IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I UitM 12.5 125 i 1.4 1.6 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation :i>' iV iV :\ \ * %> Fro.1T S tbekt, March 16th 1836. Dear Sir ;-«• AIy»»'lf and my coileaigucs liavio^ felt it our duly to tender our resigna- tions, and the Lieutenant Governor hnving beeo pleased to Mcce|)t then), I WHited on his Excellency to request Wxa permission to make public in the usuhI parli:i.iien(ary way the steps which led lu tlie lonnation uf his Excel- lency's late cabiiiei, and the circumstances which occasioned its dis^uhitio:. — to which His Excelltjucy in the lMnHi graciously assuri:i£f me that his confidence in itie personally was such thai he pres-nted me with a carte blanche lo stale ih'f whole (Vmu Uie cumiiiencemeut <'t the negotiations to the ucceptani e o! our re- signations. None of the members of the late Ptovincial Administration having the liorior of a seat in the (Jon)i)ions, Iknow of no way in which such mforn^Aiiou can be mote respecitnily cunnnu- nicated than in a letter addressed lu you for ihe ffUirpose of bein;:^ read in your placi", orol ihe |i<>Ui>e being put in possessiou t>f hs con- tents il) whatever other way your more iuti mate acquainiance wiih paihauiuiKary forms may suggest. 1 th«^relore beg leave to state that his Ex- cellency iiavingdone me the hoiior to send ioi Uie, explained tlie position in which he found himself placed on nssinning the govern neui of ihe { r»jviuce, a:id declaring himstif mosi anxious to do the best he could to insure to the province good and cheap goverinnent, ex pre.-sed himself most desirous that I would afford him nry assisiancc by joining Iws Exec utive Councti assuring me that in the event ot my ucceUin;i to his pjopmal 1 hliuuld enjoy his full and entire confidence — I informed his Excellency of my extre;!'.e reluctance to agaiu e.Tibark in public life, and proceeded to stale that notwithstanding such rtrluctance, aud r'servin^ to myself (he option of declining to accept the seat which his Excellency had tendered to tuc on private grounds merely. 1 yet felt as his Excellency had done me the honor of sending for me I would not be per forming my duty to my sovereign or tlie coun- try if I did not witii his Excellency's permis- sion explain fully to his Excellency my views of the constituiioii of the province and the change ne( essary in the praciical administra- tion of it particularly as 1 consniered the delay in adopting this change as the great and all absorbing grievance, belore which ail others in my mind sunk inio insignificance, and t' e remedy of which would most effectually lead, nnd that iu a coustilutionat way, to the re drest of every other real grievance, and the finaliy putting un end to nil clamor about ima ginary ones; and that these dr>8irable objects efficiently repreeentiogandurjting myTten Wi Excelleijcy declaring thmkt^o^rttlM at ftll tiiiies be o|>en to me. and that he shi be happy to listen and give his most sen consideration to any subject which t inigl; any time think It imporiaut to lay before hii Ills Excellency always reserving; the rigi; decide for him-elf; His Excelleucy nt same time remarking that he had no objec to the Councilf each continuing to entei and urge his individual opinions, as the i nions of one would be neutralized by t) of another. I then informed His Excelk that upon the principles which 1 had opt to him there were two grounds upon whi could not consiitently comply with His Ex lency's wishes — lirst, that no provincial miniiiiratiou w »uld in my opinion be cap of affiu'din^ His Excellency that assi-sii and support which his governn)ent wouli fjuire ui.li ssi sufficienily posse sed of the ' fi leiice of the Provincial Parliament to ia majorities in it,, and that 1 did not feel that confidence could be obtained witl further assistance — and secondly, that though in private life I was on perfectly j terms with all the gentlemen who comp* His Exce loncy's Executive Council, ani most friendly terms with one of them, ypt as public men J had in them no confidi whcilever and had formerly when in pi life denounced them and those with w! t' e I acted as poliiic;iily unworthy of the ci d n 'CO the country, & then fire thai.I felt I could not take oftice with them. At lei rfter a consultation held by His ExcelloB permission, with Dr. Rolph and my faih< finally, on the two grounds above nientio declined to accept a scat in the Execi Council. . it. .. It in pDpor that I sijould herQ romnrk , hou^'h t!.a--e |irinciples wcrefu ly op-ne- His Exirolloncy at my firrtt inierv;t\v »ioine [ oi'tht* convorsa'jons above adverted to (iho I litrlh vo none lii;il could bo considered essi al to th : full expoition of liie principles tl a -Ive ) !>a.-sed during lliC6tib,s»quent iniercc \vai> h I had the honor of having witb thr I t nant Governor in the cuuibo of ihe n ciaiion. H.ivng boeu nubseqiiently again e.^nt fo HiK Excclh.'Oty and rcqiueted to elate i explicitly what the assis^iune was to whi iiad before alluded. I r. p'i^d that I cons d tlie RgsistaMco of Dr. Rolph, Mr. B, dwell Fatiier snd Air. Jiunn in the Ex cnive C ci ni(L->i desirable and Ihnl of Dr. Rolph a: i>olut«;ly necP.^Hary to insure «hat publ c c dijnce III His Excclloncy's Government v out wh ch I was convinced IJis Excclli ^'ith the best intoniions in iha world w fail to accompl sh those d sirablo objects w he had in view. Ilia Excellency at':er ai tt-rview which ho informed inn l-e htd Willi Mr. Bidwell again Ojumed the n^jrocin by a rcnrrwed tender of a Seat in the Ex ict Coun^^nvinoMi^jv^lu^jO me lime to un igandur|ting myTiew*-— ring thsA bi^oor* theuM me. and that he stioiiM nd give his most seriouf lubject which t misfbt »t >riaut to lay before hira— fit res«frvinG; the right to j His Excetleucy nt the that he had no objection 1 continuing to entertain al opinions, as the opi- be neutriiiized by those nfornicd His ExceUency les which 1 had opened grounds upon which 1 comply with His Excel that no provincial ad- 1 niy opinion be capabU; ceMcncy tliat nssisiance is governnienl would re- tly posse S'-'d of the con- cial Parliiinient to insuie that 1 did not feel thnt Id be obtained without >nJ secondly, that al- 1 I was on perfectly good jntleraen who composed cecutive Council, and on nth one of them, yptthal I in them no conBdence "ormerly when in public ) and those witli wlioni lly unworthy of the confi- fc then fire "thai. I teltthai e with them. At lenj^rh eld by Hii Excellency's Rolph ;md my faiher, I ounds above mentioned, scut in the Executive hould hf^tn renmric that loswcrefuly o;i-:ie!, U* fifrtt iniervfW some pars bove adverted to (though, iild bo considerf'd essenii- >n of t lie prmciples ibein- Llic s(;b,stquent iulercourse r of having with the LifU- ihe cuuibo of ihe n<;g>.- [j'lently again s-'nt fi>r by rcquteted to Ktate more jS8j!?«;;jte was to which 1 r p'i^d thrtt I cons dcred llolph, Mr. Dtlweil, my I in the Ex cuive Cuun- Ihnl of Dr. Rolph as ab- ingiirc (hat publ c confi- iicy'i* Government with- ivinced His ExciUcncy MIS in the world would Be d 'sirable objects whicii ExcoUency after an i; • 'orn)cd mo I'O hid hud n opened t!ie Ufgoctntjoa if a Seat in the Ex iculive llio ^ome litn(^ to uiuler me, the informatioo which it was necMMi^ tK« "^ fmbtie eh tild be la posemaiua o^*, «oakl h(i»"^r^«-<^>^- communicated consistently with the respect ^ dne lo a communication from the reprcsenla- " tive of the King— copies of this note a ;d of my ackowiodgsmeot uf the receipt of it I subjoin. — These oegotiations {wrtly retarded by mj ' ' absence in the country, were in pro^rress from the 8th until the 20th ulfino, on which day ^ we were sworn into offic»». Having thus explained the circumstances which led to our appointment, I have only lo ad I with respect to our retirement from office, tha* the |*rinciples, the facts and the vicwm which were afterwards embodied in the formal representation of the Executive Council were, .,,, (at least ten days before beinx; liiu* f*ormally *" preietited to His Excellency for cor.s'.deratiou) at very considerable length, amicably (Jjscus- ; sed between the members of the Executive Council and His Excellency, and aft»'rward« * continued the sul)ject ufdi liber; te considera- tion among the members themselves, for ano- ' ther week, when on the fourth of this month :he formal representation alluded to, wrs una- nimously adopted and presented to His Ex-> ' cellency. With respect to which, I shall only add, that the course of local (Government and tho reasons for it set forth in the representation from the Council, were thus officially sogges- „ ted to the more form^il corisidciation of His Excellency, from a si>K'>;im conviction th;«l it ' • was the raly system which would operate ''fur " " the good of the King and of th's (*rovince, »* and lor the peace, re^i and tranquility of the ♦' same." To this representa' ion, the Executive Coun- cil, on the following Tliursday, b^ing the next '* reguliir Council day, received Im Exc;?llency'8 ' ; r-ply- ' <: ' In this reply His Excellency having intima- ^*': -';. ted his wish that "should the Execiiilvd'v.t^v- t^louncil be of opiniou that the oath they ha;l takrn required them to retire from His Excel- lency's contidcnce rather than from the princi- uu pi 'S they hud avowed, they would imt on his account for a moment hesitate to do so,"— ' t'.ie members of the Council on Saturday last ^'' waited on His Excellency and tendered their fslgnations, which His Excellency was gra- > ci msly pleused to accept. With rpsi)ect to which 1 would here (ak« the lii)frty of remarking, that having 'n th« representation alluded to but reiterated in a more formal manner in conjunction wiih my colleagues under the saiction of tho oath which I had in the mean lime taken, thesamo principles and opinions which His Excellency knew ine to etiiertain previous to his honour' ing me with a scat in his Council, however desirous I might be of giving my best sup- port loHis Excellency's government or of not hastily abandoning the itnportant duties of my situation which had been must unwillingly as* v» ■'**«-'?': V' 4'. ^TUTTHiu in a cuii>uiuii..nj ^^.[\, la u^^ji^^^^^mm^^rmmmmmmmm die«« of every oiher real grievance, and iLc riiral!y putting an end io>'ii ti.itnur nbout imn- ginary ttav»; au'J that tltese tlt'siraMe o^ject«i cuuld ihu;* be acconiplohvd wiihuut i the lc:iiil intrenching upon (iie justl and liec'j^sary prerugativesofthe crown, whi<-ii 1 consitiereu when adminisiered b) thu Lieutenant Guvern- ur through the medium of a i'rovincial Miutit try responsible to the Pi ovincial I'ariianient, (o bean essential part uf the cuiisiiiutiwu of the province. That iheite opinion* were mA hasiiiy Ibrmed — that they were, on ihe con- trary, those which I had imbibed from my father who though now for some years as well as myself unconiiccied with public life, had formerly held a much more ition wliich they hold in tlic public fidence, the country I am persuaded caum to appreciate. Tiiid renewal of the negociation was I ver ultimately closed by my again finally < ning to accept ofiic*; in consequence of fii cel'ency not feeling himself justified in co tinnr to tLe removal of those gonileram W-To already in th-* (Council. Upon this Ills Excellency sonl for my P t » w :otn ho make a aimilar tender of a S< tho Ex'^cutive Council, & his fullest coijfi( ill the event of his accepting it — and 1 an thorised to say that Dr. Baldwin on that ot 1 infonutd His Exct Uency that his view principles were simi ar to thost winch t ad already (ully laid before his Exc<.l]ent?y i and that ho felt it impossible to take ofli conjunction with the throe gontiernen who formed his Excellency's Executive Coun. His Excellency then sent for Dr. Rolj; whom he made a similar tender of 2tis < dfiice — Dr. Uolph having obtained his E lency's permission to consult Mr. lih xMr. Dunu, my father and myself, it w the course of that uonbultation presHed upc thai as the principle of rcdponsibiftly alll Io:ijf before the public, had niyer yet been upon, and that taking it for grauteij. [as i but justico to his Excellency to (iiij iht Excelicncy although mistaken in hid vie the Constitution of the country, might y sincerely desirous of goV'Tiiing accordi that Constitution, and tiiat in that case a would be found necessary was to convinc that the views and principles which I had ei to htm were just and constitutional, to tlieir adoption, or the procurement of his loncy's influence to obtain their adopiioi thai noiwitiislandmg what his Excellenc aaid with respect to the opithous of one m 01 the CC'Utcil t)e:ugiieufral zed by those ( t!ior which appeared to arise more from i of 8iifRci<'nt practical acquiiniduce wi working of the political machinery of g m*^nt, which time and oxpi ri«;nce would flanly correc*, than from any other ci would perhaps not. bo pt rfonning our d His E.vcellency or the country wf»ro we his having gone tliu» far to meet our viev e nitorly to refu.so all concession on our T.) this le 8on;n,j hiving civeii a im onii'il I')'- lo Ind Ii*:d M »»j»;'r.ed l!iC n»'tjrjCinUOii i a Sen' \u »he Kx ;culive llie ^ome lime lo under- lie was prepurod to affjrd Dr. Kolph »iiid Mr. Da;in II Ijavi! tin olijtCtiOli lo j>» II Ilia Exceil"iit y'8 petmi.-*- w.thDr. Rolph.Mr. B.d- nd I fuL'l It due lo the two ortunity of nialing that 1 .surancu ot their most cor- lel coni^iOi..;d of Dr.Rolph ^', and ihe cxjiressiou o: ilie present conjuncture ol ug taken into tiie Cabinet r urgr'd — wliich disinter r part so conaistrn* with ey I. old in tUo public con- am persuaded cannot fail e nogociation was liowe- by my again finally decli- n consequence of His Ex- iinself juatiticd in conseii- of tijose geiuleratn who Council. Ejllency sent for my Father iimilar tendcT of a Seat in il, &L hiS fullest coitiidencn xepiing It — and I am au- )r. Baldwin on that occasi- lleiicy that his viewt; and ir lo tiios^ wiMch i ad been foro his Kxcdlent'y by- npos.^ible to take office throe gontlemou who then cy's Ex'cutive Council, len sent for Dr. Ilolph to iinilar tender of his confl- iiving obtained his Excel- to consult Mr. Bidwell, er and myself, it was in ibultation preeued upon me of reriponKibiJiity aliliough r, had mver yet been acted g it for grantmi [as it was xoellency lo diij ihut hia i mistaken in hii) views of he country, might yet be »f gov. Tiling according to id that in that case all that Bsary was to convince him rinciples which I had open- ind constitutional, to insure 5 procurement of his Excel- ubiam their adoption, and r what his Excellency had the opinions of one member neutral zed by those of ano- 10 arine more from a want 2al acqu^inunre with the ;ical machinery of govern- id oxpi rifjnce would neses- 1 from any other caust? i »o pt rfi»rining our du'y to je connlry were wo alter ? far to meet our views per- il] concession on our pai'. ' h ivin^i aiven a most re- ji i,.,i.i \r\vm ii'i I.I 5ffii.? niy i.cJi! «nfP puit t(» His lixrellcncy's novorninent or of iit-l hastily abandonin:; the important duties of my situation winch had been most uiiHiinngly as* sumed. I could not far a inoin< nt hPHitalo when tlic alternative presented to me was fh« abandonment either of my priuciples or mj place. II are the honor to be, &c. ROBEKT BALDWIN. Pktcr Perrt, Esq. M. P. P. Copy. Government Hovtc, > Feb'y 19. 1836. ( Dear 8ir: I have great pleasure ii learning thiit you, Dr. Roiph, and Mr. Dunn, accupt the invitation I have made to you by joining the Executive Council. The confidence I shall repose in you «i*I be implicit, and as I have no prelimimiry con- ditions to accede to or require from you, I shall rely on your giviug me your unbiassed opinion on all subjects respecting which I may feel il advisable to require it. •» >- tliR prompt adoption of a responsible INoviu- ci:»I Atlm iiiBfration uoder the King's Reprc- ^entaiire tlir question might even yet be set^ al re<«(— iinrl in reply to an objeciion of his Ex- cellency that the a'.ioprion of such a course would be phcing the Lieutenant Governor in a poMition nimilar to ihut of the King which v»a>< inconsistent with the (act of his responsi- bility I explriinsrj that as far as regarded the infernal affair* of the Province the ;^:euienaut (Jovernor was in point of fact as far as this Prtjvince and its parliament wf re concerned as completely irresponsible as the Kin^ef himself, as there ceriamly neither existe*!, now in my opinion ought coexist any legal or constitu- tional means of calling him to account in this country for any act of His Government. — That his rftsp«)nsibility was io tlie Kinj; and Parliament of fiie <;mpire, and w.is perfectly proper and fiecessaiy («ir the preservation »'f the paramount authority of the mother coun- try and the protection o( her interests in mat- ters properly and constiiuionally belonging to the exercise of that authority, — But that what the constitution required was that there should be persons within this country itself who could be miide responsible to the provin- cial parliamertt here lor tlie administration of the eternal aft'airs of 1 he Province. To ano- ther objection of His Excelleiicy that the adoption of my views would deprivt; the Lieu- tenant Governor of all power, and convert him into a c_-,)her. I distincily denied any such as a consequence of my principles, as I fuliy admitted the Litulenasit (tovernor to be con- stiiutionally clothed as the Royal Represen- tative, with the same powers within the Pro- vince with respect to its internal affairs as those possessed by the King himself with re- spect to the affairs of the eiripire at large, which appeared to me to be all that he could desire, and at all events all that the constitu- tion had given him. That he had always the same constitutional rijilit to accept or reject the advice of any of His Executive Council- lors, and that as in Enghnd the only alterna- tive for them was to resign when they and the Lieutenant Governor differed on any point which they conceived of Hufftcicnt importance to call for such a step — in which event the L eutenant Governor was perfectly free to call to his Council when he pleased. His Excel- lency very candidly declared his entire disi-ent from such views and opinions; he, neverthe- less, with the most gracifnis expressions of sa- tisfaction at the very full and candid manner in which I had opened them to him, renewed his solicitation for my acceptanre of a seat in the Executive Council, suggesting as an in- ducement for siicb acceptance, the increased facilities which by my place in the Executive CouQcii would b« afforded towards tke more u,i( jii>tico to liiti Lx oellcncy to uli] Umi luti Cxcflicncy aithongh mistaken in hid views uf I tiu! Constilntiod ot the country, might yet be ■mcerely desirous of gov- r.'ing accorditi^ to that Constitution, and that i:i that ca»e all that would b« found necessary was to convince hnn that the views and principles which I had open- el to hini were just and constitutional, to insure tlieir adoption, or the procurement of his Excel- lency's tiiflucnce to ubiam their adoption, and timl nolwitiislitndmg what his Excellency had said with respect to the opinions of one member oi the CC'Utcil being neufral zed by those of ano- ther which appeared to ariwo rnore from a want of sufficient practical aequiinidiire with the woikingof lite political machinery of govern- ment, which lime and nxpi ri<;nce would nesei?- sjinly correc', than from any uther cause i vvoufd perhaps iioi bo pi rfttrming our du'y to His Excellency or the country wsrc wo after his having gone thus far lo meet our views per- e nntorily to refuse all concession on our pai*. To this ic.8on;nj^ hiving given a most re- luctant consent. 1 empowered Dr. Rol, h in accordance with tiie course deemed by him most respectful to His Excellency to staie to the Lieutenant Governer t' at I was willing f with His Excellency's permission to reconsi- lier His Excellency's proposid and toconsicUr the negotiati* n reopened up(m the footing on wliicii it i^t'iod previous to its having been last e'o^ed with me — To whicli His Excellency having at once acceded and the negoii tion havinjf been thus reopened : after some furilier consultation upon the subject with Air. Dunn, His Excellency was finally informed that Mr. Dunn, Dr. Rolph and myself had, though re- luctantly, consented n compliance wiih His Excellency's wishes and as a mere experiment nnd one wli ch we feared would lail, to accept seats in His Excellency's Executive Council wrhout the reiirement of the three gentlemen who .vere already members of it. ATerwards on onr all waiting on His Ex- cellency previous to our being sworn, I point- ed out and insisted upon the necessity that lest compromise of principle might be impu- ted to us in consequence of the course wc had taken which in the public eye must necessari- ly appear equivocal, some announcement should be made of the unfettered terras upon which His Excellency was pleased to receive us into his confidence, which at His Excellen- cy's suggestion, was finally arranged to be in the shape of a note to that effect, to be address- ed to me (as the person first sent for) by His Excr? 1 ncy and t f which I was to be ar l.berty to makf^ any use that T might deem necessary or proper. Which note, was, at my request in accordance with the gracious permiision which i bad received, read publickly by a member of each House of Parliament in his place; thiv bem^ the only niannef ih which it appeared to .J-,.., •r"l.