IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^ ■10 128 12.5 12.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1 1.6 .4 6" — ► V] <^ /w w ^l w o' ^ %. -# V^ ^ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation s ^ V «N^ ^\ <* >» ^\^ €^ o^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V ^^ /^ i-p. t/. CIHM/ICMH Microfiche CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ^ .^ Tachnlcal and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibllographlquaa Thr M!'»tituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat orltK:igii copy avallabia for filming. Faeturaa of thia cnr'v which may ba bibiiographically unlqua. which may altar any of tha Imagaa In tha raproductlon, or which may aignlflcantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. D D D D D D D Colourad covara/ Couvartura da coulaur r~| Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommag4a Covara rantorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raatauria at/ou palliculAa I I Covar titia mlaaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua [~n Colourad mapa/ Cartaa giographlquaa an coulaur Colourad Ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) I I Colourad plataa and/or liluatrationa/ Planchaa at/ou illuatratlona an coulaur Bound with othar matarial/ Rall6 avac d'autraa documanta Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along intarior margin/ La reliura sarr6e paut cauaar da i'ombra ou da la diatortion la long da la marga Intirlaura Blank laavas added during restoration may appear within tha text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ 11 se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans la texte, mala, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pagea n'ont pas M filmAes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires; L'Inatitut a microfilmi la melllei.'r exemplaire qu'll lui a *tA poaalbia de aa procurer. Lea details de cet exemplaire qui aont paut-Atre unlquaa du point da vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier uria Image reprodulte, ou qui peuvent exiger une mniificatlon dana la mAthode normala de fllmaga aoiit IndiquAa cl-daaaous. □ Coloured pagea/ Pagea de couleur □ Pagea damaged/ Pagea endommagAas I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ D Pages restaurAas at/ou palliculAes Pagea discoloured, stained or foxec Pagea dAcoiorAea, tachet6es ou piquAes Pages detached/ Pages dAtachAes Showthrough/ Tranaparence Quality of prir Quality InAgala de I'lmpression Includes supplementary materli Comprend du material supplAmentaire r~1 Pagea discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ r~~j Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ r~~| Includea supplementary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Seule Edition diaponible Pagea wholly or partially obscured by errata allps. tissuaa, etc.. have been refllmed to enaure the beat poaalbia image/ Lea pagea totaiement ou partlellement obscurcies par un feulllet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmAes A nouveau de fa9on A obtenir la meilleure image possible. The to t The pos of fllml Orl( beg the sior oth( firsi sior or The sha TIN whi Mar diff< enti begi righ reqi met This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X »X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hat been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grAce A la g6nAro8it6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Canada The imag<«s appearing here are the beat quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont ix6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmi, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de fiimage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont ia couverture en papier est imprim^e sont filmis en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commen^ant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ♦- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd A partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche & droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 NOVA BRITANNIA; oil, OUR NEW CANADIAN DOMINION FORKSIIADOWED. BEINU A SEIllES OK ^cctuvcs, Speeches \\\\b Jll)t)rc5i5cs BY THE HON. ALEXANDER MORRIS, P.O., D.C.L., Late Lieittenant-Uovermr (^Manitoba, tht^'orth-West Terriloriea and Keeviaiin. BY A MEMBER OF THE CANADIAN PRESS. "There is another little hook, to which 1 must refpr. It is a pamphlet, which met with an extraordinary detjree of Biicceiui, entitled Nova Brit tnnia, by my hon- ourable friend the Menilier for South Lanark : and as he baa been one of the princU pal atfenta in brinKinff into existence the present Government, which is now carry- ing out the idea embodied in his book, 1 trust ho will fort;ive me if I ttke the op- portunity, although he is present, of reading a single sentence to show how far he was in advance, and how true he was to the coming event, which we are now considering. At page 57 of his pamphlet (pp. 48, 49 of the present volumt;] -which I hope wi 1 be reprinted among the political ni'scellanies of the Provinces when we are one country and one peop e - 1 find this paragraph : — * The dealing with t he destinies of a future Britannic empire, the shaping its course, the laying itH foundations broad and deep, and the erecting thereon a noble and enduring superstructure, are indeed dutits that may well evoke the energies of our people, and nerve the arms and give power and enthuoiasm to the aspirations of all true patriots. The very magnitude of the interests involved will, I doubt not, elevate many among us above the de- mands of sectionalism, and enable them to evince sufficient comprehensiveness of mini to deal in the spirit of real statesmen with issues so momentous, and to origi- nate and develop a national line of commercial and general policy, such as will prove adapted to the wants and exigencies of our position.' There are many other excel- lent passages in the work, but the spirit that animates the whole will be seen from thd extract I have kbA."— Speech of the Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, in the Ca- nadian Assembly, February 9th, 1865. PUBLTSHED BY HUNTER, 1884. ROSE & CO. fCi/ 7? A/ itf AUTHOR'S PUKFACK. The ensuing lectures have been long out of print. Kven at this late day I have frequent applications for copies of them, and it is but a short time since 1 was applied to for copies to be forwarded to the Australian (jrovernment. As they deal with questions of permanent importance, 1 have decided upon their republication. My first intention was to recast and modernize then), but upon reflection I have decided to reissue them in their original form — with the exception of a few unimportant verbal alterations — and accompanied by foot-notes shewing the marvellous progress of our country during the years which have elapsed since the lectures wore first prepared. A careful perusal of the text and notes will satisfy any reader that the hopes of Canadians as to the future of the Dominion rest on a solid and substantial basis. It will be seen that much o^ what I anticipated twenty years ago has come to pass. And the end is not yet. Canada to-day enjoys her full share of partici- pation in the advancement which is so striking a feature of the present age, and I doubt not that she will in the future continue to be what I regarded her in the comparatively remote past — "one of the brightest jewels in the British Crown." I have added a number of speeches and addresses deliv- ered at various times in the course of my public career. '4^h e iv AUTnous r'lKFACK. notes and running comments distributed hero and there throughout the vohimo gufliciently explain the circumntances to which they relate. " Nova Britannia," the title of Lec- ture I., has been retained throughout, as equally apitlicable to the entire volume, and also as characteristic of the posi- tion of a country which, as an allied nation, will, I doubt not, become a very inii)ortant factor in the 'orking out of the futui-o of our ancestral Island Home t* d its colonial *' Greater Britannia." ALEXANDER MORRIS. ^ i Toronto, January, 1884. I f I ! EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION. TlIK purpoHo int<3n(led to be served by the republication of tlio lectures, speeches und addresses which go to make uj) the preHent volume are sullicieutly indicated in the Author's Trrface. The editor's sharo in the reproduction lias been couiparativcly slit^ht. So far as the two lectures are con- cerned, \\\z '.ask has been almost entirely restricted to 8upj)ly- ing a succoMsion of footnotes, some of which are explanatory of certain passages in the text, while others bring down the history and statistics to recent times. With respect to the speeches and addresses, it has not been deemed advisable to incumber them with prolific notes, as, from their nature, and from the variety of subjects dealt with, a more obvious me- thod of elucidation suggested itself. Wherever it seemed that a note would answer the purpose — that of making the facts clear and intelligible to readers of the present day, or of showing by statistics the great advance made by the country in the interval which has elapsed — that mode has been adopted; but where something more than mere anno- tation appeared to be called for, a running commentary, explanatory of the attendant circumstances, has been inter- woven with the text. It is believed that no matter of importance has been left to conjecture, and that no intell- igent reader, with the combined aid of notes and commen- tary, will encounter any difficulty in grasping the full significance of the argument. vi KDITOII S LNTIK^DUCTION. That argdinont, th« editor may l»« pciinittod to say, in con- BiHUtnt and liarnioniouH tlirou^didut. In itu inception, it re- co^ni/.<>8 the inHtul)iiity of th(.' tiicti-exiHting lo^iHltitivo union botwuun Uppor and liowor Canada, and confulcntly looks for- ward to a gcn(!ral Confuduration of all the liritiHh North Ainericiin ProvincoH into a Dominion Hfretching from the Atlantic to tho I'aciflc* In Hteculution8 as these ; hut he at least seems to have been the only young Canadian who had an abiding faith in the speedy fuUilment of his predic- tions, and who contributed to their fulfllment by keeping the subject constantly before the public eye. As mentioned in the body of this work, the [)roject of a General Canadian Con- federation was the dream of his boyhood. At an age when most boys are to be found at the skating-rink or in the cricket field, ho loved to bury himself in the pages of Lord Durham's **Keport," or in sorao of the many works treating of that won- derful, far-away region then nominally known as the Hud- eon's Bay Company's Territories. When he grew old enough to take part in public affairs, he identified himself with every movement wliich seemed to hold out any prospect of realiz- ing the liopos begotten of his careful reading and his ardent patriotism. In the summer of 1849, when he was only twenty-three years of age, we find him busily engaged in stir- * See pp. 43, 44, 88. + See, for instance, pp. 43-46, 57, 74, 70-78, 87-90, 90. KDITOU'S INTIUiDlMJTION. VII ring up tho (jtiOHtion at tho inM?tinK >>f tho BrittHh Amorican l/'ftguo, \wh\ Jit Kingston. And \um\ for thn firHt tim« in our hiHtnry, tho projj-ct of Confodimition waH takon up aH a practical meiHuro by any conMidorablo number of tho aUhor* ontH of a political body. Tho nK^ndjorH of tho liOaguo wore for tho nioHt part young and onthuNiaHtic niombora of tho Conwrviitivo party ; but thoy bolongli<*ation in patnplilct t'orni altuoHt a matter of neceitiiity. Upon itH uppcarance it waH eagerly liou^^lit up, iitHoiuuch that a large edition wuh Hold within the Hliort Npaee of ten days. A contenjpor.iry notice referred to "Nova Hritiiimia" and itH author in the fi»ll()win^ terma : — **Mr. MorriH ia at once statintical, patriotic, and prophetic. The lecturer sees in the future a fuHion of races, a union of all the oxiHting provinces to grow up in tho west, and a railway to the Pacitio. The design of tho lecture is excellent, and its facts seem to hav(i been carefully coliectfid," Krom that time to thia tho pamphhtt haa been more or less in deiiiiind, and as it has long been practically unobtainable, the author hun incliKhul it in the pr(!sent collection. The second lecture, on tho " Hud- son's Hay and Pacific Territories, t" folio wcmI in 1859, and was received with almost as much favour as the former one. This, also, was published in pamphlet form, and, like its predeces- sor, has been long out of print. The two lectures contain an amount of valuable information which, even at tho present day, when so many additional sources of knowledge on the subjects treated of are open to us, is not often found com- pressed into an equally restricted space. In 18G2 Mr. Morris for the first timo took his seat in Par- liament, and we find that in his very first Parliamentary ut- terance he gives forcible expression to the idea which pos- * See p. 3, note. + See p. 52. editoh'h introduction. of Iki- lotl- tiou V ilH \t a M nia is at : Bccs iHting 'iicit'io. lein to |\irt tho i\H long mI it in " Uvwl- iivd waa . This, It in Par- Intary ut- Ihich pos- ■cMiml him/ Tlio nunin(*onviotioii (IndN cxproNNJoii in nil hiii Hiit>Nt'<|iirnt iittiTiincrN, tiiitil liin chrriMhml Nchntno of union wuM aotuully uccoiiipliMlird. Tin' important purl pUycd hy him in tho nrgotiationii leading to th» Coalition which t'on* dcrfd Nuoh H union poNHildn, aro ttuted in the Ixxly of tltii work.t (.'onfjMlrmtion having hrcomo a roulity, wo find him turnirig IiIh attention to thn otluT |»n»j««(!t ho often nu>ot«'d hy him — tho ii('«|uiHitingth in tho h'ctures duliverod at Montreal. It was eminently fitting that one who had ho long and so carefully Htudied tho 8uhject,and who had playud so conHpicu- ouBa part in tho acquisition of the Ti'nitories hy tho Domin- ion, Hhoiild ho entruHted with tho taHk of eatuhliHhiiig lawand order there. As lirHt Chief Justieo of Miiiiitoha Mr. MorriH was compelled to encounter many dilliculties, which were only overcome hy patient tact and tho exorciHO of culm good sense. When ho succeeded Mr. Archibald us Lieutenant* Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, in December, 1872, ho had barely completed his self-allotted task of establishing KngliHh rules and precedents for the guidance of the Courts of Law. The country was just recover- ing from the efTccts of Kiel's rebellion. Creeds and national- ities were pitted against each other, and there was constant danger of collision. There was moreover a large element of tho people among whom there was little respect for tho ♦ See pp. 94-07. t See pp. 98-100. 'I f ! I X EDITORS INTRODUCTION. law. So great has been the transition that it seems scarcely conceivable that such a state of things existed in Manitoba so recently as eleven years ago. One of the most distinguishing of Mr. Morris's qualifica- tions during his residence in the North-West was the tact which enabled him to mollify and reconcile contending fac- tions ; and this without abating one jot or tittle of the par- amount claims which he specially represented. He possessed the faculty of entertaining hostile deputations, and of con- verting their hostility into good humour with him and with each other, without yielding an ioti where it was his duty to stand firm. A signal instance of his firmness may be found recorded in an old number of the Standard^ a newspaper formerly published at Winnipeg ; and as the incident is of some historical significance it may as well be reproduced here. The Canadian reader may be assumed to be familiar with the leading incidents attendant upon the insurrection at Red River, and the claim to an amnesty set up on behalf of Louis Riel. A Royal Proclamation of amnesty to the insurgents for all past ofiences had been issued at Ottawa. Subsequent to this event the tragic and brutal murder of Thomas Scott took place, which of course gave an entirely different com- plexion to the situation. Such was the aspect of aflairs at Red River when the Province of Manitoba came into exist- ence. Riel, who was personally responsible for " the dark crime of the rebellion," remained in the Province, and he and his friends continued to clamour for an amnesty. On the evening of Monday, the 9th of Decen ber, 1872, subse- quent to Mr. Morris's appointment as Lieutenant Governor, but before the actual arrival of his commission, he was EDITORS INTRODUCTION. XI ifica- tact r fac- B par- aessed f oon- i with luty to I found rspaper nt is o£ reduced iar witli L at Bed of Louis Burgents (Sequent as Scott snt com- iflciirs at ,to exist- Ithe dark !, and lie !8ty. On It 2, subse- lOovernor, L^ lie was waited upon by an influential deputation of Half-Breeds. Their spokesman was Mr. L. Schtuidt, M. P. P. (formerly Secretary to Kiel's " Provisional Government "), who felici- tated his Honour on his appointment as Lieutenant-Gover- nor, and then proceeded to inquire whether certain promises made with respect to the Half-Breed lands would be car- ried out. He added that there was another matter which the deputation had much at heart; viz., that none of those who had participated in past events should be troubled in any way ; and he finally inquired whether the latter would be protected. Mr. Morris replied in French. He thanked them for their good wishes, and said that everything in the Manitoba Act would be carried out ; adding that he had received a tele- gram from Ottawa intimating that the lands would be given to the Mf'ais. He also gave information to the deputation on the Hay and Common Rights, and the issue of Patents to the lands. As to the second question, he informed them that he had no authority from Ottawa on the subject of an amnesty, and he could only explain the law as it stood. He cited the Queen's Proclamation issued by the Governor-General, Sir John Young, urging all subjects to return to their peaceful occupations, and submit to her authority, when the past would be overlooked. He proceeded to add, however, that as that Proclamation had been issued before the death of Scott, the law still ruled as to that event. By the law then in force, no one had a right to order to be put to death, or to put to death, another, as had been done in that case. The parties concerned in the affair were liable to be tried before a judge and jury, and should they be found guilty the matter would rest with the Governor-General at Ottawa as to the xii EDITOR S INTRODUCTION. e ■i carrying out of tho sentence. Until a trial took place, the Queen alone had power to grant an amnesty, as the country was under Imperial rule at the time of the occurrence. " I have spoken," said Mr. Morris, " as a Judge and Admin- istrator, and believing it to be my duty to explain exactly how tho law stands." Mr. Schmidt hero asked if an amnesty had not been pro- mised. Mr. Morris replied that he had no knowledge of any pro- mise except the Queen's Frochunation. lie said the deputa- tion had called on him prematurely. He had not yet assumed the otlico of Lieutenant-Governor, and had not received his commission, but was still acting as Chief Justice and Admin- istrator. He urged upon tho deputation the necessity of all the people labouring for the advancement of the common country, and for the establishment of peace and harmony in the future. The deputation retired, Mr. Schmidt having again thanked his Excellenpy for the interview. Mr. Morris served his full term of five years as Lieu- tenant-Governor, and when he bade adieu to tho Province he had the satisfaction of leaving behind him an orderly and law-abiding community. He found the country, as we have said, just emerging from an insurrection. He left it as loyal and progressive as any other Province of the Do- minion. With his career subsequent to his departure from Manitoba the present work has no concern. Any one who reads this little volume attentively will perforce be led to the conclusion that if his life had ended there and then, it would not have been lived in vain. I , PART I. TWO LECTURES. I, Nova Britannia ; or the Consolidation of the British North American Provinces into the Dominion of Canada Foreshadowed. II. The Hudson's Bay and Pacific Territories. ICcctiu'c I. NOVA lilClTANNIA; OH, TIIK COXSOMDATION OF Tin: milTfSir NORTH AMKllKJAN rUOVINCES INTO Till'] DOMINION OK CANADA.* In acceding to tlio kind invitation of this Society to K^ctiire before them, I have preferred to select for consider- ation a fiuhject of practical interest. It is impossible, within the brief limits of a fleeting hour, to do justice to so large and comprehensive a subject; but my purpose will hare been attained if, by the instrumentality of this lecture, any one is led to make the matter treated of the subject of after refl(5ction and inquiry. In fact, in this I believe the chief merit of the modern lecture to consist : that through it some topic of importance is treated in a popular style, and • The following lecture was rcant, and will yet add a hrilliant ornament to the crown which graces the temples of the Queen of Hirulostan.* Aye, and on this continent a young but vigorous nation owes her origin to and derives her national features from Old Britain, and, though to some extent temporarily alienated from the Parent State, and obscured by int(;rnal discords and the dark blot of slavery, t will yet, 1 doubt not, in the evolu- tion of the world's history and tho wondrous passing changes of events, be found, with India, Australia and British America, combining with Britain in tho defence of great constitutional principles, and iu the maintenance of the woiKi's liberty. But I must revert from this passing allusion to the great- ness of that Colonial Empire of which we form a part, and which is rising up to national importance under the shade of the British flag, to the consideration of the British North *Thc visit of the Prince of Wales to India, and the conferrinK on Her Majesty tho Queen of P]n(,'-iand of tlic title of " KnipresH of India," are evidences of tho hijfh estimate placed by tho liritiuh people on tho possession of that country. t As tho reader is aware, yiavcry no lonficr exists In the United States, having been alu lii-hed durinjf tho great rebellion of 18(U-'65. By nn Act of Congress paxHod 13th March, 18(32, the employment o! military force for tlie return of fugitive blavea was forbidden ; and on tho 10th July in the same year an Act was passed authorizing the confiscation of the property of rebel!), including slaves. On Ist January, IhOS, President Lincoln's famous Emancipation Proclamation appeared, and the work of mancipation was completed by the adoption, in 1805, cf Article XIII. of the Ameudmonts to the Constitution, which declares that " Neither slavery nor Invol- untary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their Jurisdiction." 1 i J t i.irrruK I. 7 American Colonial Kinpire. And in Joaling with tho ((ues- tion it shall bo my aim to tn^al the suhjt^ct popularly, avoiding statist ics except when they may be absolutely re- (luinnl in illu«tration or explanation. I shall successively pass in brief roview the Province of Nova Scotia and Capo Breton, the Labrar()ken chain from the northern to the southern extremity, having on the east side an immense breadth of country open to the rivers — four of which, the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, the Amazon, and the La Plata, are among the largest in the world — and but a narrow strip to the west, wider in the northern than in the southern continent. Such is the vast expanse developed by the flood-tide of dis- covery which, tow.ards the end of the fifteenth century, bore Columbus to the New World. In October, 1492, Columbus discovered one of the Bahama Islands, and afterwards the continent itself. The success of the Spanish stimulated the enterprise of the iiritish, and in May, 1497, in the reign of Henry VII., John Cabot and his son Sebastian sailed from Bristol, in the hope of finding a western passage to India, t While pursuing a westerly course, in the hope of reaching • Now Alaska, purchased (rom Russia by the United StatcH, In 1807, for |7, 200,000. t So say the histories, which are all, directly or Indirectly, founded upon the ac- count In Hakluyt. Recent researches seem to render It doubtful whether John Cabot formed one of the expedition, thouarh the weight of testimony la In favour of his havhiff (li)iie ax Sec, on this subject, Biddle'H Memoir of Sebastian Cabot ; Londo 31. I.KCTURK t. the Cliiiia Hoas, tiny k.iw land on tin' 'Jllli of Jiin»». Thin th«»y callt'd I'riina Vi^ta, ami it in beliovi'*! to hav«^ \mm u part of either Fiahrador, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland. At GalvanuM nays that tluM land was in latitude 45*, it is ex- treinNN of Hetth'tnt'rtt went on. ('roinwcU r(>c()n({U(>ru(l Nova Scotia, for the third timo, in 1054 ; hut in 1007 Chnrloa II. rflinciuinluHi Acadia to Franco. In 171U Now Kiigland coiKiuurud Novu Scoti», at an ('Xiumno of ill! .'1,000, \ty an <>x|Hulition wiiicli sailed from lloxton. Hy tlin Treaty of Utrecht, in 171.'J, all Acadiiior Nova Scotia wum ceded to (treat Britain, and it liait ever nince remained a |)(»rtion of the HritiHh Kmpiro. New llruiiHwick wan then inchrlcd within iu liniita. In \7 Vt (Jape llreton wan conqin'red l>y the Provincial troops. It waH n-stored to France in 171'J, hnt it again, in 1758, hecanie the prop(>rty of Hrituin. The settlement proper of Nova Scotia may he naid to liuve com- menced in 1759. The snhjugation of Prince Edward Inland took i)lace in 1701. I pass hy, as more familiar to my liearer.s, the early hiHtory, colonization, and settlement of Canada, merely remarking t'.at in 1703, by the Treaty of Versailles, France resigned all her claims in Norllj America to Hritain. Such, then, is a compressed outline of the leading events in the earlier history of this portion of liritish North Ame- rica ; and it is now time to glance at the position of Nova Scotia and the other Provinces, which were once so under- valued that on Champlain's return to France he found the minds of people divided with regard oven to Canada, some thinking it not worth possessing. NOVA SCOTIA. The Province of Nova Scotia now includes Cape Breton, from which it is severed by the Straits of Canso. Nova J I LKCTiniK I. 11 Scotia |)n>|H'r, »»y» Aiulr«WM,* iit a hm^ pruinHula, nenrly w(Mlgi>»hn|)t*(l, cotincctod at iU <>aMtcrii »ii«l l>r«>u«l(Mt ox. tremity witli tho cutitituuit of Amuricn tiy an iHtlimu» only flftcon tniioi widt*. Thin narrow ulip ot Und iix>|>urnti)a tlio wat(TH of thu l^iy <>( Fiiiidy from thom) uf tli»(tuliof 8t. Lawnaict*. Tho poiiiiiHulA, 'JHO miIt*H in K^n^th, froiitii tht^ Atlantic Ocean. Tlifl inland of Cap*) Hroton is a Hin^ularly fornird net- work of HtrcaniH and lakt'H, and it in Ht'piiratod into two parts, with thn «'X(:«'pti(»n of an iHthniUH but 707 yanU wido, by th« linM d'Or li'iko, an arm of thu Moa. Thu most rt^markablu feature in the peninsula of Nova Scotia is the numerous in- dentations along its coasts. A vaHt and uninterrupted body of water, impelled by the trade wind from the coast of Africa to the American continent, forms a current alonj^ tlm coast till it strikes the Nova Scotian shore with great force, and its tremendous tides of sixy or seventy feet in height roll up the lUy of Fundy, which bounds Nova Scotia on the north west. The harbours of Nova Scotia on its Atlantic coast are unparalleled in the world. Hetwecn Halifax and Cape Canso there are twelve ports capable of receiving ships of the line, and fourteen others of sullicient depth for mer- chantmen. The peninsula of Nova Scotia is supposed to contain 9,534,190 acres, and including Capo IJreton, 12,- 000,000. The country is undulating, and abounds with lakes. It is possessed of valuable mineral wealth, includ- ing largo fields of coal. In 181!), 208,000 clialdrons were i "Sec hli Report on thf Trade ani Vommen'O of the DritUh North American Pruoincen, WMhington, 1851, 12 NOVA JIUITANNIA. , II' sliippod to the States.* The other minerals which are turned to economic uses are iron, manganese^ gypsum, etc.f The western and milder section of Nova Scotia is distin- guished for its productiveness in fruits. Wheat grows well in the eastern and in the central parts. In 1851, 297,157 bushels were raised, ;]: of which 180,497 were grown in Syd- ney, Pictou, Colchester and Cumberland, a fact which shows the superiority of that section of the Province for the growth of wheat — a peculiarity which extends along the whole north- eastern shore of New Brunswick to the boundary of Canada. Oats, hay, pc ase, beans, potatoes, turnips, etc., are raised in large quantities, and butter and cheese are among the most important commodities of domestic manufacture. The cha- racter of Nova Scotia for farm stock is good. My hearers may be surprised to learn that the Province exceeds four- teen wheat-growing States and Territories of the American Union in the growth of wheat and barley ; and all the States and Territories in oats, buckwheat, potatoes, hay and butter. The trade of Nova Scotia is large. In 1850 its imports were five millions of dollars, and its exports three millions. § In * Of late years the export trade in coal from Nova Scotia to the United States has not been larfje, owincrto the imposition there of an import duty of 75c. per ton; but the total sale ct coal in the Province during^ 1S32 rea-^hed a grand total of 1,250,179 tou3. The total production durinjj the year was 1,3(55,811 tons. Durlnsf the pre- ceding year the sales were 1,035,014 tons. The demaud is rapidly increasing, and the trade must ere long assume immense proportions. t Gold is also found in Nova Scotia, and according to the census the yield from the gold mines of that Province during 1882 was 15,167 ounces. X Mark the advancement in twenty nine years. In 1880— the latest year for which we have complete returns— the yield of spring wheat alone in Nova Scotia was 622,- 632 bushels. The winter wheat crop was G,Qi9 bushels making a total of 529,251 bushels. § By reference to the Trade and Navigation returns for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1S82, it will be seen that the imports of the Province of Nova Scotia for the LECTURE I. 13 ield from tho its general and fishing trade it employs a large marine, which must prove a fruitful nursery for seamen. In 1851 there were 3,228 vessels entered inwards, and 3,265 outwards.* In 1851 the Province had a fishing fleet of 812 vessels, manned by 3,681 men, and the number of boats engaged was 5,1 61. t The total value of its fisheries for 1 85 1 exceeded a million of dollars J The population of the Province was, according to the lastcensus, 276,117 souls § There were, in 1851, 1,096 schools and 31,354 scholars. || Nova Scotia has reclaimed by dykes many thousands of acres of land. Cape Breton, too, has a large trade, produces large quantities of fish, and there is mined besides a considerable amount of coal. NEWFOUNDLAND. IF lies on the north-east side of the entrance to the St. Law- rence, and is separated from Canada by the Gulf. Its south- west point approaches Cape Breton within about forty-six preceding twelve months were of the following values : On dutiable goods, $6,889,- 508; on free goods, $1,812,081. Total imports for tho year, $8,701,589. The total exports for the same period were of the value of $9,217,295. * The number of vessels entered inwards between 30th June, 1881, and 30th June, 1882, was 5,.361 ; outwards, 4,930. t Late returns rhow the number of Nova Scotian vessels, boats and men en- gaged in the fishing trade as follows : vessels, 755 ; boats, 13,214 ; men, inclusive of shoremen as well as those emplo3'ed in boats and vessels, 26,927. I The present value is fully proportionate to tho number of vessels, boats and men employed, as indicated in the preceding note. § The population in 1881 was 440,572. II The number of schools in progress during the winter term ending 30th April, 1882, was 1,820. During the following summer the number increased to 1,910. Number of pupils during the winter term, 76,888 ; during the summer term, 81,196. Total number of different pupils throughout the year, 95,912. H Newfoundland has not yet entered the Dominion. She sent two representa. tivea to the Quebec Conference in 1864, but for some time afterwards was apathetie to the Confederation scheme. In 1869 both branches of the Local Legislature l)assed resolutions in favour of entering the Union, and soon afterwards delegates i i ^ i' 14 NOVA mUTANNIA. miles. The Straits of Belle Isle to the north and north- west separate it from the shores of Labrador, and the Atlantic washes it on the east. It is triangular in form, broken by bays, creeks, and estuaries. Its circuit is 1000 miles. Its breadth at the widest is 300 miles, its extreme length 419. From the sea it has a wild, sterile a; pearanco. It is rugged in character, hills and valleys succeeding each other. It comprises woods, marshes and barrens ; the woods clothing the sides and summits of the hills, and the valleys and low lands. The trees are pine, spruce, fir, larch, and birch. Recently in the survey of the Atlantic Telegraph, pine of most excellent quality was found in the interior of the island. The marshes are not necessarily low or level land, but are often undulated and elevated a con- siderable height above the sea. They are open tracts covered with moss. The barrens are exposed elevated tracts, covered with scanty vegetation. The most remark- able general feature of the country is the great abundance of lakes, which are found even on the tops of the hills. In fact, it is estimated that one third of the surface of the whole island is covered with fresh water. The area is 23,040,000 acres.* Fishing has employed the population proceeded to Ottawa to arrange terms. " The negotiations give rise to little diffi- culty, but at the ensuing elections the people of the colony declared against the project, which to this day remains in abeyance." See The Last Forty Years, Vol. II., page 489. As Newfoundland therefore forms no part of the Dominion, it has not been deemed necessary to bring down the statistics to the present time. * The geological survey of Newfoundland has disclosed a good many important and unanticipated facts with respect to the character of the land in the mterior, much of which is represented as being prairie, and admirably suited to the purposes of agricuUure. The fisheries, however, have hitherto engrossed public attention, to the practical exclusion of agricultural pursuits. The construction of the New- foundland Rjiilway, from St. John's to Harbour Grace, marks an epoch in the history 1 li LECTURE I. 15 chiefly, and not over 200,000 acres are under cultivation. The climate too is variable, its vicissitudes being great. Spring comes on more slowly thi.n in Canada. Summer is shorter, and the winter is ma le up of a series of storms, winds, rain and snow. The last rarely remains long on the ground, and the frost is never so intense as in Western Canada. This arises no doubt from its insular position. The population in 1852 was 125,000, of whom 30,000 were directly engaged in the fisheries.* In 1845, 9,900 boats were engaged in the fisheries. The annual value of the produce of the colony has been estimated at $0,000,000, and the value of the property engaged in the fisheries at $2,500,000. The exports in 1851 were $4,801,000, em- ploying 1013 vessels. The imports were $4,455,180. Newfoundland exported in that year to Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Brazils, to the extent of $1,500,000. The fisheries carried on are cod, the great staple, and tlie herring, mackerel, salmon, whale, and seal fisheries. The principal town of Newfoundland is St. John's. It is alleged that a fast steamer could cross from thence to Gal- way in five days. It is distant from Ireland but 16G5 miles. Its geographical position is very important, and its fisheries are a source of inexhaustible wealth. It carries on a large foreign trade, including an extensive one with the West Indies. I of the island. Of this railway, forty-five miles had been constructed some months ago, and trains were regularly running from St. John's to Holyrood. The reraaininaf twenty miles were graded, and at the present time that portion of the road is eHher completed, or in course of immediate completion. A perfect network of railways is also projected to traverse the Island from point to point, though it is doubtful whether they will be proceeded with for some time to come. * In 1874 the population was 161,436, and at present is believed to be not far short of 200,000. Other statistics have increased fully in proportion to the population. k; NOVA imiTANNIA. Of tho li'ibnulor coast littlo ia kno-.vn. It was at otm titno inc1u climate is very 8(^v()re,but the 8ca on its shores teems with wealth. Seals and salmon are plentiful, and the furs of the former are very valuable. The exports are cod, herring, salmon, sealskins, cod and seal oil, furs and feathers. Andrews, from the best data at his com- mand, states that the exports from this coast are of th'< annual value of $2,781,000 ; but they are by some estimated as high as $1,000,000. Its imports are $000,000 per an- num, t riUNCK KDWAUD ISLAND.J I now glance at Prince Kdward Island, which is situated in a deep recess on the western side of the Gulf of St. liaw- rence. It is separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by the Straits of Northumberland, which at the nar- rowest are only nine miles wide. The island is crescent- shaped, 1 30 miles in length, and at its greatest breadth thirty- * Sjwakinjr jrencraUy, Labrador now forms part of the Dominion, but a portion of the coast is for certain purposes still subject to the government of Newfoundland. The portion 80 subject is thus ccflneil in the Letters Patent granted 28th March, ISTfl : "All the coast of Labrador from the entrance to the Hudson's Straits to a line to be drawr. due north and south from Anse Sablon on the said coast to the flfty-second dcjree of Eorth latitude, and all the islands adjacent to that part of the said coast of Labrador." The rest is incorporated in the Province of Quebec. t For reasons stated in the last note, the statistics of Labiador are row indudcd n those of Quebec and New foundland. \ Prince Edward Island entered the Dominion July 1st, lb73. I.KCTIIKK t. 17 )no timo (Uatul in L is fre- 'his vast )ormany, ; t\»o Vs- ovoro,but alinon aro iblo. The A. seal oil, ithiacom- vre of i\y^ ) estimated )0 per an- ft)Ur niilr8. 'Die (•.int point is tw(Uity 8ov<'ri tnil<'H from Capo iJroton, ami 125 from (Jape Kay, NewfoMndlaiKl. it ifl a level country, well adapted for agricultural purposes. Wheat, oats and barley are the staphj productH. Its area is 13134 Hipuire miles. In 1K4H the population was 02,<)7K* The dinuvte is neither so cold in winter nor so hot in sum- mer as in Ijower ('ana) duHeribed by liouuhette, Martin and other authorM. The country In by thoni, and most (ie»«rvc«lly wi, liighly praiHu I. F'lr any ^reat plan of eniij^ration or colonization, there in not unotlier liritinh colony which preHentn Huch a favourable field aH Now ItrunMwick. " On the riurface is an abundant Htock of the finuat timber, which in the markets of Kuiflaml reali/eH large Hums annually, and atfordu an unlimited Hupply to the Hettler. If the forests hIiouM ever become ex- hausted, there are the coal fieldj baueath. The rivcra, lakes and sea* coast abound with fish." Such is tho sister Province of New Brunswick ; and though I am assured, on undoubted personal authority, that a large extent of her very best agricultural territory reaching on- wards to Canada is still a primeval forest, her position in reganl to her trade relations is no insignificant one, as will appear from the following statements. The total imports of New Brunswick in 1851 were $4,852,440, and the exports $3,780,105.* There were 3,053 ships entered inwards, and 2,981 outwards.f The fisheries are valuable, and those in the Bay of Fundy in 1850 realized $203,500.$ The timber floated down the St. John is very large ; the quantity being estimated in 1852 at $1,945,000 § There is room in New Brunswick for a large population. In 1855 there were only 6,000,000 acres of land granted. Of these but 700,000 were under * The totil value of Imports for the fiscal year ending 30th June, IbiiJ, were ♦0,707,244, and the total exports for same peilod,|7,474,407. t Litest returns sh3w,3,422 vessels entered Inwards, and 3,474 outwards] J The total value of fiih ciu^ht in New Brunswick during the season of 1882 amounted to $3,192,338 85. 8The totalamouat realizjd from the sale of products of the forest in New Brunswick in 1880, was considerably in excess of «8,000,000. NOVA BRITANNIA. cultivation,* and 11,000,000 acrrs continued ungranted. Ab to ngriiullural capalMJiticH, Now HrunHwick — strange as tlio talo may Boein — oxcteds in wheat fourteen wheat- growing States of tho Union, and in barley twenty four out of thirty ; in oatn, buckwheat, and potatoes, thirty States and 'JVrritories ; aiul in butter and hay, all the States. In tho growth of potatoes, hay, and oats, Monro asserts that no State in tho Union can coniiiete with New Brunswick, whether as regards weight, quality, or quantity. The ave- rage produce per imperial acre of wheat is nineteen bushels, of barley twenty-eight, of oats thirty-four, of potatoes 22G, and of turnips 45G. The value of the agricultural products, exclusive of farm-stock, was estimated in 1854 at £2,000,- OOO.t There were, in 1851, 798 schools, attended by 18,892 children, and in 1853, 24,1274 Professor Johnston esti- mated that the agricultural resources of the Province would enable it to sustain a population of 5,500,000. The climate is similar to our own. The coal-field is very extensive ; its area having been estimated by Gesner at 10,000 square miles. The earlier history of New Brunswick is embraced in that of Nova Scotia, and need not here be particularly referred to. With regard to the position of the Acadian Provinces, their relations towards the other portions of British America, and the community of intere&L which is arising, I avail my- * There are now consldeiatdy more than a million of acres uiider cultivation, in- clusive of crops, pastures am' orchards. t The total value of New Brunswick products in 18S1 was $18,512,658. t During the WintJrTdrm of 1832 the number of schools was 1,317, and the num- ber of pupils in attendance 48,805, of whom 10,350 were new pupils. The total num- ber uf different pupils in attendance within tho entire year was 01,267. LECTURK I. 21 cviltlvation.ln- gelf uf the judicious RtatcnutntH of Principal Dawson of Mo* (Jill College, in a lecture on the Aciidian Province, de- livered before the Natural History Society of Montreal: — " Their proj^reNi in populntioii an(|iial to lliu nv»rnK*i of iliat of tin* Ainoricau Uinoii, ami iiiorit ra|iiil than that of tho oMcr Htatos. Thuir aK'riciiltiirtt in rapiill}' iiiiproviiiLf, iiiatiiifiu^turin^' and iiiiiiiii;^ rnt<>rpriHOH are extomlirix tlioiiiH 'Ivch, nn( [larts of tlte conti* nent an* iluticiunt, and enjoy tliu utmost fucilitii'H for coninifrcial pur suits. Ultiinatelj, tliorcforo, tht-y nuist liavo with tiui UnittMl Htate«, C'ana fur couiitrit;.-*, thu huimo corntnurcial rulations that Bri- tain niaiiitaiiiH with wmttuii, central, and northern Kuro[)e. Alxivoall, they form thu ;,'rcat natural oceanic termination of thei,'reat valley of tho St. Lawronco ; and although its (;omnkerce has hitherto, by the skill and indiistry of its nei;^hbi)iirH, been drawn across the natural barrier which Providence has placed between it and the seaports of the United States, it must '.iltimately take its natural channel ; and then not only will the cities on the ^t. i.awrence be united by the strongest common intoreatH, but they will be bound co Acadia by ties more close than any merely po- litica union. The great thorouj,difaroa to the rich lands and noble scenery of the West, and thence to the sea-breezes and salt water of the Atlantic, and to the great seats of industry and art in the oM world, will pass ah)ng the St. La.,/ence, and throu/h the lower Provinces. The surplus agricultural produce of (!anada will find its nearest consumers among the miners, HhipwriLjhts, mariners, and fishermen of Acadia ; and they w.ll send back the treasures of their mines and of their sea. This ultimate fusion of all the populations extending along this great river, valley, and estuary, and the establishment throughout its course of one of the prin- cipal streams of American commerce, seems in the nature of things ine- vitable ; and there is already a larj^e field for the profitable employment of labourers and capital in accelerating this desirable result." Giving due attention to these sound and cautious views of a writer thoroughly acquainted with his subject, and him- S' !r I I i NOVA imiTANNfA. lelf an Acadian, which meet an objection often rniied as to the proHumed nhiience of any common olijccti or commun- ity of interest between the Acndinn I'rovinccn and ('anada, we now advance to tlie northward of Prince Kdwnrd hhmd. Here wo find tlie Ma^dah'n IhIuikIh, under the jurisdiction of Canada, and for eU-ctoral purpoHcs incluih'd in the CV unty of (JaRpe. They are seven in nuni'MT, and are used ag fiHliing stations. Th<'ir popuhition in 1H61 was 2r)()0.* These islands are almost in the centre of the (iulf of St. Lawrence, and the length of the group is fifty-six miles. Tiiey are owned by the CotHn family in strict entail. t Within the Gulf, and at the very threshold of Canada, is the large Island of Anticosti, 420 miles below (Quebec. It comprises 2,000,000 of acres. It has been till lately owned in Kngland, but has been much neglected. | It is believed to contain much arable land, and is well wooded. It should be no longer overlooked, as its position is very im- portant, and it may become an important entveiidt of trade, • Now about SflOO f Tliey were oHKinally granted hy the Britliih Govfrnmcnt to an uttlcer who Ruhnoqcntly became Admiral Sir Iiiaau Cottln, who bequeathed them In atrlct entail to hia nephew. In 1873 the (Quebec liei^lslatiiro contemplated buyin^c out the ( laim of the then proprietor, aa many of the lilandors were diBaatldflt-d with the ui'certain tenure of their landn, and emitfratcd from the isluiuU in conrrqucncc. t The iBJand of Antic(>00.000. t The reference here ii to the Orand Trunk Kailway, and tho Ntatement was ac- curate at the time it wan written. Tho »ubHu<|Ucnt conttruction of the American tranitcontinental linea lett the Orar dTrunl^conBideralily ) thind in reRpectof lenirth; but our owr. Canada Pacific Railway, now (•tcadlly advancing towardH completion, will ho not only the hmgcHt but in varlouH rc»pectH the most important railway enterpriio in tho world. t The tonnaifo of Hoa-goini; vcHfolH arrivinic at the port of Moi.trctl dkne duiin^ the Bcason of 1882 » (w conpldprably in excess of TOO.OCO. *( 1 \ I I I 1 i t ' I . 1^ 1 ; i t« NOVA imiTANMA. W(\y to iiulopiMxIi'iiro aixI <'oitifor(, ;«i)tl k<'«< tlit'ir riuiiilii'i tAkiiig poHitiiinii nf n*ii|M>('tal>ility aroun lowing «»xtni('t from /luiit's Minhnulu' Mti[i,i| nonirtliitiK to Ixuiwt. of. Two tliir N it<1
  • tl t<> tlii> iHtpuItttlon of is fonntry with Hiii'li vnrii'ty of Mitll nml cliniuto, in tliiit tini«<, U witlioiit. pri'rodmt. Tho ln»T«*A«i» of tin* I'nito*! SIuIi'k (luiinii tlw t«'n yfurn ••mlinK ISTtO wiw .•l^.\ |»<'r nM»t., tliut of 17|»|n>r Cutiiitlii iliulni,' lln> ton yonrN fioni IMll to 1S*>1, lOli \wv ront., luiil now for lli.- \\l>oI»' rrovlnco, Awf ISIS, It Im JlJV to 70 |)or «'ont., or ni'iirly tlouM«' tli«« nito t»f Inrn'nm' of tho Unltcil StnttMi. Tito thini of a «vntnry In ^'onnrully ri'okoni'il un u ki lu'iiitlon. 1>urin>; that p«>rio«l the i>opulittion of ('Hnuiln Imx liu'rouHftl from riH2,* 0()0 to 2,l\00,()(10, or mon» than twii'o tloulthil i(Ki«|f. If tliut riili' lu' con- llnnotl, <\\nft op(*ni'd lulworn Lakit Superior and tint \lv(\ Kivcr H(>ttl«>niont ; ntiart once hi^Ionged to the IIundri'(l Partners of Old I'' ranee, and wliich, though hclicvcd to he tlie pn»perty of ('ana'H, with a Ixnil L) K'Niaturo, ami with rcpreHentation In thu voneral I'arliiimont at Ottawa. Tho other rt'ciimmoiMlationi in tho text have alH > bccoruQ roal'tloH. The UawHon Koiito wan hut tho preciirNor of tho C.P.Il. li I 'I * ' ' V i 26 NOVA imiTANNiA. of the Saskatchewan should form the subject of immediate attention. Enough is known to satisfy us that in the terri- tory commonly known as the Hudson's Bay Territory there is a vast region well adapted for becoming the residence of a large population. Once the Red River settlement is opened to our commerce, a wide field extends before our enterprise ; and those who recollect or have otherwise become familiar with the struggles, forty years ago, of the settlers in Western Canada, and the painful, toilsome warfare with which they conquered that rising portion of the Province from the wilderness, will regard the task of colonization as a comparatively light one. The press has for some time been teeming with articles on the subject of this Territory, and has done good service thereby ; and, though there is not opportunity here to enter upon the subject at length, yet, while not going so far as those who would paint all that Territory — some of it bleak and inhospitable enough — as a Paradise, I hesitate not to assert that there are many millions of acres richly arable, and possessed of a climate milder than our own. In proof oi this position I will say a word or two as to the Red River country, in which Lord Selkirk's settlement was planted, taxing as recent and trustworthy authorities the Reverend John Ryerson* and Mr. John Wesley Sond.f The Red River settlement is 700 miles distant from Fort William, on Lake Superior, by the travelled way, but a route of 456 miles can be opep'^d.l The Red River rises in Minnesota, and run- * See Hucixon's Bay ; or a Missionary Tour in the Territory of the Hon, Hud- Kon's Bay Company. Toronto, 1883. t See Minnesota and Its Resources. New York, 1855. \ About the actual length of the present route, j iu LECTURE T. 27 ning northward, discharges into Lake Winnipeg. The As- siniboine River rises far west of tlio Red River, and forms a junction with it fifty-five miles from the mouth of the latter.* The English and Scotch settlers extend along both sides of Red River from the Assiniboine to Lower Fort Garry, twenty- miles below. This is far the best post of the settlement. Eighteen windmills are scattered along the west bank, upon which the villages are principally situated. Sir George Simpson, in his Overland Journey, says : — "The soil of the Ked River is a black mould of considerable depth which, when first tilled, produces extraordinary crops— as much, on some occasions, as forty returns of wheat -and even after twenty successive years of cultivation, without the relief of manure or of fallow or of green crop, it still yields from fifteen to twenty-five bushels per acre. The wheat produced is plump and heavy. There are also large fiuantities of grain of all kinds, besides beef, mutton, pork, butter, cheese and wool, in abundance." As to the character of this settlement, Ryerson says : — " The soil is of black mould, and the settlement yields good crops of wheat, barley, oats, pease, and potatoes. The spacious prairies afford pasture in the open season, and furnish abundance of hay for the winter. Over the boundless pastures roam thousands of sheep, black cattle, and horses. There is however no export tratle in the colony. The Hudson's Bay Company pay for what they wish to consume, and thus afford the only market. The wheat is ground by windmills. There are no saw* mills, fulling-mills, or factories of any kind. A large i)ortion of the set- tlers are hunters, and the number of buffaloes in the Hudson's Bay Ter- ritory is immense. The settlers have many difficulties to contend with." Hoar, again, another authority (whose zealous discharge * At what was then Fort Garry, the residence of the Hudson's Bay Company's Governors, and, till a few weeks past, the official residence of the Lieutenant Gover- nor of the Frovinc3. The Canadian reader is of course aware that the place is now the City of Winnipeg, with a population of more than 20,000, --^ 28 NOVA lUlITANNIA. ! fl! of his diitios led him to visit Prince Rupert's Land) as to the Ked River settlement. The former Bishop of Montreal, now Bishop of Quebec,* in 1844, said : — " The soil, which is aUuvial, is beyond example rich and productive, and withal ho easily worked that, although it does not quite come up to the deHcription of the Happy Wmuh, reddit ubi ccrcrcm tellua incrata ([Hot annos, there is an instance, I was assured, of a farm in which the owner, with cojnparatively light labour in the preparatory processcH, had taken a wheat crop out of the same land for eighteen successive years, never changing the crop, never manuring the land, and never suffering it to lie fallow, and that the crop was abundant to the last ; ^ nd with respect to the pasture and hay, they are to be had ad Uhitum, as nature gives them in the open plains." These testimonies have lately received the most entire corroboration. Professor Hind, in his report to the Cana- dian Government of his visit there, in the summer of last year, fully confirms all these statements. He describes th.e valley of the Red River, and a large portion of the country on its affluent, as a " Paradise of fertility." He finds it ^* impossible to speak of it in any other terms than those which may express astonishment and a<' mira- tion." He states that " the character of the soil cannot be surpassed, and that all kinds of farm produce common in Canada succeed admirably in the district of the Assiniboia ; " an I declares emphatically that "as an agricultural country it will one day rank among the most distinguished." Such, then, is that little colony composed of Scottish Highlanders and their descendants, and of French Cana- dians, which is even now a~ petitioner at the portals of our Legislature for admission to those inherent rights of free * The late Bishop Momitain. LECTURE I. 29 self-government which every Briton inherits as a birth- right, and wliich the statesmen of IJritain have learnoil — and I doubt not Canadian pohlicians have liad their share in the inculcation of the lesson — to concede to British subjects in all territories under the sway of the royal sceptre. Colonial Government has in our days assumed a new phase. It must, to continental eyes, have been a strange spectacle — as it was in our view a noble one — that was presented when the assent of the little colony of Newfoundland was required to give validity to a solemn treaty agreed to between two of the mightiest of European nations ; and stranger still, to see that little colony resolutely vetoing the arrangement. * This result must have grated harshly on the feelings of Im- perial Military France. But it should be viewed by colon- ists as a convincing proof of the readiness of the Parent State to act justly by her colonial children ; and with such a precedent before us, can we doubt as to whether the rights of these Red River colonists will be protected, if properly urged and sustained by Canada 1 Imperial as well as colonial interests urgently demand the opening up of that vast stretch of nch agricultural territory of which the Red River " holds the key." Apart from the arable areas on the highway between Canada and the Red River, that settlement forms a nucleus round which will gather a dense population scaUered over those vast prairies, covered with the rankest luxuriance of vegetation, and hold- ing out to settlers rich inducements to go in and possess the land. Should such a " Paradise of fertility " as this remain longer locked up 1 Will the gathering of a few peltries * The arrangement referred to was the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854. > if ' 30 NOVA BRITANNIA. compensate for the withdrawal of such a region from the in- dustry of our race 1 Assuredly not. The knell of arbitrary rule has been rung. The day has gone by for the perpetua- tion of monopolies. The Baronets of Nova Scotia would fare but ill in our times, unless moral worth accompanied their rank. Provinces are not so lightly shared and parcel- led out as they once were. As for our own Province, self- government has been conceded to us, and the largest mea- sure of political liberty is enjoyed by our people. We are left to carve out our own destiny; and I shrewdly suspect that few among us will regard w'*:h much admiration that ancient and venerable parchment which, under the sign- manual of Charles II., by the Grace of God, King of Eng- land, Scotland, France, and Ireland, recites that he, " being desirous to promote all endeavours tending to the public good of our people, have of our especial grace, certain know- ledge, and mere motion, given, granted, ratified, and con- firmed unto our entirely beloved cousin Prince Rupert, the Duke of Albermarle, et al., by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, the sole trade and commerce of all those seas, streights, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks, and sounds, in whatsoever lati- tude they shall lie, within the entrance of the streights com- monly called Hudson's Streights; together with all the lands and territories upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, bays, lakes, rivers, creeks, and sounds aforesaid, that are not already actually possessed by the subjects of any other Christian Prince or State, with the fishing of all sorts of fish, whales, sturgeons, and all other royal fishes in the seas, bays, islets, and rivers within the premises, and the fish LECTURE I. :u therein taken, together with tlie royalty of tlio sea upon tlie coasts within the limits aforesaid, and all mines royal, as well discovered as not discovered, of gold, silver, gems, and precious stones, to be found or discovered w'thin the terri- tories aforesaid." And what think you is the price which this charter provides shall be paid for this munificent, this princely gift of, as the Hudson's Bay Company view it, half a continent — for this comprehensive donation of every- thing, but the sky, which overhangs Prince Rupert's Land. Ah, here it is, and very onerous and burdensome this same company of adventurers must have found their vassalage to be — " yielding and paying," saith this grave title-deed, with which the onward rush of settlement is attempted to be stayed — somewhat, it must be confessed, after the fashion of the celebrated Mrs. Partington wheL, mop in hand, she valiantly endeavoured to sweep out th' incursion of the an- gry Atlantic — '* yielding and paying to us, our heirs and successors, for the sama, two elks and two black beavers " — not yearly, mark you, but magnanimously — " whensoever, and as often as we, our heirs and successors, shall happen to enter into the said countries, territories, and regions hereby granted ; " and then, by all sorts of right lawyerly phrases, not only " the whole, entire, and only trade and traffic and use and privilege of trading " is granted, but also " the whole trade to and with all the natives and people inhabiting, or which shall inhabit^ within the territories, lands, and coasts aforesaid ; " and all sorts of pains and penalties are threat- ened against all those who do visit, haunt, frequent, or trade, traffic or adventure into the said countries ; and all such shall, saith the Royal Charles, " incur our Royal indignation, '\ m f 1 1 .r 82 NOVA imiTANNIA. and the forfeituro and loss of any goods or merchandize" conveyed from tlio sui. territories into the reahn of Eng. land. Ikit time does lot permit tlie dwelling longer on this relic of antiquity. It will suffice to express my con- fident belief that Canada has only to express in firm but respectful tones her demands as to that vast territory, and these will bo cheerfully acceded to by Great Britain. Thoso demands should be ripely considered, and so matured as to evince, not a mere grasping thirst of territorial aggrandize- ment, but a large-spirited and comprehensive appreciation of the requirements of the country, and a proper sense of the responsibilities to be assumed in regard to the well-boing of the native and other inhabitants, and the due development of the resources of the territory. In such a spirit our states- men will I trust be found acting. The position of our Pro- vince, too, is to be weighed. To a large portion of the ter- ritory we have an indubitable legal claim ; to another por- tion the Crown of Britain would be entitled ; b'lt all that is adapted for settlement should be placed under tlie juris- diction of representative government, and any further ex- tension of the rights of the Company to trade in the more northerly regions should be subjected to tlie approval or control of colonial authorities.* The subject is .lot without its difficulties ; but, I doubt not, these can all be satisfac- torily overcome, and the interests of the whole Empire im- periously demand their prompt and satisfactory adjustment. * The negotiations which finally led to the abaorp'.iou of the North -West by the Dominion proved the soundness of the lecturer's views as propounded in the text. Indeed the entire history of the surrender of ths Territory by the Hudson's Bay Company to the Imperial Government, and of the subsequent acquisition thereof by the Dominion, forms a striking commentary upon these passages in the lecture. LECTUUK I. 33 VANCOU VliU ISLAMi. But now, to hasten on to the end of th's our long journey. Traversing the country stretching towards the Pacific, you will find the climate gradually becoming milder as we approach the ocean. And we have at length reached the Pacific, and Vancouver Island, a British possession, improvi- dently leased to the Hudson's Bay Company, whose lease will expire in 1859.* " This splendid island," says Nicolay, " is in forni long and narrow ; in length about 250 miles, in aver- age breadth 50 ; with a surface of upwards of 12,000 square milea. A range of lofty hills extends through its whole length ; and it is perhaps even more fertile, and has more open glades and land fit for cultivation than the southern continental shore. Its western side is pierced by deep canals, and it has many excellent harbours. It has beautiful rivers of water, and clumps and groves of trees are scattered through the level lands. The Hudson's Bay Company have here established a large cattle farm and post called Victoria, t At the north- ern extremity of the island there is a large and excellent field of coal." Iron, copper and silver, according to Spanish writers, are found there ; and gold, according to more re- cent accounts. Martin, the apologist of the Hudson's Bay * In lb68 British Columbia, and in 1859, Vancouver Island, waa erected into a Crown Colony, and ea::h had a separate government until 1866, when the latter waa united to the former. In 1871 British C«)lumbip was admitted into the Canadian Union, and now has a Local Government and Legislature, and representation in the Parliament at Ottav a. The area of British Columbia (including Vancouver Island) has been roughly estimated at 229,000 square miles, and in 1881 the Pro- vmce had a population of 49,459. The total value of imports for the year ending 30th June, 1882, was $2,899,186, and of exports, $3,154,1C4. t The 'Marge cattle farm and post" is now a beautiful city, with palatial resi- dences on some of its Mireets, and with a population of between 6,000 and 7,000. U 34 NOVA IJUITANNIA. Company's rogimo, testifies to the excellence of the climate of the island, and to its adaptation for the cultivation of wheat and other grains, lie adds that ** The poNttfon, resourcen and climate of Vancouver Tnland eminent* ly adapt it for bein^ the Ikitain of tho Nortliom Pacific. There in no ])ort between the Strailn of Juan de Fuca and 8an FrancJHco ; it is within a week's sail of California ; within double that diHtance from the Sandwich Islandn, with which a thriving trade ha« already been entab- lished ; five days' voyage from Sitka or New Archangel, tlie hoa7'J ii(|uui'u mileH, or 7()!', I'iH IfHM than Itri- tiHh America. Sir, I often Hinilo wlion I hear moiiiu vain-gloriouH Uo* publican exclaiming. ' No pent-up Utica controctH our powern ; The whole unbounded continent in ouni ! ' forgetting that the lar,(eHt portion doeH not belong to him at all, but to 118 the men of the North, whoHu deacjudantM will control its duHtinioM forever. The whole globe containH but 37,0OO,O(M) Hipiare mileH. We North Americaaa uudur the HritiHh tlag have one ninth of the whole, and this ought to give uh ample room and verge enough for the accommoda- tion and support of a oountletiH population." Then, grouping oi»r population, we have in the organized Provinces three millions of people,* at the lowest compu- tation. Combining our trade returns, we had in 1851 exports to the extent of twenty-five millions of dollars, and a revenue * As Htated in a notu on a former page, the pupu'-'tiun of the Uominlon in 1881 WM 4,324,810. There has been a steady, indeed a rapid, increase in the populat.on of the vanou: Provinoes. Ex. gr. : in 1841 Upper Canada, or Canada West, coii* ta\ued a population o( 465,357. In 1861 the population was 052 004, showinR an in- cri.aHd of 104*58 p«T cunt. In 1831 the population of Lower Canada was 611,920, In 1861 it was 800,026, haviug doubled in twenty years. To view the matter in an- other aspect, as showing combined progress, in ls51 the population of United Can- ada was 1,815,265, wblle in 1857 it was 2,571,437, showing an icreabe in five years of 729,172. Coming down to more recent times, the following tabulation from the last cen- BUS will doubtless be considered as interesting in itself, and instructive for the salvo of comparison, inc\uding, as it does, all the Provinces which go to make up the Dominion: — i.ECTunK r. 37 of £I,ir»3,970 8«. 3«l.; but it in now much larger.* The r«v pruvements, was Xl,703,303.f FUTUUK rilO.Sl'KCTS. If we pass in review the advantages of all these Provinces, the agricultural resources of Canada, its manufacturing capa- bilities, its mineral wealth, its rising trade, its great means of water communication, its systems of railways, tho vast stretch of undeveloped country beyond us ; and then the Summary ir PoPULATiosf. 1871. 1881. Inoreau. Kato per cent. I'Hnco Edward iHland 94,021 8H7,8W 28.'),5»-» 1.191, 6l« l,620,8.'i1 8,679,782 108,R91 440,fi7V 321.233 1,359,027 1 ,923 2-'8 14.870 62.772 86,6H1> 167,511 302,377 16 H Nova Scotia 13 6 New Kruiiiwick 12'4 (^(1(5 bee 14-6 Ontario 18 6 Total/ 4,152,951 67.S,169 160 Manitoba 18.995 36,247 65,954 49.459 66 446 46,960 18,212 247-0 British Columbia 362 The Torritorien ToUl 66,242 171,869 60,172 Grand total for the Dominion .... 8,035,024 4,324,810 633.341 18-98 * The exports of the Dominion for tho fiscal year ending 30th J une, 1882. amount- ed to $102,137,203. Imports for aanie period, 9119.410,500 Total exportH and im- ports, $221,650,703. The cuatomii duties collocted during^ the year amounted to r.J 1,708,837. 43. t For the year ending; 30th June, 1SS2, the revenue of the Dominion waa|3S,- 333,455.52. The expenditure for the same period was $27.067,103.58— leaving a surplus of 16,316,351.94. The public debt was iJ2O5,805,?57.97. n8 NOVA URITANNIA. If Agricultural rmourcoa and capAUilitief of Now Uruiiiwick, uixl itn tiiiu ititiK! faniliticH ; the commanding poitition of Nova Scotia, itn coal-fitddH and oxtt^naive Hshurina ; tho mind u moHt favourulily impntusod witit tho magnitude of their coml>in(ul ivHourcoa. And to all thin wIkmi wm bring hnforn UH tho tluut of tlin Maritime Provinces, and the lioHtH of aturdy coloniHta who man them, and consider tho enorgetic chanicter inlieritixl hy our people, which tho fusion of raceH and llio confjuering from tho fori'Ht of new territories huM foatered, and the iniluonces of our climate have rendered hardier — who, considering our present and looking hack upon our past, can doubt but that a groat future ia before these colonies 1 Nay, is it not manifest that tho day muHt conjo when they will play no mean part in the world's history, and amid tho ranks of nations ? That this is no rash assumption the history of other nations will justify us in assuming. Let us for instance take our parent IJritain as an example, and who could have foretold the future of that island i)0()ple? How wondrous her rise, how vast her intluonco throughout tho world, giving her sons a right to claim a pr^iition analogous to that of tho citizen of another empire of the olden time, as he pronounced the magic words, *' I am a Roman citizen ! " And yet, as we look back over history, how humble her origin. Rising in pop- ulation by almost imperceptible increase, Froude says that at the time of the invasion of tiie Spanish Armada a rough census then taken gave a population to England of only about five millions. How vast its increase since then ! and why, with all that modern civilization is doing for us, should not British America follow in the footsteps of her parent 1 LKCri'UK I. Surrly it ifl n ni>l)I<> doHtiny that is lM)foro Ui ; and who, m ho nttloctH upon all thtmu things, douM not fmd an lionest |>rid(^ an \w thinkn that ho tuo may, in howovor hiunhh^ a Hphoro, or by howovor foobin an oflfort, aid in urging on that grciit di'Ntiny 1 It in not my purposo to tronch upon the political in this Ivrttiro, nor would it bo consistout with t!ie purpoHus of your 8oci«>ty that I should thus interfere with any of those questions of the day which, in one shape or othrr, an* pn^HHin^ upon the connideration of us all. Vet, in dwelling npon tho pro.sent and the future of these iVovinces, it iH im|)(mHible to avoitl glancing at the (piestion of how that future will \u> 8liapeection soon. Shall they seek it with you, the States, or intermarry among themselves, and begin tlie world on their own hook ] These are important questions, and they must be answered soon. . . . Things can't and won't remain long as they are. England has throe things to choose for her North American Colonies . 1st, Incorporation with herself and representation in Parliament ; 2nd, Independence ; and 3rd, Annexation with the States." So said Judge Hali- burton, and, true to his colonial feelinga, he has been in Britain agitating on behalf of the colonies, and urging thoir being made an integral portion of the British Empire. * But another authority of real weight also maturely consid- ered this subject, and, in his celebrated Report, Lord Dur- ham ably argued the question of a Union of the Provinces, and declarea that "Such a union would eii..ble all the Provinces to co-operate for com- mon purposes ; and above all, it would form a great and powerful peo- ple, possessing the means of securing good and responsible government for itself, and which, under the protection of the British Empire, might in some measure counterbalance the preponderant and increasing influ- ence of the United Statos in the American ''ontinent. . . If we wish to prevent the extension of this influence, it can only be done by raising up to the North American colonist soma nationality of his own, by elevating these small and unimportant communities into a society having some objects of national importance, and by thus giving these inhabitants a country which they will be unwilling to see absorbed into that of their powerful neighbour." * Judge Haliburton spent the last fifteen years of his life in England, where he died in August, 1865. For five years before his death he sat in the House of Com- mons for Launceston, and he never lost an opportunity of saying a kind word for the land in which his early and middle life had been parsed. if J 42 NOVA lUlITANNIA. Alrea'ly I am glad to say this instinct of nationality has been aroused. Already our people feel a patriotic pride in the growth of our infant country. It would be a wise policy to cherish and foster this feeling, to enlarge its bounds, to promote intercolonial trade and other intercourse, to develop commerce and manufactures, and to give free scope to those enterprises which will have a tendency to advance these ob- jects. It is not my purpose to enter, as I have said, upon vexed political questions, and I shall not here ask whether a federative or a legislative union of the Provinces be the most desirable. Nor shall I speculate as to whether the great North-West Territory will be eventually ^'annexed to Canada, which would then be extended to the head-waters of the Saskatchewan, in the Rocky Mountains ; or whether two important British Provinces, component parts of the General Confederation, are yet in the future in that great country : the one having the Red River settlement as its govern- mental seat, reaching from Canada to the Rocky Mountains, having a breadth of about 500 miles, and embracing the whole of the Saskatchewan Valley ; and the other compre- hending Vancouver Island (which has been well styled the future England of the North Pacific) and the Pacific slope. Time, in the course of events, will develop the result in due season. But while thus purposely refraining from such speculations, and not wishing moreover to discuss matters of mere local importance, there are yet some topics under public view which claim attention, and which cannot be overlooked. RAILWAYS AND OTHER MATERIAL PROJECTS. We have now a Grand Trunk Railway, and th( ^^rospects of its traffic are brightening ; but though it has linked the LECTURE I. 43 West with the East, and is abou'. — by means of that worUra wonder tlie Victoria Bridge,* and its auxiliary branch to Portland — to afford Canada unbroken connection with a win- ter Atlantic port, it is destined to yet further extension. Al- ready we have this Provincial Railway extending from Strat- ford, above Toronto, to St. Thomas, below Quebec ; but it is designed to be prolonged westward to Sarnia, on Lake Huron, and eastward to Trois Pistoles, 100 miles from tlie New Brunswick frontier. The works on the section between St. Thomas and Riviere du Loup are being urged on with vigour. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, too, are each extending their iron arras to meet the Canadian chain of railway. A line is in progress, under the control of Nova Scotia, designed to extend from Halifax to the New Bruns- wick frontier^ and thence New Brunswick purposes to con- tinue it to St. John, the commercial capital of New Bruns- wick — a distance of 255 miles from the Atlantic terminus at Halifax. The American interests, ever awake, are labouring to connect this line with Portland, Maine ; but a branch is intended to connect the " European and North American Railway" with Miramichi, distant from Rivi6re du Loup but 200 miles.t As the result, then, of these efforts in the Lower Pro- vinces and in Canada, I look for the eventual extension of a main Provincial artery, reaching from Lake Huron to the Atlantic at Halifax ; part of it constructed, it may be, as an inter-provincial route. But I look further, and believe that * The first stone of this chef d'ceuvre of Robert Stephenson was laid on the 20tli of July, 1851, and the first train passed over it on the 19th of December, 18)9. t All these projactahave since b3Coaie realities, together with others equally im- portant arising out of them. I 4 1 n 'X 44 NOVA imiTANNtA. 1 a lino of railway will yot pass up tho Ottawa Valley, and present, through British territory, a highway to the racific* And hear what a high American authority, quoted by Judge Haliburton, says of this same British American Pacific route : — " The route througli Britinh America ih in some respects preferable to that through our own territory, liy the former, the diHtance from Europe to Asia in some thousand miles shorter than by the latter. l'a«<- sing close to Lake Superior, traversinij the water-shed which divides the streams flowinif toward tho Arctic Soa from those which have their exits southward, and crossing the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of some 3(XK) feet less than at the South Pass, the road could be here constructed with comparative cheapness, and would open up a region abounding in valuable timber and in o*-her natural products, and admirably suited to the growth of grain and to grazing. Having its Atlantic seaport at Halifax and its Pacific depot near Vancouver Island, it would inevit- ably draw to it the commerce of Europe, Asia, and the United States. Thus, liritisli America, from a mere colonial dependency, would assume a controlling rank in the world. To her other nations would be tribu- tary ; and in vain would the United States attempt to be her rival, for we could never dispute with her the possession of the Asiatic commerce, nor the power which that commerce confers." And considering these statements from an impartial authority, let us echo the words of Haliburton : — " What a glorious future does this prophetic vision of an American seer \infold ? From our side of the border, echo will reverberate his pre- diction until prophecy shall accomplish its own fulfilment. Well may he regard this coming event as an eclipse, and contemplate with wonder its overshadowing influence on the political horizon of the Republic ; well may Her Majesty consider this Empire in the West as the most splendid heritage in the world— a heritage of flood and field, of strong arms and stout hearts— the land of the brave and the free." When that day comes, as come it assuredly will, the * See note p. 34. ■1^^ LECTURE 1. 45 and the visions of McTuggart, who was denounced as a madman, and of Major Pye Smith, will bo realized, and, in the words of the latter, " The rich proiluctionH of tlie EaHt will be landed at the commencement uf the WvHt, to be forwarded and diHtributud throughout our North American ColonieH, and to be delivered in thirty dayn at the portH of Great Britain. Then Halifax would be only ten or fifteen day > diHtant from the north-went cooHt of America, whence Hteamern miKht be des- patched with the mailH from England fur I'ekin, Canton, Auntralia, and New Zealand. What rolling maHBeH of treaHure will be Hure to travel on Buch a girdle-line of comrav. iiication au thiu grand natural highway from the Alantic to the Pacific 1 " Another reason that might be urged for the supsriority of a high northern latitude for this railroad is, that it avoids the summer heat of a southern route, which threatens dis- ease and death to the unacclimated European emigrant. I look also yet to see the noble Ottawa made available for through navigation, and fleets of stately steamers pour- ing into our midst the wealth of the Western States, and Tieeting at Quebec and Montreal the Canadian lines of ocean steamers, whose trade will be maintained and sup- ported by feeding-lines of propellers, laying, by way of the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa, the Western States and the Maritime Provinces under contribution. In this connection too it would be found immediately practicable to originate and sustain a line of steamers to the lower ports of the St. Lawrence, touching at Gasp6. the Magdalen Islands, and at ports in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, in connection with the ocean steamers.* Such, then, are some of the material projects which lie before us, and which time will develop into life and activ- These projects have long since been realized. 40 NOVA imiTANNIA. > ity. Ah our lands become more densely settled, as tlie tide of i)()piilation pours in upon us, this our country will in- crease in wealth, and will steadily develop its resources. Let us hope, then, that it will grow also in those higher moral, social, educati')nal and other features which mark the real prosperity of a people ;. and while with all the vigour of a new world these noble provinces are thus advan- cing, I doubt not some of us may bo spared to look back upon what has yet been attained as but a faint shadow of the greatness which lies before this New Britannia. Very lately, too, despite the shock of commercial depression, and the panic in the United States, and the suspension of moneyed insti- tutions there, our young country presented a proud aspect of stability and self-reliance ; and, during the whole shock of commercial credit elsewhere, our Canadian banks con- tinued specie payments, and afforded the requisite accommo- dation to their customers. In Montreal we have seen commercial confidence unimpaired throughout, and our merchants standing firm as in other times. Viewing, then, these Provinces in all their aspects, I firmly believe that the day will come, when, in the graphic language of a Canadian writer, Mr. Roche,* who feels a patriotic interest in the progress of our country, and has done it some service — " The Upper Provinces of the North-West and the Saskatchewan country, and the Lower Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edwai'd Island, being joined to Canada, the whole con. federated Provinces will ere long eclipse in importance all the other colonies of Great Britain put together, and become a mightier empire in the West than India has ever been in the East." * Mr, Roche formerly belonged to the Civil Service in Canada. He died Home yoars ago in Africa, after doing valuable service in this country as a shrewd and far-seeing Canadian. i.KcrnmK i. 47 Ho this as ifc may, and distant as tho event may prove,, nnd ovori Utopian as some may doom it, I am content to record the views I entertain, resting asmired that time as it passes will mature and devolope the strength and power of British Nortli America, and enable her sons to care (or the interests entrusted to tlieir keeping, and to cotjsoli- date the strength and develop tho general resources of their country. CONCLUDING THOUUIITS. But, long as has been the journey this evening, and vast as is the territory ' . /ersed, 1 trust that none of my hearers w ill consider the time ill spent which we have thus together de- voted to the consideration of tho extent and importance of the British North American Provinces ; and I shall therefore, at the risk of repetition, ask you in the graphic words of Judge Haliburtcn, "to take your pencils and write down a few facts I will give you, and, when you are alone medita- imgf just chew on 'em." "There are," says he, "4 millions of wquare miles of territory in them, wherean all Europe has but 3 millionH and Home odd hundred thousands, and our almighty, everlaHting United States Htill less than that again. Canada alone is equal in size to Great Britain, France and Prussia. The Maritime Provinces themselvea cover a space as large aa Holland, Belgium, Greece, Portugal and Switzerland all put together. The imports for 1853 weire between 10 and 11 mill" )ns, and the exports and shipa sold included between 9 and 10 millions. The increase of population in ten years is in the States 33 per cent. , in Canada 68. " Now take these facts and see what an empire is here, surely the best in climate, soil, mineral and other productions in the world, and peopled by suth a race as no other country under heaven can produce. Here, Sir, are the^ bundle of sticks ; all they want is to be well united." And that they will be so united, in firm and indissoluble alliance, I have no manner of doubt. Already the prospect 4vS NOVA milTANNIA. in onga^ing tho ntttMition i)f t))it)kiiig iiwmi, niid CiiiiuiIh uikI Aoadia havo bogun to Htrctch ouf thoir IiuikIh to onch other. Tho allianco of tluMr hearts and hatida will follow. C)ur noighhours, too, havo thoir oyos upon us, and nvo tho viRion of our futuro dintinctly drliuod. It is w«'ll, thon, in many points of viovv, that tliin suhjrct HJiouhl ho thus early discussed, for it will take time to attain its suooesttful aoc )mpliHhnu>nt. Puhlic opinion luivS hee>i rapidly maturing with regard to it. A few years ago, tho man who ventured to declare himself in favour of such a combination wa. deem- ed A visionary, and was in fact in advance of his timers. Now, however, politicians, and tho loaders of that other power in the state — a power which makes and unmakes cabinets — the press, are rea snce to its adaptation for the purposes of colonization ar. / cultivation," the authoritative and posi- tive assertion of one of the officials of the company that " no part of the Hudson's Bay Company's territories is well adapted for settlement," however true it may be of the Si- beria to the north of the continent. LECTURK ir. 59 True, the interests of a great company require that it should be ho depicted True, tho statement is in harmony with the uniform representations of the company. But rievor- tlieless, we believe that, looking at the territory, not from the contracted point of view of a trading company, but from tlio higher stand-point of Imperial and Colonial interests, we shall come, upon undoubted authority, to the moderate hut positive conclusions that there are noble provinces in these territories well adapted for settlement — provinces which will yet become important members of the New Bri- tannic Empire which is quickly being built up on those Northern shores. Our means of information are fast multiplying with re- gard to tho territory. We have ample data on which to base safe and legitimate conclusions. We have had the evidence of travellers, of missionaries, and of servants of the company. We are now obtaining the trustworthy testimony of scientific explo-'ng expeditions, prosecuting their researches from the Eastern and the Western Territories, In to-night, then, pursuing our journey westward, I design to travel in good company ; and lest we should lose our way in the wilds, I will keep close to the prominently-defined trail of the Governor of Rupert's Land, Sir George Simpson, as in 1841 he wended his way on his enterprising Overland Jour- ney Round the Worlds of which we are in possession of so lively and graphic an account.* First, we shall steam up the Ottawa as far as Les Joachims ; thence proceed by canoe, via the Upper Ottawa and the Mat- * London, 1847. The author, Sir George Simpson, was Qovernor-in -Chief of the Hudson's Bay Company's Territories. He obtained his knighthood in 1841, and died ftt Lachine on the 7th o( September, 1860. '1 if GO NOVA BRITANNIA. tawan, to Lake Nipissing ; thence, by same conveyance, down the French lUver to the Georgian Bay (or we can go thug far, direjlly and speedily, by the Grand Trunk and Northern Railivays) ; and thence by steamer through Lake Huron and the Sault Ste. Marie ship-canal, to Lake Superior, and onward on that lake to Fort William, near the frontier of Minnesota. From this point we shall, in our canoe, dart merrily up the beautiful river Karainistiquia, " whose ver- dant banks form a striking and agreeable contrast to the ster- ile and rugged coast of Lake Superior." Passing by the Kakabeka Falls, ** inferior in volume only to Niagara, and having the advantage over it in wildness of scenery," we shall pass through forests of elm, oak, pine, and birch, where " the river is studded with isles not less fertile than the banks, many a spot reminding us of the rich and quiet scen- ery of England." And as we look over this (to borrow a term from the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Territories) " perfect Paradise, as compared with the adamantine desert of Lake Superior," the conclusion is forced upon our minds, as it was upon that of Sir George Simpson, that ** one can- not pass through this fair valley without feeling that it is destined, sooner or later, to become the happy home of civilized men, with their bleating flocks and lowing herds, their schools and their churches, their full garners and their social hearths." Toiling on our way, "crossing the height of land between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company's Territories," as they claim it, and leaving behind us in a shallow pool " one of the thousand sources of the St. Law- rence," descending the Kiver EmV irras, passing through the Lake of a Thousand Lakes, over the French Portage, LECTURE 1. 01 over hill and valley, through morass and forest, passing through Sturgeon Lake into the Maligne, thence through Lac la Croix to the Macan, seeing, as we pi'^s, sturgeons tethered hy the Indians to ..'akes and waiting their doom, we make a short portage from the Macan to a stream falling into the Lac la Pluie, and thence float on to that Lake. " The river," says our authority, " ;vhich empties Tjac la Pluie into the Lake of the Woods, is decidedly the finest stream on the whole route. From Fort Frances downwards, a stretch o! 100 miles, it is not interrupted by a single impediment, while the current is not strong enough to materially retard b ascending traveller. When we understand, as we are in- formed by Professor Hind, that the area of arable land in the Rainy River Valley exceeds 200,000 acres, while there are small detached areas on the route between the Kaministiquia and the Rainy Rivers of from 50 to 200 acres, which will be of much importance in the establishment of the line of communication from Canada, we can apjireciate the state- ment of Sir George Simpson that " the banks are no less favourable to agriculture than the waters themselves to navigation, resembling in some measure those of the Thames near Richmond. From the very bank of the river " — con- tinues Sir George, "there rises a gentle slope of green-sward, crowned in many places with a plentiful growth of birch, poplar, beech, elm and oak." We can enter most cordially into the vision that rose be- fore him — a vision now rapidly approaching realization — and which he thus foreshadowed : — " Is it too much for the eye of philanthropy to discern, through the vista of futurity, this noble stream, connecting as it does the fertile shores of two spacious lakes, with crowded steamboats on its bosom and populous towns on its borders ? " •I -A 62 NOVA BUITANNIA. But, paddling on through the Lake of the Woods, " whose shores are very fertile," and which is studded with woody islands, we reach the head of the Winnipeg, a magnificent stream which empties the Lake of the Woods into Lake Winnipeg. Here, again, apart from the cultivbble areas varying from 50 to 300 acres along its course of 200 miles, we find 20,000 acres of arable Ian I The river is broken by falU and rapids. PassI . d' ». Ue river, we reach Lake Winnipeg ; and at lengt. oivUr >n the grand traverse lead- ing to the mouth of the Rt< luvkc and gain first the lower fort of the settlement, and then Irort Garry, twenty-one miles higher up the river. And so we have in a few minutes accomplished a journey of 500 miles from Fort William, and have, I trust, derived from the adventure some information of a practical character. The route derives much present interest from the fact that it is our avenue of approach to the vast prairies of the Red River and the Saskatchewan — our pathway to the Red River settlement, whence we can take horse and ride on to the Rocky Mountains, " over a very fine country." But for the present, simply passing through the Red River settlement, and forbearing to glance at its eventful history, in itself an ample theme for a lecture, and reserving to an after part of the evening some account of its condition and resources, I will ask my hearers to take (in imagination) horse, or, if they prefer it, to stretch them- selves for part of the journey, as far as Edmonton, lazily in a cart, and, with the cry of ** Westward ho 1 " pass out upon the fertile prairies, and so attempt to gain the shores of the Pacific ; again following the route of Sir George Simpson, for the advantage of a beaten path. LKCTURE 11. 03 On the 3rd of July, 1840, then, his adventurous cavalcade dtfilod "through the gates of Fort Garry into tlie open pluins, with a horizon before them as well defined as that of the blue ocean, the scene resembling the moving of an east- ern caravan in the boundless sands of Arabia ; a medley of pots, and pans, and kettles in one single vehicle, the unruly pack-horses prancing under their loads, and every cavalier armed to the teeth, assisting his steed to neigh and caper with boot and spur ; the effect being not a little heightened by a brilliant sunrise, the firing of cannon, the streaming of flags, and the shouting of spectators." We are under way, then. The scenery of the first day is '* a perfect level." On the east, north, and south there was not a mound or a tre to vary the vast expanse of greensward, while to the weso were the gleaming bays of the winding Assiniboine, sepai. ted from each other by wooded points of considerable depth. Next day the cavalcade " brushed the rich grass with their knees." The rankness of the vegetation savoured of the torrid zone. In the afternoon, the plains gave place to a "rolling succession of sandy hills covered with brush." Next day the journey lay through tolerably well- wooded hills, with a succession of lakes. In the neighbourhood of these waters the pasture vas rich and luxuriant. The pace now became slower, to keep with that of the loaded carts. On ascending the eastern embankment of the valley of the Assiniboine, a large band of horses was seen, the stud of Fort EUice. Leaving the fort, and passing through a swampy wood, and through a level meadow several thousand acres in ex- tent, the party trotted away over prairies studded with i 04 NOVA niUTANNIA. I I clumps of tre«:<, thim over swampy gruuiul, then over prai- ries, and past a boundless one as level and smooth as a pond, ai\d covert'd with an alluvial soil of great fertility. And so the pace was kept up, at the rate of four or five miles an hour, for ten, twelve, or fourteen houfH a diiy. The soil for three or four days was, we are told, absolutely manured with the dung of tlie bulfulo, so that myriads must have recently passed over the ground. And the journey went on amid such characteristics aF these : a picturesque country, slop- ing banks of greensward ciowned with thick woods ; a beautiful country with lofty hilU and long valleys, till the south branch of the Saskatchewan was reached. A smart ride of four or five hours from the Bow Kiver, through a country much resembling an English park, brought the cavalcade to Fort Carlton, on the Saskatchewan. The dis- tance of GOO miles was accomplished in thirteen days. The river is here a quarter of a mile wide, and is navigable for boats from Rocky Mountain House to Lake Winnipeg, up- wards of 700 miles in a direct line. At the Fort " there are large gardens and fields, producing abundance of pota- toes and othet vegetables." Next, we journey on from Carlton to Edmonton, on the north bank of the Saskatche- wan. The route lies at first through a hilly country ; then through vast prairies, the grazing-grounds of the buffalo,* a herd of 5,000 having been overtaken by the party. Sir George Simpson states that buffaloes are incredibly numer- oup, and that in 1829 he saw 10,000 of their carcasses mired * These animals have since practically become extinct. Their trails are seldom seen, and thoir bones lie bleaching on the vast plains ; while the Indian, deprived of his main support, is painfully learning, under the tuition of the Canadian Gov- ernment, to gain his livelihood by the culture of the soil. LMITURK II. 05 in a sinj^lo fonl of the Saskatchewan. A« tlioy advanced towanlH I'Mtnontoti an uxtonHivo fun-st waH )):iHfl(Ml ; then a plain coverml with a hixtiriant crop of wihl vutchos. At length I'Miuonton wan reachud. Iluro thoy iuiinil a farm. Tliu paHturag<^ was nioHt luxuriant, and a lar^o ihiiry wan inaintaintMi. Uarhty yiuhled a fair return. Whoat wan, it lA Baid, liabU) to be dt*8troyed by early frost The garden produced potatoes, turni )«i, and a few other hardy vege- tables. From Kdmont )n, the next s^ago of the journey was to I'ort Colville, and tlu^ path lay through "every kind of ground, thick swamps, rugged mountains, rapid rivers, tan- gltsd bush, and burning forests ; " but the journey was, not- withstanding, accomplished at the rate of forty miles a day. The weather, during the long journey of nearly 2,000 miles, had been an almost unbroken spell of cloudless skies. Dur- ing seven weeks the cavalcade had not had one entire day's rain, and had been blessed with genial rH cannot bo a iterile one. Vast stretches of prairio, carpeted with ri«'h grcen-Hward, prenent no such obHtacles to tho 8etth>r as do our own acres of Cana- dian forest ; an " The country on either Hide of that river is but partially supplied with wood, and consists of plains covered with herds of buffalo and elk, especially on the western side. On the eastern side are lakes and rivers, and the whole country is well wooded and level liiere ia not perhaps a finer country in the world for the residence of uncivilized man than that which occupieH the space between this river and liake Superior." tRCTURi II. 07 |*nif«>Mor Hint! »ay«: — " AImmiI lUlny \,n\n\ AnIa(!« tli« |)n>|Mit«^l rout«»t'nHM to U*<-rtit(», wut<*r powt^r Im to Imj hiul in almndttncu, unil in th« wuor« Mv ni»ny kiMiUof v»ln«li|« tiutb«r." I fflmll in the proper lequnncn Rpeak moro fully of tito Ued Kivur country ; annoiigh to maintain a thriving colony, if once British freedom were eatabliHhed within its borders. 1 shall, therefore, here group the result of recent in«iuir- ies as to the extent of the known territory, now or formerly (under some authority or other) subjected to the control of the company, but which ought to bt» thrown open for set- tlement, and which is well adapted for the purpose. And, to reverse the order of our view, and commence on the west, I notice, firstly, VANCOUVER ISLAND. With regard to this interesting possession of the Crown, which comprises 12,000 square miles, and is aa long as England, though not so wide, I quote the testimony of the Honourable Edward F'lice :— " From all the acoounti we nave of it, it U a kind of England attached to America. . . It ahould \n the principal Htation of your naval force in the HaciH;;. It h an island in which there ia every kind of timber fit for nnval purpoaaa. It h%» the only good harbour from Saa Francisco to ai far north at the Rasnan aettlomaut of Sltk». You have in Vanoou- 08 NOVA iJRITANNIA. ver Irtland the boHt liarboiir, fine timber in every Hituatimi, nnJ c«>al eiiouyli f«»r your whole navy. The climate Ih wholesome, very like that of England. The coasts abound with finh of every description- in Hhort, there iH every advantajje in the iHland of Vancouver to make it one of the firat colonieH and beat settlementH of England." Mr. Cooper, long a practical agriculturist, and a member of the Council of the island, says of it : " The soil is cap- able of producing all the crops tliat we grow in England, and some others which we cannot produce — Indian corn, for instance ; but I do not think it would quite come to perfection on account of the coolness of the nights." But he says that " wheat ripens to perfection," and that " it is one of the finest wheat-growing countries in the world." Mr. John Miles says that *' the soil of the island is very good and very rich, and the climate is, I think, superior to that of England. . . There is every necessary in the island itself for its becoming one of the finest colonies in the world. It ha'=* wood, coal, good land and iron. The posi- tion is good and the climate is good." Ex-Governor Blan- chard says that " on the whole the climate is milder than that of Britain, and the soil is fertile." In view of such advantages, and in view of its evident natural destiny as a great naval station, a new p]ngland, upon which will concentrate a flourishing trade with India, China, the Indian Archipelago, and Australia, who can doubt that its rise will be rapid and its progress steady, as it is gradually developed into a wealthy and prosperous centre of trade, the smiling home of thousands of happy colonists 1 We have, secondly, Hi LECTUJIE II. GO BRITISH COLUMniA.' This new colony lies between tbe Rocky Mountains and tlio Pacific, and comprises all the territories bounded to the south by the American frontier line of 49 degrees north lati- tude ; to the east by the main chain of the Rocky Mountains ; to the north by Simpson's River and tho Finlay branch of the Peace River ; and to the west by tho Pacific Ocean. It in- cludes Queen Charlotte's Island, and the islands thereto ad- jacent. It is, according to the Colonial Secretary, Sir Ed- ward liulwer Lytton, 420 miles long and 300 broad. Taken from corner to corner, its greatest length is 800 miles, and its greatest breadth 400 miles. Mr. Arrowsmith computes its area, including Queen Charlotte's Island, at more than 200,000 square miles. Of its two gold-bearing districts, one is on the Fraser River, now so well known, which river, flowing south from the northern boundary, falls into the sea at the sou til- western extremity of the territory, opposite the trouthern end of Vancouver Island, and within a few miles * Vancouvc r Island and the mainland wero united in 1800 under Uio name of Britisli Columhia. In .luly, 1871, that I'rovinco entered Confederation, and becanie a part of th^ Dominion. The buundariea laid down in the tnxt were of course varied when Viiiioouvtr Island bocanie p^rt of Bntiu'i Columhia. The boundary between tho United State>i and the Critinh po^sosHionH in thu fur west of America was lon(( a fruit- ful HO irc<3 of dispute. It Wcis supp med to have been settled l)y tlie Orojfon Treaty of ls40, but the doMcription iii that treaty was so unccrtiin that the question, for practical purposes, remained as far from settlement as l)ef re. After havin^f re- jieutjdlyr led to international complications, thu San Juan boundary question, as it was cilled, was subintttef h«'r ompiro, not to pyranndH anil oboliHkn, bnt to HtateH and conimonwoaltliH, whoHo luHtory will ho written in her language." T turn, thirdly, to TIIK ATIIABASKA DISTIUCT, which comprises r)0,000 square miles. Tlio v.illoya of the Peace and Athabaska Kivors occupy the eastern base of the Kocky IMountains, and share the Pacific climate iu a liigh degree. Of this region Sir Alexander McKeiizie says: — " In the summer of 178S a huuiU spot wan cloarcd at tho old CHtahlish- ment, which is situated on a hank thirty fott ahove the level of the river, and was sown with turnips, enrrots, and parnnipH, The fiist km'^w to a large size, and the others thrived very well. An experiment wjvh also made with potatoes and cabbage ; the former of which was successful, but, for want of care, the latter failed. In the fall of 1787 Mr. Pond had fcrmed poi>ile to our present bituatiou are beautiful mea, dows." ** On the 20th of April," ho says, "on the other side of the river, which was yet covered with ice, the plains were delightful, the trees were budding and many plants in blossom." On the 10th of May, 1793, he writes: "The whole country displays an exuberant verdure." And to adduce the statements of another eye-witness : sixty-five years later, Richard King, M.D., surgeon to the expedition in search of Sir John Koss, described this country (as he saw it in 1833) as a very fertile valley. " It is boimded " says Dr. King, " on the north by Athabaska Lake, and on t'lv south by Cumberland House, on the Saskatchewan ; and it is several th« Ti?}-nc. n iles square. The country between the Athabaska and the Saekatchevaii is an inQmer.se area surrounded by water. When I LECTIFRK ir. 73 tioard Dr. TiiviiiffHtotUf'H «1<>nrri|iti()i) of tlic Hplt'txlid country whirh hu foiinil within thn tropicii in thu interior of Africa, it n|)|)PHrc(l to mo to be prociHely the kind of (Mtiintry I am now duHcrihin^'. 1 piMHud through a grt'at |Mirtion of tint dintriut .... The hoil wan alihu^k mould, evidently alluvial. 1 waH told by tlm tradern j,M'nRrally that it waH prociHtdy the nnnw liiml m that which I paHHcd thnniKh, viz., a rich Hoil intorHiMTHid with well \vo< .cd country, there boin^ growth of every kind, and the whole vegetable kingdom alive." Tho average temperatuu) of t\ui vast area of which Atha- baska is the northern boundary lie believed to \m uhoiit tho same as tliat of Montreal. Limestono is met with in all t it. They told me that Governor Williams had a penchant for farming, .and the Company had ordered him off somewhere else. The whet as luxuriant ; and there were also potatoeH, barley, pign, cows and h> .aej." 'J'he colonists appealed to Dr. King, as a government ofticer, to relieve them, which he was unable to do. » ' I 74 NOVA HUITANNIA. \ Here, thon, is a lar^o tract of country ovidontly availublo for settle riKMit, to wluclj ftttontion should he ('.irectod, with the view of taking advantage of the inducements it presents for colonization. Under other nianngement the little colony of thirty might have hoen expanded into an important nu- cleus of progress and civilization, and the 2000 cultivated acres might have increased a hundred fold. Tiet us hope that henceforth the country will receive that fair play which it evidently deserves, and that colonists will have free and unquestioned license to occupy the virgin soil without lot or hindrance. 1 now turn, in my eastward progress, to the SASKAICHKWAN, ASSINIBOINE, AND RKD llIVKa COUNTRY. This vast territory comprises an area of 3G0,000 square miles,* and pre^Mits many atlvantages for speedy and ex- tensive colonization. The Jied and Saskatchewan Uivera course through vast fei*ti!'i plains. The Rod Kiver, Lake Winnipeg, and the Saskatchewan furnish a navigable water- iii;c of 1400 miles. Steamers, recent explorers have stated, may ply on the Saskatchewan for a distance of 700 miles above Lake Winnipeg.f Accoiding to Mr. Hind, who reported to the Canadian Government last year, there are within British Territory, in the valleys of the Red River am' its affluent the Assiniboine, 1,200,000 acres of cultivable land of the finest quality, and an area of 3,000,000 acres well adapted for grazing jjurposes. Surely, with such an expanse ready for occupation, a long time will not elapse * "230,400,000 acres. t T)ii8 h»j also bccciiic an acconiplislicil fact. !• - "f:; -■r-jrai' j - lu i^tsffi^g n^ia^ii;-!! ju jh w hb* ^^m^ LttCTUftK II. 75 uro {)ru8[)erou8 unu populous communitios will inliabib its rich prairioH, and a great transcontinental thoroughfare be (mbahliHhiMl, via, Canada and the Red River to the Pacific. With our tame and prosaic idea«, with our remembrances of the past, and with the present stern warfare urged against the forests of our heavily-timbered lands, it is difficult to form any conception of this boundless prairie, with its rich, long, waving graus glistening under the rays of the noon-day sun like some great ocean, but " which, unlike the ever- changing and unstable sea, seems to offer a bountiful recom- pense, in a secure though distant home, to millions of our fellow-men." The settlement at the Red River was formed by Lord Selkirk in 1811, and it has passed through a severe and try- ing ordeal, It has not advanced much in population,owing to the difliculty of ingress and egress, and to the wn'/ of a market of SufRcient extent to stimulate industry aud en- courage production. The total population in 185G was 11,- 811, having increased 1,200 only in seven years.* The soil at the Red River settlement is, according to Dr. Rae, of a very rich quality. According to the Rev. Mr. Corbett, a Church of England clergyman who was stationed in the ter- ritory, the country is excellent for agricultural operations, which might probably be extended to a great distance from the river. The soil is alluvial. The inhabitants cultivate the soil without manuring it. They sow for twelve or fourteen years in succession, and produce, from four quarts, twelve bushels of wheat, sixty-five or seventy pounds to the bushel. ^ The niojt marvelluuH transformation o{ all has taken place here. What was hen known as the Red River nottloment now contains not fawer than 50,000 sogU Winnipeg alone haa a population of more than 20,000. < i 7G NOVA IJUITANNIA. According to Bishop Anderson, tho crops at the Kod River are as good as in any part of Canada. Mr. Gowles, a farm- er, is stated by Mr. Hind to liave grown fifty-six measured busljels of wheat to the acre.* Melons grow luxuriantly, and "all kinds of farm-produce common in Canada succeed admirably in the district of Assiniboia. Tliere arc wheat, oats, barley, Indian corn,hop8, flax, hemp, potatoes, root-crops, and all kinds of garden vegetables ; " and as a grazing country in summer and in autumn, the Red River territory lias perhaps no {(jiial. »/ith such a region spread out before us, inviting occupation, I can enter heartily into the belief of Mr. Hin>a. LECTURE It. 77 own territory is HUlIi(;i(>iitIy largr, and wc liavc 8copo un«l vergo onuugli fur the exi>an8i(>u of a dunse pupulatiun (den- ser than ours will be for years to come), Bimilar prompt and oMorgetic measures should bo adopted with regard to the lied River country, which until it be admitted a member of the Canadian Confederation — an object to be kept steadily in vic»w — should meanwhile be constituted into a territorial government, under the direct authority of the Crown,* with a constitution adapted to its position, with entire freedom for importation and exportation, save upon the charg(*8, of moderate extent, necessary to defray the expenses of the government. Then, with an energetic colony on the i'acific, with another centre of civilization and progress on the lied Kiver, and with Canada stretching out towards the prairie, and traversing anew her old north-western path re-opened and improved, the vast country would bid fair to be peopled with an industrious population, and the avenue would be opened up for the inroad of the locomotive. The construction of the Atlantic and Pacific Railway would be facilitated, its ultimate construction assured^ and a step of immeasurable * ThiH HuifKCHtioii waH acted upon. Itj 1800 an Act wjm passed i»rovidlnjf a Territor- ial Government fy climnte. In an elaborato work recently published in riiiladclpliia — Bloilgett's " Climatology " — it is demonstrated that iho climate of the north-west coast, and of the interior towards Lake Winnipeg, is (luilu the reverse of that experienced in the 8ame latitudes on the Atlantic, and highly favourable to occupation and settlement. It is predicted in that work that a speedy development of that capacity will tnke place when the climate becomes correctly known. On the maps of this ciimatological work wo find lines for the summer, connecting places of the like measures going very far north, us thej' go westward from Philadelphia and New York. Where the mean is seventy five degrees as at New York, the line connecting points of that temperature strikes ofT north-westward after leaving the Ohio River, and goes almost to the northern boundary of th** United States on the Upper Missouri. The measure of seventy degrees goes far on the Saskatchewan River, connecting its western plains with St. Paul, Chicago, Cleveland and West Point. If these cities have a tolerable climate for summer, the plains of the Saskatchewan, which lie just east of Fraser River across the main chain of the Rocky Mountains, have one capable of settlement. The line of sixty-five connects Portland, Quebec, Mackinaw, Superior City, and Lake Winnipeg. It goes to the Athabaska River northward, and ([uite to the fifty-fifth parallel, from which it returns south- ward to Fort Owen, Fort Cclville, and Fort Vancouver, in Oregon. The coolness of the country westward is derived ^ ^f^"^' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A <^ Sf ^ Vx 1.0 I.I 1.25 If 1^ 1^ u lU III2.2 *U MIA S US illO 1.4 1.6 m vQ /. % '% "s^' '/ >(;« Photographic Sciences Corporation ^>' ■^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^ .0 (/. s^ 80 NOVA BRITANNIA. ' 11 fro»u tluj Pacific, which prevents a higli measure of summer heat, the average for the \icinity of Vane )uver Island and of Fraser River being h^^w^ien sixty and sixty-five degrees, or ahnost precisely such as that for the west of England. " Again," says the author above referred to, " taking the isothermal chart for the winter, we have equally important results. The line of thirty-five degrees passes down the coast across the mouth of the Fraser River, and, going as fiir south as the Albuquerque in New Mexico, it reaches the Atlantic coast in the latitude of Washington city. Gener- ally all the lines of temperature for the winter curve far northward as they approach the Pacific, though they fall southward at the meridian of the west end of Lake Superior. The winter climate of the whole country west of the 100th meridian is remarkable, and inexplicably mild to one who has not studied the relation of continental climates to those of the adjacent seas. By the explanation this posi- tion affords, however, much of the case is made plain. The winds of the temperate latitudes are steadily from the west, and they bathe the western coasts in milder air, derived from the adjacent sea. In this manner, Ireland England, the west of Norway and Germany, are far milder than the interior of Russia in the same latitudes. At Moscow it is very cold in winter, while on the British coasts snow scarcely falls. It is precisely so on the American continent. Quebec and Canada and the mountainous por- tion of New England represent the cold side, while Wash- ington Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island represent the west of Europe." LECTURE IT. 81 This is important testimony, and proves that scientific researches are not without practical results of the highest value. In this case they tend to the development of an empire of the amplest extent and most abundant natural resources. Having thus considered the character of the country under the sway of the Hudson's Bay Company, or rather of those portions of it now known to be best adapted for settlement, I now proceed to inquire upon what tenure the company claims to hold this half of a great continent, and find that a charter was granted by King Charles the Second to the company for the promotion of the public good, and for the encouragement of the design of the parties for whose benefit it was granted, viz. " the discovery of a new passage into the South Sea," and " for finding of some trade in furs, minerals, and other considerable commodities," which last is subsidiary to the main object of finding a passage into he South Sea. The three things granted thereby are : 1st. The territorial lordship of Rupert's Land. 2nd. The exclusive trade of Rupert's Land. 3rd. The exclusive trade with all other ports to which access might be obtained thence by land or water. The words of the grant are vague and indefinite in the ex. treme. Grants were made with lavish liberality in those days ; and in the want of accurate information as to the extent or locality of the country granted, the gift was clothed with a multitude of words, so as to comprehend as much as possible. The terms of the grant are : All the seas straits, bays, &;c., in whatsoever latitude they shall be, that G 'Jl I 82 NOVA BRITANNIA. lie within tne entrance of the straits commonly called Hud- son's Straits, together with all the lands and territories upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, &.C., that are not already possessed by or granted to any of our subjects, or possessed by the subjects of any other Christian Province or State. It would puzzle a bench of Judges to decide the meaning of these terms, and it would tax the ingenuity of a corps of Provincial Land Surveyors to run the boundaries of that grant. Where are the lands and territories, upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, tfec, that lie within Hudson's Straits 1 The company have their own interpretations of its meaning, and claim all the country the waters of which fall into Hudson's Bay. To sustain that view they quote the opinion of eminent counsel. Sir J. Pelly, long earnestly interested in the company, says, in evidence given before the House of Commons, that "the power of the company extends all the way from the boun- daries of Lower and Upper Canada, away to the North P( 'e as far as the land goes, and from theLabrador coast all the way to the Pacific Ocean." An extensive domain, cer- tainly ! It is not my intention to enter at length into the discussion of the legality of this charter or its merits. Its language is vague ; and eminent counsel, Lord Brougham among them, have maintained that the claims of the com- pany were untenable, holding that the expression " within the Straits," must mean such a proximity as would give the land spoken of a sort of affinity to Hudson's Straits, and not such lands as, from the immense distance (in this case the nearest point to Hudson's ^Bay being 700 miles, and thence extending to a distance of 1500 miles from it), have LECTURE II. 88 no such geographical affinity or relation to tlio Straita, but which are not even approached by the Canadians through or by the Straits in question ; and declaring that " the enormous extensions of land and territory claimed ap- peared not to be warranted by any sound construction of the charter.'' Passing by the general question of legality with the simple affirmation of my belief that it ought to bo judicially tested, we, as Canadians, have a special ground of attack against the charter, and wo have territorial rights to conserve. But it must be borne in mind, whether we assume that the charter is valid or invalid, that Canada is clearly not entitled to the whole of the country reaching to the North Pole. If the charter be invalid, the British Crown would be the sovereign of a large portion ; but nevertheless, 1 believe that Canada is the rightful owner of a large extent of the territory. The question of boundary is important, as a subsidiary one, and its right decision will add many fruitful acres to our borders. It derives much significance from the expressions which distinctly exclude " all the lands already actually possessed by or granted to any of our sub- jects, or possessed by the subjects of any Christian Province or State." Resting upon this express prohibition, Canada claims by inheritance a large tract of the territory. Canada, under the sway of the French authorities, had adventurously pushed her way into the territory, and the subjects of another " Christian Province " then possessed a large por- tion of it. Lord Brougham, in the opinion referred to, states : — l« •■! -1 'i I ; " Indeed, there may be sutficient reason to suppose that the territories in question, or part of them, had been then visited, traded in, and in a •i fl i 1 1 i J i ^ 11 1 I'll i 84 NOVA BRITANNIA. certain degrco occupied by tho French Hottlora or traduni In Cnnjulft, erected in 10, whoHe trade, prior to the date of the charter, waH, we be- lieve, conniderttble. Thone territorioH, therefore, would bo exproHnly ex- cepted out of the grant." Canada, thon, as tlio representative of French Canada, has a right to demand the extension of its boundaries to their ancient limits. But to pass to another branch of tho subject. The grant of tlie exchisive trade over the territories called Rupert's Land is open to serious objection. By virtue of it, tho Hudson's Bay Company claim (1.) to exclude all other mer- chants from the country; (2) to prevent the natives from selling their furs to any but privileged dealers; (3) the right to debar from trading any British subjects who may settle in the countries included in the charter. In short, the company claim and have endeavoured to maintain a complete monopoly. It would be easy to quote authorities and cite cases to prove that such engrossing of trade is unrea- sonable and unwarrantable, and that monopolies are without law. The law of England by no means favours them ; but none would be disposed to ask such summary justice as was dealt out to one Sir Francis Mitchell in 1G21, to whom a patent was granted for making and selling gold and silver lace. For this crime, as it was regarded, he was degraded from his knighthood, fined £1000, carried on horseback with his face to the tail through the streets of London, and then imprisoned for life. Such punishments are out of date, and it is well they are so. In dealing with the destiny of a portion of the empire, the question is to be considered, not in a mere dry legal aspect, but on the high ground of public LECTURE II. 85 juHtico ; and in tliis viuw the continuaiicu of such a inuiio. poly is wholly indetensiblo. The day has gone by for its maiuteiiaiico, and neither the colonists of Red Kiver nor their stronger brethren of Canada will long consent to see trade stiHed and cramiied and forced out of its natural channels. But the company have still another set of rights — the I ight of excludive trade with the Indians over what is known as the "Indian Territories." T'iis right is not disputed, and is at present held under the lloyal License of trade granted in accordance with the Act of Parliament 1 and 2 Goo. IV., cap. GO. This license expires during the present year. Such, then, is ^ho nature of the rights and claims of the company. But before closing this branch of the subject, I cannot avoid alluding to the fierce warfare which waged be- tween the rival companies of the Hudson's Bay adventurers and the Canadian North- West company, or rather the two Canadian Fur companies. The fur trade was always an im- portant one to Canada. Distant expeditions were prose- cuted into the North-West at an early date, and the trade was spread as far west as the banks of the Saskatche- wan. The French had a large establishment on the Kam- inistiquia, on the line of their communication with the interior. They had other posts on the Saskatchewan. After the conquest of Canada, the traders pushed on the trade beyond the French limits. A keen competition arose between them and the Hudson's Bay Company. At length, in 1783, the Canadian merchants formed the " North-West Company," to carry on the fur trade. In 1788, the gross amount of the company's adventure was £40,000. In n " I i 1' i ji ■W 80 NOVA imiTANNIA. I M I eleven years it robo to triple that amount. In 1798 the conc(!rn was increased, and the shares augmented. The company was enterprising and energetic. It employed 50 clerks, 71 interpreters and clerks, 1120 canoo-men, and 35 guides. This, then, was no mean rival to the Hudson's Hay Comp.'uiy, and a long and fierce struggle ensued between them for the golden prize. The strife was waged in Can- ada, and it was battled in I" itain. The Hudson's Hay Company urged its extreme pi insions. The North- West Company set them at naught in ])ractice, and bearded the lion in his den, engaging Lord Hrougham, Sir Arthur Pigott, and other eminent lawyers in their cause. At length, when the rights of the company were likely to be subjected to the severe test of passing through the crucible of the law, the company shrank from the ordeal, and, after years of abuse, the lion and the lamb lay down together ; and Edward EUice and the McGillivray, who had been the leaders of the North- A est Company, were suddenly transformed into manful defenders of the monopoly they had so long defied. Aaron's rod had swallowed up all the other rods, and hence- forth they made common cause, to retain the princely domain which it has been so long the steady policy of the company to decry and undervalue. The company were gainers by the result. They secured the aid of men of keen sagacity and shrewd judgment. They kept off " interlop- ers," secured a long uninterrupted reign, and obtained a license of trade over the Indian Territories, and, by and by, the occupation of Vancouver Island, with a view to iiis col- onization. And now again the battle is to be fought, but with other assailants and with another result. Already public LECTURE If. 87 of nccuHsities have withdrawn from their grasp a nuw colony — British Columbia. There are yet otherH to be erected. I by no moans dcsi'n to run an unthinking muck against the company. 1 believe it to bo st'lfish, and eagor for its own aggrandizonuio !h no more Htrikinj,' illuntrution of the wlHreHi(lt>ri over the manugumunt of atfairH, tiian the fact that uinigratiou wa-* KrHt lud to the KaHtern coivHt, rather than to the Hloi)eH or plainH of the Wi nt. Had tho latter been first occupied, it ia doubtful wliether the KaHtern Heal)oard would ever have been Hettlod. No man would have turned from the greensward of the Pacific to the Beamed hIoix^s of the Atlantic edge. Aa it w, we have the energy and patience which the ditticultHoil of the Kant generates, with that mai^ni- ficent sweep of WcHtern territory, which, had it been opened to uh tirst, might, from its very luxuriancy, have generated among those occupying it an ignoble life of eaao." Still, the conclusion is, on the whole, irresistible, that public policy and the interests of the whole empire demaud that all those portions of the territory which are adapted for settlement should at once be withdrawn from the power of the company, the odious existing restrictions on trade abolished, and free colonization allowed to take place therein without let or hindrance. The Red River settlement would then rapidly develop its resources, augment its population, and become the seat of a new and powerful colony. i ■ 1 f. \ .ft! F T t1 > ' 88 NOVA IIUITANNIA. Willi rrl(M<'ii(;(> to tlu^ conipHiiy ilHcIf, it nmy Itc lltut tii» tiino liuM coinc wiicn it hIiouIiI hn ditiHolvcd, and iiuiidu'red ainon^ tlu) things tiiat wuro — tlint it tiliould gnoi fully imi- into tliu i>xiini{d() of the gn'ut«>r anany, and yield up its authority and C(»ntrol. lUit sliould it, after due n flection and forsullicient reanonR, bo otherwise determined, then the license to trade, and the territorial authority of the company over any portions of the soil but those in actual occupation, should be hii)j< ded to the jurisdiction and right of n^striction or withdrawal of the colonial authorities of the various Provinces, or of the f**u- prenie Council of theOeneral Confederation, when such comes to be organized. The (piestions involved in the determination of this matter are grave and important. The rights and the position of the Indiana are to be thought of and protected.* Ktill, the fact is obvious and indisputable, that the power of the company, if it continue to exist, must bo restrained, and subjected to colonial control ; and that, moreover, the rights of colonization and trade, at least in all the habitable terri- tories, must bo free and unfettered. This conceded, as it must be if rightly urged, tlie results will be startling. With two powerful colonies on tho Pacific, with another or more in tho region between Canada and the Rocky Mountains, with a railway and a telegraph linking the Atlantic with the Pacific, and absorbing the newly- opened and fast-developing trade with China and Japan, * During his tenure of office as LieutcoantUovornor of Manitoba and the North- west Territories, it fell to Mr. Morris's lot to take a very conHpicuous part in ncKO- tiating with the Indians on behalf of tho Oovenimcnt of Canada. For a full account of hJH negotiations, together vvith tho text of tho treaties concluded, we arc indebted to his own pen. See Thi' Treatiea 0/ Canada toith the Indians oj Manitoba and the North-Went Territorum. Toronto, 1880. i.txTUUu n. 89 aii«1 (Mir iiiliirul uikI ooonn cluuiiirls of tr.'^ilo hccumiiig nucIi A thorou^hfan* of trawl and of coiiiinrrco uh tho world novur Huw lu'foiv, who can «loul»t, of tlio n-ulity and tho ftccurary of tin) vision which ri«»'H distinctly and ch-arlydo- fined hcforc uh, i\h thu (treat Ihitannic Mrnpiro of the North standi) out in all its grandeur, and in all thu hrilliancy of its magnificent future ! SSomo hard niatter-uf-fact thinker, •ome keen utilitarian, Home plodding man «>f huHineH8, may point thu tinker of Hcorn at us, atul deem all this hut an empty shadow — hut the Meeting fantasy of a dreamer. H« it so. Time is a worker of miracles — ay, and of soImt realities too ; and when wo look east and west and north — when wo cause tho goodly hand of tho Northmen from Acadia, and Canada, and tho North- West, and tho Colum- bia, and tho Britain of tho Pacific, todeKlo hoforo us, a nohlo army of hardy spirits encased in stalwart forms — who are the masters of so vast a territory, of a heritage of such sur- passing value : and whon we remember tho rapid rise into tho greatness of ono of tho powers of the earth of the former American Colonies, and look hack over their progress — who can doubt of the future of these British Provinces, or of tho entire and palpable reality of that vision which rises so grandly before us of tho Great British Empire of the North — of that new English-speaking nation which will at one and no distant day people all this Northern continent — a Kussia, as has been well said, it may be, but yet an English Russia, with free institutions, with high civiliz\tion, and entire freedom of ^speech and thought — with its face to the south and its back to the pole, with its right and left resting on the Atlantic and the Pacific, and with tho telegraph and the iron road connecting the two oceans ! it 90 NuVA IIUITANNIA. Stirli Ih iliti vi»i(>n which |)!iitii|)iw tliAt tltlt new colony on th« I'Aiillc nmy Im )>ut oni* Mti<|) in tliM cnrciir o' MU'mly pro^rtfiui liy wtiiuh Hur MuJimty'N ilouil* iiiiinN in Nortii Ani«*rlc» may ultiniAtvly li« peoplod, in an unbrokMu chftin fn>ni tliu AtUntir to tlm l'iu:iHo, by aloynl uml indiMtriouM |h>|>u1»- tlon of NuhJKctn of th<« llritinli ('rown." Such WON tlio {Mitriotic vUiori that passed before tho mind nf K(H;1>U('k, w)u>n, on the Hhores of (ialway, he exchiimed ; *' W«> l«, through thtt SiMtcAtchtu wun, Hi'roHH tho Uocky Moiuitninn, the Hr;< of KukIaixI ia pre fi'oni Ilulifax to Vunooiivur iMluml : thu inHtitutiona of Kngliuul will n-uch thoucu an fur ah hrihitahlo Un*! k**o>4| won to thu [hAvh, and w« Hhull have auuh a ""'^ '» com? endeavonnng to arrive at some p lanlr,"''",""^ ^"' "een not profess to advocate Ro„- P'an Jor its so ution lie ,ii.) and simple, as a Zl^^'TTl'"', ^^ ^'opulatioi „ ;' laboured. But he thou.LfLr '^''^^'ties under whici we mentation had become a neVessttv T/T"""" «f ^i^^r^re- "ent we were bound to looT'T'tCtart •» """ -'«'J-'- ___^^ i« various interests of the o' his contention. He contln,,-^ * ~ " dent of the Conn.n °"®'^' °^ 'he Province. Two vJr , . '''''®'' Metcalfe, continued to tar : ?• '''' "^^ ''^'''^^ '^ou, ^"e bu 't '^ '^^*"« f^^^' ' t-e to .hi::rLi:nrr r^i^^^'^-^'^'"'-' ^"e Coro/^^^^ r f ^ ledJofP?Hi '^' "'^^^^'l to wHh renLT u '""* '"^ical. vigorous ii'f ! 11 i 4' nr 9G NOVA BRITANNIA. country, to socnro representation for the industry, the manu- factures, the commerce, and the wealth of the country, as well as for its mere population. He confessed that his views had undergone perforce some degree of modification since he took his seat in the House. It was impossible for any reflecting man, any man who had a heart, to take his seat in this Chamber and see the House occupy the position it did, without feeling that the question now under consideration was one of the very gravest importance. It was impossible to look at the very wide diversity of sentiment existing be- tween the representatives of the two sections of the Pro- vince, without seeing that the question was environed with very serious difficulties. But that was no reason why states- men should be afraid to grapple with it. In Britain (pies- tions as serious had been grai)pled with and settled, and he had sufficient confidence in the wisdom and good feeling of the members of this Chamber and of the people of this coun- try, to bo satisfied that if ue came to the consideration of this great question free from party spirit, we should come to a satisfactory conclusion upon it. He had no doubt that when the member for Kouville* first announced to the House that he would come down with a measure to settle the Seig- niorial Tenure in Lower Canada, friends told him — as had been threatened with regard to this question — that, if he attempted to introduce such a measure he would be driven from the country. But they had introduced the measure, and succeeded in settling the question. And so he be- lieved it would be with Uiis other question. He had confidence that men would be found able to meet it fairly, and to come down with a measure satisfactory to the country. It might be that the measure would be one which would bring together the different Provinces of British North America into a union formed on such a basis as would give to the people of each Province the right to manage their own internal aflfairs, while at the same time managing in common matters of common concern, so as to secure the con- solidation of the Britannic power on this continent. Mr. * The Hon. L, T. Druminond. SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 97 Morris concluJed by intimating that he should give adhesion to another amendment vvliich miglit possibly be submitted, and which he thought wouhl be more agreeable to his views and those of his constituents than the resolution now before the House. [The ominous state of affairs which prevailed in the Cana- dian Legislature at the time of Mr. Morris's entrance into public life was continued for several years afterwards. Tiie rival parties were so evenly balanced that the task of carry- ing on the public business became more and more ditlicult from session to session. Neither party was strong enough to command a safe working majority in the Assembly. One Government succeeded to another, only to suffer defeat in its turn. Coalitions were formed, and various devices were resorted to, in vain attempts to accommodate to a progressive people a condition of things which had had its day. The result was a practical dead lock in public affairs, which na- turally begot a certain want of confidence in the future of our country. The idea of a general Confederation of all the British North American Provinces had suggested itself to the minds of several of our leading statesmen as a safe and effectual remedy for the evil, but it cannot be said to have taken any practical shape until the summer of 18G4. The second Tach6-Macdonald Administration were then in office, but could hardly be said to be in power, for they could com- mand but a doubtful majority of one or two. On the 14th of June, this feeble majority declared itself on the side of the Opposition, on a public question of some importance. The Ministry deliberated among themselves whether to re- sign office, to attempt reconstruction, or to test the experi- 7 H • : ' I 08 NOVA nniTAXKIA. I inent of a n«'W election. Tlie last-named Cf>ur8o was finally resolved ujion, although with little confidence, as it had been repeat»)dly tried, among other remedies, without avail. The Governor-General yielded his assent to a dissolution, when an altogether novel and unexpected way out of the (liificulty presented itself. The pioject of a general union of all the Provinces cc • prising British North America had been the cherished dream of Mr. Morris's youth and early maidiood. As al- ready mentioned in the Introduction to this volume, he had argued in favour of such a scheme as long ago as 18 J U, at the meeting of the British American League, held at King- ston in that year. The idea had been ever present with liim from that time forward, and he had lost no opportunity of drawing public attention to its merits. How earnestly and eloquently he had outlined it on the public platform appears from the two lectures ipclu tion was agreed upon, to effect a great ohjoct. The Gov- ernment pledged th«5mselve8 to bring in aJiUMSuro intnxluo- ing the federal principle into Canada, witli provision for the admission of the Maritime Provinces and the North-Weut into the same system of Government. Mr. Brown agreed to enter the Government, taking with him two of the most prominent of his political supporters. Itis unnecessary to trace the subse(pient history of the Con- federation project in minute detail. Suffice it to say thateight members of the Canadian Administration repaired to Char- lottetown in the following September, to attend a Convention of delegates from the various Governments of the Maritime Provinces, who purposed to effjct a union among thomselves, without reference to Canada. The Canadian Ministers were invited to express their views, which they did with great freedom and vigour, recommending the larger scheme, to in- clude the whole of British North America. The Conven- tion, after discussing the matter for some days, adjourned to meet at Quebec on the 1 0th of October following. The re- sult of the Quebec Conference, which lasted more than a fortnight, was the adoption of the famous Seventy-two Kesolutions. A general Confederation of the Provinces was determined upon, and all the delegates stood pledged to use their utmost endeavours to secure the concurrence therein of the Legislatures to which they respectively belonged. The following session of the Canadian Parliament was largely taken up with debates on the great question which engrossed men's minds, almost to the exclusion of every SPEErilFS AND AnDRFSSKS. 101 other. Tho «lelmte8 on this 8ul)j(>ct were rcportixl with great care, and puhlishod in a large volume containing 1032 {mges imperial octa/o. The folhiwing wuh Mr. Morriu's must im- portant c()ntri))iition to the discuHsion, and was delivered from his place in the AsHemhly, on the night of the li3rd of February, 18G5.] SPEKCU OX TIIK CONFKDKIIATIO.V OF THE l»UOVINCES. Mil. Speaker : Tiio member for Lambton* has, I think, set a good ex- amph», and 1 sliail endeavour, if it be possible, to follow it. I desire to state at the outset that this, as has l)een well observed by many who have spoken upon the 8ul)ject, is lu) new (piestion ; but that in oiu) phase or another, as was very j)r()perly stateil in the narrative given to the House by tho honoural)le member for Montreal West.t it has been before tlio ])t(>ple of tliis country from time to time for many years past. It is not my intention to follow that lionourable genthnnan in his interesting narrative of the history of this question, but I desire to ask the attention of tlie House to the tact that this is the third time that this (piestion has been formally brought before Parliament by the Government of this country. The first occasion was, I believe, in 1858, when the then Gov- ernor-General, ;{: in closing the session of Parliament for that year, used in the S{)eech from theThrone the following words : — *'I propose, in the course of the recess, to communicate with Her Majesty's Government, and with the government of the sister colonies, on another matter of very great importance. I am desirous of inviting them to discuss with us the principles on which a bond of a federal character uniting the provinces of British North America may, perhaps, hereafter bo practicable." * Mr. Alexander Mackenzie. The example rcferrcl to as havlnjf been wt by Mr. Mackenzie, who immediately preceded Mr. ^^•^ti^ in the dtbate, whh that if reHtrictint; hi.s remarkH within reasotiardeljounlH, instead of nccntivin^ tiie attciitiMii of tho Uouse tor an cnt re day, at some of his predecessors had dune. t Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McUce. \ &ir kidmiind Walker Head, f ► J i •i.tSi 102 NOVA imiTANNIA. That formal Htatomont wax foIIo^rtMl hy t)\i« dtHpitch whirh has btiuii roiVrroil to rr«'i|u«intly in thin lloiist^anii during tluM «lc- bato, and which wax niado the hasinof the motion hiid heforo thn lIoiiHO hist H(;8Hion hy the honourahh) miMuhitr for South Oxford,* which niotion has ha the appoint- nmnt of i\ui conunitt(»o movod for hy that lionounihio gentle- nuin will h«> looked hack toaxan era in the luHtory of thin coun- try. Now, an to the Hecond occasion on which this (piextion was formally hrought httfore the attention of tlie lIoU8e and coun- try, we hav»5 heard from those who ohject to this scheme that the p«M)ple of the country have hiM'n taken by surprise, that they do not unilerstand it, anlu. This, sir, was the pledge given to this House and country by the present Government on its formation. It was pledi^ed to introduce tho Federative system into tho Government of Canada, with special provisions for tho incorporation into this Federation of the Maritime Provinces, and it was also ])ledged to send delegates to those provinces, and invite them to join us in this Federation. And yet we are told, forsooth, that these delegates, who were thus appointed in conformity * Hon. Oeoff^e Brown. His nioMon was for the appuititmont of tho cQiniultt<}0 lUciitiuucU in tiiu iiuto on pp. W, W, ante. RPKKJ'm-^* AND ADD IK.SSKS. ion witli tliif |)l<>i|;{t) ii(l tii'lttj^att'M to tliosu provinci*it and to Kii){luinl witli li vit'W of liriui^in^ iiWoiit tluH (vonfcilHriition. No 8«.s in posso.ssion of this tIou.s(>. Hut, comin;^ now to tlm pniH(»nt asp«'«;L ot tho mattor, I foid that thin conntry has roason to ho Hati.sliotl with a Hchome of HO practical a naturo as that now iintlor tint consiihnation of tho lloiiHo. I hcliovo that tho plan of union propoHod will hi« found to nit'ot tho oxii^oncitis of our local position, ^ivn latitndo to local c(iro that j^onoral contnd which is osnon- tirtlly nocossary for tho propor ^ovornmont of a country p'acod nndor tho dominion of tho British (Jrown. Ami wliilo I thus look upon tho plan, I dosiru to stato emphatically and cloarly that it is no now principle to which tho pi opie of this country and tho mrm)>t;rs of this llouso aro askod to fjivn thoir sanction. Tho y mIioiiI*! fonn u now coiiMtitniioii fort))!* moro }M>rl'frt ^ovcriirni'ttt ui tliimi) colon IcmI Why, tht^ lin|M*riiil (•ovfirinimt rfvivcil nn old romtnittro of th» Privy (/oiinoil, calliMl th(i " (!i>inniitt«M> of Ti-imIo :ui«i Torri^ti IMiintHtiniiN," ntid rcfernd tlir <|iii'Htii)ii to it, culling in to itM niil tiMHiMnldy, to which tho control of tho ^«>n«Mal uilairs of tht^ AnHtrulian colonicH nIiouM 1)0 cntrtiHtcd, with local f^ovt^rnnicntH having local juriHdiction and certain dctincd powcrM ^rantiMJ to thttn. I hold in tny liandH a Hcricfi of IctterH on tho colonial policy of Kngiand, addrcHHcil hy Karl (ircy to Lonl ilohn IiuhscII, which contain the nport of the cotn?nitt«'e of tln^ Privy Council that I havo referred to, and I titid that tho plan there r,uj;j;eHted in analo^ouH to the one to which w(» are now auked to ^ive practical etiect in thiH country. The proposi- tion of the coinniittee waH that there Khould he a (lovernor- (leneral to adininlHter the iitfairH of the AuHtnilian colonicH, and that ho Nhould convene a hody, to ho (;allud the Oeneral AMhcnihly of Australia, on .ec«'ivin^ a re(|ueHt to that et!\'ct from two or mor<^ oi tho AuHtralian le^islaturos ; and it was recommended that this ;,'eneral aHsemhly, no convened, should hav«! tin? power to make laws respecting tlie impoHi- tion of duties on imports and exports, the post otiico, tho formation of roads, canals and railways, and a variety of other suhjccts. TIk^ advanta;4<'s of tliis plan were so mani- fest, as uniliri}; those colonies to^'etluT, and .securing' for them a hotter and more satisfactory form of government than tlioy iia «|Ui»ntlon, nor hi>r;^u**r tfi** Ifmiiio of T.opiU wm o|)|iMNri| to tlo^ |>riii('i|»lt<, ttiit licoaiiHf ii wuh toiiiiti mm rxtun- inntioii tliut tlit*y wi>r«^ liuMv to pructii'iil oltjiMrtionii, to ol>vintii which ntiiiMiiliiH>itt« would hiiv«' to ho introdiKvil which th(*rn woro no nirnnH (»f nrrnnuMn^ without turtluT coniuiuuicationN with tln^ cohtniim. Thi* hup«'rml <^>v«*rn- nwMit wouhl not nmki^ tlicHM chrin),^t'p( io th«* uiniMun^ without tho coiiMiMit of th<^ coloiiirN, hut Ivirt (), to tho (iovt^rnor of Nrw South Wah'i*, will Hhow :— I Aiii lint, hnwi>vi>r, thn Icmm |)iirMiiu AiiHtrti- liiiii roloiiit'K will tio fitlt ; iiikI proluklily »t n vrry iMtrly |N'riiMl ; txit mIu'II tllix WMIlt in HO fitlt. It will of itMttIf ill||^'^«>Ht tlli> lltflillH liV wilirll it llll»y Iht iiM't. The Mt'Viiiitl lituiMUtiiri'H will, it i>t trii«\ Ixt iniuMit »t onnt to ^ivt* th** ii«>t'«>MMnry authority to n (Si-nKral AHNiMiiltly, l)iTiiiix«> tint Ii*^'ii4lativi« powi-r i»f I'lU'li IH foiitiiii'il o| iitKiMlMturi-HNhoiili| iiriti tlmt thcro urc ohji'iUof coiii* liioii iiitt'rcNt for which it Im <>xiiutlii«nt to t'r«>.it«> mioh uii authority, th«vv will havn it in thi'lr |M»wi!r, if tlioy «'an H««ti|»> tin* t«'riii»« of an arrnii^i-tiM'iit for th«' |>ur|ioHt>, to paMM a«'tM for ^ivin^ «'tl<*t't to it, with rliiUMi>H hum|h'|i<|- intf their opcratioii until ParliaiiK'ut hIihII hav«> Huppti«>i| th«< authority that Ih wanting. Hy hiicIi act^ tin- »'xt< lit hihI olij.'ttH of tin' powi-rx wliii'h tlii>y aru prt'partMl to ilcti-^rati* to miicIi a )><>ilv luii^ht Im> ilctincil aixl Iiiiiit*<(| with itri'cifiun, ati cjiii ho little ilouht that l'arliaiii«>iit, when applied to ill iiriler touivt* olTvct to ar artunijunivnt Hougrt'cil U[h(|i, would rvuilily connent to do mo. Some may Hay, Mr. Speaker, that thirt in very true, hut that the HritiNli (lovennuriit dropped the plan, and did not proceed with it. I think 1 hIuiII Im; prepan-d to mei^t thac aijj;unient, and show that it only rested in tho plan to learti the wi.sheH of the people of tiie colonieH ; for you find it fol- lowing tho very same principle, reported upon favourably hy the ('omraittee on Trade ami Foreign IMantatiouH, in the constitution which was Ruhse(piently granted to the New Zealand provinces. In 1852 tho ])lan huggested by that committee in regard to Australia was carri«'d into elfect in New Zealand, and it must be remembered that at that tinm the population of New Zealand was very .small — so small in- deed that ono cannot help contrasting the position of that I >\ t i ■ ii Ii 100 NOVA I'.UITANNIA. country vvitli tlifit nf I>ritish Nortli America at tlm proBont day. \)\\\. tli«f HtatrsiiM'ti of (itcat i!iitiiin lookod into llio future of the ,'isliitnrn to in»M!t all tlif; wantM of ho iriany Hfparat*! HcttlfMnfuitrt at a K'i'-'at rlirttaiir*! from each othcM- ; luMirn it Hnt-inM alnoliitt'ly rK^ctMHary to (viristitiitt! proviiirial legiHlaturuH on wliicli a yroat ix^rtion of tliu iml>lit; IxiHinoHH inuHt rlrvolvi;. 'V\u) wry (lifliculty which wan met witli th(?rn is tho one wo have to ovcircoino hero. It waH founci ah.soluttiiy ncccsHary to creato in ov(!ry provinco a local Ic^i.Mlatuni, and in addi- tion one cciiitral [>owroposal at present under our consideration, because in my lonest and deliberate judgment I believe that this union, if accomplished, is calculated in its practical efTects to bind us more closely to Britain than we could be bound by any other system. [A voice here interrupted : " It would put an end to the connection."] An honouraVde member says it would put an end to the conru'ction. Well, I would say to that honourable "gentleman and this House, that in my opi- ■• 108 NOVA lUUTANNIA. nion tlioro aro but two dostinies before lis. Wo have either to rise into strength and wealtli and power by tliis union, under the 8h<;ltering protection of Britain, or we must be }il)8orbed by tl»e great [)ower beside us. I believe that this is the only conclusion we can arrive at. [A voice : " But the people are against it."] An honourable gentleman says the people aro not in favour of a Federal union. But we kiu)w, on the contrary, that the people are in favour of the change. When tho public mind is excited against any mea- sure, is there not a means open to the people to make known their opposition, and how is it that the table of this House is not covered with petitions against the scheme, if it is so unpopular as honourable gentlemen would have us believe ? ]»ut, it is urged, there are no petitions for it. And why is it that there are not ? Is it not because the Government "was constituted on the basis of union 1 The people, through a vast majority of its representatives in this House, are in favour of it. If they are opposed to it they have the remedy in their own hands. They have the means of opposing, but they do not oppose it because they feel that a change of some kind is absolutely essential, and they have confidence in the wisdom of those entrusted with the destiny of the country in this crisis of its history. But I say that the great reason why this scheme has taken the hold that it has done upon the public men of the province is that they see in it an earnest desire to perpetuate British connection. [Tho Hon. Mr. Holton, member for Chateauguay, here interrupted : " It will turn out a delusion."] I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I am willing to place my prediction against that of the honour- able gentleman who says it will be a delusion. A fear has been expressed that the Confederation will lead to the sever- ance of those links which bind us to the mother-country. But I believe it will be our own fault if the ties between us are broken. With entire freedom, and the right of self-gov- ernment in the fullest sense of the word, together with the great advantage of an improved position, and the strength and power of Great Britain to foster and protect us, why should we seek to change our connection, what object could here f-gov- \\ the jiigth why Icoulcl Si'EECItES AND ADDRESSES. 109 wo have to induce us to form othor ties ? What have we to envy in tlie position of the iieiglihouring country, burdened as it is with thi; iieavy h)ad of taxation arising from the cruel wjir raging there, that we should covet that flag ? Why then shouhl our coming together for the purpose of union weaken our position, or diminisli the tie that links us to Britain ? It will be for honourable gentlemen who do not believe that the union of these scattered colonies will give thrm strength, to prove that, contrary to all precedent, union is not strength. But I will state why this union is calcul- ated to prolong our connection with Britain. It is well known that there has been an entire and radical change of late in the colonial policy of England. That policy has been to extend to us the utmost liberty in our relations to the Empire. What is after all the nature of the bond which links us to Great Britain, apart from our allegiance and loy- alty ? What is it but a Federative bond 1 That is what links us to Britain, and I feel quite satisfied that, in the words of an English publicist of some eminence, * the new colo- nial policy is calculated to prolong the connection of the colonies with the mother-country." I believe it will raise these provinces as part of the British Empire, and so secure to us the permanency of British institutions, and bind us more closely to the Crown. I believe it will, in he words of that far-seeing statesman, Lord Durham, ** raise up to the North American colonist a nationality of his own, by elevat- ing those small and unimportant communities into a society having some objects of national importance, and give these inhabitants a country which they will be unwilling to see absorbed into that of their powerful neighbours." And, Sir, our neighbours so see it. Shortly after the visit of the Duke of Newcastle to this country, attention was directed to the question of the union of the colonies, not only in this country, but in England and in the United States. The New York Courier and Inquirer, in an article published at that time, came to the conclusion that " the union would, in fact, be an argument for a continuance of the existing rela- tions between the two countries as a matter of policy and gratitude /' and that " such a change of government would t«' 1 1 SI I 110 NOVA BRITANNIA. meet with no objj»ction of any weiglit." I invite the atten* tion of the honourable member for Chateaujjuay to that statement. But, Mr. Speaker, it ia a singular study, look- ing back over the history of the past, to see how this ques- tion has come up in the experience of the various colonies. Before the American revolution, Benjamin Franklin sug- gested a plan for a Federation of the old colonies of Britain on this continent, which, he afterwards said, would, accord- ing to his deliberate opinion, have prevented the severance of the connection between the colonies and the mother-country. I will quote a passage written by him after the Revolution, in which he makes allusion to this project. He said : — I proi)osed ami drew up a ])lan for the union of all th« colonies under one Government, so far as might be neceHsary for defence and other im- portant general purpoHCs. By my plan, the General Governm^^nt was to be administered by a Bresident-tieneral, ap])ointed and Hupported by the Crown, and a General Council, to be chosen by the representatives of the peoide of the several colonies, met in the respective assemblies. The plan was agreed to in Congress, but the assemblies of the provinces did not adopt it, as they thought there was too much prerogative in it, and in England it was judged to have too much of the democratic. The different and contrary reasons of dislike to my plan made me suspect that it was really the true medium, and I am stiU of opinion it would have been hai)py for both sides if it had been adopted. The colonies so united would have been strong enough to have defended themselves ; there would then have been no need of troops from England ; of course the subsequent pretext for taxing America, and also the bloody contest it occasioned would have been avoided. It is singular that nearly a hundred years ago Benjamin Franklin, looking at the difficulties then existing between the colonies, should have suggested a plan of union similar to that now proposed to us, and it is a strong proof of the wisdom of the plan now before this House, that seeing the difficulties under which the other colonies laboured for want of a central power, just as we now see them, proposing this Confederation, he should have declared that if such a plan had been adopted then it would have prevented the sever- ance of the British connection. [Hon. Mr. Holton — " This scheme is looked upon as equal to independence."] Is that the opinion of the honourable member 1 I think that far different views prevail in Britain. In 1858, when H SPEECHES ANT) ADDRESSES. Ill think when British C.)lambia was erectod into a colony, it wis fotinil that the Coinniuns of I>ritiiin ha|)(Miiluiit Htutes can !)«' so cloHe and intiinatt; iM tho conn*;ction which unitn^ tlio (;oh)nit*H to th« United KiiiKdoni aH partH of thu (ircat Jiritish Kni|)ire. Nor ou^ht it to 1)0 for;^'ott(Mi tiiut tho power of a nation doen not depend merely on the amount of phywical force it can command, hut rcHts, in no Htnall decree, upon opinion and moral intiuence. In thin reHpect liritiHh power wouhl he dinduiHhed hy tliu 1oh8 uf our ccdunieti to u de^^reo which it wuuid be ditlicult to oHtinuite. Passing on a little, we find him saying : — To the latter \i. e. the coloniHts] it im no doubt of far preater importance tha.i to the former, becauHe, while utill fornun;; comparatively HUiall and weak commuidtieM, they enjoy, in return for their alleKiftnce to the lirit- i.-*h (/Vown, all the wecurity and coiiHideration whicii belonyw to them aH ii>end)errt of one of the moHt powerful Htates iu the world. No foreign ])ower ventures to attack or interfere with the HUialleHt of them, while every coloniHt carries with him to tlie remotest quarter of the K^'be which he may visit, in trading' or other purnuits, that protection which the character of a British subject everywhere confers. But to view the subject in another aspect. I believe it will be found that all the conditions are combined in the scheme now before us that are considered necessary for the forma- tion on a permanent basis of a federative union. 1 hold in my hand a book of some note on Jiepreseniative Government^ by John Stuart Mill, and I find that he lays down three conditions as applicable to the union of independent states, and which, by parity of reasoning, are applicable to prov- inces which seek to have a closer alliance with each other, and also, thereby, a closer alliance with the mother-country. The conditions he lays down are, first : — That there should be a sufficient amount of mutual sympathy among the populations. And ho states that the sympathies which they should have in common should be Those of race, lan;]^ua<,'e, reUpfion, and, above all, of political institu- tions, ascouduclinymost to a feeling of identity of political interest. We possess that strong tie of mutual sympathy in a high degree. We have the same systems of government, and the same political institutions. We are part of the same great f'PEECIlKS AND ADDRESSES. 113 vanoun to the b Htutes ;:()l()iiieH Nor depend is, in no llritiwh deyreo )ortance nail iind the iJrit- thfUi art foreign n, while le globe u which it will scheme forma- lold ill nmenty three states, prov- other, untry. have 1 institu- rest. high id the great Ktnpin', and tliat is the n'.il tie wliich will hind us t<>;;ether ill iiiture timt'. Tlio second 'j"»r»r'on, who had just previously interrupted the speaktr hy a clieer expresovt) of sition of the colonies, eatdi of which, instead of l>ciri« an inolated Hoverei^n Htate, Ih an inte^^ral part of the Hritlsh Kinpire. They cannot delegate their HovereiKii authority to a «;entral Koverniiient, htt- cause they do not posHesH tho Hoveroij,'n authority to dele^,'ate. 'I'he only alternative as it Heeins to lis would he to adopt a course exactly the con- trary of that which the United States adopted, and iiHtead of taking for their motto A' Pliirihim l/mnn, to invert it l»y saying In Uiio I'htra. The tirst steps to'vards a Keilt^ration of the American Colonies would thus he to form them ail into one state, to ^'ive that state a completely or^^anized j,'overnment, anrn- mciit ought to ('(induct thorn, liut, as I have Htated, 1 tliiiik the Conft'rrnce has been exceedingly happy in the plan they have submitted for our adoption. A conuuunity of iSritisli freemen, as we are, deliberately 8urv»»ying our pastas well a8 our present position, and looking forward to our future, we in effect resolve that we will adhrre to the proU'ction of the British ('rown ; that we will tell the ('old win Smith scluxd — those who are crying out for cutting olf the colonies— that we will cling to the old motherdand. We desire to tnaintain our connection. We have no desire to withdraw ourselves from that protection we have so long enjoyed ; but we desire, while remaining under that protection, to do all that lies in our power for our selfdefence, and for the development of all the great interests which Providence has committed to our trust ; and we seek at the hands of the i>ritish Tarliii- ment such legislation as will enable us to accomplish these great ends for the whole of liritish America. Why, what a domain do we possess! We have over three millions of scpiare miles of territory — large enough, certainly, for the expansion of the races which inhabit this country ; and our desire is, in the language of the late colonial minister — language which, I believe, well expresses the views and sentiments of the peo- ple of all these provinces — we would ajiproach the British people, the British Government, and our Sovereign, with this lanj,uage : " We desire, by your aid, with your sanction and permisaion, to attempt to add another community of Chris- tian freemen to those bv which (^reat Britain confides the re- cords of her P^mpire, not to pyramids and obelisks, but to states and communities, whose history will be written in her lan- guage." That was the language of the Colouial Secretary, Sir Bulwer Lytton, when he proposed and carried out the setting off of a new colony on the Pacific shore — language certainly which indicated a firm and sure reliance in the power and efficacy of British institutions — that these institutions would be fo ind capable of all the expansion requisite to meet the circumstances of a new country, and of any body of British freemen to whom the care of these institutions may bo en- M I : f lu; NOVA nrUTANNIA. triistnl. Hut I f»».'ir I huv«» Im'mh ti'inptiMl to f<)ru'«»t tli" cxci'l. l«'nt (*x.tni|>l«< of my hdiuMiruliio fri«'Mrirflv to notion tw<> nrtliriM' ioifiHMliiit*^ .'ulvuiit.'im'H \vlii ci^ritral |)()\vcr wit)) Inciil miiiii ^'rciit militiiP' power wliirh ill rit*in;; on tln^ <»th»'r Ki«|«> of t!io linoH. Lft us 8«m) wluit th«y aro tliinkinj; <»f us tlirn'. One of tluMr rmini'tit Htat<'sm«'n BU^p'Htrd, Honn^ yriir.s a;^M», that tliry nhouM ci'Ilivato our acipjaintancc, wliilr wo wnr Htill •' inniriouH of our ra«'»'H tlm intcri'stH of fill — licit m'tKou tlu! prospt-rlty of tim H««;u'oiiHt iiiid interior of cotiiniorco jiti'l iiu'ricultiirt' wluMo th"V Hit! HOfiiiiiiKly riviilM tint i,'ivtM iiiiiforriiity in taiiifK ntul tuxtn atxl tlii* iMicnuraK*'>nfrit that hIiuU hu i'littiiHtud to tlit) tirtliliih', mining iinut I desire to point out another practical advantage which, I think, is of no mean or slight moment ; and it is this. Bound as we are to England, by the closest ties, and yet * See into on p. 101, ante. ,1 RPFKntFS KST) ADDnKSSER. 117 enj'>vlii;» our own p»v»'nimint, I'ji;;liirHl in ntill roniiH-UiMl to act for UH ill all matters of an iiilrriialional iiatiiK*. Htit, wlicti wo huvo t'ur all tltonti HritiHli )irt»viiiot*s oik^ (ii'ii< alilu to ri')>rt'> H«M)t to Itritaiii on hdialf of lUti wlmlt*, with a forco and powtT w«! Iiavo iH'V»»r ln'J'oi** Immmi ahlf to im', what tlioKo int«'r«'MtH ar«^ ; we will Itit al>li) to press tlx'ni lioim* on tlut attention of nritinli •tattvHiin'n in Hit(;h a tn:iiint>r as will ItMd tlit'in to upiirt'ciatt*, and Hvi>\i to protect tliose intert M, in their n«'>;oiialionH with forei;^n pitwern. I would aliud(\ an nn illuHtralion of what 1 nu'.in, to the Kecipnunty Treaty, and 1 eannot relniiu from reidin;^ a very stnUin;; extract fn)ni a report prewented to the I'iiiumI Slates IIoum' of Keprescn- tativeM in lS(iJ, from the (Jommittee of Commeree on thu Keciprooity Treaty. I ask the attention of the IIouhh to this extract, as hhewiui,' how the IJiiitiMl States have been ahle to take advantii;,'e of our isolated c;o idition — our w.nt of cen- tral power and authority — toijain for themselves adv.intax«'>* in the ne ^^liation of that treaty, su<;h as they coidd not have ohtaiiu'(|, or even 8ou.,dit, had we heon in a position to present all the advanta;;e8, in lU'^^otialions with the United States, which ( Canada and tlu) Maritime Provinces as a whoh? could pres»fnt. Instead of the American ytatesmeii havinj; to negotiate with tho separate /governments of 8e[)arate pro- vinces, they would have to lUigotiate with the coml)ined in- terests of Mritish North America. 1 read this extractas a very strikin;^ one, and as entitled, on account of the sourco from which it comes, to some weight. In the re[)ort I havo referred to, the natural results of the treaty and of its abro- gation are thus 8[token ot : — A KFoiit iniil iiiituilly l)L'n"licl;il irii're:i-ii> in «mr cidiunorort with Canada was tli-* natural ami |triiniiiy rcHiilt of thi> treaty. Many cau.-«i'.s of irritation wur«' ruinovod, anil a hu%'e accortsion to our tradu was ac- nditional and coinpleto ubro^'ation of tho treaty, nn f ir as it r»;ft'rs to provinces a^'ain.st wliich no complaint is made. The isolated and dis- connectt'd conilitiou of the various ^'overn.iiiMits of the^e provinces to each other, aii«, Am lilUt WMli%iilt U foiiii.l with t)i« Aita of XcW* fiMiiiilUml, iMncf* KilwAnl ImUihI, i^ovn Scuti* aidI Now Hniniwick. TIm'hx »<>|uri%t«* priiviiii'i»v.\\ m »f\tmrait' titrilT mill li*;^iNli»tiir<*, mill iiir«' Im* i% Imi'muIi of t{(Nii| f»itli townnU tilt* otlii'r |>riiviiic>«M, uv«n if It wix|Miilii|it Hurli ii ('ourMt* towitnU ( 'miuilit, hut int uilvmitaUKi uuliu'il liy tha truMty with till* Miiritiiiiti l'riivlii<*<>N can l>i< mliiiittixl iw« i>tfi««it« in f»* voiir iif ('miailii. Kiidi proviuoii mutlu itM own Imruiiiii, lunl uuvn miil recvivvd iU acjiuruto «i|uivAl«iut. This in an iuntnncn of nomo !norn»*nt, ft»nl I ln'lit'vo the frntiK* priiK'iplfH will \hi IoiiikI to 'i|>|ily to all tliost* (|iifMti()iiti oil wliicli, ill tiie Ititiirt) liJHtory ot tins CoiiriHlrniiioii, it will hei found iicocHMary to ooiilVr with foreign ^overnmi'iits, throii^li tiiif mother country. No lon){<>r di'tacht'tl liiul ino* latctl from cuch other, wo will he ithle to preHfiit a coniltiiied trout, and to ur^^e the advanta^en which may he deriveHtion that it would he tor the u«lvnntap', not only of Britain, hut of eiieli one of theHO pni- viiiceH, that on hueli Huhjeets as the militia, and on all kin- dred <|uestionH, hucIi aH iho.se relatini^ to aliens, the ohserv- aiice ot neutrality and like HuhjedH, there should hu a {general and uniform action; that, seeiiif^ the action of any one of ilm colonies mi^ht involve the parent state in war, there should be separate and distinct action, hut one uniform action, on all that (lass of national and international suhjec 's. throughout the whole of tlie British IVovinces. I caniiof. oelp thinkin;^ that in practice an immense advantaI)RI:hHK.H. Ill) TliM li.MioMraMi* )ji>ntlfii)ati no ilmilit liMt4 ini^lit havo loarniMl from tliat that wd liavo h luivy of wliioh any country nii^ht h« |)rou of niMxl coini' — an I tiUHt it novi^r may ~ I am Hatinliod that in thi^ (tiilf, on thn St. Iiiwr«*nc«\ and on th<) hikt'H, thtiro wouM ho ('noii;^h of bold mun anur position an united provinces of the Hritish Kinpire. I will nob (juote any H;.^uit's to mIiow the tixbent of intercolonial trado that will Hpriti!^ iip with the Maritime I'rovinces and with tho West India ProvmceH, Soine years aj^o there was, as mer- cantile men well know, a large tra le conaucted with the West India Islands, which, from various circumstances, ha^i almost entirely coised. I helieve that, when the provincjs are united, not only will a lar^e trade spring up in thoso agricultural and other products which are now supplied to the Lower Provinces from the llnite«l States, h'lt a trade will also he established with the West India Islands. Some time ago I took the trouble to look into the ligures, and I was surprised to find how large a tnithj was conducted twenty-five years ago with tiiose islands ; and I believe that, by carrying out this union we will have facilities for estab- lishing such commercial relations as will lead to the re- opening of that valua))le trade. [Hon. Mr. Holton — " Vou should bring in tho West India Islands also."] The honourable gentleman is very anxious to extend tho Confederation. I have known him for long years as a Fede- ralist, and I believe he is only sorry that we do not go a little 120 Nova hritannia. i I ir II [I faster. T nm satisfio.l that when Confeileratioii is accom- plihlied lie will he one of its most hearty supporters. I would now, Mr. Speaker, desire to quote a few words from a lecture (U-livered some y<'ars ago by Principal Dawson, of Montreal, a well-known Nuva Scotian, who is distinguished for his thorough acquaintance with the Maritime ProvincoB. IJe says : — 'I'hcir ])rnf,'re8H in ])0])ulati<)n and wealth is hIow, in compariHon with that of VVcMtt'in America, Luun-li e(inal to the avera^t' of that of tiie Anieiican I uioii, and more rapid than tliat of tlie ohlrr ntate.s. Tlieir ayriculture in rapidly im[)roviu^', .naniifactnriiij,' and mininy enterprises are extending,' theniKelvrs, and railways aie hein),' built to connect them with the more inland j)artH of the continent. Like (»reat iiritain, they ])oH^.eHH important minerals in which the ncii^hiionrin^,' jiarts of the con- tinent are deticitait, and enjoy the utniDst facilities for cominen'ial piir- Hnits. I'ltiinately, therefore, they nuist have with the IJjnted States, Canada, and the fnr countries, the same commercial relations ihat Britain maintains with western, central and northern Knrope. Above all, they foim the j,Tcat natural oceanic termination of the j^reat valley of the St. Lawrence; and althouKh its commerce ha>i Intherto, l)y tlie skill and industry of its neighbours, been drawn across the natural bar- rier which I'rovidence has i»lacele Htn^aiii, conneotintf, as it lines, the fertile Hhores of two spacious lakes, with crowded steamboatH on its bosom, and po])uloua towns on its borders ? Sir Georj^e Simpson was not a man likely to be carried away by mere impidse ; but, viewing the prospect before him, he could not refrain from breaking forth in the glow- ing language I have quoted. Then, glance for a moment at the SaHkatchewan, the Assiniboine and the Red River country, with the Red River settlement of 10,000 people, forming the nucleus for a future province — a nucleus around which immigration could be drawn so as to bind up in that distant region a powerful section of the Confederation. It is a country which embraces 300,000 square miles, and the Red River, Lake Winnipeg, and the Saskatchewan afford a navigable water-line of 1,400 miles. And what is the char- acter of the country 1 On this point I would quote Pro- fessor Hind, who describes the valley of the Rod River and a large portion of the country on its affluent, the Assini- boine, as "a Paradise of fertility." He could speak of it in no other terms than those of " astonishment and admira- tion." He adds that as an agricultural country the character of tlie soil could not be surpassed, affirming in pr* of of this assertion That all kinds of farm produce common in Canada succeed admira- bly in the district of Assiniboia, and that as an agricultural country it will one day rank among the most distinguished. Nor are there any difficulties of climate. If any honourable member will take the trouble to examine that excellent work in our library, Blodgett's Climatology, he will find it stated as having been demonstrated that " the climate of the North- West coast, and of the interior towards Lake Winnipeg, is quite the reverse of that experienced in the same latitude on the Atlantic, and is highly favourable to occupation and settlement." Mr. Speaker, I desire now to place before the House the extent of the territory we possess in the Atlantic and i ' i I ■' SPEFX'IIKS AND AODRKSSES. 123 Pacific Provinces. The Atlantic Provinces comprise Ca- naiia East, with an area of 201, 981) scjuare miles; Canada West, 148,832, New Brunswick, 27,700; Nova Scotia, 18,740; Prince E Iwanl Ishuid, 2,134; Newfoundland, 35.913 — together 435,314 square miU^s, to wliich add tlie territory of L'ibra(h)r, 5,000 miles, making a grand total of 440,314 8(juare miles, embracing a population of something like 4,000,000 of souls. The Pacific Provinces are Pritisii Columl)ia, containing 200,000 square miles, and Vancouver Island, with 12,(M/0 square milet: ; and then there is the ter- ritory of Hudson's Bay (includiiig Central British North America) with 2,700,000 square railes. I desire now, Sir, to thank the House for the patience with which honourable members have listened to my re- marks. I rose at a lat hour in the evening, and seeing that the House was wearied when I commenced, I did not wish to prolong the debate. I have thus shortened very much the remarks I intended to offer, and have treated only hurriedly and casually many points which might have engaged further attention under other circumstances. I desire to express my confident opinion, before closing, that this great scheme is not one which ought to be factiously met. For if ever there was a plan submitted to any legisla- ture which deserved to be treated with an avoidance of party feeling, it is this. It is evident that in the House there are a large majority 'n favour of the plan, and while it is their duty to concede to the minority — what is the right of the minority — the opportunity of stating their ob- jections to it, it is on the other hand an evidence of the strongest kind that the majority, in supporting this meas- ure, believe they are doing the best for their country, and that it is a measure which meets the popular sanction and approval, when they avow by their own act their readiness to return to the people for their approval of the steps they have thought proper to take. It is the duty of those who are in favour of the scheme — and I believe there are a very large majority who see in it advantages of the most sub- stantial kind — I am firmly persuaded that it is a duty they owe to those who sent them to this House, it is a duty they » r- J1 124 NOVA imiTANNIV. i owt' to tin' rniuitrv, it is a iro of wliicli wo Conn a ]>;ut, to brin;^ this sclu'ino to a HptuMly couHunimation. 1 am i^l.ul, Sir, in takiii;^ a rctro- spoct of tho thnuMH'ontrul yearn tliiriii;^ wliich I hav« lia,iL;ous S(;li('nn^ to tliat wo arc now (iiscussinj; ; tliat 1 tlion oxi»rosso(l myself in favour of a general «^'overnnR'nt of tlio liritish North American Pro- vinct^s, with separate h)cal h';;islatures, in the folh)winsij terms, wlien speaking of tlie tpu's- tion fiiiily, ami toroiiic ilown \vu.. !i niciisurf sntisfiutory to the country. It iiii^lit 111- that t)iat lui-iisinv wouhl iu' one wliioh would luiii)^' toi,'«'tht'i' the dill'iTiMit i>iovinri's of l^ritisli Noith Anicriia into a union, foinicd on suili a. hasis as \vt)Ml(l ki^'*' t" tho |K'oph' of oach iirovincc the ri^'ht to manavri' thfirown intt'iual affairs, whih' at the Name tinu' thf whoh; ^houltl jiiov idi' for tlu' uiaMa^'iMiicnt of niattiTs of conmion couci'in, so aa to bis- cun' the I'onsoHdatitiu of the Britannic power on this ci>ntiiieut.* I liave lu'ld this opinion ever siiict^ I liave had the cnp- aeity of tlunkiiit^ of tlie destiny of this country, anut an empty shadow — but the fleetinu: 'antasy of a dream. Be rt o«. Time is a worker of miracles — ay, and of sober realities, too; but when we look east and west and north; * feci; ante, p. DO. HPEKv'nKS AND ADDIIESSKS. 123 when wo oatiHo thn yondlv Imtwl of tlio N'lrtliinfln fnttn Arndin, fttnl ( '.ukkIji, and tliw N<»rt,h-W«'-: i ! It w;m Mm.'i/inj.', for iurtt.vnce, liow tlu? i»'|t»'al <>f the ilfcipro- city 'rn'.ity, tlrHr^'imil to Ii:ivh tln) contrary i^llnot of forcing our people to uii unwilling .alliance with the United Sttiten, ha(). But mere figures give but the faintest idea of the extent and pro[H)rtionH of this fair Dominion, with its mag- nificent seaboard — its great St. Lawrence — its vast irdand seas — its varied resources — its fisheries, its mines of coal, iron, copper, gold .and silve-, and its rich agricultural resources and vast undeveloped forests. Time, as it passes, with its magic wand, will bring all these ir.oo prominent view ; but a Do- minion e(pial in extent to Great Britain, France, Prussia, Hol- land, Belgium , Greece, Portugal, and Switzerlanc', all put to- gether, and peopled by a race embracing the tr pie strands, r'i SPKr.f'IIKS AVD AnnilKSSR>4. ]±) cipro- orcing lilt wo t«>(l to iniTCO. lo atxl iitil)l() !(>r iind whicli .*li)i<;)it ere cal* jociety, of our l>|)lo of Union. t ill itfl jomple- fs ot* a ed, he trade tludr I pro- 7,0^5 s ; and single ited by mtl'2,- of the 3 mag- iidand iljiron, ;es atid magic a Do- , Hoi- put to- rands, out of which the cord that binds togothor tho Hritinh nation \H woven, and intertwining with the Kngliah, Irish and Scotch, the blootl of old Franco — a race, too, rendered Imrdy and flelf reliant by our northern climate, cannot fail, und(>r the kind [>rotection of Hrilain, to rise into position, power, and importance among the nations. Then, again, even in our infancy, wn!8tH wer^ it to 1)« revival and rxtcndi'd. TluTe in y«t another Mpect in which tlu; rcHiillH of union will ho moHt h(>ncticial, and that in the intercolonial point of view. Whether we view it aH regards trade relations, or m affectinf^ intercoloninl ob- ligations, it is alike important. When the Ueoiprocity Treaty waH last negotiated — a measure which was beneficial to bt)th countries — the conunittee of commerce of the United States House of Representatives, while noting the fact " that the isolated and diHconticcted condition of the various Oovern- ments of these Provinces to each other, ano|il(\ und licncti a Hotiroe of Htrt'ngth, an^i 132 NOVA nUITANNU. OonfiMlrrncy. Tiio oM hi;{)iwAy l»y tlio Ottaw.i, ari«l to our (Ninfodcration, and th«*n wo will havo arriv«Ml tit re- hultM which I r«>^nrd aH ahiioluttdy certain in the lutdro, and which, in 1851),* 1 thun looked forward to : — •• With two poworfnl colonicM on tin? Pacific, with another or moro in the r.'^ion hetwuen Canadu and the Kooky MountaitiH, with a railway and a telegraph linking the At- lantic with t!ie PaciKc, anr)UKSSKS. mn Kngtiih RDfAkinK nntion which will at oiio nn*! no distant (lay p(M)pi<^ all thJH Northern contin<>rit -a KnHNJa, m liat hvvu w«!ll Haiti, it tiiay h(>, hut yot an Kti/linli ItiiMHia, with free inntitittioiin, with hi;{h civilixatioii, anrorc Qiioon Victoria, when hIio Haid to tho (SininionH of l'in;(land : ' llrr Majotty hopcH that thii ntuv colony in the INiciHc may be hut one step in the career of pro^rexH hy whi oh Her MxifHty's dominions in North Ani'-rica may ultimattdy he peopled, in an unhroken chain from the Atlantic to the Pacifii', hy a loyal and industrioiiH population of HuhjectH of the liiitinh Crown.' Such was the patriotic vinion that passed before the eye of Itoubuck, when, on the shores of (ialway, he exclaimed : ' We lost the United Provinces of New England ; we lost thent. but our j;ood fortunes enabled UH to make a Northern Am» iica. Our great North American colony stretches now from Halifax co Vancouver Island. Up the St. Lawrence, along the lakes, through the Saskatchewiin, across the Rocky Mountains, the (hig of England is predom- inant. The language of England goes from Halifax to Vancouver Island ; the institution of Etigland will reach thence as far as habitable land goes, even to the poles, and we shall have such a dominion as the worKl never saw 1 ' Yes, such is the vision whicli is present to us, and to many others ' to the manner born,' whose all and whose destiny are here. Yes, we know and feel, and are assi.red, that if the people of these British IVovinces are bui- true to themselves, and if the people and the statesmen of Britain but act aright their part, then this dream will be realized, and that perhaps ere the men of this generation have all passed from this fleeting scone." And now, a last word or two, and he would have done. He rejoiced in the accomplishment of the Union we have met to celebrate, because he believed that it would tetid to the perpetuation, for generations, of our close and intimate collection with Old England. In favoMr of close and i.^ti- ■M ■ ■i i 1 134* NOVA BRITANNIA. mate Union with Britain, and the growing up under her shelter von8ibility as citizens of a country of such promise, and each in our own sphere do our part, however humble, towards the accomplishment of so noble an enterprise — the building up of a British Dominion, with iielf-govemment and free institutions, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. And, meanwhile, in view of dO exalted a destiny as is pjssible for us, let us, one and all, with all the fervour of true patriotism, and the earnestness of true, leal-hearted, British North Americans^ send forth the aspiration, " So may it be ! " SPEECH ON THE RESOLUTIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY. [At the first general election held under the new order of things, Mr. Morris was returned to the House of Commons for his old constituency of South Lanark. The first Parliament of the Dominion was formally opened on the 8th of November, 1867. On the 4tli of Decembor the Hon. William Mc- Dougall, Minister of Public Works, introduced a series of resolutions based on the 14Gth section of the British North America Act, with a view to the acquisition of the North- Wesb Territories by the Dominion. These resolutions gave rise to a prolonged debate, in which all the leading members took part. The Hon. Joseph Howe, member for Hants, Nova Scotia, spoke very strongly against the proposed acc[uisition. The Hoo. L, H. Hoi ton took a similar stand ^ SPV.ECHES AND ADDRESSES. 135 and moved an amendment to the effect tbat it wvd inex- pedient to adopt the resolutions until the claims with which the Territories were burdened should be known. The dis- cussion extended over an entire week, when, on the 11th of the month, a vote was taken, and the amf.ndment was defeated by a majority of G3. The vote stood 104 to 41, The following speech in support of the resolutions was made by Mr. Morris, on the night of Thursday, the 5th.] Mr. Morris said that before addressing himself to the reso- lutions before the Chair — the importance of which could not well be exaggerated — he would refer to the position taken up by the member for Hants.* That honourable gentleman told the House and the country that he once had entertained the dream of British American Colonial Union, and of a British Pacific Railway, linking the Atlantic with the Pacific, but that he had thrown all that overboard as " deck cargo." He (Mr. Morris) was sorry to hear the declaration, and yet thc^ illustration was most apt. The member for Hants had pictured himself as the skipper of a little craft, who, imagin- ing that a storm was impending, set to work diligently to lighten his vessel by throwing overboard his deck cargo. He (Mr. Morris) very much feared, however, that the deliberate judgment of the public of the Dominion would be, that when the "deck cargo" was thrown overboard — when the grand idea of Colonial Union, which the honourable gentleman had expatiated on in such glowing terms in his noble speech pub- lished in London in 1859 — was cast to the waters, there would be no cargo of any value left on board the smack of the member for Hants. He (Mr. Morris) recollected reading with a glow of honest pride the utterances of the member for Hants, in that speech, giving expression as he then did, to the feelings of colonists, and battling manfully for colonial union and colonial elevation, and for the maintenance of the integrity of the Empire. But no w^ all this was changed. i 41 i * The Honourable Joseph Howe. i\ i\ >. j ttprnm"'-*' 130 NOVA imiTANNIA. fl The member for Hants had thrown overboard his deck cargo, and expected all others to do the same. The Pacific Rail- road, according to him, was a dream, and yet the American people with indomitable energy were turning that dream into a reality They did not sneer as it as " deck cargo," nor should we. Dream it might be called, and yet the construc- tion of a Pacific Railroad was not one whit so unlikely as was twenty years ago the construction of the Grand Trunk. He (Mr. Morris) believed that the present generation would not pass away before this great idea would be realized, and a railway would link the Acadian Provinces on the Atlantic with the Pacific coast, and pass through a chain of commu- nities of British freemen. But the member for Hants told us that we were " a nation without an army or a navy," that we were defenceless against our powerful neighbours, and that Britain and British statesmen wanted to throw us off. He (Mr. Morris) deeply regretted that such language should fall from the lips of so prominent a colonist, and he fell con- strained to repudiate such sentiments. " A nation without an army or a navy." Were we not an integral portion of the British Empire, and if trouble came — if that direst of cala- mities did ensue — a war between two nations of the same blood and lineag^e, did we not know that the army and navy of Britain would battle in our defence. The member for Hants told us that we were defenceless, and that Britain wished to cast us off. And what was the authority he gave for such a statement ? The speech of a nobleman, in the House of Lords, whose name even was not given to us, but a speech which, if the member for Hants had correctly re- ported it, was simply disgraceful to any British peer. He (Mr. Morris) could not allow such a statement to pass with- out contradiction, and he felt it to be a duty to place before the country the opinions of leading statesmen as declared in the debate on the Intercolonial Railway in the House of Lords, as the most marked contrast to the views of the ano- nymous nobleman of the member for Hants. He had a re- port of the debate before him. [The speaker was here inter- rupted by cries of " Read, read ! "J Earl P sell pointed out the analogy between the position of Portugal — when assailed SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 137 by France and Spain, and our ancestors thought fit to keep their treaty with Portugal and defend her — and the pcaition of Canada relatively to the \) nited States. "That waH a time," said Earl Russell, " when the Sovemj^n of France was the ffreatest general of modern tiine^, and had the lar^jest armies ut his dispuHal. You would think, then, that the case was hopeless, for here were ;J00,000 or 400,000, who could always bo sent under one of the great marshals of the empire a;,'ainHt her, and Portugal mu-)it that t)ui Cloveriiineiit proposed to deal practically with the great ([uestion in the resolutions under considera- tion — proposed to approach the British Crown, and claim that under tlie Confederation Act this great country should ho handed over to the Dominion, suhject to a reservation of the rights of the Indians, and to a recognition of such rights as the (ludson's Bay Company might he able to establish. This leads one to consider the position of that company,or rather of their successors. The company claimed "all the country, the waters of which fall into the Hudson's Bay." Not assuming for a moment the validity of the charter, the charter itself expressl"" excluded from its operation " all the lands already actuaiij possessed by or granted to any of our subjects, or possessed by the subjects of any Christian Province or State." At the time that KingCliarles the Second granted tlie charter to the ** Hudson's Bay adventurers," Cana(ia was possessed by France, and "the subjects " of that "Christian State " had taken possession of the fertile region of the Red River and the Saskatchewan. By the right, then, of inheritance, did Canada claim the larger portion of the fertile belt, and he therefore endorsed the policy of the Government. He trusted that Canada would assert her claim to every inch of soil which she rightfully owned, but would at the same time re- cognise any legal claim which could be established by other claimants. He did not believe in the doctrine that might was right. He did not believe in depriving any company or person, by the strong hand of power, of any real substantial rights, but at the same time he would not wrongfully sur- render one iota of the rights of Cai ada. To carry out these views, he hoped that prompt steps would be taken to settle the real boundaries between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Territory, and that thereafter such rights as the Hudson's Bay Company should be found to be possessed of to the remainder of the Territory should be acquired on just terms. He also urged again, as he had already done, the opening up of a highway for travel between the Dominion and the Red River country, and that established, he would throw open the fertile glades and prairies of the fertile belt, and give > it 142 KoVA nutTA N*N*tA. If actual settlers free grants of land to tempt them to huild up homes for themselves and their c!an had laid down the policy of economy and retr<»nch- nient. He had declared that the expenditure must bo regulated by the revenue, and that deficits must bo avoided, and he had acted on that priticiple. Hut there was real work to be done, while the finances of the country were to be administered as a prudent man would do with his own. Immigration was to be fostered and encouraged, and he thought that an immigration of rich and poor should bo sought for. The tenant farmer with means should bo brought out, as well as the farm labourer. The small farmer from the country could buy the cleared lands of those who wished to colonize with their families the fertile West, and so the whole Dominion would be benefited. The Dominion had a vast country to enter upon — a country of excellent climate and fertile soil. There were at the moment difficul- ties. Governor Macdougall was debarred entrance by the French Metis. But these obstructions would pass away be- fore a firm and conciliatory course, and a thorough respect for the rights of the present inhabitants of the Red River country, who would come to see that their interests and ours wore one and identical. He trusted that a wise and kind policy would be pursued towards the Indian population of the North- West. We in Canada could place in proue the boniinion extending from the Atlantic to the Tacific, peopled by a lovnl, a happy an i I [The duties incidental to the control of a widely-extended ministerial Department were discharged by Mr. Morris with energy and zeal for nearly three years, when, owing to the unsatisfactory condition of his health, and the imperious mandate of his medical adviser, he resigned his portfolio, and retired, for a time, from the cares and worries of political life. He had, however, seen his long-cherished hopes real- ized. The great Confederation ^which he had so persistently and 80 eloquently foreshadowed ten years before, had be- HPEEl'UEM AND AUDiltuSMfUS. 147 come A living rcalily. The claituM ui th» IIu(Iion'« Hay Cunipany had bfon (Iefinit<*ly MCflrtainncl aixl ntijimtni, and their wideiprnad domain had hiHiii snrrondcn'd Hritiih Cohitubia had onturud tlio Dominion, and an a^rcvmcnl had b«t)n made to construct a transcontinental linu of railway connecting the Atlantic and the i'acitio. Thu droania of the past had become the waking visions of the present. The NorthWeat Territories hud been received int|{ 148 NOVA BRITANNIA. in sounding his praises, and in expressing regret at bis re- tirement. Mr. Morris, as may be readily understood, was by no means insensible to the state of feeling prevalent in his constituency, and deemed it fitting to make a public exposi- tion of the circumstances. In pursuance of this conviction, he issued the followhig] Farewell Address to the Electors of the South Riding of Lanark. Gentlemen : After a period of eleven years, during which I have en joyed, as your representative, your unwavering support and generous confidence, which, I believe, I still retain, it is ■with deep regret that it becomes my duty to intimate to you that I shall not, at the approaching general election, be- come a candidate for your suffrages. I have found the wear and tear of political life, the man- agement of one of the large receiving Departments of the Government, and the anxiety, labour, and ac..3ntion requi- site for the discharge of the duties of a member of a Cabinet charged with the well-being of the affairs of the Dominion, too great a strain on my constitution, and I have therefore been compelled, in obedience to the decided representations of my medical advisers, to withdraw, for a time at least, from active public life. This decision has not been a hasty one, as upwards of a year ago I tendered my resignation, but was prevailed upon by the friendly urgency of the Premier and my colleagues to withdraw it, in the hope that I might be enabled to con- tinue lii the discharge of my duties. Time has shown, how- ever, that the hope has not been fully realized, and I have been compelled again to ask for a release from the honour- able position of a member of the Government of the Domin- ion. This has been acceded to, and I have been offered and have accepted the position of Chief Justice of the Province SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 149 of Manitoba, to which new land I propose shortly to proceed, in the belief that in helping to mould the institutions and develope the resources of that country, which will soon be thickly peopled, I shall find a wide field for usefulness in the future, and be, moreover, fully restored to my wonted health. Under these circumstances I have to bid you fare- wel!, and to thank you for all your kindness to me in the past. In retiring from political life, I do so at an auspicious period. The consolidation of the Dominion, under the statesmen who have wisely guided its rising fortunes, has gone on steadily. The vast North- West and the rising Province of British Columbia have been added to Canada. The revenue is ample to meet all demands upon it, and the country in all its interests is prosperous. Under such circumstances I return to private life, confi- dent that the Dominion has entered on a bright career, and assured that, as years roll on, the wi jm of the policy of uniting the scattered British Provinces of North America under one control (which, as you will recollect, I advocated at my first election in 18G1) will be amply proved, and Can- ada, growing in strength and power, will be recognised as the right arm of Britain, and the bonds of atfection and sympathy between our country and the Parent State will day by day grow stronger. Again thanking you for your past confidence, and wishing you and yours all of good, I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, ALEXANDER MORRIS. Perth, 9th July, 1872. '•I'Sf ■■il M mce [The following correspondence is submitted as illustrative of the strong hold which Mr. Morris had gained upon the affections of his leading constituents. Among the signa- 150 NOVA BRITANNIA. If: tures to the complimentary letter inserted below are those of some life-long and prominent Keformers.] " Perth, July 22nd, 1872. " Dear Sir : — While congratulating you on your ap- pointment to the important position of Chief Justice of Manitoba, we cannot but regret your departure from among us ; and to give expression to the kindly loelings entertained for you by all parties, we, on behalf of your numerous friends, invite you to a public dinner, when we hope to meet you and present an address embodying our sentiments of your high moral worth, and our respect for you as a citizen. •* We cannot allow this opportunity to pass without con- gratulating the people of Manitoba on your appointment to their highest judicial office, feeling assured that the ability and administrative capacity which you have so ably display- ed in the past will be devoted to their best interests in the future. " Hoping you will be able to name an early day when it will be convenient for you to accept our invitation, and enable us to discharge a duty which we owe alike to you and ourselves, " We have honour to be " Your obedient servants, *' (Signed on behalf of the Committee,) " James Shaw, Senator. " Jas. H. Gould, Warden, Lanark. " John Haggart, Mayor of Perth. *' Jas. Thompson, Sheriff. ** Thos. Mansfield. " Wm. O'Brien. " James Allan. " H. D. Shaw, Secretary. *' To the Honourable Alexander Morris, Chief Justice of Manitoba." SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 151 REPLY. "Perth, 29th July, 1872. " Gentlemen : — I have the honour to acknowledge your esteemed favour of the 22nd inst., in which, in order to give expression to the kindly feelings entertained towards me by all parties, you tender me a public dinner. I feel deeply grateful for this expression of good will, but regret that as I intend leaving for a preliminary visit to my new sphere of duties on Wednesday next, I must ask you to postpone until some convenient season, prior to my final departure from among you, the friendly gathering you propose to convene. " I cannot, however, now refrain from giving utterance to the sorrow I feel, that circumstances beyond my control have compelled roe to contemplate my withdrawal to another Province of the Dominion from among a community with whom I had hrped to pass my life, from whom I have re- ceived every mark of confidence and kindness, and among whom I can reckon, of all classes and parties, so many true friends. I will only further express for you and those you represent every kind wish, and hoping to have the pleasure of meeting with you on some future day, " I am yours faithfully, "ALEXANDER MORRIS. " To the Hon. James Shaw, Senator. James H. Gould, Warden of Lanark. John Haggart, Mayor of Perth. James Thompson, Sheriff, Thos. Mansfield, Esq. Wm. O'Brien, Esq, James Allan, Esq. H. D. Shaw, Sec'y of Committee." •* 'S it'll 152 KOVA BRITANNIA. (JIIAKOE, AS CHIEF JUSTICE, TO THE FIRST ORAND JURY OF MANITOBA, [The following was the first address of Mr. Morris, first Chief Justice of Manitoba, to the first Grand Jury of the Court of Queen's Bench of that Province. The organization of that Court was one of the earliest duties which devolved upon him in his official capacity. Prior to that time the only judicial tribunal in existence in the Prairie Province was the Quarterly Court, as it was called — a rather primitive forum, which had been established under the direction of the tiud- son's Bay Company, and which remained in existence up to a short time before the organization of the Court of Queen's Bench. Mr. Morris prepared a series of rules, introducing the English practice into the newly-established tribunal. Shortly before the holding »if the first session of the Court, election riots of a serious character had taken place, on a contest for the House of Commons between Mes- sieurs D. A. Smith and J. C. Schultz, and much pro- perty, including all the printing offices, had been destroyed or sacked. Hence the tone of part of the address, which was delivered in the month of October, 1872. A leading paper thus F"^oke of the charge : " It is given to com- paratively fe en to see the full realization of early hopes and aspirati . , and to fewer still to be privileged in moulding the destiny which they themselves pictured as of the future. Mr. Morris has had both those advantages, and his first charge in his official character has the ring about it of a man who can not only dream of national grandeur, but who has the will and character to aid in its development. ''] SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 153 first Gentlemen of the Grand Jury : It is ray duty, and I may add my privilege, now to open the first term of the Court of Queen's Bench for the Province of Manitoba. The occasion is an interesting and important one. In years to come it will be looked back upon as one of the landmarks in the history of the rise and progress, not alone of this Province, but of the North- West to which it is the portal. The establishment of social institutions — the laying of the foundation of law and order — are always eras in the history of a new country ; and respect for the laws, and due and orderly regard for the requirements of civil power, are prominent characteristics of thv races who are under the British supremacy. Such respect I look for in Manitoba, and, in discharging the functions I am called to exercise, it shall be my anxious desire to know neither race, creed, nor party ; but to ad- minister the laws without fear, favour, or partiality ; and, so acting, I am confident that the courts will be supported by the community. Every man who has a stake in the coun- try has a direct interest in the impartial administration of the law, and all such will rejoice that a court fully equipped will henceforth interpret those Common, Dominion and Pro- vincial laws which regulate and control all the relations of social life. There is beyond question — and I am enabled to speak from an extended observation of various sections of Mani- toba—a brilliant future before British North- Western Ame- rica; and, as an agricultural country, it must take the highest rank. But to secure that rapid development which its ad- vantages entitle it to, and to attract that great influx of population which its natural resources fit it for, there must be stability in the institutions of the country, and there mvjt be confidence that British law and justice will be found in full and entire force. To aid in giving that assur- ance will be my duty, and I have all confidence that the people of this Province, of all classes, will rejoice that the Court of Queen's Bench is now in full operation. 154 NOVA BRITANNIA. And here, before passing to other subjects, I would re- mark incidentally that I look to the bar of Manitoba for their aid m the discharge of my duties. The esprit de corps inseparable from over twenty-one yours at the bar would naturally load rao to respect and up- iiold the privileges of the bar, though 1 will be ready at all times, while treating the bar with all courtesy, to uphold the dignity of the bench ; and I therefore look for the most kindly relations as likely to prevail between the bench and the bar. (The Judge here explained the functions of the Grand Jury, and continued.) I am glad to find that the cases to be submitted to you are not of the gravest character of crime. (The Judge explained the nature of the cases referred to, and proceeded.) I would rejoice if your duties were confined to these cases, but, I apprehend that it will be the duty of the Crown Prosecutor to ask you to find true bills against certain par- ties charged with participation in the recent attacks upon certain printing offices in Winnipeg, and the destruction of property therein ; and with other offences connected with the recent disturbances which took place during the elec- tion in the County of Selkirk for the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada. Shoild such be the case, it will be your duty to weigh the evidence submitted to you, calmly and dispassionately, and to say whether these parties shall be put on their trial before the court and a jury of their countrymen. I cannct refrain from saying that it is a matter of deep regret that such occurrences should have taken place. The men who either participated in, or craftily devised the com- mission of such offences, apart from the heinouaness of the acts committed, did a most serious damage to the country in which they dwell. If Manitoba is to be prosperous, there must be peace and order ; there must be confidence in the administration of the laws, and there must be a fearless execution of those laws against all offenders, be they who they may. llp- 8PKECIIES AND ADDRESSES. 155 I trust tliat hencofortli British subjects in tliis Province will remember that free men are freest when they yield a ready obedience to tlie law ; and that men of all classes in Manitoba will resolve to work out the destiny of the Pro- vince by the use of the free institutions of the country, without resort to acts which only bring disgrace upon those who commit them, and discredit upon the fair fame of the British Empire. And now I dismiss you to your labours, assured that you will enter on your duties with a firm resolve to do what is right and just. deep The [After holding the office of Chief Justice about two months, Mr. Morris was appointed Administrator of the Government, the Lieutenant-Governor (the Hon. A. G. Archibald) being meanwhile absent on leave. Towards the close of the year Mr. Archibald resigned, and, on the r)th day of December, 1872, Mr. Morris succeeded him as Lieu- tenant Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Terri- tories. Mr. Morris retained this office for the full term of five years, during which the Province of Manitoba advanced from the position of a remote and primitive settlement on the frontier to that of a well-settled and prosperous commu- nity'-. On the creation of the District of Keewatin, Mr. Morris became ex ojjicio Lieutenant-Governor thereof. He was also appointed Chief Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Manitoba Superintendency, and a Special Commis- sioner for the making and revision of certain treaties with the Indians of the North- West.] I -1 150 NOVA IIRITANNIA. Hl'EKCH AT TIIK ANNUAL DINNKR ON ST. ANDUKW's DAY, OIVKN IIY THK SIOLKIUK ST. ANDIIKW'S SOCIKTV. Tho Chairman, the Hun. A. G. B. Binnatyno, gave — T»R ADMrNISTUATOU OF TI.K fJOVKUNMENT OF MANITOBA. This toast, he said, will I k low be drunk with pleasure. The Chief Justice ad / iii? istrator of the Government has endeared himseiT to wi all .}ince his coming among us. This is the first timt ^''< Iti o had the honour of meeting him on an occasion suc. as u' and we may hope not only that lie will enjoy himself, but tl.it he will be spared to see many returns of the day wo honour. Band — " Bonnie Cliarlie's now awa." Song — " For he's a jolly good fellow." Chief Justice Morris rose amid prolonged cheers, and said : — This is almost the first opportunity I have had of meeting an assembly of friends in this vast North- West. The scene tonight, Mr. Chairman, carries me back some ten years in life. As I look around, I recollect ten years ago meeting with friends on an occasion such as this. At this festive board, I am struck with the fact that I am sitting in the company of young men, and I cannot but realize that I am becoming somewhat of a patriarch. I can recollect well the impulses with which at one time I threw myself into similar organizations. The first dinner of the kind I ever attended was one given in Montreal, when my father occu- pied the chair. At that time politics ran high, and it so chanced that the Presi(lent of the St. Patrick's Society, Mr. Hincks, was among the guests, and there were very hard feelings occasionally between the societies. I have lived to see the day when I sat down by that gentlerian's side as his colleague, and a truer, trustier colleague I never had. As the country advanced, it was found that the broad plat- form of the interests of this great Dominion was one on which all could take a stand, and, Mr. Chairman, we took our stand there. I am, gentlemen, a Scotchman — of three SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 157 generations, if you will ; but I was always taught to believe that Scotchman as I was by descent — Englishman as I waa by the ties of fealty and allegiance to the Sovereign — that I WAS first, and above all, a Canadian. Hence I entertained at the outset a prejudice against societies such aa this. I was a Canadian in my heart's core, even when I was laughed at for predicting such a future for Canada as is now within her grasp. I was told at one meeting in Montreal that I had Canada on the brain. Well, gentlemen, a great many others have Canada on the brain now. I had a prejudice against such national societies, because I believed that in a new community like ours, where various races were mingling to advance a common future, these soo'^tiei might tend to disunion. But experience has shov . t," the contrary. The man who cherishes recollection* ol * 5 early home and pec le is none the less a Canadian >t idso he is loyal to recollections that give him all tlie c .h a \er- istics of his race. And my experiences of Sct^tchaieu, Englishmen and Irishmen, show me that the}' r nr less Brititih oubjects because they bear in mind the traoiiions of the past, and endeavour to emulate the noble deeds of their predecessors. But there is another phase of these societies, which we cannot overlook. Commencing at the lowest rung of the ladder in one of them — the largest in the Dominion of Canada — and working my way to the highest, I found that a society such as this has enormous power for good. The Scot is proud. Few ever heard a Scotchman or woman admit they had no money. They may accept a charity, Mr. Chairman, but it will be forced on them. Hence the neces- sity for associations such as this to seek out and succour the needy. Havir g thanked them cordially for the hearty reception accorded him, his Honour said — I have taken some part in the politics of my native country, and I must confess that one of the severest trials of my life was tO leave active political life. I have done so, and have come to this new land. I come with many others, and I hope we are all resolved to play here that part which will redound to our credit. None of us has come here, Mr. Chairman, and noticed the resources of this country, but must feel that 158 NOVA nUITANMA. ;.1 th<^rfl is a ^reat future hofore it. True, it is a hard, cold climute ; but this hard North- Wosterii climatu innkes a hardy, poworful ra(!o of num. You will ever tiiul tho north- ern races powerful in thiii world of ours. And here let me s.iy tliat I rcjoiufd to-ni^ht to hear thu sentiments to which the U.S. Consul ^ave utterance; for I believe that the greatest hope of civilization is that these two great races — or two groat branches of the one race — the people of (ireat Britain and the people of the United States — should be found in accord, and working together in the future. In that future J think that we, too, have a part to play. The people of Hritibh North America have, I believe, a great iutiire, as well as our cousins across the line. They are a people by theniHolves — of themselves — with their own cliar- acteristics, as we have ours. I believe that the one glorious Empire of Britain will continue — that the Scotchman, the Irihhman and the Knglishman will continue to maintain peace — that the far-scattered colonies of Australia, India atid Canada will still be gathered round it, daughters of the Parent State — adding to its strength and greatness, and aiding heartily to advance the interests of the great Empire of which they form a part. That is my aspiration — and I know it is the aspiration of the people of the Dominion. While on the best of terms with our cousins across the line, let us never forget that we are subjects of that old British Crown, and tliat there we owe our alleg- iance, and that all our endeavours should be devoted towards transmitting our new Dominion as a glorious heritage to our chddreii's children. MAMTOIJA COLLE(;iil [The regular term of Manitoba College was brought to a close with great eclai on the 20th of December, 1872, Lieutenant-Governor Morris distributing the prizes. The formal closing took place at three o'clock, and commenced Hi*KECUICH AMD ADDUICSSI^IS, 159 t to a 1872, The enced with the presentation to the LieuteimntGuvernor uf the College Address, which was as follows :] To Ills ExcfUennj^ the Honnnrnhh Ahrmuln Atom's, D.(\L, n mt'tnher of Ilvr MojeHlij^ ^''i^'!/ Counril f»tr ('niniilii, ami Lieutenant (Jovtrnor of Alatiituba and the North- WeMlnrn I'tiTitt/riet, May it Plkase "'our Exokllenty : As r«^pri'8«iiiting tlio teaching and examining hoard of Manitoha College, we wtlcome your Kxceliency to our clos- ing exercifcies to-day, and l)i>g to tender you our hearty con- gratulations up(»n your appointment to tl.e responsible posi- tion of LieutenantOovernor in our young province. While joining with tlm people in wolcoinini? you to our midst as one having the character of an upri;;iit politician, a public- spirited citizen, a thorough Canadian in feeling, and a Christian man, we also especially congratulate ourselves in having in you a friend of education, and a patron of Lam- ing. Educated, as we all have been, in the same province of the Dominion from which you came, we cannot but hope that the educational ideas prevalent there, which have been found sound and good, may find their place in this, the van- guard province of the North- West, and that your Kxceliency may be largely instrumental in shaping a sound and com- prehensive system of primary and higher education for the land you have been called to govern. We have undertaken our work here with the hope of supplementing, so far as the ordinary wants of the proviice require, the education begun in the public schools established under government sanction. We are striving to give an education thoroughly adapted to the wants of the province, not forgetting the noble future which seems in store for our new land ; and we hope to de- velope as the circumstances of the country require, believ- ing that in time we will see, built up in the wilds of the North, an educated and prosperous "Nova Britannia." And whilst it is our aim to train the students under our care in the diiferent branches of a higher secular education, Me are w 100 NOVA nniTANNfA. ntio iitriving, b^ nurrouncling thnm with hnaltlirul influAnce«, and by K>ving intttnictions in WihU) truthi, tu lay in thum tho foundation of a manly, wflllbalancod and rtiligioua char- acter. Wo ho|)o that you, and in duo time, your family, may spt^nd many happy daya in our midit, and that thn bloi- iing of (}od may rent upon ^ou in your cTorts to advanco the bent interovta of tho provmco, vouchsaftMl aa Iuh blua«ingH are to tho man SrrlrriHuim jmn^s et integer vita. (Si^jnedJ, Kev. Geo. Ukyce, M.A., PrincijHil. Rev. Tiios. 11 art, M. A., J*ro/ettHor of Ctames. Rev. John Hlack, Kxaminrr in Clongicii, Alexandek Mackknzik, Commercial Mmter, Mr. Morris's Reply. To the I\fv. G. Bryce^ M.A., i(c., Principal of Manitoba College^ and others. Gentlemen : I receive with much satisfaction your address of welcome. I confess t!\at I was not prepared to find that such etlicient measures had been adopted in this province for securing to the people the benefits of common as well as higher educa- tion. The efforts that have been made in the past in this direction testify to the foresight and energy of those early pioneers who settled in the tnen lonely wilds of Manitoba, and ventured the bold enterprise of building up here a col- ony of British freemen. Their descendants, and the whole people are, I am glad to see, following in their footsteps — determined to secure for the young the priceless benefits of a sound education ; and it will be a source of much satisfac- tion to me if I can in any way aid or encourage so excel- lent a work. I have observed with much interest the efibrts that you, gentlemen, have made, and arc making, in HPKKCirKS kSD ADnRKSSKS. 101 bflhttir of Manit<)l>A Colli^go. Thn liuilding in which we meini ii an oviiltmcH of th«i liborahty aniioen, has given you satisfaction, and I trust that during my administration of the affairs of this country a spirit of union and concord will prevail among all classes of ! ler Majesty's subjects, and that the welfare of the entire community »vill ho promoted. For many years I have taken a deep interest in this North-West, and it is therefore with more than ordinary pleasure that I find myself called upoa to participate in the work of developing its immense re- sources and opening it up for settlement. The trust con- fided to our keeping by Providence is a weighty and im- portant one ; but 1 feel well assured that, if wo all strive zealously to do our duty as loyal subjects of that great em- pire of wkich wo form a part, we shall succeed, and that a bright and happy future will be before us, filled with hope and promise, not only to ourselves, but to the world at largo. For myself, I can only say that I shall endeavour so to discharge the duties of my position as to realize the antici- pations to which you gave expression in your address, and it will be my constant desire and aim to promote the happi- ness and prosperity of the people of Manitoba and the Nortli-West. I thaJik you for your kind wishes towards the members of my family. With you, I trust that I shall soon have them with me here. Most fervently do I hope that the blessing which you crave for me and mine may »^sceud upon yon, and upon all the people over whose desl s I am called upon to preside. REPLY TO ADDRESS FROM CERTAIN LOYAL ME^ COUNTIES OF PROVENCIIER AND LISGA U OF THE l: I 111 Gentlemen : — I thank you very sincerely for the address which you have presented to me, congratulating me upon my appointment as Lieutenant Governor. * French Half-Brceds. ^■J^' 108 NOVA IIHITANNIA. I am sent hero to represent Her Majesty the (Jueen, and I can assure you that the earnest desire of the autliorities is to deal fairly by the people. For myself, I have but one object in view, viz., to promote the welfare of the country by every means in my power ; and I trust and believe that the time has come when the people of all races and creeds, the Metis, the old settlers and the new-comers alike, will work together to secure peace and traiKpiillity, and to advance the best interests of our Fro* vince. It will bo my earnest endeavour to act impartially towards all, without distinction of party, and to secure equal rights for the inhabitants of Manitoba, whose happiness I have most warmly at heart. I echo your hope that during my administration of afTaira a large develoi)ment of the resources of the country will take place, and a high degree of prosperity may be attained, in which I trust you will all share. The Noutii-West Council. [On the 2nd of January, 1873, the Governor-General in Council, pursuant to the provisions of the 34th Vic, ch. IG, sec. 3, appointed a ( V uncil to aid the Lieutenant-Governor of the North- Wes(i Territories in the Administration of atfairs, witu such powers as might from time to time be conferred upon them by order of his Excellency in Council. The Hon. M. A. Girard, of Fort Garry, was named as the senior member. The other gentlemen appointed were the lion. Donald A. Smith, Henry J. H. Clarke, Pascal Br61and> Alfred Boyd, John Schultz, M.D., Joseph Dubuc, A. G. B. Bannatyne, William Frazer, Robert Hamilton and William J. Christie. This Council met for the first time on the 8th SI'KBCIIES AND AUDUKSSKS. IGD of March (1873), and wore instructed in their duties by Lieutenant (lovernor Morris. These duties they continued to discharge until the North- West Territories were erected into a separate government, when they were relieved from their respouRibilities. At a special and last meeting of the Council, held at Fort Garry, on tiie 23rd of November, 1875, there being present the Honourable Messieurs (tirard, McKay, Iheland, Boyd, Dubuc, Frazer, Tait, liannatyno, Kennedy, Delorme, and jMcTavifsh, the Lieutenant Uovornor delivered the following Address : — J ^1 W i v4 GKNTjiEMiON: — I have now to address you in compliance with the rules you have adopted for the regulation of the proceedings of the Council. You met, for the firat time after the fc criion of the Council, on the 8th of March, 1873, when I thus iddressed you: — " r liAvc much pleamiro in calHni^ yoti arotind me to assiHt me in the atlininistriitioji of th»! utfiiirH of the North- Went TorritorioM. The ini'R8 of all chisaes of Her Majesty's subjects resident in the Ter- ritories." In again assembling you to meet, in what may prove to be the last, or nearly the last, meeting of the present Coun- cil, I h?»ve quoted these words for the purpose of congratu- lating you on the efforts you made to carry into effect the objects which I placed before you at your first meeting. 170 NOVA imiTANNIA. Heforo procooilin^ to tlio onliniiry work of tli«? Soasion, 1 tiierufore think lliin a fitting ocuaHion to review tho work tho (youncil has acconiplislicd, and to place on rcconl the results of itn legislation and of its 8U({gostion8. The present Coutjoil is now only acting provisionally, and a new Coun- cil is to he organiziMl, partly nominative hy the (Jrown, and partly elective hy tins people, with the view of exercising its functions untler the presidency of a resilient Governor within the Territories themselves. I am confident that that Coun- cil will take up the work you began, and have ho zealouKly end voured to carry out, and I trust that they will prove successful in their ettorts to «levelop the Territories, and at- tract to them a large population. Though you had many diOiculties to contend with, you surmounted most of them, and will have tho gratification of knowing that you, in a large measure, contributed to shajM' the policy which will prevail in the Government of the Territories, and the administration of its affairs. At your first meeting, you passed an Act to ])rohibit, ex- cept under certain restrictions, the impt)rtation of spirituous liquors into the Territories, and the Parliament of the Do- minion has sin^e adopted your views, and given efTect to them by the passing of a law of similar import to that formed by you. I am glad ti say that this measure lias proved efTectivo, and will, I believe, contribute largely to tho promotion of the well-being of the population of the Territories, and to the prevention of diT.rder and crime. You also made pro- vision for the appointment of Justices of the Peace, and in connection therewith you represented to the Government of the Dominion that the criminal laws of the Dominion should be extended to the Territories, and that a Mounted Police Force, under military discipline, should be estab- lished in the Territories for the maintenance of peace and order therein, and the enforcement of the laws. You have had the satisfaction of seeing these suggestions adopted, and of knowing that the Police Force which you proposed has proved, and is proving, of the greatest service iu the Territories. ^^^ Sl'EECllKS AND ADDUFiSSES. 171 Such woro somo of tl»i» rrsultH of your first mrotinjz, niul your Hiil)4(>(|iu*iit HCHHioiiH wito not iinproiliictivo of good. I will only m<>ntion, ^M'lirnilly, 10010 of the more important Hiiltjfcta you dealt with. You were, and aro. of opinion that the Militia lJattali(»n in Maiiitoha should Ik; maintained, and should Ih) ho in- creased that an eifectivo for':e should be available in the Territories. You proposed that treaties shouM be made wjth the In- dians of the plains at FortM Carlton, Pitt, and Qii'Appelle, and you fiu;;<;<'stnl that schools should \ui provist has, during the past season, been granted. You urged that meaaures shouKl be adopted to collect cus- toms duties in the region of the west known as the Ijelly and i^)w River country, and your repreaentatiuns were com- plied with. You passed laws for the appointment of Coroners, for car- ing for orphan children, for regulating the relations of mas- ters and servants, for " the prohibition of the importation of poisons into the Territories, and of thr' - use in hunting game." You asked that the existing highways, portages, and watering places in the Territories should be set apart for public uses, and that as soon as treaties with the Indians were completed, surveys should be made of the lands where settlement hr.d taken place, and some of these subjects have been dealt with by the Privy Council, but others still re main for their action. Such, then, is a brief review of the work that you have accomplished, and I can safely tell you that you have reason to be well satisfied with the results of your executive and legislative action, for during your re- gime, most important steps have been taken towards the establishment of law atul order in the Territories, and to- wards the creation of resjiect among the people for the authority of the Crown. The foundation has now been laid for peace, security, the advancement of the settlement of the vast region you have ruled over, and for the securing of the good will of the Indian tribes, and I co.n only express my confident trust that those who follow you will roar, wisely and well, a noble superstructure on the basis that you have established. I will now, in conclusion, ask you to enter upon the ordi- nary work of the session, and will suggest that you should, before you separate, lay down some mode of dealing with a subject which ia of the utmost importance, as respects the SPEECH r:3 AND ADDRKSSKS. 173 mlations of tho (Jlovernrnent of tho Qiieon with tho Iiulian tribofi, and us ro^anlH thoir mcaiis of livulih()o: ^W cf^' ^V / /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER. N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^^ i-p. 9j \ \ 174 NOVA BRITANNIA. REPLY. To Au;/Hstin, Brabant, Baptiste Davis and others ^ Half-breeds of the Lakes Qa'A])peUe and environs. Gentlemen: — I liavo the honour to acknowledge your address, dated September 11th, presenting rao your respects, and submitting to me certain petitions with regard to var- ious matters. I thank you for your expression of satisfaction towards the government of the Queen, whose servant I am, and for the respect you have expressed for myself. With regard to your petition, to keep the land that you have taken along the river, 1 shall present it before the Privy Council of Canada in Ottawa, and I have communi- cated your wishes to the Minister of the Interior who is with me. I can, however, assure you that I am confident the Gov ernment will with great pleasure respect the rights of the Half-breeds to the lands which they have cleared and culti- vated, because it has always been the custom to regard the rights of actual possessors of lands. The same remark ap- plies to the possessors of the Roman Catholic Mission, and I think that the zeal of those devoted men who follow the Half-breeds and Indians in the vast lands of our North- West should be recognised by giving them a certain portion of land suitable for their object. With regard to the lands which the Half-breeds wish to take in future, I would remark that as we have just made a treaty with Indians, it will be necessary to make the re- serves for them as soon as possible, with the view of leaving the other lands open, tD be taken up by settlers. With regard to the chase, you have the same rights that the other subjects of the Queen have, and I shall be happy to put before the North- West Council, charged as tliat Council is with the government of these Territories, your views on the chase, so as to see if it be necessary to make some good laws and provision for the regulation of buffalo SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 175 hunting. This subject is of ^reat importance to the Ilalf- breeds, to the Indians, and to the whole country ; and I be- lieve that the North-West Council will be ready to give the matter their most serious consideration. It is the wish of the Government to establish its author- ity everywhere in these vast territories of the Queen, and I would be glad if the Council and Government in Ot- tawa are able to find competent persons having your confi- dence, and capable of executing the ^laws that the Parlia- ment of Ottawa has a right to make, from time to time, or those that the North-West Council, in the exercise of their powers as a Local Legislature, may enact, but I do not think that the Privy Council will be willing to give the power of making laws to such small communities as the Half-breeds and others in these remote territories. I am very glad to know your disposition towards the Indians, and I hope that the treaty which the Queen's Commissioners have just had the good fortune to make with them will greatly tend to propagate a spirit of contentment among the Half-breeds and Indians. With the best disposition towards you, and wishing you all prosperity, I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, Alexander Morris. Fort Qu'Appelle, Sept. 16, 1874. lit ,i [The following account of the proceedings connected with the signing of the treaty at Fort Pitt, on the 7th of Septem- ber, 1876, is extracted from the ninth chapter of the work above referred to.] September 7th. At ten in the morning the Governor and Commissioners, escorted by the Mounted Police, proceeded to the treaty tent a short distance from Fort Pitt, About eleven o'clock the m NOVA BRITANNIA. Indians coraraencetl to gather, as at Carlton, in a large semi- circle. In front wore the young men, galloping about on their horses, then the Chiefs and head men, followed by the main body of the band, to the number of two or three hun- dred. As they approached, the manceuvros of the horsemen became more and more excited and daring, racing wildly about so rapidly as to be barely distinguishable ; unfortun- ately, from some miscJiance, two horses and their riders came into collision with such tremendous force as to throw both horses and men violently to the ground. IJoth horses were severely injured, and one of the Indians had his hip put out of joint. Fortunately, Dr. Kittson, of the police, was near by, and speedily gave relief to the poor sufferer. The ceremonies, however, still went on. Four pipe-stems were carried about and presented to be stroked in token of good feeling and amity (during this performance the band of the Mounted Police played " God save the Queen "), blessings invoked on the whole gathering, the dances performed by the various bands, and finally the pipes of peace smoked by the Governor and Commissioners in turn. The stems, which were finely decorated, were placed with great solemnity on the table in front of the Governor, to be covered for the bearers with bluo cloth. The Chiefs and head men now seated themselves in front of the tent, when the Governor addressed them : " Indians of the plains, Crees, Chippewayans, Assiniboines and Chippewas, my message is to all. I am here to-day as your Governor under the Queen. The Crees for many days have sent word that they wanted to see some one face to face. The Crees are the principal tribe of the plain Indians, and it is for me a pleasant duty to be here to-day and re- ceive the welcome I have from them. I am here because the Queen and her Councillors have the good of the Indians at heart, because you are the Queen's children, and we must think of you for to-day and to-morrow. The condition of the Indians and their future has given the Queen's Council- lors much anxiety. In the old provinces of Canada, from which I came, we have many Indians. They are growing in numbers, and are, as a rule, happy and prosperous. For a SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES. 177 on the )ines hiuidrod years red and whito hands have heen clasped to- gether in peace. The instructions of the Queen an^ to treat the Indians as brothers, and so we ought to be. The Great Spirit made this earth we are on. Ho planted the trees and made the rivers flow for the good of all his peo{)le, white and red. The country is very wide, and there is room for all. It is six years since the Queen took back into her own hands the government of her subjects, red and white, in this country. It was thought her Indian children would be better cared for in her own hand. This is the seventh time in the last five years that her Indian children have been called together for this purpose. This is the fourth time that I have met my Indian brothers, and standing here on this bright day with the sun above us, I cast my eyes to the east down to the great lakes, and I see a broad road leading from there to the Red River. I see it stretching on to Ellice, I see it branching there, the one to Qu'Appelle and Cyprus Hills, the other by Pelly to Carlton. It is a wide and plain trail. Anyone can see it, and on that road, tak- ing, for the Queen, the hand of the Governor and Commis- sioners, I see all the Indians. I see the Queen's Councillors taking the Indian by the hand, saying : "We are brothers, we will lift you up, we will teach you, if you will learn, the cunning of the white man." All along that road I see In- dians gathering, I see gardens growing and houses building ; 1 see them receiving money from the Queen's Commissioners to purchase clothing for their children. At the same time I see them enjoying their hunting and fishing as before. I see them retaining their old mode of living, with the Queen's gift in addition. ** I met the Crees at Carlton. They heard my words there, they read my face, and through that my heart, and said my words were true, and they took my hand on behalf of the Queen. What they did I wish you to do. I wish you to travel on the road I have spoken of, a road I see stretching out broad and plain to the Rocky Mountains. I know you have been told many stories, some of them not true. Do not listen to the bad voices of men who have their own ends to serve. Listen rather to those who have only your good at 12 178 NOVA lUUTANNlA. Iio.'irt. T liavo como a long way to mcot yon. J^i\^t year I Kont you a mcssago that yon would ha met tliia yrar, and I do not lorf^et my promisos. " I went to Ottawa, where the Queen's CounciUors liavo their council chamber, to talk, among other things, about you. "Ihavoconio seven Imndred miles to see you. Why shouM I take all this trouble ] For two reasons. First, the duty was put upon nie as on(» of the Queen's Councillors, to see you with my brother Commissioners, lion. W.J. Christie and lion. James McKay. The other reason is a personal one, because? since I was a young man my heart was warm to tiie Indians, and I have taken a great interest in them. For more than twenty-tive years 1 have studied their condition in the present and in the future. I have been many years in |)ublic life, but the first words I spoke in public were for the In- dians, and in that vision of the day I saw the Queen's white men understanding their duty. 1 saw them understanding that thc^y had no right to wrap themselves up in a cold mantle of selfishness, that they had no right to turn away and say, ' Am I my brother's keeper 1 ' On the contrary, I saw them saying, ' Tin; Indians are our brothers, we must try to help them to make a living for themselves and their children.' I tell you, you must think of those who will come after you. As I came here I saw tracks leading to the lakes and water-courses, once well beaten, now grown over with grass. I saw bones bleaching by the wayside. I saw the places where the buflalo had been, and I thought What will become of the Indian ] I said to myself, We must teach the children to prepare for the future ; if we do not, but a few suns will pass, and they will m( It away like snow before the sun in spring-time. You know my words are true ; you see for yourselves and know that your numbers are lessening every year. Now, the whole burden of my message from the Queen is that we wish to help you in the days that are to come. We do not want to take away the means of living that you have now. We do not want to tie you down. We want you to have homes of your own where your children can be taught to raise for themselves food Sl'ERCnES AND ADDRESSES. 179 art la I lavo Ijovit ^Vhy :s, to ristie I one, ,0 tliO more n tlie [)ubUc e Iii- whito ndini? i col*i away ary, I must their will ing to jrown lao. I fought must [o not, snow Is are Imbers )f my |in the Ly the to tie Iwhere food from tlio motlior oarth. You may not all bo roinly for tliat, but mnuo, I liavi; no «lou))t, aro, and in a .short tinio others will foHow. I am hero to talk j)lainly. 1 have nothing to hi«lo. I am liero to tell you what we are ready to do. Your tribe ia not all here at the present time. Some of the princi- pal Chiefs are absent. This cannot be avoided. The country is wide, atid when the buffalo come near you nuist follow them. This does not matter, for what I have to give is for the absent as well as for the present. Next year, if tin treaty is made, a Commissioner will be s(>nt to you, and you will be notified of the times and places of met^ting, so that you will not have long journeys. After that, two or three servants of the C^ueen will be appointed to live in the country to look after the Ifidians, and see that the terms of the treaty arc? carried out. *' I have not yet given you my message. I know you have heard what your brothers did at Carlton, and I expect you to do the same here, for if you do not you will be the tirst Indians who refuseare(l until this time n(!xt year I want this my brother to commence! to act for me, thinking therehy that the buffalo may l»e protected. It is for that reason I give you my hand. If spared, I shall commence at once to clear a small piece of laml for myself, and others of my kinsmen •will do the same. We will commc^nce hand in hand to pro- tect the buffalo. When 1 hold your hand I feel as if the Great FatluT were looking on us both as brothers. I am thankful. May this earth here never see the white man's blood spilt on it by the red man. I thank CJod that we stand together, that you all see us. I am thankful that I can raise u]) my head, and the M-hito man aiul nul man can stand together as long as the sun shines. When I hold your hands and touch your heart, as I do now (suiting his action to the words), let us be as one. Use your utmost to help me and help my children, so that they may prosper." The Chiefs remarks were assented to by the Indians by loud ejaculations. Governor : — " I rise with a glad heart ; we have come together and understood each other. I am glad that you have seen the right way. I am glad you have accepted so unanimously the offer made. I will tell the Queen's Coun- cillors what good hearts their Indian children have •, I will tell them that they think of the good of their childrea'a children. SPKECHES AND ADUUEHHEi). 1U3 "I feel that wt^ hixvit dono to-.l»y a^^ood work. Tito yoam will |uiNH away and wo with tht*ni, hut thu work wo havo (loiu) to-day will Mtand an tho hilU. What wo havo said mid donn lias hrori written d«)wn. My proinison at Carlton havo Im'oii writhMi down uiid cannot ho ruliht'd out, ho tliort) can ho no niiHtako ulxMit what is agreed upon. 1 will now havo tlio tcrniH of tho treaty fully road and oxplainod to you, aiul )»oforo I go away I will h-avo a copy with your principal Cliiof. •' Aftor T and tho (Vmimirtsionorfl, for th« Quoon, havo RJ^nod tho treaty, I will call upon your Chief and Council- lors to do thoHatno; and h(*foro tho payments are niado hy Mr. ("hristio, I will givo the ChiofHthu muduls uf thu C^uceii and their Hags. '• Sonio of your Chiefs and pooplo are away. Next year wo will Kond men near to where their hands live. Notice will ho given, atxl those who are away now Will receive the present of money we are going to give you the same as if they had heen here, and when you go hack to the plains 1 ask you to tell your hrothers what we have done." The Governor and Commissioners then signed the treaty on tho part of the t^ueen, and nine Chief's and as many of their Councillors as were with them signed on hehalf of the Indians. Spkkcii at the Banquet to Lord Dufferin, AT Winnipeg. [In the summer of 1877 the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, accompanied by Lady Dufferin, his daughter, Lady Helen Blackwood, and a numerous suite, paid a prolonged visit to Winnipeg and the North-West. The visit extended over nearly three months, during which interval His Excellency travelled over a great extent of territory, familiarizing himself with the capabilities of the 1H4 NOVA imiTANNIA. soil aii«l tlio inoHt urf^ont nM|iiiroiit(>ntii of tho proplo. On •onie of the moat important of liii tourt hu wm accom* paiiiod hy Lieutenant -(Governor Morrii. Tho (^ovornor- (General won j^olden opinionn wherever ho went, and on hia departure from the I'rovinco for Ottawa, on tho 'JUth of September, a Hplendid haii(|uet waH tend«>red him at tho Towrillall, Winnipeg. The gueMtH, threo hundred in num- ber, includent citi/.ens of the Province, and IIIh ICxcellenoy made one of the most telling of all liiH many el(M|uent Hpeechcs on tiie occasion. It had been arranged between Lieutenant-CJovernor Morris and tho oommitteo of arrangements that ho, Mr. Morris, should not bo toasted, or called upon to speak. This fact coming to tho ears of Lord Duilerin, just as ho was about to sit down to table, he insisted upon such a modification of the arrangements as would admit of tho Lieutenant (Governor's health being drunk. This, of course, involved the necessity of a speech on Mr. Morris's part, which, moreover, was necessarily delivered without any attempt at preparation. Tho follow- ing, extracted from Mr. Leggo's llUtorij of the Aihuiuixtra- tion of the Earl of Dujferin, is a fairly accurate report of it.] Mr. Mayor, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen : — For the first time since my experience of tho community of Winnipeg, I have to find fault with them. 1 find myself in a position of embarrassment and difficulty. I camo here as tho guest of the Mayor and Corporation of tho City, which I have seen grow from a hamlet to its present goodly pro- portions, tho harbinger of the future that I believe lies before it as tho city of the British North- West ; but I do feel that it was not fair to me that I should find jnyself called upon in tho presence of the Chief Kepresenta- HPKKCHKS AM) ADDRIXSKH. 185 ilvo of tlio (Vowii, (»f which r Ain oiw n( tht) Ntihonlinuti* n** f>r«»ii«)ntativ(>i(, to rrNpoixi without warning to th« toant that tnfi jiiHt h<'«>n (iniiik. Until my lioulth wum propoMOil I hii*l no kiiowhMlgd that you wcro to do uw tht* lotiour thiityou havr Ko kiiully (loMo tiu*. On thi« contrary it had hufii unih^rntood that I wim not to ho culh'd on. I make thin cxphination ho. cauHo [ fi'td it iH duo tliat I HhouM thank yr*i, not only for tho courtesy and kindnvM extended un this (Koasion, hut far nioro, for that roHpect, Hupport and kindiit'MH, which have Htren^thenH 1 havo had to «>ncount«'r during the pant fivo yrarM. I ahk thoHo arounn I came among you, are past ; that peace, order and harmony dwi'll among, and exint hetween the diil'erent nationalities that compose this our mixed com- munity ; and that all are animated hy an ath>ction and loyalty deep iit the hearts of our people towanls Her (tracious Ma- jesty, and her illustrious and nohle Iiit^presentutive whom wu have had the pleasure of meeting to-day. (tentlemen, it would he unhecoming in mn to trespass at any length on your time and attention, and it would he the more unbecoming that I .should indulge in desultory remarks, after the elaborate and elo(|uent eulogium of the Oovernor- General of this great Dominion, that has been passed upon your position as an outlying province. But as 1 stand In^e, on, as it may be, the last occasion that I shall have the op- portunity of meeting such a largo number of those who have been my fellow-citizens and associates for five yuvs, 1 cannot help saying that my residonce, my position in this province, has been a pride and satisfaction to me. Twenty- tive years ago, when comparatively a young man, I directed ray studies to the future of the North-West of the Dominion. 1 gleaned every source of information I could obtain, and came to the conclusion that there was here the back- bone of the future Dominion. In ray visions, I saw the Pacific Kailway stretching across the continent, and I saw the Indian population in the far west feeling the throbbing of the white man's heart, and learning the arts of civiliza- 18G NOVA BRITANNIA. ^m m tion, and 1 saw tho vast population of the old world poo- ])ling this land, atid makinj; it the granary of the globe. I believed all this, and therefore it was with p(!culiar i)rido that when ill health drove me from being a member of the Cabinet of tlie Dominion to accept the position of the first Chief Justice of Manitoba, renewed health enabled me to accept the oflice of Lieutenant-Governor of this province and the North-VVest Territories, in which it had been my lot as a Ministcir of the Crown, and as a private citizen, to take an active interest. Gentlemen, in all communities there are difficulties, in all communities disagreements ; but I can say this, that I earnestly trust that 1 leave this Province carrying with me the good will of its people. If I do not it is not because I have not honestly and justly striven to do my duty as a servant of the Crown. Tnere may be, there doubtless will be, little ripples on the surface of the water ; but all that I can say is this : that although I leave you, I shall not carry with me a remembrance of any of the diffi- culties that have crossed my path in the past five years. I leave this Province as one who feels that five years of his life have been worked into its history, and that it is his good fortune to carry away with him the friendship of the community ; and whatever my lot may be in the future, I trust it will be found that the occasions will be suggested to me in which I may be of service to you. But be that as it may, when I mingle with the people of Ontario and Que- bec, as I will do when occasions arise in which I can give advice, and direct the steps of those who may wish to seek a home in this province of the Dominion, at all events, I am indulging in no vain boast when I say you hav^^ a friend who will endeavour to do what he can to advance your in- terests. And now, ere I take my seat, asking your pardon for the manner in which I have addressed you, I cannot help expressing the deep satisfaction with which I find beside me to-day His Excellency and Her Excellency Lord and Lady Dufferiu. It is an era in the history of this province. I know they have endeavoured to master our position, and right glad I was whe^ I stood at St. SPKLCIIES AND ADDRESSES. 187 Petor's Tn«li;in Ivcscrve to hear His Kxcollcncy tell tlmso rod children of tlie (^utrn that I lor Majesty had char^nl him to enquire specially into their condition, and into the con- dition of the jjcople of the country ; and glad I am that so intelligent, so faithful a servant of the Crown, has been hero among us, who will be able to carry home to the fountain and source of honour the knowledge of the fact that here in this province there dwells a community of the most mixed character that can be found in any country under the sun, and that here, thanks to Providence, thanks to the good sense of the community, to the spirit of conciliation and adaptation to each other which has been developed among us, there is peace, harmony and concord. Gentlemen, I recollect that some twenty years ago, while residing in the City of Montreal, at a dejeuner given to a celebrated English author, a clergyman who now holds a very prominent position in the city of London (England), was called on to speak. I recollect his declining. He was a Canadian like myself, though he is now in London, and I recollect that after I had spoken, he rose to his feet and said he had not intended to speak till he heard his friend's (Mr. Morris's) address, which convinced him that he had "Canada on the brain." Well, gentlemen, I have had Mani- toba on the brain for the last five years, and I have only to say that my thoughts and intellect have been given in duty to my Sovereign, and to my superior officer the Governor- General, and to the interests of this Province. And I can say that next to my duty to my Queen, let my hereafter be short or long in it, will be found devotion to the interests of Canada, Manitoba and the North W"est. FINIS.