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1X71'.
REPORT
OF THE
((
BETTER TERMS" DELEGATION
OF
NEW BRUNSWICK,
1871.
REPORT
OF THE
"Better Term«" n
''' Delegation of Kew R.
^^i^w Brvnhwwk, 1871
^'^''"^^^f^^y^^^HonoraUe LEMUEL, rr
from" YoV'^eetU/ ^00^''.,^"^ U.BKKsra.Ko had tho >.
<>«a^a, to confer with L T'^'' ^PP^^ntment as dI ! ^^"°'' *'^ '"^^eive
"•object of the claimrof ^^" ^^^"^''able the Privv Co. P*'' *° P''«««<^<i to
P«''«uant to information "'"^ ^°"««'J to receive fi. ^^ "^°«t ^on-
Thej immediateJj tranl;;. ^ ^ ^° """"^ to
f^l^ime of I^ew Bru' w t""" "PP°^«tment, and set^ '''?'' ^'•^' "^ ^^^'^^^
They have the honorC!!., . ^«r],ament of the
a« roiiows:^ " "^ -^^-^ to Four Excellency a copv of .K
^ """P^ of that Letter,
, 1871.
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FREDERICTON, New Brunswick,
2nd October, 1871.
To The ITonorable Joieph Howe,
Secretary of State for the Provinces, &.c. Ac
Ottawa, Canada.
Sir,—
You are, no doubt, already aware, that at the last Session of the Le-
gislature of the Province of New Brunswick,
llESOLUTIONS
were unanimously passed by the House of Assembly, affirming that
" Whereas the Province of New Brunswick accepted the Scheme of Con-
" federation in good faith, and distinctly on the terms fixing the rights and
" claims respectively of the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia and New
*' Brunswick agreed upon by their Delegates and approved by their Legis-
" latures, and ratified by the Imperial I'arliament by " The British A'orth
*' America Act 1867;" and, in the opinion of this Honorable House, the
" claims and financial status of the Province of Nova Scotia in the Dominion
** should not have been improved without at the same time granting and
" securing to this Province a proportionate advance ; and by granting to the
" Province of Nova Scotia increased subsidies and more advantageous terms
" without increasing the subsidy and improving the financial terms secured
" to this Province, the fundamental provisions of The British North America
" Act, and the solemn compact entered into with the people of New Bruns-
" wick, have been re-opened and materially altered ;
" And whereas the Province of New Brunswick is therefore justly entitled
" — and should respectfully demand — to have provision made for it, to the
" same extent and val • , effect and amount, as the better terms so granted
" to Nova Scotia are in excess of those actually provided for and granted to
" the said Province by The British North America Act ;
" And whereas also the terms granted to the North West Territory, and
" offered to Newfoundland and British Columbia, are proportionately largely
" in advance of those given to this Province, and appear to have been com-
" pleted OH a basis entirely different from that on which the Scheme of Con-
" federation was arranged and agreed to ; and the arrangements entered into
" with this Province, subjected to the terms subsequently made with Nova
" Scotia, and oftcred to British Columbia and Newfoundland, are inadequate
" to meet the actual and pressing requirements,— and must, in the opinion
" of this House, fail far iu arrear of the future exigencies,— of this Province;
« therefore
2
- rlf f 7h ?"* '^ '" *^" '"T*'''^'« ''"^J^' «"<^ «l'0ul.l 1.0 u part cf tl.o fl.vorl
poll, y ot ,1k. Government of this I'n.vincc, to prc«s hy ojy .nu.tUuUnu^
' jans ,M.o„ tlK. (Jovon.,n,.nt an.l |.aHia,nent of thin Don.i ion. tl.o i '
" r Z Zkl "'•"'" "■'"•' ;"f '"'"^ ^'* ^^^^"^^' ^'^^^"^ *-•- under r
i./*//.vA Aor/A J ..na, .1,/ ; un.l ai.o, an advance upon ti.o tern.s oriL^inallv
gnu.to. to tins Province to an full an extent as tlH^in.-reaHcl snbli';' ^
better terras Hul.equently grante.l to Xova Scotia are in excels oth"H,
^/;.n*mvl..7. -IJourmds oj House of Assembly of N. B. mi,pp. 153, 195.
The following RoBolntions were also iinaninionslv carried l.vtl.n Tn • 1'
tive Council of the Province dnrin. the nan.c ^c^^^T ^ '^'' ^'^"^''^-
- Whereas nt a Conference of Delegates for the Province of Canada Xova
"Scot.a, nnd^e^v]{r^n.^vicIc, held at Westminster P-ihu-e Ii; 1
;; Decen.,,er the .4th, 1800, it was resolved that thril,:! ^ " Sw ;t;::'
v.ck be.ng such as to entail large inune<liate charges upon cod
revenues, it was agreed that for the period of ten v..-,rs fmn, I n .
*' the Union should take efleet, she would re i c a , , " " "'""p
;Bixt, three thousand dollars per annum.--wlirw ' ' i^^i^r^W
annual subs.dy o eighty cents per head on her population, and ftv thou
sand dollars for the support of her local ijovernment • '
'' AncUchereas it appears from the Public Account's of the Dominion of
Canada for the year ended June 30th, 1870, that New Brunswick ^rXed
o the Donun.on m the sun. of five hundred and seventy six thous n d wo
.youn Ammca Adim, shall draw interest at the rate of iive percent ner
annuri., and shall he deducted from the Provincial Subsidy, tl ereb X
cing the same nearly thirty thousand dollars • ^
" And whereas the financial condition of this ProvinPA i« .., v, .x. . ■ ■
;; high,, dosir,.b,e and expedient .„a. oJloZ'Z:.^^^^t:Z
ubs.dy at y««( ,,„id .0 Kcvv Br„„s„ick, i„ conBoquc,,™ „ " ■ „/
n was deemed just and expedient to add to the sums payable to the Pro
u.ce of Isova Scot.a under Tke Briiisk Korik America I/l807 ! theriTo"
" of slxfv tW t. "' iTt" '^'^"' "°"^^' '^''' '^' «''^>i*'-«l '-allowance
ofsxtyth.ee thousand dollars mentioned, is entirely insufficient to meet
the large numedmte charges referred to bv the ConfenM.ce
^Zv^T'il ^^^''.'?^' '™"""' of <^«bt-seven millions "of dollar^with
\Mtn tbe heavy liabiimes she incurred in Public Works ^vl,in^/
« the property of the Dominion. ' ''^"'^ '''"" °o^^
. JXew Biunsw^ck, in consequence of interest accruing on her Public Debt
((
f
'♦ dno o.mftidoratlon sliould ho ,i;ivon to tho propriety of plncing her in tlio
" sanio position a>* tlio MnrUimc Proviiwc; of Xovu Sootiu, in rogard to tho
" nniuuiit ot'dolit with which she cntoiv.l tho I'liion.
•* 4. Jicsofni/, That an nthlitional siil)siily, itrojiortionato to tho sum allowed
*' to Nova Scotia, under tho provisions of tho ahovc recited Act reiatin<r to
•' Nova Scotia, slioukl he also nllowcd to Xow Brunswick fron> tho Domiidou
" Treasury. "—[./omi^//* o/the Lrr/islatuc Council of S. II 1S71, pp. 21, ijQ.
Ininiediatoly upon tlio passage of the Itcsolntions recited, they were pro-
flontod to His Hxceiiency tho T/n-ntenaMt (Jovernor of Xcw Urunswiclc, " with
♦' an huniMo Achlress, praying tnat His ExceMency may l>o pleased to causo
" such stops to bo taken as nuiy give eliect" to tlieni.
On tho second .lay of Juno last, the ['ndcrsigned had ♦ho honor to rccoivo
from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of Xow Brunswick in Council,
appointment as Delegates to lu'oeocd to Ottawa (Ui tho subject of the action
of tho Legislature referred to above,— and also generallv to consider tho
abstract right of this Province to JMtcr Tmns as a Member of the Dominion,
—and to submit for tho oonsidcra.ion of His P:xcellency tho Governor Gene-
ral in Council, a statement of the present position, and an o-Mmato of tho
probable future exigencies of tho Province,— in the light of the Act of Con-
federation. "^
TFIE NOVA SCOTIA READJUSTMENT.
It may bo desirable at the outset to aflirm that, in the execution of the res-
ponsible trust confided to them, the Undersigned do not conceive it to be
their duty to present any thing in the nature of complaint or grievance be-
cause BdUr IWms have been conceded to Xova Scotia. If, upon a recon-
eidorution of the financial branch of the Scheme of Confederation ami tho Act
of Union, it appeared injustice was do'te to the sister Province, or that tho
original terms concluded (o her were insufficient to provide comfortably and
efficiently for tho public services customarily provided for, and at the'samo
time to proceed with tho development of tho resources c.-mmittod to the care
of tho local Government, no objection to the readjustment need bo started,
whatever considerations nay have been urged on tl'ic subject of the inadvisa'
bility of reopening the question, and whatever objections may be raised as to
the terms of tho final result. For, it having been established, both by tho
positive action of tho Canadian Parliament, and the official decision of the
Crown, {see Lord GranvUle's Despatch) that it falls legitimately within the
prerogative of that Parliament to reopen and rov.djust the Scheme, the Im-
perial Act to the contrary notwithstanding, it could* serve no good purpose to
proceed with any argument on that point. Tho Undersigned, however, feel
called upon to refer to these matters, that it may distinctly appear of record
that, in their presentation of the case of the Province of New Brunswick —
and in their institution of " comparisons" between that Province and X^ova
Scotia, or any other portion of the Dominion,— and in their allusions to the
Accounts as they exist between those Provinces and tho Dominion,— and to
iho " Correspoudeuce and Negotiations connected with the uflairs'of Is"ova
Scotia "-they are impelled by no nnfriendly spirit It is tLefr cWre in this
t'hT"^;r!'''^"'^^"''"^ nny opinions they may have entertainec whi e
thc^ Negotuition." were pen clinch-simply to ascertain, by legitimate com-
pansons and eonsu eration., how far the Province in wh;se'intereat ZyZ
HtaZlT "l /"" : "^^^^\^— -'^^ P-"t of view-from a Domfnic:;:
SC/-^^;Mrtit\uior""'^ """"^"^^^ *^ NovaScotia,-to^c...
THE SPIRIT OP THE NOVA SCOTIA NEGOTIATIONS
iJv^ ^^t'"^'^;^^^' ^' '^''y P'''>«*^«'^^ ^vith their enq,nries, will therefore take
the hberty to refer to the " Correspondence " with Nova Scotia, as laid before
the Dommion Parliament.
When the Premier of Canada, nnder date of the 6th day of October 1868
opened the Correspondence with the Hon. Mr. Howk, arfd refe ng to the
Despatch of the Duke of Buckingham to Lord Monck under date ot"4th day
of June preceding he remarked that the Duke of Buckingham " expresses
a eo:,hdence," which the Premier declares to be well founded, " that it vvil
^^ be the care and wish of the Government, and of the Parliament of the
;^o""';'on, to relax or modify anj arravgements tvhich may prendice the peculiar
" interests of Nova Scotia and the Maritime portion of the Dominion:' And the
1 remier proceeds to say, under the same date :^
u " ^" this point I can only repeat what I stated before the Committee, that
the Canadian Government is not only ready, but anxious to enter upon a
;; frank and full discussion of these points, and are prepared, in case the Ires-
^^ sure of caxation should be shewn to be unequal or unjust to Nova Scotia, to relieve
^^ that pressure by ever>- means in their power. They are also ready to dis-
^^ ciiss any 1 inancial or Commercial questions that may be raised by the
Nova Scotia Government, or yourself, and the Kepresentatives of Kova
bcotia to the Parliament of the Dominion. * * * * And I now
*' reiterate the assurance I then gave, that the Government here ivill consider the
^^ question not in a rigid, but in the most liberal spirit, with a desire to do even more
than justice, for the sake of securing the co-operation of the people of Nova Scotia
in the work of the new Constitution. We will enter upon this enquiry when-
ever it suits your convenience, and the Canadian Government engage to
press upon Parliament, with all the influence they possess, the legislation
^^ required to carry out any Financial readjustment that may be agreed upon.
It is so obviously the interest of the Government and Par-
liament of the Dominion that the Union should work satisfactorily, that
the Nova Scotia Kepresentatives may rest well assured of every suggestion
of theirs being fnlly con8idered."-[iV^om Scotia Correspondence.
These eminently correct principles the Undersigned desire shall be applied
to the case of the Province of New Brunswick ; not that they seek "more
than justice, but simply that liberal and just consideration which shall
secure a willing continuance of that cordial - co-operation " which the people
ot New Brunswick have ever accoraed to " the work of the new Constitu-
tion, and at the same time maintain to them "fortunes adapted to the
exigenciesof their stations."
< )
Mi'
( >
.-5
NEW BRUNSWICK BEFORE AND AFTER UNION.
It may not be out of place at this p„int to remark, tliat tlie Province of
New Brunswick, by popular vote and in good faitb, frankly accepted tliat
Constitution at a tunc when she was, as will hereafter appeaV, in a poHitioti
to conduct comfortably the atHiirs of her Government, and fully meet the
requirements of the public service, under lier then cxiscintr relations. The
Undersigned do not claim that when New Brunswick entered " the Partner-
sliip," as it is called by Mr. Auditor General Langton, she was not actuated
by a desire to better her condition, or that apart from such a purpose she
would have embarked in the proposed venture. But they do claim that
New Brunswick was largely impelled by a consideration of the Imperial and
Canadum policy of the day,— the declaration of the British Government by
the pen of the Duke of Buckingham, that " the measure is important to the
interests of the whole Empire,"— and by the anxiety of her people to con-
solidate under one form of General Government the British North American
Colonies, participating in the traditions and enjoying the protection of the
Mother Country. When it is remembered, also, how much at that time
depended upon the action of New Brunswick ;-that His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor of N i. Scotia had declared, that the previous adverse
vote in New B-unswick hau " effectually dismissed the sulyect from discus-
" sion in Nova Scotia, because no Federal Union of Nova Scotia with Canada
" was feasible so long as New Brunswick declined to form part of such
" Federation ;"-[Z>c'52x/fcA of IQth April 18Go,-]-t]mt the Hon. Dr. Tupper
has admitted, that " lying as New Brunswick does between Nova Scotia and
" Canada, rendering union with Canada impossible without the concurrence
" of New Brunswick— the consideration of the question was postponed in
" the Legislature of Nova Scotia, on the ground that immediate Union was
" then made impracticable ;"— [i/o??. JJr. Tapper's London Letter, 1866.]—
that New Brunswick was financially and constitutionally prosperous in her
isolation ; that her people wore contented under the existent form of Gov-
ernment; that she enjoyed all the privileges arising from Responsible Gov-
ernment and an independent Legislature under theBritish Crown, and was
comparatively free from many of those political disturbances, "dead-locks"
and crises which were of frequent occurrence in other Provinces; that the
proposition for a General Confederation of the Colonies was submitted to
her, ILord Monck's Despatch, 30th June 1864 ; and Minutes of Ex. Council
Canada, 28rd September, 1864,] and not sought by her, and was accepted in
good faith, with many objectionable features, by a process of " compromise,"
lAiiorneij General MacDonald's Speech, Ontario Legidature,-] and at a time
when she might have largely dictated her own terms ; and that, " in view of
" the Resolutions passed at the Quebec Conference in favor of a Confederation
" of the British North American Provinces," the Charlottetown Conference
" dscided to postpone the consideration of a Legislative Union of the Mari-
time Vvovmc<is;''— [Proceedings Ch. Coif Srd Mv. 1864,]— and when to all
these grave considerations is added the fact, that the people of New Bruns-
wick have ever been anxious for the successful operation of the new Con-
6
Btitution-it is thought ^W Brunswick may most confidently claim at the
hands of the Domunou Government and Parliament, the largest and mosi
hbend d,scnss,on of her case, present and prospective. Xow, n Jtvv tl tandi .g
W o Zm' T': 1 ""r Brunswick,-speakin. by the unanimouf
rVo H. In ^''^"^''^7^ !»^^ Legislature and by the Press of all shades of
political op n.on,_are deeply impressed with the conviction, that BcUer Terms
t7it"L"L-:^:rr''"^'"rt'r' '^^ *'^''^*' ""'---es-ns are mi
to It, the Local Government will be unable to carry on public affairs nearly
as comfor ably and efficiently as before Confederation,_to provide for serv c^
customarily provided for,_and foster and develop th'e internal indns ri^ nd
re ources committed to its charge. But more than this : they will be com-
pelled soon, and long before tne temporary subsidy of $63,000 is withdrawn
to resort to a system o^ Direct Taxation, unknown to our history, repul^anJ
o our people, and against which it was claimed in 1866 Confederation vvould
be a sure barrier and guarantee. Thus will be absolutely negatived the
reasonable expectations of the People, and " the earnest hope" of ihe British
Government " that the arrangements may not be of such a nature as to in-
crease, at least ,n any considerable degree, the whole expenditure, or make
^^ any material addition to the taxation, and thereby retard tbe iniernal in-
dustry, or tend to impose new burdens on the Commerce of the Country "
{Mr Caudwell s Despatch ^nl Dec. 1864.]-Indeed we may feelingly make
the language of the late Finance Minister, Sir John Rose, on x\ova Scotia
aftairs, our own tcr New Brunswick " disclaims any desire to seek financial
concessions which are not warranted on grounds of strict justice, or anv
modification ot the original terms of Union which would place" New
Brunswick " otherwise than on a footing of equality with the rest of the
Dominion, or beyond what would enable the Province to meet the expen-
diture indispensably necessary to carry on its local atfliirs ^oithout hacL a
recourse to a system of Direct Taxation, new to its inhabitants, and to wLh
neither of the other Provinces is required to subject its people."-[Nova Scotia
Correspondence.2-And that ihe importance attached to the matter of Taxation
in relation to Nova Scotia, may be appreciated, the Undersigned present the
lollowiug Extracts relating to that point, seriatim :—
Sir John Rose said-" It is further urged, that notwithstanding the increase
on her burdens, the total amount received by her from the Dominion Tre-i
;; r"7' "^''tlT' \''' ^''"'^^-^"^•^^ ^^'^-^^^ of Revenue and the Assets reserved
to her, full far short of what she formerly had, and are less indeed than is
" nccessaiy to carry ■ n the Government, and provide for the local services
-which the Constitution has assigned to her."_[iV. .Sf. Correspondence-
From the statements thus adverted to, it would seem to follow * * *
" 6th. That the local sources of Revenue at present possessed by Nova Scotia
u j,,« ,n„ioquatc to carry on the services devolving on the I'rovince '•-Ubid
Mr. Langton said-- The final point which is discussed in Mr. M'Lellan's
" Letter, IS a most important one for Nova Scotia, and is indeed the basis of
the whole question between us, viz : has Nova Scotia the means ot carryino- on
« the necessary local expenditure, without having recourse to direct taxation
i
••H
ti\ !4
I
( i
" or some other means of raisinc^ the requisite revenue, over and above what
" it will have to contribute towards the General Government."— [A'^, S. Cor-
respondr7ice.-\ ^ * * " Tlie statement appears to me to be conclusive as to
" the impoiv I lity of Xova Scotia carrying on its ordinary expenditure under
"the prese-i. terms of Confederation, without resorting to direct taxation,
" or throwing tlie burden of Education and local works, partially at Ieas+'
'»' on the Municipalities. It is true that this is ah-eady largely done by Canada
" proper, and that without the Municipal .axes its local expenditure could
" not be kept up to its present amount : but a A'ova Scotian may well answer, that
" their Provincial revenues were enough for their wants in this respect ivithout hav-
" inrj recourse to IJunicipal taxation/'— [Ibid.
Before leaving these points, the Undersigned cannot refrain from referring
to another remarkable and very significant observation in one of the letteiS
of Sir Joiix, and which they beg may be applied to the propositions and
statements which they have the honor to submit :—
" It is," said Sir John Rose, " proper to state that the gentlemen engaged
" in the preparation" of the review by the Dominion officials of the Nova
Scotia claims, " icerc instrucial, as the various features affecting the results
" came up, to deal with them all, not tcilh the aim of endeavoring to prove the
" equity of the existing arrangements, but rather in a spirit of critical examina-
" tion, with a view to discovering in wliat way the several incidents mb-ht
" possibly be unfair to Nova Scotia. Thai duty, I believe, has been faitht\dly
" performed:'— INova Scotia Correspondence.
There is. Sir, a singular fact which has strikingly impressed itself upon
all who have carefully investigated the subject, apart from Constitutional and
Commercial considerations, and regarding the Financial position and pros-
pects of this Province. That whereas Upper and Lower Canada projected
the Union when their finances were manifestly in an unhealthy state, and
their political machinery complicated and disturbed ; and Nova Scotia, after
a severe contest, and a subsequent readjustment of the basis of Union,
accepted the Constitution when her monetary position was even w^orse than
thai of the old Provinces ; and that whereas Ontario and Quebec now enjoy
a surplus in their respective Treasuries, represented by millions of dollars,
and Nova Scotia has succeeded in all her demands, including the Province
Building claims, and attained ample provision for her local sen-ices, and the
prosperous adaptation of the new order of things to her condition, and to ward
ofl then impending deficits aid taxation : Ne •/ Brunswick alone, which was
m easy circumstances in 18G6— politically quiet and commercially hopeful
notwithstanding a long term of depression in her mercantile and mechanical
industries-parted with her form of Government, and transferred her most
valuahle and increasingly remunerative assets to the Dominion— a>rreed to
the conditions and compromises of Confederation for the sake of the new
Constitution, and has done so much towards making " the work " of it har-
monious and successful— now finds herself alone among her sisters, financially
unequal to the requirements of the public service-unable to develope her
mmeral and other local and valuable resources— with monetary and fiscal
8
difficulties and complications increasing, and deficits instead of surpluses
impendn.g-with her taxation for General and Provincial purposes already
enlarged-contnbuting to Stamp Duties, Excise, and Newspaper Postages
for the first t. , .e-and a system of direct taxation an inevitable and foregone
conclusion ! Xo nmrshalling of figures, or studied process of logic, is neces-
sary here ; the calm reasoning of events constructs and concludes the whole
argument. Indeed there is dearly no escape for New Brunswick from &
future which must be as irritating as it will be novel and unfair to her people
except in the obtaining of a financial readjustment and better terms And
the Undersigned humbly submit, that before tho discontent arisincr'from a
knowledge of these facts becomes mere widespread and demonstrative, and
in order 'that the best interests and present and future prosperity of British
Noi-th America may bo promoted by the Federal Union under the Crown
of Great Bntam"-[London Conf. Resolutions, Sec. l]_the causes directly
leading to such irritation and dissatisftiction be removed, that a spirit may
not be invok'^d which shall not " down at our bidding."
The adoption of the new Constitution was an experiment ; and how it and
the terms conceded to the Provinces under it, would bear upon them were
matters involved in the problem. Mr. Langto^, in effect, refers to this when
he says, " there has not been time during the short period, since the effect of
' Confederation has been fully felt, to enable us to shew, with any certainty
_ the financial consequences to Nova Scotia ; "-[iV. S. Correspondence, l-and
in the same Report he admits that " the principles upon which the debts of
"the ProMnces are to be ascertained have not yet been fully determined
" upon "-three years after the date of Union. This does not now apply to
the case of New Brunswick. We are now able to refer, not only to the
inequalities and injustice in the case of Nova Scotia, as admitted by the leo-ig.
lation of the Dominion Parliament, but by the actual working of Confedera
tion, and by the reduction of what were estimates to what are facts, to come
with great accuracy to the present and prospective results to the Province of
New Brunswick. It is nearly reduced to a simple matter of arithmetical cal-
culation. Whatever may have been the expectations of the past they may
be easily tested by the facts and figures of the present ; and, making logical
deductions from nearly five years history of the Dominion, and rea'izing that
m a very short time in the affairs of a Province $63,000 per annum will be
taken from us,— estimate or forecast the future in store for this portion of
the Confederacy.
TKE PENITENTIARY CLAIM.
There is, also, another important matter which may probably be more cor-
rectly and conveniently considered at this time, than in the discussion of the
claims more justly coming under the title o^ Better Terms.
It will appear from the papers which are submitted, that a very lar<^e pros
pective charge is referred to, as about to fall ..on this Province consequent
upon Confe(reration, and for which the local Government, as at present ad-
vised, will have to make early provision, and which was clearly neither fore-
Been nor anticipated at the time the baaia of Union was agreed upon, and did
not enter at all into the consideration of the Delegates at Quebec and London,
— or of the Lenjislature or people when Confederation was consummated,—
nor does it appear to have occurred to the Canadiuii Government until the
recei[tt of the Report of the Canadian Inspector, after a tour of inspection ia
the Maritime Provinces.— [Z^c^^or^ of Inspector of Prisons, 18fJ0.
It is clear that by The British North America Act 18G7, the legislative power
and authority of the Tarliament of Canada 1N% extended to " the establish- Ufr'/L2\
ment, maintenance and management of Penitentiaries."— [i^. N. A. Act, sec.
91 § 28.]— Certainly this may now be construed to include the power of regu-
lating the terms upon which admission shall be had to those Institutions.
Before and at the time of Union, the Judges of the Courts of Law in New
Brunswick had the right to sentence criminals for any term of penal servi-
tude to the Provincial Penitentiary. By the operation of the Act, the pro-
perties and establishment of the Penitentiary at Saint John were transferred
to the Dominion ; but it was never understood or contemplated that the
power to establish, maintain, and manage, would bo so exercised as to abolish
absolutely for all time rights of the Province as they then existed, recognized
by numerous Provincial Statutes, and to entail upon the local authorittes the
necessity of establishing, maintaining and managing a local Penitentiary ia
and for the Province of New Brunswick. On the contrary, it certainly was
supposed that in this Province they would be maintained and managed, as to
the admission of convicts and criminals, precisely as they had been before the
"maintenance and management" were yielded up to the Dominion Parlia-
ment. By Dominion Statute, however, (33 Vict. Cap. 30,) it has been pro-
vided that no prisoner sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor for a term
less than two years shall be received or imprisoned in the Penitentiary after
the 1st day of May 1873. This is a most startling proposition to the people
ot this Province ; and it is in vain to urge that Parliament is constitutionally
all-powerful in the matter, and that we have on the floors of that Parliament
representatives from this Province. The Scheme of Union was submitted to
the people ; the Scheme itself was formulated by a Commission on which we
had equal representation ; the legislation of Parliament throws burdens upon
this Province unforeseen and oppressive, in violation of the spirit of the whole
compact. It is distinctly believed that neither the Provincial Delegates nor the
people nor the Legislature of New Brunswick would for a moment hi.ve con-
sented to transfer for ever beyond their own control their valuable Institution,
with the remotest prospect of providing on their own account for the erection
and establishment of an Institution proportimialli/ more expensive, out of the
scanty stipends granted to them for other emergencies of the public service.
It is said proportionally more expensive ; for as prisoners and convict laborers
for short penal term.s are generallj of a non-remunerative class,— unable,
during their limited time of imprisonment, to acquire any proficiency in the
"hard labor" to which they may be sentenced, and thereby contribute by
their toil to the revenues of the Establishment in the same ratio as criminals
under punishment for protracted periods,— it will be found more expensive to
pi:ovide for tbe a^Rual. « wjaj^.teoance" of the la^titutioq, while the ejcpeu-
ditnre will not ho appreciably difTercnt TTnrl^r i\.. t r
contemplated hy Domnion leiln ion it wiM ! f , ""^ ' '/ "^^"".^^"'^"*
Jive per cent of the crhvwah nfl'Tn } ""'' "''"' ^^"^ "^"'^^ '''■^"^>/
the local GovciZ Zt^J^T ?""'"'"^: '''^^ ^" '^^^''^ '^ '' '^^ ^«"^*^ 'f
port. What tir:^n 1 Ca hi:;:: 'VT^'^^^T^^ -'^^-^ ^^ -^
ted at $14,500 per annum ' '^ueafter, and may be roundly estima-
ti^o^s^S^r ::<^diJ';sr H "^T ''''^' ^-^^ ^'^•' -^ ^^« -^o.
the subject of The loca " s 1 ' . ^'V"^ ^^^""^^ °^ ^^'''^ J^'^^ ""
the general subject as already prese ted -■ r d at h "T ""'' '"" '"
very large and ininorfinf will li ''''*'' .7^''-''"^ that their intere-t therein ig
-ally from J"T^V^o2::^'tT'^^^^^^ ^•'^'" ^^'^'^^ -'•'^-
absolute and tan..ible monev n d ) i T ^'"'''''''^- ^he forn.er had an
ostablishn.ent which was nofo '"'l 'T''' "' '"^•^•^^"-"t *" th- existing
the transtw was :'.::: Cj^:!;-^'^ ^\^i Z7^ t'-'r ^"'^"
borates or illnstratcs thp n,.pa«.,. • '^^' '* dimply corro-
w„a not <)„b,„ed and ai7eTu7rlu'rl ''":'" '" "" ^""'"'i™
the City m,d Coi,„ty 0, sli,,,T| "'"'/f"" "'=«' "f the local interests of
dominion legislation, io d7 heioport tta .T V^^'f ''^'' '^' ""^"'
propose to re-lransfer th„ P,t.,l.i;.i . ' ' <-«"adian Government
CotTnty ot Saint iohn, , elTj J ,:::;:'; l"'"' r '"""l '" "■' «'^ ""O
gnte t„e great l.ardsMp' of the ^ .r 'o„ .t^t^^'TI ::' "' "" '"."'-
of that project would simplj, „|,cr the part es but L r™'"""""
Province, in the matter It wonl,l ^ "'" P»si""n of the
menttot;,kecareofwJ ;„: 5 i !'; TT '"' "'" '''"'"^''"' «""™-
in New Brnnswiclc 3 for 7 n ''^' ''""'^°"'' ''°"''™''"™i"al3
Countv of Sal ,t J„i,, torn ,1 ' 7'"" """"• '" «' '" ""> '^"j' -'l
their shor..,er. pr s^r rT v ' aTI" .b'rT"' "" ■'".■' "«'" '<> -"--
cent., ,„ the transferred I'ris™ and on uch '" '""',7'"? ""•"" ^'' P"
the City and Countv of S- nt 1 V '"''',."=""''> ''1"=™! "f otherwise, as
eeed in'^^he e.^ o,f a,!dt „„/";'" "'"""'• "' P"""'^ ^^ »"" P™-
Ponitentiary, N Uher caT he c',;";" aT\ ■""'"'-"">- "f " -parate
purpose. ^' ^"""'^ °"°'» l^" »' "11 t'lilized for that
THE INTER-COLONIAL RAILWAY.
mary and otherwise, conferred Iv thp n ^ ^^\ ""'"^ *'^^ ^'"^^^«' P^*-'""
vvoric partly in that P^^vinee and T''" '" '^' ^"''^'"^ of that great
the Dominion TVp';,.rr;":^':"' oflset to the contribution made to
case of New B;unswick p'rticu.:.- v J^ It' ^'"''^'°'''' ^' '^ ^'"^"^'^ ''' ^he
H u.e..„y . . w^K's:- 'a-rk*-sti---
I 1^
• •
1 I
• •
t/
11
tl.o construction of that work to the Province of New Brunswick, for the
reasons which thoy proceed to submit.
At an early hour in the history of the nccrotiations between the Provinces
of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, for perfecting a sclieme of
Union, the subject of the Inter-Colonial liailway was introduced, and the
hmgua-c eniph.yed throughout is remarkable and significant. This lino of
Kailroad and its construction, were not treated as otiier proposed public
works under Confederation, except probably that the exrcnsion of the Canal
system ot old Canada was made somewhat an cciuivalcnt, as a-ainst the
Maritime Provinces, for the building of that Road by Government The
Province of New Brunswick claimed that the Dominion Government, upon
certain given terms, should construct that line, »o/ so much as a work of
general improvement, and of Imperial and inter-Provincial importance and
value,-the expenditure in each Colony to be considered as so much public
money invested in that Colony, and to its advantage, and on Dominion
account,-but apart entirely from the financial phases of Confederation, and
ratlier as a condilion precedent to the discussion of the subject of Union In
other words, " in consideration '' (using the term in its legal sense) that the
I rovinces of Upper and Lower Canada were led to seek and should obtain
Union as a solution of many constitutional, political and social difficulties
unknown to New Brunswick, and to secure the ivore harmonious working
of ,flWlt political machinery, and the removal of long outstanding causes o'f
disquietude and irritation, and at the same time attain as indispensable a
passage to the sea and a maritime influence they could not achieve without
the consolidation of the Colonies under one Constitution ; so the Proviuce
ot New Brunswick was led to consider the overtures of the older Provinces
and to ope>i the Correspondence and appoint Delegates, " in consideration "
of the budding of the Inter-Colonial Railway by the Dominion Government
without unnecessary delay. This v^'a3 substantially stated at the outset bv
the Hon. Mr. Tilley. IIo said—
"Next alluding to the Inter-Colonial Railway project, he said the feeling
" was-jce won't have (he Union unless you give us the Railway. It was utterly
" impossible we could have either a political or commercial Union without
*' itr—lSpetch at Quebec, October 15, 1866.
And also by the Hon. Mr. Cautier, who said-" I must repeat to you what
I stated whde in the Lower Provinces, that while we possessed the personal
" and territorial elements which go to constitute a Nation, we were wanting-
" in the Maritime element. During six months of the year we had toknock
" at the door of our neighbour in order to carry on our trade. This cannot
" be tolerated. This Confederation must be carried out. I know that everv
- citizen of Montreal will understand that at this critical time wo should
' look to Nova Scotia, to New Brunswick and to Prince Edward Island
"for the elements wanting in Canada to make a great uiition."-rSneech at
31ontreal, 29lh Oct. 1866. l^I^eecn at
So likewise the Hon. Mr. Bnowx said-" We have agreed-I announce
It fraukly-to build the later-Colonial Railway. I have not been in favor
12
of the Scheme iper se situated as we have been. But I have at th
tme been quite willing to adn.it.-and I repeat it heartily to d
e sam e
; wahout the Inter-Colonial J^ailroad there could be no Unicm of the:o Pro-
vinces. "—[^Va-A at Toronto, November, Iv^GG.
At the Quebec Conference, 10th October 1804, certain Resolutions were
adopted as the bcms of a proposed Confederation of the Provinces and Colo-
mes of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince
Jidward Island, and bj Kesolution G8, it is provided—
"G8. The General Government shall secure, without delay, the com-
pletion of the Inter-Colonial Railway from Riviere du Loup, through New
" Brunswick, to Truro in Nova Scotia."
Under date 27th February 1865, His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor
of New Brunswick, (Hon. Mr. Gokdon) in his Despatch to the Imperial
Government, says — i^'»"»
- I find, however, that a very general impression prevails, that the con-
struction of the Inter-Colonial Railroad from River du Loup to Truro is to
2 be provided for by a clause in the Imperial Act givimj effect to the proposal Fede-
ral Union. I do not myself consider it probable that Her Majesty's Gov
"ernmentwill make such a suggestion to the Imperial Parliament fori
" cannot but perceive that such a proposal would appear to Iler Mi.jestv's
"Government to be eit.;er unnecessary or unjust ; unnecessary, if (as we
« must conclude will be the case should no unforeseen and insuperable ob-
«' staeles arise) the new Federal Legislature votes the construction of a work
«' the immediate commencement of which forms om of the conditions of the anree
« meni to which they owe their existence; unjust, if it were to have the effect of
" forcing on the people of British America the execution of a work which
«| their Representatives iu Parliament may consider it inexpedient to under-
This view, however, of Governor Gorpon was not sustained, as will here-
after appear, and it was that Parliament should not have the power to declare
It "inexpedient to undertake" the work, that New Brunswick determined
to and did stipulate, that the arrangement for the execi tion of that under
taking should be made manifest for all time as " one of the conditions of the
agreement" to which the Federal Constitution should "owe its existence "
The Undersigned, in passing, may here recall the fact that durin<r the pro
gress of the Conferences and the Elections, great uneasiness on this^very sub
ject manifested itself in the Province of New Brunswick, and a general alarm
was created because the Hon. Attorney General MacDonald had intimated
that as a mere detail of Union this stipulation would not be embodied in the
Act, {see Governor Gordon's Despatch, February 1865,) and made a distinctive
feature of the DroDosed Gonatifntion • hnf op th" ->♦!—- '-,-"-i - -jj i
* > -• ""m "'■ liiv oihci liauu, vvouiu be sub-
ject to the caprice or chance vote of the Federated Legislature ; and it was
found necessary to assure the people of New Brunswick, from the Press and
the Platform, that all cause «>f doubt and alarm would be removed by addino-
to the proposed luperial Act "proyisiou for the construction of the Rai£
the same
lay, — that
Iheso Pro-
long were
fuid Cdlo-
rince
d P'
the com-
ugh New
Sovernor
Imperial
the con-
rnro is to
s(d Fede-
)''8 Gov-
mt, for I
t'liijesty's
f (as we
'able ob-
' a work,
he aqree-
effeet of
k which
5 under-
ill here-
declare
Jrmiued
; under-
8 of the
iteiice."
thepro-
ivy sub-
il alarm
miniated
1 ill the
:inctive
be 8ub-
! it was
388 and
adding
e Hail-
'
13
road." It would have materially endangered Confederation at the Polls had
tliia been otherwise.
Proceeding to the Resolutions passed by the Delegates at London, Decern,
ber 24, 18G(J, we find the language on this subject reniarkablv chaii'-ed, as by
the 65th Section— ' o > .
" 05. The construction of the Inter-Colonial Kailroad being cssevlial to the
" consolidation of the Union of Briliah North America, and to the assfnt of the
" 31nritinie Provinces thereto, it is agreed tliat provision be made for its im-
" mediate construction by the General Government," kc— [Proceedings of
London Conference.
The references to this subject during the Canadian Parliamentary Debates
oh Confederation, {Zrd Sess. 8th Prov. Pari. Canada,) and to the nature of
the agreement entered into with the .Maritime Provinces, are very clear and
satisfactory. During the Debate on the I'roceedings of the London Dele-
gation, we find the following reported inter alia ;—
"Attorney General MacDonald— * * * i„ answer to the Member for
" Carleton, the Government desired to say that they presented the Scheme
" as a whole, and would exert all the influence they could bring to bear in
" the way of argument, to induce the House to adopt the Scheme without
" alteration, andjor the simple reason that the Scheme was not one framed bg the
" Gocernment of Canada, or bg the Goveroment of Nova Scotia, but was in the
" nature of a Trealg settled between the different Colonies, each clause of which had
" beenfaltg discussed, and which had been agreed to bg a sgsteni of mutual com-
''promise * * * These liesolutions o'n their face bore evidence of com-
" promise ; perhaps not one of the Delegates from any of the Provinces
" would have propounded this Scheme as a whole, but being impressed with
" theconviction that it was highly desirable, with a view to the maintenance
" of British power on this Continent, that there should be Confederation
" and a juncture of all the Provinces, the consideration of the details was
" entered upon in a spirit of comprjnjise."
Again—" Attorney General MacDonald could understand the object of
" the Hon. Member for llochelega. * * * These Resolutions ivere in
" the nature of a Treatg, and if not adopted in their entirety the proceedings
" would have to be commenced de novo."
" Hon. Mr. HoLTON— * * * Then the third question of which he had
" given notice, had reference to the Inter-Colonial Kailway. Jt was a voveltg
" that, perhaps, miijht not be found in the Constitution of ang Country, to introduce
" a provision for the construction of a railroad, canals, turnpike roads, or other
" public works. But the novelty existed in this case, and we are told that a
''part of the proposed Constitution was to build the Inter- Colonial Raitwnu, a^ to
" the usefulness of which there had been a great difference of opinion
" amongst Members of the House and in the country."
" Attorney General MacDonald— * * * As regarded the Inter-Colo-
" nial liailroad, the Resolutions :,howed precisely whnt was the intention of
" the Government in that matter. The Railroad was not, as stated by Hon
14
«' wL"r? " ^' p"" "^ ^'" Constitution, l.ut was one of the condiilons ru
'; lion. Mr. CruHiE- * * * Ho wan satisficl that if tl.e Intcr-Colouial
JvaiUvay project were taken out of the sclie.no wo woul<l not hoar nn.ch
t^':lacT^\- '""" '^"''"^' """ "' "^"'■'^^ ^'-1 -"'^ the l>uihvy
nibt, unci Lonfoiloration next. ^
" Hon. Mr. SA.NBORN._IIon. Mr. Tilley had said that.
" Hon. Mr. Koss- * * * The honorable member next came to tho
ques .on o the Inter-Colonial KaiUvay, which, after all, «een..s to bt
nm. Well, I will turn again to Lord Duk.um's lioport, in which the fol-
^^ low.nn: passages, remarkably apposite to the subject, appear :_' The com-
^^^I-letion of any satisfactory communication between Halifax and Quebec
v^u d, ,n fact, produce relations between these Provinces that would
nder a General Un.on absolutely necessary. Several surveys proved
'that a Railway would be perfectly practicable the whole way * i * *
' Ihe iormation of a Railway from Halifax to Quebec would entirely alter
'some of the d stiiMriiJ^.!,;,.,, ..l.. *„..:„.:. _.. ., „ . ^■J' "uei
,, , ,. ^, ,. -^ """• ""'""A lu v^ueuec would entirely a ter
some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Canadas. InLd of
kwff Shu out from all direct intercourse loith England durinn half the near
theij loould possess a far more, opvh.m nr,J ....„.,h. ^^. ,• ,. .. .' ' . '
,,,,,•' ,, " ' "" w-w.,,.„oo t^iin j^m/iana aurinq imit the near
^^ ^ (he^ won d possess a far more certain and speedy communication throughout the
winter than they now possess in summer.' This passage greatly imr.ressed
whiT v." T '' ^"^^?-*'- L.P0.VT..VE-I3.L.WTX Administratimi-
uhich Mr. HiNCKS and the honorable Pren.ler each had a place. It was
under them that the liailway legislation of the Province received its first
impulse and last Session I remen.ber to have had occasion to quote the
preamble of an Act passed in 1851, which recites : ' That whereas it is of
the kc,hest importan, e to the pror/ress and welfare of this Province that a Main
Trunk Line of Railway should be made throughout the length thereof,
and form the eastern frontier thereof, through the Provinces of Nev,;
Lrunswick and Nova Scotia to the City and Port of Halifax ; and it 18
therefore expedient that every effort should be made to secure the con-
'struction of that Railway.' * * * * Indeed the Railway is absolutely
necessary, and we cannot do without it. Upper Canada alone, not to speak of
Lower Canada at all, requires it, and so well is this understood in the
Lower J rovinces, that an opponent of the Hon. Mr. Tilley-Hou Mr
'' bAinii-has lately said, it was quite nnnece.sary for New Brunswick to spend
any money on that work, as Upper Canada must build it for its oion sake."
The Undersigned deem it unnecessary to pursue further the exnummfion
of this unpo.tanc debate on this phase of the subject. The extracts "thev
have the honor to submit, are already more lengthy than they intended or
desired; but they so fuily cover the position the Undersigned have assumed.
ftOd involve so many cousideratious as bearin^j upon the Dominion Expen-
f
1*
T
4
f
) 1 ^
T
I S
inp the construction J "" ' ^'^^ "'"^''-^ "^ »''« I-'pcnal Act for «..tI,ori.-
Jioitcni/ Loan Art 1«(;7i. .,.,,1 ^i i. . ■""" i-nipiie, ~ll lie Lnvnda
1807 A-„"v:;»5. ' '^"""•""'""•>- '" "'«"lK,lo r..>,i>i„„,.-[«, A. „. ^,,,
" r™L!;.l""l''t "'■ "'! '''"■'r" °f *'""°"»- J^'"™ S-'i". ""'l New
" Jn';e';.c:;, ii, " „ii;:,;rL ':,:„^:;f;'-',r'' "-v!— '™- •■ •"«
UNADJUSTED CLAIMS, &c.
of .he„. by ,,,e Don on^Govr "^ ' Pa :S""l,; l^TT'T
the ConstiZ!" '.h ' '»« P»rtake ot the nature of &«fr Terms u, dor
i"c:rr Zor i7;r ' ': •^--'''-s "■-""•y -<" co„„,Mca,in;
Owtom««rfO«e6ee-whafovpr.^.r • ' ''"f "''"\ ^^"U'l'^^ations between
be prenuuure and co^^.W , t7.^7' "^ ^'f ^"'^J.^^'* ^•--'■^-•' >t would
as they hope to secure rn'. / ""^'^;I'/^^^"^ ^^'^^ ^i'"^- navin^ secured,
«(
It
tl
l<
(I
4t
&»„,,_.,•,„„ „ , ""^ -^»""™ ^rf TSU7 •■ r ■'■"""''"' '» Nova
b''".i,' British JVnrH A '''«'^<»nuii on, jm„] fi,„ , ^^^icsi, Columbia and
"'■>- -«„. ,!'■; ;/':"■*•"" ^'"i ™, .^„:,™" ;;«•":■»'' '- .i- ou,.
Q'-obcc o,„| J,.„„I„„ 1; ,r '""»'« 'I'l't'ho "com,,, "'™ »'' ^w
f''". ""d are ,o 'e^ f "'^'I'J >-» cflLe,, „f ,," , ":'«»" "'^ made at
v.- Of ,., ,„„„:,. -„. „„ „,„ ,,„,,„„ co,onic;a:i:;;::'x vt
,^;"' - i. i» .lot :::f.r;;r;,™ ;;- p-..na. .'.Sr.™: ■;>:;■-;."-«-
"■1"=" e"Pl.l«„e„ted by ,bi ,f '"■"''«'''"'"=J lo Ncwl .' '"Wnce. I
"""rh inadequate to ,lf„ V , *° '''''"™ '""J tben i„T ",""■'- '—even
tlioir ia,-c, „; ,„„.;" "' ""^ """eral „„J „„,„ ° '''""'^'■«"'latnre,,ro.
bci„,„e of ,|,e ■ , ,. ., I, ,;; ' '"" ■'™ '""guislnnj, and , „'„ j' ' "" "" '"^"""l
away, aud tiiat
'Ml fl
cvan
'"" f' ;,UUO pe
^"^etJ to rliern ;--tIi
•^rr.-i
-e.ae;,.bZ:---.-i.eab.,„5:;:
at in
veil
'ct Taxation
on of Govern.
> tt tbreo-foia
' "ii'I solemn
>flK'r Lfgin.
-b' moro ab-
sented to or
'•i>ht tonsic
-e to as full
"I to Nova
*cl to Novu
'f"l>ia and
^<' the out.
dvaiice of
'stifutiori-
"nieiitary
l'i hy the
> of New
made at
seriously
t'ouricil,
U8 H dis-
he Pro-
'ginallj
'ill the
Union
accept-
Ti that
'"iinge-
' vines. i
-even
roved
'vice ;
3 pro-
ed to
ernal
^red,
at in
iken
tiou
17
mnflt bfl reflortcd to-and dl under a Constif .-,01. which promised case and
comfort-New Brunswick iu.H a right to aslv .1 j Dominion to grant to hor
lielter 'L ms, unless hor ase, as it u an happily exceptional at the time of
Union, Biiall continue exceptional under I'uion, and that to her goiiou,, loss
and discomfort
In opening the financial matters involved in the duty laid upon them, the
Undersigned desire to refer to the
CONTRIBUTION TO THE ITnLIC WORKS OF THE DOMINION MADE BY
NEW BRUNSWIC K.
Mr. Auditor General Lanqton, in his elaborate Repon on Nova Scotia
afriiirs, says —
"The total debt with which we may enter into Confederation must be
decided on very different principles, and the fairest perhaps may be the rate
'' at which we coiHrilHite towards bearinq Us expenses;" and iK'ain— " I think
" however, that Mr. M'Lellan is justified in saying that population alone is
" not a 8uffi.:ient basis. As it is a question of debt to he assumed, the share
^'1 xchicheach contributes towards paying for that debt, if nn made the whole basis,
" should at least have bren taken into consideration."— [N. t' Corre.^pondence 1—
And the late Minister of Finance, Sir John Hose, on th^ same point says-
♦' Adopting this view, and taking the average of three avd a half years an-
" tenor to Confederation, Nova Scotia would be entitled t . «3,031,000 more
" of debt than is allowed to her."— [76i(/.
Taking the principles thus laid down by the Ifon. Minister of Finance
and Mr. LA^OT0N as ourcriteria, we present the Returns, as. ompiled below
bhewing the amounts contributed by New Brunswick, on account of her
Railways, to the Public Works of the Dominion of Canada. And it may be
very justly stated here, that this asset in the common "Partn -rship" stock
handed over by New Brunswick at an enormous discount under the Union
Act, 18 yearly becoming more and more and very remunerative, is the oflici-d
returns will show ; and it is quite reasonable to suppose, tJ it when the
Connections and Extensions now constructing in and near Neu Brunswick
are completed, and her general Railway system, indicated by Pro incial leds!
.ation hefore Union, is perfected, this will rank among the mos valuable—
If It do not take precedence as proportionately the most valnai e, asset of
the General Government. Those returns will be found toexhibi in 1870 a
surplus over maintenance of 858,841-30, representing a capital o: 8980 U88
at 6 per centum, and which, estimating the cost at Four milli.,n8 three
hundred thousand dollars, will yield one and one-fifth per cent, whereas
the i ubhc Works of all classes which old Canada contributed to th general
stock, estimated bv Mr. Lanotov at »-ifi fi'!7 am «..i.. ..:„ij.,i : . ,
rate of 0-82 per centum on their cost ; while, for the same year, the I uihvays
of Nova Scotia, instead of providing a balance over maintenance, really cost
the Dominion $32,496-20 above receipts, which at 6 per cent, again repre-
sents a capital of 8541,603. We may admit, for the sake of the argument
that the per centage oa capital ia uot tUe only important point, but the
18
actual amount avaflabTe for meeting the debt; bnt eren in this vTew, whITe
the Canadian contributing-assets will jield, when the collection of thJ Great
Western interest is enforced, say 15| cents ptr capita on the popnfation the
New Brunswick contributing-assets will yield 23J cents per head. Orwe'may
illustrate the positiou i» this way :--That whereas the asset we contributed
as above reimburses the Dominion 4-5tb of one per cent, of interest upon
the debt of $7,000,000 with which New Brunswick was permitted to enter
Union, the contributing assets of the older Provinces return only 3-5th of
one per cent, of the interest on ^62,500,000, their debt under the Act Or
coming again to the Public Works of Nova Scotia: as New Brunswick con'
tributes to the Dominion $58,841, interest on ^980,688, during the same
period, while Nova Scotia has shewn a deficit of $32,496.20, being interest
on $541,603: in order to place the two Provinces on the same footing in
this Account, the Dominion would be required to refund to the Province of
New Brunswick $58,841, and pay over with that amount the sum of $32,496
on this branch of the public aervice alone.
By way of stating this Account more fully then, the following items are
eubmitted, from the Accounts of 1869 : —
1869. Total Public Works of Canada,— Dominion Auditor
(Jeneral's Keport, Part I, page 26, $913,491 08
Deduct— {^B per same Account,)— Gross earnings of
N. B. and N. S. Railroads, 440,112 67
Balance,
J?«rfMC<— Expenditure, as per Account, page 233,
[Public Accounts, Dominion, 1869, page 243.]
Railways — Nova Scotia—
(Page 26.) Receipts, $260,285 25
(Page 243.) Maintenance, 261,398 76
$473,378 41
305,304 59
$168,073 82
Deficit,
Railways— iVc» Brunawick —
Receipts,
Maintenance,
Surplus,
$1,113 51
$179,827 42
126,149 71
$53,677 71
Balance contributed by New Brunswick Railways,
Receipts over Maintenance, ••• gg g^j ^j
Derft«r<— Deficit on Nova Scotia Railways, Receipts
lea* than Maintenance,
$221,751 53
1,113 51
Net balance from Public Workiy
%*•
* ' \
N
ol
r
1
$220,638 02
m£
a c
r
cos
rep
*<*
I ' \
19
—or, admitting that Nova Scotia exhibits a deficit, while New Branswick
contributes 853,677-71, New Brunswick will be found to have paid in 186»
nearly one-fourth of the whole net balance of 3220,63802.
Continuing the investigation into the Accounts of 1870, we may pursue
the same enquiry : —
1870.
Receipts from Public Works in the Dominion of Canada, $1,006,844 67
Deduct— Nova, Scotia Railways, $273,028 56
New Brunswick Railways, 198,525 29
Receipts which old Canada transferred to Dominion,
Against this sum is charged an Expenditure of
Leaving Balance of net Receipts,
Balance contributed by N. B. Railways, Receipts over
Maintenance,
Z>erf<;c?— Deficit of Nova Scotia, Receipts less than
Maintenance,
471,553 85
$535,290 82
866,421 82
$168,869 00
58,841 SO
$227,710 30
32.496 20
Net balance derived from Public "Works, $195,214 10
These figures again shew a deficiency in the Nova Scotia Accounts, while
New Brunswick contributes to the Dominion $58,841-30 of the net balance
of $195,214-10,
As elucidating the foregoing, we may add the following figures :—
'Railways— Nova Scotia —
(Page 19.) Receipts $273,028 56
Maintenance, 305,524 76
Deficit, $32,496 20
Railways — New Brunswick —
(Page 19.) Receipts, $198,525 29
Maintenance, 139,683 99
Surplus, $58,841 80
New Brlnswick Railways.
The net earnings of the European and North American Railway over
maintenance in year 1870, was $58,841-80, which, at 6 per cent, represents
a capital of $980,688.
Nova Scotia Railways.
The Nova Scotia Railways, instead of leaving a balance over maintenance
cost the Dominion in 1870, $31496-20 over receipts, which, at 6 per cent'
represents a capital of $641,608.
20
The Comparative Acconnt is as follows :—
JSew Brunswick —
Railway profit to the Dominion, $58,841 30.
Nova Scotia —
Railway loss to the Dominion, $32,496 20.
Capital, $980,688 00
Capital, $541,603 00
$1,522,291 00
The Undersigned are not unmindful of the fact that tl.« ^J~^ — T^T
of Finance has avoided ffivin., fnir J I i- ^ ^^^^ ^°"- Minister
" increase. This is no doX ,™e' te( ,-ot "V'uT '""^ ">™ «"'
" due to „s from the O rand Tr, n? " "V""?"^" "■' "'•"''" "f '"'"^=«
" and so cease .„ eltlt^^'aJ '^^'„il7 :::i:rr'^ "^»""°-<'.
" any „,a.erinl in.proveraen.s i„ KaUw^ prl^ our oKin^'r '"' "P°"
" as ,e. at ^^.r..x^z^f::rz:T:::'ij'!' ^ '^^^^ »•■'■
tha?;ei hTr^oircrdatr'^Ko^t::' -"f.' "j-''"-'i^''. i-t,. assert
...^ A'» ^-^.-^ • ::a;4°:„r iv:::;::^^^,*? (hiitiAf-
^t^st^andttroa^^^^^^^^
and Income frmilMTpniSu^Zh 7\^f't'' "'"' -S'" «'™P»
A«.e a< to dispell ouTo/ul'onT-' "'^'^ ^"° ^rumwick woM
•"^-"J?; ^"''- '*■""=''• I Cuatoms Duties, Kinnini t«
1870 pp.23 26. /Excise Duties, ksse^nse *''"^'"1 '«
Eep. Inland Kov. ofco„ee,i„g, P j, ,
P-30. Bill Stamps, g ^^^ ^J
( , )
.•JUfc«;» — ^j
ac(
21
Local Revenue- ^^rought forward,
Export Duty, ... ' ...
Casual Revenue,
Supreme Court Fees,
Fees Secretary's Office,
Auction Duty,
Net earnings E. & N. A. Railway,
$1,174,099 16
^6r..000 00
40,000 00
ii,000 00
5,500 00
100 00
58,841 SO
171,441 30
I>.^.e.-Amount to be paid as per subjoined statement, by ,J'^'''^''' ''
Province lor Pubhc Service, '. ^ '"^'^ i,oo8,984 48
Balance at disposal of New Brunswick, ~$3i6;5j5~98
■ 9stlstr'""''" '^^ '"'"^ "^ ^°'^^ P"^"« ««^^i^^' -"counting
984 48, reference is made to the following ^
STATE..ENX shewivg ike amount the Province of New Brmswiek would
to provide for the undermentioned services out of Union :~
to ^1,008,.
be required
( s )
c»
Interest on Debt— $7,500,000,
Civil List,
Legislative expenses.
Judicial,
Protection and Coliectlon'Revenue
Post Office, '
Agriculture,
liuucation.
Lunatic Asylum, ...
Public Health, ...
iidians.
Steam Boat Lispection,
Elections,
ilitia,
TT • -x
University,
Immigration,
Public Printing
Contingencies, Postages, &c.
Great Roads,
Bye Roads, ,,[ ''[
Public Buildings, Furniture, &c.""
Steam Navigation,
Surveys and General Inspection ""
Marriage Certificates,
Public Hospital, St. John^
Carleton Branch Railway, (interest),
Penitentiarv. -"
Total, ...
^450,000
40,000
35,000
20,400
42,000
o
:;0,000
12,600
120,000
25,000
6,000
1,200
1,000
1,500
20,000
8,884
1,000
9,000
12,000
85,000
65,000
9,000
9,000
4,000
800
1,200
900
8,500
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
48
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
$1,008,984 48
«:;:ri=T£-r.Kstxr:-z^-s:
23
under the legislation of the Dominion Parliament, she could have efFectually
provided for all her Tubiic Services quite efficiently, in the manner and in
the items set forth, and covering all the amounts the Province would have
been required to provide for, and had at her disposal, for extraordinary ser-
vices, unfonjseen claims, the development of her resources, and general pur-
poses under her then Constitution, the full sum of $336, .555 98.
It may be well, also, to shew the amount collected in the Province of New
Brunswick in 1866, under her then Provincial 'lariff, and apply it in like man-
ner to the requirements of the Province : —
Slatement shewing the Revenue of the Province of New Brunswick in 1866.
Import Duties,
Export Duties,
Seizures, ,„
Auction Duty,
Railway Impost,
Net earnings E. & N, A. Railway,
Light House Duties,
S. & D. Seamen,
Buoy and Beacon,
Cape Race Light,
Copyright Duties,
Indian Reserve Fund, ...
Supreme Court Fees,
Sums Refunded,
Casual Revenue,
Fishery Fund,
$852,693 63
65,485 07
539 67
19 33
184.217 07
51,760 46
25,408 85
8,517 21
3,921 64
38 f 61
98 80
368 87
3,021 00
841 29
47,504 42
330 75
Total in 1866, ... $1,245,115 67
Services to be provided for as per preceding
Table, ... ... ... 1,008,984 48
Balance at disposal of New Brunswick, $236,131 19
Assuming the population to have increased in five years from 1866, seven
and a half per cent, the number would be 270,950, and the rate per head
would be $3-82 collected under the head of Import Duties and Railway Im-
post, as against $4-11 on the population of 1861; and again, assuming the
same rate of increase for the next succeeding five years, the population in
1870 would be 289,853, which at |3-82 per capita would yield from the same
sources $1,107,238-46. To this we add the
Add—
LOCAL REVENUE.
[Imports and Railway Duties, above,'
$1,107,238 46
Export Duty,
63,135 65
Seizures, (as in 1866),
539 67
Auction Duty,
46 09
Net earnings Railway,
68,841 30
Light House Duties, (1866) ...
25,408 85
S. & D, Seameu,
8,517 21
OarrUd forward,
$1,268,726 23
T
23
Brought forioard,
$1,263,726 23
Buoy and Beacon, "
3,921 64
(.Jape liace Lijflit, "
387 61
Co tyright Duties, "
98 80
Indian Ueserve Fund, "
36& 87
Sui'reme Court Fees,
2,100 00
Sums Refunded, "
841 29
Casual Revenue,
35,983 23
Fishery Fund,
330 75
Fees, Secretary's Office,
(.
5,465 15
Lunatic Asylum, 33rd Vic.
Cap. 25, .
380 00
$1,313,603 57
'f
Statement shewing the Estimated Expenditure of the Pr
not taken place, in 1870, as shewn by the Dominion
of that year : —
Interest on Debt,
Civil List,
Legislative expenses,
Judicial, ...
Protection nnd Collection Revenue,
Pest Office, ...
Agriculture,
Eduoition,
Lunatic Asylum, ...
Public Health,
Indians, ...
Steam Boat Inspection,
Fllections,
Militia,
University,
Immigration, ...
Public Printing,
Contingencies, Postages, &c.
Great Roads, ...
Bye Roads,
Public Buildings, Furniture, &c.
Steam Navigation,
Surveys and General Inspections,
Marriage Certificates,
Public Hospital, St. John,
Interest Carleton Branch Railroad,
Penitentiary,
Light Houses,
S. and D. Seamen and Marine Hospital,
Buoys and Beacons,
Capo Race Light, ... ...
Fisheries, ...
Copyright Duties,
Pensions, ...
Unforeseen expenses,
•o.nnce in case Union had
and Provincial Accounts
$450,
40,
40,
20,
42,
20,
12,
120,
25,
6,
1,
1.
1,
20,
8,
1,
9,
12,
85,
65,
9,
9,
4,
000 00
0^0 00
000 00
400 00
000 00
000 00
600 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
200 00
000 00
500 00
000 00
884 4<'<
000 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
000 00
800 00
1,200 00
^^M
900 00 1^
8,500 00
^H
15,262 53
^^M
7.290 71
^^M
3,201 35
^H
A -til £*A
^^^^H
, ^ItT VU
Immmmm
2,787 50
^H
134 44
^^1
160 00
^^M
10,000 00
H
$l,aa3,240 70
1
24
Consequently the Province would have had the sum of «1 qi q fin. r r *
an expenditure of 81 053 240-70 Jnn.,- ^"®f""^o^ »l,313,603-57 to meet
Public Treasury ! T is LitUe wo.I "l° ' "". f 8260,362-87 in the
excess of In.pJrts i„ 1870 tTe he „ pV;;::rito6 ' T h"'^'"^,1 "" ''^
inconsiderable sura. -imports of 18G6, which would be no
i^u^ ^rbtf fiivii:! ir" '^'^ ^'^'^^^^^ '^^ ^'^-* ^«-*'- to the foi.
on account oT^rBltirTd'th' '' ''' ''°"""°" ^^^^^^^ ^^ or
Treasury by the DomirnTot at ptvi:?" A^ -7' "'^^ ^'^ ^^"^^^^
department, that the undersio-ned fr f ; ^^ !," . '^ '''^' "' '''^^^ ^^ ^his
ter of expenditure by the Domnfnn V^'''^''^y '^ f"")' *« meet the mat-
are omitf^d, which, however if aSl 1 . ' ' *'''* '"■*"'" ^'^^''^'««
3"lt; ^-hile there are 1^1.1; ^^1"""'^! ^'^ "^^^ rnuterially atiect the re-
fully .ard o eiti c^^^^^^^^^^^ the Undersigned desire to be
tions. ''"^'"^ '° ^' J"«<^ ^o ^"^brace them in the calcula-
Statement shcwiirg Amount paid by the Domhiion of Canada
[ Vide Public Accounts, 1870 1
Subsidy,
Interest on Debt,
Salary Lieutenant Governor
^ :A<]rniin8tration of Justice, '
Light House and Coast Service,
Coll n and Protec'n of Kevenue,
-Tisheries,
M*i.. " ••• ••• ,.
^''•tia,
Provincial Penitentiary,
Post Office, (P. M. Gen's Acc't 'm<re SOfi ^ '"
^fanners' Fund, (Public Acc'trrpage'^lf)
N. Brunswick's proportion of expenses Sf Gov't,
I.
I.
L
I.
L
page 102,
209,
261,
218,
148,
for New Brunswick.
$314,637 60
450,000 00
7,000 00
28,129 38
39,041 05
75,168 47
9,622 63
24,595 58
8,500 00
37,906 59
8,244 50
86,000 00
$1,088,845 80
II.
Statement shewing Amount BornMon rec^^esfrom tke Pro.,.e of N. Brunswick.
r Vide Public Accounts, 1870.]
Customs Duties, I. pase 23
Bill Stamps, . ^^ '
Ba'nk Ta^"'^ ^'^"°'' ^^^^^' ^°^^*«'°°' ^'^'- •••
Net earnings E. & N. A. Railway, .'
Fisheries, L paffe45
Mariners' Fund, L page 43
1,015,111 76
9,664 61
149,322 79
4.316 12
58,841 30
1,086 42
i,ooo o4
$1,245,896 54
^^Z^'MmZ'^V''''^r^"'^""''' "«'« '» 1«™ from
Me uox^ mou »l,088,S46-80, she »U„Mfpaid into the TreaBury during the
35
same year 81,245,896-54, and the Dominion wns really the gainer to tlio
extent of Slo7,05o-74. Indeed, in general langnnc-o, it may be confidontlv
asserted, as it is universally believed in New Brunswick, ibat-annrt from
all collateral consideration, arising out of the geographical position and
inar.tmie character of the Province,-Xew Drunswick, in a monetary point
ot view, has proved herself to be a valuable constituciit of the " Partnership "
of 18G7. ^
PUBLIC DEBT.
Referring to the Setter Terms granted to Nova Scotia, the Undcrsicmed
direct attention to another item in the readjustment. By the British North
America Act, it is provided—
" New Brunsvyick shall be liable to Canada for the amount, if any, by
vyh.ch Its Public Debt exceeds at the Union seven millions dollars, and
*' thereo^'"'^''^ '""'^^ '"^"'"'^ ""' ^''' '^*' ""^ ^'^ P"' ''"*"™ P"'' """""^
" New Brunswick shall receive by half-yearly payments in advance from
Canada, for a period of ten years, an additional allowance of sixty three
' thousand dollars per annum ; but as long as the Public Debt of that Pro-
vinoe remains under seven million dollars, a reduction equal to the interest
at five per centum per annum on such deficiency, shall be made from th.t
alK>wance of sixty three thousand dollars."— [5. N. A. Act § 115 119 1
Now under the arrangement made at the London Conference, ihe Dominion
Government did not allow to New Brunswick the interest on the seven
millions of debt until that amount had actually been reached. But by the terms
of the readjustment with Nova Scotia, the Dominion Government granted, and
have paid, Aom Scotia the interest on the balavce of their debt from 1st July 1867
the time the Union took place. The Undersigned claim, that had New
Lrunsw.ck received the same consideration, and received interest on the
balance, she would be entitled to ^54,240 71 at five per cent, the rate con-
templated by the British North America Act ; or at 6 per cent, as paid to
Nova Scotia, 865,08885. The terms of the Act, as applied to New Bruns-
wick, and the terms of the readjustment, on the same subject, as applied to
Nova Scotia are singularly dissimilar ; and the effect of it is, that New
Brunswick does not receive the same liberal consideration as the g'ster
Province receives-and that to the extent of sixty five thousand dollarsand
upwards.
SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT.
Proceeding to the Accounts Current for 1869 between Nova Scotia and the
Dominion, and between New Brunswick and the Dominion, a marked differ-
ence IS observable nndpr this h""d ^n ♦h" V/---.. c. ^- \ ^ -^
.,,,,.• -I-..!!, t,! iHc iSOva ocutia Account Current
(Public Accounts III., page 16,) Nova Scotia is charged with Savings Bank
Deposits after deductmg ten per cent. In the Nova Scotia Correspondence
{Report of Hon. finance Minister) we find the following:-" The points ad
'vanced touching the special character of these iteins, (Provincial Note
Circulation aud Savings Bank Depoeits,) composiDg part of the debt of
26
"tinues the Finance Minister^ cannnirh!i .^^\^"^«''«>?r»ecl con-
« case as ur^ed by NovTZlLuT 7 ^ ^'"^""''^ '" *^« ^'''^^^ ^'^ the
'• state of th^l Zful he bo'n^ a^er a careful examination into the
whereas, on the contrary, the Account is made up a Jai S ^iTl P *'
without any such deduction. Thus:— ° Province
Savings Bank, Kova Scotia.
1869. Savings Bank Deposits, (Pub. Accts. III. p. 16), *644 fi«7 no
Less 10 r>er cent. (Ibid. ) ^ ^' '" *^**'^87 02
^ >* , ... 64,468 70
Savings Bank, I^ew Brunswick.
Savings Bank Deposits, (Pub. Accts. page 18 )
If from this we deduct 10 per cent
"W'ehave
$080,218^32
$777,359 85
77,735 98
$699^62 3_87
ti
ai
C(
C
C(
27
Statement shemnr, amounts of Imrort Duties collected in the different Provinces
and the amount per head of the populations by Census im ''"''''
Canndn, $7,002,987 2,507,657 $2 Oo
^ova bcot,a, 1,13.3,344 330,857 3 43
New Brunswcic, 1,015,111 252,047 4 03
The (lata for this Table arc taken from the Public Accounts of Can^rla
for the year endin- 30th June 1870. accounts ot Canada
A Comparative Statement of Amounts paid for the Provinces of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick.
Subsidy and additional Grants,
Lieutenant Governor,
Administration of Justice, 1870, "*
Light House and Coast Service,' ...
Collection and Protection of Kevenue
Interest on Debt, '
7 • • • • ■ •
$407,383 60
7,000 00
21,915 00
62,650 00
122,040 00
551,205 36
New Brunswick.
6314,637 60
(.000 00
28,129 00
39,041 00
75,168 00
420,000 00
Totals, $1,172,193 96 $883,975 60
Imports,
Paid by Dominion G >vernraent,
Surplus,
Deficit,
$1,133,344 00
1,172,193 96
$38,849 96
$1,015,111 00
883,975 60
$131,135 40
A Comparr^Hve Statement of Railway Earnings and Expntditures, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, [vide Public Accts. Ottawa, 1870, p. 62^ part II
I^eceipts,
Expenditue,
f»i:pl"s,
l>elicit
Capital or Gross outlay.
Surplus equal to
Deficit equal to 6 per ct. interest on
Nova Scotia.
$273,028 56
305,524 76
$32,496 20
$6,706,984 00
561,603 00
New BnuNswicK.
$198,525 29
139,683 99
$58,841 30
$4,703,385 16
li per cent.
THE PER CAPITA SUBSIDY.
The per Capita Subsidy to the differenf. Pmvin... u.- nn-^n-' 7 .i, .
cecds 400,000. By Th„ lirkLh nLh a "'"<""'"» "» popul„ti„„ ex-
cents por head on a p„p„,aU„o of 1,896,0.1, asLlt,':! 'iX c::::. Z
Will continue t<f ro.;!; o! 'f col I 'I'^f " "^^'^"' ""'^ '" ''^« -nnncr
anio,n,tingtoa889,2r>2-80. New lirLJT ""' " f''^P"'"ti'>" <>f 1,111,506,
«"l'.si,ly on a population of 2r.2 oTt Zf/^'"'?'!^''''''^'^**^ *^ ••^*'«'^'« t''«
'"/? to the present arran^omontrnevor -^ '" e^^01,fJ37-60, and acord-
«0 cents on 400,000, nfn" ! "^Znt'^TT' '""'^ *'"" «^-^'0^'^' ^^-'^
Tl.i.. at leant in „ prospective poitf ''' P^Pnlation may increase!
-ont and s,.o„',d! it i^ subn i t ^ J^ v;^l:e" T:":''^'^' '''''''''' --^-
and Parliament of the Dominion.' Why sho h'tt p" "' ^''^«— '-''
J'onor to represent not bo placed in th, T """'"'^^''^ I'rov.nce they have tho
If New Brunswick cxcee, he ' J 'f T" -'"•'"'"^" "^ ^"^""-i^ ^'' Q^'obec v
>;ave the allowance of ^sTl::;;; p^eT^r^rlhi:?''' ^^'"^ ^"^^"'^^ ^ "« "-
tho same population as Quebec or Ontario ? '"''' "" "' ^'"'* "^ *^
Bv Tb. -R V u X. I^KGISLATIVE GRANT.
iJy The British North America Act //? Ar ^ .
yuled, that a Grant shall be mad vfaHv ,v'r / ^'''/^"- '^^'^ '"' '« P^^"
''' "'Cal'"^^^ «overnlVn:: a^^L^^rjr :i^^ ^^^^^^"-'
Quebec,' '" "*•• - - $80,000 00
Nova Scotia, "* '" - - 70,000 00
New Brunswick '" - ^^/'OO 00
The TJrwlersicrncd submif fW ['I "' '" ^^''00*^00
annual Grant tf ^o^^S; llf. r;J^trV: "^"°"^^ --^" ^^''^^ ^'"-^
extent of $10,000, Whatever 1 e i crTaseff n " ^ '" l^^unswick, to the
been during the last decade In of T. S^"''''"" ""^^' «PP<^ar to have
expected to increase more li '^than ^r. 7m ""' "^•''>— nably be
But, separate from this ar,.irn7per non . ^7^ '''"''''' '" *'"« ^"''"e.
New Brunswick, seems, as^i ts, u.ffS r'and win"! ''? ''T"'"^^''^" «^^'-^
jnanifestly so. The cost of g^vent n^ and ? '" ^'^'""^^ '''^ "^"''«^
locally, cannot, and should .fot b "f 2? legislating for the Provinces
Constitution intended to be pepetua "tt '^1. ^^^^^^^-^ »^.y a
Bhewn," said the Hon. Dr. Ti;pper . hat th t^ . ^'' ^''" abundantly
cost) "of working the British Constitl^ , ^"*^^"'^^" (^^^^ a forllon the
" to the size of the Colon^to whi h ^-"1 ^''"''"', " '^ "" '"^^'^ -^-
0/ Carnarvon, Oct. 1866. ^""^ ^''" applied, "-[i,//,, ^, ^,,;
.^^«^«I«^^TIOX OP DOMINION PATRONAGE.
on theYu&tr^^^^^^^^^^
n^atterof justand serious compIaTnt i„ Z' P ''""^^ *''^' ^' ^'^ "^^^^
of the Public Service in the ScTt n" ? Brunswick, that the expenses
the other Provinces than Tn Now Bn^Ze""'^\" ''''^'' '" '-'^ of
of honors and emoluments in tl Jcl " sI ! ' '. v'^''' ^" ^^^^ distribution
of New Brunswick have been ale yoverbol °f ^^^.^."--'-n, the people
the Dominion, their number safari! a T^; . "^ ^''^ °^ *^'« officials of
reveal a state if things'ny iu^ l"'. '1^^^' °' '^"'^ °^ ^'^«'^--^' -ould
g any thing but complimentary to the inhabitants of
t
/ i»
/ t
f \
receive ,,,„t full con.i,:™„'.t •?"'';''';""'"• ^"'•"""'""-■^
f...k.mtio„,_tl,o Public Fi„„ncr;„' ,1 T ^ ''■ '" ™"""1"<'"™ of Con-
present time, are in a vc y u, hill "7,"™ "' ^"'- "'''""'"•-k «t tho
.1.0 cxpe„,|i,u.i .0 "r; If I :, 7"7'^' "'"• "'•■"«>on .o„„u,„.J-
n.o„.,„, .i.0Pr„vi:ee!:i: 1:,^ ;;:^;^';7-- «'- P-«i..g rcuiro.
])rovided for, simply i'orthon.nrJ- '^ '"''''■'■"''' ^"''"^ ^^'''*>"y "n-
- fund, upo'n w,!i'^/:v„ r > ;;;!,r"r: nV'"" "" "r^ ■'- ''•""""-
ca„„ot be made up eonu.lete or f, II o 1" i °''>""'»'j-' «"'!' a seate.neut
i"S to estimate tl,e nature and cvl:,? "^ '""'f "" '" ''"""''• I" ""loavor-
bored that ,l,e probab e pro' et^.Te Pro •'" ''V'T' '' '" '" I*" -"■™-
time to time present e.i Je^fe e/tl !Lm r' "'"' ""'"'-likodata, will from
if for no otber, a Provinee »hou 1,1 LI H ""'""'"''" ' ""J f»r this reason,
or reserved balance/ is E^ht" 1 h'" T"'™" "^ " -T"- f-J
theless to the aetio,, of Parii ,men „n ,' "'".'T''""'""'""' ""''J'^' ""'O^-
for all time." no man ea^be";: le I t-j: . '^lli: ""' '^ " ■'"^- •'"'
aro important clain.s already fully sta "u. theP , ^•""'^■; '*'" "'"°
;vh.eh there is no provision or power toZe T^T ": "'", '"'"' '■'"''
Undersigned desire your eonsidoration ^ ^ " '^="' "' "'■'™ "■«
tHLt^r't:r;j;r^;::[:;t;^r^^
r.rti:;*^,te::mTtretp%'^^^^^^^
submit inm,edia,ely o he P ' fu ;Tl '^ Government to
the ereetion and equipment-. The e«Mf""" " """""■" '" I'^^Jo f"f
ment,"-of a Penite„thrvi7andf .■,,'."'""■ '"""■'""""oe, and manage-
ia not diffieult .o CZ' Z tempt ^°J^T f ^'T' '*""-™^- "
sueh a measure. . Eeferrino- t„m , "'° I''=?'»l'""re will reeeive
City and County'of & t Jo „ i T/' ,'"? °' "'" '''='''««''"' f"™ ">«
is estinmted as follows -l ' """'' "■" '" ""^ y^"' 1839 the eost
Lands,
I'Uiidintr, *" ■■' ••• ••• £ihO
Keeper's House "* "* •" •- ^,000
Iron Doors, &c.' "' "* - - 480
Fences, &c. "" "• - - 200
420
^8,500 Q
To tl
30
iia nm<
fi,.,. r,„,l„ ■ ,°,""! " '" ""'■''"' '" "'''' "'° ''"■»!° ""PO"''!'"™ from ti„,„ to
u ■nor, U. ,U. I l,cro wore ,,l,o improvorriciits niu.lo U- coiivice l.ihor
V ...., ,lo „o, „ppc.„r o„ .1,0 faco „r ,:,„ A,,.o,n„H. Tho co,, o'l,, „rl "
nre
tiiiio : —
can^ on its oporatlon« under the expcn.Iituro of 1^^). Tl., un. X "d
o|^.,un,on that the following is the nunin.um CHtinuUo at Ibo [Z:,^
Lands Bnild.n^s Machinery, &o., O'om,ri„cp( >,pon thr A,-t of the
JJomumn JMnonn,f,) 3;{rd Vict. Cap. yo,) for a 1' -ovi c ul
Penitentiary, ??10U,0U0, interest, ... .. '*''""^'"'
Cost jier annum for maintenance.
Annual charge to New Brunswick,
$0,000 00
8,500 00
914,500 00
-. Great Road., B;,c Iton.fs, Brhh,es, jf-r.-The Undersi..ned venture to
nggcst tha numy of the services which devolve upon the^N w Br n ick
Government are o a peculiar character, and are scarcely duly apn c
by others. As an illustration of this fact, the Road Service i. a sevTe s *
pon he finances of the country; und the practical effect, in a p2 |y
tied I rovinco of H.ilway extension, and of opening new Settleme ts is to
oast new burdens upon this branch of the service. There rabeadv "IS^
J.les of Great Roads, (,.. Sessional Papers of CanaJ^^f'^!"^
Paper 8 Appends 23,) which are annually increased b; the ne c^, aTy Vrans'
f r of Bye lioads to the Great Road Establishment ;^.nd on T e G t"
Koads alone the total length of Bridges is computed at tu-erU, fi Z^To
atter yearly involving an expenditure of $38 000. The annual CnV f
e repair and maintenance of 7.,. Roads is ,65,ioO. It must r Ltll'^
also, that a large amount is contributed by Statute Laboar nn.l ;, '''''"'
to observe, that this work has been and I Jl^Za ^1^^^:^:
pr ciselyu. the same manner as before the Union took place Bt^
withstanding t ns expenditure of money and labor, the Ro d s;rv^ is Lut'
very inofhcontly provided for, and large and urgent demands ieinV, •
or unaccepted because there is no more'money at^be dilplfo Ver ^^
^^Xc^n:!^:^^-^^^^^^^^ ^y of Saint
^mc>unt of travel and tratlic ^o.,.,J^/;^''T:t:r::^C'Z
Great Thoroughfare come at last, and the Government is so utte ly w^ hou
Z^r^ '" ^ff "P"'^'' "' ""^'^ '-^"^ '^ *^«^ the sum require" 1 fav 850.0
or $bOOO,)-to place it in comnleto nnd r..nnor remnr - .(«ay 5?50JO
c,.. ive. „„a people i.vo i,..,, uH™, io,z:z2::::j:r:r:JX
upon It: a novel resort which would be verv distasfpfnl n. i "//^^^'^^
n,a,,veo„,a not bofonod <oj„s.if,eve. b,Zet::;i::it;:;i,:r:;'z
i
,4
/ I 1
,4
( ? I
3i
WoalU tno nflortion nPan^Ti « ^i • .
t".i..n .. .i,» ro,,,„., „,„) »np ,o , u'r;;::;';; """r";;' "'" >"■••"•'■' '■'■"«"■
ou.o,_i, U o„ly « vory »„.ae.li o o, 1 ' ' " ' "'"■ " """ "" '""'•'"'■I
Win. oon,i,k.,o.l, tl.'an New ilk "i^^^^ "" Memo,,,,, „l| ,,
n,„»t bo („ko„ if ,,r„,,roas i, t, bo ;,°a o rr'T'"'^ "" "" "'''«» "'"'"o.ion
their 0,0, i„ .i,„,b, „„J oxp",i"rl' ,',"'""■' '" "'" " '"«» ""■"
ripe wi.l, „,„„,. i„J„oe„,o„' t i ", : '"'"!""".' ' ^■-'' "™-"-iok i»
ox,„l„s tV,„„ ,bo old W,.,.|d ,0 u., V I " """"^"■""i 'W »t,-oa„,i„g
can l,o,,„biio, a„d ,l,o i,a b i trj;: "" ''°'' ''""" '" ""■ ^"'"^
cf moa,,,. Wbolly „„„ulo toon, tnbna.b •""?'" " '"""'"• '''"'" '"'•■k
co,„o„t o„,.,olvo, ,vitl, heari,,. ft !,?„'■"'"" """ ''"■ ""» '""■vieo, wo
l«o,.li,ie» i„ o,.,-ver,,,oi.l,;:;?, V :':,:/;•■'" 7 --> '«»» '-..voroa
of i,n„gra,io„ Co„(o,.o„cos. A'ew B,-, wtl ",, """" l'c»oU„io„«
full sbaro of duty to the Domi, "'" """^^'^ »''l "«ve,' b-. ablo to do bor
En,i,.atio,,,witb;pte «,,::;;:;; .■''"''^•" '" ''-*". '" tl.eca„J
gisla.,„e ba, airoady 0,,actX Sol J IL w wf '''; °" '■'" """'"'■ ^he Lo-
upo„ ,1,0 people, will also en.ai de^rlT''''" '''''"'' '■'•^^•""■»'''»
nature and extent of ,be,e it i, imposs Ll f,! '«'ver„n,ont. Tbe fall
enough to say that K.nigratio, ™dTdn , ""',"' °'' »"'i'-^P»te. It is
for oat of tbo i„eon,o at L d „o d o^be g" "" "' ■"" '""^««''^ --tl
5. ne «,««% io„,.ly call, f,r the '"'^"""""" ""^ ''■•"vinco.
thatitspoworsof^efuhlrmavbeelb ''T''''''''° "' ^'™"'"'^i»' ">onoy,
tion enlarged. Indeed, no„Wth,.a„di,t .ir ' """ "" "'"'" "' '"' ■-'™-
Legislaturo, the relurn.\,e not slh a f , ' 7°""" ""'■'"''t.tej by the
of the people. Money is req,"ired lor rt" !? '''"'""""''° ""Testations
the buildings and grounds-tbr the Inr °"''"«''""="' "'"1 improvement of
now seiontife apparatus, and forttho" Cr"'"'" "' ""^ '""' ^-Po^tation of
remembered that the Legislature ha, til ^^ "■"""''■ ^"'^ """=" " '^
itself for Common Schoo' purposes it "•"'"■r'""1 ""'"^ ''"'"^"^ "P""
cannot bo doubted. Indeed be Une, If '," "'" °"""' "' '^''"cation
what „,av in,lee,l „l„„^, t _ ,'',.^"''""S"C'l behove they only a,.,.i,.i «.
moans were atTh^ediVo,;'! ^"''/'^ <>P'-". "ben they deelare,' that if The
inclusion of the University i„ the ^„;*I"r°"'' '""' "'""'' '"'™™'» -
every ij«i;*« of the P^vinde rtlaW I T, " °'"'° ''™""'^° ' """
education, i„ all its hraoches, t.o. the priLr;''i;e;:rZn";:ld 0^^
0uA
'IcAj
32
Schonla up to the Free U.dursihj of tlie Province. Further efforts, however
in the enli-htencd cause of popuhu- education cannot ho made, unless some
more healthy state of the public finances can be indu.-.ed.
At the last Session of the Legislature application was made to the Govern-
ment by the President of the Saint John Mechanics Institale, and also by
one of the Members of the Directorate-both of them Members of the House
ot A8sembly,-for a small grant in aid of the Technological Scho„l-or
bchoo ot Design-in connection with the Saint John Mechanics Institute.
Ihe Meml)ers of the Government were not slow to acknowlcd.re the impor-
tance of the Institution, nor to declare their desire to aid it, particularly at
the time when this Department is struggling in its infancy ; but to the appli-
cat.on was returned the stereotyped reply, " no funds," and it will remain
to be seen whether this "School," so important to the Mechanics, and so
interesting to all, in New Brunswick, must fail for lack of means. It is in-
deed hare if this should be the case, at a time when it is publicly announced
that the Ontario Government, out of its large revenues, is about to establish
a iechnological School in the City of Toronto.
6. 31inwg.~ThQ extent, richness and value of the Minino resources of
Isew Brunswick are only partially lown, and that by mere "estimate, even
to the people of the Province themselves. But the limited geological explo-
rations of the Province which have been made fully justify them^in the con-
clusion, that New Brunswick is rich in extensive and varied mineral deposits
13ut this IS of httle practical moment, if they are to be forever buried in the
earth. Ihere can be no question, that a proper expenditure of money in
tins important work would not only largely benefit the local interests of" the
Province, but also advance the material services of the Dominion. And it
IS indeed necessary for the people of ii^^y Brunswick very seriously to
examine every probable industry, and struggle to enhance it, since they have
discovered that their invaluable Fishents, which have long been a source of
employment and subsistence to a very large class, and of revenue and pros-
perity to the Provincc-and^Oiikahey had hoped and believed were secured
to them and their children for ever,-are in imminent jeopardy, as a sacri-
lice to the Empire's emergencies !
7. The Province Buildings,
8. I'he Lunatic Asylmn.
The Undersigned forbear to enlarge on this branch of their enquiry.
MANITOBAH AND BRITISH COLUMBIA.
By the terms of the Resolutions passed by the Legislature of New
Brunswick, it will be observed that pointed reference is m,ul« tn th« fi,o.„;..,
arrangements concluded with, and the constitutional advuntages"gran'terto'"
Muintobah and British Columbia, and proposed to the outlyiT.g Colonics
: ,.
•
1 1
^ I
33
Manitobah and British r,»l.imK;„ n . „ ^ ^ *"® ^^^^^ reeled to
i..<o their case, tho U,.Jer,i.rnc.I 1m m P '''«"'"""'f'j' "''""'"S tlierefnom,
ri?l.t of New Brunswick t?;:tn; 'd ^II: T''^ ''^■"""""■'"»'' ">"
o..sno if they ore „ot ^ranted TC hi! ""dl'O great nguslieo wliieh t>,i,st
t" others as Lar „„.. ;::;!:i!; „/ J ^ L^^, T LruT.t^" ""' T """-^
to tortitV their nosifin.. 1.,*,. „ • i ^ ' " '^ is deemed necessary
and anxious, at any ex-pen li,„re'i°,:,' '''""'' ""-'^- '"■'' "' ""<>'= ready
in aetai, into that {.has^ anad:;:'.::,:; I'f^^ :,' „.:;"'"--' '0 P™-'"
ovltLTr.r;,f,ti'::e^;:::':ref''^,r-"°""'''^''-"^''^^
rest their case as it is n.altonnl J P''''™'" ""= Undersigned
.'.at they „,„y h e d p ," Hw U',; ,1° ''"™'""? """"'''• '^''-^ "»"
Government will permit convcn.eneo of the Dominion
CO.VCLUSIO.V.
Bri::hfs:r\i.r4t;„^:::,:;;^- jf i"^ '>v» -■-^ v„iee, or hot,,
>i".., havein,.ruete,r 0° ( °" °""' •''" '•"="' "''"""I EI»o.
eonstitn.ional mel", ^-o^^ment to press for JJcUr Jir„,s by every
.— ::;:esinr>i:o';:r„z^^^^^^^^ '-« "■- - -
•l.at of any previous yi^, ' .f,"""'^','"." " "-"""<^ ""'l-'lled by
■loliars for iLl dove'Cne t a d h Z,? " "^="">'"'""'g '-'"""S „^
yearly and substantially I ,rvLri h. "I'f ""■■""'"' : 'l-at Q,„6ec is
that Nova ScoUa has re oived lermff ,r T "'"■ °' "'° *^'^"""' I' " =
.l.a.. those conceded tcnerh^Te it ^anTlr :*''"'' "-""vanta.eou.
laturowheu the cnmnaet was .ltd ., . T,' ""l' ""''P'"' V lier Legis-
Constitution an.l Gov r, 1 t 'ototfi; . f 7''°'?* ''"' ""'"""' « ''''••'"
ren,u„er„tivo than Ne vU , sw^efc Is! '" T """''''""""' "'») "">ro
Prince Mlv,arU ManU will r^pl'^.^ .";'=°'="'='' i ''■°' AV„yb»„«„„,, „„„
poet, or have none of the AgTeemem whilerr """"""'^ '" "''' ™«-
6
34
«ver of commercial ease and prosperity she cujoys ib despite hot Financial
Barqain of 1867. Nevertheless, as an important and valuable portion ot the
United Provinces, the people of New Brunswick respectfully but most firmly
demand that the political prosperity, comfort and development ot their Pro-
vince shall be equally matters of solicitude to the Government and Parliament
of the Dominion, as tending more surely to secure the successful operation
of the Compact, and at the same time to "protect the diversified interests of
" the several Provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony and permanency in
« the working of the Union."— [^(/efcec Conference, Section 2.
Therefore, that these great purposes may be accomplished ; that the people
of New Brunswick, who held at the time the key of Confederation in their
own hands, may command their just rank in the Dominion; that they may
not discover that the frankness and freedom with which they accepted Union
have really proved fatal to them ; and that the Constitution may vouchsafe
to all that even handed justice without which no system of Government can
be stable or satisfactory, and at once the pride and protection of the governed,
the Undersigned, on behalf of the People, the Legislature, and the Govern-
ment of New Brunswick, respectfully submit their Appeal.
We have the honor to be Sir,
Your obedient servants,
GEORGE L. HATHEWAY,
BENJ. R. STEVENSON,
WM. WEDDERBURN.
I
untinciai
n of the
it firmly
eir Pro-
fliament
peratiou
erests of
aency iu
le people
I in thejt
;hey may
ed Union
'ouchsafe
ment can
joverned,
5 Govern-
35
:WAY,
ON,
^
*To thut Letter, the Undersigned received the following reply :_
(COI'V.)
Gentlemen-,— Ottawa, 9th Octoher, 1871.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, this mornin- of vour
l.nnted Letter of the 2nd inst., addressed to the SecUary of Stat; lb/ 1
1 Z'r ^-'r " 'Tn ^^p "• '" '' ^'-^'''^t-- P--^ ^luring the last Session
of the Leg,, uture of the Province of Xew Crnnswick ; one hv the Legislative
Connc, , and the other by the House of Assen.hly of that Province," si .!
hMth tl.a ,yon have been appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ne^
B.n,nsw,ck ,n Council as Delegates to proceed to Ottawa, on the subjeft
t lo.olut,ons ,n quest.gn, and generally to consider the abstract right of
that 1 rovmce to ^^Bc/tcr Terms," as a member of the Dominion.
Your Letter has been transferred to the Seeretarv of State for C-madi
^rou^. whose Dep.-tn.ent all such matters are brought under th^ 1:^^^,
Hib J'.xcelloncy the Governor General.
I have the honor to be,
Sirs,
Your obd't servant,
E. A. MEREDITH,
The Ilonorablcs Under Secretary of State.
OEORGE L. nATiiEWAY,
BEXJ. R. STEVEXSOX,
W]\[. WEDDERBURX, Esquire, ]\I. P. p„
Ottawa.
1 UPPLH, (,. 13., President of the Privy Council :—
(copy. )
Srii,-
OTTA^VA, October 3rd, 1871.
f uu\ 1^1^"^^^'^ appointed by the Government of New Brunswick
confer with the Privy Council of the Dominion of Canada on th. «, "
to
Canada on the subjf>ct of
»Tt may bo pr„pe.- to note, in explanation, that when the Undersigned stated in their Letter of Oetnhe.
oni. o t! o «„ ce. of that P.-ov.nce m obta.naig u reference o. the disputed questions to Arbitration in
it.ell and under the cu-oun.etances. admitted at that time to be no small concision S nee tie,
6
36
;«
yU
'' Better Terms" for the Province of New Brunswick, respectfully solicit an
interview at as early a day during the ensuing week as your Honorable body
may appoint.
We have the honor to be,
Your obedient servants,
GEORGE L. HATHEWAY,
BENJ. R. STEVENSON,
The Honorabe Dr. TUPPER, ^^- WEDDERBURN.
President of the Privy Council, &c. &c. &c.
To which the Undersigned received the following reply :—
(copy.)
_, Ottawa, October 4th, 1871.
Gentlemen,—
In reply to your Letter dated yesterday, I have the honor to inform
you that the Privy Council will be happy to receive you as Delegates from
New Brunswick on Monday next at 3 o'clock.
I remain,
Yours faithfully.
The Honorables CHARLES TUPPER.
G. L. HATHEWAY,
B. E. STEVENSON,
WILLIAM WEDDERBURN, Esq., M. P. P.
As Your Excellency will at once perceive, from a perusal of their Letter of
the 2nd October, it was impossible for the Undersigned to pursue their
investigations of the Dominion Returns and Accounts down to a later date
than the close of the fiscal year 1869-1870. They tlierefore addressed the
following Letter to the Honorable the Minister of Customs;—
(copy.)
Hon. S. L. TILLEY, C. B., ^""^^^' ^^^°^«^ ^t'^' l^H.
Minister of CiiBtoms, &c. &c.
Sir,—
Referring to our Letter of the 2nd instant to the Honorable the
Secretary of State for the Provinces: we found it impossible to go as fully
into the Customs Returns of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as we desired,
as we had not at our disposal the figures for the year ending 30th June last!
We, therefore, take the liberty to ask you, if you can furnish us with the
Official Returns up to the present time, that we may use them as we may find
necessary in discussing our claims upon the Dominion for " Better Terms."
We have the honor to be,
Your obedient servants,
GEORGE L. HATHEWAY,
BENJ. T?., .".TEVTilN^ON
WM. WEDDERBURN.
And a similar Letter to the Honorable the Minister ox Public Works, as
follows :—
37
(copy.)
Hon. H. LAXGEviN, c. B., OTTAWA, October 7, 1871.
Minister of Public Works, &o
Sir, —
Returns from the Pub^c Xwr 'i'''T'''^l' *« ^o as fully into the
clesired, as we had not t oTr di poLfl^^ T ""f "I"^' """""^^^^ '' ^'
June last. We, therefore take the lb t .^"""T ^'' '^'' ^''"' ^"^^°^ '^^th
with the Official' Ret:Zl^^^::!Z:1l^^ '' ''" ^"V'""^^' "^
may find necessarv in chS..: ' '^* ''''' "''''>' "^^ t^^m as we
T'.rL." ^ discussing our claims upon the Dominion for ^^ Better
We have the honor to be,
Your obedient servants,
GEORGE L. HATHEWAY,
BENJ. R. STEVExXSON,
WM. WEDDERBURN.
foiw' t!™"" ''^""- '° '"^ ^"""-"'^ *» Mi'-'" of Inland Eovenuo, as
(copy.)
Hon. ALEXANDER MORRIS, ' OTTAWA, October 7th, 1871.
Minister of Inland Revenue, &c
Sir, —
We have the honor to be,
Your obedient servants,
GEORGE L. HATHEWAY,
BENJ. R, STEVENSON,
WM. WEDDERBURN
Parhament in consideration of fto e.ceptional'^nature „ theirMtarnX
Pursuant to the aforegoing appointment, the Undersigned were honoured
4
38
with a liearin*:^ before the ITonorablo the Privy Council on 3In))da)/. tlio iihifh
(lay of Ot7oi(.T instant ; and upon that occasion, cnibracod the (iiipoitiiniiy to
enlarge upon auH. otherwise enforce each of the arguments and propositions
presented in their Letter of the 2nd instant, — (a copy of wliich had already
been lianded to eacii Minister,) — and to comment upon, — and to fortify their
case with, — and to advance other views suggested by, — the additional and
valuable information as to Customs, Public Works, Revenue, &c., placed at
their disposal.
The Undersigned should, perhaps, inform Your Excellency, that they
adn\itted, notwithstanding time and experience have abundantly proved that
the " British North America Act, i567," has not provided anythi ng like adequate
terms for New Brunswick, yet, as this Province had solemnly and deliberately
accepted it, and severe and exceptional as the financial results must prove, no
complaint, or appeal for " Ddlrr Terms," would probably have been nuide in
its behalf '«ut for the Xova Scotia concessions and the very generous nature
of the teriii.s granted to the Provinces of Manitobah and British Columbia imd
ottered to Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. They referred, also,
to the arrangement concluded with Ontario in the matter of the Great West-
ern Railway Company, * which has practically and ettectually enhanced the
terms given to that Province by the Act of Union. They thereupon contended
the charge could not justly be preferred againSt New Brunswick that it alone
sought or seeks relief from a Constitutional Compact which it had accepted.
Indeed, that the original Agreement or Act of Confederation, and the terms
foreshadowed by the Quebec and London Conferences, both technically as
regards Nova Scotia and practically as regards all the Provinces of the Con-
federacy, except New Brunswiclc, exist only by a sort of misnomer, po largely
had they been departed from either in letter or in spirit, and sometimes in
both. And because they had not in their Letter of the 2nd instant gone into
the arguments presented by these better terms to Ontario, British Columbia,
Manitobah, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, the Undersigned
accepted this opportunity of orally referring to them, and of com[>aring them
with the terms contemplated by the Conferences and the Act of Confederation
and those granted to New Brunswick. And as the Undersigned had frequently
to meet the charge of extravagance against New Brunswick published in the
Upper Provinces since the movement in the Legislature in favor of '■'• BeVer
Terms," and the allegation that the Funds allotted to it were wasted and
needlessly consumed, they took occasion to refer to that subject before the
Privy Council, and more fully during their Conferences with certain members
of the House of Coroinons who adopted that line of agumeut. They appealed
to the Annual Accounts of the Province, and contended that no new items
had been added to the public expenditure since Confederation ; that precisely
the same services, now a charge on the local Government, had for years existed
f
r
V
*Dom. Stat.Z& Vict. Cap L; 34 Vict. Cap XLIV; ctoet.
t
T
39
l)cforo Confodcratioii,— In.lood evoi- since tlio ostablislimcMit, of Rc^<pollsil.I(«
Govcniincnt-, aiid wlto c-oiitfiiii.latcd l.y the irniou Art in tlio distnlmtinn <,f
the leiji.slativo and ireiieral powers ot'tlio Dominion J'ai'lianiont and tlir local
LoiCisIatnro, and had not boon made any more e>q)onsive than the exii^^eneies
of oacli case demanded as tlie I'rovinee pro-ressed. That for the snp"p,.rt of
oil these, the terms of the Union Act were intended, but are inade(iuate;
and that all of //n;n, with the other services ori-inally within the Jnrisdiction
of the rrovineial Government, were eomiin-tably cared lor before' C(.nfedera-
tion. That it is manifestly irrelevant an<l nnjiist to pretend to repiv to the
claim for ^'Better Tcniw," tluit New f5rnnswiek must perforce now rednce its
remanent establishment and expenditnre. in order to nudve the terms of (he
British North America Ad "lit" its case, and so continue the work of rednc-
tion,— if not of demolition,— trom time to time as tiie provisions of the Act
become more and more opin-es..ive. And, it is to be remend)ere.l, all this must
be not for a year or a decade, but for all tinie as Ion- as the Constitution shall
eontmno to exist. And, in the natural current of events,— if Xew llrnnswick
IS not to become stationary amid the general proo-ress of the conie.leratcd
J'rovmces and the neighbouring States,— when this reduced expenditnre and
this diminished establishment are found incommensurate with the ivipiire-
mcnts fthe day, shall we retrace our steps in the local political organism
and economy of the Province to things as they now are ? rehabilitate our estab-
lishment and enlarge our expcnces ? and then seek, with any reasonable lu.po
of success, to secure -• Bdlcr Tm>,s" / Ami would anv who <lcsire now to
hold this Province.— and this one aIone,-to the very letter of tlie Act, be any
more willing then to do justice to our wants and our saerilices, and to relievo
US Irom the penalties of the bond? P>ut the Undersigned submitted, also
that no such propositions were presented to Nova Scotia, and no such' spirit
pervaded the negotiations with the North West Territorv, or British Colum-
bia, or the offers made to the outlying Colonies. That had any such proposals
been advanced prior to Confederation, and when tlie schemes of Union were
siibmitted,— instead of the large promises contained in Imperial Despatches,
Government Memorandums and Conference Kesolutions, and in the speeches
of the Canadian and other Delegates delivered from Citv to Citv, from Char-
]ottet-wn to Ottawa, and all of an exactly opposite and reassuringtenor,— New
Brunswick most certainly would liavc refused to enter into any Constitutional
Alhance Nvith " Old Canada." That, furthermore, New Brunswick will have
made suflicient sacrifieo, under any circumstances, to secure to the British
North American Provinces a Constitution, without now being called upon
to submit to external dictation and practical coercion and conU-ol as to the
curtailment or limiting of its own internal expenditure below what it had long
before enjoyed, and below ichat wan prafes^nll^ guaranteed to it in 1HU7 ; and oiil?
because it logically seeks to obtain under the Constitution, the same consider-
ation It enjoyed before the Constitution, and which others have so liberally
received since the adoption of the Constitution. Aud tiiey claimed through-
40
|! 'I
out all the Conferences referred to in this Report to Your Excellency, that
whatever organic changes, if any, may be deenicd desirable or necessary here-
after must be solely matter for the consideration of the local Legislature,* imd
that the benclits accruing, if anij, should of right belong to Now Brunswick,
and not to the Dominion, as in all similar cases; but, finally and above all,
that no reductions can possibly be made large enough to render the demand
lor '■'■ Belter Terms" either unnecessary or untenable.
In addition, the Undersigned felt it their duty to present more in detail
than could be conveniently embraced in any Letter, a Statement of the
Annual Income and the Annual Expenditure in the local services, as set forth,
at large, in the Journals of the last Session of the Provincial Legislature.t
They explained, among other things, that not only were all the Funds allotted
to this Province and available under the Briti^k North America Act, and the
Local Revenue, legitimately and entirely absorbed from year to year, but also
that the additional sums of $J00,000, and $14,000,— baf/mces in the hands of the
Government and Departments in 1867, and to which casual reference is made in
their Letter of the 2nd instant, had been included in and carried through successive
Annual Estimates ami Accounts, and had been from time to time appropriated in part
to the current ordinary czpcnces oj the local Service. That a reference to tlie
Financial Statements of New Brunswick from 1868 to 1870, both inclusive,
will show how soon and how steadily that Surplus or Reserved Fund, dimin-
ished. The Balances during this period were thus stated : —
lOctober 81st, 1868,
" 1869, -
" " 1870,
$213,073 09
- 113,040 49
82,064 96
These results of the financial operatims of the respective fiscal years referred
to,— and to which only passing reference could be made in the Argument
before the Privy Council,— proved, they contended, that the whole balance
from the 1st day of July, 1867, to the close of the first financial year of New
Brunswick under the new Constitution, did not reach in amount the original
Provincial Surplus. Indeed, but for the incorporation of these sums, with the
current accounts of the Province from time to time, the positive insufiieiency
of the Terms provided for New Brunswick in the Act of Union, would have
become immediately apparent to the public eye. And they intimated, it was
quite possible, that in some quarters, where the true nature of the items of the
Financial Statements was not fully understood, the injurious impression had
been created, that New Brunswick not only enjoys suflicient for its Local Pur-
poses, but also a Balance to its credit as the yearly result ; but Members of
Ihe Privy Council must now apprehend how erroneous this view of the case
really is. They argued also, that a portion of the sum referred to is included
in the Financial Statement of the current fiscal year,S and that thef.nal instal-
• B. N. A. Act 1867, § 92. fJourn. House of Assembly, 1871, p 90-1 12.
t Journ. Legitlaturt, 1868, '69, 70, 71. § Joum. House of Atsemblf/, 1871, p. 108.
»
£
f
e
t
I
'"^-^mmmnaswifmems msmm
41
as
mcnt of it is in fact the supposed '\Surplus- of %82,0Gi .%"• Hence, i
chiimcfl, it must appear niiinifest, that the Government of Now Bninswick
00 fined to the Sulwi.lies and Grants of tlie Act of '07, is far more tlnin nn-
('q>ial to the absolute emergencies of tlie Public Service. But, tliev further
argued, during this period the Annual Provincial Subsidy bas been paid to
Now Brunswick m full, i.ocwithstanding, and while the Can'adian Government
daims ns per tlie Public Accounts, that it has become indebted to the Dominion
m the further mm of $575,29S*_on account whereof interest at r, per centum
per annum will be charged against this Province and be deducted from our
Subsidy under the terms of the B. N. A. Act.f The Undersigne<l, also, endea-
voured to estimate the financial condition of the Province when the Subsidy
shall be reduced by this contra charge of interest nearlv $30,000;=^ and the
still further and greater embarrassment when the fufl sum of $(58 000 is
wholly withdrawn in 1877 t For, if during this short period. New Brul.swick
lijis thus necessarily exhausted its reserved Fund, Local Revenue, Subsidy
Br Capita Allowance and Legislative Grant, and increased its debt to the
Dominion Sr,7o,298 over and above 87,000,000,t what must be the condition
of affairs when it has no Reserve, and but half of the present Provincial Sub-
sidy ? or, in ten years from the time of Union, now a very short period in
the life of a Province, when, without any old Surplus to its credit in the
Departments, its already increased indebtedness over the Provincial Debt pre-
scribed oy the Act has, at the same rate of increase, assumed double its present
proportions, and the full sum of $63,000, per annum, has been whollv taken
away? And on this (then) indebtedness will the Canadian Government
demand interest, and from what item then remaining to us shall it be
deducted ?T[ That in view of these tiguros,-now a part of the financial his-
tory of New Brunswick during less than five years under Confederation, an.l
If there IS anything reliable in the logic of events, and the lessons of accom-
plished facts,— upon this branch of the enquiry alone. New Brunswick with-
out ^^ Better Terms,- must, for ordinary local purposes, apart from all desirable
1 rovmcial improvements or investments, a-ain impose new and heavier and
direct taxation upon the people, or drift into Financial Bankruptcy ' That
frorr 'nformation derived from the Honorable the Minister of Agriculture'
and from the Census Commissioner at Saint John, the Undersigned were
led to L leve the results of the late Census would not very materially or
substantially affect any of their estimates as to the future of New Brunswick
financially; but would only illustrate more forcibly the unfairness ofthowa-
capita, and other arrangements of the " British North America Act." Such then
to New Brunswick, at least and alone, must be the issues of the Financial
Bargain of 1867. They asked the Privy Council, therefore, "«.s it is ^o
tB.K. A. Act, §119.
^Resolutions Leg. Coun. ante. t5. A. A. Act, § 1 l.^i.
Public Aceountp, Canada iii. 17. B. y, a. Act, § 118.
1<75" 5' i t!l,^ ^11: - f '"• ^'"'*- ^^ ^''''- ^"P- " • ^- *• ""'^ ^" ^- ^^'*- ^"b. Accts. Canada. Ill, pp.
16. tt *et. " P»blit Btit." Utt»r Und 0«t.. ant*. ^^
4ii
■ ohi'ioushi the interest of the G
lann ,s
lioald nutrh sati:.f(ictori/i/,"*
ovirmmu cwd PurUamml of Ike lJomi„m>, thnt ll
to iiitcrpo.se, iis wdl )„ tin- inteiv.st ofJiii:
t\ ,,,,IC,,.fl TT • . ^-l'"'"^' "•- "VII Ml UK- miflX't>l Of diis-
l".So h..r, „» ,„ ll,c. m „i„„ IVoas,,,.,, ,., „.|,i..|, .Vow ]!n„„„.i,k ,o
''"""•''■'".' ''r ■'"'''''"''''"" '''^"•'"i'»i'i»t''''v,m.l,,,,ius,,,,i,H,,,.,,.!o
|..r conW U,. U„,U.r,ig,K.l a.i,„i, „„. ,,,m, „, ,„o „,«o« ,„„k. ds.n.l.oro,
."■^ .... ui«i „„.„,ii„,. ,., „,„ ,,„„ „,■,,,„„„„,,, „„,„,, I ,,; , ;
IH.l, «l,i,l, 1„, 1 rart,c:,lly n„l.„vc.n»l,„l tl,f New Uniiiswick Tr..„„,-v
"l.|lo,ll,:,»„„nd,.,l tl.o T,v„s,„.ic.s „,-,:,„ ,„„.,■ .,ri,, Pro i„J, „ Z
^n,„„ „„. a. i ll„.l ,1,0 «o„o,,,l Exol,cc,„o,. will, . ,■■„„ .o «, ,
:^;;;::;::;:^w;i:;;';r>:!;t:J^1■■''"t;^^■l'■'■•s '••-«--«;-
., ,,,.,, . '^ ti T> • V ^''''^ obtmued communication with tlio
o ' ;; ^;"'f/'-'^-^^l l.n- abolition of the Constitutional anonu.lie;
o <U.al leadcrsh.p, double nu.jonties, political <lead locks and the inter'
anta^onKsms ot race;t when both Provinces are lou.lly and often con . t
uhcn .Noxa bcotu., our own Maritime neighbor, has obtained relief fron> 1
^ Si>- John A. MucDoHuld, Xova ycolia forrespondcncc
t m Union o/ac Pro,: JJ. X A. ly n„n. Jo.eph CanCu.n, 18(i5, ;. l-SJi.
I bince tliis Konort was Hi'ifti<ii H)u li\„.,ii . n t
upLn,p.Min.tiJLegi.l^I" "r r " ^ °I^-'™-^N- OoVKKxoK or the Provinco of Q,:l.o,
" o^s:p;:si:i:~ :':i:xt;;;;;;':: v'' ''"v;:: -^"^^ ^"^"'^'"^ ^^^^^'^ '- '"^ '^'«^-- ''™->--
" 1.UV. no doubt vou .ill 1 u "a V '"', ' "'"""' '" "'"^^ '''''' ""'^''^^ -I""-' -^1 1
'• happv to loan. ,u t ,^ ;: , Ijr'''"^ '":'"' '^T'^r"' "'• ^'- P^^ic i^.nds. You .ill be
••yeai-in public wo,.^^rLwi«zrr"r r f '^^^ ""■■" ''"'"■™' '^"■•'"^ "- '-^ ^-"•
'■publie in.,rudio,,-i; t Z^^^ "'""''°* '"f '"' '"' ''"l-"-^-i" "- develop.nent of
".>"n..ou.objeeu;bie,. U:^ Sril^'^r^ : "nf^ 1^ '^^"^^^ : "'^ ^""
"romain.acansiclerabloeumtotbec.™]i, ,>r the P.-....i.u.o " ^ Oovornraent, there still
-shewing that the J^-ovinee of Q,nh<v is able to incur " hm,c. cv,H',>diture" for Prn, ,. W
' .
»+
H
4.3
undue pressure of the Act and is now conciliated and satisfied* -when
merit ot i eace, Order and Protection,! and British Cohiinhia lias irai.iPd
admission to the Union literally on it. own tornis,| and both 1 r fiifa i U
a..rangements peculiarly liberal and advanta^^eous to them : N w Bru; k
may. they argued, surely and confidently expect the co-operation ot^^.e
sister Provinces to make it also and equally contented -mo or urtt-.!
when to it must be attributed so largely' the' doptio!. of that S^tfm Jc^^^^^^^
federation which has thus so greatly and materiallv enriched a 7benefi"d
contriDu e. 1 hat in fact, while bearing their full quota of the general exnon
di ture o the Dominion for these objects, our own plople will h!v praS J
paid w, h the.r own money involved in the Surplus in the DominiorExt i
quer at least to a considerable extent, for any'concession v i h nfay be"
made while at the same time if any Commercial advantages harlru'd to
New Brunswick, they are necessarily and essentially of^that nature icli
increase directly and indirectly the financial ability and prospe it" of the
Donmno^ which proportionally co.ftribSte:! niuch
" My preuecesBor, at the openine of the first Sp»«inn nf ti,;„ t • i .
"labo. with re.enue« at you^disp'o.! Z^L^^X tt'i; rThatThT'"' ^ n '"" '*^'" ^'""^
"not only for the actual requirements of the Government W. T ^''^^V ? '""'^'' '"""^^ t^^mte,
" improving country. The'opinion then so conitre ' Ll"'!; '" "'"''^ '^•' T"'' '' *^'» ™P>'%
" virun<d Treasury, and that too after satJlTTol lllP '!, " '""""""^ '''""'^ '" '^^ ^''<'-
••and entities, bi also ^o^n^for ^artS:2:;;^Zm;"Z::!r:T f'f • "'^'^
"<to«» which are no less creditable to vour liberalifv than / , !• f^ '^'^'"^' of publw institu-
"ity. a.d the gene.1 interests of th^Ci n^ g^^w ^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '^'^'-^ '^--
"a consia .able portion thereof, in developing the refources of ^^^e Provin c 1 '^ '' T '^' "'' ""'^'^
" and Agri, ultural interest, of the people ft will be for you to detSr" ' ""'"^ ''' ^'""""^-''''^
" where exhibited in this Province, and it therefo^ affordBlJ! . ^^ * "' """^ *^'"°'' «"''y-
" favourable an a«p.t of our county, stridert ^J ZSXZZ^r'"''^''' ^°" ^" ^
Such glowmg language must sound strange and unfamiliar to anv New T • ^, u
thoroughly understands theflnancialconditi.LfA«FrovrnandS^ Brunsw:cker who truly and
and Quebec wiU ask for " Better Ter,„,- than such «. thl ^"^.«''™''«/^«'-J"'PP'-ehension that Ontano
+ D<m. Stat. 32 and 33 Vict. Cap. Ill ; 34 Viet. Cap. XIV, et cet.
I The Hon. Mr. Tkutch's speech, post.
7
44
the more to the Qoneriil Rpvonno of the Dominion than tlie others, na is
apparent from pn'vioiis obscrvatioiiH, sliould bo lu'hl iilono bound to ii position
from which it hIiuII for all time derive ho much tho Iosh advantage, is a pro-
blem which the UnderHigned could not protend to Bolve.
Before proceeding further, although only general reference was made to
thorn at Ottawa by the Undersigned, they take tho liberty to recall Your
Excellency's attention to the Ibllowing extracts from the Addresses delivered
by eminent Canadian gentlemen in different parts of the Provinces, us they
and the Maritime Delegates proceeded witli ♦^heir deliberations on the subject
of the Union then proposed, and as j)ublished generally by the Colonial Press
at that time ; and, also, to an extract from the Speech delivered by tho Hon-
orable Mr. TuuTCii, one of the Delegates from British Columbia, at the Com-
plimentary Dinner to him at Ottawa, 10th April, 1871 — the Honorable Sir
George E. Cartikr presiding. From these extracts, Your Excellency may
the more readily perceive, that in their proceedings, tlie Undersigned liavo
been largely influenced by the spirit so widely ditlused when Confederation
was not yet accomplished, and which they now desire may obtain equal pro-
minence and influence when tho re-consideration of the case of New Bruns-
wick is presented. They also give one or two quotations from Imperial
Dispatches. They might easily make their quotations and extracts much
lengthier and more voluminous, but as each Address was delivered in tho
presence of all the Speakers fresh from the deliberations of the Conferences,
they have rather endeavoured to point them to diflerent phases of the discus-
sion, instead of swelling this Report with what might be considered mere
cumulaiive evidence on each distinctive proposition. And in the perusal of
them, one cannot help recalling to his mind tho language employed in the
Nova Scotia Correspondence, and during the Parliamentary Debates on the sub-
ject of the admission of British Columbia and the North West Territory ; and
to ask himself whether that " spirit " became exhausted upon those matters,
and shall be powerless of influence when New Brunswick endeavors to
invoke it ?
The extracts to which the Undersigned desire to refer Your Excellency are
as follow :
Hon. Mr. Cardwell. — " Her Majesty Government cannot but express the
" earnest hope that the Arrangements may not be of such a nature as to in-
" crease at least to any considerable degree, the whole expenditure, or make
" any material addition to the taxation, and thereby retard the internal industry,
*' or tend to impose new burdens on the Commerce of the Country." — \_Dis-
patch, Dec. 3, I864.
" You will at the same time express the strong and deliberate opinion of
" Her Majesty's Government that it is an object much to be desirtd that all the
" British North American Colonies siiouiu agree to unite in one Government.
"In the territorial extent of Canada, and in the maritime and commercial
" enterprise of the Lower Provinces, Her Majesty's Government see elements
" of power which only require to be combined in order to secure for those
'i
t
I
oi'fl, na IS
I positioi)
is u pro-
inudc to
all Your
delivered
, lis tlioy
e subject
liul PresH
the Ilon-
:he Coni-
rable Sir
ucy nuvy
acd have
^deration
"puil pro-
w Bruna-
Iniperial
3t8 much
id in the
ifbrences,
le discus-
red mere
erusal of
}d in the
the sub-
;ory ; and
I matters,
3avor8 to
lency are
press the
as to in-
, or make
industry,
."— [i)w-
pinion of
it all the
ernment.
tnmercial
elements
for those
I
45
Provinces which shall possess them all, a place amon^ the most consider-
able communities of the world. * * * * ^aeh an Union seems to Her
Mojeshf'.^ Gorrrrimnif to reconunmd itself to the Provinces on mawj grounds of
moral and inaUriai adcantaf/e, as (jiving wdt /o)indt:d prospect of improved .idmin-
istration and increased prosperitg. — [^Dispatch, S4!h June, WCl.
The Hon. (now Sir) John A. Macdonald. — " lie had, however, every rea-
son to believe that the result of the Conference which held its sittings at
Charlottetown, would lead to the fornuition and e.stablisliment of such a
Federation of all the Uritish North American Provinces as would tend very
materialbj to enhance their individual and collective prosperitg, politically, commer-
cially and socially."— [Speech at Charlottetown, 8th Sept., ISfJ/,.
" In di-scussing the question of Colonial Union we must consider what is
desirable and practical ; wv must (;o)isult local prejudices and aspirations. It is
our desire to do so. I hope that we will be enabled to work out a Constitu-
tion that will have a strong Central Goverimient, and at the same time will
preserve for each Frovince its own identity and will protect every local ambition ;
and. if IOC cannot do this we shall not be able to carry out the object we have in view.
* t= * * J Yyjii merely say, we are desirous of a Union with the Maritime
Provinces on a fair and equitable basis ; that ice desire no advantage of any kind;
that we believe the object in view will be as much in favor as against the Maritime
Colonies."— [At Halifax, 12th Sept.
The Hon. (now Sir) George E. Cartier. — " As to the question of Colonial
Union * * he hoped and believed the result of their deliberations would
end in a Grand Confederation of the British Provinces, such as must prove
beneficial to all, and an injury to 7ione.'' — [At Charlottetown.
*• Gentlemen, you must not be afra; r' .,f us who come from Canada, because
we represent a Country greater in respect to population ai a territory. Don't
be afraid of us, tn't tell us to go back loith all our offers of no avail, — don't
tell us as it vas formerly said of others —
" 'Timeo Dauaos, et dona ferentes.'
Let me assure you that the promises we make are made in all sincerity and good
faith; in urging Union upon you, we believe we are doing that which will be
for your happiness and prosperity." — [At Halifax.
" But 1 know that in this City and elsewliere it is sought to turn public
opinion against us by saying that if you havealocal Government you must resort
to direct taxation for the support of the Government. This would never be the case,
for a Subsidy was to be paid by the General Government to each of the local
Governments to cover their cxpences, and the^'o would be some small items of
local revenue, lohich would be sufficient." —[At Montreal, 29th Oct.
The Hon. George Brown. — " Heretofore we had been known as separate
OoXoxnQfi, and the merits and disadvantages of each compared and set off against
the other, — but with Union the advantages of each loould pertain to the whole, — a
citizen of one would be a citizen of all, and the foreign emigrant would come
with very different feelings of confidence to our shores. * * * On a
survey of the whole case, I do think that there is no doubt as to the high
46
" advantages that would result from a Union ofall the Co\omes,-provided thai
' (he terms of Union could be found just to all the contracting parties, and so framed
« as to secure harmony in the future administration of affairs. Thai is the unanimous
conclusion of the Conference. * * * * But it wer-Mvrong to conceal for a
" moment that the whole merit of the Scheme of Union may be completely marred by
« the character of its details."- lAt Halifax.
" A new Conference would shortly take place in which all the details of a
"plan of Confederation would be examined with the greatest care, which, if
« li went into operation, would place us all on an equal footing as British
"Jlmericans, mstead of being as now sectional provincialists with divided
''interests:'— ^t Saint John, Uth Sept.
" There is a very pleasing feature in the finance question : " A Confedera-
ls tiou of five states is about to be formed, and it is to the credit of the whole
" that not one of them has ever been unable to meet its obligations to the day
" and still further that the finances ofall are now in such a satisfactory con-
" dition that every one of them has a large Surplus of revenue over expendi-
" turefor the ctirrent year."—[^t Toronto, Nov. 2nd.
The Hon. (now Sir) A. T. Galt.-'' We shall have a common interest in
"^^each others proceedings. * * * I don't wish that this audience should
^ go away with the idea, that we Canadians in coming down here and bring-
" mg this subject before you are actuated by any other than feelinss of
'' patriotism:' —\At Halifax.
"He hoped the discussion of this public question would induce gentlemen
II to look at It in all its bearings, and that they would find that what was good
''for Canada would be good for the Lower Provinces. He was sure they
" would look at this question not in a selfish point of view, but in one which
" has regard to the benefit ofall. He believed that Union would be produc-
I'tive of good both to Canada and the Maritime Provinces. It was not a
" light thing for apeople to trust their prosperity to others."— [jdt Montreal,
"lam confident this great Union will tend to the protection of all our
" interests:'— yit Ottawa.
The Hon. Sir E. P. Tache.— " Union would benefit us all— not merely this
" one or the other one, but the whole."— [./?/ Quebec.
The Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee.— '' The Maritime Delegates might say we
II (Canadians) desired this Union ; that if Canada goes into it she goes into
" It for no small or selfish purpose ; that the people of Canada are year by year
"becoming more liberal and enlightened in their views. * =^ * He was
II sure they might say to their constituents, that Canada would come into the
" Union with a view of securing their common prosperity and welfare:'—
{jit Montreal,
The scope and tenor of the numerous Speeches delivered throughout New
Brunswick, from 1864 to 186T, and during two Electioneering campaigns,
on the question of Confederation, and breathing even more fully the "spirit"
of the preceding extracts, are already quite familiar to Your Excellency.
r
i
S
47
The Hon. Mr. Trutcii, while reviewing the negotiations of the Dominion
Government with himself and his co-Delegates from British Columbia, said •
^^ As soon as we came to consider the question of Terms we arrived at the
conclusion, that no Scheme based on the actual population of the Country
was capable of being adopted; that it was simply impossible to proceed
according to the strict terms of the British North America ^ct in this
respect. * * * * We then ^W./erf that we must have a certain sum
of money, and urged that it was unwise to cut the means of the Colony
down below the actual revenue required for necessary expenditure,, as the
Domzmon would only ultimately find itself obliged to make a more liberal
arrangement, and we pointed out that the Colony was giving up the onlv
elastic source of revenue which we have,_the Custom's Kevenue,-the onlv
^^ source of revenue capable of meeting the growing requirements of tl.;
^^ people and that even if we got at first more Subsidy than our population
entitled us to, year by year, as our numbers increased, the Dominion would
''get the better bargain financially. * * * * That was the conclusion
" arrived at by our Legislative Council in 1870, and urged upon your (Govern-
ment by the British Columbia Delegates," (the Pacific Railway) » as the
''^sme qua non oUur Union. We argued, 'if Canada is now ready to make
this Kailway then let us join her at once, if not we shall do better to stay as
^|we are until she is prepared to undertake the responsibility of that enter-
prize. * * * * fpr^ ^^^g ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ appreciate that we were
bound by the British North America Act in the matter of Representation "
Atter a most patient and protracted hearing by the Honorable the Privv
Council of each of the Undersigned, on the points referred to in their Letter
ot the 2nd instant, or indicated in other portions of this Report, the difterent
Sssfol "'''°^^^''' Brunswick were made matter of conversational
The Undersigned had the honor also of several interviews with the Honor-
able the President ot" the Privy Council, the Honorable the Minister of Justice
the Honorable the Minister of Finance, the Honorable the Minister of Cus-
tom^ and the Honorable the Minister of Agriculture, and several members of
the House of Commons, and on each occasion the claims of New Brunswick
were fully discussed, but principally in relation to the different Departments
It was, however, suggested by some of the Ministers during these individual
Conferences, that many of the difficulties referred to might be redressed or
removed by a - L^gislativr Union of the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia
andNeu: Brunswick." The Undersigned felt it their duty, however, o
dechne anything like a yz.a.e-official expression of their sentiments on the
abstract question of such a Union, or the probable or improbable acceptance
01 It by tne rrovmce of IS ew Brunswick ; Jirst, because they deemed the dis-
cussion of such a subject foreign to their present Mission, and as they were
not in a position to express anything more than an opinion which could not
possibly partake of a representative character ; second, because they concluded
and contended, that the matter of ^^ Better Terms" for New Brunswick should
48
be considered and adjudged on its own merits, independently of any present
or future determination or opinion of this Province on that of a Maritime
Union ; for while on the subject of '* Better lerms " both branches of the
Legislature of New Brunswick are united and Uiianimous, on that of the Union
differences of opinion might and probably would arise ; and that, in the pre-
sent financial state and difficulties of this Province, it must occupy a most
disadvantageous position in any negotiations with Nova Scotia on that subject,
should the Legislature of New Brunswick desire or propose to proceed therein.
The Honorable Provincial Secretary was also favored with a lengthy
interview with the Honorable Mr. Mitchell, Minister of Marine and Fisheries,
as the Minister was reluctantly compelled to leave Ottawa before the arrival
of the Honorable Surveyor General and Mr. Wedderburn.
The Undersigned closed their labors at Ottawa, on Thursday, the 12th instant,
and left for New Brunswick on the following morning.
Before leaving Ottawa, the Undersigned were informed that several points
raised by them had been referred to the Honorable Minister of Justice,
the Honorable Minister of Finance, the Honorable Minister of Customs, and
the Auditor General, respectively, and that immediately upon the return of
the Honorable Messieurs Langevin, Howe and Mitchell, (who were unavoid*
ably absent,) the claims of New Brunswick to '■'■Better Terms" would command
the further consideration of the Privy Council ; and the Undersigned expressed
the desire to be heard, by Correspondence or otherwise, on any matter invol-
ved which might appear doubtful or uncertain before final decision thereon
by the Privy Council. It was therefore arranged, that in such a case, Corres-
pondence would be had with the Government of New Brunswick.
The Undersigned beg further to report, that the fullest and most courteous
consideration was readily accorded to them at all the interviews referred to
with the members of the Privy Council ; and they have the pleasure to add,
that, while exception was taken to some of the arguments presented, the equity
of their case on behalf of New Brunswick was largely admitted, — the right of
the Province to a full measure of justice under the circumstances conceded, —
and the distinct assurance given that the Government will exercise all its
power and influence to remove every just cause of local discontent and dis-
quietude, and to make the Government and the Legislature and the people
of New Brunswick satisfied as to their financial relations with the Dominion.
The Privy Council reserved the right, on a full discussion and review of the
whole case, to determine in what manner relief and reparation shall be aftbrded
to this Province, without doing injustice to other portions of the Dominion.
Giving, therefore, full confidence to such repeated acknowledgments and
assurances, the Undersigned feel warranted in reporting to Your Excellency
that the Privy Council of Canada will adopt such MoasufOa for tno rehei of
New Brunswick as shall be eminently satisfactory to Your Excellency in
Council, to the Legislature and to the People, and at the same time give no
just or fair cause of complaint to other portions of the Confederacy.
Finally, the Undersigned desire to acknowledge through Your Excellency
49
the many courtesies extended to them at all times by His Excellency Lord
LisoAR and the Members of the Privy Council, and others, at Ottawa, while
in the discharge of the duty devolved upon them; and to request Your Excel-
lency will be pleased to cause a Copy of this Keport to be transmitted to the
Honorable the Secretary of State for Canada, to be laid before His Excellency
the Governor General in Council.
While fully appreciating the magnitude, and the delicate and difficult
nature, of the labor assigned to them by Your Excellency in Council,— and
very willing, as Your Excellency was informed, to give place to others better
qualified properly to perform it,— the Undersigned, upon receipt of Your
Excellency's commands, felt it would be an unworthy abandonment of the
position they had assumed deliberately on this subject in the Legislature, and
a dereliction of duty to the Province, did they shrink from the work thus
delegated to them. They beg, therefore, respectfully to assure Your Excel-
lency that, while fully impressed with a sense of the imperfect maim r in
Avhich they have discharged their duty, they have at least been actuated by a
sincere and an earnest desire to secure a full measure of j ustice for the Province
they were thus called upon to represent, and by a determination to allow no
past pol'''cal sentiments and no considerations of Party allegiance or attach-
ment, to intervene between them and the attainment of that end.
Under these circumstances, they respectfully hope their humble labors may
commend themselves to Your Excellency's most favorable consideration.
We have the honor to be,
Your Excellency's obd't servants,
GEORGE L. IIATHEWAY,
BExNJ. R. STEVENSON,
WM. WEDDERBURN.
FfiEDERiCTON, New Brunswick, October, 1871.