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S ■ (ANSI and ISO iEST CHART No. 2) / \ 1.25 11 1.4 I 1.6 •■" /:: ■ -^ /1PPLIED IIVHGE Inc t i^SL IBS] enl Main StrnI '^^^S Rochnltr, Nn Ybrk I4«l}9 USA _^S^S ("•) 'Pi - "■JO*- Phon»~ ,^^^^g (716) 2)18 -5989- ro« r / -/• ■ A Xf^-j-- ^■ 3 ■/ , .-< ' . / *.^-r ►*-r. •.H^' V ' ■ V Ap> -i vv \ ■' •"■•.<*'iii;i .:- : ■f LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Wednehdat, 22nd Februnry, 1865. Hon. Mr. ROSE then resumed the ad- journed debate. He ' said-^Defore I iiru- „ ceed) Mr. Speaker, to offer any observations on the motion ift your hand, j[ wish to ac- Knowledge very cordially the consideration which the House eirinced last evening during tny absencQ^ and enpecially to ac- kuipwTedge the courtesy of my hon. friend from Lamltfon (Mr. A. Mackenzie), my hon. friend from Chateaugday (Hon. Mr. Holton)and my hon. friend the member for Brome (Mr. Punkin). I certainly fyel indebted to them for the manner in which they yielded nie precedence, at the re- 2iuest of th'e.hon. member for Montmorenci Hon. Mr, Caiichon) ; and I shall endea- vohr to shew my sense of the kindness of the Hoiise, by not trespassing on its in- dulgehce any longer Chon I can possibly help ; and, belbre I offer any remarks on the question itself, I would premise this, tliat I hope in the course of them I shall not give uttenince to a single expression, which would seem to reHeotupoii those who entertain strong opinions adverse to the pro])osition now before the* House. Far be it from me to deprecate discnssioH^ — discussion of the amplest, widest, and iuost searching characfeif,'-^ «n this iniportiint •question. And far be it 'frora-me by the Use ot a single wc»d to in,ipute,td tiiose lion, members who feel it the,tr duty to oppose this measure any aljsence of pa- triotism. I believe they are actuated by I the same ardent desire for the good of the coimtry, which I claim for myself. (Hear.j hear.) It is right that the question should j be considered in all its details— not merely i ^in its bearings on the present state of: 'jiarties, but as respects its influence in all time to com6 on the couii try at large. And with that view I think itolight to be calmly, delitl|rately, and patieiUly investit- gated, and instead of deprecating the fullest and most ample discussion, I trust the op- portunity will be afibrded to every hon. 1- :. . . , . meiAt^r of this House, to speak on it in his own way and at his own time, (Hear, hcai*.) Well, Sir, J presume there are few who -in the abstract would not fhvour the -idoA of a union between. a num'ber (^ smal) States adjoining each other, riUhm than that they should remain isolated under separate governments. To the idea ofainion in the abstract l>etween States so circumstanced, I tako it no one would bo opposed. But the ()r|Hcirial ground of the op]K)sition wlijch is jmade to the nresent scheme .by i^not i^uim|)ortant ctass,'i8 this— \lnit ili6 mere I abstract principle of union does not apply with ftdl force to colonies circumstanced as G^nada, New Brunswick, Nova Scjotia, Prince Edward Island, apd Newfbuncjlland— the five colo- nies that are parties to this scheme. It is feared by many that it is the first step towards independence — that it must tend to loosen the lies np^ exijsting between this aiid the mothiir country^-that i.t changes our relations and will produce a vstrength incoml^aiible with Imperial Sovereignty— tbaf^iti may prolmbly result in not only severing <>ur connection with^ - tiie uiotlrer country, biut. in forcing us to' a union with the neighboring Republic. Tht»t I have heftrd ujrg^d as the greatest and most iinportant oljjectioii which strikes at the ftJ^t of the proceedings of the Que- bec Coafereuce. I know thai many of the dp|Kiiieiits of thelscheme entertain the appreluiisioiiT— ptM-haps the conviction,— that tliut. will bffthe result. (He&r, hear.) Far from deprccatiiig then the discussion ol' that (lue.stioii iiii its broadest aspect, | ' think all of us who (k'Nire toq)erpetuate , ourconnet'tion with! England, ^hould listen < calmly and, anxiously to the objections which are ueged by those who conscien- tiously entertaiii those opinions which Are not onh' blanlelcss but entitled to respect. (Hear, hear.) Now I do not 'deny tjiat tiie effect of the present moveiije'nt may be to change the .character of, 'tj*e actual relations which sttbsist between this Pro- vince and the mother country, Hon, Mr. HOLTON. H.Hit it on a footing which will make it slroMKer and mordenduring. (Hear! hfiir!) Though I believe these relation!^ will be somewhat c^^ed and we may have to consider what new aspect they will present, I believe, this measure. is forced upon us by the necessities of our position. The irresistible force of passing events will not allow us to stand still. But, whether by this inevitable change the country shall gradually lose its dependant or pro- tected character and assume more of the federal relation, constituting this a terri- torial division of the Empire, I believe it will result in placing those relations on a surer and more steadfast footing— and that .we will still acknowledge the same Sovereign, owe the same fealty, and maintain the same veneration for the English constitution and name. (Hear, hear.) ItcannoC be denied tiiat there is 9. state of public opinion growing up in England just now— not confined as it was • few years ago to- a class of extreme theorists— that the connection which sub- sists between the colonies— Canada' in especial— and the mother 6oJlintry is a source of expense and danger. It cannot be denied that that kind of opinion has ob- tained a good deal more force witJiin the Jast few years, than, those of us who desire to maintain the connection between these cWonies and England -woiild like that it show have obtained ( and we cannot i ^he consequences which that in/ creosinV vohime of public opinion m^ have uptm the legislation of Englahd. Then ther^is another consideration which makes this ^bject stand out ifiore promi- nently beforeVthe people of England at the present tim\ than otherwise it would d(^-and that is, the state of its relations with the republic adjoining us, and the enormous military povlrer which the United Ptates hare shewn, within the last two or three yearsVthat they possess. In conse- quence of thie, the state of opinioii.ih •England which might have been confined for many yeors perhaiis to mere theory, ^fas been brougiit to u head. It is not f^now merely a question of abstmct opinion whether under such and attch circum- stances, it would be lietter for this and other colonies to assume a more inde- pendent attitude towards England. Biit it has been- pressed with unexpected abruntness to a practical issue before the people of England, and they have now to consider what thu relations of Cireat Britain to these colonies would be* in the event of war with the United States ;T-how far, in that event, it wpuld be iipssible to protect this remote deppndenoy of the^ Empire, to avoid disasteij to the English flag, and at a distance of 3,000 miltfr.to maintain the prowess of the English name. It is this which has forced public opinion so strongly in England to a consideration of the actual relations between this country and the mother country^ acid it is this state of facts with which we must deal now. It u», I repeat, past discussing as a mere abstract matter of doctrine. We must look our situation in-the face. Wemust considejr the eventualities which press themselves on our notice, and it is our bounden duty to see nvhether we cannot find in the union of these colonies security to ourselves and a source of strength to the Empire at large. (Hear, hear.^ With respect then to I the objections urged by those who consider that this scheme may be leading us along a new and untrodden path towards independence, or at least to a more independent'relation with reference to England than that in which we now stand towards her, I say we cannot forget that our. surroundings 'are of a peculiar >ind. I would grant thaf there would be much force in the ; argument that it might sever oiir ties with England if we were circumstanced as ' some of thei smaller States of Europe— if we had for example a State like Swit- zerland on the one sidts and any of the German Principalities on the other.— If we had, as our neighbors. States lilw! Bel- gium or Denmark— if, so situated^ we were one of a number of small States, I grant you that, if a Union of all these Provinces were to take place, it might lead possibly to that independence which those who oppose the scheme now fear, 'f y -I il» to mere theory, u head. It is not a orabatmct opinion and qUch circnm- iietter Tor this and lime a more inde- arda Engfand. But I with unexpected cal issue before the id they have now to ion-s of (treat Britain tid hci ill the event d States ;r-how far, uld be iipssible to Jependenoy of the> Bteit to the English B of 3,000 mil«8:^to f the English name, reed public opinion 1 to a consideration etween this country ktry^ apd it is this lich vi^e must deal it, past discussing liatier of doctrine* tuation in-the face, aventualities which >ur notice, and it is I see whether we sn of these colonies and a source of B at large. (Hear, to ! the objections consider that this ig us along a new ards independence, idependent'relation {land than that in towards her, I say our. surroundings 1. I would grant nuch force in the ■ sever oiir ties with circumstanced as ' tates of Europer- a State like Swit- te and any of the on the other .r-If rs, States lilu! Bel- so situated^ we of small States, I Jnion of all these e place, it might lependence which scheme now fear, * ■ •* ' '■',^"\ ■; :■■ . . ■'> . 'i'' ' ■;•!■ '■■'-/ ■ . ■ ' .8;-- ■•■ •■ .1. ■■■■.'■. V ' • / ■ ■ / ■■™^jB»»T*gjtyy» and which for one, I hmie from my heart, niny never (weur. (llear, hear.) No duiibt, if situated ill that wuy — if we bud no powerful lUid uvcr-awing neighbor, Kucli iV- |)o!ilical cuiubi,nution as , we now p(P|ios« migfu leml lo palotiqal inde|)on- (If iico of k'ligluiKJ. — Jl we were a m«re oonj?eries of snutll %$tatds, with no itoworfiil ■ ncighboir,, that result which we so mucli deprecate inipht |H)S!reservation wiil for centuries— for generations at all events — prevent the possibility of these colonies asserting their independence of England unless it were indeed to become a porti( of the repiibtio which adjoins ua — and to which I think it is neither the interest, nor the inclination of any niomb«(overiiiiu)ut, and llui tleviNing ul'a system of ••inifrriitiori that will bo uttnio- tiv« to tli.Mi<'..|.lo ^)|■l•:ll^^^ln(l, Irfliiinluml Scutiaiul, will lid n vast deal to keep tin thM coiwtnnt attutiiiiU'iit to llio niotlier country whieh m\ all «J(mire to scu8lreiiir- thtiiieif, (lUuir, iit-ar.) \Vc mIuiII tlinn not only have llie onlinary motive to pro- sent to euiif,'rttnts, olself-iuterest— lh«! up- jwrtunity to make money ijicreiy, lint tlnj other intcrc^at ul altttclinient in a iit'rHui- nonfwayi to the soil, without a dtrntu to «o buck to the niothor cunntry after n. eonipetenec shall hiivu been )4aine(l,-,for thpaentimont o( naliiinality will.scKin take root among jis: Now, Sir, I Ihink that so lar as the danger of union lending to mdoiH?ndeiice is eoncerned, those who aro most earnest in desiring to per[)t!tnato the union, njed not have ninch ajiprerionsion. But, It' may be said, that from the necessity o( our iKJSition tlu-re is dan^rer that we ,. shall feel our material and commeroial in- 1 in tcre-sts so strongly boimd up with the United htuttjs, mid, teel no reliant in our own. strength as a great coniitry, that we will eventually (i.rnjii closer alliance with that llupnbfic than any of iis denire, and tlliif .fh<> liirmnt inn /^l .o >peuk, wos going ^n ; 1 certai.iil.y did try to liring ns iinpre- .lUfUeed iiiid dis|itis>i,.iiate n.considcration toi its variiiiiv! phaMS. ;is I possibly Qotild. lead „» „, ,i„» .■,„..,w„.'\r ;i^ ,r;;; ;;;, ;;'■;'*& ■;, ^;r;T[;;ss ure dependent i,jK.n them (or an outlet to fallestronsi.l..ra.i, , I un^^^M^o^-^^ he ocean during the wmU-r months. If that f ,lo :h.i see, in a, ■ o e es,ac"t I w hey choose to suspend the bonding sys.Uhe cofnentu.ir o(■tlH.^cXnK'tot^^^^^^^^ teni or^iy a system of consular cerliltcatesl in the bonds :.f .rov.rn..S,U can "fn To uakei prac. cally^tiseless, i(' they alK.lfsh Lake „s ind ;,J^, IK /' ^^*^f'!^°"''' ^*^'-} "^i"^ ilwpendence to endeavour to defeat it by everv ineiiis "^"u i*_5°""!!;y _?''^° '"./* greater and in my power. »> ^verj means But, Sir, I do see a ureal danger the other way. 1 see that if we reraai.n a mere congeries ,61' isolated colonies, hostile in some degree to each Others interests, there is danger ahe^d. t see that danger existing and threatening nsiii the Unit€id States. . I see thatif wedo not unite and form one central goveruinent, sici din tiul thii B« rati to, will 1 si WOI t\(\'i) for tluil to t] •A tine ¥e v.-e Mir« : (li;-. Villi is IK Mi' . d.r. Iii;n sec lU't 1 ■vg much more practical way than we doal tlie present time. And- jierhaps, Sir, it is worth our while to consider whether this may not be the real motive which dictates the policy tUey are now pursuing ! (Hear, hear.) But, give us this Intercolonial Rail- Way, afTording us communication with Ha- lifax and St. Johns at aU seasons of the 'laiRv iher any llOVf belie safet us. time in or put I The unhn time peria expe Uinst expe sary actue prote they Engl difur utiles abilit again -beHr '^,. »♦ in(lp|H)ndpnt ofthn U'roially ai we now iniiy. not (ind thin iro t^oiioniiuul, t"»l»i- TOnaoii, thnn to j^o 'lijti'ii, but il \vt» hav«' which wt' limy r«s. Hsity, 4iiir iiei)a;hbyr« inti-ri'tt to jiJve Mji Uriels orcuiiiiiiiiiiii'ii>- (llfiir.hcur.) Thoy hi-y'liiid \vc> huvf no ■I! urn pwiMired witli iiDdiioe all tin* y&.it u-t so foolishly us to I tlio ojtJKirtmiify of rough their territory, ly l>iiilt, Wf should ■ the withdrowiil of r tho coiitinuii.lice (if Iifciuiso they would ht'inselvesn greater ill iijion 118. Let nio at I can perceive no_ !' to us ill this union. uu;»iiciiiuiiy mouths -N or incubation of >o >|ipuk, \v(is going y to Ijiing ns unprtf- lute n-coiisidcratioii lis I possibly Qoiild. ili'ss, with siisJMcion I was ruuiicliing iis It", and that w*' Ave re t wo got uioiig with • itisliieioiy nuiniR'/, ■-oiui' nl its asptfclN >li const itui ion : — I !iX ^i-iviiiij to it (ho iii«/ap:il)loorgiving, ly onp respect, how I' c<.>lonies togtUlicr iiniMit, can tend to o( (ireat Britain, it my duty to offer iiig opjHisition, and it by every ineans e a ureal danger L^ that i( 'we remain isolated colonies, 'e to each Others iiger alie^d. t see idf: threatening nsin lee that if we do not entral government, giving it the power to direct Bll the j.hy- brciikMdown,~f«ilitomtthe««iientof thB hu»l iJ,' X »7'«««»'y. tlwt wc lire old condition or «e|inrrttccoloni««. wo, hull £ 1 Joi c^>irr'£ ;^ ''7 r^""' Anfir.' appropriate delences along the Mr. IlOLTON. No. No» I ^hlTl S'^ble t?''*.'"''"''^- ""^"r" Mr. DIINKIN. What reas..v have yoi. I sliall lie able to show in a very J«w to think so/ - ' \vor.l8,that If wo are unite.l, w.^ slmll Hon. Mu. KOSK. 1 berievo that the nflord U, Iviiglan. J.ulHci..nt ii.dncenient, fofiuntioi, o( u poverume. having \\\c h. iiro essenlml t.M.ur own security and coh.nies.>v,Mil.l greatly add to.Mnsecuritv. ^ 1™ ■;";';' ;';V""^«'^'",erth,gou.hi^ con. I Who d ,ls that theJo is groulJr ^^-Z '^U^Z^Zti^Z ""'r:''r''^'^''^'^^r '" **'"•'' '» ""i"" ilmn in isolation, one, nrs.T s . I I'l" " l""^'^'"''"; on f I think the mlvniUiigo ir>Hv.SMcc,.ss(MHy f,o,a attack. An.l|or mui.m, |..r ,,„rpnses .►f'def.ince are not vlu. h w, <•„,. |h,|„. Will iiev.M- occur. .|t wouhl-be the slieugth oftJf.at nritaiii if ir S ''-^'^^ '''•■'' ^^•'^''.»^:i'»"*-«'''-i-,K''Jjl.uid, anuthei' fur W.des. another fi.i ni... r^r "';• l'7'-""''^''^^'"- «•-".- ''•'•''3'"l- ""•« ^"lolher Cr Scotland ; each ^lr\h\^^:-h^JT^\^"'^'^^^ "^ nxn, injlitnry and .navol . i'cT u V ' '•"'I'l''"-"";"''^ will ,.nve,-. If one n,i(io.i;,l ;i..veru.,.cut Inid vA^^^ SmI "li^v '^ 'I: ^"""' '"- '"^--'I'l"*! i:"'l. all the inlion^l material. vjma^^l 1 1,,: ll,,,suf,t,,.s. It IS iim..,s.'and elem.-i.fs ..f stri-n^'th.^wonld the , W^>r iiii> |.rii.|rtiitinau tiidisreirardiliiit dullv threulenii.h cloud that has been ga- thering ufion our borders, ready utailmost any moment to burst unon us. It lie- I'nnvess of her lice ' lieeii what it i . . moment to burst upon us. It .«,- hoyes u« therefore to lose no timft, if wo btdieve tliat union offers a gimrantee ot safety against the dangers that tlireaten lis. It becomes imjiortant that we lose no time to consiiiiimato the pro|K.sed union, m order that the general government may piit us at once in a pri»|»er8tate of defence. The public opinion of England, as we unhappily kiiow, does not at the present tune fend very iiiucli to warrant the Ini- perial Governinout in making any large expenditure for colonial pur|»ose8. There must be some reasonable prospect, th^t it expenditure is incurred in erectifig neces- sary works of defence, those works will be actually available, when constructed, to protect tlie country upon whose frontier they are established. We cannot expect f-ngland to enter upon a course of expen- diture for fortifications on our frontier, li^Iess »he has the assurance of our abdity with her aid tq hold those works, g6»'P»t attacks from a hostile power. I rr of her ariuii's have Is there no (leiielit in having a |iower that can bring to boat the whole military strength at any jioini desired f If there is not, theh I am wil- ling to say, that this argument which carries conviction to my mind is of nt value whatever. „ Hon. Mr. IIOLTON. Arc we not all connected with the mother country ? lioN. Mr. rose. Certainly. Ho.v. Mr. H0LT()N. Tli.ii what stronger could we bo by merely Iiuving a mere jiolitica! connection with oVlicr.v { ii would give us no more meti. . .« Hon. Mr. ROSE. Does njv iionorablc friend think that if each |iroviiico had control of its own militia fiirco, Nbvu Seotia and Newfoundlancl and Prince Edward Island control over their seiinien, and Canada the direction of her own rnilitia, that the military Ibrcefrof the.so five Provinces could be brought to liear with the same advantage as if they were ' under the control of one centrftl jiower f . We coil Id not take them out of their own Provinces contrary to th« liiws r,f tfi.. 'V. bgliavfttlidi ifth^ » « ..N^ J I i~Y^.. X ^,i»v»n;c» contra ry w i ne inw.s ot those believe lj.*l if the proposed plan ol union (Provinces, Is it of no imi«rl4ince to make '\V ../■ ^. Jli:Mk~.A \x y the hardy •onmnn of NawJiMindlnud, or lie«n fon'nd ii|)on nif— timt I do not b»« th*' |Kio|ilt« of Novri S«otia and New li«va that il' wo rcviTlcd back U> oiif HrMnawioli feel.thnt if* huttilelbroelandii original i-oftdition, Uim lni|M«rml Oovern- At Harnia in IJpper C'l^nndu, their ttirritory mrnt would lie lu ninch diii|Hmiid to iiid wn uml their aoil nr»i invaded, or //i«r indi-- in the conMniction ol'thit workii neottMury imndeiici) thriiaioiird ! ! \V« iih«>iild have li.r our deCenoe, C|n il they found that in enibroilniont and dillioiilty nnuuig our- the {trewnco of u coimuoii danger w« Nelyos nt Ihn vfry nioinnnt when united were united togotlu-r to ruiiel the common action in prt'iienling a Iwld front to the enemy. I nay tlii< lin|K'riiil Ciov»>rnnicnt enemy wiu neccwiarv to our nalety. If, would not in mich a tuso b.' actuate.! linu we go back to our old condition gf i«ola- j ply by a rvgurd to tlm i>x|ienie of oon- tion now that the Kilcnin npiMToval of thi« atriicting th««»« worki in which I lindor- mother country him lieen given to thisjfltand the Jiowcr ProviiicM will have to proposition of fcdcraiion— (ond A#r atatea. bear a ahare— but iihe would \w deterre |Hir|H).se th«>y were doyou Iwheve that tlruse sUitcsnion will dwaigned to acc«>niplisili, iiiuiivly,tot>nabl«i look kindly n|Kin tiiu not < liven my tho country to iKxillk'u'iitlydolindc.l. It i« . . .ny htmorublo IViciid from Hn Upjicr and liower Canada. That hon. genth- man stated in hi.i wpecch tin- other night, llinl if tlii.ckets and give a tenth of their sidKiiunce for the con- struction of the woik.riul Gtivern- i*li (liii|Hmi*d to iiiU iin tlin wurkx iinoiiMurjf If tlipy f'uiinil (hnl in uiiuiiuii ilaiigvr wii to re|i«l the conimun ii|n'rml CioviTiiment UM) b(^ nctuatvd iini'' ho <>x|ien»i uf oun- - ill which I uiidor- n-iiicei will havo to would Im) deterretj iirtlif r cunaiderationt MO works Would t)« * |Hir|itMo thoy worn li, iii)na*|y,tot>iinbl|inriite units, ijun — «'uch uiuler u iiiiil distrnctod and y time when they t»'(l. (IliHir, heur.) rd uguiuttt in tiiih — surprise, for which ed. t believe my- aii be constructed, • can effectually de- iiist sudden attack, expense. Ofcbune tiilerable sura ; but I ly hon. friend the though he may be ones, will not hcsi- . 11' appropriation ne- !, and to inifiose in- at puriMMie. (Hear, e tliat QQ member ' in ill this country, ted were, to piit |K)ckets and give itiunce for the con- .unt of the obser- >een made by my »'r for Hochelaga, (Ken. Mr. IWitin,) obtiervations which t am iur" he did not moan U) havo «iich an r(r«ot, hut which nnvfrthcleM havna irio»t iniMhievoiis tfiiilrnoy. That hon. gentfe* hwn staled that our true policy wa7,,io fiot neutmlity { that it was bopolnM for lis to attemnt to deftiiid bnmi'lves UKainat thn overwhelming lorco whitMi the United States could hring to b^-nr aRnin,tt iin, and that with our small iKipulution we woul^ b« very much in the same position as Den- mark when opiWRfd to the armies of A(w- triaand Prussia. Indeed, he almost went as flu as a gentleman who no longer hohla a seat in this hou.vt,when herniKlthat " the beat armament lor Canada was no arma- ment at all." I am sure thot hod the hon. Sentleman felt that any mjiiry would lie one— any false impression j)roditce^ '>■'» ff^^n making nrogreaa iotA the coWitry, you may by audi means de- fend it for many months. I do not know what the scheme o( the Defence Commis- sioners may h<>. Ihit it is well known thai they exprea.H the convictiiin that by the construction of certain works at vari* oils points tb^ manning of wliich is quit© within the ooin|)nss of our power, we can arreat the progress of an invader fbr many iiionthiiir^wo con oom|)el him to expend outl eyhniiat his strength be- fore these yCorks— iiiid wo could throw embarraaaiiients in hia way such as would take an invading force many months to overcome. Decaiiae hon. niernl>er«- must remember tlint it is imposaihlu to hav« more thai) a six nionths* cam|)aign in this country. 'And Mip|Mising you were to erect works liefbre whicli an enemy wm compelled to sit down in the raonthofMay, it Would takeliiin fully throe months be- fore he could briii^ up his supplies and siege train and protect his coiiiinunications.and by the time ho was ready to make a de- termined attack li(> would be overtaken by winter, Iw compelled to raise the siege and go into winter (piarters. In truth our winters are our sale'^iiard and defiTnce. Such, nt any rate, is the opinion . oLinlli- tary men. During six months only are military oprations practicable in this country, and thus whatever is done one seasoij;ikas to hi.' nliatrdoned on the anproach of winter and lieRun a^ain tho following spring. Iftherefure we can only, by man- ning certain salient points in the country, prevent the :progress of invasion, we are safe. Sudden .coiKpicst would be impos- sible— delay and iin|K'diments are every thing. Every one knows the history of the.iCclehrated lines of Torres Vedras, which extended thirty miles, and by means of which the invasion with whicn NaiKiIeon terrified Europe, wais first rblled back. These lines wore defended by. but gsthall number of men, and they compelled >^. NaiKileon to retire before them. Then, in 8 -x;-r ^is country we have the experience of Richmond, wliich has forced the army of General Grant to become a mere corpa of observation, and of Charleston which has fallen at last, but after what delay and at what cost ? Going to the Crimea, we see Sebastopol defying for months and months' the joint efforts of England and France. If we therefore can keep the invader from ' our doors for a certain number of mouths, our Canadian winter will do the rest, whilst English ships would be engaged in harrassing their coasts and in the destruc- tion of American eoiiimerce in every sea. I therefore entreat those who are disposed to take a desponding view of the question, to consider these things. An aggressive warfare in this country is one thing, and a defensive warfare another, and a very different. (Hear, liear.) Our country is well adapted for defensive purposes, and it is next to impossible to subdue us. The badness of our roads, the difficulties pre- sented by our winters, our deep broad and unfordable rivers, and the means we could establish for keeping an crtemy in check at certain points for the necessary time, would enable us to resist the United States with all their power and resources. No man can have a greater appreciation of the enormous resources, .of the courage, of the varied appliances, of everyt-hing m fact which tends to success iii war than I have of the American nation. I have seen thcn^ in the llckl, and seen them at sea. They certainly hsive come out as a militaiy nation in such' a way as almost to astonish the world. But, Sir, let us consider a little more closbly what their circumsfances are in odicr res- pects. No doubt they have an enormous navy, but that very navy would not be more than sufficient to defend theif har- bors in cnse of a war with England. It is not because I imagine that their ships ?0Hld not coi)e singly with British ships. It IS not because I believe tlieir men are lacking in skill or courage, or that they are unable to build sufficient vessels; but they lack this— and it is a consideration which we cannot and ought not to forget- that they have not a single harbor in any sea, except on their own coast,' to refit their vessels, (hear, hear.) Supposing them to send a, Heet of 20 or 30 shir* to En- gland. An Hon. MEMBER. Or Ireland (Laueh- ter.) • ^ * Hon. Mr. ROSE. If they went to Ire- land, they would have a very warm re- ception indeed, (hear, hear.) No doubt they gould get there with the coals they coiild carry; but where would they get the coals to bring them back or to carry on operations tliere ? Sailing vessels now-a- day can do nothing ; all vessels of war have to be propelled by steam ; and there is no neutral port in the world \vhere in time of wor with England, the navy of the United States would be able to obtain assistance. For I take it for granted that in the event of a war with England the United States would have few allies. And as I be fore remarked there is not a port in the world whifere they could get an ounce of coal or ftiiy addition to their armament. In this ' would 'consist oiir great saletjr. . They have ho jwrts in the Indiiin Sea, in Ihe east Atlantic, the Me- diterranean* or China Seas, and it is sim- ply because iuen of war could not, exist without coaling and refitting that the na- vy of the United States would be placed at so great disadvantage. It is contrary to international law, as the llouse is well aware, that the ships of u belligerent na- tion can be received in a ' neutral port and assisted beyond wluit is required by the dictates oi' humanity, to enable them to facethe elAncnfs. They would be ' unable, I say, to get a single man, a ton of coal, an ounce of gunpowder, or a i)ound ofirou, in any neutral port, and I would like to know what the United States could do in a war with England so circums- tanced ? (hear, hear.) Well, Sir, this is one sitate ol' things. But there is yet ano- ther view to be taken of tile (juestion. Do we not know that in the event suppose^l, we shotdd find the Atlantic coast swarming with English vessels car- ring moveable colums of troops menacing and landing at every point ? The navy of England, the arsenals of England, the purse of England,and all the appliances and requirements of warAVould be brought to bear tipon and.be available to us in such a struggle. We should not suffer from • the lack of the material of war, which is perhaps the very thing of all other things the most essential. In all respects we should be in a very differ ent position from ':Jr. ■'-..;t 9 1. Or Ireland (Laugh' If they went to Ire- ve a very warm re- ir, hear.) No doubt with the coals they lere would they get ;m back or to carry on bailing vessels now-a- all vessels of war by steam ; and there the world ^here in ngland, the navy of mid be able to obtain ke it for granted that r with England the d have few allies, irked there is not a jfere they could get by addition to their "would 'consist oiir luve ho jwrts in the St Atlantic, the Me- Seas.and it issim- var could not. exist efitting that thena- rs would be placed ge. It is contrary to the llunse is well ofu belligerentna- in a neutral port lyhiit i$ required by ity, to enable them . They would be single man, a tun of powder, or a i)ound port, ji nd I would ¥nitcd States could iipliuid so circums* Well, Sir, this is Jut there is yet ano- n of thie (|uestiou. Iiat ill the event find the Atlantic English vessels car- of troops menacing point ? The navy of 3 of England, the 1 all the appliances irAVould be brought ailable to us in such Id not sufier from il of war, which is of all other things n all respects we erent pftsition from the Confederate States at the present day. We should simply be requirea to hold our own, while the United States were being harrassed on the seaboard, and then when the winter came we should be compara- tively safe. Think of the exhaustion to the United States of such a war ! ! I havie; ventured to say thus much with a view of counteracting, so far as my feeble observations will enable me to do, the remarks afctftie hon. inember for Hoche- laga the mPer night, because I think it was a mostpernicious, unmanly, and un- patriotic view oftlie case to be allowed to be disseminated, when we ought to do all we can to enct/urage and evoke a military spirit on the part of the youth of this country. Neutrality has been spoken of. But how could neutrality be iwssible in a struggle between England ana the United: States ? The country which cannot put forth an effort to deleflfd itself occupies a despicable position , and forfeits on the score of weakness, even the wretched privilege of being neutral. I low is it |)ossible, I again ask, that we coi^ld maintain a neiitral position in such a war ?. iVVe could not. We should have to make common cause With one or the other. Do you suppose the "United States woiild allow us to stand aside ? Hon. Mr. IIOLTON. It is the Minister of Agriculture 's opinion that we should hold a neutral ]H)sition« Hon. Mr. McGEE. Not at all. Hon. Mr. ROSE. I have listened with pleasure to many speeches from my hon. friend the Mi^iister for Agriculture, but I have never heard one in which it was implied that we ought, to remain neutral in the event of war between England and the United States. My hon. friend is well able to speak for himself; but I must say 1 Imve no recollection of hearing him utter so unpatriotic a sentiment. Hon. Mr. HOLTON. Hear ! hear ! Hon4,,Mr. rose. I have no doiibt that what, my hon. friend meant by neu- trality' was this, that we, as part of the British Empire, were bound to remain neutral as between the (pwo warring sec- tions of the neighbouring States. HoN^ Mr. HOLTON. No ; the hon. gentleman expressly gave it as his opinion that the nentrality of this country should b e guarant ee d by tr e aty, the sajne as ir the ca^e with Belgium and Switzerland. r Hon. Mr. McGEIZ'. I had. this idea once. It was short ly after my hon. friend opposite (Mr. Holton) decliired in favor of annexation. (Laughter.) Hon. Mr. HOLTON. The sentiment has been expressed by the hon. gentleman within the last two or three years. Hon. Mr. ROSE. Events have changed very inuch within the last two or three years, and We have got to deal now, not with mere party (|ucstii)ns only, but With . events thait are transpiring. I wil I not say anything further on this |iOint however, as my hon. friend from Hoclii>la|<7i is not in his place, altliough the hon. niembi>r for Chaleau'j;imy ohivalnaisly defends him in his absence. I say then, Mr. Siteaker, that while I d»> not wish to e.xaggerato the danger, I cannot be insensible to it. It is a dunger<|i1ark, imminent uiitl ovei- whehniiig, and if it was On that couside- rntionalplie,;! say that I lind in this ques- tion of ^lefenee sutliciciil not only to justify me in voting lor 'tin' scheme now befbn* the H6li3e,-bitt to (lomai\d of me every ellbrtto carry it inti* ellect. (Hear, hear.) If we show that we are in earnest on thi.< question of defence, England will be en- couraged to come to our assistance iirtithe of danger, knowing, that slu' can bx)k ip us not only to contiiluite toWiuds the con- struction of works, but eflectiially to di'- fend them when euiihtriicled. (Hear, hear.) If-we nIiow Enj^'land that slu- can depend on a ))opulation of lour millions, with a strength wielded fjoiii a cunimon centre, she will be encouraiJted to aid ii* uith both men and uialcriul of war. and will lend us the assi.stanco iiect'.-5sary to protec^ ourselves both now and in' tiiiie tocoin*-. Let nie repeat thou, .Sir, l hut Wero tliert- nothing in addition to the jrreat conrsidc- rations to which I have adverted, f .should go heartily for llusc resokition.s, and I should be disposed 10 overlook msiiiy ine- quahties and some objectionable (eature;> which I see iri the .sclwenve. I do not in- tend to advert in detail to these, for 1 leel^ that I have to consider this question OS a whole, and that unless I see objections to it, so great and nnnierous as to make me vote against it as u whole, it is useless to criticise*that which I cannot mend. The scheme is in tlie nature of a treaty. It will not do to cavil at this or at that j| we — "t 10 i;j«st either accepi it or reject it. (Hear, Jiear.V I see the difficulties of the scheme, and the inequalities of it ; but we muAt not complain if one colony gets a few thousand dollars more than another, or if one colony has to assume more of the debt than another. Unless I saw ehough m the whole scheme to make me vote against, it, I think it would be a mere ^fJ® °^J^""e to cavil at these sipall matters. Because, without the consent 01 all the other Colonies they cannot be altered, and on the whole there is «o reason why the whole scheme should be rejected and these slight inequalities will soon right themselves. (Hear, hear.) There is one thing I would ask the House tp consider (apart altogether from the higher Considerittion of defence; apart Uom the cementing of our union with England, which T believe is involved in the adoption of this measure, and apart Jrom the chance of our falling a prey to the United States,)-and it is* this, are we prepared, looking at Canada alone, to iro back to the p]d state of things of twelve or eighteen months ago ? Are we willine ^o revert to the chronic state of crisis '« which we constantly found our- - selves for yenrs past ? (Hear, hear.) This House and the whole Government had lost ^he confidence of the country, and the r-iOTt lamentable recriminations and ♦Iifficulties existed on the floor of this chamber. Indeed at the time of which J speak affairs Were in such a state as to .-nake every man with any feeling of self-* /espect, dispos'ed to abandon public life ! J think >ve siee in this alone enough to re- concile us to the change, and I believe I should see sufficient cause-in this to in- duce me to vote for a change in oiir politi- cal siystem. The dread of going back to The past, the apprehension lest old nftrtv cries should l)e revived, and the fear lest Die difficulties in which we found ourselves ought be perpetuated, would impel me to vote for the scheme now in our hands. (Hear, hear.) Having said so much on the general }iOlicyof the Union,I might have been .lisposedto enter at greater length into it were It not that I wish to keep faith wjthmy honorable friend from Lambton, out having said so much on the higher grounds which re c ommend this scheme. I will now say a few words in reierenee to the objections which have been urged against its character, viiij—because it embraces those elements of disruption which are to be found in every federal union , That is the objection of many who, while they would be witling to jgo for a purely legislative union, object to one of a federal <5haracter. They see in it that which ° tends toa disruption, and collision withthe Central Government. Now, Sir, I do not deny that if a Legislative Union, pure and simple, had been practicable, I, for one, would have preferred it, but I cannot dis- guise ftom myself that it was and is at present utterly impracticable, and I cannot help expressing my astonishment and ex- treme gratification, that five colonies which hadbeen for so many years separate from each other, had so many separate and dis- tinct interests and local differences, should come together and agree tipon such a scheme. Remembering the difficulties that had to be encountered in the shape of local interests, personal ambition, and separate governments, I certainly am sur- prised at the result, and I cannot withhold from thJB gentlemen who conducted these negociations, the highest praise for the manner in which they overcame the diffi- culties that met them at every step, and for the spirit in which they sunk their ^wn personal differences and interests in preparing this scheme of Confederation. (Hear, hear.) It is remarkable that a pro- position having so few of the objections of a federal system, should have been as- sented to by the representatives of five distinct colonies, which hud herefofore been alien, practically independent, not only of each other, but almost of England, and almost hostile to each other. (Hear, hear.) There had been very much tp keep these colonies apart, and very little to bring them together, and the success which has attended their efforts speaks well for those statesmen who applied their minds earnestly to the work of union. ■ (Hear, hear.) The necessity Hon. Mr. HOLTON. was urgent. : . ' How. Mr. ROSE. I quite understand the ironical spirit of my hon. friend— but the work of confederation was no less one of vital importance to the country. I 11 w words in rererenee which have been tmcter, viii ; — because lements of disruption ind in every federal bjectionof many who, )e willing to j;o for a ion, object to one of a By see in it that which ° and collision with the . Now, Sir, I do not itive Union, pure and afcticable, I, for one, I it, but I cannot dis- hat it was and is at cticable, and I cannot istonishment and eX" at five colonies which years separate from my separate and dis> !al differences, should agree upon such a ■ng the difficulties itered in the shape rsonal ambition, and t, I certainly am sur- id I cannot withhold i^ho conducted these :hest praise for the >r overcame thediffi< m at every step, and ch they sunk their eesand interests in le of Confederation, narkable that a pro- r of the objections of, mid have been as- resentatives of five ich hiid herefofore y independent, not : almost of England, jach other. (Hear, een very much tp part, and very little ;r, and the success their efilbrts speaks n who applied their le work of union. - ►N. The necessity I quite understand y hon. friisnd — but ion was no less one I cannot heln saying that I had no aympa- thy with tne hon. member for Hochelaga (Hon. Mr. Dorion) the other evening in his historical detail uf all the {intecedent difficulties which existed in our political position. That honorable |[jentleman told lis what were the opinions bf this member and of that one at difllerent periods, — cotp- mented on their inconsistency and claimed that he himself had always been firm in his opposition to the project. Well, Sir, I do not care what may have been the views of one member or of another, or how in- qonsisteiit he may have been. What we have to consider is the scheme which is now presented to us. ' Let us forget th^ past ; let us forget former difllerelices ; do not let us revive former animosities ! l«t us consider that we are starting iVesh in life, or as the term has been used, that we ar^ entering upon a neur era of national existence. (Hear, hear.) Let us cast aside past rccriminatiot)s and look at the' merits of this scheme. I have only to say tha|: a man who does ndt chaitge his opi- nion is a very unsafe man indeed to guide the aflairs of a nation. Such a man is like an old sign-post on a road that is no longer used for travel. The sign-post is consistent enough, it remoins where it had been placed, but though a type of consistency it is an emblem of error. (Hear, hiear.) The honorable member for Hochelaga s{K>ke of his consistency nud the inconsistency of others, but he was like the sign-post which pointed out a road that existed twenty, years ago,- but which no one could now pass over. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I think therefore that instead of endeavoring to find objec- tions to this scheme because it does not give us a legislative instead of a fede^ ral union, we ought to acknowledge the sacrifices of those men who came to- gether and preiuired it. (Hear hear.) Whatever, may be said of our desire to get out of our own constitutiunai difficulties in Canada, that objection cannot be airged against the public men of the Lower Pro- vinces. Newfoundland has not been in a state of crisis like us, aiid New Brunswick has been tolerably faithful to Mr. Tilley for the last ten years ; a short time ago the premier of Nova Scotia had a majority of thirty in a very small house^everything the country. I ^ went on swimmingly there, and even Prince Edward Island was not much em- barrassed. A VOICE. It wanted a railway. HON. Mr. rose. Let us attribute no motives, but rather give to every man who has had anything to clo with this measure the credit* of being actuated by the utmost patriotism and singleness of purj^se. Such, I believe is the feelingof nine-tenths — yes> ninety-nine hundredths of the people of this country. What in- ducement except those of a public kind ha,d my houoiiraMe friend the President of the Council, or the Attorney-General West to enter the same government, if it was not with a view to Lring about a union of the colonies? And even if they had only in view to heal the constitutional diffi- culties of the post we ought to be deeply thankful to them. (Uear, Hi^gg.) I stated that I would not criticise many of the features of this scheme ; but there are two main features which to my judgment com- mend themselves toihcattentio* of every one who has any doubts as to the stability bf the system, and which give Us a suffi- cient guarantee,' t!int. guarantee which federal unions have heretofore wanted, namely : that it establishes a central au-; thority which it will n/tt be within the pov*er of any of the local governments to interlere with or rise up against. Itajipcars to me that tkey have avoided the errrors into wluch the Ijramers of tha American constitution not uunatitrally . fell. They have evidently learnt some- thing from the teachings Of the past,jind profited by the experience aflonled In the case of our American neigliliurs.. They have established this central government, giving it such powers and so defining the powers of the local governrnents, that it will be impossible for any local parliament- to interfere with the central power in such a manner as to be detrimental to the interests of the whole. The great ad- vantage which i see in the scheme is this, that the poWers granted to the local gov- , ernnients arc strictly defined and circum- scribed, and that the residuum of power lies, in the central government. You have, in addition- to that, the local governors named by the central authority— an admi- rable provision whiph Establishes the Coft'^ nection of authority between the central "'il rl power and the diflerent localitiesfj you have 12 It- ■ ir ■ 1 . " vrated)in it also the great nnestions of the customs, the currency, banking, trade and "avigltion, commerce, the apppintinent of the judges and the administration of the laws, and all those great and large ques- tions which interest the entire community, and Wjth which the generol government Jght to be entrnstetT There can there- fore be no difficulty under the scheme between the various sections^no clashing of authority between the local and central governments in this case as there has been in the case of the Americans. The powers of the local governments nro dis- tiflctly ami strictly delinetl, and yoti can 'have no assertion of sovereignty on the mriof the local governments, as in the United States, and of powoVs inconsistent with the rights and sc;;urity of the whole coYnmjinity. (Hear, hear.) Then, the other point which commends itself so stronglj' to my mind is this, tliiit there is a veto power on the mirt of the general government over all the legislation of the local parliament. That was a fiMidameutal element which the wisest statesmen en- gaged in the framing of the Americnn constitution saw, that if it was hot en- grafted in it, must necessarily lead to the destruction of the constitntion. These men engaged in the framing of that c'on- stitittibn at Philadelphia saw clearly tliat, unless the itouer of veto over the acts of the state legi.vlatures was given to the central government, sooner or later a clashing of authority between the. central 'authority and the varidns states must take place. What mkV Mr. Madison in refbr- enee to this jioint f i qnote from 7he\ Secret Debates vjmn the Federal Cnnstitu- 1 /WM, Which took place in 1787, and durin'^' wjiich this im[)ortnilt question was con*^ sidered. On the motion of Mr. Pinkiiey " t^t the iXdtiomU. Legislature shall luive " tfie paiver of ?icgcaivmgall Latvs to be . ' jmssed by (he Slate Legislature, which *'lhey may judge improp'er^'* he stated that he considered « this qathkcorncr stone " of t/ie system, and hence the nScessity of re- " trenching Uc State a^pu>rit^s in order to "preserve the good governnient of the " Natwnal Council." Arid Mi Madison said, "theimwer of negativii4 is abso- " lately necessary— this is the onK' attrac- " tive principle ^whic h l y jll rg fajn its " platuu teiU fly from tft^i^rbit$» Now, Sir, I believe this pow;er taf negative, this power of veto, this controlling power on the part of the central government is the best protection and safeguard of the system ; and if it had not been provided I would have felt it very difficult to recon- cile it to my sense of duty to vote for the resolutions. But this power having been given to the central government, it is to my mind, in conjunction with the power Of naming the local goVeirnors, tHe appoint- ment and pi^ymentof the Judiciary, one of the best features of thfe scheme, without which it would certainly in my opinion have been open to very serious objection, (hear, hear.) I will not now criticize any other of the leading features of the reso- lutions as they touch the fundamental conditions and principles of the union. 'I think there has been throughout a most wise and statesmanlike distribution of lo- wers, arid at the same time that those things have been carefully giiarde4 which the minorities in the various sections re- quiretffor their protection a^d the regula-^- tiort of w^ich each Province was^it^uniia* fwrally desiroHsof retainitig for its^i So fhr then as the objection is concerned of this union being federative merely, in its character, and liable to all the difR^ylties which nsiially surround fedtyal govern- ments, I tliink We may lairly considef that there has been a jiroper and satisfac- tory distribution of power, which will avert may of those difficulties, (heiar, hear.) But, Sir, there is another objection made to it and one upon which", from my stand-]ioiiit, I desire to make some observations and that is with reference to the mariner; in which the rights of the various minorities in the Provinces have been protected. This, is unquestionably a grave and serioiis subject of consideration, and especially so to the minority in this section of the Province, that is tlie English speaking minority to which I and many other members of this Hoitse belong and with whose interests we are identified. I do not disguise but that I have heard very grave and serious apprehensions by many men for who^e opinions I have great respect, and yirhom I admire for the ab- s ence of bigotry and narrow'mi n dedneaa m centrifugal f^, and icUluntt thzs^be-iyrhich they have always exhibited. They ■A'. Vl: K 13 ttft^sHnts." Now^ power M negative, us controiring power sntral government is nd saiisgimrd of the not been provided I sry difficult to recon- f dnty to vote for the i power having iJeen jovernment, it is to tion with the power fvernors, the appoint- the Judiciary, one of i6 scheme, without inly in my opinion 5ry serious obj^tion. not now criticize any features of the reso- !h the fundamental )les of the union. ~ I throughout a most le distribution of jk)- le time Ihiit those ?fully gnardexl which rarious sections re- :tion aiid the regula--* •vince was^iot unna* linijjg for itsew. So on is concerned of rati ve merely, in its all the diiA^ulties nd fedtyal goverri- rtay luirly consider proper and sutisfuc- power, which will difficulties, (hetar, 1 another objection upon which", from ire to make some is with reference to the rishts of the the Provinces have is unquestionably a ect of consideration, le minority in this , that is the English /hich I and many Hoitse. belong and I'e are identified. I t } have heard very ehensions by many ons I have great admire', for the ab- ..:_:'./ larrow'mi n dedneaa rsexhibited. They have expressed themselvei not so much in the wtiy of objection to specific features of the scheme as in the \}^ay df apprehen- sion of something dangerous to thcih in it ; apprehensibns which^ they cannot state explicitly or even deViile to themselves. They seem doubtful and distrustful as to the consecpiences, ex |>ress fears as to how it will i|^ffeie,st results. Ue- longing to different races and prolessing a different fiiith, we live near <.'aeli other, we come in contact and mix with each other, and we respttct each other ; we do not trench ujwn the righis^f each other; we have not had those party^j^nd religious differences which two races, sj>eaking dif- ferent languages and holding difl&rent reli- gioits beliefs, might be. supposed to liave had ; — and it is a, matter of sincere grati- .Jeatioiiiaiia^.sa^f^lhaLthi&itate-oiUhihgs- has existed and is now foutfd amongst t^^ (Hear, hear.) But if instead of tlii»m\| confidence — ^if instead of the English- king- minority placing trust in the Freiq majority in the lo<-al legislature, and French minority placing the same tr»ist\ the English mujority in thegeneral legi: latuns no such jeeling existed, how coul^ this scheme, of eonledejrittidn Iw made work successiiilly >. (Hear, hear.) I think\ it cannot be denied that there is the ut-l most confidence on belli .sides ; I feel a»- V siired that otu/ contiileiicc iii the majority ill the local governitietit' will not Ins misr placed, and I earnestly trust, that the con-" fidence they re|HHse iil ns in the general legislature will not be nbiised. (Hear, hear;) T ho)H« that this mutual yielding of confidence will make us both act in u high-minded and sensitive manner when the rights (>f eillvei- side are called in que-i- tion— if ever they should be called iu question— in the respective legislatures. This is an era in the history of both races* ^the earliest plighting of each others ^ faith as they embrace this scheme. It is' remarkable that both should place such'* '^ entire' eonfideiici- in one another ; and in 111 tiire ages our jrosterity on both sides will be abiti to |)0int with pride to the period when the two races had such reliance the one on the othi'r as that each was willing to tmist its safety and interest to the honor of the oilier. (Hear, lieKr.) This mutual conlidciice has not been . brought alnxiit byaiiy ephemeral orspasmo- dic desire for change on tlie part of either, it is the result ot tlie kiiowledge «ach race jiossesses of the (•liaracti'r of the otiierj and of the respect eaoli entertains lor the otlier. (Hear, hear.) It is because we have learnt to res|:e(;r. eaeli others motives and have been miide to feel by experience . that neither must bi' aggressive and that the interests ofllie one are safe in the keep- ii^lg of the otherK^And 1 think I may fairly appeal to thti President of the Council that if during the ten years in A\liich he has agitated the question of Representation by Population, we the English in Lowei- Canada had listened to his appeals — ' appeails- that he has persistently made . with all the earnestness and vigor of hi-s nature— if we-had not turned a Vleaf ear to them, but had gone with those of our own race and our own f a ith, the pe o ple ;. of Upper Canada, who demanded Myr"" " ■j, ■ •^ . *^ 14 •• ehtnge, where, I would oak him, would htLtp been our union to-day f Would not ft fe«lingx>f distrust have been establi«hed between the French nnd English races in the community that would have reni^ered even the fair considcriition of it uUerly impracticable? f Hear, hear.) Would the French (have in tliut case been ready now to trust themselves in the geqerftl le^is- latnre, or the English {n the local legis- lature of Lower Canaoa ? No ; and I E'ray God that this mutual confidence etwecn two races whidli have m hikh and noble a work to do on\ this conttnent, who are menaced by a common danger, and actuated by a common intq^est^mky continue fur all time to come. I prayUmit it may not be interrupted cr destroyed by any act of either party ; t nd I trust that each may continue to feel assured that if at any time hereafter circumstances should arise calcnlated to infringe upon the rights of either, it will be sufficient to say, in order to prevent any aggression of this kind — "We trusted each other wlen we entered thi^ union ;, we feit then hat our rights would be sacred with yoii; and our honor and good faith and integrity are involved in and pledjged to the maintenance of them." (Hear,, hear.) I ijeliove this is an era in our history to which, in after ages our children may appeal with pride, and that if there should be any intention on either side to aggress upoh ^ the other the recollection that each trusted to the honor of the other will prevent that inten- tion being carriM out. [(Hear, hear.) Feeling as I do thus strongly that our French fellow-subjec'ts aire j)Iacing entiife confidence in us — in oiir honor and our good faith— ^ we, the English speaking population of Lower Canada ought not to be behind-hand in placing confidence in them. I feel that we have no reason, as a. minority to feair aggressions on the part of the mojority . We feel that in the past wef* have an earnest of what we ma;y reasonably expect the future irelatioi;^ -^tween the^tworaces tobe. ^"^t although this feeliugof mtUnal cori- ndencfenjay be strong enough in our breasts at this timej^l am glad to see that my hon . friends the Attorney General East, as' re- presenting the Frehch majority in Lower Canada, and the MiniSlc r ,of Financ i e, as rity, have each carelblly and prudently endeavored to place as iundamental cod-> ditions in Ihis basis of union suoh safe- guards and protection as the two races may respectively rely ypon. (Hear, hear.) I feel that it has been care- fully considered and carried out, and with the same amount of mutual eon- fidence in the Aiture working as in th« past we need not have any apprehension in trusting the interests of the two races eitKer in the federal or local legislature. (H»ar, hear.) But although we hero and as mem- bers of this House feel this confiden<^e in each other, no doubt ' thoise who prepared these resolutions were conscious that the powers must be so distributed and the re- servations of power so made as to.commend them to the people of the coimtry at large.' You must carry the pepf^« with you in this movement, for you oanWt force a new constitution, ainew state of political being, upon a peojple,'unles»their'own judgment and their own convictions as to its safety go along with it. Hon. Mr. HOLTON. Hear ! hear ! Hon. Mr. HOSE. You cannot, I say force a new constitution Upon an unwil- ling ])eople, but in this instance I believe a very great majority approve of^ and are earnestly desirous of the change. I know you miist satisfy them that their interests for all t^me to come are safe — that the in> terests qj* the minority are hedged round with sued safeguards, thatthpse who come after us will feel that they a^e protected in all they hold dear ; and I think a few observations will enable me to^how the ' House that that has been well aiid sub- stantially done in this case. (Hear ! hear I) Lookj'iig at the scheme, then, from the stand-point of an English Protestant, in Lower Canada, let me see whether the interests of those of my own race and re- ligion in that section are safely and pro- perly giiarded. There are certain points upon which they feel the greatest interest, and with regard to\,which it is but proper that they should be assiired that there are suffix- cient safeguards provided for their preser- vation. Upon these points, I desire to put some questions to the Government. The first of these points is as to whether such provision has been made and will be car- ried out that they will not suffer at any representing the English sjie^ing, mino4^fure time from a system of exclusion \ ,v. ■ ,-..,x^ ^■■-■■■■■■,:. A- L 16 -- T- -tii; ■Ml refblly and prudently V u iiindamenUl con- 8 of union such isafe- ;ion as the two races rely ypon. (Hear, t it has been care- od carried out, and lount of mutual eon-i re working as in th« ve any apprehension in t of the two races either sal legislature. (Hear, 1 we hero and as mem- eel this coniiden<^e in t' those who prepared re conscious that the iistributed and the re- 10 made as to.commend if the coimtry at large.' >epf^e with you in this oariliot force a new tate of political being, istheir own judgment ictions as to its safety 3N. Hear! hear! . 'You cannot, I say ition Upon an unwil- his instance I believe y approve of^ and are the change. I know m that their interests are safe— that the in- ity are hedged round , that tlipse who come at they a^e protected r ; and I think a few able me to^how the; been weU aiid sub- 5 case. (Hiear ! hear!) eme, then, from the ngl ish Protestant in me see whether the my own race and re- n are safely and pro- ire certain points upon greatest interest, and L it iis but proper that d that there are su£&-> ided for their preser- x)ints, I desire to put ! Government. The s as to whether such ade and will be car- IVom the federal or local Legislatures, but that they will have a fhir ware in the re- presentation in both; and the second is whether such safeguards will Iw provided -, for the educational system of the minority ,in Lower Canada as will be satisfactory to jthem. Upon these points some apprclien- Isions appear to exist in the minds of the l£nglisn minority in Lowor Canada, and lalthuugh I am free to confess that I have inot shared in any fear of injustice at the I hands of the majority, as I consider that the action of the past forms a good, gua- rantee for the future, yet I desire, for the full assurance of that minority to put sonic questiijns to my Hon. friends in the Govern- ment. I wish to know what share of re- {iresentation the English-speaking popu- ation {>t Lower -Canada,^ will have in the federal Legislature, and v^hether it will be in the same proportion as their repre- sentation in this Piirliament. This is one point in which I think the English in- habitants of Lowor Canada are strongly interested. Another is with regard to their representation in the locaV Legislature of Lower Canada— whether the same pro- - portion will be given to th$m as is now 'I^Ven to them in this House, that is to say about one fourth of the Lower Canadian representation, which is the proportion of the English speaking to the French speaking population bf Lower Canada, the numbers being 260,000 and 1,100,000 res- pectively. Now, the spirit of the reso- lutions as I understand them— and I will ^hankmy h for representation ill the Federal Parlia- ment, and to alter Mio elt-ctoral districts for representation in (he local legidlaturo. Now to speak quite plainly, the a|ii)rehen- sion which I desire to say iiguiii I do not personally share in, but which hais been expressed to mo by gentlemen in my own constituency, is this, that with respoot (o the local legislature, it will be competent for the French majority* in Lower C'niind:i to blot out the English S])eaking minority from any share in the representation, and so to apportion the electoral districts that ho English speaking member can be returned to the legislature. That is an apprehension upon which I would be very glad to have an expression of opinion by my hon. friend the Attorney General East. As I read the resolutions, ifthe Local legis-. lature exercised its jiowers in any such ulijust manner, it would becomjietent for the general government to veto its action and thus prevent the intention of the local legislature being carried iuto^_effect ; — even although the power be one wiiich b declared to be absolutely vested in the local Government and delegated to it as ' one'of the articles of its constitution. Hon. Mr. CARTIER. There is not the least doubt that if the Local legislature oi Lower Canada should nppeen protected. [Hear, hear.J I am fully persuaded that in the post con- duct of the nihjority in Lower Canada there is nothing which will cause the minority to look with doubt upon the Ai- ture ; for I will do my hon. friend the jus- tice of saying that in the whole course of his public life there has not been a single act on his part either of executivo,admin- i»itrntive, or legislative action tinged with illiberality, intolerance, or bigotry. — [Hear, hear.^ I say this to express iny belief that in ihe future wherever he has gentleman that in Lower Canada the con- j control there > will he no appearance of stituencies, for the pur|)ose.s of the first bigotry or illiberality, and I feel that the election to the Federal legislature, will re main as they are now 1 ,. Hon. Mr. CARTIER. Ygs as they are now. Hon. Mr.-ROSE. And that as regards the 'representation in the local legislature, the 9ppoTtionment of the electoral districts confidence I repose in him in this respect is shared in by many others in this House and throughout the country. [Hear, hear.1 Hon. Mr. HOLTON. Will my Hon. friend allow me to interrupt him? Per- ha))s it would be well, while he is asking questions -of the government, to elicit an by it will be subject to veto by the general answer to the question I have put once or government. itwicotouching the projwsed measure of Hon. Mr. CARTIER. Yes, in case o( the administration on the subject of edu. injustice being done. (Hear, hear.) I cation in Lower Ciiimda, as it affects the Hon. Mr. ROSE. I have to thank the English sjieaking ininorily. Perhaps he hon. gentleman fbr the manner in which he has answered the questions, and for tho . assurances he has given on these two points — ^itssurances which, I feel persuaded, virill ascertain whether it will be submitted to the HonS(iJ bctbn> the final passage of the Confederation scheme. Hon. Mr. ROSE. I intend to come to will remove some apprehension felt ih the [that presently and, to put aiiuestion to my country with regani to thcni. An hon. 'hon. friend tlieAliomey Ccneral East in gentleman who sits near me [Mr. Francis rftference to thaf^ subject;. What I wish Jones] nsks- me to enquire who is to tiP do now is to point out the objectionisi.J change the electoral districts in Upper|have heard (»u the part even ot jome oi Canada. • liTiy own (rionds to this.'.seJieme — objec- Hon. Mr. GALT. The Parliament off tions which, as f have saiil, are grounded Canada. [Hear, hear.] ion an imdefinetl dread of evil rather than Hon. Mr. ROSE. The hon. gentleman | on anything that tliey actually no^ see wants to know if it is the present Parlia- , obn0^ious in the scheme itself. These ment of Canada; .but I am quite willing, fears I have said are vague and undefined to let Upper Canada take care of itself, [and difficult therefore to combat. If and I think its lepresentatives tire able to 1 go among one class and ask them do so. One minority is qxiite enough for ! what they fear, I am told—" Oh, you are me to attend to at present,. [Laughter.] " going to hand us over to the tender .1 trft^t the Attorney-General East, frommy i <' mercies of the French ; the English in- piittihg these questions to him, will not infer « fliience will be entirely afinihilated ; that I naveijny doubt as to the fair dealing tji a t will be accord e d to the minority by " they will have no power in the commur " nity ; and all the advantages we liave *' gained " by on " own n *« tirely 1 •• ajre yo <' tereit t " Yon hi «'rity of " genera *' govern " the ju< " other 1 " laws r " com me "all the " that C.I ■«■««■ 17- =a,:|9=_Tt.- " ntn(!(t during the pu8t twentyWi ve years i "by our iinjua with the i»eo}»I« of our' "own mce in Upper Canada will \,t' tn-'' '* tjrely lost." I can but artswcr-^" Wliat " njre you nflraid of? Where is tl.' in- «» tereil a/Ji-cting you thiit is iiiiiK?ri !ed 7 " You hiiv(<, in conjuuction with u iituo-i «' rity of your own ructi, jxjwer in tho " general l«!gi)*luture to npjioint the local " governors, iidniiuistor justice' and nurtio " the judgi's, to control tho militia and nil "otlM-r means of defence, and to mjvkr " laws rcspoctinp the post office, trade, " commerce, nuviKation ; and yoil have " all the great and imitortant interests " that centre in tho conununity I repre- « sent—all matters that affect the miuo- " rity in Lower Canada— within your con- " trql ini the Federal legislature. 'T\to " French have surrendered the questions "relating to usury, to marriage ^d di- " vorce oh which they hold pretty strong "opinions, to the Central Government. " What, then, are you afraitt of in tho " action of the local legislature f" Well, I am answered—" AH that may be true " enough ; but we shan't get a single ap- " pointment ; the ftdministration of local " aflfairs in Lower Canada will be entirely ^' in the hands of the French majority, " and they will control all 'the iMitronagc." You say to them again—" Is it the exer- " cise of patronage you are afraid of? Is " not the upix)intment of the judges, the " patronage ol the post officofthe customs, "the excise, the Board of works, and aH " the other importan|.braTiChes of the ad- " ministration, in tlie hands of the Federal " Governthent ? What is there then but " ri few municipal officers to be appointed " by the local legislatures ; and (or the "sake of this jretty patronage are you " going to imperil the success of a scheme " that is fraught with such important oon- " sequences to all the Provinces of British " North America— is it for this that you " will oppose a measure that contains so " many merits, that possesses so much "g6od, and thi^t is calculated toAnfer " sucK lasting benefits upon thesepK*- " vinces, if not to lead to the formation of '* a territorial division of the British Em- "pire here?" Well, these questions I have put, and these explanations I have made, but some stil l seemed to entertain realise to themselves— a dread whieh-to « great ejctent apfiears to be shared by my hon. fViend opjKisite Hlon, Mr. Oorioni in regard to (he general logislaliiro. Well, if we look to the history ot the jHist twenty- five yi'arsand see how \va have acted to- wartls each otliec, I think neither party will have any cuiiso for apprehw»ion. Has there been a single actof aggression on the |)art oi'uiy h^n. friend the Attorney Ge- ntrul Kast oil us-the Knglish mihority, or a single act of aKgreisiofUiUUour pkrt to- war*f *"»lie race to which he Ijelongs t (Hear, bfar.) Has there not beeij mutual respci^t and confidence, and has th^re beea an act on either side to destroy thatf'celingt (Hear,,liear.) I think the past gjivcs as- surance toMis that 110 such difficulty will arise in the future, and that wo shall con- timie to live and work harnioniously together,eaeh holding the other ia, resjtect and esteem. (Hear, hear.) But we are told— and it is urged as an objectioa against the sclieme — ihfit works of im- provement will be obstructed by 'the local goycrnmeiit iji Lower Canada. Now, I think the (lay has lone: gone by wJienacts which \^ere furmerly committed could jiossihiy bejf/(>peated— when, for instance, belbre the l^niun, the work curried on by the Montreal Uarbo'dr. Commissioners could not be proceedoil with because Mr. rapinenu opposed -it. The days of pro- »;;ress and adviincei^jent have come since that timb^ This is^j i^^o of progress, the very- Spirit ol vvirtvTIaPis hostile in th« strongest dcijree to ^Mli a state of things. - It is inipossijile for elmer race to treat the other with inju-^tice. M'heir iiiterests are tCMj nuieh bound up tog|lher, and any in- justice committed by lon6^>f!ouId react quite as injuriously Ui|on it elsewhere ; and I believe that th?^ mutual confidence with which we are going into this Union ought to and will induce us^aH to labor together harmoniously, arid endeavor to work it out for the best. \ (Hear, hear.) I do not disguise from Inyself that the minority in Lower Canada has always bejen on the defensive. That is a concfi-' tion which is natural under the circum- stances ; for we cannot be in a minority., without being more or less on the defen- sive. But I think that under this scheme maae,j)ut some gtu i seemed to e n tert a in the French ftiitiority in th e genoml I c gis - an undefined dread that they could not lature arid the English mihority in Lower 18 ■ \4 ^\^ C*iuuU, Will Iwth lie amply and mitwAo- Unrily prutected. (Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I come to the queation advfrted to hf the hon. member tbt Cliateaiiguav, in Teference to the Education mt'ONiirc whicji t the governninnt lia« promised to liriiig down to the lloiuie. 1 believn thiis in tlio lint time alniost in the history of Ixiwcr Canada— and I call the attention of my hoo. frienda from Upper Canada to the Act— that there haa been any excitement, or movement, or agitation oir the nurt or the English Protestant {wpnlation ol Lower Canada in reference to the commop school eueation.^/Hear, hear.) It is the first tlme~1»- done in the Aiture un- duly to interfere with our rights and inte- rests as regards education, and I believe that every thing we desire will be as freely giV«]i bv the local legislature as it wa* beforenhe Union of the Canadas. [Hear, hear.] Rut from wh<;n(!e comes the prac- tical difficulty of dealing with the ques- tion at the present moment 7 We should net forget that it docs not come fVom our French Canadian brethren in Lower Canada, but that it arises in this way,and siieak as one who has watehed the course of events and the opinion of the country upon the subject, tluit the Protes- tant majority in Unper Canada are indis- posed to disturb the settlement made a couple of years ago, with regard to sejta- rate schools, and rather to nope that the French majority in Lower Canada should concede to the English Protestant minority there, nothing more tliaji is given to the mi- nority in the other section of the Province. But still it must lie conceded that there are certain points where the present edu- cational system demands modiflcation-r points in which the English protestant minority of Lower Capada expect a inodi- fictttion. I would nsk my honorable friend the Attorney General East, whether the system of education which is in force in Lpwer Canada at the time of tho pro- clamation is to remain and be the system of education for all time to come.; and that whatever rights are given to either of the religious sections shall continue to be guaranteed to them. We are called dpon to vote fbr the resolutions in ighO' I b e li e v e w e hav e always had our fair I r i mce, to some extent, of the guarantees to lie gi thereliir take it I the pro with a ' govern r views I in Willi first thji a gooti lysteni, proprieti designnl their tit! dents. person I ship sh( saying I dissentit the pro refereiic Incorpor such tax consider Lower C tain is, \ will be I property more sat in the s money is be left to to indicn should b each ind the powc prorerty i to think I utterly ii extreme could exf ought to appropria Hhese an important whether admin istr dissentieii not be gi whether in some Suite wel iat Cone testants, f of the d] Schools. ■i /. :/ ./ ■/■■ /v 10. la in w) ikr u Uio !untrol them, tnd ev«ry lkoility,for lurntfl (iiHsentioii' m'te (iruinod dv- >n liua tho right hiiiK II JiaMiitieiU tiiir simre ur the III Rntluir toother irti iiittriiction in irgut that ill the K>(lll Mhuwn tU UH, I (losired of the ect U) education I reiuunahl*'» wil- \i6at.) We have rantce of the |nat Mn tho Aitureun- r right* and inte- ffiv«n hy govern nuiit in diH|NiMP<| to mi«et tlii-ir VIP W.1 I. V coming down with a nittaaure m whifli they iimy Ih> cinlNxlied. The first thing r wish to mention haa raiiacd a good deal of ditliciilty in our pnmeiit •yateni, and that i«, wIioiIht npn rimident proprielora ahall huv«- thn m^^nw right ol deaignnting tho cIiikn «»f achobU lo Which their taxes ahull Ikj giveij aa actual resi- donta. That is one twint — whether a prson living out of the district or town- ship shall not have tho amne privilege t.f saying Unit hia taxt'.-i nIiuII Iio given to a dissentient school as if he rmidod niton the pro|ierty. A second i»oint is' with reference to taxes on (he property of Incorporated Companies. As it is now, such taxes go in a manner which is not considered satiafuctory to the minority of Uwer Canada. WImt I desire tV ascer- tain IS, whether some equitable provision will bo made, enabling the taxes on such property to be distrilaited in some way more satisliictory to llie owners—pcrhara in the Name way tljut the government money is. .Snne have urged that it should be lell to the Directors ol such Companies to indicate tho school to which such taxes should be given, while others think that each individual .slittrtliolder shoiddhavei the power to say how the taxes on his' pronerty should be applied. lorn inclined to think the latter method would be found I utterly impracticable. ] confess it is an extreme view, and I do not think we could expecl that. Hut I do think there ought to l)c some more equitable way of appropriating the taxes on such property. Fheae are two points, of perhaps inferior] importance to the third; and that is, I whether a more direct control over the administration and management of the dissentient schools in Lower Canada will not be given to the iirotestant minority ; whether in fact they will not be left m some measure to themselves. I am quite well aware that this is a question, that Concerns both Catholics and Pro- twtants, for I believe that about one-third IIo*. Ma. IIOLTON. account of language. Dissentient on the dis se ntient ach oo lai ure Catholic How. M a . CA WVl K R. There are none r aii'l ift not iirmetit, IhU I I riianra.^ Now with rr^wl I" my liuiio. ' Mtiim thuuf uoc'hhj* rabln (rifliitl OiMii !i whern fhe ninjorily wa» rroh'staiin ^" Ilo-«.MH.'CAll'l'IKIt. The lionornWn tuiMuhcr fiir rhalimiivniiy )iii,<< Ihu lawn ul Luwflr ^^l[l|p>l» '*> his |H)|iriuli< word tn Lower ('a- iliulii of (liisKt'nlifnt. It in uttntcd that when- liie nin|orily is ol' t'ilhcr rt-ligiun, the disHentiPiii uiiiiurity — cithor Catliuiic or Protisttaiit— hnvi' ihi- nghl (o <>stahli«h di'Sst'iitiiHit s<"hno(,s. III ilic citii's tin* nm- jority boing C'uil|iiilics, I hi* disscnti«>ut schools arc I'rotA-Wunt, hiil in the town^ «ntit>nt suhoo Mn. I'M:. Whnt will l>. vision mum', where the jm [trfltly s|tiirs«',,iiN in sonu- | County I Will you allow the minority oC one towiiNhi|i to join willi a nt'ighlH)ring townshi|) /or the jmr|K>se ol" establishing n dissentient »chorfi ti^0u^ dfairi (t«n«*rut \L0. wnmy <• lloniiriibU' IVoiiidvnt of he kiili enough to givn yet m\ say Hull the iirtivisiuns ».r the Soliool Hill relating to I'piK'r Caiiudii liiiVi? not been etinMilrml by the (Kivernmeni. ntKin as u bill is (ranieil, ihere will !•* fly delay in liiying it In-li-re the JIuum*. Hon. Ma. ALLKN N. f sincerely ho|H» thut the (lovernineiit ree|j|i<<|MiNiul tn grunt to the ('ai holies of (f|i|)er ('unuda theAanm iirivileges Ihey have iii»t promised to th« I'rote^tunta of Lowii Canada. Hon. Ita. IIOSK. The manner 'and spirit III which the (iovernment have gi'- ven explnimtions on the subject ought to be 8|\llsiuetory to the people of Lower CanatWi o( the ^role^!ant religion. Tim liberal niniiner in winch they hod been de.ilt with 111 Uie p,i'*t. sfives iis every reason to he com iiui'd that we will ro- eoivo justice. (Hesir ' hear !) I have m liesituti.d to learn thut h« wiJi give all proper^i'oiisideralion lo that financial .luestion, th.' ilistribiittou of the assessment ol comnieicial cotrl|iatJies in « satisfactory manner. 1 hope the Mioi^te of Finance will be disposi-d to g\> fiutber and deal in n similar spirit with the ^n* ■downieht of colleges. Hon. Mr, HOLTO.V. Bring the pres- sure to h(;ar and yon will get it. Now i,i the tini0, before the Confedertition scheme comedo a vote. . H6ti. Ma. ROSE. Well, it happens tlMit my Hon. friend from Chateaiiguay nd myself hold very dissimilar views respecting the importance of Confedera- tion. If I were (fisposed to follow^ such tactics, I might ]K>ssibly profit by his ad- vice. But 1 am inclined to overlook a great ttoa.AMorneY/6enenil lor, lJpj[^ Canada I many things ou which my Hon. friend vrrniiiei IIKK'h Jll iiada loei nu'nl of W««hnv< (iiiherr n>r help proper l« I lis I wn til. Ill our ol Hie en [Hear, hi ipiesti«in> ore eoncj khiit (int being ha L-r»l I'll imr etiiu' Willi l(e, «)( the an out. I wil theiii'y:iui frMll Him; f iir»p (i( tl;nt I Ik." | VJtwi liiiii that it w Hailway i cnormons C'annda at i'P againsi f^rthelif, increase < how it car of Finance case add t expenses t local gove sive than therefore*! moat 18 thf ment. I d add any m attentian \ n)0»t madt member fr we were ] that we 1 colonial iin waa sinpl colonial B Mr. Watki nagement / iy'. ilit that till iibli* (u Cwrii- l^xr.D. rii tii.> rVoriixy (t«ii«>rut iiblc Proiiiitviit of I I'liuilgli tu (ivn Ilnty^ Ilcinci'rtilil" mil iiin, t I'liiiuiily I till' Soluwl Itiil Jit liiive iiQl yi't •uverniiieni. Aio ihrri' will !•* iio ihu lloiiw. f Nincyrely Iio|h» jli<<|MiNiul til grunt ( 'iiiiutia the Auiiin : |iroinjiii>d tu th« lutla. Iu> iiianii««r 'aiitj iriiiiu-nt liavt! gi'- »til)jrot QiisUt tu icojilo ol' Lower t religion, Tim th(>y hail he<>n Sfivci us every hut wv will r«v ar !) I have iw I have Ihll ciw ;uiiiiln sfctiou of lent with list m u liiivecdiitiitence isterut Finunc0, o Attorney G». to leurn thut he iileratittn lo that tribiittou of tlm cotil|iaHi«s in % •|ie the Minister *'il to g^ liutber it with Ihe (Ml- Uring the pres- gel it. Now 1,1 iemtion scheme ell. it happen.1 n Ciiateaugimy issimilar views of Confedera- to follow^ such rofit by his ad- overlook a great would hfnitAl*. for Ihd |uir)M«r ..f MK«ing •0 •in|>«>»tu«t n ni.'iiiiire carnetl «uf. Whrle I hiva Kvery ninriilenen iit thn iirenAnt Go. vi-rniiienl. I (i.,.| Hint w« nm« exiwel «» iiiu.'h jimtien lit ihn hnrnla oftlin In.wer Cii- iiadalocNl I'nrtiniiient ii»| (Wiiri any (iovcni. •""»''«' I'nitedCuniidu that we ever \m\ We have nnver yet \m\ iK-ravu,, („ u,,,^^ to Ihe rol. ,|,uu ini.,ohly..f r',,!,,., ram.du fi'f liel|., iiimI If wt. ever hIkmiKI (h.,.ia u j'T.',icr to.loM.. I linv,. norenM.n f iiiuril «'' 'li.-uimv..rsjusi ujven will h,. c-nniH out. I Will i„nv'*:.y a (,.«• w..r.N roM«-iliii.' tl..Muiri.i,,..ni pr.^viH,.,! I.y my |,„„; ,i,,,,„| iMii H.h: livlniri. (11..,,. Mr. l)..ri..i,J iu (|,o f'i,r^,..,(h,s s,..,..-l, ,|K. ,.ilK.r.n..ning-- tl^nt ilie plan l.„- I'. .iiYa),..!, woliM inili.-l Kreiit hiiiui,i,,| Hiii.Ma ,H,„ Can.Hlu. Mild hat ,t would, tlilrongh the Inl.-rc.lonial Hallway and works of defence entail such • norn.ous burdens u.Kin (ho mople ofl Canada as to iiltijnntcfy l*hd them to rise i|P again.,t and overthrow it. Well now, pr th* life of me I cannot set how it ii» to' locrwse our expenditure. I cunnot see how It can go boyoiul what (I,e Minister' of Finance sfatcl— timt it could not in any case add to the present cost more than the j'xpenses of thegriieral government. The local governmeuts eunnot be more etiwn-i fk-!« for the lienefit of fli* CitndiPI||^ nnilway. ^ Mn. WALLBfiiimi:. r\m ««i Vi wry motive. lloR. ,\la. rlOH^L WeU, dooUny t^^ *ir|ipiJM) that my hon. friMMi the K^tent of till' (•..iiii,.il coiihl l# dun»,r wi, y. U It iMMsiltle , that my hon. uh'%h\ fro«Bi IIm'|tn>lHgrt lMiN as ii.it (.1 Nee through «t lUt^flpt iiN (hut > Tit., argiiuiint wu to jjivt III.. ii .if lh». (»p|H»ne IlailtrujH III this KoiiMe agiiiriai the , raiioi^ Mir it Hoiihliip(H-ur thi ',■ ' ' '. \(' v: 22 ■■ * ' — :- ■ i .^ too much on th« part of my hon. fViend „ from Hochelaga to get up and say in effect to the members of this- House: " You , "know nothing nboiit this scheme; you "cannot see or understand Avhat it really " is ; but my astuteness enables me to see " that it is nothing more than a mer« rail- " way job." [Laughter.] Does the hon. member really believe what he has stated t Does h€ really believe that the whole pro- ■^ct is lot the benefit of the Grand 'i'runk J Wis a most unworthy course for him to pursite to endeavor to bring old prejudices against the Grand Trunk Company, to bear in the manner he has been doing ; prejudices and animosities based ujion Stories that have been repeated until a further reference to them seems almost childish. But it i^ not possible that any honoi'nble niisinber's judgment can be car- ried away by those little appeals to side i»iups, on a question of this im[>ortnnt , liattin-. What does tlio speech "from the tlirt'iic say :— « Her Majesty has had great »tisfaction in givinp her sanctioji to the "meeting of u conference of delegates ^'frum her sevorul North Aniericah Pro- evinces, who, on an invitation from Her " Majesty's (lOveriior-Generul, assembled " at (Quebec. These delegates adopted reso- " lutions having for their object a closer " union of those Provinces under a centra] "government. Tftliose resolutions shall be '"approved by thenrovinciallegistatMres^a " bdl will be laid before you for' carrying " this important measure into effect."^— tLoud cheers.J Th is is the language used y ouir sovereign when addressing the Im- perial Parliament, and are we now to lie urged to underesiiniate the value of the great project by mere appeals to the pre- judices of th« people at large against the tlireatened monopoly of the Grand Trunk J Railway. The opinion of her JMajesty is sFiared in, too, by some of the greatest statesmen of England, whose names are identified with the history of the nation. What said Ltgd Derby in reference loCon^ iederruion ? Does he consider it to eman- ate from a mere clique of railway specula- tors ? Spt- aking of the »elation of Canada tq the United States— and his remarks conje m most opportunately in connection with the observations I madeatthe outset^ speaking ot defending the upper lakes with ajffjied vessels, the noble lord says : " I do /,. "not 4sk Her Majesty's government what " atA]ik they have taken, but I do say this, "thot they will be deeply resjionsible, if " they are not fully awake to the jwsition " in which this country is placed by thes« " two acts of the United States. If the pre- " iionderating forct? iipn the lakes shouKi "be in the hands of the Uojted States, "it could only be used for purjwses ol V aggression. [Hear.] An attack oil the " part of Canada U|)ou the United States "is a physical imijossibility. The long " frontier of Canada is |)eculiarly open to "agression ;'and assailable as it is by land, "unless there be a preponderating force " upon these lakes, you must be prepared " to place the Province of Canada at the " disposal of the Tnited States." I jirelfer the appreciation of Lord Derby, and hi^ opinion of the slate of these afliiirs to the ironical choers or opinion of my honorable friend from C'iiuteaiiijiiay. I place what the noble lord has said as lotheJpon- federation are so many children— that we are deceived with the idea that we are going to es- tablish a great nation or confederation of Provinces, and that there is nothing ot that kind in it ; and he appeals to pre- judices formerly entertained by members on this side of the House in order that he may injiiice them to withdraw their supmrt from the important measure which the Government has hrought down, and which the greatest statesmen of England have stamped with their approval. [Hear, hear.] Perhaps the House will indulge me if I read a few more words from the discussion in the House of Lords upon the sneech from the Throne. Earl Granville, the President of the Council, said : "And « what ought to make us still more proitd "of the good Government which must " undoubtedly have prevailed among Us " is to find that our North A"meriean Colo- " nies, in expressing their wish to continue " their Connexion witlwhis conn "adopting the now institutiops-thcy^iave « been considering with sdch calm and prudent statesmanship,yhave thought it "desirable to keep as pltfee as possible to " the constitution and institutions under "jvhich we so happily live." [Loud cheers. J He does not belittle Uie men Avho have sacrificed so much, as lion, gen- tlemen opposite are inclined to do. He does not sneer at those m^Iio have gone mtothe matter with the honest view of car- rying it out ; but on the contrary, he praises their " calm and prudent statesmanship," and says that it is a matter of which they may feel proud, and T say that those who have taken prt in originating and bring- ing this project to the present advanced Stage, may well feel proud of their work when the greatest statesman of the world commend it as a thing of wonderful perfec- tion, considering the difficulties with which it was surrounded. And these opinions were not confined to any one party, but were uttered by both Liberals and Conservatives. Lord Houghton said in the course of the same debate : " On the other side of the Atlantic the " same impulse has manifested itself in " tlie proposed amalgamation of the North- " ern Provinces of British America. I "heartily concur with all that has been "said by my noble friend the mover of " this Address in his laudation of that pro- " ject. It is, my lords, a most interesting " contemplation that that project has " arisen and ..has been approved by Her ♦' Majesty's Government. It is certainly " contrary to wfiat might be considered " the old maxims of Government in con- " neption with the colonies that we should " here express— and that the CroWn itself "shaiild express satisfaction-^it a mea- " sure which tends to bind together in " almost independent power oUr colonies « in North America. We do still believe *» that though thus banded together they " will recognize the value of British con- " nection, and th«t while they will be "safer in this anuilgamation we shall be " as safe in their fealty. The measure " will, no doubt, my lords, require much " prudent consitlerutioh and great atten- " tion to provincii-.l susceptibilities. It '• "will have to deal with several British Provinces, but with a race almost foreign in their habits and origin. I do hope " it will uUimatoly succeed, and that/the " French Canadians forming part of this "great integral North British American "empire will have as much security "and happiness as they can attain." Those who say that the people throughout the country are opposed to this measure, I am satisfied, know very little what the sentiment of the country is. I believe there is a deej) rooted sentiment of appro- bation of the steps that have been taken.., I know that those who are perhap most fearful with reference to it, and whose interests arc fierhaps most in jeopardy— ' the English speaking minority in Lower Canada — have considered it carefully, and with all their prejudices against it at the outset, are now warmly in its favor. # y ^J^ ... 'i^^ u t: 24 :'?•:.■ =3= Lf?" ♦ l»'t'ciijarly of those who have shadows us may burst iii full furv onoi.r SSh T ^nf •"' t'^W '" '^^ comraunitv j heads, and thosJ whKe tt ScSn of .W^fi«,. 'cp'resent-the grea and varied the destinies of this cduntry. 6uiht to £ and ,„ b, c„, off. L U we,., &,„.£: { KraSS" SriL' '* i "tj isure, and endeavor to make it work har njonjously. [Hear,henrj. And I believe, Mr. bpeaker, that we Iiave not a day to lose in carrying out the project. I be- lieve the question of preparing for the defence of this country is an imminent one. [Hear, hear]. There is not, I repeat, f.'^fy "' ?? •>"»' t" '^e lost, and I believe that jf this country is put into a proper condition of defence the Union will be the best safeguard wo can have. If our • 11 r>;"^"» "> \-ivu iiitvc. . II 0(ir In 1118 nnni r>nt iiii causing them to S3 1 down k)n onr frontier and spend a siimiHer ijefore tiny can hope to make any inipressiun on the countryv vve Will then be in a pretty good condition to defend ourselves. I trust that the blessings of peace may long bo ,,rcsc-rved tons, that thegoodfeelingwliicb ought to subsist between Canada and the lXiiited''t;tates • may never be intcrrupted-that two kin- dred nations which have so many ties— so many interests, and so many associations in common, may never become enemies, and I thmk that we ought to make everv honorable concession in order to avert the ca,am.ties of war. No man can appreciate the blessings of p, ace more that I do and no one is more alive to the horrors of war , than I am. But at the same time we wZ? 'fT^f^ from ourselves, tbefact that withm the last three or four years we have several times been seriously threat- ened. It 13 not in the power of any msin to «ay when the cloud, which sodarKly om- lie regarded as hfiancially injurious to any jiarticular suction . There can be nothing fairer to my mind than that in lorming a piirtnership between these five I rovinces the amount of the debt should be equalised at the time the r«rtnership is formed, and that> \vhi,tever one is short should be made up by an annual grant to* the other, not an increasing one but a fixed sum. TWre can be nothing unfair 1 111 the application of such a prinfciple as debt, whatever it may be, must be met by t^axation," and," says my hon. friend, "the Lower Provinces are less able to pay taxation than we are, ,and therefore the great bulk of the tax- ation will have to come out of the inha- ' bitants of Upper and Lower Canada,and rwrticularly the merchants of the citvof " Montreal." Well, Sir, is not this just ^ is It not fair that the richest portion of the commuiiity should pay the most taxes » iJoes my hon. fridnd mean to say that those who consume most ought not to pay most to the revenue ? And if the people of Lpper and Lower Canada are larger con- sirmers than the jieople of the Lower Pro- vinces, ought they not to contrit/ute ac- cording to their consumption, to the reve- nue ? « But, oh,'\ says my hon. friend, the people of the Lower Provinces, eet their 80 cents per Jxead, and we get no more, although we are much larger con- tributors to the revenue." And, he adds, .li'.. / a , . -■-— -^. ^ ■v- . . .-■:■'- — - r' ■\- ■>'" ■ — _. _-.-, ,„.„„. .•_,;.^_. ---■'- --■- -■■•: ■-■^^--^■■-- * *■ 25 I full fury on our '6 thedtrection of ^ry* ought to be ■hem lies to place Im^l^'fevent. We osjtion We have back — we must aiti to my mind n undertaken is ill regret it in )ut to add one ' HHjIogise to the ! already occu- ' ) I am afraid Jssed the limits There is but done. Myhon. orion) says that n us financially; . But he has feature this can ly injurious to There can be 1 than that in veen these five he debt should B ftartnership is ■ one is short innual grant to* »g one but a nothing unfair a prinfciple as Brest on the must be met ys ray hoH. inces are less han we are, >lk of the tax- lit of the inha- !r Canada, and i of the city of not this just? portion of the most taxes ? I to say that jht not to pay the people of ■e larger con- e Lower Pro- ;ontrit/ute ac- , to the r^ve- hon. friend, 'rovinces, get lid we get no h larger con-> ind, he adds, " the amount to be derived from the con- « tributions to the revenue by the Lower « Provmces will be very inWnitesemal." But granted, for arguments sdke, that this ta so, I Uunk we ought not to Undervalue m this discussioii the collateral advantage which the contro^of the fisheries wiH give to the united government in the union to be formed . Remfember that these lisheries will form an important part in the; future negociations with the United States in re- ference to reciprocitjt, which Upper Ca- iiada attaches su much importance to. Hence Canada in thijj union will have the control of the jwlicy in regard to the con- cession of fishing rights to the American fcrovernment. And it is In this Respect that the future commeroial |wsition of the '3!*' Canada farmer and the Lower Ca- nada ^merchant will be enhanced by the fact that the concession of the fisheries will procure lor them advantages in other branches of trade ; for I repeat that the future jxilicy will be directed in a irreat measure by the influence wielded by Ca- nada m the Conlederation. (Hear, hear.) Aly hon. friend, however, goes on to say, " toit you are about to incur a large amount of debt. Lower Canada entered into the present union with a debt of only $300 - OCO or $400,000, and the united debt «!f the two Provinces is now $67,000,000." Well,^Sir, this is quite true. But Lower Canada, when she entered the union had only a ixxpulation of 600,000, iind Upper Canada a jiopulatiou of 400,000. There was not at that time a mile of railway : now there are upwards of 2,000. (Hear, hear.^ There was hardly a light-house, and see how the St. Lawrence and Lakes are lighted now from Ljike Superior to Belleisle. (Hear, hear.) She went info, the union without a canal, and she has I now the finest canal svstem in the world. (Hear, hear,) She had no educational system, and look at the «tate of education amojig us at the present time. (Hear, hear.) She was without a municipal sys- «m, and look at the municipal institutions Lower Canada as they are to.be found to-day. (Hear, hear.) She went into the union with the seigniorial tenure grinding, as it were, the jieople, and Weighing down Iheindustry and enterprise of the country : and has not the Seignioral Tenure been abolished 1 [Hear ! hear !] Does not my Hon. friend sde the advantages of all these reforms and improvements f And does not my Hon. firiend know that of the $62,000,- 000 which is regarded as Canada'is propor- tion of the joint debt, $49,000,000 and more have been actualiy expended in and are now positively repi'esented by public works of that value. - Hon. Mr. BORION. Not in Lower Canada. T Hon. Mr. ROSE. M y Hon. iriend says " Not in Lower Canada. " IJut does he not see that the chain ol" cwals which have been conslrucl»d to brini^ down the trade of the West to Moutreal and Quebec, IN ti lienelitof llic most, siilwlantiaj kind to Lower Canatia ? [llenr ! hear !J What, but these very faciliti«'s have increased the shipping ol Montreal some five hun- dred per cent within the last lew yeius ? Does my Hon. Iriend nienn tosay tliat the connection of the (.nind Trunk with the Western niihvayN of th«; United States is not a benelil to Lower Canada ? Does he mean to assert that iFie SL'des constructed on the Ottawa, so as tt^rinarticUlar spot or locality benefiteiHhaf particruhu place, it was thrown away, /Is this the polii-y which he would like to see intro- duced into the new renimr f Hon.Mr. CAIITIKU. Wc have, too, the Victoria IJrid 1^0. . j Hon. Mr. ROSE. Vcs, wu have alsc I the Victoria Bridjv.v And does iiiy lion, i friend think that, \v.' would luty* had tlii> [ great work had the vinw.sjiie enunciates been acted uprtn ? lto\. .1. S. MACHOXALD. Leave us as Jive are. Hon. Mr. Rose. We cannot be Jell as we are. 1 should l)e content, Mr. Speaker, were 1 to live li)r 25 years after the uiiion now contemplated is consu- mated,! should be content to know that I had taken a humble part in bringing it about, if the prosperity of the country during the next 25 years under it were only as great as during the 25 years that have past. [Hear .'hear!] My Hon. friend seems to think that the Intercolonial Rail- I , 26 /■■' I)' J. .L way wan undertaking of doubtAil advan- tage, if It is not one of positive useless- ness. But does my Hon. friend think we can safely continue in our present posi- tion of commercial dependance on the United States T Shall he be denif the unfortunate incidents of our pbsition which we cannot get jrid of. It will be a costly undertaking ;\bHt it is one we must make up our minds to pay for, and thte sooner we set about i> construction the better. Hon, Mr. cUrtIER. We must al- ways expect to Wry for what is good. Mr. WALLBiklUGE. But when it in iiecess ty, and the date of iu r*nncfJ„„r!r .1 ui . . "<*'™" *<> show how mdis- eannoL Sfely^^ rnSLed ' whv"^ ^°t desirable those commu- to such an extent that von nonM *,i* i reconsjructed a^ one union, or split up into a bale ol (ro,,ttiuVhe Zt^, TifhJUi^TT T" <'*?"^«"n*-^ We know something 6f the [Hear, hear]. 'great prodnctivenessoftheWesteFn States! 27 onld Hot send id — you could Eo^e of goods I would have itock of goods, dependent on in8nri1ag,and ie tne sale of ent, whether et for it then now a market igland as the latever sacri- iction of the nust have it, for us to rer I of isolation B unfortunate which we be a costljr e must make 1 the sooner the better. Ve must al- ls good, t when it is ?. ' . J just done, y honorable f how indis- losecommu- ary it is that Wo one can eighbouring. ey will be split up into 'hey have a *fpre them, natter what jonstruction ^rmoiis load id that they difficulties •n into the rity as for- he natural ' ■unless we yywe can, 5, secure a rn. Unless, a cease to hose roads outlets for !m tp good ng 6f the em States. There IS m fact no limit to that pro- duotiveness, and the necessity of their haymg another outlet to the sea, without being altogether dejHjndent upon New York and Boston, is to my mind very plain. This necessity of the powerftil Western interests must have a controlling influence in the commercial |)olicy of the United States ; and if we can direct the trade of the Western States down the St. Lawrence, by giving them additional fttcihties. It cannot be doubted that we sMll find therein a great element of secu- ''fyior4bfe future peace of the' two coun- ties. This House will remember the resolutions a couprle of years ago of the States of Wisconsin and Illinois in refe- rence to this question. These resolutions contam«ifl one or two facts which are of the great^^t importance, as shewing the necessity existing in the Western States for a channel of commuriieation through the St. Lawrence. The memorial founded on It stated these facts. •« With one- " tenth of the arable surface under cul- " Uvation the product of wheat of the «' North- Western States, in 1862, is osti- " mated at 150,000,000 of bushels ; and " from our own State of Illinois alone «« there has been shipped annnallv, for the " last two years, a surpluso^ food sufficient « to feed ten millions of peot)le. For «' several years, past, a lainoutaWe waste "of crops actually harvested lias occurred " m consequence of the inhability of the " railways and canals leading to the sea- *' board to lake ofl'thtj excess. ThcNorth- « West seems already to have arrived at " a point of production bevond any pos- " sible cajiacity for transportation which " can be prm^itled, except by the great " natural outlets. It has for two succes- « sive years crowded the canals and rail- " ways \yith more than 100,000,000 of bus. " of grain, besides immense quantities of "other provisions, and vast niimbors' of « cattle andho-is. 'Iliis increasing volume *' of business cannot bo maintained with- " out recourse to the natnral outlet of the " Lakes. The future prosperity ol" these " States, bordering oii; the great Lakes, " depends in a great measure on cheap " transportation to foreign markets ; hence "they are vitally interested in the ques- " tiwi of opening the St. Lawrence, the "great natural thoroughfare -from the , . • ■ ■ f"^ . . . ■■-''"' " Lakes to the ocean, through and by " which the people of England may en- " large their snpiilies of breadstuffs and " provisions greatly exceeding the quan- " lity heretofore received from the United "States at one-fuurth less cost than it has " heretofore been obtained. From actual " experience derived from shipments of " Indian corn from Chicago to Liverpool, " it is shown that the freight charges often 'Sjover 7-8ths of the value of the bushel " of corn, at Liverpool, more than one-half " of the cost of wheat is also often con- " sumed by the present very .inadequate, "means of transportation. The European " customer for our breadstnlTs determino " their price in all our markets. The siir- " plus of grain derived from the North- " West is 50 oj- 60,000,000 of busheU " beyond the demand of the Eastern " States, and when that surplus is carried " to their mai|:ets, the 'foreign quotations "establish the vuliie of the, entire har- " vest. The interior ofNoijth America is "drained by the .st. I^jnvrence, which " furnishes for the country bordering upon " the Lakes a natmjil highway to the " sea. Through its ilceji channel must jwss the agricultural productions of the "vast Lake reffion. The commerciiil " spirit ofllieaire lorbids that international " jealousy should interfere with great " natural thoroiiiiilifurOs, and the (Jovern- " ments ofareat Dritain and the United . " States will appirciute this spirit and " cheerftilly yield to its inftuence. Thegreat " avenue to the Atlantic fhrongh the St. " Lawrence being,onceoiiciif(l to its largest " capability, the lawsof traVh-, which it has " now been the policy ortlu- 1 cderal fJov- " ernment toobstrnci, will carry the Com- " merce of the North- West through it." I say, then, give us the Intercolonial Railway, give us the command of the St. Lawrence, give us a (Kivernment by which we can direct our national iiolicy, give iw the control of the Fisheries, and wo will 1)0 able to secure such reciprocal trade with the United States for Upj^r Canada as it requires. But if we are disunited— if the Lower Provinces retain the control ol the Fisheries, ftnd Canada has nothing lo give in exchange for the concession she seeks from the United States in the way of conimercial intercourse, in breadstuffs and otherwise— I say that in such a case • "■ ■ -r ■ . ■ '■- -'— • -^ ^ ■- !** .M this WO are very tniicH^^amnered in- deed. I have detained fhA House very much longer tliaii I intendedl and I fear that I have exhausted tiie patienpe of Hon. members. fCriosi of > No r no '" and«Goqj,."J I have fallen into the' mine error which hus been nttrilu.tcd to' others. But there is a sijigle observation I desire to offer in conclusion, and 'it has reference to the demand inaie by some lu.n. members, that there shou d be a dis- »«uution before the rjuestioa isVinally de-' Cided. Well, Sir, tiniopresNos. Wo have : and I cannot reiwat it {..o often,>.ot u day' or an hour to lose in inideitakinir these great works of defence, whi4 may be ahsohitely necessary to our exislenoe: w,SS^;f^;.leer""^^^^^^- ^- l^:Sn^^^' ^''-/-k-o which the^T ^^^^«^^ID(JK. Wht^re are ^HoN. Ma. ROSE. Boen^ any hon. Gent email know, or if lie/¥oes know aught he tosay puhliclyM^they arc ta be T All we know s thatf there must be a large outlay on , llie defences of the I country>of «4.ich theiX^ bear their sMre and tjTe Imperial Govern-' ment will bear its 4are ; but how do I I,- x •" ?«iire , Dui now do I know, or ought any' h(i,. Qentlcman here to encjmre. ,i J ,lid ^^th^r these works! — ■!""»-»■' ^ d o the question of an appelu to the peoiJe, I , wonld just ask, IS there a single 'm^mhe Of this House who does not already know what IS the feeling of his constit.feiits on this question f who is not aware whether m1L^^^ "'^ "»'"" «' against the union? IS there a member who does not know what his constituents d^ire h respect to it and who is not himself pre- pared to take the responsibility of liis vote ? I beheyo there is not. And does I any Honorable Gentleman think that thero was to be a dissolutio^i and an appe&l to the Country on this questio^ elf £',l^^"'^' "^r^ tlie^scheme itscj that there would not be iiidividual predilections, j^ersonal questions 3 ' local questions affecting the elections far more than Confederation? And Zid iJ men^Tr ;?"omalous to elect a Pari ia- ! ment, the ftrst vote given, by which wouldbe its own death f Th^iiole bifr^ ne« of the new Parliament ^oSd i^ ;/ »■ agree annihi so a no absurd not c( of ihe sufficif the mi calm c are, aij preciat do Hfll gained impeW an ele constiti ?■■'".■-■■• '^^^t* f; ' « '' :^vy"w^ < ns tnucli a ne- IOIIS6 against means to say ontinuance iff people would " give a hiin- iwiinds, I can little or the Bopio are pre- tiio extent of iefend theni- loar hear.] I , liiug of mili- with a head it there must 'ucted to en- Jtendtohave^ vvell us the iM ask him s uuide |)art ered part of r?: ■ t think the art of the ition is pro- such point whole best 1 considera- ns, is indiso > I believe bear the I regiird to ? people, I. c member sady know tituents on e whether gainst the does not d^ire in luself pre- ity of his And does link that J and an question,- le scheme udividual 'ns, and tions, far would it a Parlia- y which fole busi- ^ Hid be to agree upon a Conntitutiou which should annihilate itself. There is something so anomalous, almv«it unconstitutional and i absurd m •uch a step.ilmt 1 think it coultT not. commend itsUlf to the common sense of the country. 1 think w.- ur.- already sufficiently aware of what the feeling— the mature and disiaissionate (eeliug— the calm conviction and views of the country are, and that t«»o after an intelligent ap- preciation of it in ixll its hearings, and f do npt think there is anything to bs^' gamed, but on tlu- contrary much to bo imperiled, by the exix-nse and delay of ' an election. I know that in my own constituency— not Hie least important in' rte Province— this conclusiun has been come to, not from any incoiisitlcrate love of change— not from any ardent and toni- porary impulse or vagin- aspiratiqns to bo part ill nanu' of a I'lilure iialit»ii,at the risk of iniperilling ilicii- rtiations with Kng- laiid or of injury to llu'ir interests, but I beheye the scheme is stamped with their approval, because tlieii reason and judg- ment convince tluiu. that it is m)t only desirable but a necessity of our condition. Xllear, hear.] I a^Miiii njiologise for the time 1 have occupied iTie attention of the House, and exi)ress my tliankS for 4ho kind consideration lion, inembers liavc extended tu me. [Loud clieers.J '-" t ,''.'■' c • ^:.:\'-'- . , . ' ■' ' .t- ■ 'A ■■■■■■ ■ Vv ■4 '-. ;. . .■;.";• t-'\: --*- f ■:::,.: ■f'^- ■^ M ■ ■ ■ .- ■V'* ■:, ♦;„; .' 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