^^5:.>^. 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 111 
 m 
 u 
 
 IM 112.0 
 
 1-25 iu 
 
 I 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.6 
 
 150mm 
 
 <P 
 
 /, 
 
 *> 
 
 
 :>:> - '■y'^ 
 
 />^ 
 
 '#C'> 
 
 
 <?^ 
 
 w 
 
 /APPLIED J IIV14GE . Inc 
 
 ^ag 1653 East Main Street 
 ^^ li Rochester, NY 14609 USA 
 _^=--= Phone: 716/482-0300 
 .^=-.^= Fax: 716/288-5989 
 
 1993, Applied Image, Inc., All Rights Reserved 
 
 r\ 
 
 ^\' 
 
 '^ 
 
 A. 
 
 <^ 
 
 
 
 ^o-^ ^^v;^ 
 

 /;^* 
 
 i^.^ 
 
 
 %" 
 
 
 CIHM 
 Microfiche 
 Series 
 (IVJonographs) 
 
 ICIMH 
 
 Collection de 
 microfiches 
 (monographies) 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical IMicroreproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas 
 
 nn 
 
Technical and Bibliograpliic Notts / Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquas 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the bast original 
 copy available for filming. Featurei of this copy which 
 may be bibliographically unique, which may altar any 
 of the images in the reproduction, cr which may 
 significantly change the usual mttlHid of filming, art 
 checked below. 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagte 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur^ et/ou pelliculte 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre da couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes giographiques en couleur 
 
 □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Relii avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shacfows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion le long de la marge intirieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may appear 
 within the text. Whenever possible, these have 
 been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ejouties 
 lors d'une restauration epparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas M f ilmtes. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentaires: 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked bf low/ 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il 
 lui a ith possible de sa procurer. Les details da cat 
 exemplaire qui sont peut-itra uniques du point de vua 
 bibliographN|ua. qui ptuvent modifier una image 
 reproduite. ou qui peuvent exigar una modification 
 dans la mAthode normale de f ilmage sont indiquit 
 ei-dessous. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagtes 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restauries et/ou pellicultes 
 
 H'! 
 
 TiMe 
 toth« 
 
 Th«ir 
 
 pOMil 
 
 oftN 
 fllmin 
 
 Off gin 
 bcgifii 
 ttMto 
 •Ion. ( 
 
 firftp 
 •Ion. I 
 oriliu 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages dteolorits, tacheties ou piquies 
 
 □ Pages detached/ 
 Pages ditachies 
 
 0Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 I >I^Quality of print varies/ 
 Li_J Qualite inigale de I'impression 
 
 
 Continuous pagination/ 
 Pagination continue 
 
 Includes index(es)/ 
 Comprend un (des) index 
 
 Title on header taken from: / 
 Le titre de I'en-tlte provient: 
 
 Title page of issue/ 
 
 Page de titre de la livraison 
 
 Thoia 
 •hoNc 
 TINUf 
 which 
 
 Maps, 
 diffori 
 •ntlrol 
 boglnr 
 right I 
 roquin 
 motho 
 
 D 
 
 □ Caption of issue/ 
 Titre de depart de la livraison 
 
 □ Masthead/ 
 Ganerique (piriodiques) de la livraison 
 
 10X 
 
 bvniBi 
 
 11 Oil 
 
 mine 
 
 14X 
 
 IX UB 
 
 roauii 
 
 [iun ir 
 
 
 t ci-a« 
 
 IIOUS 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26 X 
 
 
 
 
 50 "X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 
 24 X 
 
 
 
 
 28X 
 
 
 
 
 32 X 
 
 
Th« copy fllmvd h«r« has iM«n raproduccd thanki 
 to th« a^nvrosity of: 
 
 Manuscript Division, 
 National Archives of Canada 
 
 L'«x«mplair« filmA fut raproduit grlca A la 
 gAnirtfsitA da: 
 
 Division des manuscrits. 
 Archives nationales du Canada 
 
 Tba Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality 
 poaaibia eonaidaring tha eohditloii and lagibility 
 of tlMi original eopy and in kaaping with tho 
 Aiming contraet apocifleatlona. 
 
 Original coplaa in printad papar covara ara fClmad 
 ba gi nning with the front covor and anding on 
 tho laat pago with a printad or ilhiatratad impraa- 
 alon. or tho book eoyor whon appropriata. AN 
 othar origlnol coplao ara fllmad baginning on tho 
 firat pogo with a printad or illuatratad impraa- 
 aion. and anding on tho laat paga with a printad 
 or illuatratad impraaalon. 
 
 Tho laat racordod frama on ooch microficho 
 ahaN contain tha aymbol •^ (moaning "CON- 
 TINUED"!, or tho aymbol V (moaning "END"), 
 whiehovor appiiaa. 
 
 IMapa. plataa. eharta. ate., may ba filmad at 
 diffarant raduetion ratioa. Thoaa too iarga to bo 
 antiraly includad in ona axpoaura ara filmad 
 baginning in tha uppar iaft hand eomar. laft to 
 right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa 
 raqulrad. Tho following diagrama iiluatrata tha 
 mathod: 
 
 Laa imagaa suivantaa ont 4tA raproduitaa avac la 
 plua grand totn. eompta tanu da la condition at 
 da la nattat« da l'a>amplaira film*, at an 
 eonformit* avac laa conditlona du contrat do 
 fllmaga. 
 
 Laa uiampiairaa originaux dont lo couvarturo 91% 
 paplar aat imprimAa aont filmAo on commancant 
 par la pramiar plat at an tarminant toit par la 
 damMro paga qui comporto uno omprainta 
 dimpraaaion ou d'iliuatration, aoit par ia sacond 
 plat, aalon lo caa. Toua laa autraa anampiairaa 
 originoux sont fiimte an commandant par la 
 pramiAra paga qui comporto uno omprainta 
 dimpraaaion ou dllluatration at an tarminant par 
 lo darnlAro paga qui comporto uno talla 
 ampralnta. 
 
 Un daa aymboiaa auivanta apparaltra aur la 
 darnlAra imaga da ehaqua microfiche, talon la 
 caa: la aymbaia -^ algnifia "A SUiVRE". la 
 aymbolo ▼ tignifio "FIN". 
 
 Laa cartaa. planchaa. tableaux, etc., peuvent itre 
 f llmte A dee taux da reduction dif f Arenta. 
 Loraqua la document eat trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un soul clichA, ii eet filmA A partir 
 da Tangle aupArieur gauche, do gauche A droite, 
 et do haut en baa. en prenant lo nombre 
 d'imegea nAcaaaaira. Lee diegrammea tuivanta 
 illuatrent ia mAthodo. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 32 X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
> ' 
 
 0:42907 
 
 SPEECH 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 
 
 ON THE 10th day OP MARCH, 1865, 
 
 BT 
 
 JOHN 800BLE, ESQ., 
 
 MEMBER FOR ELGIN (WEST RIDING), 
 
 ON THE SUBJKOT OF THE 
 
 \\ 
 
 COPEDERATM OF THE BRITISO NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES. 
 
 PIlINTEn i3Y HUNTER, ROSE & CO., ST. URSULE STREET. 
 
 1865. 
 
hnx 
 
V42 
 
 908 
 
 CONFEDERATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES. 
 
 Mb.SCOBTjE — If Iweretocousultmyowa 
 feelings or my convenience, Mr. Speaker, 
 I should certainly not rl.^o at this advanced 
 period of the debate, to offtsr any observations 
 on the great question which has now been 
 80 long under discussion ; but having some- 
 what ultcro^:^ the pinions that I entertained 
 ot the scheme submitted to the House by 
 the Government, I feel it necessary to mako 
 a few remarks in explanation and vindi- 
 cation of the vote I intend to give. In 
 approaching the consideration of the ques- 
 tion, I shall divest myself, as far as possible, 
 of all party proJilcctions, of all personal 
 preferences, and of all sectional jealousies, 
 and shall endeavor to discuss it upon its 
 merits, fairly and impartially— first, with 
 reference to the great difficulties which un- 
 happily exist between Upper and Lower 
 Canada ; and, secondly, in relation to the pro- 
 posed union of the British North American 
 Provinces for purposes and objects common 
 to them all. These bral!iches of the main 
 question, or rather those two questions, are 
 not necessarily connected, and may, there- 
 fore, bo discussed scpuiately ; for it is possible 
 wo may not be able immediately to secure 
 the union of the provinces, and in that case 
 wo shall still have to deal with the difficul- 
 ties of our own position, and try, if possible, 
 to find a satisfactory solution for thorn. 
 (Hear, hear.) And first, sir, with reference 
 to tho difficulties which have so long dis- 
 tracted and disturbed us, and which hitherto 
 we have iu vain attempted to remove. If 
 wd may beliovo the hon. member for Brome 
 (Mr. Dunkin), whom I regret to see is not 
 in his place, the difficulties to which I 
 have referred are imaofinsrv- not reaL 
 lie told ua, in his elaborate and exhaus- 
 tive speech; that in Lower Canada the 
 
 Cathono and non-Catholic, the English 
 and French-speaking populations, were liv- 
 ing in the most entire harmony with each 
 other ; and this statement was cunfirme 1 by 
 the honorable and learned gentleman tho 
 Hon. Atty. Gen. East (Hon. Mr. CAiniKii), 
 who declared that so gteat was that har- 
 mony, that be enjoyed tho confidence not 
 only of tho Catholic, but the Protestant sec- 
 tion of the community, and in fact repre- 
 sented them both. Now, sir, I aiu not 
 disposed to question tho fact produiiued by 
 these honorable gnnilcmcn; in tlic contrary, 
 I fully believe it, and ascribe tlie circum- 
 stauce to their having common objects to 
 pursue, and common iutcrci^ts to maintain. 
 (Hear, hoar.) Hut tho hon. member for 
 ISrome went further. Ho affected to believe 
 that no difficulties of any moment existed 
 between Upper and Lower Canada, and that 
 any dissatisfactio-i that had been manifested 
 by the upper sectio.. of the province, might 
 be easily removed without resorting to an 
 organic change in our present Constitution. 
 At least, so I understood the hon. gentle- 
 man. On this point I am at issue with him, 
 for I believe those difficulties to be of a most 
 formidable character, and that they threaten 
 at no distant day, unless they be adjusted, 
 tho peace and the prosperity of the pro- 
 vince — perhaps its disintegration — perhaps 
 its annexation to the United States. Every 
 lover of his country must deprecate such 
 results, and ought to strive to prevent them, 
 or either of tncm. The House and the 
 country will sustain mo in tho view I take 
 of the danger of our position, and conse- 
 qnontly of the importance of tho measure 
 now under cossidcratioQi as one mcAn« of 
 removing it. (Hear, hear.) If, sir, we can 
 ascertain the true cause of our difficulties, wo 
 
8oes> 
 
 vitiot 
 
 » 
 
 shall not have to seek far or lotMr for their 
 t II us in differenoe of nat onality. of reliiri 
 
 thauheti'^'"' *^>"*' the«,ort!defy 
 tnat they may be made to play a oonsDicnons 
 
 t?o;v\'^^"T^^r"*'^'-"3 
 
 "ODs, but I Utterly deny that thev aro th« 
 cauHeofourdifBcultiea. TaketheqJiof 
 
 SK'S'p'^S**"*- Those Long i« 
 wno are of French «trant on may be iuatlv 
 
 fnd ofll.*'"'"'.-'""^''''^- «^ their ^tridiS; 
 th« ™f ?!*"' ^•?'*"y- They can boast of 
 wli ^''>{ *''?P'" '''''^'> those of kindred 
 Wood with themselves ^ave founded in 
 
 fZT'oZ' tf ''^ -r' > ^--e "S "t 
 exerts over the civiJuation and politics of 
 ho wond ; but as they are no longnuSect 
 tL Cn**^* ""^'^'''^ *»"« alfegiaSciol 
 ihL^if 'wrSTl.' "'^ *"'J°y «" Sie fran- 
 that the question of French nationalitv dis 
 
 iJ^hV''"' *i** '' ""K'" only Sins 
 and that now the only nationality tha 
 can be recognized among us is a British 
 natjonahty, unless iude^ed we are pre 
 Stents LTn" •"" oonnecUon with the 
 olroi? ' *'"""*'°*"'* °*"' nationality of 
 the 71^1 ""«" our political existence in 
 the neighbormg republic. But who sir 
 among us is prepared for either TthJo 
 
 J oTrthi/" •' ''^^V' '^at the" 
 JrT !« 1 f ?'°r""® °^ *^«n«h origin 
 are less loja to the British Crown tSn 
 those of Anglo-Saxon descent? Z l" 
 S^Tth'"'' '''?!^° opportunity a?orded 
 
 ♦i,!!!.! These questions, I am assured 
 A t iir" 'T'J "dignanti; in the negative 
 At an events, of thislam satisfied, and I be 
 heve they are eatisfied. that under no govern 
 meotinthe world can they enjoy so ifrJe a„ 
 amount of civil, political and relfRfousTer"; 
 
 WhL""*'''^?u'?• The Scotch havl 
 I« th- p *"'l v"*^ *•'"'■ faditions as well 
 as the French, but where is the Scotchman 
 now that, a not proud of his alliance wi" 
 England, or that would wish to dissever the 
 oonnec .on, though thereby he might reUin 
 his parliament or his kiu/? I bXv« fhlf 
 every enlightened French^anidian JSf'fhe 
 Kne"!'."'""' '^''**^" hot-blooded and haiV 
 tirv m""*^^"*" »»ya«8ert to the con- 
 trary. (Hear hear.) Take the questioHf 
 religious creeds. These are said to present 
 an uisurmountable obstacle in the wa/Sth* 
 settlement of our sectional difficult If 
 sir, we had established in this provkce a 
 aon-Oatholic or Protestant or--!^ -ut.* 
 
 fi'sISliJy^T"^ to subscribe, or if not 
 
 ior^ Nation tir lirT'S^ '"""P"'" 
 ♦K.;^;« ' „"' "'« I could conceive 
 
 in.J5"T* °^ '""Kious opinion mighJ 
 operate in the way alleged ; but as amoni^lus 
 
 oy'cd-Tves^T r*' *'"'"' liberty^K 
 
 f^a^^tteraJszLte^c 
 
 TrCn 1 f ■* X'{ *'.'^*'. h*^ "'« «»>««low of 
 tice tS TTnn n *' 1? ''"'"K " ""t of jus- 
 tioe to Upper Canadians they would be 
 
 We fri°^ n''°? *° themselves. (Hearrhear J 
 
 in«!Z'<?- ?u ""' *°" ""'*''» "0 too deeply 
 ntereeted m the question of religious libertv 
 
 XwSTtr>';° y^^*- of eons^cienc^ or'^' 
 frlnlpL ^"'**"^*''°"« '" """tters o "such 
 
 the Tv^n«''V'^P''''''r ."^ *"« '°'*tions to 
 the Divme Being, and the service and wor- 
 ship we owe to Him. Differing as we do in 
 our creed and modes of wo "hip, Teligiois 
 equality i« accessary to the peac'e^nte 
 order of government, as wtll L to the life of 
 religion Itself among the people. We thus 
 become the guardians of thc^most prec SS 
 of all liberties, the right to worship God 
 
 Stl? *^ f *»^« ofourconi&enee, 
 
 ^hlui^L m^"'^l'""'\ ^'•°'" '"'^ other o; 
 the state. (Hear, hear.) But it is said that 
 the civil institutions of Lower Canada would 
 
 sent?i„r" Y^F^r ^T^'' «"°^«d a Tepre 
 sentation in the Legislature and the Govern- 
 ment ,n proportion to its population I 
 
 t^ri' "fi ""''^ ^^"^ ''"ch a diffiSy as 
 this should ever have been startod. It is 
 
 r,. . T ^V\^ P*'"''^ of Great Britain 
 haa ever been of the most' liberal and com- 
 
 TtlL kYnVT""'; i» .relation to matters 
 wi/h ^il • T"ce her hi.story in connection 
 with her conquest#n any part of the world • 
 
 ^Ir^l"' r^P* "'''^'^^ oonsent of' 1' 
 people, has she imposed upon them the body 
 of her statute aws ? Her Constitution and 
 
 IZ I ""T." '*7 »f "«''t belong to the 
 peoplea subjected to herfway, and these arc 
 the guard;ana of personal ana public liberty : 
 but beyond these sfio allows the largest free-' 
 
 futToi; 'Ta' ?u '^""?«' '^"^ P«""" insti- 
 tutions, and the administration of civil 
 
 TC !f ™V^^"t the length and breadth 
 of her dominions. However desirable the 
 assimilation of the laws between UppTr and 
 
 n.?rT ^fit "y ^'' uniformity JLld be I 
 
 purchased at too dear a rate, if it led to dis- I 
 
 satisfaction among any considerable class tf I 
 
 he people. Time may accomplish what I 
 
 force mi<|ht destroy. As an Endishm.n I 
 whilst i believe our laws, iu the main;^ 
 
Vtltl«n 
 
 well as our whole judicial ajBtem. ore the 
 best .n the world, I do not believe et"or tSe 
 one or the other to be perfect. To improve 
 them by importing into them whatever is 
 more excellent in other systems, t the 
 dictate of common sense, and wi 1 always 
 
 turns ofLower Canada are perfectly safe in 
 the koepmg of Lower Canadfans, for practio 
 rlLr*^'°^ f''^. ^' 8"J°«d by 'upper 
 Canadians in changing them, supposing thei 
 had the power to do so, which they nfithS 
 
 tA A?' ""' '"*'» '«'P«''t to lanUage, I 
 can hardly suppose Lower CanadianfseSus 
 
 ?nnl«i^ t/"° "T °S them of their mother- 
 tongue. It may do well enough to excite a 
 prejudice amcog ignorant people to s^y so* 
 ?t oiri^ """"^ 'i''' *•>"» "« i°telligen 
 
 Vr.Z r''''^'"' '?"''*• It «"««!"« with 
 French-Canadians themselves to determine 
 whether they will abandon the use ofTheir 
 native tongue, and adopt ours, or not. They 
 arejectouse either, \r bot'h. at pleaS 
 ", 8ir, in Lower Canada the Enelish are 
 compelled to learn the French language foJ 
 business purposes and for social intercSurse 
 and in Upper Canada the French are com 
 pclled to learn English for similar purpose" 
 surely that need not be a subject fiS 
 to he oue or to the other, inasmuch as both 
 3 gam by it And this further advanS 
 thl""!?^ *" ^^""'^ «'"'"«<1 •» both languagS- 
 
 ihm''"''/r^« *« the litcrature,S 
 philosophy and the science of the two fore- 
 most nations of the world. No attempt S 
 be made to ignore the French language 
 among us, so long as those who prefer it to 
 a ! others shall deem it worthy ^fpreser^ 
 a .on. (Hear, hear.) Gfve the peS of 
 Upper and Lower Canada a common SbieSt 
 to pursue, and common interests tJ susS n 
 and all questions of origin, and creed and 
 
 superior end to be attained by their closer 
 union ao-ong ourselves, or by^the'r wK 
 
 huieiiio ot Confederation. (Hear W^ 
 
 „nf ^''rl^'®''"''^ under which we ffi 
 and which we seek to overcome, is a politieai 
 aud not a soeial one. It has its roofin the 
 Const.t„tioni,„p..sed upon the provil t 
 }„ • I 7 *'»« Imperial Government and 
 Logmlaturo. That Constitution was foundS 
 
 as" wr's:r f''^"" '^t''^' »«d hr^^ 
 
 as was then foreseen, has nrn,ln««J *u- 
 giossest injustice to Upper CanIda.""Had tS 
 principle of represenSn b«,ed on pojut 
 
 tion been then adopted, and the line which 
 TbCrlted^PP" ?T ^*»''" Canada bS 
 we should now ^e working harmoniouslv 
 together instead of seeking frgan'-Hhanges 
 in the Constitution, in oTder to pre'efve 
 ourselvea from revolution and Snarchy. 
 W' m'^ The honorable member fJr 
 iJagot (Hon. Mr. LArRAMBoisE), in his 
 «pe«,h quoted largely from the import of 
 
 i:?il«^'"'^n''' *° «'"'' t'"'* that distin. 
 guished nobleman was prejudiced against 
 Lower Canadians, and was indisposed to do 
 them justice. By selecting herS and there 
 passages from that able document, the hon 
 gentleman gave a colorable appearance to 
 
 U -r.T'T'>"? "''*'>'°8 more. I deem 
 It an act of justice to Lord Durham to 
 supplement the extracts read by the Ion 
 TZThZ'i^^ IT'' ***™"*'' '''•"h will shew 
 
 ml,/- i^'^^^J^'P.'"* go'^^'ned by exact and 
 «„^L ' i"^*'*'* V° *be m.asure^ which he 
 recommended to heal the divisions which 
 
 hen existed in Canada. With the prescient 
 sagacity of a true statesman, be said :- 
 
 of ^stemWv'!.??^'**'""'"''" ?f ^^^ t'^o Houses 
 
 aDnSArri'""^"""'^ com:t.i.3ion should be 
 dSns and aTl^-''^ of forming the electoral 
 bi™ f^L ,<'«'«"^'a"'g the number of mem- 
 rpn^. r.- '^*"™^'' «" *be principle of pvwl 
 
 ItT:-^ 1\'^ *'^'' injustice of this recom- 
 mendation ? Lower Canada had then the 
 arger population, and was entitled to the 
 arger representation in the united Lecis- 
 
 t"p' ]-?\-^' 1??"'"^ authorities baled 
 the Constitution which they gave to Canada, 
 no on representation according to numbers 
 but on equality or equal numbers of repre- 
 sentatives for the two sections of the pro- 
 JIT' «•'* *be result we have to deplore this 
 day. HiB Lordship goes on to say :— 
 
 noL!lV^"*' ^ ®'<"y plan that has been pro- 
 • P°f.i't>'-g'ving an equafnumber of meraKo 
 
 arjr ecd of ontnnmbering the French. becanSe I 
 
 ?i*„'!f lhfV^'''\ ^"i be attained wXn 
 
 wU&„v!„Ji '°*"'''°' °^ representation, and 
 
 without any such appearance of iDJnsUce in the 
 
 l»nHTrA'^°"'i^ »**P"blic opinion,\oirin En« 
 
 S^r w«^.*"V1'''*" '•*•« increased the 
 Knghsh population in Upper Canada, the adontion 
 of such a nrincinl« wo«U ^.ll^.-^-^T^P""'' 
 
 rfyP^T-'e itis-int^nTedJo's;;;^ Itap^S 
 to me thfct any «.ch electoral management? foun" 
 ed on present provincial divUions, would tend to 
 
«»«flltp 
 
 6 
 
 ?dea'o/d^ P^'P®"*' ^^ "°'°"' *'"' perp«inato the 
 
 These are word* of wisdom, but they were 
 not listened to at home, and the conse- 
 quences have been Jameutable. We find 
 Upper and Lower Canada in a state of 
 antagonism, and collision imminent. We 
 find the Legislature b- >ught to a dead-lock 
 and our public men driven to their wit's 
 end. All this was foreseen by Lord Dcr- 
 HAM and provided for in his admirable sug- 
 gestions for the future government of thTs 
 important province. And then, in reference 
 to the peculiar institutiors of Lower Ca- 
 nada, Its religion and its laws, he said :— 
 _ I certoiiily should not like to subject the 
 *rench-Canadians to the rule of the idenUcal 
 Jinghah nimonty with which they have been so 
 long contending ; biit from a majority emanatinir 
 troni so much more extended a source, I do not 
 tHink they would have any oppression or injustice 
 to tear ; and in this case the J ur greater part of the 
 majority never having been brought into collision, 
 would regard them with no animosity that would 
 warp their natural sense of equity. The endow- 
 ments of the Catholic Church in tower Canada, 
 and the existence of oil its present laws, until 
 altered by the united legislature, might be secured 
 by, stinulntioDs similar to those adopted in the 
 nnion between England and Scotland. I do not 
 think that the cubsequent history of British legis- 
 lation need incline u.s to believe that the nation 
 which has the majority in a popular Itgislature is 
 likely to use its power to tamper very hastily with 
 the laws of the people to which it is united, 
 
 incorporation of the provinces included in it 
 under one Legislature exercising universal 
 and sole legislative authority over all of them 
 exactly m the same manner as the Parliament- 
 legislates alone for the whole of the Britbh 
 isles. After a careful review of the whole 
 subject, Lord Ditbiiam says : — 
 
 I had still more strongly impressed upon me 
 the jrreat advantages of a united govcmmcnt; 
 and r was gratified by finding the leading mindi 
 of the various colonies strongly and L'enerally 
 inclined to a scheme that would elevate their 
 countries into soinothing like .i national exist- 
 ence. I thought that it would be the tendency 
 ot a federation, sanctioned and consolidated by 
 a monarchical government, gradually to become 
 a complete Legislative union j and that thus.while 
 conciliating the French of Lower Canada, by 
 leaving them the government of their own pro- 
 vince, and their own internal legislation, I mifftt 
 provide for the protection of British interests by 
 the General Government, and the gradual tran- 
 sition of the provinces into an united and homo- 
 geneous community. liut, [His Loitlship adds,] 
 the pcHod of gradual tronsitiou is past in Lower 
 Canada, [and therefore he says,] that the only 
 ethcacions governmeul would be that formed bv 
 aiiegislativo ucion. ^ 
 
 Having thus dealt with the question in its 
 application to TTppor and Lower Canadn, he 
 extends the range of his obscrvati ns to the 
 whole of the British posscEsioiis in North 
 America, and remarks : — 
 
 Such were the opinions and such the basis of 
 that great scbenio of union which Lord Dtm- 
 HAM contemplated, and which he aimed to 
 ■eouro to Upper and Lower Canada. It con- 
 Biated of two parts : representation based on 
 population in the Legislature ; and guarantees 
 that the peculiar institutions of Lower Canada 
 rfiould be protected, and her rights respected. 
 But His Lordship had larger views before him* 
 ^an the union of Upper and Lower Canada. 
 He was anxioua that all the British colonies 
 in North America should be consolidated 
 under one government. When His Lordship 
 received his commission from the British 
 Crown, he was strongly in favor of the Federal- 
 principle in its application to the then state of 
 Upper and Lower Canada ; but a more pro- 
 found study of the question when in this 
 country, and from consultation with the lead- 
 ing men in the several American Colonies, ho 
 arrived at the conclusion that a Legislative 
 would bo preferable to a Federal union of 
 those colonics. The change in his opinion is 
 thus stated in the extracts from his report, 
 with which I shall now trouble the Hnuss. 
 By a l^islative union he means " a complete 
 
 But while Iconvince myself that such desirable 
 ends would he secured by a legislative union of 
 the two provinces, I am inclined to go further 
 and enquire '♦hether all these objects would not 
 be more surely obtained by extending this legis- 
 ^tive union over all the British possessions in 
 JNortJi America; pnd whether the advantages 
 which I anticipate for two of them might not. 
 and should not in iuFtice be extended over uli. 
 Such an union would at once decisively settle the 
 question of races ; it would enable the provinces 
 to cooperate for all common purposes ; and. 
 above all, it would form a great and powerful 
 people, posaessmg the nuacs of securiii<» good 
 and responsible government for itself, and^which 
 under the protection of the British Empire, might 
 m some measure counterbalance the preponderant 
 and increasing influence of tlm United States on 
 the American continent. 
 
 His Lordship had no fears that such an union 
 would lead to siparation from the Mother 
 Country. IIo rather looked upon it ns a 
 means of strengthening the bonds which 
 united them, and of its proving an advantage 
 to both. On this point he says : — 
 
 I do not anticipate that a colonial legislature 
 thus strong and thus self-governing would desire 
 to abandon the connection with Great Britain 
 vn iho contrary, I btjlievu that the practicni 
 relief from undue interference which would bo 
 
 ther 
 
 l)re3£ 
 
 the c 
 
 and I 
 
 freed 
 
 rate, 
 
 our ( 
 
 deort 
 
 ruled 
 
 ever 
 
 it to 
 
 separ 
 
 couni 
 
 the J 
 
 {{ovei 
 
 in tn 
 
 powe 
 
 union 
 
 Empi 
 
 ing 8 
 
 woolc 
 
 denci 
 
 His 
 
 the I 
 
 Legie 
 
 provi 
 
 conta 
 
 Nortl 
 
 catioi 
 
 of th( 
 
 tnre, 
 
 terms 
 
 Thcst 
 
 DUBE 
 
 very 
 
 consid 
 
 to us 
 
 merit 
 
 thong 
 
 might 
 
 intesti 
 
 i'uturc 
 
 tion is 
 
 with tl 
 
 .o^».^x^Ameri 
 
 lanad 
 
 of; tc 
 
 only a 
 
 into pi 
 
 by disi 
 
 vatiou! 
 
 to be I 
 
 House 
 
 I ow, si 
 
 submit 
 
 tion oi 
 
 Ameri( 
 
 for pur 
 
 not th( 
 
 orable i 
 
 convino 
 

 the result of such a change would strengthen the 
 present bond of feelings und interests, and that 
 the connection would only become more durable 
 and advantageous bj having more of equality, of 
 freedom, and of local independence. But, at any 
 rate, our first duty is to secure the well-being of 
 our colonial countrymen ; and if in the hi(klea 
 decrees of that Wisdom by which this world is 
 ruled, it is written that these countries are not for 
 ever to remain portions of the Empire, w6 owe 
 it to our honor to take good care that when they 
 separate from us they shoald not bo the only 
 countries on the American continent in which 
 the Anglo-Saxon ruce shall be found unlit to 
 govern themselves. I am, [says Hia Lordship,] 
 in truth, so far from believing that the increased 
 power and weiaht given to these colonies by 
 union would endanger their connection with the 
 Empire, that I look to it as the means of foster- 
 ing such a national feeling throughout them as 
 would effectually counterbalance whatever ten- 
 dencies may now exist towards separation. 
 His Lordshm then stronglj rccommeads 
 tho union of tho two Canadas under one 
 Legislature, and of reconstituting them as one 
 province ; and " the bill," ho says, " should 
 contain provisions by which any or al! of tho 
 North American colonies may, on the appli- 
 cation of the Legislature, be, with the consent 
 of the two Canadas, or their united Legisla- 
 ture, admitted into the union on such 
 terms as may bo agreed on between them." 
 These remarkable passages drawn from Lord 
 Dcbham's re^rt, appear to mo to embody the 
 very spirit qt the scheme submitted to our 
 consideration by the Government, and coming 
 to us recommended by so high an authority, 
 merit our best attention ; and if realized,' 
 though not in the precise form many of us 
 might desire, we may hope it will heal our 
 int^istine divisions, and open to us a glorious 
 I'uture. Representation based on popula- 
 tion is denied to Upper Canada, unless coupled 
 with the Confederation of all the British Noith 
 , American colonies; ♦-ho separation of Uppers 
 ^ Canada, pure and simple, is not to be thought 
 of; to return to tho position we occupied 
 only a year ago, would be to plunge once more 
 into political contests, with feelings embittered 
 by disappointment; and therefore, with reser- 
 vations affecting details only, I shall feel it, 
 to be my duty to give the motion before the 
 House my best support. (Hear, hear.) And 
 I ow, sir, I pro^mse to consider the scheme 
 submitted to us in relation to the larger ques- 
 tion of tho union of all tho British North 
 American Provinces under one government, 
 for purposes common to them all. I needed 
 not tho areuments or the eloquence of hon- 
 orable gentlemen on the Treasarv benches ta 
 oonyinoe iae of the immaiae importance of 
 
 such ajunction as shall lead to the develop- 
 ment of a new nationality, and secure to 
 generations yet unborn the advantaces of 
 unity aud power. With the permission of 
 the House, I will read an extract from a 
 letter which I addressed to the Duke of 
 Newcastle in 1859, when that nobleman 
 visit«d this country in tho suite of His Roy- 
 al Highness the Prince op Wales, bearing 
 (hreotly on this point. Having briefly stated 
 the grounds which induced me to write to 
 His Grace, I said: — 
 
 The possessions of Great Britain in North 
 America are not only vast in extent and marvel- 
 lous in resources, but for facility of internal com- 
 munication by lakes and rivers, are unrivalled : 
 and their geographical position ia such aa to 
 make them of the very last importance to the 
 political and commercial greatness of the British 
 Empire . FosHessing the conUol of ^jiis magni- 
 ficent part of tlie American continent, with com- 
 paratively easy access through it fi-om the Atlan- 
 tic to the Pacific shores, Great Britain need not 
 lear the rivalry nor dread tho preponderance of 
 the United Stotes. But in order that she maj 
 derive from it alt the advantages it is so well cal- 
 culated to afford, she must have a fixed and 
 determinate policy, wisely conceived, practical in 
 its details, and persevoringly carried out. In 
 the planting of future colonies in British North 
 America, care should be taken to make them as 
 few as possible. I regret, therefore, that it ap- 
 pears to have been determined to give the Ited 
 River settlement a distinct politiciil existence. 
 Canada should have been allowed to expand 
 westwards to the Hoclor Mountains, instead of 
 being cooped up within her present limits. She 
 would ' ■'< have been able to absorb more easily 
 the 0, ■:/ .g colonies of Newfoundland, Nova 
 Scotia, Hew Brunswick and Prince Edward 
 Island on tho Atlantic, and British Columbia and 
 Vancouver's Island on the Pacific. Consolidated 
 ultimately under one government, after the model 
 of the Mother Country, with such modificatona 
 as the circumstances of the case might require, an 
 empire mieht be formed over which, hereafter, 
 some one branch of the Royal Family might 
 reign a constitutional monarch, over a free and 
 united people. In the meantime there is nothin'^ 
 to hinder the appointment of a Prince of the 
 blood royal to be Viceroy over all the possessions 
 of Great Britain in North America, and under 
 him^ lieutenant-governors to administer the 
 aSSLira of the separate dependencies, until they 
 could be gradually and permanently united. 
 Your Grace will perceive from this statement that 
 I object to the American system of federation, 
 and would oppose to it the unification of the 
 British colonies in this part of the world. One 
 government, one legislature, one judiciary, 
 instead of many, with their conflicting institu- 
 tions, interests, and jurisdictions, is what I 
 Tf Outu frspeeifiiliy vcaiurc to rncommcnd as the 
 true policy of the Mother Conntiy on this side of 
 

 tho AtUntic, aa it baa b«*n »:ii, .u 
 splendid reauit- on the other A Feiera Ooir' 
 went, such aa that of the United siLr 
 inaUnce, ia and muat be weak n i^if r ' ^^^ 
 d«coH.ut elen,enu of waiV^^Vos^d" in'd 
 will be found to contain within itaelf The Sf of 
 d.8organ«auon and disaolutior. The muS ca 
 tion of colonies in a new country lite hV fa 
 tantamount to the multiplication oVnettv 
 BovereignUes, and the creation of rivaWlS 
 antagoniams wh.ch, aooner or later, will mwifest 
 themaelves, and prevent the deyelopmeLroTtSt 
 
 site noll!^ P"''", '">'> P^o-P*"'/ wjfich an o^J^! 
 site policj, wisely adminuitered. would in m, 
 judgment, effectuallj promote ind aecire bI 
 umScation however, I L not mean ceS^tion^ 
 I am no fnond to the bureaucratic mtem of' 
 France, Anstr a, and Pruwia A^riJL ^ . ®' 
 be strong and r^spectTimuS leavftX'^ 
 the argest amount of liberty consistent witKe 
 
 system as we have in Janada is all Vat "'?'''''"' 
 sury to secure that end Wth the tl ti .1"^" 
 chise extended to all c asses nf«h/ '^"'"" 
 
 The opinions which I entertained in 1859 I 
 of the unifioation of tlio British Amcricrn 
 
 fWrmn.i ^J"""'^'"'."" exemplifies in tho 
 tornaation and practical working of the Gov! 
 ernment of tlie United States. °The greatel 
 tatesmen the wisest men, who became cot 
 spicuous dunng the American revolution, were 
 clearly of omnion that a government be 
 
 InSr'h " T'' """^ ™"«t possess with! 
 »n tself, and in all its organs, supreme power 
 and a commanding influence. ' To difflf 
 powers, or even to share them with state 0^ 
 ocal government, they felt would weaken U 
 
 L I. ""^ ""'^ /"*«• They would, there- 
 iote, have stripped the States of over4 attri- 
 bute of sovereignty and confined the?aotion 
 
 !eto"r r^ fu " Pr> '*«*' «' "^"-^i^iP"! char" 
 acter; but they had not the power, and tho 
 
 consequences are visible in the fratricidal waj 
 
 now raging among them, devastating the" 
 
 fairest provinces and filling the land wfth 
 
 .nourning and woe. The fessons of LSy 
 
 and the experience of other peoples should 
 
 no bo lost upon us ; and for mywlf, I hesitate 
 
 not to say that if, in the proposed Fedei! 
 
 weTf'^f 1'° ^r'^^ American"olonies!we 
 were to follow tho example of the framed of 
 
 the Government of tho United States, or to 
 copy ita Constitution, it wouM hay- m- m- ' 
 determined opposition. The* scheme Wow 
 
 us, however, is formed after a different model, 
 and in its essential features is in perfect con 
 
 UJited SUtes IS based. It is true it creates 
 
 xltirr'"*' ^'''? '"'«« '«g"lative nd 
 executive powers; it is true it gives those 
 governments concurrent powers with the GeT 
 
 8^ion°of?r°V,f' \' *r •* eives them po,- 
 session of the public lands within their several 
 jurisdicuons; it is true it allows two Jf those 
 T.rTt^ ^ ^^'y "PO'^ d«»i«« on lumber 
 £tl}u'^'A """^T^^-and looked at iTthe 
 tght of an advanced political science, this is 
 te be amented ; but looked at in the light of 
 possible and practicable statesmanship, ft wa 
 unavoidable. I am, therefore, pre^d ^ 
 
 TTu^ "t " '^<»^«' «« >° f««t the fcsT that 
 eouia have been produced under the eircum 
 
 A Tpf " '^','^-'* !?"? ^'■'"°'^- ( ««»'' he"') 
 t\Zit """'^"^ °^. ^^^ «'*"«n° ^^oanncea me 
 Wr iT""'" '°"*^'''^'* «" the General or 
 • eutral Government secures it all the attri- 
 butes ot sovereignty, and thp veto power 
 
 all local legislation will be subject, will pre 
 ven a conflict of laws and jurisdiction n^n 1 
 matters of importance, so that I believe in it, 
 working it will be found, if not in form y 
 
 (Hear, hear.) Taking this general and, as I 
 believe, correct view of the case, I shall ab- 
 stain from aU criticism of its minor details, in 
 the^. lope that what is found hereafter imma- 
 ture or unworkable will be abandoned bv 
 general oonsent. The Imperial Grveniment 
 wdl take care, no doubt, that that part of the 
 scheme which conflicts with the prerogatives 
 of the Crown will be removed, or, at aU f vents 
 be brought into harmony with them. On one 
 or two points brought out very fully by the 
 Catholic members of the House in oppo- 
 £" ;« *»»« ^cie'ne, I shall venture to 
 
 the power conferred on the General Govern. 
 T^£l° ^* ^"^^^ of marriage and divorce. 
 *!,««'/''' ^^ ^T^ " """"y P'"°P«% placed 
 «-„ P I T^l *^«^ religious conrictions; 
 as a Protestant, I ask them to respect mine! 
 We owe each other mutual toleration. If 
 the Protofltent section of this House and this 
 province do not regard marriage as a sacra- 
 "fki "rl' tl^erefore, inviolable and indis- 
 ioluble, I believe they wiU be found to have as 
 high an opinion of the sacred obligations in- 
 volved in It, and admit it to be as binding upon 
 the conscience of all who enter upon that holy 
 and honorable state, as their Catholic fellow- 
 suDjeots. iiut gw^ the state or the oiviU «^ 
 govermnont of tho\ounti7, Protestants at / 
 
 / 
 
 y i 
 
?iAW'4 
 
 > L 
 
 '/ 
 
 hr^^o, rpgard marriaee as n civil contract 
 Viily, and conaequently dissoluble on cause 
 sliown. This view ought not to be offensive 
 to tho judgment or the conscience of our Ca- 
 tholio friends, for it will not and cannot inter- 
 fere in tho slightest degree, either with the 
 form or tho continuity of their marriages; 
 -nd surely they will grant to us, the non- 
 t'iitholic section of tho province, that liberty 
 of conscience in this matter which they claim 
 and enjoy themselves. (Hear, hear.) Another 
 point touched upon by n>y honorable friend 
 tho member for Peterborough (Col. IIaul- 
 tain) demands from me a passing remark. I 
 believe that my honorable I'ricnd correctly in- 
 terpreted tho feelings of Protestants in Lower 
 •Canada, when he referred to tho probable effect 
 of the Pope's encyclical on the Catholic mind 
 of the country. They think that if tho 
 principles inculcated in that letter were acted 
 upon, their religious liberties and privileges 
 would bo in peril. But it would appear Uiat 
 my lionoruble friend had not the true key to 
 the interpretation of that famous document. 
 Catholic commentators find it to be perfectly 
 innocuous when properly understood. Be 
 that as it may, I rely rather on the good 
 sense and good feeling of Catholics them- 
 selves, and above all, on the religious liberty 
 secured to us in this province, than on the 
 Pope's encyclical, for tho protection of our 
 libertios, whether civil or religious. Let us 
 bo united in object and in interest as a peo- 
 ple, and I have no fear, however diversified 
 our opinions may bo on matters personal 
 to ourselves, but that we shall grow up to be 
 a great nation, and that a glorious future 
 awaits us. (Hoar, hear.) As there are yet 
 several honorable gentlemen to address the 
 House, I shall not trespass on its attention 
 much longer, as I am ajzious the debate 
 should be brought to a close as soon as pos- 
 sibio, in order that the Government may be 
 able, by its representatives in England, to 
 perlbrui those important duties which are bo 
 urgent and so necessary at the present mo- 
 ment. (Hear, hear.) Before sitting down, 
 however, I wish to make one or two remarks 
 on tho conflicting opinions entertained by 
 honornblo gentlemen on the permanency of 
 our relations to the Mother Cfonntry. I do 
 not believe there is any large party there who 
 desire to separate themselves from qs. On 
 the contrary, 1 believe the great bulk of the 
 British people are proad of the connection, 
 and are prepared to maintain it if we do onr part 
 in cultivating that connCctloa hj meeting their 
 just and reasonable demands. There can bo 
 DO doubt that one cause of dissatisfaction ez- 
 
 fireascd in England towards us has resulted 
 rom our fiscal policy. I shall venture no 
 opinion on that policy just now, whether it 
 was wise or otherwise, but it strikes me very 
 forcibly that we have it now in our power to 
 set ourselves right on that point, and to it I 
 would respectfully invite the attention of the 
 Qovemment. The question of our defences 
 is very earnestly pressed on our attention by 
 the authorities at home ; but that is undoubt- 
 edly an Imperial as well as a provincial ques- 
 tion, and might be dealt with in this way. If 
 the British Government and people really de- 
 sire to maintain their connection with tho 
 Canadas, they are under the obligation, both 
 moral and political, to afford them adequate 
 defence in money, material and men, in case 
 of necessity ; for it is clear that without these 
 our position, except at one or two points, is 
 clearly indefensible. On the other hand, if 
 we are anxious to continue our relations with 
 the Mother Country, then wo arc bound by 
 tho highest considerations of policy to adjust 
 our tariff on imports in such a manner as to 
 give no real cause of complaint to the peoplo 
 at home. I am persuaded that if we do this 
 it will smooth the way for the removal of any 
 hostility that may have been shown towards 
 us by any class of politicians in England. 
 Privileges and duties •\(e, reciprocal, and 
 should be met in a cordial spirit ; and let it 
 be remembered that material interests are, of 
 all others, the most binding upon nations in 
 amity with each other, and arc the best cal- 
 culated to maintain our relations undisturbed 
 with the parent state. (Hear, hear.) With 
 me, sir, it is a matter ol extreme importance 
 that our relations with the Mother Country 
 should bo settled on a firm and permanent 
 basis. (Hear, hear.) I therefore quite agree 
 with the hon. gentleman (Mr. Suanly) who 
 has just sat down, on the necessity of pressing 
 this point on the attention of the Imperial 
 Grovemment. Mr. Sfeakib, my most ear- 
 nest desire and prayer is that by a well-con- 
 sidered scheme of union — a union that shall 
 embrace the whole of the British possessions 
 in f^orth America, from the Atlantic to the 
 Pacific oceans, under one government — re- 
 salts may follow of the most benelicial char- 
 acter, both to the colLnies and the Mother 
 Country ; and that Providence may so guide 
 the counsels and influence the acts of those 
 who now direct our affairs, as to secure to the 
 people of this country, and to succeeding get- 
 erations, the blessings of a well-ordered gov- 
 
 cmuiCut SJad & wisO aumiuiatfatiOu of pU'jllc 
 
 affairs. (Cheers.)