H^^Tit. OloVoA^aV C^-^ce rMo. SLj 
 
 BRITISH NORTH AMKRIC AN PROVINCES. 
 
 II. 
 
 L E T T E 11 
 
 ADUUESSKII TO 
 
 THE EARL OF CAKNAllVON 
 
 BY 
 
 Mr. Joseph Howe, Mr. William Annand, and 
 Mr. Hugh McDonald, 
 
 STATIMI THKIIl 
 
 OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED SCHEME OF IMON 
 
 OK THK 
 
 BKITISH NORTH AMERICAN' PROA'INCKS. 
 
 9r(i»rntrli to fiott^ i^ou!»r<» of ilarUamcnt bv Command of H^tr mutitVf 
 
 Hth Frbruari/ 1 80/". 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED BY GEORGE EDWARD EVKR AND WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, 
 
 PRINTERS TO THE yl'EEN's MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATiONKRV OFFICE. 
 
 [Price 4rf.] 4867. 
 
/ 
 
 / 
 
LETTER 
 
 ADDRESSKn TO 
 
 The FiARi- OP Carnarvon l»y Mr. .Ioskpii IIowk. Mr. Willi a.m Annam'. rmd Mr. 
 IFniH McDoN.vLD, statiiijEf their Oiukctioxs to tln' l*iiui'nsKi> S, hkxik of 
 Union of tlio Hkitisii North A.mkrkan I'rovi.n'cks. 
 
 Lomlon, 25 Saville Row. Jamuiry If), \HCtj. 
 
 A.S we learn by the newspapers that tlie Delegates sent hither from C'anaiia, Nova 
 Scotia, and New Brunswick have ngreed upon a plan of C'onfeileration, and as we know 
 that they are framing the draft of a hill, which they intend to a.sk Her Majist_v"s Minis- 
 ters to carry through Parliament at the approaching Session, the undersigned clKcrfully 
 avail themselves of the permission, kindly given by your Lordship, to place before Her 
 Majesty's Government the views of tho.se they represent. Referring to the ciedenti.ds '-'r'-ifnunii' 
 named in the margin, and to the addresses, petitions, and pamphlets to be foinid in the 
 .Appendix, they would premise witli all respect, that though it inight for some rea.sons 
 have been convenient to have had before them the resolutions of the Conference, or a 
 draft of the bill, as their opposition is based upon the general policy of tiie measme, 
 and on the mode of proceeding recommended, irrespective of mere details, they are 
 content to discuss the subject without them. The undersigned assume that the scheme 
 prepared at Quebec in I8G4, has not been materially changed, and that it is iiitenikd to 
 ask Her Majesty's Government to bind some or all the Provinces to accept a modifica- 
 lion of that scheme by an arbitrary Act of Parliament ; before a measure thus juoparcd 
 in London has been submitted to the people, or even to the Legislatures of the Pro- 
 vinces, whose rights, revenues, and allegiance it is so seriously to affect ; and before the 
 local institutions, under which the inhabitants of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are 
 expected to live, when their constitutions iire thus overthrown, have been constructed. 
 
 riie undersigned will be only too happy to learn that they are in error upon ( ither of 
 these points, that intercourse with Her Majesty's Ministers, or the sticngtii of enlight- 
 ened public opinion in the Mother Country, has induced the Delegates to abandon a 
 policy imtil of late openly avowed ; but in the meantime, they must argue upon what 
 ilicy have reason io ' elievc are the true aspects and proportions of this question, as it is 
 about to be presented for the consideration of the Responsible Advisers of the Crown. 
 The magnitude of the interests involved will enforce a somewhat elaborate ili<cussion, 
 l)ut the undersigned will endeavour to simplify the inquiry as nuich as pc)s>iL)Ie by 
 :uianging their observations under separate heads. 
 
 Lord Bacon tells us that " it is not good to try experiments in States except the 
 " necessity be urgent and the utility evident ; and well to beware that it be the retiirma- 
 " tion that draweth on the change, and not the desire of change that pretciulelii the 
 " reformation." In this case is the necessity urgent? Here are four self-governed and 
 contented Provinces, prosperous beyond all precedent. They possess within tlieiuselves 
 the legislative powers necessary to aft'ect changes, however fundamental, and the assent 
 of the Crown is alone required to give efl'ect to their legislation. Have they passed any 
 laws that have been negatived, and if tliey have not, why should the Imperial Parliament 
 be invoked to step in and do for them what they can so readily do for themselves? 
 Would Parliament assume jurisdiction over Bristol in a matter afiecting that city's rights 
 and revenues in a case where "the necessity" was neither " urgent," nor "the utility 
 evident," if it could be shown that the municipal powers we.: sufficient to efll-ct the 
 change ? What would the Cabinet say to half-a-dozen alderman who came here to ask 
 them to pass a measure which had never been submitted to the Common Council, and 
 upon which the aldermen themselves were afraid to test the opinions of the electors ? 
 
 In this case two of the Provinces have voted the measure down with unmistakeable 
 unanimity, scouted, and trampled it under their feet j a third only asks to be allowed the 
 
 18097. ^ 2 
 
4 UVnVM UKSi'KCTlNC I'lli; I'UOI'OSKI) TNION 
 
 oiipnrtiiiiitv to t■xp^l•^>> ;i di-cUivc coiulcmniition. Tlic rmilli f^ave an lioiiot vtnikt 
 jifrainst it. On tlic nii'lliDiis l>v wliicli timl ik'tisioii was ri-vfi^cil, it is painful for Iovltn 
 of frei'doin to dwi-ll . bit your Lonlsliip is .iwure that it) .lollVcy's tiiiif inaii' a jiiiv w,i% 
 iniluci'il to revursf its dfcision wlieu tliUMti-iuii and lirow-ljoati'ii by theCoint. Tiiniing 
 from till- Provinces to tliL- Kinpirf, of wiiicli, afiL-r all, tlu'y only forr.i a part, it is apjurciit 
 tliat tliis scIrmuc will di-iaiigc its whole political in J i'omnu'r(.ial ])()licy, introduce iic^ 
 princiiik's of <^overnnunt. and impose upon trule, so (iir as tlie rest of tiie Kmpiio lnh 
 any, with f)iir of tiiese i'roxiiices, adJitioiu' duties, varyinjj from litty to a iiuiiiiii',1 
 |)er cent. 
 
 Wlicn responsible ji(->ernment was asked for, a cry came up from all the Untisii 
 I'rovinces liavinp I,e.;islatiires demandiiif; the clianjje. Who asks for this ? Canaila 
 desires it as a remedy fur local distraclions and di.spules, wliicii, by the exercise of a little 
 patience and coinnion sen-.e, can easily be reineilied. If the Canadians, haviui; ail tln' 
 advaiitaf^es enjoved by every other Colony within the Empire, cannot work a union ot 
 two I'rovinces with >kill a:.d wivloni ; il they are c()mj)elled to divide that tliuy in.iv 
 govern themselves at all, is it not too niiicli to ask that they may be entrusted witii the 
 government of(i)iu' other I'lovinees? \othiiii,' can be more satisfictory tiian the prc.>i'iit 
 aspects ot the Kmpire, taken as a whole. The central authority is universally obeyed. 
 Commerce ebbs and flows witii the regularity of tiie tide, controlled and guardeil liv a 
 power w- recognize only by its aids, ami not by its burthens. Within the circle of uis 
 wide Confederacy great families of uiankiml, uutiimiliar with freedom, are ruled iiy 
 administrators accountable to the most enlightened and just legisLilure in thewoiKl; 
 while other great communities, peopled by emigrants from these Islands, govern tlicui- 
 selves ill due subordination to the central authority, and enjoy tiie most free commercial 
 intercourse with each other. 
 
 AH these prosperous I'rovinces cheerfully submit to one rule, which is univei.-al 
 throughout the Empire, tliat in every Colony tiie productions of the parent state shall be 
 admitted in fair competition with lliose of every other and of all foreign countries. Tlie 
 framers of this scheme propose to break uj) this commercial system, and, what is evun 
 more hazardous, to reveise the Colonial policy of England, under which for a quarter of 
 a century these organized British communities have been allowed to govern themselves. 
 Are the " utilities evident," or is the "' necessity urgent?" Her Majesty's Cjoverniiieiit, 
 surveying the whole Held of Empire thus sought to be unsettled, we trust will decide not. 
 A single illustration will suffice to show the injustice of the change proposed. For more 
 than a century the Maritime Provinces have had a prosperous trade with the West Indies, 
 whose population take their fish, lumber, staves, and other productions, and send theirs 
 in return. This trade, never interrupted by ice, employs our shipping throughout tlic 
 )ear. The moment that we are hedged within the Confederacy our duties will be 
 increased by fifty per cent, upon return cargoes coming from Colonies which traded with 
 us before Canada was conquered, and w hose inhabitants arc as much British subjects, and 
 our brethren, as are the dwellers on the St. Lawrence. 
 
 We have said that there is no urgent demand for changes in policy or in administra- 
 tion coining up from any part of the Empire. Tiie only complaints that disturb the 
 fL-neral tranquillity are maile by the people of the Mother Country. Wiiat are they? 
 irst, that the Canadi4ns have been for years violating the principles of free trade, 
 imposing protective duties and ta.\ing British manufactiures. Will confederation meet 
 tiiese complaints ? Will the great centres of British industry grumble less when their 
 manufactures, highly taxed, are excluded from all the Maritime Provinces, and are 
 replaced by Canadian goods coming in duty free? Will we have more means wherewith 
 to support our armaments within the Maritime Provinces, ready and willing to furnish 
 their quotas of men and money for defence, have all their surplus revenues swept away 
 to keep up this costly Confederation, with seven Parliaments, for which there is no 
 necessity? Assuming that a scheme of government could be prepared for the North 
 American Provinces universally acceptable to their people, it would leave all the rest of 
 the Empire to shift for itself, without the adjustment of a single question now occupying 
 the mind of every tiioughtful British subject. All the sources of weakness and irritation 
 would still remain. 
 
 As one branch of the subject has been much mystified by these Confederates, and is 
 but little understood, the undersigned will venture to call your Lordship's attention to 
 some obvious facts which bear directly on the question of — 
 
 National Defence. 
 ^ Should Great Britain be ever involved in a war with the United States, or with any 
 European power, so far as concerns our interests, on the continent of America and tlie 
 
(.)F THK IIIUIISM NOKTIl AMKIIIC'AN I'UOVINCf/.. 6 
 
 neif;li'>*'^"'"f? islands, tluTc must l)o two liiMiiict tii-liJs ot ojH'ratiDii. On the I'acirir 
 tide wi' iiuist be preparoil to lose our posscHsiuns t'oi ii time it at war MJth tin- Wi'piiblic, 
 because in popiilution, wealth, and the ri-ady (oniinaiiil of humus of trans|)«>rtati()i) the 
 great stute of California is far in advanre of the l*n)vinci' of Unlisli ("ohnnbia, and 
 besides, when the railroads, of wliicli tlireo are projected and one an)])!)- |)rovidv'il fur by 
 Congress is now under c)ntracl, are lonipleted, tnxjps i-an he thrown in from the 
 soutliern and western states to slreuirthen and support California. Tliere are two modes 
 b'. which matters may be balanceil on the Pacific side. If |)repared to act promptlr, 
 we may take St. Krancisco early in the war by employing a portion of our Indian armv ; 
 or at all events we may, by reinforcements from our i'.astt rn p )s-,essioiis md by naval 
 preponderance upon the !«eaboard, bv- able to protect our own Province, destroy the 
 Panama railroad and that across the continent, if it he finished, clear the .\meiican 
 whalers out of the I'acilic. and generally so harass and cut uj) Aineric.ui commerce all 
 rounil the coa>l from Cditornia to tlie Uio (iranile as to make war an uitoier.ihle 
 infliction, wiiatever successes may have been achieved by the lanil forces of the enemy 
 on llie Canadian frontier. 
 
 On this broad li.lil of operations Canada can pve no assistance eillier to (ireat Hritaiu 
 or to the Province of Coluir)hia. Siie has no railroads by which to send a man across 
 the continent, nor a .soldier to spare if she had ; she has but .'),!)")'^ sailors nud fishermen, 
 less than she woidd require to block the ."^t. Luvrence and make any show of naval force 
 upon the lake.^. If she had a tele;;r,ipli to the Pacitij it would be eul every hour of the 
 dav, passinj;, as it must, throuiih a wilderness with no formed setilemcnls to protect it, 
 or, what would be worse, camp wires anil local batteries, easily conn 'cted i:i -J') places, 
 would enable the enemy to copy every messai^e tluit mii^iit be sent. Sealed up by ice or 
 by the enemy on all sides, it is (piite a|)parenl that Cauad.i could count lor no m )re. as 
 an auxiliary in naval or military oper.ilious on the Paciiic si )e of tlie Knpire, tiian the 
 buov at the J^ore, and it must be quite as clear that if the naval and military olfi( ers 
 entrusted with the protection of i)ur poisessions on tiie Pacirtc were ohlined to report to 
 and receive orders'from Ottawa, all our secrets woidd be known to the enemy ; th it the 
 unity of command would be broken up, and our officers j)erpetualiy mystitied and 
 perplexed. 
 
 Even on this distant fielil of operations the Maritime Provinces would not be quite so 
 powerless. As early as 1812-15, the privateers of Nova .Scotia dashed with great spirit 
 into the war which impeded tlieir natural commerce and rendered the fisliing grounds 
 unsafe, Thase fitted out from Halifax and Liverpool, in that Province, cut up the 
 enemy's commerce and fought some gallant actions, even in those days. 'I'lie Wcstphalls 
 both Nova Scotians and now both admirals, were among the most gallant officers 
 employed on the enetny's seaboartl. Wallace, lieutenant of the Sliaiuion, another Nova 
 Scotian, Uroke his captain being wounded, brought the Ciiesapeake into Halifax, amidst 
 the cheers of the loyal popiilatinn, among whom his boyhood had been passed. Tliese 
 tilings were done in the green tree, but marvellously has this seedling from the good 
 old British stock illustrated the depth of its roots and the vitality of its sap since tiien. 
 It has .sent Welsliwrd and Parker to die before Sebastopol, Williams to ilefend Kars, and 
 Inglis to defend Lucknow, in wars with which, strictly speaking, its jjcople had nothing 
 to do, and it has, in half a century, developed maritime capabilities wiiich challenge 
 from every thoughtful man "sjiecial wonder." A ceiitury ago the whole mercantile 
 marine of Scotland includeil but 32,818 tons, less than the twelfth jiart of the tonnage 
 which her vigorous young namesake owns now. A few years ago Nova Scotia owned 
 more tonnage than all Ireland with her six millions of people, and was beaten by but 
 four or five States of the Great Republic. She is now far in advance of manv of the 
 Powers of Europe. In a memorial, recently presented by the shipowners of the United 
 States to Congress, we find it stated that there are more ships now being built in the Pro- 
 vince of Nova Scotia, than in the entire Union. They give the reason, that construction !'" ' ' 
 is checked along their seaboard by high protective duties, while it is stimulated in Nova iiiil-mn 
 Scotia by low taritiw antl a liberal commercial system. We may be .sure that every efTort 
 will be made, as their debt is reduced to revive this branch of industry ; and it is for 
 Her Majesty's Government to consider, whether in view of these reductions our enter- 
 prize and industry should be cramped by impo.sing upon us the high protective system 
 -of Canada. Nova Scotia has now •2(),0(K> fisherman and sailor.^, commanded by men 
 who are familiar with the navigation of every sea. These iiardy seamen turning their 
 1,000 ton ships into privateers, would make even the Pacific antl the China and Indian 
 coasts unsafe for the vessels of any power with which Cireat Britiin might be at war, 
 and could materially aid her in those distant regions to which Canada could neither send 
 a ship nor a man. New Brunswick owns some fine ships, and could operate on this 
 
 A 3 
 
LKTTKR Ri:si'FX"nN(i TIIK I'KOl'OSKl) INION 
 
 (iiHtant field if she woiiM. Ncwfniindlnnd and Prince Kdwurd Island could render 
 effective service nearer home ; hut, beinf; less enpa^ed in the carrvinir trade would 
 
 5erha|)s not adventure into the Pacific, hut one tiling is perfectly clear, that th«u>,'li tlie 
 - laritiine Provinces might aid (Jreat Britain or that side of the continent, Canada^cmild 
 not, and that, for all |)ractical purposes of dominion or defence, she might as well claim 
 to uovern I long Kong as Dritish ('olumhia. 
 
 Let us now examine the theatre of war as it would he presented on the Atlantic side. 
 What are the tcacliinifs of history ? In the old wars. Louisburgh. on the seaboard, was 
 the I''rench base of operatioUN. This was the gate of St. Lawrence, and thence they inadt- 
 descents upon Newfoiindland and Nova Scotia, preyed upon our commerce, and rendered 
 the coa-t' ()( the old Colonics unsafe. Till we had founded and fortified Halifax \vc 
 could not cflectually control this fi'iinidable position. 'riiouKJi once captured by the 
 New Kiif^iandeis it was rcNtoied, at the peace of /Vix-la-riiapellc, and ajrain more strongly 
 fi)rlifii(i. With Halifax .is a Imsc, we had a noble harlioiir, where the land ami naval 
 forccMiiidcr Wolfe and Amherst could rendezvous, and refit after Loiiisbuigh and (Quebec 
 were captured. 
 
 In the revolutionary war, Halifax was our real base of operations, and at last, our onlv 
 one, as slowly wo were compelled to relax our hold on Boston, Newport, New York. 
 Philadelphia, and York Town. It fcirmed a safe asylum fiir eur broken fleets and armies 
 and tlir the loyalists, who were ultimately to infuse new life into the Provinces we 
 relained. 
 
 Ill our wars with the French Directory, and afterwards witli Napoleon, Halifax wus 
 afrain our base of operations. 'I'liencc went the convoys that protected our vessels, 
 homeward biiund, or carrying supplies to our islands and jmssessions in the tropics, 
 'riieiici' went the ex|)editioiis under Slierbrooke and Prevost. that captured .\Iartiiii(iu ', 
 iVc, and, at a later jieriod, when the United States declared against us, thence issued the 
 cruisers and privateers which cut u|) their commerce, and the armaments that seized 
 Castine, blocked up the Penobscob, and split the state of Maine, one half of which we 
 retained till the close of the war. The undersif,'ned have no desire to disparaifc the 
 patriotic ffallantry with which the Canadian Militia, Frencli and Kuj;;lisli, defended their 
 frontiers durinj,' the war of 1812-1. 5, hut it is quite clear that the utmost thev could ilo, 
 aided by all the troojis Great Britain could .spare, was to hold their own. Their (ioveiii'- 
 ment did not furnish a mm to strengthen the Maritime Provinces, nor a ship to aid us In 
 that stupendous naval war, in which the real battle of the Empire was fought. 
 
 Now let us first inquire whether these mixed naval and military operations goiu" on 
 in and around tliis seaboard base would have been much facilitated had Canada, whieli 
 could barely protect herself, ruled the Maritime Provinces; and had the gallant oflTicers 
 who comuMnded our fleets and armies, and directed tlie dashing enterprizes by which we 
 plucked the flowers of peace out of the nettles of danger, been compelled to report to 
 and receive orders from Ottawa, and to consult persons ISOO miles awav. 
 
 Shoiilil war break out to-m;)rrow, as we have communication by steamer every week 
 and by telegraph every hour, the real centre of intelligence and direction would be the 
 War i)epartment here. Our weakest line of defence would be the Canadian frontier. 
 Our real base of operations, both for oftence and defence, must he Halifax and tiie 
 Maritime Provinces in the North Atlantic. The chequer hoard of war will not be 
 British America only, it will include all our possessions in the West Indies and around 
 the Gulf of Mexico, it will include the rich fisheries of the North, and the whole 
 Ameiican seaboard, upon which if we are ever to have peace our blows must be felt ; 
 and it must include our commerce in all the surrounding seas, with the summer fleets 
 pa.ssiiig up and down the St. Lawrence, which the Canadians by any instrumentality or 
 exertion of their own will he utterly powerless to protect. 
 
 Surveying the whole field of operations it must be apparent that to remove our base 
 from the centre to one of the extremities and that the weakest, to compel the War 
 Department to communicate with a commander-in-chief at Ottawa, who must write or 
 telegraph hack before anything can be done at Halifiix, is to risk disclosure and delay 
 over an additional 1,600 miles of distance, to break up the unity of command, to hamjier 
 and perplex four Legislatures and Governments, instinct with loyal devotion and activity, 
 deliberating under the guns of British iron-clads, and in constant social and oflficial 
 communication with the gallant officers who need their co-operation. To do this will he 
 to reverse all the traditions of the past, and to negative with childish presumption the 
 teachings of that military science which it has cost us so much to form. 
 
 It disposed to undervalue the knowledge we have accumulated for ourselves we mav 
 borrow instruction from our neighbours. Three or four armies were employed by the 
 Federal States for the suppression of the great rebellion. At first operations were 
 
OF TIIK HKITISH NOKTII AMKItlCAN IMIOVINCKS. 7 
 
 dircctod from Wasliinpton by tin- I'lcsiili-iit ami tlic SiTiitary at \\ ur, advise. I liy micIi 
 military oftici'is as they cliosc to cimsnit. 'i'iiis mixed poliiiial ami militarv svsti'in, 
 whicii we may. it' wo ciiosf to copy tlieir Miiiidcrs, estal)!i>ii at Ottawa, wa^ a dleided 
 failure. I'olitical parti/aiic, iiiiioraiit ami iiicompi'tuiit, were fntnisted with the i-oinmami 
 of ri'i;iincnts l)rii,'ade>. and army c•()rp^. Shoddy lontiattor"* and lolilicis oi all kiinN 
 intfsti'd tlu- dc|»artments at Washiiij;ton, and ob.structcd every hiaiuh nt the nnluarv and 
 naval administrations. Iliwidreds ot millions of dollarii were wasted, and hiindieiK ol 
 thousftiids ol lives were lost. Mutwith all these erros the (iovernmini never eoni- 
 niitted the unpanl()nal)le one ot nl<aiidoniii^ navi^ahle \va.)M- as it base ol' operations, or 
 thuu^lit of esUthlisIiini; the centr.il authority, as we are asked tn do, l.uoo miles in ihe 
 interior. 
 
 When at last tiie political element was eliminated, and (Jeiieral (ir.mt. a thon>ni,'h 
 soldier, was invested with tiie supreme eonnnand, lie marched trom navuMlde watei on 
 the I'otomac to navifjable wiiter on the dames, and dinim,' the last suieesslnl yeai of tiie 
 war, his base was at City I'oint. Sherman commanded the army ol (iecriiia and Sheridan 
 another in the Siienambah N'aliey as we mit;ht recpiire an army on tli t'anadian Irontier 
 but the unity of command was |)reserved. Hotli these distimiuished soldiers reported to 
 and served under (irant, who held on to the sealioard, and Irom tin nee directed all tiie 
 military and naval operations from the St. ('roix to the i!io (ir.mde. It, untbrtimatelv, 
 we are tbrced into a war, 01 u' base must be Halifix, not ( )ftawa. The Commander-in- 
 C'liief must be there in hourly connnunication with the War Department, and in the 
 centre of the {jreat tliealre of operati<ms by land and sea. for whicii he and the naval 
 commander-in-chief will be jointly responsible. Ihe army on the Canadian frontier will 
 have its peculiar duties as Sherman's and Sheridan's armies had ; but it will loi m but a 
 part of the whole force, and must move in obedience to the orders of those olliceis, who 
 alone, from the centre can survey and ilirect operations ovir the whole theatre of war. 
 
 Tlie base beiiifi determined, is it not of the utmost consecpience that the population 
 arouiul that base should be loyal and devoted subjects ol the C'rown ? Tliey are so now. 
 In the four Maritime I'rovinces there are nearly a million of people. 'I'ltey are traiiiinj; 
 a militia force of lOO.OOO men. They have over ()0,Ut)'J Hshermeii and sai ors. There 
 are at this moment no aniiexionists or disloyal persons in this entire (oicf. 'I'o draw 
 these men away from the seaboard is to weaken our base, without materially streiifjlheii- 
 inp; the landward wing of the army. If disposed to ^'o they must inarch SCO mih's, or as 
 tiir as from London to X'ienna before they can reach Ottawa. Hut would they ijo ? .\s 
 matters stand they might, if satisHed by the presence of a powerful naval force that their 
 seaboard cities were safe; but assuredly if drairged into this Contederation agiinst their 
 will, if the system of self-government and low duties, to which they attribute their great 
 prosperity is broken down, and if their revenues are transferieil and their iianchises over- 
 ridden by an arbitrary Act of Parliament, very few of them will maicii tt) defend (J :iada ; 
 and the serious cpiestion to be well nondereil before tin:; step is taken is, wlutlur broken 
 in spirit by this act of oppression, having lost coniidence in the uo.nl f.iitli of tiie down 
 and in the justice of Parliament, tiicy will fight at all. The inulersigiied know the I'ro- 
 vinces well and they have no hesitation in saying, tiiat the passage of such an Act within a 
 few weeks of the time when by law the people should have an opportunity to express tiieir 
 opinions without waiting for that expression, or ;;iving them a chance to protect their 
 institutions by their votes, would be regarded by a vast majority of the people ol Nova 
 Scotia as a dissolution of the political and social compact which binds the Maritime I'ro- 
 vinces to the Mother Country. 
 
 We have thus far treated the question of defence as it affects the Kmpire at large, let 
 us limit the field of operation to the I'rovinces. 
 
 We are about to create a " new nation" a "fresh power" as the proposed Con- 
 federacy has been styled by the Governor-Geueral of Canada in his speech to Parlia- 
 ment. We are aware that the Delegates who are here, and who suspect tiiat to adopt 
 too hastily these high sounding phrases might peril the 4,0()(),0()0/., are content to "do 
 " their spiriting gently," and like wise serpents to wear the Colonial skin till the 
 warmth of England's bosom enables them to cast it off. But to suppose that half the 
 continent of America, organized under one government and legislature, cin ever be 
 treated as a Colony is to cherish a delusion. 
 
 If it is intended to form a nation then we would observe, that allegiance and protection 
 should go together. The seaboard Provinces have many thousand vessels, and smacks 
 and small boats in any number from the flat that tends the net inshore, to the fifteen 
 hundred ton ship beating round Cape Horn; all these enjoy the protection of England, 
 and tho.se who inan them have cause to rejoice in her maritime supremacy. If stopped or 
 questioned the Foreign Secretary must " know the reason why." if robbed or insulted, 
 
 A 4 
 
s LKTTKK in:siM;(TiN(i Till: ruoposri) inion 
 
 in dintanl rtnioiiK. lliffo is llic Hrilisli Minister or Consul t(» project tliom; if -iick tlu-v 
 .ire sent to HoM|>ital i iC wrtckcil lliey are nlicvoil ; aiul by a siinplt- mai-iiiiicry wliicn 
 costs tliein ii.illiiiii; to ko«'|) up, tlie I'roviiice- urc cliar^i-d wiili tlie mhiis iii>l)iir,c(|. 
 L'lotlitil witli lii» Uritisfi citi/onslnp, and with a Miiiali rcii fl.i-j at the main, ii Novh 
 Scotian circMimimvi^ates the ^lohe, trades with all manner ot people, and trea is his 
 quarter deck with a sense of security that is perfect. 
 
 When he n'tiirns, he sails up the harlmiii in which he was bred, and delivers his voi-i 
 with the consci(iu*ness tliut he forms part ot a >elf-f;(iveniinfj and prosperous community 
 whose service is a l.ibour of love uiid wliose burthens are lijilit. 
 
 For his British nti/ensliip and ti)r hi> Responsible Ciovirnment he is prepared to 
 make any per^olMl or pecuniary sanilicc. Hut how will it be when he puts to sea with 
 the conviction that the duties on every tliinj^ he brini»s back have been increased fro' i 
 fifty to a hundred and fifty percent., that he is a citizen of a wretched conlcderacy, whose 
 " drum beat " noliiKly ever heard, and which lias not a war ship upon the ocean, or a 
 minister or a consul with the slii;litest influence abroad ? How will he feel when he 
 returns and ascends a hustinirs whose proceedings are a mockery, to vote (or a member, 
 whose presence in h distant and hostile Parliament, is but a proof of his degradation. 
 
 TiiK Ivtfucolomai, Uaimioao. — Hist niMisATiNfi DurrKS. 
 
 Hut it is said by acceptinjj this Quebec scheme of Confederaticm the Maritime Pro- 
 vinces secure the Intercolonial U ikvay. The undersij^ned can scarcely trust tliemselvs 
 to discuss this branch of the i^eneral subject, so selfish and unfair at all times Ikh been 
 the conduct of the public men of Canada in regard to it. Ri;;htly estimating the value 
 of this road as a great highway of communication, as an aid to the defence of ('anadj, 
 ami as ()|)ening a field (or employment, which, if occupied, would strengthen the wc.ik 
 points of the frontier, Mr. Howe came to Kngland in 1850, and spent six months in 
 negociations, the objects of wliieh were to induce Her Majesty's Government to 
 guarantee a sum suHicient to complete it ("lom Halilax to Montreal, and to throw ::i 
 upon tlie line the surplus population of the parent State, then burthening the poor rates 
 or drifting into foreign countries. To this policy the Earl of Derbv, then in opposition, 
 gave his strenuous support. The guarante.; was promised, and returning to the 
 Provinces, Mr. Howe succeeded in combining thtm all in common measures to secure 
 the completion of the road. Subsequently cetain Knglish contractors, who were 
 Members of I'arliament, ami possessed of some jiolitical iriHueuce here, determined 
 to profit by a large expenditure on a new field ot operations. They organized the 
 Grand Trunk Railway Company, issued a prospectus promising sharciiolders eleven per 
 cent, for their investments, induced the public men of Canada to pick a quarrel with 
 Sir John Pakington, laughed at the necessity for any guarantee, and commenced that 
 series of operations by which the enterprise, after the fashion of the London, Chatham, 
 and Dover, was turned into a contractor's road. Ten millions being extracted (roni the 
 credidous ])eop!e of England, and three millions from the Government of Canada, upon 
 a large portion of which no interest or divitlends have yet been paid. We pass over the 
 rapid fortunes that were made out of this expenditure. It is sufficient to mark the 
 fact that the unfortunate shareholders, after waiting thirteen years without interest or 
 dividemls, can now only sell their 100/. shares (or "^0/. A road was made from Samia 
 to the river De Loup, but that part of it which should have comiected Lower Canada with 
 the Atlantic was left unfinished. No ])opulatioii was thrown in upon the wilderness and 
 weak part of the frontier, and millions of British subjects have .'ince been allowed to 
 drift into the United States, to become Fenians and a scourge to Canada ; and it may 
 fairly be assumed that some hundreds of tliousands of them liavc been killed or wounded 
 in the recent civil war. 
 
 The Maritime Provinces thus betrayed and abandoned, set about making their own 
 roads in an honest and straightforward m;umer. Nova Scotia borrowed 800,000/. 
 sterling, at six per cent., and constructed railways from Halifiix to Truro and Windsor, 
 60 miles of the system forming part of the Intercolonial Road. By the expenditure 
 of another half million she has extended her eastern line to the gulf at Picton, 
 tapping extensive coal mines, and bringing the cr tal of Prince Edward Island within 
 half a day's distance of Halifax. She has now the whole of her portion of the Inter- 
 colonial Road under contract, and so buoyant have her revenue and resources become 
 that she has been enabled to subsidize a company to complete her western line to Anna- 
 polis; and all this she has done with an ad valorem duty often per cent, without asking 
 a pound from the Canadians or the British Government. By means of these roads offer- 
 ing inner lines of communication, she can in case of war, supply a British fleet and army 
 
OF TIIK HIUTISII NORTH AMI.IJICAN PUOVINCK S. H 
 
 with r<io(l, tonv'i', I'o.A iiiul liiiil)i'r, in aiiv (lu.iniity. an,! in a week can iMsils conciMitratf 
 ariunul dur ilockNari!> anil ar^fnal* llii' whole Miliiia Iohh- oI' tin- I'mvini-c. 
 
 Ni'W liinnswuK hccaini' riilan.:!».'il with llii'^' I'li^liv;. funtraclnrs, lint >luiolv iluni nlV 
 at a cot (i('7<'.<"""'-, and M't alinnt makiii;,' lur roads with Iut own iin-anv She h.i.s nun- 
 |)lt'trd an I'MilKnt road IrDni St. John to Hav \'t'rlr, which opens uji a line trait nl 
 ciiiniti). and m( nres iier connexion willi the unit and with I'rniee iidward !>land. This 
 iii:id. wiiethcr tlic Inteicoloiiial is evei' made or not, will he extended to the liontier ol 
 Ndva Scotia, and when it is the tinee l'ro\iiic<s cm le.iii npon and aid eieh other ; ami 
 in case of war. the Commaiuli'r-in-chicC c;in ihiow ilie manhood o| all three on aiiv 
 threatened point witii marvellons ease and rapiiiils. 'i'in'>e loads have heen made 
 uithont aid I'loni ahioail, and vet the cicilit ol' lioth Provinces has ^tood all sninmer as 
 high as that (it CaiKida. :inil olien higher. 
 
 W hill' tiie Maiitiine l'rovinee>i have ihns done their oun woik and stien;;theneil their 
 own drieiices, llii'v have not luen inditi'erent to the jucidiar condition ot Canada. The 
 iiuiiacinu tone adopted liy the I'lnted States, am' the larue armameniN orj^ani/ed alter 
 till' ontlireak (/I'the Civil War, weie nit ininotieed in the Provinces. Conferences were 
 lie.'d with a view to the eonijih tion o! tne Intercolonial raindad, and delenates wi're in 
 tlii^ ciinntry asking lor aid lo it, when t!ie .SontlKin ('ommi>»'oin rs were seized, and 
 Kiiu'Iand waited ni snlemii seriousness liir an •••iswer to the demand Cor their restitution. 
 When ihe danger had iiiown over, Lord I'almerston's (lovermiieiit declined to jjive any 
 (liiect aid, lint the Dnke of Newcastle v\as instinctid to inliirm the lepiesentat.ives of the 
 ('(ilonie- that a guarantee, it' asked I'or, Wdidd he i;iMn, .Another conlerence was held at 
 (jiiehec to consider the siiliiect in this new as]iecl. when tlie Maiiiime I'rovinces were 
 made ajain to teel the nn^enercais and nnjiist spirit in which the Canadians liave ever 
 been disposed to deal with this enterprise. 
 
 When repre>entali()n is to he divided by their (Quebec scheme they claim that it shall 
 be adjir-ted iiy popiilaiion. \\'hen money is to be exjieniled upon a national work, they 
 ailopt a diti'erent lule. .Assinnini; the road to be re(pnred i'or ilelenee, then Canada, 
 liavinu' the longest frontier, and in winter being separated from (ireat Britain, wanted if 
 far more than either Nov i Scotia or New ISrnnswick. for her it was a necessity in war, 
 because .she conid not get aid by any other ronte. To us it would net bring a soldier 
 it it was open, and our coasts, i! they could be defended at all, conid lie protected at all 
 seasons. K\en in peacefid times the Canadians had no outlet to the sea but through a 
 (iireiiin country. We had easy access to ail the world and no liireign power could restrain 
 us. While the advantages of this work were all ii\ fiivour of Canai'a, her public men 
 drove with the Maritime Provinces a bargain so hard as to be eminently characteristic. 
 The share which Canada shoidd have assmned, taking population as the basis of this ex- 
 penditure, was about six-sevenths ot the whole. She wduld oidy consent to providi; liir 
 five-twelfths, and our Delegates were compelled toassumethe other seven, or permit the 
 project to he again wrecked by the seltishness and injustice ot' those with whom they had 
 to deal. This uneipia! portion was generously assumed by the gentlemen from Nova 
 Scotia and New Brunswick, anil it was arranged that a Delegation shoidd proceed to 
 England to adjust the terms ot tiie guarantee. 
 
 Over the proceedings of that Delegation the tmder>igned would gladly draw a veil. 
 The geritiemeii from Nova Scotia aiul New Brimswick soon discovered that embarrassed 
 by tiie defection of one or two ol ir supporters, the Canadian Cabinet only desired to 
 break up the iiegociation. 'I'he Di-.^e of Newcastle, whose patriotism and patience were 
 sorelv tried, is dead. V,'e wish he were alive to convey to your Lordship his imj)ression 
 of the sjiirit in which Her Majesty's Goveriuncnt were met by lie gentlemen with 
 whom he had to deal; but there is at least one officer in the department who cannot 
 have forgotten what his CJrace o'ldurei! and leclingiy cx|)ressed. Mr. Tilly and Mr. 
 Howe, who would l)e no parties to a ipiirrel with Her Majesty's Government, laboured 
 sincerely to bring the negociation to a satisfactory conclusion. Mr. Gladstone met them 
 in a candid spirit, ami terms too fair to refuse being finally offered they closed with them, 
 and went home, completed their legi.-lation, and gave, by law, the securities which Her 
 Majesty's Government very jiroperly demandeil. Not so the Canadians. They refused 
 to provide for any sinking fund, by which the money to he advanced should be repaid ; 
 a fact, too significant we trust, to be overlooked by the |)resent Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer ; aiid thus were the interests of the Maritime Pro\ inces, so far as they have 
 any in the Intercolonial railroad, a second time sacrificed and thrown over by these 
 Canadian politicians. 
 
 With the history of this enterprise fresh in our recollection, and these facts breeding 
 distrust and suspicion among our people, the Canadians come to us now and say, we will 
 make the Intercolonial railroad if jou wdl let us govern your Provinces, permit us to 
 leua;. B 
 
10 LKTTF.K HKSPKCTIXG THE PROl'OSKD INIOX 
 
 appoint your (governors, jiiilj^cs. anil councillors, hand over to iis your revenues, and invest 
 us with iiiiliniiti'il jiowcrs of direct and nidirect taxation. 
 
 '{"here ar" i".:'."_'' raiiroai^ coiniectinLi lait^land and 15il>riiMn with France, hut ,'iir tiien 
 all would the peo|iii' of either country pernnt the French thusto deal with their Ciovern- 
 nient, their patroiiane. and tiieir rcveniu's? There are railroads runninij Crom the 
 United States iiitD (',!iiada, would the Canadians to secure these f'acilitii's have hartered 
 awav their selt'-;;o\ei niiirnt, and their reveniU's ? 
 
 Tlie lairopean ai! i North-. Xniericau railroad will soon pass through Nova Scotia ami 
 New Hrunswick into Maine, hut if that state were to make it a condition of her assis- 
 tance to llie enter|)ri>e, tlia' she was to govern either I'rovince, would not the |)r()posil 
 be treated with contempt ? In tlu' same s|)irit the people of Nova Scotia would reject 
 and resi'ut the oiler to hi- governed and controlled by (^'anada, even if she proposed tn 
 make the Intercolonial railroad entirely at her own exi)ense; but when it can he shown 
 that imder the Quebec scheme of Contederaton mole money will be extracted from the 
 exi^tini; revemns of Nova Scotia ami New Hrunswick than will pay the interest on the 
 whole expeiiihtu e, to say nothinir of what they will contribute when their import duties 
 are increased .')(• or loi) jier cent., and Canaiia has power over them of uidimitcd 
 fixation ; is it singular that such a dishonest proposal iias aroused very just and general 
 indignation ? 
 
 Such a condition as this was never thought of by Karl Grey when a guarantee was 
 ott'eied in Isf)!. No such comlition was imposed by the Duke of Newcastle in 1^62, 
 and at neitlier [leiiod would sucii a demand, if made by Canada, have been listened to 
 for a moment by those wlio conchnled the negoci,,tions on tlie part of the Maritime 
 Provinces. The Intercolonial railwa\ will iiave its advantages as a means of communi- 
 cation between all the Provinces, but those upon the seaboard have grown and thriven 
 without it and they can li\e and thrive witiiout it still. Jn peace they have means of 
 communication with all the world, ami in war they can concentrate all their forces by 
 means of the roads tliey have, and under any circumstances expect no help from Canada. 
 So long as she is content to be (rozeu up tor half the year, or to be dependent upon a 
 foreign (lovernmcnt for a passage to tlie sea for iter products and her people, the Nova 
 Scotians arc content to forego their share of the advantages of the Intercolonial road 
 till it can be constructed on fair and honourable terms. We live in tlie basement story 
 of the Britisii American mansion and can gel into the street, even tiiough those in tlie 
 attic should never construct a staircase. 
 
 Tile framers of the Quebec scheme expect tlie Ciiancellor of the Exchequer to go 
 down to Parliament and ask for an advance of 1,000,000/. for tlic construction of this 
 road, Mr.' (liadstiiie promised but ;j,t)00,00O/. Tlie sum has been increased by one- 
 third on the faith of a most imjiertect Canadian survey, with which Her Majesty's 
 Government, that is to give the money, or the Maritime Provinces which are to pay the 
 interest, have had nothing whatever to do. Four millions of money would build 
 16 iron-clads or would furnish a million of breech-loaders, which distributed over the 
 Empire would greatly .strength it in every part. Is it likely that Parliament will vote 
 such a sum unless the case be clear ? The Chancellor of the Exchequer may be 
 reasonably expected to prove, — 
 
 1. That so large a siun is actually required. 
 
 2. That the security of a sinking fund, which Mr. Gladstone demanded but which 
 Canada refused in l.s6"2, is to be given. 
 
 3. I'iiat the interest is to be paid in fiiir proportions by the three Provinces, and not 
 by the Maritime Provinces alone. 
 
 4. That Canada is so secure from invasion that the money will not be lost even sliould 
 she be ever so honestly disposed to repay it. 
 
 5. That so largo a sum may not, in the altered circumstances which we have to face, 
 be very much better emjiloyed in the defence of the whole Empire than in giving 
 facilities to a Province, which may be utterly unable to repay the money, or to protect 
 the road when it is built. 
 
 All these questions may be answered to the satisfiiction of Parliament, but if they are 
 there is another that we suspect will task the powers of the whole Cabinet to win the 
 approval of either House. 
 
 By our i)resent colonial system, British manufactures fio^y freely all over the Empire, 
 into Ciown Colonies and dependencies, under such regulations as Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment may approve ; into all the others under the privileges conceded in Earl Grey's 
 Circular Despatch, which left to the self-governing colonies the right to regulate their 
 trade as they pleased, with this single restriction, that they were not to impose dis- 
 criminating duties, even in favour of the Mother Country. No tnore liberal dispatch 
 
(►F THK HHITISH NORTH AMKIUC.W IMJOVINCKS. II 
 
 ever emanated from the Colonial Olfice sinct' its tirst cif.ition. i'lie umiorsinni'il 
 
 ever cmanaicu irom uie «. oioniai \.nncc nhkh' its tirst crcilion. i lie undorsinni 
 remeniber well wlion it was n-ail in tin- Lt>uis|.;turi' of Nova Sroii;i, and tin- N.itisiac-tii... 
 it cave to c:ili<;liti'no(l public men and to all the ro niin-rcial il a>M's. I'Imn dc^p.iti-li 
 iitriii'k liown the last remnant of the old resfrielive eoninuiei il NVstem l>v whielitli- 
 states of Kiirope had, for ccntinie^, hani|i('ri'd ilie truli- ot' their |)laiitatioii^. 
 
 The svsteni thus established has worked like a charm in everv part of tiie Kmpire, and 
 iiiuler it marvellous pro<;ress has been made in commeriial develo|)ment. 
 
 Tlii-i system, fairly worked, is of universal .ipplieation to the neees>ities of such an 
 Kmpire as ours. (Jreat Britain, repiidiatinc; protective duties and adinittinu t'><>'l and raw 
 staples fiei', gi\es to all her CoioIlle^ the benetits ot' th.- home maikets upon the most 
 liberal terms. The Colonies oidy impo-iiii^ such diitii's as me indispenstble for the 
 support of their (iovernments. lake all the productions of (ireat Hritain in return. Tlie 
 Imperial (lovernmenl |)rovidinf; fi)r the iiation.d defence, miuht \erv fairly havi' uiveii 
 the Hritisii manu'iicturer the benefit of a small (bsenmiiMtiii;; (lut\ ha>l it been so dis|)OM'd ; 
 this was not done. The people of ICn^land relieil on tlii'U' capital, tlu'ii nIniII. and thiir 
 enterprise, to compete fiiirly with ((ireii^n and colonial industrv, an I we weri' l"tt tree, in 
 all the North American IVovinces, to purchase any article we niii^ht reiiuire, in the 
 United States, in Canada, or anywhere else, and brmu; it hon)e, pavmu; no ni^lur duties 
 than we should have to j)ay had it bt;en brouijh! from Kni;l uid. 
 
 'I'his is a most iienerous system, as the I'lovinces kcrj) ail tlie revenues they rai>i', and 
 never pay a pound into the lm|)erial ilxcliecpier. 'I'lie .\mcricin svsti in is ditleient; 
 tiiere the St.ites enjoy free trade with each otiier, but jiav all ti-eir import duties i^ito the 
 Federal treasury, which go to .sup|!ort tiu' arui\- and navy, and all the iiatioiMl establish- 
 Mieiits tliat, under oiu' system, are maintaini'd l)\ tin- pi ople oi CJreat Ihiiain. For some 
 time, it has been apparent that the people of ( anad.i were anxious to ir^t ii;e 1) iietit of 
 hotli systems. They tried iliscritiiinatinj^ duties upon their canals, and these, in lonnexion 
 with the St. Alban's raid, cost all tlie I'rovinces liie lleciprociiy Treaty. Tliey tried 
 higii protective duties, anil only reiluced them t.. witiiiu .')() per cent, of tliose coileetetl 
 in Xo\a Scotia, after the manuficturing towns in this comitry indignantly remonstrated, 
 and when it was necessary to induce the Imperial (i'mriuiient to favour this utIuM latlier 
 profitable "little game" of Confederation. 
 
 Before the Chancellor of the Flxc'^eipier goes ilown to I'ailiaiin iil to ask lor tlusc lour 
 millions of pounds, his penetrating intellect will liavi' searched to the viiy marrow ol the 
 new commercial system, which, under cover ot this (^lubec schi'ine, he is a.skeil to 
 sanction. He will find it nothing more nor less than an attci':|)i to exclude tVoin half the 
 continent of America British productions, by a discriminating duly of Cdui 1.") to Mi per 
 cent., a.s the expenses of this Confi-deracy may increase, and to ensure to the Canadian 
 nianufactmcr a monopoly of tiie consumption of all the I'rovinces the people of Faiglanii 
 have planted, and which they have defended liowii to the present hour. We are much 
 mistaken if the Chancellor does not as reailily |)enetrate the motives of certain pi'rsons it) 
 this country, who, having a disjointed and protitless coiitractor's line upon their hands, 
 are most untiiirly pressing on this crude scheme of Confederation, utterly iiulid'erent to 
 the nature of his responsibilities, or to the rights and interest oi our Maritime I'rovinces. 
 That the true character of the festive jiitlalls, tliat these jjcople have tiir months been 
 laying for the success of their project, may be simply illustrated, let us imagine that the 
 mani}>ulators of the London, Chatham, and Dover, were to set about the lio|)eful task of 
 persuading Her Majesty's Government to grant four mi'.iions sterling to complete their 
 lines and restore their credit, charging the City of la)ndon with the interest, without ever 
 permitting the liverymen to vote upon the transaction. No j)arliamentary sanction could 
 be obtained for such an act of spoliation as this, and the undersigned shall wait with some 
 ctiriosity to hear the Grand Trimk gentlemen in the House oi Commons advocate the 
 passage of an arbitrary act of spoliation, to ap])ly to the Colonies which, were Knglish 
 revenues and franchises involved, no man would have the hardihood to propose. 
 
 Forced Unions,— l'.\rF,u Constitutions. 
 
 We are sometimes reminded, in these discussions, of tiie old adage that " Union is 
 " Strength." But is it always ? Much depends on the nature of the materials, on tlie 
 conditions and objects of Union, and very nuicii u|)on the mode in which it is 
 accomplished. 
 
 Belgium and Holland were not strengthened by Union, nor Austria and Venice. 
 England was weaker than before when she riileil France from the Channel to the 
 Pyrenees. The United States do not cover so large a territory as it is proposed to 
 include in this Confederation. Whether arising from extent of surtiice, antagonism of 
 
 B 2 
 
12 LKTTF.U HF.SI'KrTINT, THE PHOPOSKl) I'MON 
 
 riicos, (liviTsitics of interc>t, or till- ili-ti'cts of a papiT coii^titiitioii. lliat ';^mx roimtrv, 
 fiidowfd l)v tlu" ("icMtor \vit!i l)oiiii(llc>> irrtility, witli imtiiral lbrc'st> and licli (i-lifiii".*, 
 witli motive i)o\vfr that no skill ran intMMiro, with mines tlial {^cntTations cannoi 
 cxhaiiNt. has just hurii'd a million ol' ix'upli', >lain in civil sliifc, or worn out \,y \U^. 
 casual tils of war. 
 
 HalCa million of maimed and broken men waudc.- thron^li her towns, every Iii.mu'!i n| 
 hi'r industrv is imrtliened with deht and taxation, and the l/.u'islatnre and (loveriimeiit, in 
 fierce aniaiionism, are tearing; to pieces the paper constitution in which they can liiui im 
 reniedv tor the evils that alllict them. With all these evidences helore us that l.'.iiou is 
 not al\v.i_\s strenu'tli, and that |)a|)er constitutions are not really diiral)le, the imdersi^nud 
 would respectfully suhmif, whether it would not he wise to jjause, at least till ue c;iii 
 .see how our neii:hhr)urs remodel their institutions, hefore we he^iu taniperiui;- with uur 
 own. 
 
 We are .sometimes told that the .Saxons were weak under tiie Heptarchy and ,strnn.j:cr 
 when iniited under a kinu'. i'liis is true, and it the people of Nova .Scotia were dividtd 
 into tribes, imder rival chieftains, it would be win- fi)r them to follow so^ood an exiuiipK'. 
 Hut let us sup|)ose that the Sa.xons had I>een united in one I'arli.unent, with one ruler 
 and in friendiv alliance with the most power/ul monarchy of those days, .ind tli.it the 
 French had come over to |)ersuade them to remove the Wittcnaijemot to I'.uis, to submit to 
 taxation without, restraint, and to allow them to appoint all their principal o.'licers, wli:ii 
 answer would our sturdy ancestors have uiven ? their old war cry of" bills an;! bow.i ;"ainl 
 if Her Majesty's (jovernment will leave us free to i,'ive the same answer to tlic 
 Canadians, when they make us the .same proposition, tiiis (jiiestion will be speeilily 
 .settled, withoui their uiterferenco. 
 
 The Normans conquered Kngland at last, and ajjaiu our own history teaches us lessons 
 of wisdom. So lon^ as these two countries wcie united tiiey scourged and impoverislied 
 each other ; and it was not until little Knj;land had her own .Sovereign and Farli.uiuiii 
 secure within her own borders, free from f()rc'ign entanglements and influences, fli.it 
 she bcijan to develop those physical, intellectual, and industrial resources, which have 
 made her the wonder of the world. We have ;'reat respect ''<r the million of Frenclmicn 
 in Lowtr Canada, who live about six times as far from us as Normandy is from Kn^Iaiul; 
 but vet warned by this |)a^e of ancient history, we would much j)refer tiial tiiey slioiiKl 
 f^overn themselves and let us alone. Our country is small, but the sea is lar^e enoiigli, 
 and we will take our share of it, and carve out a lohle heritage lor our children, as 
 Englishmen did before us. 
 
 The advocates (>f this measure often refer it-i opponents to the Scottish and Irish Acts 
 of Union; but assuming the necessity to be as urgent and the cases analogous, whicii 
 they are not, the Union of the Three Kingdoms would oidy prove that the Maritiiiu' 
 Provinces might at some time hereafter be drawn together by some simple arrangements 
 mutually satisfiictory. 
 
 Those Provinces are larger than the Three Kingdoms ; their population is homogeneous; 
 their interests are the same. 
 
 The people of these Islands did not connect themselves with a large continental 
 coimtry that could always out-vote them, and which, having no power to protect them, 
 might yet drain their resources and hamper their trade. Why should we? 
 
 The undersigned have no desire to he drawn into vexed questions of Scottish ami 
 Irish politics, but would with all respect invite the attention of Her .Majesty's ministers 
 to these marked distinctions. Ireland was a conquered country long before the union, 
 and the sister island, being the strongest, had perhaps the right to settle her form ot' 
 government. The Canailians have never conquered the Maritime Provinces, ami have 
 acquired no such right. Had the ]iriiiciples of government been as well understood 
 sixty years ago as they are now, had the Irish Parliament represented the whole body of 
 the people, and been content, as Nova Scotia is. to work responsible government in due 
 subordination to the Crown and Parliament of England, who can .say that the Act of' 
 Union would ever have been thought of, or that she would not have lieeii a thousand 
 times more happy and |)rosperous without it ? But assuming the union to have been a wise 
 measure, then we sliouUl be carcdd to avoid the errors by which it was marred at the 
 outset, and which have caused irritation and disturbance ever since. The Irish union 
 was carried by means which even the necessity can hardly justify, and a rankling sense 
 of unfiiir play in the mode has underlaid the whole politics of Ireland ever since. The 
 measure ouglit to have some redeeming featines, but seeing that it has led to two or 
 three rebellions, that the country has been more than iialf a century in u state of chronic 
 insurrection, that iiundreds of thousands have died of famine, and that millions of Irish- 
 men emigrate, to render our relations with a great country perilous, while those who 
 
OF TMK nuri'isii Noinn ami.ijhan nfoviNrr;^. 13 
 
 rem.iiii tax our liij-licst st.itc^mansliip witli social |ii()I)li'm> vers liitlli-nlt I.) miIm'. iIu- 
 uii'.li'rsij-nL'il would ies|uTtf'iiIly :isk that no iiiiwiso i'X|K>rimi'nt>i ;ittir liu- Iri^ii nuili.ul 
 siinll without iiocossity l)i' tried in linpi))' :ind |ir,>»pi'riiiis l'ro\ iiici-., wlu'ii' the jii>t 
 ;iiilliority of the (.'rovvn ;iiid the Mipiein.uy o! l*;irh;imei)t have nivir lui'ii lii.xiniUil. 
 
 Union was forcoil njion Scotland and Kii<>land hy comliiionv «hich n'ay ultimatelv 
 load Id a union hetweon Canada and the I'niled States ; hut in tl:e la^e oC No\ i Seoli.i 
 and that Province do not exist. 'I'lie two nations had a conininn (ronlier, ami (o! 
 centuries they had been involved in raids, incursi()n>, and jjrcai wars, liy wliicli their 
 |)0]tnIations were con*tanflv thinned and fuir resDurci's exhaustid. Hut Can lia li.is 
 jiad no wars with Nova Scotia, Prince Kdwaid Isiaml, o;- Newtninull.uul. 'riuir 
 rroiitiers are hnndreils of miles apart, and until this (Quebec sciieiue, which is rapidK 
 traininj^ their populations to distrust and hate eacii other, was propoundeil, lliev hail 
 lived in peace and iViendship, as we trust tliey in ly live again when these inlrusious iiavu 
 been abandoneil ami are forgotten. 
 
 One great reason why the Scotch consented, if they ever did consent, to give np tin ir 
 se|)arate legislature was because tliey had no colonies and hut liltle fori'ign trade. Are 
 we coerced by any such necessity ? With all the great Provinces ot t!ie Knipn(>, with 
 these populous Islands o])eu to our enter|)rize, and with solcnui treaties cloihini; us in all 
 foreign coiuitrics with tlie |)rivileges autl inniuuiities ot' tiu' " ino-^t favoured naiion>," 
 what advantages cui these Canadians confer upon us or take nw.'.y that we sliould 
 surrender to thein cur revenues and submit to their doinination ? 'I'jie union of tlie 
 two kingdoms was facilitated by the accession of a Scotchman to the throne, hut we, 
 who for a centiuy have been fellow subjects of tlie same Sovi'reigns, are all united under 
 one Crown to an I'anpirc whose ])roportions we are most unwilling to exchangt' for all 
 the hypothetical advantages which wo are likely to gather when included, against our 
 will, in this (Quebec Confederation. 
 
 We are .sometimes told that Holland derived strength from union, but after all her 
 .struggles she is no more tree or happy than Nova Scotia is now. And wli\- did her 
 people unite? To free themselves from a larger country, a long wa;, off, which dr.iined 
 their resources and denied them sell-government. Holland is an CAampie of what small 
 states that love liberty and ''go down to the sea in ships" can do ; am! we, who lollow in 
 her f()olste|)s, ought not to be trammelled by coiuiexions like those which it cost her the 
 best blood of the conntry to throw off'. 
 
 Switzerland is occasionally referred to, but Her .Majesty s (Jovermnent would do well 
 to remember that Nova Scotia is as large as Switzerland ; that her form of goverumeiit 
 is better ; that our counties are more uiiitec! than are l:er cantons, and that we enjoy 
 besiilcs the alliance and |)rotcction of a mighty Kmpire, wliicli guards us from fon-ign 
 aggression. Canadian domination wotdtl he as distasteful as Austrian domination was to 
 Swii/erland ; and if established over oiu' people without their sanction, a (Jcsler from the 
 St. Lawrence might occasionally hear the crack of a rifle, and be reminded that men 
 think of their bullets when their franchises are denicil. 
 
 Federal .Safeou.vrus. 
 
 There is one radical defect in tills Quebec scheme of government which should not be 
 overlooked. No moans are provide<l by which the people, slioiilil it be found defective, 
 can improve it from time to tiine. Whenever a change is required they must come back 
 to the Imperial Parliament. The wise fianiers of the Foderal Coiistituti<Mi of the I'uited 
 States provided at the outset the means by which that great instrument might be nineuded 
 and improved, and they gave to t' •/ Supreme Court the power to ilecide all (|ui'stions of 
 jurisdiction a\n\ authority, bctw, the general Govi-rimicnt and those of the several 
 States. No such tribunal was created at tlie (Quebec Conference, n<n" are any safe-guards 
 provitled for the protection of the Provinces, should their local legislafiuos and the 
 Parlian.ent at Ottawa coine iitto collision. 
 
 Though democratic in its origin, and in many of its aspects, the Constitution of the 
 United States was wisely protected from the hazard of rash innovation. It cannot be 
 changed or amended till the alterations proposed have been accepteil by the jaeoplc, and 
 ratified by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of CJongress. The people of every State 
 have their rights guarded by similar provisions. The people of Connecticut have tlieir 
 rights and liberties thus guarded : — 
 
 "Art. 11. — Of Amendment of the Constitution. 
 
 *' Whenever a majority of the House of Representatives shall deem it necessary to 
 alter or amend this Constitution they may projaose such alterations oi amendments, 
 which proposed amendment shall be continued to the next General Assembly, and be 
 
 B a 
 
14 LKTTER IIKSPKC'TING TIIK I'KOl'OSKD UNION 
 
 piil)lislic(l with till' laws wliifli tn:iy liivc Iuh'ii piissctl at tin- >:ime session. Ami it' iwn. 
 iliinl-. (if cacli Utilise at tin- lu-xt Session ol" snj,] Assciiilily shall approve tlio aniciiil- 
 ini'iits pKiposcd l)_v yiMs uikI ikivs, s liij aii)(iuliiu'iil>' shall l>y I hi' Scciftaiy he Mibmitii-il 
 to the toAii (.'li-rk in imcIi town in tin* St ilf, wlio-i- duty it shall bf t() pn-siMit the same 
 to till' inliahitants tin-tcor lor tlii'ir ro'isiiii'r.ilion at a tov\n incetini;, Icj^allv wariii'd and 
 lii'lii Cor that piirposi' ; and if it shall a|)pi'ar in a inanni-r to l)0 provided by law. that a 
 niai'irity ot tin- electors present at such ineelint^ shall have approveii sneh ainendiiUMils, the 
 ■same shall i)e valid to all intents and pnrposes -s a pait ol'this Consiitntion." 
 
 The people ot Mis i.s.sip])i ha\e tints protected themselves (roin surprise or hasty irnio- 
 vation. 
 
 " .l/or/c of lirvinimr fill' Conxfi/utinii. That whenever two-thirds of tiie (lener.il 
 Asseinhlv shtll dceni it necessary to amend oi' ch.niuc the Constitution they shall 
 recommend to the electors at the iievt I'lection fiii' members of the (Jener.il Assciiiblv 
 to vote (or or aiiainst a convention. And if it sh.ili appeiir that a majority of the citi/eiis 
 <)( the St lie, votin;^ for representatives have voted lor a convention, (he (ieneral Assemblv 
 shall, at their next M'ssion, call .a convention to cmisist of as many members as there 
 may he in the (Jeneial Asscmi)ly to l)e eliosen In the ipialiHed eiei tors in the same 
 maimer ami at the times and places of chosinii members of the General Assemblv. 
 Which coiiventian shall meet witiiin three months after the said election, for the i)ur|)ose 
 of revisiii;!, amendin;;, or chanuinj:; the ( "onstitution." 
 
 Ho V mertilVmif will be the contract, siionld our constitutions, iii>;idy prized and 
 successfully worked tor a centiu'v, be overthrown by a chance combination of a few 
 rash politicians, escapiiii;' re^po!lsil)ilily by an appeal to I'arli iment, ami o\er-rnlin<j the 
 electors, to whcin the e.xercise ol the fraiiciiise, on a (piestion involvini^ the hiifhest interests 
 and most solemn obligations, i,-, t ) be denied. Let this precedent once l)e eslabli-hed 
 and what becomes ot' the rights of every other Colony within the iMupire ? Let the 
 impi essjon j^o abroad, that any half-dozen priliticians may come to Eiiijlaiui, and l)y influence, 
 intrigue, or ex-parte iej)ieseiitatioiis, may oveitiirn the constitution of any Province, 
 without an ajjpeal to the electors whose riiiits and revenuis are to be swcj)! away, anil 
 a tiuiil of doubt and apprehension will run tliron;.;!! all (Colonial society. The reliance, 
 Fo imiversal upon the honour ot the Crown and on the justice of Parliament, will, by this 
 sinjile act have been sapped and undermined. When no wise administration oi' affairs 
 no evidence of material prosperity and social elevation, can be pleaded to protect us 
 from revolutionary change, who will live in a Colony, that can get out of it, and what 
 security lor our rights and franchises will remain? Thul the relations of Great Britain 
 with the L'nited States have been and will be complicated by these unwise propositions 
 the unilersigned have not a doubt. No I'Viiian raids v\ere heard of till after the conven- 
 tion at Quebec, and Ciovernor Banks's Bill was the natural res'ilt of their unwise deliber- 
 ations. The politicians at Washington were shrewd enougii to [)erceive tiie weakness of 
 this "new nation" and a few thousands ot' Irishmen, flinig upon the frontier to be 
 ultimately controlled by General .Meade, were perhaps meant to test its resources. They 
 also saw clearly enough that the terms offered by Cuiada to the .Maritime Provinces, 
 and to the population in central British .Vmerica, if not insulting were inadequate and 
 unjust, and General Hunks's Bill was immediately framed to show to the Provinces that 
 they had otlier resources if coerced and oppr^issed by the Canadians. If the Quebec 
 .scheme is laid aside we shall hear no more of Governor Banks's Bill, or of the Fenians 
 either. 
 
 If it is not, then it may be as well for us to view dispassionately the range of tempta- 
 tion which it presents. 
 
 The Canadians seek to annex the territory of the Hudson's Bay Company, witiiout 
 the means to organize people or protect it. The United States can, and they offer 
 at once to divide it into two territories, and ultimately to incorporate both and take 
 them as States into the Union. 
 
 The terms offered to the Maritime Provinces are far more liberal than those grudg- 
 ingly vielded by the Canadians. Let us contrast them, By General Banks's Bill, Nova 
 Scotia would at once .^ecnre free trade with 34 millions of people, whose markets are 
 accessible at all seasons, instead of with three millions who are frozen up for half the year, 
 and in suiuiuer can only be got at by a long tedious river navigation. They would 
 participate in tiie American tishing bounties, so long as these last. Tliey would secure 
 protection abroad which the Canadians cannot give them. Capital would flow m 
 from Boston and New York, to work tlieir mines and employ tlieir water power. 
 Canada has none to spare. Turning from material to political interests how would 
 matters stand? Nova Scotia would enter tlie Union as a State, clothed with tlie 
 accustomed riglits and guarded by recognixed .securities. She woul.-l select her own 
 
OF TMK HKiriSII NOHTII AMKIUCAN rUOVINCKS. i:, 
 
 povcniors, jiidiits, iiiiil si'iiatur-i, 'iicoiitinllcii In any Fi'iltTal aiithoiitv. All tlu"*c, l)y 
 the (^iii'l)oo Ncliriiii', arc to lii- M'lti-ti\i ♦or Iut \)\ the nilitiij jiartii's at Olt.iw.i ; atui 
 wiiile she rlectcd all lu-r own Stati- Lf;ii>!atois an I oHicurs, the Siiprenif ( "oin t woiilil 
 proti'Ct hiT in ca'^e ot"c'olli>ion or encro.u'linn nt. 
 
 We do not dwell npon the rani;c ot' ambition pre'-entcd hv tliis iricat eo.intrv to tlu" 
 anient and tiie adventurous. We trii^t we hive >aid I'noiiirii to show that, a^ eoinpared 
 witli General Banks's Bill, tin- temptations luKI out hy tliese srlu'miTs at (^luhee are 
 '• |K)()r indeed." It may he said, " .Aye, hut sou will h.ixe to urrcn !er vonr tiistoms 
 " revenues to the (leneral (iuxeriunenf." Wiiat matter ? 'I'lie Cm idian> arc to t.ike 
 all hill SO per cent, per head. We .shall not he iiuieii \ro''se olf wlieii tiie haiaiui' lias 
 heeii taken. Uiit then you must l)ear the heavy taxes o'' the I'niti'd . -States. True, hiil 
 the taxes will be reduced as the debt i-oines (h)wii, ami in 20 years it wii! be reduced 
 one-halt' by the natural increase ot" the population. In the nieantime we shall enjoy 
 protection, which the Canadians cannot i:ive us. \Vc sh.ill h.ue escaped trom t'r.iteinitv 
 with those who would have me. inly plaud the '' hi;: lirother,' trainpli' I upon our rights, 
 and denied ns the exercise of our Iranchi.se.s, und shall ii.ive vindicated our iove> of 
 liberty and fair jday. 
 
 We have thus, my Lord, siinplv stated the case as presenti'd to us by (jeneral Banks 
 and the Qiiei)ec Convention. With all the teinptations oU'eri'd us at Washiiii:ton. we 
 ask simply to be let alone, or we ask to be (bided to our mother's hosoin, and not cast 
 out into tiie wihlerness ot' untried experinu'iils and |)olitic,d speculation. Nov.i Scotia 
 savs to En<flai.d, as Ruth said to Naomi. " \\ here you ;;() we will ^o, your jieople shall 
 " be our people." This love atui afl'ection spring iiom a thousand souii-es that we need 
 not linger to describe, but which it wouhl hi; a f.ital mistake to suppose can evei be 
 transferred. You cannot endorse our hearts or our alle<j;iaiice over to the Canadiaiis as 
 you woiilil a note of hand, or invest a village on the Ottawa with the historic interest 
 und associations that cluster around London. 
 
 NEWroiTXDLAND. 
 
 Newfoundland, the oldest Colony of the uroiip, is nearly as lai^e as CJreat Britain. 
 She has had her peculiar liitHculties, which Iter ))eople have manfully overcome ; for a 
 long period slie was treated, not like a Province to be settled, l)iit like a ship moored in 
 tiie ocean tor the use of the fishery ; people were forbiiideii to build and live upon her 
 shores; there was no settled government, aud justice was administered by naval otlicers 
 and surrogates who visited the harbours in men-of-war. 
 
 By-and-bye people were permitted to settle and ii)i|)rove ; then came a resident 
 Governor, and afterwards a Leuislature and )ieiinanetit juiliciarv. As populition 
 increased, and wealtii and intelligence became ilitfuseJ, the stnigLrle for seif-governinent 
 comrnenced. Able men, suited to the occasion, sprung up there as they did in the 
 other Provinces. Led and guided by these, the people ultimatelv won responsible 
 government. No finer population exir,ts on the mainland tliaii are to be found on this 
 island. These people are rapidly developing tl.e resources of the Province, and are 
 enjoying many privileges in their tine iiarbonrs and exhausilcss fisheries. They will 
 presently extend their agriculture, open their mines, and take lo deep sea navigation. 
 These people have free trade witii all the world ; they can now adjust their tariffs to 
 suit their own circumstances. Tiiey have no natural connexion with Canada any more 
 than England has with Hungary or any otiier wheat-growing country in the heart of 
 Europe. When it was proposed to annex this island to Canada, the jieople, with tiie 
 instinct of sell-preservation, shrunk from the prop isai ; the last House would not enter- 
 tain the project. When tlie elections came off the electors returned a clear inajt lity 
 against Confederation. 
 
 This island is one of tlie outposts of England, and should never he given up while we 
 can keep the sea; while we hold it we control St. Pierre, .Migiieliii, and the French 
 fislieries on the banks, and can sweep their naval reserve at any time by employing for 
 a few weeks or months the 38,000 fishermen and seamen that Newfoiiiullaiid can furnish. 
 For a clear and able exposition of tiie views wliicli tlie people of Newfoundland entertain 
 upon this vexed question of Confederation the undersigned respLctfully beg leave to 
 dnect youi' Lordsiiip's attention to tlieir petition included in tlie Appendix. 
 
 Prince Edward Island. 
 
 Prince Edward's is a naturally fertile Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the 
 fall of Louisburg and Quebec it became Britisii territory. It was tlien a comparative 
 vrilderness, but was surveyed in lots of 20,000 or 30,000 acres eacli. Tickets representing 
 
 B 4 
 
16 LKTTEK UKSPKCTING TIIK I'UOPOSKl) UNION 
 
 tlifsc lots, ami immbncil, wt-n- iihurd in a Itox, atid some (lO or 70 pi-rsons wlio Iiail 
 iiifliiciicf in KiiL'l.iiiii wt'io pi'imittrd to draw iln'iii, and tluis. in an Itoiir, hccaine lliu 
 proiniftois ot tin- wlmli; i-laiid. 'I'liise jiropiii'tors were l)<)imd l)v their {;ram.i to ji.iv 
 quit n'iif>, and to scttli- tlnii lands ; hnt (i-w oCtlicni did litlii-r. 'I'lie Island was al (iist 
 attailud to till! (lovi'inmcnt "f Nova Srotii, liiit 'Aas oigatn/.od as a separate Colonv dii 
 tlic pk'ilge of liic |)r()|)rielors that tliev would provide Un its civil j,'overnnient, a pledue 
 whiili they never ledeenied. INijndatiou Howed in, and the luntls were partially oceupiei!, 
 luider a system which never existed in the other Provinces. The landlords eiainie I their 
 rents, wliich the t'Munts olien refused to pay, allenin;; lliat the proprietors had tailed to 
 fidlil the conditions of the grants. 'I'henee arose agrarian diHicidties Mid dispulrs whiili 
 wasted the time and substance of the people. These disputes iiave lasted hir 70 yeais. 
 Thus perplexed, t!ie projjress which this fine little Colony has made is most creditable to 
 its people, who iiave cultivated it extensively, have a larj^e export to (ireat Hritaiii, to 
 the other Provinces, and to the United .States, have buttled fiir and establislieci Re- 
 sponsible (idverninent, and are now workin:; tlirouj^h their aj^rarian dillicidiies. It may 
 be fairlv said of these islanders that, haviii}; had perplexities unknown to us on the main 
 land, tliev have wrestled m infully with them, and have shown a capacity for self-;,'<)verii- 
 nieiit woi j(v of dl praise. When the Quebec scheme of Confederation was presented to 
 this pcMpie, but five men in the two branches voted for it. Who can wonder ? Look 
 across the narrow straits which divide them, to tiie Maj^dalens or to (iaspe, whicli 
 belonj; to Canada. Tliose countries distant from the seat of Government are com- 
 parativelv ne^U'cted and iinimproveil, while Prince Kdward Island, enjoyin.i; self-fjovern- 
 ment and tlie management of her own affairs, is commercially prosperous, and cultivated 
 like a i^arden. 
 
 .\ ;^eneral election is now being held in this Province, and so distasteful is the very 
 tliou<,dit of Confederation that no man on either side of jjolitics can ascend the hustings 
 with any chance ol' success who does not pledge himself to oppose it. 
 
 The tmdersigned cannot close this reference witliout expressing their admiration at the 
 spirit displayed by tiie people of Prince Kdward Island, when the Delegates fiom Nova 
 Scotia and .\'ew ibunswick ofl'ered its constituency a bribe of 800,000 dollars if they 
 would come in'.o this confederacy. Tlie public conscience of Kngland has been ii good 
 deal shocked by revelations of electoral corruption at Totncs and Yarmouth, this 
 Minnner ; but the imdersigned record with some sense of .shame, the fact, that it was 
 reserved for peisons who profess to represent communities across the sea, where honoin- 
 and integrity are highly prized, to offer to purchase the votes of a whole Province by 
 bribery and corruption. 
 
 l'"ow such transactions are recortled in modern history ; let lis hope tiiaf, within the 
 wide compass of the British Kmpire, this may be the last. 
 
 Nova .Scotia. 
 
 Wc iiave already spoken of the material prosperity of Nova Scotia. We may, perhaps, 
 be |)ardoned if we refer briefly to its political liistory. For nearly a century and a half 
 alter its discovery and foundation, the few British settlers who came into it, aided by 
 Knglishmen in the neighbouring Colonies, fought to defend this I'rovince against the 
 French of Canada. We are now asked to surrender it to Monsieur Cartier without a 
 blow. 
 
 Halifax was founded by four or five thousand Englishmen under Cornwallis, who 
 illuminated their houses when Quebec was taken. How many windows will l)e lit up 
 when, by a wretched intrigue, and an arbitrary Act of Parliament, without the chance to 
 deliver a vote or fire a shot in our own defence, we are transferred to the dominion of 
 Canada ? 
 
 In 1783 twenty thousand loyalists came down from the old revolted Colonies. They 
 left their moperty and prospects, and many near and dear friends behiiul them, and they 
 reiiilorced, by their activity and intelligence, the feeble progress of the early emigration. 
 These men are all dead, and tliey died with the assured conviction that they had t(:)unded 
 a Province where British institutions might be still preserved, developed, and respected. 
 Could this " noble army of martyrs "for o; inion's sake be assembled to-morrow, they 
 would refuse to form part of a confederacy in which all the worst features of republicanism 
 were to be illustrated, without any of its securities. 
 
 Tiie later emigration came from the British Isles. On the national holidays the 
 Englishman wears his red cross, the Scotchman his thistle, the Irishman his shamrock, 
 the Welshman his leek, and the native race, sprung out of their loins, twine with these 
 old world emblems the mayfiower, tiie earliest bud of spring ; which, like that native 
 
OF THE nuiTisn Noirni amiuican imiovinh f.s. i; 
 
 race, seems to dcrivi- its fh'-liin'>s :m i nioma (iom tin- viiZdiir of tlu- dimnt-'. Nova 
 ,Vi'ti;i will lU'ViT ai;iTe to i-xrliaiiLji.' tiir tinM- iinldnns tlu- tiia|)li' troo and Ihmmt of 
 t'aiiada. At xUcw aniiiial ti-stivals wli.it Nova Scdtiaii would Mibstiliito " Hiili- CmaJa "■ 
 loi- " Uidi- liiitaimia ' ? Nobody, wiio would not ri-k lii-iiifj tlnnwii out of a wind. >.v ; and 
 Hit Majesty's Ministers will at once jierceive, that to loice upim our people eli.in;,'e>, 
 revoltinii to the whole cuiient of their M'cial file and political hi^rdiv, would he a 
 blunder worse 'hau a erinu-. 
 
 Burke tells us, that " Tiie Constitulion of a co;intiy, iieii:^' once settleil upon some 
 " compact, tacit or expressed, tlieic is no |)o\ver existinj; ol Ibrce to alter it, without 
 " the hreacii of the I'ovennnt or the ci u>ent of all tlie parties.'' 
 
 W'e have siiowii that the (Jon«>iitiiiii)n ol Nova Scot a has iiei n .-elilcdbv coinjiact 
 with till! early |iioneers, wiih t .i' l!iiii-li si'itlei> led hy ("oiiiwallis, wiih ijn- lo\;ilisty, 
 with the later eniiiirants from llu>e l>l.inii>; and the ri'conU ot" y^ ur Loui>hip"N depait- 
 iiient show how. for a century, in every forui of documentary evidi'iice, that compact has 
 been recoj;nized. Ila^ it heeii f(>rfkiti'd iiy neiilect or mi^diree ion of the jioivims eon- 
 ferreil? I'he nialerial |)ros|)erity of the Troxince, alre.idy illu>tiated in llii> paper and 
 in the dociuneiits and pamphlets included iu the Appendix, sujjplv the answer, lias 
 it been abused liy acts of tyraimy or oppression ? 'i lie veiy reverse can lie proved. 
 When the power of France was broken, a remnant of I'reucli .\rca(ii.;ns r.niaineil in 
 Nova Scotia, scattered. ])owerless, feeble. For 100 ye.ns, Nince slie has bad Ik r own I.e^is- 
 latme, tiiese p^'ople have never had to complain to the (^'ueen, or to the lilili^ll I'.ulii- 
 nieut of a single act of oppression. I'rottcteil by eipial l.iws, ailmiiti<l to tin- I'leeeiijoy- 
 luent ol every common rif^ht and to social comnmniou, these people liave sien afar the 
 national rivalries and distractions of Canada; and, .seem e in the eiijo\inent ol all tiiat 
 they can desire, not a man of this whole race is in fivour of the (Quebec .sche.ne of 
 Confederation. 
 
 ."Some thousands of tiie aboriffinal .Micmacs remain iu the I'rovince. We have never 
 asked the Imperial Cjovermnent to t^ive them presents, and tiiey have never imploied 
 Exeter Hall or the benevolent societies of this country to protect tliem. Lands have been 
 reserved tor them, aiul every man can obtain bis lot) acres when lie chooses to elaiu) it. 
 F.very occupation and profession, eviry school and every public position, is open to the 
 Indian as to everybody else. Society welcomes the slightest indication of reliiuuieiit and 
 inlelliiience among these peojile, aiul the townships provide lior their poor. 
 
 With the early emigra'ions from theold ('olonies .slive.i were biougiit iu at a time when 
 bondage was legal even iu the New l''aighiud States ; but our laws never recogui/ed 
 slavery, and these people became liee. During the war of lMl:2-l.") Sir ( iimge ('oekburii 
 conimauding on the southern seaboard carr ed oil' some lauubeds of ucliki families and 
 fluug them into Nova Scotia. Tliere are now by the ceuviis about ."i.ooii "f ilie descen- 
 dants of tiiese AlVicans in the Province. Have they bii'ii o])j)ressed ? No ; but to its 
 honour let it i)e recorded, that the I,ei;islature has practically settled in regaid to them 
 long ago every (juestion which is distracting the councils ami di^iiubiug so/ieiy lu 
 the Uiiited States. 
 
 'I'hey were enlranchiscd iu 1MJ7. L'luler the operation of e(pial laws, \viiic!i take no 
 note of colour, when (pialified they sit on juries. 'I'iie schools, the colleges, the prolrssions, 
 and all ])iil)lic employments are o|)eu to them. Society does not eNcliide them, but, on 
 the contrary, fosters any tnanil'eslation of legitimate audjitim ; aiul the people of iuiglaiid 
 who |nircbased at heavy cost the manumission of their own slaves, may poii.t wiiii pride 
 to the manner in which these |)0or Africans thrown by the stornrs of lit.,' into Nova Scoti.i 
 have been treated. 
 
 Long before the iJnke of Wellington brought in the measvne for Catholic emaiici|)ati.in 
 the Legislature of Nova Scotia admitted Catholics to sit, by simple resolution, iu s|)ite of 
 tlie jienal laws. O'Coiuiell often expressed bis ailmiration at this act of liberality, iu 
 advance of the ptdilic sentiment of this country ; and we trust it will not be fijigoiteii, 
 should the people of Nova Scotia lie reluctantly compelled to appeal to Parliament for 
 protection. 
 
 Besides thus dealing with distinct classes and orders, how have our countrymen provided 
 for their internal administration ? Your Lordship can scarcely ride five miles in Upper 
 Canada witlvout being stopped by a toll bar or a toll bridge. There are but two toll 
 bridges in Nova Scotia and all the loads are tiee. They iiave Stamp Acts in Canad.i, but 
 we have not yet been driven to this refined species of taxation. W'ith our low taiift's wi- 
 can yet aflbnl to circulate newspapers fieeol charge. Like ekcrything else they are made 
 to yield revenue in Canada. Can your Lordship wonder, when these internal taxes are 
 to be imposed on us in aildition to the 5U per cent, upon our foreign trade, that we sliouhl 
 not be very anxious for Conlederation ? 
 
 18097. C 
 
IH LKITER UKSI'K'.'IINC TMK I'KUl'USKD CXION 
 
 Tlic in'opli' (if Nova Scotia |)i()vi(le U>v lluir iioor, tor lunatics, and <lca(' mutes; tliev 
 ||^llt tlicir coast and maintain liiiniani' cslalilislmifnts at cvcrv point dangerous to 
 navi^aiion. 'I'licy cdicati" llicir |ico))lc, provide lor every ollicer. includinu' the l.ieiitenaiii 
 (ioveinor, tiain tli»'M' militia, discii.iiLio llic diiiies ot iio>|iitaiily. and wjn.'n let alone livo 
 in pi'.icf wit'i tlieir nei!j;lil)i)urs, 
 
 Tlie imdersiiined trnsi that, in view of iliis sini]>le leeord, Her Majesty's (Joverii. 
 iiii'nt will at once ilei'ide that she has not t'oit'eited hi'r constitution by any '• hreacli ol' 
 " covenant." 
 
 Hut, it may lie asiied, li.ive not all the parlies consented to this chaiiLji! ? and tlic 
 underpinned would answer with all respect, that whoever may have consented, tlii; 
 people of Nova Scotia have not, and that they ae the onl\ iieisons whoso reliiKiui^hnK'iit 
 i'ullils the condition. 
 
 'J'lie Parliament of llnuland, with t^e consent ot the Crown, can clianj;e or alter tiie 
 constitution of tliis country, hut will it he pretended that they liave the rij^lit to annex 
 it to Friiice, in violition of the trust reposed, and witiioiit ever consulting the peojile ? 
 There was no I;iw aijainst parricide in lioine, and there is no law against such an act 
 of treason in Kiii;l,iiid l()r tiie same reason ; hut, if the attempt were made it is not 
 unlikely that .Iml^^e Lynch would be siiddmly ekvated to the Hencli, and tliut 'I'einple 
 Har would exhibit .some ghastly decorations as in the olden time. 
 
 W'c have shown that tlic jjcople, in everv Slate in the neiirhbouriiij; Union, are 
 protected from surprise even where ameiulments to their Constitutions are to he 
 pro|)osed. Hut they never dreamed of acts of treason such as that we oppose. Nobodv 
 ever imajjined that the actual autonomy ol a State would be tlneateneil, or that it would 
 i)e ever proposed, without the consent of the people, to inerije tiie .lerseys into I'ensyl- 
 vania or Uliode Island into New York. No such experiment has ever been tried upon 
 tile patience of our neijihbours. 
 
 That the Parliament of Knjilaiid can deprive a Colony of its Constitution is not 
 denied, but we liave hliown that, in this case, it is barred from the exercise of an 
 acknowledged right. 
 
 1. Because the settled policy of the Kmpire would be disturbed, with great risk of 
 
 dismemberment. 
 
 2. Hccause its naval and military defence would be weakenecJ and emlangered. 
 
 3. Hecaiise its free trade policy woLild be reversed, and iliscrimiiiating duties against 
 
 Hritisii industry established. 
 
 And we trust we have shown that the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia, if in full 
 possession of accustomed j)owers, and not emasculated by a change of franchise, Imve no 
 right to violate a trust oidy re|)osed in them tor four years, or in fact to sell the fee 
 simple of a mansion of which they have but a limited lease. Your I.orilship would not 
 probably recognize a sale of your estate by a steward employed to collect tiie rents and 
 keep up the enclosures, even if he were still in your service; but if it could be shown 
 that his agreement ex|)ired a year before, niul tliat he had actually no :uuhority to do 
 anything, your Lordship would be as reluctant to recogni/e his fraudulent conveyance as 
 we are to attach the slightest importance to anything done by a representative body 
 sitting upon a franchise that had expired, and that should and would have been dissolved 
 a year before if the (Queen's Ue|)reseiitalive had exercised the jirerogative in accordance 
 with Hiitish and Colonial usage. We trust that Her Majesty's Ciovernment will, before 
 a single step is taken, submit this ciuestion to the Crown officers, with tiie aiidilional fact 
 that two special elections having been run since tiie new law came into operation there 
 are actually two gentlemen sitting upon the new franchise, whilst the rest of the House 
 are sitting u))on the old. We do not believe that such an absurdity as this ever dis- 
 figured Hritisii Legislation, and we also trust that instructions will be forthwith sent 
 to eliminate tiie anomaly from the practice of the only Colony wiiere it has probably 
 appeared. 
 
 That the people of Canada are entitled to have this question sent to the hustings does 
 not admit of a doubt. There may be a majority in favour of it, but if tiiere is, will that 
 majority approve of such a liberty being taken with their institutions, just on the eve of a 
 general election, when their suffrages can be so easily collected. 
 
 Kven if this were a good measure, when once the precedent is established that 
 arbitrary Acts of Parliament, over-riding their franchises, can be obtained by chance 
 combinations of intriguing politicians, assembled at the public expense in a London 
 hotel, who is to jirotect tlie peojile of Canada, or of any other Colony from bad ones? 
 M'liat pride will Canadians take in any form of government that can be so easily 
 overthrown ? 
 
 But the people of Canada should be consulted for reasons purely English. A few 
 
or riiF. nuiTisH north amkhipan imiovincks. 19 
 
 years ago ceit;iiii politicijiiis, ili'siriiiij to osrapi' tin- n'S|)(MiMl)ility of di-fidin^r a local 
 (]iie>tioii. iixkcd till' (^mi'ii to xlci'* a scat ot' Ciovcrnmcrit tor tlicm. 'I'lic IiniUTlal 
 Authorities slidiild have rdiiscd to iiitcrtcro. In an c\i! hour tlic im>;raci()n-i ta>ik \va« 
 assumed, and On iwa was selected. Alter an (•normou> sinii of nionev lia> l)cen cxpinded 
 in ercctinu pulilie i)nildini;s. it is di-.covercd that Ottawa is but a sliahjjv imitation of 
 \Vashinf;toii, upon which in three parts of a century, the nativ)nal pride oi' a ^reat and 
 prosperous pcoj)le \)i\s scpiandcred ui\tv)M treasures, witliout heing ahic to make it hear a 
 comparison with tit'th-rafe cities, created hy tlie natinal araiu.ements ol Providence, and 
 tlie unaided industry ot man. The employes of (Jovernmci'l and ol thi' l.ei,'i(i|ature, 
 li)l)l)yini; aL;enls in searcli of jobs, ch'ctioneeriiiii partizan-. ;<iuri>ts who eoine to sec the 
 Capital, or swell tlie crowd at the I'residenl's niiscellaneous rece|)tions ; with hackmen. 
 j:and)lcrs, and nejiroes. make up, in a i^reat measure, the sdciety of Wasliin^ton. Ihere 
 is no healthy indepen.h'nt puMic opinion, to watch, to weinh, to diNcriminate, as there i-. 
 in London, or would he in (Quebec or Montreal, Uoston (M" I'hiladelphia. I'.vervbodv 
 now admits that Washington was a mistake; and, if so, what shall we say of Ottawa, in 
 which nobody that can ;,'et out of it, remains one day after the session closes ? The 
 I.amirande case illustrates tlu- mode in which, under these circumstances, business is 
 transacted. In selectini: Ottawa tlicn.it is obvious that the (ioveriunent of the day 
 committed an error. I'iie Queen cm do no 'Aronu, and it is certaui that ller Majesty, 
 for lliis act, is the least to blauu'. Yet complaints, loud ami <;eneral, heard everywhere 
 in C'anaila, at this absurd selection and wastelid expenditure, are cleverly doili;ed on the 
 stuni)) and imi the inistinus, by politicians, l''rench and I'lnalish. who shrujf their slioidders, 
 and lay the blame (ju the ^v^ueen and her .Ministers "over tlu' water." 
 
 .Shoiild we repeat liiis bhuule;- in a matter of tenfold the importance? '.)f all the 
 resjiou .ibilities that I)esi t his ])atn a wist' statesman woidd di'siie io avoid becomiuij 
 sponsor for the (iraclical workinir, by a pop'.ilation by no nieaiis h(;niOi;eneous of a written 
 constitution. 'i"he fo.x tinned back when he saw the downward i)ilh striweil with bones; 
 and what (K'spots den in Muiopr is not sliewcd with the Iragmciits ot written constitutions? 
 The Abbe I.ieyas, if alive, woiiM h i\e siii'plieil these nentleinen with a score (piite as 
 presentable as their second edition ot the Quebec scheme, revised ami corrected. 15ut 
 wiio would like to be accountable for the workiiiir •' (Joimnandini; the Channel fleet is 
 assumed to be a dillieiik task for a cixilian, but, if a shri'wd one, he wouKl nni ilown 
 upon the enemy, and the skill and valour ol British se.uuen would carry him through. 
 Hut when it c<>nu's to working; a iiew paper constitution by a mixed population, composed 
 of diti'erent nationalities, who have just torn tiieir old one t(j shreils, this is another 
 affair; and no wise I'Jmlisbman, if he can avoid the risk, will become lesponsible for the 
 instrument, or tlu* mode in which it may be administeii'd. It this measure (iiils, let not 
 the |)eo;de of C!ai'a(ia lay the blame (>n the Government and i'arliament ot Kngland, as 
 they ceitainly will, if, with a general election im|)eiuliu!4-, it is imposed upon them in hot 
 haste by an Iin|)erial .Statute. 
 
 Nova .Scotia, iiowever, stands in a very dilferent position from Canada. There is not 
 the shadow of a pretence that her i)eople are in fivour of the Qiu'bic scheme of Con- 
 federation, and it can hardly be assumed that tliey are in favour of another that they have 
 never seen. Your Lordshi]) will find in the A])pcndix to this paper evidence to jirovc 
 tiiat the foriner was uenerally distasteful to the iA\i;islatiue and peo|)Ie of' Nova Scotia. 
 Tlie evidence includes the s])eeches and declarations of persons friendly to the Delej^ates, 
 and the resolution moveil by Mr. Tuppcr, which in I'^fi.') declared a |)olitical imion with 
 Canada "impracticable," and ai^ain pledi;ed the House to seek a union of the Maritime 
 Provinces. 
 
 Tlie resolution under which the Delciiates from Nova Scotia came here conteinplatcd 
 a Conference, in which all the Maritime I'rovinccs should be represented. Newfbimdlaml 
 and Prince Edward Island refuse to send Delegates or to .share the deliberations of tlie 
 Conference. Is there any evidence to prove that, had this fact been known, the Legis- 
 latures, either of Nova .'^cotia or New Brunswick woidd have passed tlu'ir resolutions? 
 Is there any evitlence to prove that either I'rovince woidd consent to coiiie<lerate with 
 Canada, wiien in the absence of the two others, their inHuence would he so much less, and 
 the vote of the Maritime Provinces reduced from 47 to 'M) ? 
 
 But your Lordship will perceive that the resolution pas.scd in Nova Scotia, while it 
 gives these gentlemen power to frame a scheme of government, does not ask that that 
 measure, when framed, shall be fastened by an arbitrary Act of Parliament on the people 
 who would bo bound by it. ]\Ir. Cardweli directed that the Quebec scheme should be 
 submitted to the Legislatures ; your Lordship, we would res|)ecttully suggest, can 
 scarcely do less with any new one, and it would be a most ungracious act to submit 
 such a question to a House sitting upon an expired franchise, and within a few weeks of 
 
 c: 2 
 
2(» LKTTFJl nrSPKCTINr, TIIK I'UOPOSF:!) I'SIOS 
 
 llic poriod when li.\ l.iw tlif I'arliaiiiciit will bi- di'.soJM'd. and tlie vvlioli' |)i'0|)lc will l)e 
 (.mIIiiI iipi'ii l(» ^Xlll(•s^ tliiMi opinions. 
 
 Mr. 'l'nii|Kr admits that l(i,(Mtii pi'ismis diiriin,' iIk- last .session |iotitional IJic I'rovin. 
 rial I.f;;is'at MO di'|ii(ratinu' tliih t li.iii;.'i' ; not a sMij.;li' petition was pii-MMi(eil in n^ 
 lavonr. More than iloidile ilia! nnnil)ei' have si-,'iuil petitions to the Inipeiial I'aili.nnent 
 piavin^' that no nieasini- may he passed that h.is not lieeii Md)mitted to the eiectois; we 
 have not \et heard of' petitions ill its I. ivour. i;i;,'ht ;,'reat comities have adll^e^se(l' the 
 (^iieen, pi iviiii,' the inoleetioii ol'ilii' Ciown, and the other ten wonhl have sent similar 
 addres'e> hail nut tlie controversy been snddeidy traii.sCerred to this side of the Atlantic. 
 Three comities have already condi-mned tliis policy at ^pccial elect ions, and ten memlieis 
 who voted for the resolution under which thosi- fieiitlemen have cime liere were a^ked 
 to resign their se.its, hecairse l)y that act they had betrayed the conliilencu <it' their 
 consiitiicnts. 
 
 'I'he nndersi;,nied conscienlioiisly iu'lieve that the (jiieiiec scheme, or aiivtiiiii'f 
 resembiinu; it. cannot be carried in three counties out of the Is, and they would "not he 
 surprised if not a sinjjie constituency could be induced to accept it. Ihevaie williii" 
 to leave tile (piestion to the electors in (he ordinary coiistilulional mode. '.Mr. 'I'lippe^- 
 appears to ap|iri!iend tint his persniia! impopulariiy 'on otJier accomils miirlit inierfeie 
 wilii a dcciMoii pure and simjiie. If tliis i^entleman lias mule himself unpopular, why 
 shoul. I he attract towards your Lordsiii|) the indignation of the people r Wliy should 
 .N'ova Scolians be debarred" of their rifiiiis? If he is afraid to trust tiie electors let the 
 (piestion be referred to the enrolleii militia of tiie I'rovince, who will vote it do.vn jiy 
 rcfrimentN. .\ -^reat statesman, with an imporiant policy to propomid, {r„es to the 
 country with a t,dow of honest jiride, and challcn-es the decision tliat places the stamp 
 of public approbation on his measures and confers distinction on liim.sclf How is it 
 that these politicians from Nova Scotia shrink from the ordeal to which men, conhdent 
 in the justice of their cause, are so willini; to a|)|)eal ? Wliv, when they have' sowed the 
 wind in the I'rovince slioidd they seek slielter in Knuland 'from the wiiirlwiml, and ask 
 to be protected liy an Aci of Parliament from the obvious responsibilities, that at the 
 l)iisiiiij,'s and in the midst of their own people they are bound to assume ? 
 
 IJnt suppose that in this case there was a ilonbt as to the opinion of our countrymen 
 what then? A criminal in the dock, taken rcd-handiil witli all the evidence of rniilt 
 gatiiered about him, cannot be condemned on imperfect testimony, and the jury are 
 instructed by the judf;c to ,^ive the wretch the bciielit of the doubt'if there is one In 
 this case we are not counsel fbr criminals, but for a j;reat comnumitv above suspicion, 
 whose record is honorable, whose hands are clean, ami we ask in full 'reliance upon the 
 justice of the (\il)inet, that tlie recognized principles, even of criminal jurisprudence may 
 be applied to them. "StriUe, but hear us," is the .simple appeal of a'fjreat community 
 of Kn-ilishnien who arc nio.sl leluctant to believe that the safeguards on which the'y 
 and their fathers have relied for a century are to be broken down. 
 
 'J'he law of barratry protects the merchant from a fraudulent conveyance by the 
 master. If a ship that may not be worth a thousand pounds, is thus «uardeil by our 
 tribunals, shall it be said that a whole province may be sold, and its rij^hts and rev'cnues 
 transferred, without the knowledge or consent of "the owners? Is tlie"e an honest man 
 in England who would be a party to such a transaction ? 
 
 There is no evidence to prove that Earl Russell, Mr. Gladstone, or Mr. Cardwell 
 once convinced that the people of either or all of the Provinces were opposed to this 
 great change would have arbitrarily enforced it. During the past six months the under- 
 signed have mixed freely with Englishmen of all ranks and opinions; and, with the 
 exception of a lew pensons, interested in depreciated railway shares and Canadian 
 debentures, we have heard but one opinion, that no change so fundamental should be 
 even entertained by the House of Commons till the measure came there, backed by the 
 most unmistakcable evidence that it liad been approved by the electors. 
 
 All the papers that favour Confederation, with a rare exception or two, discountenance 
 the idea of coercion ; and the undersigned, though in duty bound to argue the oueslion 
 in this form, cheerfully acknowledge that they never have had a doubt as to the decision 
 of Her Majesty's Government. But, it may be asked, cannot something be done to 
 improve the present Colonial system ? To answer this inquiry would require more 
 tune and .space than can be spared just now; and, besides, we de-sire to discuss this 
 scheme of Confederation by itself. We may observe, however, that what is done should 
 take the form of consolidation and not of dismemberment. The planetary system would 
 not be much improved if Mercury were detached, and though Canada nii-dit be spared 
 the principle ot dismemberment is unsound and ought to be discountenanced. * 
 
or Tin: luuTisn Noinii amkuuan ruoviNXKs. 21 
 
 should Hit Miijcstv'.s (ioviTiimciit ilocidi- upon orjirtiiic cliaiifjcN tlii'so .hIkiuIiI lie 
 pMii-nl iukI appliciiblo to tin- wimlu Kinjiiu'. IT any >'>ri of union is rc(|iiiri'il lor llii- 
 Nditli AimMiiiui I'rovinci's tlun :i nIioiI iifiiiiiHsivf Hill (u iliaft ii includcil in tlu- 
 Ajipi-ndix) n)ij:lit Ik- pasM'd, iravini; tin" ni.ittiT I'liiiiciy in tin- hands of tin- rolani'^ls 
 tiiL'inM'lve.s, to Corni a union il' tiny uislicd it, with thi' (inllaT powi-r, wiiich iho st-luMnc 
 of the IK'li'jjati's docs not jirovidi', to cliaii^i', alter, or amend it Imni time to lime without 
 eomiii;; to the Imprrial I'arii inirnt. 
 
 Hilt .sonu'thinj; simpler even than ihi.s is all that can redly lie recpiired lor some years 
 to conu". 'I'iie (itivcriior-deneriil miijlit be in>tiueied to summon niir or more meiidiers 
 dt' ihe ( abiiiets every summer, to (t)rm a ( 'ouiuil of Ad\ iee to (li>eu^^ intereoloni.il topics, 
 to pnpare dralts of such itilis as miirhl Ik- reipiired to secure unilormily or simplily the 
 s>stem. Tlii'se measurrs woidil readily pass the scMTal Lei;i>lature> it' they weie 
 deservin!» of su|)port, and he very properly rejeeled if they were not. In this mode all 
 (|iiestions toiichiiifi railroads, currency, or tarilVs, iniL'hl he easdy adiusted, and the 
 iiuotas ol men and money that each I'roviiice nii^ht to furnish tor tlie general defence 
 lit III' just as readilv arraiiL'cd. Imiieria! interests would still he walclird ovi-r bv the 
 
 general (lovemment, nnri tlu' l'ro\iiicial Cahinets and Lejiislatiires woulil then as now 
 (jo the internal work of each Province. In a short time the hani leelin;;s, f^rowinjj out 
 (if this unwise experiment would pass ;may. and Kriiish .America would once more 
 present the picture of a prosperous t'amilv ol States, oH'eiin^ neither ollence to their 
 nei;;hbours nor endiarrassnunt to the Mother Country, hut illiistratinj^ to our rejmblicau 
 iiciuhbouis over the way the value of IJiitisli institutions. 
 
 Befiiie coucliidiiif; an arf^ument, the kiif,'tli of uhich notliiii;^ could Jiistify but the mo- 
 nientoiis interests involved, and the heavy responsibility that rests upon tiie uiidersifjncd, we 
 desire to dissipate a titllacy often intruded iiitothese discussions. It is said tiial the tenden- 
 cies of modern political life are to the consolidition into lart;e states of peojile liaviiiL; one 
 orij;iii, orspeakiiifi a common laiif,'uii^a' ; that the German inspiration i.s " the fatherland," 
 and a i;reat united nation ; tiiat the Italian si<r|is for a iiniti'd Italy, with Home tlir its 
 capital. This is true; but let it he ri'inenihered that what the (lermans and Italians 
 dream of and tiijht tiir we now have. We are in full communion with all who s|)eak our 
 languaj^e in every part of the world (the United Slates excepted) we have one Sovereij^n, 
 one flag, with the most jiopulous, wealthy, and powerful city, the fountain head of our 
 civili/ation, and the I'aiitlieon where our sacred dust re|)oses for a cajiitai. Our " fathcr- 
 " lands," cultivated to the water's edj^e, are stiulded with pictures(pie ruins which 
 revive the past, and palaces where all that can illustrate ancient manners and modes (jf 
 life is intermingled with modern art, literature, and relinement ; and, having all this 
 thrown aroumi industry tiiat never wearies, enterprise that nothing diunts, and courage 
 of the finest temper, are we to be told that we have a new nationality t(» construct, 
 u lioine to seek, a capital to found j* No indeed. W hen three or four small States 
 withdraw from the North (Jerman nation, now in course of consolidation, when a 
 few offshoots from Italian luiity form an inferior confederation which embodies nothing, 
 and represents nothing but their own vanity and want of judgment, it will be time 
 enough for us to try experiments so doubtful, at variance with the logic of events which 
 modern history records. 
 
 We have the honour to be 
 
 Your Lordship's most obedient, very humble servants. 
 (Signed) .lOSKI'H IIOWK. 
 
 WILLIAM ANN AND. 
 
 HUUll M'DONALD. 
 The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, 
 &c. &€. &c. 
 
 C 3 
 
2« I^KI'TKH lir.sPKCTINC THi; rUOl'OSKI) INION 
 
 A r i» i: \ I) I \. 
 
 CONTKN'TS. 
 
 So. I. — Opinion* of M.inUr« of thr f^tfi»|jitnrf r.f \nm Hrodn. * np* i.f p.tituui* fr.mi fhr |iihnt)it;iriU <.f Sny% 
 
 Kvir.irt troiii lout I 'iirliuiii* Idpnrt. >r(»tia, 
 
 I';"''" ' " '": ,'';■;"'" ""'""■ '"'■*■'"'' N". ■•! < "i^ -f iv.,.i..i.. ir u.r iv„ r \,..r,M,„.ii.,h.i 
 
 llr.ll <.l ,.n.,,„M-,l 11,11. .^^, ^ -.■„,' r.'.|,.r;.t,..„ ...,..,.l.rM in r.'l,,ii„M „, il.r Ini.Tr.i. .,f 
 
 No 2,_f.,|,j of AcMrwiMi. In Ih- (^h-.,, fr..i„ ihr I'.mnt..-. -f ''"' ^-'nV"'- '■> "" """ •'"•'I'll ""«' 
 
 (||iiM-n'>, llniil". Kin|!'<. Anii;i|"ili«. IHt'liy. Vnr- •No s — A l^ttiTioiln' '<ii.'lii llnti>Mir»l>li' ilir lurl of ( 'nrnarvuM, 
 
 iiiiiiilli, SlirMiiirnc ;iii<l l.uiM'tittiirKli' '>> \N'illi.ini Anii.tr)il, l.-( , M.r.l' 
 
 N... I. 
 
 Ol'IMcs- III Mr.MUKHs (»!•■ IIIK Lki.IHI.ATI 111:. 
 
 That the (,iiii'l)('c Sclicinc m.ms midiistood to Imvc Imcii iiliiiii<lciniMl liy tlic (iovi-riMiii'iit is cxidnit I'rniii 
 tin- iciiiiirk^ (iC piilliMiicii ill till' I.CL'isliitiM' < iiiiiiiil wliii t'avniircil ( (Piit'cdcralinii in tin' idi"(rii(t, mid 
 vott'd liir llir n'Milntidii li> Miiiiiiijt' a iii'w li.i-i" nt ( 'nlcmial iiiiiini. 
 
 //nil. .I//-. Aiiiliisnii said. ".Am tn the nmdt' nf raihiiii.' tlic lncal rcvniiM", I dill'ci- /« ^|^' Ikhii tin- 
 di'ciHiiiii arriM'd al liy tln' i,iiic'lH'r < '(Hif'iMfiicM'." 
 
 'I'Ih- Hull, (ifiitlciiiaii thru stated llial till' ni'l lncal rcviMiucs nl Nnva Scotia, aii-itii; fioiii < 'inwn 
 Inmls. >;uld-ficlds, and iinyally mi coal aiiicmiilcd in l"'':! to II cents |mt head o| the |io|iiilatinii< ; that 
 the net revenues IVoiii ( rowii lands alone in Canada «as e(|iial to '_'! cents per head, while In New 
 IJninswick. incl.idim; the eslia |,'rant liom the ^rciieral (i neiiiiiicnt. it wonld aiiioiml to 't\ cents per 
 head, or nearly loo per cent, more than we would reci'i\e mi Nova Scotia. "Let an eiiiial aiiioniit," 
 said Mr. .\iidersoii, '• lie allotted per led, according; to the ]iopiilatioii. to Caiiail.i, .New Itriin-Hick, or 
 Nova Scotia. I ask no more, and «ill li ■ -atislicd v^ith no less." 
 
 Ili'ii. .'//•. /'Iiini.- " I o|)poscd ( 'onl'cderatioii with the l.hieliec Schcino, | iipposi>d it lieeaiise 1 fdt 
 that the details ot' tli.'it scheme did not f^ive eipi.'il justice to the Maritime l'ro\ inccs, jiarticnlarly to 
 Nova Scotia. My eolleairne said that he was not very sant;iiine as to the inercuitili' ad\,'iiit.i>;e of 
 C'ontcderutioii. 1 do not inysell helieve that our liiiancial .llVairs will he hencliteil hv the cliaii;;c. | 
 helievc that this country is as well oil' now. pcrlia|i.- licttcr, than it, will he under ( 'ont'ederuiion. I 
 tliiiik that onr (lelci^'ales >lioiild contend that tin' :;encral re\(>iuies should lie distrilinled annular the 
 dill'ereiit provinces I'ov local expenditiiri' in |iroportion to what they contrihnte. It is not in a week, or 
 II month, or even in two or three months, or a year that proper details ciin lie settled for so important a 
 incasure : for when once settled it is to last for ever, and liefore it is tinallv consiiinniated they should 
 take 11 loiiff time to euiisider. lest some mistake should he made. 
 
 //oh. .1/c. Vir/iii/, one ol'thc deleL'ates to the <,'ucliee Convention, ^■aid. " The <,lueliec Scheme will 
 prohalily he referred to : hut for the present it is laid aside, and the dcleirates to lie appointed will 
 start (/(• Horo. 'I'he new deleoates will he a]ipointed on a very dill'ercnl principle from that on whicli 
 tlit'ir predecessors, at the (jMiehec Coiifercuce, were appointed. In iiuhlic I have tuner coiuealcd my 
 opinion lei two imporlant points, i had serious ohjections to the (j'uehec Scheme; and. second, that 1 
 was not so sani;uine as to the heuefits to ho derived from that union as some of my colleagues. 'I'he 
 hoii. fjentleniaii must not then expect me to acl a part. I c;uini)t and w ill not utVect an enthusiasm I 
 do not feel." 
 
 I/iiii. .!/;•. /'iiltvfitnii. —"' I (In not iiifenil to make any remarks on the <ilnel)eo Scheme; it has lipen 
 
 Kretty ronijhly handled liy most sjieakers, hut the (ioverniiient hy the resolution they have introduced 
 nve ahaudoiied it. Tliat an uir.villinjr consent to the resolution was wriuiL' from many ineiiihers of 
 the lefiislative Council is evident from the reported speeches. The name of the Ij'ueen, the (iovernor, 
 and the Admiral were freely used to inllueiu'e inemliers to accept u |)oliey which, it was said, had 
 received the deliherate sjinction of Her .Majesty's Ministers. 'I'hreats, too, wcr.' freely uttered, that if 
 the Lo{,'isl!iture refused to confederate, the protection of the Imperial tiovernnu'Ut would he withdrawn, 
 and the country left to its fate at a time when the Fenians were threateniiuT an attack upon the 
 I'rovinces." 
 
 //(IH. Mr. /'iiiiii said, — " I am always ijlad to conform to the views of the Hritish Government as far 
 .as possihle, hut had this measure been proposed to us 12 months asjo, 1 should have either voted against 
 it or remained neutral." 
 
 //oh. J//-. Aiiili'iyim. — " It is true that this provinc" is at present very prosperous, hut is it o])tional 
 with us to reniiiin in our present coiiditioir:' 1 think not. The liritish (iovernment have shown us that 
 they are decidedly in favour of union, and that they expect us to assent to it. Not only does the Imperial 
 (.iovernment urge this (piestiou U|i(m us, hut the entire press .'ind people of Knoiand are uriiing it in 
 every possible way. 'Are we in a position to defend ourselves ? ' Are wi! prepared to meet jiny in- 
 vading foe ? " 
 
 Several gentlemen claimed the cnnstitutional rights of the parliament and people of Nova Scotia to 
 pass upon any scheme of union that might be arranged. 
 
 /loll. .\/r. Tniifier said, — " The Uesolution before the Mouse asks whether the people of Nova Scotia 
 wish Confederation or not. I think the question can be very easily settled. Let it go to tlie people, 
 
 • These being pnmphlot.s ixlready publislicd, are not reprinted. 
 
OK Till, mil lisll NoKTII \Mr.UIC \N l'U()\ !N( l>. -n 
 
 and Irt tliciii ili'riili". I'll liric jiniplr ,ij.iiii-l lli. ii uill will in.iki' ii |iiirtj in N.mi N-ntia whlrli uijl 
 la-t I 11 •ii,'<>. Let 11- take Wiirimiir '') ullirr roiititiii'«. 
 
 Ii'iii. .'//•. /Irmni. " U'c Imm- Ihmmi |(iIi| lliil l'.ii;;Uii'l l>.l«»i'i| |.i« • iif i'i|i|iil 'in|firtnili <• to llii' iiiiM-iiro 
 nuw iiiidrr I'lii-iilcr^ilhiii willi'Ut -pccl.il r.-li'irii' c tn tlir |ii'ii|i|r. In mv i>Ii-it\ .iIkhi- mi n tiuinrr iliv 
 I rlialli'ii^'i'il .niy iiU'iiilii'i i>t tliis llmix' t>i ii.iiiir .iii\ uriMt iiii'iti>iirc ulnrh liaij hvru nn |i.i<<i'it, .itnl 
 ihirr i" II >lii' tli.it ran lie li.iiiiril .iii.iIml:iii|!< tu tli.it lirl.nc tlir l|iiii<i-, Nn jriMl iiir;i>iiri' liil< in iiiimIitii 
 
 liiMc^ Ih'imi |ia I ill liiiL'l.uiil vnIim Ii li.i- nut liciii ri'|ii..ii.i||\ lu'luri' tli.' ) |il<', «i'ic imt tlir Itrl.nin 
 
 llilU tliTii-«iil at 'lie |iiilU year al'ln yi'.ir .' Ni it wa^< Willi tin- ('mil l.a»» aii'l t .illiulir I'.iiiani l- 
 
 Ijatinll. 
 
 •• I laiiiiiit ii'iw Iwlu'vi. tli.ii till' |...ii|i|.. Ill ilii^ iiiiinlry «ill |MTiiiit llii-. ..r .in\ ulln'i- niiM-nri' in lir 
 |i:i.s('il Aillinui ilii'ir iiiii-riit. aiKJ lli.il if lor iii iiiIht riM«iiii tli.in tli.il il hih ti an .itti'iii|ii i^ niaili', ilii'\ 
 uill liiiiil tlirni-il\(> t<i:;t'lliri' In jiri'-riit tlitii ri'iii'iii-tr,ni< i". ami |ii'tiliii|i« at tin- liw.i ,it tin* 
 tliriMii'. 
 
 //..«. 1/. . I/. 7/i //;■;/. — " I am ii'it ci|i|ju-(mI III nni.iii. Iml I .nn iip|Mi-i'il in |iri'--iiiu' it upnii tlu' |ic..|ilc, 
 «liiii I knnw iliiit N(i larirr a iii,i|('rilv aii' ii|i|iii.i'(l i.i il. In ili'liri'u. i' |.i iIh'iii I Icil rini-ir.inicil to 
 viitr Ini lliis ainriiilini III. ' 
 
 //../I. .'/. I'littiisiiii. a uaiiii Mi|>|iiirli'r nl tin' ( Miili'ilrialiiiii, .«aiil, • I i.ikc ii tur ur.iiiNvl llial .iiiy 
 ix'lii'iiic uliirli iii.iy lie au'i'i'i'il nil will lir I'lnlimlirii in an Ait nl tin* Iniiii lial I'arliaiiii'iit. I llniik tiiat 
 that Art -liimlil nut no iii'o iH'crt until ratiliril liy ill.' (iill'in-i'iit l'i...i| l",'l-l Uiiir-. .•iinl llic ilcicuati'i* 
 >limilil 111' in-triirti'il to I'liilraMnir to liaM' .i rl.in-c to llu- clt'ri i iii-iTtnl in \\.v !ni|i. lial .\i-t." 
 
 In the I loii-c 111' .\-.-riiilil\ Mr. Uniniiint. In.tn ( 'a|M' Hrri Mi. Miller, limn Itiilniiniiij, Mi. M|)iiiii'll, 
 
 t'rniii Iincinc— . .iiiil Mr. ( '.■ini|ilMll, Ironi \ irinria, :i»-i»lcil liy tlnir \i.|i> in caiiyini; tlii' Iti'-nlnimn 
 iiiulcr wliiili till' il.l.'j; III ■> now art, lini in tin' Si-.-imi of iMi.'i Mr. Iloii.-iiinl, rrlcrriiiL' In the i,liii'lirr 
 Silii'iiii', saiil. •" Now that the iii'iipli' sli.vnM lie loM tliiil iIicn witc to Ii.im' initliinj,' In do with 
 <li'('iilin;,r „i ini|iorlant a i|iii'-li ni a-' ('li.in<;iiiu' ill'' I'on-titiition ol lln> innnli'v. liiii that llic llnn^i' conlil 
 (Iral with it, irri'-|n'rtiM' 111' till' wi-lii'i of tin-" tlii'y r. |iri'<. nti'il. w i« » mn'tliiiii,' iiinsi |iri'|io«tiToiiH to 
 prnpniinil ill a riiniitry liki' llii- I'lijnyiiiLr the privilc.'e- of ri'-pnii-ilije •jiivi'mini'iil, wliere the penplt' 
 are the t'ount.'iiii ol antlmrity. 'I'lio I'mvimial Seeretiry iiiu-t liave kiinwii tlial ihc llonsi' wa» elcrteil 
 iiiiili'r our (■\i>tiiin lonstiliiiinn. an<l eonlil not cIlaiiL''' it witli'iiit I'nii-iiliiin; llio-e that olei'le.j tliciii. 
 Yd the I'rovinei.il ."^eerelary ua- i|;iili' reaily to >triki' ilnvsn ,ill the i \i«linL' liyliN ami |ii ivili'i,'e.» 
 ciiinveil liv the peoiije ill m'lier lli.it he inie;lil iii.'inli on to Ottawa. Itnl lai aii'i wiile llie >|iiiit nt the 
 pciiplc i^ a^-ierliiiL' it-ell'. I.illU' li> little the leelin^' ain-e which .•■pieail ■i\er llli' leiii:lli anil liieaillll 
 nf the pro\inee. anil fhiiwi'il the (inxeinincnt lli.it the) iiin-l panx' in iheir mail i are. r. We are all 
 I'ainiliar with Mr. ( '.irilwi'll'? de^patih, Imw heartily In- approveil of it. 'I'lii' I'rovineial >i'eielary told 
 II* that the Kn;rli?li < iovi'innieiit were in C.'iMinr of it, anil tli.il, iheu'fnre, we niii^t ailnpl it : thai if we 
 iliil not I'lnu'laiiil wmilil withilraw lur proteelion iVoin ii> hy iIcl'H'i'-. lint it iiin>l lii' ri'ineinhereil that 
 .Mr. Carilwi'll's inipresMni, w.i> deriveil Imin the ?aiiie Munee thai pre|iari'i| llii.« j.'raiiil xlieine at 
 (^iit'l)i'e. I have no dniiht that these jieiitli'ini'M iinpresM'd upon the Colmii.il .Seeretary's niiinl the 
 iiiDiiiciit the local li'ni-lature.', iiiei tiny would ail"pt the .-elienie. No dnnii; the npinimi in l!iif.'land 
 was that the p'litli'ineli who aeted as dclenali's at tlu' <-'nnM'iitioii n pie-eiiled the pnhlie npinimi of 
 th('!<t> .Maritime I'liniiiees, Inil I repel the idea. They did iint ri'iiresciit tin pulilic Miiliiin iit mi tliiti 
 (pieiition at all." 
 
 .!//•. .l/i7/»'/', in the same Ses.-inii 111' I'.irliainent, .-aid,- •• lie iii'iil nnl remind the llniise that out! of 
 the most momentons oiie.-,tioii- that ever airilated the pnhlie mind was linn under disiiis^ioii. the 
 (iiiestioii ol'a niiion of tlie Uriti>li North American ( 'oloiiie.-. He tlinni;hl that, in \ii'u nf the i;-pec| 
 that (pii'slinii had lately assumed- -in mow of the iinmi^takahle evidence of pnhlie opinion which had 
 • et'C'lltly bi't'M jfiveii-lli.'it thore was lull little room to doiilit that iiiiie-telllhs n.' tli,' penple of Novii 
 Scotia wi'l'O nppoM'd In the scheme jiropoiinilcd by the ( 'anadiiiu dclc;,i'ali'>. ' 
 
 III proposing to the lioM'niinent during; the last ."^e.-sioii to adopl llie ninde hy which the present 
 (Ic'lt'gatioii was appoiiUed, .Mr. Miller said, '• I therelure ark the leader ,if the tiineriimeiit, and 
 tliroiiLtli him the advncates of the l^hiehi'i' Scheme, wlielher they are sc wi'ddi'd to that scheme a.s to ho 
 unable to entertain the p|•opo^itioll 1. as a friend of colonial niiiiin, noiv ni dv. Tlie objoet of my 
 presi'lit iiiovenu'iit is, and 1 fearlessly avow it, to defeat the (.jlnebec .Schcine." 
 
 Ill another [lart of his addre.-s nn that occasinn he .-aid, " I'o that -ciu'nie I .".;ii \\i>w a- hostile as I 
 have ever been. 1 belifved it to be very nnjn.-t to the pco|iie of the M.iritinie I'rmiuces in snuu' nf it., 
 most im|)ortant features. 1 i.i'lieve to force it upon us without iiiipnrtatit moditicatimi- would frnslrate 
 the end it is intended to pioniote, the iii'rinanenec nf iiritisli insiitulioiis on thi- t 'oiitiiient." 'llie 
 same •reiitleman at a public ineetinif in the city of ll,ilifa\ said, '• The people nf Nov.i Scntia will 
 hesitate liiii}; before they yield up their pre-eiit enviable position, their jjolitical Ircednin and material 
 wealth, for the uneertain and dubious advantaires to fallow from a uninii with a iniintry bankrupt in 
 resources and torn asunder and distracted by political convulsions.' It the ,id\oiate- of ( 'oiifeder.ition 
 have faith in the soundness of their scheme let them submit it to the only tribunal competent to pass a 
 judgment upon it, '• the people at the ])olls." 
 
 Mr. McDiimlU in the House cf Assembly during the last .'session, when it wa- propo-ed to autbori/.e 
 the a])poiiUineiit of the present delegation, .said, --" I felt happy, .Sir, to ob-erve the position taken by the 
 honourable leader of the Government, and I trust that this position will be a]ipin\ 'd of and endorsid by 
 his honourable eoUeiigues, and by those associated with him at the Quebec I'nnfereiice. The lioiinurabK' 
 gentleman has at length shown a disposition to abandon that pet sdieme nf miinii, which for such a 
 length of time he and his friends ap|)eared deteriiiiiied tn fasten npnii the penple, a scheme in mv 
 opinion as obnoxious and untasteful to the country as it would prove injurious to it- best interests." 
 
 From Loud Uikh.a.m's Rui'oiir; — " But the state of the lower provinces, thniigb it Jn-tities the 
 proposal of our union, would not, I think, render it gracious or even just on the part of jiarliameiit to 
 carry it into effect without referring it for the ample deliberation and consent of the people of these 
 colonies." 
 
 Hon. Mr. Brouii, in the Canadian Assembly said, — " If we base this structure, as it ought to be 
 based, on the expressed will of the people themselves, then 1 think we will be offering to those who 
 
 C 4 
 
21 LETTER UESPECTINC THE PROPOSED UNION 
 
 cftiiii' aftiT iH a.H wi'll .■c to (pur-ilvcs a iH'ritaK'' that every man >-limil(l lie proud nf. If thorn wore anv 
 (liiiilit alMHit imlihi- ('ccliiiL' thert iiii;.'ht In' pmiirii'ly in (,'i>iiif,' tci the polls. I am not oppo-iii;; th',. 
 hoiinralilc fji'iitleuian's ri'-oliitjoii on lonstitiiti'Mial irroMii'U. I am not ilciiyin;; the ^il,'ht^< ol" tlii' pi'>i;il,'. 
 If I lia-i any iloiiht wliatevei alio it what would Ke the Nenlict of the people, lint it i^ dimply lieiini- ■ 1 
 am satislied tin ii' wdiilil In- a sweepin;,' veriliil in lasonr of the ineaMire that I think it ninieces-ary t'l 
 take it to the ronntry. ' 
 
 DllAKI (II A llll.l.. 
 
 lie it enaeteii hv the i.iueen's mo-^t e\(elliiit Maje-;ty. liy ami with the advice and consent of the 
 Lords Spiritual ami 'I'l'mporal and (onnnon^ in thi^ ,.resi'nt Parliament a>>emliled, and hy the 
 authority of the same, a^ follows: 
 
 1. That whenever the people ol anv twd or innn' of the I'roviiiee-; of liritirli North America -.hall 
 desire to form ;i Icirisl.itiv.' or fed( ral union of their respective I'rovinces tor inlercolonial |inrpo-e-, jt 
 shall he lawful for their several I'arliaments to pas- Acts for that purpo-i', which, upon receiving' t'le 
 Hoval assent, shall have the fone of law ; Init no such Acts shall pa.-- in any llou>e of As.-emhly e\( cpt 
 in such a- ^hall he ri'turneil at a txeneral election, to Im' hold nest alter drafts of s-aid Act -hall he laiil 
 before each liranch of -aid Parliaments rci-pectively in the l'r(nince> intended to he united. Ami no 
 Huch Act shall pass unless hy the vote> of two-thirds of the niemhers of each Ilou.-e of Parliament ui 
 favour thereof. 
 
 y. After the formation ef any such union, anil after a ;.'eneral Parliament shall he held for the 
 I'liited i'rovinces, it shall he lawful for the said I'arliainent, hy an Act thereof, to alter, inodifv, or 
 amend the constitution which may he adopted for the I'nilcd I'rovini'e-. provided such Act he pas-eil hy 
 majorities of at least two-thirds ot the meinher.s of each liranch of said (ieneral Parliament : hut no 
 such .\ct shall ]iass in anv House of Assenilily excejit in such a> >hall he rclurned at a jjencral election 
 to he held next after mitu'c of the intended alteration, moditication, or aniendmtnt shall have hecii 
 fliveii in hoth hranchus of said I'arlu'ment in ."session. 
 
 A. Nothiiiir in this Act cdutaincd shall he cons'rued to lessen or impair the authority of the Crown 
 and the power of the I'urliamunt of the United Kingdom of Cireat IJritain and Ireland in the preinl!>oi<. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Nova Schtia v. Conkkhkhation. 
 
 TiinKi'. years ajio the Maritime I'rovinees of Hriti-h America were tranquil, prosperous, and eon- 
 tent, having no disputes with each other, with the Mother ('ountrv, or with f(irei»n .States. In l.sci 
 certain gentlemen were invited to Canad.i to consider the policy of uniting the Provinces under one 
 (iovernment, and what is known as the " <^)uehei' Scheme" resulted from their lahoiirs. Ilcr MajestvV 
 Ministers, assumin;.' that the iicojile whose interests wiTe to he aH'eeted hy this measure were prepared 
 to accept it, gave it their sanction, and hir ;i time its real hearing and the sentiments of the Colonists 
 ■were in Kngland hut little iniderstood. When presented to the Provinces of Nova Scotia, .New lirnii— 
 wick, Newfoundland, and Prince Kdward Island, it wax found impossihie to carry it in either. Tin' 
 advocates of this measure are now coming to I'lnglaud with this avowed oliject— to prepare a new- 
 Scheme, to be eniliodied in a Pill, and suhmitted to the Imperial Parliament, before it has been pnh- 
 lished in the Provinces, or eonsidercd by any of the Legislatures or Constituencies whose constitutions, 
 rights, and revenues are to he atfeeted. That any Government in Kngland would leini itself to the 
 aeeomplishment of such a design, or thus deal with franchises and great interests of intelligent cum- 
 munitics, the people of Nova Scotia do nor believe. In niatiy of the oMest and nio-t, populous counties 
 addresses, which are printeil below, have been adopted, and jietitions to the Imperial Parliament, pray- 
 ing its protection from any attempt at Ine^ty or unfair legislation, are being extensively signed all over 
 the Province. Eveii if a Pill were introduced at this late jieriod of the Session, there is no tinu> to 
 deal with a subject of such magnitude and importance, involving the future of a half continent, the 
 honour of the C'rown, and the naval and military defence of the empire : hut it is well that the people 
 of England should hear both sides, and bo in no haste to force new constitutions upon Provinces which 
 have worked their old ones successfully, and may not like one got up in London much better than they 
 did that prepared at Quebec. 
 
 To riiK Qlkkx's Most Exckliuxt Ma.)kstv. 
 The Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Hants. 
 
 HlMBI.Y SIlOWETlf, — 
 
 TuA-r the County of Hants forms a central portion of the Province of Nova Scotia, and that its 
 people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, mining, shipbuilding, and navigation : 
 
 'I hat it contains seven regiments of enrolled militiamen, and sends to sea 51,000 tons of shipping, 
 bearing the flag of England = . . . 
 
 'i'hat the people of this County, in conunon with their fellow-countrymen, have, since its first founda- 
 tion, discharged all the duties of loyal IJritish subjects; thoy have sent reiiresentatives to the Provincial 
 I'arliainent since 1"."»<, and for a quarter of a century have enjoyed self-government in as full and 
 amjilc a manner as other British subjects in the most favoured parts of the Empire : 
 
 That the people of Hants, living in jieace and i)rospcrity, ready at all times to maintain their 
 allegiance and defend their country, luive been justly alarmed by attempts at revolutionary change, to 
 which they have never given their consent, and lor which they see no necessity. 
 
OF THK HHITlSn NOliTH AM '•.UK AN PKOVINC'KS. •.>:. 
 
 A ><'lu'nii' (if ( '"iifi'dculiiwi «a« li.i-tily prtp:iri'(i at t.'mlM'c, in \-'-i, li\ |)('li'j:al<'» wli.i li.icl i|.. 
 jiillioiity friiiM tlif I.igi-laluic ii pn pli' ot Nn.i >( niia, td ii.ii>riit |i. a Jxilitir.il iiiiinii «itli ( aii.ida. 
 
 'I'liiit M 111 nil', nil lair ami ili«la-lifiil tn tlu- Mariliiiii' !'r"Miir«>. alter < iiniiMii,' tliiiii all liir ri;;lit<Mii 
 HiDiitlis. ha- lu'tn rtjrrlcd li\ tHo. put ■i>iilc' hy a third, and «a- >n iiiila\.iiiraMy rririvcil in tin- 
 l'rii\in<f that it- iinnicli rs tir\iT wntiirnl lornially tii -iiliniit it tu the I,i ui-latnri- ur tn ihf (iiiiplf at 
 till' poll.-. 
 
 It is iKiw propi'scd tc. i-iilrn-t I • a < unMnittri' llic prrpaialicn i.f a nira-iMi'. to !»• i'inii.>ihrd in a llill 
 and Mihniitli'd in thr linpcrial I'arliaMiciil, uilhniit atluKiiiij: in thr p.'i.pl,.. «|i,im. riylit-. ic\rnin'>. and 
 fntiiri' prci-pcrilv it nia\ iilln t, aii\ i.pj i iti.iiily In jui'tril tiirn,,-(l\<> m the nrdin.ir\ iimdi > knnwn In 
 the ('oii>tinitinn, iiikI jiiarti-fd liy tlic ) pin nt all lim ^tati'-. 
 
 'I'lif praynr nl tlm pii'pli' nt' Haul., thin Inri'. is that nn i haii,;c in tlii' in^liiutinn- nl this rniintrv 
 iiiav hi' inadi' nntil it iia~ hriii ^iihniitliil tn llw tt-t nl" pnlilin npinimi, jmil that vnur Ma|r-tywill 
 Ml redly ^'iiard tlm rii:ht> which «.• haxn Inyally i'Mmi i-ni and enjnMMl >n Inim, until jiy all the i'niin- 
 kaiii'lini'ii'd hy thi' ii-airi' nl tlin Mnihci -( ' ninlry, lh>y ha\r Iin'ii ili'liln>rati'ly ri-i);iiiMl 
 
 (Sijfiii'di l'j)» Mil) M( I,.\ M III 1 , 
 
 ( hairin.in. 
 
 To Mil 1,11 I n'.' Mom I!\i I 1 I I \ I M'.ilsM. 
 Till' 1'. titinii iif till' Inhahltaiits nl' tlin Cniinty nl Kini;-. 
 
 Hl'MBI.V SlInwITH, — 
 
 That tlii' Cninity nf Kiiit's i> mm n| the oldl•^t. inn-t iin|irnvi'd, and ilnnri>liinL,' ( 'niiiitie> i I' tliis 
 Priiviin;!', its pnpnlatinn hniiii; i'n;ia!;rd in aLninultnral pmsults, vhip-hiiildiii},'. (•ninint'rcn. and navifjatinii : 
 
 That it rontains >i\ rcf^inHiits nl rninlli'd nulilia. and sinds tn sna '.'n,(iiiii |,,||,: ,,1 ~|iippii|i_>, hiMriiii; 
 tlip fla<; 111' l!nf,'land : 
 
 That the prnplc nl' thi^ Connty liaM' rninyid tin- ])ri\ilni.'i' nl M iiiliiiir niindur- tn thr I'rnxinrial 
 I'arliamont tnr more than a ci'iitiiry, and in ininiiinn with their lelluw i iniiitiyint'ii. Inne dischar^jeil all 
 the duties of Inyal lhiti>h snljcels, and I'nr ninre than t«inly years Imve eninyed (he inestiinahle 
 bh>sili{;s 111' selt-finveininent, raisinj,'. ennlrnllinsr, and lli^l.en^in;; tlieir n.Mi re\enui>, and direi tiiijj the 
 administration nt' their ii«n atlair-: 
 
 That the jienple nf Kinjjfs County de^ire -till to iiijoy these ;.'n'at aiKanta;,e-. .:nd tn tran-nilt t'leni 
 uiiimpairpd to tin ir ehildren : 
 
 That they hiijhiy prize their ennmxic n with the raniit State, under v.hnse niild rule they ha\i' 
 lived and prnspered. and wlinse flai,' they are ready tn ileriinl, hut they iln nnt i!e-ire tn he transferred 
 to the doininiou nl' a sister I'mvime with which tliey ha\e nn loinuxinii ahnnst ud trade, and which 
 heilig frozen up for five months nf the year, and jins-es-ini; no navy nr troops tn spare, is incapalile nt' 
 forming a new nationality or protectiuj;' the seahnard of Nn\a Scniia: 
 
 That the people have \ie\ve(l with just alarm the atteinpts whii h ha\e heen made h\ reikless ]iersons 
 to pflTcet revolutioi-ary chanps, which they have not ventured to suhniit to the delilierate iudjrim'nt of 
 the jiopulation wliose welfare in all time to eoiim they would so deeply eomiirnmise. The Scheme of 
 C'oni'oderatioil, arranjjed -it (^Miehee in Is'iM, was not le-s distasteful to the people nf Kini^s than is the 
 proiiosition to entrust power to a ci mmittee to jirepaie aimther tn he emhodieil in an Act of ['arliann-nt 
 and sanetioned hy the Crown without heing sulimitted to the people at the polls. 
 
 The prayer of the ])eoiile of Kinps, therefore, is that no ehange in the in.-titutiniis nf this eountrv 
 may he made until it has heen suhmitted to the test of |inhlie npininn, and that \nur Maje-tv will 
 saeredlv guard the rights whieli wc have loyally exercised and enjnved so long, until hy all the forms 
 sanctioiied hy the u.sage of the motlier-eouiitry they have heen deliheratidy resigned. 
 
 (Signed) CuAUi.iis Dkki-.^, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 To Till. Qi tin's Most K\< i.i.i.i \r Ma.iist^. 
 The I'etition of the Inliahitants' of the County of Annapolis. 
 
 Ilr.Miii.v Snow Kill, — 
 
 That Annapolis is the oldest Knglish settlement in the I'rovinee of Nova Seotia, eniitaining IT.Ooo 
 inhabitants, fnnr regiments nf militia, and a large aniniint of tonnage hearing the Hag of Knfil.aiid: 
 
 That the peojile of this County have (Hsiliaigid ;.ll the di.ties oflovil lh■iti^h suhji cts, have sent 
 members to the I 'rovineial rarliameiit for more than a century, iiid under \our ,^laJe^ty's heneticent 
 rule are prof-perons and content : 
 
 That tliey view with great distrust attempts recently made to annex them to the Province of Canada, 
 with vvhieh they have no natural connexion and very little trade: That a Scheme of Confederation 
 arranged at Quehoc in 18(11, without the consent of the constituencies, who have never heen consulted, 
 would he an itivasion of their rights, and would, if sanctioned liy your Majesty's (ioiernmenf, ereat' 
 wide-spread dissatisfaction in this loyal and happy Province. 
 
 The prayer of the people of Annaiiolis, tlieiefore, is that no change in the institutions of this eountrv 
 may be made until it has heen suhmitted to the test of public opinion, and that your Majesty will 
 sacredly guard the rights which we have loyally exeri ised and enjoyed so long, until by all the forms 
 sanctioned by the usage of the mother-country they have been delibcratelv resigned. 
 
 (Signed) 1)avid Landkiis, 
 
 Ciiairman. 
 
 18097. 
 
2(j LKTTKIl UKSPKi riN(i THK PIIOPOSKI) UNION 
 
 'I'ci iiiK C^i n.s'> Mcl^l l'.\( Ki I J v r Ma,)i>iv. 
 Till- I'l'lition of ill'' liilialiitaiil!* ul tlir (ouiity of Dijiliy; 
 
 lliMHiv Siiownii — 
 
 I II M ihc County of Diyliy coiiliiiii!* 1 1..1M10 iiilialiitatit>, lixc rcjiiTiicnts <>( enrolled militia, and iilwut 
 l!),iinii t< 111 i.t •■lii|p|iiiit.'. liiMiin>.' liic lliif.' of l'.iii:laiiil : 
 
 'lliat lliis Coiiiilv, l^iniH'iiy part of the Cuiiiity of Aiitm|ioli«. lia- loiij: >riit ri-pri'sontativf; \i, tlic 
 (iciirr.il A.-M'inliiv. and It- |iro|ilc li.ivc di-rliar-.Tii all llu- diitirT^ ol loyal lintisji -ulijcctri, and undnr 
 ymir .\la|«--t\V Idiiiyn riilo arr |iro>|ifroiis and conti'iit: 
 
 'I'liai tlicv \\i\\ uitli t;irat di-tru-t alttMiiptr iiciiilly made to annex ihi-in to the rrovincc of Canada, 
 with MJiidi tln'V IniM' no natniai (oniiivion and vory littli' trade: 
 
 ■J'hat a (.(licnn- of Coiift'd<'ration arranf;<'d at (.iiichci: in l>il|, without tlit> consnit of the con- 
 Mitnciicifi., who liavc in vir liccn roii^nltcd, woidd he a \iolation of tlii-ir ri).'lits. and would, if 
 sanctiomd hv \oiir Maji'^tjV (iiiM'rnini'nI. c rcate «iili-.'-|iitad di^.-ati^filtion in this loyal and happy 
 I'rovincc; 
 
 'I'hat while that portion ol this Conntv which liordcrs on the sea is thiikly iiihahitcd and rap'idlv 
 incrrasinj: in piipnlatiou and wrallh, tlnie aic still ronsidiMalilc di-liirts, hnt lately rpclaiined tVoin the 
 primeval forest, sparslev selllnl hy immiL'rant- froiiitireat Hritain anil Ireland, eneonnteriiif; all the 
 dillicnlties and privations iiieident to the early settlement of a rui;f:ed thi)ni:h promising eonntry, and 
 hunr >:ranl- from the re\enne-of the rnnine- iiave yearly to h." made to open up roads and constrnet 
 liridei-, and otherwi-e aid in the dinelopnieiit and fnilitate the settlement of -ueh seetions of the 
 rM\inee; and your petitioners rei;aiii with dismay the pro-iiect of the transfer of the control of those 
 reveiuies to a (ioveniineiit liy which they would neiessarily all he expended for widely diirerent pur- 
 poses, a deprivation which such portions of this County may afford hereafter, hut certainly not for many 
 years to come : 
 
 That, while \onr petitioners are ready cheerfully to snhinit to any Imrthons that it may he deemed 
 necess.'irv to impose on them for the delence of their country and their lla;;, and to defend that tlag and 
 the honour of the I'mpire, wherever their aid can he a\ailahle hy sea or land, they are notdisposed to 
 adopt as a means of their ensuring their more ctHcient defence a luiion with a Province, wliieli, in 18ti'.', 
 refused to sanction a measure inv<dvinfj: an increased (Uitlay for the hotter and more perfect or};ani/.ation 
 of their militia, althonirh that measure was strongly urged upon that Province 1<- the "just authority" 
 of your .Majestv's (iovcrnineiit. 
 
 'I'he prayer of the people of Dighy. therefore, is that no change in the inistitutions of this country 
 may he made until it h.is lieeii siihinittcd to the test of puhlic opinion, and that your Majesty will sacredly 
 guard the rights which wc have loyally exercised and cnjoyeil so long. 
 
 (Signed) Joii.v G. M'Nkii.i., 
 
 Cliairnian. 
 
 To riiK. (^>i t.kn's .Most Kxck.i.i.i-.nt Ma.ikstv. 
 The I'etition of the Inhubitants of Yarmouth. 
 
 Ilr.MllI.V SlIOWKTll, — 
 
 'I'liAT the County of Y;irmoulh contains about Id.dOO inhabitants, live regiments of militia, and owns 
 KKi.ddO tons of shipping, bearing the flag of Kngland : 
 
 'J'liut the |)eoi)le td' this County have disehargi'd all the duties of loyal ISritish subjects, have sent 
 members to the I'rovineial Parliament for a century, and under your Majasty's beneficent rule are pros- 
 perous and content : . 
 
 That they view with great distrust attempts reeeiitly made to annex them to the Province of Canada, 
 with which they have no natural connexion, and very little trade: 
 
 That a selienu- of Cunfeleration arranged at Quebec in ISi'i-l, without the consent of the Consti- 
 tuencies of the Province, who h:ive nevereither before or since tlnit time been consulted on tliesubject, 
 would be an invasimi of their rights, and would, if sanctioned by your Majesty's Government, create 
 wide-spre:id dissatisfaclion in this loyal and happy I'rovini-e : 
 
 That since the said Quebec Scheme was made public, a township election has taken place in this 
 County, when both the opposing candidates ])ledged themselves strongly against any scheme of Con- 
 federation with Canada. 
 
 The prayer of the people of Yarmouth, therefore, is, that no change in the institutions of this country 
 may be made imtil it shall have been submitted to the peo])le at the polls, and that your Majesty will 
 sacredly guard the lights which we have so long loyally exercised and enjoyed. 
 
 (Signed) Nath.vn Mosks, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 To riir. QrKK.x's Most Ex<'ki.i,i:nt Majksty. 
 The I'etition of the People of the County of Shelburne, in the I'rovince of Nova Scotia: 
 
 lIl'Mlll.Y SlIOWKTll, — 
 
 That the County of .Shelb\irne contains a population of l'2,00(i, principally engaged in the fisheries 
 and in shiiibuilding. — is capable of sending into the field four regiments of enrolled militia, and owns 
 about '20,1100 tons of shipping, bearing your Majesty's flag; 
 
 That its peo|)le are the descen lants of an ancestry whose veneration for the British throne and attach- 
 ment to monarchical institutions impelled them, in 17S;>, to forsake lands and possessions in the revolted 
 colonies, and seek an asylum on the then inh.)spitable shores of this Province: 
 
 That since the first settlement id' the County in l~f*:l its people have sent representatives to the 
 Provincial Parliament, and for the last (piarter of a centurv have enjoyed the privileges of self-govern- 
 ment in as ample a degree ns their brethren in the British Islands : 
 
OF TiiK niirrisH nokth amkrkan ruoviNriis. 27 
 
 'I'liiit thc'.r iii-tiint iiiii! iradilli'iH Icul tlirm Id .Ipprfciit.- rcvoliitidii.ii-. i1i;iml'i's. llic nid iif wlii.li mo 
 man 1 an l(ii>i'f. Imt wliidi. once lia/.irili'il. tlii'ii- i< t'ui iiiiiili rt-.i^oii In Icir will i-vi'iitil.itf in a -I'paia- 
 tidii ciCllir-i- rroviiiirr. Cn in tin- iiari'iit -late, .niil llicir nlwnrptiiMi intn llif alriMilv iinwii'lilv H'|iul)lic 
 of tilt' Inilt'ii Stairs : 
 
 'I'liat llifV have ii. witti alarm ami in(lii;iiali( n. a mIic nic it' ( iiiircilrrali.iii, tia^tily Iircpanil ut 
 
 giU'lxT ill IMl I, intKic.iiccil int.) 1 iir l.i fjii-latiiif <liiiiiij; it^ laic Sff>i(iii, will, cint pn \ niii-' iihIuo in tin' 
 
 opi'iiiiij; >I>i'f> li. ami Iciicfd lliiHiiLili lli it lincly with niilin (uniii^' and iiiincrrti- ir\ lia>tc. ami in u in nr 
 
 calcnlali'd tn llirnu llic ijravi -I .-i.-picidii.-- np<ai tlic intliii'ino i Mipliiji'd ti> xcuri- its iia-.-aci" : 
 
 Thai «hil-t \i i Miiji'stNB |Mliliiiii('r> lri'cl\ adtiiil ihf iiLiht 111 llnir npriMMilativc-i in l'rii\imi:il 
 I'atliaim'iit !•• l('fii>lati' hir lhi>ni « ilhin n'a-nn ihii' Innits. ihey c.imm"* admit ihi- iiL'hi <<( •inli rcprc-rn- 
 tativt'.s In fll'cct i-midcn cliaiiircs aiiiiiiiiitiii;/ In an ciitirc MdiMTsimi cf thi- ( '.ni-'titiiliDii. without tlif 
 dt'liliprati- sainlicn nl' tin' iicnplc cNpro-i'd at llic pnlN. 
 
 'llic prayi r <il' liu' piM.plc ..I Siiidliiinii', llifplnic, i<, lliat llic a>-i nl ol ymir Majo-lv will he with 
 bold rrmn any ~i heme affictin;.' the ('i>iis|itnliiiii nflhi' I'n.MiKc and niuic paitiinlarly troiii ihatkmiwii 
 a.- the l,liiel)i'C .ScIh'Iih- — nntil >i.cli iih':\miic lia> hvn liilly -iilijcc tod in tin- Ic-t nl' p'lihlir opjnidii, and 
 dt'liblTiittdy pMUloiiiiicd ii|hpii hy the pt nplc at tin- polU. 
 
 (Sij^ncd ) ,ln-.iii ,\ Smiw, 
 
 Chairiiinn. 
 
 To rill t,'ri I s'> M')-i i;\( I 1.1 1 M Mammv. 
 
 The IVtition id' the I't'oplc of tlii" Sonthirn Distiict of iiiiicin'^ ( 'ouiity. in llic l'rii\iiiii' of Nova 
 
 Scotia ; 
 Hi'Miii.v Miowr.rii,-- 
 
 TiiAi (^tuecn's County contains a pnpiilatioii of I'.'.oiin, principally tMi';a;,'cd in liinihciinir, tisliiiif;, and 
 navigation, — I'aii (>i|uip three reiiiinciit-^ id' enrolled militia, and owns about l",oii i tons of sliippiiifj 
 lioaring the flai; of Miiirland : 
 
 That the C unity lias sent representative^ to the I'lovincial I'arliainent for upwards of a cenliirv, and 
 its people, for more than twenty years, have enjoyed the blt>>iiii:s of civil and relii.'ioii> lilnTtv, per-onal 
 peciiritv, and temporal pro>perity, under a -y-tem of rc-pon-ilile L'overiiiiicnt wliicli. mo(l(r..d after that 
 of Knglaiul, leaves tliein iiolhiiif; to desire hut its niiihsturbed continuance: 
 
 'Hiat they have witnessed with a|iprelien-ion and reirrct the elf prt< of a -mall partv in thi- I'rovince 
 to unsettle a condition of tbiii<i;s which ha- worked <o sati-faetorily, hy swec|)iii(; awav their free 
 eonstitufion. by siilijectinn; this |ii'oplc, their revenue-, re-oiirces, ;iiid inde|ieiideiici'. to the virtual 
 denomination of anolbor colony, ami to the dinibtlul issue of an e\;ierimeut kinmii as the <,iuel)ec 
 scheme of ( 'onfecieration : 
 
 That even were the |iroposed union ;is likely to be beneficial a-, in the jud^rnieiit of your Maje-tv s 
 petitioners it is certain to be injurious to the lest interests of the Maritime I'roviiice?, the means 
 employed to force it ujion the countiy without an appeal to 'lie ])eo))le, ami with a full kmiwlrdi.'e of 
 their intense dislike to the ineasuro, oiiirht to eiisine us rejection at the hands of ,i So\ereiL'n who>e 
 amiiition is to live in the atl'ections of her dutiful subject-. 
 
 The prayer of the people of (,|ufiirs (Vuiily, therefore is, that your Maje-ly will be ■rracion-lv 
 pleased to withhold your royul ass< iit from any measure iilfcctiiui the relation- of this I'lovince to 
 the sister colonics, until by means of a jieneral election, the sentinicnts ol the people ol' Nova Scotia, in 
 reference to this most important subject, may he truly rellected iu their Lcni-lature, 
 
 {Si{,'iied) M. MouriMKii. 
 
 C'Imirman. 
 
 To Tin: (jIii.i-.n's Most 1'2xci;i.i.i;\ t Ma.iisi^. 
 The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Northern District of ii>ueeirs County : 
 
 HiMiii.Y SHOW T.rn, — 
 
 That the inhabitants of this district live by the cultivation of the soil, and are cimtcnt to share with 
 your Majesty's subjects elsewhere the common blessings which their liriti^h citizenship iiicludi-. 
 
 In Nova Scotia, loyalty to the Sovereifrn, re>pect for the law, and devotion to the national llajr. arc 
 universal sentiments. Its people prize highly thi' ri<;lit of stdfgoveriiment, which they have ioni^ 
 enjoyed, and arc content witli their |)articipation in the organi/ation and ^lory of (he j'lmpirc. 
 
 Revolutionary changes in the framework of their tiovernmeiit, proposed 1 / a conventinn wliiidi 
 assembled at (.Jiicbec in I Ml I, nut no favour from the |)eo])le of Nova Scotia, who view with dislru-t and 
 indignation the passage of a resolution giving power to a committee to change or break down the 
 institutions of this I'rovince, without the iieople having expressed any desire for siich a measure, and 
 without securing to them the constitutional riglu to accept or reject it at the polls. 
 
 There is no rcnsoii why Nova .Scotia should be subject to the domination ot ( 'luada. 
 
 Your Majesty's subjects in this I'rovince — proud, self-reliant, and liapjiy, prepared to defend the just 
 authority of the Crown, and bearing the national flag all over the wciild -would be broken in spirit and 
 rendered discontented and restless if controlled by a lA>gislature in which they could never command a 
 majority, and by a distant authority which they could rarely hope to liillnence. 
 
 The prayer of the people of North (Queen's, therefore, is, that the institutions under which they have 
 lived and prospered may he preserved, and that no radical changes may be sanctioned by the Imperia 
 Government which have not been approved hy the electors at tin polls. 
 
 (Signed) .Sti;i'iien .Smith, 
 
 Chairman 
 
 D2 
 
'jx LETTKU UKSI'KCTING TIIK I'HOI'OSKI) I'NION 
 
 To TIIK l}\\t\'> Mo^i l!\iiiiivr M\iisn. 
 
 Mav it iilc.iM' \iiuT Majf?l.v, — Tin- I'l-titioii nf tli'- iin(lcr.«i(iiu'<l liili.iliitiiiit- ol the ( 'mii.ty uf Liinciiliurj;, 
 
 ill Y'Mir Majc-ty"" IViivincc I'f Niiva Scotia: 
 
 III Mill ^ ••iliiwl 1 II, — 
 
 'I'll \ I tills CiHiDtv vMi- -ctll-'il MMT a 1 riitniy aj,'ii, c liii'tly liy " iIIm's of ( ii'riiiMiiy, ulio uiili il|,.ir 
 (l( sci'iidants liaM- Ih-imi (listiiii;iii-cil fur iiii««i'rviii;; loyalty to flir liritisli Crown anil for siiiccn' 
 re >prit aiiil ('?t'ciii for Ymir Slaji'-ty- lioval llonsi-. Aii'l it is tin iiio^t rariii>t dc-iri' of voiir 
 |iiti'ioiirrs to live iiiidvr llir protd tiiiii of tin- I'riti-li tliL'. ami to iiiaiiilaiii llicir all. .riaiici' as Itritivli 
 sulijoits : 
 
 'I'liat this ("oiiiity lia- a |io]iiilatioii ol i.mt '.'".H"". anil i- r.ii'iiily iii.rca-iiij; in wrajlli and |iros|H.ritv: 
 Thai its cniolli'd n'lilitia iniiiiliir- «'i;.'lit rcu'iUK'H's. with iipwanls of I, nun lirstila-^ iiiimi : ami that the 
 M---rls and iii'ii I'li^XaL't'il in thi' iiro-i'iuti'in of the li-l|oric - iniidiiT more than thosi' of any othiT 
 County in tin- I'rovinic: 
 
 That till' Coinity i- rr|iri'-riiti'd in thi' I'roiiii' ial I'nrliaincnl liy thrci' inrnih.Ts. ami that an I'li-rtinn 
 lirld ill |)i( rinla'r last to "-iipiily a xacaiuy iMii-cd hy tho dciv.isf of oiio mcinhiT ri'>iilti'd in the rrturii 
 of a landiiiati', hv a inajorily of over iisi) Mites (.ji|io-('d to any union ol ihc l'ro\ iiici'> hciiif; jias-cd niion 
 liv the l,r^'i-laliiVi', withoiii artion fiist had thrrcon hy tin- jiniplc at tlir polls: 
 
 'That tlif incaii- which liaM' lici'ii takoii to si- iiri' a union of the l'ro\imi'> wiihiiiit the idi'itors hclnir 
 first I'on^nlti'd liavo r\ii«ti'd in the inimls of your |ii'titioiirr~ i;n'af dissatisfai-tion and iiidij,'iiation, 
 liilicviii;,' a- thi'V do that a niM'stimi of siirh iniportanio should lie -iihinittcil for thi" decision of the 
 pcopli'. as it will afVcit thciii and their licMi'iidants for all lime. 
 
 We do iiio-t res|pectl'iilly and earnestly pr:iy that \iiur iiM-t (iracions Majesty will uphold for iis 
 tliKSc" riirlits ami |irivile;^es which, iimler the >y.s|ein ol' lte~pon-iMe (iovei nineiit, piantid to this 
 I'rovinco. we hives i Ion;,'- enjoyed in ]iea<-i' and pros])eiity, and that hefore any union of these i'rovinri's 
 he carried ^'onr in ist (Irai-ious M;ije.-ty will cause the i(Ueiioii to he suliiiiitted for the decision of the 
 electors of Nova Scotia : a pri\ilei,'e which, though hitlierto denic'd theni. has, in the short sjiace of 
 fiuirteeii inontli^, heeu twir • uneit.d to their I'ellow snhject> in the iiljoining Province of New liniiiswick. 
 .\iid \oiir jietitinnors, as in duty hound, will ever jiray. 
 
 iSijrned) M. 15. Dicmhiivw, 
 
 Chainnaii. 
 
 To iiii: lloNDiii Mii.i: Tin: Ciimmii\» or (iiiiiAr ni;ii\i\ wd Iiiii. wd i\ I' \ni i wiin't 
 
 \s-i:miii.i:i) 
 
 The Petition of the Iuh:ihitaiit- of Nov.! Scotia: 
 
 lIlMIIIV sllOWETIl, — 
 
 That the Provini'e of Niva Scotia is one of the oldest CoKinies of Great Hritain, and one of the 
 nearest to the Mother Country: 
 
 Tiiat when the Anierie;in l!t>volution sep:ir,ited thirt<>en English Colonies from tho Crown, N'ova 
 Scotia stood true to licT allegiance, and i'urnished a home fur the loyalists who sacrificed their property 
 and their pros|)eets in the .\nierican States for the sake of Prilish connexion: 
 
 That ever since, dnrinir the political anitations which have disturhed this Continent — especially 
 during the war of 1.'<I'.' and the ('aii:idian rehi'llions iif ls;)7-oS. Nova Scotia has heen steadfast in her 
 loyalty: and that when the neiirhhouriiifr Province of New ih-unswiek was menaced from the American 
 side in is."i!) the Lefii-lature of Nova Scotia unanimously placed tho whole revenues and resources 
 of the country at the disposiil of the Lieutenant (iovornor for the defeiue of the Uritish flag upon the 
 frontier : 
 
 That this peojile have di--eliaru:ed, in other respects, the duties of Ihitish siihjects to the satisfaction 
 of the Crown. They have sent representatives to the Provincial I'arliatnent since 17."iS; for a (piarfer 
 of a century have enjoyed responsihle jjovcriunent in as full and ample a measure as have their fellow 
 snhjeets in the most favoured parts of the Ijnpirc; and have jsreserved from degeneracy and aliiise 
 their constitutional riahts and i'ree institutions: 
 
 That the people of this Prnvince, from their maritime po>ition, have developed the ]iursuits of ship 
 hnildimr, navigation, ccniinerce. and fishing into iirosperous activity. Their agricultural resources are 
 rich and varied, whilst the vast iniuernl we;ilth which underlies the whole area of the country is a 
 s]jeeial guarantee of its future iirosperity under favourahle political conditions. The gold mines of 
 Nova .Scotia, without rising to the character of dazzling lotteries to attract ;i proniisciion> or dlsordeilv 
 jiopnlation from ahroad, have proved steadily remunerative as a regular department of native industry", 
 and a protitahle investment for foreign capital. The great iron mines already discovered give earnest, 
 in coimeximi w ith its coal fields, of manufacturing capahilities not inferior to those of any country of 
 similar extent. It has the thickest coal seams in the world, and their area is extensive, atFoiding fair 
 ground for the presumption that, for the purposes of pence or war, .Nova .Scotia's continued connexion 
 with Ciroat Britain would prove of mutual advantage. Possessed of these resources, the people desire 
 closer relations with the Mother Country in order to he ahle to enjoy more largely the henofits, as well 
 as share more fully the responsihilities, of the Ilmiiire; and already the Province has enrolled Gll,0()0 
 ellieient militia and volunteers to assist in the maintenance of Hritish power on this Continent, and 
 sends to sea I |ii,ooo tons of slii|)ping. huilt and owned within the Province, hearing the flag of England, 
 and manned hy more than 'JO,0ii() seamen. 
 
 That, .Vova Scotia has no controversies with the mother-country, the other Provinces, or with the 
 jiopulatioii of the neighhnuring United States ; and highly prizes the privileges so long enjoyed of 
 regulating her own tariflfs, and conducting trade, hut lightly hurthcned, with the Hritish Islands and 
 Colonies in all parts of tho woild and with foreign countries. 
 
 That the [leople of Nova Scotia are prepared to entertain any propositions by which (preserving to 
 them the institutions they now have and the privileges they enjoy) greater facilites for commercial and 
 
OF THE BIUTISII NORTH AMKUICAN I'lUniNCES. •><) 
 
 Kocial inton-oiirtp witli otlicr States aiiil I'niviiii- - m ly l>t' «■• iircl ; anl tlii'v ari> «illim.', wlitiiovcr tlifir 
 own ciiast anil liarlioiir^ art' nat'i>, to aiil ller Maje!<ty":< fon-i'^ t^ pn-vrM' IViim aijri'-sion the I'roviiu'p-t 
 in the rear. 
 
 Milt thi'v vii« with |)ri)l'imnil ihr-tru'*! ami a|i|)ri'hi-n-iciii sclicinc-, n-iiMitly iinipHiiiiiloil, l>y which it is 
 jiriipom'tl ti> tmifltT to the piMiplc of ( I.maila tin' r.nitrnl of tin- (■ ivcriinn'iii, l,i';{i>l,itioii, aiil Ki'vonucs 
 (if tlii!< loyal :iirl li i|tj)y i'roviiioc, ami tht-y M'litiir.- ri'-]ii>itriitly tn iravc frnm v.iiir llonouralili* Hoiiki- 
 jiistico and priiti'ctinii : 
 
 That till- I'ruinic of Caiiala lies a* far fr uii Nova SiMti i a^ Austria ilots fioin Kiifjlatiil, and th'Tc 
 ('\i>ts no ri':i~oii why a ])(• ipic wliii livi' at sii.li a di-t iiii'.', witli w!ii)in Wf hax.' Iiiit littli- i-oiiiini'n c, 
 who have invc-tcl no capital in our roiintiy, wli • arc nii ihic to proti'rt it, and arc thcinsidvcs nhut otT 
 from o'can iiavi^ilion liy l'ro<! for ti»c m mlli^ of tin- mmt, >1i mid control oni I,CL;islation and 
 CMi\('riinicnt ; 
 
 That in \^>'<l the (iovcrnincnf of Nov.i Sc itia. «it'?ont any aiit'iority fi >iii the l.e;,'i>latiire, .nid 
 without any evidence of the consent of the people, sent deleijates to ( 'aiiada to arrange in -iecret 
 conference at <,lneliec a political union hctween tlii^ xarioiis I'rovince-. That tlie^c dele;.'atc« conceale<l 
 the re-iilt of tlicir confei-cnce from the people until it hecaine incidentally inadi' pnhlic in another 
 I'n.vince, and tlnit, to this hour, they lia\e never nnfoldcil portions of the ^chenn- haviuj; the nio^t 
 essential relation to the peculiar iutere>t> and local pivernnient ol' No\a Scutia sid)seipient to 
 ('oufederatl(Mi . 
 
 That the schenie, «hen at 1, 1st made [luhlie. was received with j;rcat di--ati-la' lion in No\a Scotia; 
 
 that the o]ipo-ition to it has hccu i-on:.tantly on the increase, :iml ha- Keen inten-ilied hy tl onduit 
 
 of the (joverinucut and the d(dej;ate-, who now propose to call in the aid id' your ilonourahle House 
 to iissist them to overthrow, hy ,in .irhitrary exerciM' of power, IVcc iu^;ituliou^ eujovcd for a century 
 and TM'ver aliused: 
 
 'I'hat the ohjectiolis of the |ieople to the pri)iPo>cil ('onfederatiou >chcnie ,illccl luit inciely minor 
 local details, hut the radical iiriliciples of the pl.in. The people cannot reco^'ui/.c the nece>sity fur 
 chanfre in their present trnmpnl, ju-o-peroiH, inid free cundilion, Tliey cannot hdieve that the proposed 
 Confedt ratii n with the di.-tant Colnny iCaiiad.i) will pro\e id' any practicil licncllf, cither for dtdence 
 or trade; while, from the pa^t history of that country, its sectional trouhles, its eccentrii' political 
 ni-uia},'einent and fiinuicial cndiarrassiiients, they have jjireat reason to fear thit ( 'onfeilei,ition would 
 he to them a most disastrous change, retardinif their jirogress, .-mil renderini.' their prolon;,'ed coniu'sion 
 with the Crown prrearious if not impossihie. Forming, as she does now. a portion of the Kinpire, 
 \ovii Scotia is already confederated with fil'tv other States and i'ro\inces, enjo\ s free trade with two 
 luimlred and I'.fty millions of people living under oin" Hag and owning the .lutlnnity of one Sovereign. 
 She has no desire to part witli her sell control, or to narrow hei conunercial privihges, hy placing 
 herself under the dominion of a Si^^ter Colony, with an exposed frontier, fro-tho ind for a third of the 
 year, and with no navy to defend the Maritime Provinces when Inr jiorts are open. 
 
 The scheme of goverinnent framed at (^uehc e is unlike any other that history show.s to have heeii 
 successful. It secures neither the consolidation, ilignity, ami independent power oi nionarehy, nor 
 the checks and guards which ensure to the smaller States sell'-governmeut and controlling intliience 
 over the rederal anthoiit'es in the neighhouiing Kepuldic. Ity adopting the federal principle, 
 n'ctioniilirin in the live I'rovinccs is |);'riietuated ; hy the timid and imperfect mode in wiiieh that 
 principle is applied the people, whose minds have Ueen nnscttli'd hy this crude experiment, may he 
 driven to draw contrasts and miuri^h aspirations of which aihenturons and powerful neighhonrs will 
 not he slow to take advantage; and the people of Nova Scotia have no desire to peril the integrity ol" 
 the Kmpire, with the hlcssings tliev now enjoy, or to try new experiments, which may complicate fonign 
 relations, and yet add in) real strength to the Provinces it is proposed to comliine. 
 
 The jieojile ohject also to the tinancial arrangements, as es))ecially hurdcusome and unfair to this 
 Province, Having long enjoyed the contr d and henetited hy the expenditure of their own revenues, 
 they cannot approve a sdieme that will wrest the greater jiart of these from their hand-, to keep u[) 
 costly and ciimhrous federal machinery, and to meet the liabilities of Canada. 
 
 For many years the commercial jjolicy of .Nova Scotia has lieen es-entially ditlerent from that of 
 Canada. The latter conntrv, jiartly from necessity arising out of tinancial einliarrassinents, and partly 
 as an indirectt pieniiiim on [icr own inanufactnres, has adopted a tariff varying from L'o to ;!o per ci^ut. 
 on imported goods. 
 
 Almost surrounded, as Nova Scotia is, hy the ocean, her people are favourahly situated for enjoying 
 free eommercial intercourse with every section of the Uritisli Kmpire ;in(l with those foreign countries 
 open to her commerce hy the enlightened policy of the Parent State : of this privilege -^he has availed 
 herself hy imitating, as far as local eireuinstances would permit, the liheral :ind free trade poliev of 
 the Mother Country — ten per cent, being the ad valorem duty colleited under the Nova Scotia tarill' on 
 goods imported into the Province. The proposed scheme of union will give Canada, by her large 
 preponderance' in the Legislature, the power to shape the tarilV for the whole Confederacy according to 
 her inland ideas and necessities, so as to levy the same onerous duties on liritisli goods imported into 
 Nova Scotia as are now exacted hy Canada. 
 
 That since the Confederation scheme has been announced there have been ■special parliamentary 
 elections in three out of the eighteen counties of this Province, and in all three it lias heen condemned 
 at the polls. 
 
 That in ISH.'i the scheni • was condemned a*, nearly every public meeting held hy the delegates to 
 discuss it, and numerous petitions against its adoption were presented to the I'rovincial I'arliament, and 
 only one in its favour, until the leader of the < J overnment declared the measure to he '' impractiealde." 
 
 That at the opening of the late session no reference to Confederation was made in the speech 
 of the Lieutenant Governor, and down to a late period the people of Nova Scotia were led to believe 
 that the sclieme had been abandoned. A resolution was introduced towards the close of the session, 
 clothint: the (Jovernment with power to appoint delegates, who, in connexion with delegates from the 
 other Provinces, are to frame a scheme ot government, to which it is proposed to ask the sanction of 
 your Honourable House before it has been submitted to the Legislature that it may annihilate, or to 
 the people whose legal and constitutional rights and powers it may transfer or circumscribe. 
 
 D3 
 
30 LKTTKIl KKSI'KCTINC rili: I'llOPOSi;!) UNION 
 
 'llic iinilcrj'iKiH'il, III. ii.K I'll liv a iiu a-iiri' tliat iiviy 1m' icidliitioiiiiiy, ivpusc iiii|ilicit ••oiifiiliMici- in 
 flH- iiriilii lion lit llic lni|H'rial I'arliMrnriit. I lu-y citiiy tin autliiirity <.|' tlirir ohii I cu'i.-lalnrp, iinotod 
 with liiiiilid |iii"cr- I'lr a ilcliiiitc tciiii. In I'l |iri\i' tin iii nf rif;litM lariiid liy tlicir am c-tiT!. bv ihp 
 nil ft imitiliil -iirrilirct-. «i-i'ly » xrrri-ril and mm r aliii^ il l.ir ii;i re tliaii a (intuiy. ai.it wliirli tlio\ li,,il 
 ■ Ml Icniliinatr .iiillinrily I" alii riati- ir Inrak (lii«|i. 'I lii'V licliini. tliat .-iiiy m licii:!' nl i.'iiM'iii'niiiit, 
 (laini'il liv a rnniii ittir it ilrli-.'atcs ami tiinril ii|i<iti tin' I'ruviiirfs v.iilidiit tiiiir icNi-iiii up ap|iriiv i|, 
 wniilil t-'iMiiT.itc «iili' -|iii'ai|ilir-^,ili-r.Mlii'ii .11110111.' a in) a! all' I riiiili ii'imI |iii)|iIi\ hIio «iI1 imt l^iil tn rclli'ci 
 lliat III! 1 liaiiiri' < an la- iraili- in llii- rniii-liliitioii nl any nf lIu' iiiii,'iiliiiiiiiiiir States wliirli lia^ not llr-t 
 Itt'iii a|i|iii.Mil I y llii' fli'i lnr- : ami llat iini iTlant nn a-iiii'>. alViiliPi,' inipiiial |inli(y ir iii-titiit ims 
 arr rait ly attcmiiliil till lliry havi- linn ^iilinulti'il liir aciiiilaiii-i' oi- it jitIimi Iiv iIi(< |ii'(i|ili' w Ikkc 
 iIlll•rt•^t> tliiv ail' t'l aHi it. 
 
 N'liiii- |.i'til'iiii,ri> lliiTi'diri' i^rav lliat ymii- IJi'iiniirilili' lliiii-i'«ill lit' plfa~i il to lict'tT all aftinii in 
 favmiriil l. nttilt ratii n in tlic In. pi rial I'ailiaiitnt until tlif people nC Suva Scutia ,-liall liaxi" rxini-, i| 
 anil chiiivkI tlirir ft iirtitiitiiiia! piiiili <iv to 1 \|irt >> tlifir opiiiii lis at tlie poll-, or that your llinioiir.il.lc 
 lli.iiM' iiiay III' pIraM'il to ilirri t that a spicial roinii itti f ^liall iiii|uiri' into all the li'.aturtM of li,,. 
 iiii'po^fil -ihi 1110 11! ( I lift litratioii. ai it is likely to iillert the "-eseral IVmiiiees in their relations to 
 eaih other anil to the mother cnuntry ; or that the people nl Neva Scotia he pirniilteii to appear liy 
 ciiiiiisel at the har of vniir lloiioiiialile House to ilefemi their interests aid iii.-titutiolis. And your 
 petilioiais, as in iliity iioiiinl, will ever Jiiay, \e. 
 
 No. :\. 
 
 NkVVF(JUM)LAM) I'. CoNFIDKIlATION. 
 'I'd mm IFosiiruAiii.K Tin; Communs ov (iiii. \r Itiirr.MN \\» Iiiii wn is I*.\iii.iami;ni 
 
 ASSI ..MIII.KI), 
 
 The I'etitien of tlie nii(|prsii4ned Merchants, 'I'ladrrs. I''ishernipn, and otlier Inhabitants of Newfoundland. 
 Mosr III .Mill. V sii()«i;rii, — 
 
 That this Colony has for many years enjoyed the l)lpssini;s and privileges of self-government and 
 loeal li'ijishition, the imposition and a])pr(ipriation of duties and taxes, and the ^'eneral management of 
 its ) al all'airs: 
 
 That the sentiments of all classes of its ]ieopIi' have heeii, ar.d still are, of the niosl loyal and devoted 
 charaeter : that its necessit'es or demands for jirotection from the forei;>ii enemy or from internal ilis- 
 turhuiiee have never heen a heavy hnrden or a serious eosl to the Imperial Kxeheipier : while from the 
 fact of its staple pi odiiets heiiifx cciifinidto fish and oil. ;;rnl the enniitry haviiif; limited agrienltiiral 
 and no iiianutacturir.!; resonrces, its chief import trade is prosecuted, and its mo.-t intimate eoinmenial 
 relations are held with Cireat Ihitain. Nevvloimdlaiid. while hnldiiiir a jirominent ami formidahlc 
 |Hisition upon the .\tlaiitic, as the ])oint nearest to Hnf^land. is practically more remote from the piimipal 
 ports of the Caiiadas than from Britain itself, and has never hail any political, and only minor eomnier- 
 <'ial. eonnexion with the former— a eonnexion which is entirely cut oil' hy sea for nearly six months of 
 the year, during which time there can he no commiiiiieation with Canada, except throuiih the territories 
 of a loreign power — the I'nited States of Ani"rica. The inlmhitants of this Colony would desire to see 
 this island always retaineil separately hy Ihitain, ,is its oeean fortress and military outpost in this part 
 of the world, whatever might he the future destiny of the Colonies on the maiiilaud. Itiit let the value 
 attached to her jiosition in an Imperial view he wliat it may, the Colony has, from its distinct trade and 
 its dilVerent eharai teritties, no community of interests with I'pper or Lower Canada, and little with the 
 other .Maritime I'rovinees. 
 
 The pcojile regard, therefore, with grave apprehension and alarm any project which has for its ohject 
 the union of the Island of Newfoundland with the other liritish North .\merieau dependencies of the 
 Crowi). Some reasons which might intlueiice them to receive it with favour are just tlio.se which make 
 it undesirable lor Newfounillaml. The motives which in their case have actuated the policy of Great 
 liritain for the ])romotion of the scheme of Confederation are entirely wanting in oiir.s. We arc no 
 cause of ofl'enee, we are not in the path of (lossihle aggression or in the way of attack, unless and until 
 the national caiL^e of (ireat Uritaiu involves us in a coinmou fate. We are a comparatively small 
 burthen on the llonie Ciovernment : and, in the present eoiulition of all'airs, ol)tain those supplies frniii 
 Uritaiu which we should, under the )iropiise(l rnion, have in a great measure to ahaiulon for the inferior 
 manufactures of colonies with which we have little trade. I'luler these circumstances, it has heen 
 proposed to include this Colony in a Confederation on the basis of the (.^)iiehec Convention of 1 864, and 
 by this measure to deprive her of those civil, constitutional, and territorial rights which she has so long 
 held and so dearly prized; and for a loss so great there is no ott'er of a substantial return. 
 
 Our taxation, alrrady burdeiisi iiie, will be assimilated to the much higher Canadian tariH'. 
 
 Our revenues will go to the central exehequer, and in return we shall receive a sum fur below our 
 present income without any conespoudiiig advantages. 
 
 No matter how a rapidly growing population, the development of our resources, or our future 
 necessities may call for augmented supjilies, not to speak of the constantly increasing demands for 
 public improvements ; no matter liow large at any time our contribution to the Federal finances may 
 be, our receipts from it are proposed to he permanently limited to 112,000/. per annum. 
 
 The proposed Central Government will also possess the dangerous power to levy duties upon the 
 exports of a Colony, whose only wealth lies in them, and which, from its peculiar circumstances, will 
 be utterly without the means ot loeal taxation wherewith to promote public improvement or to relieve 
 its peojile from a pauperism which, to some extent, is necessarily chronic and frequently widespread and 
 disastrous. 
 
 The chief exports of Nova Scotia and New Urunswick are expressly exempt from the power of 
 Federal taxation. 
 
 The people of Newfoundland have no interest jind can derive no benefit whatever from the groat 
 public works of Canada, existing or projected. There is no provision even made in the Quebec Con- 
 
or iiir. liinn.Mi Noitrii ami'.ru an i'Uoninc ks. m 
 
 vrlltii)ll for ilrdllltrxiiiii liy liiii's ol >'«Mliui« l>ct»C('n tlir ( '.iloiiy .iiid tllf .tluT I'rnMiKTK oil tllr our 
 
 li.iiui. and (iri'at Mill en tlir ullur ; wlilli' fur the N<irlli-\\f-iii ii IcrriNirx j,'ii.ii,iiiti)'» lor i .iiii|i|ftr 
 
 ti'rriiciri.il ivimifNinii urc iimtaiiiiM). 
 
 Tlii-c ari' aiiiHii;.'.! \hr (.liicctidiH ulii.li .iplil', to 1; i- t.iii.'lic. CniiMMtii. veil il' the |iriijc.t (if 
 
 unioii I niM on any Im-i' In- iiiadr ainilnalilc ami lini ini.il Ik iIii;. ('dliniy, ilj. irailc. anil |ic.i|,lr. 
 
 U'lt llir |i('iiiliai |i - lii)ii anil rin iiiii>t iihr:. ari-ii.i; Iim;ii ilii- iiitiir.- .■! it< Iraili', iN ri-niim" an<l In 
 ^'in;,'ra|iliy arc Mi'li llial l!i'' M.iiiliinr I'lMviinc- in tlicir (in;.'iM,il |.r.i;,.i i ..t union iumi- i i>nti'iii|>l.iti'il 
 till' iiitriiiliH lion i\' .Ncttrnuiiillaii(l. 1!m'|| \»lirn |ln' (■.lna^U^ iiM|i(ivii t.i unite wilh lli. in, tin- tnliinN 
 Wii> nut imluilrd uutll altiT tin' mmcK aliiili nl <lilr;.'at('- at i,IiicImi- in Ihi- antninn of 1 »ii I. hIicii a 
 rcijiti'-t «a> inarlr ti mir lo.al l!\i''iiti»<' to si'i.il iininlli -i il ilcli'i'atr* t.i lie |i;i-.int .it tin' iiroiriM|Mij,'s. 
 riicsf (Iclcffatr- «iTi' not rifillii'il «illi any a< iIm' autlmrilv. 
 
 ■{'Ill' exjili'M- Irnii- oCllic mini iitioii >lioii t!iat N<'«|nniiiilani| wa- uiiU |ii.pu»iinalU ii'lrrri'il In, 
 
 Tilt' ^nli|('c't liail iicMT lici'ii a inallrr nl |i(i|iiilar iiii|uiry m |io|itiial rou-Kli'iatn.n in tin- ('"Imn up 
 to that tiiiii'. I'uMii- alarm lia« lireii cm ittil In tiic rc-nll of laic cici tiiin» in tlic ( ' laliiiciilal » ' 'loiiic", 
 ami liy tlic fart lliul ilclc<.Mlc- Iroiu tliciii arc.it i- >aii|. t" pr'nccil tn llritain In ncu'otiatc a m'Iiciiic 
 lit' iininn. 
 
 It i-< with tlic \\rv, to coii\cy t<> your iionoiiralilc llou-c tlic a\cr-inii of tlii> |>c.i|>li' to Iw C'>ii>ii|<'rcil 
 at llii- time in any oMTlurc^ or ne;;i,liatioii:- «liativcr that iiia\ lie mj m.iil<' or had. that vour iicii- 
 tioiU'i> on their liehall now ,i|iiiioacli your llouourahlc ilon^ic. 
 
 irc''reum-t.iiii c» ,-lioiild liereallcr ariM' to iiuikc il I.— o'i;ci'ioiialilc tli.i'i it ii.iu i- (or tlii- (olouv to 
 hecon>i(lcred in any |iiojcel of uiii"n « illi the rc^-t of I! ili^h North .\nicric.i. our [ico|p|e mil, |iclitioni'rr> 
 feci sure, lend a ready an I lo\,'il car to the iiripcrial eoun-cU. 
 
 In the meantime your pclitioui'i> hchevc the oliieetion^ to he iu-upcr iMc : hut if thcv hi' uroii^'. the 
 voice of all the iicojdc of tlic Colony may li' taken iit an early and eointuicnt time. 
 
 Thoe people are, at tlii> lime, hir the mo^t p.ui Mallered and cn;,'a},'e(| iu the .•noeatioii of tlie 
 fi-hcry. .\nd it is for thi> rcaM.ii th.it at thi> monniil of alarm lln -e jietitioiicr- presume to eive c\prcs- 
 iiioii to an opinion, and to prclcr a prayer "hich they hclicvc to ( ..luiidc with the wi-lics and Iceliii^s 
 of the III'"!" majority of the peopl,-. 
 
 Ill till- vii'W they arc upheld liy the .•letion of the I.cei-latnre iu its late session when, in rcpK to 
 the (iovernor's speech at the opciiiii;,'' of the sosioii, il was ohhocd to f;ive some rc«poii^e to the 
 reference made hy him to tlie suhjcct of Couh'dcr.ilion. Thi' rcjilv ol the A^scmhlv was as 
 follows: — 
 
 "On the important suhjeit of ('■iiilcdcralion. in recof.rui/in;,' the «olieitude of IT r .\!a|r>tv's (iovern- 
 nietif for the W(dfare of this Colony, we comur in the \:cw of your K\ccllencv that the .ihstract 
 advantages of union are so ohvioii- as to he alino-l universally acKiiowledLrcd, irhil.-t uilli ni/m-il tn this 
 Coliiiiji and an tlir ilifdi/.s e/' sd </nire a iiiiiisui r it is natural that much di\crsity o| ii|jiuion should |irevail. 
 This in a inatti'r w liicli shall ciieafrc our serious attention." 
 
 By this resolution the House of Asscnihly, heing the re|).-eseiitati\cs of the people, clearly excepted 
 Ncwfoniidland from the application of the principle of Confederation, and al-o oh|e('tcd to the measure 
 in detail. 'I'lie ex|iressioii of opinion which aecoiiipanicd and tollowed that pa^saj^c in the .\ddiess Inlly 
 cijiifinns this view, and, for example, the language ot the Solicitoi--llcucial, who propo.->cd this pir.i- 
 {iraph, was : — 
 
 "The only important wurds added to the original clause were, ' with rci;,iiil to thi~ ( oloiiy and — ,' 
 This alteration would show that there is not only a diversity of opinion with regard to the (ietail, hut 
 also to the very principle itstll. He I lion. ."s.-Ci.) dc-ircil to he iinder-tood that he not only opposed 
 the Qiiehec Uesolutions, hut was altogether opposed to the principle ol' Confederal ion as iar as this 
 Colony was concerned." 
 
 Tiie Attorney-'.ipneral and Premier said : — " He endorsed tic ^tatcnieiit of the llouourahlc Solicitor- 
 General with regard to the noii-coiiuiiittal character of his amciidmcut one way or another, and the 
 Government had no dcsin' or intention to adopt any course- whitli would not he generally aci ept.ihle." 
 
 "So far as he (Hon. .\.-(ieii.) was concerued, no measure should h;' attempted to force it on them in 
 opjiositioii to their wishes, to he gathered from the cou-litulioual channels," 
 
 And tlie Premier again snhsei|iieiitly expresccd him-clf, thus : — "The.Mcmhers of the Kxeeutive 
 admitted distinctly, when the amendment was agreed to, that they did not legard it as .iliinniiig or 
 denying the principle of Confederation," 
 
 It was ill tliis way and upon these terms .'lud express undorstandiug that the .Address of the Asscnihly 
 on this point was passed, Kveii the Imperial hody. the Legislative Council, in its Address to the same 
 speech, reserved tlie delinitc deterniination for the Legislature at a future time. 
 
 Your petitioners' loyal confidence In the a^siuMncc of Her .Majesty's miiiister.-, conlaini'd in des]iatches 
 
 d openly expressed in Parliament, as well as the leliance of this |ici)plc upon the just and gracious 
 ,.>/iisideration of the promises of the Parliament of (iieat Hritain, as well as their convietioii that no 
 infraction of the settled constitutioii.'il rights and political freedom of any Itritish community will he 
 permitted by the Ihitish Parliament ag.-iinst the consent (d' the Colonist-, induce your petitioners thus 
 boldly to adopt a course which, while it may he uimccessaiy, is suggested and iiupelled hy the coutein- 
 plation of the powerful counter-intlueiices brought t'l hear upon a ipicstion of such solemn an<l serious 
 import to Her Majesty's suhjetts, and hy a desire to prevent or remove any possible misapprehension 
 of tlie present sentiinents of the people of Newfoundland, or of the position in whicli this Colony 
 stands in regard to the Confederation project. 
 
 Your petitioners therefore hiiinbly pray y.mr 11 niour.iblc House that no negotiations may he had, 
 and that no measure or inojcct may be entertained iu Parliament, coiiteiii|)laliiig the present (onipre- 
 hension of this Colony in any scheme of in ion with the other Piovinces, until this (piestion, involving 
 as it (h)es the vital interests and future fate of this dc])endency of the Crown, shall have been delinitely 
 submitted to the people of Newfoundland at a general election of representatives to their House of 
 As.sembly. And as in duty bound they will ever pray. 
 
 St. Joim's, Newfoundland, July 4;li, A.D. l.'^iiU. 
 
 an( 
 con; 
 
LONDUN : 
 
 Prinlt'<i liy (iKttia.i. K. Kvm: and AVii.ma.m Si't)TUSW(M>i>K, 
 PrintiTs to tlu' Qut'en's iiio^t Kxcellt-nt Majesty. 
 
 For Ilir Miyt'StvV Stationtry Dffior.