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POOR, UPON THE EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN RAILWAY, Made at the CituHaVin Portland, July 22d, 1851, at a general meeting of the friends of that enterprise. Tlic mectme was called to order by Mb. Dow, the Mayor, and Gen Frs- »EN7>EN was chosen Premdcnt. On taking the Cliair the President addressed the meeting on the considerations which should urge them to a vigorous prose- cutibn of the enterprise, and called on the Executive Committee for such infoi-mation and statements as they were prepared to present. John A. Pooh, Esq., responded to this call, and said, as chairman of the committee, he wou'd reply in the briefest terms possible, consistent with a proper statement of the (.-ondition of the enterprise. On the 2d of August last, the memorable Convention, spoken of by the President, separated, after a three days' session, characterized by the utmost enthusiasm m favor of the great objects m view, in which were exhibited some of the most brilliant displays of oratory, which had ever been drawn forth on any occasion. It was the fii-fct soWal reunion that had e>er taken place between the people of sister States and Provinces, after 70 years of separation. The descendants of a common race, Anglo Saxon brethren, after this Ion? period of partial estrangement, and continued political separation, having ontffrown and forgotten the differences of their fathers, came together upon the broad platform of a common ancestry, and a common sympatliy, to lay the founda- tions of an enterprize of a deep but of a common interest to them all It was proposed to extend a line of Railway, which should connect Colonies and States, and which would bring in its train, freedom of intercourse, and the common alliances of social and commercial fellowship and fraternity Eschew- ing all political purposes, it looked forward toan inevitable reciprocity between the British Provinces and the United States. The Railway is not an end, but a means ; u means of social and commercial advancement— an insti-umentality, by which great interests are to be subser^•. ed — by which the raw material and the rich products of one portion of the country may be exchanged with those of another. We want the coal, the iron the plaster, and the grindstones of Nova Scotia and New Brunswicl', and they in turn want the sugars, the farming utensils, the hats, shoes and other manu- factures of New England. We want a railway across the breadth of our State to bring all our people into easy communication with each other. More than all this, we want to open out a line of railway toward the nearest available point of this continent to Europe, in order to save expense in sending forth or in pro- curing supplies from Europe. Instead of seeing all the trade between this country and Europe passing almost in sight of our own coast, and going down on the great sailing circle, some five hundred miles past us, to New Yorit, and from thence reshipped back to us, we want the trade across the Atlantic, and the travel across the Atlantic, reduced to its lowest cost, and to the shortest period of time, — to bring the producer and consumer of both continents, in clos- est proximity. ' 'm m ...xihs^ami>t^fmt'3sm&~.^ MS f Tlie plan ngrced upon at the PorHand Convention, ho believed, was tlie onty one that could be legitimately or profitably carried out. The idea wtus, to carry out tlii'i work in separate sections, by ditFcrent communities, uU working,' in subordination to one general plan, so that a continuous line of railway, urtder »)rivato management, should eventually extend from the cities of Bangor, of Portland, of lioston and New York, to the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia, upon the Atlantic Ocean. The beauty of the plan was, its simplicity, its coincidence with tl-.c natural laws of trade ; its adaptation to the wants of the people of Maine, New Bruns- wick and Nova S;iotia. The idea was purely commercial, llaihvays for military or political purposes, were neither in accordance with the spirit of the age, or of the spirit of railway progress. They have never been successful, and they never will be. Railways require, in order to success, the application of private selfish- ness, individual thrift and energy in their management. It was with a spirit like this, and with opinions like those, that the resolutions of the Tortland Convention were adojitcd. In accordance with these views, have been the proceedings of the committee. In Maine, our application for a charter was promptly responded toby the Legislature, and the necessary survey at once undertaken at the expense of the State. In New Brunswick, similar measures were adopted, and evety thing done that the most ardent friend of the Railway could desire. So that from the city of Portland East, to the boundary of Nova Scotia, the nay has been pre- pared for the carrying out of this great work, as far, and {»s fast as private enterprise shall supply the means. It is questionable in my onn mind, whether any resort to public credit, is either necessary or desirable, New Brunswick, however, tendered further assistance, to the amount of $ 1 ,2.') ),000 in subscrij)- tions to the stoek, and a free gift of all the ungranted Crown ,ands lying within Hoe miles, on each side the line. Had Nova Scotia adopted a similar policy tin; road might be looked upon as secured. Had the Nova Scotians gone home and- gone to work, as the people of New Brunswick did, the history of the enterprise' would have been a continued series of successes and of triumphs. Unfortunately for the scheme, in Nova Scotia, political matters arc paramount to all others. Among the men who had given the readiest support to the plan for calling the Portland Convention, was the Hon. Joseimi Howe, well known as a political leader in Nova Scotia. Mr. Howe expected to have been present, or rather agreed to be present, at the Portland Convention, but was prevented by olfieial engagements. His intimate political friend, Hon. Mr. Uniackk, the Attorney General of Nova Scotia, took an active and raflucu al part in its proceedings, and was appointed one of the Executive Committee for Nov* Scotia. The ministerial party in Nova Scotia were thereby regarded as fully com- mitted to the plan of the Portland Convention. On the retnrn of the delegation to 'Halifax, the Hon. Mr. Howe seeing the enthusiasm for the Railway which hi been kindled among the delegation, and anxious to share tlic honor of tak- inj; a leading part in its management, introduced into the public meeting called to receive the Report of the delegates, a resolution of the most extraordinary character, proposing to have the Railway undertaken as a government measure, by the colony, and built at the expense of the government. This one unfortunate step has given a new turn to political affairs in British North America, if not seriously retai-ded the progress of the Lower Provinces. Hiving become committed to the plan of a government Railway, Mr. Howe felt the difficulty of carrying it out ; or of securing a majority of the House of Assembly of the Province without the cooperation of the Home government, and he goes out to England to raise money to build Nova Scotia's part of tho line of our road. Recollect, that at this time the Quebec and Halifax line had been abaniloned. The plan of the Quebec and Halifax Railway was started in 1845, as a rival If J u U > 'J % \\ 3 Si I! project to hea.l off the At]an«c ftnrl St. Lawrence Rail Road. Tlie Provinor« Jov JoS'lt^^rTr"'' 'f f?? Scotia nnited in an application for a^r o">.";;t "^i^lnTSS"^^ "'"■' '''''-'' ""^ -dcred-c.„.menced in 1845 The report of Mij. Robinson's survey was referred to the Railway- Oommis- .'iar'wK-f; ^^^'"■'•^'P^V""'^''''""^^^ the'schcme as entirely dcstiSfcoZer- c.a a 1 vnntyK^ - and they stated tkat the Portland and Montreal Hail lioudTad .7 /t <; A "dvantnf,r>.^"s to p,-ecMe all hope of competition with i^ or Z trade of the Jit. nawrrme calH, h, t/te Quebec ami Itcdifaxline, Canada \ova Sco ia and ^ew Brnnswick howcvor, united in offering to the Irnpcrid G.™en ^ urnnt of ami on ea.h .ide tl,e line, and an annual payment of .£20,000 ™rnc ya.-h, or LGO,000 sterling in all, to^yards paying the hiterest on the eos if he ^mpenal Governn^ent should undertakeSo build it. for its own use7andp«;! The Imperial (-{overnmenf, by thoir despatches of April 5, 1849, and June 19 (*..0, refused to undertake the work upon the pledges freviouslv oivini and in 85?' T-^^ T' 'r^'!'^ «"'^ ?V^'^ Le'gislatunl of New%irunswi.k of April I «.. tl.e.e refusals -indure.l the people of this IWinee to turn their attention nr ; o r'*!,Tr !:f "^r'V"^ "mlertakings, whieh it would be in their power t w .hi loi. o / '■' ^T *''""■ f'™'!'''"'^ "f '""'■'^ immediate remuneration, T* o lid hold out greater indueements to .'apitalists to embark therein " ^mprZ!!T'i '"^ ' •-"',^','^'li"tV"S'"8"">'^»'^ '" l^""d the European and Norti, An.enean Radway, and the St. Andrews and Woodstock Rond r-v !..d O^f *'' ;»'« ^"P'-iration of the Portland Convention, the plan of the Ilali- a n'l i^ In . ? l^;">"'^'y had been practically abandoned in all the Provinces.- (i..ebec had turned her rltontiou toward building aline to Melbourne, connecting v\ 1 lovinccs, on the other, by our Ime. F ^nV/N T TV ''"Sland, as the delegate f.ora Nova Scotia, to advocate the Z ,1 ." .*^'"'^^J'>'- "'^ fi'?' conuiiunication on the subject does ample jus- tice to the claims Of our enterprise. ^ ^ The British Covernment still declined to embark in the scheme. Mr. Howe turned Ins attention trom the Government to the;.5o;j/e of England. He deliver- e *-.»..« On the return of the Russell Ministry to place again, Mr. Howe succeeds in appea ing (o the fears of the mnnslry, and instead of carrying out the ..nlarged, iberal and philanthropic spirit which characterized his countrymen in the Port- .uid (^onvention, he appealed to the ancient prejudices of England against the United States, and revived th« recollection of the scenes of our former bloodv wars. He was supported in this by the tory party in England, and the peaceful, mt^rnafional and philanthropic spirit ofthe Convention was changed by the in- terpretations of Mr. Howe into one of propagandism, by which the integrity o: the empire was threatened. " -^ In this spirit, the old cast off plan the Halifax and Q^iebec line was revived, T I aud the British Ministry directtid Earl Grey to direct Mr. Under Soc'y Ilawcs to say to Mr. Ilowe that tlie Britiali Ministry would reccaimend to Parliament that the money required should be advanced from the Imperial Treasury to build u line of railway "passing wholly through British territory from Halifav to Quebec or Montreal. Any deviation from the line recommended by Major RoLinson ajd Capt. Henderson, must, however, be subject to the approval ol" Her Majesty's Ciovernment." "It will further be required that the several Provincial Legislatures should pass laws making the loans which they are to raise, a first charge ujjon the Provincial Revenue, after any existing debts and payments on account of the Civil Lists settled on Her Majesty by laws now in force; and also that permanent taxes snail be imposed, (or taxes to continue in force till the debt shall be cxtin^"islied,)suf- Hcient to provide for the payment of the interest and sinking fund of the loans jiroposed to be raised after discharging the above prior claims. It will further be necessary that the expenditure of the money raised under the guarantee of the Imperial Parliament shall take place under the superintendence of Coniissioners appointed by Her Majesty's Government, and armed with sufficient power to se- cure the application of the funds so raised to their intended object. The Com- missioners so appointed are not, however, to interfere with the arrangements of the Provincial Governments, except for the above purpose." "The right of sending troops, stores, and mails, along the line at reasonable rates must likewise be secured. "It is also to be understood that Her Majesty's Government will by no means object to its forming a part of the plan which may be determined upon, that it should include a provision for establishing a communication between the pro- jected Railway and Railways oj the United States." It is under this last clause that Mr, Howe claims to have secured tht money to build the E. and N. A. R. R. And here is the turning point of the whole ques- tion. Mr. Hawes says the government will "by no means object to it^ formini' part of the plan which may be agreed on," &c. The whole is a matter of contingency. It may or may not be agreed upon, and it may or may not be the purpose of the British Ministry to favor the building of the F^uropean and North American Railway. If in their wisdom they choose to discountenance the work, they can easily find words to excuse themselves from any supposed pledge which the peculiar phraseology may seem to convey. My convictions are, that Mr. Howe has flung away the golden opportunity. — He should have rejected, calmly but most decidedly, Earl Grey's iusiduous' of- fers in behalf of the Halifax and Quebec line. After doing so much, — after making the claims of the Colonics for assistance, upoti the mother country felt "by her Majesty's Government," he should have rejected any offer that could have required a surrender of the principle of ^'•responsible ycvemment" The right of the Colonies to decide upon the lines of their Railways is just as essential to their independence as the right to vote supplies. The Hon. Mr. Howe had the power to become the leading mind of British North America. Had he possess- ed the firmness to have rejected, at once, Earl Grey's proposal, and thrown him- self upon the good sense and the better judgment of the Colonists, he might have inspired an energy and a feeling of self respect at home, that would have enabled Nova Scotia to build her portion of the line under his guidance. In- stead of this he snatched at the golden bait, which may yet elude his grasp. At the recent Convention held at Toronto, by instructions to Lord Elgin, under Earl Grey's note of March 14, it now appears that the European and North American Railway formed a portion of the scheme there discussed. Mr. Howe found Canada generally indifferent, if not unfriendly to the Quebec and Halifax line, considered as a road between the two cities only. The Canadians demand- ed as a condition of their acceptance, the ppplication of all the money to the extension of a Trunk Line from Halifax towards Toronto. The l( 'S^ .^^•■'••ir. T 1)X seven millions skrling promised by Mr. Howe, tbcy require to be nil iaid out in Olio line, extending it as far as possible toward Toronto from Halifax. Tho Hon. Mr. Howe, in his speech at Alontreal, two weeks ago, told the Montreallers that he had secured the money "io build the Great Trunk Line all the vmy from Halifax to Ml nt real." The Hoii. Mr. Hinks, on the 12th of Julyinst introduces into the Aiscmbly of Canada, his 18 resolutions, claiming tlio imperial guarantee or an ad ranee from the Imperial Treasury, of money enough to build fiom Halifax to Hamilton, 1200 miles, and it is insisted tliat on these terms only, will Canada come into the scheme. One thing is quite certain, if Mr. Howe is to build the Imperial Railway all the w.ay to Montreal, as lie told the Montreallers in his rercnt speech, there will be nothing left for New Brunswick toward building tho K. and N. A. K. R. They may rely upon that. Under this ctate of things our friends in New Brunswick are anxiously await- ing our movements. They ask nothing of tho British Government but tho jtrivilege of building railways for themselves in tliir own way. They have not shirked the labor, like the Howe Ministry in Nova Scotia. They have gone to work in the right way by helping themselves. Thcv granted a noble charter, riiis is reluctantly assented to. They passed Facility Bills in aid of the road. These bills are witaiield by Ea-l Grey until the charter shall be amended, pro- viding especially for the transportation of //fr Majesties troops, and for securing Imperial control over such portion of the route as may be wanted for the Hal^ fax and Quebec line. The course of the British Government in reference to the European and North American Railway has caused a feeling of general discontent in the Lower Provinces. The provinces desired a line of railway connecting them with the railways of the United States. New Brunswick made no claims for Imperial assistance, and yet the British Ministry attempt to force upon her a line she does not want. True, she is not directly reciuircd to pledge all her revenues to main- tain this grand Imperial Military lino, by the way of Restigouohe and Lake Me- tis. But her integrity is questioned if she demurs to this Imperial suggestion. In 1849, the Railway Commissioners, in answer to Earl Grey's inquiries, pro- nounce the Halifax and Quebec Railway impracticable for all commercial pur- Executive Councils of the two Lower Provinces should proceed to the seat of Government in Canada, in order to confer with your Lordship and with your Council for the purpose of coming to some agreement upon the subject, which, after being approved by the Legislatures of tiie several Provinces, might be submitted for the sanction of Parliament" How could Earl Grey, or the British Ministry consistently, by implication even, favor the plan of embarking money in this undertaking, which in 1849 was deemed so utterly unworthy of confidence, and which every man in British North America knows, cannot for many years, at least, pay its running expens- es ? Still I derived the impression from a conversation with Lord Elgin a few days ago, that he regarded the British Government as sincerely desirous of see- ing Earl Grey's scheme adopted and carried into effect. This plan is favored as a means of retaining the North American Colonies, and the great question among English Statesmen now is, ''shall Great Britain retain her Colonies f The last April No. of the Edinburgh Review contains an interesting article on the subject, and may be regarded as expressing the present feeling of the Whig Ministry on this question. That she may long retain the British American Colonies, I sincerely desire. r 6 IT she, will only {five tlicm reitponsifile t/overnment, or the nf,'lrt of solf-povomment lior jioopli' pan cnjrty nn amount of practical frccilom, w ith a relief from taxation, beyond what arc known to any other people. Still they mast and will hiivc free trade with hh. Shut out from the markets of Europe bv their ;:eo- {iraphieal po.sitiun, they reijuirc to trade T.itii the United States. Thid wo are disposed to grant to the fullest extent, on terni,^ of rnfm: rcvlprm-ihj. Their natural products arc wanted by us, and they in return can more casih- and chenply buy of us, whatever they rerpiire from abroad, than from luiv otli- cr people. It is this feelinp: which bron;j;lit the Portland Convention to'^eilicr. It is this fcelinc; that now control;' the public sentiment of N. Brunswick. It is this that le;. With a population less than Halifax, and much less wealth, the city of I'ort- land boldly pnshed her Great Kailway toward Montreal, en(!0unt.ering the severest competition that has ever been known, from a neighboring city. Our efforts in this behalf have summoned from ourselves on* energy greater than has yet been shown by any people, and we are now acc\istomed to grasp witli readiness, andaccom{ilish with ease, what, with our former notions would have ))een impossible of attainment, it is the change in the habits of mind in the views— in the ])ursuits, of onr pc-ople that shows the most marked results in thi; eflforts to'vard carrying the Railway to Montreal. The returns will be an hund- red foldg.-iater to our city, from the investments in that work, than if the money had come i ■) us without e.vertion, or been furnished with a liberal and profu>c iiand by others. « This experience of ours, should r(,t bs lost on the Provinces. Thev cannot hope for reasonable success by shirking the labor of raising the money primi- pally from among themselves. I have an abiding faith that to this condition ■will they come at last. The Colonial policy of Givat Britain is in a fair wav to be tested. The i'l- ^ .-k/V Kn-Iish Colonics were once governed by an a!).-o'uto oxorutivo IT^.. ,i • ^liiiiliiss XoHiri'"""^"'' '"«'■*''•'•■' """' '"°"'^'' "■■ '"t'-'r c°""- "!'• Tho interests of tl.,- I" !'>'ndoning the principles of re.-'ponsible Kovcrnmpnt nn-l viAl.'in^ f„ ,i from tho eastern boundary of Maine to Portland But if ho f-iU. • " • "f** dHCorUant elements of C^madian legisliuo^ "nio h^^^ w h'"f^t"Kw Hrunsvvick and .\ova Scotia, he will then renew his pledges to the P r.l,,n 1 r« ventron scheme, build the road as we m»st build ourrtlfrc^lh nrl-M^! .^ ""d join us at the same ti.ne and place at tl' bou.S; ° '^ ''"'' '"'"'•""'' U ilh these assurances before us— with the corrrsoondence of fhp RrJ.wl, r- ernment in our hands, showing their nppreciatioi ofThe Xme-w^t? U ^^ trn.ony on all hands of the praclicabili j and paying qSitLsTliir ll. J r '" w, I not the people of New^England aZ the SS SSs'^^.a l7Srifc nrP^im "'"'* ^^ deFX-ndent upon the action of the Provinces. While ex- o n. li; f^ "■^, "''■" ^»»^''=.»'°"'*' ""'I '1'*^'^'' "f the committee, I do no m^» ,3! Ti ' '■'^'''*'.''' '"' '''■''*^'"" ''*' "'"' I'»"''y in t''« Frovin^s, which S most readily secure the means. If the IJriiish (/overnment will give them th« money at 3 1-2 per cent., on such term« as they can bear, they wilf ofTourle lT.tl '"^". '\' ^""l ^'^''"' '^' "'«"^y ''' »hu8 obtained, I hinkUiey are desS to undergo delays, if not, m the end, sufler disappointment. But /he ithev wi si^ocrU'rTJuoSrre^S^^^^^ I Hpeak thus coiiGdemly, for I am certain that the people of Maine appreciHo, 8 in full iDMSure, the value and importance cf this entcrpriso to her priwperlly. — The Railway System forMainf) is marked out by her phy.sioal geography in rela- tion to the St. Lawrence vulluy, and lier commercial position. The (ireut Trunk Line, from tho eastern capeot Nova Scolia, crossing our eantern frontier, and the Penobscot at the head of sea navigation, will reach tho Kemtebec valley, over the moat direct and practicable route, where it ahall divii'.e into two great lines, connecting Canada and the Ht. Lawrence valley on the iVorth, and all the State» of tho Union on the South. There is no practicable route north between the valley of the Chuudiere and the Ht. Francis. The merciiant of Bangor and Calais will receive his supplies of flour and western produce with nearly the ^ame oa^e aad th« same expense as the merchant of Portland or of Buth, for the Montr jal line is the shortest and easiest route from the west to the seaboard, and the brunches which shall spread themselves on each side this sphiui chord, like the veins and and :irteries of the human system, shall distribute th;; lifti blood of business into every portion of Maine. I If we can perfect and carry out this Railway System for Maii'e, a few year» will give us a leading influence in tlie business affairs of the country beyond what the most sanguine among us dare to anticipate; and the influence which this stream of travel and business will exert upon the commercial rt^lations of this continent, must touch with new life every branch of l;?dustry within striking dis- tance of thes(> great lines, that shall make our vallies echo wuh the hum of busy industry, and our hill sides to bud and blossom as the rose. The Railway is yet to bncome the great benefactor of the North. It is des- tined to overcome t'le inconveniences of our ciimato, supplying the increased ne- cessities which an rthtetic race require. In reilerting on what the Railway hait achieved in the la»jt twenty years, we may safeiy infer an accelerated movement for the future. The Railway becoming the hardmaid of science and the nursery of art, siiall hereafter change the relations of labor, — subject the elements to the control of man, and make the power? of notore obedient to hia-wili ; so that in our day, the luxuries of a southern 'atitude may be enjoyed in freshness and abundance amid the siiows of the north — and tho more healthful products of our New England climate, soften and relieve the scorching efl^ects of a southern sky. The influences of climate and of social poyhion willgivi the fullest devtlopement to the active powers of man, — the highest enjoyment of which his physical, intel- lectual and social nature is susceptible. One feeling is common tc us all at the north, whether under cur own government or that of Great Britain, whether among the hills of New England or along the Atlantic shore ; we share alike the desire to enjoy the luxuries of a southern climate without being subjected to its ills. This condition of things the Railway, and the Railway only, can bring. The excitements of more crowded cities, the easier soil of the west, will not fully satisfy that feeling of restless impatience, verging on discontent, which is always found in a hardy, athletic race. It wants full play at home. It seeks to bring the town and the country into easy acquaintance, — to bring to the doors of each, the supplies of reasonable want, to be enjoyed beneath healthful skrea, and with- in our New England homes. Let the Railways cover the surface of the country like a net work, from the farthest shore of Nova Scotia to the west. Let village, and city, and country share each other's pleasures, without labor and without fatigue, while thj dread- ed inconveniences of our climate are dispelled or subdued, and the arm of labor i.1 here made stiong, bringing at will its richest rewards. When this shall come to pass this region of the continent, this great peninsula between the river and the sea, so long overlooked, and so sparsely populated, shall become, from its commercial advantages, its healthful climate, and its geographical position, the tiuest portion of the earth. ■-> J_^