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V I do not know that I need make any apology for undertaking, as I now do undertake, to address to you a few observations upon certain political topics which are, at the present time, uppermost in the minds of all Nova Scotians who give any attention to politics at all. Although I occupy no public position which might seem to challenge attention to aught that I may have to say upon the more momentous questions of the day, it will be found that the remarks that I am about to make refer to subjects upon which I have already and re- peatedly appeared before the public as a political writer, with- out the veil of the anonymous. An additional reason for my so re-appearing now is, that as I shall have to pursue a course of argument differing in some important particulars from that followed by every political journal in this Province, it is but fair for me to append my name to what I write, that nobody may be held accountable for my views except myself* For many months past, an agitation has been going on in Nova Scotia in favor of a repeal of the Union of the Canadian Provinces, finally consummated on the ist July, 1867. It is now about time for us to be able to consider this whole subject of Union calmly and dispassionately. In this relation, it is, for any practical purpose, little better than a waste of words to talk of what might be, or what should have been. To be sen- sible, we must gravely consider what has been and what is ; we must consider the hard, indisputable facts that are before our eyes, and do so with a sincere desire to further our own best attainable interests, and to honestly discharge our prac- ticable duties. The incidents which go to make up Nova Scotia's share of * It may be mentioned that the earlier pages of these observations were writ- ten in June last, before the return of the Repeal delegates from England, or the publication in Nova Scotia of the Duke of Buckin; "n's dispatch ; and that they were originally intended for publication in the new.^paper press. i the history of the Canadian Union arc so fresh in your memory that I need not recapitulate them. Tlie mode in wliich that Union was effected has created a vast amount of angry fecHng in this Province ; and certainly this is a fact not to be won- dered at. I have reason to believe that it has not been a matter of surprise to anybody, within, or without, Nova Scotia, at all conversant with the circumstances of the case. What were those circumstances .'' briefly then — only a few months before the celebrated Quebec conference of 1864, Nova Scotia was more desirous of this Union than any other Province which has since entered into it ; and the measure had here been discussed for many years, and advocated by all our more prominent politicians of all parties. True, a large portion of the people either had never thought very seriously of the matter, or were somewhat indifferent about it ; but of actual opponents of the proposed Union there were none. No sooner was the Quebec Convention made public than, owing to causes which I took occasion to indicate in some letters upon this subject published about a year since, but which I need not recapitulate now, a small host of 7\nti- Union agitators appeared in the field. A number of these, whom subsequent events have proved beyond even the possi- bility of a question to be mere speculators upon human frailty, were particularly violent in their denunciations of Union and sedulous in poisoning the public mind against it. ICvery prejudice against fellow-colonists that could be created, or fomented, every fea*" that could be aroused, every angry passion that could be excited against the proposed Union, was vigorously plied by these affectedly virtuous and indignant quacks, as they "stumped" the country against Union. The Government of the day, with their Union measure in hand, and lately so elate in their confidence of carrying it, wilted down under the popular storm thus raised and appeared before the country like a gang of mischievous boys suddenly detected in the act of attempting to perpetrate some piece of trickery too heinous to be considered a joke, but who now declared they would not do the like again The Union scheme was, in the legislative session of 1865, virtually forsworn by those who, but a few weeks before, had vauntingly declared their determination of carrying it during that session. Nothing can be more natural than that thousands of the people of the country should look with something worse than suspicion upon a definite measure, the consummation of which must obviously involve momentous results, which was thus dropped as soon as it bcpj^n to get ventilated before the country. The session of 1866 aurives ; and the Union measure, which the leader of the Government had declared his intention of abandoning-, is again, and in as nearly a surreptitious manner as was possible, brought before the Legislature, and carried too — carried by the votes of the very men who, a short twelve- month before, had striven to impress the country with the conviction that its utter damnation was involved in the passing of this measure. And, as you are well aware, by the time another year had elapsed these double-dealing politicians received their virtuous rewards. With a cruel and most insulting m.ockery, some of them were elevated to the Domi- nion Senate, some to the Provincial Legislative Council, as the representatives of the people they had twice deceived, and by whom they were cordially detested ; whilst others were in other ways kindly provided for at the public expense. What wonder that a large number of the people of Nova Scotia, who had not studied up the Union scheme, should be alarmed at the results of a measure brought about by such "by-paths and crooked ways"! What wonder if, in the first paroxysm of alarm, they refused to believe that anything could be good which had to be cftected by such disreputable means and agencies ! Human ingenuity could scarcely have devised any mode of bringing any great public measure before the people of Nova Scotia better calculated to arouse their fears and sting them to hostility, than the mode pursued with refer- ence to this one of Union. The manifestations of both feelings were unmistakably manifes ed in the general elections of 1867. Although in those elections the innocent did, in some instances, suffer for the guilty, no Union man in the Dominion of Canada, however hearty in the cause, can Wame Nova Scotia for the verdict she brought in on polling day. And indeed in all the reports ef all the discussions which have taken place on this matter, outside of Nova Sf^otia, I have not yet seen that h. ly person in a position to be conversant with the facts, has pretended either to blame the electors of this Pro- vince who have so emphatically made a rf;cord of their feelings in this matter, or to defend the conduct of those of their fellow-countrymen who have so grossly deceived them. The action of Nova Scotia on that occasion is recognized among all right-thinking men as the indignant protest of a free, spirited, but outraged people, against the chicanery of men whom they had too confidingly trusted, and by whom they had been gro.ssly deceived. It is time for us now, however, to consider whctiier tlie re- sentment thus kindled may not i)e carried to an extreme at once fool'sh and dangerous ; whether it has not already expanded in directions where it ought not to be manifested. Doubtless a number of those who recorded their votes in the Nova Scotia Parliamentary elections of 1S67, did so as sincere opponents of Union of the Colonies ; but there were thousands of as sincere Unionists who, for the causes I have already named, voted for what were called Anti-Union candidates ; whilst by far the largest proportion of the electors did not look at the question of Union at all. With these latter two classes, it was not a great question of state upon which they felt called upon to decide. It was a question between man and man ; and they voted down the men and the nominees of the men who had treated them as if they were utterly destitute of any will of their own. These two classes ought to beware, however, not to allow the resentment Ihey justly feel towards those who had tricked them into a Union with their fellow- colonists, to direct itself against Union itself It is, I know, somewhat difficult to separate the two objects ; but it should always be remembered that many a good result has fortu- nately been attained by very improper means. In such cases, although the end never justifies the means, we should be cautious not to assume that the end is necessarily bad because the means by which it was effected were evil. In what we may call the Anti-Union agitation which is now going on in this Province, an effort seems rather to be made to draw away the public mind from its original cause of re- sentment. We hear less and less of the mode in which the Union was brought about — of the treacherous double-dealing and venality of those by whose purchased votes the measure was carried. But Union itself — Union upon any terms — is denounced ; the statesmen of England, Quebec, and Ontario, are blamed for the part taken by them in effecting the Union ; and indeed, I may say in general terms, that no small measure of somewhat intemperate abuse is being daily hurled at those sections of the British Empire. I hope to be able to show, in the following remarks, that such a procedure is very unjust and very impolitic ; and that, if persisted in, it must materially damage the interests of Nova Scotia. Recollect where this Union movement originated. It waS' not in the old Province of Canada, nor in New Brunswick, nor yet in England. It was in Nova Scotia. Here the first official step in that direction was taken in 1854^ when the 6 , lion. J. W. Johnston laid upon the tabic of the House of Assembly, his resolution in favor of a Union of these Colonies. The only speakers on the subject besides himself, on that occasion, were the Honbles. Joseph Howe, William Youn^, and Martin I. Wilkins, who all expressed their deep rej.^rets at the then disjointed condition of these Colonies, and warmly supported the policy generally outlined in Mr. Johnston's reso- lution. Althouf;h no vote was taken, the sentiments uttered by these four gentlemen certainly seemed to be unanimously concurred in by the House, and not one syllable was uttered by anybody against the proposed measure. The other parties who have since concerned themselves in the question of Union could scarcely fail to regard these facts as a most significant expression of opinion on the part of Nova Scotia. This was but a small step Unionwards, it is true ; but still it was a step which doubtless produced immediate and important results upon the minds of the politicians of the other Provinces ; and it was taken by the Legislature of Nova Scotia, which ordered the resolution and speeches just mentioned to be printed and circulated. Let us come down to 1857. Canada had not yet spoken, New l^runswick had made no sign, on the subject of Union, On the i6th day of June of that year, at a meeting of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, at which were present the Honbles. J. W. Johnston, Charles Tupper, Michael Tobin, Martin L Wilkins, Stayley Hrown, John J. Marshall, and John Campbell, it was resolved to send Messrs. Johnston and A. G. Archibald as delegates to England for the purpose of, among other things, urging upon the Imperial Government the im- portance of a Union of the North American Colonies. They did so urge ; but, as shown by the report of the result of their mission, the British Government at that time, or at least the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Labouchere, was very indifferent about the matter. But here was an important fact, for which Nova Scotia alone was accountable, held up to the view, and for the consideration, of the neighbouring Colonies. The ministry of this Province, a strong Government at the time, representing a large majority of the electors of the country, formally and solemnly urge a Union of the Colonies ; and one of the most prominent members of the Parliamentary Oppositions© hearti- ly concurs in the measure as to consent to become a delegate to England, in order to press it forward. It was not until 1858 that Canada, led by the example of Nova Scotia, made the first move in this matter ; but it does 6 not seem to have been a very energetic one. In that year, Messrs. Cartier, Ross, and Gait, on a delegation to England, addressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary of the day, Sir K. 1^ Lytton, urging the Union ; but they received little en- couragement, and the subject was dropped. Nova Scotia, however, soon returned to the charge as to something upon which the heart of the country was set, by whatever party administration it might happen to be governed. In 1861, as you may remember, the Executive Council of this Province consisted of Messrs. Joseph Howe, A. G. Archibald, J. McCuUy, J. H. Anderson, William Annand, B. Wier, jno. Locke, Colin Campbell, and T. 1). Archibald. On the I5lh of April, Mr. Mowe, the leader of that Government, brought into the House of Assembly the following resolution : — "/^7/tvr(/,(■, Tlie subject of a Union of" the North American Provinces, or of the Maritime I'rovinccs of British America, has been from time to lime vnooted and discussed in all the Cohinies, ".-/;/(/ U7/i>y(is, While many advantages may I)e secured Iiy such a Union, either of ail these Provinces or of a portion of them, many and serious oI)stacle!» arc i)rescnted which can only l)e overcome by mutual consultation of the leading men ot tiie Colonies, and by free comnuniication with the Imperial (iovcrnment, " y/it'/r/oiY A'lsoh'cu/, 'I'hat His Kxccllcncy the Lieutenant-Governor be respect- fully requested to i)ut himself in connnunication with His Grace the Coh^nial Secretary, and Ilis I'l.xcellcncy the Governor-General, andthe Lieutenant-Govern- ors of the other North American Provinces, in order to ascertain the i)olicy of Her Majesty's (lovernment, and the o])inions of the other Colonies, with a view to an enlightened consiileration of a tpiestion involving the highest interests, and upon which the public mind in all the Provinces ought to be set at rest." This resolution was put to vote and passed unanimously, another fact which could not be interpreted outside this Pro- vince otherwi.se than as an emphatic expression of the public opinion in Nova Scotia. Owing, as Mr. Howe afterwards stated, to the facts that a general election occurred in New Brunswick in 1861, and that the island of Prince lulward was much occupied with a controversy that engrossed public atten- tion in that year, no action was taken upon this question until 1862. In August of that year its consideration was urged by Mr. Howe upon the resi>ective governments of Canada, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Early in September following, he, Mr. McCully, and Mr. Annand, with delegates from the other Provinces, held a conference upon this and other Intercolonial questions at Quebec ; and it was afterwards semi-ofificially announced here that the Union policy was una- nimously agreed upon. In this instance. Nova Scotia had, as usual, taken the initiative and solicited the co-operation of her sister Colonies to bring about this Union. Nothing came of this Conference, however. Within the ensuinj; year, Canada was kept in a ferment by a succession of fierce party stru^,i;les ; and Nova Scotia went through a general election and a chan<;e of ministry. The next step Unionwards was a somewhat awkward one ; but it eventuated in important results. In the Lej^islative Session of 1864, Dr. Tupper introduced and carried his resolution in favor of the utterly impracticable measure of bringing Nova Scotia, New lirunswick, and Prince Kdward Island into a Legislative Union. Almost at the same time, Canada, now and at last thoroughly in earnest, resolved in Parliament upon striking a vigorous blow for the more comprehensive mea.sure to include all the Colonies, or, failing that, to federate Canada alone. When the delegates of the Maritime Provinces met at Charlo'^^'^town in the autumn of 1864, it did not require many hours ol Conference to enable them all to see plainly that, in the then existing state of affairs, a Union of the Maritime Provinces was simply an impossibility. Opportunely a dele- gation from the Canadian Government arrived upon the field and proposed — what.'' The very thing for which Nova Scotia had been striving, and vainly striving for years ! The Nova Scotian delegates, and with them the delegates of the other Maritime Provinces, unhesitatingly accepted the Canadian proposal. Hence the Quebec Conference ; and you know the rest. You must, therefore, see that from the very commencement of this Union movement down to the meeting of the Quebec Conference, in the autumn of 1864, Nova Scotia took the lead. It was Nova Scotia that first mooted the subject in Parliament. It was Nova Scotia that first urged this Union upon the con- sideration of the Imperial Government. It was Nova Scotia that repeatedly solicited the other Provinces to conjoin with her in elaborating and consummating a Union scheme. I am now speaking of the public and unanimous acts of the succes- sive Parliaments and Ministers of Nova Scotia for a period of ten years, during which they may be reasonably supposed to have represented all shades of political opinion in this Province. But this is not all. When we come to look at the unofficial effort put forth in furtherance of this scheme, we find that Nova Scotia has taken a like prominent position far in advance of the other Provinces concerned. So long ago as 1848, a portion of the newspaper press of this Province was committed to the advocacy of Union ; and this policy became gradually adopted until, on the eve of the Quebec Conference, there was scarcely a political journal in Nova Scotia that was not 8 avowedly Unionist. Separate essays too, strenuously advo- cating; that great constitutional change and emanating from this Province, were freely circulated throughout British North America. In short, I may say without fear of contradiction, that, down to the passing of the " British North American Act," more matter upon this subject had been jnibiished by the press of Nova Scotia than by that of all the other Provinces taken together. On the other hand, look at this striking faci. During all the years that the popular mind of Nova Scotia V s kept in more or less of a ferment upon this subject ; Wiiilst Union was being freely and publicly discussed ; whilst our Legislature solemnly voted for it ; whilst our Government sent delegations to England, praying that the Colonial nuptials might be consummated ; whilst Nova Scotia affectionately and repeatedly invited the neighbouring Colonics to become one with her for all time ; — during all this time, down to about the close of 1864, not one petition to Queen, Governor, or Legislature, had ever been presented, not one line had ever been published, not one public speech had ever been uttered, in Nova Scotia, adverse to the projected British North Ame- rican Union. Such being the circumstances, could Englishmen, Cana- dians, New Brunswickers have dreamed for a moment that the consummation of the Union should l^ immediately suc- ceeded in Nova Scotia, not only by an indignant outcry against Confederation itself, but by expressions of anger, not to say malignity, against t/u-m for having dragged us into this Union .'' It was Nova Scotia which has had years of dragging to get them into it. If there has been seduction anywhere, Nova Scotia is the seducer. The course pursued by the public men of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick since the Union, is not a subject which I have now to consider ; but here I would ask Nova Scotians : is it — I will not say generous — but is it fair — is it honorable — is it manly for us to rail out vehemently against the public men, the press, and the people of the other Provinces, and even against the countries themselves as specimens of nature's work, on the ground that they have dragged us into this Union ? Is the Union a crime ? Then we must look for the principal share of the guilt amongst ourselves, here in Nova Scotia, and not go beyond our borders to pile it upon other people's shoulders. Whatever may be the defects in the terms of the Confederation, it is now a fixed, irrevocable fact. The people of New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario, are our < I 9 fellow-subjects, our fellow-countrymen, our political brethren, and something nearer still. Their interests are our interests ; their honor is our honor ; their reputation is our reputation. Therefore, whatever else they may be, any contumely attempted to be heaped upon them by us, without good and sufficient cause, can scarcely fail to rjcoil upon our own heads. I have shown by citing indisputable historical facts, how groundless was the charge against Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, of having dragged Nova Scotia into what it has become fashionable in some quarters to call " this hated Union." The same facts also go to prove how groundless is the like charge made against England. The Union complained of was not even projected by the Imperial Government. It was not assented to by the mother country until after Nova Scotia had been, for many years, earnestly and eagerly solicit- ing that measure at her hands. When at length that assent was given, it is obvious that British statesmen, of all parties and classes, gave themselves cordially to the scheme. And, in the name of all that is just or generous, how can they be charged with having in this matter acted tyrannically towards Nova Scotia.'' In strict accordance with her long established Colonial policy, and, further, with the Colonial policy of all modern nations, England was under no sort of obligation whatever to consider our wishes as to the sort of Con- stitution we would like. Heretofore, she, by her own act, and of her own free will, has given to Nova Scotia and to all her other Colonies, their Constitution in the first in- stance, and all the essential modifications and amendments of those Constitutions afterwards. P^xcept in some particularly important cases, it has not been considered necessary that the British Parliament should be consulted in the matter ; but the Colony has accepted its local Constitution at the hands of whomsoever for the time happened to be the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as the product of his own individual brain, or that of some of his official subordinates. From what- ever particular motive agent in the political mechanism of England, the Colonies have received their respective local Constitutions, will any of you have the kindness to inform me of the number of instances in the history of the British Empire in which a Colony has been asked to ratify, before being put in operation, the Constitution presented to it by the mother country ? When Cape Breton was united to Nova Scotia, not only were the wishes of the people of that island not consulted, but they were grievously offended at the step which was thus . 10 taken by a British minister on his own personal responsibility. When, about thirty years since, the two Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada suffered a suspension of their local jxjliti- cal Constitutions, and were, by an Act of the British Parlia- ment, brought into a Legislative Union, neither of them was consulted as to the justice, or policy, of such a step. There was no appeal to the people, no submission to the peojile's Parliamentary representatives in either Prcvince, either to approve of the Union beforehand, or to ratify the Union Act after it had been enacted by the Parliament of luigland. It would, then, have been in strict accordance with what had always theretofore been the policy of the mother country towards her Colonies, and" what had never been questioned as a correct and sound policy, if Her Majesty, without any refer- ence to our local authorities, had, in the exercise of her Con- stitutional rights and in a Constitutional manner, united the wJiolc of her North American Colonies. That such a proce- dure was not adopted and acted upon, constitutes, in my humble opinion, the only ground of complaint against the statesmen of P2ngland who have been instrumental in bringing about this Union. You will admit, I have the presumption to say, that, if such a course had been pursued, there would have been no outcry on the part of Nova Scotia that a wrong had been committed. The loyalty which has ever characterized the people of Nova Scotia ; the faith on your part that Her Majesty's Government has always intended to do what was right by these Colonies, whether it always took the most judicious mode of accomplishing this, or not ; your knowledge that that government had a right to take such a course — these causes would have led you to quietly acquiesce in the position in which you were placed. You know it would. But the Imperial Government, if it erred at all, erred on the side of leniency. A continued determination was shown by that Government, whether Tories or Whigs happened to be in power, to do nothing in this matter until the several Provinces directly interested clearly and unmistakeably evinced their desire to come into the Union. As we have seen, the very first entreaty made to England to unite the Colonies emanated from the Colonies themselves, and from the particular Colony of Nova Scotia. In the interview upon this subject which Messrs. Johnston and Archibald had with Mr. Labouchere in 1857, they were informed by him "that Her Majesty's Govern- ment had no desire to interfere with the determination to which the Colonies themselves might come on a point so im- 11 1 to im- mediately affecting their own interests ; and that if they should be of opinion that Union would advance their prospects, the Government would oppose no obstacle to the accomplishment of their wishes." The policy thus enunciated has been the policy pursued by that Government ever since. No stc}) that could reasonably be expected to lead to any important prac- tical results was taken by that Government until the three Provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, had, by their representatives, presented themselves before the throne and requested to be confederated. The alacrity with which British statesmen of all parties then took hold of the proposed scheme leaves no room to doubt that it was one which had long commended itself to them, although they refrained from taking any active measures towards its con- summation until the British Americans had themselves taken the initiative. The foregoing statements are statements of fact which no man can disprove, and which no man will probably venture to gainsay. It has been alleged, however, and reiterated almost innumerable times, that the Imperial Government should have consulted the wishes of tJie people of Nova Scotia in this matter. Now, let us try to look at the simple facts, calmly and divested of all prejudice. As we have already seen, that Government, in accordance with the long estab- lished principles of its Colonial policy, was under no obligation whatever to consult Nova Scotia, or any other North Ameri- can Province, in the matter at all. But waiving for the pre- sent this view of the case altogether, the British Government really did recognise a right in the people of Nova Scotia to be more than consulted relative to the Union project ; it did defer to the evident wishes of the people of Nova Scotia, as expressed in the only Constitutional way in which they could be expressed ; and it did what there was every reason to believe was in consonance with the wishes of the people, apart and distinct from any suspected personal views of their Constitutional representatives — for we must remember that ten years of agitation of this Union question had not elicited in Nova Scotia the utterance of one syllable of opposition to the proposed measure. But if a political Constitution is to be considered anything but a mere empty name, British states- men looked to the only quarter where they, or anybody else, couldXooV. for an expression of the popular sentiment of Nova Scotia. They looked to the declaration of the people's repre- sentatives. To deny that the acts of Parliament are not, to 12 all intents and purposes, the acts of the people whom that Parliament represents, is to deny what is the very essence of the British Constitution. In 1866, the Legislature of Nova Scotia, by a large majority, passed a resolution authorizing the Government of the day to appoint delegates to co-operate with delegates from the other Provinces and with the Imperial Government, and clothing these delegates with vi.tually unlimited power, so far as Nova Scotia was concerned, to bind this Province to anything. P^ngland was both morally and constitutionally bound to accept such a resolution as the voice of Nova Scotia. Her statesmen could not be expected to know whether or not the people of this Province, who had been for ten years tacitly acquiescing in the Union movement, had suddenly suffered a change of sentiment on that subject ; nor was it their place to try to discover. In short, then, the Imperial Government, /'// tJic first plaa\ need not have asked for any expression of feeling, or opinion, on the part of Nova Scotia, before taking action in this matter of Colonial Union. Secondly, admitting for arguments' sake that Nova Scotia's feelings and opinions should have been taken into consideration, the Imperial Govenmient, in the Summer, or Autumn, of 1866, was put in possession of what it was constitutionally bound to consider the expression of Nova Scotia's feelings and opinions ; for it was placed in possession of the solemnly avowed sentiments of the Parliamentary representatives of this Province. And, tJiirdly, the Imperial Government, without being under any sort of obligation to concern itself to know whether the constitutional representa- tives of Nova Scotia represented the real sentiments of their constituents, or not, had the best of reasons for supposing that they did represent them. This question as to the feeling of us, the people — the electors of Nova Scotia, towards the British Government, is one to be considered entirely distinct and apart from that of our feelings towards those same " representatives" — towards those double traitors, I mean, who, one day, employed every eft'ort at their command to poison our minds against Union on any terms, and, on the next, " for a consideration," accepted, voted for, advocated Union upon any terms ; and towards those other " representatives" who so kindly bought and paid for these venial colleagues of theirs — paid for them with your honor, your reputation, and your best interests for an indefinite period to come. Put, whatever you think your feelings ought to be towards these fellow-countrymen of ours, pray do not, 13 as just, and honorable, and sensible men, allow them to preju- dice you against the statesmen and the people of I'jigland, Ontario, Quebec, or New lirunsvviek. A cool, calm inspection of all the facts must prove to you that we must look at home — here, in Nova Scotia — to find whatever wron<;, whatever slight, whatever insult, has been inllicted upon the people of Nova Scotia. It is not England, Canada, or New l»runswick, that is accomitable for any grievance you may have to complain of for the treatment you have received in the bringing about of this Union. As already stated, you must look "to home." Vou must look to the men whom you yourselves, in the exer- cise of one of the most solemn duties that a Britisii subject has to perform, have elected to be your representatives in Parliament — whom you, and nobody else, have authorized to make laws for your governance ; to whom you have delegated the power to mould the Constitution under which you and your posterity have to live for, it may be, many centuries ; and to whom you have consequently entrusted, with your eyes open, the dearest interests of yourselves and your children. Then, if Nova Scotians have themselves made a mistake in any way, do not let us act the unmanly part of trying to lay the blame upon others who are innocent. If a mistake has been committed, eventuating in wrong, slight, and insult to Nova Scotia, that mistake was in our electing men to be members of Parliament who were utterly unfit for the position. Rememukr that. Yes : for many, many years. Nova Scotia has, at every Parliamentary election, allowed itself to be car- ried away by an excitement, often produced by very trivial causes, into the temporary madness and blindness of extreme partizanship ; and consequently men who have just low cun- ning enough to turn these weaknesses to account for their own sordid purposes, without the intellectual capacity, or the moral sense, to comprehend how even they can be made avail- able to forward the ends of statesmanship, have managed to get themselves thrust into the Legislature. And of such are the men who have been double-dealing with us on this Union question. If anybody is curious enough to undertake getting up a catalogue of all of these same speculators, he will perhaps be surprised to find of what apparently divers materials and opposite parties they arc composed ; and he will scarcely fail to be amused to perceive hew often how many persons have changed places vvith whom in dealing with this question. He will laugh when he comes to look back and see the amount of chasscc-\v{^ that has, with more or less of gracefulness, been performed in getting through this sett of Union Quadrilles. 14 T will venture to say further that, however deeply ap^j^riovcd the people of Nova wScotia, or any considerable number of them, may feel as to the mode in which they have been treated in this matter of Confederation, if they will only take to heart, in the right way, the lesson they have thus received, it will prove to be well worth to them more than all that it has cost. That lesson says : " Send men oi honor to Parliament, what- ever else they may be. It is often well for you to stick to your party ; but it is better to be represented by a man of honor. It is well to have a man who can speak eloquently, write forcibly, administc. ably — get such a one if you can ; but it is better to make sure, if possible, that he is a man of honor. Do not try to tie up your Parliamentary representa- tive with pledges, or to dictate to him, as to a mere delegate, the course you think he should pu*"^ on every point. You cannot do it It is better to feel assured that you can trust to his honor, and that when, if ever, '■>€ changes his avowed principles, as any honorable man may do, he will at f)ncc resign the trust you have reposed in him. Try earnestly and sincerely to pursue this policy at your elections, and there will be small danger of your ever getting be-Millared." I have endeavoured to indicate why Nova Scotians have only themselves and their Parliamentary representatives to blame for any slight, or wrong, they have suffered in having this Province brought into the Canadian Union. But here wc are, a part of the Dominion of Canada. The deed is done. Nova Scotia can never again by any possibility occup}' just the position she was in before this Union was effected. The question for us to consider then is : what is best next to be done .'' That is, what is the best practicabk thing to be attempted ? " Get the Ikitish American Act repealed," many still say. I contend that this is not practicable ; and I suspect that most persons who have carefully read British history are of the same opinion. The very idea. Repeal, involves a principle which is, in the last degree, repugnant to the spirit of British statesmanship. Few persons have ever, down to the present day, entertained a doubt that Ireland was cajoled into a Legis- lative Union with England, by means which none of the really responsible agents coukl ever have dared to avow. Yet, for near'.y seventy years Ireland has been unintermittingly — for muc 1 of that time, vehemently— contending for a repeal of that Union. During all that time Ireland had a large repre- sentation in both branches of the British Parliament, and < 15 ,. consequently the power of exerting; a great influence upon the (decisions of that Parliament. What has been the result of Ireland's ajijitation f* r Repeal ? Tory, VVhij^, and qiiiisi Radical administrations al ..e have never deipjned to look upon that Repeal as a thinj:^ that, for a serious moment, could be thought possible. Gradually statesmen, scholars, men of title, of wealth, of respectability, have ceased to contend for Repeal, until now, at last, its only advocates are a widely scattered handful of partially insane, Godless, cut-throat Fenians. Can you for a moment think that little Nova Scotia, with a popula- tion scarcely, if any, more than one-thirtieth of that of Ireland, with a much smaller proportion of physical strength, and with- out a particle of influence in the Imperial Parliament, is going to carry out with that Parliament a successful contest for a repeal of our Union with the other Provinces of Canada "i Surely, a few minutes calm consideration will convince any- body of the groundlessness of such a hope. The liritish Parliament, you must keep in remembrance, has passed that Act at the request of Nova Scotia, constitutionally expressed, and, as I think I have shown, with evidently the best of reasons for supjjosing that it was passed in accordance with the wishes of the populace of Nova Scotia. These fcicts account for the slighting manner in which the motion made on behalf of the No\ a Scotian Delegates was, only a few weeks since, treated in that Parliament. Those who have petitioned for Repeal, and who feel wounded at the somewhat curt and summary manner in which their petition has been jiooh-pooh'd, should take all the facts into consideration ; and, if they do so, they will find much to palliate, if not to justify, the treatment on account of which they now feel so sore. In short, the British Parliament, with apparently the best of reasons and with the apparent concurrence of all the parties directly inter- ested, has created the Dominion of Canada ; and that Parlia- ment has now dismissed the subject forever, and no trivial demonstration from any quarter will ever cause the question of Union to be revived as a serious question there. P'rom certain indications in Nova Scotia during several months past, I cannot but infer that this is precisely the con- clusion long since arrived at by most of those who are osten- sibly the " leaders of public opinion" here. And now the question is : What is to be done .'* Assuming that there will be no Repeal by the Imperial Parliament of the " British American Act," what next .'' Some curious alternatives have been hinted at, or broadly proposed of late. The physical 16 force opposition has been talked of. Annexation to the Vnitcd States has been mentioned. Persistent Anti-Union ugitatio)i — a determination to make ourselves ^^encrally disao^reeable to everybody forever — seems to find favor in some quarters. I do not know of any other notable alternative that has been advocated unless it is to accept tJic position and make the best of it. Now, let us look our position fairly in the face. I ask you if any idea can be more absurd than that involved in the first of these alternatives. We contend that we, the people of Nova Scotia, have been insulted and Ul-treated by a portion of our representatives in the Legislature. We have signally evinced our due appreciation of the tricky conduct of these men. We have indignantly inflicted upon them, or many of them, the punishment they deserved ; and unfortunately some of the innocent have been punished for being in their company. Every legal and constitutional effort has been made to undo their work and to obtain a Repeal of the Union they have been the direct means of effecting. All such efforts have proved futile ; and, as I have endeavored to show, and am sure every man in the Province, not blinded with passion, in his heart believes, all such efforts must continue to prove unavailing. What has been done thus far by the Anti-Con- federate, or Repeal party, has been the natural and manly expression of the indignant feelings of a free and spirited people, who have been treated with slight and contumely by those in whom they had reposed their confidence. As such it is regarded by all of the world who are conversant with the facts. Nova Scotians are none the less respected abroad for the Anti-Confederate agitation that has been going on for the last twelvemonth. But this agitation has gone as far as it can with any credit to ourselves. Do not let us now make our- selves ridiculous. Do not, from the position of independent, high-souled men, let us drop into the attitude of petulant children. The fight has been fought out gallantly so long as a manly blow could be struck, and it is no disgrace now to good naturedly "throw up the sponge." Nova Scotia con- tending against the results of a piece of constitutional trick- ery, and against such heavy odds, so long as there was a reasonable hope of victory, was an object of respect for the world ; but Nova Scotia, doubling up its little fists and setting the British Empire at defiance, becomes a laughing stock among nations. I find it difficult to conceive that this boyish crotchet could have ever seriously entered into the mind of J , 17 any person of mature years. It is probal)ly only the anpjry talk of discomfited men, who do not really mean what they say ; but it is talk which is doing us ourselves much injury. Tf there really is any Nova Scotian to whom this idea of "physical force opposition" presents anythiiifj tanj^iblc and practicable as a means of effectiiifc repeal, I be^j of him to sit down calmly and alone to think over this matter, with the aid of the light of common sense. Let him ask himself, as a sane man: what could we do with our "physical force.''" I am confident that his answer to himself would obviate the neces- sity of any body's undertaking to prove to him the folly of our opposing physical force to the determination of the Government and people of I^^^ngland, and — I mult add — of a preponderance of the people of Nova Scotia. Still more unwise and also inexpressibly wicked is the hinted proposal of Aiincxatiou to the United States. I must apologise to my fellow-countrymen for even mentioning such a subject, however briefly, in any remarks addressed to them. But it has been mentioned by others, and I may refer to it. In reality, I do not — and, until indubitable proofs present them- selves, cannot — believe that, regarding it as a question of principle, there is any Nova Scotian so unworthy of the name ; so destitute of all the feelings of patriotism and national honor ; so ready to earn the scorn and contempt of every right thinking citizen of the United States themselves ; such an unmanly, spiritless sneak ; that he would hold up his hand for "Annexation." Looking upon it as a question of interest, such a movement on the part of any Nova Scotian, at the present time, could be considered as only consistent with insanity, if there is anything consistent with that frame of mind. This term. Annexation, has been rather too much bandied about here of late. Union men, in the heat of contro- versy, have been too much addicted to applying to their opponents the extremely irritating name of " Annexationists ; a term which I believe is really as offensive to repealers as to any other class of the community. It has no effect here beyond that of producing increased hostility of feeling between the disputants ; but it is far otherwise abroad. It is one thing which has not inconsiderably helped to create a widely extended hallucination in the United States that Nova Scotia is eager to throw herself into the arms of that Republic. I am about to say something that may sound extremely presumptuous, but I will presume to say it, nevertheless. I venture to say, then, that no living man knows and under- 18 stands you, my fellow-countrvmcr of Nova Scotia, better than I do. I will not enlarge up;>n the subject by uttering anything that may look like " blarney," or " palaver," I will not pretend to recount your good points, or hint at your weaknesses. To do so, would be to insult your intelligence. But I will say this : — If any man in Nova Scotia, in the present aspect, or in the now prospective aspect of affairs, should be so infatuated as to make any practical attempt to carry out the " physical force opposition" policy, or the "annexation" policy, you will teach him a lesson that will astonish him — and something more. There used to be amongst us a combined feeling described as loyalty and patriotism. The terms which describe this feeling have gone much out of fashion — too much so per- haps ; but the thing still exists, and to as great an extent as it ever did. It is one thing to feel and express indignation at a wrong, or a slight, inflicted by our own Parliamentary repre- sentatives, and to make that indignation felt in the proper quarter ; but it is quite another thing to forswear our allegiance to the Queen and trample upon the claims which our country has upon us. And this will be found, to his great grief, by any one — if such ever should turn up — who may be mad enough to indulge in the prank of putting the people of Nova Scotia to the test in this matter. Those too who, even now, are, through the press and otherwise, seemingly insinuating disloyal senti- ments into the minds of the people of this Province, with doubtless no graver motive than that of pandering to what they believe to be the feeling of the populace, can little know what a strong under current of popular disgust at such a mistaken policy, is setting through this country and daily increasing in momentum. Those who indulge in these prac- tices will find, soon or late, how terribly they are deceiving themselves. As to the extent of even the Anti-union feeling itself in Nova Scotia, a very erroneous impression has gone abroad. It still remains to be proved, and I believe it will remain for ever to be proved, that a majority of the people of this Province, of ever a very large minority of them, are, or ever have been, opposed to Union. The elections of 1867 do not afford a test of the public feeling on that question. To my certain knowledge, thousands of electors who were as sincere and earnest Unionists as Nova Scotia could produce, voted at those elections for what was called the ' anti ticket." I may frankly say that I was myself, one of that number, and profess to know a good deal of the feelings of others who did likewise. ll.l 19 Some of you have known mc as a pioneer and an untiring advocate of the great cause of Ikitish American Union, of twenty years staiuHng. I always have been, still am, and ever expect to be, an advocate and supporter of that Union, Yet, here in Halifax, in the election of i