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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 S049 r . ."■ I ,;/;:,.;■;" ■ if ■ r. -! ," T,:-'; •(::; ,iH>iji 4 ill i ■-. . ■ M -. ■■-; • ..1 55 3m. vy :'' r. .'•<«. ,"l>, ii>l^- .... ,1... .il Delivered in the Legislative Council, New Brunswick, on Confederation and the Resignation of the Government, and Correspondence connected therewith. , ':!»■,:•) it: ';. " Fkbdericton, April 4, 1866. CONFEDERATION. | Hon. Mr. Botbfokd moved that the ! House be put into Committee of the whole, in consideration of His Exccllencv's Speech at the opening of the Session. T)ie motion i prevailed; and hon. Mr. Seeley took the | Chair, and bv request read the paragraph in ^ His Excellency's Spaech, as follows : — " I have received Her Majesty's oom- manda to communicate to you a Correspond- ence on the alfairs of British North America, which has taken place between Her Majes- ty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor General of Can- ada ; and I am further directed to express to you the strong and deliberate opinion of Her Majesty's Government, that it is an ob- ject much to be desired, that all the BritiMh North American Colonies should agree to unite in one Governnn?nt. These papers will immediately be laid before you." Hon. Mr. Botskobd — I rise your honors, fully impressed with a sense of the import- ance of the subject, a discussion ot which I am about to initiate, anfloptiieiit of her industrial resources, and her advance- ment in material and sotial prosperity t Admitting that we have all those Consti- tional priviipgcn under the exLitenco of Bri- tish Institniions whi<'li a fret people oiij^ht to possess, the que.xtiM) |>rvsonts itrolf to rh« i 22?3 s thinking mind — from our local position, from the extent of our population, and our area of country, surrounded as we are, and circum- scribed in narrow limits by other Colones, are we in as favorable a praition to derive all the legitimate advantages of those insti- tutions which we would enjoy was there a larger field of operation. I think a little candid thought must bring the conviction home to every mind that, admitting the ad- vantages and beauty of our form ofGovern- ment, past experience has proved that in a Province of such limited population as ours, there is not room properly to developc or work out the system of Responsible Dcr-rt- mcntal Government. Then look at tb.^ an- omalotiit position of other Colonies . I'rinue Edward island, with a population ot only 75,000. not as much as that of a second nlass cit> of thft United States, or of Montreal, in Canailu;^Avitk a revenue of $66,000, she has all the paraphernalia and machinery ot Gov- ernment calculated and adapted for mil- lions of people, and how can Reitponsible Government be carried on in that small Colony, or even m New Brunswick with two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, only equal to the population of a third class city in the Old World ? Here, some little paltry influences have frequently interfered to pre- vent the proper working of inst'itutions emi- nently calculated to bene6t the whole peo- ple, and we have sufficiently proved that it IS impossible for a small representative branch to work out effectively those princi- ples of self Government which have been conceded to us. Does it not often occur that a small number of men, in opposition, of no decided political views, may influence and thwart the desires of those in power, so as to defeat that object of good government, the general benebt of the whole people — a few individuals, where parties are so evenly balanced as they must be in small Legisla- tures, knowing that they are thus mas- ters of the position, will and must have all they want, or their constituents want, or they will desert their party. We know such a state of things often exists, and are forc- ed to the conclusion that our institutions, however desirable thev are in principle, are not adapted for a small Colony This brings us then, to a point from which we perceive the necessity tor some change, and, from the documents before us, I am satisfied that the Government of the day believe a change ne- cessary, and the paragraph in the Speech just read by his honor the Chairman, is an acknowledgment that we are not now in a position to take advantage of passing oppor- tunities to improve our position, and that the Government is foroed to the conclusion that the Provinces cannot remain as they are. How indeed, I may ask, can any one duly considering our position, and being influ- enced by any amoition for the fbture pros- perity of this country, fail to arrive at the same conclusion. Situated as the Province is at present, its trade is hampered and con- fined by restrictions which forbid its profit- able expansion. We are met not merely when we cross the borders into the United iitates, but at those lines which divide us from the sis^^er Colonies, with hostile tariffs and Custom House Officers ; and therefore a nnion which will break down the restrictions, is necessary in order to enable us to extend the sphere of our commercial operations ; to give vigor and vitality to our trade ; to develop our resources, and open up remu- nerative channels for the exercise of the in- dustries of our people. But, your honors, there is a still more powerful reason for union, to be drawn from the papers which have already been read here. The British GrovF.mment and the British people have come to the deliberate conclusion that the Colonies cannot remain as they are, and that Her Majesty's Government cannot con- sent to deal with Aese Colonies as it haa hitherto. It is claimed that the Colonies cannot expect to have the assistance of the Mother country, on the same terms as they have in the past, but that they must be pre- pared to assume a portion of the expense and responsibility of their own defence; and enjoying all the privileges of freemen, must bear some of the ourdens of freemen. Such is the tenor of public opinion in Britain. And the conclusion is obvious. It has fre- quently been commented upon here, the anomaly that we, having always been pro- tected by Britain, should immediately on the first cause of alarm, call for assisUnoe i and yet possessing as we do, all those ad- vantages, and all that flreedom which we do as British American Colonies, should expect England to protect us, drawing the means entirely fh>m the Im^erisl revenue, while we refuso to aid at all m our own pro- tection. ,. ,1. V One of the greatest ohjections which nave been urged against the Quebec Scheme, and whir^ baa had most ireight with the people, has been swept away by the act of the Go- Tsrament itself. What have I frequently heard while attempts have been made to con- Tince people of the great advantages Union would confer upon them * ' Oh I" it has been ■aid, " we will be taxed to defend the Pro- vineeP And now what do we find; the Government itself has come down, and asked for assistance from the Provincial Revenues in order to afiord military protection to the Province ; nor is that all, but again the Gro- vemment has come to the Legislature, and asked authority to construct a Navy, so that it does seem to mo the Anti-Confederate Government has by its owu act swept away its own stronees* objection, and shown what Uiey professed la consider a grievance to be an unavoidable policy. Not only, as I have said, has the policy junt referred to, been enunciated by the Govern.ient of Britain, but it has been confirmrrt by leading mem- bers of the Opposition . I regret that I have not been able to find, L'-Ji' use now, the speech of Lord Stanley — o\w of England's rising men, whohasalreuiV made his mark — which was a remarkable • le, and strengthens the Cosition I havctaki^xi, as to what is expected y all parties in England, in the future, of these North Americ&n Colonies. I have a few extracts which I will read, as I consider it better in quoting the sentiments of distin- guished men to give their very words. The first extract is from a speech of one of Her Majesty's Ministers ; one who stands among the foremost statesmeu of the age. Mr. Gladstone declared — " That the time had come when the Colo- nies with the privileges of freemen, must be prepai'ed to bear a share of the burdens and responsibilities of freemen." Mr. Foster, another rising man, said — " The principle was becoming every day more established, that the relations between England and the Colonics of British North America, were very much on the basis of an offensive and deiensive alliance between two self-governing communities, united by allegiance to one Sovereign." Tliese then are the principles the Mother country intends to adopt with regard to these Colonies, and our fbture relations. In justice to the Delegates who assembled in conference at Quebec, I will, your honors, read^ the opinion expressed by the Colonial Minister. I think it is only an act of justice to those delegates, in view of the unAivor- able opinion frequently expressed here and by the Provincial Press, with regard to th«in. Mr. CardW U says- Mr Lord,— Her Majesty's Oovernment have received with tlie most cordial satisfaction your Lordship's despatch of the 7th ultimo, transmit- ting for their consideration the Resolations adopt- ed by the Representatives of the several Provinces of British North America, which were assembled at Quebec. With the sanction of the Crown , and upon the invitation of the Governor Oeneral, men or every Province, chosen by the respective Lieu- tenant Oovemors, without distinction of party, assembled to consider questions of the utmost interest to every ;ut^ect of the Queen, of whatever race or faith, resident in those Provinces, and have arrived at a conclnsion destined to exercise a most Important inflaence upon the future wel- fara of the whole community. Animated by the warmest sentiments of loyalty and devotion to their Sovereign— earnestly desirous to secure for their posterity throughout all fature time the ad- vantages which they ei\joy as siiltjects of thr, British Crown, — steadfastly attached to the insti- tutions under which they live, they have con- ducted their deliberations with patriotic sagacity, and have arrived at unanimous conclusions on questions involving many difflcnitlcs, and calcu- lated under less fnvourabll^' auspices, to have given rise to many dlflbrences of opinion. Such an event i^ in the highest degree honorable to those who have taken part in these deliberations. Tt must inspire confidence in the men by whose judgment and temper this resn It has been attained, andwill ever remain 0.1 record as an evidence or the salutary influence exercised by the institutions under which these qualities have been so signally developed. Her Mnjf «ty's Government have given to your despatch, and to the Resolutions of the Con- ference, their most deliberate consideration. They have regarded them as a whole, and as having been designed by those who flramed them, to es- tablish as complete and perfect an union of the whole into one Government, as the circumstances of the case, and a due consideration of existing interests, wonld admit. They acceptthem, there- fore, as being. In the tieliberate Judgment of those best qnallfled todecMe upon the 8ul\ject,the best fVamework of a measure to be passed by the Im- geris'. Parliament for obtaining that most desira- le result. I may now read from a despatch of Mr. Cardwell of the 12th of April, 1865, which expresses the decided opinion of the British Government 1 the subject : — " It will be the duty of Her Mi^esty's Oovern- ment to review rin all its bearings the question of ConfMeration after the several Provinces shall have had the opportunity of expressing their senti- ments upon it through their respective Tegislatures. In the meantime ft will only be right for New Brunswick to bear in mind that. If the views you have now expressed are to be regarded as sound. New Brunswick as a separate Province appears to IT be able to make no adequate provision for its own defence, and to rest in a very great degree upon the defence wliich may be provided for it by this country. It will, consequently, be likely to ap- pear to your advisers reasonable and wise that, m examining the question of the proposed Union, they should attach great weight to tne views and wishes of this country, and to the reasons on which these views and wishes have been based." On the 25th of June there was another desj/atch from Mr. Cardwell forwarded to His Excillency, of a similar character, and oouched in like decided terms, giving the opinions of Her Ms jesty's ministers : — " I have the honor to trantrait to you the copy of a correspondence between Viscount Mcnck and myself on the affairs of British North Ameri- ca, which have lately formed the subject of con- ference between Her Majesty's Government and a deputatiovi from the Canadian Government. " This correspondence having been presented to both Houses of the Imperial 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 Mrjesty's Govern- ment, that it is an object much t,o be desired that all the British North American Colonics should agree to unite in one Government. " In the teiritorial extent of Canada, and in the maritime and commeircial enterprizc of the lower Provinces, Her Majesty's Government see the elements of power, which only require to be com- bined in Older to secure for the Provinces which shall possess them all, a place among the most considerable communities of the world. In the spirit of loyalty to the British Crown, of attoch- meut to British connection, aud of love t )t British institutions, by which all the Provinces are ani- mated alike, Iler Mi^iesty's Government recognize the l)ond by wliich all may be combined under one Government. Such an union seems to Her Mjyosty 's Government to recommend itself to the Provinces on many grounds of moral and material advantage, as giving a well-founded promise of Improed administration and increasod prosperity " But thero is one consideration which Her Ma- jesty's Government feel it more cspeciallv their duty to press upon the Legislature of ?Aow Bruns- wick. Looking to the determination which this country has ever exhibited to regard the defence of the Colonies us a matter of Imperial concern, the Colonies must recognize a right, and even acknowledge an obligation. Incumbent on the Home Guvernment, to urge with earnestness and just authority the measures which they consider to be most exiiedient on the part ot the Colonies, with a view to their own defence- Nor can it be doubtful tliat tlie Provinces of British North America are incapable, >vhcn separate and divided from each other, of making those Just and suffl- cient preparations for national defence which would be easily undertaken by a Province nnlting in itnelf all the population nnd nil the resources (if the whole. I am aware that this project so novel, us wel" ub so important, has not been at once lucepted in New Bruns*-ick with that cor- dialitv which has marked its acceptance by the Legislature of Canada ; but Her Mi^esty 's Govem ment trust that after a fhll and careful examina tion of the subject in all its bearings, the Mara- time Provinces will perceive the great advantagee which, in the opinion of Her M^esty's Govern- ment, the proposed union is calculated to confer upon them all." Now, your honors, what do the advocates of union propose to do, and what must be the result of a union of Provinces containing suci) elements of wealth and power as em- bodied in these Colonies P Take a survey of the magnif^.cent territory that will be em- braced in the contemplated confederation. We will have 3,000 miles of sea coast, with numerous and magnificent harbours, and the most productive fisheries on the face of the globe. Wc will have internal communication to the extent of thousands of miles, the whole permeating a country possessing in its extent, and in every portion, resources and elements of wealth of the most import- ant character. If we look at the several Provinces, we find Nova Scotia taking gold medals in the exhibitions of Eiiropean na- tions, for th^ excellence of her industrial productions ; we find her gold mines of such extent and richness, as to attract the atten- tion of the world ; coal fields, from which a very large amount is estported to supply the markets of the United States. We .Ind her possessing a fleet of merchant vessels which rivals in tonnage, the commercial marine of any nation in the world with the exception ot three— England, France, and the United . States ; and in addition, Nova Scotia has abundant and valuable fisheries, as well as famous agricultural resources. Turning to Newfoundland, we find around her shores and coasts, fisheries which, properlv protect- ed, are sufficient to support the population of the whole world. We turn now to Cana- da, and there wc find a vast extent of terri- tory, .ichin invaluable stores of material wealth of the mines, the forests, the sea, and of the field, with a commerce continually increasing, and an energy ever crasping after new fields of operation and additional facilities for trade ; a Province which, from her agricultural resources is recognized as the granary of the West ; a Province rich in fiubfic works, in canals, in bridges, in pub- ic buildings, scarcely surpassed in the older countries of Europe. Is it not apparent, your honors, that united in one common bond of alliance under one general Govern- ment, with free institutions guaranteed by the protection and prestiec of Britain, we must assume a position of importance among the nations of the world, of which we could not dream, out of union. I have referred to the public works ot Canada ; and here I would observe, that one objection which has considerable weight, doubtless, with some, urged against union is, that Canada is an expensive country and has a vast debt. Now let us enquire as to the nature of the debt of Canada, and contrast her position with that of some other countries. The Beat debt of the United States has accumu- ;ed by the war that has, during the past three years, desolated such a large portion ol that country. In England, though the policy of the nation is peace, still she has au immense public debt contracted in expensive wars, and in providing and maintaining her unrivalled war department, for the purpose of preserving peace, and protecting the in- terests of her people. But the public debt of Canada is invested in public works, which are to a certain extent reproductive ; which year by year are becoming more so, and which will ultimately yield a large source of revenue. I may mention the WeTland Canal, which IS now paying from 1 1-2 to 2 1-2 per cent on its cost. So that, your honors, these considerations give quite a new complexion to the theory that the Canadian public debt is an objection to union with her. Properly to appreciate tlie necessity for those public works of Canada, we must travel in the Far West. We will there find a territory capable of sustaining three hun- dred millions of men, and the productions of which must find transit and an outlet to the ocean, down the St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence Canals. In order to show that the objections to union, on the grounds stated, are not well founded, I will draw your honors' attention to the shipments from one port on Lake Michigan, which belongs to the United States, the City of Chicago, to Canada for exportation. The shipments from this port in 1862 to Canadian Ports were— of Flour, 420,644 barrels; Corn, 6,005,661 bushels; Oats, 187,262 bushels ; llye, 200.659 bush. ; Barley, 71,9}9 bushels; but these large figures give only about one fourth of the exports to CanaJa, from the ports on Lake Michigan and contiguous country, all of which found its way down and paid tolls to the Canals of Canada. Allow nu; to direct your attention to the opinion expressed at the Commercial Convention at Detroit, by an eminent American, the Hon. . F. Fay, of Detroit, who said :— "I stated the rapid increase in the pro- ductions of Agriculture — ^rcat almost be- yond conception — and that in ten years more all present avenues of the sea board would be crowded beyond their utmost capacity. I may now state, and I do it without any doubting, that there is but one avenue which, at that time, will be at all adequate to the necessities of the West, after crowding all the canals and railways leading to the At- lantic coast, and that ip the one provided by the Almighty — the River St. Lawrence. A comparatively small expense wilt enlarge the locks on the canals, which are short and sm&ll around the rapids in that great river, and deepen its bed in one or two places suf- ficient to enable it to float vessels having twelve hundred to fifteen hundred tons bur- den. With that improvement, it will be profitable for Western merchants and deal- ers to ship from Detroit and Chicago, and other lake ports, the grain cf the West, the staves and other of its productions, direct to all the markets of the World, including those of the Atlantic coast. A ship with its fifteen hundred tons cargo, may reach Que- bec as quick as a canal boat if from two hundred to five hundred tons can reach Al- ban}'. It will avoid the slow time of about a mile an hour on the canal, making five, eight, or ten miles on the lakes and rivers. It will be many hundred miles nearer Eu- rope than at New York ; it will avoid the erection of elevators at Buffalo, so much complained of, whether justly or not ; it will avoid canal tolls through New York ; also all charges m the city of New York, paying tolls only on the short canals around the falls and rapids, and with a large ship and full cargo, the charge for transportation will be much less. It is very safe to say the pro- duction of the West may bo laid down in Liverpool at much less cost than they can now be in New York, and I think for about half very often, an Eortance of the Reciprocity Treaty to the lake country, which shall secure this ob- ject ; the statesman who does it will merit the gratitude of a countless population in all coming time, who will be relieved and en- riched by his statesmanship. " We shall secure what is of the greatest importance to all the Western millions, viz : an ample, broad, and unimpeded highway to the markets of the World. For doing this, we bid the great States of Nev York and Pennslyvania be of good cheer, it wnU be only the oeerflowingt of the exhuberant West which will go down the St. Lawrence ; there will then be ample enough to crowd all the avenues of New York and Philadel- phia to their utmost capacity." In 1843, a Committee of American mer- chants from Illinois visited Canada, and waited upon the Governor General, for the purpose qf presenting the grounds upon which they asked the Canadian Grovernment to give additional facilities for reaching the seaboard by the St. Lawrence. They said to the Governor General : — " We have come, brieflv and respectfully to presert to you, and through you to the Provincial Parliament and the British Gov- ernment, the importance both to Great Britain and the United States, of so opening and perfecting the navigation of the Saint Lawrence, as to afford to the Commerce of both countries, a cheap communication be- tween the shipping Ports on the North- western Lakea and Great Britain. " The future prosperity of these States bordering on the Great Lakes, depends in a great measure upon cheap transportation to foreign markets ; hence, they are vitally in- terested in the question of opening the St. Lawrence, the great national thoroughfare to the ocean, through and by which the peo- ple of England may enlarge their supplies of breadstufh and provisions, greatly ex- ceedine the quantity heretofore received from the United States, at one-fourth less cost than it has heretofore been received. " From actual experience, derived from shipment of Indian corn fVom Chicago to Liverpool, it is shown that the freight charg- es often cover seven-eighths of the value of a bushel of corn at Liverpool ; more than one half of the cost of wheat is also covered by the present very inadequate means of transportation. " The interior of North America is drain- ed by the St. Lawrence, which furnishes for the country bordering upon the Lakes, a natural highway to the sea. Throogh its deep channel must pass the agricultural pro- ductions of the vast Lake regions. The commercial spirit of the age, forbids that international jealousy should interfere with great national thoroughfares, and the Gov- ernments of Great Britain and the United States will appreciate this spirit, and cheer- fully yield to its influence. The great avenue of the Atlantic, through the St. Lawrence, being once opened to itc largest capacity, the laws of trade, which it nas never been the policy of the Federal Govt, to obstruct, will carry the commerce of the Northwest through it." We have here the opinions of gentlemen of great political influence, thoroughly con- versant as well with the subject of which they speak, which go to prove conclusively that the great means of transit to the ocean of the exuberant produce of the West, ia and must be the St. Lawrence and the canals of Canada. To give in a short sen- tence an idea of the nature of the public works of Canada in which that debt, so much dreaded, is vested, I will read from a speech of Mr. M'Givern before a transit committee of the Detroit Convention : " We had constructed canals connecting the great grain-producing country, border- ing on the Western Lakes, with tide-water, at an outlay of nearly twenty-five millions of dollars. We had constructed a magnifi- cent railway system, extending from the ex- treme Western section of Canada to Port- land, in all involving an expenditure of one hundred and three millions of dollars. W« ■ had the great Weitem Railwaj, with its branches, connecting Michigan and New York ; the Buffalo and Lake Haron, fironi Goderieh to Bufhlo ; the Northern Railway, firom CoUingwood to Toronto; the Welland Railway, firom Port Colborne to Dalhoaste ; and the Grand Trunk line, from Samia to Maine.'' Such then are some of the public works «f Canada which have involved that Pro- vince in debt ; but as has been shown, the alarm which has been excited on this point is false : and lookins only at the amount of money invested in these canals of Canada, Ibe alarmists have lost sight entirely of the re-productive character of the investment, and of the fact that the unbounded West, with its rolling praries. Yielding alinost •pontaneously its millions of bushels of grain, must pay toll to these canals ere it finds its market abroad. But there is another rea- son, apart firbm the mere eeographicaLones mentioned, which is given oy astute Ameri- can merchants for making Canada the route by which the West will seek an outlet, and that is, because the climate of Canada is bet- ter adapted to preserve grsii products of the West during transportation, than the climate of the Mississippi. To show the importance of these canals, u not merely affording, as has been intimated by some hon. gentleman, a means of transit through to New York, there to be reshipped, but a8 presenting superior advantages to the abippers' of grain direct to Liverpool, I will quote one transaction. On the 10th of Sep- tember, 1861, 16,CQ0 bushels of grain were purchased at Chicago, a part of which was ahipped over the St. Lawrence, and a part via New York for Liverpool. Thatportion which was sent via Montreal and Quebec, reached Liverpool in twenty-six days from its shipment at Chicago, costing 67 cents pw bushel. That shipped via Aew York was 80 days and cost 78 cents per bushel. Both quantitie* of course passed over the Welland Canal, and thecreat saving of time and freight by the Canadian route, must, it will at once be perceived, attract the ship- ment in that direction. I observed a some- what important statement of the traffic over the Welland Canal, which in 1863 amounted to 8,425 Canadian vessels of 621.808 tons, »nd 8,474 American vessels of 808,289 tons, and this will give your honors some idea of the importance of this portion of the public orka of Canada. But after all is said that can be said with remrd to the character and extent of the traffic and business which f tours its continuous stream over their pub- ic works, one must see for himself to real- ize it fuUf . No grander sight can meet the eye than is presented on a visit to the mag- nificent lakes of Western Canada, where the number of the craft, and magnitude of the business is perfectly amazing. No one can visit the Lake cities, whether in the States, or in Canada, such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Buffclo, Hamilton, Toronto, Os- wego, without being impressed by their proaperity, their commerce, their industry, • and the question that immeduitely presents itself to tne mind is. if such are some of the results of the present trade with that great West, of ten millions of men, how will those results be magnified when that population has added to it the increase of another quar- ter of a century, and when the streams of commerce, continuing to fiow through its present channels, its only natural outlet, shall have become broader, deeper, richer. The object then, that the unionists have in view, is to combine under one Gov- ernment these great resources and ad- vantages. But it is not alone to Can- ada, in the West, we shall be Joined, but this proposed confederation is intended to extend to the waters of the Pacific, and em- brace the far off Island of Vancouver, and gather in to swell the aggregate greatness of the Confederacy, her vast resources io ^old, in coal, in wood; her climate, which IS more salubrious than that of the Southern States, and under which wheat will grow ten degrees further north than here on the seaboard. ^ I ask your honors to take a statesmanlike view of what our position would be as a part of a great nationality, possessing the resources I have named, and contrast that with our present position. And then, leaving out the mere physical influence of this union, see how it must affect us should we have occasion to treat with foreign nations. The prestige of an en- lightened people of four millions, which must in a few years be doubled, in such ne- gotiations, and the influence which its dele- gates will have at commercial or political conferences, must be far beyond that per- taining to either Colony in its isolated posi- tioiK yBut another and most important con- sideration connected with this question of union is, that Confederation, oonsolidat- 8 (1 i; ing the Provinces under one central Got- crnment, will give an amount of physical power and energy which, backed up by the power of Britain, may, bid defiance to any power which might tuteaten our liberties, or seek to invade usy^Nor should it be for- Sotten that we have the assurance of the 'ritish Government% that, while we display a proper regard for our own protection, which can best be done by uniting, the as- sistance of Bi itain will be given us. Some may say they are proud of New Brunswick, and I would not underrate her, hut I confess I would be prouder of her did she form part of the united Colonies. I, as a New Bruns- wicker, goin^ to Nova Scotia, and seeing there her vari'^d resouices, viewing from the Citadel at Halifax her beautiful harbour, would prefer to feel it was a portion of my country ; going to Newfoundland or Prince Edward Island, I should like to regard them, not as an alien, but as a citizen ; but when I go to Canada, then, it is that those yearnings for nationality are quickened and strengthened. When I look upon her mag- nificent mountains, her vast lakes, her won- derous Niagara; when I stand upon the Citadel of Quebec and gaze upon the blue mountains of the Saguenay ; or when my eyes linger upon the plains of Abraham, where Wolfe fell in the last and final strug- gle for British supremacy on the continent : and when sailing on her magnificent rivers, or speeding on her railroads, I witness her commercial greatness, and realize her vast resources, then I cannot fail to have a deep interest excited, and a strong desire to par- ticipate more closely in their benefits. No person, unless they examine for themselves, can have any idea of her vast resources and public works. Nevi^r will I forget my feelings when I trod for the first time the soil of old Eng- land, and my mind thrilled as all the histo- rical recollections of her greatness and glory came up before me, and I felt a por- tion of that glory reflected upon me as a bumble Colonist belonging to the great Empire. I thought of the fact that the Colonies had been so long protected by the fostering arm of that power. I thought how, possessing a proper policy undec that fostering influence, the Colonies roip:ht speedily arrive at a position, when, under the full play of British institutions, a strong and healthy manhood should be developed, and when the British North American Colo- nies and those young giants in the Paci- fic, would be able, as willing, should the old Fatherland be threatened, to spring to the rescue and make some return for the long years of maternal care Great Britain had bestowed upon them^ With their re- sources and now latent power developed, Britain would stand surrounded by these Colonies a spectacle that would eclipse the glory of Rome in her palmiest days of splen- dor. I wish now to direct attention to the United States as an example in point, while discussing the principle of Union. Read her history and mark the progress she has made since the declaration of independence, as contrasted with the time previous thereto when the country was divided into minor petty provinces, each having its distinctive tariff, and without a central governing power. Union became strength there, and to-day, as the result of the confederate prin- ciple, the United States stands a prodigy — a wonder among the nations. Who that has read the history of Scotland, as graphically presented by Macaulay, can have failed io notice the wonderful impetus to trade and to the developsment of her re- sources, to the spread of intelligence and the general welfare of the people, given by union. And what union has done r*" other countries in gathering fragmentary portions of territory into consolidaticn and strength, union will do for thesu isolated Provinces. I now come to the Quebec scheme. There is one grand feature in that scheme which must remain as the basis of any union. I refer to the principle of representation by population, a principle tliat must obtain un- der representative institutions. In Canada, their greatest sectional difficulties, arose out oi that very question. Lower Canada, when her population preponderated, claiming larg er representation in population, which Up- per Canada resisted, but which the latter, when her population had overtaken and out- stripped in numbers the Lower Province, became aware of the correctness of the prin- ciple and sought its adoption. With regard to the financial arrangements, I think that any one who will give them a candid consideration, must be impressed with the advantages, to us financially, of a union; for, as I have shown, even that bug-bear, the debt and public works of Can- ada, instead of being a disadvantaire, must prove greatly beneficial to us. Another important point to uonaider is, the e£fect of Confederation upon the Inter-Colonial Rail- road. Three several times the Legislature of this Province have adopted schemes hav- ing in view the completion of that road, which is justly regarded as a work involving the most important results for this Province. • Now, under the Quebec scheme, this Rail- road is provided for on terms more favor- able, in every respect, for the Province ; terms which would ensure the completion of the work, without it being a local burden on the Province ; and I cannot understand how hon. members, who recognize the importance of the railroad, can fail to discern in the fa- cilities afforded for its immediate construc- tion, an argument in favor of the scheme. With different Legislatures ; restricted by hostile tariffs ; without any policy in com- mon, the credit of the several Provinces of necessity is being destroyed ; but those Col- onies united, u ider Confederation, their credit would be established upon such a basis as to make it the beat in the world, and would enable the General Government to obtain funds on the most reasonable terms, for t*>.j prosecution of any desirable public work. In conclusion, your honors, I feel proud to be in a position to raise my voice in favor of union, as I shall be proud to do every- thing I can in order to inaugural that grand scheme n( rinnfp.rlnrn^inn wh!r>fi will give our common country her proper place among the nations of the world. I now move the following : — " Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, That a Union of all the British North American Colonies, based on the Resolutions adopted at the Conference of Delegates from the several Pro- vinces held at Quebec on the 11th day of October, 1864, is an object highly to be desired, essential to their future prosperity and influence, and calcu- lated alike to strengthen and perpetuate the ties which bind them to the Mother Country. " Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, That the Legislative Council should concur in any measure which may be necessary to cairy such a Union into effect."' Hon. Mr. Chandler — I must claim the indulgence of your honors, while I detain you for. a little time, in presenting for your consideration some figures bearing upon this great subject. The figures I propose in- ulging in are not figures of speech, but figures of arithmetic, much less pleasant to the ear, but of very great importance in this case, because upon] these figures depend our arriving at just conclusions. The question has been frequently asked of late — Why has the debate on this subject been so long delayed ? Now, it is a well recognized principle under our form of Government, that the GoTcrnment of the day should bring all subjects recommended to the consideration of the Legislature in His Excellency's Speech, before both Houses of Provincial Parliament, and therefore if there is any cause of complaint for the delay in bringing on this debate, the Government is responsible for it, inasmuch as the neces- sary papers were not laid before us until yesterday. But, your honors, I think that the delay is a cause for congratulation, not regret, because I hope to be able to show that we are in a much better position to enter upon a discussion of the matter now than we were last year, and also that the difference of opinion which existed last year between those 1(00 favor Confederation and the Que- bec Scheme, and the Government, with the party that has ranged itself in opposition, has become narrowed down to an exceed- ingly fine point. Last year, it will be re- membered, the Legislature met immediately afler a General Election, at which the people had been asked hurriedly and prematurely to pass upon the most important measure ever presented fortheir consideration, while those who, from some cause or other, were inter- ested in opposing the measure, took advan- tago of the opportunity to misrepresent to the people, the object, nature, and legitimate result of the scheme. The consequence was that, at the time the House met, the whole country was greatly excited over the ques- tion, and it was not the best time for a calm and dispassionate discussion. Allow me to refer for a moment to some of the absurd influences which were made to operate dur- ing the progress of the last election. It is well known that our warm-hearted Irish fel- low subjects, were almost unanimously op- posed to Confederation at the election, because they felt that it would bring up and establish in these Provinces all those wrongs of which Ireland has had, justly or unjustly, to complain. To thum Union was a talis- manic word suggestive of all the privileges which it has been alledged Ireland forfeited, and the evils which were brought upon her by the union of England and Ireland, and the abolishment of the Irish Parliament. Had there been time, our Irish friends could have been convinced of the error of opinion into which they had fallen; they could have been shown that O^Connell wonld Ml! IG kftve been onl/ too glad to accept of union OB such terms aa thote on which the proposed anion of the Colonie* is predicated, and that beland with a local Parliament tb regulate the local interests, '^inth a re|.;Teseatation in the General Parliament on the basis of popa- lation, would ha%e been abundantly satisfied. Therefore it was unfortunate that, Qwing to misapprehension, this laree body of men •hould have been influonced to act almost as ft unit in concert. Hon. Mr. Hazbr— Would you disfran- diise them? Hon. Mr. Chani>ur— No ! let not my kon. friend misunderstand mc. I would be the last to proscribe any one, especially my Irish fellow-subjeots ; for I do not forget the warm-hearted, generous, and disinte- rested support I received from them while •eeking tneir suffrage for a seat in the other branch of the legislature. My observations Are in reference to the misrepresentations bade as to the object of the Confederate 8ohems. Indeed, I may say, your honors, that it is ■inch to be ««greeted when any body, or •eel. of men, are thrown bv circumstances, into A particular course uf Ion in a body ; it is calculated to beget sr eion, frequently leads to combination of chose who thins: differently, and roust of necessity exercise great influence in turning the scale one way or the other. Considering all thines — the very great excitsmeut that prevailed ; the strenuous exertions made by gentlemen on the other side ; the absurd, or worse thap absurd, re- presentations that were made orslly, or scattered by the Press, broadcast over the Province — my only wonder is, that so large • vote was thrown at the March election h in Cavor of confederation, through the Province generally, and that some F.vn or six Cou.iMes returned members favoral'te to the scheme. In St. (Tohn and other large constituen- cies, it is i> ue the majoiity was against us, but then, had that very important element in the constituent body, to which I have referred, been as usual, divided in (.pinion, the result would have been rery difTerent; while as it was, the minority in all the Counties was very large and very respectable. Indeed, I am safe in saying, that when vu^numhured in votes, thu Con- feddration principle rti?eived the support of many of the most enlightened, far-seeing, can.^id, and patriotic members of the sever- al communities. There is another reason why good has come of 'he delay. Since the last Session, there was a delegation from the Government sent heme to England, in order to confer yrith Her Majesty's Go^-erament, and to shew to the eniighttned statesinen'who rule the destiny of the Empire, and whose wis- dom in the art of government, whose policy in planning and consummating those designs by which the truest interests of the largest numben of the people are served, stands, I am inclined to think,> veiy high in the es- timation of the statesmen of the world ; to shew to them, I say, that they were entirely mistaken, both as to the temper of the peo- Sle of the Province, and to the probable earing of the scheme of CcnfederatioR. It wap veiy fortunate tLat delegation went to England. The information obtained there wes, I think, of a character mobt salutary to the delegates themselves, to the Govt., and to the whole people. I regard the money that delegation cost, as well expended, and the delay occasioned by it, most advantage- ous. T»>y found that in England there wms but one opinion, and that was that Confede- rrtion must come sooner or later. They found this to be the opinion among the in- telligent public ; they found it in the Gk>- vernmentjsnd among the supporters of the Governra At ; and not only so, but it was reporlad, final I am incliniMl to bcliove it, that in an interview with Earl Derby His Lordship informed the delegates that irres- pective of party politics, it was the settled policy of England to promote in all possible ways the carryine into operation of the Confederation of the Colonies. Therefore t*^e delegates must have returned home witii the conviction that the policy of England— of the British Covemment — was fixed with regard to Gonlede^ticn, and that is an 'f^ portant point gained. But, your honors, not only is it the policy of England, bui in this country the febling in I'avor of Confederation is daily being as- similated to that of Britain ; the tide rf pub- lic opinion has turned, and is now, in a vol- ume becoming every day morj brosd, more deep, more resistless, rushing on in the di- rection of union ; the all potent energy of thn public will is at work, rnd those who will may resist ; but of this they may be assured, they cannot stay the progressive current, they must make way or be borne down be- la ^ 11 fore it. Then ashin during the year, the Grovernment, ^iUiout the sanction of the Legislature, sent delegates to Washington, in order to confer with the Colonial aele- gates and the American Government, with regard to the then expiring Reciprocity Treaty, and also another set of delegates vras sent to the British West Indies, Mexi- ec, and Brazil, to ojpen up Trade Treaties and new channels oi commerce. It does appear to me that the Government, i^cognizing the necessity for such steps, must see how desirable it is that we should not have to seek such treaties, each separate and weak colony for itself, and by its dis- tinctive delegate, but th&t we should be in a position when a General Government could oj its ambassador, ask for the united Pro- vinces a recognition of their claims to the rights and courtesies of trade extended to the older nations. Again there was another delegation to Ottawa to attend a Confi^derate Trade Coun- cil, called b/ His Excellency the Governor General, so that we have arrived at that state when such a Council can be called by the Governor General, and when if we have not in its larger meaning /i Confederate Govern- ment, we have a Confederate Trade Gevern- ment. But do your honors want evidence that Confederation principles are growing and that the Government is catching the inspi- ratiort from public opinion 7 If so, our own journals attest the fact in unmistakable Ian- Siii^e. Before directing your atUotion to e journals I may premise that thb execu- tive Government is responsible fer the Speech of His Excellency in opening the Legislature, and for the Address in reply thereto. I will now ask you to listen to the language f the Government in tbe Speech last year. ■* At the request of the Oovtmor General of Canada, and with the approbation of tlio Queen, I also appointed Delegates to a Conference of Renresentatlves of thi British Nurtb American Colonies, held in Quebec In the month of October last, with the view or arrHnglng the terms of a Federal Union of British >Jorth America. The lesolntloiis agreed toby this Conference appeared to me to be so importAnt In their charactor, and their adoption fVaught with consequences so rov terlally affiicting the future condition and well- being of British America, that, in order to eiiablu the people of New Bmnswictc to give expression to their wishes on the subject. I determined to dtssolre the then existing House of AssembW. I now submit these fiesolntlons to vour Judv- meat." ^ We turn to the reply. It merely thanka His Excellency for tM assurance that the resolrtlons of Confereuce will be laid be- fore the House. Notice bow cold, and dr]r, and formal, it is. Now let me trooble yoa to look at the reference t.> this rabjeet ia the Speech of this session, and observe what an improvement there is in style, as I hopn there is in the convictions, of the Govern- ment. His Excellency, for the Ghtvemment, says : — "I have received Her Majerty's eom- raands to communicate to yoc a Cdrretpon- dence on the affairs of British North Ame- rica, which has taken place between Her Majestv's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor €reneral of Canada ; and I am further directed to ex- rress to you the strong and deliberate opin- ion of Her Majesty's Government, that it ii an object muck to be desired, that all the British North American Coloniea shonld agree tc unite in one Govemicent. These papers will immediately be laid before yoa.'i And then the language of the reply, how differently worded from the terms of that of last year : — "The Correspondenc-e on the affaire of British North America, which Your Ezoel- lency announces will immediately be bud before us by command of Her Majesty, will receive at our hfinds that carefbl and re* spectful attention due to matters emanating fk-om so high a source, und be oonsidered with an anxioiis iesire to meet the wishe!> »! Her Majesty's Government." Now this is lan^age in which we all can and do most heartily concur ; it is luignaffe that shews the Govt, must have changed lu opinion since last year. It is tme, they added the words '* so far as may be consist- ent with >he true interests and prosperity ot the Province at large." Hon. Mr. Hazbn — Very important words. Hon. Mr. Chandlir— We shall see that the question is narrowed down to a very fine point, and will, I think, be able to prove that it is for the interest of the people. But a.. I have said, we are all in perfect accord with regard to our duty to tho Queen, and the woi^H of this reply >re almost identical with those used at the Qoebeo Conferenoe. Thus in the 1st Kksolution we sar, " The best interesu, and present and fbture pros- perity of British North America, will be Sromoted by a Federal Union under the ifown of Great Britain, provided such eniea n M !,i can be effected on principles just to the several Provinces." And tne only point for us to consider is, is union consistent with the interests cf the people of the Province, waich point I will proceed now to discuss. I shall first turn my attention to some of the objections to the Quebec IBcheme, and then proceed to consider its financial aspect. Last year, the House of Assembly passed a Resolution in which this paragraph occurs : " The consummation of said scheme would prove politically, commercially, and finan- cially disastrous to the best interests and prosperity of the Province." With regard to the scheme being commercially and pnlit- ically disastrous, I shall leave those points to be discussed by other gentlemen who will follow me, but before I am done I hope to be able to convince your honors that not only will Confederation not prove financially disastrous to the Province, but that it is a financial necessity. It is quite common to hear persons say " I am in favor of union, but don't like the Quebec scheme," but I have never heard such objectors define what it is in the scheme they do not like, or why. An hon. member has stated in this House, ihat upf'er the scheme we will give all our money to Canada, and get no return, but I think I can show that we will get much more from, than we contribute to, the General Goverr.mcnt. I aiu inclined to the opin- ion that there are many gentlemen who get the credit of being very intelligent, who are fervent opposers of the scheme, and who still have never read the Resolutions; if such' would give a little more attention to a con- j sideration of what the scheme really is, they might soon be brought to approach the sub- ject in the same spirit as has the Govern- ment in the Speech and the Address, already refered to. It has been frequently urged that the del- egates to the Qu-oi'c Conference, proceed- ea there without authorjty. I need only re- fer to the opinion expressed by Mr. Cai.l- woll, in his despatch to Lord Monck, or Jic Srd December, 1864. He says: — " With the sanction of the Crown, and upon the invitation of the Governor Gen- 1 eral, men of every Province, chosen by the I respective Lieutenant (lovernors without ' distinction o( party, assembled to consider ' questions of the utirust interest to every j •ubject of the Queen, of whatever race or ' faitli, resident in those Provinces, and have ' arrived at a conclusion destined to exercise ' a most important influence upon the future welfare of the whole community." Now, your honors, I think in most con- stitutional bodies, that would be considered sufficient authonty, but we have the same idea expressed last year in the Speech by the Governor, put in his mouth by the Gov- ernment. He said: " At the request of the Governor General of Canada, and with the approbation oi the Queen, I also appointed delegates to a Conference of representatives of the British North American Provinces, held at Quebec in the month of October last, with a view of arranging the terms of a union of British North America." And therefore we have the Conference confirmed by Mr. Cardwell, its confirmation reiterated by the Government, and now for- sooth we are told the delegates had no au- thority. But I want to ask this : by what authority the delegates went to Engaind last Summer ; or to Washington, or to the West Indies P Where is the act of the Le^ir'ature authorizing those delegations, and it we had I no authority to go to Quebec, where is their authority ? ' Another objection is, that the scheme was j carried by Canadian influence. Now, I do wonder what kind of Canadian influence was I brought to bear upon the representative gentlemen fro.n the several Colonies who assembled at Queboc. T nm aware that motives of a most unworthy character have been represented as influencing the minds of the delegates, but I shall not take the troublii to repel o." answer such defamers.. It is true Can.idahad twelve delegates, while the other Provinces had only twenty-one. The vote was by Provinces ; one vote for eiich Province. Hon. Mr. HtZEX — Where does that ap- pear ? Hon. Mr. CiiANni.Eii — I state it, and I |)resume no hon. gentlunian will doubt my word. Every motion rccpiired a two-third vote to carry it, so that the Lower Provinces had the advantage ; and when a question afTecting the Lower I'rovinces, as against I'Mward Island as Upper (.'anada. the objection beyond all tip, -iTino influence t Canada, came had the same So that settles douibt. wThc third objection T notice is, the opin- ion expressed by some, that if the i'rovinces are united, it shonbl be liy LegJNlative, not Federal Union. Now luy answer is, that is iinposfiible. In the firnt place, from the Ir< bers they not a tion. plains sentat to ht tionati your great out of Were tion. gener^ princi ofrepi I s.k'; for ch« the Coj Now or say owarde based share. !'v 18 have iiids ko the liners.- while one. )to for and I tbt my third vincci uL'Htion ngivinst Inland anada. iind all 10 opin- ovinccB ivf, not thai is om the peculiar institutions and laws of Canada, she would not consent ; and the Lower Pro- vinces would never agrc3 to be deprived of their local Parliaments. The spirit of the people of the Maritime Provinces is alto- gether in favor of having all mere local matters regulated and legislated upon by a local Parliament, and from that spirit they will not depart ; and, at the same time, the astabliahment of the principle would lead immediately to largely increased, direct taxation 80 that, your honors, I assume that the objection falls to the ground. Tht-n representation by population is ob- jectevl to, and it is lid that the Lower Pro- vinces will be swamped by the overpowering influence of Canada. In the tirst place, I am not aware how any gentleman forming a government on representative principles, could claim for or give to any one locality more than its fair share of representative power. It is not at all uncommon to hear complaints from communitiei that they have not their fair share of representatives in the Legislative body of their particular State, but I am not awsre of ever having heard or read, of any people or community who en- joyed representation in proportion to their opulation, complaining. No, because they ave their fair share, and no reasonable men can ask more. b. Ireland and Scotland, having 145 mem- bers out of 650 in the British Parliament. If they complain, it is only bwauso they have not a fair share according to their popula- tion. The city ot London sometimes com- plains that she has not the number of repie- scntatives she ought to have, as compared to her population, but a fair nnd propor- tionate share is the most she claims ; and your honors are very veil aware that the great difficulties in Canada, have all arisen out of the fact that the respective Pro\ "iices were not represented acoordinc to popula- tion. In fact it is a truism founded upon general and well established Constitutional principles, and underlying the whole policy of representative institutions, and how, then. I s«h, could any gontleinan having a regard for character a* a statesman, have got up in the Conference, and claimed that one man in New Bninswick was cmiai to two in Canada, or say that when the Lower Province was awarded her share of roprcsentatives, being based upon her population, it was not a fair share. It is an absurditv. But the fifth objection that I notice is the consti- tution of the Legislative Council, which elicited a great deal ofdiscnsslon, but was ultimately agreed to quite unanimously. By the arrangement, Canada, Upper and Lower, was to have twent/ four members each, and the thres Maritime Pro- vincos twenty four, say. Nova Scotia ten, New Brunswick ten, and Prince Edward Island four, The population of Lower Canada in 1861 wai 1,110,664, of TSper Canada, 1,396,091. The w- rangement gives Lower Canada one representa- tive in the Legislative Counal to about every 46,000 inhabitants, and Upper Canada one in every 68,000, while New Brunswick has one in every 25,000 of her population, or nearly three to one— considerably more than double the representation of either Canadas in the Upper House. The two Canadas united have one in a2,000, and the Lower Provinces, united, one in 27,000, or about doublt the number in proportion, and it Canada increases as she has in the past, our representation will be- come as three to one compared with her's, foi the number of members in the Upper House is fixed for all time to come, and cannot be altered. Now, I ask, what grea<'er protection could be afforded in the construction of the Legislative Council, than has been provided. The Upper House will represent the Colonies, and supposing the possi- bility of any measure passing the I<>w«r Branch prejudicial to the interests of one particular colony or of the whole confederation, the safe-guard u provided, and the Legislative Council would stop the measure. But, under Responsible Ouvemment, all experi- enre goe* to provu that, however paradoxical II may appear, minorities in the Legislature ars more to be feared than majorities, as small mi- norities fVequently tn-i the scale, and therefbrt we have less danger to apprehend in this union. Tn Canada there always has been and always will be two partioH. Now, it will be evidently the policy of each of thcbc parties to seek the coun- tenance and assistance of the Lower Colonies, who, on questions involving the fate of the Gene- ral Government, as well as in minor matten, would really contro! the vote ; and if they should combine against us, it would only drive ns into combination, and our comparr.tive weakneH would tend to ensure our success, because w* should immediately enlist the sympathies of on* party or the other, as well as ccmcr'^ and secnrt the sympathies of the several Lower Provlncea, in action f ^r the assistance of each other and their united Interests. I well remember a speech made oy Mr. Seward In the Senate ot the United States, in which he showed that while the South- ern States were numerically In the minority ia Congress, yet the Notrh, feeling Its own strength in oint of numbers, was always more or less divided in opinion on the great questions of tha day, yet the South, conscious of their inferiority in point of numbers, combined from a sense of weakness, and actually controlled the measnrea, appropriations and pntronngo of the Oovcmmoni far more than did the northern intineace. It will be said that in Congress there are two ReprusentMtivca (Yoni each Statxv, and the samo syHtcm sliould bo adoptr;l in the Fcd-ral Legis- lutlvo Council, l)ut those who make such remarks I I , 14 Ibnet the dUhnnoe in the Conidtntions of the two hooMs; they forget that there the ijratem of ■xeentiTe responiibinty th«t obtains here U nn- known, and that the Preeidenthaa, for the time tMtng.aiapremepower. TheSenateoftheCnited States has not only lej^Iative bat a4< well execa- tlTC powers, and *can at any time adjonra its leidsUtiTe session and go into seertt execntive ■cssicn. Its essent is required to all treaties, and to make peace or declare war : it conflrms the appointment of Judges and Ambassadors, and uT other generr.l appointments ; it has the power of impeachment, and is therefore a great Conrt of JuBtice, so that having such Tsst powers, it is nnliite any body incident to our Constitution . We have, I think, ic the Constitution of the LegislatiTe Council, proTided all the guards and recognised all the local rights that can be reason- ably asked fbr, and New Brunswick certain- ly stands in a better position than any of her dster Colonies. Wiiild Nova Scotia has 100,000 more inhabitants than New Brunswick, the re- presentation in the Covncil is the same, because the basis of the Council is not population but territorial. So it is provided that Newfoundland and Pk-ince Edward Island will have the same number of Councillors, although the former has a very much larger population than the latter- double the number of inhabitants. I now proceed to notice another object- ion. The Inter-Colonial Railway is admit- ted on all bandb to be a work, the construc- tion of which is of the first impo-tance to New Brunswick, and one in which she is mnch more directly inlcrebied than any of th^ other Colonies. But the objection ij urg- ed that we have no^ sufficient security, thai Confederation will give us that Railroad. WeU, our answer to this is, that it T^ill bs based on and secured by an Imperial Act, and good care wiH be taken to mnVp its pro- visions sufficient for the emcr'-oncy. I ben; now to call your honors' atter.liou to the C8tb Resolution of the Conference. "TheOoneml Government shall secure without delay, the completion of the Inter- Colonial Bailway, from River de Loup, through New Brunswick, to Truro, in Nova Scotia." It occurs to me that stronger language could not be used to express the meaning of the Resolution, or to secure the result con- templated. The words secure without dday its completion, are prrtty strong terms. Now, let ns see what is the first response of the British Government to that Resolution. I may remipdyour honois, in passing, that His Excellency, by the advice of the Gov- ernment, wrote to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, setting forth that the security for the completion of the Inter-Colonial Railroad was not suflicient. His Excellen- cs^B despatch is dated February 27th, 1866, and oontaina thia paragraph : — " I find, however, that a very general im- pression prevails that the construction o^ the Inter-Colonial Railroad, from River de Loup to Truro, is to be provided for by a clause in the Imperial Act, giving effect to the proposed Federal Union." To which the British Ministry reply :— • " Downing Strtet.lSth March, 1866. " Six,— I have the honor to acknowledge the re> ceipt of your Despatch of the 27th February, in which you request instructions whether provi- sioHS will be made for the coi ipletion of the ln< i.er- Colonial Railway in the Act of Union, or be embodied bv the Imperial Parliament in a sepa- rate Act. In reply I have to acquaint you that Her M jesty's Government have expressed their cordial approval of the proceedings of the Con- ference at Queb'ic, and have engaged that if, aa they hope, the Provincial Legislatures sanction the scheme of the Conference, they, on their part, will submit to the Imperial Parliament the mea- sures which nay be necessary for carrying that scheme into effect. " Of the Resolutions adopted by the Confer- ence, the 68th provides that the General Govern- ment shall secure without deltty the completion of the Inter-Colonial Railway, Her Majesty's Government have understood that Resolution, with reference to the Correspondence wMch had pi-eviously passed with the OovernmeniS of the several Provinces j while, therefore, they have entered into no new stipulations on the subject, they have by no means excepted the 68th Roso- lutlon from the general approval which they have expressed of the entire scheme, or trom the en- goAement respecting it to which I have referred. "What steps it may be proper hereafter for Her Mi^jesty's Government to take in pursuance of this engagement, cannot he stated positively, until it shall bo known what course has been tak- en by the Provincial Legislatures, acd until Her M^jesty'8 Government siiall have received the commuuications which they hope to receive from persons deputed by the Governor General to give to Hfr Majesty's Goveramen; tiic l)cneflt of thehr counsel upon the various measures necessary for carrying the Resolutions of the Conference into effect. " I have, &c., (Signed) ''Edwd. Caxdwbll." When a British Minister speaks through despatches, he generally means what he says, and I cannot conceive how any atiswer more decisive than that just quoted, ran be given to our objectors. But Mr. CardweJI doet not stop tnere, but givcj still another an- swer in a despatch to Lord Monck, which is not among the pupers submitted here. Thia despatch was written just after the delegatet had reached Gnglan J, and I presume shortly after their interview with tne Secretary of State. I tiow read Mr. Cardwell's despatdi and Lord Monck's reply. nth oncyl m.l ni ''otisid ^fajeJ ilatedl priotjj BVonr arifj Cover compjj the ovJ North f plishecf w 15 ■patcb "Downing Strrbt, 22d July, 18G6. " Mt Lord, — I think it right to apprise yonr Lordship that I receive oommunioations which lead to the conclusion that more posi- tiTO assurances ft-om Canada tdan have yet been given to the Maritime Provinces on the subject of the readiness of Canada tn ensure the prompt completion of the Intercolonial Railway in the event of Confederation being adopted, would be very satisfactory to the friends of the measure in those Provinces, and encourage their efforts to recommend the scheme of confederation to those of their countrymen by whom it has not hitherto been supported. I have, &c. Edward Cardwell. Governor Viscount Monck." •• Qdbbkc, August 14th, 1866. •* Sir — Referrine to your despatch. No. 120, of July 22, I have the honor to trans- mit a copy of an approved Minuie of the Executive Council of this Province, on the subject to which your despatch refers. " I may add the expression of my own personal conviction that there exists amongst the Ministers and Members of the Legisla- ture of the Province, not only the determi- nation to construct the Intercolonial railway so soon as the Union of the British North American Provinces shall have taken place, but the strongest desire for the early com- pletion ot that most important work. I have, &c. MoNCs." And now we have an additional assurance rom the Canadian Government, in a report jf a Committee of the Executive Council of 'hat Province, forwarded by Lord Mouck, rith the despatch I have just read. •• Copy of a Renort of a Committee of the '■j»9cutive Council, approved by His Excel- ency the Governor General, 14th August, m. The Committee orCoi'''cil have had under ponsidcra'ion the despatch No. 120 of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies dated 22d July, i8C5, suggesting the pro- prioty of Honio more positive assurance being given by the Government of Canada to the Maritime Provinces on the subject of the Government of Canada, lo ensure the prompt completion of the Intercolonial Railway in the event of Confederation of all the British North American Provinces being accom- plished. The Committee can o«ilj reiterate the de^ claration of the Government and ParliamenI of Canada, that they regard the uonstructioA of the Intercolonial Railway aa a neceataiy accoiiq>animent and condition of C6nfede> ratioii, and that not a day will be nnneeea* sarily lost after the accomplishment of Coik federation in commencing the work and pro* secuting it to completion. Certified, W. A. Himsworth, Asit. C. E. C. So that, your honora, we have the reiteratei asBurancea of the British Government, which is prepared to guarantee the money that mat be required to construct the railroad, which may well remove any foara entertained bj hon. gentlemen, or by the country. There ia another reason that atrengtben* my belief in the sincerity of the pledge* given with regard to the railroad. At th* time the Resolutiuna were adopted by tb* Conference, it wss very evideat that tb* UniieJ States Govt, had determiiied upon th* repeal uf the Reciprocity Treaty, and there- fore Canada saw the neeeasity for securing some outlet for her trade through Britiah territory. And I assume that if we becoow confederated, the new Members returned !• the General Parliament will be aniioua, i»> dependent of the pledge to the Imperial Goveri mant, to further to completion lb* great work. Every motive that can operate on men, whether it be the patriotic desire !• promote the interests of the Province, to fo»> ter snd afford facilities for ita trsde, as well m (he spirit of selfishness or self-interest, mnal influence the minds of Csnsdian legislstore m favor of this road. Then again, in a deapateh from Mr. Cardwell to Lord Monck, und«r date of June 27, 1865, thst gentleman aajN^ referring to correspondence held betweea certain Canadian Minik.era and Membera of Her Majesty's GovernuienI: "The Canadian ministers, in conclusion, ssid that they hoped it would be understood that the present conf municstiona did not in any way affeo: or alter the correspondence which had sireaily passed between the Imperial Govt, and tM GoTernments of the British North America* Provinces on the subject of the Inlerooloniel ksilway. To this we entirely agreed. Wh* were the British miiiiaters who thaa agreed to the propoeiiion ? The Duke of SemeraJl, (he Earl De Grey, Mr. Oladatone, tnd Bfr. Cardwell. So, your honora, I think we have all the guarantees we csn reasonably;expeel| 16 bat if that is the only difficulty T*liich stands in tlie way of Confederation, it will be very easy to have the railroad provided for in such a way as to remove all possible danger of failqre in its accomplishment. The laat general obisction to Confederation I shall notice is, that large additional burdens are to be incurred in opening up the North West territory. Now, that is not by any means a necessity of Confederation, and must depend entirely upon future legislation, and upon the state of the finances of the General Government ; and there need be no fears en- tertained that any move will be made in that direction until it is shewn to be judicious and desirable ; because while the lower Colonies may be averse to it. Lower Canada will not be desirous of adding any more Colonies to the western part of the Confederacy, unless there be a strong necessity fur it, as, having now one third of the populAtion of the propo- sed Confederacy, her poliny will not be un- necessarily to favor ih'^ enlargement of the Western population. But if it should be found desirable, t)i(< inntter will be taken up and decided on its moriis. Having noticed the objections not financial, I will now proceed to consider those nf a financial character. -^fi The debt with which Canada enters the Union, is $63,500,000; New Brunswick, (7,000.000 ; Nova Scotia, $8,000,000 ; and Prince Edward Island, $2,500,000; or o total of $80,000,000, excluaive of the debts of Newfoundland. It has been remarked, that by Union we would be going into partnership with a country heavily in debt ; in fact, there are those who say and pretend to believe, that Canada is bsnkrupt. Canada is heavily in debt, but it is in consequence of and invested in her public works. "Figures of arithmetic" it is said, "don't lie;" and by figures we learn, that if New Bnmawick cornea into Union with a debt of $7,000,000, Canada with ten times the population, would be juati fied to enter with a debt of $70,000,00C, or seven and one half millions more than she is allowed, which is all in favor of the partner- ship. But the objections lie still deeper. How, let us see, was the debt of Canada con- tracted ? And in considering this point, i* should be borne in mind that there arc two classes of debts. There are the debis of the spendthrift, heedlessly incurred for no good purpose, and tending to produce no good re- sults; and there are the debts of the prudent, thinking man, incurred in the improvement of his property, reproductive in their charac- ter, calculated at once to benefit himself and benefit others. I think we shsll find the pub- lic debt of Canada in eharacier like the last one I have mentioned, and that it is not so much a debt as an investment devoted to public purposes, snd promoting the public good. A considerable portion of the debt of Canada is invested in the Grand Trunk and Great Western Railroads, amounting in De- benture Account and loan to $30,000,000. or nearly one half of her who!* debt brought into Confederation ; and on her s:ock in the Great Western, the Province is now receiving interest, while the Grand Trunk must ere long prove a remunerative work. I wish that our debt stood on the same baais, and our rail- roads had been built aa have those of Canada, whej-e 3-4ths of the cost of conslruction^wos foreign capital; and she has now some 1,900 miles of railroad, a permanent work for them- selves snd posterity, to be shared with us when we join in union, and toward which the Province has only contributed one fourth of the expenditure; so that even if the railroads did not pay, they are of immense indirect benefit, a>id have been built by the contribu- tions of the capitalists of Great Britain. Next among the assets of Canada on which her debt is baaed, are the Canals, in which — the St. Lawrence, Welland, and Chamblay Canals, ahe has $15,000,000; making $45,- 000,000 in those two items, thus accounting for most of the debt. But she owns three large steamers, valued at $400,000 ; has important works in Montreal Harbor, costing $500,000; making a total of nearly $46,- 000,000. Now what do we find as to the receipts from those investments i We find that Canada at this day is receiving one and a quarter per cent, on her proposed debt of $G2,.'>00,000 drawn from her puhlic debt in railroads and canals. On the other hand. Now Brunswick is receiving, not on the $7,000,000 debt but on her present rsilwsy debt, but three- fourths of one per cent., and in a very short time our railway will require renewing, so that then those profits will be abHorbed. A large portion of our proposed debt of $7,000,000, is to provide for works, under what is known as the Lobster Railroad Act, the monev for which, once paid from the Treasury, will be gone from the control of the government, ana from which ihp Province need look for no return apart from general petty of hoi tiou, Weat Intiirt AfMr ailver tiou tl the w the Oener raoRt beoefl thequ totbi '»«W', n benefits ; but Canada will gel her money back because it ia in Slock Trom which, ae I have shewn, she already receives $937,500, beside a (Treat deal more from other Public Works. It will thus be seen that there is a vast differ- ence in the character of the debts of this Pro- vince and Canada, and thai New Brunswick hasa lari^erdeblin the same raliothan Canada. Again, Canada ban contracted her debt in the erection ot magnificent Public BuiWIinfrs of a permanent character, and that will answer thair present purpooe for all lime tu come. There are iho magnificent Parliament Build- ings at Ottawa, Custom liouses. Banks, Post Offices — all public property — ail paid for, and which will be broueht into and become the property of the Confedernte Provinces. In New Brunswick we pay rem for onr Public Buildings, such as Post Offices and Custom Houses, and the public are but poorly accom- modtled lat that; and in Union, it will be found desirable to erect Buildines for those purposes. Id Canada, too, the Government has Barracks under its control. I have shown then,yonr honors, that the debts of this Province and Canada do not compare either in amount or in paying qualities, and with the facts I have advanced, I do not see bow any candid man can sliow that in the proposed part- nership we would not have the decided advantage. Perhaps I am told that there will be a new and expensive General Government and Parliament to provide for out of the resources of the whole Confederation! Who forms that Parliament? our own Bepresentatives. Who controls that Parliament? The several constitnencics of the Union. I wonder, when onr American neiRlihors framed their great Confederation, whether any saae men ever troubled themselves about the ex- pense of erecting public buildings at Washington, or the expense of sending men of their choice there to look after the general interests. No, thev did not follow a *' penny wise and ponml foolish" policy, and remain content with mere local legis- latures, which hod thev done, they would nut have made the rapid stride that Republic has, or stood in the position it now does. It h because the United States burst the confined spheres of petty lln-Itcd 8tates, broke down the restrictions of iiosti .c tu'ilfs, and became a great Confcdcra- tiou, ly th a k«.>ucral GoveVnnicnt to regulate all great •»ational affhirs, leaving to the local Lcgis- latnreg, alonr.the province of nmnaging local affairs, that she has been enabled to weather, the adverse storms of the pitst, surmount the ditHoul- ties that have l)esct her course, and stand to-day the wor Icr of the world. It never entered into the heads of her statesmen or people what the General (Jovernmont would cost ; their first and most anxious emiuii'v was as to the national benetit, andso it should be here ; and so regarding the question, the objection I have referred to falls to the ground. 3 Now, before proceeding to show what the ar- rangement is to cost us, let the enquiry be made, how much will the union save i In the salary of the Lieut. Governor, who now receives under Imperial gnarantee £3,500, we should save, I should suppose, one half, as 1 presiime the gen- tleman appointed will not find it necessary to occupy so large a building as Government House, or keep .ip an establishment such as is usual, under existing circumstances, so that £1,750 will be ample. That amount then will be saved in each of the Colonies, and will go a long way l.>wards paying the salary of the head of the General Go mment. In the expenses of the local Legis- latures £5,000 each may be save1 ; they now cost some £10,000, and one half of that amount will be found snfHcient, for when in session the time will be devoted to business, and will not be taken up discussing want of confidence motions and great national questions, but will be devoted to the subdivision and appropriation of our ample local funds, for Education, PuJ)lic Works,— in- cluding Great and Bye Roads, Bridges, &c.— end for the passage of such local acts as come within the range of their exclusive local authority, by the terms of Confederation. So with regard to the Executive Conncils ; I am inclined to think they will not require so many members holding important offices at £600ayear. The office of Postmaster General will be atonce abolished, and I presume other public offices might be, without detriment. This I will say with regard to my lion. tViend, the Postmaster General, that I could hope that when the change is effected, he might occupy a similar position in relation to tho General Government. At all events, I presume the number of Execu- tive Councillors would be diminished to some four or five, and that tho Executive expenses, which I am sorry to find ore increasing year by year, will be very greatly reduced. I suggested a few years >'incc a financial scheme by which the Government might have saved large sums yearly, but I am soiTy to find that although my views were cordially rceeivod by this House, and some of them adopted, the Government has not seen fit to act upon the advice. Next, a very Icrgc saving may be cflTccted in the Audit Ofllcc, and by the abolition of Custom Houses between the Provinces. The public Printing will bo re- duced I this item of expense in New Brunswick is pertcctly frightful, ami larger In proportion than for tlic same service in any other country 1 know of. A considerable iteni will be saved in delegations, which have become a part of our system, lot it iSeems to he iiiidcrstuod now, that we must send nuc either to England or the sistev Colonies at least twice a-rear. I am not liiiding fault, and know that they arc very pleasant sometimes, and I have hacf my share of them ; but under Confedeiation they will not l>o neces- sary as tt local charge, and the saving will be a large item in the general fund toward tho cxpens- cs of the Oencrni Government. Another and an iinportant Item to consider, is the increased value to our public lands which the Intercolonial lUil- road will impart tu tlicui, that will nearly nuike up our proportion of the support of the General OoTcmmcnt. < . -. ' i I ! 18 it' I presume It will not be doubted, that when nnited, our credit will be better and the value of oar public debt greatly increased above what it can M in our ftagmentaiy and isolated 8tat«, when the nnoertaintv that ^unounds our fhture, and the very possibility that our resistance to the wishes of the British Oovemment for union, may tend to bring about annexation, must have a de- pifising effect upon onr secnrities. ^yi'he next financial difficnltr to many per- sons is the 80 cts. per bead Resciution, and I have been surprised at the variety of opin- ions entertained on this point. One person looks upon it as an annual grant, which may be withdrawn at any moment. Not so ! But it is a part of the Constitution ; will be em- bodied in the Imperial Act as a permanent grant — a grant forever — and has so been treated in Canada. Another class of ob- jectors complain that, no matter how the population of the Provinces increases, we wiU only receive $204,000 a year. That is the amouat of our 80 cts. per capita,* and is payable half yearly in advance, tor our own local purposes. In Canada, the objection to this feature of the scheme is, that the pop- ulation of tLa Lower Colonies does not in- crease so fast as theirs, and that bye and bye when Canada gets but 40 cents per head. New BrunswicK will receive 60 cents; so that in the opinion of Canada, in^ ead of its being properly an objectionable feature for New Brunswick, it is altogether favoaable to her ; and so it is ! Something has alreauv been said with re- gard to the cr.nals, whicn are now more than paying working expenses. In the future it may or may not be the pelicy to reduce the tolls, and thus attract a larger amount of traffic, or it may be thought better policy to keep the tolls at the present rates, and thus make them more reproductive. But some persons profess to find serious cause for fin- ancial alarm in the alledged necessity for deepening the canals. If that is done,_ it will be by men representing and studying the interests of the whole union ; or on some general public policy that will justify the ex- penditure. If^ the Recijprocity Treaty be not renewed, so great will be the increase of trade seeking transit over the canals, that it may be the poUcv of the General Govern- ment to deepen them, 'but at all events, it will have to be the result of legislation, first bad. Another objection, and one that has al- most frightened a good many people out of their propriety is, that in case or danger. our young men will be marched off to Can- ada to protect her borders, as if Canada had the whole control of us, and as if we, a little Province of 250,000 inhabitants, would be called upon to defend Canada, with her two and a half millions. Surely no one, except for the mere purpose of mckins objections, will sagely presume that it would be the pol- icy of Canada, much less of the General Go- vernment, to draft the able bodied men of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and send them up to protect Canada, leaving the low- er Provinces a resistless prey to any invad- er. But one of the most odious features of the whole scheme to those who call them- selves Anti's is, that it seems to anticipate, to some extent, a military and naval system of self defence. Well, what have we done this Session, in acceding to the request of the Government, which immediately repre- sents the Anti-Confederates of the Province ? We first placed all our revenues under their control for military purposes, and then au- thorized the formation of a navy — though only of four ships — and thus, before Confed- eration, adopted a principle which we have so frequently been taunted with, as a pro- posed outrage under Confederation. It does occur to me, that if we intend to support land and sea forces, we had better wait for union, as, certainly, we will be in a better position to provide for the requirements of those services than now. , The arguments against Confederation, basause it would in- duce an armr and navy, have answered them- selves. It has been urged as an objection, that it is proposed to purchase the mines and minerals of Newfoundland. That Colonv pays more into the general revenue, accord- ing to poDuIation, than any other Province, because sae imports nearly everything con- sumed ; but witn the bonus we give her, and the purchase of her Crown Lands and min- erals, we do not give her so mueh as she pays us back. But, say some, you give the power of tax- ation to the General Government. Well, but to whom is that power intrusted ? To men elected by ourselves to make our laws ; our own representatives, bonnd by every tie of interest, of patriotism, of self-respect, to do justly ; but a great many people think that giving the power of taxation to the General Gorernment is giving it to Canada, because it is proposed tut the General Par> liament will meet there. No matter whether that Parliament meets at St. John, at Hali- # of tax- Well, ? To ur lavs ; every respect, e tkink to the Canada, iral Par- whetber at Hali- fax, or Qaebec, it would give the Province in which it assembles no more influence than the rest ; we will not give our money, or the power of raising or disposing of that money into the hands of Canada, but into those of the General Government — our own repre- jentatives. Then, it is said we ill sena all our revenues, collected at our Custom Houses and otherwise, to Canada. But, your honors, it is a great fallacy to suppose that we will pay the General Government more than we receive. We will retain every- thing we collect to pay the subsidies, and the General Government will have to pay us mnch more than they receive ; hut let us see what we will give the General Gauernment. The average of our revenues for the past five years is £190,000, to which, if you choose, add the Railway earnings, beihg about £10.000 per annum', makes £200,000, which is the amount we will give the Ge- neral Government, assuming they adopt our present tariff, which, I think, is alto- gether likely. Canada's tariff is essen- tially the same as ours, and that of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will have to be raised a little. There will be no par- ticular occasion to put on a much higher ta- riff, because, after going beyond a certain point, the tax cannot be collected, and smug- gling is the consequence ; and beside, peo- ple have no great desire to tax themselves for amusement, when it is not necessary. We give the General Government, then, $800,1)00 ; now, let us see what we get back. First, the interest on our debt of seven mil- lions is $420,000, or more than half the whole sum wc pay ; we will then be saved tlie necessity and trouble of obtaming Bills of Exchange, and making monthly remit- tances to England ; all that trouble will be taken off our bands. At this day, the inter- est on our debt is over £90,000. When I brought in my retrenchment scheme some years ago, the interest was £84,000. I showed then that it must increase, and since that time £C,000 per annum has been added to it. We hav^ already placed ' ' Western and Eastern Extension" under contract; the other branches, to St. Stephen, Wood- stock, Fredericton, are gomp on, or will be shortly, so that almost immediately our debt will have reached the 47,000,000: but if it does not, we get the interest on tlie amount less, back until suc'a time as the maximum is reached, so that it amounts to the same thing. A ereat portion of our Civil List will be paid by the General Government, including Judges^ and Lieut. Governor's salary to the amount of £7,250; for the protection of the Revenue, £10,250; Judicial expenses, £1,000 ; Post Office Department, deficiency which we now pay, £6,000 ; Geological Sur- vey, £500; Agriculturar Grant, £2,500; Steamboat inspections, £250 ; management of the Indians, £300; Emi^ratiop. £350; outside Fisheries, £500 ; Le^-slativ'. \pen8- es, £4,000 ; there is a nice little sam for un- forseen expenses, £1,500; Delcgatioiis — in omitting the necessity for that ne'v institu- tion, we will save at least £500 a year. When confederated, we will save the ex- pense for Militia, which, under the present order of things, will this year not cost less than $50,000^ ai.i, I fear, not less than $80,000; howe .r, we will call it $50,000; then the subsidy at 80 cents, $204,000 ; Cas- ual and Territorial Revenue, and Export Duty, $100,000, we will get that back, be- sides. the cost of collecting. When we have the Inter-Colonial Railroad completed, and ray hon. friend Mr. Todd is Surveyor Gen- eral, I have do doubt the public lands of the Province will yield a revenue of $200,000. The several amounts I hav<> named, which we save or receive, make a total of $909,600, or $109,600 which we receive from, in ex- cess of what we pay to, the General Govern- ment, and in addition to all this, there is the subsidy of $63,000 a 3'ear, for ten years. Now let us see, your honors, how New Brunswick will stand if she don't go into Confederation ; and I have prepared a bud- get, which is about what my honblc. friends of the Govt, will luve to adopt. There is the interest on our debt $360,000, which when we provide for the several railroads now in contemplation will amount to $462,- 000; besides the ordinary appropriations, in all amounting to $772,000 without in- cluding the extensions ; and where, I ask, is the road money to come from after that; there is none left for the purpose, and it can only be obtained bv increamd taxes. I may now be asked* whai my bud^t for local provincial receipts and expenditures, under the new system will he. I shall sho^ your honors ; and this budget, I hope, will apply to 1867, by which time confederation probablv will be consummated. I have made allowance for the same nnmbcr of Members in the Legislature as now. Some of your honors no doubt will have gone to so ! Ottawa, to take seats in the General Parlia- ment, a position to which from ray advan- ced age I cannot aspire, but others will fill your places here. EZPBNDITCRES IN UNION, N. B. CiTil List, say £4,000 Legislature 6,000 Judicial 2,000 Lunatic Assylum 4,000 Penitentiary 2,000 Public Health .. .. .. 1,000 Bear Bounties 1,000 Public Works 35,000 Schools 30,000 Contingencies 6,825 ,(!'■;:: £91,825 ' RKCHaPTs m Union N. B. Export duties and causual and territorial revenues returned, £25,000 Subsidy of 80 cents per head on population by census of 1861 .. .. 51,000 Auction duties 7o Further subsidy for ten years of £63,000 per year .. .. 15,750 £91,825 I may remark that the export and casual revenue will be doubled as soon as the In- tercolonial Railroad is built. Now, your honors, this is no fictitious re- j presentation — no delusion — but plain state- ', ments of figures, which may be miscalcu- j lated but are substantially correct, and I am j quile willing to endorse them, and have them go to the country or criticism and in- vestigation; satisfied thrit they will show to any thinking man that, at all events, the scheme is not as it. hf:i been represented, disastrous, and I think it will pretty well satisfy most men who are willing to be satis- fied, that so far from being financially dis- astrous, it is financially advantageous. Such are my convictions ; such were my views when, four years ago, I raised my warning voice, and pointed out how the Pro- vince was rapidly progresiug, as it still pro- gresses, to a state, if not of financial bank- ruptcy, to one of great financial embarrass- ment, when we should be compelled to fore- go our ordinary appropriations for public works, and husband all our resources to meet our L'abilities abroad. Suppose we do not go into Union for two years, the interest on our debt will, includ- ing the money required for railway extens- ions now in progress, as I have already shown, have swelled up to £113,600, not including Barings', brokerage, and similar charges, which will, doubtless, bring the amount up to £115,000. Now, I want to know how that money is to be provided ; I want gentlemen who'comc after me, on the other side, to show distinctly, where the money, out of Confederation, is to come from, and how the results I have predicted can be avoided. It is time the people of this country knew and looked at the stem facts of the case ; became alive to the alarm- ing future before them, unless they embrace the one remedial alternative, and relieve themselves and the country of the embarass- ment, by entering Confederation. There are some persons who delude them- selves with the idea that the Inter-Colonial Rpilwajr will be built under the old arrange- ment with Canada. Now, suppose it was, what would be our proportion of the inter- est on our share of 3^ twellths ? It would be $176,000 per annum, a sum we never could pay out of union. With our present debt of £90,000, and our or- dinary appropriations provided for by law added thereto, I am Jnstifled in what I have said, that there will be but a small balance left this year for expenditure on Roads ; but in another year, if we remain out of union, we will have to odd to our expenditures the provisions for the several Railway extensions, Eastern and Western, with the branches named, which will swell the amount of the interest of our debt to £115,000, leaving the ordinary appropriations still to be provided for. But it will be said, that if we go into union, the Gteneral Government only provides for ^,000,000, which will not cancel our liabilities, and there- fore we will still be in debt. I reply, that a con- siderable poriton of that debt will have been pro- duced by the woric on Eastern extension, and that whatever we have advanced on that con- struction will be returned by the General Govt., as no doubt they will purchase the right to the whole Eastern extension, and include it in the Intcrcolouial Road ; so that in union we will be proctlcally free from debt , but out of union, ex- cept by the levying of a tariff so high as to be practically impossible to collect, burdensome and extravagant, I do not sec how it can be shown that we can surmount our financial difflcnities. I am surprised to learn that the Govt, have made some arrangements in England, for borrowing £25.000, of which £5,000 have already been drawn, additional to our present debt. I am astonished that the Government will persist in following this T. «1 the the ill be cx- tobe and lOWll ;ies. rOVt. and, ,000 our the thw downward road to financial ruin, when it has been frequently shewn that we cannot with any safety go beyond the existing debt. I say, these facts are alarming; we may be prepared to forego the ordinary appropri- ations, but how can the Legislature and the people sanction the extraordinary course of contracting additional loans, without legal authority. Again I call upon those who are satisfied with the present state of things ; who say we ^are well enough offj ai.d wish us to leave weil alotve, to show how we are to provide Tor our financial responsibilities, — ^how to preserve our credit unitnpeaohed. In a short time, the Province will have to pay £90,000, due under the loan contracted for Savings^ Bank Debentures, that will have to be paid in bulk, although when paid, of course it will reduce the pro rata of our yearly interest; a, portion of this amount falls due the present year, about £17,000. Can the Government, who ought to be pre- pared, show that they will be m a position to meet those claims. It is all very fine for gentlemen to say, let well enough alone, and the Government may suppose that the loan of £25,000 now efFected with Messrs. Baring, will tide them over pressing diffi- culties, but we know that on the day the interest becomes due in England, it must be paid. British capitalists will not under- stand any reasons urged for delay in these payments, and therefore it is that ample provision must be made beforehand, to meet the liabilities of the Province abroad, and I shall wait and watch very anxiously for the developments of hon. gentlemen in oppo- sition to Confederation, calculated to snow that we are in a position of safety, or that there is any prospect, out of Union, of out- riding the threatening storm. OKNBRAL OOVERNMKNT KXPENDITUKKS. ] It has been asked, how are the expenses of the General Government to bo provided for ? It is important first to know what those expenses will be. The first liability of the General Government will be the in- terest on Eighty millions of dollars, the united Provincial debts of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, $4,800,000 ; Subsidy, 80 cents per head, $2,633, .404; Civil List, $400,000; Parliamentary expenses, $400,000; Admi- nistration of Justice, $400,000; Customs and Excise, $400,000 ; Militia, $1,000,000 ; Public works, $600,000 ; Emigration, $200,- 000 ; Additional subsidy to Newfoundland, $160,000; Interest on debt of Newfound- land, $I48,0iX); or a total of Expendi- tures of $11,131,404. OENSRAL aOVBBNliUSNT A88BTS. -:.- Now let us see how it is proposed to pro- vide the means to meet the estimated Ex- penditures. The Tariff at three dollars and ten cents per head on the whole population, that being the average at present of the Tariff of New Brunswick gives $11,244,000 ; one and a quarter per cent on the debt of Canada, $781,250; three fourths of one per cent on the Railway debt of New Brunswick, $37,500; making a total of assets — not in- cluding the profits of the Nova Scotia Kail- ways, or the Crown Lands and Mines of Newfoundland— amounting to $12,062,750. Your honors will observe, that I have put down the Parliamentary expenses at $400,- 000, and that, I think, will be sufficient, re- membering that the time of that Parliament will not be frittered away over discussions on trivial local matters, but will be devoted to great national interests With regard to the tarlit', I think my mode of putting It is palpably correct ; the amount per capita being that paid by this Province on an average for the past two or three years ; and it has not been found burden- some or restrictive, so that no one can com- plain on the score of the amount ; and then, your honors, who pays this. Not the poor laborers or peasants of the country, to any great extent, but those who buy silks, satins, and British imported goods, generally; those who enjoy the luxuries of life. And it is worthy of consideration, that our revenues amounted to $3 10 per head, when the trade of the Province was sluggish, and as a con- sequence the revenues were comparatively low ; but how much more may not be pro- duced from the same tariff, when in union every branch of business will have received a new stimulus ; when our railroads and other public works will be going on vigo- rously ; when emigration will be flowing in to settle our wild lands, and to work upon the railroads, then, as your honors will per- ceive, the $3.10 per head will produce a very much larger sum than with our present population, and the present position of our trade. In Confederation, I confidently think there will be an annual increase of population of 115,000, being at the rate of 3 1-2 per cent} tlmt at $3.10 will give an 1 '. S2 I ' I in additional $400,000 a year, revenue. The second year it will be $800,000, and the •tliird year. $1,200,000; so that long before the Intercolonial railroad is built, toe Gen- >«ral Govt, will have a surplus of funds to pay the interest, which amounts at five per cent, to $560,000 per annum. And all ^'is will have been accomplished without any tnccesssary increase in tne ordinary expend- riture, either local or general. I have refer- :e to hear of the arrival upon our shores of British troops, as it is an assurance that the policy of the Bright party, once threatening, but now grown "small by decrees and beautiiPully less,** does not prevail in the Councils of Britain. We are giad to know of tha feeling in Eng- land, that her pride in her Colonies and for her Colonies has been re-awakened, as with the suggestion of Confederation a new and brighter page opened up before them, ^rd that she nas now given us the promise tliat, if united among ourselves, her prestige, her power, her wealth, shall all be exerted to maintain that union inviolate. And will our Government now alone stand in the way ; how if they do, can they expect to tide over the exigency ? V/ill they say the country has not changed its opinion, while they pal- pably admit the fact, oy not filling up a sin- gle public vacancy, and dare not open a constituency in the whole Province ? If, as stated, the people are against Confederation, they might test it, and ou^ht to, rather than keep some of the public Offices vacant, and some, as that of the Postmaster General, only filled temporarily. But vour honors, they knew as we know, that the feeling is constantly growing in favor of union in this Province. In Newfoundland the feelii.g is improving in the s&me direction, as we know from the fact that a Resolution against the Erinciple was recently negatived in the legislature of that Colony. The intelligence I i ', I 1 24 has recently flashed over the lines from 11 fax, that two of the leading minds of tiic Anti-Confederate party have given in their adhesion to the scheme. I cannot imagine what the Government expect to do. The attempts made by some of my hon. friends to get information have b«en time and again bafjied, but I hope that when the want of confidonce debnte down stairs has concluded, the Government will let us knov/ what their policy is, and what they expect. Can they hope to be able to change the opinion of the statesmen of Eng- land, or are they influenced by a feeling of pride against acknowledging themselves wrong? The position ;.r'-imed by England gives them an excuse if they desire it ? I was myself one of the delegates who was most slow to come into the scheme. I confess, your honors, that my conservative Itredilections, strengthened by the recol- ections of the niaiiy event*) and scenes I have participated in and witnessed during the last forty years, in the Government anu Legislature of the Province, all tend .,0 pre- TOPt me giving in a sudden adhesion to this grcit change ; but the long array of argu- ments and reasons brought out by the cRs- ttissior and consideration of the subject, whether viewed politically, commercially, or financially in reference to the interests of the Province ; and above all, its absolute necessity in order to preserve and perpetu- ate our connection with the Mother country, and to secure the power and resources of the Empire for our protection in the hour of need, have convinced me that the union of the british North Amcvicnn Coloincs on the principle of the Quebec Scheme, is for the test interest of the people of oil the Colo- nies, and of New Brunswick in particular. I have ro other motive for my support of this measure. I pass by as unworthy of notice, the miser- able and uncharitable impatativns which a portion of the press has attributed to our delegates at the Quebec Conference. As for myself, your honors know that office has had no charms for me for many years pasi. ; and now that I am on the threshold of three- score years and ten, you can readily under- stand why the attractions of office have still less effect on me. I therefore support the Resolution, be- cause I have the solemn conviction, that it is, in the words of our Address, "consistent with the interests of this Province." GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH CONFEDERATION. NKW BRUNSWICK OUT OF UNION, 1866. Estimated Expenditures. Interest on public debt. Collection and Protection of Revenue. Expenses of the Legislature, . . Judicial Expenses Civil List, Lunatic Asylum, Penitentiaiy, Agriculture, FiHheries, Public Health Post Offlt'c Deficiency Pensions, Bear Bounties, Indians, Steamboat Inspection Rmigration Expenses, Geological SuiTCf , ■ Steamijoat Subsidy, ■ Unforseen Expenses Militia, Schools, as provided lor by Law, Dclegacion, Balance, Estimated Revenues. 6360,600 41,000 40,000 13,000 £8,000 16,000 8,0ri0 10, A 2,000 4,000 24,000 400 4,000 1,200 1,000 1,400 2,000 8,000 6,000 rio.ooo 120,000 2,000 28,400 4^800,000 Arising from Customs, Railway re- ceipts, Export Duty, Casual and Terri- torial Reveuucs, and Railway earnings, taking the average of the last fivo years, in round numlKrs, $800,000 • 41,000 40,000 U.OOO C8.000 16,000 8,000 10> A 2,000 4,000 24,000 400 4,000 1,200 1,000 1,400 2,000 8.000 6,000 fiO.OOO 120,000 2,000 28,400 ■^800,000 O D SI ;s 4& ■-. *' Tolhe Queen'' s Most Excelltnt Majesty. " Most Gracious Sovbrbion, — " We, Your Majesty's faithful and loyal Subjects, the Learislative Council of New Brunswick, in Provincial Parliament as- sembled, humbly approaoh You' Majesty with the conviction thata Unioii of Your Majesty's British North American Colonies, based on the Resolutions adopted ai the Conference of Delegates from the several Colonics i.<^ld at Quebec on the tenth day of October 18(>4, is an mject highly to be desired, essential to there future prosperity and influence, and calculated alike to strengthen and perpetuate the ties which bind them to Your Gracious Msjesty's Throne and Government, and humbly pray that Your Majesty may bo graciously pleased to cause a measure to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament tor the purpose of thus uniting the Colonies of Ca- nada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, New- foundland, and Prince Edward's Island, in one Government." The Council i. reply wouiu respectfully remark that in their opinion it was incum- bent upon Your Excellency to consult Your Constitutional Advisers in regurd to the An- swer so given, and in assuming to yourself the right to reply to surh Address without consulting them, Your Excellency has not acted in accordance with the (rue spirit of the Constitution, In this connection the Council would bag to refer lo the statement appended hereto, giving an account of two interviews between Your Excellency anil the Attorney Goneral. The Reply is given by Your Excellency to th)! Legislntivo Council is a distinct and em- phatic approval of their procei'dings, the re- NpiinKibility of which ymir mlviHors are un- willing to BHsiiinu lor iii'j lollinving rcixons : Int. That in any mea»;;re involving an or- ganic change in the Constitution and politi- «7 cal riffbU aod privileges of the people they shi/ulo be coniulted, and unlesn approved of by them, no 8uch measure should be adopted or forced upon them. 2nd. That in March last, a dissolution took place professedly with a view to ascertain the sense of the people upon the Quebec Scheme,^ and they pronounced unmistakeabiy against its adoption by lafge majorities. 3rd. That the Representatives of the Peo- ple at the last Session of the Legisiaiure passed Resrtulions condsmnatory of such Scheoie, by a majority of 29 to 10. 4th. Ti at the Legislative Council are not elected by tne people, and are not constitu- tionally responsible to them for their Legis- lative conduct, and have no rightful outhoriit' lo pray Her Mnjesty to give effect, by Impe- rial Legislation, to any measure which the People have rejected. 5th. That such proceeding violates every principle of responsibility and self-govern- ment, and IS iiubveraive of the rights and liberties of the people, and seebs to take from them their Constitution, not only with- out their consent but against their clearly expressed withes. 6th. That such a course is calculated to bring the Legislative Council and lloute of Assembly into collision, and disturb that harmony that should subsist between lliem, and manifests an entire disregard of the power and nftjeaty of the People. That the Legislative Council have a legiti- mate right to express their opinion upon any tublic question the Council do not deny ; ot to invoke the aid of the British Govern- ment to coerce the people into Confederation, is a proceeding in the opinion of this Coun- cil wiihout parallel and wholly unwurraniablo. The Couucil would further remark, that they have good cau»o to believe Your Kxcel- lency has, ever since the opening uf the Le- gislature, consulted and advised with gentle- men of the opposition, and mode known to them matters which they think should be regarded ae confidential. This they feel Your Kxcellency has coniinuod to do, noi- withstaiidiiig the repealed oiijnctions of one or more Members of the Cuuncil who luld Your Excellency that it was not riKht, and that it gave the upposilioii a decided ndvan- tago ill the Debate then |)ondiiig ; and your Excellercy liaving taken the ndviup, as they truly believe, of a Gunileinsn of the Oppo- sition, Bs to the answer given to the I.f these papers was strike out the last paragraph of the answer ' made to the Provincial Parliament in the which I considered very objectionable. Ho | avowed hope that the question might be then asked me to excuse him, and left the aeain considered and more favorably rcceiv- room to consult, ss 1 thought at the time, I ed there. tnd from information received since, I am \ The Address in answer to His Excellency's confirmed in that opinion, a gentleman of the Speech at the opening of ihe Session, even opposition and a member uf the Legislative my disapproval of it, and complained that he had not advised with his Council before pre- pairing it ; that ae they were responsible for it, they should at least be conittlted before it was given. He remarked, that if they did not approve of it they could relieve them- selves of responsibility. I replied, even if that were true, was it norteous and fair that the Council should be treated in thkt way ; that what they asked from His Excellency was fair play, not as a favor, but as a matter of right ? He then proposed that I should drive down to the House of Assembly and see my colleagues, and return in half an hour, and he would keep the Legislative Council (who in the the meantime had arrived at Govern- ment House) waiting until I returned. 1 said I could not do this, that the Debate on the Vote of Want of Conlidencn was going on, and they could not leave the House, and besides, they could not possibly consider so ioiportsni a question in a few minutes. His Excellency then proposed to send one of the carriages that were standing at the door for them. I then stated they could not leave the House. He replied, "I suppose not." I farther stated that it was unfair and ungen- erous, and not such treatment as the Council has a right to expect, to be called upon in this sudden and extraordinary way in a matter so important. I expressed my con- demnation of the course adopted by the Le- gislative Council, and urcred the impropriety of their praying Her Majesty the Queen to cause a law of the Imperial Parliament to be passed, giving effect to a scheme of Union which both the People and House of Assem- bly hnd rejected by overwheliniug majorities, and that I never would consent to anv Ad- dress which authorized the Imperial Pnrlia- raent to pass an Act for Union without refer- ence to the people. I thought His Excel Council, who WBH in the house at the time He returned in a few minutes, and after some conversation similar to thnt already de- tailed, told me that he would deliver the ans- wer a., it was, and send me a copy in the evening. I remonstrated against such con- duct, but concluded by^saying that if he had MS originally proposed, conveyed an assur- ance that those paperH should receive u care- ful and respectful attention from the Legis- lative (Council. But the chief documents which the mem- bers of that body thus pledged themselves to consider, were tho Kpsolutions adopted at Quebec, the approval of that scheme by Her so Majesty, and Ihe expressed liope on the part of Her Majesty's Government, that its provi- sions might be tavorably reconsidered in New Brunswick. On the q>iP8tions then thus snbmitted to them by Her Majesty's commnnd. the Legisln- tivo Council was bound to form and to ex- preas an opmion. In so doing they have in- timated their approval of a Union of the British North American Colonies, and indi- cated the basis on which it might in ttieir opinion be accomplished. It is neithei constitutional nor reasonable to maintain that the Legislative Council is in- competent to act with reference to a scheme thus submitted to them, until afker its previ- ous approval by the House of Assembly, nor can it be imagined that the Legislative Coun- cil alone is debarred from that right of ap- peal to Her Majesty which ib accorded to all her auhjects without distinction. The Council niso take exception to His Excellency's having delivered this reply with- out previously communicating to them the terms in which it was couched. Vithout enquiring how far their Ministerial responsiliility, from which it is always in their power to escape, requires that thcCounclI should possess a previous knowledge of all the Lieuten- ant Governor's words and actions, His Kxc^llen- cv must observe that the non-communication to the Council, of the Rep!/ in question, was the result not of design hut of Rccl"t tend to hasten the acronipllshmcut of this great measure." This liy no means conveys an ap- proval of the particular scheme to tlio provisions of which liis Council strongly olyect, although it does express a hope that an Union of the British American Provinces might shortly lie aecom- plitiheil. But from previous communications with the leader of the Onverument, His Excel- lency was f\illy entitled to assume that this hope was shared by iiis Council. On the 8th of January His Kxcellency re- ceivad Iroin the Honorable ** '). Wilmot n lettor tendering the reaignttiuii of his seat in thn Kxeoiitive Council, and asaigning ns his chief reason for 80 doing, the indisposi- tion of his colleagues to entertain proposi - tions for a closer union of the British North American Provinces. To that resignation His Excellency dechned to reply until after the return of the President of the Council from Washington, which took place on the 14th February. I On the tollowing day His Excellency bad I several communications with that gentleman, ' in (he course of which His Excellency ob- I served that the resignation of Mr. Wilmot, I and the fact that the Legislature had now been summoned for despatch of business, rendered it necessary that a distinct under- standing on the subject of union should be arrived at between himself and his advisera. His Excellency stated that it would be hia duty, in accordance with his instructions, to submit the question again to the Legislature on Its assembly, and to express the convic- tion of Her Majesty's Government with re- spect to the benefits likely to attend the measure. That if Mr. Wilmot were mistaken in supposing that the (rovernment were hostile to all measures of Union, and Mr. Smith and his Colleagues were prepared to consent to the introduction icio the Speech at the open- ing of the Session, of the recommendation of Her Majesty's Grovernment, conveyed m Mr. Cardwell's Despatch of the 34th June 1865, it would have been Hia Excellency's duty to accept the prnferred resignation of Mr. Wil mot ; but if, on the contrary, the statement made by him in this connection were correct, it would be a matter for grave consideration whether His Excellency would not be bound to enquire whether Mr. Wilmot was prepared to undertake the responsibility of^ recom- mending to tho people the adoption of a I measure which was, in the opinion of Her j Majesty's Government, calculated to confer I benefit on Her Majesty's subjects in this I Province, and the accomplishment of which . His Excellency was directed by every means ' I in his power to promote. The Lieutenant Governor also endeavored, to the best of his ability, to point out to Mr. Smith the advantsfjfes of a real and effective Union of the British American Provinces, and the urgent necessity under existing cir- cumstances for cflPecting such a measure. His Excellency stated his confident belief, that if after being accepted as a basis, it were found that tbe details of the Scheme agreed to at Quebec were open to just and 80 1 ! ■erioua objections oa the psrt of the Mari- time Froyinces, the representation of the Le- giiia,ture» to that effect wonid be certain to reptdve a respectful attention from Her Ma- jesty's (Government, and fioia tlHit of Canada. His Excellency concluded by handing to Mr. Smith the following Memorandum : — " Confidential Memorandum. " The Lieutenant Governor has been in- structed by a Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, bearing date June 24lh 1865, to express to the Legislature of New Brunswick, on the next re-assembling, " the strong and deliberate opinion of Her " Majesty's Government, that it is an obj<;ot " much to be desired that all the British " North American Colonies should agree to '* unite in one Goverament;" The Lieutenant Governor has now fixed the 8th proximo as the day ypon which the General Assembly is to meet for despatch of business, and before that period it is highly desirable that he should be informed whether his Advisers are prepared to recommend the Legislature to give effects to the opinion thus expressed by Her Majesty's Government. (Sigaed) A. GtOrdon." Frtderieton, Feburary, 1866. This Memorandum, in compliance with Mr. Smith's urgent request, was not formally transmitted to the Council, and it was care- fully read by him. and itn substance commu- nicated to bis CoUesgues, Mr. Smith must have perceived, although His Exccllencv abstained from any expres- firession calculated to wound the susoeptibl- ity of His Council, that had the question proposed by that Memorandum received a negative response, His Excellency was pre- pared to declipe to accede to the recommen- dation that Mr. Wtlmot's resignation should be accepted, (ind to entrust to that Gentle- man the responsibility of attempting to carry into effect the policy on account ot his adherence to which he doaired to quit the Government which, in oonjunotioa with Mr. Smith, he had undertaken to form. After several coromunioationB with the otbe" ambers of the Council. Mr. Smith ulti ly iuforroed His Exoellenoy that wh> lid caase ainate in ■ in which ' m that so . made in n of the lOfured. •< ild not of d a Coin- in making medation, itly cawy- the next .lObUeticy irnment of Her Ma* ishment of iw out the similar in Canadian Lalion that Quebee and alam IS and the that Her ireparation ke desired objeotions on their hncial lie- dering the il adoption, understood >res«ion to It so stated id read by equently to I based on these notes, addressed by His Excellency to the Secretary ot State for the Colonies. Mr. Smith has lately, however, assured His Excellency that he only meant that such an Address mitfht " grow out of the Com- miitee," end did not intend to pledge him- self in the first instance to propose it. A controversy with respect to tlie words •sod in conversation, and the meaning in- tended to be conveyed by them, is seldom capable ot salufaclory aelilement, and it is not His Excellency's intention to discuss the greater accuracy of Mr. Smith's memory, or his own. It is sufficient to remark that, whatever the precise nature of the course agreed to on the 17lh Feburary (for the discussion lasted three days,) was, it was one to which it was felt that it would be more difficult to recon- concile' ttie friends and supporters of the (to- vernment, than its actual members, and Mr. Smith at once lelt Fredericton in order to prepare hiH principal adherents for the altered nolicy he proposed to pursue, asking His Excellency to observe the strickest secrecy on the subject unill liis return to re- port either the acquiescence of his friends, or the failure of his efforts. Mr. Smith on his return informed His Ex- cellency, on the third of March, that his party generally were willing to assent to the coarse which he had consented to pursue. It ras accordingly agreed to insert in the Speech on the opening of the aession, the recom- mendation ot Confederation made by Her Majesty's Gcverninent, and as early as possi- ble to move the appointment of such a joint Committee of btrth Houses of the Legislature as would ensure the adoption of a Scheme of Union, whilst the objeotions to the Quebec Scheme were to be carefully weighed and exsmined at the Hame time by the Com- mittee< What the precitiu alterations in that Scheme were which would have satisfied Mr. Smith, His Excellency was never able ex- actly to learn ; but he found that represen- tation according to population, to whick|he entertained a strong objection, would not be regarded by him ait an insuperable obgtaole to union, should a larger share of reprt!8untation be secured to New Bruns- wick in the Upper Rrach of the pix)po8ed Federal lveKiNlatur«. Ilia Kxcelluncy, considering that the speedy accomplishment of a measure of union was now a matter of almost absolute certainty. addressed to Mr. Smith, ou 7th March, a letter of which the following is an extract :^ ■> * ' I have been much gratified, though not '* surprised, to find that you are disposed to " approach the question of union, as it now " presents itself; in a large and statesman- "like spirit, and to realizes as facts the " necessities which are imposed hy the actual " condition of affairs. There is nothing " which more dii. anguishes a statesman from " a man incompetent to deal with great " affairs, than this power of appreciating " the changes, the mode, andlhe obligation, " (ofl;en a most irksqmie one,) of acquiesing " in a course which, per ae, he considered " open to objection, in' order to prevent " evils of yet greater magnitude. ... - . " xou have it in your power to ren- der the Provinoe the inestimable aer- Tioe of depriving it« aooessioa to the prinoipjie of that character of a party tritunph which it must otherwise wear, and of those feelings of bitterness which sucu a triumph would engender." Mr. Smith did not contradict the asBumptioa on which 'iita letter waa founded, and verbally acknowledged the terms in which His Ezcellenoy therein spoke of his conduct. Having thus, therefore, as he presam> ed, ascertained that his Council were not indisposed in their own way, and at their own time, to recommend to the Legisla- turo the adoption of an union poHoy, His Excellency folt that much forbearance was required, in order that this change of course might be accomplished in the manner whioa the Council might think least injurieus to themselves, and most oalenlated to ensure the ultimate success of the measure ; and with this view ho sought to secure the co-operation of some of the leading friends of Confederation ordinarily hostile to the Government, p , In doing so it was His Ezoellency^ earnest desire to strengthen the hands of his administration in the condnot of a difficult enterprise, believing it to be of the highest importance that this measure should not bo carried as a mere partv tri- umph, b«t as the uxprossiw of ^ qiUoimI I'll It ^"''il^ ' 32 ir wish ; nor did he aoppose that the course he then took conid be misunderstood by those in whose interests it was taken. It is true that Mr. Smith, and on one occasion one other member of the Go- vernment, remonstrated against this course, and Mr. Smith observed that it was unnecessary, as he felt that he could carry out his plan without any assistance from his political opponents, an assertion the correctness of wbich His Excellency at the time felt disposed to question, and which, even if aceurate, i^peared to him of doubtful policy, as it was desirable the union should be accomplished in vir- tue of as general an agreement as possi- ble among the leading men of o\ )ry poli- tical section in the community ; and His Excellency more than once suggested that the principal advocates of Confeder- ation should be called upon to meet Mr. Smith and his colleagues, in order that a line of action mif ht be adopted by com- mon consent on a question of such gene- ral importance, and with regard to which, now that the Government had adopted the principle of union, it seemed difficult to believe that a common understanding might not be reached. Upon the distinct understanding there- fore that i^e Government would endeavor to procure the passage through the Legis- lature of Resolutions affirmative of the principle of union, and with toe impres- sion that an address praying Her Majesty to move the Imperial Parliament to give effect to such Resolutions was to be sub- sequently adopted. His Excellency felt justified in omitting, at the request of his Council, from his Speech at the opening 01 the Session, the strong recommenda- tion of union which ho would otherwise have felt it his duty to introduce, but the responsibility of whieh his Ministers felt they could not then assume. To what extent the other members of the Executive Council agreed with their President, His Excellency cannot say, as except on a few eccasions in Febru- ary, he had little communication with any of them on the subject : but His Excel- lency is convinced that when Mr. Smith returned to Fredericton on the 5th March, he imagined that he would be able to carry out the pledges he had given, and that he fully intended to do so. Since the eommencement of the session, however, the course of the Government has sho^n little indication of a movement in this direction. Z,, His Exoellency has never ceased to urge on Mr. Smith the expediency, and indeed necessity of a bold avowal of his intended policy ; nor has he failed to ex- press his apprehensions as to the oense- quences of delay in doing so, believing Uiat uutil that avowal was made, Mr. Smith would become daily more and more entangled in contradictory pledger, from which he would find it impossible to ex- tricate himself, and which might act most prejudicially on the prospects of the cause ; whilst at any time circumstances might call for such action on the part of His Excellency, as would place him in a position of apparent antagonism to his Council, and prove productive of very serious embarrassment. This course, however, the Government did not pursue, and it became more and more clearly apparent to His Excellency that they lacked the power — he will not suppose they lacked the will — to carry out their original intentions. Their hostility to the particular form of Union agreed to at Quebec, was distinct and emphatic, vrhilst their approval of even an abstract union of an indefinite character, became daily mere vague and uncertain. Declarations were publicly made that no proposition for an Union would be made during the present Session, and arguments were reported to be used by Members of the Government and their sipporters, which were not only against the Quebec Scheme, but equally directed against any plan, of whatever description, for a closer union with Canada. - - 33 On more than one occasion His Excel- lency noticed these facts to Mr. Smith, who replied that the reports received by His Excellency as to the language used were inaccurate ; and that it was desira- ble not to indicate too scon the line he meant to take, as it would give an advan- tage to his opponents, and might estrange some of his friends. In the desire to avoid giving cause of embarrassment to his G-ovcrnment, and at their request, His Excellency delayed for nineteen days the reception of the Ad- dress of the Legislative Council, in reply to the Speech from the Throne ; nor was it until it became evident to His Excel- lency that further delay in this respect would seriously imperil the harmony of the relations between himself and the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, that he fixed a day for its reception. Mr. Smith frequently expressed a hope that the Lieutenant Governor did not en- tertain any doubt as to the necessity of his intention in carrying out to the letter the underHtanding between them, as to the passage of Resolutions on the sub- tect of Union. At length the presentation of the Ad- dress to the Queen by the Legislative Council brought the question to a decided issue. Up to that time the Government had given no public sign of an intention to grapple with the question, or to substitute any amended scheme of Union for that adopted at Quebec, and the Lieutenant Governor in accordance with his instruct- ioui — as the Representative of the Queen, and as an oflBcer of the Imperial Govern- ment — could not but feel it his duty to express satisfaction at the avowed approv- al, by one branch of the Provincial Le- gislature, of a policy, the adoption of which had been recommended by him in his Sovereign's name, and by her command, at the commencement or the Session. If the Lieutenant Governor's Advisers cannot concur in these sentiments, and decline to become responsible for their utterance by His Excellency, it is no poubt their duty to tender, as they have done, the resignation of the Offices held by them. His Excellency accepts those resigna- tions with regret. His relations y/tith his Advisers during the past year have been harmonious and cordial ; for manj among their number he entertains strong feelings of personal esteem ; nor can he forget to acknowledge the attention which his views have generally received at their hands, or the readiness with which hi? wishes have on most occasions been met by them. But he has no doubt as to the course which it is his duty to pursue in obedience to his Sovereign's commands, and in the interests of the people of British America. His E. cellency may be in error; but he believes that vast change has already taken place in the opinions held on this subject in New Brunswick. He fully anticipates that the House of Assembly will yet return a response to the commu- nication made to them not less favorable to the principle of Union than that given by the Upper House ; and in any event, he relies with confidence on the desire of a great majority of the people of the Pro- vince to aid in building up a powerful and prosperous Nation, under the sovereignty of the British Crown. To their verdict His Excellency is ready and willing ta appeal. The Council also express dissatisfac- tion at His Excellency's personal conduct in regard to his relations with them. That is a matter of infinitely less im- portance to the public, and will be very shortly dealt with by His Excellency, al- though as His Excellency has met at alt times with the utmost courtesy and con- sideration from the members of his Go- vernment, it would be a source of sincere regret to him to believe that he was justly liable to any imputation of such a nalare» 3 M \l ' ^1 Mi? That a leading member of (he opposi-!' tion was more 4£aa once commanidMed with by His Ezoolknoy is perfectly tme. This eonuDonication was made witii JSx, Smith's fhll knowledge, and in the belief on His Excellency's part, that it would facilitate Mr. Smith's accomplieh- zient of the end in view. The gentleman in question met Mr. Smith at Govem- Bient House on the fifth of March, and His Excellency believes that a very pro- tracted interview subsequently took place between them; nor was it until a very Ittte period that His Exoellenor relin- quished the hope of seeing a combination effected to smooth the passage of the eon- templated resolutions. mB Excellency thinks it right also to state, thi^t his reply was prepared by him- self alone, and that his Council are in error in supposins that its terms were ^e subject of advice from any member of the opposition. His Excellency does not admit the en- tire accuracy of Mr. Smith's report of his conversations with him, appended to the Minute of Council, but at the same time readily acknowledges that the difference between his own impression of those oon- wrsations and that of Mr. Smith, is only such as might naturally arise under the drcnmstances. Mr. Smith has, however, omitted to state that at his first interview, HSs Excellency pointed out, as he had frequentiy done before, the embarrassing results of tiie non-avowal of his Union policy, and observed that the Legislative Council had now passed an Aduese, at tiie adoption of wmch he should probably feel obbged to express satisfaction. The Lieutenant Governor of course feels that previous communication be- tween himself and his Advisers as to any step he is abop.t to take, is, when practi- cable, I'otH desirable and essential, and it was His Excellency's fall intention to have afforded the Council ample oppor- toiuty for the consideration of his Beply, an intention which he much regrets that aocident should have frustrated. The Committee of the Legulative Council did not wait on His Excelleney till afker 12 o'clock, and until tiiat Ad- dress was before him, he could not oft<- cially communicate with the Council on the subject of his Beply to it Immediately on its reception he sent for Mr. Smith, intending to put the draft Reply into his hands, and request him to communicate it to his colleagues. Mr. Smith, however, appears not to have received Bia Ezoellency's note ufatil half past two o'clock, and His Excellen- cy's intentions in this respect were con- seqnentiy foiled. oo strong was His Excellency's wish that the contents of his reply should be known to the Council before its delivery* that when, during theur last interview* His Excellency left the room as stated by Mr. Smi^, it was not, as that gentlemen supposes, to consult a member of the Op- position respecting tiie omission or reten- tion of a parafpra]^ in his Beply — a point on which His Excellency received no ad- vice from any other person than 1^. Smith — but for the purpose of ascertain- ing whether it might not even then be possible to postpone the reception of the Address for a few hours. He found, however, tiiat it would have been impos- sible to do so without poBS discourtesf to the Legislative Council. (Signed) Ajltsub Gordon. Frederifiton, 12th April, 1866. Hon. Mr. Mitchell— I have waited some time for the arrival of the hon. gentiemac late a member of the Govern- ment, and the gentieman who has given him his chief support in this Hoase ; but it would not be right for me to detun your honors any loneer, and I shall there- fore proceed to make some statements and explanations with regard to the po- sition of the Government which has_ just assumed the position of Constitutional advisers of His Excellency ; and also to some statements put forth by the honble. the leader of the late Government. al p| of mm 86 I am placed in an unusual position, — one whioh nothing but a sense of duty to my country in the present emergency would induce me to assume. Upon the resignation of the late Government, His Excellency, pursuing a strictly constitu- tional course, sent u)r my hon. firiend, Mr. Botsford, who moved the Address which led directly to that result, to con- sult with him as to the formation of a new Council. My hon. friend did me the honor to consult with me, and we agreed that Messrs. Tilley and WUmot were the gentlemen t« whom His Excellency should entrust the formation of a new Cabinet. A difficulty presented itself in the fact tiiat Mr. Tilley was not in the Le^slatuf e. It is due to Mr. Tilby to sa^, and tiie course does him honor, that when the op- portunity was offered him of assuming a foremost position, as leader of the €rov. emment, in carrying to,it8 aceomplishment the most imporant nt«iasure ever submit- ted to a Colonial people or Colonial states- men, he decfined, under the eircumstanee of his not having a seat in the Legisla- ture, joining the Government, except |n a subordinate position. X havepleaaore, however* in expresshg the benef, that but a very short time will elapse befbre Mr. Tilley will represent a eonstitnenoj. Mr. Wilmot tnen requested His Exoei- lency to call upon mvpelf, and, therefore^ it is that I have to-asy to state, that in conjunction with Mr. Wilmot, I have par- tially formed a Govemmeot, the comple- tion of whioh I hope to announce at an early dav. The gentlemen at present ad- vising his Exceuenoy, are Mr. Wilmot, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Tiflev, Mr. Willisten, and myself. At an early hour of the day, this Government was formed. I need scarcely say to your honors, that at the present crisis in our affairs, when political excitement is so great ; when our finanv^ea are so straightened ; when an invasion by a reckless enemy is threat- ening our borders ; and when, worse than all» a fearful epidemic is approaching our shores, it is not a time when any one could most desire to occupy the position into which, to-day, my colleagues and myself have been inducted. For myself, I can say, and can appeal to my compeers woo have acted with me politically, that I have never sought to elevate myself at the expense of others, and I now approaoh this subject with clean hands. Whatever may be said with regard to my eolleagnes and myself, and in this I would inelnd« partioulariy those who, with me, were delegates to Quebec, and who formed the Quebec scheme, I am proud to stand hwe to-day, and declare that with truth, notii- ing can be said against us that any hon- orable man need blush to hear. I shall have to refer to the speech «f the hon. gentleman, leader of the late Government, made yesterday in anothMr branch ; it is alike due to the gentleman who is the head of the Government in Mm Prorinee, and to myself, that I shoals reply to the unwise and unkind attack made upon us, and whieh I regretted very much te hear. I felt, I confess, for the position la which Mr. Smith was placed. During the past year his pubHo course has been one of most arctuous trial : nominally returned with a large Anti-Confederate majority, he soon found, as he must have known, at the time, that questions oHhet than that of Confbderation, largely intfa- enced the public in the vote they gave in March, and that as a natural conse- quence, it was impossible for him to sustain himself and his party on the policy with whioh they came into office. At the election in March, the rallying cries of the opposition were numerous. The Governmont had been for a number of years in power, too long probably, and had doubtless many sins to answer for, and these sins magnifiied in their nature, and intensifiied in their effeets were pre- jjfented in the canvass against us. Then sQie potent cry, taxation, desolation and woe, was raised, and a vast acoumulatioil 36 i i* of powerful agencies, thus directed against the men who defended it, and against the scheme itself. I knew it was not a fair trial of the great question of Confederation, and no one throughout the canvass felt more anxious than myself, impresabd as I was with a sense of its necessitnj^nd it was with profound regret that wmle remain- ing unscathed n:jself, as a public man, I witnessed the fall of so many of my coadjutors, before the fickle decision of the popular will. I was sustained, how- ever by the assurance that though for a time things looked dark, and though for a time some of the best intellects, and moat reliable statesmen of our Pro- vince would be missed from the political arana, that there was in the . people, a sound judgment behind this cloud, which would soon so permeate and return the true tone of society, as to change entirely the present position, and induce the people gladly to accept that which they had lately refused. What had been offered and refused '' Was it a scheme which proposed the aggrandizement of one individual, the building up of one interest, without offering a concurrent aggrandize- ment and advantage to every individual, and every interest of the State ? It was a floheme, the vastness of the conception of which can only be appreciated in the future ; — a scheme, one of the greatest productions of the present century ; — a scheme calculated in the opinion of emi- nent statesmen of England, to advance not only the various interests of the sev- eral Colonies, but to give those Colonies in their consolidated capacity a standing, a power, a degree of moral and physical energy, under the protecting power cf Britain, excelled by few nations of the world. Take the opinion expressed by Mr. Gardwell, a gentleman who occupies a position to which it is an honor for any man to aspire and to reach ; a gentleman too, who does honor to his position ; a gentleman who is characterized for depth of judgment, and breadth and brilliancy of conception ; take I say, his opinion, as recited in the public records of this coun- try, of the delegates to Quebec, and of the scheme which was the result of their labors there, and we will find that opinion is one of which any man or any body of men might feel justly proud ; it is a com- pliment which those to whom it is ad- dressed may well be pleased to hand do^n to posterity, and one which they may be proud of. I now pats on to the subject of the resignations, and the correspondence be- tween His Excellency and his retiring ministers. And whateve^, else we may see, there is one principle which we shall find standing out in bold relief in every paragraph of this correspondence, and that is Confederation. Not only that, but likewise we shall, find, the hitherto warm opponents of Confedoration, here giving in adhesion to the principle, and the Executive representatives of the whole people, practically admitting what the late York election proved, and what the almost universal public sentiment declares, that Confederation is the will of the people ; that it is a necessity. But do those gentlemen who so strenuously fought the battles of the Antis, who a short time ago declared that the people desired np closer political union with Canada ; do they, risk'n^ their positions, honestly, manfully, as j been proud to associate with him, and ad'uiro his talents, but was grieved and surprised to hear him yesterday re- sorting to such means to cover his incon- sistent course, adopted merely to retain prestige and power. I will not say that office has any effect upon liiin, of that the public will judge. His Exrclloncy told me that his great object was to carry (/onfedcrution, but ho 89 with said very candidly, that he would rathor carry it with his, then, present advisers, than with his previons Government. Of coarse I cannot say positively what influ- enced His Exoellenoy to that preference. It may be that we had been too long in the saddle, and felt firmly fixed in our seats ; it may be that we were too super- cilious, and were not Bubservient enough to His Excellency's wishes. We had our failings, but one, and the paramount de- sire of our administration was, to serve the people's interests, and we never per- mitted any man to come between us and those interests, oor permitted any inter- ference with what we considered consti- tutional principles ; and when we in Council made a recommendation, we saw that it was cp icd into effect. I know not what it is that His Excellency has soen in me to favor me especially with his confi- dence, unless it is that I have never sought after norsonni arrgrandizcment. For eleven years I have buen in public life, and have never asked for or got anything for mysel*". My scat here was not asked for by me ; I came hero to meet the ne- cessities of my party, and I have always retained the position iH my own county, of being able to secure a scat If not in one branch of the Legisla- ture, in the other, and therefore, when I hear charges made about hon. gentlemen seeking their own self interest it passes by mo like tlic wind. But I have heard, and with astonishment and re- gret, grave charges made against hon. gentleman, my colleagues in this House; I have heard tin motives of hon. members of this branch, whose years should shield them from puch groundless slanders, impugned. It is complained of His Excellency, that ho held consultation wl'h mo. The Oovcrnmcnt knew I was in communication with His Kxccllenrv, for I met Mr. Smith at dinner at Government llousc, imniediatelv after His P^xcclloncy's return fVoni Montreal, three days before the House met; His Excellonry told mo he had been to Canada, in the interest of the Oovornnicnt, on the matter of union, and that Mr. HmKh bad agreed to go for a scheme of omfcderatlon, and ho had advised to act in conjunction with geiitlenieii in the ()pj)o- •iiion. .Subssqiicntly, he luvlted mo to meet Mr. Rmlth, in order to son what could or rhoiild be done. 1 said I would endeavor to Inlluenco geu- tlcmcn of my party to co-otwrato with mc, Ifsnt- Isflcd about the propi,.-"red, but was prepared to forKit, In the great national Interests of the momtut, niiv mere loci- iiign of tiesire lor party profcronce iir of party re- venue. I cull ii;ipoal to gentlemen who hear iiic to-day, to boar witness to the truth of what T as- sert, when I say that my conduct created suspi- cion in the minds of those gentlemen with whom I had long been associated publicly ; that I near- ly abnegated myteif with my party, and forfeit- ed my claims upon their confidence, because I was resolved to nelp the dominant party to carry Confederation. Friends told me "Mitchell, you have destroyed, you hare ruined our party," and left me in anger. . I felt that the Government, if sincere, were playing a dangerous game, and, at the same time, doubted their sincerity, because I did not think they discovered sufficient frankness, and I told His Excellency that I doubted the sincerity of the Govemmcnt. He told me he had the most certain evidences of the sincerity of His advisers, and could pledge himself for them. I never doubted His Excellency ; from what I had seen of him, I always considered him high-minded and honorable — Time, the revealer of all things, ;vill show who are the men of truth. I gave my word to His Excellency, but added one con- dition to it, and it was, that on the first oppor- tunity, the Government would come out boldly, and avow their policy. His Excellency enter- tained no doubt of this, because he told mo ho hud written despatches, based on their promises, that they would, soon after the meeting of the Hoase, submit the papers, and have a comraittea struck. Had the Government acted boldly, as they promlsc'l, and brought in a scheme, and honestly avowed their chaugc of opinion, they would be now in a better position, and, having thus proved their sincciity, I would bo bound to support them. As I have said, I doubted them ; I am inclined to doubt anything that shrinks from the light of day. For one week I kept my pledge, and then seeing no pros- pect of the Government keeping their pledges, I went to His Excellency and told him that I wished to reoall my pledge. He asked me why. I told him why ; I had reason to conclude that the Govern- ment intended to deceive us ; that they had told their supporter*^ that the para- graph in the Speech did not mean Con- federation, although the papers in tho sister Colonics wore full of the intelligence that our Govornnieut had declared for confederation in tho Kpcooh, and although in those Colonics it was creating a change in public sentiment, and was calculated to lead to good results, though our Gov- ernment did not intend it. His Excel- lency exprepsod regret at my oonvictionn, and reluctr.ntly Hurrondercd to inc my pledge. The question, and it is an unpleasant 40 one, HOW presents itself, from the adverse character of the statements made by His Excellency and Mr. Smith, which of the two is most correct ? Has Mr. Smith's course been such as to justify the belief that he was disposed to carry out his pledges. Has not that course been one calculated to drive his supporters more and more from Confederation. Every effort to get from Mr. Smith an explanation in the other House, of what the Speech meant was fruitless and frus- trated, and but once and once only, did Mr. McMillan succeed in getting a word of evidence trom his lips, and that was, that he would take representation by po- pulation, with proper checks. His Excellency having had a pledge from his Executive, was slow to doubt their integrity, and therefore avoided em- barrassing them. Let any gentleman read the correspondence, and if he is not pre- judiced, he will find it evidencing the gentleman of honor, of ability, and the scholar. And, your honors, the real gentleman is much loss supicious, and j moro likely to trust another, than are | those who arc less respectable. He judges othurs by himself, until he has | proof that he deserves contrary judg- ment. Reference is made by His Excellency j to a private Memorandum referring to a despatcli from Mr. Cardwell, which Me- morandum, at Mr. Smith's request, was not sent down to the Council. His Ex- ccUeney'n reply io that donpatch, e.xprebs- ed to Mr. Cardwell the hope he enter- tained (baaed on Mr. Smith's altered views,) of a speedy consummation of union. This aniwer His Excellency showed to Mr. Smith and asked him if it was correct, and he replied that it was. There was one fatal error comnuttud liy Ills Kxii.llmic} , that may cfTi'i I ('onfudt'i- atioii uiul which r('llt'iit us u politician — lie ■eenit', in lii.<< dc>irc to iiiiiitain tlie iiieii, to Luvi- takin a cotirst! which, il'«idc issueN are nised, way imperil the meaiurc. Ilis Excellency states that he handed Mr. Smith a confidential memorandum, stating the opinion of Her IMajesty's Government, the date at which he had determined to meet the House, and expressing his desire to know whether his advisers were disposed to recom- mend the Legislature to give effect to the opinions expressed by Her Majesty's Gov- ernment. His Excellency proceeds — Hon. Mr. Mitchell here quoted the cor- respondence from the " confidential memo- randum" down, for the following twenty para- graphs, and resumed;- — It will thus be evident that His Excellen- cy implicitly trusted to the Government to carry out their promises. Am I asked why I withdrew my support from the Government ? I watched them irom day to day ; I received each day some ex- perience as to their intended policy ; I found they were as8uring their supporters that they did not intend to mtroduce any measure for Confederation, as Mr. Smith publicly an- nounced in the House. When it was said there was a change in the minds of the mem- bers of Government ; I was assured there was no change, and then, wlien I found the Gov- ernment would not announce any policy, I felt relieved from any obligation lonj^er to support thenj, and withdrew my pledge. With regard to His Excellency's reply to the Address of this House, it is warranted ac- cording to the j)olicvof the Government, an- nounced by theni-selves, throughout these coHiinuiiications with the (iovernor for some time past, and especially b^' the. answer, given with tlieir concui reiice, to the former Address of this House, in reply to the Speech from the Tlirone. Mr- Smith was at (Jovernment House on Saturday, if'tii inst., at half ])ast ten o'clock. His Kxcellenc) Imd not then received a copy of the Address of the Council, and could not in conse(|uenee determine, and tell Mr. Smith what his answer would lie ; this, how- ever, he di i short time before: — "I rejoice to beli> vi. tjiru the avowal of the de- sire of the Let' i" !';>'• Council, that all British North Am<"i^;^ . i /Id unite in one commu- nity, under one .i:.rn It is uio.Ht to he rf};r«tte time iiml ei*- ergies to the military functions of his olfice. 48 The sound of approaching invasion from the Fenian hordes that have been concen- trating upon the borders, has kept His Ex- cellency's mind upon the stretch, and his pen busily at work, in order that those from whose approach the threatening sound arose, should meet with a reception becoming any atteropted desecration of British soil. Deprived of the services of both his secre- tanes, the one having gone to St. John, and the other with the brave volunteers from Fredericton to the borders at St. Stephen, there to serve in defence of their country — both engaged in the emergency on military service ; as a consequence.. His Excellency has been unaided, except by occasional copyists, in the many claims upon him for the exercise of his pen. The copy of the correspondence sent to Mr. Smith, was the only one His Excellency had time to make from his rough draft, and when sent to Mr. Smith, it was accompanied wich a request that as soon as it had been used in the House of Assftmbly it should be returned te His Excellency, in order that a copy might be made. The copy was sent for several times but could not be obtained until late at night. His Excellency felt the necessity that it should be printed in order that members of both branches of the Legislature should have an early opportunity of perusing it, and there- fore did not wait for it, but from the rough drafl, porpared another for the printer, and the consequence, almost unavoidable, was that there went some slight changes in the phraseology, but none, I believe, to alter the sense of the document. I h?.vv. said that His Excellency, under his directions, was desirous of carrying Confederation ; that he much preferred to carry it by his then (tOt- emment than by any other, but thought it desirable to be sure of the assistance of some members of the opposition, and, having se- cured my promise of support, if convinced of the sincerity of his Ministers, and Mr. Smith having assented to co-operate with me. His Excellency felt assurance rendered doubly sure of Mr. Smitii's ability to carry out bis pledges, which he would not have been able to do, relying only on his own immediate party. An interesting opisodo in this corres- pondence will be found in those para- graphs relating especially to Mr. Wilmot's resignation. It is important as well as intcrustiug, because it is a narration of facta which coincides with the general impression that prevailed at the time ; with Mr. Wilmot's own statements, and with the correspondence that passed be- tween His ExceHency and that gentleman, and' it is corroborative entirely of His E:..oellencj's statements as to the avowal on the part of his Premier, with regard to union, of a changed policy ; a change which for reasots of their own, the Cabi- net did not wish Mr. Wilmot or the public to know, and which His Excellency in order to sustain, as he had always sought to do, his administration, kept secret. — Mr. Wilmot resigned because of the in- disposition of his colleagues to entertain propositions for a closer union of tho British North American Provinces. His Excellency kept Mr. Wilmot in suspense for a length of time, not being willing to accept of the resignation until Mr. Smith, who was then in Washington, had return- ed. Why this hesitancy ? If His Excel- lency was, as he professed, and as he must have been, anxious to carry Con- federation, and if he bad no reason to hope that his Council would assist him in it, upon what grounds could the accept- ance of Mr. Wilmot's resignation bo de- fended, knowing as His Excellency did, that in the then changed aspect of public opinion, Mr. Wilmot could have formed a Government with an union policv, and have been triumphantly sustained oy tho country. Your honors must perceive, and it appears to me proof *' strong as holy Writ," that His Excellency only waited for Mr. Smith's return in order to have assurance strengthened with regard to that gentleman's intentions, "nd so soon as Mr. Smith, having returnri, gave Ilia Excellency the required assurance, then Mr. Wilmot's resignation was ac- cepted. This brings us, your honors will perooivo, to a point at which one of two conclusions is unavoidable. Either Mr. Smith ndviscd the jxccoptanco of Jlr. Wilmot's resignation, because ho (Mr. Smith) and his colleagues had changed 44 their views, secretly had concladed to go for Coufederation, and had made their pledges to the Governor in good faith, or on the other hand, were deceiving His Excellency, descending to duplicity and deceit, for the sole purpose of retaining for a little while longer the seals of office. His Excellency had put it to them point- edly : I must have Confederation with Mr. Wilmot or with you ; I prefer it with you ; choose which course you will adopt. Had they been opposed to union still, and not under the influence of a lust for power, every high minded feeling would have prompted them to have then resigned and made way for Mr. Wilmot. BTr. Smith boasts of his having no desire for office ; this is his continual cry, but I think his past political history shows that he, not less than those whom he so abun- dantly decries, has had an eye to the " flesh pots." I speak by the record ; I know Mr. Smith, having worked with him in the political harness, and I tell him, office has its charms for him as well as for others. Why did he take office when the late Attorney General Fisher went out, at which time there was a gentleman of our party, a personal friend of his own, and one in whom he professed very great interest, and a gentleman t^uite as com- petent to iill the office, and quite as sure of being returned by his constituency as Mr. Smith ? And where was the public or party exigency tbat required him to be- come Attorney General of the present administration, and above all — and this must remain a damning evidence against \ him, ODu which sophistry and declamation : can never wipe out, that in the instance j now immediately under debate — ho sacri- ; ficeJ principle — political and moral — for I the retention of office. After His Excel- ' lency had read the confidential Memoran- dum to Mr. Smith, he acceded, unfortu- J nately, to that gentleman's request, not ^ to communicate it to his Council. Now I how did His Excellency exhibit any de- i sire to entrap, or weave a web around i Mr. Smith, as he has stated ? No " the reverse appears to have been the case, for had His Excellency sent that Memo- randum to his Council, affairs would at once have been brought to a crisis, and to-day we would have had before us a Minute of Council, signed by every mem- ber, and determining exactly how the mattrr stood. His Excellency followed Mr. Smith's request, however, in order not to embarrass the debate on want of confidence, and now Mr. Smith has to suff'er the consequence of not having act- ed a frank, manly, and consistent course. His Excellency and Mr. Smith are in di- rect conflict as to what would be done, subsequent to the striking of the commit- tee. His Excellency says Mr, Smith stated an Address to Iler Majesty on the subject would grow out of it ; Mr. Smith says it was His Excellency who suggest- ed this. Be that as it may, an inference is irresistablc, that Mr. Smith agreed to a scheme of union, and that he agreed to introduce and carry it through the House if his influence and that of his supporters could do it; and that he admitted that au Address to the Queen might grow out of it ; then are Mr. Smiths statements about His Excellency endeavoring to weave a web about him likely to be believed ? His Excellency, it will be observed, declines to enter into a discussion about words used in conversation, but very properly refers to the general statement of facts, to corroborate what he has alledged. Mr. Smith told His Excellency that he had consulted with his friends, and they had consented to support him in the course he had proposed to pursue, and then the terms of the Speecli were decided upon. Now, was this a true statement by Mr. Smith ! Take the statements of Mr. Gill- mor, Mr. Botsford, of all the supporters of the Government, and they prove that 3Ir. Smith has misstated facts ; that ci- tiicr he did not consult his colleagues, or, if he did consult them, that they declined acceeding to his proposition. The only ^ 45 condition that Mr. Smith seemB to have attached to his pledge was, that a major- ity of the committee was to be supporters of the Government. Mr. Smith, when he admits this, admits the truth, but not the whole truth, and the whole truth I want to go to the country. The composition of the committee was decided upon ; Mr. Smith was to be one of the committee — I challenge him to deny that — beseems to have forgotten to state how intimate a con- nectioa he was to have in carrying out the scheme of union. I am sorry there is not a member of the late Grovernment here to-day, to hear my statements. Their absence will be properly regarded in the country, in the first place, as a contempt of public opin- ion, and, in the next, as an admission that I ain correct in rhy statements, and that they dare not hear them and .cannot con- tradict them. If Hon. Mr. Odell was pre- sent, I should remind him of tha fact that lie was to be selected here for the com- mittee, and was to sustain himself in of- fice by going for Confederation. Hon.. Mr. Chandler and Hon. Mr. Botsford were likewise to bn '>n thn committee ; in the Lower House, Mr. Williston and Mr. Fraser, or Mr. fisher, also. His Excel- lency, when the arrangement about the committee had been concluded, felt quite assured, and addressed Mr. Smith a let- ter, which has been read ; Mr. Smith says he banded the letter back, and did not receive it. We cannot wonder at this ; the terms of the letter were ho flattering ar. to make it a delicate matter for Mr. Smith to reeeive it, and therefore he may have told His Excellency he would rather not. He did not, however, deny the as- sumptions of the letter, or refuse to re- ceive the congratulations of His Excel- lency on what he regarded as enlarged views on the part of Mr. Smith. If the letter was not a truthful statement of Mr. Smith's views, he should have contradict- ed it. With regard to the second letter, which Mr. Smith states he received, and read in the coach while leaving Govern- ment House, it is His Excellency's impres- sion that the letter was sent down by the orderly to the Barker House, and not handed to Mr. Smith by His Exoellenoy personally. But Mr. Smith states he re- ceived that letter, and duty, both to His Excellency and himself, demanded that he should contradict its statements if he was as he professess, opposed to that union, in the interest of which the letter ' was written. But to this day, no answer has been received by His Exoelleney. Mr. Smith says we have exceeded our powers as a Legislative Chamber, that we are not responsible to the people, and represent nobody but ourselves, and that in n,o constitutional country has it ever been known that an irresponsible Cham- ber asked to have a change of policy when the People's House had declared against it, and that if we were permitted to inter- fere with the acts of the popular Branch, we would be interfering with the liberty of the people, and that it was time we were swept away. Now let us see h(Jw far aU this is true. Have we exceeded our powers in considering a subject which the Secretary of State has in rer> sated Despatches declared to be the policy of the Empire, in which Her Majesty's Ministers state they feel the deepest interest, and to the accomplishment of which they look forward with satisfaction, in which the very Government of which Mr. Smith is the head, has submitted th* question by command of Her Majesty to this branch of the Legislature, in the Speech from the Throne, for our con- sideration and action. And have wo, in the exercise of what I believe to be our legitimate functions as an independent branch of the Legislature, and according to the views of Her Majesty's Govt., and in the expression of our approval of con- federation, and in the passage of the Ad- dress to the Throne, exceeded our powers or not ? I think not ! We may, in the opinion of Mr. Smith, represent nobodj 4» bat ourselves, but the same thing may be ■aid in a comparative degree, of the House of Peers in England, yj6t who will say that that illostrioas Body has not been one of the safeguards of the Throne, while at times it has been foremost in securing or extending the liberties of the people, nor can we say how, in this demo- cratic age, that the mterests of the people of England require greater responsibility in that Body. Time wiH not permit me to enumerate the many instances to which I might refer, the reoorda of Parliament aboimd with them, but I will refer to two remarkable ones. Tha Septennial Act, which altered and limited the duration of Parliaments. Prior to its adoption, the power of the Throne was great, and it was enabled to control the existence of a servile Parliament, whether suoh was in aoo<«danoe with tho intevests of tbe peo- ple or not. Obnoxious members were sometimes provided for, and tbo prospect of oontinuod position s»a Bepreseotative sometimes closed the mouth w the great- est lUidder tot the people's rights, and complaint oould not be heard, and the peevle had no remedy. Who put an end to tais, was it the Commons ? No ! it was this irresponsible middle Branch, against the existence of which Mr. Smith declaims, and who he says represents nobody but themselves ! They felt it to be neoessary In order to check the power of the Grown, to introduce what is called the " Septennial Act," by which the dura- tion of Parliaments was limited to seven years. This gave to the people of Eng- land a certainty diat at least every seven years a period would arrive when the ve- nality or corruption, the imbecility or political trickery of their representatives could be tracked out and punished. Yet this great measure had not its inception in that branch whieh Mr. Smith states, par exoellence, represents the people, but was brought in by a Peer in the House of Lords. Again, we find, during the past Mntnry, at a time in the history of our Mother Country when the political horison was shrouded — was wrajpped ia a sable pall ; when the old Colonies (now one of the powers of the World) had pro- elaimed and were fighting for their inde- pendence ; England had landed her ar- mies on this Continent, and surrounded the coast with her fleet ; she hired forei^ mercenaries, enlisted even the Indians m her service ; she spent millions of pounds and incurred an enormous debt* which posterity has had to suffer for and will have to pay ; she was engaged in war with the leading powers of Europe ; both branches of the House of Bourbon were lending their best efforts to conquer and subdue her ; the Dutch navy, then a pow- er on the ocean, was ranged in the lists of her antagonist, indeed, she had enga- ged the ereat powers of Europe almost alone ; the great minds of the nation felt that conceesiona, and moderation and et- tension of British freedom to the revolted Colonies at such a period, was the true policy ef the Empire, and that when the fleets of France and Spain were approach- ing our shores for the purpose of invasioB, it was no time to hesitate about the terms on which we should arrange our family quarrels; the King was obstinate, hu Ministers '^owerful, and the Commons subservii .£ ; it was then the benefit of an independent and powerful Legislative branch was felt, low though it might be according to the views of suoh men as Air. Smitn, the representatives of nobody. The venerable Earl Chatham submittted hli celebrated Resolution, accompanied bv one of those great effbrts of oratory with which hie name has been associated, and though unsuc- cessful at the time, ultimately revolutionized public sentiment, and brought about that peace which the iinancial difficulties of the mpire inudo a necessity, and led to that amicable separation from our old Colonies, and he te- cognitioR of their inUepuudence, which the folly ef their King, and the venality and ser- vility of his iiiinisters, had left as the only al- ternative. Did statesmen of that day find fault with Earl Chatham, or claim that the Branch of the Legislnlure of which he was a member, had exceeded its puweri ? No ! Nur does he 47 who look* back at the past after a century haB pasted away, either doubt the constitutional power of the middle braneh to interfere, or the expediency of the course they pursued. His- tory has pronounced its approval of the course the lords pursued, which has advanced consti- tutional rights, has tended to promote and ex- tend civil liberty, and resulted in erecting upon our borders a powerful nation, whieh has relieved the overcrowded countries of Europe, of their surplus populations, and affords a home to millionH. As I before stated, instances of the proper exercise of (be Lefcislative functions of the middle Branch might be multiplied in- definitely were it necessary ; and I would re- commend these gentlemen who condemn our conduct, undervalue our influence, decry our position or desire to restrain our powers,— to refer to the history of constitutional countries, and study them before they assert that there is no parallel to the powers here assumed. We ftre told we must be swept away; that the majority are *' effete, antiquated politicians." representing no one but ourselves, and having no regard for the people's interests, desirous onlv to gratify our ambition, our selfishness, and otir interests. Mr. iSmith eulogized the conduct of the hon. Mr. Hazen, and the other four gentlemen who constitute the minority. Isit because they generally vote to sustaia hiGover nment that he did this, or is it im- prbable that the keen, shrewd, Mr. Smith, and the astute Mr. Hazen did not point out to the rest of the minority the fhct, that five men, At Ipnat, on their Side or tlie House, were sure of seats at Ottawa if the scheme succeeded, as it was stipulated therein, that half should be on each side of politics. Does Mr. Smith not know, and has he not oflen repested the fact, that without the check, which the Upper Branch has been, to hasty and rtckless Legis* lation in the Lower House, our Statute Book would have been filled with injudicious and unwise Statutes; his ire, excited against the Council last winter has not yet subsided, and when almost every measure of that imbecile and servile Government which hns just passed away, were rejeitsd, and they met with the conaemnation of the Country r I answer, No ! and the people of the Pravinoe confirm it. Did the people want the Pust Office Depart- ment abolished ? Did they want an irredeem- able paper currency foisted upon the country, without proper guards, securftiem, and checks, such as the original mover, Mr. Wilmot, had provided ? Did the people of the North con- demn us for the rnjeotion of the Buoy, Beacon, Lights, and Seamens' Hospital Bill, and which, while it taxes the Ports of the North largely in excess of those in other section.s, and lets Charlotte go free, yet would appropriate our funds to the maintainance of their seamen, and to supply defioienoies in those other more favored Ports? Did the people of St. John condemn us for the rejection of their Water Bill, and for which Mr. Hazen belabored this Council repeatedly, a Bill which, while it tax- es the stock in trade of the merchant, and the implements and stock of the manufiicturer, yet permitted the valuable library of a lawyer, and the costly furniture of the millionaire or par- venue to escape? I answer, No ! Yet thete are only a ftw oTthe Bills we rejected last Ses- sion. Our conduct met with the approval of the country, and when I have heard, as I often have, the expressions from the people and seen it in the Ptms, " thank God, we have a Legis- lative Couneii," it has been a satisfaction to me to believe that, if we did excite the enmity of the Government, and at times the ire of the Lower Branch, we at least found satisfaction in knowing thai our course generally met the ap proval of the people. WhenMr. Smith, by hav- ing Hon. Mr* Razen and the other four gentle- men who voted in the minority with him, as being the onllr true exponents of public senti* ment in this House, he has practically chal- lenged eritioien, and the gage of the public verdict, whieh he has thrown down. Of the minority, five, but one of them has ever repre- sented a eonatitueney , and would not care to risk a trial. Of the minority, some of them have been representatives of the people, and, I believe, all of them returned more than onee, while the others are gentlemen of quite as great claimH to the confidence of the country ns the minority, and certainly not more deficient in ability. Mtt Smith may inspire and submit Resolutions in the Lower Branch, to sweep us off ; he may try to excite feelings against us, and advocate a principle he himself does not believe jin, of making the Council elective, but 1 would have him to Know, that this sacrificiitg principle to the passion or humor of the hour, will have no weight with the members of this House who would not swerve firom duty, either at the cajolery or the three's of his imbecile Gov't. For myself, I have that position be- fore the people of my County, that will secure my return here, should I desire it. Individu- ally, his throat of the Elective principle has no force with me, bUd I wish him and his confreres to understand that wtiile no inducements which he might offer could persuade, no threats which he may use can force me to a servile following in the footsteps of the Lower House. I am a Constitutional man; I desire to maintain con- stitutional principles, and notwithstsnding the assertions, inuendoes, and insinuations to the contrary, I have pursued a constitutional course. I desiro to maintain the rights as well of the one Branch as the other; and while I will not iw mm r : 48 l !V I! I U \ IH' influenced by the braggadocios of Mr. Smith , will, I trU8i do nothing, as I assert I have done nothing, and as I believe, thisHouso has done nothing to interfere with the rights or liberties of the Peoplt. We did not desire by our Ad- dress to coerce, as Mr. Smith stated, this country into Confederation ; but having been asked by the Throne to express our opinion, It was our duty to deliberate and express it, and we have done this. That His Excellency was justified in doubt- ing the sincerity of Mr. Smith, or his ability so to influence his supporters as to induce them to consent to any scheme for union, we have abundant evidence ; and we find also in these evidences, to some of which I shall refer, justi- fication for His Excellency testing the good faith of his ministers by giving expression in his answer to the Address of this House, to those views iu which they bad formerly con- curred. And they should be the last to en- deavour to charge upon His Excellency viola- tion either of good faith or of constitutional principles, when their own duplicity and dis- regard of principle, either political or moral, drove His Excelleacy to the course he pursued. OuthA ISthof^Iaroh, this converMtion took place in the Assembly, as reported in the offi- cial Debates : '• Mr. DesBrisay wished to understand the position of the Government, and he weuldask them, were they prepared to go for any acheme brought in by any of their supporters ? "Attorney Gxnvral — ^The Government had never heard of any scheme. " Mr. OesBrisat — That was evading the send representatives pledged to sustain the pre- sent Government." On the 21st of March, Ur. Thompson ex- pressed himself as follows ; — " He did not see how members of this House Could be so shame-faced as to attempt to do anything of that kind. Some of them would never have had a chance to come to this House if they had not been Anti-Confederate, and why then should they turn traitors to the trust reposed in them ; in his. opinion it would be wrong and unjustifiable to do so. We have been here eighty years and the country has improved. We have got along very well, and all we ask is to be lei alone. This Confedera- tion scheme cannot benefit our trade. We have not a single article we can send to Canada." We shall now hear the views of a member of the Government, the Provincial Secretary ; Mr. GiLLMoK — My hon. friend and late col- league says he never was oppposed to the ab- stract question of union of the Colonies, and that the Government has done him injustice. The abstract question of union has never been submitted to the electors of New Brunswick, and an abstract question never will he, un- less the Confederates can work it in some way to assist them to carry the Quebec Scheme. To submit the abstract question of union to the people would bo an abstract absurdity, for thee Smith »greed to recede from his Anti views, after the time that Mr. Wilmot's resignatien was submitted, mast be apparent to every one. Mr. Wilmot left the Government because of the refusal of his colleagues to so for a union policy, and the Governor let Mr. Smith understand, that if Mr. Wilmot's views of his colleague's policy were correct, that he would have to refuse to aceeyt his resignation. He told him also, that the DespattTi of June, and the repeated expressions of the policy of Her Mtjeaty s ministers, made it imperative upon him again to submit the subject, with the papers, for the consideration of the Legislature, and in a spirit of fViendli- nesR, pointed out the difficulties that his Govt. would get into. Mr, Smith took time to coa- Midcr the matter, and stated that he wished t* consult his friends before taking so important a step, — went off ti> St. John, and westward, to do .so °, when he returned, said they were wil- ling and agreed to it. He again discussed the subject, pointed out the mode by which he proposed to carry it out, received the congra- tulatory letter, did not deny the fact on which it was founded, viz : his assent to a union policy, heard the Minute of Council read, as- sented to it, and asked the Governor not to send it as it might embarrass him, heard the neteii of the arrangement on which the despatch to Mr. Cardwell was based, agreed to the Con- federation paragraph in the Speech from |the Throne, and discussed the names of the Com- mittee- What conclusion would any gentleman draw from these facts, but that Mr. Smith's policy was one of TTiiimi, and tkat he intended to carry it out. Now if this was so, how has the Governor violated the Censtitutien by putting in his Reply, that "he rejoiced to learn that fact." Mr. Smith says it is a violation of the principles of Responsible Gov- ernment to put it in without consultation." Let me ask Mr. Smith if it has not been the practice of Mr. Gordon, as well as previous Governors, to do the business of the Council with his Premier, and through him with his Council, and that it is only on exceptional oc- casions that he communicatee with, or consults the assembled body ? Mr. Smith knew this to be the fact. I further a.«k him if the reply to the previous Address of the Council was not communicated to him in the same way, and <' without consultation with the assembled Body,'' and if so, where is the difference ? In both, the policy of union is recognized, and that alone, end if one is right the other cannot be Wrong. 'Tis true, that although he was in the morning by the Governor, that he intended giving a favorable reply, why did Mr. Smith wish, when the Legislative Body w9»aM»mbIcd, to get t,mt to oooiiUt* VHi ^^ SI not disient in the morning ? If he did not agree to the policy, then was the time to object, but he did not. Why ? Any one who listened to Mr. Smith 8 Speech might find the sequel to it. He told the House •< that for weeks his life had been a burden to him," and he looked it. He had got himself into a false position, and he felt it; he had pledged himself to •• union," and Anglin would not let him carry it out, and hr felt that without him he must fail, and assured them that he had told the Governor that he had consulted his friends, and they agreed to it, while they denied it, and he lackea the moral courage to boldly avow the policy, and trust to the generosity of his opponents for success. What a position for a public man to be in ! I do not wonder at his remarks, so full of agony and eo expressive ; but mark the sequel. Circumstances at the last moment favored him, and he availed him- self of them. True, he was informed in the morning that the reply would be favorable. Was Hon. Mr. Hazen, then, purposely inspired to delay the Address going up, and if so, did Mr. Smith receive the reply shortly after it ) sent, at one o'clock, or not till half past and did he determine to make this the e for getting out of the difficulty by ittiBing a constitutional question, and by cre- ating a personal quarrel, and at the same time get out of his troublesome admissions and im- peril a union by side issues, if an appeal should oe made to the country f He saw the coming ttorm — that the crisis was not far off, and he felt, that having induced the Governor to be- lieve that he would carry out his proposition in good faith, his delay in passing the Address, the protracted discussion on Fisher's Amend- ment, which the Government could — if as strong as they say, at any moment have brought to a close, the uncertainty whether the dabate on other paragraphs might not be continued for two or tiiree weeks longer ; the refusal of most of the Guvernnient and many ef their supporters to admit any change of policy in reterence to Union, all forced the conviction •n the Governor's mind that he was misled and deceived. Will then any man doubt his justification for pursning the course he did, and Mr. Smith cannot deny— That the deoiiioa arrived at was considered of sufficient import- ance to induce Mr. Sroitii to leave Fredericton and consalt his leading supporten*, the final decision remaining in abeyance till his return. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That he was aware that the object of the Lieutenant Governor's journey to Canada, (coincident with his own jou . ucy to consult his friends,) was to ucertain the concessions which would be made on the part of Canada. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That he agreed with His Excellency as to a secret form of communication with him durinir that week, or that he received a message froin the Governor at Montreal on the subject. Mr. Smith cannot deny — That an under- standing satisfactory to both parties was arrived at on ihe return of Mr. Smith from his trip, and of His Excellency from his. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That the adoption of a real and complete union had always been the object of His Excellency's wishes, (who had objected to the Quebec Scl> me as insuf- ficient in that respect,) and thii no agrMmenr. could have been satisfactory, which did not imply an acquiascence in such a policy. Mr. Smith cannot deny- That this agreement involved the appointment of a joint Committee to consider the question of Union. Mr. Smith cainnot deny— That he professed, indifference as to the composition oftois Com- mittee. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That the influence of the Government was to be used in procuring the adoption by the Committee, of Reselutiona favorable to union, and by the House of Aa- semlily, of the Report of the Committee. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That he admitted an Address to the Queen praying her to give effect to these Resolutions, might " grow out of the committee,'' even if he denies that such a measure formed part of the original arrange- ment. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That the Lieuten- ant Governor manifested an anxious desire to retain his Administration in office, and that if his conduct is open to any charges of uncon- stitutionality, it 18 that he has evinced too evi- making his reply evince his satisfaction at the jent a wish to sustain his late advisers Address of Council .' Mr. Smith cannot deny— That the Governor delayed receiving Wilmot's resignation, until an agreement had been effected between him- self and Mr. Smith on the subject of Union. Mr. Smith cannot deny— That it is a per- fectly constitutional course to receive from ei- ther Branch of the Legislature, an Address to the Queen, or any subject, ami for the Gover- nor, on Her Majesty's behalf, and as herrepre- Mr. Smith cannot deny— That this subject sentative, to return to it such answer as may was discussed for three days in (he Council, i be in accordance with his instiuctions and the and that Mr. Hutchison put off his journey to | policy of the Imperial Government, of which England, on accoiint of the importancn of i hat j he is an officer, discuasioa. Mr.Sraithcannotdeny— That the Governor, 52 1-1 Rinoe hia return from England, has always giv- en him to understand, that any open demon- stration in favor of union must meet with his n|iproTal, Mr. "mith cannot deny — That he urged on the Governor that thn " adoption of union would be delayed" by a change of Government, vrherher it resulted in a dissolution or not, as tliecommitteecouldbeatonceappsinted, whilst lime would be consumed bv ndjournments for election and long debates, should a change take place. Mr. Smith cannot deny — That his Adminis- tration most servilely yielded up into the hands of His Excellency, those Constitutional func- tions, which they especially should perform, and the Constitutional exercise of which they : should sacredly gunrd, when they allowed His ' Excellency to veto appointments o, andchang | es in. public offices, made by tht>m ; and that j they thu» violated the fundamental principles I ul liesponsible Government. | Mr. Smith cannot deny the cons'.i'.ational right of Hia Excellency to transmit the ad- dreaa of an independ?n'. branch of the Legis- ' laturc to the Queen by the earliest post, and i yet he blames liim for doing so. , Mi. Smith cannot deny that the delay of the Governor in consulting the Council could I serve no one but Smith himself, and that he , did purposely delay to go up is as likely as i thnt the Governor delayed to send, as dis- Hent of Council, if dissent there wan to be, : would then have been previously received. Nor can Mr. Smnh tleny that ihe Le|;islative Council once at '•overnment House, the Gov- ernor could ot liave refcscd to rcceite the address at jnce, espenally as ho hr.'l delayed in the interest of the Gftvernment before no- tifying tliem of time of former r.ddross for !!> ! days. If he can deny or explain these points Ut him do it. lie shall have ample time he- lore pro'cgation. It is due to the country that they snould be explained. I rej^ret that the difficulty has arisen, and 1 further regret that so niurh time has been taken np in its discussion which should iiave been used in discussing the real matter that undcilies the whole, and is the cause of the whole difficulty Unon of BriUth Jimrrica IS a necessity of the %^f!, and disguise it as we may, wc cannot str.ud alone, a small iso- lated, fragmentary portion of the Empire, situated in a° position easy of access to an invading foe, and oflering inducements to nn iiggrossive and ambitious neighbor. Let any one look at thf progress which thi' United States has made since thejr gained their independence and subsequently b ',ne united in one ^reat Republic. While their industry and their commerce have been en- couraged, they have never lost sight ot the desirability of rectifying their lines end ex- tending their territory. The native races have all had to make way and recede step by step to the tar West. The conquest of Flo- rida, the purchase of Louisiana, the annex- ation of Texas, the invasion and spoliation of Mexico, resulting in the acquisition of a great territory, stretching from the Mississip- pi States to the Pacific, and for hundreds of miles along that coast, with the desire to possess Cuoa, si! go to show the love of powj. and lust foi conquest and territory which they possess. Their power no one can deny ; the events of the past four years hsvc demonstrated that in a remarkable de- gree, an() when we see the tone of their pub- lic men. tii!> spirit of their Press, their con- stant promulgation of the Munroe doctrine, the sentiments of their Senators and Con- gress men, so recently developed in tbe pre- sent Congress in openly avowing annexation and refusing us Reciprocity because it re- tarded that result, we may reasonably fear that as they possess both the power and the inclination, that when the opportunity offers they may avail themselves ot it, and I fear that our fishing ffiuuuda may afford the pre- text. No one will deny the great adTtiitagUii which would accrue to America by our ab- liorption. Slii would have no foreign fo* on her Northern L<.irdprB (at least none worse than the icy barriers of the Pole) against whom she would have to guard by either troops or monitors. She could at once dis- pense with a standing army. She would gam ir. extent oi territory a ha'f a continent, and to makf it prosperous she would only have to possess it. A healthy climate, a soil generally fertile, lakes «ind rivers mag- nificent in their grandeur and volume and extent, teeming with fish, and afiordiog in their facility for navigation a great stinoului to rommcrce, while mines of coal and min- erals in abundance lie unwurked in the bo- som of her soil. Nor need I refer to that vexatious ques'.ion of the fisheries, which under the treaty they have for the past ten years enjoyed, und which we know tb«y covet. Are these not alf stimulants to the agg'easive character of our neigbbora, and while showing by their antecedentt wbai !4 th«ir ificUu^tioiip wp, 91,4 adatittiiHi tiufit gtu\ p«w«r, I Uiiak I hue •hoira their lu. tumtB. Hittorjr will repMt itatlf— odr dM- tiajF it c4M]r~ i posscsM. — Wo would have extended marliota for our f^sh, and extensive employment fur our shipa and other inanu('srturei«, and by increaiind trade, an increased home markrt for the farm- er. Situated aa we ajre m the gre«t out- poat wMtnMle t nmrda Europe on tht atwmy Atlantic, We in these Maritime Provinces would become froffn onr farorable «esftion the OQtl^t and ahip^ing post for the great trade of the flar west. Raih«ad« ere long would connect our principal cities and towns with the world outaide of oa, and in course of time we night lo«h forward te their exten- sion aoroas the continent. Those outlying portions of the Empire stretching from the ^a( lakes across the Rooky Monrttains to the Pacific, would conduce to onr greatness. Their wealth and 'heir exports must increnae onr commerce, and our ships must find em- ployment in the ptoseoution of their trade. The water and bed of the great lakes and the mighty St. Lawrence are capable of ana taining twenty raitliona of people alone. — Her immense frrananes whrali help to feed Europe with her nurplus exports— her limber, oils and minerals are each year incrcaaing the value of her exports, and her great and growing popnlation will afford na valnable markets tor our products while we may be- come valuable custoirers for them. The signs of the times are signif^nt. Csnada has declared for Union; NewToundland has followed in her wake and intimated her wil- lingneaa to pursue the same course. We have here by the vote of this Council pro- claimed In favor, and in Nova Scotia ita frienda are confident ef success, and the country, to whom we owe bo much, desires it. I believe a large majority of our oeople de- sire it, while amongst those who oppose it wo will find sll of^our population who are aliens to British interests or nostile to British ' wer. The man who is sn alien by birth ia generally to be found in their ranfks, snd many of those whose commercial pursuits lead them into business connection with the States, avow themselves hootile: und if re- poTis are true, at the Fenian Jern'matration on our borders, within a few days |mst, the leaders of those threatened invaders openly derlsred that hn wished to aid the Antis and defeat Confederation, and thus Rtrike a blow agaicst British power on thik <(intinent.— We aro now as colonmls comparatively u free people, but history indicates that s amall I'fo -ince cannot long remain independent besii'e a powerful und rapacious neighbor. In union there is strength, security srd con- tinue>i freedom. Out uf it there is before us annexation und axtinctinfi of national esmt- Ml i^ m- ktviM Mtol cMt. With Um denbtfnl Mlnatace of to jwf t aluM of tlM — o m w ww debt our Miffhbon. I hat* hawd |«BU«a«n ■patk wuh •Iwa cf tb* Aot UvMioa of oar bordart woald bave at tba prtaaat tiaia m tltttir dalaoaalaM atata. I weald iatara mj boo. friaMU for tbair eooaolaUoa. that atapa bava beaa :akaa to guard oar paepla fraan atiaek, aad aid tban la tbair daraaae. Tba ragalar tioofa bava baan otdarad to tba frea- tiar, and a float of abipa acot into PaaaaoM- qooddj Bay, and in tba aalf-roliant apirit of our yoaag naa, and tba fMtnotiam of our paople, I nar no dangar tbat Ma/ ba thraat ened. In tbia graat National aa wall ai ProTioeial oriria, it la oar duty aa wall aa oar inieiott to dafar to tha wiabaa and national necoHily of onr partnt atata. Britain baa wttchad oa in tba eradla—aba baa aeboolad ■lid dafaadad oa in aur yoiitb, and m our aaaheed I traat wbile aba may aid na, bar oflaprinf , tbat wa nwy Tatam in oar matnrar yaan with gmtitada tba letaroat aba baa avinead. wa raetraisa bar faidiaf band, and aoeord to bar ua rigbt to eooaart aod adTiaa. Wa abnra in bar glary. Wa would ba buailialad by bar dafaat Tbat good oU flag tbat wa bonor and will dafbadr aUko abada upon tba Calaoiata tba aaoM glaay that It doaa apon tba paopla af Middlaao;, wbtlat it aflbrda aa tba aaaa abaltar and nrwtaetian. And aooMtbing is tbarafora dna tna oeuotry from wbieb wa raoaiva tbat protactioa and to wbieb wa owa ao nuab ; and baring ap- paalad aliha to oar interoata, our honor, oar oacarity, and oar aanaa of gratitoda, I faal aba baa not appaalod in Tain, and abould the oourM o( avaata daaMnd tha vardiat of tha paopla of ibia Prorinea, I fial that thoeauaa of union will be triumphant'' : >•«:-.■ j."H"/.;.>-,v f'.« ■y>a Itqporkd bjf Sahukl Watvs, Ofeial lUpor^er Le^giilativf OwmL !:<■'• .■ ,r.. .,'.-.. .,: .' . •>>; ;.i(.»'. » i , ' ■ ' - .■• ■ T ijii». ■*;.i S yi , , i :. ■■ ,' !I •J. \ I «>'• ■■.i liti.--"--. , ■I /■,;•••»< f) ,■('■ I "'"■111" >..i- ^Wi 4*; ii ^ ./■ i\ C i 43 ti .jf,