose whether we will remain as we are, or change. Change of some kind has been forced upon us ; and I ieel that in submitting this scheme to your notice we may rely on the intelligence and sound jiulgnicnt of the people. (Cheers.) At a meeting held at tlu^ Institute, St. John, on the 20th December, the Hon. Mr. Tillky delivered the following speech : — He was about, he said, to speak upon a proposition exceeding in magnitudi' and importance and intiTcst any that had ever come before the people shice New Brunswick had been a separate province. He and his colleague, ilr. Gray, the representatives of New Bruns- wick at the Quebec Conferi'nce, had met representatives from the maritime pro^•inces and members of the Canadian Government to consider a union of the Colonics into a gi-and Confederation that would consolidate and render powerful Canada and the Lower Provinces and be mutually advantageous. Tlie scheme decided upon embraced su.ii matters of interest as induced Mr. Gray and himself to lay before thcir^ constituents and the press at the earliest opportunity the nature of the considerations that had led to their action upon the (question of Contederation, and to remove from the minds of the iniblic \vluile\cr doubts or misconception the matter had caused them to ieel. liiinudiately nn liis return to the Province, consi- deralit-'n-i of a lublic iiud olHcial natiue had compelled lus attcnduncc 0- iir tariff at re heard it 'ommeriiul 'ore by our x\ I was • t'oUeaguc I'ovisiou for ciy sociuT, exhaustive hat we met i each other me -when it ice, in com- ; it the case binds us to n'ith energy ish GoveiTi- resencc can iplc neglect Kit a people ;hcir homes e additional iritain if we that -we arc IS we arc, or ; and 1 feel nay rely on icers.) n the 20th ; speech : — :>xceediug in [ ever come ate province. Xew Bruns- ves from the ivemment to )n that would er I'rovinces )on embraced mself to lay , opportunity action upon minds of the • had caused )vince, consi- us attcadancc SPKlX'It OF TUi; nOX. S. L, TILLEY (new BRUNSWICK). yy at Frcderictou ; and ho now took tlie opportunity of explaining, as dearly and concisely as he was able, the financial aiTangements that had been entered into in regard to ISTew Brunswick. He would confine himself to the financial portion of the scheme in so far as it alluded to jSTew Bi-unswick. He would begin by refen-ing to the steps taken in 1860 to secure free trade. In that 'year the Canadian Govcninient had applied to the Imperial Govcrament asking that free trade be established between all the Provinces, and the Impeiial Goveniment had returned a negative answer, on the gi'ound that if the privilege were conceded the manufactures of Canada and the Lower Provinces would occupy a better position than tlic maniifac- tures of England, because English manufactures would have to pay such duties as were regulated by our local tariffs. (A voice — ** No ! no ! ") A friend on my left says, no ! A country that could sell manufactured articles without the payment of duties would certainly have the advantage of one Avhose manuiacturcs had to pay duties. The Government of Xew Brunswick then drew up a despatch, which was forwarded by Mr. Manners -^i 'tton, asking that as the privilege had been refused to the whole, it might still be conceded to Xew Brunswick, Xova Scotia, ancl Prince Edward's Island. After this liad been despatched he was sent to the other provinces to arrange for the free interchange of the manufactures and products of each. In the meantime, tlie memorandum was submitted to the Colonial-office, again brought bcfoie the Imperial Go^'ernment, when the privilege Avas conceded to idl. When he proceeded to Prince Edward's Island, he found the Government of that Colony uuM'illing to give an answer, and they demanded time for consideration. "VVliilc in Xova Scotia he not only hchl conferences with the Government tli( re, but he also took the libci-ty of conferring with the members of tlie Opposition, of Avhoni Dr. Tapper expressed himself highly in favour of tlie free ti'ade project and promised to support it if it came before the Legislatiii''. In Ids conference with the other provinces he found many difficulties in the way. In I^ova Scotia, at that time, there was a lai-gi" quantity of spirits manu- iactured, and owing to the trade Avith the West Indies, by which molasses was procured at a small cost, these manutactorics could work clieaply for both XoA-a Scoti and ^^ew Bnxnswick. In Prince Edward's Island grain was produced in such abundance that the Island contained many distilleries, and if tliose principles which he had gone there to advocate had been carried out, the Islanders and .Nova Scotia Avould haAe raised the duty on spirits consumed in jS^'ew Brunswick: and the practical result woidd b(^ tliat the revenues deii\able from these duties Avould be largely in favour of the other provinces. Again, the (hities upon the raw material wliicli entered into the manufacture of .articles caused such a difficulty as could I; ' 01 to ily be obviated livan entire uuiibrmity of tariff. Tliey endeavoured • alter tills; but "these duties, owing" to the delicitucy of revenue o2 100 sn:r.cu of "in: irox. s. i,. tili-ky (nkw bhuxsavick). that year, iiistoad of ])einp: Icssciioil wove actually iucroasecl iii Xova Scotia, and this led to t lie abandonment of the scheme in 18()2. Last year he renewed the in([uiry with Dr. Tapper, and endeavoured to bring about the matter by legislative enactment ; but this also wa.s found impossible. When' the Conference met at Trinco Edward's Island, a Canadian deputation appeared with propositions relative to tlu' admission of Canada in the proposed union. The Canadians said — You ari> seeking an extended union ; wt- offer you a still larger one. Instead of 700,000, we offer you a jiopuiation of throe and a-half millions, at the sanu? time enabling you to guard your local iuterests and consolidate British America in u manner that shall be advantageous to all. They were answered that the dele- gates from the lower proviaices had no authority to enter upon the consideration of the larger scliemo ; but they heard what was urged, and, without binding themselves to tmy thing, they adjourned the Conference, agreeing to meet at Quebec and consider the matter \\ 'th the Canadian (rovernint'nt. The Conference was adjourned without a report, and one reason, among others, that they did not proceed was that Canada had submitted propositions highly advantageous. AVe M'ero seeking to unite in order to I'xtond our trade, and Canada ottered us a market of three and a-half millions ; she proposed to guard our local interests and place us in a l)etter jjosition financially ; and on the iinancial part of tlie (jui'stiou the whole scheme must stand or fall. He conrird the most careful in(juiry, and if the ([uestion were argued, as it most assuredly would be, lot it be argued upon its merits, llv did not wish the people to be carried away by any imputation of inipi-ope'- moli\-es on the part of tlie delegates. Another strong reason J'or breaking up the I'rincc Edward Island Conference was the positive refusal of that CJolony to come into the legislative \inion. The C(mfederatior would give us troi' trade to all British Auu'rica, and it would put us in a l)etter position financially than if we remained si'parate. The scheme would commend itsdf to the judgment of every business man. J[e hoped to secure for it smh an intelligent discussion as would secure its adoption. Tlic press had dealt with it ami liad gone into many points in detail. The pros and com had been urged and discussed. Many asked — and this was an arguiniiit that demanded a few words — if all these advantages wouhl not be secured by a legislative union ? He was at first in favour of such u union, but he found that many arguments militated against it, not the least of wliii li was the diflic\ilty of a liody drawn from all parts of a Confederatii>M legislating for local ]iiirpt»ses. His views on this (juestion bad lately undirgoni' some important changes. But to return. He liad said that this Confederation would give lis free trade with all British Xorth Aiiieri(a. It iiad been hinted that it is iittirly inipossil)le liiat we can drive Canada out of the market and supply tlie Confederation with our miuiufai tiired articles. We don't luiti- il ill Xova in 18(52. (Icavoiired this also Edward's reliiti'V'c to Canadians )u a still n of threo ;iiard your inner that the dflc- • upon the ivas urged, )urned the latter \\ -tli L'd \nthout lot proceed antageous. md Canada iroposed to uiaiK'ially ; lenie must and it' the , let it he ])e carried part of tlie the Prince hat Colmiy wouhl give in u better 'he sclieme J man. He oiild secure into many [ discussed, ided a few I legislative lit lie found st of wliii li )nfederati()ii iiestion had II. He had le with all ; in utterly and supply don't auti- SPEECn OF THK HOX. S, I.. TII.LEY (nEW BEXIXSWICk). 101 cipate anything of the sort. But there arc certain manufactures in •\\liich Ave are prepared to compete. 'New Bninswick and Xova Seocia have coal and iron, the possession of which gives a countiy peculiar facilities for manufacturing purposes, and New Brunswick in iron manufactures Avill supply British North America. Take Pittsburgh, the great manufacturing centre of the United States, and only the vicinity and richness of its coal and iron mines give it its pre-eminence. Look at the large numbers of mills and manu- factures on the seaboard of Massachusetts, to which raw material can be transported at a small cost, and then answer if New Bruns- wick cannot compete with Canada, at li>ast in some things. Con- cerning the feeling as to the advisability of the scheme, he would state that after three days of discussion it was unanimously resolvcnl by the thirt}'-thre(> members that Confederation was necessary to the interests of the now separate portions of British North America. Then arose the most difficult part of the negotiation, on account of the many contlicting interests involved. A careful examination was made of the debts and liabilities of each province. Canada was alhnvi'd to come in with a debt of sixty-two and a-half millions, although her debt somewhat exceeds seventy millions; the ilifferenco between "!ie two sums, liowever, accrued from local expenditures, and was represented by purely local advantages, and would be assuni(>d by the separate Governments of L'pper and Lower Canada. New Brunswick is allowed to enter the Confederation with a debt of seven millions, and Nova Scotia with a debt of eight millions. Now, what was the nature of the arrangement by which we came in? It was found that the debt of Canada was not as large per head as that of New Bruiiswi( k. "SVe canu> in on better terms than that PruviiK ('. Its popuhition is a little over ten tinn s us laro-r as ours, and a debt of sixty-two and a-half millions. It niighi be argued that she should coni(> in with !i larger debt. If she .id, the debt of Nova Scotia would have to be put down at nine miUious and a- (luarter. The debt of New Brunswick on tlu' ;nst Octobei- was S.5, 700,000. Owing to last year's legislation, it was necessary to add to their debt the dift'ereiice bi'tween it- ,iid the debt we assume in order to cover the building of the railways c(mteniphited, exclu- sive of the Intercolonial. And one great point urged by oui- dele- gates was that amjih' provision shoubl be made to carry out the acts of last year's session. If these acts were not .iiiTied out, our assunu'd debt would be decreased by the ditfereiice between it and the actual debt foi- A\hich we would )«• allowed interest. The Nova Scot Ian dehgates, in speaking of our goiiij, in with a larger del )t, allowed that as our coiitenii)lated lines of railway would secure connection with the Unit(>d States, some of the benelits of which their I'lovinee would reap, We should have ^tme extra advantages. And then thi- (lucstioii of the liiten olonial Hailway arose, when it was agreed that it sliould be built \>y tlie Confederatiuii, and this 102 srEKCu or the hon. s. i. tillkv (new iuu'xswick). was one of the strong reasons tluit influenc lu'w Brunswick delegates in their tlelibcrations. Of the cost of tliut work New Brunswick and Xova Scotia had each guaranteed the Provincial credit for three and one-half twelfths, and Canada for live-twelftlis. Now tlie Federation would build the road, and New Brunswick would be relieved of the interest on the seven millions, amounting to 6420,000, as well as of the interest on tlie three and a-half- twelfths of the three millions sterling, amounting to S19(),U()0, making in all 8610,000 provided for ])y the General Government. This Province now paid S 15,000 fur collection of the revenue, $10,000 for militia and defence, various expenses for roads and bridges, i^ducation, public works, &c. Over and above; all these advantages, wt' get for ten years a subsidy of SG3,00() per annum. Our local expenditures, siunmed up, amount to ''^;]'20,();)0. We •will receive from the export duty, sali's of Crown lands, casual and territorial revenues reserved under the arrangement for local pur- poses $90,000 ; and 80 cents per head on the jjopulation, amounting to $201,037, and an additional subsidy uf S()3,0()0 — in all for local pniposcs, say roads, bridges, education, and nuiintenance of Local Government and Legislatures $;5a4,G37 — ample for present necessi- ties, and leaving us a balance for the o])ening of lU'w roads. These arc the i)riucipal points to be liH)ked to. But it has been said that you intend to apply to New Brunswi( k tlH> tariff of Canada ; not 80. it is admitted that we have made a good arrangement, but if it practically lid to increased taxation, its benefits w'ould bi' diminished. It is aslu'd — Will you not imjtose lieiivier taxes? No; heavier taxes would not be imposed. It sicms taken for gianted that the Canadian tariffs must Ite adopted, lie re]iudiated the idea. Foi' a number of years the (Jovernnient of Canada had bein sustained ]»y very small majorities ; and will it be said that furty-seven nuinl)irs, the representatives from the Lower Provinces, would not have souu- voice in the (|Ues1ion of tariff? But su])pose, foi the saki' of argu- ment, that the Canadian tariff wotdd be the tariff. It was not so much the nature of the duties levied upou ( i rlain specific articles, but the amount assessed upon the whok' ])eople for the recjuin iiunts of the countrj. The Canadian taiiff is higher than that of Ni w Brunswitk; and If we were to iip])ly it to-morrow, we must mm nl- lect that the Pederatitm will luressarily lead iiol only to an increase of manufactures, l)ut consi(|ueutly to a dimiuution of the rcveiuu'. An ai1i(le now brought into New Brunswick from other Colonies yields to her a portion of the revenue; under the n( w anangeuicnt it wovild not. 8ui)])ose the three Pnniiices had united, as was originally cont( ni])lated, would it not have bt'cn necessary to recast the tarifl'? If the Confederation establish laige manufactories, the revenue will diminish. Newfoundland yields per bead more than uny other Provini i', and yt t it lae- a lowt r tarill'. Tlu' jnotluce of the llslieries, their only productions, they export ; and everything ^i SPKKCn OF THK HOX. ft. L. TIT.LKY (nEW T5RrX«WIC'K\ 10,T runswlfk ork New .Provincial -twelfths, ininswick mounting; 1(1 a-lialt'- 5190,000, ^■erniuent. revenue, •oacls and all these vv annum. BSO. We ■asual and loeal pur- iniountinp; .1 for local e of Local lit necessi- Is. These n said tliat mada ; not it, but if it liminislu'd. o; heavier d tliat tlie ca. For a istaincd hy II nu nibi'rs, : liave some ke of ar}>u- was not so ific articles, '((iiiremenls hat of New must H'coi- an in( reuse lie revenue, ur t'olouie> irraiij;;cment ted, as was try to J'ecast ictories, the I more than ' jiioiUlcc of 1 cvervtliiiiij; they use they import. Let Newfoundland oomc into tlio Federation, and then by establishing a line of steamers between Newfoundland and the other Provinces, as is contemplated, and her people can purchase manufactured goods and import them without paying a duty. Apply, then, the Canadian tariff to New Brunswick, and it would not increase our taxi-s wliatever. Unenumerated articles pay 20 per cent, in Canada and 15^ per cent, in New Ihunswick. Ships' materials are free in Canada and pay ;) or 4 per cent, in New I]i'uns\\'ick. Other articles pay liigher duties. But on wines and brandies it pays only about one-half of what we do, Avhile ships' materials are free in Canada ; so if tlieir tariff were applied t(j us to-moiTOW under the free trade principle, we would not be more heavily taxed. But with tlie tariff of Canada (and she is a greater manufacturing country than we, having 2,800,000 to snpply, while we have but 250,000), the Canadians in 1863 did not pay so much per head as the people of Ni>w Brunswick. And if we were a member of the Federation, wi would liave to pay but $2.7.5 dollars per hea;l, while now we pay S3. 20 per head. If it can be shown that witli $2.75 per head and S800,000 from our public works wo can carry on the nuichinery of the Government and still have? one million for defence, our position is a '^afe one, and one that cannot be improved upon. But, we are asked, what guarantee ha'\T you that you will continue to receive tlies(> subsidies promised by the General Govennnent ? 3kIost un(pu'stionable security. We are not at the mercy of the Canadians. The im])racticable in reference to Lower Canada, who had many loial affairs the control of whidi she would not give up. But, even if this had not been so, Legislati\e Vnion was not desirable. If you jnit into thi' hands of a General Legislature youi' Local affairs, yon will find the dilticulty of work':. 2: the machinery. He di beligerents. He had his own views of the contest, but he liad ke])l them to himself, and lie felt nothing but tlie most khidly fei'lings towards the American peopl(\ It was plain, howe\'ei', that the English public, as Avell as the Jhitisli (jiovennnent, have felt for some time that our position Avith i'i;lerence to the United States is not as satisfactory as it Avas in times ])ast. Commercial men well remem})er that the year 18.')7 Avas one of even greater depression than the present. In that year, notwithstanding the monetary distress that pr('Vailed throughout the Avhole ( ivilised Avorld, our Colonial secu- rities Avere at par in thi' English market, or Averi' generally taken up by English capitalists; l)\it now, notwithstandhig that every cent of the interest on these securities has been paid, and tliere was not one hour in which, since their issue, it had not been paid, with a siirjilus this year among all the Nortli Anieriean Colonies of a million and a half of dollars, their 6 pel' cent, securities ranged from 92 to 07 — on an aviragc six to seven per cent, less than they liad been during the conimi'nial crisis of 18.57. Why was this? tl Avas owing to the uncertainty felt by Uritish ( apitalists with reference to the future destiny of Hritish .\nieri'EW imtJNSWICK). 105 ami of the people was vndoubtedly tliat we sliould contribute much more than we had yet done to our defences ; and in suppoi-t of this he read the following from a speech of Lord Stanley in the House of Commons. His Lordship, it is true, was not a minister of tho Crown, hut his remai-ks appear to be a true exponent of English feeling vr^on this subject. " T' ;c is one Colony, with regard to which we are in a position of gi-oat perplexity — I mean Canada. Tn the event of a rupture with the United States — I hope it is most improbable, but in their present temper nothing is impossible — Canada is our vulnerable point. It is the most indefensible country in the world. A long, narrow sti-ip, with no depth of country that is habitable to fall hack upon, and witli a sjwrso population who have had no experience in war. And yet the case is not one in which we can honouiably say to tlie Canadians — defend yourselves, it is not our affair. If they were to bo brought into a war, in (■onse([uen( (.■ of a (jtiarrel between England and the Ignited States — a war wliii li they did nothing to bring about, and to which tliey had not even hud a voice, — we could not in honour or duty abandon thc-m. All that we can do is to call upon them, so long as they retain their (>onncction Avith us, to do more toward their own defence than they have as yet done, and to make our assistance conditional upon their doing that." Tlie proposition of the Homo (lovernment is, that we should do more than we have yet done. They say to us, in substance, if you desire to renuun connected M'ith us we are willing to spend of our blood and treasure in your defence; and if lie understood the feelings and thouglits of the people of i!sew Ihuuswick, be knew the response they would make to this. They would readily couti ibute their fair share of the i'X])ense. (A])plause.) It was the knowledge of tliis feeling among the (h'legates — or a portion of tliem — at Qui'bec, that liad induced them to give llieir warm support to the proposed union, and to expend, instead of SoOO,00(), tlie sum of SI, (too, 000 annually, to meet tlii' demands tlius made upon us for our defence. He thanked Ihemfor tlie ])atience and attention with wliich lliey liad listened to liiiu. There was hut one otlier topic on which he had to toucli. It had been assertid that the dih'gates liave assumed an authority in dealing with this (jiieslion that they ought not to have assumed; that they have taken upon tlicinselves an authoi'ity that tlii'y ought not to have taken. Tliis was a slrangi' iliarge to make. It would be a new thing, indeed, to refuse to I'espond to tlie invitation of a sister eolniiy to t onsider ([Uestions of great magnitude alfecting them all. Had they refused, tluy would be charged as a do-noiliing fio\trnni( nt. From the way these objectors talked, you Mould iinagiuc lliat tlie dclegatis wire to make all tlie arrangements, and force them upon the people here, and w .1 : i 106 SPKECH OF THK IIOX. .lOHX It. ffBAY (nIvAV BIII'NSWICK). urge them throug;li the Impeiial Parliament without giving any time for their consideration. Nothing of the kind was ever contem- plated. The delegates were only in the perfonnancc of their duties — duties for which they were paid by the people to well and faith- fully discharge. They had assumed nothing. Each Government was left to act its own pleasure upon the way in which the question was to be put before its constitutents. It was not the intention of the Govenmient of New Brunswick to force the matter upon the people. It was now before them, and he asked for it a calm and candid consid(>ration, He could assure them that, if there is the least question as to the opinion of the people upon it, it shall be submitted to them at the polls. They wanted to have it fully and freely and fairly discussed : discussion was their policy. The matter had been thoroughly revised by thirty-two niembers representing the different colonii'S. It was now pri'sentcd to the people : he believed that it would receive fair treatment at their hands. If the scheme appears to theni sound and good — one that will be beneficial to their interests and productive of benefit in the present and tlu> future, — the intelli- gence of the country will endorse it. If, on the contrary, it appc^avs likely to result in evil, they Avould reject it. He asked no better tribunal than the public opinion of the Province. He asked nothing moi-e for the scheme than an investigation into it upon its own merits, irrespective of any like or dislike tluy may have for those who present it. (_Loud cheers.) The Hon. Mr. Gkav said: — The strongest evidence of support of the position taken ])y Mi'. Tilley, tliat the delegates had no object in forcing the proposed measures ujjon the people of the provinces, is shown in the fact that two of th(> delegates are before you this evening to explain the nuitter, tliat all may understand exactly what they are calh'd tipon to do. And I will say, first, that we have not, as cluirged, sacrificed one iota of the constitutional rights of the people whil(> acting in the capai ity of delegates ; if we liad, we shoidd not be worthy of your confi(U'nc{>. In our action thus far we have taken jealous care that every I'ight should be maintained, amino ett'ort spared to advanc(> thi' interests of the Jbitisli Pro\inces. At present our revenue is disposed of in two dificrent ways — one, and the greater part, is aj)propriated for the publii' debt and liabilities and the remainder for local and internal improvements. ]{y the proposed Confedei'a- tion these ])urdens are not only taken oif from our shoulders, l)ut we have out of the same amount we now pay a coni who have not one cent invested in manufactories ari' feaiful that our nmnufacturers will be swamped and ruined ; Init the manufacturers have no anxiety Avhatever on tlie subject (laughter and a])plausc\ But union is not only i-xpedient, but ncci ssary. Public opinion in England is becoming convinced tliat the Provinces are too expensive a toy to keep mucli longer. If England \\ithdraws hcv support, the events will prove that we shall Iuiac to make up our minds whether we are to go with Great Britain or the United Statis. We cannot remain isolated by ourstlves. "We do not entertain serious appre- hensions of a collision witli the United Statis. The prestuit attitude of that country seems to be; a disire rather to liumiliate England than to injure us ; nevertheless, we sliall stick by the mothei'-coun- try, (Applause.) But we Avill lay aside (luestions uational and defensive and speak of jiounds, shillings, and pi-nce. Let us com- pare the trade of Canada and the maritinu^ ProAiuces T)f to-day and in 1848, the year of the union of tlu' tAVo Canadas. Previously the Canadas Avere isolated Provinces, Avith separate laAvs, separate in- terests, &c. By union, all local divisions and distractions Avere obliterated. In 1848 the trade of Canada, imports and exports, amounted to £0,300,000 ; in 1803 it Avas £22,000,000— a re-mark- able increase of 205 pei' cent, in lo years. The trade of the mari- time Provinces in 1848 was£ 1,20"), 000 ; in 1803 it Avas £10,105,000. We liave greater natural advantages than Canada, but havi' not increased so rajmlly in proportion. Why ? Bei ause of union, and the casting aside of restrictitms. Another ((uestion nuu'b discussed in tlie piiblic prhits (and it should be Aveiglud not as a personal (juestion, but as the best for the country) is whether a federati\e union is betti'r than a legislative union. The s])eakcr showed by illustrations that Avitli tbe latter parties in remote sections of the country ccnild not receivi' the attention tliey Avere entitled to. ^lunicipal institutions and diiict taxation in e\ ery country Avould be the only means of getting along in such a t ase ; but this he Avas opposed to. A legislative union was regarded as utterly impossil)le ; but in a federativi' union only tin ir ( omnieicial and otlu r interests weiv to be considered Avhidi in\ol\e the general i)iterest. Local n ■■ I :'!■ 1 . 108 SPT:ECn OF THK HOX. JOU.V K. OTl.VY (nEAV IlBrXSAVICK). legislatures •svorc deprived of notliiug. llespectiug the constitution by which the union is sought to be accomplished, he had seen it stated in a paper that it is proposed to surrendei- by Act of Parlia- ment all the libeities Ave have ever had, and place them in the hands of the Imperial Parliament ; but the delegates would forfeit the con- fidence of the people if they sought to do this. The act of the Imperial Parliament only cements the action of the Local Parlia- ments, and prevents th(> gi'eater power from infringing upon the rights of the smaller; it is the keystone of the arcli, to make it as compul- soiy on the strong as on the weak. No rights were lost by act of Imperial Parliament in the Canadian Union of 1848. If rights are once conceded, no power can take tliem away. We cannot suppose that the Imperial Parliament Avishes to deprive us of our lights ; on tlie contrary, they are urging us to assume new ones for ourselves. In ilhistration of the friendly puii)ose of tlie Government ho read from a despatch of (lalt to show how, when the British Government had Avitliheld its assent from tlie Canadian Revenue Act because it bore too hard upon British manufactures, that Minister, then junior Member of Canada, warmly upheld the right of the people of Canada through their Legislatures to IcAy duties when and hoAV they pleased. As to the details of the Constitution, they may be stated — 1st. To peii)etuatc our connection Avith England and promote the interests of the maritime Provinces, Ave must make it as near as jiossible to that of England. Is that an objiMtiony That has been selected as the model. 2nd. The GoATinor-General is appointed by her jMajesty; it would not be desirable that his tenure of office should depend upon the caprice of jiolitiial ilections, but be permanent like the Queen's. AVitli this single exception, no person is appointed from al)road, and not a dollar extracted from our pockets. Even the Local Govi'iTiors will hereafter ])e men of our OAvn choice — men taken from among you — men avIio have risen Avitli and Avill fall Avith your prosperity. (Applause.) 3rd. The Governo)- is to be controlled and advised by his Cabinet as now, and as is done in England. If he docs not do right, lie must eittu'r change his course or go out. (Hiar, hear.) 4tli. As to the construction of the Legislative Coun- cil, example lias been taken from the United States. The troubles in that coiiutiy should not l)e attributed to a defective constitution, but to diverse interests and antagonistic productions ; but hero Ave have but one latitude and one climate ; Ave liave a similarity Avhich raises no conflicting interests. All of us have the same freidom and the same rights. \\\' must examiiu' their constitution, not in refer- ence to ])resent difticullies, l)ut anterior to them. Well, it gives in the Senate iMjual re])resentation, aial une([ual representation in the LoAver House. Our oAvn plan is superior to this, as 1 sliall shoAV. The British North American J'l'ovinces, except Newfoundland, are three veiy marly e(|iial sections ; hut the threi' LoAver Provinct^s, Avith less area and population, have an ecpial representation with i SPEECH OF THE nOX. JOIIX H. GEAY (XEAV DKUXSWICK). 109 Canada, The question then conios, liow those members iirc to he appointed— whether elected or appointed by the Goveraor-General, Avith the advice of the Coimcil ? The Convention, after ample dis- cussion, agreed unanimously that it should not bo elective ; it has been already found in Canatla to be too expensive. Of electoral dis- tricts in that Province, whose senators are elected, one man paid £6,000 for ordinaiy election expenses; and another, representing l.",0,000 people, travelled 2,000 miles, and addressed 150 public meetings. The practical result would be to throw it oxclusiA-ely ■ into the hands of rich men. We do not want these ; we want repre- sentatives of all classes — of practical daily life. Not that tlio wealthy man is not practical ; he must probably have been practical to have gotten his wealth. But the tendency would be to look out only to secure his seat, and to show no disposition to advance the general interests of the country. On the other hand, efforts would be made to select the best men. The member to be elected must also have a property qualification — a certain Avoalth and freeliold property — and nuist retain it during his incumbencj'. If he beeome bankrupt, he must resign. The Lower House is a representation by popidation, but this does not mean universal suffrage. On (piestions of suffrage, it was arranged by Conference tliat tlie basis sliould be representation by population. Tbis does not nu'an uniAersal suffrage — not that eveiy man Avith a head on his shoulders, possessing no ])roperty or other (lualifications, should ]iavc> the pri\ilege of voting for I'epresentativos, but that the different Colonies should have repre- sentatives or members in the General Parliament accordhig to the number of inhabitants which each possessed. Tlie whole schemi- Avas souglit for by Canacn Upper aud Lower Canada, the numbei- of representatives M-hicli each section Avas alloAved in the united Parliament was etpial. Upper Canada increased more rapidly in ])opulation than LoAver (!anada on account of tlie people being more progn'ssive, and having a more ex- pansive territory, initil, at the presi'ut day, the former has .">()(), 000 inhabitiints more than the latter, Avhile the rt'prisi'utation remains the same, there being 500,000 people in the upper si-ction Avbo have no ri'presentation in Parliament. If A\e had e\(n 5,000 moic in this Province who had no representation, the ])eoi)le Avould cry loudly against it, which would be (piite reasonalile, and say that they should have. To this (piestion of I'cpresintation the delegates hail gi\en much attention, and liad so arranged it that no portion of our population could remain without rejirescntation. He saw it stated in some of the newspapers that Upper Canada Avould, on i -. 1 !l I ill 110 spKEcn OF xnE nox. jonx ir. oray (new tirunsavick). account of its rapid increase in population, soon oveiTitlc Lower Cuniula and the maritime Provinces. Even if this were so, no great mischief could be done, as the power is still vested in the local liOgislaturcs of tlic rcspeetivc Provinces to transact their ovra internal attaii's. By an examination of the document chawn up in Canada, however, it will be seen that a section was framed with a view of ()b\iuting any probability of one Province " swamping" the others in the Lower House, or General Parliament, of the united Provinces. This ]iaragraph reads, tliat for the pui^iose of adjusting the repre- sentation of *' Lower Canada shall lie assigned sixty-five members, and each of the other sections shall at each such re-adjustment receive^ for the ten years then next succeeding, the number of nu>mbcrs to which it will be entitled on the same ratio of rejirescntiition to population as LoAvcr Canada will enjoy, according to the census then just taken, by having sixty-five members." Under this arrangement, then, it is impossible for Upper Canada to outnumber the other sections in the General Parliament for at least half a century to come. It was found to be impossible to secure a larg(>r representation for New Bnmswiek than 15 members in this branch of the Legislature. If New Brunswick had a larger number of Members, the other sections would necessarily have re- ntative to every 125,000 of their iiiliahitaiits, and the same jiroportioii is completely earned out tlii'oughoiit the whole of the United States, yet we hear nothing of their being "swamped" by the vote or action of Congi-ess. Docs any man get "swamped" by being a ni(-m])er of a large community. Wiien, for iiistauco, a man comes from Sussex, does he lose his identity or are bis intensts forgotten in the jiopulous city of St. .lohn? Are the interests of any nieiiiber of a large firm forgotttm? To prevent this " swam])ing," then, tliis section i|Uoted above was arranged. ^ Hear, hear.) The honoiiialile geiitleiiian, argued, there- fore, that it was ini])ossihle for the ])o])iilatii>ii of Ujiper Canada to increase in such a ratio that its representatives could oviTridc that of the lower ])ro\ iiic(>s for many years. New Ihuiiswick has 15 representatives in tlie Parliament of the proposed conleileratiou. Khode Island has only two and Maine only SPEfXII OF TDK irox. JOIIX U. CUAV (XEW liBUXSWICK). Ill no great iivt" in the Consioss of the Uuitetl .States— a body numbering 233. How much better, tlien, is our position than that of states of the union, and how much better is it than it woukl be if we were an- nexed to the United States ? Our position as compared with theirs is that we have 15 representatives from a popuhition of 250,000 in a house of 195, while in the United States their representation is one member to a population of 125,000 in a house numberiug 233. Another riglit saved by the an-angemcnts of the Conference was tluit the receipts from export duty on lumber and the receipts from stumpage remain under the control of the local legislature, to be appropriated for local puii)Oses — schools, roads, bridges, or any other local institutions in Avhich our peo])le wore inmiediately interested. If it should tuni out that St. John woidd be the terminus of the Intercolonial Railway, as likely it would be, tliG income from the increased trade and revenue will go into our own treasury, and for our own local benefit, and into our own pockets ; so that it could not be argued against the scheme that New Brunswick would be "swamped" or lost in the proposed scheme. This matter, and others bearing upon it, the lion, gentleman would have gone into more fully if time had permitted. Another matter of considerable importance denmnded attention — the rights and powers of the local go-venmient. In this e^•erything stands as it is at present, except that our Lieutenant-Governor, -who has heretofore been selected from among the favoiuites of ^Ministers or Governments of Great Britain, will be selected from amcmg men Avho have identified them- selves with the people of the province, with the loial affairs and interests of the country, and who have devoted their talents and energies to its Avelfare in long years of public service in the confi- dence of its inhabitants. It has been urged by some of the newspapers in St. John that there Avill be a power in the GoAcrn- ment, according to the proposed system, to pass hnvs for direct taxation. Agahi he would say he Avas pleased to see thi' newspapers fully ventilating and discussing the ([uestion. This, hoA\e\er, could not be used as an argument against the proposed confedera- tion ; for had not our own Government at the present day the power to pass laws imposing direct taxation upon tlie iuhabitants? Tlie jmliciaiy Avas very briefly referred to, but in language showing conclusively that by confederation the Bench of 2v\'w ]5nmswick A>ould lose none of its standing and high reputation. It Mas not intended to hurry this proposed scheme into actual life aud o])eration. It is not to be canied out to-day, but years may roll by befoj-e it is carried into effect. It is not 'inti'n(kd for tlii' aggrandisciiunt of tlie public men of tlie present generation, unless l]i(> pidjile of tlie provinces desire that it should be now put into operation. Its advantages remain for those who are now journeymen ineciinnics in our workshops, our manufiicturi'rs in tlie future ; for the futnie mcrchauts and business men of 2se\\ Brunswick, who are now 112 Sl'KECH OF Tin: TIO.V. MU. VlsiIKR (XE\V BEtTXSWICK). peilbmiing tlicir daily roiitino behind the counters of their em- ployers, unknown it may be but possi'ssing the talents and onerpics to take advantage oi' its jjiivilcges and the fielil -which it will throw open for the excniso of them; to tlu- boys at school and to the youth of our province, who at sonu" future day must fill the places of those who iu-e daily passing away; — to the rising generation the benefits will be, for those now battling for the best may have passed away ere its consummation. The n\anagement of our own afi'airs, he would again endeavour to impress upon the mind of his n idieii :e, were not trammelled in any way by the arrangement ;i*-iC'liufo by the Conference ; but we luid the power to borrow iuonc v, pK-o-u our credit to any extent, impose dutii>8 or take them oil our lumber, lu tact, there was no measure except the r'iTant;"m' 'I of the general taritt' but the local government of tb ] rovincc oould not adopt without the interference of tlie Goncni! {'arliamcnt. There was a matter to which he would like to refer before bringing his remarks of this evening to a close. The man, he said — the public man, who is so thin-skinned as to be unable to stand the numy insinuations and bh)ws that arc thrust at him is incapable of filling the position which be has taken, and shoidd retire from an arena in which ho must expect to meet nuich opposition. He did not wish to eom])liun, however, of tlie gentleman to whom he w^as about to rel'er, but he wislu'd to pro\-e his own lonsistency in relation to this affair of an union of the colonies. Imiuedintely on his return from Canada he read in one of our city papers a charge made out against hiinsi If of being ered that the annexation fever raged here some sixteen or seventeen years ago. (Hear, hear.) Now he would show what were his ojjinions at that day, and that they Avero identical with those which have possession of his mind in the prosi'ut. ]{e was then in favoiu' of an union of the provinces in o])position to annixatiou. lie had exluimed the proof of this statcnu'nt from an old volume of the Moiniiuj Kcu'i^ for 18-18. lie read a nport of his speech in su])])ort of a resolution favouring union, moved at anu'etine. lieM in tlie ^Mechanics' Institute in that year, in which he stron"'\ nr^ed some sort of connection between th( colonics by which tiie haiiv r to trade wov.ld be tluown down, so that the growing I'd '\\:s \u 'J ■ 'ur of an :>.ation to the United States would be couu < i iiinl our connection maintained with tlie mother-country. This is just, he said, what he is doing at the present day. The hon. gentleman coiicluihd his rciiiaiks by stating there Wiis no cause mIiv we should remain a drag upon the mother- country or why we shouhl aimex (mrsclves to the United State;, and by again assuring the audience that neither the Conference •ick). of their cm- ami energies it will throw . to the yoiith he places of noration the ■ have passed own affairs, his ni giving m extenso. After a feAV observations he said : — Moved by a common impulse to proA-ide for mutual ilefeme, we conceived tnat object could be best obtained by imion. Conscious that, wh<>ther by the proposed federation or in some oth(n' Avay, siu'h pro\ -ion must be made, and that Ave had not hitherto ( (>ntriliut(>d towards our defence in proportion to th(> rights av enjoy and to our national obligations, Ave kncAV tliat at the best our contribution must be small and of itself totally insufficient for tlie pii pose, yet tliat the people Avould most cheerfully contribute to tlu' t \tent of their means. Wc Avere convinced that, evincing such a dispcj^ition, and shoAving our- selves prepared to do all in our poAver, tli Avhole strength of the Empire Avould be put foi'th to sustain us. I do not anticipate any difficulty Avith the neighbouring Republic, hut the unsettled c(mdi- tion of our border relations is Avorthy of graM' consideration, and a cause of much solicitude to the British Gove nment. Moved by a common desire to extend our trade and coninu i vial relations, avc I'-el the necessity for a Avider field of action for this interchange of '^ir commodities and extension of our trade. "We Imve noAV five sei)aiate tariff's, as many diffen-nt customs' establishmc ris, each Avitli fiscal regidations peculiar to itself, and oi)erating as a restraint upon eadi otiu'r — stifling the colonial mind and cramping the colonial energies. To new BrunsAvick or any of the maritime "rovinces Ave offer ;5, 000,000 of ncAV customers Avith Avhom to tra(i and for Avhom to manufacture. To Canada Ave offer 1,000,000. Our country abounds Avith Avater poAA'er and cheap facilities for laanul 'turing pui-poses. t)ur riAX'rs afford convenient modi'S of acces- to t' '■ ocean or transit through the Province, but notAA'itlistanding that these rich provisions, from the Avaut of a suitable inducenunt for the expenditure of capital in the t tenance of manufactures ; and, as a conse(pience, is carried abroad — even our sheep pelts are c(jntinu;iily being carried out of the country — there to bi^ manufactured, gi' ing labour and liA'ing to foreigners. Our people are Avaiiliug ncitlu r in ('uergy nor enterprise, but their field of labour is too contracted to give proper }()om for the exercise of eitlu'r. The connection of a poor Avith a rich country UiUst of necessity benefit the former. As an illustration, 11 ;iture has made irket there is no (tion and main- ur raw material -/ \l 114 SI'EECir OF THK HOX. JOITX U. fiRAY (xi'.W UKCXSWICK) tako Scothiud, -\vhi(/l) lias so ji'vcatly iuprcuscd in nil 'ic clomonts of wealth and industrial jjiogivss sinco lioi- union with Kn^land. Every one must liavc observid the rapid strides made by Canada in tlu; short time sinee lu-r union — litth- over twenty years — in the de- velopment of her resell rees, the improvement of her a5>ri('ultural interest, the increase of her manufaetories, and the extension of her commerce. She has been enabh'd thereby to conii>h"ti' her canals and to secure the extension of lii'r inland navij'ation for the transit of heavy freif^-hts to the ocean. She has bien enal)led to construct over 2,000 miles of railway, has doubhd her ])opulation, and <>iven evidence of a ])ro}iress scarcely ])aralleh'(l in the history of the ■world. All these are the dirict results of lier tniion, without which they would not hav(> been accomplished. Anotlu-r reason for union — we desire to elevate the people from their petty and insij^niiicant provincial individuality to that of a nation, with national feelinf>'s, symi)athies, and asj)irations. What position does a Xew JJrunswicker or a Canadian occupy abroad in lonti'ast with men who are often lii.s inferiors? How are your leading' men treated in comparison witli those of any of the petty princii)al.ities and govirnments of Kurope r Have they not too often lu-retofore been considered as an infei'ior race? The Canadian statesmen, in explainiufj: the necessity and advanta}i,('s of union, stated three elements as I'ssential — the terri- torial, the popuhir, and the maritinu'. Canada has the territorial and tile popular; slie ])ossi'sscs extensive, almost boundless tenitory, embracin};' f;rcat rivers and extensive inland seas — nearly three millions of ]teo]>le, and ra|)idly increasinj;'; but slic has no outlet to the ocean, and she desired to be united to tlie Lower Provinces because tliey possessed the maritime element and furuise on the highway from the Old totln^New Worlil ; iruiiimerable rivers, inviiioiatint; tlu untiy and pro\iding facilities for navigation and maiiiifarturing. We have an cxten-ive coasting nnd foreign trade, eiiii>loyiiig a large fleet of shijis, a nursery for seamen, and even in tli'' present infant state of our mercantile marine we are the foiirtli maritime I'owi r in the world, being only exceeded by (Jreat Hritain, France, and the United States. These are our eh mints of national wealth, giving uninistakeable evideme of our title to become a nation — and greater than some of the Con- tinental I'owers. Tlielir-t Coiiinioiis of the Coiifedeiated I'arlianient will rejiresent t, 000, 000 of peoj)le, metaphorically illiist rating the liiiiguage of in>s we shall liave the rci»resentatives of millions, ;iii arena iu which shall be displayed the brightest intellects and varied talents of the chosen men from all parts of the Coidedeiacy. It will raise men from mere politicians to the dif^nity of statesmen ; it will p:enerate a more vigorous public opinion and a inort' vigorous press, acting u]ion public men and ri'Hecting back the imblic mind. To attain these ends and develope our vast matiriai interests, free government is necessary. Turn to mauy countries where nature has lavished her favours with most boumeous hand — wheri' the best jiroducts of nature grow spontaiuously, with ehincutal wealth of untold Aalues, but where, from the nature of the government and the character of the peoiile, wialtli dare not seek an investment ai;d where life and property are insecure. J)o you want an illustration of what free government does, look at Enghmd; mark liow her liistory has Iteen the history of tlie develo])ment of agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial jirogress until tbe clear annual surplus of the national savings has ri'ached a fabulous sum. What- ever she is, may ln' attril)uti'd to the energy of her ])eople f(jstered by free institutions. The United States, previous to the war, ])resents another illustration of the same princi])l(\ and their (ii]iacity to provide for all the unex])ected demands of tlic i)icseut war is only an additional proof of their rapid prognss in the past. "We desired to lay the foundalioii of a good (ioveriinuiit, witli a strong and vigorous executive. We lia\i' the symiiathies of tiie Britisji jieoplc, will) feel an interest and pride in our work. The intelligent men iu the Unitt'd States look with favuur iijioii our cH'orts, who, while liny hav so much to deiilori' in the iiivMiit luiliapiiy state of their rountry, and anxiously await the result of that trial through which they are now iiassing, still wish us God-speed in our endeavours to (stablish a lU'W and powerful fediiatioii. After resolving that it was desirable to form a Confederation umhr the British Ciown, it was agreed, for the pui'iiose of sciuring good governnicnt and perpe- liiatiiig Hritisb ( oinintioii, to adopt the liiitish Constitution as u. model. Whate\cr dilfereiices of o])iiiion existed in the minds of ihu iMeiiibirs of the Conference on other points, tin y were all actuated by tlie foregone conclusion that British connection must lie main- tiiined. This ipiestioii was not dei iiud deiiatcalile. All were of opinion that if the Colonies remained si'paiale, tlu y must mressarily ultimatily fall into the hands of the resistU'ss maw of American dciiiocracv. So long as tin y n inained separate, the i (iiumercial as well as social relations between the siviial I'lovilices and the rnitcd States were gradually drawing them logr tlur by the strongest tie . — -eoaunou iuteivst. Uy uuiling, the i'io\ inues w uuld llel a coinmou 11 -2 IIG slMCKCir OF THE lliiX. JIR. FISTIKR (XKAV BUUXsAVICk). iiilcivst in eiuli ollici', iiiid, l)ecoining one ])owi'v in connoition Avitli tlic iiaivnt stiiti', -would ncMossurily rocoivi- ;i lai'gor inoiisiirc of cou- sidc'i-ation and regard from the British Govornniont and people. In framing tlu' Constitution, tliey liad not only the ex])erien(e of tlie ANorking of the Ihitisli ConstitTition, but, as Avell, the Federal Constitution of the United States, and Avere thus iu ii position to adopt any portion of it wliich miglit seem desirable, and to avoid any impei'fet'tions which had been discovered iu it. In adopting tlu' British Constitution as a model, wi' knew that where it had be-en established, it had secured as great an amount of political liberty as the peoph' re(jiured; that though it was the growth of agi's, such w;is its elasticity it had ada])ted itself to every age, to every country, and I'very condition of things; it luid nuide Biitain the very sanctuary of freedom ; it had niaintain( d its position as a givat power im tlie eartli when the (loverun'.ents of Continental llurope weri' Ijorni' down witli revolutionary tornadoes which had passed over tlic Continent. We desired to give the Monarchical principle a fair trial on this Conthient ; in the language of Mr. M'Uee, " to mix tradition witli progress," to unite chivalry with modern utilitarianism, to bind together the Gothic characteristics of the past with tlie fresher inspirations of the present. I now come to the innnediate work of tlie Conference. After due deliberation, they were enabled unanimously to agree ; then' wei'e several things in the Constitution which I should prefer to luuc otherwise; but as a whole I considered it an extraordinary result, and I'egarded it as a great achievement that we shuulil have been cnaliled to frame a Constitution that would nceive the unanimous approbation of the whole convention. Jt must not be supposed that the only ditHcul- ties in the way oi' j^iving effect to llu' Constitution existed in Xew Biiinswick ; each Province had dilliculties peculiar to itself, and the other Delegates supposed the arrangements made with regard to New Brunswick were so favourable as to make it less ditHi ult in carrying it here than in any other I'roxiiue. There had bi'eii difK- tulties in Upjier Canada, Imt pnblii' opinion was cAidently changing. Jt was suiiposed that Lowtr Canada would offer the greatest olista- eles arising from tbe difference of race, still we believed there were legal patriotic men in that country who would be cnaliled to indini' its aihijitiftii ; and you must biar in mind tliat in reserving to tlie diffeicnt I'roviiues the coiitKjl of all'aiis purely local, and the main- t( nance of their jiecniiar institutions, was a pi'ovision of ])eeiiliar imi)ort ill its ap])liration to Lowir Canada, whose laws, institutions, and language are '-pi'cifi( ally relaineil for her local control. The Conference agreed to recommtiid a I'\(leral I'liion, conipii--iiig tlie two Cauadas, No\a fcjcotia, Niw iJrunswick, and rriuce Kdward's Island, with a (leneral Government (barged with matters common lo all, and Local (uAcnimt ii(s witli locid matter--, applicabh to i aeli I'loxince, willi pro\iMon- for the admission of Newfoundland, the JSoi'tli-West Ttiritoiy, British Columbia, and Vancouver's Iblaud Iv). (.tioii -vvitli lire lit' cou- K'oplc. In ])('rieuio of lie Fodorul position to (I to avoid 11 adopting WW it had of political growth of eiy ago, to ido Biitain )sition as a ContiiKiital whivh had Monarchical lagi' of Mr. ivalry with ictoristics of I now coino deliberation, veral things [vise ; but as garded it as i to frame a ation of the jnly dirticul- ited ill Xew self, and tlie li regiiid to i ditHiult in d been difH- :ly chaiigiiig. eatest ol»sta- l tliere were ed to iiidiui' rviiig to tlie id tlie luaiii- i of ])ceiili.U' iiistitntioiis, oiitrol. 'J'lie iiipri-iiig tli<: eo Edward's ters coiniiinii cable to ( ach uiidLiiid, the r's Inland srEECIT OF THE HOX. ,TOnx a. MACDOX.ilD (CANADA). U7 Tlio motion affirming tJio resolutions of tlie Quebec Conference was proposed by the Hon. John A. ^[acdonald in tlie Canadian Legislature on the 0th Februaiy, when the gentleman introduced it to the notieo of the House with the following spee( h. He said : — In fulfilment of tlie promise made by the (Jovernment to I'arlia- raent^lie moved for "An Address to Her ^lajesty on the subject of the Union of the Colonies of British Xorth America., based upon the resolution adopted by tlieir delegates on the 10th October, IHGt." He had the honor, on behalf of the i)resent Government, to submit a scheme for the Confederation of all tlic British Xorth iVmericau Colonics — a scheme which had 1)een received, and he was glad to say it, with general, if not universal ap]n'obation in Canada. The scheme, as propoimded and ])ublis]u'd through tlie press, had received almost no o])position. Althougli, hi;re and tlurc, there might have been occasional dissent from some of the details, yet the sclieme as a -whole had met with almost universal approliation. The Goveniment had the greatest satisfaction in presenting it to this House. Tliis subject, which now absorbs tlie attention of the peo])lo of Canada and of the remainder of liiitish Xortli America, was not new. For years it had, mort' or less, attracted the attention of ev(ry statesman and politician of those l*ii'o\inces, and hud been looked upon by manj' far-seeing ]ioliticians as being tin' best means of settling very many of tlie vexed (|Uesti(ins that had retarded the prosperity of the other firitish Coluniis, as well as of Caiuida. The subject was pressed ii])on the jmblii' attention by a great many orators and pcditiciaiis ; but it first, lie Ihoiigbt, nceived an ex- pression of opinion tiirough the ad\i)cacy of liis lionoialde friend, tlie present ^liiiister of Finance. Some years ago, when be was an independent menilter of the House, before becoming connected with any (lovcinineiit, he, in im elaborate speech, expressed bis views at great length and witli great force u])0ii this subject, and in favour of a union of those colonies. But this scheme was not adopted by any jiarty as a feature of ]M)licy till the year 18.JH, when, iqxm the Ibrniatioii of the ('artier- Jlacdonald Ministry, it was announced as one of the measures whidi it would atleinjil to firing, if possilde, to a satistiK toiy solution, and, in i)ursuanee of tliis promise, the letter whicli liad been so mu<'b and fit ely ((nniueiited upon, was addressed by three of his .oHeiiguts to the then Colonial Secretary. The subject, though at the time there was no expression of opjio-ition to it, ilid not assume its iireseiit proiwrtions until last session of Par- liament. Tlien, men of all >liades of pojitii.s liecomiiig alarmed at the a.sliect ot affairs; finding that Midi was tlie opposition between the two sections of the I'roviiice; that -udi was tbe ilungerof aiiarcliy, in coiise(|Ui in e of tlie irrerom il;ilile differences of opinion existing between the people of Cpper and I.owcr Canada : saw flhit unless sonic solution was found for those difliiullios we should sutlei- 4 ■< 118 PPKlxn OF THE HON. JOHX A. JIACDOXAI.D (caXAUA). i* Tinder a sciies of weak Govornmcuts, weak in the power of doing any good for tlie country. All wore alarmed at this state of affairs. AVe had IkkI election after election, and Avith the same result ; we had seen ^linistry follow Ministry, and the results Avere still the same. Parties were so w(n\k when they balanced tliat the vote of a single member was sufHcient to decide the fate of an Administration, an(i stop the course of legislation from year to year. Tliis con- dition of things was well calculated to arouse the earnest con- sidt^ration of every lover of liis courtly, and he was happy to say that it did so. Xo one Avas more iiuprcssed. with the momentous state of affai.s and the great apprehiusions that existed of the occiUTence of anarchy that miglit destroy our prosperity and com- merce than some of the leading members of tliis House ; and the leading ])()liti(ians on both sides came to a connnou conclusion to relieve tlie coiuitry from the dead lock that existed. With that view the lion, member for South Oxford last session made a motion, founded upon the despatch to the Colonial Minister to which he had referred, to consider our constitutional difficulties Avith a A'iew to their removal. A Committee Avas sti'uck, composed of membei-s of all parties, for the purpose of giving consideration to the CA'ils that threatened Canada. The result A\as most happy. The Committee, by a Avise pioAisiou, and in order that ea( h member might have the opportunity of expressing his opinions Avithout being compromised before the countiy, agreed that the discussion should be entered into Avithout rclerence to the political antecidents of any member, and that they should sit Avith closed doors, in order that tluy might apjiroach the subject in a spirit of fairness and boldness. The rc^sult Avas tlie discovery of an ardent desire, a ( reditablc desire on the part of all the leading men in Ciuuula to a])])roach this subject and Avoik out some solution that might relieve Canada I'nmi \\\v great difti- culties in Avhidi she was placed. The Keport of that Committee AVas laid before the House, and the political action that followed resulted in the formation of the ]iresent (Joveniment. The ])rin- ciples under Avhi( h it Avas fonned iiad Ikcu aunouncid, ami AVere Avell known. It was foi'med for the very purpose of carrying out the ulije( t Avhich had now arrived at a icrtain (legn e of conijdetion, by the framing of the resolutions which he had now the lionor to submit. ^lany g'lithiiun who 'iM])])orted the ])rescnt (iovernment had betu opposed to it, and jjolltical hostility had e.xistey could not succeed in procuring an union between all the British North American Colonies, to attempt to free the country from the dead lock which existed between Upper and Lower Canada — owing to the dillcrencc of oi)inion and sectional feeling — by a severance to a certain extent of the union of the two I'rox inces and the substitution of a Federal Union. Most of us — all of us he belii'ved, would agree as to the expediency of effecting an union between all the British North Anu'rican'rrovinces, and that such a design was supc^rior to thi' very small scheme of an union l)etween Upper and Lower Caiiada, if the' larger one were only practicable. By a hajipy concurrence (if events the time came when that proposition coidd be made Mith some jtrospeet of success, ;nid by a happy coincidence the de4r(>^ for union existid in the Lower I'lovinces, where a feeling of the necessity of strengthening themselxcs by uniting together thi' scattered ('oloni(>s on the seaboard bad operated. A convention of their own for tlii' ])urpose of cilectiiig an union of the Provinces of New Bruns^\■i(■k, Nova Scotia, and Prince Eilward's Island had as-endiled. The Legislatures of those Colonies had formally au^ thorised their lespective Governments to semi a deputation to meet in Prince Edward's Island, for the puiposi of attemiiting to eH'ect an union of some kind, whether Inderal or Legislativi — to make themselves one people instead of three. We, ascertauiing that they weiv about to take sueli a step, and knowing that if we allowed tliem to proceed to action, break up all Iheir politii al organizations and create a new one, tliat thev could not be expected to again iibolish it, and form a svstem newer, took the o].poriunity of asking them if thev would hear a (biaitation from Canada, who W(add go to lay before tliem the advantages of a better and more extended nnioii. They at once kindly reiilied they would receive and lu'ar us, and Ave w(>re received aiiiii ably and generously, and asked to lay a scheme before th.ni. AVe \lid so at some length, and so satisfactory wi re our reasons, and so Avell did we show the supermr udvanta!:,c'of a greatei' union o\i r a lesser one, that they at once set nside tlieir own jn-oject, and joined lieari and hand with us m enterinii uito the laiger sehenu', and in trying to form, as tar as tbev and we cc.uld, a gnat nation and a strong Govennnc^nt. (Ch'eers\ l-hicouraged bv tlii< anaiig. nieiit, wlnrli was altogvtb.r unnffieial, however, ami unauthorise.l, we returned to (iiieb.c, and tlu' Go\ernmeut of Canada invited tlio Goveiiimeuts of the sister 1: 120 SPM^CU OF XUE ilON. JOIIX A. M.VCDONALD (c.VNiVDA). Provincos to send dt^putations here, to consider the quostiou with somothiii};- like iuithority from their respecti-se Governments. The result was that the first (hiy on which we all met here, the 10th of Ootohei', after a full discussion some time before in Charlottetowu, tli(> tirst I'csolution now before this House was passed unaniniouslj-, and with acclamation, as beini>', in the opinion of all, a proposition which ought, and was likely to receive the sanction of each of tlie Colonial (iovernments and each of the Provinces. The resolution was — " The l)est interests and the present and future prosperity of British North America Avill b(^ promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain, provided such Union can be effected on principles just to tlie several Provinces." It seemed to all the statt'snien < f the liOwer Provinces — and there are great statesmen there, men who would do lionour to any c(juntry, govern- ment, or legislature — that it was clcai- that the best interests, and tliat tlie pnscnt and future pros])erity of P. A. America would Ix^ promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain. It seemed to me as it seemed to them that, if Ave wished to become a great people instead of a small one — if wc wislied to form a great nationality commanding the respect of tlie w(uid — able to hold our own against till enemii s and to defend those institutions we prize — if we wislied to have one system of ((ovcrnmcnt, and Tiurestricted frc(^ trade with our fellow -colonists, obi'ying the same .sovereign, speaking the .same language, and we might say holding the same faith as ourselves — of aflbrdiug i^ach otlur mutual support and de- fence in ease of agression — it could only lie ol)taiued by an union of some kind among the British Xortii Anuiii an rrovinces. (Cheers.) The very mention of the scheme — at the iiroposition to add to Canada, or join with her population, live liuudred thousand peojih' more, Avould bring with it its own ai)])idbation. Supjioshig that, in sjiring, wc were told that this year live hundred thousand, or between that and a million i)eo])le, were coming from the United Kingdom to niidic Cauiidii their home — although lliey liroiiglit only their strong arms ;iiid willing hearts, and neither skilled nor experieiKcd, we would i( ( eive them Avitli open arms. Jjiit A\lieii, in addition to lb;il number addid to our population, \vv found tliiiii iuiludiiig old iuid e.stablished communities, posses.-ing an immense amount of realized wealth — ])eople of skill and eilucation, wlio were in eomiuon with us interested in the Avelfare of tliese l'ro\iiici s — a jieople who liad get a country whidi tin y Iom d and to which they were attarhed, mid for which tliey would tight, and, if necessary, sheil tlieir blood — we would see \hv value of an union with the J.owei' l'ro\ inces. Tliere were only three modes of relieving Canada from the momentous ditK< ultie> with which she Ava> surrounded — fioiu the (h ad lock ami the dreaded anarchy and e\ils that iinpi ndid, and of insuiiiig prosjK rity to tlie eounfiy — wliiib ( oiild lie suggested. One was the dissolution ritahi. It )L'(()ini' !i ni a j^Toat lold our vc pi'izc — lu'estricti'd so\ crcign, the same t aud (b- n uuiou (jf (Cheers.) toCauada, jple umrt', in s])riug, t,\vr( n lliat iiixduni to icii' strouj" iiuceil, -we ion to tliat g old and if realized ni with us 10 had ji'ct irhed, and Ijkiod — we .'s. There aoineulous (1 loek aud r insulin};' le was Ihe la, leaving' SPEliCII OF THE nOX. JOIIX A. MACDOX.VLD (cANADa). 121 them as they were before the Union of 1841. He believed that the proposition in itself had no siipportei's. It was felt that although it would do away with the sectional evils existing, and AS'ith the pressure on the part of the people of Upper Cauiida for Kepreseutatiou by popidation, and do away with the jealousy on the part of the people of Lower Canada, and the fear that they and theii- institutions Avould be prejudicially atfected by that measure, that this dissolution Avould be a retrogade step which would bring back the country to very miu'li the same position it occupied before the Union; that it would sever a ecmnection that liad existed for twenty-five years, and which, although it liad not been altogethiT successful in allaying the local jealousies that circumstances had created before the Union, had lasted a long time and under which the Province as a whok' had flourislud aud increased in ])ros])erity. It was telt that that dissolu- tion would have destroyed what credit we hnw gained by t)eing united Provinces, and would have left two weak and inetfective Provinces instead of one conipaiati\ely strong one. The next mode by whi( h the dead-lock could have been done away Avith — namely, granting Kepresentation by Poi)ulalion to Upper Camilla. We all knew how that (piestion M-as I'cgarded by tlie people of l,OM-er Canada, and that while in Upper C'auada the desiri' to secure a fair representation was daily increasing, the resistance to it in Lower Canada was incri'asing in strength. If some such solution as Conlederatioii had not been found to relii've us from the sectional difficulties which existed between the two, llepi'esentation by Popu- lation must eventually have been carried, iio matter although it would have been telt in Lowei' Canaihi as being a lu'caeh of the treaty of Union, and as prejudicing their local interests, it was certain that in tlu,' progri'ss of events Uepri\sentation liy Population would have been carried; and, if it had been, he did not think it wouhl have 1)een in the interest of Canada. This had always been his view of the matter. It woulil have left Lower Canada under the impression of injury, and there would have been a sullen feeling of discontent among the ])eo])le, who would not have worked cheerfully under such a system, and tlu y would have ceased to 1)(> what they are now — a great peoph'; anil, for Ihe i)urpose of defending their own sectional laws and interest, tliey would have beconu' a faction instead of the great peo])!e they were n tliird and only means of a solution of our ditliculties was a Confederation of the Provinces, either by Federal or Legislative Union. Now, with^ respect to the compaiativi' advantages of a Legislative Union and of a Federal Union, he never hesitated saying tliat, if jtracticable, a Legislative Union would 1)0 ])refei'able. i^llear, hear.) Kv had again and again stated that if we could have one Goverununt and one Tarliament, legislating in evi'iy res]»cct for the whoh' of this peo])le, it wouhl l»e the best, cheapest, most vigorous, itnd strong(;st (lovernmcut. (Hear, hear, i On looking at the subject, and dis- 122 sriiEcn ov tue iion. joiix a. macdox.ud (caxaua). cussing the matter, as wo did, iinrcsen'odly, and with the dosii-o to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, lie found such a system Avas impracticable. In the first place, it would not meet with the consent of the people of I,ower Canada, wlio felt that in their peculiar posi- tion, as a minority, speaking a language, and professing a laith different from those of the majority of the people under Confedera- tion, tliat their institutions, their laws, their national associations, Avhicli they prized, might he prejiuliccd ; and therefore it was found tliat any pro]X)sitit)U which involved the absorption of the indivi- duality of Lower Canada would not be received by her people. We found still further, as tc the Lower I'rovinces, tluit, tliough their people spoke the same language and enjoyed the same common law as the people of Upper Canada — which law was founded on the com- oom hiAV of England, there was a gTi>at disinclination on the part of tliose Provinces to lose their indi\iduality as a nation, just actuated by a similar feeling to that ol)servcd in l^ower Canada. Therefore^ Ave found, after a full considei'ation of this subject and of the com- ])arative advantages and disadvantages of the two systems, that Ave nuist either ;d)andGU the idea of Confederation or Union idtogether, or obtain ;i system in Avhich the si])arate I'roA'incial organizations Avould be, in sonu' degTce, presened. Another obstacle to a Legisla- tive Union ai'osc from the fait that though the Maritime l*ro\inces had a common law derivi'd from the same source as Upper Canada — as every one of tliem had an immense amount of law of its own, framed for itself and aifecting e^•ery relation of lite, such as the laAV of property, muuici])al hiAV, assessment law, law connerted Avith tlic proteetion of property or the preser\ation of tlie liberty of the sub- ject. Tliis statutory law of tlio different Provinces Avas so various, so (li\t>rsified tliat it was almost out of tlie ([uestion that the different Provinces could have a Legislative Union at once. E\eiy one of the Colonies had laws of its own to Avhich it Avas attached : Ave in U]i])er Canada could understand it, Avhere Ave had oiu' municipal system I'oi- yeai's and valued it. We kncAV the gri'at variety of subjects u])on Avhich Ave had laws, many .small in themselves, Imt of A-ital interest to tlie great body of the people ; and when we reflected that cAcry Cohuiy had laws of the same kind, and tliat it would take years before they could be assimilated in one law, Ave felt that, at first, at all events, any united legislation Avould be almost impossible. He was hapjty to announce that Avith regiird to the LowiT Provinces a strong desire Avas evinced for a final assiniiliition of our hiAVs. It was one of the ])ropositions tiiat an attempt sliould be made to assimilate the laws of the ^laritinie Provinces with tliosc of Upper Canada, for the ])ur])ose of eventually succeeding in esfaiiiishing one statutory hiAV founded on the conuucm law of Kiigland, which was the father of all the hiAvs of tlie Provinces. One gieat objection nuidti to the Federal Vnion Avas the exjxnse of tlie iiicreiised number of h gislutoi's. Ihit the I'iuaucc Minister would be able to shoA\- that it would not be SPEECH OF THE HOX. JOll'J A. MACBON.VM (CANAD.v). 123 osirc to om wiis consent lar posi- a faitli nt'od(>ra- iations, s funnel indivi- lo. We li tlieir on law ic ooni- ? part (j|' actiiatod ^h('i'('for(> tliG coni- tliat wc together, nizations greater than at present. (Hear, hear.) For iu..cance, taking ques- tions of general legislation : here wc had a legislature between Upper and Lower Canada, which dealt not only witli subjects of general interest, but with all matters of a private right and of a sectional chariicter, and with what was called ])rivate Ijills as opposed to general legislation ; and we for ad that the gi-eat cause of expense in the administration of affairs was the cost of legislation. Wo found that now the admixture of sulyects in legislation of a general, as ■well as of a priAate character, caused an interference of one witli the other. We found that the debates on gi'cat subjects went on from day to day, and that certain days were appropriated to measures of a general and otlaT to those of private interests; and so with the two together the session dragged its weary lengtli along ; whereas if the legislation were confined to measures of one kind or the other, the sitting of the legislature woidd not bo so protracted and tlic expense not so great as now. All the subjects of great and general interests — all which affectetl the I'l'ovinces as a wliolc were ])roiiosed to be left exclusively to the General Legislature, while the I.ocal Legislatures would (h^al with private interests, or matters not generally concerning 1h(> whole Confederation. The sittings of the General Legislature could not possibly be as protracted as that of Canada alone ; and so in the same way as n gards the Local Legisla- tures, their attention being confined to subjects that interested their own sections, their sittings would be shorter and less expensive. Then when was considered the enormous saving tliat would be effected by the administration of atfaii-s by a Cfeneral I,egislatur(> — when we considered that in every depaitment evi'ry one of the five Colonies had a minister, that there was a separate ^filitia De]iartraent with an Adjutant-General and Statf respectivclj- — that there was a Customs and Excise Statf in all the Coloni(!s, and that in each there was as eoni])lete and full a staft'of public otHcersas would be retpiired for th(^ General Government, wo could well understand tlu' enormous saving there woidd be by having one General Legislature and one head over all tlic departments of the administration of puldic att'airs. With respect to thi^ disadvantages o[' Fcdei'al Union, wc knew some- thing of it in Canada as Avell as its advantages. Ihit we could not disguise the fact that although we bad nominally a Legislative Union here — although we sit in one I'arliament, sup])osed coustitutionally to re])resent the peoi)lc with regard to sections and localities, yet we knew, as a matter cf fact, that since the Union we had a Federal Unitm; that in matters iitlecling Ui»pcr Canada members from that section did the legislation, those from V])i)vv Canada also being responsilile for the laws afi'ecting its local concerns. We had a Federal Union in fact though a Legislative Union in name : and we knew that in hot contests iu bygone years, that if oii ;iny occasion a measure atfecting either section was passi^d by aid of a majority from tlio other, that the bitterest complaints and protests Avere H;- 124 ■il'KKlU OF THK UOX. JOHN' A. MACDOXALl) (cAXAD.v). uttered hy those more nearly interested regarding the infringement of their liberties. So it was in his own eountry ; so it was in the United Kingdom ns regards the Federal character of the Union. With res])i'ct to Scotland, its connection with England was aFedei-al Union in fact and almost so in name. By the treaty between England and Scotland there was a Federal Union at this moment. The Act of Union |M'ovided that the Scotch law could not bo altered, except with the will of the jieople of Scotland, and that had been held to b(^ so obligatory on llie l^egislature of txreat ]k'itain that no law affecting Scotland could lie passed withoiit securing a majority of tlie votes of Scotch nu;mhers — no matter how great such law might be for the advantage of the Empire as a whol(\ If legislation in the United Kniitire could not bo altered, so in (|uestions respecting the law of Scotland, or no alteration of its law be uuuli' unless by a vote, as before staled, so far we had an example of a Federal Union. The whole scheme of Confederation, as i)ropo.inded by the Conference, as agreed to and sanctioned by the C-iu.t^lian Government, and as pi'ojiosi'tl in tliis House, the country of C.uuula, bears upon its face the marks of compromise. He did not hesitate to state that, of ni'cessity, there must have been a great deal of mutual concession. When we thought of ti\e colonies, all supposed to have different interests, meeting for tlic purpose of ])ressing their individual int(avsts, their own views respecting their own localities and sec- tions, and on the gi'cat (piestiou of government and legislation — if wc had not met witb, a spirit of conciliation, with an anxious desire to promote this un c ; — if we had not been impressed with the i(U'a (hat the best interests -nid the present and future prosperity of Mritish Nortli America would be promoti'd by Federal Union under tlio Crown of (Jreat Britain — if we had not felt that in coming (o (his conclusion Ave wi're bound to set aside our private opinions and look at the one great (piestion, and look at what was practicable, and not obstinately reject tho o])inion of others — if we had not met with the desire of forming one great people and (iovenmient, we would never have succeeded. It was imder tliose circumstances we pressed this (|ue.stion before tlic House and country. If the House was not of the opinion that the union of (he ]te(iple of the five colonies was not for tho advantage of the counfry, let (hem reject the seheme ; liut if, after a calm ami fair nnd full' consideration of the scheme, it was really believed that, as a whole, it was for tlie advantage of these Provinces — if it was lielii ved that (he .system was one that would insure for us ttie continuance of British laws, institutions, freedom, and connexion widi (he niiidier country, as well as the increasing development of our nadonal, social, and political prosperity — we implored this House to lay aside i)rejudices, anil meet the (piestion in the same .s])irit as (he delcgads liad done and acce])t the scheme as a whole if it be considci'ed bcuclicial and advantageous as a Avhole. This Sl'EKCU OF THK JIOX. .lOllX A. MACDONAI.I) (cAXAI1a\ ngemout IS in the m. Witli il ITiiiou liiiul and le Act of , except eld to 1)1' attbetin.u' votes of for tho United ' Unv of vote, as an. Tlie nfcrence, and as its face that, of scheme must l)u considered in the lipht of a treaty entered iut'* nnder a most liappy coiueidenco of circiioistances. If it had uoi been so we never perhaps, for a series of years, could have been able to brinfj; the scheme to a practical solution. Every one of the (iovernmcnts was represented in the Confei'cncc, and the different deputations, on returning home, pledged themsehcs to lay it before their respective Governments and to ask the people of the res])cctivo Provinces to accept it. If this scheme was not accepted as a wli(»lo — if it was altered in any important detail — the whole scheme must be set aside, and wc would have to liejjin do novo. If any imiiortant changes were made every one of the Colonies would feel itself absolved from the implied obligation to deal with it as a treaty, and receive it as an arrangement mutually entered into >)y all the Colonies ; and they would also have their own particidar views and purposes to cany out, as also their own particular amend- ments, and the whole of our la1)0ur would be set aside and avc would have to recommence the ni'gotiations witli all the Colonics to establish some ncAv scheme. All the statesmen and all the politicians who had sp(;kon on tlie subject admitted the advantages of the union, if practicable. He had not heard one express an opinion to the contrary, either in tlus or in any other Parliament. Now, when an union was to be brought about, if we did not embrace this oppoi-tunity the present favouraljle time would pass, and we would never have a similar one again. (Hear, hear.) Because, assure as this was rejected, the old proposition for u junction of the Lower Prcvinces Avould be taken up, as they would not remain in their present position — powerless, scattered, and helpless communities ; tliey would form a strong and respectable community of their owu, and then it would be too late for us to attempt to strengtlien oursi'lves by this scheme, whicli, in the words of the resolution, " was for the best interi'sts and present and future prosperity of Pritish Noiih Ameiica." If wc were not blind to the present position, to all the interests of Canada, standing in the position it occupies with respect to the United ^States, we would adopt tlie proposed project. He (Mr. Macdonald) was not an alarmist. He did not l)i'lieve in the prospect of immediate war with the United States, tliinkiug that the common sensf of these two communities would prevent war. Still we could not trust to sucli possibility ; wc, as a Government, Avoiild be wanting in our duty, as would also the Legislature, if we ran any risk on this subject. We knew tliat the United States, engaged in a Avai' of enormous proportions, was lialile at any time, owing to causes of irritation, to come into collision with Great Pritain, and tlien it would l)c too kite for us, when war had comnKuccd, to think of measures for strengthening ourselves, or to conimenct' the negotiations for a junction with our sister-Provinces. Considering tlu' irritation that had arisen between Great Britain and tlie United States ; that 126 SrKTX'H OF TTTE UOX, ,TOriX A. HIACDOXALI) (cAXAPA). the Reciprocity Treaty was nbotit to bo put an end to, and that at the 'ad( h pd bv the 1 II present moment our trade was so nanipero( system tliat at any niitment we might ho, deprived of permission to cany our goods through the United States over their raih'oads ; that aU-eady we were threatened to bo locked xip during the long Avinter, and obliged to trust tor th(> continuation of privileges which were formerly granted ns by the United States : our mer- cantile men would be obliged to return to the eld system of during the summer months bringing to Canada supplies for the whole year. Already we were threatened with luuing our trade interrupted, our commerce destroyed, i>y the United States, and if we did not take warning while we had an oi)portunity, and -while one avenue was threatened to bo closed to us take advantage of the present desii'c of the LoMi'r Provinces to Ibnn a closer alliance with us, we would suffer connnercial disad\-autages which Ave might never again be able to repair. (Hear, hear.) The Conference, tinding a LegisiatiA'O Union impracticable, the next attempt Avas to form a Government on Federal principles, under Avhich we might give the General Government all the strength of a purely legislatiA-e and administrative union, Avhile at the same time Ave would preserve the liberty of action for the different sections allowed by Federal Union ; and he (Mr. Macdonald) was proud to believe they had hit upon the happy medium, in this series of resolutions, and had formed the scheme of a GoA-c^nment Avhith united the advantages of ])oth, giving us the strcugtii of a l,eglslati\e Union and the sectional freedom of a Federal Union with ])r()tection to the local interests. They had had the advantag(>, in this matter, of the expeiience of the United States. He was not one of those Avho looked upon the Constitution of tlic United States as a failure. (H(>ar.) He thought it Avas one of the most Avonderl'ul Avorks of human intelligence ever created, but to say it Avas ])erfe(t Avould be Avrong. We Avere ha]ipily situated, in being able to take advantage of its ni)eration, and Avitness its results from infaney. It was formed upon the Con- stituti(m of Great Ihitain and adapted to tlie cirenmstauces of ;i new country, and Avas pcihaps tlie only ])ra(tiiable system under the eiicumstanccs existing at its fui'mation. In the iii'st place we had provided, in this scheme, that for all time to come we sliould liave for our chief cxeeutive the Sovei'cign of (ireat Britain. ;Heai, hear, and elieers. ' TS'o one could look into futuiity and foivsee tlie fate of tliis country; but as far as we could ])eneive, for all time to come, the Sovi'reign of (ireat Ihitain A\ould 1)'.' the Sovereign of Ih'itish North America. (Cheers.) By adiieriiig to the monarchical principle, Ave avoided one inherent weakness in the United States C;h \vc ^\• great statesmen of England to administer our affairs. -The liou. gtnitleman tlieu proceeded to speak upon the constitutional provision respecting the legislative l»ower, and read the sixth resolution defining it. in answer to the cavilling of an English newspaper, with resncet to the exclusion of the Sovereign as a portion of the Legislatuie, lu' would say that, in one sense, the stricture was J ustiti(>d ; but in ordinary ])arLmce and strict piu'liamcntary usage, the legislature consists of iis King, Lords and Commons. This was merely a verbal iriticism, as of course the Ligishiture as in England would be composed of the King, Jiords and (,!ommons, our Ui)per House standing in the relation of the English House of Lords. We had called the Lower House tlie House ol Commons, believing it shoulil have that appellation, possessing t!ie same i)rivih'ges, attiibutes, parliamentary practice and authority as its ])rototy]ie. It was found necessary that as ^to this House, icpresenling the pci»])l(', representation liy ])opulation should olitain. We liad found reipiisite in ovdvv to ])rotect Ihe local and st'ctioual inleri'sts of all, ami to prevent sec- tional jealousies, that the thnc great sectional divisions into which British \(U-th Anuri( a was divided, sliouM l)e repnsented e((ually in the uj)per branch of the (ieneral i>egislature — namely, Westein Canada, Lower Caiuida, and the ^larilinie i'rovinces. The only distuibiiHct' of that i)rin( iple of e(|uality was the addition of ^'ew- foundland, Avhi( ii stood on a separate footing, with four memliers 'louse, . i)p rep 1" (onnerttil with Canada from its position at the entry of the (Jiilf, and thongli ]»)»(. ;'-ing sectional claims to l)e protected, had no comnioii interest with the Maritime Provinces. In the Constitution of the lAgi>lati\(' Coum il a great varian.e of ojtinion at lirst existed, the system of (on^tituting the I'pptr House being ditl'erent in sdini' of the I'rovinces, lu Trini e Kdward's Island they have tlie nomi- native system, and We found an imiversal ilisini lination on the ]»art of the l'ortii America. The arguments for the BA). y oxprosscd. her exposed in case of es iVoin acts nious t'eeliug liau lose our Constitution tlie selection of lier own tatesraeu of leu proceeded le legislative nswer to the exclusion of uld say that, nary i)arlancu s of its King, iticisni, aa of nposed of the uding in tin; led the Lower 1(1 luive tliat parliamentary und necessary iresentation l»y c in or(U'r to to prevent see- ms into whieli seiited i'i|Ually tnely, Western cs. The onl_\ lition of iS'ew- four nienihers ■rists. It waa y of the (julf, eeled, liad no le Constitulion at first existed, tfereiit in some lia\e the noini- ion on the jtart hciug in I'avdr system slmnld c eireiimHtances ouse sliould he I' no hereditary uuieuts for the sPKECn OF TOE UOX. JonX A. MACDONALl) (cANADA). 129 elective principle were numerous and strong, and it had not heen a failure in Canada, hut there were causes why it diil not as fully succeed as was contemplated. Tlie hon. jicntlemen descrihed some of the causes which had lead to tlie partial I'ailurc of the ilectivo system, as regarded the U])per House and wliicli had led to the dimi- nnticm of its influence. Under the new systeni minist(>rs, would not he a])le to fill the House with pnlitii al ])aitisans or override tlie independent opinion of the Legislative Coiuicil. As to the olijcc tiou that in cons(>([uence of tlie Crown licnng d(>pri\('d of increasing the numher of the inemhers of the Upp(>r House at will, there was a chance of a dead-lock occuring l)et\vceii it ami the Lower Ho>i-^e, he anticipated no such result, such not taking place in England. In case of difficulty the Upper House here would, as in England, always yield to the expressed wish of tlic people. This would he more likely to occur, the meudiers of the L'^pper JLmse heing Relected from the people, Avilh feelings and interest akin. Thiro was no danger, wliatever, of a dead-lock hetweeii the two TL)uses. It was provided in the resolutions that, in the selection of memhers of the upper brancli of the Legislature, regard should he had to similar positions under our present system. This was a very wise provision. Tlu're were mc n of excellent ahilifj' in the upper branch in all the Provinces; and tlien> was no reason why those who wen; now serving .so well should Ije passed over and new ones seh'rted. Therefore it was proposed the .selection should hi' mad* from those now serving in that ca])acity. We all knew that a similar ]irovision was made on the occasion of the union hetween (Ireat lifilain and Ireland, with reference to tlie Irish representatives in the Hoikc of Lords of the United Kingdom. In the formation of thi! House of Coninums of the pro])osed Coutedt ration, it was intended that tlie principle of representation hy ])o])ulatii>n should prevail in a m;inii( r oqnallj'- ingenious and simi>le. On the lirsl eonteiiiplation ol the principle it offered the diihrulty of a yearly increasing body ; but, in the system as })ro]iosed to be ado])ted, any inconvenience would be oltviated ]>y the adoption of Lower Canada as the ])ivot. AVe hud therefore in the lower branih of the Legislature the princi])lc of representation on tli(> basis of popidation without an inconvenient increase of the number of re|)re.seiitatives. The proposition was sim]ily this: If Lower Canada has (i right, with one million one hundred thousand inhabitants to si,\-fy-five inendiers, what will rp]ier Canada, with one million four hundml Ihoii'-iind havt' a right toV The same primiple would apply to the other pi'ovinees. It was also ])rovided, if it was necessary to inerca--e the whole ninid)er of repre>eutati\e.s in the lower braiirh that Lower Canada shouhl still, in that case, lie the pivot, illciir. hear. ^ He (Mr. Ma(dmiald) liad no hesitation in saying that he woidil have jinTerreil a larf;er number than oiu' hundred and nihely I'mir mendiers, Notxidy, how- ever, could .siy tiiat it wouhl iie exee>Mvu for the whole of the I §\^y 5< ' 130 SVKBCU OT THE n05. JOHN MACDONALD (cAKAOA). hud already one to . , xf n, Vmorican Provinocs, since we i.i YimMn.. lation, Hs It :>7«/"^;^ ;^^'„,\„.i,t lieve take *>^^^'=^^^"'Vv.?m ve Maritime ^.Hs not a smolc »«^^^ ^^ ^o the Oovonunont 7^. )^^t was Provinces, whethci ^-^J^^ ^^,^,,,^,. A f'^^'^^.^h question of party, in avor ot ^" ^-;^; ^^ ^ ,,,,e made to f ^; \\^,^^''Sn each ilt,\vonld arise rlanw^t.,^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^'"tS J' this point, "^^'•^^r.l''"r "v n To had onr own ^^^-^ ^f i^'^, 'on Act of „,ic ot the 1 "'\!";'^,,^,,o^cd that as provided ui inc ^, ^^inco .nisappn h >^^^^^ _^ of several words In ^^;^,,, „f .itenn-.' '' 1 1 oral ra.li:n.unts should .'^"\' ' ,,1,, ,,,vn Lo.'d \'<;'A^^- ":"'•'•;'■ '„f 1 ..p..^vcrs proposed to • < ' ', ^",.^,,ii,,„,nts, inas- •,vda). SPEECH OP THK HON. JOHN A. MACDONALD (CANADA!. 131 already one lie alludins to •din J? to popu- hranch of tliu Itate that there the Maritime the opposition ..(■ulty, it was the (piestion of lation. In each itinfi tliis point,^ le I'nion Alt of tach Vrovinco atod Tarliamcnt, vpresi'ntatives in also choose the J I ear, hoar.) ■rated rarliament iild in iuture pre- ■"s. The diiratiou years. He v^Ir- (liuati»in of seven the Milijert fronx nuparativily little over a list of the 1., that tliere wore L that their avera-;;e rather under the ou(;ht at any rate, iene; d rarlianieiits ,s. A ^ood deal of vent y-fourth clause, > tliou^dit, in conso- he iiower ol' aUerini; ^,,„.i,.s. NVhat was t now shoidd setth- 1(1 llieir lio\uidaries, power of re-nlatiiif; irown Loeal Lcsis- lor lluni to have 1. ral I'arlianient was IV very len-tliy ex- 'ired on the (leneral ,1 I'ailianienis, inas- r tlie details of the le nianaiii'nient ot all U cm ral rarliuuiciit, I Mhilc all local matters, local laws, and local interests were conferred on the Local Parliaments. Or' course the (JeiU'ral J'aiiianient would have the .sole control over the deht, over matters of trade, commerce, eust(;ms, excise, I'aising money, (Sre., &c. It would be seen, how- evei', that the Local I'arlianients Imd the power of control over all purely local works. The !j;i'eat advantage of this arranj!;enient woidd l»e that each locality would have an opportunity of developiug its own resources in its own fashion and alter its own way. But any A\-ork of g(>iieral benefit, any work connecting: any two or inori^ I'ro- vinces, or layinj^ bi'tweeu two or more i'rovinces, would of necessity come witliiu the domain of thu General Lej^islaturc, as also such works as were l)y public act declared to be for tlie ])>i])lic or rather for general advantage. There were numy siidi in the Ihitish North American Provinces, as ibr instance the >Vell;md Canal and the St. Lawnmce Canal. These, tliougli situated in one section, were for the benetit of the wdiole. The census, as a matter of general interest, was placed witliin the control of the General Legislature. The very important sut)ject el ihfeuce would also conu> witl in the province of the (reneral Legislature, and this would be one of the great advantages of federation. Instead (.f lieing, as we were now, Avith dilferent .systems of defence, with several staffs and several establishnunts — a mere rope of sand, with no means of acthig together — we slionld, when under federation, have one general system of defence, and one great coml)ined plan. (Hear.) We could, in case of necessity, send down the hardy sons of the West for the purjiose of defending the shores of th(> Lower Provinces from the invasion of the foe ; and if the enemy tluciitened us on our Western Lake frontier, we could at once call to our aid the hardy seamen of tlie ^laritime Provinces. (Hear, lu'ar.) The ciiminal law ol' the Inited Provinces — the [»eal. This, however, was merely permissive. AVe had here a right to establish a (Jeneral Court of Appeal for U])])er and Lower Canada, but we never liad done so. Itwas, atanyratc, tlaaiglijutst and proper that the (Jeneral Legis- lature sliould have this ])()wer couferred upon it. Jle woidd not now allude to the other clauses eoid'erring powers on the general Par- liament, inasnnicli as the financial and commercial matters relative thereto were, he felt confident, in nnich better hands. With respt'ct to the Local tiovernmcnts, it was jnovided that each should be headed by an Executive officer a])pointed by the (Jeneral (jlovern- nient. As thei'e was to be one great (Jo\ernment, one great people, Ro it was obvious that tlie chief exi'cutivo ofKcer of each si'ction should be subordinate to the ])i'in( ipal executives of the whole, just as the local legislatures weri' suliordinate to the general legislature. This local executive officer would, as alnady stated, be apjiointed by Ihc (itneral (lovernnient, would have to report to it, and would bo liable to be I'cmoved by it. With respect to the allegation of there being an inlringement of the i)rerogative in giving the right of l)ardon to the Local (Jovernors instead of to the (Jeneral (Jovernor alone — this much should be consideri'd, namely, the almost innu- nurable instam es \vhich the ])erson in wlaan the prerogative was vested would be (ailed u])on to devote his attention, inasmuch as the l)o\ver of ]iardon relatt il not only to serious otii'Uccs, but to lines, ike, it was felt ihat the duties whi( h it involved could not be satis- factorily jierformed by one person. The fact was that the ]irai tical iuconvi nience, ns could be at once scon on consideiing the subject, was so great that, with every desire to guard the ]irerogative, tlio Conference had been induced to taki the lourse now j)roposed to l)o ado])tcd. If, liowever, tho Imjierial (lovernment, or lmi)eriid Parliament, were nf)t convinced by the aigunaiits which could bo advan( ed in favour of this system, of course tlay would set it aside. To prevent a contiict ol authority it wiis jtrovided that, win re there was a concurrent Jurisdidioii in the (lemral and Local Parliaments, and where the letiislation of the one was adverse to that ot the oilier, the Icgislatiiai ol the (Jeneral (Jovernnient wiaild over-rule that of till' Local JiCgislature, As for the working of the true spii it and piinciple of the Jiritish Constitution, in so far as regarded money appro])riations, cxpendituic, &( ., due jjrovision was to be made, %\ SPEECH OF THE IIOX. JOIIX A. MACDONALl) (cANADaV 133 In one of iiotlicr it tent. It niciit to liad the cnt local i'o ill this •II of tho (ifiu'ral lowc'vcr, (iciicral UK I done ':il Lfgis- iidt now cral I'ar- i relative With 1 slioukl Govorn- t poopk", h section lolo, just jislatui'o. iintcd hy ■Diild bo of there ri.i-ht of lovei'iior st innu- ive -was h as liio 108, &c., If satis- iiaclieal sulijeet, ive, Iho •d (<) 1.0 ni|iei'ial mid 1)0 f a>^ide. e t hero IIIK IltH, ' olhcr, lliaf of lit and money niudo, With respect, however, to the scheme relative to tlie future lia- bilities and otlier kindred matters, his friend, the President of the Council, would do them ample justice, and lie (Mr. ^Licdonald) felt tliat he sliould he idtemjitinii,- too much were he to allude to them. Tlic last resolution of any interest was tluit which proposed that her Majesty tlic (iueen shoukl determine the laiik and name of tlie Federated Provinces. He did not kiKJW wliether they would be styled a kinc;dom or a vice-royalty, or wliether they would continue to retain the grade of Provinces (luar, hear, and langhtei'), hut of this, he felt sure, that the matter would receive due eoii^deration from (mr most gracious Sovereign, and that the name bestowed upon us would be worthy of our extent, worthy of our position, wortliy of our resources, and wortliy of our future. (Cheers.) In conclusion, he would ask lion, members to rc;id these resolutions iu a projier spirit, to consider them as a whole, whatever might be tlu'ir former prejudices or preconceived ideas; and if they belie^'ed that, as a whole, the system ])roposed was one which would conduce to the welfare of the i)eo])le of these Piovinces — that the prosperity of our country would be advanced — that we shoidd increa:ie in wealth and ercdit— let them, he re]ieated, set aside all ]Kirty views, and con- sider the proposition on its merits. It had been urged by some that this ste|i — this scheme of Fech'ration, was a step towai'ds indejien- dence, towards a severance from the mother-country. He had no apprehension, whatever, of this kind. He lielieved that as we gi'ew in wealth and strength, England would be less ready to part with us than if wi.- Mere broken \i\) pieceimal and defenceless, (^lleai-, hear. If the poiiidation were increased by one million souls, would it be eontenik'd that we, on our part, Avouid be one Avhit more favourahk' to a siveraiice of coiUKctioii from tlu' Jhitish Knipire than we were now ? And why should a junction with the l.oW( r Provinces lessen our desire for Hiitish connect k>n ? The iieople of Canada Avere loyal in tlu' true sense of the word — they were loyal to the core, but if it were ])ossible they could bi' excelled iu this respect, they were ex- cclleil by the ])e()ple of tlu' Lower Provinces. (Cheirs.) Should this Union take ])laic, we would find ours( Ives approai liing to tivi' millions of inhabitants. We should then be no inconsiderable peojik'. In Kurope, Avith such a population, Ave would occiijiy the ])()siti(m of a second or third-class jioAVer. With our_ rapidly in- creasing credit and resources, avc Avould oiler an attractivi' tield, not on am Iv for Ihitish emigrants, but for European emigration gciier i our ratio of ])rogrcss Avoiild therel'ore be ])roportioiiately great. The last lAVeiitv-five yt-irs had shewn a great inctca.se, but he lext tAventy-tive years Avoiild shew a far greater. When AA-e had a pojmlation of eight or nine millions ])( lievi d tl R' n (Hear, hear.") our a llian ce AVOUlil lie sou 1 b ht becaii-c it Would be valuable. There was a party in England who urg( d the desirability of getting rid of the Colonies, but they were a small [.arty. He (^Mr. Macdonald 134 SPEECU OF THE HOX. JOHN A. M.VCDO\ALD (cANAJ)A). did not bcliovo any such opinion was entertained by tlie Govommcnt of En},'laud, the statesmen of Enghind, or the people of England. (Hi'iU', hear, and clieers.) The British Is^u'th American Colonics ■were now in a transition state. We were rapidly a^jproachiup; the position of a powerful friend and ally rather than a mere dependency. England would soon have nations subordinate to her, but ready and willini'' to aid her in peace and in war — to assist her, if necessary, in holding her o-mi against the Avorld, in arms, as she had often done before. (Cheers.) It was true that, in the position in which we stood, there miglit be said to be some danger of war. Hut how would the feelings of the people of Canada rise at th(^ v(>ry idea ? We coidd realise the horrors of war, to which we knew, in such ease, our countr\ would be sid)jeeted, but we were, nevertheless, ready and detennined to stand by the mother-country. (Hear, hear). There was no difference of opinion expressed on that point at least. (Cheers.) We knew the moral benetit of the protection of England. We had here the great test of true constitutional liberty — the rights of thf' minority were respected. So long as we remained connected with Great Britain Ave had the beneht of her free institutions, the conduct of her statesmen before us for imitation, the purity of her legislation, and the administration of her hnvs for our example. These, although not material advantages, were, nevertheless, most invaluable bcnclits, and were worth all tlie sai lifices Ave miglit have to make in order to preserve the connectiim which secured tlieni to us. (Hear, hear.) We had also the great benefit of being able to disi'uss and contemplate this |.Teat constituti(mal cliange in tlie midst of jieace and jirosiierity. Wci were, Avithout restriction or control, permitted to sit doAvn calmly and consider what Avas best for us to do under the present circumstances. The Imperial (irovernment huA'c toM us that they gave tull sanction to our deliberations, and Her ^Majesty's onlj' solicitude Avas, that these deliberations shoidd result to our full satisfaction and benefit, and tluy were certain to receive her gracious assent. He had to ask pardon of tlie House for having occupied its time so long. (Hear, liear, cheers, and cries of " (jo on.") He uiiplorcd the House not to allow tliis opjirntunity to pass. It might not occur again. It Avas a peiiiliar concurrence of circumstances Avbich had brought about llli^; opjxirtunity, and enabled us to take advantage of it. If we neglected it, we might h.iA'o occasion to regi'et our m^gligcnce; and lu; lioiied, thent'ore, the im])orlant subject now before the House would receive the attention wbicli it deserved. i^Loud cheers, amid whidi the lion, gentleman resumed his scat.) It is to be regn tted that the space at command did not enable the re-publication of the Avhole of the speeches in rxdnno, and also others Avhich have ])een delivered by the scvenil honorable gen- tlemen at dillerent times, but it is believed that the foregoing ). LETTEK FROM THE EIGHT HON. EDWAJID CAEDWEI.L. 135 vomincnt England, Colonics liiuj? the )t'ii(k'ney. ready and U'ccssiiry, liul often ill ■which ]jut how 'ly idea ? , in such -^I'tlieh'ss, ■ar, hear), at h'ast. En<;laTid. tlie rij>hts coimeotcd itions, tlio ity of her example. less, most iglit have tliem to 11^ able to the midst )r control, for us to )vernmcnt tiona, and ns should ei't'.iin to House for 1(1 cries of It unity to ri'eneo of lity, and \vc mifiht (tore, the attention 11 ntleuum lot enable , and also iblo gen- foregoing extracts compass the views of the several speakers, and as a fitting conclusion to these pages the reply of the Colonial Minister to the Quebec Memoranda is appended hereto. The deep interest of Her Majesty's Imperial Government in the successful acromplishment cf the scheme of Confederation is manifested in every line of this document, and with so sincere a desire on the parts, both of the Mother Country and her Colonial dependencies to see this Union consummated, it cannot be doubted tliat a few months will see it accomplished. The following is Mr. Cardwell's letter to the Governor-General of Canada : — Canada— No. 93. (Copy.) DowxiNo Stkekt, 3rd December, 1864. Mv LOEB, Her !\[ajesty's Government have received with the most cordial satisfaction your Lordsliip's despatch of tlie 7th ultimo, transmitting for their consideration the Resolutions adopted by the Representatives of the several Provinces of British North America, which were assembled at (iuebec. With the sanction of the Crown, and upon the invitation of the Govcnior-General, men of every Province, chosen })y the respective Lieuteiiant-Governoi's without distinction of party, assembled to consider (questions of the utmost interest to every subject of the; Queen, of whatever race or faitb, resident in those Provinces, and have arrived at a conclusion destined to exercise a most important influence upon tlie future welfare of the whole community. Animated by the waruKist senthneuts of loyalty and devotion to their Sovereign, earnestly desirous to secure for tlieir posteiity thi'oughout ail future time the advantages which they enjoy as subjects of the Ih'itish ('ro-wn, steadfastly attached to the institu- tions under which they live, they have conducted their deliberations with patient sagacity, and have arrived at unanimous conclusions on (^uesticms involving many difficulties, anil calculated, under less favorable auspices, to have given rise to many differences of opinion. Such an event is, in the bigliest degree honorable to those who have taken part in these deliberations. It must inspir(> confidence in the men by whose judgment and temper this result has been attained, and will ever remain on n conl as an evidence of the salutary influence exi'rcised by the 1 ustitutions under which these qualities have been so signally developc^d. Her :Nrajesty'8 Government liave given to your Despatch, and to the Resolutions of tlie Conference, their most deliberate considera- tion. They have regarded them as a whole, and as having been 136 LETTER FliOM THE KIGHX HON. EBAVARB OARDWELr,. 0m clcsip^KMl by those who have framed them, to establish as complete aud perfect an union of the whole into one Government, as the cir cumstances of tlie case, and a due consideration of existing interests, would admit. They accept them, tlierelbre, as being — in tlu>, delibo- rato judgment of those best qualified to decide upon the subject — the best framework of a measure to be passed by the Imperial Par- liamciit for attaining that most desiralde result. Tile point of principal importance to the practical well-working of the sclieme, is the accurate determination of the limits between the autlioiity of tlie Central and that of the Local Legislatures, in their relation to ciich other. It lias not liecn possible to exclude from the Resolutions some provisions which appear to bo less con- sistent than miglit, perhaps, liave been desired with the simplicity and unity ot the system. Eut, upon the whole, it appears to Her Majesty's (lovernment that precautions have been taken, which are obviously intended to secure to tlic Central Government the means of effective action throughout the scA'cral I'rovhices, and to guard against tliose evils which must inevital»ly arise if any doubt were penaitted to exist as to the respective limits of Central and Local authority. Tliey iire glad to observe that although large powers of legislation are intended to be vested in Itjcal boiUes, yet tla^ piinciple of central control lias been steadily kept in view. The importance of this principle caiuiot be overrated. Its maintenance is essential to the practical ciHciency of the system, and to its harmonious operation both in tlie General Administration auvol\'ed u])ou the Lieutenant-tiovernors, who will, uiahr the present sclienic, be appoinV'd not directly by the Crown, Imt by the (.'mtral Government of the United l'ro\inccs. The second ])oint which Hei Majesty's Government desire should be reconsidered, is the Constitution oltlic Jjcgislatixc Council. They appreciate the considerations whicli liuve inlluenced the Coul'erence LETTER FIIOJI THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD CAJIDWELL. 137 in (letcTmining the mode in which this Body, so important to the Constitution of the Legishituro, should be composed. But it appears to them ' , .tqxiire furtlier consideration whether, if the members bo appointed for life and their number be fixed, there will bo any suffi- cient means of restoring; liarmony between the Legislative (Council and the popular Assembly, if it shall ever unfortunately happen that % decided difference of opinion shall arise between them. These two points, relating to the Prerogative; of the Ci'own and to the Constitution of the Upper Chamber, have appeared to require distinct and separate notice. Questions of minor consequence and matters of detailed arrangement, may properly be reserved for a future time, when the provisions of a Bill intended to be submitted to tlie Imperial Parlianu'nt, shall come under (tonsideration. Her Majesty's Government anticipate no serious difficulty in this part of the case, since the resolutions will generally be found sufficiently explicit to giiide those who will be intrusted Avitli tlie preparation of the Bill. It appears to them, therefore, that you shoidd now take immediate measures, in concert witli the Lieutenant-Governors of the several Provinces, for submitting to the respective Legislatures this project of the Conference ; and if, as I hope, you are able to re- port that these Legislatures sanction and adopt the scheme, Her Majesty's Governnnrnt will render you all the assistance in their power for cariying it into elfect. It will probably be found to be the more convenient course that, in concert with Lieutenant-Governors, you should select a deputa- tion of the persons best qualified to proceed to this country, that they may he present at the; preparation of the Bill, and give to Her ^Majesty's Goveniiucnt the benefit of thi'ir counsel upon any (jucstions which may arise during the passage of the measure through the two Houses of Parliament. I have, &c., (Signed) E. CAIIDWELL. Governor Viscount ISIonck, &c., &c., &c. 138 ,*-a< THE TRADE OF THE ATLANTIC BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN rilOVlNCES. Tlio followiiiK Tnl)lc9 show tho Trade beUvcen England and Canada, New Brunswick, Ni)va Scotia, Prince Edward's Island and Nowfouudlr.ud for the years 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, and 1863: — CANADA. Imtouts THKiunuoM. — Yai.ue. AttTICLKS. Corn Skins, Furs Ashes Hacon, &c Otlier Articles Total ...£ 1863. 1,776,130 60,557 3,483,261 201,058 163,734 157,338 1862. 3,509,773 38,700 2,491,019 108,174 195,111 139,653 1861, 2,316,819 30,067 3,043,140 177,695 143,422 72,485 I860. 1859- £ 5,867,098 6,572,430 5,080,048 4,422,552 2,784,073 1,154,219 3,3,315 2,931,607 164,882 87,014 61,425 160,103 21,726 975,933 188,223 28,808 tJO,750 Exi'OUTS TIIKRKTO.- -Yai-ve. Abticlks. 1863. 1S62. 1861. I860, 1859. Apparel 417,082 58,664 368,277 406,608 420,925 856,684 458,071 302,670 54,570 413,443 322.800 408,684 214,051 520,339 2,757,830 304,716 46,814 421,038 288,216 369,639 142,023 276,479 2,357,025 300,242 47,728 461,900 321,548 354,150 643,241 120,091 353,923 36,471 394,612 306,000 268,181 499,875 _ 148,905 2,005,046 Coa'.s ('ottons, &e I roil AVoollciis Other Articles l''orei),;n and Colonial . Total £ 2,038,201 2,266,018 XEM Imimiuts ' HRUNSWICK. TllKHF.l'KOM. — VaUE. Akticles, I'ish ih6;i. 0,848 1,412,070 24,423 1862. 9,811 1,093,553 16,380 1861. 9,777 1,727,071 12,102 I860. 1859. 6,382 1,524,405 5,640 1,536,417 6,145 1,800,043 5,095 Tiiiiher Other Articles 'i'otal C 1,447,241 1,110,744 1,740,040 1,810,283 Ex TOUTS rilKKKTO. — A'aI.IK. Ahticlks. 1863. 186-2. 1861. is6i). 66,268 8,562 10,063 68,130 60,149 14,525 40,678 116,(;72 22,878 425,034 1859. Ajiparcl 45,431 26,014 32,644 60,147 118,622 32,709 36,262 178,017 63,569 530,884 34,412 14,634 20,153 73,428 85,830 21.574 25,083 112,844 62,392 447,958 44,218 8,188 16,038 47,712 70,221 13,200 32,715 102,514 35,286 81,225 8,205 16,701 82,655 122,538 1 1,053 66,764 111,677 40,807 515,515 ('iiril:i>;c Cottiiiis I Kill I.iiicns Woollens Oilier Articles Foreign and Colonial . Total C 370,122 AMERICAN ?w Brunswiok, 11 a 1859, 1860, 1859. 160,103 21,726 975,933 188,223 28,808 U0,750 2,784,973 1850. 353,923 35,471 394,612 300,009 268,181 499,875 148,995 2,00.5,046 1859, I 6,145 1,809,043 5,095 1,819,283 I85