•^u A% IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) m z i.O I.I 1.25 fiJii liri^ 12.2 Iv3 ;? 1^ III 2^0 UUi. ill 1.8 1.4 6" % -^ w /a y f r 85' Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ ^'t-^x <^ 6^ rp ^'^j^<> m 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTEr,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ■^■\^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/!CMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Micr jreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of tho images in the reproduction, or which may significantly ohange the usual method of filming, are checked below. Q D a n n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur r~~[ Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculee □ Cover title missing/ Letit itre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur □ Colou Encie Coloured ink (i.9. other than blue or black)/ de couleur (i.e. autre que bleu.s ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relii avec d'autres documents Tigh\f binding may causa shadow? or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion ie long de la margs intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, thesn have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lorsd'une restauration apparaissent dans Ie texte. mais, lorsque cela 4tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti filmie". Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires: L'tnstitut a microfilm^ Ie meiileur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peul-^tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exigor une modification dans la m^thode normaie de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur I 1 Pagas damaged/ D Pages endommag^es Pages restored and/t r laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes r~7 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ D Pages ddcolorees, tachetAes ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages d^tachees Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality inigale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du mat4iiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponibte I I Pages detached/ r~7] Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellf ment obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., cnt ii^ film^es ^ nouveau de facon a nbtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film^ au taux de reduction indiqu^ ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: The Nova Scotia Legislative Library L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce A la g6n4^rosltA de: The Nova Scotia Legislative Library The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Las images suivantes ont tti reprcduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la netteti de l'exemplaire film^, et en conformity avec las conditions du contrat de fllmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "COi^- TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires origineux dont ta couverture en papier est imprimte sont filmte en commengant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une ompreint^i d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second pint, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration c X en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle emprointe. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la derni^re image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVHE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre film6s A des taux de rMuction difftrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmA A partir de i'angle fre, That Hli ■zoelleMy the Itcntenant Ooremor be antheriaed to appoint Dele- gateato arrange with the Inpcrial Goremaieat a leheme of Union wbieh will dbotmUy ennra Joat pnvlalon fbr the rights and intereita oftbta rrorlooa. eaeh Pro* inee to hare an ei^nal toIoo in raeh delega- tira, Upper and Lower Canada fcatng for this pupioee •entidered aa aeparato Prorineea.' " XhU wai the only aathoritr poeieued by the Beto- SittB who proenred ue enaeUnent of the ' Aot for the BlMi of Canada. NoTaBeotia and New Bromwlek.' ** That even U the Qoue of AMemblr had the oon- ■tttiittonal power to •nthoriienioh delegaUon, which laky no acMa admitted, the (bregoing rewdntton did aotempower the Delegateato arrange a federal Union of Canada, Nora Beetto and New Brntiwiok, without iMiadiag in sndi ConMeration the Ooloniea of Now ftModland a.d Msee Idward Iilanjl. .,"?•! "» I?*?"** *»■ Ot» two laal named Colo- Sl^^/-!fi2*^'. "* " nnnaa number firom •■Oh ef the ethan being pwaeiit. tlie delentlonwu ■Star ofdiMniil. »PM««»ttd bjr an cqoal l«»«tofigWaaad Intoreataet thi. ftwSSi?^!!^ SSl^ il^S'^ '*^ •* •M*IlaaoiBttoB iomk ta4^Ja wnagiaf a aehama of Union, bat i£ Oa ■^"^ of their railroada and ether pubSle proper^, eyj^eat them to arMtnr^ and exoeaaire taxatioa by » Mgto- latnre oTer which thej can have no adeqwIaeaalMl, and f aduoe thia Dree, happy and aalf-goTamai Ira Tinoa to the degraded eonditien of a depcndtMf of Canada* " That no ftaodamantat or mattilal ehange of tlia OoiititatS SPRECU. Hon. Attobnet Gekkbal addressed the House as follows : — I regret prooeediug to the debate on these resolutions in the absence of the hou. membe? for Inverness, but Laving been informed that he is not likely to be in Lli place for some days, I find it necessary to go on with the discussion. I do sO' with the less regret because I know that this debate will be reported with accuracy, and that con- sequently that learned and hon. gentleman will be put in pobsessiou of the arguments which I and my friends on this side of the House intend tj use. I regret that my vocal organs are not Just now in very good order, and that I feel some diffisulty in addressing the House; but I shaP endeavour to discharge the duty devolving upon me as well as 1 can auder rxisting circumstances. I am tbout to lay before the members of the House, before the people of this country, and probably bs« fore the people of England, the fa.'^ts of one of the most important political oases tbat ever arose in the Colonies, &nd in order to do so aatisfaotorily I sLall endeavor to show the true ooBdition in which this country was placed before certain political changes took place in lit constitution. I shall endeavour in the first place to show that Nova Sootia was a well governed and law respecting, a contented and a happ; country. She was a well gov- erned because her institutions were moulded in miniature on the model of the British con* stitntion, which is the finest political systsm by which any nation was ever governed— a eyitem calculated to maintain ordfer and hat- mony among all orders of people— a system under which obedience to law and tb^ neces- sary result of obedience to law, liberty, have been better maintained than in ary other oftuntry ; fur, sir, however paraaoxical it may seem, it is a literal truth that the highest de- f;ree of freedom consists in obedience to law. t is obedience to law which preserves to me my rights and liberties, my property and my life; and therefore, however inconsistent it may seem, it is actually true that the highest degree of liberty consists in obedience to law ; *nd that country which possesses institutions oalculcted to produce that result, must be the happiest nation on earth. Now the con- stitution of Nova Sootia was based upon the principles of the British Constitution— those principles which bett suit the geaias of the people. Its whole condition was different from those of any other country on the Con- tinent of America, and the constitution which was granted to the people of this provinse by King Oeorgell., and which had beenenlarg> ed and greatly improved by his successors on the throne of England, was a well working oonititntion. It was as much like the British constitution as it was possible to make things which are different in their nature. There were some defect* in it, among which the greatest certainly was the want of a ooart for the impeachment and paniahment of po* litical offenders. That waa a defioienoy ia oar syatem, — witboat it nosyatem of Bwpon- sible Government can be perfect, and it la oeitainly curious, but by no means very re* markable, that the great statesmen who have originated this splendid constitution for the confederation of Canada. have taken preoiooa, good care in its manufacture, — whilst they bav<) established cou.-ts for the admini^tra* tion of ordinary justice, as wcU an oourtf of appeftl— to leave out the court of impeach- ment, which, considering the nature pf the men who formed that constitution, and who are likely to be instrumental in carrying it out, would be the mast important court' of all. A¥hen we compare our constitution in No- va Scolia with that of the Great Republic, the tiontrast must be favorable to this pro* vince. We admire the people of thai coun- try, we have sinoenly sympathised with them in their recent distress and troubles. We feel towards them all the emotions of fraternal afiection, but we do not approve of their con- stitution. We consider that their inctitun tions are possessed of two fatal defects — the one is democracy, the second Confederation. We consider that having our little conatitu- tion moulded upon the monarchial institu-. tions of England, makes it infinitaly superior to that of the United States, although the lat- ter is a master work of human hands, aad: the finest piece of composition ever prepared by men for political purposes. It was manu- factured by men who were really statsamen — by men who loved their country — by men who had been educated in an English school — by men who had sense enough to perceive the beauties of the British constitution— by men who endeavoured with the utmost imaginable pains and skill to apply the principle of the British constitution to a democratic system aad form of government ; but the pe>)ple of the United States were unfortunate, after having separated from England in 1783, in the politi- cal sy.iitem which they instituted. Had they combined in a legislative union — had they in- corporated all the States into one Legislature, having one set of laws and revenues, they would undoubtedly, at this time, be the greaf:- est nation upon the earth. They certainly would not have been second to any other; ut, unfortunately, tbey chose Confederation, and that ConfederaUon has resulted si every Confederation must result, for it is impossible so to adjust the rival and discordant inteiesta of different countries under a Confederation AS to maintain permanent harmony. It is not iE khe nature of things that they should con- tinue as separate and individual ooantriet, having separrte legislatures and individuali* ties, withe at clashing with one another at some time or other. We have seen, notwithi Btacding the skill with which that famous constitution of the United States waa made— notwithstanding the intelligence of that peo- ple, that great evils have made their appear- ance already. Tbe Confederation was I^roken. an internecine civil war delaged their land with blood, and they expended in three years mora than probably thres times the amount of the national debt of England, in money, and the def truotion of their property; and. H'-.H -.K* eir, At this momeni there it no mtn on earth irho is able to e»y what is to be the resalt of the politioal affairs of that great ooantry.— An earthqaake is ftrowling under their feet, and no man can toll when and where the vol- cano is to burst, bringinfr with it destruotion and ruin. I make these obiervations with the greatest possible resrtt, for I bdicTe that every man in Nova Scotia wishes well to the people of the United States, although the people of this province have no desire to be connected with theni. They are too wise, too sensible to desire for a moment to part with their own well-working public institutions, and enter into Union with the States. I shsll now turn your attention to another Confederation— tbf Confederation of Cana> da— and contrant it with the United States, and show you that if it be not desirable to enter into the Union with the United States, Confederation with Canada is absolutely hateful and detestable to the people of this country. We object to a union with the American States, because we disapprove of Democracy and Confederation, but there is a worse political combination, that is Olig- archy and Confederation. If we dieline the eonstitatioc of the United States we are bound to hate und detest the constitution which the Confederation Act has prepared for the people of those fine colonies. If we were to join the United States, Nova Scotia would poseefs all the freedom that every State of the Union possesses. We would have the choice of our own Qovernors, of our* Senators, of our Legislators; we would have the power of self-taxation and sfalf-guvern- menr in the highest degree; but what would- be our position if we suffered ourselves to be dragged iutotbis hateful union with Canada, where would Nova Scotia's freedom be? Before the Jritish America Act was imposed upon us Nova Scotia was as free as the air. How could the people of this country be taxed ? There was no power to tax them ex- cept this Hoi^se, their own servantt, whom they commissioned to tax them. Is that the state of things now 7 Have we any power over the taxation of this country? Does not the Act in question confer upon Canada the fullest power of taxing all the property of Nova fcotia at th-ir arbitrary will? What is our control over that Legislature? We hava but a paltry voice o( 19 members in the popular branch, but a blu^le one in the other. We have, therefore, to protect the rights of this country from spoliation, only Id members out of 263. If we should con- tinue in Confederation we should not be go* vemed by the people, as is the case in the United States, bat by a little knot of Execu- tive Councillors in Canada. Therefore we have no disposition to unite with the one or the other— neither with the United States nor with Canada; and, sir, if we were driven to the necessity of making a choice between the two calamities, we would be bound to choose the least, and that would be, to join the United States of America, and pattioipate in their liberty and prosperity rather than sub- mit to the tyranny of Canada. We would have to prefer the democratic tyranny of the one country to the oligarchical tyranny of the other, and there would be no JifGioulty in making a ohoioe; but thank HeaTen w« are not called upon to choose between them. We have a constitution of our own, and that be- longs to the people of Nova Scotia ; a«d I ||n going to show you that the constitution they CDJoy is their own property— that the Parlia- ment of England had no power to take it away from thera— that the British America Act is entirely unconstitutional— that Nova Scotia has never been legally confederated with Canada— and it rests with her to say whether she will ever be so or not. Before I come to look to the constitution of this oo'intry, I must make a few remarks with rega-d to England. We intend to send to the mother country certain gentlemen authorised to present to the Queen our humble. address, praying Her Majesty to relieve us from this Confederation with Canada. We go in the moit perfect confidence that our prayer will be heard. We know to whom we are going to appeal. We are not placed in the condi- tion th^t the old thirteen colonies were in una der old King George III. We hava a very different person to deal within Queen Victoria. We have to approach ministers very different from those of the last century. We have no stubborn King like George III. ; we have no prejudices of the royal mind to counteraot; we have not the infatuation of his ministers to meet. We have the ereateit princess that ever adorned a human throne— a most viitu- ous Queen, who, when she accepted the sceptre, took ths oath that she would role the country according to the laws, cu8» toms and statutes of the realm. She has most nobly fulfilled her oblio;atioQs. and, in answer to the prayers of her own church, '* she has been endued most plenteously with heavenly gifts." In her person she is an example of every virtue; her obedience to the laws exalts her above all monarchs. — Her personal virtues are brighter than all the gems which adorn her Imperial diadem. It ^s to a Queen like this that the people appeal. Have the people no right to pre- sent themselves before their Sovereign Queen ? Has not this ever been the most loyal portion of her dominions. I^id not our forefathers flee from their country be* cause they would not participate in rebel- lion ? Did they not leave their property for their king's sake ? I have seen a resolution passed by the Legislature of Nova Sootia at the time the thirteen colonies rebdled actually petitioning the King to impose taxes upon the Province to assist the Em- pire in its extremity. From that time to this the people of Nova Sootia have been the most loyal that ever dwelt in any part sf Her Majesty's dominions. They will have confidence in presenting themselves before the Queen, and asking to be restored— to what ? To anything that they have no right to demand? Simply to get their own. Can any man suppose for a monient that they will be rejected by a Sovereign like ours 7 We need be under no apprehension. We are pursuing the proper course to obtain a legitimate end, and there isino power on earth that can pre- vent the people from being restored to their rights bat downright tyranny, and that we cannot expect from the hands of the Queen and hsr OoTernmeBt. Do not let the loyalty of NoTalSeotia be suspected. Has any one a right to saspcot it ? Look at the injaries they rlU- le it Brioft Iota ated My D of rith the riied reis, this the will [OlDg doae to thii Provinoe within the iMt liz monthi. See their libertiei talien away; lee them taxed by a foreign and alien Legiela- tare; eee their property taken from them;— all their cattomi handed OTcr to others, col- lected by itrangera before their yery eyei. Bee atamp datiea.and tea duties imposed upon them. Those very acts which forced the old thirteen colonies to rebellion have been ira« posed upon NoTa Scotia with the same extra- ordinary fatuity. And yet have the people rebelled T I haye heard of no movement of agitation on the part of the people beyond the simple burning in effigy of one of the de- legates. If that delegate had belonged to the United States, instead of being burned in effigy, be would have been burned in reality. If men commissioned by any State in the American Union to negotiate any arrange* ment affecting the constitution returned with each a bargain as these men returned with, they would not have been permited to live. The slow process of justice would not nare been extended to them, but that has not been the case in Nova Sootia. This lawretpecting people have made no movement, but they are icoing to submit to it no longer. The time or forbearance is at an end. They had no means of constitutionally speaking until now, and they intend to make use of it. If it should be unsuccessful,. I may be asked what will be the consequence T I am hardly going to anticipate that the appeal of the people can be unsuccessful. I deny the possibility of failure, but then I assert on the behalf of the people as long as the Qaeen of England extends to the people of Nova Scotia her pro- tection BO long will the people refuse to with- draw their allegian/^e. So long as they are protected they will be loyal and faithful; and, sir, let it happen that the Queen of Eng- land and her ministers in Parliament, regard- less of the past, regardless of the loss of the old colonies, tball determine to trample on the rights and liberties of this country ; if they should do so, then it will indeed be a dark and gloomy hour. Sir, when by the decrees of inexorable fate the flag of England and the name of Englishmen shall be taken away from the people of Nova Sootia, and the flag and name of any other country substi- tuted, then I prophesy that this Province will be turned into a house of mourniDg, and every eye will shed hot burning tears of bitter regret and inexpressible woe. Now, having made these preliminary re- marks, I shall turn your attCLtion to the history of our Constitution. I have heard men assei t that we have no valid constitu- tion—that it is made up of despatches. I have been at the pains of examining into this question, and can show you that Nova Eootia has had a chartered constitution, an irrevocable constitution — one that no power on earth can take away except by force or violence. Neither the Queen nor Parliament of England has any right to touch or abro- gate that constitution. This, country was originally known by the naftie of Acadia ana was in the potseESion of the French at one time, and in that of the English at an- other — was long, in fact, debateable ground. The French at last made the seltUment of Port Royal, at present called Annapolis. ■ 2 They fortified it in the ewrly part of tho IStk century; but an expedition was fitted ont by a person of the name of Nicholson, tlrom Boston, who came over and forced the French sarrifon to capitalats. Conn* quently the Province was at this time con- quered by the British. In 1713, soon after the oonqneit. by the treaty of Utrecht Louis XIV. assigned Acadia t^ Queen Anne of England, to herself and her heirs forever. I have before me thelangaage of this treaty— it is striking and plain :— " Yielded and made over to the Queen of Oreat Britain and to her heirs forever." From that time to this Nova Scotia has con- tinued to belong to the British Crown, and the first inquiry we meet is this— what was the effect of that conquest and subsequent cession by Louis XIV. to Queen Anne 7 What was her title 7 Her title was absolute, in fee simple — higher than the title any man in England or America possesses to his estate- higher than the title possessed by the Prince of Wales when he purchased, the other day, a hunting ground in England. The Prince of Wales nolds his estate from the Queen, who is the lady pairamonnt of all the lands in the country, and he may forfeit it to Her Ma- jesty; but that was not the case with the gift to Quccn Anne. She became the absolute owner of Nova Scotia. It did not belong to the people or Parliament of England, who had no more to do with it than the people of Turkey. It was properly transferred, and belonged absolutely to Anne, the Queen of England, and her heirs forever: For 34 years after this cession it remained the proper- ty of the Queen and her heirs, and she could do with it just as she pleased— ju*t as any man in this House might sell an estate belonging to him. She might put a tenant on it, and regulate the covenant under which the tenant would hold it. In 1747 it came into the hands of George II., and he, being desirons of having it settled by English subjects, promised the people of England who would undertake the settlement of the country that he would give them the British Constitution in miniature. Accordingly he ordered a pa- tent to be drawn up, with the Great Seal— a Seal larger than the crown of a hat — for Lord Cornwailis, by which he granted to the people of Nova Sootia the constitution they were to possess. I shall call your attention briefly to the words of that part of the patent which refers to the establishment of a Legis* lative Assembly in the Province. He estab- lished by this patent a Governor in the place of King, a Council in the place of Lords, and a House of Awembly in the place of Com- mons, and made the constitution of the colony as nearly like that of Great Britain as he could. "And we do hereby (this pa- tent ia dated 6th May, 1747.) give and grant unto you (Edward Cornwallie) full power and authority, with the advice and consent of our said Council, from time to time, as need^hall require, to summon and call general assem- blies of the freeholders and planters within your jurisdioiion according to the usage of the >est of our plantations in America, and that you. the said Edward Cornwailis, with the advice and consent of our House of As- sembly or the major part of it, shall have 7 fbll power and authority to make and or- dain (here !• power given to the Leeialatore) laws, itatatea and ordinanoea for the pablio paaoe, and welfare, and {;ood goyernmeat of onr Mid Province and of the people and in- habitant* thereof, and aaoh meaeurea ta ahall tend to the benefit of na and our anooesaora, which aaid lawa and ordinancM are not to be repngaant. but aa nearly agreeable aa poaai- ble to the atatataa of thia oar aaid Kingdom of England." Thia Bolamn deed and covenant cannot be repudiated. After Comwallia obtainsd thia patent in 1747, he and the other Oovernora who iocoeeded him were very alow in calling together the freeholdera in order to give the people the benefit of thia Aaaembly, and ac cordingly in 1707, or ten yeara after the granting of the patent, a oorreapondence took place between the Ministers of George II. and Qovernor Lawrence, in which the Miniatera called upon the latter to execute that deed, and to give to the people their Legiala- tive Aaaembly. Mr. Lawrence thought he could make aa good lawa aa any Aaaembly, and he and hia Council peraiated in paaaing lawa. From the time the constitution waa given, inatead of calling the Legislature to- gether, he anmmoned the Council, and with them made lawa for the government of the Province. In 1755 the aubject waa brought to the notice of the Crown Offioera of Ens- land, for the people of Nova Sootia com- plained that their charter had not been oar« ried into effect, and aome of thsm refuaed obedience to the orders in Council, on the ground that no rules and regul»tiona could be made for the government of the people except through the House of Assembly, after that charter Lad been civen. The matter was referred to William Murrsy and Richard Llovd— the Attorney and Solicitor Generals of England— the former of whom subse- quently became Lord Mansfield, one of the most eminent of Enelish jurists. And here is their opinion — "We have taken the aaid observations into our consideration, and we are humbly of opinion that the Governor and Council alone are not authorized by His Majesty to make lawa." Here ia the opinion of these distinguished jurists that the king could not make laws for the colony. The King having given the oharte" in question, had no power to make laws. Wherever a country is conquered, the conqueror to whom it is ceded has the power to do as he or she pleases in its management. He may, if he chooses, allow the inhabitants of that country to make their own lawa, or put them all to death, or he may send them a code of laws made by himaelf, and allow hia Governora to execute them within the coun* try. But if he confers upon the country any privileges, the deed is obligatory upon him- aelf and heirs, and he cannot annul it, he is bound to submit to it. It is just the same with an individual : m soon as he signs a deed for a piece of land to his neighbor, neither Le nor his heirs, can afterwards dis* pute that aeal. The day the Kiog signed that deed and appended the seal to the commiasion of the Qovernor, he conceded the power to make lawa. Both his Attorney and Solicitor Generals tell him, we have looked at Lord Cornwallia' patent, and yon have not the power to make iuch lawa. No law oaa be binding upon the people of Nova Scotia ex- cept auch aa are paaaed in accordance with (hat charter. To ahow how completely irre- vocable these charters are, I will briefly call your attention to a caae which arose many yeara after, in 1774. Lord Manafield then de* livered hia opinion, in the Court of Queen's Bench, upon a caae which had been a numtier of timea solemnly argued After the conquest of Grenada, the King of England gave a Com- miaaion to a gentleman of the name of Mel* ville, almost identically the same as that ha gave to Cornwallis. Thia deed waa aigned iii the month of April, 1764, but Governor Mel* ville did not proceed to take charge until the following December. In the meantime the King iaaned lettera patent under the great aeal, on the 20th July, 1764, laying a tax upon the people of Grenada— performing, in fact, an act of legialation. The caae waa brought up for argument; the merchant who had paid the tax having came over to England, and having been allowed to try it by the Attorney General. The judgment of the Court waa that the tax waa illegal beoanae the King, when he aigned that Commiaaion to Melville, ceaaed to have any power over Grenada. Here are aome of the obaervationa made by Lord Mansfield : '* After full con* aideration, we are of opinion that before the lettera patent of the 20th July, 1764, the King had precluded himself from the exercise of legislative authority over the island of Gren- ada. ' ' Again he said : "We therefore think after the * * • ♦ • »nd the Commission of Governor of Melville, the King had immediately and irrecoverably granted to all who are or shall become inhabitants of Grenada, the right of having their legislation exercised by an Aassmbly and a Governor in Council." Now, Mr. Speaker, I shall endeavor to bring this argument to a close by inviting the attention of the House, and of the people of England to whom I am speaking at this moment, to the great importance of Nova Sootia to the British Empire. Thia is a sub« jeot which has never been well considered. The old colonies are the most valuable por* tions of the earth— by the stubbornneis of a British King and the stupidity of bis Minis- ters they were lost to the Empire ; and that dismemberment ' waa the most serious that e7er befell the British nation. Lord Chatham actually died protesting against it. Nova Scotia stands on tht front of the American con- tinent just aa England doea in that of Europe. She posaeaaes great mineral wealth, theaource of Encland'a greatnesa. Her coal and iron, with the energy of her people, have brought the mother country to her present high con- dition. We possess the same advantages— we too are almost an idand. If Nova Scotia were lost to England she might bid adieu to New Brunswick, to Prince Edward Idand, and to Newfoundland. These four Maritime Prov* inoes together have a territory similarly situated to the British Isles, and are capable of sustaining a population equal to theirs. Now Great Britain has been to Nova Scotia a very affectionate parent. She has been most kind to us, but we somet'mes hear the states- 7 iBAii of Eoglaad graablinc • littU ftboat th* 0xp«nn inearred in defendlnB thcM ooloniM. I mut oOoftM I Mnnot Me wnfttthat expeni** i3. Great Britain ii a maritime nation and a military power. She mnet have the beet na« Ties on the ooean and one of the itrongeit atoiee in the field. Where ooald ehe main- tain her troopi and navy more eoonomioally than in ' thcie Golonice. The climate ia a very healthy one; the itatistiM ehow that mortality here is leu than in any other part of the world. The people of £ng. land would never oonsentto a standing army remaining in their own country. Theirefore the Boattering of the troops through tlifi colo- nies has been a kind of neoessity. Therefore. BO far from those colonies costing England anything they are little or no eipense to her. She was always a kind mother although not a wise one at times. When she adopted her trade policy in If 48 she left these colonies en- tirely unprotected; she left the trade of No7a Sootia to be managed by people who knew nothing about it. She had up to that time Tnanased our trade herself; she withdrew her foBterfog care and left ns to walk alone. We have managed to live very happy and con- tentedly, but she did not act wisely towards these colonies. Since 1848 no lees than six millions of people have left England, Ireland and Scotland ; where have they gone to T They have gone directly past us into the United States. If England had been a judi> oieuB foiter mother she would have diverted the emigration into these colonies. If she had encouraged the commercial advantages of Nova Scotia and the agricultural capabi- lities of Canac'a we woulu now be a strong nation instead of having only four millions of souls in our midst. We would have a po- pulation of nine or ten millions, and instead of being afraid of invasion the people of the United States would be pleased to think during their interneoiue war that such was the peaceful character and orderly dispoBi* tion of HerMsjesty's Colonies in America that there was no danger to be apprehended from them. J. believe there is no time that a parent knows the value of the child he loves until he hears the cold earth falling upon the coffin, and the sad words, " earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Let England transfer this little province to the United States, and she will, after a few years' time, wake up to the loss she has sustained. If the people of the United States succeed in restoring the union, in healing the differences between the North and the South, and in concentrating their tremendous energies, she must become one of the greatest powers of the world. She is now a great naval power, but give her the bar- bour of Halifax,— which in her hands could be made just as impregnable as Gibraltar. Give her the coal, iron, and fisheries of Nova Sootia, and her power will be largely increas- ed, and millions of people wUl pour into this country. The fisheries alone oi these provinces would be to the United States a nursury for a million or a million and a half of seamen. How long would England then boast of her maritime aopremaoy 7 When the Americans had only ft few m^rable ships they brought moN diisnoe tipon th» British flag than any othtr nation ever sneoetdad in doing. WhftI wonid they be if, when ohaUenged to the teal by Great Britain, they had possession of th« Colonies in addition to their ordinary strength T Suppose in the order of things Francs, another great naval power, should combine her encrKies with those of the UnHed States, against England, in what position would the mother country be 7 How could she contend with such maritime nations as these? Therefore the loss of these Colonies might lead to the degradation of England, and imtead of standing at the head of nations sht might be lowered to the condition of a secon- dary state, if indeed she were not converted into a province of France. I shall now very, briefly call the attention of the House to the resolutions before it. They develops the arguments on which we aok for a repeal of the Union/ The first clanse contends thht the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia had no power to change thecoa- stitution; they had none except what waa given them in the charter. Parliament bad no power over this country— it never had any. This country belonged to the Queen of England, and our Assembly had no oonstita> tional right to consent to or make the slighta est alteration in the constitution under whloh they were elected to make laws. That is the position which we take, and I would like to see the British oonstitutional authorities ez« amine this subject, fur I am convinced they will ackncwledge that I am oorreet. The second resolution is to the effect that the only authority which the Delegates had was derived from the Assembly, who had no power to give any such authority at all. Even this authority, however, they disregard- ed. Their authority simply extended to the negotiation of the terms of a Federal union between all the British North American Colo* ^nies They had no power to select three pro- vinces and confederate them, and therefore in that respect they did not act up to their authority. Then, sir, their delegation waa not legally constituted. If I gave a power of Attorney to A. B. and C. to transact business for me, A. and B. cannot do it without C., uclees I make it optional for them to do it jointly or severally; but if I authoi-ize three men jointly to execute a deed for me, or do any other act, any two of them cannot legally perform the duty. If the House of Assembly authorized a delegation to be couitituted, consisting of an equal number of men from Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, Newfoundland, and Nova Sootia, the delegates had no power to act unless this stipulation waa carried out. No constituent asiembly waa constituted— it oonld make no conititution, or do any act until all the delegates were present. If there were 5 from one province and 6 from another, the whole proceeding was a nullity, because the delegation was not oonetitnted according to their instmctioan. Then again they were told tbat they were to make just provi- sion for the rights and interests of Nova Scotia. How did they do that 7 They gave the whole province away. We had a well- working constitution; we made our cwn laws, raised our own revenues, and tft:xed oanelves. We owned rAilways, fiiheriet, ud \\ other paUto property, bat they g«ve them all ■w»y for nothiog. We ctn st any moment be taxed to any extent arbitrarily by an olifaioby in Canada. The aiith rcaolution atatea that no change aan be made without an appeal to the people. Here ia a iclf-evident propoailion. The oon- Btitntion Ixlottga to whom T To the Hooee of Aaeemhly? No. T^ the LegielatiTe Conn- oil? No, It ia the property of the people of NoTa Boo Ja— every man, woman and child are the ownera, and it cannot be taken away Arom them without their ooneent. £ven the arbitrary monarohiet of Europe admit that prinoiple. When Napoleon feiied upon the Empire what did he do? At alleTcnta he went through the ceremony of sending around the ballot box, and asking the people whether they were willing to change their oonstitu- tion. The other day two SUtea ef Italy, Nice and Savoy, were transferred after the Austrian campaign, and what was done? Did one king sit down and cede the country to the othrr? No; the people were called npon to droide whether they were prepared to accept the change of oonsitution or not. No constitution can be lawfully and oonstltutionally taken away without consult* ing the people who own the constitution. This ia a Melf'STident proposition— just m evi- dent as the fact that no man can have hie farm taken away from him without his oona seat. These resolutions go on to argue that thei people of Nova Scotia were never coneulted until the 18th September, 1867, after the Bri- tish North America Act had pasted t'le Parn liament, and the Queen had given it force by her proclamation. They were ther for the first time asked whether they were willing to accept the change of constitution. Then did the people answer emphatically that they would have nothing to do with it. These resolutions state that the preamble of the Imperial Statute is false, and I believe that when the Qu';beo scheme went home no suoh words were in it. But no sooner did the crown officers oast their eyes over it than they, knowing the constitu- tional course in all such matters, perceived that it was impossibls for the Imperial Gov- ernment to legislate upon the question with* out the consent or request of the people of these colonies. Accordingly they added the preamble declaring that "whereas the people of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick desire to be federally united, Sto." That statute could not have been placed before the Imperial Parliament unless it had these words in it, for it would be unconstitutional un- less the people of theie colonies had testified their assent to it. Therefore the preamble being false, the statute is unconstitutional and falls to the ground. The resolutions go on to say that the peo* pie were not only not consulted, but that they were purposely and designedly prevent - ed from being consulted. Is not that a true statement 7 W hat did the House of Assem' ' y who recently sat upon these benches, wit! lo great credit to them, do in the month of March las' 7 When it was moved that the people of Nova l^otia had a right to be oon- aalted at the polls, whether they would cons ■ent to be oonfederated or not, thatreaolation wu negatived by 88 acalut 16 repreMnta. lives of the pe«ple. whose eervanta w«r* thete 33 persons 7 The servants of the £xe> cativa Council ; they ignored the authority of the people, and raid that the constitution of Nova Scotia belonged to Dr. Tapper and % few others. Then I think we have asserted strictly in accordance with the fact that tha people of Nova Sootia were systematically and perseveringly kept from passing apon the subject of confederation. We have alao stated with truth that the lasteleotion turned entirely upon confederation. I have heard men venture to asiert that other issaea en- tered into that election, but men who say this will state anything. No man living be- fore or during the election, can venture to deny the fact that confederation was the great question which excited the people frem one end of the province to the other. Now there is another clause which tells ns that- theee colonies were, in tho opinion of the Seople of Nova Scotia, united to each other y a conneetion better and superior to that of any confederation that could be derived even upon the fairest and wisest terms. I believe that to be literally true. It is V matter of political opinion. I have alwaya thought that the system of confederation wae the worst by whioK Tve could be united. It ia impossible ro to regulate the conflicting in* teretts of the different countries in a manner that will prevent conflict! and diffionltiea arising. If you leive to the several countries their individuality and allow them to retain their local legitlatares whilst i^v attempt to combine them at the same time under one general head, the experiment will be fatal — in time it must and will end in civil war and the shedding of blood. I believe that has been the experience of the world with respect to ConfeJeretion. The provinoee have no'ir four governments instead of three. If they were really united they would be Btro ger, inagmuoh as the whole is strong- er than the parts, they would have one head, one legislature, one revenue, one set of laws, one tariff. On the other hand, for the reasons I have previously given, the ayatem of Con- federation is, in reality, the worat that could be devised for these Colonies, if the wish is to promote harmony and prosperity among them. We shall pass these resolutions and we may, if necessary, add one or two more^ and when we have done so, it is the design of the Go- vernment and House to send Delegates to Eng- land as soon as we can. to submit to the Queen a humble Address, embracing the substance of these resolutions; and I have maoh pleasure in announcing, so far as I am able to judge, my belief and conviction that tha Delegation cannot possibly fail of suooeu. MPEECB OF nON. IflB. TUOOP. Hon. Mr. Troop said :— In rising this af- ternoon t} second tho resolutions laid on the table by the Attorney General I feel, Mr. Speaker, thtt I would like to have the Par* liaaentary experience of yourself or of the hon. gentleman who so ^ably and eloquently laid the case of Nova Scotia before the House. Before taking ap the thread of the wgnment V,' 1*1 ■• foi ft llltl* whtto tarn ta« attention of ttc Houa to the pofiti«n which Nova SootiA ooeapiM to«dfty h oomparcd with tbtt which rin oMupied » few yeare aijo, before our Lt- giiUtnre undertook to deal with the queiiion of Confederation. The Province wm then peaeefnl, proeperona and happy— Iring a^oofr the eeaboard onr people had lived free and 0OBtented>— their ■ailora went down to the MA in ehlpa,— thfir tbi; Suilderi Mut oat thoM merohantmen for which Nova Scotia it famed, bearing the fltg of EccUnd over the widfrworld,— capitalietB were developioc the minea of the ooantry, and throughout tho length and breadth of the land there were evidenoee that Nova Scotia was rising to be £ free, rich, happy and prosperoui country. If there had been anytbinp occurring among H to obange that atate,— had there been a YoiM in Nova Sootia raised < gainst ihe position we were occupying or any of our eurronnd- ing oiroumatanoes,— anything leading cur people to eeelc political and oonatitntional ehangea, — we might have lesH cauae for com- plaint, and the membera of this LegicUtare would not be in the position which they oo- onpy to-day, oalled upon to take a bold atand for the rights and libettiea of their country- men. I rejoice that our country is yet a British colony,— that we have the British flag above our heada and the British consti- tion at our back, and that in this discussion we ean rise superior to the little knot of ser- vile tools, who, in deOauoe of public opinion, have had the audacity to slander and insult the people to their teeth. In the argument which 1 am going to use on this occasion I will show that the people of Nova Sootia asked for no constitutional okanges and de- aired none, and that the public records are replete with proofs of the assertion. When I look aorosa the water at Old England, and learn from her hiutory what struggles were required to make her what she is to-day, I rigoioethat in this country we can trace back our ancestry io s' me of the men who had fought their naiion up to her present high stHidard. And looking there for pre- cedent instead of public discussion and free debate being confined, instead of her public men taking a leap in the dark, and the opponents of any great measure being taunted with disloyalty, we find in the Par- liament, in the press, and on the platform equal free, open, manly argument and de- bate,— we find none of the loyalty which is dressed out in buckram and court trappings, we find the people understanding their rights and liberties, and bringing to the front the highest statesman in the land who dares to override a single right which the people possess. ^isi In entering en this disounion I do so feel- ing that I am a British subject, that I have the same rights which a man has who is born on the soil of Jngland. And I feel likewise that if this discussion could have been trans- ferred across the Atlantic, the delegates and the contemptible press that supported them would have had to debate this question on its merits, and not in snah a way. as to out* rage the feelings of all who were not iubser- Tient to thiair views. I will not travel flur bMk OT«r the reoords toaohiuB thi* t«zed qa«>atlun, for the main argamenti Ue in to narrow a compass thit in a s'-ort lime I think [ can bring forward the whole case fully and fairly as it standa between Nova Scotia and (ynnada. I think it i« our duty in tbi* debate tu throw all the llgl\t that is available on thequrstioo, and to produce ali the inforniation f'-oin public dtjpatobvs and otherwise, tLat may Btreni<;thcn oar case when it onmes to be laid before the Parlia- ment of Great Britain. In the first place then I ask the attention of the House lo a despatch dnted in 1850, signed by Messrs. Cartier, Rose and Gait, tbr««> of the leading statesmen of Canada, and by this I will brinK Cftna-ia to bear witness against Cana- Jc. It is not the people of the Maritime ProvinoeH who originated the charges agfiinst the Canidiane, of which wo have eo otten heard, for thee^ three gentlemen ad« mitted that in 1858 to such an extent had party strife and faction gone, that the poli- ticians of that country were like so many Kilkenny oats tearing at eich other's throats, and we find that those able minds of Britith America had brought their country into a state of degradation and confusion, to inex* tricable that they wei*e obliged to go t9 the parent cor^ntry and ask the British govern- ment to relieve them of their difBoaltics by dragging in the Maritime Provinoee. That despatch elicited a reply from Sir. £. Bulwer Lytton, then Secretary of State for the Colo* niee, and what was that reply? "Nova Sootia hat a constitution of her o:;:; — her people have done nothing to forfeit' their oonstitutional rights, they are loyal to the Crown, and while t'^y maintain their allegi* ance and perform their dutietf aa good oliU zen's and free born subjects of ihe Empire, vte will not interfere with them,— go and do your own work,— shew that you are fit to govern yourselves, and then get the people of the other Colonies to join yon if yon can!" That was the subbtanoe of the advice which Sir Bnlwer Lytton gave to those ttatcsmen. Did they take it ? Not they— but immediate- ly commenced plotting to obtain by artfol wiles what they could not obtain fairly and constitutionally. Here is the record of Canadian faction, as drawn by three of her oldest statesmen : "It is our duty to state that very grave difficulties now present themtelvet in con- ducting the Government of Canada in ttioh » manner at to shew due regard to the withet of 'ts numerous population. The Union of Lower with Upper Canada was baaed upon perfect equality being preterved between thete Provincea, a condition the more neoei- tary from the differences in their respective language, law and religion— and' although there is now a large English population la Lower Canada, still their difllBrenoet exist to an extent which prevents any perfect and complete agsimilatlon of the views of the two sections. "At the time of the Union Act, llbwar Canada possessed a much larger population' than Upper Canada, but this produced no difficulty in the Government of the united Province under that Act; since that period^ however, the progreat of population lui b«ttl ' more rapid io the weetem notion, Md i.. -•?t.. 10 fHaivu *t9 now made ob tMholf of iti inhabi- tenU for Idling tbem reprtMotatioo in the LfKiaUtare in proportion to their numberi, wlHoh olaime inTCitiof , it ii bRlieved, a moit eerioai interference with the principlee up'^n which the Union was bMed, hare been, and are, atrenaouily reaiatedby Lower Canada. "The reaolt ia ahewn by an agitation fraught with grebt danger to the peaoefal and harmoniona working of oar conatitution* al ayatem, and ooneeqaentiy detrimental to the progreaa of the ProTinc- "The neoeaiity of providing » remedy for a atate of thinge that ii yearly becoming worae, and of allaying feelinge that are daily aggravated by the contention of political Skrtie*, has imprewed the adviaers of Her ajeaty'a repreeentativej in Canada with the importance of aecking for each a mode of dealing with theie difficoltiei aa may forever remove them. In thia view, it haa appeared bdviaable'to them to oontider how fnrthe union of Lower with Upper Canada could bo rendered eaaentially federative in combination with the Provinces of New Brunawiok, Nova Scotia Newfoundland and Prince Edrard laland, together with'eaoh other tcrritoriei ai it may be hereafter desirable to incorporate with such confederation from the poieeaeions of the crown in Britieh North America. "The underaigned are convinced that Uer Ilajeety'a Government will ba fully alive to tbe grave nature of the >:irciimttances r«- ferred to, which are stated by them under the [full re»pon$ibilUy of their position as advis- ers qf the crown in Canada. They areaat- isfied that tbe time has arrived for a coneti- tntionat discassioM of all means whersby the evils qf internal' dissension may be avoided in such an important dependency of the em- pire of Canada." I think that this language showa what the views of the people and government of Can- ada were at tk)kt time in seeking a. Union with (.he Maritime Provinces. We hear now a good deal about loyalty— about tbe neces* aity of binding together these ColonijRs by an Intercolonial Railroad ; but did the people of Canada say anything about such email mat- ters then f Were they filled with loyalty and prompted by a desire to build up a second England on tbis continent 7 We hear not a word about that; but they tell the British people and government, " we are fighting ^jQoth and nail; we cannot get along harmo- niously ; apH because we are in that condition we pray youi- Majesty > government to bring about a Union which will give us the control of the jlaiitime P.rovinoee." Thia is the first piece of evidence that I produce against Canada, and I produce it to show that in aaktng for a Union the Canadians, instead of being anivated with feelings so noble as those which have been ascribed to them— in- stead of desiring to lay the corner atone of a great nittion, ali they desired waa to get 7e- presentation by pupulatim, in order that Western Canada mieht govern British Ame- rica at it pleased. Had we returned up to the present honr the men of calibre aud intel- lect who labored to found our institutiona and who filled our councils in 1760, instead of the men who have i uied Nova Scotia for tlte lut four yean, our history would have told a different tale. If we had beec gOTcnad by the men who helpad to baild onr coasti- tut'on, we would not now be engaged in a fearful struggle to regain what perfidy haa takeu from ns. Sir £. Bulwer Lytton, in hla reply, says :— • " The question, however, ia one which in* volves net merely the intereeta of the import- ant Province of Canada and ita relatione to- wards the Umpire, but also the position and welfare of tbe other ..'orth American Pro- vinces." • * ♦ • " We think that we shonid be wanting in proper consideration for those p;overnments if we were to author* ixe, without any previous knowledge of their 7iews, a meeting of delegates from the Exeoa- tive Councils, and thus to commit them to a preliminary «tep towards the settlement of a momentous question, of which they have not yAt signified their assent to the principle." The nezt pi«icg of evidence m connection with this subject we find in the Journals of )86l, when a resolution was paeteJ on the construction of whioh the Canadian delegates based their constitutional right to legislate away this country. I have heard, as the discussion progreued, that the legislature had a right to do as it did, and that the de' legates had a right to do aa tiiey did, b^oauce of this resolution of 18r>l, which merely ex- presses that '■ whereas the question of a Union of the Coloniea haci been before the country for a long dme, and for the purpose of setting the public mind at rest, the go> vernment should be authorised to send dele- gates to confer with the Canadians en that and other subjects. Can tbe stream rite highe? than its source T When the delegates went to Canada, and nothing came of their mission the resolution beoa:;.ie a dead letter; very many thought that the question was set at rest, and so did these delegates and this legislature of Nova Scotia, because when they came to discuss a union of the Maritime Provinces, we tiad tbe Provincial Secretary introducing a fr^eh resolution to effect that Maritime union. Where wai) the queation of British poHoy then 7 Why were we not then told : '* you are doing wrocg; Great Britain Jesires you t^ confederate with Canada— v..) • build up a great nationality, with one foot on the Atlantic, and the other on thePaoiii'*''" Not a word was a&id about that. These re- solutionb were acted upon by the Nova Scotia Government; but no sooner did the deleif t^es go down to Cbarlottetown, than Lord Monok, with a HtrADre assumption of power, a'.ompt- ed to lead (hem from their legitimutb mission. He saja in thia despatch, dated 30th June, 1864, to Mtjor-Genera) Doyle, who then ad- ministered the Government of Nova Scotia : " I have the honor to inform you that it is the wish of the Canadian Government to send a Delegation to attend the Corfervnoe which it is proposed to bold this year, of gentlemen representing respectively. Nova Scotia, New Brunewiok, and Priuoe Edw»rd Island, with a view to the Union of those Provinces. Tbe object of the Canadian Government is to as- certain whether tbe proposed Union may not be m«de to embrace the whole of tbe British North American Provinces. I shall feel much obliged if you will inform me of the time and plaoe which have been fiz'ki on for the meet* Ji I 11 ^ ing; and I trait the prownoe of » CaBadiM DengatioB will be agmeable to their brethern of the Maritime ProTinoeii." I nm dealing; with thia question from° a eon- etUntional point ol' Tiew, and bringing to the bar of pabi!9 opinion Lord Monck, and the delegatee who attempted to override the eon- ■titatlon. The doctrine that they had the rieht to do aa the^ did, leems to have dawn- ea On their minda at a very late date, for Dr. Ta;)per*0 goTemment, throngh Sir Bichard MoDonnclT, replied to Lord Monck in the fol- lowing language : " In the meantime I can aranre your Lord- ahi;; of the extreme pleaaure which it will Afford thia GoTernQent, to confer unofficially with any Delegates cent from Canada. It ie, however, neeemary to remind your Lordahip that no Reaolntion haa yet been passed by any of the Legielaturee of the Maritime Pro- vinces, authorising the appointment of Dele- gates for any purpoac but that of considering aoidb plan for the Union of the three Pro* vincea. Therefore, neither I nor my Ministry have tho power to go beyond the exact poV* era conferred by that Resolution." Thia is constitational law as laid down by Dr.' Tapper and his Government,— there ia a statement deliberately made by th? Qoverii- ment, but which they saw fit to repudiate in twenty days after date. And what did Mr. CardwMl say on the subject 7 Did he say "you have not carried out the policy of this Gov* ernment— the British Government desire Con- federation with Canada to take place 7" Not a word or a syllable to that effect came aerosa the water, but in plain and ex* plioit terms ihe people were told that the official mission waa to consider a union of the Mariime Provinces. Twenty dayo af- terwards we find these delegatea going to Quebec. I will not follow them there among the champagne revelriea and drunken routs, —we have heard sufficient of that. Instead of acting as if they were laying the founda- tion of a great nation, it appeared as if they had gone off to a midnight rout or a shindy in the backwoods. But the fact is that the CanaJians having got the dtlegates into' the leading string . entrapped them into the Que- bec reeolutioua. Then we all know that when the Legithture attempted to deal with the quettion it excited one univereal atorm of dis^t pprobation throughout the country. When public opinion ia formeJ in this country upon anyigrave subject, it is by neighbor meeting neighbor around the fireside, in social gather- ings, and by friendly, mutual conversation, — tbcn comes into play the Intelligence of the country. I have heard ignorance imputed to our peopie, — and it was said that the ignorant class of the population are AatinUnionists, — that a great many able and intellectual men, all thejudgies, all the ministevs and all the high functionaries are in favor of the Union. I take here a bold stand and say : Suppose t*- judgea and ministers and nabobs and high officials are in favor of it, what ia that if the people are agcinst it 7 The people are the greatest, for u you destroy the people's rights you impair the whole fabric of the oonstititution. Destroy i j ie rights and you make the people feel degraded, and what then ia -the value of courts of justice and sohojls and pnlpitaT Oite th« mindi of the .^.- free room and play-^o not pnt s padlock or a gag npon them. It is thatmtelUcraee r«a~ ning like lightning throogh the laid that&u shattered the rasko of the Confederate patty to atoms. When the Legislatare oane to dsal with the queatloD at its Irat lesaiol^htl de|c< gates fail'^d to carry oat the arrangsoiettt they had made with their oolleaguea in C^ nada* chey were to have aakea the Hook to agree by resolntion to the Qaebto rt- solutions. IfThy did they not do itt Pe- oansebthnies has been conetantly discussed in thia Province since that time. Yet the opponents of union were only able to obtain the signatures of &;• 085 people out of a population of not ies9 than 3S0,00O for presentation to the House during the present session, praying that it mighc be referred to the people at the polls. The foregoing resolution, after full delibera- tion and discussion, was carried in the Legia* lative Council by a vote of 13 to 5, and iu the House of Aasembly by 31 to 19. All the mem- bera of the present Govemmeut and four members of the late Government, of whioh Mr. Howe waa the leader, united in sustain- ing the resolution, while but two voted against it." That Minute of Council, prepared in the cjcrec^ of t'ue Council Board, under the direction of Sir Fenwick Williams,, the Lieu- tenant Governor of Nova Scotia, was sent to England, and it stands on our Journals stamping the men who framed it with the crime of gross misrepresentation. They knew they were deceiving the British Govern- ment—that under cover of that despatch they were perpetrating an act of gross injustice and doinc a cruel w:c_;r to the people of Nova Scotia. Determined to trick the coup'' try and to perpetrate a fraud, they had 'if t out of the Governor's speech at the opening of the session all mention of Confederation, and at a late period of the session, when no petitions had been presented in consequence of tht) Assurance that nothing would be done, that country was taken by surprise. The Minute of Ccunoil, framed by the Govera- l^ mvat, irIio,h«d • fall knowledge of the witbei of the people, «uurine (he GoTcrnaaent thtt only 8000 pereone had petitiontd tgainat the meMare, vai oklcultted to lead that Oovero* m^r.t to lOppose that the great itaajority of the people were in favor of the union. I a«k, the% in view of the state of public opin- ion at that period If the government of the day did not know that the atatement oon- taioed in tuoh Minut; was a deliberate una truth? laekifitwu n'^t made to mislead and deceive the British Government T Its aulhora doubtless supposed that it would be shut out from the public eye until it had done its work, and after that they thought it would be too late for anything to be said about it. They sent it to the Imunrial Parliament with no, honest intention. Followiug rapidly down the reoord, let me ask why it was that about this time there wero suuh breaks in the ranks of those in this Legislature who were known to be determined opponents of Con- federation when every day intensified the feeling of tiie country against the resolutions which had been adopted by the House'. Can we not tee in the subsequent results : in members giving up their opposition for valu- able consid'^ration— for high and infiueatial positions ei^'ewbero a great deal of signifi- cance. Those gentlemen may have been as pure, at innocent and as conscientious as they claim to be— they may never have had a single stain upon their political integrity— their palnri may never have felt a single piece of gold, but I cannot help thiiiking that if the Attorney General had a fellow in the dock, chargei with a criminal offence, Kith evidence so presumptive against him, bb would make a pretty strong case of it, and the jury would not have much hesitation in pronouncing him guilty. There is sufQ- cient evidence, taking all the manoeuvring of the sentlemcn who had the matter in band, tu »iew a deep design to keep the people from expressing their opinions. They kept us from the polls up to the latest hour well knowing what the result of an election would be. When the elections did come off, the men who had been engaged in bartering their country away— the men who had thrown their infiuenoe against their own people, and in favor of Canada, hardly dared to ask for the confidence and support of the people. The day of reckoning has come with overwhelming power, and the feel- ing of the people age'nst this enforced union has ever since been increasing in strength. It is like the rushing wind from the mouutun carrying everything before it. When wa find the men who on that day were rejected by the people whom they had betrayed leaving their country for Ottawa, 1 say if they can there find consolation around the palatial halls of that city or a panacea for their rounded consciences, there is no reason that can see why Nova Scotia should not be very glad to get rid of them. I next wish to direct the attention of the House to the ac- tion of the dilegates when they went on their mission across tbe water, and carried their measure to the House of Commons find tbe House of Lords. We then find Mr. Watkin making a speech that has attained great no- toriety, and has become matter of history. Bnt for his deoUnition who belietct that thff British House of Gommona wonld have lagis* lated against our interests 7 Bat for Lis m« soranoe that Confederation bad been btfore the people of Nova Booiia at the polls, who can imagine that we would have been farced into this ihateful and detested anion 7 For who oonld doubt in the House of Gommona the assertion made by Mr. Watkin that Dr. Tapper had preached Confederation at every polling booth previous to the election, oon« ing, aa it did, from the Premier himself 7 How could it be supposed that the accredited minister of the Province of Nova Sootia would resort to evasion and deception 7 Sir, in view of these facts, I may say that I would like no better cue to present, on behalf of » free people, in any court of law or equity thin that which can be presented by the people of Nova Scotis. Then, again, let me turn attention to the one-sided, partial and unjuitifiable action of Lord Monok. I speak of him with all .^he respect due to his high position, but I cannot pass over a declaration made in hia speech in the House of Lords without comment. We find his lordship leaving his post on this continent, going home with the delegates, taking hia place in the Hou«:j .f Lords, where it was supposed he fully uniicrstood the feel- ing both of the Maritime Frovinoea and Can- ada, and that he would be posaeaaed of fall information, there stating that the Station in Nova Sootia was the work of half a dosen men. I can excuse His Excellency for any- thing but that; and when we find that speech on the public records of the oountry, with* out note or comment from him, after the 18th of September has passed and left such evi- dence behind of the real feeling of the people of Nova Scotia. I aay thai the Oovernor,Gen» eral waa in no poaition to open the Domina ion Parliament with the apeech which he made. Instead of congratulating the people of Nova Sootia on their being engaged in in" augurating the new Dominion, he ahould have told our people that they had been de* graded. He ahould have explained away the speech which he made when, to carry Con- federation and help his Canadian friends and their party, he went to the House of Lords ajd used the following language : — "Lord Monck expressed a hope that their lordships would permit him to say n few words upon tbe Bill, considering the share which he had had in its origination. He would at tne outset refer to one thing, which appeared to him of great importance in a eonstitut'.onal point of view. It had been, he thought, most unwarrantably assumed that the Province of Nova Scotia waaoppoaed to the union. Now, he believed the expres- sion of opinion which had come from Nova Scotia to this co)..'ing, meant that the question shoald be subjected to the 13 decision of tke people, inatead of iti iMing determined by the people's repretentatiTce. Bach a demand, to hie mind, betrayed a great ignorance, not only of the prinoiples of the Britiih Conetitation, but of the prinoiples on which all Parliamentary Oovernment was founded." His lordship had read the history of his ewn country to little purpose when be could make that declaration. What is that history oomposed of for the last two hundred years but the history of men oftentimes struggling through bloodshed to the enjoyment of their rights — the record of men 'it great intellect — men whose names have been emblazoned on the roll of fame, fighting for the great prinoiples which have made England the mistress of the world, the country to which every distressed nationality resorts as a city of refuge, under whose flag the exile is safe. Once upon the soil c'; Britain thfi fugitiye is no longei* likely to be stricken down ; but in laying the foundation stone of the new na- tionality I say letus not begin the work by stri- king down what has cost England centuries to build up— what has been so long established in the hearts asd affections of the people. Get the sympathies of the people With you, and then go on building the superstructure. Let it come to be understood that the rights of the people are one matter, and the rights of the governing oligarchy another, or that any oligarchy can control the country, ttrik- ing down the independer.oe of the people and rednoing them to % condition of serfdom, and the freedom and glory of the parent country no longer belong to us. After de- livering that spesoh in the House of Lords I wonder how Lis lordship could come down to Parliament and use this language :— "I congratulate you on the Legislative sanction which has been given by the Imper- ial Parliament to the Act of Union, under the provisions of which we are now assem- bled, and which has laid the foundation of a new nationality that T trust and (believe will ere long extend its bounds from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean." He congratulates the people of the Domin- ion on building up this confederation ; but did he not remember the damaging record that stood against him on the other side of the ocean, when he made that declaration in the House of Lords to influence that august assemblage in supporting the legislature that undertook to give away the country, and to break down every barrier that had been placed in th;3ir way 7 Did he forget that he had gone across the ooean in the train of the delegates, to take his place as a peer of the realm, to assist in carrying Confederation, and there to state that the agitition in Nova Scotia was the work of a half dozen individ- uals 7 If he was so instructed by his friends, the Delegates a' that time, then since the 18th of September he has been undeceived, and he should since have acknowledged that up to that time he had not known the true stats of ■ theoaee. We have beard a great deal, as I have said, about disloyalty, and without wishing to detain the House, I wiU merely turn attention to the mode in which this measure was carried. Tbo country believss that the Confederation act wio paM- ed through the legislatura by formptionMtd fraud— that His Ezoallenoy General Williams, when he was tent out her«, came for the sole purpose of carrying the measore-r-prepared to resort to any means— and lent bimaelf. through his government, to that design. I believe that if certain festivities at Govern- ment House had never taken plaee, we would not be engaged in this discussion to*day. It reminds me cf a dark day in old Ireland's history, wheii her free legislatare was sold for English gold, when bribery laid the eonn* try waits, and inflicted upon it the terrible woes that succeeding generations have in- herited. In May's Constitutional history, I find this passage on that subject : " Lord Castlereagh estimated the cost of these expedients at a million and a half, and the price was forthcoming. The purchase of boroughs was no new scheme, having been proposed by Mr. Pitt himself, on the basis of bis measure of Parliamentary reform in 1785, and now it was systemically carried out in Ireland. The patrons of boroughs reoeivea £7,500 for each seat, and eighty-fotir bo* roughs were disfranchised. Lord Devonshire was paid £53,500 for seven seats, Lord Bly £45,000 for six. The total compensation amounted to £1 ,260,000. Peers were further compensated for the lois of their privil^es in $he national council by profuse promises of Er^lish peerages, or promotion in the peerage of Ireland ; commoners were concili- ated by new honors, an 1 by the lurgessts of the British government. Places were given or promised, pensions multiplied, secret ser* vice money exhausted. In vain Lord Corn* walliscompU uedof the " political jobbing" and " dirty business" in which he was " in' volved beyond all bearing," and " longed to kick those whom his public duty obligea bim to court." In vain he " despised and hated himself, while negotiating and jobbing with the most corrupt people under heaven. " British gold was sect for and distributed, and, at length, in defiance of threats of arm- ed resistance, in spite of insidious promises uf relief to Catholics, and corrupt defection among the supporters of the government, the cause was won." The luckless viceroy applied to himself the app opriate linns of Swift : Bo to effeot bis monprch'i eiu^.a From hoH a viceroy devil ascends ; This budget with corruptica crammed Tlie ooBstitutions of the damned. 'Wbieb with unipaiing hand he ttroves Throngh courts and senates as he gees ; And then at BeelseLub's black hall Complains his budget is too imall. How aptly this language can be applied to the gentlemen who carried on the work of c rruption in this country ;— they must, like Alexander, have wept because they had no more worlds to conquer when they got weak- kneed politicians to Government House un- der the inflaenoe of the appliances which eventually induced them to hand over the political rights of this country to the Cana- dian government. The people, I say, took this ground : and in battling for their rights and privileg3s, and asking for free discus- sion and debate, they have been charged by 14 • portion of the pren and the lapporteri of aoerttin futionwith being Fenian eympa- Uiii«M and annezetioniatfl. All Icuiay ii ihftt the firat article having enoh a tendency wae from a Confederate journal of this oity. If each lentiauenti are advocated in the press ire oaa charge home upon the Confederate party for having such a paper among them . :lt seems (hat a few years ago the public mind of the United States was set on the gut vive to see whether that country could get hold of the Provinces, and had it not been for Nova 3ootia I believe that these Colonies would have gone long ago. Where were we when annexation clubs were formed through- oat Canada, and when annexation flags were thrown to the btecise ty their prominent men? We were true to our allegiance, warning the .people of Canada that their course would bring them into disgrace. Let it not, then, be charged upon us that, be- cause we believe the tendency of Confedera- tion to be the handing over of the Province to the United States, and because we have no desire to become a part ef that country, the Anti-Confederate party, or the Government, or the gentlemen who sit on these benches have disloyal tendencies. That slander has gone far enough ; the men who originated it do not dare to repeat it in open day, where they can be confronted ; but in the back elums of Halifax a portion of the press that is justly held beneath contempt has been busy in the circulation of the slander. When they pour out the vials of their wrath let them remem* ber that their shafts do rot touch us, because we will carry forward the struggle in which ve are engaged in strict obedience to the British Conititution, and with no disloyal sentiment escaping our lips. With them " the wish is father to the thought;" it is because they desire annexation that they love Confederation and the principles which it embodies rather than monarchical princi* pies. When they charge disloyal sentiments on oar people they had better see where their own principles are leading them. Mr. Darby, in bis report on the fisheries, says : — " The Provinces have long desired expan- sion. Their territory contracts as it runs easterly, and presents in a northern latitude a narrow front on the At'antio. New Eng- land lies between Canada and the sea. A few years since, the Halifax Morning Journal, an influential paper of Nova Scotia, presented a plan for annexation, from which we make the following extracts, viz. : 'In the much wished-for event of a consolidation of the Colonies, the possession of Maine is of vast importance; more, perhaps, than we have been wont to imagine. A glance at the map will show, that at present she destroys the symmetry of the proposed confederation. — She stands like a wedge driven up to the butt in a foreign country, and it gives rise to the idea that Lut a few more blows are needed to effect a complete separation of Canada and New Brunswick. Nor is it symmetry alone which demands the annexation of Maine; there are other reasons of far greater im« portance why this should, if possible, be effected, and which we propose to set plainly forth in this article.' " The Nova Sootia plan didnottake— it was premature. It is cited here merely to show the aspirations of the Colonies, and as a pre- cedent for this discussion, for it jaakes an- nexation a Provincial measure. We can af- ford to be more generous and give to the Provineial plan a shape more comprehensive, more statesmanlike, more consistent with the rights of all." Bere then we have a Confederate Journal, which now brags of its loyalty, foreshadow* ing the ground-work of a Scheme by which the Colonies were to be handed over to the United States, and yet we are the disloyal men. Our accusers are very loyal men, but Washin;,ton gold might possibly overcome their loyalty. What are we to think when we have annexation sentiments proclaimed by the press of Halifax, and when a poition of the people with whom it was the intention to confederate us have petitioned for admis* sion to the American Union 7 Is that the people with whom we are to join in order to build up a new nationality. Is a union form- ed with such a country likely to be a solid and permanent one under the British Grown? Another idea thrown out was that unless we went into the union the British government would oast us off. Why should they do so 7 Nova bootia came forward and put her Mili- tia into a sound state of organization, when Canada was qaarrelling about her Militia bills, and whep her government was attacked for proposing a Militia grant. Qreat Britain , I take it, desires that we should do oar duty, and let us be once out of Confederation and the people will meet their wishes by provid- ing for their defpnoe in every reasonable way, —but in so providing let it be understood that we have no wars, no national States. — we are in the position of the son to the father ; the father raling, the son enjoying security and peace. We have nothing to defend our- selves against;— if a war should break out to-morrow between Great Britain and another power, we would not be consnltedt but we might be obliged to assint in bearing the brunt of it. We would do so willingly in subordination to the Crown and Imperial government, because we desire to uphold tho glory of the British flag, but while doing so we deny the right of a legislature, elected for no such purpose, to sweep away our con- stitution and to place us under the domina- tion of a eovernment removed beyond our control. If time permitted I might refer to the geographical position of these Provinces. We have territory enough for thirty states, we have vast tracts of wilderness country, stretching to the Pacific and back to tho Rocky Mountains, in which there is not a man to build a fort or man a gun. We have four millions cf people scattered over half a continent, and with such a country-^with scarcely an inhabitant to a square mile— we are asked to believe thftt we are in a position to found a new nationality. The idea is truly absurd, and can lead to but one result. Nova Sootia will be no party to so monstrous a proposition. Nova Scotia asks, loyally, constitutionally asks for a repeal of this most obnoxious act upon the following, among other grounds: Ist. Because tbe constitution of Nova Sootia being a charter granted to this ooun- m merely toihow !■> and M « pre- or it jnakea mi- re. We oaa »f. nd giTe to the BoomprehensiTe, iristent with the derate Journal , ty, roreshadow* leme by which led over to the ^re the dialoyal loyal men, but •ibly oTcrcome to think when nts proclaimed whenm poition as the intention led for admisa t la that the pin in order to a a union form- to be a solid British CrownT that unless we iSh government Id they do so 7 I put her Mili. lization, when ut her Militia It was attacked Great Britain, d do our duty, iederation and es by.proTid- iaaonable way, be understood lal States.— we the father; >ying security to defend our- Id break out in and another ilted* but we t bearing the willingly in and Imperial to uphold tho hile doing so fttnre, elected way our con- the domina- beyond our ght refer to 3se Provinces, hirty states, IMS country, back to the ere is not a in. We have over half a )untry— with ire mile— we in a i)osition The idea is t one result. 10 monstrous lis, loyally, peal of this following, 1 of Nova ' this coon- 15 try by the British Govemment, giving ibt people the right of ■elf-governmeat-^tiie right of regulatini; their omn trad* and ooBHueroe— tlw nnregtrieted righrt of diepos- ing of, their own revenues, ahd the power of geiierAl legislation under auoh oonstituioD'- oantaot be materially altered or changed without the sanction of the people. 2nd. Because the people of Nota 0oMit, have been no parties to the alteration of thn constitution, but on the contrary have used every available means to prevent the passing of the "British North America Act," and by petition to the Legislature, and by loyal ad- dresses to the Queen, and by petitions to the Imperial Parliament of England, have pro- tested against the Confederation of thia Pro- vince with Canada. 3rd. Because a majority of thr, Legislature of Nova Scotia who usurped the power of legislating ui>on Confederation were elected and held their seats under the constitution they attempted to destroy, and by frattd'and deception misled the Govemment of England by dedaring that they represented the yinwt and wishes of the people of Nova Scotia. 4th. BecBxise the "British North America Act" deprives us of constitutional rights etnd privileges enjoyed by Nova Scatia for a cen- tury—which Act wM formed in contemptaous defiance of such rights and privileges. Stb. Because a willing sabraission io the provisions of that enactment will stamp the people of Nova Scotia as servile depend' ints upon Canadian charity. 6th. Because it has despoiled us of our re- venues — deprived us of the right of regi ilat* ing our tariff, and placed the powf.r of tax* ing the industry and resources of this c oun- try in a Canadian Government, over w 'hich we can exercise no control. 7th. Because the Journal of this Lef psla- ture show that Canada has sought this Con- federation not because she desired to p crpe- tuate British Institutions upon this com inent — not by reason of her love for the old flag and her loyal devotion to the British oi. 'Own, but because of the shameful and disgr: toeful fueds and faction fights between Upper' and Lower Canada, which had rendered coristitn- tional government in that country a shAm and delusion- which had made her public men contemptible in the eyes of the wcirld,— and having brought their country t o this humiliating and degraded position, they sought to drag in the free, proepero p.i and happy Provinces of Nova Scotia ar id New Brunswick under Confederation as *'inake- weights," in order, if possible, t-> relieve themselves of the disadvantages unc* ^er which they labored. 8th. Because the Union of the Maritime Provinces with Canada, under sur ,h circum- stances, will lead to the most de plorable re- sults; and, if not repealed will , sooner or later, eventute in disaster to the whole. 9th. Because the Governme' at of the so- called Deminion has already c atered upon a most extravagant system of ex penditnre, not warranted by the revenues of the Dominion, and will result in taxing still ' /urther the rate- payers of this country. 10th. Because the acquisi tion of new terri- tory by the Dominion of C' uiada is is source of weakness to the so^oalled ConMemtioBt and may retnlt in involving thia Provinoe in bi.nkrnptoy and rain. 11th. Becanse thia country cannot adopt the absurd idea embodied in tlw British North America Act, by which British America, en-' bracing half a contiaant with a spans popu- lation, is to be governed and controlled by a government at Ottawa— the provinces of Ontario and Qaebeo bein^ the controling powers. 12th. Because the people of Nova Scotia cannot recognize the necessity of assuming liabilities for the defence of British Columbia, or of placing themselves in a positio4 to b» called upon at any time to defend a oonntry thousands of miles away. 13th. Because the alleged fact that the Legislature of British Columbia has petition- ed to be reoeived into the United States of America is calculated to weaken any union of the whole of British America, and taken in connection with the fact that a portion of the pe&ple of Canada have heretofore exhibit- ed by disloyal and treasonable manifestations their repugnance to British monarchial in" etitntions, and their preference for those of the United States, leads the people of Nova Scotia to repudiate any connection with Provinces disaifected towards the British Crown. 14th. Becanse]the imposition of a stamp act and the increase in the tariff are most tyran* nical and oppressive, calculated to cramp the expansion of trade, to retard the prosper rity cf the country, and to exact money from our people for the benefit ^of Canada, and without in any way benefitting the people of Nova Scotia. 15th. Because the allowance of 80 cents per head, and the annual subsidy granted from the Dominion Government, is no com- pensation for the large sums taken from us by Canada, and will be wholly inadequate to meet the increasing wants of this country. 16th. Because above all Nova Scotia repu' diates this Dominion, and asks for repeal be- cause her people were not oonsalted upon the measure— while the people of New Brunswick and the other Maritime .Provinces have been allowed to determine for themselves whether or not they would be confederated with Ca- nada. For these reasons this Legislature and this Government ask the British Government for a Repeal of the British North America Act so fkr as it relates to Nova Scotia. I hope that when our loyal address is presented to Her Majesty it will have the desired effect, and that our delegates will bring back to us the restoration of our rights and privileges. When we look at the United States, and con» side^the internecine war, the effects of which are still preying on the vitality of tte coun- try—when we see the disaffection prevailing in Canada, and find the public records charged with that which shakes cur confi' denoe in her statesmen, is it any woader that we turn from Washington to London— to London, the metropolis of the world— Lon- don, with its abbeys containing the dust of men whose fame is handed down to jposterily ? There is the Empire to' which we wish to be- long; we do not desire a union with the back 16 country of Canadft, bat » union with the Em- pire of Britftin. That Enpire ii large enough for our ideu; the upiratione of our people lead them to aeek nothing that would alienate na from the old flag, or break off the oonneotion with the parent inatitutione, — but they aeek rather to be drawn cloMr, ao that an Engliahman or Sootohman may feel, when he oomea to Britiah Amerioa, that he has ilot left one half hia manhood behind him. Our delegatea will eo to England, and lay the lentiments coming from the people at the foot of the Throne. When they naTe pre« lented the eaae they have in hand, I rely on it that the Queen, who can do no wrong, will giTe baok to ua what haa been wrongfully and fraudulently taken away. In the mean* time let us poatcBa our aouls in patience. I rejoice to aee the bold itsnd which the people are taking throughout the country at |the meetinga which are being hold, and I did not wonder ycaterday at the flush of pride that mantled the face of the hon. member for Yar- mouth aa he presented the petition from hia noble oouaty on this subject. The aentimenta which are coming up to us every day do cre% dit to the feelings of the people — they show that the rights of Britons are well under- stood and appreciated among us. Had our people bowed down in servile submission to their rulers, they would have become the mere lickspittles of the people of Canada; but showing, as they have done, the determi- nation that, Ood being their helper, they will fight this battle to the bitter end, wf may defy any power to coerce us into compliance. Nova Sootians are terribly in earnest in this matter, and while remaining loyal to the constitution, will take care not to be led away by will- o'- wisps or any loud blus- terings of the enemies of our people. Our enemies may ply all the arts of false hood and fraud, but we are determined to stand upon the sentiment that to Nova Suotians belonsB Nova Scotia. Our rights are as dear to us as those of the people of England, and while doing battle for those rights, and while carryine the petitions of our people to England, I believe that ten thousand prayers will be ofiered up for our cause. Our clergy, instead of praying against us, will ytt come to the rescue of their country, and the God of battles will defend the right. Such men as D'Arcy Mc- Gee may talk and threaten about the Militia, and the course that will be pursued to oo&rce us, but we say to them that it does not lie in their mouths to teach us loyalty to the Crown, until they take back the threats „ud libels which they have hurled at our Queen and Constitution. An confiding, then, sir, in the justice of our oa use. in the wisdom of the Parliament of Eogla ad, and upon the sym« pathies of the Queen, we have met thiu great question calmly and oonstitutionalty. We have no deaire to treat it in any other man- ner. We have no wish for the storm or tem- peet, but we are asking for our rights, out of which we have been wronged, and the people of Canada may as well understand that the people of this country do not intend willingly to submit to t he provisions of the British North Amerioa. Aot. With these obiervati (mt, sir, I beg leave to second the reiolutioQa now upon the table of the Houue. Mr. PiNEo, in the abaenoet>f Mr. BlanohMrd, laid on the table, by way of notics, several amendmcnti to the resolutions, intimating that Mr. Blanchard would move them regu- hrly when he was able to be in hia place. (The amendments will be given at the con- clusion of Mr. Blanohard's speech.) The debate was adjourned. The House then amourned. TuKBDAy, Feb. nth. The House met at three o'clock. Mr. KID3T0N presented a petition from N. Mclnnes, of Inverness, against the return of Hiram Blanchard, Esq., which was laid on the table until Saturday next. BOItr. MB. VtjVNVi>9 (SPEBCB. Hon. £. P. Flymn then said :— In riling .to address the House on the resolutions which have been introduced so ably by the Hon. Attorney General, I feel that I can add no« thing new to a suhjeot which haa already oc- cupied so much public attention in this coun- try, and one that has been so thoroughly debated in all its aspects on the floors of the House, in the press, and at every hustings in the Province. I have not the vanity to suppose for an instant that I can invest the question with any novelty, or deal with it with that eloquence exhibited by those patriotic men who have so nobly advocated the intitfests of the people. The numerous evils resulting to this Province from a union with Canada under the terms of the British North America Aot, and the great injuttioe done to the people by forcing them into a political connection, never sought for or de* sired by them, have been so clearly illustra* ted during the recent session of the Domin- ion Pa rliament, that I think I would be hard? ly justified in occupying the time of thia House by any lengthy remarks with reference to that part of the subject. But I would be unfaithful to the trust reposed in me, and fail to discharge the obligations I owe to those who b ave honored me with their confidence by eleo ting me to a seat in this House, nor would 1 be true to the convictions of my own mind, and the feelings which animate me, if I did n<)t avail myself of this o])i)ortunity of recordin g my most solemn and emphatic pro- test acai nst the unfairness of the Aot of Union, ai) well as against the oppresaive and unconsilt utional method by which it was adopted. Notwithitauding what may be said by .Ha advocates to the contrary, I hold that a question of such vital mo- ment, and effecting so complete and radi« cai changes in tb-; iDstUutions of this country, should r ever have been sanctioned by the Imperiiii Pailiament, without its having had Ale most conclusive evidence that an uum'ibtakably authentic expression of the popu .a," vfill in its favor had taken place, wheii upon former occasions the scheme of Union was discussed in this Legisla- ture. It hai been declared that the opponents of Union I>*ve faiMed to adduce precedent or 17 Authority in proof of the inoompeteaoy of P«rliament to oarry the meMare, vithoat •abmittiog it to the people at the polli. Bat it hM alwaye appeared to my mind that it wai the adTOcatei of Union vho failed to ehow in the whole history of British and colo- nial legislation a precedent or authority joiti- fying each a summary destmotion of our constitution, not only without our content, but against our expressed wishes. We a-o all aware that Parliament possesses uu< limited powers whilst acting under the con- stitution, but whilst admitting that, will any one venture to assert that the Parliament of England has the constitutional right to annex ihat country to France without the consent of the people 7 Certainly not. Therefore, how much stronger is the argument when applied to the late Legis- lature restricted u it was by express statutory regulations, and with powers clearly de- fined iknd strictly guarded T Whilst admit- ting the supremacy of Parliament in all things under the constitution, I deny the right assumed by the members of the last House in bartering away our constitution, and handing to Canada our rights and re- venue without our consent. The constitu* tionality of this question has been handled with much ability by gentlemen on a pre- vious occasion, that I would not feel at liberty to trouble the House at any length on that part of the subject ; but there are a few extracts which have come under my observation, which, with the permission of hon. members, I will read to the Hone's! I shall first read from a Speech of the Bight Hon. Henry Qrattan :— " Parliament is not the proprietor, but the trustee; and the people the proprietor, and not the property. Parliament is called to make laws, not to elect law-makers; it is a body in one branch of delegates, in no one branch of electors, assembled to exercise the functions of parliament, not to choose or substitute another parliament for the dis- charge of its own duty ; it is a trustee, and like every trustee, without a power to trans' fer or hand over the trust. A miserable quibble it is to suppose, because delegated to make law, it has, therefore, a right to make'a law to destroy its own law-making, or super- sede its own deleKStion. precluded as it is by the euential nature of its trust from annul- ling its own authority, and transferring the power of its creator, the society, to another connti y ; it i.i appointed for a limited time to exerc'iie the egitlative power for the use and benefit of tho people, and therefore precluded from transferring, and transferring forever, that legislative power to the people of ano- ther country; it is appointed, entrusted, cre^ ated, and ordained, not only to exercise the legislative powers of the society, but also to preserve her rights, and instead of abolishing them by surrendering them to another coun- try, to return them at stated periods, unim- paired, undiminished, to the people from whom it received them." " The power of the legislative," says Mr. Locke, " being derived from the people by a positive voluntary grant and institution, can be no other than what that positive grant oonveyad, which being only to make lawi Mid not legislaton. the legislative can have no power to transfer their authority of making laws, and placing it in other hands, the legislative neither mutt, nor can, transfer the power of making laws to anybody cls«, or place it anywhere, but where the people have." " The legislature," says Mr. Hiooke. " is not only supreme, but sacred and unaltera- ble in the hands in which the community have placed it : though it be a supreme pow- er in every commonwealth, yet it is not and cannot be arbitrary over the lives and for- tunes of the people." Mr. Bushel says : "Indeed it s difiiault to give limits to the mere abstract competence of the supreme power, but the limits of a moral competence, subjecting occasional will to permanent reason, and to the steaviy max- ims of faith, justice, and fixed fhndamental policy, are perfectly intelligible, and perfect- ly binding on those who exercise any autho- rity under any name or under any title in the state. The House of Lords is not morally competent to dissolve itielf, nor to abdicate, if it would, its portion of the legislature of the kingdom. By as strong, or a stronger reason, the House of Commons cannot re nonnce its share of authority. The engage* ment and pact qf tociety which generally goes by the name of constitution, forbids such innovation and such surrender. The constituent parts of a state must hold their public faith with each other, and with all those who derive a serious interest under their engagement, as much as the whole state is bound to keep its faith with separate com- munities. Otherwise competence and power would be entirely confounded, and no law left but the will of a prevailing force." " The collective body of the people," says Bolicgbroke, " delegate but do not give up; trust, but do not alienate their right and power There is something which parlia* ment cannot do; a parliament cannot annul the constitution. The legistature is a su* preme, but not an arbitrary power." "The power of Kings, Ljrds, and Com- mons," says Junius, "is not an arbitrary power. They tre the trustees, not theowaa era of the estate. The fee simple is in us; they cannot alienate, they cannot waste. When we say the legislature is supreme, we mean that it is the highest power known to the constitution, that it is the highest in com- parison with the other subordinate powers established by the laws. In this tense the word supreme is relative, not absolute. The power of the legislature is limited, nut only by the general rules of natural justice and the welfare of the community, but by the forms and principles of our particular con- stitution." The principles laid down in these extracts seem to be so perfectly in accordance with the British constitution anJ the dictates of common sense, that I unhesitatingly adopt them as conclusive. Even if the Union were calculated to confer on Nova Sootia all the benefits so flippantly predicted by its ad- vocates and promoters in the last House, they were nevertheless bound to submit the mea* Bure to the people for their approval. Had they done to at the proper time, at tbey 18 shonld have done, like honest men and MA- fal gaardiaoa of the trnit repoied in them, nil the preeent excitement in oonneotion with the qnestioD would have been avoid- ed. The men who were Ohiffljr initrumental in passing this Union, have attempted to justify their position and oonduot by stiting that the people were actually in favor of it. In the discussion of this question, previous to its consideration by the Imperial Parlia- ment, it was asserted by a leading member of this House that the intelligent public senti* ment of Nova Scotia was in favor of Union. A more unfounded and deliberately untrue statiment was never before uttered in this House. In proof of the untrnthfnlnese of that statement, T need only refer to the elec- tions held last autumn, when we saw the P'-jple of every section of the country voting against the Union scheme with an unanimity unparalleled in the history of any coantry. Such was the hostility manifested by the meaenre, that oat of fifty-seven representax tivee, only three were returned to sustain it, and those by exceedingly small majorities. So far from the eountry showing an intelli- gent public sentiment in favor of Union, it is decidedly opposed to it. Even here in the metropolitan county, where intelligence and wealth are supposed to predominate, and where, it was alleged, the greatest benefits would accrue from the measure, by making Halifax the terminus of the Intercolonial Railway, and as a conaeqnenee the Liverpool of British America— five members wer6 re- ■ turned to oppose the scheme. It has also been stated that the people of this province, in voting as they did, were actuated t a desire to punish the vain who denied them tue consti- tutional right to pass upon the measure, rather than by any serious objection to Union itielf. The fallacy of this statement is so apparent that it needs no vefutation from me. Will not the Nova Scotia party in this House bear testimony to tte contrary? It is true they punished the men who ignored their rights, and considered them wanting in intelligence to pronounce upon the merits or demerits of one of the most momentous questions ever offered for public consideration. It is true, they punished the men who, by an arbitrary exercise of power, deprived them of their cocstitutional right of self-governmsnt, who handed them over to extravagant and profli- gate Canadian politicians, and gave them the power of exacting from us the necessary funds to carry on their projects or their pro* fligancy ; out the political prerogative which gave them the power to punish the barterers of their country's independence, invested them at the same time with the privilege of condemning a union forced upon them by fraud and intrigue— a union that, so long as they remained in it, must leave their com- merce, their constitution, and their liberties dependent upon the will and caprice of every Dominion Ministry; and they now demand of us, as their representatives, tL at we use every constitutional means in our power to release them from the injustice and oppression of an act which in their opinion has neither a legal nor a moral force. It has now been most coc- olusively shown that from the inception of this measure up to the present moment the overwhelming majority of the people b»Ve always unmistakably manifested an aneon^ qcerable repugnance to it. They clearly s4w that in a Bouse of 181 members, their 19 would be powerless to affect anything in their interests; that by this Union they woald give up their dearest rights and privilegas^ their oonstitation and their litierty— for a wretched modicum in a Canadian partner- ship, and become dependent upon msjoritici composed of men who cared nothing aboat the welfare, sympathized less with the feel- ings, and knew nothing of the wants, of Nova Sootia. Whilst sneh are the feelings>of the people of this Province, it is impossible that a real and solid union, not depending on an act of Parliament, but upon the mutual interests and the mutual affections of the people, could b^ permarently established. For upwards of a century, both Provinces have advanced from infancy to manhood, under the mgie of the British Crown. We were always willing to entertain and act npon every reasonable proposition for free and un- restricted commercial intercourse, but ever jealous and watchful of our poiitioat rights and privilege* By a free interoonrse of trade , or commercial union, both Provinces migiht - have prospered, without rivalry or jealousy, in separate persons, but having united inter-; esis, under the protection of our oomition parent— the Crown and Government of Eng- land. Instead of the people of this Province desiring political connection with Canada, they instinctively shrinl: from it. They na- turally dreaded a political connection with a country in which they beheld a wasteful ex< cravagance on the part of her public men, and, under a high tariff, annual deficits in her revenue ; while they saw their own country, with a low tariff, making rapid strides in commercial and political activity, and having an annually increasing surplus in our revenue, after making the most liberal allowances for our various wants and require- ments, and cnjoyini.- a degree of prosperity not surpassed by any of tne sister Colonies; It was stated by the late Financial Secre- tary in this House, last session, that in ten years we had trebled our revenue without increased taxation— that at the end of every year siuce 1862, there was a large increase over the income of the preceding year; and this statement we find correct when we corn- pars the Cuitoms revenue of 1856 with that of 1866. In 1856 we had a revenue of $571,- 588, and in 186G, $1,Q26,198 ; from these figures it will be perceived that in ten years we had almost trebled our revenue without adding to our tariff. Had this state of com- mercial activity continued increasing for the ^ext decade, and we have every reason to believe that it would, this Province wouH have presented a degree of prosperity truly gratifying to every Nova Scotian. But, sir, this forced and unfair Union, while it lasts, forbids us to hope for prosperity and happi- nees. We behold in the future nothing but misery, subjection, and degradation ; and because the people seek by oonstitutional means to free themselves from this vile bond- age, thev arc branded as traitors and rebels— repeatedly has the charge of disloyalty been made against the men who hava had the fii.ia- 19 &MI »d pairiotiim to oppoN a meMmre wUoh they oleurly mw would be dutructive of the Ubertiee of their oountry. Ihii iUn- der-rtbiscAlnmny, hM not been mftde aguiut the imkU minority, bat »gainit the OTer» whelmiDK mtjority of the people of this Pro- Ti«oe. But, lir, it is antrae that the people who oppope this meMure are disloyal — for in no part of the Britiah Pominions can be foand loyalty and attaohment to the Parent Goantry of so pore and genaine a oharaoter aa that for which the people of this Province have ever been dietinguished. Our loyalty is of that nature which flowe from the heart without effort. It ie to preaerve that loyalty in all ita purity untainted and unenllied, thai they now aeek to be freed from a degra- ding yasaalage, which daily tends to alienate ua fr»m allegiance to the British Crown. The British Parliament, press, and people, were deceived by the false representations made to them, as appears by the preamble to the Imperial Act; and without giving the measure that careful and deliberate conside- ration its magnitude demanded, it was hur- ried through the Legislature, assuming, as we are led to believe, from reading the pre- amble, that the people of this Province desired to be oonf^erated to Canada. But, sir, never was falsehood more glaring and unqualified than that which the preamble contains. Am I not fully borne out in this assertion when I look around these benches, and out of thirty-eight gentlemen, see thirty- six who have been sent here by men of every shade and hue of political Opinion to deolare to the British Parliament that the preamble to this Act of Union is false; and that so far from the people desiring to be confederated, they loathe and detest the measure, and now eagerly long to be released from the grievan* oes to which it subjects them. The advo- cates of this wrong and spoliation perpetra- ted on their oountry, (who fortunately are few) , endeavor to make the people believe that their efforts for a repeal of the Act will be unsuccessful. That we shall be told by the British Parliament they can do nothing for us — that we must remain in this Union ; or, as they term it, accept the situation. But, sir, I entertain a strong opinion to the contrary ; let us address the British Parlia- ment in language conveying the sentiments embodied in the resolutions submitted — " De- ceived by fraud and misrepresentation, and from a reckless disregard of our repeated and emphatic protests, you have done us, the most loyal dependency of the British Crown, a great and serious injury. We have, by the result of the recent elections, convinced you of the great injustloe done us, against which we warned you by our press, our delegates, and our petitions, we now moEt respectfully bat firmly demand redress at your hands. We do not approach you in the attitude of crouching slaves, begging some trifling in- stalment of libery, but as British Preeuien, citizens of a hitherto free and happy oountry, acknowledging no authority but the Crown and Government of England. AVe desire you to releive us from the baneful operations of the recent Act of Union, and restore us to the full enjoyment of our former constitu- tional rights and privileges, as a free aove- reign and independent people, Mving oar aUsgiano* to tha Britiah Growa.*' Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am ooavinoed that when we thus addreaa them in laagnage at once firm and dif&rential, and when the merits of our oari are clearly placed before the Britiah Government, Legialatnre, and people, we ahall not fail to aeoure that mea aureof redreaa which it is the traditional policy of Britain to ooncede when a proper oaae ia made oat. jnB. BliANOHAKIk'll «P BBCU. Mr. Blanchasd aaid:— Labouring aa I do under phyaioal pressare of no ordinary char- acter, I cannot be expected to make any very lengthy remarks, but I feel compelled to ask your attention for a short time, whilst I en- deavour to lay before thia House ari country the facts and circumstance., conn 'd with this question, and defend as far as lie in my power the resolutions whiuh I undwitand was laid yesterday on the table by my hon. friend (Mr. Pineo). Before proceeding, however, to this question, I owe it to the po- sition which I occupy in this House, to make some explanations connected with some re^ uarks that we.e made here a few days ago. It will be remen.bered that some discussion took place betKi^en the Attorney General and myself respecting the formation of the pre> sent government. I stated tiiat 1 would ap- ply to His Excellency the Lieutenant Gover- nor for leave to deolare to this House and country the, circumstances under which the present government were formed, and who it was had advised sending for Mr. McHeffey. I did this in consequence of a statement made by the hon. member for Hants and tha hon. Attorney General, that it was to be preanmed and that this oountry was bound to presume, that, in the absence of a denial from myself, I advised the step in question. Although I regret very much that I am not at this mo- ment at liberty to declare under what oir- cumstances and by what advice the hon Mr. McHefiey was sent for, yet I feel free to read the following correspondence between His Exoelleney and myself: A few days ago I addressed the following letter to His Excellency on the subject ;— Halifax, Feb. 6, 1868. To His Excellency Major General Doyle, Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia, &o., &c. The Attorney General and one of the mem- bers for Hants have asserted in their places in Parliament that it was probable that Mr. McHefiey had been sent for to form the pre- sent Government by my advice, — Knowing that there is no foundation for the statement, I yet feel that I am restrained by my oath of oi£ce from disclosing the real facts of the case; — I beg leave therefore most respectfully to request that your Excellency would so far re- lease me from this obligation as to euabli; me publicly to state such circnmitsnces as camo to my knowledge on the subject referred to while I held the office of Attorney General and leader of the late Government. I have the honor to be. Your Excellency's most obdt. servt., HiRAti Blancuabp. 20 To the foregoing letter I tcoelTed the fol- lowing reply :— GovEaMHBST House, Htnr»x, 7th February, 1868. Sib,— I am directed by Hie Exoellenoy the Lieut- enent Qoveroor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, and to itate to you in reply that Hit Exoellenoy regrets that he doei not feel at liberty to comply with the requett you therein made to him ; aa he coneidere that by ac doing he should estab- lish an inoonveniect and improper prece* dent. I have the honor to be. Sir. Your obedient servant, Hauby Moouy. Hiram BlaDobard, Eiq., M. P. P. Now I shall say nothing on the subject of the precedent referred to, although I believe it has been done before, and very recently in Canada; but His Excellonoy, in declaring that I was not at liberty to make any disclo- sures as to what occurred, shows that the Attorney General was entirely wrong in the statements he made on the occasion referred to. To have declared, as the Attorney Gen- eral said I was at liberty ta declare, the cir- cumstances and facts of the advice which I had given to His Excellency— supposing I gave any at all— would not have been proper for me, for His Excellency regrets that he is obliged to refuse me the required permis* eion. Now, before I come to the subject of the resolutions, let me ask the attention of the House for a few moments to one or two ttkteraents that have been mnde by the hon. member for Richmond. I muet say, in all justice to that hon. member, that he has ac- quitted himeelf as I expected he would — with credit and respectability. He has not in- dulged in any personal ^tllusion or bard hits at myself. He has brought forward his ar- guments, and with Hig manner and temper I am entirely satisfiec . He spoke of the county and city of Hah.'ax in connection with the result of the reoenl elections. He said that the city of Halifax, notwithstanding it was expected to become the Liverpool of the New Dominion, had returned five members against Union. Now, as I am instructed, the city of Halifax proper gave a considerable vote in tavor of Union. If that be so, then let it never be said again that there is not a majo- rity of the respectability, weight and influx ence of the city of Halifax in favor of Con- federation. If the centre of influence, intelli- gence and wealth has given such a response, then let not the assertion be repeated that all the merchants and bankers of Halifax are op- posed to the Union of British America. Before going any further I will ask the government to allow me to add a clause to the amendment which has been laid on the tible. Now, it is not too much to say, and I would be very sorry to state, that the Attor- ney General does not possees a large amount of legal ability, and considerable knowledge of the coustitation&l law of this country. I am sorry that I am obliged to attach to him the paternity of a string of resolations such as I do aot hesitate to ny were never before put upon the table ef any Colonial Legisla- ture. They contain statements of constitu- tional law utterly &t variance with the his- tory of Great Britain during the last two hundred years, and if, before I am done, 1 do not convict him and the government which he leads in this House by the authority of it&tecmen as much superior to him ai it is possible to be, of having brought forward a set of resolutions opposed toto cole to the whole constitutional law of Great Britain, then I say that I ahaU egregiouily fail in what I have undertaken. These resolutions, I have said, do not contain what. In my opin- ion, is theoonstitutioual law of this country. Speaking, as I do, for the Confederation party in this Province, I would be very sorry to see one word or line of these resAlutionn altered. I hope they will be lAid at the foot of the Throne just as they are now. I hope, when they are so laid, they will be accompa- nied by the resolutions which I have been obiieed to prepare hastily in the condition in which I have been for some days past, as the expression of the opinion of the minority of this House, small though it may be. In the firet resolution we are told "that the members of the Legislative Assembly of this Province, elected in 1863, simply to legislate under the Colonial Constitution, had no au- thority to make, or consent to, any material change of such co::»titution, without having first submitted the same to the people at the polls." I undertake to say that this is the firit time outside of Nova Scotia in the his- tory of any legislative or deliberative assem- bly under the British constitution, that such a doctrine of oonititutional law has ever been laid down. That question was discussed at the last session of this legislature. Authority, able authority, was brought down by Mr. Archibald, controverting the statement in the most conclusive manner, and not a single gentleman belonging to the late opposition was able to support the position he took by a single precedent, or even by a dictum of any man who is looked upon as a great au« thority. Even at the risk of repeating what I said last winter, I will remark on what is the meaning of an appeal to the people. In the adjoining Republic there is a machinery by which an appeal to the people can be carried out. If a question is submitted to any legislature, whether State or General, and it be thought necessary to obtain the as- sent of the people — and remember the coun- try alongside us is an unmixed democracy— what is the course pursued 7 They send to the people to hold a^convention on the subject before the legislature meets, and they are ex- pected to vote aye or no. The convention meets —it is not called upon to express an opinion upon any other subject except the one sub- mitted to it. Suppose the convention decide that this change in the constitution should be carried out, what then. Does the legisla- ture take that as the opinion of the people? No, they send it again to the polls, and have the popular voice upon it. Every man is given a ballot ticket, on which ^'« records bis vote. Finally this vote is counted, and the popular feeling is thereby ascertained. Have we any such maci.inery as that ? Did nerer before Dial Lfgiilt- of oonttitn- th the blB- he lut two n done, 1 do meni whioh lathority of bim at It is >t forward a :(xle to the »t Britain, uily fail in reaoIuttoDB, In my opir- hiB country. )Dfe(lerat{oD e very sorry resolutionH at the foot )w. I hope, be aocompa- [ have been be condition ays past, as he minority »y be. •Id "that the nbly of this to legislate had no au- ray material bout having iople at the this is the in the his- htive assem- i, that such as ever been issuised at Authority, »n by Mr. iment in the a single opposition took by dictum of great au« kting what what is people. In machinery pie can be bmitted to General, tin the as- tho ooun- mooracy— send to the e subject ey are ex- tion meets in opinion one sub- on decide )Q should c legiela- people? and have man is records ited, and pertained, lat? Did 31 anybody evw hear of aaoh an arraagemtnt onder th« British Coiiititntioa T When the hon. Altoraey Qaneml oan eonvince the Oo- vemment and Parliament of Great Britain that the Repablio of the United States is the only 3>od(l upon Which we must form our oonatitution, then he oan expect them to pay any attention to these extraordinary resola- tions. But we are British subjcots, and snoh a thing as an appeal to the people at the.po)Is, under each oircumstanoes, was never heard of since the time of the Magna ChaTta. I ask the Attorney General to rise, in his place, and show us a precedent in .British. history. If he oan. I ask the hon. meloabcT fbr Anna- polis to rub up his knowledge of Englich Uis- tory, and then oome heie and give us an ex- ample where any great statesman of Great Britain, since the time of Magna Charta thought it wise to dissolve the LegisTaati6b was carried to the glory of the British peopft, and lijw, evM since remained one of thq prin9iplf|i| J>> the British constitution., i^hat did Sir Robert Peel say when it was pasted f The Legislature has fixed ^t upon thlr oonn^ try, it has become part of the qohstitnUoi^'ra- der which I and every gentleman irhols ieaU ed here lives, and we are bound to rabmi^. Are we then to be told by the Attorney Gea'- eral and Government of Nova Sootia tiat'^ftf Pat? lament has no power to afibct any'ohange in the constitution. Further on Sir Robert Peel says:— i " As to the appeal to the oonntry, let bin ask hon. members to consider whether It would be wise to set such a precedent as to declare (beir own incompetency to legislate upon any question which tha Grown may think proper to submit to their i considera- tion ? Would they so far stultify themselves as to begin to consider what questions they were competent to debate 7 Suppoi|ing they were to make such an appeal to the country, how many questions do they think would rise thereafter ,in which it would be said to them:— * There is a precedent set you by the Parlia- ment of 1829 which dissolved itself, becanse.ilt felt itself incompetent to act, and y oa foQoir iti example?' I deny » sir, the necessity for making such a prewdent. No ; we will not stultify ourselves so much as to say that we are not supreme as to every measure qf legit lation which may come before us.*^ Th9 gentlemen opposite should go and sit at the feet cf British statesmen «nd learn the true principles of English constitutional law, before they come here and make the declara* tion which they do. I do not mean to any that the Attorney General is- not as.oapable as myself of explaining oonstitution»l Jaw, but I ask them in all seriousness before they ask this House to forget that they taH BriHsh subjects— to swallow what I feel confident they will be only too glad to disgorgaat some future time — before they make themselvea the laughing stock of British Amerioa,' I ask them to pause. I now eome to the sp^ch bf the same great statesman on aiibther impor- tant question. I will ask the House to seoall 32 th« kiitory of tht Cora Livi of GrMt Brit> ftla. I ihkll Bot go into • lengthy hiitory of thii qtiNtioB, bnt eterybody knowi thtt Sir Rob«rt PmI h»d opposed (he abolition of the Corn Ltwi for • very eoniiderable period. He did io while he «m leader tnd preoier of the Britiih Miniitry; «nd After k long die- ooarion on the eobjeet he thonsht it neoee- ■ary to ehnnge hie opinion. Who does not know th*t when the meMnre wu paeced he WM attacked la a etyle whieh ii not often heard In any legialatlTe body. He irae ex- peiad to a merolleei etorm of vitaperation, and when nothing eecmed to avail his ene- miei called upon aim to diieoWe the Houee and appeal to the people. Then Sir Bobert Peel laid down the doctrine that whilst he oonld carry on the affairs of the country no- body had a right to dissoUe the House. He said: Bat my honortbto friend ■»;■ he did not object to it u impeding tho fermttion of • protection rovern- aeat, bat u pirerenttng « dlMolation; end mjr honofkble friend and otben hart bUmed me for not ■drlilns«dUsolatlonorP«rUunent. In my opinion, It would have been atterly inoonilitent with the duty ofaMlntitcrtoadTiseadliiolation of Ptrltament un- der the particular circnmitanoee in which tbii quM- tlon of the Oom Law was placed. Why ihoald It be to atterly impoiitble for this Parliament to deal with the present proposition 7 After the election In IMl, this Parllameot paised the eilitliig Oorn Iiaw, which diminished proteotlon-, this Parlltment paised the tariff destroylng.altogetber the syit*m of prohibition with respect to food; this ParllamentI passed the Canada Oom Bill; why should It exceed the ninotiCDS of this Parliament to entertain thepresent proposition J Bnt opon maoh higher ground I woald not consent to a dlisolation. That ind, theretbre, if it be one, that I did advise Her Majesty to permit this mea- sure to be brought forward in the present Parliament. I aak gentlemen now to pause and consider the doctrines laid down by these great consti- tutional authorities, which are to be found in the Legislative Library— that Parliament is paramount in these matters, aad has the power of carrying them out. Let us not hear gentlemen endeavoring to introduce the American democratic system into this British dependency, whose glory it should be that its constituticn is basra on that of free England. I have shown you that at a time when the principles of the American and French revolutions were instilled into men's minds. Sir Bobert Peel came forward and said : never shall we go contrary to the prin- ciples of our constitution, and adopt the de- mocratic idea; we [believe now, as we have always believei, that Parliament itself is su- preme. Under those oircnmstances I appeal to this Honse, and ask them whether they will re- consider the position in which they stand. It is possible that after proper oonsideration they may see the absurdity and folly of pla- cing on record such reeolntions as those that have been introduced. Now I ask the hon. Attorney General whether the House of Com- mons was elected for the consideration of the question of Catholic emancipation. Weal; know that it was not. Sir Robert Peel ad- mitted as much, but he and his friends in a statesmanlike manner opposed any attempt I b« wH*9uA rHIasU tutbar nUtlM of Um t eoaotlM p«U- 'arlUoMnt •▼« »lti own mm* I of tha •iMtori ^Mn«DUI point rMeh of trMty . PIU Hk«A, if roald tkev My itroytd th« ax- tod the RomM |>c«] r Mr put ) havo at »By lUnaoiUwry ra- b««n moat n- reat Britain or thou|ht of tk« 1 any doubt of der and diaouaa ho prinolpla of ■ a nembar of oonoar In dU- liament, and to •oted, Id their dUtibotlon, in ■alatalned for It naoaaaary tn I do, ware I part with all the lubjeet of I too preralent therefore, that ceetaion to the ler leglilatnre, ioolatb otbera Miniiter now Jament on the *ln the qaes- heOorn lAwf ounple, a more 80 lay, than ed, on gronnd leatlon of thU refare, If It be irmitthlemea- int Parliament. ind oooiider great oontti- to be foand Parliftment Bad kaa the Let ni not introdaoe na iuto tbii it aboald be that of free iht at a time lerioan and 1 into men 'a 'orward and to the prin- lopt the de- al we haT8 itaelf ia en- tpeal to thia ley will re« they Btand. tnaideratioD oily of pla- I thoae that «k the hon. use of Com - ation of the )n. We aU >rt Peel ad- Mendain a my attempt U tell the people of England that the Par- liament ahoold go baok and aak thdr adfioe in referenoe to a sreat oonatitntional ohange. The Corn Lawa of Oreat Britain prerented any oom being imported into the kingdenji except It waa aubjeet to a large duty. The duty waa intended to protect the agrlcaltaral intereet of Oreat Britain, which haa alwaya been ao rery powerful in that country, that it woald not have been anrpriaing if the Com Lawa had remained many yeara longer a motiTC of oontinnal agitation. Sir Robert Peel, aoknowledxlng the face of the opiniona in faTOur of the abolition of theee corn lawa, came forward and moved in the matter. Who haa ever bean foand in the Britiah Houae of Gommona to get op and de- clare that Sir Robert Peel did not atriotly ad- here to the prinoiplea of the Britiah eonatita* tion in the conrae he pnraaed. He carried triumphantly through the Honie of Gom- mona thia important meaanre, which haa ever alnce rumained untouched. If Sir Robert Peel could do that, waa not thia Legialatare in a poaition to carry the meaaure aubmltted to it. Sir Robert Peel haa emphatically told na that Catholic Emancipation waa an altera- tion in the conatitution. Before the paaaage of that meaaure, no man could occupy any poaition in the QoTcrnment of Qreat Britain unleas he waa a Proteatant and took the oath of aupremaoy; that waa aamuch a part of the Britiah conatitution aa the Houae of Lorda itaelf. To the honor of Nova Sootia be it aaid, that aome time before Great Britain broke down that principle, thia Parliament came forward and allowed Gatholioa to ait in the Legialature. What more, air? What did the British OoTcrnment do in 1830 T The Iiland of Cape Breton poaseaeed a aeparate conati- tution; it had a Qovernor and a Gov- ernment of its own independent of the ProTinoe of Nova Bcotia. The Houae of Gommona came in and by a aingle Act, containing perhapa not a dozen linea amal- gamated the ialand with Nova Scotia. The island waa given only two membera in a Le- gislature of 40 men. Who, then, ever heard of the people of Cape Breton being granted an appeal r Whoever heard that thia law waa not binding upon the people of the la- land. They reaorted to every eonatitutional meana to repeal it. It may be added that Cape Breton had no Parliament of ita own, and without being conaulted in any meaaure it waa icnnexed to the adjoining Province. Repreaenting aa I do one of the moat flouriah* ing eonntiea of the Island, I undertake to say that you will not find a man from one end of Cape Breton to the other, who would now aak for a repeal of the Union. There were aome Repealera for a few yeara, but now they areas aoarce aa I think Repealera of the larger Union will be in thia Province ^twenty yeara hence. I fsel that I am speaking here not aimply in the name of Cumtterland and Inverness, but in that of the great Confederate party of Nova Scotia, and Iregret it that they are ao inadequately represented here. What waa the original constitution of this country ? There were forty gentlemen sitting here then. On« of the fundamental prinoiplea waaa re- J)reaentat!oB of forty men, and thoM Nleelad br the moat part from particular looalitiM. A few townahipa, auch aa Falaoath, ftbaorb' ed a large portion of tha rapreacBtatioii io the Aaaembly. The Legialature atepped 1b and handed a portion of that repreaentatiaB Cape Breton. Waa it then nrg*l that tha townahfp of Falmouth, and other pIi^Mi af- fected, ahould be oocaul ted— that there ahoald be an appeal to the people before the reprt- aentation waa interfered with T Tha conatl' tution of the country waa then invaded In a high-handed manner, if we are to btlieva the dootriaea of the hon. gentleman, by the Le- S'slature of that day. But what moreT At e close of the Parliament in 18&8, a bill waa brought in altering the representation of thia country. That meuure waa paaaed through thia Lf gialature, although it waa a material change in the conatitution, without a word being aaid about an apjpea| to the people. Thia meaaure waa atrongly oppoaed, but did ita opponents aay that the meaanre waa unconatitntional when they came back here T No one waa ever heard to declare that law waa unconititutional, and attempt to repeal it. We aat here from 1830 to 1863, and at the doae of our legialative career what did we do T I had then the honour of foltowing the leaderahip of Mr. Howe, and, aadating him in forwarding meaanrea which J. believea were for the best interests of thia country. A bill waa paaaed in 1863 again, to touch tie representation of the country — to cut Invtt' ness into two parts, and make other ohangea; but who then heard the arcument th«c it wu unconstitutional beoauae the people had not pused on it at the polls 7 I may be told bye- and-bye that the meaanre did not touch the constitution of the country. Did'aot the op> position of hat day feel that it waa a delibe- rate attempt to alter our conall iution 7 Ihiey auoceeded in defeating it, it will be remein- bered, in the o'her branch of the L-egislatnre. What more 7 a. id we go further than that 7 We passed a measure— one which I hope will oontinun to be the law of this country for a long time to come. We came in elected on universal suffrage; I came in myself by a vote of 5 or 6000 people. By one awoop we aweptout ofexiatencu what waa then oonai- dered to be one-third, but which ia now known to be one-fourth of the conatitnency that aent ua here. No member of the Lcgiala* ture has ever had the hardihood to ooma in and ask that it be repealed. Did any man get up and say that the Legislature waa ex* oeeding its power 7 Will any one aay that that Act was not binding upon the people of thia country. It ia true we were prevented from having that Act carried into elhot at that general election, but that doea not affect my preaent argument. I have given you what I conaider t9 be a very high authority on the power of Parlia- ment in connection with the paaaage of the Reform Bill and the Catholic Emancipation Act in Great Britain. What more 7 Who doea not know that Oreat BritMn, for many years, has been divided into two parties— that the Whig and Tory, or Liberal and Con- servative parties, have been the two great contending parties 7 From time to time one of theae parties haa managed publio aflain. i. I 24 It&t.irltliin.the memory of everybody that very reoently a Reform Bill was brought into tbM»gIi*l> ^Ulitment. Th»t wai oem tkinly *' » mftter}ftl oUange " in the oo^ititu- t{on. How mftpy tens of thousands did the meaiTits.add t,Q the elebtors.of Great Britain 7 That |:s(iasai''6 waa brought into the Gom- rabna.liut who, reading the recdrd a of tha« body, wi?l find the argument uaed tb an appeal.ahould be made to the people? Ih&t bill waa def^a^ed by /*^hom 7 By the Conser- TatiT<^ Wty, Mr. Diaraeli at ita head. They opposed it on the ground that it waa loo demooratio and republican a measure. The Miniatry changed hands, and what then 7 Did the Ministry who came into power then dlSioWe the Parliament? No eir. They said they would go on with the public affairs, and tiiey did so. What more ? A few months ago ne taw introduced into the House of Co'mmoi[iB a Beform Bill, the democratic cha- racter of which was intinitely beyond that previously defeated. Not a sins^le word sbqqt a dissolution was said. I ask the House and oountrj, th^-n. f I have not sub- mitted' authorities wbicn fairly answer the resolutlpns which have been subiaitted 7 The Qoverntnent may have made up their mind to pass these lesolutionp, but I trust there are gentlemen here prepared to deal with the question on its merits, and not willing, to bo led away by claptrap. Iwas unfortunately unable to attend yes- tsrday', and therefore I hope if I misquots anything said by the Attorney General that you'WlU allow me to bo corrected through ;'da, sir. But having obtained notes of cer- tain ^^insrlcs that were made from tho most reliable information, I shall endea.vor to dciil wittt the qdea'tion as well as I cm. I under- stand that the Attorney General yesterday toldthe House that his remarks tvere made after the fullest deliberation. Under th';8e clr'tttmBtances we must expect that tho hon. gentleman would n^^t make any statement that he W.18 not, able to defend. One of his Etatementi^ Was, I am informed — one which went through the whole substretuu of his speech— that this Colony is in a different po- sition from any other in regard to its consti- tution. Hen. Attobnet General— I did not say that. H6n. SpE^iKSK— It would be better if the hon. gentleman would confine himself to what he has heard himself. Hba. Attorney General— I may mention to the hon. gentleman that my speech is now in preaa. Mr. BLANcnARD— I cannot, however, resist the temptntiou of nclicing one or two points in the hon. gentleman's observations 1 think that I know something about the chnr- tered conetitutiona of these countries -that I am awa^e cf the differences between a con- quered country and one settled originally by Englishmen. When Englishmen settled in any country they carried with them the laws and constitution of the parent State— they continued to possess the rights und privileges of Enzliihrnen. The Attorney General said that this Province was given to Queen Anne and her heirs forever. What does that mean Waa it <^iven for her own use? No ; all her rights were tnbieot to, the anUiarity of the Britiah Parliament and onnQtitntioa. Thia Province belonga to Her iMajeaty, but no more thaio^ any county in England. The Queen alone, it ia true, can give ai;y author- ity over the lands of the country. By bfa royal authority and letters patent ahe coii' fera upon any person whom ahe may ehooae any portion of the territory, aubjeot to oetr* tain oonaitions. I unhesitatingly affirm,' however, that this country is no mo>'e the property of Queen Anne than any part of England, Ireland, or Scotland. But 1 admit this, and I would be sorry to deny it, that if the Sovereign choose to grant a particular authority to any part of the do- minions to ectablish Courts of Justice or Cotirts of Parliament, thai, nvthority is irre- vocable. We have been told that with regard to a certain Island it w.'^ said that the King having given to a U' uieman authority to govern by ,au Assembly,! *^<^d the authority being altered, the Lords of the Privy Council dsuMed the alteration to be void. Adrnttting >or a moment, for I have been unable tc And tho case, that there has been a decision that: some act of the King of England, in reference to the constitution of a colony was invalid, I ask the Attorney General to find me a case in which the Lords of the Privy Council ever dared to say that an Act of Parliamenjb waa void. I challenge any lawyer in the country to find a case in British records from Magna Charter to tho present hour, in which any Judge or any body of Judges ever dared to say that an Act of the British Parliamsnt w. MoDonald and James McNeil, of Little GiaaaiBay, with reference to a coal claim granted 4e' othersr they ask compensation. The petition was referred to the Committee on Mines and Minerals. Hon. J. Fbb3usson introduced a bill to in- corporate the Glaoe Bay and Cape Breton Railway Company. A bill to incor;porate the Gardiner Coal Mining Company in C. d. Also a petition from the trustees of Schools in Sydney, praying that no material change be made in the School Law. Hon. Attobnbt Genbbal introduced a bill' to Incorporate the Montreal Coal Mining As- sooiatioi- ; a bill to incorporate the Haydni and Derby Mining Co, ; a bill to incorporate the Mount Uniaoke Mining Co. MR. BI^ANCaAXtD'a HPIZBCH. (oonclcdkd) The adjourned debate was then resumed. Mr. Blanchabd rose and said: — Last even* ing, by the kindneu of the Government and the House, I war permitted the privilege of concluding my speech to-dl!iy, on the very important question under consideration. Having now before me the full report oi the hon. Attorney General's remarks, I shall proceed to notice it as fully as possible. But, in the first niace, I would atk If&ve to move the resolut.jnsin amendment to those intro- duced by the government, which my hon. friend (Mr. Pineo) laid on the table on Mon't day, for the information of the Honae. Thb foUowiBg are the reiolationa:— n$ U (trlke ont til tlia wordi after the word " that,» In tM Bnt llde and rafttUtato the (Ulowlnr t— let-'-'Hie IM.W making power ererainee the ProT'gUlatiTe Couaoil and the Home of Ai-ld. 8. That the expression of opinion on the pa."^ of the Nova Scotia Legislature of the dale of the lOlh At, however deairable It may aeem ta be, It baa never been held eaaential to the validity or oonstitn- tlonality of an Act ofPariiamant, eithjr In a British Province or in England, that it should firs; be submit- ted to and obtain the assent of the people at thapellr. 10. That the people of Nova Bootla hr l the protecting a.'m of the mightiest nation in the world tbiowa around them. Their seacaasts have beea jealously guarded by a Bri- tish navy, and their principal city garrisoned, fortified and promoted by British troop.*, all at Imperial ex pense. They have no fears, therefore, that Great Britain will invade their righta or Inflict injnatioa upon them, or suffer it to be done by others. 11. In view cf the defenceless condition of the Pro- vince of Nova Scotia unsupported by Imperial aid in case of hostile attaolc fram without, this Legislature gratefully appreoiatea ue interest displayed on the part of Her Majesty's GaverLment, and shuerfutly recognixea the right and the "just authority" referred to in the deapatch of the Bight Hon. Mr. Oar. -veil. Principal Secretary ef State for the Ooloniea, under date of June 24. 1808, In ^hlch, among other tbinga, It ia declared—" Looking to the determination which thla country has ever exhibited te regard the defence of the Ooloniea aa a matter of Imperial ocveem, the Colonies must reoogn.ce a right and even ac knowledge an obligation iaoaiabent upon the Home Gavemmept to urge with earneatneea and Just authority the mea- Bures which they eonsider most expsdient on the part of the Colonies with a view to their own defence. Nor can it be doubtful that the Provincea of Britiah North America are incapable, when aeparate and divided from each other, of making those Just and efficient preparationa for national dtfenee which would be easily undertaken by a Prorinoe uniting in Itaelf all the po- rjulation and all the reaourcea of t:ie whole." 12. That if it be the opinion of Her Majeaty's Oov- ercti:ert and those whose previous military trainlcg qnalih.18 them to speak with authority upon the sub- ject, that a Confederation of the British North Amert can Provinces was prudent and desirable and requisite for their defence against any aggressive foroe from without that might be aimed at them or any one of tham, then it is the duty of e^ery loyal subject to re •pent that expression of opinion, ^o co-operate with Her Maiesty's aovernmear, tn make all reasonable sacrifices in order to preserve the existing connection with the fatherland, and cheerfully to aid in mould- ing :». :-'siitstiuus of the country in the mannc- best adapted lo secure si desirable an object. 13. That as regards thd course adopted by the Oov ernment and Legislature of Nova Seotia to bring about a Union of the British North Amerioan Provinces, it was under the iostrnctiflna and as nearly aa possible ia accoriiaoce with the lecommendation of Her Majes- ty's Guverament, as set forth in a despatch dated the the 3rd day of December, 1S64, written after the sit- ting of the Qaebeo Conference, and addressed to Lord Moi'Ck as Qovernor-GI»neral, etc , etc., in which, among other things, occurs the following : — "It appears to them (Her Majesty's Qovernuent) therefore that yon should now take immediate mea- sures to concert with the Lieutenant Qaveimors cf the several Provincea for submitting to the respe<'tiTe Le Rlalitures this project cf the Conference. And If as I hope, you aie able to report that these Le<-islatures sanction and adopt the scheme. Her Majeaty'a Gov einment will render you all the assistance in their power for cariying It into effect. It will probably be found to be the most convenient course that, in con- cert with the Lieutenant Governora, you shonld select a deputation of the perions best qualified to procecl tn this country, that they may be present iluringthe preparation cf the Biil and to give t'l Uer Majesty's (ioVt:ri f the Fentiiueuts of Her > ajesty'a Uorernmen'. aa deilvereH by :he late Duke of NeWp caatla exr/cased in relation to the Mme aubjaot, and 37 to be fcnad inadeirateli lo tk« Bwl ofllalmTt, dated U.e Cth day of Jnir, 1883. AfUr fcferriDR to flottf loeli conferenob or confnIUUon M that held at '<)acb«o, that great at»te«iDan and friend of the oolo- nlea remarked : "But whatever the reittlt of sach con- taltatlon might be, the moat satiBfaetory made of teat log the opinion ofthe people of Britlih North Ameri- ca WouM probably be by meaaaofreiolutton. or ad- dreaa propeaed td the Legialatnre of each Province by Ita own OoTemment." I regret thftt in the diRoharge of wh«t I • ooniider to be my duty, I have m«de then reiolationi more Tolaminoai than I ever made any before. My exoaie is that the party I represent feel it necessary and proper to state their case as fally as possible, and show the country the grounds upon which they oppose the resolutions introduced by the Oovernment. We shall not hare the adran- tage possessed by the QoTernment of having delegates to ezplai:< our case fully in Eng- land, and therefc<« find it necessary to make this amendment somewhat longer than they would hare been under different ciroum- stai^ces. The Attorney General stated, I perceive by his speech, that he would { robably add one 0* two other resolutions to his speech. Now, 1 feel w^'will be at some disadvantage if we are unable to give these new resolutions that AiU ^asideration which they may demand. (Hon. Attobnbt Gbmbbal here read the re- solutions in question.) Mr. BlancbAbd continued— I am glad that the Attorney General has given me an oppor« tunlty of learning the nature of the new re- solutions which he intends adding to those previously introduced. I now pass on to re- view the lengthy speech of the Hon. Atty. General in opening the debate. I need not say anything as to the introduction of that speech, for there is not a sentence in it with which I cannot agree. I concur most em- phatically in the declaration that the happiest and freest people in the world are those who are most obedient to the law. Then he went on to spealc of the want of a Court of Im> peaohment for politicil offenders. This is the first time in my life that I ever heard of any man living under a British constitution ad- vocating any other Court for the trial of such offenders than the High Court uf Parliament itself to which every member is responsible. If I trangress tho rules of this House, or do any- thing contrary to its dignity,— if I offend against the laws in connection with any pub- li0 duty, here is the tribunal to try me. Up- on you, air, «.nd the gentlemen around, will devolve the duty of punishing me consistently with its power. We have next from the At- toruey General a panegyric upon our owp constitution as well as upon the framers of the American constitution- The fanlts of the latter were pointed out to a certain extent, and the fee^uties of the constitution under which we have Ured was beautifully eulogized, and with these sentiments I can find no fault. The Hon. Attorney Qtrieral declared that the great fault of the Acaec'oan sjrttcm was that i^ was a democracy »in\ a confederacy— that t was democratic instead of monarchical— that it was a federal instead of a legislative union. I agree yrith him on the first point. Democratic institutions are the last to which I would wish to resort, but I differ in toto from hiffl Irhea he saye acoBfttferttioii ii aot stable— that a federal demooney' eiBtadt no* oeed. In my judgment there it no tyrasBj on earth so absolute as that wliich «an pe exeroisetoded; and we have seen 13 or 14 fltatas kept out of Con- gress, and unable to legislate except in' a^» cordance with the wishes of the dominant party. I am not going into any lengthy argument on this subject, but I will aik the House to consider whether he has not himself shown that a Confederation is calculated to make a country great and powerful. What does he say in the subsequent part of his speech T He says if the United States only settle their internal difficulties they will become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, nation on the face of the earth. He bases that assertion on the enormous progress of that country within the last forty or fifty years. A short time since the whole world looked on with contempt whilst a nation of shopkeepers en» tered into a civil war; no one believed thit the contest would last for any length of time. But the world saw armies such as it never saw before, not even ib Napoleon's dayl. What enabled that country to send into the field its troops by hundreds and tboupands, nf.y by millions f What was it that enabled them to raise the money required to meet their enormous expenditures 1 The fact is that under a Confederated Democracy they had been growing with a rapidity such as the world had never seen before. I am told by the organ of the Government that I am crammed for this occasion. I will underta!:e to say that no member of the Govertament will dare, in this House, to repeat what their organ has tauntingly said. But to oontiBue, the Attorney General has said that it was the difficulties in connection with State Rights that gave rise to the war. I differ from him in a good many respects. In the United States the President appoints his own Cabl* net, which holds office as long as he chooses, and though a majority of both Houses enter- tain opinions different from these gentlemen, yet they may pontinue in power. Look at the position of the present Congress— enga- ged in a heated confiiot with the President. A great difficulty has always been the irre* pressible conflict between the North and South, on the question of slaverjr. But let me t(ll the Attorney General that we are not confederated as the United States. There were originally 13 independent States. Is our condition analogous to th^t of those States? The hon. gentleman cotnplaips th^t we are not as independent as an Americ&n State, Maine for instance. Now I have no desire to see this country annexed to the United States, neither do I wish to see it placed in the position of any State of the IJnion. When we go into the United States, we find the ^tates possessing different Usury Laws. Each State bgsin |ias different rega- latiouB with respect to the franc|)isiB. , No- thing of that kind exists in our system. We ^t b»Te oae ,ymry h%w, one ou Jltniage ,»iid I)hoKO«r»Be ou the eabjeot of Crime, kod eo on. "If we htn to join the C.B.". wjis the hon. gentleman, "Not* Beotift voold poueii M the freedom that everv State oi the Union potieaiei. We K:Qi^h»iTe the cboioe of our OoTernoie, of Qpr $ep»tora, of ovr Legielators, and ire weald hare, the power of adf-taixation in the highest degree." Sarel^ he, the very cham- pion qf 'CoDMrTatiint, la the last man that wpnld promalsate suoh a doctrine aa that the, people thould appoint their own Govern- ore and Senators, instead of the Qoeen. But CO the people govern the United Statea more than the people here? No, «ir, I undertake to aay, not an much. In the United Statei, the Cabinet, when once appointed, ie no long- er under the control of the people ant^ their repreaentatives. Bat " we are governed by a little knot of ExeoatiTe Opuncillors." It is a knot of oounoillors, at all events, who possen the confidence of the people. Sup- pose, for the sake of argument, that to-mora row this swe^ing measure was granted, and we were placed where we were before. Who would impose the taxation upon this coun- try! Would it be this House T It would be this House theoretically. Would it be the people? It .would be theoretically. It would be the Legitlatnre representing the people, apd the Government representing the House. Generally, if not invariably, the tariff is brought down by the Government and is al|gh,tl V, if at all altered , by the House . We were, tberefore, as much taxed by a knot of Exeoutlve Counoilloza as we are now. I thank Heaven as well as the Attorney General for the benficent rule of Her Majesty and the government which surround her throne. The hon. gentleman then goes on to say that we have to approach Ministers very different from those that were in power in the time of George III, and I admit this also. "Her Majesty," we are told, "took the oath that she would rule the country according to the laws, customs and statutes of the realm." Now one of ine statutes of this realm is this very Confederation Act, and certainly we are bound to respect it as well as Her Majeaty. Then we are told— "Look at the injuries done to the province within the last six months," See their liberties taken away ; see them taxed by a foreign and alien Legislature; see their property taken away from them, &c." Are we taxed by a foreigi^ and alien legislature? Are we taxed more unfairly than the State of Maine which has in a manner been brought into invidious comparison with us 7 I hope the day will never come when we will be tax- ed in the manner stated. We have a General Legislature meeting on British soil and com- posed of British subjects; we have a represen- tation in that body, though it may be small. Now I take such language as that used by the hon. gentleman, as simply a flow of idle words. But then some of the delegates oui^Ht to be hanged, acoordiog tt> the hen. gentleman; they would certainly not be per* mitted to live in some countries. What country is meant? The very country that the hon. gentleman has been bringing into invidious comparison with us. The hon. gentleman goes on to tell us that he doM mot believe that the high-mijtdcd British Government and Parliament wili re- fuse repeal at the instance of this LegislatlTe body. If it should be the case what Viiettl That is an expression ifhicL we have hearpi all over the face of this country for th« iMt few months. I believe more strongly, than the Attorney General believes the very revaite, that Repeal will not be listened to for* tingle moment. And what then? Have the go» vernment or any of those who are agitaung this question considered the poution that they will ocQupy. In a part of hia speech the At- torney Genenl says something about the British flag being taken away from this country, aqd another substituted— that «noh an ooourrenoe would be a dire calamity. I ask the House to consider whether or not there is being spread abroad in this country, from one end to the other, a feeling that may, in case Repeal is refused, lead to con- sequences Tvhich I do not like to content- plate. I feel it my duty as a member of this House, to ask my fellow citizens to pause and consider if their request shopld be re- pealed. "What then?". The Attorney General said t^at k* bad ta« ken great paint to ascertain the gr^ui\d»on which we hold the present eonstittatu>n,of thia country, and he i|8nt back to tha '/old times' ' of this colony. Id the tinie of Goorge II. a colony called Grenada had » ofaart^r granted tc it by the king, but three months afterwards an act was. passed imposing cer« tain taxes on the country, which act was da» clared by Lord Mansfield to be illegal. No greater man eye? adorned the BritiBE bench, no man ever made moie mistakes than I^rd Mansfield. I ask the hon. Attorney General whether the principles in respect to libel which that eminent man fought nom court to court, and in the House of Lords, wonl4 be tolerAtr.d now. Under that doctrine mpre tyranny waa committed than had ever before been committed m the annals of British jurisprudence. But suppose the Parliament of England had imposed a tai: on the colony, would Lord Mansfield h%ve dared to oppose it? There is no such case on record. We have only this instance of a king, after he had once delegated his authority coming for- ward and imposing this tax. Formerly, it is true, ship money and taxes were levied by the king ; but they were shewn to be uncon- stitutional and irregular. I know the love of the hon. Attorney General for old times. How many persons would now like to subqtit to the charter referred to by him ? I will cope to times after the charter h^d been im- proved, and what happened then ? We had 40 men sitting in this Legislature and 13 sit- ting in the other,— who were characterised as twelve old women. They sat with closed doors, and allowed no person to know what was going on. These twelve men controlled this country— imposed and collected every penny of taxation, Yet the old charter must be irrevocable. Cannot a constitution that has once been granted by the king be altered? Many of these charters were formerly granted to men to manufacture certain articles, to have an exclusive right to them in certain Igoalities. It was contended that these char- ters were irrevocable. When it was found 29 Beeetnry (h»t there ibonld be some power to alter these ohartera, by William and Mary, ohap. 8, the whole ooiitrol of all luoh matter! waa gives to Parliament. Yet will the / ttorney Oeneral or any other lawyer versed in conetitational law tell me that the High Ck)urt of Parliament had not the right to alter the charter given to Lord Cornwal- Iti. Then Itt him go to Jamaica, if he de- nica it, and what do we find T The whole charter of that colony was awept away and changed by the Pailiament of Qreat Britain. Nor ii that all. Did not the Parliament in* teifere with the constitution of New Zealand ? Did not they go to South Africa and unite the two countries into one? Ten or fifteen years ago the separata Legislatures of Oana- da were swept away, and the ttro Provinoes united as one. The Attorney Geperal says tha* " Queen Anne became the absolute owner of Nova Scotia, and it does not belong to the people or Parliament of England, who had no more to do with it than the people of Turkey." If that were true we would certainly be in a nice position— subject to the caprice of the governing powers of England, with nothing but a flimsy charter between ua and the mon- arch of the realm. We have a noble status —We live under the shadow of the British Crown— under the shadow of the British con- stitution and British Parliament— we are njt subject to the mere caprice or whim of »ay single person. To tell me that the Parlia- ment of Great Britain has nothing to do with the Province of Nova Scotia is to tell me what no sensible man can believe. The Parliament has the power which it has continued to ex- ercise for the hst century whenever the Im- perial interests are affected. I speak now within my own recollection. I bad the honor, when a young man, of being one of Her Ma- jesty's Collectors of Customs under the Brit- ish Government— commisBioned to collect certain duties imposed by Imperial statute, and with which this Legislature had uothing to do. Yet the Hon. Attorney General Wishes to go back to the original charter. The money came back, it is true, bnt for what purpose? To pay the Judges and other public ofiBcers whoic salaries were paid by the British Government. 1 hey never gave up the right, until at last the duties became too small to pay vinoe to pass away f^ora her. The hon. gentleman says that the House of Assembly passed a resolution authorizing a delegation of an equtl number from each Province, and that all the proceedings were illegal unleiii this principle was carried out. Now the fact is that the resolution only say's that each Province shall have an equal voice. It made no difference whether there were six from one Province and ten from acother, — whenever any question came to be discusted each of the Provinces had but an equal voice and equal vote. The hon. gentleman has suddenly fallen in love with a Legislative Union. I don't differ from him very much, but I am sure his friends will not agree with him. What have they been saying over this country for the last twc years? We will be swamped in the General Parliament, because our representa- tion is only 19 in a House of 181 members. But remember we have now a separate Legis- lature, to which is entruEted the manage- ment of many very important public ques- tions. You have now charge of our mines and minerals, education, crown lands, and other matters affecting the people; bat let the principle of the Hon. Attorney Qeneral be carried out, and what then ? All these important matters wlU be taken away from us and entrusted to the General Parliament. Do the gentlemen who support the Hon. Attorney General agree with him on this point? I have been taunted with being in a miser- able and mean minority — with being the re- presentative of only a fraction of the county which sent me here. But my hon. friend from Cumberland, as well as myself, feel that we ha ve a greater responsibili ty |ljrv»" "P' 1 am IB6 represenUtive or ici,DUU voters the Province of Nova Scotia. It is true that the vote cast on the other side was much greater; the fieople, in the exercise of their constitutional right, swept out of sight the members of the Government which had pro- moted Confederation ; but I am not ashamed that I stand here the representative of a frac- " the peo ple under those ciroumstanoeB. ;i'(^UyiJI lUrlUIUilKy (A db justieSfd the great body of men whose representative *' happen to be ; but all loan eay is that I have done my b«st to promote their interests id discharge the duty devolving upon me. in Afiernoon Seiiaion. PETITIONS. I Mr. KiDBTON presented a petition from B. and M. Morrison and others for a money grant ; also, one from McMillan and others ; also, one from Alex. McDonald and others ; also, two from Big Interval. Mr. DiOKiB presented a petition from the Fruit Growers' Association. The adiourned debate was resumed. Mr. PiNEo said— I beg permission to second the amendment which has been moved by the hon. member for Inverness. As anotbtr gen- tleman had the floor on the adjournment of the House I will not now ooenpy the time, but will reserve my observations for another occasion. MR. IVieRRIHON'S HPBBCII. Mr. MoBBisoN said— In rising to address the House on the question now beforia it, I may say that I am laboring under the same physical disadvantages of which the hon. member for Inverness complained; but the duty which I owe to the people demands that I should meet some of the arguments used by that gentleman on the spur of the moment. The hon. member told us that he was unwell, but be did not tell us the cause of his illuMs; I feel confident it has been an abscess, fiUed with illogical matter, judging from what es- caped bi^ lips, and I trust that having got rid of such a quantity of terriblu matter, he will, as he certainly should, regain his wonted health. I will be under the necessity of reading his speech backwards in the com- ments which I shall make upon it. The first thing, therefore, I shall refer to will be about the last sentence he uttered, when he told us, in bold language, that we would not get a repeal of the obnoxious Union Act. He was ten thousand times more confident that we would not get repeal than the Attorney General was that we would get it; but was that all 7 No, sir. The learned member was not only positive in his assertions, but he was defiant and threatening in his tone, and ho told us that before England would consent to Repeal or to our separation from the Em- pire she would drench the soil of the whole Dominion in blood. That language reminds me of the bullying which is heard in other Parliaments than this, What *:e we about to do 7 We are about to approach Her Ma- jesty the Queen in a simple and constitution* al way, asking her to see that the Commons of England repeal the act which confederated us to Canada. Because we make thai plain and honest request it is insinuated that we are annexationists, for that is about the pur- port of the language that was used. I assert with as much confidence as he displayed that this Confederation Act will l;c the very means of accomplishing a separation from the Em- pire and our annexation to the United States, —if that event should ever happen— for I be- lieve that a love of annexation principles un- derlies the whole of the proceedings on which that act is based. It is because that is my belief that I oppose the measure as strenuous- ly as I do. If the act be not repealed it is my conviction that circumstances which we oan« not control will, carry us into the neighl^r* ing Republic. The hon. member has told us that the Im- perial Parliament has a right at any time to step in and alter our constitution ;— this much I will grant him : that when the neces- sities of the nation require it, th« Parliament ioB from the lumed. lion to second moved by the I another gen- ournment of ipy the time, IS for another >BBCH. g to address before it, I ler the same ioh the hon. Ded; but the demands that nents used by the moment, e was unwell, of his illness ;^ abscess, filled rom what es- t having got lu matter, he , regain his the neoesaity s in the corn- it. The first will be about irben he told Tould not get ion Act. He Bonfident that the Attorney ',t it; but was , member was ions, but he his tone, and vould consent 'rom the Em- of the whole uage reminds eard in other a^'e we about tch Her Ma- constitution* > Commons of confederated kke that plain jated that we bout the pur- ised. I assert lisplayed that 18 very means 'rom the Em- United States. Jen— for I be- )rinciples un- ings on which le that is my as strenuous- teaied it is my rhioh we oan- the neighl or* that the Im- t any time to ution ; — this iien the neces- M Parliament 31 mtif have a right to say to us, we cannot keep yon any longer in your present con- nection, we mast oast you off. But I deny the right of the Imperial Parliament to foIloT us after that connection has been broken, and force us into an obnoxious position against our will. I say to this House, and to the people of this country, that if she does do so it will be an unconstitutional act on her part^ and a perfect breach of faith with t je people of this country. We are told in the first clause of the amendment laid on the table by the hon. member, that Nova Scotia has the Tight to make laws by her Parlia- ment for her own people,— I go with the hon. member there;— it says further that she ought to have that right,— 1 go with him there also,— but I ask has the Parliament of Nova Scotia made this Confederation Act ? I deny that it did, it never passed through our House, therefore it is no law of our making. The legislators who are elected are the men who have the right to make laws for the country in which they are eleeted, and no one else has that right. The men fleeted must make the laws, they cannot delegate the power to another body. I deny that two Parliaments can hold the same power, — we have no authority for such a proposition, either in the moral law, statute law, or com* mon law; or in the divine law, or the law of ature;— aman cannot serve two masters, — if the power has been given to the Parliament of Nova Scotia to make » law, that Parlia- ment may make it subject of course to the aesent or dissent of the authorities in Eng* land, that is the constitutional check placed on our legislation, but no other Parliament cau have the same power at the same moment. Something has been said in reply to the remark of the Attorney General about eur having no court for the trial of political ofienders, and the hon. member for Inverness says that this legislature is the court,— but I differ from him there. There is such a court, and the people of Nova Scotia constitute it, They have given our late political offenders a trial, and have consigned them to oblivion as politicians forever, and in that they ezer* cised a most righteous judgment. When the hon leader of the Opposition came to refer to the Republic on our western border, he grew highly eloquent,— he swelled himself almost as big as the frog in the fable, and talked about the tremendous democracy^ that had suspended the Habeas Corpus Ar ,t. It is true that in the United States that / ^qi is suspended, and why 7 Because over a t j^q. lion of men were in arms, and no one k ^^^ from what quarter the next bayonet t' xviBt would be made on unoffending citizenr ,. ^ut is there no other part of the world in which that Act is suspended? Will it be b «lieved that the Habeas Corpus Act iy suspe ^^^ Jq this mighty Dominion? And wb ^t }g {(g Government afraid of 7 Notjofthe bayonet, but of the free expression of the o pinions of the people of Nova Scotia. The G overnment of the Dominion are smoothing i]^g ^^y ^Q throw us into prisoti and keep uf , there with- out a trial ,if we should raise a mr .naar against their acts of tyranny. A gr .g^^ deal has been laid from time to ti g^ about the United Btatea having oonfedr ^fitted, and that matter was referred to by the leader pf th« Opposition to-day. it is truf that those States did confederate, and why did tbey do so T They had no nationality— they had to confederate in order that they might become a nation. There was no such necessity in oar case, for we were pait and parcel df the migh- tiest Empire in the world. Our new consti- tution makes us, not as watj the case with the old colonies, a new and icdepcndent nation, but a mere sub confederroy, taking tu away from the bosom of the Empire instead of drawiiis.e: us mnre otosely to it. But the hon. member said that somebody outside this House asked : *' If we cannot get repeal, what thea?" The hon. P'entleman spoke as if it were really wrong to ask so simple a quea- tion ;— he assisted in taking away our copsti- tation, and now he wishes to silence enquiry; — he would not only manacle our hands but seal our lips. Surely a Nova Sootian can ask " what then " as well as a man in any other part of the world. But there is another ques- tion I would like to ask, and it is : If we get jepeal what then ? That is a question which the hon. member for Inverness will be more deeply interested in. When he goes down to face his indignant constituents they will show him " what then." In speaking of the change in our constitution the hon. member told us that no such question was ever sub- mitted to the people at the polls. He must have a very abort memory, and I could ilot help thinking, as he made the remark, of what old Doctor Henderson said, when hia neighbor's pigs got into the field,—" L turned them oat," said he, " and told them not to come back again, but I find they have very bad memories; they all came back again, and now I'll take a gun and, faith, I'll help their memories." ito suohqaestion submitted to the people at the polls! Was it not done twice in N<' w Brunawick in relation to this V'jry quea^aon ? Were not the people of Prince J ad ward Island allowed to pass upon it? Was aot Nev/foundland allowed to say whether ahe wished to . come in or not? Yet that right was d.enied to Nova Scotia, and without cast- iog any reflections on the other Provinces, I pa'y say that our people possessed aa much, if not more, intelligence than thore of any o ther of the group of colonies. Aye, si' it was because they had more intelligence mat the right was withheld from them. Was not the question of annexing Ireland to TJngland submitted to the people 7 Yes; and when the people of Ireland refosed to accept the measure at the polls, Engliah gold was aent in to accomplish the work, and the righta and intereata of Ireland were etcrificed by her legislators. And yef the hon. gentle- man stands up and asks if ever such a ques- tion was submitted to the polls. In the course of his speech he said that Sir Ilobert Peel had declared that Parliament was bound to set an example of wirdom, jastioe and good faith. I thank hio-i for that reference, and I say well would it have been for this country if the lats go vernment and legisla- ture had followed th'j advice of Sir Robert Peel. Before I concVude my remarks I will show that that go vemment and legislature acted moat foolish) y, fritti the greatest injas- tice, and in vio\ation of every particle of it futh which they ihoold hftve held f.ood. I thiak I can ihew that that governiiient vio* Uted the pledge* nhioh they had given in their despatohes, and acted in euoh a treaoh- erons manner that if the moat limple baaket- toaker, the moet fallen fiahmonger or the most hnmble hod-oarrier in the land had broken pledges, and deierted the interesta of hia maater ao fully as they did, there is not a society of chimney sweeps in the British Empire but would kick him from their com- pany. The hon. member for Inverness told ns that the constitution of England had been changed by the emancipation of the Catho- lics. Was that a great change of the conati* tution such as the present one 7 Not at all; it was only simply taking away a religioas disability. But the hon. gentleman said that the Par- liament of England took no step in this mat- ter nntil our own Legislature had dealt with it. That brings us back to the assertion that our people had a right to make any law af« feoting their own iutereatir, the check beiLg the withholding of Her Mvjeety's aasent. The theory ia, that Nova Scotia, having the power, moved firat for auch an act, and that Great Britain followed in the wake. We will examine that theory pre8t.nt]y, bat in the meantime let us look at another illustration that was brought forward— that of the Eng- lish Reform Bill. Parliament, it is true, passed that measure -, but what other power could have done it? But that was not a change in the constitution; it did not de- prive any class of people of their rights— it merely added to tne rights of the subject. That is a distinction which I wish kept clearly in view. Not one of these acts denu- ded the people ol England of any rights or privileges. Then, again, as to the repeal of the Corn Laws— did that measure transfer the revenues cf the country to another Gov* ernment ? True, it might for a time cripple the revenue, but the people were willing and able to bear the loss. And there is another point here which I wish to press on your attention : were any of these measures car- ried against the wishes of the people of Eng- land 7 No, but in obedience to their com- mands; while the Act of Confederation has been forced upon us despite the strong remonstrances of the peo|jle. Catholic Eman- cipation, the Reform measure, and the repeal of the Corn Laws, had been debated for ycarr; election after election had turned on thei^e questions, and the men elected to sup* port the legislation which was accomplished. We, on the contrary, had no opportunity of choesing our representatives with the view to any such change in the constitution. That, I think, is a full answer to the argument de- duced from parsUel cases. Circumstances alter cases. The Ministry of England could not, on any one of thoee measures, have stood a week if they had not bowed to the will of the people; but here we had a Minis- try standing in defiance of (he people, and insisting that the people had no voice in the matter. I aatert here that our rights were handed over against our will,— we were made depen- dants of Canada, and I ask if any such ex* ample can be found in English history 7 No sir, no luoh aot wm ever done before by the British Parliament, and I defy the hon. member to point me to an instance of it. We know that the despotic autocrat of Ruatia has within the laat four years liberated twenty- six millions of serfs, giving them a certain measure of political freedom and other privi- leges. Brazil, another despotic empire, has, within the last four years, liberated three millions of her slaves;— the Great Repnblithe soundness of the mercantile and banking institutions, had made Nova Scotians respected abroad, while the geogra- phical position of the country, jutting out into the bosom of the Atlantic, with magnifi- cent harbors.spread over the seaboard, and open to the shipping at all seasons of the year. The richness of our mines, abounding in almost every county of the Province, to- gether with the vast amount of our commer« cial tonnage, all combing to make Nova Scotia an object of pride to her people, and the brighteEt gem in the colonial possessions of the British Empire. With this state of things the great body of the people were per- fectly content, but in an unguarded h^ur an unnatural hand was laid on this prosperity, and our institutions were swept away in dea fiance of our constitution. The wrangling politioianB of Canada, not content with their St fore bjr the fy the hon. oeofit. We )f Ruuia hM ited twenty- m k certain other priTi- empire, hae, ertted three !al Republl'f 8 juit oome rneoine war I, a war io valleys with llione of her n Ruaiia,— Brazil, or on in England, an Act was le nineteenth tish freemen d to relieve erfdom, and nner of in- J. Having eviewed the [nverness, I ibjeot more must here he Imperial pace an act bis country inparalleled .merioa. a Scotians, evated their viable in the they could anoes which rity as well aent to the cherishing could point 1 been laid 1 had been rompt man- heir indus- r than that of Britiih ndantly for laintenanoe U the other iracter and people, to- mercantile made Nova he geogra- jutting out th magnifi- tboard, and iBone of the abounding rovinoe, to- ir commer' )ake Nova eople, and posseieions his state of e were per- ed hnur an prosperity, kway in dea wrangling with their own MnditlOD, and by miamanagement hav- ing brought themieWca to a deadf look, aon< ceived that the only way of relieving them- selves waa to come down on the Maritime Provinces and drag our people into their broils. Accordingly they came here, and some of onr own politicians, full of ambition and lust of power, aided by the indifTerenoe and hot-hastaof the British Hooae of Com- mons, obtained the enactment of a law which took from as almost all our rights and pri- vileges. We have been subjected to the do- mination of Canada, as I will shew by an extract from the speech of one of the mem- bers of the Ottawa House of Commons. Mr. Harrison said :— *" ^ "Canada before Oonfederatlon had not more than 184,676 men between the aget of 20 and 60. bat since Confederation we have not leta than 663.667 flgbting men. We have added not lea« than 1,000 000 of «on- lumeri te our whole population, and not leas than 100,000 fighting men to cur military strength. Besides we have (acquired fnreat atrength on the aea, where we were in moat need of atrength. Befo.e the Union we had only 6 96) aailora, and moat of theae on oar in- land waters: Now we can boast of 28 360 aailora, and wh|en we ahall have Newfonndland as a me:^'.:sr of our national partnership we shall have iA> lea a than 66,- 038 aailora, and ao become one of the great maritime powers uf the world. Before the Union oar ahipping was represented by a tonnage of 287,187' tons, ban now we can boast of 708.421 tons, nearly as mach as that of France with a population of 85,000,000. (Hic- ibter of Justice — Onr tonnage is as larg i as that of France. Mr. Harrison— If we could now count New- fonndland and Priaca Edward Island aa parts of our Dominion, I bellere it would be as large, but without those Provincea-I think oar tonnage is a little leas than that of France.)'* Thnsweeee the almighty "we" sticking out of every part of the speeches at Ottawa. The tone of the Canadians is "oh, be quiet, and we may modify the tariff for you." Is not this the language .of the captor to the captive 7 It certainly is, and the Canadians did npt spare their pains to let our people see that they legarded us as captives. And yet, sir, I regret exceedingly to hnd that there is a man of Nova Scotia birth who is willing to stand up on the floors of Parlia- ment and vindicate an Act which brings such degradatio ' on onr people. I will now, sir, pat before the House and the country several extracts from despatches which, I believe, will put the question in a clearer light than anything that I could say npon the subject. The task will be, no donbt, to my hearers dry and tedious, but I hope I may be indulged with attention. The first proposal in reference to Confederation we find came from the Canadian Government in a despatch asking Major General Doyle whether that Government would be permitted to appoint delegatas to confer with those appointed by us on the subject of a Maritime Union. Sir Richard Graves MaoDonnell hav- ing assumed the reins of Government here very shortly after the receipt of that des- patch, returned this answer to Lerd Monok with the advice of his Council :— "I can assure yoar Lordship of the ex- treme pleasure which it will afford this Gov- ernment to confer nnofficially with any Dele- gates sent from Canada. It is, however, ne- cessary to remind your Lordship that no Re- Bolation has yet been passed by any of the LegiaUturei of the Maritime Proviaoei, aathorislDg the appoiatmeBt of Dslegatea for any purpose but that of eonsideriag eome plan for the Union of the three Provineee. Therefore, neither I nor my Ministry have the power to go t>eyond the txaci fvotrt conferred by that Resolution." There we fiitd a distinct admiislon that the Government and the Delegates had no power even to discuss the subject of this larger union without the authority of the reprcseft' tatives of the people. On the 18th July, 1863, Governor MacDonnell sent a despatch to Mr. Card well, some extracts from which I will also read :— " I have consulted my Executive Council on the question, and the Members concur with me in thinking that the Resolution of the Legislature,which authorises the appoint- ment of Delegates to discuss the Uufon of the Maritime Eastern Provinces, confers no poioer to discuss officially, the larger question embraced in LordMonck's enquiry." "Having signified to my Ministry my wil- lingness t3 appoint Delegates to meet those of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Iai land, it seems proper that I thonld call your attention t^ a Deipatch uf the 27th of Janu- ary, 1860, marked confidential, and address- ed to my predecessor by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. In that Despatch his Grace, whilst apparently expressing no disapproval of the discussion of such a question as that which is now imminent, concludes with the following instruction: 'Previons to sending Delegates to Quebec or elsewhere, such a proposal should not be authorised by your- self m'nhoal previous communication with the Secretary of State, in ojrder that the question of the Delegates, and the instruction to be given them may be known beforehand to H. M. Government.' " There we had again a recognition of the people to heard through their representatives before the appointment of a delagation, and an admisfiion that such an appointment coald not be made without the sanction of the Co- lonial Secretary. Further on I find the fol- lowing clause : '* la the meantime I venture to add. in re- ference to the suggestion of Lord Monck, that it seems premature to discufis the larger ques- tion of a Union of the five Provinces before it can be ascertained whether the three smaller, whose interests are more immediately and more evidently connected, can be i..duoed to combine in (closer connection. I apprehend that the more limited project, if practicable at all, as I hope it is, is all that can be man* aged for some time to come, whilst if the larger proposal be attainable, and be desira- ble, its adoption will eventually be in this way much facilitated. I think so, because a Union between two communities, which would be all that would then remain to be accomplished, will assuredly be a simpler question to arrange than a Union between five as at present." That was the language which the Lieute* nant Governor, by the advice of his Council, held in 1864. Again, on the 18th August of the same year Governor MacDonnell sent a despatch to the Secretary of Btate* in which he layi: 34 \'l npltAntd that the LcgitltiarM of the Mwitiin* ProTinoM had not avtboriiid dii* onuioa by their delegate! of any queation ex- cept the Union of thote Provinoea, and that althoagh it would £afford this OoTernment much pleaiure to reocive and confer unolB. oiall^ with any partiea anthoriicd by Canad« to diicuBB a larger question. I could not clothe the delegate! of M ova Sootia with more extensive authority than that already con ferted by the Legislature." Here, again, waa an acknowledgment of the right of the people to deal with the ques- tion through the Legislature. Again, he says: " I always spoke hopefully of greater uni- ted actic=, on the part of these olonies, in many imjiortant matters; but 1 never intend- ed, and it would be premature as well as inconsistent with the duties of my position to have appeared as an advocate of any general union in the sense intended by other speak- ers." '^ On 29th September Sir B. 0. MaoDonnell transmitted another despatch. It would ap* pear that by that time, from whatever influ- ences were brought to bear, the minds of the Executive Council were changed, and ita members had become clamorous for appoint- ment to go to Canada. In informing the Secretary of State of this fact, the Lieut. Governor said : "I have the honor to infci-m you that my Ministry are very anxious for the appoint- ment of Delegates from this Province to con- fer at Quebec with Delegates from the other Maritime Province! and Canada. The sub- ject of the Conference is intended to be the feuibility of a Union, whether Federal or Legislative, of all British North America. Even Newfoundland is sending a Bepresen* tative; and as the Conference is intended to commence on the 10th October, it wou'd be impossible for the Representatives of Nova Sootia to reach Quebec at that date, if I await your sanction to their appointment by the mail due at Halifax on the 12th October." It would appear from this that vhe 12th October was the earliest hour at which au- thority for the appointment of delegates to Quebec could be given, and he says further down: "I agreed yesterday in Executive Council, to nominate as Delegates to the Quebec Con« ference the same gentlemen who had already represented Nova Scotia at the Conference in Charlottetown and Halifax. I find, however, on further inquiry, that no oflScial invitation, sueh as I could recog- nize, has been yet received from Lord Monok, adequate to justify my nominating Bepre- sentatives of this Province to a Conference, where, 8i.:otly speaking, they should not proceed at a.' I without your previous sanc- tion. In fact no proof of any invitation having beeii sent to Nova Sootian Delegstes has yet reached me. I have, therefore, tele- graphed to Lord Monok to ih»t eflfuct. and ai possibly I may find myself unable for the above reasons to name any Delegates to the Quebec Conference, I think it best to put you in possession of the above explanation." Here the government of Nova Sootia had to admit that they had no right to make the appointment even after th«y had indmad His Exoellenoy to nonunate the delegatea who had been at Charlottetown. Bat thara is something a little more surprising to come. Underthedateof the 3rd October we find His Exoellenoy saying in a despatch to the Qovernor Oeneral : *'I have the honor to itate. for your Lord- ship's information, that I have laid yoar Despatflh and its snolosure lufore my Minis- try, and I have appointed the Hon. Provin- cial Seoretary, the Hon. Attorney General, the Hon B. B. Dickey, the Hon. J. McGally and A. G. Archibald, Esq., to form a Depu- tation to meet the Delegates from the other British Provinces in Conference at Quebec, on the 10th inst., as proposed in your Lord- ship's Despatch." Thus, although no authority for the ap- pointment of the delegates could reach Nova eootia before the 12th Oct., we find that, nine days before that date, they were appointed, and I think it will farther be found that each one of those five gentlemen had, on the 30th Septr., drawn from the treasury an J pocket* ted $400. We also find in a despatch of 3rd Deer , from Mr. Cardwell to Lord Monck, in which, being aware of the oonferenoe at Que ■ bee. and underttanding that the delegates wanted to submit their resolutions to the Parilaments of the several Provinces, he ■ays :— *' It appears to Her Majesty's Government that you should now take immediate measu- res, in concert with the Lieutenant Goveraore of the several Provinces, for subinitting to the respective Legislatures this project of the Conference; and if, as I hope, you are able to report that theae Legislatures sanction and adopt the scheme, Her Majesty's Government wi'^ render you all the assistance in their power for carrying it into effect." Here then we find Mr. Cardwell embodying in his instructions to L3rd Monck the very principle for which we are contending, direct- ing that the measure be first passed through our Lfgislaturee, and afterwards promising the aBsistanoe of the Imperial Parliament. And yet the Government of that day under* took to deal with the whole subject without submitting it for our consideration. But we have further light thrown on the subject, by a deipatch from Lord Monok to Sir B. G. MacDonnell. dated 23rd December, in which the former says, referring to the instructions from which I last quoted : " In pursuance of these instructions I have the honor to inform you that I have summon- ed the Canadian Parliament to meet on Thursday, the 19th January. 1865. when I propose to bring before both Houses of the Legislature the important subject referred to in Mr. Cardwell's Despatch, in order that, if the Legislature should think fit, an Address may be adopted to the Queen, praying Her Majesty to direct that steps be taken for passing an Act of the Imperial Parliament tD unite the Provinces of British North Ame- riou on the l)«ei* laid down in the resolutions adopted by the Qaebeo Conference." The reply of Sir B G. MaoDonoell, on 9th January, was as follows :— " In reference to the course which yoar Lordship sagfeests for the purpose of giving Le an wi be qu ati 18( th M !*3| 35 he on 9th tfftot to the initraotloM of Har llijtatjr'i GeTenmeat, via., to labmit to the reepeotife Legialetniree the project of the Conferenoe, 1 am in « poiition to itete that thia GoTernment will take eimilar atcpi to those propoied t;) be taken in Canada." Here waa a farther pledse that the whole qoeation would be preaentea for the oonaider- ation of onr Ltgtalature in the Betaion of 1865. But I will CO a step further, and quote the language nieaby the Lieut. QoTemor to Mr. Cardwell on the 13th January. 1865. He aaya, apeakine of the oourae atated by Lord Monok, to have beeiy the policy adopted by the Canadian Oovcrnment :— " I haie had much pleaanre in intimating the entire willingneea of thia Government to adhere to the aame policy. It ia indeed pre> oiaely the courae which I had myaelf reeom* mended aa aoon aa I waa in poaaeaaion of your viewa on the Quebec Reeoiutiona." Thia ia the laat extract which I ahall make from the Journala touching the action of the delegatea and of the government of Dritieh America down t3 13th January, 1865. I re> peat that it waa the Canadiana th«t forced tlUmaelTea on the people of the Lower Pro- Tinoea; the Union waa not our aeeking, nor tbktof the people of England. The Cana- diana had got into a difficulty from which they could only extricate themeelvca by dragging ua in with them. I think I have (•hewn from the deiipatchea that our govern- uent acknowledged that they had no power to appoint delegatea until the authority oame from Her Majesty's government; yet they did appoint t'^ese delegates, and paid them, and thoae delegates had been aitting in the Conference at Quebec preparing to legitlate away our independence several days before the authority for their appointment reached Nova Scotia. I ask, then, sir, if that is cou- atitutional? Cett&inly not. I think I have shown to the Uou,"*! that Governor MaoDon- nell was opposed to the scheme, for that ap- pears by his despatch of 18th August. I think I have alto shown that the Secretary of State forbade the appointment of delegates without his instructions, and yet those ap- pointments were made in the absence of those instructions. I think I have shown also that the British Government, as well as the Gov» ernmentaofthe Colonies, were of the opinion that the reaulta of the deliberations at the Conference ahall be submitted to the Parlia* Events of the Provinces at the first Session afterwards. There was no denial of the rights of the Legislature or people then— and why 7 Because it v:as believed that the scheme would be popular; but when the de- legates returned they found their mistake. Hence it was that Mr. Tilley went to the people of New Brunswick ; but our "Premier' * knew that he «as doomed if he went to the country— he knew that he never could carry an election in Nova Scotia again. He had carried one election on a famous retrench* ment scheme, and his party bad been re* turned to carry that measure into effect. Did they do it? Not at all; but Dr. Tupper turned hia attention to a scheme that the people were determined he should not carry and said he had no right to deal with. He fbnntd that by gross misrepresentatioa he had got himself into laoh a positioa that he had nothing mora to expect f^om tha people of Nova ^otia, and hence it waa that la hot haste he hied off to Canada, and thera, with a brow of brass and a tongue of venom, tried to better his oircamstancea at the exprnaa of the people whom he had betrajied and de* ceived. That was the true cause of the determina- tion on the part of the Government of Nova Scotia to get us into Confederation. It is true that they have tried to shield themseltes under the authority of Lord Monck in the appointment of the delegates, but I deny that Lord Monck had any more power in the mat* ter than Governor MacDonnell. The whole thing was taken up without proper authority, but that waa not all : we have to complain not only that they acted withont due author- ity, but that they acted deceitfully ; the whole scheme was to have been kept perfectly sec- ret until it could be submitted to the Parlia- menta, for they expected to rush it through before the people could instruct their repre- sentatives what to do. If it had not been that Mr. Palmer, of Prince Edward Island, was more honest than the rest, and expoaed the aoheme, and that our people, becoming alarmed, aummoned their delegates to meet them in a public hall in Halifax to explain their reaolutiona, the plot might have been carried out. Ouj delegation did come down and explain theik* conduct, and they pretend- ed to Bay that they had authority by virtue of thereaolutionof 18G1. That ground was struck from under their feet, and here let me say that when that resolution was pasted, I opposed it might audmain; I was the cause of its not being diecuised here, and I can therefore claim to be the fiist Anti-Confeder- ate in Nova Scotia, for I said to the Govern' ment of that day : "I do not expect that you will do anything wrong under this resolution, but you know not what devil may follow you." The delegatea, aa I have aaid, came down before the public in Halifax, and got Mr. Archibald to box the figures fbr them. According to his statements it was the most beautiful scheme that ever was sub* mitted ; we were going to have all the fortifi« cations that were necessary, all the canals were to be deepened, the Intercolonial rail- road was to be built, the Northwest Territory opened up, and all for forty cents per head. I never believed that Mr. Archibald was sincere in those statements— they were got up to de- ceive the people.. But the people soon begau to gather in different parts of the Province, petitions came in to the Legislature, and, after the Government bad consulted their friends, they found that in a house of 05 members they had but 22 in fiivor of their scheme — one of that comber being in the chair. They dare not therefore submit the measure to Parliament as they had pledged themselves to do. But what tpore sir? They had pledged themselves in the Governdr's speech to submit the scheme to the legislature, — in ten paragraphs of that speech Confederation sticks out as plainly as anything can, and notwithstanding that, the government dare not bring down their aoheme. But what did they do? They tabled a reBolution and car- S6 Hed it tbroagh the HonM. I do not know by wbkt Bcjoritr, deolwios the whole lohene iopraotiokble. Whftt wai this done for but to dtoeire the people who were riiiDg eRkinit the meMure. Eight or nine thounnd pcr- eoni however h»d Already petitioned PArli»> meni, and I believe that eome little reipeot wai paid to thoie petitioni, for I think that it waa in oonacqucnoe of them that the rceo- lution which I have oittd wae brought down. Everything then became calm and amooth in the Province, — no man especte tlemen rose out of their beds on that night and eame here to d«Amd tkcir conntry from th« men who were determined to sweep away ther rights. Then there was another pieoe of hypocrisy praotisfd on the Legislature. In- stead of the resolution, which I referred to, about the appointment of Senators being oarried out, and the selections being made from both sides in the Legislative Council, only six or seven were taken from that body, and not a man waa appointed from the ranks of the Opposition. That is a fact which I challenge any gentleman to deny. There was but one man in the whole country appointed to the Senate from the ranks of the Opposi- tion, and that was Mr. Locke, a member of this House. That resolution of this House in 1866 was carried by the basest deception and misrepresentation. I have remarked that the interests of Nova Scotia were swept away by that Confedera- tion Act, and I ask now how the people of Canada would have borne such treatment from the British Government 7 If an attempt had been made to attach Canada to a greater country, what would have been the conse- quence 7 There would have been an instanta- neous rebellion. This last fall, when they denied the right to a few individnals to ex- press their opinions at the polls on the elec- tion of a member of Parliament, a riot was raised, the Sheri£F was seized, and his papers taken from him, and not a man waa allowed to be nominated in the district. That is the way they do things in Canada, and jet the Canadian champions in Nova Scotia, because we ask simply to have an Act of Parliament repealed, tell us that we are rebels. I have already said, that the Legislature had no right to transfer their authority to the Par- liament of England to pass a law for Nova Scotia. The Crown having granted us the power to make laws for ourselves, had no right to interfere with that power; the Bri- tish Government should have called on us to pass the Act, and if it did not afterwards suit their views, they could have rejected it. They had a right, if the necessities of the na- tion required it, to say that we should con- tinue no longer in our present connection, but they had no right to force us into an un- natural connection with another country. You may tarn t r^iu into the street, b^t you have no right : • dictate to him whether he shall go east ui vest, north or south; after you have drive, him away, you must let him choose for himijlf. Yes, sir, I undertake to say that the whole Act is unconstitutional, — that it is a breach of faith on the part of England with our people. They tell us that Parliament had the nn doubted right to pass this law. What will that proposition lead to 7 Some men a little more ambitious than the lr>,Q Government, may induce the Commons]of England to pass an Act to transport us to the plains of Sibe- ria, or consign us to the Black Hole of Cal- cutta. If you admit their power to deal with us against our will, where will be the limit to that power? We had the authority in Nova Scotia to make our own laws, and we did make them; we made such as we thought best suited to the people of this country, and under tiiem the Province flourished as no other part of the British posteisions didj Ws 87 uBtry from iwMp »way ihcr piMe of ilkture. In- refer rfld to, ttora bein$c beini; made ive Coauoil, 1 that body, a the runkii lot which I There wai 1 appointed the Oppoai- member of liii Hoaae in ceptloD anrl !its of Nova Confedera- he people of li treatment :r an attempt to a greater D the oonae- an instanta- vhen Ihey oaU to ex- oa the eleo- , a riot wa> d hii papers waa allowed That ia the and jet the )tia, beoauie ' Parliament lelB. I have iture had no to the Par- iw for Nova nted us the Ives, had no er; the Dri- lled on us to afterwards e rejected it. ee of the na* should con- . oonnection, I into an nn- ler conntry. eet, b^t you 1 whether he south; after mutt let him undertake to tltutional, — the part of had the nn What will I men a little GloYernment, [land to pass tins of Sibe- Hole of Cal- to deal with be the limit authority in aws, and we B we thought sountry, and rished as no >nB didt W« kept oarNlvM cat of debt, for, if we happened to fall a little short one year, we arranged the Tariff the next accordingly, and kept our- selTes square. Hdw was it with Canada T Bhe did not manage her affairs in that way; Instead of acting prudently and safely as No> va Scotia did, she went iuti) rebellion on seve- ral occasions, and the cost of these rebellions han^s over her head at this moment, and we, the fkithful and toyal sr.bjects of our beloved Sovereign, arc now called on to assist in pay> Ing it off. Because we do not submit with a good grace it is said, "0! you are rebels and aDDezttionisis." The resolution of 180C told the delegates that they must grt a scheme that would do equal justice to all the Pro- Tincea. Now, I ask, if the sobcmo they did Set gives us equal justice with Canada? I eny that it does. It has swept away all the old revenues which we bad under the 10 per cent Tariff, and has imposed a tax of 15 per cent. The additional .0 per cent will realize $524,000. of which $200,000 will be taken away to Canada, leavins: 8324,000 to pay us our 80 cents per head. Let me ask if that is Just. The scheme startled even the Finance Minister of Canada, for he told his people that while the delegates from Nova Bcotia bad consented to reduce the amount distribut- ed for their local wants to the extant of 9200,000 or $300 000, the scheme would eive to Canada a million dollars more for local purposes than ever they had before. How, then, can any man stand up and say that the measure does justice to Nova Scotia? More than that, it gives enaoious of their rights and privilegea than are the Celta of Ireland, or the people of any of the other countries which I have named. What we want is to have our institutions placed in the poeitloa in which they have been, and then we will be truly loyal,— I do not say that we will not be truly loyal if wc do not get them restored, but there is not the shadow of a shade of doubt that we will be so if our request is heard. It is an entirely mis* taken policy to annexaamall couhtry likeN. Scotia to a large country like Canada for the purpoae of Kiving the latter relief from her political difficulties. If the poaition were re> veraed the amallck colony might be relieved by the annexation, but under other circum^ stances the smaller colony ia sure to have its influence swamped. If a coach and six be fantened in the mud, and a light carriage be attached for the purpoae of assisting it, the whole will become fixed, although the coach and aix could get the light vehicle out of the diffioulty with ease. So aurely aa they hold U8 in the Act of Confederation the whole will be overthrown, and Ibat is a strong reason why we should get repeal. 1 would aik what right have tbe people of England to sacrifice us who have always been loyal for the benefit of a people who have not been ao 7 I deny the justice of such a proceeding. Our people, as I have said, have always been loyal, and they will remain so if their iastitutiuns are left to them, but we think it a hardship that our interests should be sacrificed in order that these fellows in Canada may be kept in order. The Act waa passed against o.r remon- strances — I ask if that was British? Is it constitutional that our rights and liberties should be taken away witho it a hearing? The ujost contemptible sheep thief within the realm obtains a hearing before he is deprived of his liberty, and are wc to l9, treated worse than a sbeep thief woula be? I believe not; it is one of the beauties of British law that no man can be condemn'^d unheard. Among the reaiuus given for the great change that has been forced upon us, was the assert- tion that it was necessary for us to confede>^ rate for defensive purposes. But will this paper confederation shorten the line wh'oh separates us from the American republic? Can it produce a dollar more for defence than we would havb had otherwise, without in« creased tax&tion ? Will it bring a man more into the field than we would have had other- wise? The arguiBeiit in favor of uniting for defence falls to the ground as soon as it is touched. Then we were told we must con- federate in order to regulate our Currency, and upon that poiut I heard one of the dele- gates expatiate: he told us who the delet^ates to Charlcttetown were, and what great quali- fications they possessed, and then aaid that when thev got to Prnce Edward Idand the whole five of them were unable to count their passage mcney ! mockery of mock- eries! Five men who could not count their passage money to Prince Edward Island, chosen to frame a new Constitution for Brit- ish North America! And that waa one of reasons advanced by one of our " leading minds " in support of Union. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we are asking the Commons of England to repeal this Act because it has created a feeling of distrust in the breast of every Nova Scotian, and by repealing it they will show to the world that they ire willing to do justice to the meanest subject who can show a cause of just complaint. If our re- quest bi granted our people will be peaceable and contented. It is because they wish to remain peaceable and contented within the British Dominions that we ask for Repeal, and we will continue to ask until it is grant- ed. I want to aee every man on these benches voting for these resolutions— help* ing to restore the Constitution of this coun- try. I want every man in this Assembly, and every man throughout the length and breadth of Nova Scotia to feel as warmly and earnestly on the subject as I feel, for I tell you that if I had a thousand voices, yea ten thousand voices, and could raise them all at once, I would shout Repeal ! Refkal !! REPEAL !!! now and forever. 39 i whole will ODg reason ild aik what to taorifio'e r the benefit J? I deny Our people, 1 loyal, and tutiuns are rriehip that id in order be kept in 3 v.p remon- tiih? Is it Qd liberties a hearing? f within the I is deprived \,^. treated 1 7 I believe Britieh law id unheard. ;resit change a the asserp to oonfede* ut will this line wh'oh n republic? defence than without in> a man more ! had other- uniting for )on as it is s must con- ir Currency, of the dele- he delei^ates great quali- n said that 1 leland the Die to count ry of mock- count their ard Island, ion for Brit- was one of ir " leading I conclusion, Commons of cause it has the breast of iling it they are willing ject who can If our re- be peaceable hey wish to i within the for Repeal, L it is grant- n on these tions— help- jf thiscoun- i Assembly, length and 1 as warmly I feel, for I 1 voices, yea raise them : / Bepsal ! ! KPBKCn OF MR. SITIITBI. Mr. Smith said:— I feel it to be a duty which I owe to my constituents to state frank- ly my opinions oa the question which is now agitating the minds of the peopla of this Province In doing so I shall endeavor to adopt that temperate and dispassionate style of address, which I believe is the best adapt- ed on the floors of any Legislature to attract ♦he attention cf the gentlemen who are ad- dressed, and to reommend itself to the judg- ment c." every one sitting on these benches. I regret very much, that in the discussion of this question, every gentleman who addresses the House is necessarily constrained to at- tack the leader of tho Opposition, who has advanced the only arguments on his side of the quesjion, and if in the remarks which I am about to make, I am obliged to animad- vert strongly upon some of the observations which have fallen from him, I trust that he will believe that I do so with the most earnest desire to avoid anything like personal re- crimination. But sir, every ^.jtleman on these benches has a solemn duty to perform in the interests of the peoplp who have elect* ed him to represent them 'ihis is a most Im- portant crisis in the history of Nova Scotia. Whether for weal or for woe the people of this country are now called upon to ofier a remonstrance against a union which, in defi- ance of their wishes, has confederated them with Canada, and has jeopardized, as they believe, the prosperity and happiness of their country. When the scheme was first brought before the public in a substantial shape, I gave to it the calmest and most dispat^sionate consideration that it was in my power to be- stow upon it, and came to the conclusion that if the people of the country consented to aU low their interests to be bartered away by that measure, then they had much less intel- ligence and spirit than I imagined they pos- sessed. Under these circumstances I deemed it to be my duty, casting aside my own feel- ings and severing many associations, to come forward and assume an independent stand, and advocate the interests of the people of this country. I felt that the scheme in itself did not ensure " a just provision " for the interests of Nova Sootia; and I intend ad« dressing the House and country, and giving to them, in as concise a form as is possible, the reasons why I conceive the measure to be most disastrous to the dearest interests of the people. First of all, there was no exigency in the position of this country that required it to be confederated in the manner in which it has been. It must be apparent to every one that the representation which that scheme gives to the peop'e of this country places them in a painfully humiliating position, and casts them, perfectly impotent »nd helpless, at the feet of an alien msjority. I felt, iow- ever true this might be, that it was impossible to apply any other principle than that of population in the construction of the popular branch, yet some provision should at least be made to guard the interests of this coun- try in the upper branch— in the Senate of the Qeneral Parliament. We have heard a good deal about the Con- BtitatioB of thb United Statss in this debate. The hon. member for InTeraeMbtB out many aspersions upon democratic and republioan institutions, and however ready I am to »d« mit that the coostiOutioa of Great Britain is far superior to that of the American Repub- lic, yet I very much regret that the gentle- men who favored the British North America Act did not look more closely than they did into the system of the United States, which preserves at all events one admirable prin- ciple, and that is, the one which gives the smallest State an equal representation in the Senate Chamber with the greatest State. It may not be known to every gentleman around me that although in the Lower House the principle of populations regulates the re- presentation, yet in the Upper House the mo»t insignificant State has an equal voice with the largest and most populous. Why, sir, the wise and sagacious men who framed that constitution did not act in the trifling manner which appears to have been the case with those public men who framed the conititution which we are now asked to live under. Not one of the smallest of the thir« teen StMes would have gone into the Union unless such a provision for their rights had been assured them. We are not only in a powerless minority in the lower branch, but also in the Upper House — nothing has been dnne to protect the interests of the smaller member of the Confederacy. I entertain likewise very strong convictions that when any body of men attempt to change the con- stitution of i. country like this, or undertake to sweep away the independence of our Legis- lature, to trifle as they have done with the feelings of our people, — that they should at least have had the modesty to say to the people: "Are you willing to have these changes brought about?" They should at least have had the consideration to have asked the people of this outintry, will you permit us thus to deal with your dearest in- terests, and sweep you away into the hands of a Canadian majority ? Not only did they not do this, but they coolly and unhesitatingly set at defiance and scoffed contemptuously at the wishes of the people of this country. Is it not a matter of hiitory with respect to this Confederation that the people of Nova Scotia were not only opposed to the scheme itself, but to the passage of any such measure with« out its having been first Bubmitte^. to them at the polls. When the hon. member for Inverness scouted the idea of leaving a question of such a character to the people, he endeavored to bring forward some arguments in support of his position. He boacted of the absurdity of leaving questions of this kind to the people at the polls c>b manifest from the whole of British authority. He asked the House whether Sir Robert Peel, a man whom he eu- logized in the most expressive terms, and the potency of whose colossal genius has left its mark upon the history of the world, was not a good authority on constitutional ques- tions, and proceeded to assert tha^that states- man pa'.ed the Catholic Emancipation Bill without leaving it to the prople. But bis case was no similitude here. I am free to ada mit that Catholic emancipation was an alter- ation of the constitution, but I tell the hon. 40 gentleman it was not an overthrow of the constitntion. It was the passage of an act irhioh the yery Parliament who passed it might have afterwards repealed. It was not an infringement of the rights and the privi* leges of the British public— it was done with their consent, in obedience to the spread of more expansive and generous ideas, which taught them that the time had come to strike down bigotry and intolerance, and open the door to Her Majesty's Catholic subjects to coD:einand enjoy the same political privi- leges which were extended to their Protestant brethren. In the care of ourselves, the rights and privileges which we had so long enjoyed were swept away at one " fell Bwoop." The hon. gentleman next referred to the abolition of the Corn L«ws There is no more similitude here than in the previous case. That question was before the people for years, and we know that British states- men occupy a very dififerent position from the public men of this country. Invariably the leadinar public men of England, after a session of PArliament. go down to their con- stituents and address them upon any quee* tion which m»y be agitating the public mind ; they take every pains to ascertain the views of their constituents, and communicate their own. The repeal of the Corn Laws tras a question with which the British people were perfectly familiar. But is it to be said that because Sir Robert i'etl rpfoeed to sobmit a question of this kind to the people— because beheld such a course to be unconstitutional, therefore it is a precedent for the passage of the Confedoratiou Act 7 Is it to be a prwoe- dcnt for making, not merely a material change in, but actually destroying, a con- stitution? I hold that responsible govern- ment has been destroyed, as far as the peo- ple are concerned, by the character of our representation at Ottawa. Suppose every member from the Maritime Provinoos was to oppose any measure which the government of Canada might tbink proper ta introduce affeciing the interests of Nova Scotia, and that that meat ure was nevertheless passed ; the people of Nova Seo«ia might feel that an act had been carried outraging their feel- ings and injurious to thvir peculiar inetitu- tions,— but at no election in the Province could the men who carried that obnoxious measure bo responsible to anybody. They wouli be responsible only to the Canadian people, and not to the electors of Nova Sco- tia whose interests would be peculiarly af fected. Therefore I oay that under the cir- cumstancts Nova Scotia, standing as sho does numerically inferior in both brnncbes of the General P*iliara(;i.t, occupies a position rot only humiliating, but positively dan- gerous. We have been told time and acain by the pre»s in th^ *. int-erest of the Confederate party that Nova i jcofia would exercise a controlling influonce in the House of Commons in con- sequpQce of the antagonism existing between the Upper a r.d Lower Canadians; hut what has been the result ? I laughed at the idea when I heai-i 1 it for the first time, because it was so palpa ble to any one that had a mind to think that fhe moment Canadian intoreilB were affected Upper and Lower Canada would unite as one. Has not that actually hap- pened? Take the tariff question, for in- stance. We find all the representatives from the Maritime Provinces except three voting against that tariff, nnd what was the result ? You find Sir John A. MacDonald leading up the Upper Canadians, and Mr. Cartier the Lower Canadians, to pass the tariff despite the opposition of the Maritime Provinces The tocsin of alarm has only to be sounded, and resistance is in vain ! We have, bova ever, our Local Legislature, and it is only here (bat we car. rpeak effectively; and I hope and trust when our voices have been heard that the Canadians will see that there is spirit enough left in the people of Nova Scotia to nerve them to every efiort to shake themselves free forever from this hated thral- dom. It has been urged by the hon. member for Inverness that it is absurd for any one ac- quainted with constitutional law to declare tliat the people should be consulted at the polls. I contend it to be constitutional, and I intend to argue it from speeches and letters written by two gentlemen, one of whom as- sisted in transferring this country over to the Canadians. I will now first call your atten- tion to what oconrre t in the House of Com- mons, when this brt to shake hated thral- member for any one ao- w to declare suited at the ational, and 8 and letters of whom ac- y over to the your atien- ise of Com- luced. Yoa 1 the interest lod forth for I not to press ^eeuipended hen the peo- ). When he \t the peop'.u I opportuni- re, what was ileman who Ication with %t remark of e say that it jople of this ed ? No, be I argument; it from the Qovernment general elec scne between :. Watkin," me, wh«tis [f Mr. Wat- iu thB argup : have refer- ^umberland. iastrver the untrue; bat 1 rests I will I gentleman Mr. Watkin hich every* the fabric of le. We find to coerce id into that opie of those Basure, and in acoord« bey refused of this Act. ved with re- preambl* of the Act shews that the Parliament believed the people of Nova Sootia were, aotoally in favoar of the Union. Therefore I believe if the statesmen of Oreat Britain bad not been egregionely deceived, they would not have placed on the records of the country an Act taking away the rights and privileges of the free people of Nova Sootia. I find the hon. member for Cumberland entertaining the same opinion that I hold, and I believe if we could understand the real feelings of the hon. member for lavernesv, yoa would find Inm diisatisfied with the manner in which the scheme wa/ passed. We find this feeling cropping out in one of the amendments moved by ttte hon. member, wheie he says "however desirable it may have been to leave the quiigtion to the peo- ple," but occupying the position which he does, it would not have done fur him to have made any greater admiision. Are there not gentlemen here who remember the constitu* tional questions that arose in 1861 7 Two or three certainly will recolieot when the present Equity Judge and Dr. Tupper urged upon Earl of Mnlgrave tc. dissolve the Legis- lature tecauce the people were opposed to th«< govr iment. Petition after petition was br.>'izht. > the House in favour of a dif- tol . r, '..jugh the government had a majority in this body. The hon. member for Cumberland expressly stated that it was ul- constttutional and wrong for any govern- ment tj bring down to this House an impor* tant measure when it was evident that they were in a minority in the country. In Jan. 1861 Dr. Tupper wrote a letter to the Earl of Mulgrave, pressing him to dissolve the House, in which he says: — "Several large and iDfluential constituencies have condemn- ed the present government, and have prayed your Excellency for that redress which, as thi Representative of Her Msjesty, you are empowered to afford when imperatively de- manded, in order to preserve tti»tfundamen- tal principle of the ccnsUtution of this Co- lony, v;hioh requires that the government shall be conducted in scoordance with the well understood w' . '• That is not all. Newcastle, the tL* • hon. gentleman '>«>.. "Having provtd t . has a Ministry aroun' of the well-understood I consider that there can juttly be pursued of the people." Tit; to the Duke of i lial Secretary, the ■) I'ellonoy that he ' acting in defiance wis'i J of the people, is but one cou-se that And,8ir, if the people of this country are treated with contempt, if they are deprived of the true constitutional mode of expressing their opinion, there is but one resort Ufl to them. Then the consti- tutional opposition in this House would be driven to assume a duty which they have never yet been oallle4 upon to assume— a course shewn I Earl Grey to be open to us. Sir, the momei. so tiigrant a violation of our rights w^r p "mitted as the continuance in power of a i >- i >iir.ent after it had been shewn by the clearest evidence that it had been shorn of its strength, not only the peopleof Nova Sootia, but of British North America, and wherever free institutions and »nd the principles of liberty are upheld, noald rise and Tindicale tbeir rights by that determined struggle for freedom, whieh mut ever ensue when an attempt is made to put down the liberties of freemen." Again he says :— "Destitute of representation in the Parlia- ment of Britain, with our most eminent men systematically excluded from the highest po- Bitien in their own country, and for which their colonial experience and training emi- nently fits them, it is impossible that the free spirit of the inhabitans of British North America can fail soon to be aroused to the necessity of asserting their undoubted right to have their country governed in accordance with the well understood wishes of the people.*' Now I ask the hon. member for Inverness (0 explain why it it should be constitutional to appeal to the people under the circum- stances in question, and unconstitutional to do so in reference to a measure far transcend- ing in importance any question ever before submitted in this country. The hon. member far Inverness said he laughed at the idea of referring to American institutions as a guide for the country. Now we find the hon. member for Cumberland making use of expressions like these in the same letter which he addreised to the Duke of Newcastle : — "The people of this Province have been content, my Lord, to pay a salary of fifteen thousand dollars a year to a Qovernor sent from England, besides a large additional sum to keep up his establishment, while the State of Maine, with twice our population, has the privilege of electing that ofBcer from among her people, and pay him fifteen thousand dollars." The bon. gentleman has endeavored to ri> dionle the legal knowledge evidenced by the Attoriiey General. He has treated the obser- vations made with reference to the right of the British Parliament to pass any Act touch- ing the constitution of this country as per- fectly futile. He declares 'hat the British Parliament, whenevei they tL ought proper, have changed the coostution ot these colonies He has referred to Australia ana Jamaica, but I ask him if the constitution in those colonies WIS not changed in accordance with the wishes of (be people 7 Was it not done in Ja- maica when it became necessary for Imperial interectHto destroy the constitution after a re- bellion and bloodshed 7 Was it not done in accordance with the wishes of the people 7 and therefore, there is no parallel in the cases whatever. We find that this country occupies a very different position from Great Britain— the constitution of the latter has grown to maturity by degrees— it has reached its present position by precedent and custom with unlimited power; but a constitution like ours is of a very different character, and therefore the analogy which he has drawn from the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Carbolic Emancipation is without applica- tion to the case we are now considering. Uur OOBstution is based upon that charter which the Hon. Attorney General referred to, and although it may have been materially changed by despatches from the Colonial Beoretary—althongh it may be altered by kheftotionof thiaParliameDit— ytt hMiag • 42 charter from the Grown, limUing our sa- thority, our rights and privileget cannot be taken away frcm us without the consent of the people. The hon. member has also referred to tbe question of mines and minerals, whioh have for a long time occupied the attention of the people of this country. He h«8 t>1d you that before that question was settler], t'le people of Nova Scoti* had to resort to thn Im- perial Parliament, and there obtain a eurren- der of their rights. I have under my h«nd the decision of learned English Counsel, taken at the instance of this House, where the principle laid down by the AUoroey General is fairly established, that this country be- louj^d to the Crown — that it w&r not heUl in trust for the people of NoV» Scotia, but pure ly in Sovereiernty. The hon. member for lu- Terncss knows the decision to which I refer. Mr. BiiANOHABD. — I never said a word about the question of Mines and Minerals; I only referred to the Civil List. Mr. Smith — The priroiple, however, i V • same in both cases. The decision in quet reads thus : — " In the sense in which we underetsnd thu first question, we are of opinion that tiie Crown does not hold tbe mines and miDerAlf of the Province of Nova Scotia fur the tipncfit of its subjects there settled, for we think that the mines and minerals in question, were so abvoiutely vested in the Sovereign, as that ht mit,ht dispose of them in such inatiner as he should think fit, without any limit to bis dit- oretion. We therefore are of opinion, that the grant of all the mines and minerals to an in- dividual for sixty years, was not an undue exercise of the prerogative." They state thirdly : " We see no reason for thinkino: that such warrant, or any grant, or lease made, or to be made under its authority , would be subject to be revoked quia impro- vide ttnenavit, or any other cause." In conclusion they state : " Our opinion on the whole case retits upon the principle that the mines and minerals in question be- longed to the Crown in absolute and uocon- trolled dominion and property, and that they were therefore disposable at the pleasure ot tbe Crown. It would be vain to attempt to cite cases upon the teveritl questions put to us, but upon the general principle on which our opinion is founded, trie observations of Lord Manffield, in Campbell vs. Hall, 1st Cowper, 204, may be referred to." Now it will be seen that these legal gentic" men deliberately came to the conclusion that this country is held as the exclusive proper- ty of the Crown. They say the Crown haa pused a ohftrter, granting to this country certain rights, and it is unconstitutional, un- der that charter, for the Parliament of Eng- land to overthrow our conititution without tbe consent of tbe people. The hon. member raaile another reference to shew the power of Parliament, taming our attention to the case of Cape Breton. Every one knows that that case bears not tbe slighteit resembUncQ to tbe position which we occupy. That country bad no indepen- dent Parliament; the views of its people were not repreientad in a legislature of their own. Consequently, when the hon. member produ- ces such a case, he mast be perfectly aware that bis ground is untenable. He also made several references to the United States, and one would suppose that he had, all of a sud- den, become perfectly horrified at democratic institutions. He told the Attorney General that he had always known him »« " the Tory of Tories." I have always heard the honble. leader of the opposition spoken of as being associated with the democratic party of this country. I have always understood that hct owes the position whioh he occupies, and the "flourishing practice" to which he referred, to tbe influence of that element, which be was seeking to advance, and which professed to re&rard most highly the rights and intereets of the people. The hon. gentleman told us with what ad- miration he views "the wealth and intelli- gence" of the metropolis. We have heard ad nauneam about the wealth and intelli- gence of Halifax. Is all the wealth' and in- telligence of Nova Sooti* concentrated in the metropolis ? I can look around the streets rf Halifax and point to men of both wealth r-\ intelligenot who are arrayed with us in ) ranks of the anti-confederate party;— ^erefore it is idle for the hon. member to boait that 'je has the wealth and intelligence of the country on his side. However much we may acknowledge the influence of the metropolis, yet throughout Nova Scotia there are men of as good character and as high intelligence to be found even among the laboring classes as many who roll in their carriages through the streets of Halifax. The men even of that class, who bring to the snbject sound intelligence and practical common sense are as capable as he is of knowing wben their rights are trampled on, or the prosperity of the country jeopardized, and is it to be said that these men, because the wealth and intelligence of the city are arrayed agninst them, are not to be consult- ed on a chans^e of the constitution ? No sir, when I l(K)k around these bencht:^ I see a good indication of where the intelligence of the country is, and when I know the gen- tlemen who reflect heke the opirilons of the people of Nova Scotia, I wonder to hear the aon. member for Inverness, occupying the position v»hich he does, as the solitary voice t,i be raised in the advocacy of the principles of the confcderat3 party, undettiking to say th»t that i« a great party. I know not in what it is great, unless it is because it re- presents the wealth and intelligence of Hali- fax? There are men in this community whom I respect, but when the interests of the people come into contact with the influence of Halifax, I feel it is time that their repre- seDt»ti? wards the mother country. It would be un'« fair in me to do more tha,a lay my views briefly before the House after the length of time that this debate has occupied. The taoK. member who preceded me hns left me but lit* tie to say, having met many of the argu- ments which I was prepared to ansner. I will not therefore travel over matters with which every member must be familiar. I would say, however, to the hon. member f-r Inverness, that if he propounds, for a mo- ment, the idea that the people of this country intend to depart from the position they have taken; if he believes for an instant that we are misrepresenting the views of our const i> tuents, be is greatly mistaken. It was said in the Houie of Commm.8 that a reaction had taken place in this country in favor of Con- federation. That is not the case. I have conversed with my constituents up to a re- cent period, and I can assure you that if it were possible to intensify the disgust of the people at this Union which has been forced on us, that disgust has been increased and intensified. The people have seen, sir, since the passage of the Act, during the late Ses- sion, that the interests of Nova Scotia are in the bauds of men who, however faithful in the ditcharge of their duties, are unable to resist successfully the majority that would trample on their rights. One of the amend- rnenta says that the Act has not been long enough in operatiou to judge fairly of its re- sults. That reminds me of locking the stable door after the steed has been stolen; it is too late to seek for relief when the Act has be« come irrevocable. Now is the time for the people to act, and nobly arc they doing so. Nobly will they continue to act— faithfully and loyally— to the Crown, but with thomost solemn and serious earnettnces ih&t ever af- ftcted the minds of a high-spirited psople. They are attermined to resist ut evurj sacri* fioe but that of their allegianca. Is it to bo wondered at that such is the oppo»itton to the scheme 7 Is there a man here who, in the silence of his own chamber, has not; had his blood boiled by the remembrance of the man- ner in which he and his countrymen has been treated? True it iiihat one bpon hM be n extended to Nova Scotia by this Confederation Act — the power to tax ourselves. Precious bless- ing ! Ungrateful Nova Bcotianf ! Why do you not go down on your marrow bones, and give thanks for this beneficence? Ah, by the way there is another boon : we get 80 cents a head to console us for our position. When I contract this pittance with the re" venues which have been taken from us. I am reminded of the man who, after stealing a pig, gave away the tail in charity to satisfy his conscience. It was said that the delegates were going to England to ask the British Government to adopt republican institutions, but I think Ihat it would be hard for the hon. member to shew the act constitutional and right by either British or republican author- ties. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I have to »^ay that I sincerely desire a repeal of the union, and I trust that the gentlemen, who- ever they may be, who are entrusted with the delicate and responsible duty of going to the authorities of England, and of placing the case of oar people before them, asking them under all the circumstances to restore us to our original position, and to repeal so much of the act as affects Nova Sootia, wiU do their duty faithfully and with a due sense of the responsibility resting upon them. I wellk^ow that the eyes of Nova Scotia will be upon thciz>. the heart of the country ia with them, the pr^Vi;rB of thousands will afoend to Ileaven for the accomplishment of their oiyect. I a(k the delegates to go firmly and inde- pendently, and to tcU our Sovereign that the people of this country are true and faithful to her person and her throne, — that wo still cherish and revere the mother country around which so many historic recollections cluster, — that (here is not a Christian mother within the laud who does not leach her child to lisp the name of our Gracious Sovereign with ad- miration and respect; but that nothing will satisfy the people of this country until they are placed in the position which their honor and interests require by the repeal of an Act passed in defiance of their wishes, a^d ii) do- rogation of their rights. The debate was adjourned. Mr. Blancbabd called attention of the Government to the necessity of giving imme diate relief to the distressed flshermeu in In- verness County. The House adjourned. I I TuuESDAY, Feb. 13, 186^., The House mot at 3 o'clock. IIou. Puov. SEORETARy I&id on the table a memorial on the tulyeiit of the Horticultural Society; also a money petitioa. Mr. Campbell presented [a money pttition from Rev. J. Chisholm and others, for akt for certain distressed tiahcrmen. Dr. MuHHAV presented a petition from Di . R. Munro aiid overseers of the poor iu New Glasgow asking for the icturu of certain moneys expended; also from the ovemeers of the poor of Section No. 12 of the liistern Liotrict of Pictou, asking for the return of moneys expended on transient paupers; also, from trustees of New Glasgow Sohool Section with regard to the school tax. 44 fion. Mr. FnCDgsoM ^rei»nted a petition from Low Point, C. B., in referenoe to » grant of land. Dr. Bbowk introduaed a bill to oorapel the Windner and Annapolis Ritilway Company »o pay oertain dyke rate*. Mr. PxNRo introduced a bill to incorporate the 9ootia Coal Company. Mr. KrosTJM presented a petition asking aid for a bridge; also, ouc from persons at ihe bead of Bedeque Biver for the same pur- pose. Mr. Blanohabd introduseJ Ao^s to amend the Act relating ta the Blue LeaJ Mining Co., the Dominion Gold Mining Co., and the Provincial Gold Mining Co. Mr. Smith prescntfd a petition praying thit no eubaitautial chauge be made in tho Sohool Act. Mr. Blancuaed presented a petition iu ie< ference to a ferry at Malagash. Mr. Wbitb called attention to the distress that prevailed among the fishermen, and proposed a resolution in connection with the distribution of moneys for their relief. He was desirous that no time should be lost in moving in this matter, and that the moneys now lying idle in the hands of the Govern* ment and the City Committee should be dis« tributed without delay. Mr. NoaXHUP explained that it would be better to W' it before passing the resolution, at a committee was now engaged on the part of the city in preparing a repoit on the subject. After some remarks on the subject, Mr. While agreed to withdraw his resolution, and the following, moved by Mr. Blanchard, was substituted:— "Kcsolved that a Commit- tee be appointed to take charge of the sub- ject of the distressed fishermen for the Pro- vince of Nova Scotia, and t9 confer with the government and the Committee appointed on the same sulyect in the City of Halifax, with reference to toe distribution of the moneys received by the Mayor, for the relief of dis- tres»ed fishermen." Mr. NoETHcp mentioned that the report current in some Canadian papers that the Mayor had telegraphed that no more assist- ance was wanted, was incorrect. The following Committee was appointed:— Ryerson. Blanchard, Kirk, Freeman, Boss, White, Doucette, Hooper, DesBrisay. Mr, KiDSTON presented a petition of J. Mc- Inues and others, praying aid for a road; ttlio, one from Murdoch McLellan and others for aid for a Toad to St. Anne's harbour; also from Ingoniihe and St. Anne's in refer- ence to a breakwater at McNeil's harbour, on which a considerable sum of money has already been expended. Mr. Tboop presented a petition in reference to a bridge. Mr. Blanchabs asked the government whether the ramour that was current, that it was the intention to adjourn the Houee during the next week until the summer, was correct. It was but right that the House and country should know whether it was pro- posed to go on with the public busiueso, after the resolutions now before them had been disposed of. Hon. Atit. Gbkbiul replied that the hon. gentlemen had been correctly informed; it was the intention of the government to pro- pose an adjournment after the resolutions had been passed. The term of the adjourn ment was not yet dttermined. 8P£B€H OF iUB. NOKTHVP. Mr. NoBTHUP then addressed the House as follows :— 1 rise for the first time to addrees this House (With a good deal of embarrass* ment, and I trust if I shall say anything which is not strictly within parliamentiry lule that I may be pardoned. I feel that the question now before this Legislature is one of rare importance to the people of this country; every other question heretofore under consideration in comparison witli it Niuks into insignificance. Wherever 1 look 1 see nothing buc doubt and uncertainity as to the future. I know men who have spest many years in accumulating property who are now anxious to learn what the future condition of this country will bo before en' gaging largely iu enterprise as they have been accustomed to do. Under these oircum- atauces, I feel that every gcriilemas in this House occupies a position of great responsi- bility— a responsibility wbiuU be muse not and cannot avoid. As far ks lam myself concerned I shall endeavor to disctiarge my duty to my constituents and to my country as faithfully as I can. The hon. and learned leader of the Opposition has referred to the cas'2 of Jamaica as analogous to our own, but he must be aware that when the bill in connec- tion with that Island for the purpose ofdoing away with its constitution was introduced into the House of Commons it was stated that if any one member had got up in the Le- gislature of the colony, ana objected to the change in the constitution, it would not bu passed. Compare now the condition of the two countries. In Jamaica government had become almost impossible, the people were cutting each other's throats. On the other band Nova Scotia is a wealthy and prosperous Province, occupied by a peaceable and contented people, capable of exercising all the rights and privileges of freemen. Can the hon. gentleman then draw a parallel be» tween Nova Scotia and Jamaica? I think not. The hon. gentleman then went on to tell us that we should learn something about constitutional law. I do not pretend to bo conversant with that subject, and I trust if ever Ido I shall never use my knowledge as he and friends have used theirs, to sweep away the constitutional rights of the people. There is such a thing as constitutional usage, and, if these gentlemen had regarded it, Nova Scotia would not be in the position she oooupies to- day. A thousand years ago, in the days of the Heptarchy, the king took his seat, and the ba- rons sat on the platform, with the people all around them. There the barons discussed t^e questions of the day, and then the herald put It to the people whether they would have a change or not. What was done six years ago, when the king was driven out of Naples? The people had been striving for a long time for liberty, and when they had driven this tyrant out, what was done ? The question of 45 I formed; it iDt to pro- renolutioDS le adjourn rnijp. be Uouse as to addreifB embarraitB< y aDyttaing rliauiebtj^ry d. I feel Legislature te people ol' Q hererofore ion witli it iver 1 look 1 :aiDity as to have gpeat )I)erty who : the future before en- 1 they have lese oiioufu- ?maa in this bt retponsi- le muac not lam myself eotiarge my my country and learned iired to the >ur own, but U in connec- poie of doing introduced was stated p in the Le- oted to the )uid not be onditioD of government the people atB. On tue realthy and y a peaceable )f exercising reemen. Can parallel be» oa? I think 1 went on to ithing about retend to bo id I trust if wledge as he eep away the e. There is sage, and, if Nova Scotia I oooupies to- edays of the t, and the ba- le people all as discussed 'u the herald r would have ne six years Lit of Naples ? a long time driven this e question of -x)onneo(io« with the kingdom of Sardinia was submitted to the people at the polls. Then, when Venice was handed over to Italy, what was done? The question was decided by the people at the polls. The United States has often been referred to by the hon. Judce in Equity for precedents, — what happened in Roxbury, in MaEsachutetts, a year ..r foago? Roxbury had for somn time enjoyed a corpo- mtion of its own; a bill was, however, paea- ed annexinc tba city to Boston, and it came before the Governor. Ho asked if the people of Roxbury h«d exprcsFcd an opinion on the subject. The reply was in the negative, and ibe accordingly refused to asaent to the mea- wire. Again, in Germany, we faw that the States which were conquered by Prussia wore consulted in the formation of their constitu- tion, and were allowed to vote themtelves into the North German Confederation. Take again the case of St. Thomas. The Danish Government have sold the Island to the Uni* ted States, and the other day the question wasBubmiited to the inhabitants at the polls, and the whole people, with a few exceptione, voted in favor of tho transfer. Is it fair, then, that the people of Nova Scotia should be treated with less consideration than Eagr lishmeTi were a thousand years ago — than Venetians or Neapolitans were more recently, or the people of St. Thomas are to-day 7 Can the hon. gentleman justify the tourse pur- sued by himself and friends in view of these precedents 7 Actions speak louder than words, and these gentlemen told us by their actions that Nova Sootians were not equal in intelli- gence to the people I referred to. I consider that a more tyrannical act was never commit* ted on any people than the transfer of the rights and revenues of Nova Sootia to the control of Canada. Now what has been Dr. Tupper's public career from its commencement ? He went to the country first on the cry of Railways— that the county would be ruined by their con- struction. Bat when he came to this House he ran perfectly mad in building Railways. Next be got up the Retrenchment scheme, by which he pledged himself most solemnly to save $79,000 in the expenses of the Govern^ ment; but the moment be got in power, he indulged in every species of extravagance, and ran the country fearfully into debt, in- creasing tho public expenditure by $141,000. HiB course throughout cannot be character- ized otherwise than as a political swindle. As respects Mr. Archibald, I confess I am sorry to be obliged to feel towards him as I do. I supported him for many years, and I remem- ber when you, Mr. Speaker, opposed him in Colchester. I fought against you ; but where IB he to-day ? He haB fled to Canada amid the execrations of his people, and there holds a high position in violation of all constitu- tional usage, and wielding the patronage of this country in a most unconstitutional man* ner. You, sir, on the other hand, fought for your country's rights with a fidelity that is honourable to you, and I am proud to see you occupying the Chair of this House with so much dignity and ability. If Mr. Archi- bald had adhered to his friends, he would never have been driven out of ColchcBter ; but when he turned traitor to the people, he was 7 beaten by the Colchestar boy deipite all khe influence and patronage in hiB hands. I do not wish to say anything harsh about gen* tlemen who aat in the last House, but it is impossible not to feel indignant when one thinks of the: ■ ncfaithfulness to their ooun^ try. Dr. Tu'.f: kt is reported, is to be made Railway Cuavti issioner, at a large salary. Mr. Archibald has been provided for, and if we look to New Brunswick, we f nd Mr. Tilley provided for. These gentlemen have salaries of $5000 a year. Mr. Gray haB a snug place of $4000, in connection with revising the laws. Mr. McMillan, the only New Bruns- wicker who voted with Mr. Tilley on the Tariff, has been made Post Office Inspector. Therefore, you see that these gentlemen take very good care of their friends, and I think the same remarks apply to the gentlemen who lately administered the government of this country. I remember talking to one of the members of the late House, and asking him " what about Con- federation?" "I am the father of the House," was the reply. " I will keep them all right." But when the vote was taken on the question, that gentleman was found vo- ting against his country, and now he sita in the other end of the building. Another gen- tleman told me, " I am going to England, and Tupper has promised not to bring up the question in my absence;" but he too voted for the measure, and sits in the other branch of the Legislature. I do not believe that one of those gentlemen who thus changed their sides could get a constituency to-morrow in Nova Scotia. I remember reading somewhere of an English politician whom the Govern* ment wanted to buy, and what was hiB an- swer? "I can earn sixpence a day, and I can live on it." If we had more men of that Btamp in the last House, thia country would not have been sold. We now find, as I have said, the Home Secretary adminiitering tho patronage of this Province, although in his present position he is without a constituency and without the confidence of his country. That is a flagrant insult to the people of No- va Scotia. I have been told of a gentleman who had been doing the duties of the Post Master at Tatamagouche, but instead of appointing him [permanently, Mr. Archi- bald had a Confederate appointed in his place. A great deal has been said about New Brunswick, but what is the feeling there now 7 I have been told by a person who un- derstands the feeling of that province that four out of five would be returned against Confederation if an election were held there to»morrow. Much has been said about ])erson8 holding annexation proclivities, and in this connec- tion let me read an extract from the speech of the Marquis of Normanby when the Union Act was under consideration in the House of Lords. He said : — " If the North American Colonies felt themselves able to stand alone, and showed their anxiety to form themselves into an in- dependent country, or even to amalgamate with the United States, he did not think it would be wise to resist that desire." I ask this House and country if, after a declaration of that kind from the noble Mar- -t—rsm 46 qait of Norm»nby, annexation did not be- oome an open qaeitton in thie country. He ii a nobleman who was formerly Lieutenant Qovernor of this Province, and no one knows tbe loyalty of the people better than be does. He was in this Province when the Prince of Wales visited it. Never was the loyalty of a people exhibited more clearly than then; there was not an old woman who had a six- pence but invested it in a union jack and hang it out of the window. Notwithstanding this, the Marquis said in substance— Wc will annex you to the Ganadas, and if you don't like it you can go to the United States. I beg to state, whilst speakibg of this question, that I have no ill feeling against the people of Canada; I recognize them as fellow Brit- ish subjects,— but I feel that we should be allowed to govern ourselves without the in- terference of others, collecting and disburs> ing our own revenues. Before passing from the speech of the Mar- quis of Normanby let me say that such ex- pressions as he used might not have cauird sarprise if they had been promulgated by Goldwin Smith or any of bis school, and it is certainly noteworthy that no contradic tion was given to these statements in either House, and therefore we may accept them as the recognized opinions of the British Par- liament. Now, the hon. member for Inver- ness spoke of Falmouth. My great grand- father, the person for whom I was named, left the old American States on account of his loyalist principles, bringing with him his slaves and household goods, and settled in that township, which he represented in this House, being elected to the first representa- tive Parliament, and sat with some of your ancestors, Mr. Speaker, in the Legislature for the rest of his life, which was twenty-five years. Yet I am to be told that if I don't like Confederation I can go to the United States. I ask permission to rend to the House an extract from a paper expressing the opinion of Mr. McDougall, who is now Commissioner of Public Works in the Dominion Govern- ment : — " In the Canadian Parliament of 1861 "^'r. McDougall stated that if the evils corse ..ent upon the union of Upper and Lower Canada are not remedied, an alliance will be made between Upper Canada and the Northern States." I call particular attention to this speech, and ask what wonld be said if similar ex- pressions were used here ? Now Mr. McDou- gall has C. B. attached to his name, and oc« cupies an important position in the Govern- ment of Canada as one of the Ministry. We know, too, something about Mr. Rowland and Monsieur Csrtier. The latter found it very convenient to lay his gun down when he was surrounded by British troops. Now, because we are desirous of getting rid of a tyrannical act, we arc to be called annex- ationists. Mr. McGee has a great deal to say on this point, but I think it would better be- come him to hold bis tongue. But many persons say, if we get Repeal we shall drift into the United States; but I have no fear of any such event, for Nova Scotia is able to stand alone if she gets rid of this detested Confederation. All we want is to live and die under the British flag; but .'f we do not succeed in accomplishing Repeal, we shall see where this skeleton of a nation, as Mr. McQee calls it, will carry us. My belief is that this whole Confederation, if it continues to exist, will drift into the United States. Under Confederation they can call our peo- ple anywhere- to any part of the Dominion, on the Militia service — it may be to fight for the Great North West Territory. Now I wish to speak of a gentlemiin who has been placed in charge of our fisheries, light. honses, breakwaters, &o. I mean the Hon. Peter Mitchell. Mark you, that gentleman holds that position perfectly independent of the people of this Province. I do not know much about Mr. Mitchell: I daresay he is an honorable man, but I remember seeing the report of a trial that took place in Liverpool in which he was interested. Mr. Blanchard— If gentlemen are to be allowed co introduce private affairs into this debate I would like to know it; I warn the hon. member, however, of the consequence. Mr. NoRVHDP— Well, I do not wish to be unparliamentary in the least degree, and therefore I shall say nothing on the subjeci which I intended to refer to. It is well known, however, that Mr. Mitchell was very much interested in passing Confederation in New Brunswick, and very recently he paid a visit to his constituents. I believe they mustered not in very strong force, notwithstanding they got out every spavined horse and old waggon they could find to give him a recep- tion, and what did he tell them? It will be remembered that the friends of Union said that capital was to flow in profusely, new markets were to be opened up, and the most glorious results follow; but what does Mr. Mitchell say? " Liberal ideas are marching on, and when the American markets are thrown open to our ships, and /air Recipro- city eitablished, embracing a participation in the coasting trade, new life will be infused through our native country." The moun- tain had labored and brought forth this mouse. A small crumb of comfort indeed to the people of New Brunswick. What decs he call liberal ideas? New Brunswick had, like Nova Scotia, a Government of "ts own, and could make such changes as would suit its exigencies, but now wo have a written constitution controlled entirely by the people of Canada. I do not call this liberal. We were told by these gentlemen that we did not require Reciprocity — that we would have markets of our own— but Mr. Mitchell does not say so now. As respects Reciprocity, I believe I could show to the satifaotion of this House and of the country, that we would have had it before now but for Canada. I do not mean to say that we would have had a renewal of the old treaty, but tbe United States would be satisfied with putting on n small duty to meet their locil taxes, and more than that we could not have expected. We now find New Brunswick icrumbling exceed* ingly about this tariff, and yet the imposi- tion of 15 per cent, tariff does not bear so heavily upon that Province as is tbe case with us, for the fact was that their sdvalorem du< ties being twelve and a half per cent, and their m 47 I to lire and it ?f we do not peal, we shall ation, aa Mr. My belief is if it continues United States. . call our peo- the Dominion, be to fight for f. Nov I wish as been placed lisrhthonses, le Hon. Peter intleman holds endeut of the do not know iresay ho is an ber seeing the se in Liverpool !)en are to be faira into this it; I warn the lonsequencc. t wish to be degree, and )D. the subjeci. is well known, 'as very much ation in New IS paid a visit they mustered twithstanding lOrse and old 3 him a recep- n ? It will be 3f Union said irefusely, new and the most hat does Mr. are marching markets are /air Recipro- trticipation in ill be infused ' The moun- bt forth this fort indeed to Wh&t decs he iDswick had, nt of :ts own, IS would suit ive a written by the people I liberal. We at we did not would have Mitohell does Jeoiprocity, I faction of this at we would Canada. I do I have had a t the United putting on a xes, and more xpected. We bling exoced- ; the imposi- not bear so I the case with dvalorem du< ent, and their railway tax three per cent additional, the new tarifi is a reduction ef one half per cent of the former impositions. Now, here I may say a word about taxation. I find, Ireferring to 1866, that we imported from Canada 14,898 barrels flour. From the United States, flour and meal, 360,718 barrels, and 174,078 bushels of corn, which at the present rate of duty, would amount to ©107,587.30. The increase under the present tariff over the ten per cents of 1866 would be !$246,412. I tike this year's importation as a fair index to our trade, because that trade was in that year — the Ust of Reciprocity — running in its natural channels. The duty collected that year on flour was ©28,685.75. I believe that this country will never be pros- perous until wo get Reciprocity back. Upon wine, under the Dominion tariff, ten cents a gallon is charged— just the same amount as on corn. One of the papers told us that we could warehouse corn free. An importer of corn can pat it into a warehouse, and then he can grind into meal,— he pays a duty on the meal and all he gets is the bran free. That is an illustration of the results of this Confede- ration Act, which gives to the Canadians the meal and leaves us the bran. The list of free goods contains 274 articles, on any one of which the people of Nova Scotia would prefer paying a duty than on bread. Such as cabi- nets of antiquities, coins, gems, drawings, paintings, busts, &c. Then they were asked to protect our coal and to give our fishermen a bounty, but they refused, although it was well known that our coal trade was perfectly stagnant from the want of a market. le it snrprisirig, in view of this state of things, that trade should i tand still 7 Many persons have come to me, and said, we can- not pay you all we owe you, for bread is so high, and we must have it for our families. They ask, " what is the meaning of all this ?" We had always plenty of bread before this. "Loyalty," they say, " is a very good thing, but it will not feed our children, and we can« not send them hungry to bed." That is the feeling throughout the country; the people are ready to do anything to get back theirown institutions, but it will test their loyalty when starvation is staring them in the face. Then there is the increase in the rate of inter- est. The people who have money like to get the most they can for it, and I have heard of gentlemen who are preparing to call in mort- gages in order to get a higher rate of inter-' est, as soon as the usury laws are so far amended as to allow them to charge it. We have heard something said about giving bounties to fishermen, but how is the tariff affecting our West Indian business which is one of our principal branches of trade. The sagnr duties must very materially interfere with that trade. Mr. Jones showed most ela- borately, and in a manner that was creditable to himself and the constituency that elected him, at Ottawa, bow it will operate against our fisbermen, and interfere with commerce generally, but all he said was of no avail in the Canadian Parliament, for Mr. Redpath, and other Canadian refiners, wanted the tariff framed to suit their interests, It will be per- ceived, by the Canadian tariff, that sugars pay specific duties, which tie graduated ao> cording to quality, and it is well known that, in ascertaining the quality, frauds of every kind may be perpetrated. The propo- sal of Mr. Jones was to levy a specific duty of a cent per pound, and an ad valorem duty on the original cost. Let it be remembered, too, that notwithstanding this high tariff, the Finance Minister estimates a deficit for this year of from two to three millions. The people of Canada are whiskey drink- ers, while rum is the principal article in the nature of spiiituous liquors consumed here. They want to introduce their article into this Province, and that is the reason why the tar- iff is arranged as it is. The tariff has raised the duty on rum to eighty cents, while that on whiskey is 60 cents, thus aiming an* other direct blow at the West India trade. A great deal has been said about the wealth of Canada; but there can be no doubt that $30,- 000,000 of the debt which she takes into the Confederation was made up of the deficiencies of ten years when the revenues were inade- quate to meet their expenditures. I remem« ber hearing some years ago of one of the townships of Canada being advertised for sale to pay its debts, and I am afraid if we do not soon get out of this Confederation we shall be in the same position. A few words about county taxation. Take the county of Middle- sex, Canada, for instance, where the rate was in 1866 $2 31 on every $100. In Halifax, in the same year, it was 28 cents on the $100,— this rate being, I believe, a fair criterion for the whole Province. How is this? There are many charges laid on the Canadian towns and villages which here are paid out of the general revenue. We were told that the farmers would find a better market for their produce under Confederation, whereas the fact is the Canadians are running in their pork, butter and other produce and under- selling them. It may be said that this is all to the advantage of other classes, but the fact it that the consuming classes are now unable to buy even at low prices, and thus the markets are injured for our farmers with- out any corresponding benefit being realised by others. Again, look at the extravagance prevailing in the public service in Canada. Beading the records of the old Canadian Par- liament before Confederation, what do we find? They had 9 clerks and messengers to every 8 members of the House, whilst we have only seven in all. The sessional allowance of these clerks and messengers actually amount- ed to more than the pay of all the members We have been told that this Dominion is a great country, and that we may expect it to be populated with immigrants. I saw by a paper that 1678 immigrants had arrived, in one week, at a Canadian city; but how many of them do yov, suppose remained? Just thirty; the others went over to that ill-go- verned and ill-taxed country that people are 60 much afraid of. It is my most earnest de* sire that we may get repeal. We see in Great Britain the results of a forced Union, and o f an attempt to govern a people against their will. Sorry I am to see such a state of things prevailing in the mother country; but the time has arrived when it is admitted on all sides that something must be done. I pray that tuoh a state of things aa prevail* in Ire 4t Und mky never ooonr in thia eountry. The hon. member for InTemeu told ua thtt the men of weight and influenoe were in faTor of Confederation. I beg to difierfrom him there; the merohanta and bankers of thia communi- ty ahould ooant for Bomethiog and among the mercantile olaaiea of Halifax you will find Unionietg very aoarce indeed ; while among the other claaaea a very considerable )>ropor- tion are Anti-oonfederatea. I admit that many of the young men were in favour of Union, because young men are inclined to look hopefully to changes, but I think that bi' thia time they alao must have been unde* ocived. I may here observe that I have been much pleased at some of the apeechea made by our repreientativea at Ottawa. Mr. Kil- 1am elucidated the policy of this country as to its shipping, and the condition of our mer* cantile marine, most creditably. But what did all theie efforts amount to ? Nothing at all. That ia just the result which might be expected from a acbeme prepared as this one was. It was framed entirely by professional men; no merchant was asked to take part in the deliberations. Who are the men, sir, who have tended to make England what she is ? The merchants of that country. Who are the men who have also tended to make Nova Sootia what she ia 7 Are they not the men whose sails whiten every sea 7 I ask the men of Yarmouth, who have been foremost in mer< ointile enterprise, with what confidence they can look forward to a career within this Con- federation 7 Even the carrying trade of breadstuff ia taken out of our bauds. We have been stripped of almost every advantage. I trust that our deleijates, when they go to England, will represent that Nova Scotia is prepared to build her share of the railroad, and if neceaaary, to pay a resular quota to defence, provided we are let out of this Con- federation. I observe by the papers that the Unionists of Nova Scotia are being called up> on to get up meetings, and send borne their loyal sentiments to counteract thia agitation for repeal, but I believe that they would have hard work to drum up a corporal's guard in many of the counties. The stand-up fight of the 18th September proved the strength of the two parties, and since then, from causes well known to this House and the country, the Confederates have been growing aoiall by degrees and beautifully less. DB. iniJBRAV'8 HPEECn. Dr. MuBBAT said:— In rising to address the Houae on this important question— the most important that was ever before a legis- lature or people,— after so much has been aaid on the subject in the legidature, in the press, and on the platform, I may say that were I to consult my own feelings, I would remain silent, knowing as I do that it is al- most impossible to throw new light upon the subject. But I would be recreant to my duty to myself, recreant to my duty to the noble county which I represent, and faithless to the people of Nova Sootia, did I fail on this occasion to express my open and determined hostility to thia detested Confederation, and to stamp with my disapprobation the men who, with the late Lieutenant Governor at their head, by means the most bate, and treachery the most foul, ocmbined not only to trick the people of Nova Sootia oat •f their legislature, but also to deceive the people and press of England, its Parliament and Queen. Before going into the question of Confederatfon, I must addreis myself to the hon. member for Inverness, and I shall do BO the more readily beoauao he appeared' diapleaaed that the Attorney General paid nO' attention to him a few days ago. After the u^ioalled for and unprovoked attack that he made upon the young members of the House,, he could hardly expect that we would sit silent. That attack was made in language seldom heard excepting in police courts, fish markets and back slums of cities, and sel- dom used excepting by persons who frequent those places. Let me review some of the hon. member's remarks : bespoke of skin- ning a member from neck to heels, of a gen- tleman getting a bowie knife between his ribs, of stabbing back with a knife when he was pricked with a pin, of the poison bag, the bullies from Piotou, and ao on. When I sat and heard the hon. member using these and similar expressions, it brought to my remembrance the oaying of Shakespeare : "Seldom he diniles; anil tm'iWs in (uch a lort Ab if he mocked himself and scorned bis spirit That could be moved to Bmlle at aDytbing." The hon. member challenged us to combat> I am not afraid to meet him here face to face, or in any other arena, but, as it ia said " out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speak- eth," I may add that I would certainly be afraid to be in his company in a dark lane» more especially if he were behind me. He said he was a native of Piotou and was proud of it;— flU I can say is, that the people of Pic- tou, or the large majority of them, are not proud of him or of the position which he now occupies. If he has no respect for himself or his position, lie should have some respect for the memory of some who bore his name. Many years ago who was it but one named Jotham Blancbard who distinguished himself so much by his labors in the press and in the Legislature to bring our institutions into the state in which they were a year or two ago? Who was one of the fathers of Responsi- ble Qovernment 7 Could that man rise from his grave and be told that at the dead hour of night, with thirty«one other political trai- tors, his brother joined in bartering away those institutions, bow would he blush for his kindred 7 The hon. member spoke also about a ragged regiment (.coming up from Colchester headed by their representatives;— I wondered at the assurance of the man making such a remark, — does he mean to say that a man who weaitt homespun, with per- haps a patch on his coat, may not be the equal of the man who wears his broadcloth and beaver hat and rides in a carriage ? <• The rank is bat the KUinea's stamp, A man's a man for a' that." I say I wondered at his using such an exprea- Gion in reference to Colcheater, whoae inha- bitants are equal not only in intelligence but in wealth and prosperity to thoae of any other part of the Province. I will now take the liberty of referring to one or two remarks ■i^ 49 d xmI only tit oat of Ipoeive the Ptrliament he queation I myself to knd I shall e sppeared' eral paid no ' After the ftck that he f the Hoase,. would Kit in language courts, fish a, and eel- ho frequent ome of the. ke of Bkin- I, of a gen- betwecn his ife when he poison bag, a. When I aiing these aght to my espeare : uch a lort !d hi* spirit y thing." 8 to combat^ ! faoe to face, is said " out louth speak- certainly be % dark lane» ind me. He d was proud leople of Pic- ;m, are not hioh he now >r himself or le rf spect for e his name, i oiie named ished himself las and in the ions into the or two ago 7 )f Responsi- »n rise from e dead hour political trai- tering away le blush for r spoke also ng up from sentatives; — of the man mean to say n, with per- ' not be the B broadoloth rriage ? np, sh an exprea- whosa inha- xlligenoe but hose of any rill now take two remarks wblob the hoa. member made in refereno* to me. He said : " The same hen. member told a remarka- ble thing, that he had seen the engine go out of sight,— -I have seen it go out of sight very often, and I do not see that any great diffi- culty would result even if it did so at every half mile." It is said that the tuppressio veri is as criminal as the tuggestio falsi. Now what I said was that I had seen the engine go out of sight in a distance of half a mile on a straiiiht line. The hon. member alio told us that the Piotou Railroad was the best in Bri- tish Amerioa, but I find the Commiseioner of Railways says in his report : "If the gradients and curvatures, owing to the rugged features of the country, are not of so favorable a ohar« aoter as those of some other lines." Who does not know that the very qualities which render a railroad a superior one are itraight- ness of line and lightenness of grades. Aa regarda the frontage of Pictou harbor, I stated to the House that a larger nmount of land had been taken at Fisher's Grant than was necessary for the Provincial Railroad; but that what was worse they had taken the land between the terminus and the light- house. I shewed also that it was impossible that the water lots which had been taken could have been intended- for railway pur- poses. The hon. member for Inverness aaid that the leases contained a reservation, but I am strongly inclined to believe that this is only for the purpose of deceiving the pob- lio. The hon. member, however, told us first that he knew nothing of the matter, but he afterwards admitted that the leases had been given by his own government, so that one of these statements must be wrong. Another assertion I made was that it was customary for the offer of the wat;r lot to be made to the owner of the adjacent land, but that that usage had been violated recently in re- ference ta Piotou. I ttated that a number of individuals had bought land at Fisher's Qrant to build a marine slip, and had made application for the water lot in front. The reply they received was that no water lots could be granted without consulting the owners of the soil, and I have Mr. Fairbanks' letter to that effect ; and adding those indiv- iduals would be heard before any grant was made. Will it be believed that after that, the very lot in question was granted without no- tification to the owner of the soil. I wish to read another extract from the hon. member's speech, and to put the House and the coun- try right upon another most material point : I made reference to the Reciprocity Treaty, and shewed that had it not been for the ao>> tion of Canada we would probably have had the treaty yet, and what is said in reply to that?: "He told us that the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty was largely due to the local duties imposed by Canada. Did he not know that while that Treaty lasted the Cana- dians could not and did not impose a farthing of local taxes 7" I will now show from the beat authority that can be laid before Par- liament that my remarka in that particular were correct and just, and for that purpose I will quote from Mr. Derby's Report on the Treaty. Here are lome of the utioles pall- ing free between the two oountriei : grain, flour and breadstnffs, timber, cotton wool, vegetables, and indeed almott all unmanu- faot'ired goods. On page 25, Mr. Derby ■ays :— While the tr»at7 wai peodiDg, Lord KIkId, the Br|. tish mlLlBter at Wash "^gton, all'K*:d (hat ' Canada had altraji adopted t> lott liberal comnercial policy with respect to the United Stat"!, at well In regard to the commerce through itioanall at in regard to the admitiion of manufHctared goodt comiog from thii eonntry. and if the natural prodncta of that country (Oaoada) sh'uld be admitted duty free, that GoTern- meat would be wi'llng to carry out, Btlll further the same liberal policy already pursued toward* the manufarturesof the United tttatea." Ihe treaty Itielf recited that the partie* " w^re deairous to to rrgulate Ihe commerce and navigation betwen (heir respective turritoriea and people, and more eapi^cially between her Majeaty'a poiaeation* in North America and the Unittd states, in Buch manuera* to render the tame reciprocally beneflcUl and eatUf^ict'^ry." With these iuteDtions. thai expressed, the treaty wa* executed and commerce commenced. When the treaty tooli effect by the President'* pro- clamation, March IT. 1866 the duties in Canada were very moderate, but 6 per cent, on some oommoditi**, and 10 per cent, on others, but 12^ per cent, on our boot*, shoes, leather, harnesses, and many of our other products; but within a year alter the treaty Caaada began to advance these duties, and by 1869 bad raised them 62^ per cent, on one class, and 100 p6r cent, on another, embracing our chief manufactures, and most of them were thus excluded and the sale of ottiars re- duced. The Committee of Congress on Commerce in 1802 ooaplained in their report that the duties levied on our manufactures and other products had checked their exportation from the United States to Canada, that our commerce with that country reached it* height in 1869 and then began to decline with the ad- vance of duties, that oar export* which paid dutie* to Canada declined from $7,981,284 in 1868, the year af- ter the treaty wa* adopted, to $4,167, iS16 in 1860, a decline of 47 per cent. In four years only, while the whole ameuDt of our Canadian commerce dicUned 36 per cent, from 1866, when the dutle* were low, to 1862 when they were high. The committee suggest that if Canada required more revenue, her attempt to raise it by new duties on our manufactures was a failure.— 1' effected nothing but their exclusion. Ihe com- mittci in this connection draw attention to the fkct that w.Mle Canada urges that she was obliged to raise duties fur revenue, she has established two great free ports— the port of Oaspe on the Quif of 8t. Lawrence, with a frontage of 1,2Q0 miles on shores frequented by our fishermen, and another extending for 1 000 miles from the Bault St. Mary, at the outlet of Lake Superior, along the shores of Huron and Superior, where our settlers and seamen engaged in the grow- ing transportation of the lakes may oe tempted to buy goods and evade our duties. If legitimate trade be the object of Canada, she should reduce her duties, when they diminish revenue, and if (air reciprocal trade is desired, should she tempt our marlneti, miners and settlers to evade our duties, and compel us to estab- lish ports and custom houses at great expense ujwn a long frontier 7 If Great Britain maintains Qibraltar to ex'end her trade on the coast of Spain, must we have a Qibraltar on our frontiers also J Our committee complain of the change from speciflo t)advaloTim duties on "foreign goods, which are based on prime cost in gold, if they come by the St. Lawrence or by the Orand Trunk, a British Railway, but are assessed on cost, freight, and charges if not prices in currency if they come via Boston or New York. This the committee deem an evasion of the treaty. Ibey complain also of discriminating tolls on the Welland Canal, by which gooda destined via Oswego and Ogdensbnrg for New York or Boston pay tenfold the tolls required on goods diverted from our ports to Quebec or Montreal, They cite the reports of Messrs. Hatch k Taylor to our Treasury Department, In whichlthey favor the extension ot free trade. They refer to the trade with tb:< £:iMUime Frovinoes under »• their lyiUB of low datlei m mor« Mtlifaotory than that|or Oantd*, and oome to the conolwion, at which the lepililttar* of New York had prevlouilj arrlretl and let forth In their Reiolvet now on file at Wath- innton. that " the IcKlilation of Omada iubieqaeot to the treity, wae anbrenlTe of Ita true Intent and ■meaning, and that an iiolatloR and exclui^Te policy had been adopted. Intended to deitroy the oatuml effdot of the treaty by heary dntie* nn the prodacti the United SKtei hare to lell, and by diiorlmlnatln( dutUs and tolli Impoifd to exolada the United Btatei from Oanadian markrU " It It freih in my memory that when Inrited to (kTor the treaty I drcliopd to do in. becaase the programme of the treaty did not expressly aathiriie us tn buy the staples of Uanada with the products of New Kogland, but It is now apparent that this was a daoKerous nmlsaion and that Canada has not redeemed her pledges. The minister ' f finance urges th»t Oanadian duties are not as hisb as nur own, but a duty of 20 or 85 per oent. Is t^o high If It excludes onr manufac- tures. The daty on oar clocks at Llrerpool and on our drills at Calcutta were not higher, but they were lust high enough to rtlict (be purpose of Oreat Brl talo, the exclusion of the fabrics of the United Btates. The minister urges th.tt the free ports of Qaspe and Biiult tn. Mary are to encourage the settlers; but the few settlers on these desert coasts require no such stimulus, and Oanada in establishing them pays no respect t) the great maxim of ttie law— fi'c uCere (uo u( a/i>numnon /(zd Washincton Cabinet aa an exam- ple of a ministry holdiuK ofiSie irresponsible to the people. That system is in accordance with the constitution of the United Btates, and if the people desire a change there is a means by which it can be ctffcted. But look at the Cabinet at Ottawa. .Mr. Archibald, a man who was rejected by bis constituency, holds a high departmental ofiine in defiance of the opinions of the peo- ple, and dispenring the patronage of this country. The hon. leader of the opposition quoted authorities to shew that matsrial alter- ations bad taken place without appeals to the people, and when he came to reply to the re- t'ereoce to Lord Mansfield's decision, although udmitliog his ability, he said that no man ever committed so nany errors. Did not Pitt commit errors too 7 Some think he went needlessly into wars with Continental pow- ers, and thereby loaded England with an enormous debt and heavy tixes. Did not other statesmen com&iit errors? Lord Chat- ham said at one time that the Colonies shouM not be allowed to make even a horse-shoe nail; but are we going to adopt all the doc trines euunuiated by these men so many years ago, and long since exploded. The Union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada was also referred to, but the case is not parallel at all. No person denies, I take it, that at the re- quest of the people ot a Colony, ita oonstitun tion may be taken away, but where privileges have been granted, and a constitution ia given, and that charter haa not been forfeited by rebellion, Parliament cannot take it away. The hon. member told us that before Eng- land would allow Nova Scotia to go she would deluge the land with blood. It would appear that he has a wonderful penchant for talking about blood and bowie knives; but iu reference to his assertion, 1 would say that the people have no (Is-sire to rebel; we desire ti) remain loyal, and I have yet to learn that Great Britain will employ her troopa to force ua into a Confederation with Canada. If she obliged her soldiers to shed the blood of Nova Scotiaus for that object, the glory of the British name would be sullied, and the lustre of the British bayonet tarnished. Let us contrast our position uoder Confederation with that of a year ago. We then had our Governor's appointment coming from the Sovereign herself; the House of Assembly owing allegiance to the Queen, controlling the cuHtoms duties, lighthouses, post ofBcea, railroads, public works, banking institu- tions, &c. We alone had the power to tax ourselves; anil I would here say, that in my ju'ljiineut, if there is one thing more than ito'ithtr which a free people thou!^ resist it is the handing over to an alien country of the right to tax ua. What caused the old thirteen Colonies to rebel ? Was it not the attempt made by the Legislature of Great 61 Britain to tax them ? They did sot objeot lo maoh to the •mount of the t»z m to the prinoiple on which it wm impoted. Uur oon- dition it much tbe atme m theirs— the Aot of Confcderttton gives tu the Canadiana the power to tax us as they please. A little more than a year ago the people of Nova Sootia were llviDg happy and ooDtented; every four years they had their elections, in which the party contests ran rather high,— but it mat- tered comparatively little whether the Con" servative or Liberal party ruled, so long as they adminiiteied our affairs fairly, and dii* tribated our moneys among ourselves. Then our trade was flourishing, and our resources were being developed as quickly as could be expected in a new country. What has caused tbe difference 7 Are our people contented now 7 Have we the control of our legislation and taxes, and the appointment of our pub- lic officers? All these privileges are gone, and the result is that Nova Scotia is to«day, from end to end, like a boiling cauldron. It is ^aid that we should not excite the feelings of tbe people, but it is the people who are impelling their representatives forward, and it requires a great deal of prudence and ctu« tion to prevent an unwise exhibition of feel- ing. It has been said that the country has been agitated by a few interested persons,— but such is not the case. Look over the face of the country, and you see the people rising spontaneously and holding meetings to call for P '^eal. The universal cry is, *' Repeal thi- ^d Confederation." J iug at the history of the question we -At although the idea of a Union of the Colonies had been spoken of, and al- though Mr. Johnston in 1854, introduced a resolution which was seconded by Mr. Howe, both these gentlemen and others made able speeches, yet nothing tangible was done. The first practical step was taken in 1864, when a resolution was passed authorizing the appointment of five delegates to go to Charlottetown to arrange a legislative union of the Maritime Provinces. Those delegates went down to Charlottetown, but did they even look at their work 1 Mr. McCuUy said, in a speech delivered at Toronto. "I eup» pose you will hardly believe me when I tell you that ikt representatives of the Maritime Provinces, '^ho had been convened for the vtirpoce of securing a particular constitu- 'tion fvr themselves, having heard your dele- gates, actually adjourned with their work unfinished, if I perhaps may coin a word, unbegun.'^ The very work which they were appointed to perform they left unconsidered. I refer to the fact because I belieye that if these dele- gates had carried out the object of their sp» pointment the result would have bccu bencfi* oial to these Provinces. Lying contiguous to each other they are inhabited by the same race of people, their interests are identical, and surely there was material enough to form a considerable power. The arta of the Prov- inces is as follows: — Nova Scotia has square milee, 18,000 New Brunswick, 27,000 P. E. Island, 12,500 Making a total of 57,000 The poptilaiion it over 700,000. the thit about 500,000. the exports 811,310,456,' the importt $17,715,716. But initead of attend- ing to their task, the delegates were spirited away, and the next place where we find them is in Quebec, where, after the lapse offtwenty dayt, tbete men accepted a acheme secretly concocted and signed it on Sunday morning. It is somewhat strange that tbe hours of darkness were generally chosen by these men for their deeds in connection with tne Union. In 1805 the scheme was submitted to the House of Assembly, but the opposition was ro strong and the petitions to numerous, that the leader of the Government withdrew the measure and confessed he had found it im- practicable. In 1866 no mention of the mat- ter was in the Governor's Speech, although it is usual for the Ministry there to indicate the important questiocs which will bo laid before Parliament. The omission. I believe, wad intentionally made to deceive the people, and they were deceived. They were confident that no measure for that object would be brought forward, and thus they were lulled asleep. Now let me refer to the question of Union in its different aspects, and without go- ing just now into the constitutional argument I thitak I can show that even nnder tbe most favorable circumttances the scheme of Con- federation will be most injurious to Nova Scotia. Look at our geographicil position, we are nearer Europe by 500 mi' < than any other part of America is — and surrounded as we are by the sea, being almost an island, and having access to the water at all seasons of the year, it is our interest to buy in the cheapest! market and sell in the dearest. The people of the United States are our natural customers, and although by laws you may en- deavor to divert trade, yet trade and com- merce, like the waters of the ocean, will find its level and flow into their natural channels,— such legislation fiay succeed for a time, but business will soon return to its former courses. Let ua' before going further, ex« amine this statement which I have made with respect to tbe people of the Republic being our natural customers, and I do not make these remarks because I would much prefer our people dealing with that country rather than Canada, for other things being equal I would have no such preference;- taking things, however, as we find them, we see that nine>tenths of our flour up to a recent period o»me from the States. In the year 18G4 our total imports were $12,600,000, the amount which wo got from Canada being only the three hundredth part of the whole, $403,000. We exported to Canada $330,000 worth. From the United States we got $4,000,000, be- ing a hundred times as much as our Canadian importation!!, and we sent there eighty times tbe amount of our exports to Canada, being $2,245,770. Our chief articles of export, as is well known, are coal, plaster, lime, grind- stones, potatoes, oats, &c.,and for these arti- cles I repeat that the people of the American Union arc our natural cuttomers. Coal is almost tbe only article which Canada wants from us, and that only to a very limited ex- tent. In addition to the arguments derived from our geographical position and the nature of 52 our trtd«, tcre muit oonBider the unfair legis- lation whioh formi one of tbe objeotiona to Union. At the last setsion of the Ottawa Parliament, in spile of all that the members from the Lower Provinces oould do or say, thoy pat a tax on our breadstuffs,— this was done to benefit the Canadian producer, and to shut oit from our markets the American breadstuffs. If there was any necessity for this step other I7jan Gana* dian necessities I would net utter a word of oomplaiat, bat r? found that when the coal mining agents petitioned for American coal to be t: xed the request was treated with contempt— thus exhibiting an utter disregard for fair legieUtion. One of the arguments used in favor of Union was that our manufac- tures were to be increased; to shew you thtt that could not be the case let us look at the position of England,— what enables a coun- try to manufacture largely and cheaply ? It is an abundance of population and the cheap- ness of labor. There is no other country in which wages are so low as la Ore&t Britain, and any one can see that the manufacturer who obtains workmen for half a dollar can undersell the one who has to pay a doltrv The English manufacturer can import all his raw material— cotton from the States, hemp from Russia, and sil^ from India, and oan manufacture at a rate wuich enables him to undersell every other country on the g-'obe. Now t} apply the illustration : wages r^e lower in Canada than in Nova Scotia, and besides that in Canada they have a very large amount of water power. It would require the Istpie of years before we oould even under the most favorable circumstances compete with the Canadian manufactures. But it was said throughout the country, and very ttroTigly urged in llio Pictou canvars, "Oh, after Confederation manufactories will start up. Nova Scotians who have gone to tbe States will come hack in shiploads, and every stream in the country wiM have a mill upon it." I need not ask how far thess predic- tions have been realised. Again, when we look at the matter in a financial point of view we will see that Confederation must operats moit materitlly againit the interests of Nova Sootia. We formerly had a t»ritf of ten per cent— that tariff was sufiBcient to meet all the wants of the country, and during the last ten years our revenue not only increased but h»d trebled, and has reached the sum of $1,226,000. In the natur '. increase of trade and population the revenue would doubtless have been still found suflioient to meet all the demands of the country, and to extend our railroidi east and west without a change of tariff'. Now we have not only a tariff raised by fifty per cent., but new taxes of several other descriptions. The amount of money which we are to get in return is 80 cents per head and a bonus of $60,000. The fifteen per cent, tariff will, as every one can see, produce just a half more than the ten per (lent., and that increase, calculated in the revenue of ISGG, amounts to about $700,000. What is to become of that money? It goes to Canada. We were told that we had got more money back then wc had sent up so far, but there is the plain fact that tho large sum which 1 have mentioned goes into the treasury of the General Government. There would be no need for an increase if, as was taid, the mo- ney was to be expended among ourselves. To have the tariff thus raised without any corresponding benefit being realized by the country, is what the people cannot see the point of. Although I was ai'are, when we were confederated, that, at soy rate, in the lapse of a few years, our taxation wouiJ be largely increased, I had no idea *hat the lead- ing men of Canada would be c Dold and so dead to all sense of shame that, at the first meeting of their Parliament, regardless of what our representatives could say, these tyrannical and oppressive ants would be pass- e J. It was said repeatedly that the balance of power would be in our hands, and there was no danger of our interests being disre* garded with fifteen members from New Bruns- wick to join our nineteen; but when the in- terests of the Maritime Provinces came to clash with those of Canada, we saw the Cana- dians banding together, imposing taxation on us, and such I fear will always be the case while the Union lasts. To show you how oppress sive the new taxation which they have impo- sed is, I will read from a speech delivered by Mr. McLean at Ottawa : " The Minister of Customs admits, that ac- cording to a statement prepared for him by some other person, the increase of taxation on tea, tobacco, sugar, and the fifteen per cent, articles, will be $273,145. I have made the calculation myself of tbe effect of this change of rates on some of the leading arti- cles in use in Nova Scotia. Taking the quan- tities imported in 1866, the last year in which we have returns, I find the increase on sugars will be $45,185, and on tobacco $22,645. The member for Cumberland told us last night that the increase on tea is only half a cent a pound; the Minister of Customs says it is a cent; both gentlemen, I am sorry to say, is below the mark. There need be no uncers tainty; the quantity and the cost value are given in the returns, and show the increase on our importations to amount to $30,472, On meal there will be $15,867; printing paper $6000; petroleum oil $20,500. Of cottons, woollens, hardware, cordage, canvas, &o., we imported, in 1866, the value of $6,- 287,857, paying as duties $556,386. Deduct- ing $1,122,493 for ship's uses, and some other goods to be entered free under this tariff, the balance would pay $744,790, mak- ing an increase of $218,404, Without occu- pying the time of tho House by going over the whole of our importations, it will be seen that on these staple goods alone there will be an Increased taxation in Nova Sootia to tho cxtert of $359,073." Dr. Tapper, in 186i, said that owing to the large defioitj in tho revenue of Canada, it would not be desirable for Nova Sootia to bo Gonfederat3(l with that country. His lan- guage was : " But I am [jitisfied that whilst the condi- tion of affairs has beec ^ach as it has been for years in Can&ija — the deficit now between the expenditure and revenue being more tb' a million of dollars— these Maritime Provisoes would look very doubtfully upon a proposal which was to unite them with a country that 63 lury of the aid be no id, the mo- ourtelvei. itbout any zed by the not Bee the , when we rate, in the tn would be lat the lead- Dold and so at the first gardless of gay, these luld be p»86- the balance B, and there beiDg disre- New Bruni- irhen the in- es came to iw the Cana- ; taxation on he case while how oppreB* f have impo- deUvered by Diti, thatac- l for him by I of taxation he fifteen per I have made effect of this leading arti- ing the quan- year in which ;a8e on sugars aoco $22,645. luB last night half a cent a says it is a irry to say, is be no unoere ost value are the increase . to $30,472, 867; printing $20,500. or ■dage, canvas, value of »6,- 385. Deduct- ses, and some rca under this ^744,790, mak- Without occu- )y going over it will be seen there will be Sootia to the ,t owing to the of Canada, it k Sootia to bo try. His lan- Ist the condi- it has been for )W between the g more tb' a ime Prov.aces lon a proposal ft country that )■ plaoed in a position of inch financial em- barraument." That deficit, we know, had been accnmu* lating for ten years with the exception of one. After a six months' trial of Confedera- tion we are in a position fairly to ask if the promises held out to us have been roaliied,— if oar manufactories have been built up, our mining: interests improved, and the young men and women who left the country brought back by the inducements aiforded ? No, sir, the benefits which we have obtained are in- crease! taxation, the stamp act, the newspa<> per tax, and a number of other such imposi- tions. To show that I have not exaggerated the inducements which were held out tons as arguments in favor of Confederation, I will read from a speech of Mr. John Tobin, made in 1867. He said: "If there is one section of this Province more likely than another to to be benefitted by this Confederation, it is the city of Halifax. This must be the emporium , whence will be distributed over the Confed- eracy all the merchandize brought to our ■hores. Trade must bo developed to an indefi- nite degree, labor will be developed, in fact all claues and interests will receive a Yalua< ble impulse. Oar port will be filled with •hipping, and oar wharves and warehouses groan with the merchandize that will be re- quired for the Confederation." That is a sample of the style of argumentation which was made use of to deceive the country. I think I have shewn, Mr. Speaker, that the working of the scheme, in whatsoever light you regard it — oommeroially, financial- ly, or otherwise — is adverse to the interests of Nova Sootia. But the scheme is bad in it- self, aa I will presently shew. And I will dwell but little upon this point, because it is not material to us ; because even if the mea- sure were good, as Mr. Tomkins said : if it had brought as many blessings as it has oarses, no person with a particle of British feeling, should submit to it." We were told that the scheme contains all the beauties of both monarchical and republican systems. The admiration which some had expressed for this constitution reminds me of the Pil- grim who exclaimed in reference to the oolli- •eum at Rome : *' While stands the colliienm, Rome ahall stand ; When rails the oslliaeam. Borne shall fall , And when Home falls, the world." One would think that the world would fall if this Confederation were broken up. In my view, it does not contain the checks of either the monarchical or republican system. The very genius of the Britisli uonttitution is against Federal union. The history of fede« ration, from the earliest times, is oondemna" tory of the principle, and a legislative union is tbat which we have seen taken place in Great Britain. If a necessity existed, which I deny, for a union of these Colonies, a legis- lative union is certainly the one which should have been formed. Let me read an extract from Mr. Johnston's speech, in 1854, on that point. He isys : " I have never favored a Union of the Pro- vinces, by way of federation, for it did not appear to tend to the great object we had in view. What we want is to produce a real 8 tinit|/— make the parts that tro now separate » homogenous whole— give tfaem a oDeaeatof existence and purpose." This opinion, coming from Mr. Johnson, ought to havo had some weight f ith union- ists at all events. But if the delegates, hav- ing decided in forming a Federal uAion, had only turned their eyes on the American Re- public, and copied some of its most valuable festareg, we would have had some better checks supplied. They gave us representa- tion by population in the lower House, and I will not here stay to argue whether that basis is correct or not; but having done tbat, they should have given us some safeguard in the upper House, livn York, being a large State, has 30 representatives in the House of Representatives; and Rhode Island being small, has only three or four; bat in the Senate the latter has as many members as the former, so that the smaller States are pro- tected from any combination in the lower House But even if the appointments to our Senate had been what they should have been, the complaint would not have been so great; but some of those appointments are a disgrace to Nova Scotia. I will not refer to the indi^ vidual characters of the men, for they are pretty well known ; some of them were men of respectability; but among them were men like M'.ller, who went over the country de- nouncing Confederation. There was Mr. Bourinot, whose feelings in tho matter were so strong, at one time, tbat he refused to par- ticipate in social gatherings in Canada lest his attendance might be taken as an indica- tion of a favorable leaning towards Confede- ration. Mr. Jones shews what made a Union- ist of him, and how he received his appoint- ment, and there were others in the B*me no- Bition. Only one of the mber of Senators can be said to represent Nova Scotia, and that is John i^-icke. Wo come now to the question whether this matter should have been referred to the peo- ple at the polls, and authorities have been cited to show that it should not. I will not waste time to cite many proofs, l>eoaase the right of the people to decide is perfectly ob- vious. Is it not a common popular saying ••Vox populi. Vox dei?" And there is an. other one. "Vox populi, suprema lex," that is; ••the voice of the people is the supreme law." Parliament has no power to destroy itself, or to vote itself out of existence. Lord Plumket said in reference to the ircompe* tency of Parliareent to put an cad to its own existence : ••yourselves you may extinguish, but Par'>«nient you cannot extingnish. It is enthroned in the hearts of the people— it is enshrined in the sanctuary of the constitu- tion—it is as immortal aa the island tbat protects it. As well might the frantic sui- cide imagine that the act which destroys his miserable body should also extinguish his eternal soul. Again, therefore, I warn you. Do not dare to lay your hands on the Con- stitution—it is above your powers !" Never I think have I read anything more truly elo- quent and true than the foregoing extract. £ven common sense shoul i snfiQoe to teach any person in a Legislative Assembly that the people from whom the authority is de- rived should not be precluded froin saying IP I? ■m 54 whether (htt power iboald be trauferred. Bat I ean shew from the lipi of tbe abettors of Union tbemtelTea that this matter thonld have been referred to the people. In 1864 Mr. Miller said :— " When we were told, as we had been told toaday, that it was the intention, if possible. to eonsummata this Union without a speoiitl appeal to the people — to yield up our separ- ate government without the ratifloation of the popular voioe, he thought it behoved us to act with forethought and discretion." It is a pity he did not oontinue to aot with the same forethought and discretion. Hi 1865 Dr. Tapper said :— " Although the attempt has been made to induoa the people to oppose it (the Quebec Scheme), by petitions largely circulated, the majority of the petitioners who are here state that they are not prei.>ared to say whether it would be for good or for evi! — that we should have Confederation, and ask the House to pause before irrevocably coma Bitting itself to what would be, T believe, for the advantage of the couniry. I believe that al an early day these parties, having been fully informed on the subject, will be pre- pared to oome here by tens of thousands, and ask the Li>gifclatnre to consummate this •cheme of Union." There he admits the principle for which we contend. He says that the people will oome in by thousands to ask for tbe enact- ment; but how many petitions in favor of Union were presented T Again, Dr. Tapper said at Eentville in 1866 :— " If the people's representatives are satit- fied that the country is opposed to this Union tkty can yet reject it, or they can obtain a dissolution by asking for it. JVo Govern- ment could prevent it. What we wish is, to submit the broad question on broad grounds, and leave its decision to the independenL ac- tion of the Legislature. JVb more groundless statement could be made than that thi.re would be an attempt made to force ihis scheme upon the people. In the discharge of my public duty I have felt bound ta go wherever I would, and submit myself to (ho criticism of every man — to give all the in- formation in my power, ready to sut.uit as a member of tbe Qoveinment and as a public man of Nova Saotia to what I believe to be the g eat fountain of authority, that is, the clearly understood wishes of the people. I am quite oeittin that under the present Gov- ernment and Parliament no measure will be *ver passed that will be contrary to the pub- lic sentiment of the country.^' Do you suppose that Dr. Tupper was not well aware at that time that the people were opposed* to the scheme T The mode of pass* ing it shows their knowledge that the publio sentiment was againtt the deed. Even Mr. Archibald acknowledged the right of tbe I.>eople, for he used these words in his speech delivered at Temperance Hall, in 1864 : " It is for the people of JVova Scotia to ratify or reject what xve have done. If it will not pro- mote their interests — if they believe the re- sult will be injurious, and not beneficial, let them reject it." The Speaker suggested that it was out of order, strictly speaking, to read from books or papers in debate. Dr. MuHBAY continued :— I would not have referred to extracts if it had not been done so largely on the other aide,— but I was pro- ceeding to shew that the men who now loud- ly tell us that Parliament had a right to pau the measure without submitting it to the people by their speeches and acts some time ago proved the contrary. Mr. TiUey, in ad- dressing an audience at St. John, said : Ha could assure them, that if there is the least question as to the opinion of the people up- on it, it shall be submitted to them at the polls." Mr. niley acted in accordance with this opinion, and, like an honest man, sub- mitted it to the people. Had our people consented to union their position would have been very different. A great deal has also been said about the inconsiitency of certain persons, especially Mr. Howe. It matters little to the people whether Mr. Howe was in- consistent or not, — if he had advocated Con- federation without an appeal to the people be was wrong. Aspsrsions have been freely oast on Mr. Howe's name, but that name is "one of the few, the immortal names, that are not born to die," and will live in the minds and hearts of Nova Bcotians when the men who passed this measure will have gone down ■'To the vile dnit rrom whence they apraag. Unwept, uahoBored, and uoiuog." The only parallel case that can be adduced is the Union of Ireland and England. It is well known that the Irish people were op- posed to that union, and, when it could not be carried by fair rnean^, Mr. Pitt, through the initrumentality of Castlere.igb, by dis- tributing large sums of money and titles among the members of Parliament, secured the passage of the measure. But what has been the result? The Irish people feeling that they were swindled out of their Parlia- ment by improper means have ever since been discontented; one rebellion after another, Fenian organizations, &o., and tens of thou" sands of her people have exiled themselves from their beloved land, carrying with them wherever they go the most deadly hostility to Britain. And similar results are linely to follow similar causes in Nova Scotia. We who oppose Confederation have been called Fenians and Annexationists, and in a letter, written by Mr. Archibald, he told as about two parties going up to the village church, one respectable people, and the other associat- ing with Feniars, rebels, and so forth, add- ing that people should be careful what com* pany they kept. When I read that produc- tion, I was inclined to exclaim : — "I thank thee, Roderick, for thst word, It nerves my arm, It steels ny heart." When that man slandered nineteen-twen- ticths of his countrymen by telling them that they were the sympathizers of Fenians, cut- throats and rebels, he should have considered the company he himself wa^ in. He was sil- ting the very time he wrote that letter in company with a man (Dr. Tupper) who had called him a briber and perjurer; with Mr. McGee, who, in 1848, went into rebellion against his Sovereign; with Cartier, who, in id from booki roald not have lot been done }ut I wu pro- irbo now loud- a right to paaa ting it to the bcte lometime . Tilley, in kd- ohn, said : Ha ire II the lta$t the people up- them at the 3cord«noe with nect man, tab- id oar people on would have deal has also ency of certain e. It matters '. Howe was in- idvocated Con- A to the people ve been freely it that name is al names, that will live in the >tians when the will have gone they «prung, g." oan be adduced England. It is people were op- !n it ooold not . Pitt, through reagh, by dis- )ney and titles lament, secured But what has people feeling of their Parlia- ever since been after another, »d tensof thou- iled themgelves yiog with them l«adiy hostility Lts areliKely to ra Bootia. We bve been called and in a letter, e told us about village ohuroh, e other assooiat* so forth, add- eful what com* id that produo* aim : — mt word, heart." nineteen-twen- dling them that )f Fenians, cut- have considered in. He was sit- that letter in upper) who had urer; with Mr. t into rebellion Dartier, who, io Sfi 1837, itood in the [same position, and only threw away his musket when the red-coats were at his heels; with J. A. MacDonald, who has been branded by the press of his own country as a common drunkard; and with Qalt, an Annexationist. The Fenians have been termed "misguided men, who love their country not wisely but too well,*' and some of them were found to die for their country, but Mr. Archibald delighted to sell his conn* try, and to bring her under foreign domina- tion. Let me here read a short extract from Put* nam's Cyclopedia of Chronology. " A me> morial for the annexation of Canada to the United States, received in five hours the sig- natures of 300 merchants, landowners and professional men in Montreal, Oct. 10, 1850." Who ever beard of anything like that occur- ring in Nov* Sootia. Who ever heard of our people being disloyal until they wer^ forced in- to subjection to another country. Some time ago, it will be remembered, the Government of the day dismissed a hundred magistrates. Mr. Johnson, our present Judge in Equity, moved the following resolution in the House, with regard to those dismissals : ** And this House is of opinion, that il such an exercise of Executive administration should be vindicated, the most sacred inter- ests of society, would be placed in the power of every corrupt and unsornrilous Govern* ment that could command a subservient ma- jority in the Legislature; and the people of Nova Sootia being driven t} desire some con* stitution better balanced and protected, the connection between the Colony and the Parent State would be weakened and endangered." If that deed was to weaken the connection with the Mother Country, how much greater is tne danger when the rights of the whole people are sacrificed 7 The men who accom- plished it may think they did a very honor- able thing, and may enjoy for a time the honors which have been bestowed upon them, but I do not envy them. We remember that Montieth betrayed Wallace, and for that act of treachery was loaded with honors while Wallace was put to death ; but what Sootoh- man hears the name of Wallace, and reads that stirring song *' Soots whahae," but lifts his head higher, and plants his foot more firmly, without his heatt beating stronger, avd his blood circulating more rapidly, though centuries have rolled by since the death of the warrior 7 Who now thinks of Montieth but with execration 7 In the neigh- boring Republic there was a man named Arnold who was honored for his treason, bat how is he regarded now 7 In Mexico how was Lopez looked on after he had betrayed his benefactor 7 His wife met him and said, '" Lopes, here is your son, we cannot divide him, but never more do I wish to behold his father's face." That is the way in whio'a the men who betrayed this country will l»e re- garded. When a hundred of years have passed, their names will stink in the rtostrils of Nova Scotians. It has been uftem asked " will we get repeal 7" I reply : " Freedom's battle snee bcfan Bequeathed by bleeding tire to leo. Thoagb baOed oft is svsr won." When I look at the character of the Par- liament to which we are applying for redrcsi, » Parliament presided over by the best lover- eign in existence, and gaided by great, wise, and honorable men, I feel there is no reMOn to expect that when we go there and shdw that they w6re deceived— that we never favor- ed the Scheme, but were designedly kept f^om passing on it. these aathoritios will at once say "we have done you a grievous wrong, but we will undo what has been done." I might refer at some length to the falsehood contained in the preamble to the Union Act, and to the influence which Mr. Watkin's statement must have bad when he said that the question had been discussed at every polling booth in the Province. As to the Act itself, I concur with those who think it is not binding on Nova Scotia, because it has never been confirmed by statute of the Local Legislature. When the Reciprocity Treaty was entered into it was sent to us for ratifiaation,fand why not this measure T It has been said we should accept the situation. Shall we do so 7 No, Mr. Speaker, we will not, nor will we accept the advice of those who ask us to wait a little longer. "A day, an hour of virtuous liberty is worth a whole eternity in bondage." We may be askvd " but is our country worth contending for7" Look at her re- sources, her forests, her fisheries, her mines. Is it not the coal and iron that make a conn* try great 7 We have them in abundance. This land is ours; it has come to us free from cur forefathers, who felled the forests, and tilled the fields, and made " the wilderness to rejoice and blossom as the rose." Have we not araong ub the feelingsof Britons7 Whom do I see around me but the descendants of Englishmen, who are noted for their love of freedom; of Scotchmen— those men of iron, with lightning in them— the sor if the land which has been osUed " the ho: fthe brave and the free;" and of Irishmen, r. iom coon- try is the " first flower of the fielti drst gem of the sea," and has given birth to so many iUnitrious men, who, like Orattan, could ex claim in reference to their country's coniti* tution, " I've sst by her cradle, and followed her hearse." And is there anything in the atmosphere of Nova Sootia to deteriorate the race 7 Have we T>ct the same aspirations T I believe that Nova Scotia will not tamely submit and accept their present position. They must sud will be free. Ihe debr.te was adjourned. The House adjourned. Fbidat. Feb. 14tb. The House met at U o'clock. Mr. Rtebsom presented the report of the Committee appointed in reference to the dia« tribution of the moneys for the relief of dis- tressed fishermen. Mr. Dickie presented a petition with res* peot to a wharf in King's County. Mr. EiBK, a petition from Fishermen's Harbour for a bridge. Mr. CocHBAN, a petition of Mr. Archibald and others, of Musquodoboit Harbour, in re- ference to a road. Hon. Fbov. 8ko. laid on the table oorrci* 16 pondenee with reference to the GilchYiat Sduoationftl TrnBt Fund. Mr., CaAioiBBS, the petition of Lkarllliard and otbera in reference to % bridge at Upper Btewiacke. Mr. Fbeemah asked the government for certain information respecting a bridge in Qaeen'a Oo. Mr. FwEO presented a petition from the Gustoe and Clerk of the Peace of Cumberland asking for an amendment in the LicenieLaw. Mr. £isKNBAu£B presented petitions with reference to the gathering of sea manure. Mr. NoBTHDF, a petition from Gtrrett 0*« Connor, an aged schoolmaster, askin^r for a grant of land ; also a petition from H. Dunlap and otbera, in reference to a road. Mr. BAtcAM, a petition from Ship Hftrbsr. Hon. Mc. f ERGDdON, a petition of certain rate payers and inhabitants of New Boiton and Catalogue, in C. B , asking for a certain quantity of potatoes and oats for teed ; also a petition from the ferryman at Little Bras D'Or, arking for additional remuneration. Pr. BsdWN introduced a bill to incorporate the King's Co. Medical Society. The adjourned debate was then resumed. MB. PINJEO'8 SPEKCII, Mr. PiMEO rose and said :— In rinng to address the House with respect to the resolu- tions before tho House, it is but natural that I should feel some embarrasement. But I feel in endoreing the sentiments expressed in the resolutions introduced by the bon. mem- ber for Inverness, that my views will be pret- ty clearly understood by the House and country, and that, therefore, it will be en- tirely unnecesBiry for ae to occupy your at* tention for any great length of time. Like the bon. member for Queen's (Mr. Staith) who addressed the Houee on Wednesday in such an agreeable manner and style, I feel it is a duty that I owe to the country, as well as as to myself, to explain the position which I occupy with reference to Confederation and Repeal. I was not instrumental, let me say at the outset, in bringing about this Act of Union, and I do not, therefore, feel myself responsible for the Act itself or its renults. It was proclaimed the law of the land— I believe it to h«v3 been constitutional; but whilst I entertain that view I still feel that it was hasty on the part of the Government to have passed the measure into law without having first submitted it to the people at the polls. But when it was proclaimed the law of the land 1 felt it to be my duty to accept the situation, as I consider it to be the duty of every loyal British subject to-day. Now the county I have the honor to represent, abounds in coal fields, grind stone, lime Eton<>, and other stone quarries. It adjoins the County of (Jolches* ter, where there is abundance of copper and irop. We have the facilities for all kinds of manufacturing. We have as industrious men and women as are to be found in any part of the woild, but we have not the capital to en- courage and stimulate the energy and enter- prise of our people, and devclope our re* sources. Now, the Act of Confederation se- cures to us the construction of the Intercolo- nial Railway, which will pass through the two coantiea I have mentioned, and neocHft- rily involve the expenditure of a large Mm of money. Here then will be employment for our people. The construction of this work will open up a market for everything that our country produces. The circulation of money will stimslate our people and assist them in establishing those manufactures which are so very essential to it, and will be the means of bringing back to Nova Scotia thousands of our people who have left us to seek employment elsewhere. To repeal the Act of Confederation will destroy all this. We may be differently situated in Cumberland from any other county in the Province, bat situated as we are we look fcrward hope- fally to the construction of the Intercolonial Railway, which our public men have at- tempted in vain for so many years to accom> plifth, but have never succeeded until the Act of Confederation was passed. But can wo have repeal by passing the re* solutions laid on the table by the Attorney General 7 I believe not. I believe as firmly as I believe that the Act of Confederation is constitutional that we will never have the Uiiion repealed until it has had a fair trial, and proved to be what its enemies declare it will be. I believe that these resolutions are based on a fallacy, which will be easily seen by British statesmen. It may be expected that I should come forward to assist the bon. member for Inverness in resisting the at- tacks made on the late government, but I do not consider be required any acslstanoe at my hands. He is ready and able to defend himself here and elsewhere, and actuated as I am under exitting circumstances to assume a responsibility which does not naturally de- volve upon me would be very rash and im* Frudent. I stated on a former occasion that do not intend to indulge in any factious op- position, but no matter what minority I might be in, I would assist the Government in passing all measures that are necessary for the country. Entertaining the opinions I do of the resolutions moved by the hon. At- torney General, and believing as I do that time and circumstances will prove me to be right, I feel it to be my duty to support the amendments of the hon. member for Inver' ness. MB. DICKIE'S SPEfiCn. Mr. Dickie followed and said :— Mr. Speak- er, in attempting to address this House on the resolutions on the table, I shall not si^y any- thing in regard to the constitutionality of this question, for that part of the sabjeothai been so ably handled by the gentlemen who have preceded me, that anything I might say would only be taking up the time of this House unnecessarily. I propose, sir, to look at this question in the light of a commercial transaction. In taking this view of it, I am aware it may be said that I am assuming very low ground— that I am taking a narrow and contracted view of the question, unwor- thy of BO great a Confederation, so vast a Dominion. This may, to some extent, be the case, bnt you must be aware th*t a wise man once said, "money answereth all things," and without money what can any coun- try be 7 It is necessary to the life, the pros- perity, »nd the hftppinesi of » ootintry, that ^- Urge nm iloyment for f this work Vthing tb»t roaUtion of I and aiaist ttnufaotbres and will be tioy* Sootia re left as to I repeal the allthie. We Cumberland ovinoe, bat rwsrd bope- [cteroolonial 9n have at- ra to aocom> until the Act ssiog the re* be Attorney !Te as flrmi; federation is ver have the I a fair trial, ies declare it ■olutioDS are le easily seen ' be expected wist the hon. ting the at- eot, but I do acsistanoe at >le to defend actuated as as to assume laturally de- rash and im- icoaiion that faotioas op- minority I Government re necessary Eie opinions I the hon. At* 18 I do that ve me to be support the er for Inver- Ecn. —Mr. Speak- House on the not say any- itionality of esabjeothai ntlemen who I might say time of this sir, to look commercial w of it, I am im assuming ing » narrow tiou, anwor- 1, BO vast a eiitent, be thtt a wise 1 all things." any ooun- re, thepros- oantry, that itt Ihiancial condition shonld be sonnd, as it is necessary that the sun should shine and the rain should fall so that the fcoe of mother earth may be clothed with verdure. Ari possible that they should not have known that the bargain was a ruinous one for Nova Scotia; and, sir, we are compelled to look further for some cause that operated on their minds with greater force than the welfare of their country. We have an inkling of this cropping out at the convention held in Quebec, where, it is said, they were at sixes and sevens until it was understood that the Dominion would elect three Governors for the different Provinces, and there would be a number of heads of depart- ments and vacant senatorships to be filled. Then, as if by matic. this pipe of peace al- layed all strife and differences of opinion, and each was enabled to hee in this great scheme everything to admire and nothing to con* demn. It could be compared in their estima- tion to but one thing under heaven— that to which nothing is to be added, neither any* thing to be taken away. Sir, let me turn the attention of this House to what this Province has been enabkd to do in the past, and from thai judge what she might do in the fntare if left ai we were. It has been one of the great arguments of onr opponents that had we remained at we were we woald have had to raise our tariff. Tde'ny it, sir, and I ask for the p-oof The onatoms' revenues of Nova Scotia were — $608,939 in 1861 835,657 861,669 990,169 1,047,891 1,226,398 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 This is an average annual increase in the pa»t 4 years of 12^ percent., and at the same average rates we might expect — $1,379,697 in 1867 1 552,159 '• 1868 1,745,178 •♦ 1869 1,963,200 " 1870 This is a ealculatiou based upon the records of the past; and there is no reason why these amounts may cot be realized in the future, except it ba that the unsettled state of the country has been thrown into by those who have Attempted to dispose of our revenues^ and deprive us of our deareit rights, the rights of free men. Bat this is only our re venue from customs; our total revenue was : In 1861, $ 892.324 1862, 1.270.817 1863, 1,249,103 1864, 1,174,918 1865, 1,731,855 1866, 1,857,148 Under an average increase, we would have: In 1867, $2,089,291 1868, 2,350.452 1869, 2,644,258 1870, 2,974.790 And this, too, under our own tariff. So with our finances in this condition, we would be enabled to meet all our liabilities, and build our proportion of the Interoulonial Railroad, if required. But, sir, if we were to collect duties under a Canadian tariff, we would have collected, in addition to what we have collected under our tariff : In 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, a sum of itself sufficient to baild the Interco- lonial road, and pay for it too in less than 30 ycirs, by placing the surplus in a sinking fund. And this, I hesitate not to say, is a sum paid by Nova Scotia to the Dominion Government, increasing every year as our imports increase, and for which Ontario and Quebec pay to the general fund no equiva- lent. But when I put the two amounts to- gether and add to them the other taxes I have already enumerated, you would have In 1864, $ 884,9.50 1865, 99,556 1866, 1,120,000 1867, 1,260.000 1868, 1,417,500 1869, 1,594.687 1870, 1,764,028 i 603,531 688.522 732,000 823,500 026.544 1,042.247 1,172,332 ft I nifty be told w« will not oontinae to proa- p«r in the fotare M we hate in the put. If thftt ii the wgamentlthen the whole nbrio felle to the ground, for hea not their whole Argument been thet under Confederfttion every intereet wonld prosper, our trede would be enlarged, and the hum of our buiy work- ihopi would be heard from one end of the Province to the other— and to quote the words of a reverend and learned lecturer, the pre- sen*' generation would see Halifax expanded to such an extent that Bedford Basin would be a mere frog pond in the centre of the town. If these anticipations are to be realized my estimates are a long way inside of the mark, for the ;;reater our trade the more money Canada tikes from as. If my anticipations are not realized, it will be because this Confederation has crippled our trade, deitroyed our mannfaotures, and redooed our people, and forced them to live more ehetply and consume less dutiable goods. Tou may take either horn of the di< lemma you pelaae, there can be but one result. Now let me turn your attention to our local requiiemonts, and aik how we can meet then' under Confederation. We ex- pended for Agriculture; Board of Works; Crown Lands; Education; Legislative Ex- penses; Mines and Minerals; Navigation Se> eurities ; Printing ; Roads and Bridges : In 1862, 9318.340 1863, 39B,849 1864, 555.973 1865. 639,302 1866. 851,699 And At the same rate we would require : In 1367, $ 985.014 1868, 1,149,183 1869, 1,313,352 1870, 1,477,521 On the other hand we would only have under Confederation : In 1866, $442,000 1857, 465,000 1868, 489,000 1869, 517,000 1870, 550,000 Sums totally inadequate to meet the wants of these services as we have met them for- merly; and the coniequence would be that after we had contributed millioneef dollars to Canada for the support of the Dominion Qu> vernment. we would either have to allow our local wants to suffer, or tax ourselves directly for large amounts to meet their in- creasing wants. But. sir, I have only been arguing hitherto on the supposition that the Dominion would only require from Nova Booiia the amount raised by the present Tariff, Stamp Act, Post- age Bill, and Bank tax. A vain delusion, as I will presently show. People unite and form partnerships in order to accomplish to- gether what they could not alone. On this principle we have, for large enterprises, joint stock companies. On the same principle this Confederation was formed, and the enterprises she has undertaken are, firit, the Intercolo- nial Railroad, at a oost, it is said, of twenty nilliouef dollars; the purohaM and opea* ing up of tLs North Wast Territory, varioaa- ly eatimated at from thirty to fifty millions more; then a Welland canal is in contempla- tion at from twenty to thirty millions more. And where is even the interest of the money to come from T fur it seems to be a settled principle with our politicians that only the interest of money is to be provided for; the principal is left to future generations.— who it is expected will be able to do what the present cannot;— but how we are not told. Why, sir, when we turn to «hs estimates laid before the Dominion Parliament by the Hon, Mr. Rose, what do we find ? Why, we find an estimated expenditure of $ 14,301 ,301 Estimated income 14.457,400 Leaving a surplus of only $156,009 at.d this does not include $1,925,500 expend* ed on capital account. More tlian this, to my surprise there is nothing in these esti- mates providing for the Intercolonial railroad, North West Territory, or a Welland canal, the interest of which will amount to from five to seven millions, and of which Nova Scotia will have to pay her share in addition to all the sums I have enumerated. Yet all this is coniidered by the delegates and their friends fair and equitable; this is tbetcbeme that was to do justice to all parties. If the foundation was laid thus let me ask what the tuper- structiire is to be like. Sir, did you ever hear of any number of persons going into partnership without tak- ing into account the goods and chattels placed in the firm 7 What would you think if several gentlemen here should enter a part* nership, and should place in one common fund their cash, their Unds, their houses, their ships and their stocks, without putting any appraised value upon them, or without taking them into account at a certain vain* ation ? And still you see the founders of this Dominion piaoinc at the disposal of the Dominion the railroads of Nova Sootia with- out equivalent or compensation, to say noth- ing of our lighthouses, breakwaters, canals, and public buildings. Sir, I should have thought that one of the fint things to be done would have been to have appointed a commission to appraise all the publio pro- petty, and to arrange the same in a fair and equiuble manner; and when they failed to do this they failed to carry out the very let- ter and spirit of their instructions. Had an enemy by force of arms conquered the coun* try, he could not have done more than take all the publio buildings and works as they have done, except to levy contributions on the inhabithnts, and even this they have not failed in, for we see our revenues not only taken by our conquerers, but also raised 55 per cent., — and all this, in my estimation, is only a foretaste of what is to come. When they talk of " accepting the situ- ation"— of working the thing out, do they understand their position?— do they think where they are leading the country toT They cannot, surely ! They have never care- fully and honestly looked the situation in the face, or made any oalonlations as to the result, or they wonld bot give saoh advioa at that. S9 , Tftriotti- f mUIibni ODtempla- ona more, he money a lettled only the 1 for; the irationi. — what the not told, mates laid ' the Hod, ive fiadan 14,301,301 14.457,400 $106,099 )0 expend' iD this, to these eatU kl railroad, i oana), the om fire to ova Scotia :ion to all all this is eir friends ne that was foandation the super- number of ithout tak- id chattels you think iter a part* e common ir houses, ut putting or without rtain vala* ounders of osal of the ootia with- say noth- rs, canals, ould have ngs to be ipointed s lublio pro- a fair and failed to lie very let- Had an the ooun* than take as thoy butions on have not not only raised 55 imation. is e. the situ- t, do they Ihey think UDtry to T never oare- taation in as to the I advioa a* :8 Allow me bow to tarn the ftttention of thia Hoase to another phase of this remarkable Confederation. The history of the Grand Trunk Railroad is to some extent familiar to most in this House. That it sways and large- ly influences the political affairs of Canada few will venture to deny; and, sir, I have reason to believe that the influence of that Company have had much, very much to do in bringing about this Confederation. It^ influence on the politicians of Canada nor^e can well define, when we turn our attentioD to England, we find the stockholders in that coun- try throwing all the weight of their influence and position to further this scheme, and Mr. Watkin, the chairman, in his place in Par- liament, standing up and deceiving that Par- liament, and making them believe that the people of Nova Scotia had, at the polls, de- clared themtelves in favour of this scheme. This closed the mouths of our friends in Par- liament; tliey were unprepared to give him a flat denial, and under this misrepresentation they were led to pass this Act and do a cruel wrong to this country. It would be a libel on the love of justice and fair play, inherent in the breast of every Englishman to suppose for s moment that when they were shewn, as I trust they will be, the wrong they have done, that they will not take immediate steps to repair that wrong in the only way possi- ble by a repeal of so much of it as applies to Nova Scotia. You may s&y what object had the Grand Trunk Directors in all this. 'Tis plain to be seen and judged of by their past history. They evidently, by their great power, will control the building of the Inter- colonial, and make fortunes out of it, as Hincks did out of the Grand Trunk, and when finished will, in all probability, wind up the affair by saddling the two roads on the Domi- nion Government at such a price as will ena« ble them to secure the services of members who in the past have, by their sadden com- missions, laid themselves open in the public estimationto have been convinced by the strong arguments of gold and position rather than by the love of country snd its welfare. Sir, I will now turn the attention cf this House to a statement made by the member for Inverness, and which he complains has Bot yet been answered ; namely, that the Do- minion Government have actually paid for Nova Scotia up to the present more than they received. Admit, for the sake of argument, that it is strictly true. If you will, what does it prove taken in connection with what I proved to the gentleman, and which it is not worth while to repeat ? It proves but this, if they did so it was on account of our debt, for which they were bound to provide, and for which we pay them interest, and if they had paid in the first six months the whole eight miliioDS, and cancelled all our bonds by bonds of the Dominion, or by casli, could any one be so bold as to declare that we had been the gainers by the sum of eight millions in the first six months? And yet this is the whole of his argument. There is one other point I would turn your attention to, namely: la all those calculations I have, for the sake of argument, assumed that the Dominion Government will provide for all the services turned over to them in as eflloient k manaer m we b»Te done hitherto. Take for illuetratlon the light honae aerTloe; almost every man in this House and in tbie country is interested directly or indirectly in having the light hoasea of our coasts and bays properly cared for, and in the past scarcely a year has gone by that we have not added several new ones. But have we any guarantee that the Dominion Government, sitting in the backwoods of Ottawa, will take the same interest and care of those servicet that we have. I might apply the aace re* marks to other services, bat I will not oceupy the time of the House. Allow me now to direct attention to » statement published by J. Johnson. Assistant Commissioner at Ottawa, attempting to show the amount that will be collected under the Dominion tariff and that collected andcr our late tariff, and showing an inerease of only $59,339. This statement is sent broadcast over the face of the country, and shows either the ignorance and alter Incompetency of the ofBoer, or that he is attempting wil- fully to deceive the people of this oonntry. Let me tarn the attention of the House to a few of the statements, and compare them with the revenae actually received aeeording to the Joamale of this House :— Jouroali. $3,409 1,430 670 333 28,685 447 56.598 83.662 151,091 17,021 And, air, all the mistakea are on one side of the acoount, and these make a difference of some $190,000. When we turn to the amount of imports he lowers those to suit himself, by what authority or right I oannrt tell, except it be to deceive the people of this country, as he heads his etitement as based on the same imports. He makes some singu- lar statements : for instance, he estimates a saving in flour of $48,821, and yet the duty on flour is exactly the same under both tariffs, and he actually makes a faving of nearly $20,000 more than was collected, or that would be saved if flour had been free. Sir, I will not tire this House by wading through any more of bis errors. Suffice it to say that the errors in this column foot up some $26rj,000. The average duty of Canada and Nova Scotia was as follows : — Johnion Beef and Pork, $6,207 Navy Bread, 1.650 Butter & Lard, 1.749 Cheese, 732 Flour, 70,321 Apples, 2,499 Brandy. 71,107 Gin & Whiskey, 101.588 Rum. 263.869 Tobacco, 29,787 Canada. Nova Be 'Ua 1863. 11.2 8.4 1864. 12.G 7.4 1865, 12. 7.2 186U, 136 8.5 The average Canadian tariff of last year is 55 per cent, higher than the averaere of Nova Bootia — and the Dominion tariff of to«day on- ly differs from the Canadian tariff in some half a dozen articles, as I showed on a former day, and which it is not worth while to re« peat, and the difference to Nova Sooti* ia not 60 nor* than 910,000 either irty per yeftr. And yet Mr. Johniton telle ue th»tUwill only tske $39,339 more thfta our late tariff. Nova Sootia imported iu the year ending 30th Sept., 1866, 914,381,000, and oollectud duty $1,226,398, and the addition of $59,339 would only be about 41.100 of 1 per cent— which would make the Dominion tariff ao> cording to Mr. Johnion only 8 94.100 per cent; call ltd per cent, for the sake of eimpli fying it. Apply thii to the amount of Ca> nada'a impoits, and you have $2,488,310 leti than was actually oolleoted; and if Mr. John- son is right Canada will be relieved by this tariff $3,488,516 per year, and we will have added tj our taxes by it $59,339. Sir, the statement is unworthy of consideration, and I beg the pardon of tbis House for occupy* ing so much of their time with a statement so manifestly erroneous; and my excuse is, that it appears to have been issued by authority, and thd press of this city are copying, com- menting on and endorsing its errors. In conclusion I will only add in reference to the remarks that fell from the hon. mem* ber on a preTious day that he may call me what heipleases— may threaten to skin me from head to foot; but I tell him I did not come here to bandy words with any one, but to do the business of the country. I can tell him one thing, and that is, he will never make me sit down as he acknowledged he sat under the tongue lashings of a gentleman some years ago. He confessed that he did not dare defend himself, and that it hart him so much that he could not sleep all night. When I cannot defend myself I will retire from tha House, and go back to my constituents, and tell them I am not fit to fight their battles or contend for their rights. Mtt. CHAITIBERS' BPEECa. Mr. CuAMBEBS said— I do not like to occu- py the time of the House when any member is desirotti of speaking, but as no one ap>* pears abuut to r'sc, I sb^ll endeavor to ex- press my opinions on this important subject as concisely as I can. I do not pretend to be a public speaker. There are many gentle- men in this House of whom it may be said that they did not seek these seats, but these benches sought them. They have come here for a patriotic purpose— of freeing their country from a Union into which the people have been unfairly forced, without their con- sent having been even hsked. Many gentle- men would gladly retire from the Houfe, and atiend to their own private affairs, if they did not feel impelled by a high sense of duty to remain here. The hon. member for Inverness and myself started oat in life about the same time, and whilst he has pursued one course, I have taken a different one. He has been before the public for twenty years at the bar, and I have no doubt he has been successful; but I have kept steadily at my business, and have no reason to be difiSKtisfied with the result. U I were inclined to act the egotist, as he did the other day, I could tell him what I have done in Cumberland and Colchester to revo- lutionize trade. If I had not kept to trade I might be in a bad Government, or looking to Folitioe for my livelihood. Happy am I that am not like others we know of, who have been driven out of this country by the indig- nation of their fellowcountrymen, and forced to seek refuge in the backwoods of Canada, instead of being able to return to their old friends, and received with open arms by their fellow- citizens. I am not here, I confess at once, to make tbe best, but the worst of Con- federation. I am here to express the feelings and opinions of those who have been deeply wronged in connection with this momentaus question. We have already had considerable experience of this hated scheme, and can judge of the deep injury we must sustain if we remain much longer in our present humi Hating position of subjection to Canada. But I acknowledge that I am open to conviction, and if ihe hon. member can show us the ad« vantages of Confederation I shall gladly listen to him. My constituents never asked Capt. Morrison or myself what we would do, but they elected us because they believed we were honest men, and therefore we are able to pursue that course which will be most bene- ficial to the people. Tbe hon. gentleman has told ua that we should pause before proceeding any farther, but allow me to advise him and his friends to reconsider their own policy and the oonse* quences that must result from their efforts to thwait the wishes of the people. If he and his party had paused long ere this what an amount of irritation and agitation we would have been spared. Now we see brother against brother, and father against father, and actually in our part of the country we find the wife opposed to the husband. No- body has done all this but the hon. member and his friends. The hon. gentleman has asked us to strike out all the words after " that," in the Attor* ney General's resolutions— certainly a very cool proposition. Why did he not strike out the word '* that," also, whilst he was about it 7 Now, a few words as to the nature of this new political connection. Suppose the hon. member goes up to Ottawa, and after a while engages Lis daughter to one of tbe magnates of that capital. Then he returns to Nova Scotia, and after some days he calls his daughter to him and says, " By the bye, my dear, you have to be married to Lord B.; I have no doubt you will be happy, and I will then no longer be at any expense for you." Suppose tbe daughter would reply that she was unwilling to marry Lord B., but preferred some tradesman in Halifax: or suppose she was a dutiful child, and, despite her feelings, married the individual to whom her father had engaged her without her knowledge or consent— would she ever be happy 7 In all probability she would drag out a miserable existence, and seek rest at last in an early grave. That is about the way we have been dragged into this Confede- ration. The hon. member says that it is con stitutional ; but though I am no lawyer, I know tbe difference between right and wrong. Tbe hon. member understands the law of books, but I understand the law of common sense. Now I intended reviewing this tariff, but it has already been so ably handled by gentle- Am I that who bftTe the indig- aod foTO«d f Cankda, their old ai by their oonfetB at rst of Cop- he feeliDKi een deeply nooaeutaus )n»ideTable , and can : lattam if sent humi inada. But coDviotion, ua the ada ladly litten ksked Capt. d do, but ed wevere re able to uost bene- la that we ay further, I frienda^o the oonie* ir efforta to If he and a what an n we would lee brother iDBt father. Dountry we band. No- iQ, member 18 to atrike the Attpr* ly a very strike out waa about . nature of uppoae the and after a one of the he returns ya he oalli )y the bye, lO Lord B. ; py, and I xpenie for ould reply Lord B., aalifaz: or nd, deapita Ito whom thout her le ever be rould drag ek rest at about the ii Confede- it it is con lawyer, I nd wrong. he law of )f common kriff, but it by gentle- men. who have preceded me that I find some difBQulty in dealini; with it. I consider that this tariff has imposed upos us burthens moat grievous* to be borne. It is true we have been told that the tariii was not com* plele, but surely th acts of officials, they have one clais of people ipeaking English and the other French. I believe though they may be theoretically one government, there are two praotioally— two certainly in a pecu Diary point of view. I thipk then if they coald not live under a 20 per cent, tariff, they are not likely to meet all their expendi tures with their system of government Urge ly increased. Suppose we take in the North west Territory, what an immense tract of country will have to be opened up by roads and bridges; suppose the aborisines become troublesome on our hands; suppose we build the Interoulonial Railway, and inoruase the fuitifioatioDS of Canada, where is all the money to come from 7 Must not the tariff go op 7 I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion that it must steadily rise as long as we remain in this Conftideration. In the course of time we must see it as high as 30 per cent., or 25 per cent, at the very least. Only let the Canadians get a firm graip of us, and the tariff will go up fast enough. The hon. member for Invernets asked us the other day, "will you give up ychir mines and minerals to Canada?" He admits that we have given up nearly everything, and con- soles us with mentioning what we have left. What did Mr. Archibald tell us at one of our meetings when he was told of the evils and burthens of Confederation 7 Why he actual* ly told us that he would try and temper the wind to thecb:.-n lamb, thereby confessing what we had to put up with. The hon. mem- ber for luverneas has gone into the constitu- tional part of this question; he has spoken of Catholic Emancipation, of the abolition of the Corn Laws, and has eulogized Sir Robert Peel and Mr. Pitt, and gives thorn as autbo- rity for tbis act of despotism. Refreshing my memory from some old books in my valise, put there by my little bo}8. 1 find that it it is true that the emanci- pation of the Catholics in 1829 was carried against the wish of the Protestants, and in five days they sent 957 petitions against the Act, while only 357 were presented in its fa- vor, but while they gave freedom to I-eland, the Canadian Act has placed us in bondage. In regard to the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, it was 'by and with the consent of the people, it gave them their bread free of the 169. on the quarter of wheat, while the British North America Act taxes ours Is. 3i. per barrel, advances our ad valorem duties 50 per cent., and places other taxes on us, grievous to be borne, as well as depriving us of the liberty we have so long enjoyed. In regard to Mr. Fitt as authority for changing a constitution independent of the people, 1 may be safe in saying that he was not infallible. At this time ho had the hor- rors of the French revolution on bis mind, and with the cares of the state and the extra qoaDtity of stimalatiog drinks h« thought he required to stay his great mind, we may put against him Mr. Gray and Mr. Erskine; they siy that a "man ought not t j be govern- ed by laws, in the framing of which be had not a voice, or pay taxes to which he had not consented in the same way." As to Sir Robert Peel, the political text book of ulreat Britain says, " He was not a man of original genius or inventive thought; there is not a singular idie mere can be traced to him through his whole career." Register, Register, Register was not his own ; he bor^ rowed it from a celebrated political journal, generally in opposition to himself, where it is to be found yean before be ever gave utter- ance to the counsel. His mind was adoptive, not creative; he was the mirror of the age, not its director; his leading ideas and prin* ciples vyere tftken from others. In monetary affairs he only elaborated the ideas of Mr. Homer and Mr. Ricardo, first enunciated in the Bullion Report. In supporting the Corn Laws, he adopted the arguments of Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereigh; in assailing them those of Mr. Bright and Mr. Cobden. It was the same in the Catholic Emancipa- tion; his arguments admirable on both sides, were alternately adopted from Lord Livem pool and Mr. Perceval, of Mr. Canning and- Mr. Plunkett. It was this which suggested to Mr. Disraeli the telicitous expression that his mind was a " huge appropriation claaic." So if the hon. member quotes constitutional authorities, I can also show you their value, and enable you to estimate them at their pro- per standard. But he has told us about Cape Breton, and asks whether that island is not content under Confederation. How could Cape Bieton be otherwise than satisfied with Union with Nova Scotia 7 Compare the po- sition Oi Cape Breton now with what it was a few years ago. The ladies then did not wear their silks and satins, or the men dress in broadcloth ; they did not even put their bay under shelter. Now they are connected with Nova Scotia, and paiticipate in its large revenues and sources of prosperity. Where we paid Ss. a head into the treasury for many years, the people of Cape Breton probably did not pay more than Is., wbile they re* ceived an equal amount per head with us, and probably more. Bat that is not the case with respect to the Union between Nova Sec tia and Canada. We being consumers of du- tiable goods will pay 30s. a head, while they will pay about half that amount, and get an eqvial share per head with us from the reve- nue. It is said we will have one law — one militia system — one currency. But suppose ve have one currency, how wiil it benefit' us 7 In New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Can> ada they have had one currency, but what does it amount to 7 The par of exchange in Canada and New Brunswick is 9^ per cent. ; ours IS 12^ per cent. The latter is equal to the adding a fourth, having no fractional parts, the British shilling being Is. 3d., and the sovereign 258. If we are forced to adopt the Canada and New Brunswick currency, it will be equal to addingone fifth; therefore, if you are required to pay Is. 3d., 58., or 258., you will be at the trouble of adding some copper coin to each amount. We have now 63 the moit aimple ftod oonveiiient oarrenoy in Britieb North Ameriok; and if they adopt onri it Hill oonfer no boon on ui. as it is all right without them. Suppose we hate one currency ; while the baltnoe of trade ii against ni our paper will not be talcen at par in Can- ada unlets our Danks have agents there to redeem it. I may say here that in Newfound- land the old system of adding the ninth and the premium is discontinued, and instead they add 22 or 24 per cent., according to the demand. No one will deny but that the hon. member for Inverness has made a great speech, but so far as argument goes it reminds le of a story told me of the celebrated Whithtld. An old lidy once went to hear him, but could not get near him in oonsrquence of the crowd, but she sat herself down on a large stone where a gentleman passing by saw her weepine, and asked bee what was the matter. She replied that she was converted. " Bjt, my good woman," said the questioner, " you have not heard him speak." " Oh, no," was the re- ply, "but I saw the shake of his head." Neither the hon. gentleman's argument nor the shake of his head will, I think, effect us as it did the old lady. MB. CAMPBEI^f.'S SPEECH. ' Mr. Campbell said— I am very happy to see that the hon. member for Colchester is far better versed in the momentous question before un than he is with the social position of Cape Breton. I do not think that the hon. gentleman has been in Cape Breton from the description he has given of the country, but the able manner in which he pointed out the disadvantages of Confederation will cover a multitude of sins in that particular. The learned gentleman remarked here to-day that in military tactics it is the usual custom to bring the email guns to the front. If such has been uniformly the practice, I find that in this campaign we have made a sweeping change. Nearly all our great guns have fired off with good effect; and now commences a fusillade of small guns, and as we are not much in dangrer from the enemy in front, the oflScers in command do not think it necessary to throw out skirmishers, and that accounts for finding us in the rear. When Union be- came the law of the land, I made up my mind, with many Anti-Confederate friends, to give it a fair trial, fully convinced that, before the end of the year, its greatest friends and warmest advocates would be deeply disap- pointed ; but at the same time we determined if it should turn out such a blessing as our Considerate friends anticipated, then we would accept the situation. Now we have had eight months of this millenium, and in what position are we? Twelve months ago we were a self-governing people, we looked with pride on our past history, we indulged in liopeful anticipations for tbe future; but in what position are we to-day 7 Tbe Cana* dlans have full control ef ourselves and our finances —our public burthens are made heavy, and to meet those burthens our tariff is increased from ten to fifteen per cent., and if we felt it would stop there, we might feel less apprehension. But when we become proprietors bf the Hudson's Bay Territory, for which we are cip«et«d to pay from 30 to 50 milliona of dollars— vfhen we beoome share* holders in the Intercolonial Railway, it is no stretch of the imagination to say that 19 per cent, will not meet our annual liabilities. When that occurs, shall we not, in the figu- rative language of one of oar newspapers, have " one foot on the Atlantic and the other on the Pacific." It is said that the most intelligent people votad in favor of Union. I admit that many hiehly intelligent persons, some of them xnjf beet friends, voted in favor of Union, and if if were not for such p'^rsons Confederation would lonsr ere this have given np the ghost in the hands of that eminent accouober. Dr. Tupper. I would say, however, with much respect to the Union party, that after the forty days legislation at Ottawa, after the humiliating position they see our represent^, tives placed in, voted down on every subject, if after all this they still remain the advo- cates of Confederation, I cannot have the same high opinion of their intelligence and patriotism. We have now but one course before us, and that, I think, is clearly em- bodied in the resolutions on the table. I feel confident that the Act which now binds us to Canada will be repealed — that the British Parliament would scout such a policy as that Lord North upheld nearly a century ago — that tbe i)eople of Qreat Britain who have ever been eminent for their love of liberty and fair play will not treat our petition with scorn, but instead of that will feel proud of us as the descendants of that noble stock that would rather die with their swords in their handii than yield one iota of their con- etitatlonal rights. I am proud to see so much unar imity in this Assembly ; I never saw so much before among so many men on one question— so many men brought from every part of the province representing a great variety of interests. I have no doubt that before long the soHt!iry two who now form the opposition will see the error of their ways and fall into our ranks, and if they do I can promise them they will be received with open arms.^>! We are always glad when we see sin- ners repent. In conclusion, I need only say that for me to go into the merits of tbe case would be altogether out of place after the in- controvertible arguments broueht forward during this debate by my Anti- Confederate friends. They have not left the fabric of a vision for the opposition to grasp at. ItlR. KIDHTON'S HPEECII. Mr. EiDSTON said :— In rising to address the House on this most important question, I feel that form my own opinions npon any facts that may be advanced by le- eal gentleman around me. The hon. mem- ber for lovernesB has taken the liberty of quoting certain authorities in connection with constitutional law. When be brings up Sir Robert Peel and Mr. Pitt I think the hon. member has shown to this House and to the people of this Province that he was only tra- versing the surface of English constitutional law instead of diviog into the depths of that law. 1 think it one of the most important points to put the question fairly before the statesmen of England. Sir, allow me to refer back to the year 18(36. What occurred then 7 We know that thiity-two gentlemen then on the benches, the hon. member for Inverness included, practieed the most syttematio de- ception upon the people of this Province. To euoh lengthB was this deception practised that the Governor's trpeechdld not contain one word about Confederation. We may pre- sume, and I think it is the feeling of the peo- ple of this country, that thty acted more as if they had been elected under the electoral privileges of Nova Scotia to rcpretent aad mature the views and interests of New Bruns- wick rather than the viens and interests of Nova Scotia. Before proceeding further on this subject I also contend that the resolution passed by the Government then holding the reins of power, was not such as would war- rant the people of this Province being de- prived of their rights iu the way they have been. I believe that the object of that reso* lution, worded as it is, left an impression on the minds of the people of this Province that alter maturing this measure in England, it would be submitted again to the people at the polls, and to the Parliament of this Province. I shall not trouble, the House by reading the resolution then passed, which is contained in the resolutions now before us, but I cannot in my own mind conceive how it can be so mis- tonstrued as it is by the hon. member for In- Terness, who would attempt to impreer the idea upon this House and the country, that it was intended to give the power to these dele- gates to proceed to England and mature a law which was to deprive us of our rights, rev- enues and liberties. I contend that no rea- sonable man of sound judgment can put any other construction on the resolution, than that the same power was delegated to them ttfaen that was given when they went to Prince EJward Island to take into censideration the propriety and benefits to reialt from » union of the Maritime Provinoes. Sir, I repe«t, from the outset and all through dcosptioa baa been practised upon the people of this country. We remember well that a r;solution was paised in Ibis House authorizing the Govern- ment of this Province to appoint a delegation to take into consideration the praotioability of uniting the Maritime Provinces. How did they act with reference to that matter 7 They were told to treat the question in a ieft-ai and constitutional way. The people's representa> tives restricted them to the Maritime Pro- vinces. They were not permitted to travel one inch beyond that. But instead of keep* ing within the limits of constitutional anthoa rity, without any sanction on the part of the people of this Province, they took up the question of the larger union, and left the question which they were legally authorised to deal with. What then 7 We find them going to Quebec at the instigation of men from Canada who came to Charlottetown, who persuaded the Maritime Delegatealnto usurping an authority and a power, which, conttitutionally they could not exercise. Having gone to Canada, there they perpetra- trated an act which has brought down upon them the execration of the people of this Province. Let me suppose for a moment a case in point : a mercantile firm in thia city employs an agent to transact certain busi- ness in Prince Edward Island. He is rcB* trioted and boutid down to perform certain acts, and while he is engaged in this busineis at Prince Eiward Island, some black legs come down from Canada and persuade him to ignore his master's instructions and pro* ceed with them to Canada, and the first thing his employers hear is that he has not trans- acted the business fur which he was delegaited, but that be has tiken the liberty of bandiDg over his master's property to a party he had no authority to deal with. Now I put it to the hon. member for lavernees if aoaae simi- lar to that came befere him, how would he put it to a j ury 7 How would it be deal t witb7 Five years in the penitentiary at hard labor would be given the offending party; and I ask you where was our Attorney General all this time that he did not protect his employ- er'fc rights 7 That official gentleman was amorg them helping them. I ni<\y remark, in the next place that I have au abiding faith when all the facts con* neeted vith this question are faithfully and trutt fully laid before the Parliament of Sag- land, that we will receive ample jnstioe. It must be remembered, by all the people of this province, that when the elections were run in 1863 there were two questions which infloen- ced the electors at that time very materially, and one point was, that Dr. Tupper, who was previouely to that in opposition, brought down a series of resolutions into this House in favour of retrenching certain expendi* tures. He was opposed, and in the heat of debate he pledged his soul's salvation that he would introduce retrenchment if he should be returned to power. I know that this one element, at all events, influenced the country materially in giving him such a large majo- rity when the election! wen over, ftnd the other qaeation which aBiiited hxm \t%ilj 61 , I rtpMt, from dcotptioa bM K>ple of tliii 'ziolution wH ig the GoTern- at m dclention prMtiowility ioe«. How did mktter 7 They in a lea'ftt ud e's repr«Mntt' ifkritime Pro- itted to traTel stead of ]ceep« iutionil anthoB the part of the y took up the , and left the liy authorized We find them nation of men Jharlottetown, Delegateainto power, which, not exercise, they perpetra- ht down upon people of this ' a moment a a in this city ) certain busi- 1. H« is rets erform oortiin n this busineis me black legs persuade him ions and pro* the first thing has not trans- was tielegsfted, ty of banding party he had uw I put it to if aoasesimi- iow would he be dealt withT \t hard labor : party ; and I ey QeoBTal all )t his employ, entleman was place that I the facts oon* f*itfafuUy and iment of £ag« >Ie justice. It people of this IS were ran in which influen- ry materially, Tupper, who ition, brought to this House tain expendia in the heat of salvation that nt if he should that this one d the country % large msjo- over, and the him Ivtgilj WM the Fraaehise act. The people bclisTing that s man who had pledged his soul's saUa- tion must be sincere, returned him and hln friends with an overwhelming; majority to this LegiiUture. This House and the noun- try know bow far he hie redeemed ib»t pledge— the langunge which he uied was that of an irreligious libertine. What right him any man to pledge his soul'n salvation? Look at the extravagant waste of money in worse than useless dclegationB—the very re- verse of his pledge to the people. I nuk ynu now, is that man to be believed, and is he now wanderine about the world with his lost soul. Will any man hesitate to believe that we will not obtain juitioe from the Uritith Parliament when the case is fairly and fully put before them ? When they aro fully con- vinced that they have been grossly deceived, they will feel more annoyed than we do at this moment, and will take such nution as will heap upon the heads of the guilty psriies the just reprobation which they deserve. Mr. Bright, who was the able advocitte of the people's right in the House of Common*, stated that this question should bo submitted to the people at the polls, and knowing that the elections would take plaoe in a few months, he asked that the law might not be forced upon the Province Mr. Watkio, misled by Dr. Tupper, said the question had been discussed at every polling booth at the previous general election— that he, (Dr. Tap- per,) had preached it from one end of the Province to the other. I ' ^k you could Mr. Watkia have perpetrated such a statement as that? Could it have emanated from him? Any one who tikes the trouble to read the speeches in the House of Lords, will see that the same belief pervades every line of them. They do not de'jy our right to be heard at the polls, but believed we had been consulted. If the hon. member for Inverness is correct ia his views, how comes it that the Dominion Parliament, at tbe present moment, have passed a measure authorizing them to nego- tiate for the purchase of the Hudson's Bay Territory ? If the British Parliament is en* trusted with the control of such matters, why do they not legislate away the rights of the Hudson Bay Company, and bring it into the Dominion, as has been the case with Nova Scotia? It appears, however, that they have to enter into negooiations with the Company and purchase it. Bat I would remark that I have always understood that the right with regard to our mines and minerals was vested in the Crown, and it is a notorious fact that, although the Duke of York fully intended to make a conveyance to Rundell & Bridge, it was never done, but, as it was intended to have been done, it was decided that Rundell & Bridge should be treated and negooiated with, as though the lease had been executed, before we could get control of our mines and minerals. On a former occasion I promised to show the hon. member for loverneis that, in a financial point of view, great injustice bad been done, as we find the framers of this Bill have given the power to the general Go- vernment not only to tax us indirectly, but by every mode they may think proper. I stated that I waa ready to prove satis&atorily in point of faot, that we did not reoeiT« one otnt from the Dominioa Oovemment. Oar revenue at the end of the year 1866 is set down at $1,120,070. We find now by the Tariff in* tro'luced at the first sciiion of the Dominion Parliament, we have some $COO,OUO of an ad- dition in tizei. Then the 80 cents a head we receive can be taken nut of that 8000,000, therefore they tain over S^SOO.OOO by tbe transaction. But the matter does not end here. Our revenues durins the past ten years have increarfd somi thing like 250 per cent., and, in all probability, our financial prosperity would continue to increase. But iiosrever gieat y the rt-venucs of this country luay increast*, wo are lii-d down to this 80 cts; nitbuugh our icveuue should realize thrtc or four millions, wo will derive no further bene- fit. I believe (he Union Act was hurried through the House of Commons in such a hitNty manner that they have overlooked these facts, or otherwise they would never have per- petrated such a wrong upon this country. The gentleman who addressed tbe House before me has given many useful details res* pectiug the tariff. He forgot, however, whilfet noticing a variety of items, to notice the tax on Indian corn. The hon. member for Inverness treated it with a sneer; but look at the fetittj of our province at this mo- ment. From Cape North to Cape Sable our fishermen aro in great distress, and the very article they require the mort is taxed. Not only are our fiiitiermen deprived of the means of getting their bread cheap, but the article we might have imported and ground into food in the province is taxed ; hence our millers are deprived of a benefit also. The hon. member for Invernfss told f^s that any country under the British Crown that would attempt to introduce a tariff that woald be restrictive would be acting contrary to its true interests. I ask the hon. member for Invernees if the tariff that baa been intro- duced by Canaia is not to a great extent carrying out this principle? I think he mutt be blind if he cannot see this I en- dorse the opinions of gentlemen on the anti- confederata side with regard to this tariff that has been passed by Canada, and I have no doubt whatever that instead of seeing the tariff decreased, it will.be largely increased, and be made more distasteful than ever to our people. In connection with this, let me take up the address of the Financial Minister of Canada, Mr. Rose, when he brought down the tariff into the Dominion Parliament. He said : — " It cannot be supposed, from the circumstances surrounding me, that I could bring down such a tariff as would suit all parties and purposes at present, but by the time we meet in March I have no doubt in my own mind that I will fiirnish such a tariff as will stand and meet all the burthens for five or six years." I believe in my own mind, and from what Mr. Rose said, that the tariff will be largely increased,- for what have we teen? The Dominion Qovernment have succeeded in having a bill passed m the Parliament authorizing that Government to negotiate for the purchase of the Hudson's Bay Territory, and for assuming the whole control of the Intercolonial Railway. When » government becomes possessed of such a gigantio power ai that, depend npon it, exi 66 trftTAgftnoe and oorraption will be the ineTi- table remit. When we oome to look at the barth^na the gOTernmeot will be obliged to meet, who doubts that the tariff muat go up to 24 or 30 per cent, before three yeara have passed away T Now, I ilrill tarn the attention of the House for a few moments to the history of the old thirteen States, and I would say that they, like ourdelves, were onoe Colonies of Qreat Britain— they were onoe desirous of remain- ing in that Empire; but the stupidity of Bri- tish statesmen imposed taxes and burdens up- on them without their consent, and what was the result ? They rebelled, and the conie* quence was that the mother country lost ttiese Coloniea; and if the hon. member for Inverness had studied a little deeper than he did, this question, he would have found that serious collisions took place at that time in the House of Commons between the very statesman he has cited as an authorl y and Lord North. I need not recapitulate all the oircumitanoes that occurred, but the Iobb of those old Colonies has by all rij^ht-thirking men been considered a misfortune. Uut tim^s are changed, and in our day we will find a very different spirit actuating the statesmen of England ; and I feel alio, when this case is bi'ought fairly before the Britis; Parlit,« mei-^ they will reflect carefully on the matte. , and in all probability remember bow it fared with the old thirteen Colonics on this side of tiie water simply because ttiey would not submit to acta of iojustice. We hive been assailed by the hon. member for InvernMS, and it has been spread broad- cast over tht country, that every member who opens his mouth in defence of his con- stitutional rights must be a Fenian or a trai- tor. No, sir, it is the very reverse. It is because loyalty has been born with us— be- cause it has grown and strengthened with our strength, that we feel it to be uur duty to go fearlessly to the Parliament of England and warn the statesmen of that country of the consequences that may ensue from lorcing usint:) a detested Union. We r. juld be recreant to our duty and to oar Queen if we acted 'Otherwise ttian the way we are doing. Any gentleman who pretends to know anything about the political agitation that prevails at the present time can see. North and South, East and West, a heavy sw(ii on the political ocean of oar country, which indicates a storm. A storm will arise, and the only thing that oiin alt ^y it is the knowledge tbat our wrongs will be righted, and our oonttitution restored to us. Will any member rise and tell us that a Govern- ment like that of Great Britain, who have spent their thousands and thousands to liber- ate the African slave, will willingly keep 350,000 loyal subjects in a position of abject servitude and humiliation ? None of cs wiT believe that they will act otherwise than with justice to ua until we learn it from ttie acta of the Imperial Parliament itself. Now I will make one or two observations with reference to the resolutions before the House. la view of all the circumstances connected with our preaent position, I think it ii incumbent upon every man who has been MUt here to represent the interest! and wiihei of the people of this ooantry, and brinK as far as practicable *he fact to the no> tioeof the British people and the Parliament of England that there is a feeling existing in this country which can by no means be abated except by the repeal of thi« obnoxious Act. I feel that I would not be discharging the duty imposed upon me unless I took the first opportunity of expressing these Benti« ments distinctly to this House and country. They tell us that people have been influenced by other matters than the mere question of Confederation. I reply th«t as far as oiir county is concerned I see that no other reasons influenced the elections except the hatred : t' the people to this union. I will venture i say that if this question was submitted to- morrow, and every oth^r que? tion shut out, tho people would return to this House the samegentlemeo who now eiton these benches and no otht 3. Am I to ba told that the Par- liament anil people of England will not un- derstand all this? Am I to be told that be- cause the wealth and intelligence of the city of Halifax (supposin? thai to be so for the sake uf argument) are in favor of union, therefore the Parliament of Great Britain should decide againft ue ? Will any one argue that the Parliament of En^-rland would ad< here to a jiarticular question effecting tho empire becauFC the wealth and intdligeneeof the city of London happened to be on a cer- tain fcide. As respects the Province generally, where is the ditll ^nce, and I do not except the city.despitc what the hon. member says to the contrary— there is a widespread aversion to our continuance in this anion. I may say that I have listened with great pleasure to every address ihat has been offer- ed on this question in favor of these resolu- tions. I am gratified to see so muon unaii* mity and such determination of purpose. Let no one attempt to mark as ^s disloyal now. If we were inclined to exhibit disloyalty we would not seek red rcB* in !b« constitutional manner we are doing. Here you see this body of representatives and His Excellency carrying on the public affairs most harmo* niously. We are Roirg to fight our battle constitutionally, bat I feel and realize the position that the gentlemen who have bar- tered away our rights occupy. They went home to Ene^nd high in p^wer ana per- suaded the British Parliament to pass an Act of a most tyrannical character— such an Act as cannot be found in the annals of any British dependency— an Act handing over all our rights,, revenues and privileges to Canada. Now we go home to renr"eent the people, and show our Sovereign ana Parliament the great injustice tbat has been perpetrated upon us. We say to Her Majesty in sa many words:— •* The gentlemen who were here before were men whoso words were worthless, they were men who betrayed their country, and de- oeieved your Government." Do we wonder then that the men who carried this scheme shrink and tremble as they now do. They know that misrepresentation will no longer avail them. I believe that a fabric built apcn a foundation of falsehood, misrepresentation, and orrruption can never stand, bat that the spirit of liberty will tear it down to the groand. Let onr oppoaents ny what they «7 bis oonntry, and *he fact to the no- theParliktnentof iolin;; exiiting in by no means be of thii obnoziouB lot be dinoharging I unless I took the etaiog these senti^ use and country, ve been influenced snere question of ihii as far as oiir kt no other reasons ept the hatred - f I will venture > ras submitted to- lueition shut out, » this House the it on these benches I told that the Par- kland will not un- to be told that be- iprenoe of the city t3 be so for the \ favor of union, of Great Britain iV ill any one argue i.'rland would ad« ion effecting the and intelligence of ed to be on a cer- rovinoe generally, id I do not except in. member says to idespread aversion anion. ietpned with great hat has been offer- r of these resolu- e so mucn unaii* in of purpose. Let %it disloyal now. bit disloyalty we be constitational ?re you see this His Excellency lirs most harmo« fight our battle and realize the who have bar- oupy. They went PoWer ana per- ent to pass an Act Iter— such an Act e annals of any handing over all vileges to Canada, nt the people, and rliament the great petrated upon us. > many words:— here before were ■thless, they were jountry, and de- Do we wonder Tied this scheme y now do. They p will no longer fabric built upon nisrepresentation, tand, but that the it down to the ts say whkt they may we shall have restored to us that glonoas constitution nnder which we have lived and prospered to long — under which our revenues have largely increased from year to year, and under which the people have enjoyed every happiness. Ih« House then adjourned. SATUBS1.T, February 15. The House met at 11 o'clock. Hon. J. FxBQussON introduced a bill enti- tled an Act to amend the Act incorporating the Mira Bay Harbour Co. Mr. PiNEO presented a petition from the trustees of Pictou Academy, praying that no alteration be made in the existing school l:*w. He asked that the bill relative to the Scotia Coal Company be read a second time, but his nquest could not be gvanted, as it might interfere with the debate on the reso- lutions. Mr. CcPKLAND presented a petition in re- ference to a poor 'ection. The adjourned debate was resumed. {Mr. Kidston^s speech concluded.) Mr. KiDSTON continued : — I closed my o i» eerv&tions last evening: with the Temark that i* )vas my firm conviction, and I believe it to be the firm oonviccion of every welt regulated mind in the Province of Nova Scotia that the fabrio which we have seen raised on the foun- dation of corruptiou when assailed by the force of truth and fact will cramble into dust. This Confederation reminds me of an aneo- dotK which I remember hearing of a certain borse trader who was thus accosted by the man who had just purchased one of bis horses : " my good man you have got my money, and I have your horse— now taat the bargain is concluded tell me his faults while we take a bot:le of ale together." The reply was " well the horse hag only two faults, — cue is >hat when you let him loose he is hard to catch,— the other is that wh^a you have caught him be is not worth a' o nt." Our argain is as bad as that one. The measures )f tlie very first Ottawa Parliament give us lull evidence, as far as Nova Scotia is con- ceru d, that the legislature of Canada is un- British in its principle, arbitrary and dcspc- tio in the exercise of power. We have full evidence, as far as patronage is concerned, thiit it has been denied to those who went theie to advocate our interetts; for our mem- bers were told *' you must swallow your Auti-confuderate principles and support the Canadian Goveinmeut at all hazards, or walk; you need not otherwise ask us to make this, that, or the other appointment." That is the actual Htate of aflaiis. I will now con- tine myself more particularly to the 5th clause of the resolution, for that cm odies a great deal. The hon. member for Inverness eaid that we had been generoiuiy dealt by — tiiat the Dominion Oovernment fa,id paid SGOO.OOO more than they had received from Nuva Scotia since Confederation. All I can (ay in that easels that he has placed himself on he horns of a dilemma, for if that be the fact, how has it come to pass 'i By the state- ment of the Finance Miuitter, juet before Confederation took effect, it was shewn that we had an overflowing treaiary, moMy ■ufficieni for all oar demands, and with only six months experience of the Union, we aie told that the Dominion Government have been obliged to advance us $'600,000 over and above what we have paid into their treasury. But the change is easily account- ed for. Look at the system on which the Union is financially founded. Look at the Governor Gineral's salary, and take that as a criterion. $50,000 has to be raised in a Dominion comprising four millions of peo- ple to pay its first officer. Contrast that with the sum which the United States, with a po- pulation of 34 millions, pay to their Presi* dent. The suiu paid in that country is $25, 000, and the difference is greater than at first would 8p})«ar, for the salary of the Governor General is paid in sterling money, the amount ir> gold being equal tj-day to $;80,000 of the currency of the United States. And are not the sa ari" of all the officials appointed un- der the Dominion Government proportio ed to that enormous salary of the Governor General 7 Is that the management that m»,f to be expected 7 One would have supposea thai the Government of Canada, with ihe ex- perience of the past before them— with a knowledge that, through financial bungling, they have reduced the state of their country almost to bankruptcy, would have had aoate how they governed the Dominion Take the statement exhibited in the Journals of 1866, and what do we find 7 The figures shew that their whole system was unsound. The Canadas were involved in a debt of sixty-four millions or more, and at the pre- sent moment I think I am correct in saying that that debt is nothing less than seventy- five millions. Mr. Archibald tried to per- suade us that our debt exceeded that of Cana- da, taking man for man of th3 population. Let us see how that assertion tallies with the fact. Assuming the debt of Canada to have been sixty-four millions and upw&rds, and her population 3,560,000, while the popula* tion of Nova Scotia may be put at 350,000, wo see the debt per head on the Cana- dians will be $25 while that of the Nova Scotians will be only $15. Now, then, to show the unsoundness of the arrangement, put down the debt of Canada for two Canadians at $50, and the debt of two Nova Scotians at $30,— this produces $80; and if you divide by four you will have the debt per head of the Dominion, and the calculation will prove that every man, woman and child in this country is put in for $3 per head more of debt than he has any reason to pay. This $3 per head gives us for the whole Province nearly a miitioa of dollars which we have done nothing to make ourselves liable for. I find, circulated through the country, the statement that if wo had not been confederated wc must have increased our tariff. This is merely one of the assettious, used by the Op- position, which they are unable to prove. I contend that such would not have been the cate. It is acknowledged on both sides that at the date of Confederation coming into force we were in a most prosperous condition. Our revenues had risen from $660,000 to $1,226,570. Judging the future by the pabt, I should say that it would not be neces- fit tftry to inoreue onr tariff by one per oent to meet all our reqniTemeiiti. Bat the fact ia that as Boon as ever ' you back the Confede- ratea out of one false poaition they drop into another equally ridiouloua. First they told the country that our taxation would not be increased, now they are trying to persuade the people to give a fair trial to the syEtem ; they lay "it is not right to prejudge mat- ters— do not ask for the repeal of the Act un. til you give it a fair trial." I aek if that ia logical reasoning. It is about as sound as for the watch, set at the bow of the vessel, entrusted with the oare of thousands of lives, and, seeing breakers ahead, to fold his arms and say : "well, there are breakers ahead, Init let the ship run on. and will see whether the rocks or the ship are the hardeat." Would the captain accept such reasoning as that from his watch ? The hon. member for In- verness turned attention to Cape Breton, and cited her history as a proof that the Imperial Parliament had the power to legislate away the constitution and revenues of a country. I thought he was belter acquainted with tho f>tory of the Cape Britain Union than that. , He afcid :— " The Island of Oapc Breton poisesied a separate conslltution; It had a QoTernor and a Government of its own Icdependent of the frovlnoa of Nova Scotia. The Buuse of Ootnmonii came in, and by a single Act, containinK perhaps not a dtzen of Uses, ama gamated the is':iDd with Nova Scotia The island was given only two members in a LeuiaUture of forty men." The island, it will be remembered, had no Legislature of its own. I believe I am cor- rect in stating that it petitioned to be an- nexed to Nova Scotia. I know that parties were sent borne to dispute the legality of the Unicn, and to carry the matter before the Privy Council, and I think the delegates then had thrown in their teeth the fact that that petition deprived them of the right to the re- peal they solicited. The hon. member is also in error in saying that we had two represent- atives; we had only one at that time. But what does this illustration go to prove? Many in Cape Breton think it proves sub- stantially the very facts which we are pro- pounding to the people of Nova Scotia;,, thty say that the island could never procure justice at the hands of the Government of Nova Scotia until it obtained additional re- presentation. The hon. member touched, Mr. Speaker, on grounds which, if followed out faithfully and truthfully, would show his position to be false and untenable. We know that noth- ing like justice was done to Cape Breton up to the day when we had four representatives, and even when that number was doubled it could not be said that we were receiving a fair consideration for the money that we were paying into the treasury year after year. That is the position the hon. member puts himself in when he talks about Cape Breton. All througliout, the arguments of the Oppo- sition remind one of the anecdote of the white man and the Indian who went on a elioo.ing expedition with the understanding that at night they would meet and divide th»i ?ame. The white man shot a crow, and the Ddian a black duck, and when they met the white man proposed to make the division. and said, " Suppose you take the orow, and I will take the duck; or I will take the daek, and you take the orow." " W?ll," said the Indian, " what for you always «».y crow to me?" There is too much crov. and not enough duck, in the hon. me' iber'e logic 1 feel that in submitting our request for repeal to the intelligent people and Government of England, and to our beloved Sovereign who sits on the throne of Britain, we are appeal* ing to those who have hearts to feel . and sympathize with the wrongs of our people. I believe that when our Sovereign fully oom- prehends our story her ear will be open to our petition, her heart will respond to our desire, and that she will without hesitation demand that hor Parliament restore us to onr original condition, and to the rights and liberties which were founded on the British constitution. I think it can be shown that the Parlia- ment of the Dominion, in its first session, has departed from everything like British principle, and has shown a determination to treat us in a way too arbitrary to be submit- ted to by any free people. Do you think that the eyes of British statesmen will be blinded to this truth ? We know that if the sentia ment cf love which is planted within the hu- man heart, whether it be loyalty or any other species of affection, be treated with contempt and spurned, the mind takes a reverse action and that love is turned into undying hatred. May I refer you to the thirteen lost colonies in proof of my position? There we saw loy- alty as true as that which prevails in any part of the British dominions to-day. That loyalty was turned into hate at the rebellion ; but when the rebellion broke out in the United States, and brother was arrayed against brother, many thought that their hate to England would die out, but there was nothing that could obliterate the hatred of the old colonists to Great Britain. There is a proof that lovo trampled on and spurned becomes undying bate, and hence the consequences. I ask will British 'statesmen trample on the rights again of another colony. Will they, with the lessons of the past, and looking at the geographical position of Nova Scotia which makes her the stronghold of the con- tinent, attempt to ^roe us into compliance? The hon. member for Inverness tried to per- suade us that England would force us at the point of the bayonet, but would she run the risk, knowing that Nova Scotia is the Gib- ralter of this continent, of having love turned into hate in this Province, and of the con- sequences which must follow ? I know that that hon. gentleman is .capable in some in* stanors, more especially in courts of law, of making " the worse appear the better rea- son," but I doubt that he can convince the statesmen of England that we have been justly dealt by. I will state one or two facts to show the position to which our affairs have come. I was asked by several of ray oonsti* tuents to get one or two way offioes estab- lished, and to have seme slight change made in tht! post rides; but how was I met when I touched upon the subject in conversation with the Post Master General? I respect that officer as a thorough and oourteons ba* siness man, bat the first thing he asked om GJ) orow. and ) the daak, ' said the y crow to . end not 's togio. 1 t for repeal •rnmeDt of reiga who ^re appeal* feel. and ur people, fully oom- e open to nd to our : heeitation e us to oar right! and the British he Parlia- st session, ike British aination to be submit- 1 think that be blinded the sentia lin the hu- r any other \ contempt rerse aotion ing hatred. 8t colonies re saw loy- ils in any day. That 9 rebellion; the United id against lir hate to ras nothing of the old is a proof d beoomes xequenoes. pie on the Will they, looking at )va Sootia if the oon- )mpHance? Bd to per- us at the be run the is the Gib- ore turned the oon- cnow that some inn of law, of better rea- ivinoe the been justly facts to ffairs have jy oonsti* aes estab* inge made let when I iversalion I respeot teous bu« asked me was, " hftye vou teen Mr. Blauchard en the subject?" That shut me out from asking anything further. What, has it come to this that the postal alTairs of tbc whole Provinco are ban«;iDg on the li))s of that hou. mem ber ? Have we been reduced to such degr a» flation ? It is time for us to be up and doirp if we have come to that, and let England know that beyond a certain point mortal flesh oinnot submit. When the intuit has become bo gUring it is time that the country awoke to a sense of its duty. The treat- ment';to which I have referred is of a piece with the treatment of our repreeeatatives in tbe Dominion Parliament. I ask are Cana- dian pets to preside over our aflFairs? As I have said before the constitutional right of the people to be heard on any chaoge in tbeir institutions has been ignored. That right has been vindicated now by the peo- ple's advocates outside of aod in this House. The hon. Joseph Howe has buckled on his armour, and come forth to do battle for Nova Scotia. When ho was fighting for the noble principles of respoDsiblo government, which we BO long erjoyed, and which madu ui & happy and a prosperous people, tbathen Secretary of State for the Colonies pro; ound- ed the doctrine that the Qovernmeii in this country was based on the well ujderstood wishes of the people. We have becri told that our constitution has been swept » way and is revocable. I will not believe th'jit statement until we have it from the lips of our dele- gates. Who will attempt to say what would be the consequences then. £ believe that the news which they will bring will bo cheering to this country. I believe that justice will yet be done; and if this were not the opinion of tbe people, we would not s e peace and loyalty throughout the land, as at present existing. Ours arc a loyal people, proceeding in a constitutional manner, and wa will Tvait until tbe message comes. If that message should be favorable our rejoicings will be unparalleled; but if it be the reverse, it is impostible to fo'tell the consequences. Mr. Blanchard.— I take this opportunity of enquiring from the hon. member if the poet rides of which he has spoken, do not run through my county ? If he dcclioes to reply, I will communicate with the Post- master General. ITIK. FiAtVUGrVCiR;'.'!) IMPKSIC&I. Mr. Speaker, — When 1 survey the magni- tude of the great question before uf, which involves the largest interests of the people of Nova Scotia, and which must exert a i)ower- ful influence, for good or evil, upon their tortunes, I experience a sense of responsibility which is almofi painful. But, sir, it is not my purpose to enter into any lengthy re- mtrks on this queation; that sround has been fully explored, and I sbouM hardly hope to come back with a single discovery; our dealing with this question is uot so much for long Bpeeches. as to act and decide, aa ifganls the restoration of the conititution of Nova Sjotia, It is the fiuty of the rcprescn- tativo to sacrifice coutiiderablo to his con- stituents. But in his unbiased oi)iniou he ought not to Bscrifice to any man, or any set of men living. They are fv trust from Pro.. 10 vidcnoc, for the abusn (.f which ha is deeply answerable. And, sir, I hope that wisdom and moderation will be displajed in dealing with any questiou thai may come up for die- cusslou. The question before this House is most vitally counpcted with trio liberty and well-being of evi>ry man ii: Nova Scotia; which being dccidt-l oik! w.\>, he may be a free man; which being dfcidai the other, hn will be under Can.iJiajj tuIh And, sir, I cannot find worda to express tbe horror I feei at the outrageous action of the mtn who sold the liberties a-id ligLti of a trcj jjcople. I must confess, isir, that I have listened to thu hon. member from Inverness with a ,n:ood de- gree of curiositj. He made a viokut :tttauk on the Government with all the iuryofa lion; and pours out ;»11 the vials of his wrath upon their oflicial heads. But I Bhall leave the Government to airswer for themselvcR. Nor is he willing to stop there; ho goea on to assail tbe whole Koubc; and gave a challenge to any five or six of them. But, sir, when I look round these binchts, and see him sur. rounded by ibirty-sis men, I can make all allowance i',;;- his fui'y. Aud thus looking at the hon. f:,cntli;maa'b position, I must admire his courage. I know he has a hard road to travel, aud therefore I would say to him in all good feeling and brotherly love, have charity in all things, and do not work so hard agiinst the current of public opinion. Now, Mr. Spt tOD. Though l)(i]ll''il oft, is tvtT W'jn." Yes, sir, our claim is strong, based on the eternal principles of right; and is it possible that a thing so greviously wrong as this on- called for and forced Union with Canada can triumph ? No. sir, the people of NovaScotia know their rights, and will never submit to be kept iu leading strings by Canadians. If the people are to be lulled to tleep, in the very crisis of their country's salvation, who. then, is to decide? Not the intriguers and interested office hunters of the country. No, sir, the voice of a majority of the people is the proper channel to decide in such matters, and keep in their own hands the result of the hard labor and toil of their iouth. Look at the outrageous tariff' that the Canadians have forced upon us, and what do we get in re- turn? Why, thoy say, " 0, you shall have 80 cents a head of your own money back." This, I suppose, is one of the glorious bene> fits that we were promised under Confedera- tion. We now have to pay one-third more tariff than we formerly paid, and receive nothing in return but a little one-sided charity, or something like a pension, to meet the local demands of the country; wc have to pay taxes to support this outrageous Confedera- tion, in defiance of the voice of the people of this country. And, sir, that union of heart and spirit which is absolutely necessary for our people will never be brought about by forcing on them high tariffs, and other dis- tasteful acts. The people of Nova Scotia never asked for a union with Canada, and the subject would have slept if it had net ..een for a few aspiring and interested ))oliti- cians, who kept the question alive, and forced it upon the people by means best known to themtelves. We have heard a great deal said of late about public men changing their opinions; why, sir, public men must certainly be al lowed to change their opinions and their at- Eociations when they see fit. Men may have grown wiser,— they may have formed more correct views of public policy. Nevertheless it must be acknowledged that when a sudden, and what appears to be a great change, takes place, it naturally produces a shock. I con- fess, sir, that I was shocked at sora-' latter day conversions — conversions that seemed to take place almost in the twinkling of an eye. Such movements of the affections, whether personal or political, are a little out of na- ture. When we see old political enemies, abusing each other iu all that is vindictive and malicious, and suddenly falling in love with each other, it cannot fail to make a deep impression on the public mind. Look back at the Irish union; it was no union of the people, but only a scheme of po- liticians, and it is very clear that if Ireland had never been betrayed, if her rtpre- sentativcs had never been IjouRht and sold, there would be very littlf! to dread in regard to Fenians at the present day. History say, " that the partnership of Ire- laud with England was eecured by British gold." Ireland was sold through her false sons, corrupted and induced by men who are held out before the world as trtiitors to their country. Take, for instance, the oise of Castlereagh; it is said he bought and sold his country; his conscience was bis punish- . haBed on the 1 is it possible Dg aB this un- til Canad* can of Nova Scotia !ver Bubmit to [)flnadiana. If tleep, in the UvatioD, who, ntriguers and country. No, the people is tucb matters, ic result of the uth. Look at anadians have we get in re- 3U ihall have uouey back." ;loriou8 bene* er Confedcra- rd more tarifi' 3cive niUhins; J charity, or loet the local have to pay lis Confederal the people of luion of heart necessary for ;ht about by nd other dis- Nova Scotia Canada, and ' it had net ercstcd ])oliti- ve, and forced ist known to said of late air opinions; tainly be al and their at- cn may have formed more Nflverthelees len a sudden, ihange, takes lock. I COD- ra^ latter day seemed to ig of an eye. )ns, whether out of ua- ical enemies, is viudiotive lling in love to make a, mind, n; it was no chemo of po- lat if Ireland her rtpre- Ijoufrbt and ;t!fi to dread Jiescnt day. ■ship of Ire- id by British gh her false by men who as trtiitoro to lae, the case ght and sold bis puniib- 71 raent while he lived; and thoagh he has been dead many years, bis evil reputation lives after hisi. Our constitution has been seized upon, and bartered ^way to Canada without the consent of the lawful owners. And, sir. it is the duty of the people, the 1 ightfol owners, to use all legal and consti- tutional means to regain what has been forced from them. I desire to see Nova Sootia free from the control of Canada, and unfettered as the winds of heaven. If I stood alone on this question, I should feel it the greatest pride of my life, to vote for a repeal of this forced Union, and restore to the people their free constitutioni^l rights. The people of this country want nothing but fair play, and the Government that tries to force anything f he upon them, will only be eowinp the wind to reap the whirlwind. Sir, this Confederation with Cdinadsi was conceived in sin snd brought forth in iniquity. Wherever the civil .ights of a country is not associated witii the Government, and the people under- stand that the Government may be one thing, their freedom and privileges another, the at- traction to hold them together is lost. It is well known that the self-appointed delegates misrepreiiented the sentiments of the people of Nova Sootia; it was asserted that after a calm and mature consideration, they had pro- nounced their judgment in favor of a Union with Canada; of this assertion not one sylla- t le has any existence in fact, or the shadow of fact. Sir, to affirm that the people of No- va Sootia was in favor of what they were against; to make the falsification of her sen- timents the foundation of her ruin, and the ground of this distasteful Union, can best be answered by sensations of astonishment and dissupt. The time Ib come to lock out upon the whole aweep of the horizon which enciroleB Nova Sootia, with a firm purpose to do our duty to the people of every part of it. I have opposed Confederation with Canada through- out. I stand acquitted to my conscience and to the country; and I now protest against it as tyrannous, oppressive, and unjust to the people of Nova Sootia. Although Nova Sco- tia is young yet we have a right to be proud of her; we have enjoyed the blessings of re- sponsible government, the bes^ and freest in the world, because self-government gives a power whioh no other form is capable. It incorporates every man with the country, and stimulates a spirit of liberty and strength. Is it then to ba conceived that p, people, who have et;joyed for many years the light and happiT2es8 of freedom, can bo re* strained and s!iut up in the gloom of slavery to Canadian "ule 7 No, sir, you might as well try to stop with sand the running of a rapid river; the only consequence of such an attempt would be a temporary suspension. The forcing stream would find its way through new channels, and would spread destruction and ruin on every side; therefore the progress and liberty of a people are like the progress ofthefctream. Kept within its proper chan- nel it is sure to make fruitful the country through whioh it runs; no human power can stop effectually its passage; and short sight- ed as well as foolhardy must be the man or men who would engage in «uch an under* taking. The Government of this country for some time baok have not been represented by the true feeling of the people, because it haa been too much influenced by passion, preju- dice, or party interests, which may often give to the Executive apparent strength; but no Government c:»n be either lasting or free whioh doe* not create confidence and energy amongst the people. The people elect their representatives to act under the consdtution, to alter it, — they are appointed to exercise the function of legislators, and not to transfer them without the consent of the rightful owners. To have power is one thing, and to do right is another; so if the late Government had power to pass an act to change the con- stitution without the consent of the people, surely this Government have greater power (having the voice and true feeling of the people) to paBS resolutions asking for a repeal of this forced Union. If this country is to be rescued from the perils which she is under, it must be done by an out.spoken, manly, truthful, and bold declaraMon of the 6 jtiraents of the people of Nova Sootia. We ask no more than to be left in the enjoyment of the rights which God has given us; and it these rights are not restored again it will bo hard to keep down the elcmenis whioh exist in the breasts of S'l injured people. It has been said by many of the friends of this forced Union with Canada that but for a few party politicians the scheme would have met with no opposition. This, fir, is no new strain. It has been sur'^ a thouEand times before. It has always hex. the tune of a weak Administration. Did ever you hear a minister acknowledge that the evils which fell on his country were the necessary conse- quence of his own incapacity or his own folly? Whatman (wherever he may have been) that has been in the possession of poli- tical power ever yet failed to charge the blunders and mischiefs resulting from his own measures upon those who had uniformly opposed those measures ? Look back at the administration of Lord North. He loat a larce portion of America to hi.-i country, yet he could find pretences for throwing the odium upon his opponents. He could throw it upon those who had forewarned him at every stage of his disastroos policy. O, no ! it was owing to no fault of his administra- tration; it was the boldness of Chatham. Fox, Burke, and others. These men, and men like them, would not join him in his American war. They would not join what tLey considered to be extreme folly. They declared him to be wanton They pointed out plainly, both to him and the country, what the end would be; but ho declared their opposition to bo selfish and factious. He pursued his course, and the result is in his tory. It is an old and constitutional right of the people to canvas public measures and the merits of public men, and to demand from them an account of the trust reposed in them; and a people who would be afraid to oill their representatives to an acooinit for their actionp in Parliament would deserve t,i be blotted out of all the records of freedom. They should not dishonor the ojuse of self- government by attempting any longer to ex" erclse it. They should feel ashamed, and 72 keep (heir unnoithy hamlii entirely off from tho cause of Tojponsible liberty, it they are otpable of being the victims of tricks so stale, 80 often practised, and bo much vrorn out on serfs and slaves. Now, Mr. Speaker, we meet here to look after our ship of stilts, and while a plank, a timber, or any part of her holds together, we should not forsake her. She has bean dis- turbed and drove from her nnchorajic, yft she is still afloat, and is now freighted with the hopes and liberties of the people of Nova Scotia, she is now under canvas, find close by the wind with a good strong breeze; and although there may be some breakers ahead, yet I trust that she has a captain and crew that bag already acquired an energy of ad- vancement that will support her course clear of all the rocks of opposition, and bring her back to her .old anchorage, under the good old flag that hts braved for a thougand years the battle and the breeze. Now, sir, wo have hearii a jxreat amount said about constitutional law. That is all very well for legal minds to contend about; they will try to make the black sids whitj and fair. But, sir, there ia a law that stamls far above all *uch la\-, a la--; of justice s.nd fair play, that ia enhhrined in the hearts of the people, plattpd tutio by she God of ca- tiona It is i:ot a colkciiua id' abstract cis- Hnys ou public qujsfious of ri^ht or wrong, ^■^his it) a law wl.ioh is ucvi r ^iliint; it speaks lu the midst of aruiies; ii. ;,- asiliiTusive as the air wu brrstlic; it .spre'.iiM it."* if by a Kort of majestic influi-uce o^i.;- UthI >\:nl fea. Takinr^ its rise in a sense of riglit, which even iu early times was powerful enough io vIimH- cate itself, it lias satherei ncn mvc-.v^i'u vilth the advance of civilization, ani it is attendtd in this age by emetiona which iiapeoi;le may disregard. Sir, we may clincc; back at the American contest V7ith Great Britain. The war of the Revolution was undertaken in de- f'Tice of a frrcat principle; the spirit of lib eity revi.lted agfiinst taxation, which was too light to be fell as a burden, but was too great a vioUtion of princijile tti bo horue by men who were jealous of the eucroachments of power. They snuffed oppression in the tainted gale, they struck for freedom, and in the mighty struggle which ensued they haJ the sympathy of mankind, and the contest undertaken for liberty ended in independence. But, sir, I believe that when our case is properly understood on tho other side of the water, that England will do us justice. When I take into consideration the feeling of the people of this country, I feel ray share of the great responsibility of this Ilouec The country is in a crisis. I feel it to be a crisis; and I am ready to say God speed to tho .man or men who thall c.%rry us honorably and safely through it. Now, Jir. Speaker, in conclusion I desire to say a word in regard to the question of disloyalty that hats been charged against :i lurgc m»jority of the peon pie of Nova Scotia. We who stand up and vindicate the rights of the people, have been called rebels, traitors, and anufcsationista. Now, sir, I would ask, waoO'Connell a rebel for asking that hio countrymen should have equal rights with other British subjects? Was Sir Robert Poel and the Duke of Wel- lington rebels when agitating for a repeal of the Corn Laws? Were all the great politi» cians of England rebels, who from time to time agitated a repeal of the laws which they believed unfair to their countrymen ? No sir; a thousand times no. I am fully con- vinced that every argument urged against the step we are called upon to take, might have been advanced with equal justice against any of the changes I have enumerated. O, but many of ouf opj)onent3 say, that the peo- ple of Nova Scotia are ignorant, and are not capable of judging for thcms.dvi'S— that they do not know what freedom is, and that they have no right to name freedom till they are fit to use their freedom. Why, sir, such a doctrine is very like the man who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise in slavery, they may, indeed, wait forever. Sir, the cry of loyalty will not long con* tinue against the principles of liberty. Loy- alty is a noble tiling, a judicious principle; but loyalty not associated with liberty is only ft corrupt principle. Sir, you may boast of a uriion with Caiiida, but jon have no union ofthepeoijW. Any A';t of Parliament that would destroy t.he liberty of tho people is not wurlh the ])apir t':l^t it is written on; it ie dead born from the womb. Sic, the bulk oi public opinion of Nuva Scotia are be fore this House, and say, we want our libc r- lics— wo recsiveJ thi^oi tVom Qo;i,and v.c will not resign th::ui to CiinHdu; and we ask for a repeal of this wicke.l and forced Union. Tuerefuv-.', you men of Njva Scotia, cherish li!-.Rr;y m yon love it; cberish it3 tecurities. as yuu v»l^h to pix'hti've i;; iiad b« true to QoJ, to your country, and to your duty. Oirr opponentii may boast of their bone and aiaew, wealth, intelligence, respectability, virtue, and everything that sounds glorious; but, sir, what does a majority of the people of Nova Scotia c ay ? We mi£tr!'.it;d your po- litical conduct .til aion;:, but now w« have weigh(!d you in tht bal.it'ce, aa ( you arc found wanting. We have paid you off for your shortcomings, and sent good and trust- worthy Antis to take your place — lueu in whom we have confidence. I have spoken out fretly what I have felt it my duty to cay; we must look the dangers which tiireatsn us m the face. The people of this country look to the action of this House with the deepefct interest, and I trust that the action of this House will fully meet their ex- pectitioDS. And, sir, those who are now con- tending for the rights of the people, may be barked at and denounced for a time; the surges of opposition may dash against us; but when tho storm is gone by, reason and truth will triu;nph. I hope, therefore, that for our own sakts, and for the sake of Nova Scotia, we shall act unanimously in voting f ir the resolationHnow before the House. ItllS. CMAOTBEfftf-!' Mtt'EECIH. (CONCLIDKD.) Mr. CtiAMUEKs said :— List evening I was u)j\blc to conclude my remarks on this ques- tion, and I therefore tike this opportunity of resuming, and promising to confine my- ee'f strictly to the question before the House. 73 r » repeal of great politi* rom time to 8 which thky rymen 7 No n fully con- rged against take, might stice againit nerated, 0, that the peo- and are not B— that they id that they till they are , sir, such a »h() resolved id learned to erty till they nay, indeed, t lor.g con» )crty. Loy- principle; )erty is only ly boast of a e no union lament that eople is not len on; it is e, the bulli tia are be t our liber- and v.t; ivii; we »sk lor ». ced Uuiou. >lia, cherish ecurities, as ruL- to GuJ» y- oir bone and jpectability, is glorious; the people ■id yuar po- iW w« hnive I ( you aro you off for I and t rust- le — mcu in I hive fell the dangers lie people of thin House ust that the let their ex- ,re now oon- ple, may be i time; the iigainst us; reason and cfore, that ke of Nova y in voting B House. xivn. ning I was 1 this ques- ipportunity anfine my- the House. My desire ia to thow my constitucnH that (he vote which T intend to give will bo intel" /igently and c'riisi'icntiouely given. When I ceaied Fpchk;.";:: I wi»s making rtferenee to the fitf.nip act — an act grievously borne in the Provinoe. . It wf.s ivjch an act that caused the Colonic.", which now form the United States, io rovolt. ;xitl-,i uijh Ihtir loyalty was as true as ihut oi ain pei)|;lo within the he- minidna We i^vtr t!j(uj;ht such an imviosi- tion v»JuM !)<■ put upo.n us. From all I can learn, ihi.'? laiuij) nut iii likely to be most in- oonvtoient ii; w o;)iiittion. A man living nine niilts fr. Oil a i'ost ■ llicu, heforo he caii draw a bill or s;iv.i 'x vir.u receipt r-iuat go that uist*uua lor a. fi up; ttie lo^uii wil), iu many cnsar., in; tbai ;iu! bus , in such n o^ic, would be to forgive i>\it of the clelt. Wss such icconvi'nietici^ sniMiit'i'd ti> in any other country No7/ «;! to the ni!Wiubliehed twice ft week ; the postage will bo lorty cents, and the duty, at iiftetn per c'Ut., on the paper will make iweniy cent.) more, bting three shillings ad- dittonsl which each subscriber will have to pay. This monstrous tax will bring the eub- uripiiou up to thirteen bhillinga a year. The l)roprietorB tell me that they expect a serious reduction in their subscription list as the rc» suit, for they must either take only seven shillings a year for their paper, or they must charge thirteen shillings to their subscribers. It was said in the election contest that the Canadians would bring down their capital in abundance, and this statement turned a num- ber of votes, because the young men thought they could easily obtain the means of going into businesH; but whiit was the result ? Have we Sv;en theac prophecies fulfilled ? It is true a new Bank has been established, but money instead of being at six per cent as before, can hardly be had at seven per cent. If the addi- tional charge of one per cent benefitted our banks it would not be of so much consequence, but it is paid over to the Canadian treasury. Wc have been accused by the hon. member for Inverness of bringing forward weak ar- guments, but I might show the House at length how weak were the arguments of his superior, Mr. Archibald. In the Colchester contett we held fourteen meetings, and in- stead of talking about Confederation he spoke about the mines and minerals, and said, " you must support mo because I helped to settle that question." But in the western part of the county at one of the meetings the people refused to he.«r Mr. Archibald at first, on the ground that he had refuged to hear their petitions; but my colleague told them that if they wished to hear any one on the other side thoy must hear Mr. Archibald, and then they agreed to hear him provided he would stick to the question of Confedera- tion. He promised to do so, and commenced at considerable length about the Acadia Iron Mines, acd the eteam worke ivhich were be- ing erected there, stating that hereafter the oon>pany would have four millions of con- sumers instead of 350,000, as the iron would go duty free. This was a pretty forcible ar- gument, and some one said, " how are you going to answer that?" "Fortune favors iht brave," and it so happened that one of us bad a copy of the Canadian tarifl", and what was our answer ? That under that tariff the products of the company's works went in duty free, and under Confederation it could go no freer. The people began to laugh at the hon. gentleman, and inttLad of attending the other meetings there he paid visits pri« vately to the people. At the next meeting ho had five individuals to assist his cause, but he did not attend him- self. A learned Doctor offered to show us some of the benefits of Confederation, if we would give him an hour, and the sum and substance of his argument was that we could make babies as cheaply here as in Canada. We cannot send manufactured goods to Can- ada, because their w.itsr power and machine- ry ia so far superior to ours, and when we can get our machinery equal to their's at pre- rent, they will be far in advance of us in the market. They get coal in return cargoes from England; they can get their iron cheap- er than we can supply them, and the fact is they are now sending stoves down here to compete with our foundries. One of the ar<« gum'tnta throughout the election, we know, was that manufactures would be established here, but now wo find the Canadians sending down merchandise of all kinds. Will they take our butter and cheese in return ? Not at all, for, while we h«ard a great deal about orders for cheese, the Montreal papers were stating that Halifax would be a good market for buttsr, if it were good. They will not t*ke our pork, for in Hsllfax we see as many porkers from Canada staring us in the face as would make a dinner for every Confederate in the country. Orders for leather, it is true, came down at one tinie, but they were not re- peated, for it was found that leather was no higher in Montreal than iu Halifax, and the orders, in future, for that u,rticle, are not likely to be of any considerable amount. They will not carry cargoes of our coal in ttsam* ers, but it is said they will t»ke our gold. That reminds me of a society of attorneys in London who ageced that they would take nothing but gold from their clients; in a short time it was found that one of their number had taken silver, and, on being brought to acoount, his excuse was that he had taken all t le man's gold first. Another was found taking coppers, and his excuse was that he had taken all the gold and silver. So these Canadiaas, after taking all our gold, will take our silver and copper also. Why should we pay more for a Canadian article that we can buy cheaper in England 7 What we want is to be allowed to get our goode where we choose. I now will show you what is said by an advocate of Confederation on this subject. The Christian Messenger is a good authority on most subjects, but it appears to have gone wrong, somehow or other, on the subject of Confederation. What does this paper say when it finds the shoe pinching its own corns? 74 "Another highly iojuillcious Ux li that of 15 per gent on the importutioa nf paper. Thh duty wai lonfc ago abolished Id Qr.'at Rritain as a barrier to the apread of inrormation and a relic of Ihs dark aRca and yet we are to hivi It Imposed on ns at thii day. The object cr the Impost U doBbtlcss to t-nciu nge the manuFsaure (f )ia[>er in thU Cbuntry. But we du not tbink the publlaheri thr' ughout the Dominion should be made to pay ii tax for thepupose of benefitting fwur or flvera«nuf,ictU!«rB, who cannot compete with other countries, let us have a free trade in this article eo essential to tbe mental food of the whole people. We protest ag,tve a mock election, if they cannot do •inytbing else. We only wiph to be pldoed wluu-c we were before, but, if the ngitst'.on coniiuues, I cannot nijuwir f. r lae peojilj. I Unow that iLiy s.ro dtterra!u;?d to have Repeal, f.nd if they do not they will be exasper.itec!. Wh.itever the coDS'quyncos may be, the Confederates will be answerable. If they go on exasperating the people as they have been doing, they will drive them into Annexation. Hon. Speaker.— I cannot allow you to pro- ceed in that way. You had better not cx« press what you believe. Mr. CiiAMBKHS — Well, the people shake their heads sometimes, and wink a little. All I will say, in conclusion, is that we mu^t work together, and be true to ourselves and our country, and wo need have no fears of the future. Aflci-iioon Heaaiout The House met at 3 o'clock. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. Blancuaed said that before the House proceeded to the order of the day, which was the striking of the committee to try bis e'ec- tion, he wished to take exception to the se- curity filed by the petitioner. He also ob« j^cted to the drawing of the committee when there was not the requisite number of mem« bers, thirty three, present besides the Speak- er and himcelf. The Speaker thought that tbe number wati sufficient, but finally postponed the order of the day to Monday. Mr. Dickie presented a petition from the Clerk of the Peace of Kings County on School matters. Mr. CocuRAN presented a petition from Charles Lamont and others on School matters. Hon. Peov. Secretart presented a petition from Freeman Denison and others for money for a ro.ad. Mr. NoRTHUP presented a petition from Brookside Settlement, Terrenoe Bay, for a money grant. Mr. Chambers presented a petition from E. Tupper and others for money to build a bridge; also, one from Mr. Blackwood and others for a grant of money. Mr. RyiiRSix prefeund a report from the special committee on tbe relief of distressed Sahermen. The report was received and adopted. Mr. Northup presented a petition from R. Niokerson aud others for a grant for a road near Sambro; also a petition from J. H. Hod- son for the privilege of making a 'idewalk {"rom Bedford Station to the rifle range. Mr. PuEDY asked the Government to lay on the tiblo a return showing the increase of salaries made by order in Council, and the advances for tbe road and bridge and other services from 1st July toSth November, 1867. The adjourned debate was resumed. Mr. Frekman said— I do not intend to make k lengthy spfiu-h or to occupy the time of itje llniiM^ uni;;i:efSir!ly, but I wiU olJer a few rc;'.i irki on :bu quituou which has so ilocy.ly (ii^'ui b'.l our ojioe peaceful and happy I'r.jvince. WtTe I to c"i;eiilc my own feel- i'^s I iviuM kv'p my si-f., and give place c) cpntc-raen who ure prrpnrcl to address liu: House with i^rtJitcr 'jH>c! than lean, and who are n-vaiting their turn to deliver their ent SUi pn gn het tab 75 QBwerkble. tie aa they them into ou to pro- r not ex» pie thakc little. All t we mu^t selves and 10 fears of the House which was y his e'ec- to the se- 3 also ob« littee when r of metnx the Speak- umber wan he order of 1 from the y on School ition from )ol matters. i a petition for money ition from ay, for a ition from |t;> build a wood and from the distressed leived and In from R. for a road H. Hod- ?idewalk mge. It to lay on |d crease of and the ind other |iber, 1867. led. ceil. id to make le time of lu oli'er a \h has so »nd happy own feel- tive place |o K(l'.lre#B can. Hud liver their speeches. But I feel that I have an import- ant duty to discharge, and shall I not raise my Toioe, feeble though it may be, in con- demnation ot the British North America Act, which has imposed to many burdens on us, and deprived us of oui liberiier, I shall be- tray the trust reposed in mo by my constitu- ent!. I have taken notes of topics which BUgK^sted remarks, but the gentlemen who preceded me have occupied nearly the whole ground. I may say at the outlet that I heartily endorse the resolutions laid on the table by the Attorney General touching this question, asking a repeal of (he Union, and representing our case po fully as they do. I feel pleased also at the unanimity of feeling which gentlemen around these benches have fcxpreBEed on this subject, as also at the man- ner in which the Government have taken hold of it, and I am happy to say that the county I represent is also pleased with the action of the Government thus far. We have had a fair trial of this act for five months and upwards, and the results are pretty well known to the people of this couutiy. In that time we have lost much in a financial point of view. Take, for instance, the calculation which the hon. member for Invernees gave us— ho told us that we could appropriate $329,000. Th&t, I believe, consists of the eubsidy given to Nova ccotia. It was said also that the local revenue would probably amount to S142,000, and these two amounts give $3GG,000. That will be about all the revenue that we shall have to dispose of. It is generally acknowledged that our debt will be eight and a half millions, leaving us $28,- 000 to provide for interest. The Provincial Secretary told us that the School grant would probably be $234,000; the road and bridge service in 1866 was $244,000, and these items alone give us $493,000, and makes a defi- ciency of !if27,000. Then wo have all the other local services to provide for, as fol- lows : — Government departments, $15,000 Crown Land department, 18,000 Mines, ' 72,093 LeRislative expenses, 30,000 Hospital for I»Kane, 30,000 Poors' Asylum, 12,000 Ferries, 12,000 Relief of Poor, 5,000 Navigation securitiee, 20,000 Public printing, 6.000 Miscellaneous, 4,000 (Jorouer's inquests, 1,400 Delkiency aa above, 27,000 tages which have been fully gone over by the gentlemen who preceded me. We have been tauntingly told that the elections run on the 18th September were run not only on the Confederation scheme, but on side issues such as the school law. My personal knowledge as to other counties is somewhat limited, but as to the county which I represent I can say that such is not the case. The Union qnes* tion was the alUimportant question before the electors. The candidates who were run- ning their elections in the interett of Canada spent considerable sums of money, and brought other influences to bear on the elec> tion, and although an enormous sum was laid out on one bridge and road just before the election, the Union cindidates secured only one-fourth of the votes of the county. It was not run on the side issues, although the candidates holding Union principles did all they could to rally the old parties, and to sustain themselves by allusions to other questions. Among the many disadvantages which must result from this obnoxious Act is this, —that the readjustment of the representation by population in the Ottawa Parliament will in course of time give us a smaller propor- tion of members than we have now, while the representation of Upper Canada will be in» creased. The s;:iileof inorense of population shows that thR increase of Canada was by the census of 1866 equal to 4.34 per cent., whila that of Nova Suoti.i was but 1,82 per cent. The ptipulntion in Uj)per Canada was— In 1866, 3,090,000 In 1861. 2.507,637 Inorcp.se. 582,343 The eftimated population of N. Saojia was— In 1866, 368,000 In 1861, 330,857 Total deficiency. S2.';8,493 This will be an enormous Io.hs, and there will be HO othtr mode that I see at meetins; it than by direct taxation. It will never do lor us to resort to that, fur tbo treatment which we would receive iu return from our constituents would be somtthiug like that •.vhich was visited on the bends of the tuirtyN two gentlemen who inflicted tiiis Act upon ua. The evils of the measure are not only those which my calculations show : Mr. Rcse tells us that the Dominion has a floating debt of sixty million dollars, a poition of which we must pay, and there are other discdvan" Increase, Miking a result as follows : Canadian increase. Nova Si:oti;in inovcaee, 37.143 582,343 37,143 Increase over N. Scotia in 6 years, 545,200 At this rj;t3 of increase, Upper Canada pro- gressing much faster than Nova Scotia, and the representation Vitice readjusted every ten years, that of Oma.ia will increase, and that of Nova Scotis, decrease. This will be a grie- vous wrong to thid country. According to the scheme, Nova Scotia receives 80 cents per head, and !g;60,000 per annum, while New Brunswick alpo receives 80 cents per head, $50,000 per annum, and an additional sum of $03,000 foi' ten years. Iu this an irjus* tice was done to ue. Wc hive a Ivrgcr popu- lation than New Brr.r.iiwick, and why should she require .963,000 more than us? The rea- son assigned rcsy have been that she was en- gaged in railway extension; but were we not in jus; the tanie position ? But the fact that New Brunswick did Dc)t leaiily come into the echtme, msy account for ttiti extra grant which may have bad some ciTu-ctin producing the sudden chasge of feeling which was wit- nessed in her second election. The people of this country also feel deeply Aggrieved at not being allov/ed to speak on this question at the polls. We feel thst a Union between No- I' I 7G va Sootia and Canada ii not desirable, be- RAUieihe legislative policy required by the two ProviucoH being different, Canada requix ring a protectiun which taxes the breadstuffs which we must buy from gb.oad; but we feel that even if the advanta^res v/ere on our side, the treatment which we have received would have been utt«'rly unjunt. I was glad to hear by the remarks of Mr. Pineo that he was un- favorable to this part of the transaction. He Heemed to be displeased at the way in which the Boheme was carried, althoup;h he is wiU ling to uocept the situation. If the hou. gen- tleman thought that the Oovernment had done wrong in imposing this Act upon the people he should have protested against it, lor I feel that no one having the spirit which should actuate every Nova 8cotian, can fail to express his condemnation of the policy which has prohibited the people of this coun- try from exercising the franchise on an all important question affecting their interests so vitally as this does I feel that I can endorse all that the resolutions contain; they aresuit- alole to the occasion, and express the feelings of the people. I trust that they will be unan« imously adopted, and when our delegates go home with the request of this House, that the country be relieved of the burthen imposed on us. I have an abiding faith in the Queen , and the men adminittering the affairs of the mother country, that they will hear and ac- cede to our petition. Hon. Mr. Cochran said :— I have attentive- ly liBltned to this debate from its cotumence ment, und must congratuUtc. the House and the country on the ability with which it has been conducted. If it had r.ot been for some remarks that toll from the hon. member for Inverness, r<-S)iocting thecoDfitltuenoy I have the honour to represent, I hardly think I would have troubled the Houea with any ob- servations, and ccitiinly I nhall bo very short in what I intend now to say. The hon. gcr.tlemau having ha-i ^n election of his own to run, was hardly iu a position to know the actual Btatc of things in this city. He had himself a hard battle to fiifht, and it was only by the tucrost chaace that he came hete at hU, Wtien the question vf Union came first before the people of this country, I took that view of it which I have ever since held. When Dr. Tapper came out a candidate for this county, the Anti-uniuu party thought thai tlm timo had ci>me to make a move, and I waB waired up^i» by tcveral gentlemen ask iiig mo to come our. I paid no attention to tlitni for !i while, but when I saw that my (■ervitfCH init^ht 1)!' useful to the party, I con- sented. At thiit time I had taken a passage (or Europe in the Cunard steamer, and I de- tsriiiinul logo tiotwitbs'.anding the approach- ing election." In goin?; round and testing the feeling:! of the people of llsiUfax, as well as t'joae oulsi;ht run j>er- very dif- ed that the lalifax are trcot, from 1 find four t-) one in )(' the nians or saying there should be Feniann among us. I am sorry to be obliged to con- fess, if matters progress as they have been doing, if we do not get out of this Union, much of this good feeling will be swamped. I believe tha^ peace and order are gone from Nova Scotia forever if this Union is perpe- tuated. I believe that many persons were once in favor of Union, but when they came to see the iniquity of the present scheme, they changed their opinions very soon. No- thing shewed moreclearly the ft lings of the people of Nova Scotia than the departure of Dr. Tupper and Mr. Archibald from this city a few days ago on their way to Canada. These men were a credit to any country— their ability entitles them to respect, but when they left not a farewell cheer rose from the crowd assembled on the wharf; one would actually have thought it was a funeral. But when Mr. Howe left he left amid the hearty cheers of the large crowd that saw him depart on his patriotic mission. Such is the ^feeling of the people of Nova Scotia generally. The men who sit on these benches indicate very clearly the sentiment of the country. I do not find fault with the people of Canada. I believe they found themselves in a position of difficulty, and could see no other means of extricating themselves except by annexing the Maritimo Provinces. As reipects the men who betrayed their country in this House, we cannot but censure them most loudly. One of the gentlemen who now sits in the other end of the building met a friend one day on the street, when the question of Confederation was under consideration, and said, " We are sold." That hon. gentleman, however, was found voting in favor of Union, and now he has been rewarded. So far as the resolutions are concerned, I agree with every line of them, and hope when the peo- ple of England look at the real position of matters they will meet out to us that justice to which we are entitled at their hands. »PEECfil OF IlillV. l>KOVEN€3!Ali Hon. Prov. Sec'y. said:— In rising to ad« drefs the Houee at thin time I feel much em" barrasscd, from the fact that in the oDening of this debate three or four legal gentlemen addressed the House, taking up the constitu- tional argument, and following aftar them came a number of able merchants who took u p the financial part of the qucfction, and thus the matter has been go fully disouesed, and so completely exhausted, that a lengthy speech would be merely adding to what has already been said, in a discussion whioh.in my opinion, should not detain the Houbc long af- ter to»day. It is important that the debate should be brought to a close as early as pos» aible, and at the same time it is important that every gentleman should have an oppo;:- tunity to express his views, in order that 11 the people of this Dominion and Qre&t Britain should know the unanimity of senti- ment prevailing throughout the length and breadth of the land. I speak to-day from a different standpoint from that occupied by any other gentleman, from the fact that I am free to confess openly to the Mousu that 1 am a UnioniEt as fitr as a union \A thn Mari- time Provinces goes. When the rcsolutiun was brought down and pasceij authorizing a delegation to Prince Edward I»lnnd, to form a scheme for such a unvnn. it oitt with my hearty approval, Rii!i 1 looked forward to tho consummation ot (li» mianuio with a largo amount of intorccr. Bat I w*s deeply disap- pointed when I found thoifo genth'mcn who went on that ilelegaii^iri clus^:d their Ivborsal the inslaiico of a numb«r of delegates iwtux Canada, who desired to fiuun' and carry out what they were pleased to term the larger Union. I felt, with rejratd to t;2e Ma- ritime Provinces, that inasmuch as our inter- esta were ideiitieal, a union would have tha effect of removing diuies which interfered with curameicial interchange, equalising the currencies, removing restrictions from trade, and reducing the legislative expenses, with- out any rislt being incurred, but with the certainty of tho general interests being ad- vanced. When we look around our Prov- ince, and tee that wo are only connected by a narrow neck of land to New Brunswick, that nearly all our ports are open from one year's end to the other, and that we area fishing and maritime people requiring trade with all tho world, it is obvious that a connection with Canada, whose harbors are closed for the greater part of the year, must result in great disadvantage to this colony. I said that our ports are open for the whole year,— it is real- ly 60, at some seasons some few ot the small- er harbors are closed, but as a general rule such is not the case. As a maritime and fish- ing people it is necessary, in order to the prosperity of the country, that we should have as nearly a free trade policy as possible, while Canada, being peculiarly situated, re- quires a protective policy in every sense of the word. Therefore I say in all sincerity that in my opinion there is no confederation of Nova Scotia with Canada thut C4n result in anything but disaster and taxation, be- yond what the country can bear ftir some time to come. I said that I looked forward with interest to the consummation of a scheme for a Mari- time Union, and that my disappointment was great when I found that that project was abandoned, but still 1 looked forward in hope that some scheme might be arranged whereby the Confederation of all the Colonies might be carried out without seriourdy impairini^ the interests of the smaller Provinces, and when the scheme was brought down I was prepared to give it the most careful consider- tion, and to adopt it if I found it anythins^ like what such a Echemo should be. But when I came to examine it, and to iiud that it seemed to have been concocted for the parti* cular advantage of Canada, and that t!ie in- terests of this country would sulTer very ma- terially from a union on such a basis, then, in common with nineteen-twentieths of tho people of this Province, I mads up my mind 78 to do all I could to defeftt i!, and I hAVc never cetied from that effort down to the present time. I know it hua been iiaiil that Mr. Howe's efiforts caused nil the agitntion in the country, and that if it hnd not Ik en for him thu measure would have been r]i| roved of at the polls. I stand here as thu repre- sentative of a county in which was held the third, if not the second meeting; on tuc sub- ject, a year before it was known which side of the question Mr. Howe would take; and no matter what his views were -altb ugh I am free to confers that he gave us a very ma- terial addition of strength whet he came cut —the feeling would have been just an strong as it is to-day. I will endeavor to-day to make a short and practical speech, and in order to show the correctness of the view s I have already advanced I will tuku tip a few figures and support my position by them. As it in not in accordance with Parliamentary usaiffe to refer to a debate that has been closed, I will be unable to approacK ji former speech of thehon. member for Inverness, exceptinR; by way of supposition, and wo will therefore suppose that the Government cainn before the Legislature with a speech from the Throne, in which it was stated that the financial con dition of the country was unsatisfRCtory, and that the leader of the Uppotition, to show that such a itttemcnt should not have been made, told us that in consequence of Confederation being carried out the Province had run into debt to the General Government $600,000 before six months had elapsed. If that were the case it would prove very con- clusively that the Confederation was not at all satiBfaotory. No argument in favor of the existing stats of affairs could be adduced from that state of things, because the hon. gentleman, in saying that the country was m a better financial condition than ever be- fore—there being $329,000 in the treasury to carry on the government with — would bo ob- liged to admit in the nest breath that we had run into debt by Sf)00,000. I am not willi-ig, however, that the avgument should gi> before the country even in that way, but 1 will read from Mr. Rose's statement a passage bearing on the subject. Before doins: so, however, I would remark that the assertions about the Canadian Government having been largely in advance to us will be equally applicable if, on the 2d of July, that Government had paid over to this Province a portion of our Rub- eidy. The Finance Minister, in that case, might, with equal truth, come forward with the assertion that wo were largely in advance in our receipts. Mr. Rose states the matter thus :— " Statement Cgivcra iudetail the receii)tH and p»yraents in Nova Scoti?., and ti ijlanco at it shews as Receipts, ^7()9,C89 Payments, f)80,414 leaving an apparent surplus of S'.219/27r) J3at since then, there has been advanced on ac- count of the subsidy to bepsiid to Nova Scotia, ;'-:3l7,4'l'.J And there has beeu paid for interest due to the Jsle.'sre. Swing, •M'i.A'ib f.',9.b77 From which if wo deduct the lurplui of receipts just mentioned we shall find that Nova Scotia hus at this time rccdvcd an advance of $340,602 This is the posi'.lou up to the 1st December instant, but while I make the statement, I hope no member wilt entertain any sectional feeling— I give the factR as they arc, but these flcures, it should be remembered, fluctuate very much, and of course a great deal of this expenditure is on account of the debt of $8,* 000,000 with which Nova Scotia agreed to come into the Union. We have in fact to find the money to make up a portion of that debt, and having found the money, the Dominion is bound to Gnd the money to meet the interest. It is not as if the debts of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick had exisitd at the time of the Union; for then all the Dominion would have had to do would have been to provide the interest; but there arc current engagements of the Maritime Provinces, maturing from time to time, which the Dominion has to find money for at once, and that perhaps not merely to thi< amount uf seven or eight millions, but to the extent to which their labilities exceed this sum, and after this comes interest on the whole, the oxce»a of which over the interest on the seven or eight millions will have to be deducted from the subsidies to bo paid." This is a plain statement of the facts, and it places the whole matter in so clear a light that there can bo no difiQculty in coming to the conclusion that we really are not indebted to Canada in any sum for advances. I have prepared a short statement which will shew how the matter stands, excluding the amounts paid on account of the two railroads. I take the amounts as Mr. Rose gave them, making $219,275, the five months subsidy, which is oU that tibould be chargeable, and it leaves $84,133 in our favor. I do not deny that the Canadian Government may be in advance of the receipts, because they have paid some- thing on account of our debt. If that debt was six and a half millions, and we were en- titled to go in with eight millions, they were bound to pay us the balance at any time, and on the principle which they have adopted, if, on the 2ad of July they had been called upon for the additional two and a half millions, they would have charged that against our account as so much advanced. I proceed in the next place to give & comparative state- ment of the amount of duty collected in Nova SootiSi in 18G6 under our tariff of that year, and of the amount that we would have paid in that year under a Canadian tariff. I have had every item calculated, and although it may possibly be erroneous to the extant of a few dollars, yet I believe it will be found in the main correct. I take 180(5, because it is the only complete \car thst wc can calculate i>y. Amount under Canadian tariff, $1,830,238.80 " " Nova Scotia tar- iff, 1,402,698.88 Differenctf against Nova Scotia. $427,539,98 Thus we fco that under a Canadian tarifi wo would have paid on the importations of ISOG 8427,039.98 more than under our tariff of that year. It is true that Mr. Johnson has rplui shall this $340,602 let December 1 Ktatemeat, I nny eeotional f aro, but theve ered, fluctuate !at deal of thii le debt of $8,- jtia agreed to : in fact to find ID of that debt, the Dominion eet the interest . I Scotia or New 10 time of the luD would have provide the ; engagements naturing from ion has to find ,t perhaps not leven or eight .0 which their and after this the exoe»8 of seven or eight icted from the f the facts, and eo clear a light f in coming to ire not indebted vances. I have (vhioh will shew ing the amounts ilroads. I take ! them, making ibsidy, which is le, and it leaves not deny that y be in advance ave paid some- )t. If that debt ind we were en- lions, they were It any time, and ave adopted, if, een called upon Imlf millions, jat against our I proceed in aapnrative state- ollected in Nova ifif of that year, rould havo paid n tariff. I have md although it 5 the extant of a (fill be found in bceause it is n'c can calculate 79 ff, ^1,830,238.80 1,402,698.88 T ^a. l«427,539.98 Canadian tarii^ importatioue of under our tarilf Mr. Johnson has made a calculation producing a difi'ercnt re- sult, makine: it appear that Nova Bcotia would only lose #1^9,000, but any such state- ment is preposterous. Thi free rooJs could n'>t so noariy balance the aouuuut, ami any statement shewing such a rrsult is intended to deoeivp and mirlead. The swme thing was done with regard to the imports of New Brunswick, and a most competent person come forward and shewed that in that state- ment an omission was made of $200,000. The whole matter Is carried on by that kind of deception. I raid that this country re- quired free trade as nearly as possible, and that will be plainly shewn when wo come to place the protective duty of C«n»da on her, for the importations of Nova Sootia, in 18C6, were equal to $38 per head, while those of Canada, commonly considered the most wealthy Colr38 per head, la it not plain that the raising of that tariff must be advantageous to the country? I find also that Canada expends but 86 cents per bead for local purposes, while we expend $2, and the same proportion prevails throughout. This remark brings mc to the consideration of our revenue and assets under Confedera- tion, and I think the statement I made of the fisures, a few evenings ago, will bo found in the main correct. I will shew first our reve- nue from the various sources : Jievenue. Crown Lands, Gold Mines, Coal Mines, Hospital for Insane, Subsidy, Bonus, $ 42,701.26 25,000.00 45,000.00 20,000.00 264,000 00 60,000.00 456,704.26 Estimated Salaries, Criminal Prosecutions, Coroners' Inquests, Crown Land Dept., Education, Legislative Expenses, Public Printing, Public Works, Department of Mines, Poor Asylum, Relief, Roads and Bridges, Steamboats, Ferries, &c. Navigation Securities, Provincial Exhibition, Agriculture, Deaf & Dumb Inst., MisoellaneouB, Expenditure. $ 15,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 17,850.00 164,000.00 30,000.00 10,000.00 40,000.00 15,000.00 13,000.00 6,000.00 240,000.00 8,000.00 10,000.00 6,000.00 6,000.00 2,000.00 12.000.00 598,850.00 Ef pend iture over Revenue, ^ 1 42.085. 74 I ask the House if that is the position that A Province, rising in the eoale in which we have risen for the last ten 3rears, should be placed 7 I blush for thote who have placed Nova Scotia in that position T In addition to the amounts which I hav a stated, there has been paid ainoe the Ist of July on the new Provincial Building $35,053, and there will he yet to be paid $20,000, making $5S,653. Then coming to the department of education, we find that we roust make an advance of $45,000 as a loan to the counties, which will, it is true, be repaid in the subsequent year, but which must be provided out of this year's revenue Again, we are obliged to previde 2-3 of $80,000 for the new Poors' Asylum, amounting to $54,000; and at least $25,000 for interest on excess of public debt. These items give $179,653 to ha added to the deficit of $142,085.74 which I stated before, making a total of $321,738.74 as a deficit for the pre- sent year. I stated before that I have made this state- ment of figures, not with a view to deceive, but to show the House and the country what we mutt expect if we are to remain in Con- federation. It would be useless for me to try to make it appear that we have $200,000 or $300,000 to spare from the treasury when we shall certainly be short over the amovnt which I have put down for roads and bridees. It has been repeatedly said by the advo- cates of Confedederation : "we have given you a new Act,'-you found fault with the Quebec scheme, and therefore we have im- proved it." I should like to know in what the improvement consists,— the Quebec scheme left us the right to impose export du- ties, but that haa been taken away by the Imperial Act. The new arrangement gives us $60,000 per annum, but it gave a like sum to all the other Provinces, so that we, who suffer, must have to pay a part of this very money, and the right of laying on an export duty is vested in the General Govern- ment. That is just the position of things iinder the new arrangement. As regards the constitutional part of the argument, I would just say that no doubt many memben recol- lect the celebrated campaign which Dr. Tup> per made in the western counties, — he held a meeting at Weymouth, among other places, and what was the ground of his argument there? It was that Howe, Archibald and MoCully were governing the country in de- fiance of the well understood wishes of the people, and were going contrary to all British precedent in doin^ so. He made a most pa- thetic speech, telling us that those gentlemen were going to govern the country in that way for four years. Well, they did so, but at the end of that time the people had a per- fect right to displace them if they pleased. Dr. Tupper, however, thought they had not the right to hold the government for an hour; he declared they were infringing on the constitution, and laid down the doctrine that the constitution belonged to the whole people— that every child in breathing his first breath took in a portion of it — and that any man who undertook to govern the country in defiance of the wishes of the people would be depriving them of the privileges which belong to them under r«:sponsibIe govern* ment. The hon. member for Inverness told us that the Attorney General w»8 the Tory of Tories, and boasted that himself had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, learning the principles of Howe, Young, and other leading men of the Liberal party. I looked at him with amaze» 80 meiit,-<-iD it possible that he has imbibed the principles which those men laid down, and yet BO far forget himeclf and everything preached and practised by the leading men on the Liberal uidc of politics in this country, astoK r.nd up here and tell the people that they had no more right to control the Gov- ernment, or to be heard on any change in the constitution, th^in'tbe people of Russia,— for iiis statement in substance was that ? He reminds me of yihat ai American gentleman said that Lord Derby remarked in England on boing asiied what ivare Earl Russell's poli- tics,— his reply was, " wheu Earl Russell is in power he is a Tory, but when out of power he is a Liberal.'* So when the hon. member for Invern.88 ^^a out of power he was a'jib- eral, but when be got the ship hand ho was a bigger Tory than '.he Atty General, who, in this debate has been advocating true conser- v».tive principles : the right of the people of the country to govern themselves. I have never taken a very decided stand on either side of politics, — I have been a Conservative, but only this far, that T was always willing when it could be shown that a change was necessary, to aid with both bands the ad* vancement of the true interests of the countr:'. The hoa. gentleman also referred to Hali- fax being strongly confederate, and spoke of the wealth and intelligence of the metro- polis. When I read the accounts of the July celebration in Halif.tx, I thouglil that all the citizens must have r.dopted Union principlea, but I little thought that a larce amount of the funds expended in t'jat celebration were paid out of the publ'.o ohefct. That expendi- ture was made, I believe, for no other pur- pose than to make the people of the rural districts believe that Halifax was strongly confederate, ''^h-t brings to my mind the Rcenes enacted in the c ^untry on the let of July; while in Haiifa:^ tneday was celebrated with Bor^- -*hing like rejoicing, what was the fict in the country? From one end to the other nothing but mourning lind grief were exhibited; the shutters were cloicd from morning to night; the ilags were at half- mast; Dr. Topper hung in effigy from every barn *long the road, aud everywhere the signs of deep regret at the loss of the coun - iry's liberties were displayed. The hon. member for Inverntss asked the other day what we expected to accomplish l.j this agi- tation. 1 will tell him : we sxpect to acconi- plieh a complete repeal of the Union as far as Nova Scotia is concerns'). We will approach the British Government as loyal and intclli- gpnt men, the descendants of men who pre- lerred ^ home in the wilderness of this coun- t:-y to ease and affluence under the American flag. W.i will tell them that the^Act of Con- federation was forced on our country. Our licoplfc, having hadtim? to consider the mat- ter, are perfectly satiified that to continue the present state of things would bring no- thing but ruin and di.sgrace upon them, und we therefore come here as loyal and loving eunji'cts of the Queen, to ask for a repeal of the Act. I think I can ttU the hon. member what the answer will be also. That Parliament will gay we were deceived into the passage of the Act and did not give it full consideration— we are far from wishing to fore? the loyal people of Nova Sootift into a confederation against their wishes. Take bao)' your oonsti- tution, and so long as you remain loyal and true to the British flag and feel a desiro to live as a colony of Great Britain, we will do all we can to advance yonr intgiests *in time of peace a J protect you in time of war. The question* what then " was asked the other day. 1 will tell the House "what then," —a long* loud shout will go up from one end of the country to the other of God save tue Queen, and many a poor man, whose daily food has been made dearer by the legislation undtw' which we are »'ifiFering, will join in the shout. When that u ly comes a new stimulus will b? given to every branch of industry. The fisherman will go forth with his line, the miner will take up his shovel, and the ship carpenter his axe. The merchant will make large importations, and new life will be in- fused irto the people. I have not the slight- est doubt that if w^ gain repeal, our impor- tations, instead of continuing te fall off as ♦hey did last year, will soon be doubled. If the right of self'governraent be restored to rs the people wiuld not fjel even the fifteen per cent tariii' which we have been paying Canada a heavy burthen— for the great trou- ble with us now is that we receive no corres- ponding benefits for the taxes that we pay. If repeal be granted, an I have said, the coun- try will go forward with new strength aini vigor, trade will be opened in new channels, the waves of prosperity will roll in on Nova Scotia's shores, and our Province will enjoy tlie i!06itior that nature has destined her to occupy, i<* one of the finest gems in the Brit- ish croT .,, Mr. Hooper— I intended addressing the Hopsc on several occasions, out so much has already been said on this subject that I feel I cannot invest it with any new novelty, and therefore I tb'ill only eay that I heartily en- dorse tho sentiments contained in the resolu- tions, and shall vuts in their support. Mr. DF-sBuisAYsaid -.—Mr. Speaker, I shall endeavor in addressing the House ta be as concise as possible, but I feel that this ques- tion is of such vast importance that I would be avoiding a duty I owe to those whom I have the honor to represent if I were to paes it by with a silent vote. One thing, sir, is indifcputable, that Nova Scotians are not to- daj as free nor as contented as they were pre- vious to the Confeuevation of this Province with Canada. I know it is assert«^d that the Anti-Confederate party are to blame for the discontent that unhappily exists in the coun- try, bu'i this statement cannot be supported by soqnd argumcn'u, i^ )me of the warmest advocates of Confederation do not hesitate to declare that the mode of procedure as regards Nova Scotia was most high-handed f»,nd out. rai^eous, .and 1 venture to assert that there is not on record ft more cool, determined defiance of popular rights than wis exhibited by the principal agents in the transaction here in No- va Scotia. It has been frequently asserted t'uat the leading mon of this Piovince, ye«.r8 ago, «1 er, I shall se to be as thifl quee- it I would so whom I re to pa(0 Bir, is re not to- wero pre- Provinoe d that the n« for the the ooun- Bupported warmest cslt.ito to as regards end out- t there is d defiance ed by the ere in No- lerted tiiat p»r8 ago, advocated the Union of the Provinces. It was, I admit, urged that the union was de« sirable, and if wisely managed might rciuU. in gooi, but to say that such a scheme as this, with all the advantages for Canada and disadvantages for us, which are its main characteristics, was ever dreamt of, much less publicly proclaimed, is not consistent with fact. It was never once hinted, at least up to the time when its advocates saw a chance of its being effected, that the people should not be consulted on a measure like this which wcild affect themselves and their children for future generations. Tell me not that the constitution (.f our country can be changed, and the rights of this people bar- tered away without reference to those whose interests are iinmediate>y affected. If the argumf^nts of the hon. member for Inverness and his friends be correct, then any Legisla- ture, however corrupt, c«n wholly destroy the liberties of the people, and they must lamely submit. If a Legislature, elected as oars was in 1863, can act as- they did. and still be within the constitution, then the people cease to have a voice in the manage* ment of their affairs, and sell'-governraent is only a delusion and a snare. Then the most monstrous acts can be committed by those who, pretending to represent others, have their own personal aggrandizement chiefly in view. I want to know why the people of Nova Sontia ooo-ipy a different position from the people of Nev? Brunswick. This is a ques- tion that has not beeu, and cannot be, an- swered The people of that Province had two Bcpa'-'^te alectione, but the electors of Nova Scot'a were not allowed the right of ex- pressing their opinions upon the most mo- mentous question that ever engaged the at- tention of this country. No satisfactory rea- son can be given why the people of Nova Scotia, who are certainly just as intelligent and capable of coming to a satisfactory con- clui;ion on matters of importance as the peo- ple of the ueighborinjii Province, should ha 2 been denied the right which the latter en- joyed. On every principle of justice they should have been consulted, and the members of the former Legislature who declared one day the Union to be impracticable, and on the next recorded their votes in favor of it, deceived the people whom they had bean sent to this House to represent. One of the argu- ments of the Confederates has tjeon that this Province having comparatively limited re- sources, was to be united to a country of im- mense wealth— that we were to enter a part- nership in which one partner — that is Nova Scotia — would have a small capital, while the other— that is Canada— would have sn enor- mous income, and that we would receive ben- efits much greater in proportion thun any contribution we could make to the .general stock. Thi.s delusion was entirely oispelled by Mr. Gait who, when advocsjng the Union, used this languas^e : "T ask the House frankly to look at it »».; :^ great rae*- Bure brought down /o rdi. gratulate them on the unprecedented increase in the revenues of Nova Scotia. The follow- ing statement will clearly show the remark- able increase 1 our customs revenues in ten year's time : la 1856 this revenue was ig;.071,- 588; but it had increased ., SI. 226,199 in '65. In 1854 our Exports were v .: ' .ed at lg4,990,672 ; but in 1865 they aiooucted to S8,830,693. As I represent one v'l the principal, indeed the largest ti?bintr oonstituency in Nova Soo» tia, I may mention that the fish exported ir. 1834 from this Province wai valued at $1,- 900,932, and in 18G5 it reached !a,'3,282,016, I have said that there wan no necessity for Nova Scotia to enter into the Union in order to promote her prosperity and advancement. When the French fleet visited this port some years ago, one of the ofijoer* made a tour of the Province in order that he might see the state of the descendants of the old Acadians, and when he returned to France he wrote a work, in which he asserted that there were DO people who had more reason to be Jiappy and contented than these in Novu Scotis, and he added with referonce to the taxei, they laid upon theiu " as lightly as a down cush- ion." Compare this state of things with that of the Canadians. Having had a deficit for many years they taw in the revenues of Nova Scotia and New Briir.swick a mr.incj of over* coming their difficulties, ts eu^j-gested l>y Mr. Gait. Accordingly they proceeded iu hct haste to Charlottetown, and persuaded the Delegates from the Maritime Provincts, who were charged with the perforuiance of a cer« tiiin duty, t) adjourn to an;.ther Piovinoo, and there to arrange a schemi which was wholly outside of their inttructionn. This Provincv. has received from its public men tho most contemptuous treatment. The story of Mr. Watkin has been often re- ferred to, ana I must also allude to it for n moment. The man who is the "bead and front of all the offending " in Nova Stiotia v?a8 the oae who led the Parlir.ment of Eng- land astray on this quest! u. He says he told Mr. Watkin that he liad delivered ad- dresses in the different counties on the quei- tion, and that he came into power with a large majority who gave the B-heme their support. Mr. Watkin evidentiy sought for correct information. Becausfl Dr. Tupper delivered lectures in Truro, Windsor, and one or two other county towns, were the people of this Province therefore to be con- sidered conversant with the details of the scheme. He must have made tho Btatemont he did designedly, iu order to have Mr. Wat- "w^fmrmmmmm 82 kin believe that tho people had decided in favor of the Boheine, because ho knew t^at suoh wad not the case. I would like to knc»w why he did not remain hero to flniBh the work of educating: the people up to the bleesingH of Confederation in the f*co of h, high t\rilf and the Canadian St»mp Act. It is said if tho Feoiaiis come to Nova Sontia, or if there is a;ay threatened invasion, the peo- ple must rise in their might; and yet if they are deprived of their rights and privileges 118 British freemen by those living on their own soil, they must be quiet. All WI3 required was the ptivilegc of de- ciding th'i queslion for ouT have been fol- lowed in 18>'J? I aui ashamed to say in my place in this ILiuBe that »o many public men of Nova Sjotia, charged with thi> interests of this people, proved false to the trust reposed in them in the minner they did. Why, sir. a city wood sawyer, even the man who begs from do>)r to ilo;jr, " poor pensioner on the bounties of an hour," may bttter illustrate the worth *nf] dignity of human nature than the mcu who betr.-vyed their country, though they have half the letters of the alph*bft after their names, and now receivo high sularies in ihe Dominion as the iiMV\rd of thi-ir decJp- lion. These men I hold ta have been Nova Scotians only in name, and I afii happy to see that some of thera are out of tho cnintry, and if all of them wer,; away the interests of the pecple would not s-uiF r in cjnsfquencc Let me, howaver r,d 1 th*tIhold that men who have been consistent sdvoyatesof CoufeJerax tion all fhrou.'r;h are not to be classed wit a those who came here declaring that they were opposed t.) the soheme, and aftprwards voted in favor of it. The hon. member for Inver- ness the other d*y hinted that he hoped to change the opinions of some of the honest men he saw around these benches. I hope he will not be able tn do any buch thing. I believe every m%n will maintain his allegiance to his Qufen und to the people, and that every one of I hem at lea.st of the thirty-six will emulate the oondi'.ot of th^t noble Roman sentinel who f '..'soo!; not his ixi?'. at the zi^Uf of Pomiieii. but was fund whtn thi ruins uf that city were uncov.T:'i). i-i.ij.ding in his pUce erect in death, ft. !i hiiltlin;; his t^ije'ir. (Cheer* ia the gftUery which was vepregsed by the chair.) Mr. Blakcuard— If it were not for the ex- ample let by the House itadf the galleriea would be quiet enough. Hon. Speaegb— Sir, it is not for yoa but for the chair to attend to the order of this House. You are not yourself inclined to pre- serre that decorum which is expected from every gentleman, for you very often converse with gentlemen on these benohes when otheri are speaking. Mr. BL.A'i 'viuns-.l at th(! Bar. The rii. tioii w.-js gr.'infed, and Jambb Mc* Do-VALD, E q , ft|)peared at tho bav and ad- dressed the House against the validity of the petition. He argued that it was contrary to the dignity tf the House that member! should act as ficourities in Games where they for the ex- e galleriei r yoa but er of this led to pre- cted from n oouverse hea others that never leat in this to be re- )ther, and gentlemen demonetra- Souse they ^ou do not assume the louse, and tie members r anything, re that this leera in the gers in the 1 the House 7th Foby. 1 a petition iuoed a bill hereof, ask ijorated into tion from a r a larger ney. certain re- )ol section, in alteration f the Cum« rence to the an the lame rawing of a tion against 3 then taken test against 10 legal and -the securi- nse. ted over the au instance rabers of the but perhaps ia8el, would be heard by Jambs Mc» bav and ad- lidily of the contrary to at members where they 83 were acting as a Court. It should be remrm- bered, he argued, that the Legislature was the highest court from which thare was no appeal, and oonseiiuently there was greater necessity tj do nothing that might tend to the injury of those whose interests were in their bands. No precedents conIS be found anywhere — cither in England or the colonies — for such a case as was now under consid- eration. It had been decided in the courts below that a member of Parliament cannot be received as bail, beuause, although he may be worth the money a hundred times over, yet he cannot be called upon to respond on ac- count of his privilege. In elucidation of this point the learned gentleman cited several cases from May. Saunton, &c. la May, be added, it is stated that there is an order of the House, thAt inembers of tbi! Commons being barristers are not to appear before the House of Lords in mstters which are likely to come before the House. What would ba thought of a member of Parliament accepting ft fee or reward in counection wiih taatterti before the House? The independence of thn House would not be preserved if the mem- bers were made directly interested in matters concerning money that came before them. On the conclusion of Mr. McDonald's re- marks, the galleries were cleared, and the question considered with closed doors. On re*uming the following committee was struck : Mr. Ross, Hon. Mr. Robertson, Mr, Jihnfon, Mr. Freemsn, Mr. D. McDonaUl. Mr. Liwrence, The committee w ts called to. gether for Wednesday. The House then adjourned. Tuesday, IStb Feby. The House met at II o'clock. Mr. KiBK presented a petition from Guys- boro' for a bridge across St. Mary's River, and strongly urged the Governniciil to taku the matter into consideratioa. Mr. Blanchard also spoke iti favour of the conftruction of the work. Mr. Kirk said if the Government woulil not take the matter up, then the ppo|,l3 ci Ouysboro' would be obliped to ssk tVr leave to incorporate a Company to bu,M 'ho bridge, and ask tolls thereon. Mr. J. McDonald presented a. petition from Black River, Fraser's Grant, AmiiiODifb' 'u refiirenoo to Education. Ai«ii fiOiu lii Setdenunt, Tracadic, to chauc. the nuinn thereof, and a bill in aceordaiKf wit'.! thi- prayer thereof. Mr. Lanokrs, petitions for movny t^rains. Mr. Johnson, bill to k-g.'v'iz'^ itsiCFsmcuv roll in Shelburue. Mr. IlooPKR, petition of Aii.'aiH MiDohmM and others, for money on a lo id. Dr. Murray, petition, rpction No. 12. for a chan'ze in a poilinc place; also a bill in ac- cordance with the praycv tfi.'vcof. Hon. Mr. Tuoop, petiiion ir..iii Annapolif^, praying the House ta f;:r,ut a survey of :i road between Shelburne >v.:>\ Atiiiapolm; he pointed out the necsEfity ih.'.t esis'u fov thi; work in question. Mr. Blancuard said tbt; fomier Govern- ment had a given a pledge to constnict the work, whioh wac undoubtotiy desirable On motion of Mr. Blanohard, Meiirs. BUn-- chard, Vail, and Northup were appointed a Committee of the House in reference to the LegiBlative Library, The adjourned debate was then resumed. [Tilt. DfiSBRItiiAlf'S tSPEECI9< (CONCLUDED ) Mr. DesBbisat then continued his 8peeob|: I was interrupted in the Address which I was rnaking to the House on Saturday, by the hon. member for Invernecs. He found fault with the members of this House following the practice of the British House of Commons in expressing their opinions of what they hear, and I think he might have shown to me a measure of the same forbearance which was exhibited to himself on & previous day when you, Sir, having given orders /or the galle* rifs to be cleared, the occupants were allowed to roDjain becnuso that hon. gentleman saw " respectable people" among them. The re- turn I make is this : 1 am ready to bear my testimony that the hon. member is very use- ful in this House, and I know that since I came here he has given his attention closely to the publio business. When I closed on Sa- turday I was about refer"ing to the cry of disloyalty and annexation which has been brought aguius^t the Anti-oonfederate paity in tbis country. From whom docs this cry of disloyalty and annexation come? Chiefly •'.om ft few persons in the city of Halifax whose stock in trade appe.irs to me to be slander; slander which, in the words of Shakespiare, •'Outveruim? nil th ■ worms if Nilo, A'ld makts tho mi'ut it feeds upon."' Slander which, an we &in- day after day, spares neither the longest lil'c of usefulness nor the highest respectability. I am happy, howevtr, tu know that the,- e poisons stsnd alone, fti.d that they hive about as much iu- tlijeii;;!- now in this c(.iunlvy r.s they hid on the f .j;h*(('t.th of S'.n)tiiuber last. There has been :t f;oo(l deal of lip and pocket loyalty in Nova S.ioli'i, exjjitsfly m.inufiiaturtd fi)r tlic occasion. Wiih this loyalty I hsive nolhlnjr wha;ever to do. I love EugUnd, the home of my fAtlici-8 ai; 1 the birthplace of the free; EaglauJ thfit IcaKi the nauons, a.skiug them t ) accept for themselves the great and mani» fold blessings ihat I'oilovv in her train; Eng- land that in ro many lauds, our own in- cluded, lias erected her national tliig and tho- standard of the crosj together, so that the lustre of tiie one ia luaile brighter by the ,':;lory of the DthiT— this Englnud I love, t do not, however, lov,; tbiH dear land of the M'ljtloffcr uny the leu?, and the rights and intercepts of her people are to am olijects of special iiapovtaiicj. A great deal has been Slid about. th(! tirill", fo wliicli (he people of Nova Sootia ;i!e subjected by the Coiifedera- t'on KelicniiV In exatiiiuinp; it, I do not so tuuch cure wlietlur there are certain artiolea that lire ftdiiuMed duty free which v/ere not lift; be. Tore. The main quctiiou which con« oetii'i the ix'ople ts this : Are the irtioles moji. nquired for their t-ubsistence taxed? If those articles chiefly consumed by the poor people are taxed, whilst those that are used 84 by the rich are admitted free, then it ii a tariff to which the people of Nova Scotia can neter give their consent; and on examina- tion of the matter, I find what I have stated to be the fact. The hon. nember for InTerncss referred to Catholic Emancipation, the abolition of the Corn Laws, and the Reform Bill, and cited the ipeechex of Mr. Pitt and Sir Robert Peel to shew that it was right to pass this act in the way it han been passed All the measures referred to extended and enlarged the liber- ties and privileges of the people ; whereas this act, in support of which he brought such matters forward, curtails and to a very large extent destroys the rights and privihges of the people of this country. I thought, when he undertook to deal witii this question, he would not have taken solely the opinions of men who mi^bt rise in Parliament and give their views on constitutional subjects, but that he woul i have referred to those works 'hat are text bookd of authority. He might without diiBoulty have quoted from the high- est authority, aud have shewn that it is not competcut for a legislature to delegate its power to make laws to any other body. But he did not do that. It will be in my power also to cite Mr. Pitt, and I think he will not appear as the advocate of encroach- ment upon the Hberties of the people. The hon. member will not forget the celebrated stamp act which was to bind the old thirteen colonies. It is constantly asserted that Con- foderation is necessary to the defence and security of the provinces, and it is certainly curious that the old s,tamp »ot uses the same argumert The prct-tmble ttvtcs in po many Wdrdfi t L it v7fis nec('!iS!»ry i'uv the (Jcfence, pro^ccti'^n and security of the colonics. — Here you see that the same reason thr^t was given for farcing the Stamp Act upon the old Co'onirs ha.s been applied to us. I th jklcin fiViOW that the puoplrt of Nova Scoti;!. sre i.ow taxed by the authority of the British PArliar'i?nt, because if it wor« not for the British North America Ac' tho Govern- ment of Canada would have no right to levy a tax upon us. There was not even a dele* gated power to pass the Act given by the peorle, mvl therefore they arc ns virtually taxt-d by the British Parliimmt as the in- brtbitiints of the old Colonics wer*. in the last ceutdry. We are not repreicntcd in the Crit'. ish PiU'lrAmort ;iny moro than wore the cli Colo'ijicH. llow was this ihiui: brou<;ht about? A dtlp<::\tion went to Eoglaml, and cuthouzed ihe Biiii.-'h Govern tnint to pass the Aot; it WiVj ho pufs^'d, but it was never rstiti',-i! liy tl'ft pi.'0|ili'ol' Nnva S^otiu, A rea- (ioii pivtii why th'' lii'toi- hbould hi Hitisfici) with this ii.v ia that powiT i.s lc'"t to the LncMl L('.!e for their own 1 lo.il war.ti. That iC'i one of tho art^i;- mentv u^ed by the mm who defended the Star.ip Act. Tiui thon Lord Cbancf-Uor said, in di! :'-lp, " TIk; nature of the Stim;> Act sceKP to b" mistaKfti. h hiad-- all tl^' Colo- nies m gi.iurAl, but it .'loi't? not Coll vol the povKi- ».ufcdeiation, intelligeuc2 the measure. Scotia? No, only a tmall portion of it. Even if every man in Halifax had voted for Confederation that ironld prove nothing as against the whole people of Nova Scotia. Bat the honest-hearted member for Halifax rose in his place and told aa that since the election a great change had taken place in the feelings of the citizens, and I take for granted, from bis means of kuowine, that his statement is trne. I would like to know what the city of Halifax would be without the rest of Nova Scotia 7 Some people seem to forget the relation it bears to what 11 outside of it. The hon. member for Inverness next referred to the Great Confed« erate party ; let us enquire a little into its greatness. Up to the 18th September the country was deluged by pamphlets of every description bearing on the question. Bogus proolamationii, with the Queen's arms forged, were issued to prevent the electors meeting and consulting on this subject. The hon. member for Halifax spoke about bill stamps, and he could not imagine why so many were required except it was for ornament. They sent down from Ottawa election notices orna- mented in tlie higUect style of art, with only blanks left for the candidates' names. Thus were the elections managed in Nova Sootia. After all the cfQoial influences of this Prov- ince and of Canada, used as they were by no means sparingly, what was the result 7 They only succeeded in sending one man to Ottawa and two to this House. When the division on these resolutions takes place there will be wit- nessed a sight that was never seen before since Nova Sootia had a Parliament— every county voting on one side on a question of public importance after a lengthened discus- sion. Even the county represented by the hon. mover of the amend'ment will come up and join hands on the same side. The people of Nova Scotia, by the vote then to be given, will wipe out the false statement con- tained in the preamble of the British North America Act, that they desired to be confed- erated with Canada. Then will the people set their seal to the demand for repeal, that is coming up from every town and village and settlement in Nova Sootia. I ^entertain a good hope that this Union will be repeated. Two grounds tor that hope I will mention to the House. One is that I do not believe that He who guides and controls the affairs of men, will allow the people of Nova Scotia to be oppressed by those who have, in the short time that has already elapsed since the pas- sage of the Act, shown the same tyrannical spirit towards us, that characterized their proceedings up to that time. The second ground of my hope is that the appeal of the people, constitutionally made, will shortly bn presented at the fountain head of all that is " lovely and of good report " in the widely expended British Empire, where above the noise of party, and the machina- tions of evil and misguided men. even-handed jnstice sitg enthroned in the person of our beloved Queen. 1 believe that the appeal, e made, will be none the less i)atiently listened to, nor none the less likely to be granted, because it is sent from a Province which was for a time the home of that royal lady's illustrious father, and in which her own first- born ion was received with an ot^tburst of 12 love and loyalty second to none that haH greeted him in any portion of her dominions. I thank you, sir, and the House for the atten- tion that has been given to what I have said. I shall cheerfully give my vote, as I am hap- py to know will be the case with almost every other member of the House, in favor of the resolutions laid on the table by the hon. Attorney General. inR. liAIVDEBIi' NPEKCn. Mr. Landebs— In riting to make a few re- marks on the very important subject before the House, I beg leave to say that I am not here to represent Fenians nor Annexationists, but loyal sulijects of Hev Majesty the Queen. I believe that to be a very good maxim whicL reads never let go a certainty for an uncer- tainty. It was a certainty that previous to the British North America Act Nova Scotia had a good constitution — one that was highly prized by all her people. It was also a cer- tainty that Nova Scotia had a good revenue amply .sufiicicnt to (meet aU necessary lia- bilities. This Confederation has now taken us into a position of uncertainty. I am one of those who believe that Nova Scotians should manage the affairs of Nova Scotia— that the voice of the people, her own repre« sentatives, should fix the tariff, appropriate the revenues, and control her offices, and al- low me to ask are we in a position to do that under the Dominion of Canada. I answer no. A people residing seven or eight hundred milr away from us, in whom we have very littl. jonfidence, with whom desire very little more political dealings than the Jews of old had with the Samaritans— they now fix our taritfs, appropriate our revenues, and control the ofSces of our country. If there is any one thing that I desire more than any oth( r that appertains to this life, it is that Nova Scotians may bo freed from this detestable Confederation. When I say this I am not speaking only the sentiments of my own mind, but the sentiments of those who sent me here to represent their feelings and pre* sent interests; and feeling so ttrongly as I do upon this point, doubtless is one reason that causes me to believe that we shall obtain the repeal we are seeking for. I remember read- ing in a very good book of a certain king who had very large dominions— larger than those of Canada I presume. He had also a very proud prime minister -so very proud that he required every man who went out of the king's gate to make obeisance to hi^n. It so happened that a certain poor man at the gate refused to comply with this mandate. The consequence of this was that the minister became very angry, but he scorned to lay hands on the poor man alone, and so he de> vised a plan to destroy the whole nation to which he bclcnged. Ho succeeded so far as tu obtain the king's permission to carry out his wicked design, but when the king was made better acquainted with the wickedness of his minister, ho saw the crime of destroy- ing this poor people, and he accordingly coiuitermanded bis order and gave them per- mission also to hang the minister on a gal* lows fifty cubits high. I am confident wnen our Queen, God bless her ! is made acquaint- 86 ed with the niokedneas of confederating this Provinoe with Canada, ebe will certainly countermand the order, and I trubt Bhe will iesne a mandate tu hang the chief betrayers of Nova Scotia. It ha« been frequently asked during the debate if Nova Scotia is refused repeal, what then? I am not going to an- swer that, but I remember reading the words a wise man said, " When the wicked beareth rule the people mourn." There will be mourning in Nova Scotia if the demand for repeal be not granted. Having made these few remarks I give my most hearty assent to the resolutions laid on the table by the At- torney General . MB. BV£RSUN'S HPKKVrA. Mr. Ryeeson said :— -This discussion has now lasted for some time, and it is tberefoio unnecessary for me to say much, but I feel I would not be doing justice to my constitu- entSiWere I to let this debate pa83 by without giving expression to my settiments. This House has met for the purpose of taking into consideration one of the greatest questions that ever came before this country. Wo are oai'ed upon to deal with a law which has beet> forced upon us, and is in no way suited to the people of this country. The people have p'l'otested in the most loyal manner agair.st th? measure of Confederation, iind it is now the duty of the Legislature to endea- vor by every constitutional means to rid themselves of this North American Act. Wc have now met here to effect that object by appointing our delegates to proceed to Eng- land to lay the matter before the British Government. The Parliament of England must be told in plain terms that Nova Scotia will never agree to be confederated with Ca- nada. With that country we have no sym- p^.thy and never can have. All that we ask IS to be left alone to manage our own affairs. The people never asked for Confederation. They were contented aud happy until that scheme was conceived and passed by Dr. Tupper and Mr. Archibald, who united to force it upon them, and to heap burthens upon them in the shape of taxes that are most grievous to bear, to hand over their revenues without their consent, leaving them nothing to provide for their roads and bridges and their schools, except 80 cents a head. If more money is wanted for our local services we must resort to direct taxation. Under our form of Government a ten per cent, tariff was ample to pay for our schools and roads and bridges, railwty interest, and whatever we required. If went on increasing our pros- perity we would have ample means for the construction of our portion of the Intercolo- nial Railway. When the delegates go to England there must be one thing they must be told in plain terms, and that i», to make no compromise. If they cannot get a repeal of ^e Act, then they must ctme home to Nova Sootift, and we shall see what is to be done. iVo doubt there will be delegafesfrom Canada, and when the PaTliament meets nt Ottawa they will do everything they can to soothe down the people— they wiU pass any tariff we ask for in order to keep the yoke firmly on us. We mutt be very csreful, and not yield an inch ; if we cannot get repeal from the British Government let uc manage our own affiirs for a while. We may be loyal to the Britiah Crown, but let Nova Scotia manage her own affairs. If the British Gov- ernment has withdrawn its protection from us we will go alone, and drive every Con- f'ederate out of the country. We have always been a happy and contented people before this act was forced upon us. Everything is now unsettled, and nobody knona where to turn. There are a few persons called Confedera- tes still who endeavour to hold up their heads to make people believe it is all right; but they know it is all wrong The whole country is disheartened. We shall become a second Ire- land : but I believe when these documents are laid before the British Parliament, repeal will be granted. Look at the Canadian tariff, and you see they relieve everybody who, they think, have influence in this country; they throw off the duty on 23 articles that enter into the construction of ships in order to neutralize a class of persons who possess weight and influence in this province; they takij the duty off the rich man's wine and tax the poor man's bread. Whoever has known of bread being taxed until Confederation came into operation. The Canadians take the con- trol of our light houses, cur breakwaters, our revenues, and do with them as they think proper. Custom houses and Post o£Soes are all controlled by the Canadians. If the peo- ple of Nova Scotia are going to submit to any such thing they are made of very different material from what I think they are. I do not believe the people have been sold for 80 cents a head— that they will submit to any such indignity. There is a certain oiaes of persons certainly who are not worth half of that gum— that is to say, the Confederates— they are only calculated to bring disgrace upon us. I would like to see our delegates when thjy come back with the act of repeal, bring also a warrant to apprehend those arch traitors who sold this country. I believe they have yet to oome here and to be tried in Nova Seotia for their disgraceful acts. Unless, indeed, they are forced to fly into the United States, and hide themselves in some remote section of that country. In conolu* sion, I would say that I fully endorse the Hon. Attorney General's resolutions. iUK. KIBK'8 .MI['Z!:E€H. Mr. KiUK said — I rise to make a few remarks at this late stage of the deb \te on this very important question which is agitnting the people through the kagth and breadth oi Nova Scotia, under circumstancfs eomewhat embarraising. I would have preferred rv maining quietly in my seat, and eivlng a silent vote on the resolutions laid on the table by the hon. and learned Attorney Gen eral, and vjith which I entirely concur, but I feel thsit I would be recrPM.f to my constitu ents !vud to the p. fi;ile of this country, ami would not be d ji;- justice to myself, if I dhi not cxpresn ray sentiments plainly on this question. The r?:)tjl'' of ay county were grieved when thisy leiined that one of their represcntativefl on tLo floors of this House, 87 t get repeal ui manage uy be loyal NoTk Sooda tritiah Goy- ;otion from every Con- lave always ople before rerything ia Rs where to Confedera- I their heade ht ; but they country ia second Ire- cuments are , repeal will n tarifif, and y who, they antry; they that enter in order to who possess )vince; they fine and tax has known ration came ike the con - ireakwaters, B they think Bt offices are If the peo- ibmittoany ery diiFerent y are. I do I sold for 80 bmit to any tain class of orth half of nfederates — ig disgrace ir delegates ;t of repeal, d those arch I believe i to be tried aceful acts. I fly into the voa in some In conclu* endorse the on?. €U. few remarks )n this very sitsting the breadth ot ES eomewhat referred rt- id giving a laid on thf ;torney Gen Ducur, but I uy constitu- ountry, hm': self, if I du inly on this county were one of their this House, after he had given them aMurancea of hia oppoaition to Union, and in whom they plaeed their confidence, had walked across to the other aide in direct defiance of hia pled- ges and often repeated opinions, and voted In favor of the Britiah North America Act. There can be no doubt aa to the motives that actuated this gentleman thus to betray his constituents and pervert his principles, when we look at the other end of the building and see him occupying a aeat in that body. There ia another gentleman to whom I muat also allude, to my great regret— I refer to the gentleman who was elected to the Dominion Parliament in my county, who enjoyed the confidence of the Anti-Union party ao fully that no one dared to oppose him, who fought their battles manfully for many years in this House, and was for some time leader of the Anti-UnioniatB here, but who, on his first ap« pearance in the Parliament at Ottawa, for- aook his friends and accepted the Union. I can do no better to give an idea of the man- ner in which that intelligence was received in hia county, and what the people there think of hia recent action in this matter, than by reading a reaolution adopted at a large and influential public meeting recently held in that county. The reaolution says :— Whereas, At the general election in this Province in 8iptemt>er, 1867, the people of this County declared themaelves against Confederation in the moet em pbatic and decided manner; And Whereas, Mr. Stewart Campbell, for some time the acknowledged leader of the Anti-Confederate patty in Nova Scotia, was nominated in the interest of said party, and as an Anti-Confederate returned without opposition. And Whereas, The said Mr. B.Campbell, regardless of his solemn protestations, and in violation of the confidence reposed in him, did desert his party and *' accept the Unioo;'' Therefore it is Resolved, Ihat this meeting dis- claim and repudiate such gross misrepresentation of his constituents, and hold up the man and his acta to the contempt and execration of honorable men. I allude to this matter because the Confede- rate party here are trying to mislead the peo- ple of Canada and England by saying that were it not for a few leading politicians there would be but Uttle opposition to the scheme in Nova Scotia. This, however, is not the case, for although the gentleman just alluded to was perhaps the most popular man even in that county at the time of the recent elec* tion, there perhaps is no public man at this moment less popular. And why ? Because he accepted the Union. The people sre so determined for repeal that they will sacrifice their best men, if need be, to obtain that re- sult. The learned leader of the Opposition ran- sacked the pages of British history in order to discover a precedent to justify the late Government for the manner in which they forced upon the people of Nova Scotia the British North America Act. He talked of the Catholic Emancipation Act, the abolition of the Corn Laws, and of the Reform Bill, but be miserably failed to find justification for the course pursued. It has been proved by the gentlemen who have referred to these arguments that those acts were passed in Parliament, not in direct opposition to the wishes of the people, but the Government was forced to pass them by the pressure brought to bear on them by the people. It haa also been proved that the paaaing of thoae acts waa an extenaion of the rights and privilegea of the people uni'er the purview of the existing constitution of Great Britain. Waa this the case with the British North America Act 7 Did the people ask that any such act should be passed 7 or was it the mere extension of the rights and liberties of the people of Nova Scotia under the existing constitution 7 No, air; it was done in direct opposition to the wishes of the people. Pe~ titions were sent u>p here from all parts of the country, numerously signed, asking that no such measure should be passed, bu^ no notice was tsken of them. It was paesed despite the people. Nor was it an extension of the rights and liberties of the people of Nova Scotia; it was the very reverse. Our rights and liber- ties have been taken away, and handed over to a people eight hundred miles away, with whom we have but little trade or intercourse, giving them the power of taxing us as they please, of collecting our revenues and dis- bursing tbeiu in whatever manner they may think proper. The experience of the last six months has proved that the Canadians are determined freely to exercise the powers they have thus unconstitutionally obtained over us. They have raised the Tariff, under which Nova Scotia had prospered, and which was found quite sufficient to meet all her wants, from ten to fifteen per cent. ; they have imposed upon us a stamp tax, and they have taxed newspaper literature, and placed a duty on Corn, and Cornmeal, an article which the poor fishermen of Nova Scotia largely con* sume, all of which duties, previous to Union, Nova Scotia was perfectly free. And our re» presentatives in the House of Commons, at Ottawa, were powerless to prevent the impo* aition of those obnoxious acts; and when the mining interests of this Province asked for the concession of one small privilege, the pro- tecting of their interests, by placing a small duty on foreign coal, it waa refused. And it is because our rights have been thus tram* pled upon, and that we have been so highly taxed, and the power of taxation given to a people who 'mow little about us, or our ne- cessities, (s tvicg that we hitherto have been a prosperous people), that we ask repeal. And, sir, because we ask repeal, we are told we are disloyal, annexationists, &c. Now I would liki) to know, who are the people that ask repeal 7 They are the bone and sinew of the Prov: ace of Nova Scotia. Sons of loyal- ists, of ;hose who fought and bled for the honor of ihe British flag, and men who are as willing to-day as ever before to do the same, if protection is afforded them. And they do not all comprise the poorer or leas intelligent class of the people; and it is not true that all or any great portion of the in- telligence i« in the Confederate ranks. We ask repeal as a question of right, and nothing but repeal will suit Nova Scotia, or satisfy her people. We are frequently asked, "If you do not get repeal— what then 7" What then. The people of Nova Scotia will then act as becomes loyal people ; who were once free, and who have now lost their liberties. 88 I okn only say auffioient unto the day ia the evil thereof. MB. TOWNSEND'S SPEECH. Mr. TowMSEND said :— So much baa already been aaid on this queation that I shall occupy the attention of the Houae for a very few minutea. I feel proud of Nova Scotia aa I look around thia Houae, and see the men vho are here to repreaent the true aentimentsTof the people. I ask, where are the 31 men who eat here a year ago, and bartered away the righta and liberties of thia country 7 Only oneof theia haaeaoaped to tell the tale. When I waa a young man we had a debating eooie- ty, and eomctimea wo got a question on which we all agreed, but aomebody would atep forward and take the hard side, and I think the hon. member for Invcrnesa has had the hard aide all through. His finanoial ar- gument ia entirely swept away by the hon. membera from Kings and Digby, and so it is unneceasary for me to say a single word on that subject. References have been made to a certain statement cooked by Mr. Jobnsonlat Ottawa, and certainly I regret to find it backed up by Mr. Tilley. He only endoraed it because he had not looked it through, for I believe him to be a man of honor and great pluck. He was not afraid t« go before the people and ask their opinions on the question of Confederation. If Dr. Tupper had pur- aued a similar policy he might have fared much better than he did. 1 do not think the people would now bo eatisfied even if he gave ua back our old tariff. We want to tax onr- aelvea and to have no connection with Cana- da. We do not wiah to quanel with the Ca- nadians—all we aak is to have our old status restored. Look at the present condition of this Houae— reduced to little better than a quarter aeaaiona. A good deal baa been said about the constitutional part of this subject. It is one of the glories of England that her statesmen had the courage to pass the Eman- cipation Act. Was there a man rejected by the people because he supported that mea- sure ? Mr. Cobden preached at every polling place in the country in favor of the abolition of the Corn Laws. He was supported by the voice of the people, and Sir Robert Peel was constrained by the force of public opinion to aupport that measure. W&s there a man turned out on account of his action on this question ? So highly did the people think of Mr. Cobden that they subscribed to buy him an estate. I can think of a case like this. In Poland they could not agree among them- aelves, and they asked the assistance of Rus- sia, and then she came in and divided the country. We will fight for our rights as long aa we can, and I believe the Queen will let ua go. We will not obey Canadian lawa— we will o^ey every law until England eaya no. Then inatead of being the moat law-abiding we will become the most lawless. The people are arouau'd; they will go ahead when they are ouce aroused. It ia this excitement that I wish to allay. When our delegates go to England let them state the case fairly. We have no wiah to go into the American Repub* Ho, for I oonaider it the most tyrannical rale on earth. niB. nicDONAIiD'S SPEECB. Mr. D. McDonald aald:— I have no inten- tion in riaing on the preaent oooaaion to de< tain the House for any length of time, for the subject has already been fully diacuaaed. The queation of Confederation haa been dis- cussed in every town and hamlet in the coun- try during the last eighteen months, and the people of Nova Scotia have patiently heard the arguments and deliberately weighed their mcriti, and have declared with singular unanimity against the measure. Their hatred of thia Act has been intensified by the recent action of the Canadian Legislature. Our power and influence in the Local Legislature is exceedingly limited. All our revenues and rii;hts are under the control of the Canadian Parli«meat and Qovernment. There ia no parallel c main so, that we should insist upon our colo- nies, which had none of the traditions or as- sociations which had made us what we are, adopting monarchical instilutions after they left us." I will also quote from the same speech a conversation that took place between Lord Jervis, the famous Admiral : " Lord Brougham, in his lives of eminent statesmen, says of Sir John. His sagacity no man ever found at fault, while his provident anticipations of future events. He says we shall see a remarkable example of this facul» ty in a matter of deep interest at tbe present moment. (1839. If of deep interest then, how much deeper now). When Lord 8hel» burne's peace was signed, (1783,) and before the terms were made public, he sent for the Admiral, and showing them, adked his opin- ion : "I like theia very well," said Sir John, " b«t there is one great omission." "In what?" "In leaving Canada as a British Province." " How could we possibly give it up?" said Lord Shelburne. " How can you hope to keep it ?" replied the veteran warrior, with an English republic just established in sight of Canada, and with a population of a handful of English settlers among a body of hereditary Frenchmen. " It is impossible, and rely on it you only retain a running sore, the source of endless disquiet and expense." " Would the country bear it?" " Hav6 you forgotten Wolf and Quebec ?" asked his Lord- ship. "Forgotten Wolf and Quebec?" No, it is because I remember both. I served with Wolf at Quebec; having lived eo long, I have had full time for reflection on this matter, and my clear opinion is that if this fair occa- sion for giving up Canada is neglected, nox thing but difficulty in either keeping or re- signing it, can follow " There is one thing I may siiy in connection with this question, and that is, the subject of free trade between this province and the United Btalet it of more importance than all other qneatioDs; it itrikea me that on it d«> pends the salvation of this ooantry. I may f>ay a word or two with regard to the means used to induce the House of Assembly to pass this Act I hesitate, and it would be invidi- ous to name the persons concerned in this unholy bargain and sale of our rights. Cer- tainly some gentlemen here recollect the mode pursued to induce the members of this House t) vote against their express convic- tions. I had frequent conversations with gentlemen who voted for this Act though they had expressed themselves strongly as possible against it previously. It is easy for us to comprehend how this was brought about. We know when the Union was ac- complished a large number of them obtained their reward. Then, again, others were gained by intimi- dation. They were compelled to vote in a certain way by a certain pressure. This pres- sure, I recollect, was brought to bear against me because I happened to have a brother in a subordinate position in this County. The leader of the Government at that time made me the subject of repeated, most savage, and unjustifiable attacks. To prove this I may appeal to some gentlemen now around these benches. He thought to coerce me into sub- jection, but I was less anxious for his good opinion and support than that of the electors and citizens of Kings. The means used to carry Confederation was misrepresentation to the British Government and Parliament. That is well known, and it has been so much discussed that I need not dwell upon it. Mr. Watkin has been often alluded to, and no doubt he and his Nova Scotian coadjutors have been largely instru- mental, by the use of unfounded assertions, in fastening this curse upon us. Another means was. by subsidizipg the Press. We all know what immense sums have been given to certain publishers during the past few years. Une person, you will see from the Blue Book, received $1.^,000 for a period of nine months ending June last, and it is told by those who should know, that $8,000 or $10,000 more are included in other accounts, of which the items are not stated. What are the effects of Confederation ? The first is, we are injured financially, we lose very largely indeed. I sht.11 not enter into details, for gentlemen who have preceded me have s'one into the subject fully. It is easy for any man of common sense to see that the expense that will result from the extensive establishments kept up at Ottawa, with a Go- vernor-General at its head enjoying a salary of $50,000 and other offices in proportion, to prove the extravaerant and wasteful expendi-j ture of Canada Take the fact that a pros perous and fertile country, with natural re sources almost unsurpassed, contrived tol fi^vell up a d>^bt little lets than that of the UniteJ States, in proportion to population,! aHhnugh the Utter has been engaged in a| leavful civil war of more than four year'e] coutiuuauce. How can we help coming to th conclusion that they are most extravagant No doubt the increase of our taxation will h about 50 per cent above what it has been pre viously. As an example of the extravagant 91 )rtMoe thu) all I thkt on it de> onntry. I may d to the me«D8 .Biembly to paia oald be invidi- jDoerned Iq thia IT rights. Cer- e reoolleot tlie member! of this express oonvio- iTcriatioDB with this Aot thuugh Ives strongly m r. It is easy for 8 was brought Union was ao- f them obtained ainedby intimi- ed to vote in a lure. This pres- t to bear againtt ve a brother in a is County. The : that time made nost savage, aud jrove this I may low around thexe eroe me into sub- us for bis good lat of the electors ]onfederation was ■itish Government ell known, and it that I need not I has been often le and his Nova n largely instru- inded assertions, )on us. Another he Press. We all ave been given to le past few yeara. m the Bine Book, d of nine months ;old by those who or ^10,000 more nts, of which the nfederation ? The lanoially, we lose II not enter into iave preceded me fully. It is easy se to see that the )m the extensive ttawa.with a Go- enjoying a salary in proportion, to wasteful expendi- fact that a pros- . with natural re- ed, contrived to than that of the )n to population,! een engaged in a| than four year'ej lelp coming to thf lost extravagant? ir taxation will b« at it has been pre-j f the extravagant] expenditares of Canad«, I will give yoti a list of the sams paid in connection with the re- moval of the seat of Government from Quebec to Ottawa, in 1866: From the "Public Accounts of tht Province qf Canada for the fiscal year ended 30//1 June, 18(36. Printed by order of the Legislature, Ottawa." Paid to D. Oodley— Bemo7»l expeniet Qoy. GcdI. 8«c;'i vffices aad staff from Quebec to Montreal, and thence to Ottawa $4,221.10 1)3. du— QoT. Qeneral'g eitabllshment, do. . i'iO 00 K. A. Metedlth— M 8PICBCH. Hon. J. Feequsson said. — Since you, sir, have directly addreued me, I shall make a very few remarks. There is no doubt that there is a deep feeling of discontent pervading the whole Province in consequence of the Aot of Union which has been recently consum- mated without the consent of the people. I much mistake the p.'ople of Nova Scotia if they do not resent it at some tioieor another. I don't wish to make any threat i, but we can- not conceal from ourselves the .Act— ft. it is palpable through the whole country a '\ it will be soon known in England — that nover was a greater act of injustice perpetrated on a free people since the American revolution. No rep;ard was paid to the petitions we sent home a short while ago. Now delegates are going across the water to make known the voice of the people through the constitutional channel; that is, through this House; and I have great faith in the sense of justice, in the love of fair play, in the wisdom of the people and the legislature and statesmen of England, that they will do us tiiat justice to which we are entitled. I aci confident that the time is not far distant when the Province of Nova Scotia will be gratified by the know- ledge that the obnoxious Actof Union, so far as we are coucerncd, will be repealed, and wa shall obtain our rights aud liberties, of which we have been so unjustly deprived, and then content and happiness will again prevail among us as in times past. Mr. YcuNG jaid :— In ancient times it was the custom for the younger senators to speak first, and «uch appears to have been the case to a certain fxt3nt in the present debate. I have no intention, let me say at the outset, to go into the financial part of this argu- ment; the Vrovincial Secretary gave us all the iufoimation that was necessary on this particular point. All I ORn say is that last year we had both our pockets full of money, but now wo have little or nothine; in them. As respects the Canadian Parliament, tee what was the very first thing they did— they added insult to injury; they tend persons IMAGE EVALUATEON TEST TARGET (MT-S) .8 SPBECa. Mr. PcBST said:— At this late stage of the debate, when the subject has been exhausted, I would much prefer giving a silent vote, but looking at the question in all its aspects, and knowing the importance of the great isMs before the country, I feel that I would not be fully discharging my duty if I gave a silent vote. I shall not attempt to make any lengthy remarks, becruie it is already pretty much exhausted. I feel, sir, that the importance of the ques* tion demands that we should give it a eareful coneide^aiion, and advance every important idea that can be brought out, in order that the matter may be laid fairly before the coun- try and before the British Government to whom we appeal. \ will not detain the House at great lengtq. but I wish to review the principal branches cf the subject. Our first Assembly met in 1758, — we were govern- ed for years by an irresponsible government, —the Governor surrounded himself with whom ne pleased, and the country bad no power to make him change his councillors, so that the opinions or the people would be re- flected. It was soon found that a government of that kind did not promote the prosperity of the country ; — and the people spoke out, demanding a more just and equitable distrio bution of the patroivage and power, and re- quired that they should have the ooLtrol which rightfully belonged to them. I will not delay to narrate the means by which No- va Scotians at length came to enjoy the pri- vileges of a free people. They had a right to a free government,— they had shown them- selves a loyal people, and bad striven hard to maintain the British flag in this country. The thirteen old colonies felt the Stamp Act srievous to bear,— on its passage they mani- fested every sign of displeasure end rc^re>, and finally rebjlled, but Nova Scotia remained loyal and true even to this hour. We showed a loyalty in our early history in bringing the militia to defend this city at various times, and whilst the settlers in the country dis triots were clearing their lands and building their houses with one hand they were defend* ing their families from the attacks of the Indians and other enemies with the other. I might also narrate a long chapter of events occurring in 1812 when the war with the United States broke out, and our people were called upon to suffer many privations. Pri- vateers infested the coast, harassing our ash-> crmen and destroying our commerce, and then, sir, our House of Assembly, although the revenues were very small, gave a largo grant of money to aid the militia, fitting out armed boats, and preparing for the defence, not of only our homes but of the British flag ou this side of the Atlantic. I am the descendant of British loyalists, and I feel ,?*:! !'i^';i 93 penoM hate ftmqniet; he Bts broadoM) mnoh o7 the itened at it. irs monaroh lost its effeet K€D. Btsge of the en ezhansted, lent vote, bat I aipeota, and s great iaMs woaldnotbe gave a lilent B any lengthy pretty much e of tlio qaea> re it a eareful sry important n order that ^fore the conn- overnment to t detain the ish to review subject. Our I were govern- ) government, himself with intry bad no iSQuncillora, so would be re- a government he prosperity le spoke out, uitable distri^ weir, and re- ! the Qoi:trol hem. I will r which No- oy the pri- lad a right to shown them- triven hard to this country. Stamp Act they mani- »nd regret otia remained We showed in bringing ratioas times, country dis nd building were defend* (tacks of the the other. I ter of events ar with thf I)eople were ations. Pri- ing our fl8h-> meroc, and ly, although p;ave a largo la, fitting out the defence, the British I am the and I feel that the history of our country warrant! ni in aaking the jnitioe whioh We are about to deaiand of the British Qovemment, and in believinff that our requeit will be heard. I might go on to shew that this country has not only been loyal, bat that she has been generous. Look back at onr early history, and you will find that when fires occurred in Boston, Montreal, Miraniohi, and other S laces, at various times. Nova Scotia ccntri* nted freely for their relief Not only so, but when the battle of Waterloo took place, and the British soldiers had left widows and orphans to he provided for, the loyalty and generosity of this country was shewn by a contribution that was honorable and hand- some. Tet we aretold that because we stand up, like men of a free country should, we are disloyal. I trust the time has now arrived when no man will dare to hurl the slander of disloyalty at the Anti-confederate party in this Province. Loyalty does not surely pre- vent a paople from olaimine their rights and privileges. Among the other characteristics of Nova Scotian'R enterprise has been promi- nent. I might enumerate the principles of trade, and ahe«r that in none of them have we been deficient. Method of government and frugality of government might form another branch of my argument by which I might shew that we have been able to govern oai- selves in a most honorable and satisfactory manner. Bravery might also ftarnish a topic for remark for the brave and proud hearts of Nova Scotians would never allow any aggres- sor, single-handed, or ie a multitude, to trample on their rights. They Lave nerve and manliness enough to resist, apd when I heard it said that our request for repeal will be unheeded, and that the British Govern- ment will carry out the Confederation Act by means of the troops in the oitat^el, I feel that they may crush out the free spirit of Nova Scotians; bu; they will have something to do > iiioh I trust never will be dene. I trust that the Qovernment will never ask Britiib troops to fire on a Nova Scotian, and I believe that Nova Scotians will not require it, for, with fair argument and common sense they will obtain from the British Govern* ment their rights as free subjects. It is not worth while now to narrate at length what has transpired frcot the time when we were a Grown Colony. As intelligence advan- ced, and our resources were developed, a change w^s found to be necessary in the con- stitation of the Province. I refer now to the time when responsible government was ob- tained— 'o the period when the Howes and others csme out and asked that the people should have more freedom and power in their Assembly, and that the government should be carried on aecnrdine to their wishes. Those events are well recollected and under* stood in the country, but how was that change obtained f It was by going honestly to the country and asking the people whe- ther they desired a change in their institu- tions; going throughout the length and breadth of the land ; appealing to the sound sense of Nova Scotians, and asking them to elect men who would join in the demand for more power and freedom. The demand was made that the docri of 'he Connoil Chamber 13 ■hoald be unlocked, and though tiie GouBoll asserted its rights with a great deal of dignity and force, yet those doors were opened by pressure of public opinion. The Councillors have ever since been undeir the public eye. The British Government at that time gave up something— they gave up the power of tizipg us and of appoinMug our Eieoutive Councillors without our cpnsent, and vested in this House the full control of the revenues; we Were allowed in short to govern ourselves in the manner we thought best. I might go OB to show that although Afom the time when ':he first tree was cut in Halifax to the tiUie when Responsible Government was granted, our progress was slow. Yet from the mo- ment when the people pbtaincd control of their own afiairs, our trade and resources weie developed, and the country prospered in a ratio far beyond what it had rohfeved up to that period. It was obvious to any one that our own people ought to be better judges of their own requirements than persons across (he water. I have said that our progress was slow since 1749 down to the time when Res- ponsible Government was conceded, and I might cite many facts in proof of the asser- tion; in 1816 the first coach wsnt to Wind- sor, in 1814 we had only three fightbouMS, in 1825 our population was only a little over 100,000. But when Responsible Government was granted, and power given to the people to control the Government, the country advan- ced with a degree of pTosperi:y which was most honorable to it. We immediately com- menced building breakwaters and light- houses, improving harbors, opening free roads, and building bridges, extending pos- tal communication, and building railways, and yet, until after Gon^iideration, we had no bread tax, no paper tax, no stamp act, our tariff was low, and yet our people were increasing in nambers and in wealth. We naturally enough looked about to see what resources we had that could be developed; we were nearly surrounded by the sea, we had harbors plentiful and good, timber was convenient, and there was no reason why we should not turn our attention to shipbuild- ing. We did BO, and the result is that Nova Scotia owns more shipping in proportion to her population than any country in >he world. I was struck the other day With a state) tent which shewed that in 1866 we own- ed 3509 (vessels, of 400,895 tons. w2kile New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec, foming the great country which the Unionists wonle have us believe is a garden of Eden, owned altogether but 2873 vessels, of 499,800 tons. Let as govern our own country, and we wilt develop our resources and foster those inter- ests which are most congenial to the country. The] public records show that down to 1863 there took place in this Assembly constitu- tional debates which are fresh in the minds of most of us, and I desire to draw attention to what took place particularly in 1863. Since responsible government was established all the public grievances were brought before the people at the general election, and at that date there were no oodstitutional diffi' oulties, no grave public errors, but the great question before the country, whether honestly raised or not I will not atop to inquire, was ■T 94 I i '■ li ■■' if- 3 tliAt of rttrenchment. I put U to tho H9UU thkt if there hkd been grievMces they would hftve beien brought forward ; b at th»t seemed to be the only question which tho people were asked to decide upoc. As a prooi; of this 1 refer you to Dr. Topper's letters and speeobes. la ^ let,ter dated May 16, 1^63, over his own signaiure, he raises the isf uea for the elections. It is true that in rhat let- ter he turns aside for the purpose of show- ing that Mr. MoCully^was a man of most abominable en|ng and maintaining free roads, building free bridge, railways, &o. Not one dqyar of bi^r debt was caused by deficiency of revenue to pay officials, whilst $22,000,000 of the Canadian debt was incurred for bor- rowed money to meet current liabilities, and of course has no equivalent asset. It has al- ways been a grave question with me whether the British Government, not being liable for our debts, can control our assets, and u]ppn tbis'point I mi^t r«fer to the remark of £arl, Qosford, who said that the d^bt of Canadfi,, not being under tliiecpntrol of the Britisb Parliament, the question could not be touched by that body. I think there is a fair ques- tion for diroaasion in that suggestion. I will now turn attention to what this Atsembly and the people have b^en doing tor the last thirty years. Have they been inculcating no leading principles of Government? They have. In 1836 tho policy of consulting the people at the tolls was announced; Mr. Howe advocated the introduction of Respon- sible Government, the people accepted the principle, and the eiectijns resulted in a ma- jority to carry out that policy. In 1837 the issues respecting Responsible Government were fairly before tbe people, and the ques* tion was whether tbe country should continue under it or recede. It decided to continue. We are then down to 1850 when the House had under consideration a bill respecting tbe LegiiUtive Council. It was thought by some that the Council should be made elective, and a di8c^88ion arose on that issue. This House at that early date enunciated tbe principle that in a change so material the opinions of the people should be ascertained. A resolu- tion was carried ir these words: '■ Therefore Resolved, Itiat it woald be premature In IhlB Hoage to expreot ao opinion on 10 material a chaage in our Provinc al conttitntion, and that tli« sentiments of tihe people tberecn ought to be first ofaUaicertalDed" Here then this Legislature passed a resolu* lion confirming indelibly the principle tbat not even a chahge in the Legislative Council, making it an elective initead of an appointed authority, should take place without an ap- peal to tbe people at the polls. Tben again in 1851 the same principle was established, when the Hoiise of Assembly bad again un> der consideration the question of an Elective Council. After debating several days, a reso- lution was reported froia Committee of tbe whole. The following is an extract : " This HouEe is of opinion that it is wise to defer the consideration of so organic a change in tbe constitution until the general election shall have been held during tho present year;" which paised, and ettablished tbe policy again of consulting the people at the polls. It would be worth while to scan the policy of tbe leading men of this country for tbe past few ^ears. Dr. Tupper has been one of these leading men, and I will therefore be rigbt in criticising hie public acts and endeavoring to ascertain the ideas en which be acted. In 1859 be advocated strongly tbe principle that we should not' accept the railway guarantee, and fasten a railway system on the country without goin^ to tbe polls. Does not tbat shew that bis conviction was in favor of giving the people the freest and widest ez- prefsion of . opinion on any important change? In 1861, during a constitutional de« bate, we find him again expressing a similar opinion, and bringing in petitions tallying with his views. Those petitions enunciated the principle that though the meaeiiTcs of the government might be si^pported by a small numerical nupiber in tbe Hou4^ yet when tbe pepple o\itsid« expressed different' views, it w,aB t^e'duty of the Governor to interpose bis prerogative,' dissolve the House, and let tbe people be beard. Tbat convinces me tbat Dr. Tupper's mind was imbued with tbe idea of the power which the people ought co pos' 95 it a fair quM- geation. I will this Auembly g for the lait inculoatioK no Dment? Tiiey of oonaulting iDDonDoed; Mr. ion of Respon* e acoopted %'kt suited in a ma- . In 1837 the e Gorernment and the ques* thould continue. 1 to continue. i«n the House I resppctlng the ■ought by rome de elective, and le. Thia House I the principle he opinions of aed. A resolu- Is: raid be ptcmUare on to mater!%l m on, and that tUe ought to be first )as8ed a reeolu'* I principle that alative Council, of an appointed without an ap- 8. Ti^en again raa established, bad again un> 1 of an Elective al days, a re«o- amuiittee of the straot: "This wise to defer the k change in the 1 election ehall absent year;" the policy again the polls. It in the policy of ry for the past tan one of tneae fore be ri|;ht in endeavoring to h he acted. In e principle that iray guarantee, :>n the country Doea not that ras in favor of and widest ex- ny important natitutional de« iBBing a aimilar ititiona tallying ona enunciated meaeurea of the rted by a small Iou4^ yet when difierenV views, or to interpose House, and let nvinoea uie that ed with the idea B ought CO pos« aesa. In 1863 we find a similar eipresaion of hia opiniona in thia resolution : " that«n the eve of a general election if Would be as an- wiee as it waa inoperative to psse the resolu- tion now befoteus." Here again the thought it was a aonod principle to a. low the people to decide for themaelvea. I might go through the lettera and apeeohes of Messra. McCully and Archi- bald, and ahew that they expr^sed the aeme deaire to let the people rule, but I will not trouble the Honae with further remarks on that {branch of the aubject, atid will come down to the action of the delegatea In .Ebg- hnd in England. Here I may aay it becomea necessary that there should be put on record the fact that when politicians undertake to tamper Irith the rights of a free people they mutt anffer, as thejustconscquenoea of their acta, diagrace, shame, ignominy, and con- signment to private life. Thia view of the caae ahould be put plainly forward. We find after thedelegatea went to England something stated in the Queen's Speech .which no honest man in this Province will endorse : "that the delegates represented all parties and opinions in this Province.'^ I think there is no man with hardihood enough to assort that Arohibaldand MoCully led at that time the old Liberal party in this Province. It is true that years ago when the party lines were dravrn they did lead the Liberal party to a certain extent, but they did not in Eng- land repreaent the opinions of that party. The CoBRderation echeme deatroyed all party lines in tlii^ country, and when to-day I look around these benches and see Liberals and Conservatives joined hand in hand to free the country from the Confederation Act, I feel that all party ties are broken, and that the people Kiave come togetber for a common protection. The statement therefore that the delegates represented all parties Was untrue. If I am asked for further proof of my asser- tion, I point to the history of the Quebec- scheme :— The delegates went to Quebec and prepared their scheme in secret, — they re- turned, and by the action of an honest Prince Edward Islander, the people became aware of ita nature. As aoon aa the public got bold of it. meetinga were held, the aoheme was condemned, and \rchibald and McGully were likewise condemned as the prominent men of their party. And yet after that they dared to go to England, and claim to repre- sent the opinions of the old Liberal party In this country, and caused such a statement to be put in the Queen's Speech. It was patent to every one that the Quebec scheme was con- demned as not being what the ooantry want- ed. I will next tarn attention to what oo> ourred in the House of Commons, and with all respect for that body that it deserves, with no desire to use a harsh expression con* ceming any man, I must aay there is a re- aponaibility reating upon every oae of na to call {(things by their proper names, and to speak our true feelings. We look at what took place in the Britiah Parliament, and stand aghaat at the atatements made and meana uacd to paas this Act. Does any man pretend to say that there the trath prevailed, or that our delegates discharged their duties faithfully r Who was Dr. Tupper T Was he not as it were our sentinel— the representative of our Gavei>nmeBt, boanSbylbe ties of da^ to speak the truth, nay sir, to speak tlie whole truth and nothing but the trtJhT What, then, was the truth which b«.was called upon to atate T In the disouasion ia the House of Commons the fact came out that the ques- tion had not been submitted to the 'people at the polls. Mr. Bright ennhoiate4 ^liye prttf* ciple that before so material a change in the constitution could be ftilde, tearing tp 6nr old constitntions and forming netr onej, this pecule should in justice be cohSulted. Thli.t announcement struck the ear of Mr. Wsitkin^ who was aupportinf; the litaeasnre, as r^quit^ ing an answer, and although he was trying to press the bill through at all hazards, oar* (rig little for us and much for Canada, be thought it necessary to oonoult Dr. Tttpper kbpm the facta. Dr. Tupper'a (statement of the matter at Truro was something to this ef- fect ; "Mr. Watkin left bis seat, came over and spQke td me. we went aside abd o6n- yettii. &o." It is plain that Mr. Watkin desired to l^now whether the, meaaure had ever been before the people or not, and he ahould have had a prompt and candifl reply. According to Dr. Tupper's owa statement, Mr. Watkin got from him an answer, and it is not pretended that Watkin even eonversid with any Other person on the subject at'that time except Dr. Tupper. After conaaltaiion, he returned to bis seat,^ and made a state- ment which we all know to be untru^.. The Sfeakrb suggeatecl that it would be better not to discuss tb9 .proceedings in aor othetr Parliament. , Mr. PuBDT oontinne'd-rThe apswcr iwhi^h Mr. Watkin gave is on iRcord, and any inaa can read it for him«elf. I aball be clearly in order in aaying that Dr. Tupper shoald have been there as the guardian of our rights and interests, bearing our commission, and in the disoharge of his dutiea if he beard a man atate an untruth be ahould have corrected that untruth— be ahould have stated that the qneation pcver was submitted to the people at the polls. (The usual hour for receea having arrived, the House adjourned and reaum^ at three o'clock, when the debate was terumed, and Mr. Purdy continued.)— It has oeen contend* ed that Dr. Tupper's answer to Mr. Watkin was based on a lecture delivere*]! in St. John by the former; that lectwre. then, hasaom^ prominence on thia question. 1 cannot aay what its contents were, for it was never pub- lished or circulated in this Province. I find, however, in referring to the Colonist of that Eeriod, some extracts from the press of New irunstrick which show pretty well what the views entertained there on the subject were. The Colonist, which was the exponent of Dr. Tupper's opinions, copied this extract from the St. John Morning J\'ews :— '• The leotarcr was a fair tjpe of the dlapleawd or disappointed Oonsetvatlre. It was evident, frooi the moment be stepped off neutral political ground, that It was his Intention to have a dash at lomebodyi and If he could not sccceed In the tenraainent to nnhonc hii adversBrtei. indulging In aertaln fooliih polltloal notions ot their own, h« would at least b's able to shiver a lance over ihe backs of his aadl«nc«,-.-ltt people know at all events what he thoagbt of dema- gogff«s, goveitaors, and celonisi siarery: The bartheg mmmammmm I. 96 U Um iaetnre fanpUed that mponitble goTcnunent wu a Muloni that gorernon htre too much poweri that MionUti were tied hud and foot to the chariot wheel* ef thmnlog itre'ti that oarttateimen were Bobodleii 4hat bejend the Umlti of their retpwstire proTJnoe* thef were anknowa; that Kag land eanbbcd ne at every tnm, and when >he had a treaty to make with a foreign power the oolonlei were regarded with oontempt, and their teriltorlea and flthing prlvllegea taken a«ay fr«m them." I wi'il not weary the Houae with lengthy Stntoti, bat I wish to direot attention brief- to the oironmitanceg aarroanding the po* lltioAl qneations of that day, for I belieye that aaoh a view will ahew the justice of the remarks which I have quoted. Dr. Tupper was fresh from a oonstitotlbnal debate in which he imagined that the grievances were entirely on his side. I deny that at that time he had within his brsiin any practical idea about the Union of the Colonies, and if I am asked for the proof, I reply that immediately after deliTering the lecture alluded to, he de- livered a lecture to another audience in Port- land, (St. John), not on a confederated Union of the Provinces as a whole, but on a legislative Union of the Maritime Provinces only. If he were consistent in the one lec- ture he was not in the other, and thus the remarks of the JVews are justified. It mny seem out of place to refer to this matter, but it should be remembered that on these lee* tures has been based the argument thsit the people at the polls had taken the subject into consideration, which is not true. Much has been said on the constitutional branch of the argument, but as I not a lawyer, I cannot be expected io deal very fully with it. I woald however direot the attention of that l^reat oonetitntiooal lavrjer the leader of the opposition, to the reniarke of Mr. Adderly, in the House of Compjons. Beferring to an Act passed in the previous session, he said : " In 1891 Nova Bootia took the lead in promoting the esbeme ol ueion, and rras tba first to propoee that delegates should be sent to tnls couutry, to conrer on the sabjeo!: with the then Oolonial Miniiter th > Dakc of N"''sa«tle. who promised tha», If the desire of the colonies for the union were clearly made out, the pro- position would be taken into careful consideration by this country. lie meniion>.eclaraUon rco1oni«l Batlway Is I Union or Brttlih hereto of Nova Boo have oonteqnently ade ror ita immedi Dment of Canada: to that agreement, oment and Farlia Jie commencemeDt, , of a ratlway con htheoityofUaliraz lotion thereof witk on thereof, with all i that the dele* ioh they got in and if we leave I is that their m- ren. No person ^ake the railway ^before they did [the right to be s who should it in my belief the in the hands of for weal or for Id have had an on the whole many that be- ere in favor of re wM necessity ffith all respect ion of the mem- lons who favor that they can dge of what oar well as the 48 ,» lilies, do know interests as well gain, would you 3S of this Prov« those who repre* commerce of the .affects their in- :rom our 15,000 their voice in » their welfare? asses be disposed few individaals, ent they may be? must attach to at prevented the ? who were the to take hold of he voice of the eleeton of this ooantryT Bold men they most hftve been who nsarped the functions ot every man in the Provinoa. They were the men who advocated the principle of going to the polls with every important measure, — some of them had placed on record that reso- Intion declaring that no change should take place even in the Legislative Council without the people being consulted. When they under- took tonndermine the oonstitution, ta usurp the rights and stifle the voice of Nova Scotia. they should have shrunk from the responsi- bility, and asked themselves *' are we the men to seiie upon the liberties of the people after all the pledges we have given, turn re* oreant to the trust reposed in, and prevent them from being heard at the polle?" I have asked " who are the men ?" 1 mention first tbe name of Dr. Tnpper, not because it gives me any great pleasure to do !io, but be- cause I hold him responsible in the first de<- free. Being the leader of the Oovernment, e, of all other men, should not have been guilty of this arbitrary exercise of authority. If it is asked how he came to be in power I answer that when the delegstfis to Charlotte- town had got permission of the Qoverner General to go to Quebec, there to arrange the terms of Union, he, as leader of the Oov- ernment, should have said " no, the people have nevw.r been consulted, and I will not go unless it is understood fairly that the people wUl be heard before the matter is decided on." Again, he went voluntarily to England on the delegation, — could he' not then have said to the House of Assembly, " I will accept the intrcduotion which the resolution of this Le- gislature will give me, bat « clause must be put in which will bring the matter back to the people at the tk>11s." Nor is that all,— when he went to England and decided on the scheme, evtn supposing he considered it a good one, he should have considered tbe rights of the people, and made a provision in the Act by which they would have been con- sulted. And, coming dorm to a late stage, if the truth had been told by Mr. Watkin in the House of Common [in answer to Mr. Bright's remarks, the operhtione of the Act would have been suspended until it came back for ratification. Where is the authority for such a course 7 has been asked. The Leader of the Opposition refers us to the Corn Laws, the Emancipation Laws, and the Reform Bills. Perhaps his reasoning upon this point may be sound, but it struck me as being a piece of special pleading to say that because the British Parliament passed measures like those, it could pass an act like th&t which brought about Confederation, de- stroying 0U7 Constitution and afieoting every interest of the country. True, those entict^ ments altered, to some extent, the represen- tation of the country, but the highmindednass and honor of British statesmen called upon them to deliver a portion of their people from iDJQStice. Englishmen have ever been jealous of their rights, and so are we. After those measures had been passed the Parliament still remained; itoould have repealed them and restored matters to their old condition. This Confederation Act, on the contrary, takes from us the power of altering the laws to rait onr Province. Coming down to a latb/ date we have kid cited as a precedent the union of Cape Zreton. ^Tow we know that if a witness is put into tbe oox he is considered guilty of perjury if he fftils to tell tbe nhola truth. The leader of the Opposition, when he quoted that pVeee- dent, should have told us fairly that Cape Breton had no Legislative Assembly. Again tbe union of the Canadas was effected after the rebellion there, and when commissioners were exercising military authority. Surely these instances bear no comparison to oar case : wc werein peace and prosperity, legis- lating according to oor constitution, with no sign of quarrel or rebellion. Precedents opon our side of the question have been cited in numbers, the case of the other colonies. New Brunswick. Prince Edward Island and New- foundland being proof of the way in which our people would have been treatad if tbe Legislature had acted fairly. I think, how- ever, that the challenge to cite precedents came from the wrong quarter— precedents should come from those who seek to justify the charge that has been made. We asked no change, and those who urged it should be prepared with p^^ecedents to establish their authority for what they did. It is hard to find esses exactly in ^int, for in the history of no country possessing representative insti- tutions has there been such an attempt to sab- veit tbe constitution. Preeedents which do not apply to the condition of aftairs estab ■ lished when the principle of Responsible Gov* ernment were conceded are not in point, be- cause the Imperial Government, having granted us certain privileges, will not revoke them. Ithsabeen clearly shewn that impor- tant measures have from time to time been submitted to the decision of the people at the polls, and surely that is tne coarsS which should have been followed in this instance. It may be considered out of place for Oe, a layman, to refer to any legal point, but I ha^e found one reference which seems to me to be applicable to this question. In 1835 the Brit<> m Parliament passed an Act, chap. 114, con- taining a clause worded in such a way that it will not be denied that thereby some rights were conceded to us, and if that be the cane the Union Act cannot be eucoessfuUy defend- ed as constitutional. It has not inaptly been said that this Union Act was good for those who advocated it. Perhaps if we search alt the records of history we cannot find a mea- sure which holds but so many rewards for its friends. The system cf increased salaries and multiplication of ofliees was one of the most objectionable features of the scheme, next to that which destroyed cur powers of legisla- tion. I need not descant at great length on the loss which Nova Scotia will experience by the ohange,— we lose our public works of nearly every description, and although we go into the Confederation with nearly an equal debt, yet there is in point of fact no oomparision between the debt of the Canadas and of Nova Scotia, tbr ours does not repre- sent a dollar of deficiency, while that of GanM ada represents twenty-two millions of revenue deficit. I will now briefly allude to the operation of this Act since the lit of July. One of th« main argamenti of those who rapporled n A 14' Union prinoiplei, wm, thnt altboagh our re- {>rcNBUtion WM auftU, yet oar power and nflaraee would be cqaal to thnt which coo- trolled the former GABadian GoTernment, nnd woQid, therefore, be equal to onr want*. Bat when we look at the hiitory of the Dominion Parliament we see how inadeqaate that ropre> ■entation.haa been found. We see that our rights have been diiregarded, an injurioui tariff bai been enacted^ and our repreienta> ttT«fl, even when aided by those of New Brunewiok, were powtrleu to effect any change when the members from Upper and Lower Canada combined againat them. Look, again, at the policy of that Parliament re* ■peoting our coal . When we aeked for a email duty on American coal, we were told that for the Canadians to tax theneeWee for our bene- fit would be preposteroua. One great charac- teristic of our GoTernment has always been eeonomy,— we incurred no debt beyond what was necessary for our public works, and pre- Hnted a fair example of the benefits of repre- Bentane we read of ;er to cool hia ber may weep bat the faalt e people have ) who goes to kke hia life in ilf of pablio aeolemndaty duty will be here for to- the Union Act the right a of the privilegea eztenda to us. datiea will be do honoar to Let mo aay, nay be arrived na but every never the pri- ded, the pre- eonatitution a to the inter- iat us in our eaker, at thia House by any ine. In the ,vn the honor British North 1 and oppres- the people of ittte of aervi- these few re- ntions laid on Qeneral. Wbdngdidat, Feby. 19, 1808. The Rouse met at 3 o'olook, p. m. HlflCEIXANEODS. Hon. AiTT. Gknkhal presented a petition from a number of Indians of the Brasd'Or Lake, praying for relief Hon. Mr, Robebtbok, as chairman of the committee on the Inverness election, aaked leave for the committee to adjourn to Monday next at 11 o'clock. Leave grnnted. Mr. NoftTHUP presented a petition front John Goose and others for money to expend on a road. Hon. Mr. Fltnn presented a petition for a grant of money to build a bridge. Mr. NoETHUP presented a petition from John White and others, of Musqnodoboit, for a grant of money ; also, a petition from Pres- ton in reference to the school law. The latter waa referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. Whitb presented a petition against any material alteration of the school law. Mr. KiDSTON presented a number of peti- tions for grants of money on roads and bridges. Mr. YouNO presented a petition in refer- ence to the ferry between Windsor and Hants- port. Mr. MoBBUON presented a petition from Geo. Leister and others for money to build a bridge over Salmon River; also, a petition for a railway station at Salmon River. Hon. Mr. Robebtson laid on the table in* formation asked for in reference to the Hob> pital for the Insane. The adjourned debate was resumed. MB. COPKK» MI>£KCII. Mr. CoPELAND said :— Mr. Speaker, with your permiesion I rise to offer a few remarks upon the great question of Confederation, now before the House, fiutas the gentlemen around these benches have so fully and ably discussed the question already, I will not at this late period of the debite occupy much of your time. I have the honor of being one of the repre- sentatives of the second most populous coun- ty in the Province, and if your take into con- sideration its vast mineral resources, I believe the first county in the Province, and aa re« presenting such a county I do not think I would be doing justice to oiyself or those who Bent me were I to give a silent vote, I desire therefore in a few words to express my hostility to the British North America Act, also to the fraud, deceit and trenchery by which it was carried. I believe, sir, that such an Act as the Brit- ish North America Act, affecting as it does the interest of the people so materially— such an overturn of their constitution— should have been referred to the people at the polls; and the parties who so systematically pre- vented the people from passiog on it, oorT>,mit- ted a very grievous injury on the people of this Province, and perpetrated an act which will forever hand their names down to pos- tiirity as men who have wantonly trampled upon the rights and liberties of a free people. And I believe there was too much honesty and ■ease of fair play in tha British PatUaoiaBt to pass saoh an Act if they had aot bean de- ceived by tha deleirateB, and made to believe that the peonle of Nova Scotia ware in favot ofit. But, sir, when an opportanity was at last presented to the people they aroee in the ma- jesty of thdr strength, and kave declared in a voice of thunder that they abhor the Brit- ish North America Aot— the frand by which it was carried, and the treachery of the men who perpetrated the deed. Nova Scotia is small in extent, but rich in resources; why, sir, just bat glanoe at her fisheries, ber vast mineral wealth, her gold, ber iron, her coal, her shipping, her mer- cantile capabilities, and her near proximity to Europe; and I think, sir. that you will agree with me that Nova Scotia is the most important part of North America in propor- tion to its size. Sir, I am a Nova Bcotian, possessing, I trust, all the feelings of a Briton. I am proud of liiy native country— prcud of the mighty Empire of which we form a part, and loyai to my Queen and Sovereign. But, sir, I will nevev su;^mit willingly to have my rights and liberties swept away, and handed over to the tender mercies of the Canadiana, to be nothing better than ** hewers of wood and drawera of water" for them. Sir, 1 t»d that my countrymen poasefs the same feelings with regard to this matter, that I do myaelf, and that nothing but force and coereiou will cause them to aubmit to the B. N. A. Act, and that they will embrace the very first opportunity of getting free from it. I ahall therefore most heartily give my vote fop *be reaolutions submitted by the Hon. Attorney General, knowing that in doing so, I am not only fulfilling the desires of my ownoonstitu* ents, but expressing the views of the people of the whole Province; and with a firm be- lief that the British Parliament will, on the facts being made known to them, grant the people of Nova Scotia what they desire, and without which nothing else will satisfy them, that is a repeal of the B. N. A. Act, in so far aa it refera to Nova Scotia. ITIK. WUITXE'H HPKECU. Mr. WmxE said-^Sa much has been ad- vanced on this question that it is with the greatest embarrassment that I rise to address the House. To give a silent vote on the re- solutions, however, wbuld not be congenial to my feelings or consistent with the duty I owe the people of the important ooumy who have honored me with the trust I have un- dertaken. Not only has a great deal -been said on this subject, but much has been so ably said that my embarrassment arises not so much from what I should say as from what I should leave unsaid. Promising not to occupy the time of the House at any length, I will advert to one or two matters which occupy my mind in connection with the history of Confederation. We all know somet'ing of the history of Canada, and a glance at that history shows that she has been laboring under serious disadvantages for thirty years past— disadvantages partly entailed by her system of representation. 100 ft if ♦hiob wu eitftblished with the treaty of l>«M» wkleh followed the nbelUoa. That treaty would not have been aeoeded to by Upper Canada nnleaa the repretentation had been framed aoaordtBg to her wiihce. Lower Canada having then the largest population. The reanlt waa that equal repretentation waj made the baiia of the treaty. Thii gave rite to nearly all the diffioultica which Canada haa tince had to encounter. Not very long ago we aaw a QoTerament formed there which laeted but two or three days, owing to the equal lystcm of representation. This difficulty led to the conception of the preiieut aoheme, the baaia of which !b representation by population. It ii true that the Canadian politioiani had also an eye to the revenues, but their main object was to remedy the po- litical difficulties which their system of re- presentation entailed. This may have suited Canadian policy, but in common with those who have preceded me in this debate I protest against it as far as Nova Scotia is concerned. I was Htruok with the argument of the hon. member for Inverness the other day, when, in support of the constitutionality of the measure, he instanced the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Emancipation of the Catholics in Ensrland. Every one knows that the mem- bers of the British House of Commons re- ceived inttroctions time and again oh these questions from their constituents. The Ca- tholic Emancipation Act, it must also be re- membered, only extended the privileges of the people; it did not restrict them. It aimed a blow at the prejudices of the age, but not at the oonititution itself. It did not transfer to another country the revanur-^ of Great Britain, nor did it extinguish the Lords and Commons, and that inttance is therefore not at aU analagous. The mode of passing Con- federation has been much commented on, and very properly so, for even if the measure were good, the manner in which it was passed would have been reprehensible. So was the conduct of some of its supporters. 1 will not travel out of my own county to il- lustrate this, but will refer to an address de- livered in 1865 by Mr. Bourinot, my prede- cessor in this House. After an earnest re- monstrance against that measure, he con- cluded by saying :— •< Mow that tho people tbould be told thit they were *o have nothing to do with deciding so Important a qatstion as ehanging the constUuttou of the country, bat that the House conld deal with it irrespective o' the wlBhea of those they represented, was something matt preposteroua to propound in a country lilce this, enjoying the principles of Responsible GoTernment - where the people are the fountain of all authority. The Provincial Secretary must have i:nown that the Ilonse was elected under our existing constitution, and could not ohanRe it without consulting those thht elected them. Yet the Provincial Secretary was quite ready to strilce down all existing rights and privileges enjoyed by this people, in order that he might march on to Ottawa. But far and wide the spirit of the peu pie asserted itself Little by little a feeling arose which spread over thejeogth and breadth of this Province, and showed the Oovernmeat that they must pause in their rash career. In my own county at fir.' t much iDdiff;;rence w!^B felt on this qacstion, but as tbe dibcussion proceeded (. strong feeling of dissa tiafaotion at the scheme ekbibited itself among all classes of the people." These were that gentleman's views in 1865, and I here assert that his constituency ap- proved them, and yet I find that in 1866 he voted for the measure. Had any change oc- curred in the meantime T I contend that nothing occurred which should have mate- rially altered his views. He delivered a speech in 1867, and by way of explaining his vote said: "The reasons for iiiy opposition to the Quebeo ioheme are kaown to many of my friends, and as I have stated them at large to the house, I need not re- fer to them again excepting to say that I support the measure from conviaticii. My mind was not influen- ced b| any fre^ic of a moment, or by any drsire for office. It is well known that I never held office, and that I do not deiire any either uader the general or . local government In the opinion of some gentlenen •very man does wrong who does not strictly conform to their views; but I can fully Justify the coarse I have taken. When I came to the aestlon last year there were many conflicting reasons operating in my mind and I waa not fully determined at to whether I ihonld support or oppose Union. Id the first place I found on reading attentively that the opinions of tbe most intelligent men in Kngland were favourable to Oonfe<<.eraUoa; then I saw that the organs of the varl ous rellgloai denomtnitions were likewise favorable, and that the proposition had received tbe support of tbe leadiDg men of every political creed. — Kverywheie evidence was to be found that the wish of the Imperial Oovernment was to see Union consummated; then curne the Fonian excitement, and the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty; and, at length, when our own territory waa menaced, I felt that the moment had arrived when a true and patriotio lover of bis country should decide. I then came to the oonoluiOD that I should support ConfederatioD, In order that we might be prepared to meet the emergencies which were approaching. I gave the proposition my sup- port, however, with the understanding that the Quebec scheme should undergo modiflcation." Perhaps I am hardly justified in saying that this was an eye opener to Mr. Bourinot —that the mists cleared away as soon as he discovered that there was room for him in the Senate, but I cannot help saying that he exhibited a total want of that patriotism which he so glibly talked about. Patriot is hardly the word to apply to him. Sir, if this be patriotism, our lexicographers should re- vise their works and find some term or com- bination of words better fitted to convey to the mind — love of country, and devotion to our country's interests. Sir, I can scarcely trust myself to dwell upon the conduct of those who have been instrumental in con" summating this measure of Confederation. Suffice it that these records (Debates of House of Assembly, 1864 to 1867) abound with the tergiversations of those of whom the people of this country did hope better things. I turn now from all the inconsistenotes which that record illustrates to a subject which has not been touched on by those who preceded me. I refer to the address to Genl. Williams, which was got up for the purpose of whitewashing some individuals. I was much struck with the view taken of that ad« dress by some of the Confederate organs; it was taken not merely as an expression of loyalty to the Queen through the Governor, but as announcing to the English people that tho people of Nova Scotia were in favor of Confederation, and a clause to carry out that view was inserted in it. When wercfieot upon the means by which that address obtain- ed its signatures, it loses its effect, and should do so. When introduced to nay county, it was sneakingly taken aronnd, and people 101 t in 1866 he y ohftnse oo- oontcna tbat 1 hftTe mate- deUrered a ixpUining bia to the Qaebeo Vl«ndt, HDd M I 9, 1 need not r«- at I Rapport the HM not loOuen- I Boy ilfaire for held office, and ■ the iteneral or . some gentlemen ■trlctly confoim tj the coarie I eulon last jear operating In mjr u to whether I the flrBtplacel 9 cpiaiont or the ire favourable to gam oftheTarl kewite ravorable, 1 the rapport or Md. — Krerywheie h of the Imperial wammated; then ;he abrogation of th, when our own the moment had ver or hli ooaotry tie oonclniion that In order that we uergenclei which opoiliton my «ap- ig that the Qaebeo ified in raying Mr. Boarinot ' %B toon aa he om for him in Ip Baying that hat patriotism tat. Patriot is im. Sir, if this hers should re- term or com- , to oonyey to nd devotion to I can scaroely the condact of mental in oon* Confederation, ebates of House )oand with the horn the people IT things, isconsistenoies tes to a subject n by those who address to Genl. for the purpose rridaals. I was ken of that ad* irate organs; it expression of the Governor, ;lish people that ere in favor of je to carry out When we reflect t address obtain- ffeot, and should 9 nay county, it ind, and people wer« Mkcd to lign it hurriedly, »nd did lo, beinc told that it waa merely an addreaa of loyalty to the Qaeen, and had no political tignificance. Many who signed it were asto- oiahed to find afterwards that it contained a olauae deaigned to make Confederation ap- pear popular. If in other counties that aa« dreaa waa aigned as it was in Cape Breton, I deny that it was any compliment to General Williama. Its being signed in that county waa not, I must repeat, intended as an expres- sion of agreement with the pnMoy of those who carried Confederation. In conclusion, I may aay, Mr. Speaker, that I have an abiding faith in the generosity of the British Parlia- ment, and believe that, without doubt, this repeal will be granted. The attention of the British people has been so much turned, with- in » year or two, to the condition of Ireland, that the Imperial Government will hesitate, I feel certain, before refusing an application like thia. I, for one, am content to await the resalt. My remarks, I fear air, have been aomewhat deaaltory and void of that elo- quence which eharacteriaed a debate on a aimilar anbjeot in^ngland aome years ago; but, air, however weak I may be in reproba- ting this thing and ita promotera, my weak- nesa may be to some extent coinpensated for, by my ainoerity in the cauae of Repeal. J»B. lli:.ANOaUi.B1»>0 BPBBGH. Mr. Bmbchabd said :— It waa underatood, Mr. Speaker, that thia afternoon ahonld be devoted to giving me an opportunity to re« view the numeroua apeechea made on theanb- ject under debate, and I feel that it never haa been, and I ttuat it never will be again, the lot of any man in Nova Scotia to be placed in my poaitian. However indifferently I may be able to diacharge the dutiea which devolve upon me, iand however amall may be the abi- litiea which I can bring to bea?, yet I feel that it ia well that there is aome little differ^ ence of aentimect here. If it were otherwise the employment of the House would be short, and little or no interest would centre in this debate. I find myself now called upon to re- ply to about tgrenty-nine speeches, delivered by geiitlemen on the government side of the House. It waa said last evening that some of those gentlemen should have the reply, because I might take the whole twenty-nine and lacerate them, but I have no idea of doing anything of the kind. On the contra- ry, Iwill aay that each an array of eloquence and talent as has delighted the Houae for more than a week never occurred in a Pro- vincial legislature before. We have seen coming to the fore and delivering lengthy addresses men who, one would have suppo* sed, would hardly have occupied as much time as the last speaker. Talk of lawyers, sir, they cannot compare with some of the farmers and merchants who have been ad- dressing us. Some gentle:^en who, before the last election, had hardiy ever made a speech except in a village debating club, have delighted the House for two mortal hours at a stretch, with language, it is true, that ia somewhat anuaual, but with power! eloquence! ! and wisdom! ! ! Such as I moat oopgratnlate the country on poaseising. 14 Talk oftho talent of the Houe bdnglcMMU •d ainoe the Union A«t ouim iato fbrotl Why if we measun the talent of hot. geatleiiien by the namber of their wordt, u4 tkeiv Abi- lity by the foree of theif laBgu*f«« lothiBg to be compared with this debate haa •vtroo- curred before. I sat hare iv the dnya.whcn we thought we had intelleetual gianttnmong ua— when Mr. Johnaton on the^MfMd'lea an array of talent that waaofnoorAlaavy character, and when Mr. Howe aod Mr. Tonng, on the other afde, were aiistalMi by a fair ahare of talent and Abllityi; Imt all the debateaof those daya wereMBoMiiaairtiea compared with (Jieae tw^nty^niM qweeusali in a row, auggeatlag to th* owMory' the nuraery rhyme aiont aom.i other thiagaia • row. I intend to go into the mnimik with good temper, beeauae whenevW I ksv«,«n other oMaaiona, ventured to indattefaaa little retort, by way of aatire, o«i ge>Uea«B who had attacked me; I goladr«MiBff toeh as no ordinary nan would ambMit to, bat I promise two or three gentleneia that ;i>efore I am done I will return the oompliment. If I should omit to refer partlonlarty to any geB« tleman, I truat heirtHpatdoB« and take to himaelf the Temarka I mrte to bll frimda. In tiie flrat plaoe, however, I-wiah to take a broad view of aome of the'fiatura» of- the debate. We had « good deal of ooMtitotioa- al argument, and I regret that wheal oloaed my fira; apeeoh the Attorney dtnera) miinot idlowed then and there, aa he wished to do, to reply to my remark! upo^ that hwd, fbr that would have given me aa opporin^ty of commenting upon hia obsarTatfoBal I fiiel that it will be maai Aat that ia the oonne of hia argumeat he either miaf^naeated the iaauea of the queetioa or hewataotawateof the facta. We Were tokt thatthlr«oantry had a charter— aa inviolate e rppealed to. We have heard a good deal about the atrong feeling pervading the country now, but I have been often told by men who were well acquainted with theatate of the laland in 1880 that the feeling then waa infinitely atronger. £1000 aterllng wu aubacribed by a amallpopulation to aena home ddegatea and •ngage oounael in England. The Privy Council then deeired thia Legialature to aend an agent before them —not to diacuaa the propriety or jndicionaneea of annexine Cape Breton to Nova Scotia, be- oauae that branch of the argument waa ex- prtaaly excluded, but to diacuaa the congtitu- tionality qf the Act. Our Legiilature de» olined to eend agenta, yet the queation waa elaborately diecuaaed before that tribunal, in whoae integrity the public had the moat im- plicit faith, and within whoae doora the breath of aoapicion never entered. Did the Priry Council decide that the union was un- eontlitutional, and repeal their decree 7 No; but they aent back aomething like thia mea- aage to the people of Cape Breton : " you have been united by the Aei of the King and Council, and united you mnat remain." United they |have remained (fortunately for themaelvea, and it did take many years for the great feeling.about repeal to dwindle out of exiatence. Having aaid thia much in reference to the charter, and having, aa I think, ahown that the acta ot the King and Council have been uni- veraally recognized aa controlling our afiaira and annexing aeparate Legialaturea, I think I have made a point which cannot easily be overcome. I will admit the truth of the pro- poaition. that aa the country progresaea and the Government becomes sor'^ liberal and democratic, the Legislature s uld be con- aiilted on aubjeota of thia kind, but I cannot Hwleratand the allusions which some gentle- men fcave made to despatches which state that 4he Parliaments of the Provinces should be fionanlted. Those despatches have been spoken of, as though they contemplated an appeal to the people. Aa I aald before it ia a doctrine unknown to the Britiah conalitation that we must go beyond the representatives of the people and go to the people themMlvM for the declaration of their will. However desirable such a principle may be it is not Britiah, it ia American in ita inception and hiatory; it never formed a part of our oon- atitution, and I truat it never will. I come now to refer to the obaervationa made by va- rioua Qembera in thia debate, and I must say, with all due respect for thoae who con atitute thia Houae, that if they could but di- veat their minda of the heat and prejudice which operate on them, they would aee the impropriety of much that haa been aald in thia debate. We have had a good many hard worda uaed in nearly all the apeechea from that of the hon. member for Londonderry down to that of the hon. member for Pictou (Mr. Copeland) who apoke thia afternoon. I have known the latter since I was a child, I am well aware that a more upright man Nova Sootia c'oes not contain, and when 1 heard him in his quiet voice uae the worda ** firaud, deceit, and treachery," Welt that he had not meaaured hie language. So ftereotyped have thoae phrases become, th&t at last it seems . impossible to discuss this question vithout using them. I will endeavor not to retaliate for the strong language that has been used, but I cannot help aaying that auoh expreasions are seldom employed In re- ference to anybody present or absent, and I do feel that there ar* some who would hardly have ventured to use auch language if thoae to whom they applied it were here. To whom did they apply thoae worda T I have under my hand a apeech and pamphlet by a man, who, above all othere, earned and retained the respeot of the Conservative party; and I ask the Conservatives of this House— the men who from childhood have been taught to look up to James W. Johnston, if they are pre pa'Ted to apply the terms " traitor " and | " treachery " to him? If that old gentle- man.were here, even at his time of life, I would I like to see the man who would get up and { talk about fraud, deceit and treachery, and . apply the terms to him. I was long opposed { to that hon. gentleman. I know how to ad- mire talent and patriotism even in an oppo- nent. I should like to seethe Attorney Gen- eral tell him that he was a traitor. Aa long I ago as 1854 Mr. Johnston made one of the! finest speeches ever delivered on the floors of I Parliament, and not content with that, after I the publication of the Quebec scheme, wheD| asked to give that speech for general publica- tion, he endorsed every word he had ever ut- tered on the subject. j I cannot forbear reading to the House onel or two sentences containing so much elo-l quenoe and pregnant with so much instruo-F tion, that I hope, before we hear the wordil which I referred to again repeated gentlemenl will reflect on whom they are cacting asper*! sions. In Cape Breton, when a Highlanderl corses and swears he is said to use " badl Eogliah." We have had a good deal ofl "bad English" in thia discussion, but sil far as I am concerned this violent languag'l passes by me as the idle wind, which I reg:;dl not. 103 In nfnrraM to Juda* JobnaloB's oplnica* I will ntd flrat, not Eii attennoM in 1834, bat in 1865. He wid on th« one hand :— " VDlon aod«r one gorcrnmant, girlng to Brtttoh inblcoti. In their ooofederate and growing itrengtb, • nttlonulty worth j of their origin, and a theatre of aetlon taeh ae national expanalon demand* i where, aoknowlcdfing the aorerelgntj, maintaining the Icttl- tatloni, enltlratlng and perpetuating the prlnolplet of the parent Btato, and patting forth the energlee of freemen, they and their deioendanta m«y, nnder a grMloM ProTldenoe, have the ot.. ortnalty of rlalng te degreei of polltlotl Inflaence, material preiperlty, iotelleetaal and literary attalnmenta, rellglona, cdaoa- tlonal and moral progreti, and refleement of taite and minnerf , which cannot be rtaehed In email and con- tracted commanltlM." On the other hand ii :— " The p«rpetaktlon of the preeent liolated condition of the Prorlnoe,— and rloh as ihe li la mat«rlal bene- flta. and proipcrons within the llmlti which imiU eommanltlci may attain, yet ftw In nnmbera, weak In ilrentth, unequal te the derelopmont of htr owa re- louroea, unable to fumlih to her loni profcHlonal education, or to retain at home her enterprlalng youth, the hai little proapect for the future beyond a dwarfed estctenee and ultimata absorption Into the neighboring Kepnbllc. " One of these mnit be choien— the other rejected. There is no other alteaiiatiTe. My sentiments, formed and publicly adrocated through a quarter of a cen- tury, leara me no room for deliberation now. To an old man, lndl*<.dnaUy, any decision la of small mo- ment) but as a member of the community. In the exer- cise cf my best Judgment or a question of Tital inter- est to all of UB and those who come after, I dare not deny a national existence, with its prlTUegea and duties, to my descendants and my countrjraen. 'I therefore accept Confederation as a great ben- efit, whaterer my tendencies In (aror of Legislative Colon, and though they were greater and more fixed than they are." Sir, ig that the language of a ditoontented politician 7 Ii it the langaage of an am- bitioQs man who wanted to get into a larger arena 7 No, bat it ii the langaige of a man of a ripe old age, removed beyond all politi- cal relatione, and ornamenting the Jadiciary in a Te;'y hif h degree. Doealt become lome men whom I ooald name to talk aboat trait- or] and treachery, and to stigmatize so Btrongly ai they have doue the friends of Union, and among them a man like that 7 Now, let us consider when this discussion of Union commenced. Its origin was not in 1863 or 1864, or in the days when Mr. Howe brought it forward, but away back in 1814, long Defdre Cape Breton was annexed,— and we then find that the late Chief Justice Sewell and the Duke of Kent took a decided interest in the question. From then until now the great minds of the country directed their at> tention to it. I have nnder my hand a letter on the subject, written by the Duke of Kent in which he speaks strongly in favor of the project. But passing over many beautiful and eloquent passages in the speech delivered by Mr. Johnston in 1854, let me read to you his concluding remarks. He said :— '■I cannot conclude, Mr. Chatrmao, without acknow- ledging how far short I feel I have fallen of the capa- city of the subject— I will not say of its requirements, for the measure I have advocated needs little of argu- ment er of eloquence. The priaolple on which it rests is so simple— so truthful— so practical— so ac- knowledged—that argument and eloquence seem su- perfluous. " Unox IS BvMHOTH- reason, philosophy and ex> Krience declare, illustrate and confirm the truth. lUgioo and olvillution demand iU aid. " It -phoUa tU •OTtraltnty which CM has given 10 mau over creation, and it the basis on wkiah nsti all the agtnolw fbr fulfilling the Creator's derigns «sr the amelloratioB of our raoa. Bnpportad on this pria* olple the quaation seems no longer open to debate, io soon as the praotleablllty of Unlco is alBrDod. And yet the subject affords ample scope for rtasealag the most rigid and eloquanee the moat exciting. Hanoeat cue moment the mind Is embarrassed to fled' raMd ob- Joetiona to oppose— at another, oppressed by cmcttoaa dUBcult to uttes*. " I trust and believe my deflclMMlcs will be leal Id the more perikct and able exposition the rakjeet will reoeiva flram those around ma, and that, graced by the aids of reasoning and cloquenee, It will be plaotd in the light It onght to occupy before this Piwvinee, onr sister Colonies, aad the >mpire. "lolbrno apology— or, If any be required, sty interest as a Colonist, my duty as a dtlien, my eews- try*s welfare and the well-being of onr poetertty • most plead my excuse for inviting this discussion. OalM, la the Providence of God, to take part tu the eonnolla of my oouuwry, I have now folfilled a duty I should have been Ul satisfied to have left undone when soy public career chall terminate." This quotation, let it be remembered, is from one who was looked up to with reve- rence and respect as a gentleman of the high- est personal cnaraoter, and when I heard the words " traitor and treachery" applied to him by men who, in eomparison with him, arc the merest pigmies, I feel inclined to advise gentlemen to go and look at Judge Johnston's grey hairs, and when they think of him aa a politician of forty yean standing, the Con- servatives of the House at least should be ashamed of the iojoatice which they have done him. Hon. Pbot. Sxot.— Mr. Johnston did not vote for the measure. Mr. BiAscBiXD continued :— No he did not vote for it, but look ai his langaage after the legislature had adopted it, both in the letter which I have qaoted, and in his address to the Grand Jury at Truro and Amherst last summer. I think that after this some gen> tlemen would wish their language unsaid. But am I done when I have spoken of Mr. Johnston 7 No sir, many are the great names which I could cite as advocates of Union. I will not go into a discnwion of Mr. Howe's inconsistency, except to say a few words. I ' will .not say that Mr. Howe was the father of Union, beoanse he was not. Mr. Johnston was the originator of the question here; but I am going to speak of one circumstance in connection with Mr. Howe, and to quote one sentence from a speech of his, and I will be content with that, because, as far as Mr. Howe is concerned, the subject has become hackneyed and tasteless. In 1857, after losing the con- trol of the government, Mr. Howe said in re- ference to the Union of the Colonies : '* If there was one question unsettled when I left the administration, in the discussion of which I detired to mingle, t( wa$ that (Union of the Colonies). When the hon. gentleman (Mr.' Johnston) moved his resolution in 1854, 1 lent him all the aid. in my power, and if it were debated again gladly would J atnit him." Now, sir, I ask the House, and espe- cially the liberals who have been accustomed to look up to Mr. Howe, if it becomes them to talk abiaut traitors and treason when Mr. Howr said that this was almost the only question which he had been unable to settle Now I ask some of these gentlemen, and ion f~ 104 of Qic Mpk>le ootilde, nho luiTe been ttlking blfttMttjr *i>ftit.t tndtora, to oouider Mr. Howe*! deflnitiou of that word. Hdeaya: "Itaoldthftt tke Queen's oommiaaion rant* thrOQffbdtit thin entire realm,' that every oon- •tiUtnoiiaL mandate of Her Majeity her loyal ■abjaotf are bound to obey, ana. that he who attempts to thwart or oppose the policy itf the Imperial Oovernment it a disaffected an(^ dUloyal svJtject." Nor am I done wLsn I uew ^e HoQie that the Equity Judge and B^. Howe are men to wnom the termi that kaTe been QS)d were applied ? Standing as I do, almoat alone, when I hear gentlemen talMng a* if I had forgottec the rights of the people, I am tempted to turn baok and tell theai who muit at the eame time have for- gotten those rights. Let gsntlemsn consider whether they are prepared to apply thesQ epithets to the Judges of this oonntiy presi- ding over the Supreme Court. If they are not they should remember that they have done so id applying them to others. If, sir, I stood alone in the country, aa I stand al- most alone here, I would still, I think, have euQugh manly feeling not to ba put down, but to induce me to give axpresiion to the aentimenti which animate my breast. That^ however, is not the case. The opprobious terittf whidh have been applied to the advo< eateiof the measure, are not applied to me aldbe, but to men who are grea'dy my supe- riors : to the Judges, to Mr. Howe, to the men who preside over the various ehurbhes of the Province, to the overwhelming majori- ty of the profeiiion with which I am con- neoted, to me**, of every class in the country who ought to know, as well as the fatmeia w« have heard so much of, what is for the «ood of the oountry. Xhere ar« one or two question.^ of nhioh I wish to speak before goiAg into a reply of the various gentlemen who have addressed th« Houie. We have had recently placed be« fore th« country a comparative statement of the.amoonts of duties received under thti pre- oeding and existing tari jT by a gentleman of no ordinary ability. When some geni;lemen get up and talk flippantly about the figures, as iftheioffioer who published the statement knew nothing about them, 1 would aak them to pause. One gentleman said that Mr. John* son had made a miitake in every entry, but he did not stay to reflect— perhaps he did not know, that in April 1866 the duties were largely altered. We had one set of duties :o April au< another *o September, and which set was Mr. Johnson to take 7 If he took the dd dutio«|it would not be a fair statement at klli for hii object was to show how much more would biiOoUeoted under the Dominion tariff in|.867 tkanwontu have been collected under the tariff as it was on the lat July, 1807. litat 111 the answer to the array of figures pre- sented by the hon. member for Kings. Even Mother gentleman, who took the trouble to pobliA a full statement in tba paper this morning, has not ventured to adopt thie view of the subject, but I would ask whether it was fair, nnder the ciroumatances, for tbs Proviboial deoretary to bring down what is the same statement to all intents and pura poaei, and to publirh it only a few hours be fore I was called upon to reply T Why did he not take the hon. member for Kings and cram him for the task? The statement of the latter gentleman was altogether fslla* cious, inaimnoh ae he took the duties pre- ceding April, while Mr. Johpicn ;took the jubaeqnent tariff. Again, that gentleman and those who have addressed the publio through the newspapers, have entirely ig^ nored one branch of the subject. Mr. John* son calculated that there would be a change in the trade of the country in consequenee of a large amount of goods imported from Ca- nada free. Mr. Jones and Mr. Dickie entire- ly ignored this fact. Let me turn attention to some of the articles to which this remark applies. Mr. Johnson has deducted $60C0' for arms and ammunition, and why? Be- cause there is a mtnufMtory in Canada where they can be obtained as cheaply a» (hey can oe imported. Baeon and hams are also omitted, because Canada will give us' as large and cheap a supply a* can be ob- tained from the United States. So as to other articles of produce. Why, I ask, was this^ view of the case ignored 7 Why is it that no gentleman hM considered the large quantity of dry goods hitherto paying duty, but which will now come in free 7 Among those articles:— felt and felt hat bodies, materials for hoop skirts, machine silk twist, prunella, silk twist for hats, boots and shoes, candle wick, straw plaits, Tuscan grass and fanoy^ &o.^All these article paiJ ten per cent before, and are free now, and yet these gentlemen in their calculations insert thousands of dollars which should have been omitted. They have put down a large sum for India rubber raanuft^ctures, but who does not know that Canada can supply tbem as cheap, and in- deed cheaper, than they ?an be had from abroad. One word about printing paper, about the taxation of which a great deal of complaint has been made. I have taken the trouble to enquire about that matter, and what is the fact? For the If ^t five cr six years printing paper has teen so high that it could not be imported from the United States, and the pub- lishers have been obliged to import from Great Britain. But the price has now be- come so high there that a mineral substance htia been used for adulteration, which has been found most injurious to the type. At this moment I undertake to say on good au- lacrity that an article infinitely superior can be got from Canada, free of duiy, more che4ply than paper can be got f r .a Oreat Britain, und at this moment there is an agent of one establishment here endeavoring to ne soeiate for a cupply. I will not, however, dwell on this subject by going over the var» iouB arwldes to which slmTlar remarks apply. I have made no calculation and do not intend to make one, but I desire the country to look at the various statements put forth, and to give them a fair uzamination. There are a hundred men in the Province more competent to examine this matter than any of us, and the truth can be easily arrived at if the change of importation is borne in mind. Passing to another topic, it has been declared in the amendment which I submitted, that in the present condition of this country it would have been necessary to increase the taxes to 105 or King! uid the ■t«t«inent together fBllnr- le Jnties pre- dion; took the tat eentlemtti ed the publio re entirely ig« !it. Mr. John* d be » change oonteqaenee of orted from Ga- . Dickie entire- turn attention \i this remark edacted 860C0< ad why? Se- ry in Canada ae cheaply a»> and hams are I will give U8' ai can be ob- Soasto other ask, waa thith hy ifl it that na I large quantity ing duty, bat Among those dies, materials twist, prunella, shoes, candle tss and fandy^ per cent before, le gentlemen in ands of dollars )mitled. They r India rubber not know that cheap, and in- >n be had from per, about the , of complaint the trouble to tnd what is the years printing it could not be es, and the pub- import from e hu now be- aeral substance on, which has the tjpc. At ky on good au- y superior can of duiy, more ot fr ,ui Great lera is an agent eavoring to ne not, however, ; over the var- remarks apply, d do not intend jQuntry to look t forth, and to n. There are a more competent any of us, and ived at if the )orne in mind, w been declared l>mitted, that in mntry it would K the taxes to disehatge the publio wrvicM without Confed- eration, and I now ask members to look at ^hat matter. I will not make an elaborate calculation . but I ask the House to consider the facta set out in the resolution : that while our debt t'!7o or three years ago was but four or five millions, it now amounts to eight and a half millions, and, according to some, nine millions. If it be ^ faet ihat we were about having to provide interest on onr additional debt of so large an amount, I ask where was the money to come from 7 $240,000 was the smallest sum which must have been provided annually after the Ist of.July for that par- pon. Will any man tell us that we were able to take that sum from our annual revenue, and still provide as we hsd been doing for our roads and bridges and other services ? It was impossible. "But," says the hon. mem ber for Kings, "we had been growing at such a rate for the last ten yiars that if our pro- greis were the same we coald have met these liabilities." It is easy to look back and easy to prophesy, but if he had looked more care- fully and gone to the proper authorities hr would have found the fact etauding out pa- tent that the revenues of last year down to the present time were $130,000 lees than at the corresponding period of the previous year. This sum, added tc the amount of in* terest which I stated, makes $370,000 to be provifled for. And yet we are told that be> fore Confederation Nova Scotia was a happy country, and could carry on her public works without increasing the taxation. I could not help feeling amused at hearing one gentleman talk about Nova Seotia being economical, and keeping within her income. When wa doubLd our debt within five or six years, surely we rhould not talk about keeping within our income. I under, take to say at any rate that our debt is dou- ble what it was eight years ago, and yet it is said that Canada is & most extravagant country, while Nova Scotia is a tight little place that manages its affairs differently. When I said $130,000 was the deficiency, I should have given the exact figures which are $127,373.27 to Ist Septembe- last. Before goi' i into a reply to the speeches of the hon. member let me ask one or two questions. The resolutions laid on the table state boldly that our revenues are in such a condition that we are unable to meet the public requirements. Yet what did we hear slated the other day 7 That the accounts were in such a state of confusion that the Government, aoknowledglag themselves in- competent for the task of arranging them, were obliged to call in the assistance of three gentleman from outside. Those accountants wece put to work three or four months ago. and I ask why it is that, though the House has been three weeks in ses'iion, although the country has been looking for alarming disclosures about peculations on the part of t>-e late Government, at this moment we are ublio works at a time when we have no report from the Commissioners or from 'he Committee of thisH'>ase7 If the statement be true, it is within the power of the Government to prove it. If the accountants have not been able to exercise due diligence in their work who has been hindering them 7 Is the Government doing so 7 Have these gentlemen been sup* plied with the information necessary to the completion of the workT No, sir; to my knowledge information has not been applied for at the very quarters where it could be derived, and therefore the Government are not in a position to say what is the oopdition of our finances. When they put into the mouths of members, for the purpose of setid- ing it to England, the statement that we are not able to cany on the public affairs, why did they not lay the proof on the table 7 I comn now to my reply to hen. members, and I find that the first gentleman who fa- vored me with hia notice was my hon. fnend from Londonderry, who gave us his views ! of the oougtitutional law bearing on the sub- ject. This is not the first occasion on which I have heard of the hon. member's constita. tional law ; he seemed to think once upon a time that no one but himself was a mstoh for Mr. Johnston— no one would so readily ap- proach the lion in his den, and catoh him by the beard, as he. He told us once that he could make a better collection of Revised Statutes in a week than all the rest of us put together. How often have we lictened in times gone by to the constitutional law which I, "the member for Colohestei," proclaimed to the country. He used to say, in aubstance, " do not take your law from Johnston or Toung; I, the great man from Colchester, will tell you what the law is, and let no one dare dispute it." In that strain he used to address the House, and now, coming down from greater garae, be has turned his artillery upon me, and has told the people that I knew nothing about constitutional law, and thai I had a great deal of audacity to talk of it in his presence. He asks us to consider the precedents set in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, where an appeal was made to the electors. I did not say that there was to be no appeal to the people when the government could not carry on the affairs, but I said that when the government could carry it* measures through the legislature, no mai> haa ever heard of a dissolution being required. That was *he state of affairs in New Brunswick when i^ie question was mooted; the government dis- agreed on the subject, and there was no alter- native but to appeal to the people in order to settle the question. But waa there an appeal on this question in Prinoe Edward Island? Not at all; they had their election thet« at 106 the uioKl time, and lo with NewfoandUnd. The hoD. gentleman alio complained that in ipealting of aome one who had aelted the question " what thenT" I was trying to Srevent Nova Scotians from aaking qaeations. ot at all ; but on tUe contrary I wished him an4 every Nova Sootiau to ask Irimaelf and his neighbors, and the leaders of this move- meat, " what then?" I aak that an answer to that qaeetion be given to me as a Nova Boctiau, and to every man whom it interests in the country : If repeal is applied for, and refused, what then 7 I will not repeat what I heard an ex-member of this Legislatnre say in the lobby of the House this forenoon. I' his eentiments were uvtered within the pur- views of London, he would be imprisoned within half an hour; but when gentlemen in private make such usertlons, why not state their answer to the question boldly 7 I want the hon. member for Colohexter to ask h;m- selfand his leaders "if repeal be refused, what then ?" The hon. gentleman himself undertook to answer it, bat with all the skill of a practical lawyer, he went round and round it without coming to the point. He •ays I may ask myself " what then?" when I think of facing the electors of Inverness. I have faced them three times already, with what result the Houbb knows; but I will never forget the time when the hon. member for Colchester was with us before, and when, at the close of the last eestion of that House, some of us went down to bid each other good« bye, and afr^r four years hard fighting, the question was asked " who will come back 7" They thought there was no hope for me— never dreamed of seeing my face again ; but we all thought that there could be no doubt about the return of that hon. gentleraan with flying colours. How could any constituency resist that great constitutional lawyer? I did come back, however, and I ask where was he 7 Left at home. I therefore tell the hon. member, when he Mks me how I shall face the electors of Inverness, that he had better look after Colchester. When my con- stituents do not want me, they will bid me good-bye, and dispense with my services. The hon. member also made some, remark to the efiect that any society of chimney sweeps would kick from their company the men who voted for Confederation. Mr. MoERisoN.— Hear hear. Mr. Blanchahd continued :— It would be more becoming to the hon. member to say shame, ehame, for su^h language was hardly suitable to the dignity of the House and to his own position. He also spo' e of some people speaking of themselves as the almighty ••we," but it was the almighty "I" with him. Things went wrong in Canada, he told us, because "there was no Tom Morrison there." He said further that NovaSootia would never be loyal to Canada, and, in imitation of a celebrated orator, exclaimed "never ! never ! never !" I thought that that passage would have taken the House by storm, and that the country when it heard it would Durit out in wild enthusiasm. Then he said that Mr. MoOee was an "extirpated" rebel.— that snr» Srised me a good deal for I thought that Mr. [oQee had still an existence. I would like to speak with respect of every man, but when members talk in that atrain of Mr. MoOce they should remember who he is and who they are. Where , did I see that atateemaa with?n the last few years 7 On the platform of Temperance Hall, which was crowded vith one of the finest audiences that it ever held, and there Mr. McGee kept the whole attention of tbat audience enchained (for two hours with eloquence such as is rarely heard on a platform. Whom did I there see delighting to do him honor? The Hon. Joseph Howe, who said at the close of the lecture to the ora« tor of the evening, "go on, I am with you;* and Mr. Johnston and Dr. Tupper joined in these expressious of honor and encourage- ment. When we bear a man like that— the first orator in British America — spoken of as an expatriated rebel, it is enough to make one's blood boil. The hon. member for GoU cheater concluded his speech rather strange- ly; he said "'if I had ten thousand voices I would shout repeal ! repeal ! repeal !" That was his peroration, and a magnificent one it was. I should like to ask the members who are in the habit of reading their bibles to re- call to their minds the way in which Joshua directed that the walls of Jericho were to be knocked down : he directed the IsrseUtes to take ram's horns and make trumpets of them, to surround the city, and blow with all their might. Then the people were to shout with all their voices, and the walls were to fall down flat. I would advise ttie Government to follow that example : to send the hon. mem- ber home to England as a delegate, a-.d if the British Qovernment should refuse repeal, to station him in front of the Colonial Secretary's Office to shout. If the walls do not fall as he shouts I shall be very much surprised. I ad- mire the voice of the hon. gentleman; I only wish that heaven had given me such a one, and I trust that the Qovernment will not forget their constitutional lawyer when they come to appoint the delegates. Perhaps it may be unnecessary for them to take my ad- v'ce. — the walls of Jericho may be down now, for I should not be surprised to hear that the hon. gentleman's shout had reached all the way across the Atlantic I speak thus ot that gentleman with perfect good nature, hoping that when next he addresses us he will give me as good a text. Sometime after him we had the hon. mem- ber for Halifax, Mr. Northup, who made a short speech. Some allowance is, of course, to be made for a young member unacous* tomed to debate, but when I heard that gen- tleman's ir:paBsioned tones and language on the subject of Confederation, and his not very creditable allusions to the Hon. Mr. Mitchell and others, I thought " well, is it possible, that we have never heard of his be- ing a Confederate?" It has been said that once on a time he sustained and supported the men who were carrying the scheme; — that may not be true, but he was certainly recorded as one of the most emphatic sup- porters of Union. Something wonderful must have occurred to change his opinions. He told ui of what his customers said, and of what some one from New Brunswick said re- specting ^.he feeling {there. I believe, from conversations I have had with parties from that Provinoe that those rum ^t are worth 107 Mr. Mo€k6 Is ftcd who k ■tatMBlkD ihe platform rowded vith it ever held, ole attention two hoan r heard on a B delighting teeph Howe, ■e to the ora» with yon;* per joined in 1 enoourage- ke that— the ipoken of as ;h to make aber for Col* her strange- ind Toiaee I leal!" That ifioent one it embers who bibles to re- rhioh Joshua were to be 1 IsrseUtes to pets of them, with all their o shout with were to fall Dvernment to ,e hon. mem- te, a-J if the se repeal, to tl Secretary's not fall as he )rised. I ad- sman; I only suoh a ons, ent will not ir when they Perhaps it take my ad- le down now, hear that the saohed all the ipeak thus oi ;ood nature, dresses us ht . hon. mem- who made a ts, of course, ber unaocusa krd that gen- language on and his not le Hon. Mr. ; " well, is it krd of his be- in said that ad supported le scheme;— fas certainly nphatio sup- wonderful his opiniom. i said, and of wick said re- beliere, from parties from are worth about as nuch as some that we have had cir- culated here. It was said, we know, that hundreds of men of the first standing had forsaken us and joined the Antv- Confederate cause in Halifax, and yet we know that not a man of good position has left the ranks of the party. I assert that most emphatically, and should like to see proof to the contrary. I come next to the speech of the hon. member for Queen's, Mr. Smith, and of him I can say that he has not proToked retaliation by insinuations of motivAs, or by the use of vio- lent language, — he will excuse me, however, if I say to him that I think the principles of constitutional law are utterly at variance with those he laid down. He spoke of the charter of George II., adorting the idea that that charter is inviolate 'tnd immaculate. 1 am old enough to recollect when Responsible Qovernment wu introduced — when the twelve gentlemen who sat in the Council exercising executive and legislative functions were, by an Act approved of in England, required to vacate their seats, end what was the argu> ment then T Mr i. ogswell raised tho cry of " the charter, (he charter 1" But the Par- liament and Government of England declined to say that the charter restrained the Legis- lature from passing suoh an Act. That was the great argument, however, then,— the Councillors said : " The King of Great Bi-itain has by his charter appointed us, and no Act of your Parliament can touch us." That was the very same doctrine that we heard from the Attorney General the other day. Hon. Atty. Qe!nkiu.l— The Councillors held office at will. Mr Blamohabb continued:- That makes no difPerenoe, — they were appointed by char- ter, and did their objections avail them 7 No. they were swept off, the question of that charter wae disposed of pretty quickly, and a Legislative Council was appointed in their place. But, says Mr. Smith, " here is sa answer to all your black letter laws,— here is a confirmation by the Privy Council of the Queen's right to grant the mines and mine- rals of the Province." Who denied the right? True, for a time there wat a doubt about the matter, but the queitton was at length decided. Who denies that the Sov- ereign could grant the unoccupied lands of this Province, but all this does not affect thn question of the charter in the smallest degree. The hor.. gentleman told us that Catholic Emancipation did not pass against the will of the people. It is the first time that I h&ve heard that assertion,- will anybody tell me that if the voice of the people of EniP'land had been taken on the question there would not have been an overwhelming majority to say *'no"7 It is to the everlasting credit of some of the best Protestanti of England that they carried the measure againet the preju- dices of the majority of the people, and obliged the people to submit. Let me here contradict the assertion made by some one that this question and that of the Irish Union was referred to the people. The people of Ireland were opposed to tho Union, but the Union was effected through the will of the Legislature. We have been told that Prince Edward Isl- and and Newfoundland have not been coerced into the Union T Why is that? Becaoat their Legislatures— the only true exponents of the wishes of the people— the only con- stitutional and regular channel through which their wishes can^be made known, did not agree to the scheme. With reference to the Legislative power which Great Britain possesses over her Colonies, let me read from Blaokstone, vol. 1. page 101 :— " When the sorereign Legislature sees it aeoeiiary to eztead its care to any of it* labordinate dominioni, and mentions them expressly by name, or Inolades thtim under general words, there can be no doubt but then they are bound by Us law*." That is tho general doctrine, and as regards the prevailing practice, do we not, day after day, submit to laws passed just in the same way as that which united the Provinces? Whenever Parliament chooses to pass such an act the people must submit, and there can b« no appeal. Let this House and the country bear in mind the great distinction between the British and the American rule on tbiiS subject. In the Republic, if any one is dis- satisfied with a law which has been passed, he can bring it before the Judges of the Su- preme Court, and if it be unconstitutional the Judges will not enforce it. Have we any such rule under the British Constitution? No, the Judges of England are as much bound as the meanest subject in tho realm by any law that Parliament may pass. Let me here repd from Kent, a most celebrated writer on American law and the constitution of the Union. In vol. 1, page 504, he thus Sftys :— ■' A case In Pennsylvania has been recently decided involving an important political principle — the Court held ttiat a statute authcrizing the oitlcens of certain Counties to decide by ballot whether the sale of spirit uons liquors should l>e continued in said Counties, Wis BNCOMSTiTDTioBAL, as being a delegation of Le- gistatire pnw?r net petmltted by the Oonttitution, and contrarv to the theory of Oovemment. Bo in New Yoric, an act ettabllsh'ng Free Bchooli, which had been submitted by the Legislature to the popular vote, was declared to be not a law." Now we have a law exactly like that in Nova Scotia, at this moment : that if any polling dietrict should, by a majority of its voters, declare that they do not desire licenses to be grauied, the licenses cannot be issued, and yet such an enactment in the United States has been pronounced unconstitutional. That is the distinction betw<>en this country and the United States. There is with us no power that can interfere with or dispute the authority of the law ss declared by Parlia* ment. The reverse is the case with the Uni- ted States, and yet some gentlemen seem to desire connection with that country. We know that a great cry has been raised about the members who sat here two years ago, having forgotten their obligations to their constitaents. Now upon that point let me read another extract from Blackstone, page 159:— " The system of members belnf? bound to obey their onnstitueDts is spolcen of by I)e Tocquevllle as mtf>. that would, In the end, render all the guaranty** 08' representative Oovemment useless and vain." Upon the same point Smyth, in bis lecture on the French Revolution, said t-t " How absurd to have a questloa decided by tbn. obDStituents at one end of a aoant.7, and afterwatda 108 debttttd at the other. OfwhU um an nuontoK and el«4itenM addicned to thoM who, In the flnt pUoe, hare to lay thfir inttraottonf on the table." I refer to these pointa in view of the con- dition of tbingi two years ago, and to shew tkat the legialatare o? that day waa bound to pais such meatarea aa its membera believed right, without atrict regard to the viewa of the oontftituenoiea. Listen to what Burke asid upon that question while addressing hia oonstituenti at Bristol. He said :— " I do Dct obey yonr inRtructions ! No ; I oon ronned tu the instruRtieni of tratb aod nature, and maintaimd your interett agaitut your opinion* with a ooDitanoy that became ma. A representative worthy of you ought to be a person of i^'abillty. I am to look to your opinions Indeed ; but to such opinions as you and I mu»t hare five yean hencu. I was not to look to (he flash of the day. I knew that you choose me. In my place, alang wit^. others to be a pil- lar of the state, and not a weather-oock on the top of the edifice exalted for my levity and adreraablUty. and of ro use but to indicate the shirtings of every fashionable gale." In Tiew of these dootrines, so well esta< blished, I ask whether it was becoming to style the men who voted for Confederation, two years ago, " traitors," because they went, it may be, against the wishes of their constituents? I «iit come now to another branch of the argument. The hon. member for Queens referred to the large petitions got up, at the instance of Dr. Inpper, for the dissolution of Parliament, and he quoted that gentleman's remarks to shew that the Qo- vernor was bound to dissolve the House when a majority of the people shewed themselves hostile to its measarea. But the hon. mem- ber forgot the answer that waa given tu that request, and I give that answer more especial- ly for the benefit of the libera' members of the House, because it came from the man whom they appear willing to bow down and worship. Mr. Howe, in leading the govern- ment of that day, defied Dr. Tupper, and said that the legislature was not to be influenced by every breath of popular opinion, and that for its full term the legislature would conti- nue to govern the country in the way it thought proper— not as the delegates, but as the representatives of the people. From a Minute of Council, dated 29th July, 1861, 1 take this extract :— "Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Campbell are the best Judges cf the soundness of their own views and the propriety of their conduct. They are not delegatps but members of Parliament, and from the moment of their election they were bound to reprrseot, not only Digby or Ar- gyle, but the whole Province, whose great ioterests were committed to their care. This doctrine laid down by Mr. Burke at Bristol in 1774 has rievKr been qujettioned in the Imperial Parliament. And Mr. Horsman, member fur Strone, though recently called on by his constituents to resign, has asserted his rlehts, and iUuslrating this sound British doctrine, po- sitively refused. If members were to resign whenever for a moment they displeased their constltnents, the calls would be frequent— personal independence would be rare, and questiojs would be discussed by requisi- tions rather than by fair deliberation and manly de. bates. If Parliament were to be dissolved whenever a gentleman changed sides, or a discontented consti- tuency petitioned, free Institutions would become an endless distraction, and no man would ever dare to de- liberate or run the risk of being convinced." These are the doctrinea of Joseph Howe, put upon the Minutes of Counuil, and here again is a atatement of hia viewa on the 20th April of the aame year :— 'y and Argyle, itiih Oonitlta- a cooatltueDcy the Intereitt of » of a simple itaiive and tiot ok'> to say that, )oit rides he had neral, and that ras, " have yoa hen went on to DBulted, instnu- )st office patron - fid not resumed t knowing what lie changes were irough my own r to that ques- >use thinks of a o oast a flar up- Master General, to answer that It what will be the correspond- Mr. Woodgate B hon. member's > the Postmaster jy. 15th, 1868. las just stated in you about gome ed him if be had ! kind enough to )rrect; and if so, )u made the ob- ly, I. Blancuabd. Post Office, eb. 15, 1868. knowledge the le 15th instant, few days ago, office, and sug- lil route between and Mabou, After express* on the subject, I •. Blanohard?" speak to Mr. or words to that you were one of and I consider- such cases; at le moment sup> ig on the floors which I looked r the time being, ion would bavn ectfully, Woodgate. P. Is of the whole ed were in my repeat, got up er charged mo 111 with oontrolling the management of the Post OfiBce.when the Postmaster General had mere- ly referred to me because I was immediately interested in the subject. The post r'des re- ferred to are those running through to Bad- deck and affecting Mabou, Wycocomagh and Plaister Cove, and I ask what riiKht or busi- nees one of the members for Victoria had to interfere and ask for a change in matters relating to my own county without consult- ing me 7 I should like to pay some atten- tion to the gentlemanly speech of the hon. member for Queens, Mr. Freeman, but the abundant field for remark with which others have furnished me has left little time to de- lay. But he made one remark which was very true and for which I thank him. He told us that in six years Canada had increased in population by 582,000 persons. Is this the wild howling wilderness that '4S0,000 this year. I will not say that the figures of the Provincial Secretary were cal- culated for the purpose of deception, bat how did he arrange them ? All that is due on the Provincial building was charged against next year, when he knows that that is a part of the public debt. The building represents its whole cost; if the Dc inion takes it the building will be set down at its cost, and the balance wilt be paid out of the Dominion treasury; and I ask then why, in- stead of tbat being creiited, it was obtreed against our revenues 7 I do not care whether you call it £40,000 or the building; it n" hand it over to Canada we must get credit for it, and therefore I say that a great mis- take was made in charging the balance against next year's Revenue. But what more? The Province' has to provide two- thirds of the cost of a new Poors' Asylum; but by what jugglery can the Provincial Secretary charge the whole cost against next year's income ? The cost is to be scattered over several years, or will be merely interest- bearing debt. The next observation of the hon. gentleman was that the Quebec Scheme was better than tho new arrangement, because it gave the Local Legislatures the richt to tax our ex* ports. I am thankful that the delegates had wisdom enough to tske away that power, be- cause if there beany one duty more hurtful and detestable than another it is an export duty. New Brunswick, it is true, has an exo port duty of one shilling per ton on timber, and we have a royalty of sixpence per ton on coal, but we should be exceedingly glad that tho possibility of any increased tax 112 beine impoMd bu b«en removed. I would inflnitely prefer th»t • revenue sbould be rftieed by a tax on inoomes or a per capita tax than by an export duty, and 1 am there- fore, I repeat, glad that the right was taken away by the Britiih Parliament. That step was Dot taken with a view of giving to the General Oovernment the right to impose the duty, but to prevent difBoulttPs from arising. BuppoM, for example, that New Brunswick impoacd an export duty of twenty per cent, upon lome articles produced only by her, the result would be that the other Provinces would be taxed to that extent for the peou» Ii'>r products of the Colony of New Bruns- wick. We were to be made one in effect, and yet that power would enable the Local Lf gie- lature to create hostility and inconvenience, and yet the Provincial Spcretary considers this one of the disadvantages of the new scheme. He quoted Dr. Tapper to me. I am not bound to look at that gentleman as very high authority, and when the hon. member gives me Dr. Tapper I will give him Mr. Howe, and my authority yt\\\. be as good with him as his is with me. When Dr. Tup- per said that the House nhould have been dissolved in 1860. and Mr. Howe said it should not, Mr. Howe was right, and tbe British Oovernment so deoide'l. He bad around him men who were capable of telling him what the constitutional law was. I was not a member of his Government at tbit or any other time ; my advice was never asked by Mr. Howe, nor was it ever tendered to him, but be had around him men who were competent to do their duties well. The Prov. Secy, said that I h I boaeted having been brought up at the feet of Howe and Young, and he and others associated mc with democratic principles. I repudiate the impntfttion. The liberal party of this conn* try went in for reform and progrejs; but they had as rauch true conservatism among them as the conservative party bad. Borne of the conservatives of this country jumped over our heads and became radicals, while we were the true conservatives. While I learnt the principles of progress and adontx ed them, I learnt also that the conservation of the rights of the Crown and of Parliament were as necessary as the conservation of the people's rights. He told us that some one had made the remark that Earl Rusaeli, while in power, was a Tory, and whio in opposi- tion was a Liberal. I should like to ask him whether he, now that he is in power, is a Liberal or » Tory ? What kind of a hetero.< geneous government have we? A repeal go- vernment some say,— that is all, they are like f. bunch of sticks, with nothing to tic them together, — they have no other policy than that expressed in the shout of the hon. member for Colchester : " Repeal ! Repeal ! Repeal !" Yet these gentlemen say to me, " get away from us, you are a democrat — you were brought up at the feet of Howe and Yoang — we are the true conservatives— stand aside and let greater men pass." I did not expect to hear from a member with so soft a voice and gentlemanly a manner as the Prov. Seoy. has, auoh strong language as he used. He talked about people hanging me from every barn in the oountry. Some one threat- ened to hang me as high as Haman ; but why erect a gallows forty cubits high for that purpose if I have been hung already ? The hon. gentleman had better bo careful that the popular tide does not change, and he will find himself hanging in rfBsry to a barn in Digby some day. Popularity is often very evanes- cent, and the day may come when even he will find himself' deserted by manyofhia followers. He can tell us what is to be the result of this appeal to the Throne ! He is in the confidence of Her Majesty's Govern- ment ! ! and no doubt carries on a correspon- dence across the water! ! i He tells theooun- try •* do.not be alarmed; I, the Prov. Secy., having held office for thret months, have the wisdom and authority to tell you what will come to pass." When we get to the doors of the Colonial Secretary's office, whether we have to knock down its walls with ram'a horns or not, I will tell you what the answer will be : It will be " take back your consti- tution, and then new life will be infused into Nova Scotia, and we will have an immense revenue to distribute" What a beautiful picture of the change that is to take place in this lattc day of his dreams. Nova Sco- tia is to have such prosperity as was never heard of before, and her trade will be so vigorous that she will not mind a fifteen per cent, tariff. He does not pretend, however, that had we remained as we were, our duties would not have had to be raised. I have passed over the speech of the Prov. Secretary, more hurr'ddly than I should like to have done had tinuo permitted delay, but I come now to the speech of the |hon. member for Lunenburg. I feel it due to him to say that I regret the circumstances under which his speech on the first evening was interrupt- ed. His address was not marred by anything of which 1 can complain, but while advo- cating the views he held with all earnestness, he avoided references which others made, and which in my opinion were oat of place. He said, and the statement was repeated by others, that the constitution of England was not changed by Catholic Emancipation and the repe < 1 of the Corn Laws, but that these measures increased the liberties of the people. I deny that in toto, in the sense in which the terms are applied. Who were the people of Great Britain before Catholic Emancipation was passed ? The people who had control of the Government, and of every public office, and from whom alone the Sovereign could could come, were the Protestants of Great Britain. Outside of these there were no "people" according to the constitution. The Catholics were not recognized as a part of the people, but were deprived of the rights of British subjects. Instead, therefore, of the emancipation being an extension of the liberties of the people it was a curtailment of them, because by throwing in large additions of Catholics to the constituencies, the powers of those who before had held the franchise were abridged. Some of those who engaged in thin debate may be wiser than Burke and Pitt, but these men declared the measure to be an infringement of the constitution aa adopted at the revolution. They carried the bill through Parliament, however, in spite of an immense majority of the people, who were 113 imM ; but why high for that alrctrly? The larefal that the and he will find barn in Digby 1 very evanei- 9 when even he )y many of hie hat ia to be the brone ! He ia josty'e Govern- on a oorrespon- e tells theooun- be ProT. Secy. , onths, have the 1 you what will : to the doors of ce, whether we alls with ram's bat the answer ok your oonsti- be infused into ve an immense hat a beautiful 8 to take place ms. Nova Soo- y as was never trade will be so ind a fifteen per etend, however, we were, our be raised, oh of the Prov. an I should like ted delay, but I le |hon. member I to him to say les under which was interrupt- red by anything lut while advo- all earnestness, thers made, and :t of place. He as repeated by )f England was lancipation and but that these es of the people. 86 in which the ■e the people of Emancipation had control of y public o&ae, Sovereign could istants of Great there were no le constitution, nized as a part red of the rights therefore, of xtension of the a curtailment of 1 large additions oieb, the powers the franchise 96 who engaged ban Burke and the measure to constitution as .'hey carried the ever, in spite of eopie, who were never asked to vute on the question at the polls. Parliament passed the Act and de- cided the question by opening their doors and every office in ihq kingdom save one to the aspiration of evory honest Catholic subject. I deny most emphatically that these changes were referred to the people, and that they were not made in opposition to the feelings of the majority of the electors. A reference was also made to the Stamp Act passed to tax the American colonies, and while on that subject I wish to 6how the di»t.inotion between that Act and the Stamp Act recontly brought into operation. The Attorney General and others attempted to show an analogy, and tried to make it appear tliHt the existing Stamp Act was paeieed aud enforced by a foreign Parliameut. Suob, buwevcr, is not the case. The first was passed by the Parlia- ment of Great Britain to make the colonies pay a share of (he expenses cf the war which bad just terminated between England and France, — a war in which the colonies had spent some of their best blood, and a share of their treasure. But the whole comparison is done away when we reflect that the existing Act was passed by a Parliament in which we we have a voice. Gentlemen may say that it is a small voice and not worth havin;;,— no matter how small it changes the constitution- al rule relating to the whole matter. The ob- jection was to *' taxation without reprecenta^ tion," but we have a representation. From more than one member here, and over and over again in this dicoussion, wo have heard that the scheme of Union was ob- jectionable, because one of the delegates, while passing through Quebec, attached his name to it on Sunday morning, — it has never been pretended that more than one did it. The deed, of course, was to be regretted, but I can tell gentlemen that there has been more heavy sins than that committed round these benches within the past few days, and it would be wgU for us all if, when the time approached, for us to leave the world if wo had no greater ein to answer for. I can ap- preciate a due regard for the Sabbath and the propriety of observing it with decorum, but I cannot appreciate this double refining, this straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Some of the gentlemen who made this objec- tion committed a worse sin within half an hour afterwards by reviling their neighbors. (The usual hour for adjournment having arrived, the debate was adjourned aud the House adjourned.) Thuhsdat, Feb. 20. The House met at 11 o'clock. The adjourned debate was resumed. Mr. Blanchabd continued :— I would not, Mr. Speaker, have claimed so much time were it not for the peculiar circumstances in which I am placed. But of the number of gentle- men who spoke at the other side, a good many occupied more than an hour and a half, and to all who spoke I am called upon to re- ply. I will take care, however, that my re- marks this morning shall be brought within a small compass, for I find that I have gone over nearly all that I desired to say. There were one or two points which I omitted yes- terday in speaking of the fioanoea, and these I will take up first. I shewed the House that the financial statement published yesterday morning, in answer to the calculations of Mr. Johnston, contained two or three gross errors by not taking intr consideration the free ^oods that will be imported. '-n*. there was another error which I oniit. 1 to mention, and which was one that such a gentleman as Mr. Jones should not have made. Referring to one item that he mentions, we find him stating that at the pre- sent rate of duty cotton warp wilt not be largely imported. Does not every one know that at this moment cotton warp is only hAlf the price that it was last year T It has come down from Is. 3J. to 81. sterling per pound; and yet that gentleman, in charging the duty derivable at filteen percent., has not taken notice of the price. The same mport on of cotton warp that was made IsBt ypar would cott just half what it did then, and therefore the duty, as compared with last year, will et&nd at 7^ per cent. Yet that gentli>man, actuated, no doubt, by a desire to make the matter look us bad as possible, has calouKted the duty as bctnp; payable on the same quan- tity and &t the ta.re price. There is also a verv large rcductiin in the price of all cot- ton goods, and y^. Mr. Jones takes no notice of this. The hou, member for Colchester (Mr. Chamberfe), who dvf tit upon the taritf, must have been aware of these facts. I have no doubt he does not like that the whole country should know them, and would prefer that his customers should not know that cotton aod cotton warp has fallen nearly 100 per cent. It was said in course of the debate that it was n'iver iutended or expected that the delegates would have taken any action in England that would bind this country — that they were merely to have gone home for consultation, and to have returned with a scheme for rati« fioation by this Parliament. That statement has gone from lip to lip, but I hold in my hand a public declaration made .by the leader of the Government at the time when the resolution passed. In 1866, in reply to Mr. Annand, Dr. TiTpper made this explana- tion, which is to be found on page 224 of the debates :— " Hon. Provincial Secretary, in reply to a remark from Mr. Annand, said that the pas- sage of the resolution would enable a scheme of Union to be given effect to by the Imperial Parliament, but that one of the conditions would be that the existing Legislatures would not be interfered with, and would continue to sit for the term of their election." I ask whether, in the face of this declara- tion, it can be said that the country was de- ceived, and that the delegates were not given complete authority 7 The only reservation was that the existing Legislature should not be dissolved until the period of their exist- ence had expired. In the face of this declara- tion given to the country, how can the com- plaint of deception be made ? The resolution itself was as plain as it could be written ; but to prevent the possibility of a misunderstand- ing, the leader of the Government, in die> tinct and anqualified terms, deoUred that the ^a 114 delegate wonld Mk the British P*rllkment to paM (he Act. Bat we bare heard that thie Aot of Union has never been reoognized by thii Legislature. What waa the fact ? Did not the delegates come baolc after the Act had received Her Majesty's atsent, and give the country to understand tbat nothing but the Queen's Proolamation was necessary to carry the measure intj effect. This Legis- lature, furthermore, by the first Chapter of the Auts of 186'', recognized the British North America Act as positively as if it had re enacted it clause by clause, accepting en- tirely the condition of affatrn. Hon. Attt. Gcnebal :— The name of the Aot is not on our statute bogk. Mr. BLANcnARD continued : — What, then, is the meaning of the Act providing that the whole public system should be altered 7 What was the object in changing the members of the Legidature if the Act was not recognized 7 But the ninth clause of the chanter which 1 referred to mentions th«i British North Amer- ica Aot in terms recognizing it as the law of the country, and providing how the Legisla- ture shall be controlled after it comes into operation. Notnithstinding that we have two liWB of our own Legislature, based upon the Union Act, we are told that the country was deceived and betrayed, and never oon> templated the passage of the measure. I shall wait with anticipation to hear what the Attorney General will reply to tbat branch of my argument. If time permitted, ] should like to have gone into an examination of the amendments which I have laid on the table, because I believe them to contain a genuine exposition of constitutional law so far as I have been able to embody it in the advocacy of what I conceive to be the true state of the question. I prepared them with that view, and I invito the Attorney General to take them as a body or singly, and to show to the country where I have made a false statement, taken wrong views, or misstated the law. I will not go over them, because I have already occupied coneiderablo time-, and I do not be- lieve in the advantage o'i \ery long speeches. Some members have ^'loted the despatoheB as though the Colonial tiesretary had required the measure to be 'tibmitted to the people. That course, I venture to sjy, wss never con- tEmplated. The directions from the Colonial oQice were that the matter should be referred to the legislatures, and by the legislatures the scheme was passed. Whether the mem< bers of the Parliament of Nova Scotia betray- ed their trust, or not, is another question. I am not hero as their defender, but I might reply to the taunts which have been used by saying that the men who were here then were equal, if not superior, to those who are hero now; not only in point of talent and ability, but in honor and patriotism. For my own part, I feel no reason to be atbamed of the position I occupied, for two reasons : I act> ed in accordance with the convictions of my mind, and I was arsociated with gentlemen for whose character, talents and opinions I had no reason to blush, however much abuse may since have been thrown on them by gen- tlemen who will sit here for many a day be- fore they earn foe themselves the name and fame possessed by them. The hon. meirber for Sydney took delight in attuking Mr. Boarinot, who, when he wu here, wu well able to take his own part; and the hon. member for Coloheiter attacked his former colleague, attaching to him the name of " smooth bore." I cannot say that I admire either the eood taste or delioaoy shown by thus attacking absent men. Some men are very bold when the enemy is not in sight. But if we are to be bored by anything I should prefer that it be by a " smooth bore," rather than anything else, but Mr. Archibald's smoothness is of the kind of which I should like to see more here; and if bored at all that the operation should not be performed by such dull and worn out pod augers as we have here. The public charac- ter of those men is before the country, and they need not fear the verdict of futurity, — I therefove feel that to make myself their champion would be going beyond what is ne- cessary. I wish, however, that some of them were here for a little while, [for if they were, some of those who have been so free in talk- ing of "treachery" and "smooth bores" and " wily men " would forbear, or if they did not, would receive such a castigation on the floors of this House, as in my opinion their conduct merits. They have gone else- where, however, some in the discharge of public duties, others into private life, and under all the circumstances it would have been better to have conducted this discussion without some of the unseemly references which were made. It was said by the hon. member for Kings, the Provincial Secretary, and one or two others, that if we received $500,000 from Ca- nada it was in payment of the debt which Canada was bound to pay. It is most extra- ordinary that members will pervert the plain figures placed before them, — I showed the House that Canada had paid $500,000 beyond and above the amounts collected, — it was not for debt, but @.^0,000 was for the Annapolis Railway, and $4.'30,000 were for our current expenses. It is true that $100,000 was for interest, but that is not debt,— it is a portion of what this Province would have to pay if it were not for Confederation. To all this there has not been a pretence at contradiction. Hon. Prov. Secretary.— Is not the sum advanced to be added to our debt 7 Mr. Blanchard continued: — We will see presently. Our debt, it is said, is up to eight millions and a half|lf dollars, and the Gen- eral Government has paid the interest on the $500,000, by which it exceeds the limited amount. If it is added to onr debt it will be because we are not able to meet our current expenses. Let the Government bring down the proof to controvert my statements if they can, — it is impocsible that they can do so, because leaving out the Annapolis Railway which may be considered debt, $450,000 ii the smallest sum paid to Nova Scotia in dis- charge of her current liabilities. The ques- tion is whether the moneys collected here were 8uflS3ient to meet those liabilities, — I as- sert that they were not, and if I am right we have not got tievident proposition that the Legislature of this country, having been elected to make laws, statutes and ordinances, under a written commission or charter, had no power or authority to effect an alteration or abridgement of the con- stitution. That was a proposition, one would suppose, that was too self-evident to be con- troverted, and I ask, Mr. Speaker, how the learned member from Inverness has attempt- ed to controvert it T fle has done bo by re- ferring to the Imperial Parliament, and say- ing in effect :— " Because the Imperial Parlia- ment possesses the power to alter the con* stitution, therefore the inferior Parliament of Nova Scotia has the same authority." He need not have given himself the trouble to Bearoh for precedents and authorities to sus- tain his view of the power of the Parliament of Great Britain, for who ever doubted or questioned the extent of that power ? The Parliament of that country is the supreme power in the land,— -it stands above every- thing and can therefore do as it pleases. It is absolute within itself, and there is no power within the constitution that can review its acta andstatutea. Consequently when the Queen, .16 Lorde and Commona of England have deter- mined to make an altsrttion in the oonstita- tlon they were at perfect liberty to do so, for the simple reason that there is no authority auperior to theirs that can question what they have done. But is that the casein this coun- try T What Bort of a constitution have the people of Nova Scotia ? A written constitu- tion and charter, given to them through the commission of the Governor of the Province in 1747, and composed likewise of a number of instructions in dsspatohes, which I have carefiiUy examined, but which I shall not read to the House. That charter defines the Legislature of the Province to consist of a Governor quasi king, a council quaMi Lords, and a House of Representatlvea quatt Com- mons, and confers authority upon it to make laws, statutes and ordinances for the peace, order and good government of the colony. — This constitution is defined and written like that of the United States, and our Parliament consisting of Governor, Council and Assembly have no power to legislate beyond theauthsrf- ty conferred on them by the commission or letters patent. Therefore it is posfible for a statute of this Legislature t ) be void and there is a power which can declare it so. In order to iUuitrate this position let us sup- pose that the Legislature of Nova Scotia pasfod an act authorising the Legislature of Prince Edward Island to ttx the people of Nova Scotia. They would have the power practically and de facto to put such a law on the statute book, but I , ask if that st:;iute would not be void? I ask if the people of Nova Scotia could bo taxed under an act pas- sed in Prince Edward Island and by the au- thority of such a statute? Let us suppose for a moiuent that by virtue of the I/^gislative power conferreu on them by this Parliament, the Legislature of Prince Edward Island im- posed a stamp duty such as Canada haa tak- en the liberty of imposing on us,— and sup- pose that a gentleman in Nova Scotia had given to another a note of hand which the lawofPrinc" Edward Island declared void, unless stamped, and that an action was brought upon it,— the maker of the note pleads the statute of Prince Edward Island, and what would the Supre:ne Court say ? Would not the Supremo Court have the power to decide that the Legislature of Nova Scotia had transgressed its authority in passing such a law, conferring on a foreign legisla> turo the power to tax our people? Would not the judges refer to thie charter and de- clare the stamp act void? That undoubtedly would be the decision , and if the judges did not decide so they would conduct themselves in opposition to the plainest principles of justice and common sense. If they did not decide so the party to whom the note was given would appeal to the Privy Council, and how long 'vould such a law be allowed to dis- grace the statute book of Nova Scotia. There- fore the comparison between the two Parlia- ments was entirely inapplicable. The Legis* lature of Nova Scotia as compared with that of Great Britain is like a mosquito compared with an elephant. There is a remarkable re- semblanco between them, — the mosquito has a long trunk, as wo sometimes know when he penetrates our flesh and causes no little irri- 118 s ■ \%tion of our nerTes, and ao has the elepfannt. The elephant could take a man up on , hie trunk and pitoh him on hia back', and if I aaaerted that the mosquito could not do the same, following hia prooesa of reaaoniog in the preaent oaae, the learned gentlemen would contradict me and refer to the elepnant iu proof of hia opinion. The reasoning iu the one oaae ia aa good as that in the others and when the honorable gentleman undertook ^o oaat a doubt on the authority of Lord lans- field I am again involuntarily but t cibly reminded of the mosquito and the elephant. I th'nk I have shown plainly that there is no comparison between the two Legislatures, —I have ahown that it does not foUow th^t be> cause the Imperial Parliament can alter the constitution, the Parliament of]Nova Sootia can do so too. But he has asserted that the Legidftture of Nova Scotia had repeatedly altered the Constitution. There I au: at issue again with the hon member as to the facts. This Legislature has in no single instance altered the constitution, but has always enacted its laws within the range of the constitutional authority conferred by the charter and the instructions of which T b-'vo spoken. "But," saya the honorable member for Inverness, "has not this Legislature altered the polling districts throughout the country? Have they not increased the reprenentation of one ooun« ty and lessened that of another? and is this not an alteration of the constitution?" My answer ia, no. These were no violations of the constitution. At the time when the Gov- ernor was ordered to call oar asKombly for the purpose of making lavs there was no subdivision into counties, the country was sparsely populated, eo survey had been made, anC as a consequence the Province was as it were all one county. The instructions from the ho Jie government tell the Governor and Council, in calling together the Legislature, to mike such distribution of the seats as they thought proper, so that they acted under the constitution throughout. When the country was subdivided into townships and counties, it became necessary to alter the re« presentation, and thus the whole proceedings to which he refers are strictly within the limitr of constitutional authority. Then again the honorable member referred to the case of Cape Breton, and asked, "Did not the King in council by proclamation unite Cape Breton and Nova Scotia?" He did ; and that circumstance iroes to maintain the line of argument which I have adopted. What was the condition of Cipe Breton ? She was a conquered colony, and from the time of the conquest of Louisburg was held by the sovereign of England as hie estate in fee simple. The Ring had the whole legisla- tive power in himself and he chose to govern the colony, as a crown colony, und«r certain regulations made by himself, through a Go* vernor and Council. The Parliament of Eog^ land or that part of it consisting of Lords and Commons had nothing to do with the matter, for as I said the King was owner of Cape Breton. He did not give it the same charter as he gave to Grenada and the older colonies, but continued to rule it ac sole le- gislator until he thought proper to confer the privileges that ho had conferred on Nova Sootia. The hon. gentleman will not pretend to say that Cape Breton ever had an assem- bly or any body resembling a legislature to make laws fur the country. 'When the Ring thought proper to annex the iclaud to ihu Province he did not infringe the laws of Nova Sootia but imparted the blessings of the con- atitutioa of Nova Soodii to his subjects in Gape Breton, and when the people of the island foolishly objected to the tranafer and went home with their case to the Judiciary of England, they were told and told properly *'the Ring|owns you. and as he thought proi« per to dispose of you he had a right to do so, because he held you in absolute sovereignty. ' ' That illustration therefore goes te support my argument. Then, again, the hon. member asked us if the Legislature of Nova Scotia did not confer universal snifrage on the people, and in do- ing so change the constituilun ? I reply. No. it was not a Legislature that gave universal su0'rage; the original commission was to the " planters and freeholders," and they alone, in conjunction with the Governor and Coun- cil, could make laws. The Governor repre- sented the Sovereign, and the Soverei^jn had retained in his hands power to abrogste any statute of the Legislature. He had retained all the powers which he did not confer on the people of Nova Scotia, and those powers were by no means inconsiderable. Havinsr, then, given the privilege of legislation to the planters and freeholders, he had a right afterwards to give that privilege to the reer. of the people. Therefore, without violating the constitution, but in the exercise of her Royal authority, by assenting to an act of our Parliament, the Queen extended the pri- vilege, formerly limited to the fieeholaers and planters, to the householders and other inhabitants of the country. We were told that on another occasion the whole constitu- tion was convulsed and overthrown by a sort of political earthquake- that the whole of the old Council of Twelve who exercised le* gislative and executive functions were dis- missed by a single stroke of the pen of the Colonial minister, and thus a complete revo« lution was effected. In that statement of the case the hon. member is greatly mistaken. Whose Council was that 7 It wss the same Counoil that the Ring had ordered to be summoned when he gave the chatter to Lord Cornwallis. That charter ordered the Gov- ernor to select and choose a Council who should hold ofiBoe at the will of His Majesty. These twelve Councillors were the legal auc" cesBors of the first Councillors, and at the time they were dismissed were holding their seats at the Council Board at the pleasure of the Ring or Queen, and were liable to be called upon at any moment, as they were on the revision of our institutions, to resign their commissions and give place to substi- tutes. So that in no one of those cases was our constitution invaded. But the argument of the hon. member as- sumed a position which is by no means granted, and that is that in case of Confede* rat' Dn our Constitution was changed by our Legislature. He assumed that to be a fact which is not consistent with the truth. The Legislature of Nova Sootia has never been a will not pretend : had an assem- ; a legialatvure to When the Kin^ le icliud to ihu the laws of Not* sings of t'ae con- ) hia lubjeotB in I people of the the tranifer and the Judiciary of id told properly he thought pro» a right to do to, iteaovereignty." goes te support iber asked us if ia did not confer oplc, and in do- at I reply, No. t gave uuiTersal ission was to the and they alone, srnor and Coun- Sovernor repre- e Sovereitjn had to abrogate any He had retained not confer on the d thoee powers enable. Havins, legislation to the he had a right rilege to the retr. irithont violating D exercise of her ting to an act of intended the pri- the fieeholders olders and other We were told whole constitu- hrown by a sort at the whole of ho exercised le« itions were dis- the pen of the complete revo" statement of the reatly mistaken. WAS the same ordered to be charter to Lord rdered the Qov- a Council who of His Majesty. re the legal auo* ors, and at the ro holding their the pleasure of re liable to be as they were on tioDs, to resign place to Bubsti- those cases was hon. member as- by no means rase of Confede* changed by our htt to be a fact the truth. The las never been a 119 gtrty to the British North Ameriot Act, nor as it ever recognized that Act «• having any force or obligation on the people of Nova Sootia. Upon that point our atatate book is completely dumb— the British North Ameri> ca Act is not ratified or confirmed by any stctute of ours, and \7ith0at some such sta* tute the people and Legislature could not have expressed a desire to be connected with Cana- da. These are arguments for the people of England, a^id for the constitutional lawyers of that great country, — they will pass from my lips to the Crown Officers of England. The corsfituticnal officers of Nova Sootia have shewn themselves unable to deal with the question, and we would have supposed that when aU the leading Barristers of Nova Scotia, as has been stated, are Confederates, it is strange that among them all there has not been a man able to produce anything in the shape of an argument, or bearing the slightest resemblance to an argument. I shall state the case most simply, so that it will be plain to the me&nest understanding, and I assert that throughout the debate in the Legislature and throughout the press of of the cou^'-y with the immense array of professional talent which has been spoken of not a man has been able to state anything like a simple and reasonable and proposition in favor of Confederation, and against the arguments which I have advanced. I will first turn attention to that great leading case which ras decided, not by Lord Mansfield alone, but by the whole King's bench of England, and which stands on the books an incontrovertible leading case on the sub- ject. I mean the case of Hall and Campbell. The hon. member for Inverness talked of Lord Mansfield, and seemed to insinuate that his aathority was not of the highest character, and when I heard him I was a little astonish- ed I must confess. That astonishment is in^ creased when I reflect who Lord Mansfield was,— that he was decidedly and wit' out ex- ception the greatest jurist who ever sat on the bench of England. Lord Coke was emi- nent in the Common Law like Lord Mans- field, but the latter had travell>3d much fur- ther than Coke,— he had gone on a voyage of discovery all around the world of juris- prudence, critically examining Mid mastering the systems of Rome, Greece and Palestine— he was a most accomp- lished scholar, a man of the finest intelligence and the highest integrity. There never was a magistrate on the Bench who discharged his duties more satisfactorily, and with greater credit, since the world begain, and yet that is the man of whom the hon. and learned mem- ber presumes to speak sl>alf-hatcbc^ radiance of the meridian tun. What was that case of Granada in which the decision of the King's Bench was given? The king had conquered the country: Granada had yielded to the royal arms, and in April, 1764, the king, by a Coumission, (.the same, I believe, as that conferred on this country through Lord Cornwallis, for Lord Mansfield, in his decisioD, cites the very wotdi wbioh o*iiftrir«d l«gislative powers on Nova Booti», uid the Charter to Granada hat, besldea. the words: . " in like manner as we have conferred similar powers on the rest of dnr Golonifs," or to that effect, shov ing that the Charters wwe all copied from one original,) under the great ' seal of England, conferred on the people of Granada the privilege of self«goverameBt. He had at that moment supreme legislative power over the country,— it was his own country in right of his soverignty,— he was its supreme legislator, and, asLord Mansfield says, could have put to death every inhabi- tant, or have given any kind of government he pleated. By that Commission, in April, 1764, he divested himself of his legislative power. The Sovereign, it will be seen, is, aa regards her rights and property, no more than another individual, — she has her rights, the people theirs These rights are perfectly distinct and well defined by the constitution, and the Queen can no more interfere with the rights of the Province than the Province oao interfere with her prerogatives. The two are perfectly distinct and independent, excepting that the relations of sovereign and subject ex- ist between them. In Julj. 1764, the aame king undertook to exercise the legislative powers himself, by imposing a tax npon the trade of Granada. A merchant who had paid the tax came to England, and sued the Col- lector for money received to his nae, or as foi,'' money illegally exacted. The action was tried in Westminster Hall, and after four most solemn arguments by the ablest constitution- al lawyers, a decision was arrived at. And what was that decision 7 That tb«i king, hav- ing put his seal to the commission of t'iovern- or Melville, and conferred legislative power on Granada, had deprived himself of thepow^ cr of legislation,— that he had thereby irre« vocably lost the power of legislation,— that therefore his 8ub:.equent act was void, and the plaintifi thereupon recovered his money. That was the decision arrived at after the fullest deliberation, after the most mature consideration, and after the exercise of the first constitutional talent in Great Britain. The tax was held void, and why was it void ? Simply, because the King's seal estopped him from levying such a tax, they were declared void, because he was estopped by the first seal from issuing the subsequent letters pa- tent. Mv argument, which I shall now com- mence, shall be succinctly stated, and I shall endeavor to make it as clear as possible. But wishing to argue logically, I shall take the liberty of making two postulates. I shall de- mand it to be admitted in the first place that the people of Nova Scotia were never con« suited as to whether they would part with their constitntion or not. That is the first postulate, and let any man deny it who dares. In 1863 the last elections preceding those of 18th September, 1867, were held; at that time the Canadian Quebec Scheme wts not concocted. Therefore the qaestion of Con- federation was not before the people, and they did not pass upon it. Now the hon. member fo Inverness became angry with some one for using the term "blacklegs," as applied to some of the statesmen of Nova Sootia. I do not like calling names, bat it is 120 i w idDgalttr that that very name has been ap- plied by Englieh trayellers to the politioiani of Canada. I think it is Mr. Trollope vho has said that in that country the term "poli- tician" is aynonymoaswith "blackleg." Aa I nid, I do not like to call names, bat it is imposiible to get on without calling thinf^s by their proper terms. How can I otherwise explain what I mean in referring to those Canadian schemers who stealthily concocted a plan for the sabjagation of the people of Nova Sootia— the men who tried by bribery and oorraption to juokey us out of our rights. Is the word inapplicable 7 I think not,— it is thd most appropriate, and I say that tha men who conducted these practices would be. horsewhipped off any race course in England as blacklegs. Our political knaTes are not entitled, sir, to have such mild language ap> plied to them, — they deserve something worse. There may have bsen some excuse for the' blacklegs of Canada to lay hold of the re« venue of Nova Scotia, but where is the excuse for the statesmen of this Province, who aided and assisted those men in destroying the lib- erties of the people 7 How shall I character- ize such men as these 7 Meu who, keeping the people from pa>!8icg on a subject of such vital consequence to their interests, had the wickedness and cruelty in the dark and behind their backs to destroy the rights of their countrymen. Political assassins would be the name for them, and when I heard the hon. member for InverneES mention the name of Judas Isoariot I thought the association was discreditable to the celebrated traitor. Judaa brought back the money, — he was therefore an honest man when compared with them. We will never catch one of those men bringing back the price of his treason. Judas also repented and showed himself a conside- rate man when out of a due regard for the b2st interests of hie country ku went and hanged himself. Those politicians have not the manliness to imitate his example and to commit such an act of self'inflioted jus- tice. That, Mr. Speaker, is my opinion. The hon. and learned member cited the con- duct and language of Sir Robert Peel as au- thority. I did not wonder at his doing so, for I do not wonder at anything, such amaz- ing things do occur now-a days, that wonders have ceased. The tipirit of amazement died within me when I heard the hon. member. Who was Sir Robert Peel 7 He was a great scholar, an English gentleman, a highly edu> oated man and an orator, bat bo was a rat. For thirty years he headed a party and then wheeled round and joined his adversaries. And arc not the gentlemen whoso conduct I have been criticizing all rats — political ver» min? Was there one of them true to his po- litical colors 7 I do not now, of course, refer to gentlemen present. It is said that birds of a feather flock together— animals of some species also become gregarious, and it is well known that rat do?s not dislike the smell of rat. Sir Robert Peel descended into th«! grave as damaged a statesman as was ever cited ns au authority. But the reference win made to prove what nobody ever denied: that the Par- liament can do as it pleases. The next position which I take as a pofltulate is that we have be our Statute book no Sta iut? ratifying or confirming the British North America Act. With these two postalatrs I proceed to show that the Bridsh North America Act is unoonstitutiontl and void and in no manner binds the people of Nov* Sootia. And I may say that if we had had in oar ad- ministration men of high principle— men having any consideration for the rights of the country, when the Queen'b Proclamation made its appearance on the 1st of July, oar public property would not have bee a handed over to Canada, our railroads wou'd be still in our hands, our revinues wouV't have been still collected by ourselves »n<*. we ahoald not have had the disgrace of ooming practically under the operation of that detestable stMute. But the enemies of tie country Wad paved the way for its introduction by putting into power just thj men to accomplish their iniquitous design. That is the reason why we are placed under a dominion in which de jure we are not and do not intend to be. — My argument is this : in 1713, after a British General had conqnorea Port Boyal, now called Annapolis, which means the city of Anne, the treaty of Utrecht was made be- tween the Queen and Louis XIV, by w^ich the King of Franca yielded the conquest to the Queen of England, and thus Nova Scotia became the absolute property of the Queen, and Ae and she alone could thereafter legislate for this country. The House of Commons had no authority over Nova Sootia then or now. They repre- sent the people of England,— not a part of them as was said, for it would appear by the argument of the hon. member that the Cath- olics were unrepresented before the Emanci- pation Acts were carried,— they were always represented, — the House of Commons repre- sents every man, woman and child in the Briti9h Isles, even the cattle and horses — everything from the grass upwards. The re« presentation in Parliament is complete and why 7 Because the members of the House of Commons are chosen by the people of Eng- land. But did they over represent Nova Sco- tia 7 Never; because the people of Nova Sco- tia had no voice in their election. Did the House of Lords represent the people of Nova Soot:.. "* No; they reprc.iented the landed and aristocra^ieal interests ol Great Britain, but they never represented the interests of Nova Sootia, and had no power or authority to make laws for us. The whole legislative power was in Queen Anne and her heirs and successors, under the title of Louis XIV. and the arms of the British soldiery. That Le- gislative power seems to have been unexera cised until 1747, when George II., by his Royal Charter divested himself of his right of legislation, To the full extent to which the charter goes he deprived himself of the power to legislate for Nova Scotia. I do not say that by that act the King's whole legisla- tive power ceased,— all the powers which he did not give he retained, but such as he did aive his seal would not allow him to take back, binding him as the seal of any other man or any member of this House would, him (>nd hih heirs forever. AU who are in privity of estate with him are bound and thus Queen Victoria is bound by it. Having transferred the Legislative power to the people of Notk 121 B Brititk North no poitalMrs I firidth North 111 And void ud B of Not* Sootit. i had in oor »d- prinoiple— men the right! of the b Prooltmation LSt of July, our iTebec!! handed a wood be still roc' '( have been *. we ihould not ling practically iteatableatiUQte. y iftA pared the y patting into loompliah their the reason vby ion in whioh de intend to be. — I, after a British rt Boyal, now ma the city of waa made be- XIV, by w„!oh the oonqaeat to tua Nova Scotia I of the Queen, treafterlegialate 1 no adthority f. They repre- —not a part of 1 appear by the ' that the Gath- re the Emanoi- By were alwaya lommona repre- i child in the e and horeea — rarda. The re« a complete and ' the Houee of ;)eopIe of £ag« sent Nova Sco- l« of Nova Boo- 3tion. Did the }eopleof Nova the landed and Bri^«in, but erestsof Nova authority to ole legislative her heira and lOuis XIV. and !ry. That Le- been unezer* ■ge XL, by hia f of hia right tei:t to which himself of the )tia. I do not whole legiala- irera whioh he uch aa he did him to take of any other ise would, him are in privity nd thua Queen id tranaferred ople of NoTa Seotia he ooald not take it back. The case of Hall V0. Campbell provea that if the King had eonaeqnently attempted to legia- late for Nova Scotia by letters patent— which ia the most solemn deed of the Sove< reign -the letters patent would have been void. Now, I contsnd that when the Qaeen of England attempted to legislate for Nova Scotia by Act of Parliament, that act is void. This is an assertion whioh I make in the face of the constitutional lawyers of Europe. If the Queen could not aign lettera patent by way of legislation, she could legislate by Act of Parliament. The Lords and Commons had no part in the matter; what they did waa nothing,— it did not altar the case, fur they had no authority over the land, and never had and never will have until we are repre- sented in their bodies. What did they do ? They merely sat beside the Queen and assis- ted her in doing what she had no right to do. If she had the right to pass that sta- tute, the Lords and Commons]merely assent- ed. As if I, bein^ the owner of a lot of land in fee simple, aud being dispoged to convey it, asked you, Mr. Speaker, and the gentle- man who sits beside me, to join in the deed, and I wrote it in this lorra: "This Indenture, made between the Speaker, ny hon. friend, and myself of the one part.and the pnrchaser of tje other part, witnesseth, &o." The deed transfers my land in fee simple, but have the other parties who were joined tranaferred the title? By no means ; the title passes be- cause I, the owner of the land, signed the deed. The signature of the others was a mere matter of form, and conveyed nothing. And 80, if the Queen of England had had the pow- er, when that statute was passed, to legislate for Nova Scotia, and the Lords and Com- mons joined her, it would merely have been for form's sake; and I wish it to bo distinct* ly understood as part of my argument that the Lords and Commons had nothing to do with this country. The hon. member op- posite has asserted the very bold proposition that no act of the Imperial Parliament was ever declared void. Here I join issue with him. I will show him that atatutea of that Parliament have been declared void in the moat aolemn manner imaginable. In 1774 or 1775 the Parliament of Great Britain took the liberty to pass a Statute Act and a Tea Duties Act to bind the American colonies. Now, let it be borne in mind that if those Acts had bee;:, passed to bind England, no power could set them aside; but when they were passed to bind the Colonies, those sta- tutes were declared void because they were void on the principles which I have stated. And who declared them void ? The Thirteen Colonies of America declared them void, as the people of Nova are now declaring the British North America Act void,— the arm- ies of Congress declared them void,— the King of France declared them void, and with hia army helped to give judgment againat the King of England,— the King of Heaven de- clared them void because they were void in truth and juatice. Lki^tly, George III. was himself forced into the humiliating necessity of declaring them vciu by acknowledging the Colonies to be free, aovereign and inde- peodent Statei. Id 1783 those itatutea were given up in the moat formal manner by the\ King of England, and the whole world ainoe haa concurred in tke opinion I have stated. No man with any regard for hia character aa a constitutional lawyer would aasert that the decision waa not a right one. What led to the great revolation in England and the de- v rHttion of Gharlea 1. 7 Waa it not the vio- ls;.., ': of the principle which ia violated by thia butute? What is the proposition which the American people contended for ? That, having a legislature of their own, they could be taxed by no other power on earth. Repre- sentation and taxation cannot be separated, -without representation there can be no taxation. On that principle Hampden refus- ed to pay the ship money,— when the King said "Give me your ship money," he ans- wered ' No, go to Parliament,— that ia the only power that can tax me; and if you force your hand into my pocket I wil draw my sword," aa he did. and be died nobly con« tending for the rights of his country. (The usual hour lor recess having arrived, the House adjourned and resumed at 3 o'clock, when Hon. Attorney General con- tinued:) I was diBout mitted. What then has the Imperial Parlia*- ment done 7 Against the will and withont the sanction of the people that Parliament has taken the liberty, not only of taxing us but of causing us to be taxed by another power. The complaint against England on the oc- casion of the Stamp Act was that the Imperial Legislature itself had taxed the people of the Colonies, withont having power and authori- ty. We have a worse complaint than that— ours is a much more aggravated case. What we complain of is not that that legislature has attempted to tax us, but that, what ia ten thousand times worse, it has put us into the hands of other Colonies, larger, more popul- ous, and more powerful and more extravagant Colonies- Colonies who have no feelings in common with us, who are alien to us, and authorized them to lay their hands on us and tax us at their pleasure. If the Parliament of Great Britain had no power to tax us a fortiori ten thousand times, it has no power to create a new legislature in any part of the world with that power. What it has not it- self it could not confer on others. Therefore on British principles the act alluded to is void —it never was law because it violated the fundamental principles of the Constitution, because it imposed taxation on a people whom it had no right to tax. The hon. member for Inverness looks us in the face, and, with an immense amount of assuranoe tells us that we are not taxed by a Parliament in which wc are not represented, and he asks, " Are we not represented in the Canadian Parliament?" I ask what right had England to create any Parliament to tax us, giving us just such representation as she thought proper ? Is not our representation in the Dominion Parliament an insult to. and a mockery of the people of Nova Scotia? Is not the man who would accept such represen- tation, and be satitAed with it, fit for the Lunatic Asylum ? How many representatives have the people of Nova Scotia to protect their interests against the Upper Canadians — againkt the Frenchmen of Lower Canada — the strangers and foreigners, whose names we cannot pronounce — in whose elections we take no interest— to whose returns to the Le- gislature we can make no objection ? We have nineteen men also; if they were the 123 fiDMt men ever produced on the ftoe of the earth— the finest stkieimen efer known— every one of them m fine an «rator and m profDund a politician aa the hon. member for Inverneea— their argamenta would not atop the taxation of Nova Scotia as long as they wouU be talking. That ia the way in which we are represented, and thia ia the oooaiitu- tion which the hon. member for Inverneaa has been laboring to defend. The people of NoTa Sootia, if they accepted such a oonetitu- tion, would be aa abject alaves aa the people of Turkey, the serfa of Ruaaia, the fellaha of Eeypt— the moat degraded people on the face of the earth. Doea the hon. member auppeae that the people of free Nova Scotia will anb- mit with the certain knowledge that the Sta- tute ia void. Why ia the Imperial Statute void 7 Simply because ita preamble ia false. If that preamble were true, no man would be insane enough to didpute its validity. If the people of Nova Sootia desired Confederation with Canada on the conditions imposed by that Act, and the Queen of England were willing to confederate us, there would have been nothing improper or unconstitutional in the Act. It would not then have required the interference of the Lords and Commons, because the Sovereign, as I have shewn, was the original legislator of Nova Sootia. If the Queen then bad expressed a with to the people of Nova Scotia that they should join in a confederation with Canada, and the peo- ple of Canada had asspnted, and the people of Nova Scotia, on being consulted at the polls, had sent to this House a majority of represertativea willing and anxious for the federal union, and a Provincial Statute had confirmed it, the British Statute would have been sound and constitutional. But that has not been the case, — the Act passed against the will of the people of Nova Scotia. It was not simply paused without consnlting them, but passed after insulting them, fraudulently .dishonestly, by falsehood, by misrepresentation, by iutrigue, by decep- tion, by every species of criminality, which politicians could commit against a country. It was known to the men who went to Eng- land on the delegation, that the people did not want Confederation, and that the major- ity of them were oppopid to it. Corruptly undertaking to bind the people of Nova Scotia (in that Confederation ^hey went to England and falsely informed the Queen, the Government and t'le Parliament of that coun* try that the peopVj desired Confederation. A fraud was practined on the people and legis- lature of England to obtain the passage of the Act, and we know that in law there is a very wholesome principle, that "fraud vi- tiates all things." Ever since the com" menceroent of the world fraud has vitiated every human contract and transsction into which it entered. There never has been a man who, having been defrauded o jt of his rights, would not at the first opportunity re* invest himself with those rights, because ac- cording to the laws of nature and reason, ac- cording to natural justice fraud vitiates every transaction. A statute is not exempt from thia alUpervading (principle of equity. A statute, powerful as it is in England, is not, I say, exempt from that principle, and the people of this continent and of the whole oiv- ilised world will instantly join in one lond chorus to pronouno* that a statute obtained by fraud to be void. The advocates of Cen> .'"''"ration will soon find the truth of the old saying "honesty is the best policy,"— it would have been wiser in them, if they ex- pected to gain anything by Coii federation, to have submitted the question to the people at once, instead of trusting to force it on us by fraud, deception and misrepresentation.— These men, however, performed an act of po- litical aasaasination, and deliberately, in Canada and with Canadian sharpers, con cooted a scLeme to rob Nova Sootia of her iudependenoe. Theae statements are all trae, and I am not ashamed of the trnth. I know certain classes in Nova Sootia who are ashamed of the trutn,— who have a strong aversion to it. who love the opposite of trntn for its own sake and the sake of its expected fruits, but I am not afraid of the truth, and I say here, that these men wickedly, malicious- ly and dishonestly conspired to destroy the constitution of Nova Scotia, which the people rightfully prize above all things. If they had not been fools as well as something worse we would have been in an unpleasant condition to-day, but it has been wisely or* dained that the rogue is always a fool. If it were not for the folly of the knave he would never be detected, and therefore it is that the maxim has arisen "honesty is the best poli- cy." If heaven had not affected those men with judicial blindness, our liberties would have been lost, but we owe our salvation and the salvation of the constitution to the exces* sive weakness of the men who having banded themselves together for the purpose of aiding the conspirators in Canada in the destruc- tion of Nova Sootia, were so silly, such in- conceivable political nincompoops, as not to perceive that it required a statute of Nova Scotia to bind the f people of Nova Sootia. The same men are unable to rake up a single constitutional argument in support of their position. To this utter ignorance of every principle of constitutional law Nova Scotia must ascribe hjr safety. The gentlemen who did us this favor chose the Irish job as their model; they have not even the n> 'it of originality, for their plot is a mere imitation of the other. They had not the wit to conceive a plot of their own, but borrowed from Pitt and Castlereagh. There was, however, only a certain portion which they were capable of borrowing; they could not borrow their wisdom, for as is generally the case with servile imitators of others, they only pick up the faults and de- fects, while they are unable to copy the per- fections or merits of their models. The MoCullys, the Archibalds, the Tuppers and and the Henrys, and such most worthy cha- racters, in imitating Pitt and Castlereagh, were able to imitate them only in their vices; they were as corrupt, and even more so, be- cauie Pitt and Castlereigh pocketed nothing, while these gentlemen all managed to pocket something,— therefore they were wiser in their generation. They imitated, I say, the faults which rendered that Irish job con- temptible in the eyes of the world,— which made one of the finest people in the world 124 II -riff . ■■v.- III fc^e iBMt anli»pp7 people under the lun.— Obeerve now the vMt diiiinotion between the two Joba— Pitt and CHtleresgh, after oor- roptiog the Irish Parliament to transfer the legislative power to the English Parliament, did not satisfy tbemielTcs with an Imperial statute— they went farther, and osUed for an Irish Aot of Parliament, making the Irish Legislature itself confirm the Aot of Union. Mr. Pitt, as we all know, was a great states- man, and although this Irioh transaotion was H blemish on his character, andevic.ed an error of judgment and a defect of morality in thinkins tbat the end could justify the means, still he had great wisdom, and when he dr:Ccrmincd to accomplish the Union he did HO effectually. When he bad bound the people of Ireland band and foot, and oatt them into limbo, be took care to lock the door and to walk off with the key. But our jobbers had not sense enough to bolt the door; they were in such a hurry to enjoy the fruits of Confederation that they did not take time to think how tae thing should be done, but after shutting us into limbo the arrant stupidities walked off, leaving the door ajar and the key sticking in the look; we will certainly, therefore, open the door and walk out. By the mercy of Heaven we fell into the bands of men who did not know what they were about. The hon. member for Inverness cited what I oalled a somewhat doubtful political char- acter in Peel, who, as I stated before, had eminent qualities but the one terrible blemish which I mentioned. If he wanted to find a model I would recommend him to go to Ire- land. England never was in the position of the Colonies ; she never had such occasion to produce model statesmen of the cast of those I have referred to, but Ireland was in that condition— she had been robbed of her con* stitution, and had produced some men who were more worthy of imitation than Sir Robert Peel. If he had taken Daniel O'Con- nell be would have chosen for his model an honorable and patriotic Etatesman— a man who loved his country from his cradle to his grave, spending the whole of his most valu- able life in contending to get back the con« stitution of which she was robbed, and a man who died advocating nobly the cause of Ireland's liberty. He was the equal of Sir Robert Peel in ability ; as a man and a statesa man he was his superior. He also was an crater, and as a patriot he had no equal, and he went down to an honored grave. If I were to make any man my model I would cbnose such a man as that, rather than one who, having forfeited the character of a steady and consistent statesman, descended into an inglorious grave. If this country V Q unsuccessful in obtaining Repeal she Id be much in the condition of Ireland; . I ask, does the hon. member for Inver- wish to see us in that position 7 Does U' ' jh to see in Nova Scotia generation afte.- generation of discontented subjects ? In reference to the treatment which we have received at the hands of the British Govern* ment I must draw a contrast by no means flattering to that Government. If we take up the file of the despatches, we shall see with what care, correctness and impartiality the Miniaten of George II. treated Nora dootii when GoTemor Lawrence thought he o'oald do very well without an Assembly. They ■aid " the King had pledged his royal word to Nova Sootia that its people should have a House of Assembly on the model of the Bri- tish House of Commons, and we oommand you forthwith to summon the House." The Governor made various excuses— he thought he could do very well without the Assembly ; but they answer him, " We command yon to execute the royal promises, because we will not have those promises forfeited." They told him that this command was the last in- structions he was to receive. This is the way in which this country was treated in those days; but how have the Minikters of Queen Victoria treated this Province 7 I am sorry to say a word to the prejudice of those great men, and I am willing to believe that, being doubtful of the confidence of the House of Commons, they had enough to engage their thoughts at home without looking into the affairs of the Colonies. I am willing to make every excuse for the Imperial Ministers,— they were told, it is true, by persons from this country, whom they mistook for gentle- men, that Nova Sootia most anxiously desired to be confederated, and that the scheme would be satisfactory to all concerned. But I must pause here and make this observation. In a matter of such transcendant importance, involving the fate of this, the noblest portion of the Empire, these men are chargeable with gross negligence,— they should not have been satisfied with the word of any man, but should have so framed the Aot of Union that the people and legislature of this country would have been consulted upon its details. They should have sent it out with a suspend- ing clause to prevent its coming into opera^ tion until the people had been heard at the polls, and our Parliaments had ratified it clause by clause. They are chargeable, I say, with negligence in not doing so, and if they are compelled, from the necessity of their position, to draw back and revise their steps — to admit the soundness of the arguments which I am using to-day as to the invalidity and unconstitutionality of that Act, they must gee up in Parliament and state that they were wrong. I have such an opinion of the highamindedness and integrity of that ad- ministration, that I believe they will cmbr«ce the earliest opportunity of making reparation to the people of Nova Sootia, whose rights they have treated with too much indifference. Now, Mr. Speaker, let me ask what the condition of this country would be if we ac- cepted Confederation? We would be abso- lutely at the disposal of the Canadian Par- liament. Tbey can tax unlimitedly the peo- ple of Nova Scotia, excepting that they can- not put a tax upon land. They took our railroads, our fisheries, our public buildings and our revenues, but were kind enough not to take Nova Scotia itself up to Canada— they had the kindness to make that exception. That would be the condition of this country ; and let me ask, who are the Canadians that the noble and loyal people of Nova Scotia should be made subject to them? What temptation have we to enter into a Confeder* ation with them ? Has Nova Scotia ever for- 1 125 felted ber constitution by rebellion T Has tbe blood of Eogliihrnen ever discolored her ■oil ? Can Canada give the same answer to those queitioDs that we can give ? Did not Canada rebtl against the British authority 7 Did net tho Canadians slay British soldiers on their soil ? Did they not stone, murder and mutilnte a British officer while in diE- I charge of bis duty, and does not the innocent I blood of that offiuer. like the blood of Abel, cry from the ground? Does it not loudly warn us to have nothing to do with such men? How long shall we be subject to that I French pojjulatioQ in Canada which hae ste* [reotyped itseU' as a separate nationality in I Act of Union? That is one of the great est follies of the scheme. They have created in tmperiuni in imperio— while power is Siven to the Ctnsdian Parliamrnt to trample the right; of Nova Scotia and New Brunc- viok, the rights of the French Canadians arc sot to be touched. There is to be a French nation in our midst, controlling the Idyal people of Nova Scotia. Is there a man in lis Hou«^ who would submit to such an iu- lignity? I tbinlc there are hardly ten meu the Province who would willingly yield to ^uch a decrnctivtion as that. In this debata wo have teen a$kod a very keriousanii important qucstiuu which I ehatl Vndeavor to answer. We were triumphantly J, "suppose when you go to England Tith your address you fail of suoce«8, what en ?" Fur my own part I see uo difficulty 1 the question. In the first place we will Bill on the Queen of England, who is the first BonEtitutioneil Eovercign on the face of the ^art!i, we will submit to her a statement of [>ur cise in which wc will shew her that we liRV<^ aright to I'jave oar constitution rcstor* bJ; and wc will asli her to be pleased to ro- fogniz9 the simple unquestionable right of ■je people of Nova Scotia to enjoy their indo- t>emient oonstitution as it was before the Act las passed. I know that a number of gab- blers ssy "the British Government will not this, that and the other." I am a reason- ig man, and I know that the Queen and her niniaters are reasoning people, and I believe lat when we have submitted to the Queen le ca«o which I have presented to the public -day, she will not hesitate to say to the leople of Nova Scotia, "you have been most jrossly insulted and ill-treated— my ministry been completely deceived — your consti- ition must be immediately restored." I ! no more doubt that such will be Her lajesty 'slanguage than that I am address- Bg the House. But suppose that insanity ttonld overcome Her Msjesty, which God |>rbid, and that she should say to our dele- fctes, "go back to Nova Scotia and tell your eople that they have lost their liberties it is ^ne, that they have been made the most ab- : slaves on the face of the earth, but it is ■ one and cannot bo helped." Then, sir, we '" go immediately to the Houses of Lords id Commons, we will instruct our delegates • apply there and to employ the first ooun> kl in Europe to appear at the bar of those louses there to advocate the unbonstitation- lity of the statute as was done in the oho kat I referred to in the Eing'e Bench. We |ay fairly expect a favorable reply to suoh an appeal, for I do not think that the Lordi of England— the high-minded noblemen who dignify the position of spiritual and temporal peers of the realm, will turn a deaf ear to the petition of tbctloyal people of Nova Scotia. Do you suppose that they have such things as MoCullys and Tuppers in that Honn? Will that House, which is the embodiment of honor, say "pooh, pooh, go back, yon have got liberty enough, the French Canadians will take care of you?" No, sirrbut rising with indignation the members of Parliament will say with one accord, "how dare yon, Mr. Watkin, mislead the Parliament of Eng- land by saying that the people were consult- ed at ihe polls ? Give your authority for the assertion " But suppose that the Lords and Commons also became so fir infatuated and intoxicated as under any circumstances to refuse to con- sider our lights, what next ? I will tell the people what) next : we will then try the Judiciary of Eugland. I will get some gentle- man to give mc a note of hand for £300 sterl- ing without a stamp,— if he refuses to pay the note because it lacks the stamp, I will sue him and take a special verdict setting forth the condition and con&tltution of Nova Scotia, the Governor's Commission or Charter, the Royal lustructions, the Imperial Statute, — setting forth also that the people of NoTa Scotia were never consulted at the polls on the question, and that there is 'no statute in our Statute book referring to the union; and then if the judges of Nova Scotia place them- selves in suoh a position that the gates of the Temple of Justice are closed against the plain- tiif in that action by deciding that the note is not recoverable, I will appeal to the Privy Council, employing there the ablett counsel in Europe to advocate our rights. Poor as we are we will find the means tc have our case thoroughly sifted before that high tribunal, and if that body should decide against us then wo will go to the House of Lords as the highest appellate court in the Empire, and take the decision there of the ablest lawyers in the world. And then, sir, if our noble cause be rejeoted,3what next ? Will we rebel against the Queen of England ? No, but when the Queen rebels againtt us and ab- dicates her authority over Nova Scotia by re- fusing to invest us with our rights, she will discharge us from our allegiance But the act will be her own and we will be a free peoa pie. I do not wish to see such a state of things, and I hope that it may not occur, but if it should the Queen of England will have abdicated her Royal functions as far as this country is concerned. Protection and allegiance are reciprocal duties,— if we owe allegiance to the Queen it is because she owes protection to us, and if she suffers our rights to be wrested from us, then, like James II, she will have abdicated the throne as far as we are concerned. The British Parliament pronounced that James, having violated the constitutional laws of the realm, had abdicated the throne, and if the Queen should place herself in that positioa what could we do? We must then become a republic or whatever other species of nation- ality we may desire to form ourselves into, and call upon the United States to guarantee 126 the liberties of Nota SootiuB, the fiaeat peo- Sle on the face of the earth. The United tatee, France, oven Eogland hermlf, Italy, Boesia, Praeiia or Anetria, would readily gaarantee the independance of a country like thif, I have not a shadow of doubt that onr libertiea would be ea*r*Dteed. But if it were not so, what then? Helpleas, unable to protect ourselves against the surrounding nations, oast off by our rightful sovereign, rejected by her Parliament, destitute of any assistance from abroad we should have to yield to the inexorable derre«s of fate; but we should do BO with dignified resignation. We should then wrap itround us the mantle of onr rejected loyalty, our despised patriotism, and our injured and insulted rights, and if we muit succumb to irresistable necessity, we will sink as Cseiar fell beneath the dag- gers of assassins at the base of Pompey's statue. The House adjourned. Fhiday, Feb. 21. The House met at 11 o'clock. A call of the House was had, and the Be- peal resolutions and amendments thereto were taktn up. On the resolutions beic^; pat to the House, the answer was in the affirmative. It was moved that the vote be recorded in the Jonrnals as ananimons. Mr. BiiANCHABD said that this was the firat time he had ever heard of a member of the majority moving for a division under such oironmitanoefl. As the Speaker was aware— the voices 'ieoide and not the names. In the present ease the voices had decided, and the House could not go beyond that. There was only one way gentlemen could have r livi- sioo, and that was by some one belonging to the majority calling *' no " when the qaes* tion was put; but whoever did so would be obliged to vote for the nays when the divi- sion took place. Hon. Speakkb said that the question had been put and decided in the affirmative, and now it was asked that a division be taken. He did not care to take the question in that way, unless it came from the minority. Par- liamentary rules were made for the minority and not for the majority— in fact, they were intended to protect the weak. He would now. however, order that the vote be entered unanimously. Mr. Blamobabd would of course submit to whatever course the Speaker might adopt, but he would at the same time respectfully urge that no vote be entered unanimously except with the consent of the whole House. Hon. Sfeakeb said there were no negative voices, and therefore it wm competent to en- ter the vote unanimously. He explained again, in answer to Mr. DesBrisay and others, that it was unparliamentary to take a division anless gentlemen answered " no " when the question was put. Mr. Blamchabd again contended that the vote could not be made unanimous except by general consent. Hon. Sfkakeb replied that silence gave consent, and the voices were unanimous. Mr. MoKBisoN said the hon. gentlemaa was at last convinced on the question of Be- peal. Hon. Speakeb hoped that gentlemen would not bring up such matters. Mr. Blanohabd did not require the mem- ber for Colchester to teaoh him his duty. ^■^^^^m^^i^m 1 oould hftve r livi- oe one belonging to " when theqaet* ever did ao would naya when the diyi- at the qoeition had he a£SrmatiTe, and diviaion betaken, he queation in that the minority. P»r- le for the minority -in fact, they were ak. He would now, e vote be entered >f oonrie anbmit to ker might adopt, i time reapeotfoUy itered ananimoualy the whole Honie. 9 were no negative M competent to on- ly. He explained r. DeaBritay and liamentary to take 1 answered "no" ontendedthat the animona except by that silence gave e nnanimona. hon. gentlemaa e queation of Be- t gentlemen woald require the raem- him hia duty. V. ^ 1