wm "^5:^.^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) ^/ -l^ 4^^ ^f^^ ^ \m 1.0 I.I _^ 125 2f i2g •■■■ Ki la 6" vV^ '/ Photographic ^Sciences Corporation 23 WBT MAIN STRUT WI1STIR,N.Y. 14SM (7t«)«72-4M3 '^ '4 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroraproductions / inatitut Canadian da microraproductions historiquaa Ttohnteal and BiMiographie NotM/NotM tachniquM at l^Pbliographiquaa Tl to Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original «opy availalila for filming. Faaturaa of tliia copy whicii may ba bibliograpliicaily uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduetion, or which may aignifieantly changa tlM uauai mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. D D D D Colourad oovara/ Couvartura da eoulaur r~~| Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommagAa Covara roatorad and/or iaminatad/ Couvartura raataurAa at/ou pailicul4a Covar titia miasing/ La titra da couvartura manqua Colourad mapa/ Cartaa gtegraphiquaa an couiaur Colourad inic (l.a. othar than blua or bi Encra da couiaur (l.a. autra qua biaua ou noira) Colourad plataa and/or iiluatrationa/ Ptanchaa at/ou iiluatrationa an couiaur Bound with othar matarial/ RaliA avac d'autraa documanta Tight binding may cauaa ahadowa or diatortion along intarior margin/ Laraiiura aarr*a paut cauaar da I'ombra ou do la diatortion la long da la marga intiriaura Bla«:k iaavaa addad during raatoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poaaibia, thaaa hava baan omittad from filming/ 11 aa paut qua cartainaa pagaa blanohaa afouttaa lora d'una raatauration apparaiaaant dana la taxta, maia, loraqua cala Atait poaaibia, caa pagaa n'ont paa M flimAaa. 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IJn dee symboles suivants apparaftra sur la darnlAre Imege do cheque microfiche, selon lo ces: le symbole — »> signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN". Meps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely Included !n one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to right end top to bottom, es many frames as required. The following diegrams Illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre fllmte A des taux da riduction diff Arents. LorM|ue le document est trop grand pour Atre roproduit en un soul clichA. 11 est filmA A partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, do gauche A droite. et do haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcesselre. Les diagrammes suivants illustrenf le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 if ^1 tmm>i%i i^~" ' % S I I I t i V-': J QQ Ps P* srf a g 0) i f 5 2-5 ^4 Papers relating to the Conferences which have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and a Deputation from the Executive Council _. of Canada, appointed to confer with Her Majesty's Government on the subject of the Defence of the Province. / Copy. Canada. No. 14. My Lord, Downing Street, 21st January, 1865. ■/ . . t^v:!v. . I 1, .1 Her Majesty's Government are unwilling, under the present circum- stances, to press upon the Government of Canada any decision which can with prudence be postponed upon a subject of so much importance to the future welfare of the British North American Provinces, as the subject of the defence of Canada. They are sensible cf the considerations which render it expedient to wait for such a decision, until some farther progress shall have been made in the discussion of the proposal for the Union of those Provinces, and until it shall have been ascertained whether the ques- tion is to be considered by the Ministers of ^he United British North Ame- rican Provinces, or by the Ministers of Canada alone. But without anticipating that any causes of differences are likely to . disturb our present friendly relations with the Government of the United States, they think it necessaiy to bear in mind the vast accession which ka» recently been made, and sillf continues to be made, to the military Forces of that powerful country. They cannot forget the very small proportion which the numerical strength of British Troops on the North American Continent bears to the Force which might at any moment be brought into the field against them. It would be a cause of just reproach against the British Government if those Troops were suffered to remain in a position which, on the outbreak of war, they might not be able to hold until the military and naval resources of the Country could be made available for their support. These considerations seem to Her Majesty's Government to render it absolutely necessary that the defences oi Quebec should be materially •tirengthened and without delay. They intend, therefore, on their own part to include in the Estimates of the present year a vote for improving; the defences of Quebec. / -5;^ V-f ^ The proposed defences at Montreal are so important to the general anfAty of the Province, and to the maintenance of the communication between the Districts West of Montreal, and the naval and military power of the Mother country, that Her Majesty^ Oovemment trust that they may look with confidence to the Government of Canada for the immediate con- struction of these Works. Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to provide the armaments for the Works at Montreal at well as for those at Quebec. I have &c., (Signed) EDWARD CARD WELL. (Enclosure in No. 1.) Copt of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Executive Council, approved by His Excellency the Governor General on the ^4th March, 1866. The Committee respectfully recommend that four members of Tour Excellency's Council do proceed to England to confer with Her Majesty's Government : 1st. Upon the proposed Confederation of the British Xorth American Provinces, and the means whereby it can be most speedilj' effected : 2nd. Upon the arrangements necessary for the Defence of Canada, in the event of war arising with the United States, and the extent to which the suae should be (^aied between Gzeal Britain and Canada : Srdk Upon thet steps to be taken wll;h reifecence to the^ Reciprocity Timity, and the rigttts oeoirrBed lUy it «fp«n the tTalua States : ^h. 'UpQA/th^ fiprfangein;^ts nepe«fiafy"for the settlement of the NbrUi- Wet^'Terrifory* and Hodstm'a Bay Company's claims : 6lfa. Aitd)jgwefalJ^, upcq^ die exiting critical state of afiaiis'by w^ibfa Cadadiau ia most aeiioosly aieeted. The Committee further recommend that the following membeBBi of Council be named to form the Delegation, viz. : Messrs. Macdonald, Cwtkfi zing the necessity and prepared to provide for such a system of defence as would restore confidence in our future at home and abroad, the best ultimate defence for British America was to be found in the increase of her population as rapidly as possible, and the husbanding of our resources ^::,A^'Mig^i,iiiii^i!tfe. [^M-i^y 6 to that end ; and without claiming it as a right, we ventured to suggest that by enabling us to throw open the north-western territories to free settle- ment, and by aiding us in enlarging our canals and prosecuting internal productive works, and by promoting an extensive plan of emigration from Europe into the unsettled portions of our domain — permanent security would bo more quickly and surely and economically secured than by any other means. Wo did not fail to point out how this might be done without co8t or risk to the British Exchequer, and how greatly it would lighten the new burden of defence proposed to be assumed at a moment of depression by the people of Canada. Much discussion ensued on all these points, and the result arrived at was that if the people of Canada undertook the works of defence at and west of Montreal, and agreed to expend in training their militia, until the union of ull the Provinces was determined, a sum not less than is now ex pended annually for that service, Her Majesty's Government would com- plete the fortifications at Quebec, provide the whole armament for all the works, guarantee a loan for the sum necessary to con^«truet the works undertaken by Canada, and in the event of war undertake the defence of every portion of Canada with all the resources of the Empire. The question having arisen as to the time and order in which these propositions should be submitted for the approval of the Imperial and Pro- vincial Legislatures, it appeared that no action could be taken upon them during the present year ; and it was therefore deemed inexpedient to com- plicate the confederation question by changing the basis of the Quebec conference resolutions, which might result from the present adoption of these proposition^^. The further consideration of the defensive works was accordingly deferred for the action of the Government and l4egislature of the proposed British North American Ccmfederation — but the assiurance of Her Majesty's Government was at the same time given, that if circum- stances arose to render an application expedient by Canada alone for the immediate prosecution of the works of defence, such application would be received in the most friendly spirit. On the subject of the American Reciprocity Treaty we cLiered into full explanations with the Imperial Ministers. We explained how advan- tageously the Tr3aty had worked for Canada, and the desire of ottr people for its renewal ; but we showed at the same time how much more advantageously it had operated . for American interests — and wo expressed our inability to believe that the United States Government seriously contemplater^ the abolition of an arrangement by which they had so greatly increased their foreign commerce, secured a vast and lucrative ' caitying trade, and obtained free access to the St. Lawrence and to the invaluable fishing-grounds of British America — and that on the solie ground that the Provinces had also profited by the Treaty. We explained the immediate injury that would result to Canadian interests from the abrogai- tion of the Treaty ; but we pointed out at the same time the new and ulti- mately more profitable channels into which our foreign trade must, in that evei^t, be turned, and the necessity of preparing for the change if 7^ It of indeed it was to come. We aitked that the British Minister at Washington might be instmcted to state frankly to the Anwrican Government the detrire of the Canadian people for a renewal of the Treaty, and our readiness to discuss and tavourably entertain any just propcsitionc that might b«^ made for an extension or modification of its conditions ; we requested that the views of the American Government should be obtained at the earliest convenient date — and that His Excellency Sir Frederick Bruce should act in concert with the Canadian Government in the matter. The Imperial Government cordially assented to our suggestions. The important question of opening up to settlement and cultivation the vast British Territories on the north-west borders of Canada, next obtained the attention of the Conference. Your Excellency is aware that the desire of the Government of Canada for a satisfactory and final adjust* ment of this matter has been often formally expressed. In your Excel- lency's Despatch of 19th January, 1864, to the Colonial Secretary, the anxious desire ot'the Canadian Government was communicated " for some " speedy, inexpensive and mutually satisfactory olan," for settling definitely " the North- Western boundary of Canada," and the claim of Canada was asserted to " all that portion of <^entral British America, which can be " shown to have been in the possession of the French at the period of " the cession in 1763." I. J In reply to this Despatch, Mr. Cardwell, on 1st July, 1864, reque&ted to be informed whether the Government of Canada was prepared to assist in negociations with the Hudson's Bay Company, with the view of accept- ing any portion of the Territory now claimed by that Company, and pro- vioing the means of local administration therein ; and he suggested that if so prepared it would be desirable that some person duly authorized to communicate the views of the Canadian Government should be sent to England for that purpose. "' ^ On the 1 1th November 1864, a minute of Council was approved by Your Excellency, in raply to Mr. Cardwell's Despatch. It set forth that the Government of Canada was ready and anxious to co-operate with the Imperial Government, in securing the early settlement of the Nonh-Wvat Territories, and the establishment of local Government in its settled por- tions ; but that in its opinion the first step towards that end was the extmc- tion of all claim by the Hudson's Bay Company to proprietary rights in the soil and exclusive rights of trade. It suggested that it was for the Impe- rial Government, and not for the Government of Canada, to assume the duty of bringing to an end a monopoly originating in an English Charter, and exercised so long under Imperial sanction ; but that when the nego- ciations were brou[;ht to a close, the Government of Canada would be ready to arrange with the Imperial Government for the annexation to Ca- nada of such portions of the Territory as might be available for settlement, as well as for the opening up of communications into the Territory and providing means of local administration. Or should the Imperial Govern- ment prefer to erect the Territory into a Crown Colony, the Canadian Government would gladly co-operate in the opening up of communication 8 / into the Temtory, and th j settlement of the Country. The minute finally suggested that the Hon. President of the Council while in England would communicate mo^ fully to Mr. Cardwell the views of the Canadian Government. The negotiations thai, followed on this despatch, satisfied us of the impossibility of enforcing the end sought by Canada without long-pro- tracted, vexatious and costly litigation. The Hudson's Bay Company were in possession, and if time were their object, could protract the pro- ceedings indefinitely ; and Her Majesty's Government appeared unwilling to ignore pretensions that had frequently received quasi recognition from the Imperial authorities. Calling to mind, therefore, thd vital importance to Canada of having that great and fertile country opened up to Canadian enterprize, and the tide of emigration into it directed through Canadian chan- nels — remembering also the danger of la^-ge grants of land passing into the hands of mere moneyed corporations and embarrassing the rapid settle- ment of the country — and the risk that the recent discoveries oi gold on the Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains might throw into the country large masses of settlers unaccustomed to British Institutions — we arrived at the conclusion that the quickest solution of the question would be the best for Canada. We accordingly proposed to the Imperial Ministers that the whole British Territory east of the Rocky Mountains and north of the American or Canadian lines should be made over to Canada, subject to such rig> as the Hudson's Bay Company might be able to establish ; and that tlie compensation to that Company (if any were found to be due) should be met by a loan guaranteed by Great Britain. The Imperial Government consented to this, and a careful investigation of the case satisfies us that the compensation to the Hudson's Bay Company cannot, under any circumstances, be onerous. It is bat two years smce the pre- sent Hudson's Bay Company purchased the entire property of the old Company; they paid £1,500,000, for the entire property and assets, — in which were included a large sum of cash on hand, large landed properties in British Columbia and elsewhere not included in our arrange»r.ent, a very large claim against the United States Government under the Oregon Treaty — and Sliips, Goods, Pelts and business premises in England and Canada valued at £1,023,569. The value of the territorial rights of the Company therefore, in the estimation of the Company itself, will be easily art wed at. The results of our communications with the Committee of Her Majesty's Government were placed, by Mr. Cardwell, in the form of a Despatch to Your Excellency ; that document bears date the 17th June, 1866, and has already reached Your Excellency's hands. It contains a correct statement of the result of the conference. Although the subject was not specially referred to us, we did not fail to call the attention of the Colonial minister to the anomalous position of Foreigners who have settled in Canada and become naturalized subjects under our Provincial Statutes. Mr. Cardwell at oi.ce admitied the hard- ship of the case and stated that it was the desire of Her Majesty's Govern- te finally , ■England , i^'anadian on ment to remedy it, and that with that view he bad referred the subject to the Law Officers of the CtO'vn for their opinion as to the best mode of doing so. .^ It will be gratifying to many devoted subjects of Her Majesty through- out British America, whose fears have been excited by the language too often heard of t.ate years on the subject of Colonial Connection, that we received from Her Majesty's Ministers the assurance that the British Government acknowledge the obligation of defending every portion of Canada with all the resources at its command. Such in brief is the outline of our communications with Her Majesty's Government, and we cannot conclude this Report without gratefully acknowledging the distinguished consideration extended to us as the Repre- sentatives of Canada, not only by the Ministers with whom we were brought ' more directly in contact, but by many eminent personages with whom we had the honour of conferring on the objects of our mission. To Mr. Cardwell we are especially indebted for unremitting kindness and atten- tion. We are happy to believe that the result of our visit to England has been to inspire more just views as to the position and feelings of the Canadian people, and to draw closer the ties that have so long and so happily attached our Province to the Mother Country. JOHN A. MACDONALD, ^ GEO. ET. CARTIER, GEO. BROWN, A. T. GALT. Quebec, 12th July, 1865. » . ' i ; Na2. Copy of a Despatch from the Right Honourable Edward Cardwell, M.P., 4 to Governor General Viscount Monck. r- (No. 95.) Downing Street, 17th June, 1865. My Lord, — I have the honour to inform your Lordship that several conferences have been held between the four Canadian Ministers who were deputed, under the Minute of your Executive Council of March 24th, to proceed to England to confer with Her Majesty's Government, on the part of Canada, ond the Duke of Somerset, the Earl De Gr<^y Mr. Gladstone, ana myself, on the part of Her Majesty's Government. On the first subject referred to in the Minute, that of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces, we repeated on the part of the ^n the snnnnrl . . "• -"""iry and the L'niteJ Qfl* "°"® »ow haDniJv onK ••'.. ''P^^oension on belief in .r^dta-lSf » wiS'^^^^^ C^ur .4?^°^ ' 'Oe question oT.he tL7"""« "■/ -)«es«o«™X Ln'""?^- TheyTaM Canad^^GfJe"™™ ^^ "«- »« obtained ^""^ "»S ^'^ref ?h'' ^i:' 2-«i™.„ter;»^, Pariia.S»t -w,i. was proSS^ .ft' »<'^e«.,a,„„,,,^ o^s^sh^jjjda^^^^^^ \ # ""roence to ition of the enension on •etween this f impressed ttacfe onght of Its own part of the ^^"fitig the 'e vote had tne imme- t^espatch ; 'ment had ' ^be desire Yi for the tbeir full wn that 'ey had ,000,000 6 'Secre- Jntioned ^ey said 'ai from 'on of a '^hoie of a loan, ament. urefor t were ^arJia- d will ought ut the at the ment ison- ility* one! lent ' and for ;ial to thi^ Imperial Partiameat. On the subject of a N'aval Force for Lake Otitkllo, we said that, apart from any question of esppediency, the conven- tion nubslstin^ between this country and the United States rendered it im- pojssible for either nation to place more than the specafied number of armed vessels on the Lakes in time of p<;acie. , !n case ot war it would, as a matter of course, be the duty of any Government in this country to apply its means of Naval Defence according to the judgment it might form upon the exigen- cies of each particular time, and the Canadian Ministers might be assured that Her Majesty's Government would not permit itself to be found in such h position as to be unable to discharge its duty in this respeot. This was the only assurance the Canadian Ministers could expect, or we ccmld give. Upon a review of the whole matter, the Canadian Ministers reverted to the proposal which has been mentioned above, that priority in point of time should be given to the Confederation of the Provinces. To this we, on the part of Her Majesty's Government, assented. In conformity, how- ever, with a wish strongly expressed by the Canadian Ministers, we further said that if, upon future consideration, the CanadiEm Government should desire to anticipate the Confederation and to propose that Canada should execute the works, they would doubtless communicate to Her Majesty's Government that decision ; and we trusted that after what had passed iu these conferences they would feel assured that any such communication would be received by us in the most friendly spirit. Cn the third point, the Reciprocity Treaty, the Canadian Ministers represented the great importance to Canada of the renewal of that treaty, and requested that Sir F. Bruce might be put in communication with the Government of Lord Monck upon the subject. We replied that Sir F. Bruce had already received instructions to negotiate for a renewal of the treaty, and to act in concert with the Government of Canada. On the fourth point, the sr bject of the North-western Territory, the Canadian Ministers desired that that Territory shonld be made over to Canada, and undertook to negotiate with the Hudson's Bay Company for the termination of their tlgphta, on oondition that tho inrfemnitv. if any, should be paid by a loan to be raised by Canada under the Imperial gua- rantee. With the sanction of the Cabinet, we assented to this proposal, undertaking that if the negotiation should be successful we on the part of the Crown being satisfied that the amount of the indemnity was reason- able, and the security sufficient, would apply to the' Imperial Parliament to sanction the arrangement and to guarantee the amount. On the last point, it seemed sufficient that Her Majesty's Government should accept the assurances given by the Canadian Ministers on the part of Canada, that that Province is ready to devote all her resources both in men and money lO the maintenance of her connexion with the Mother Country, and shonld asf^Ure them in return that the Imperial Government fully acknowledged the reciprocal obligation of defesiding every portion of the Eitapire with all the resources at its command. 12 The Canadian Ministers in conclnsion said, that thev hoped it would be understood that the present commanications did not in any way affect or alter the correspondence which had already passed between the Impe- rial Gdvemment and the Oovemments of the British North American Pro* vinces on the subject of the Intercolonial Railway. To this we entirely agreed. Governor General Viscount Monck, &c. &c. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWARD CARDWELL. (»! 24//I JuiUj 1865. (Copy.) Downing Street. Canada. (No. 103.) Ht Lord, I have the honor to enclose for Your Lordship's information, a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to-day to the Lieutenant Governors of the Maritime Provinces. I have, &c., (Signed,) EDWARD CARDWELL. . .fU Viscount Monck, &o., &c., &c. Mr. Secretary CardweU to the Lieutenant Governor of New Bntnawick. (Copy.) Sir, Downing Street. 2m June 1865. I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a correspondence between Viscount Monck and myself, on the affairs of British North Ame- rica, which have lately formed the subject of Conferences between Her Majesty's (Government, and a deputation from the Canadian Government. III aafaaunmmmammmm 13 ^t would |way affect tne Impe- |rican Pro. entirely >W£LL. 65. '■■■ ■:■ vif copy of nors of WC*. This correspondence bavins; been presented to both Houses of the Im- perial Parliament by command of Her Majesty, I have to direct you to communicate it also to the Legislature of New Brunswick, at its next meeting. You will at the same time express the strong and deliberate opinion of Her Majesty's Government, that it is an object much to be desired, that all the British North American Colonies should agree to unite in one Go- vernment. In the territorial extent of Canada, and in the maritime and commercial enterprise of the Lower Provinces, Her Majesty's Government see the elements of power which only require to be combined in order to secure for the Province which shall possess thum all, a place amongst the most considerable communities of the world. In the spirit of lovalty to the British Crown, of attachment to British connection, and of love for British Institutions, by which ail the Provinces are animated alike. Her Majesty's Government recogn .e the bond by which all may be combined under one Government. Sue. an union seems to Her Majesty's Govern- ment to recommend itself to the Provinces on many grounds of moral and material advantage, as giving a well founded prospect of improved admi- nistration and increased prosperity. But there is one consideration which Her Majesty's Government feel it more especially their duty to press upon the Legislature of New Brunswick. Looking to the determination which this country has ever exhibited to regard the defence of the Colonies as a matter of Imperial concern, the Colonies must recognize a right and even acknowledge an obligation incumbent on the Homa Government to urge with earnestness aud just authority the measures which they consider to be most expedient on the part of the Colonies with a view to their own defence. Nor can it be doubtful that the Provinces of British North America are incapable, when separated and divided from each other, of making those just and sufficient preparations for national defence, which would be easily undertaken by a Province uniting in itself all the population and all the ressources of the whole. I ani aware that this project, so novel as well as so important, has not been at once accepted in New Brunswick, with that cordiality which has marked its acceptance by the Legislature of Canada, but Her Majesty's Government trust that after a full and careful examination of the subject in all its bearings, the Maritime Provmces will perceive the great advan- tages which in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government the proposed Union is calculated to confer upon them all. I have, &c., ,-VM*".'V*-«^*-'^-' (Signed,) EDWARD CARDWELL. ice le- er ■n ♦I n '■ '->■';■ ■,!';^-'> .^ i :■ l( '!'■ J .. ki LIST OF PAPERS. s^ ■oi PAOB Despatch of Colonial Secretary to the Governor Gereral 1 Order in Council of 24th March, 1866, appointing Delegates 2 S Report of Delegates Despatch detailing the result of the Conferences Despatch addressed to the Governor of New Brunswick l^