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Un das symbolaa suivants apparaftra sur la darnlAra Imaga da chaqua microficha. salon la cas: la symbola ^-^ signif la "A SUiVRE". la symbols Y signb.ia "FIN". IMaps. platas, charts, ate. may ba 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 aa required. The following diagrams Illustrate the method: Les cartas, planches, tablssux. etc.. peuvent Atre filmte A des taux da rMuc Jon diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui ciichA. 11 est f llmA A pertir do rangle supArieur geuche, do gauche A droite, et do haut en bas. en prenant la nombre d'images nAcessaire. f es diagrammas suivants illustrant la mAthode. Bta ilure. ft 2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 «i^ .^t«jr" ^TTT" / V ...^ . W^fWK BANQUET IN lluMiK OK Tlir PROVINCIAL y\DMINlSTRATION At COR\\VALL,;iti W. ■'•%>. ^ li-», /;d^t«« ■ xm;. 1ST MARC) I iS66. MONTREAL /^ 1* i^' h L 1 s iw-: n n v M . L o n.g m o o k k & C o J'/ff//t\q I/oust', 67 ^■/^v?/ .S7. ydiius St net. m M 1 < i 1^ A J ""\ BANQUET IN HONOR OK I'llK PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION At Cornwall, C. W. 1ST MARCH 1866. MONTREAL Published by M. Longmoore & Co. Friniing House, 67 Great St. Janus Street, .m. 1866 i^ \ SJ- ; BANQUET In Honor of the Provincial Administration AT C O R N W A L L, C . W., l8T March, 18G6. I ) On tho Ist of March, 1860, a bimcinet wan givcm in the Town Hall, Corn- wall, to Her Majesty's Canadian Ministers, by tlioir frioiuls in Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundiis and Olennarry. Dr. A llan. Mayor of Cornwall, presided ; tho Vico^hairs hcinR filled by tho Warden, A. J. Cockburu, E«quire, Col. Yankoughnet, Jt»hn K. Wood, George Ferris, Anguu Bethune, Esquires, and Dr. Sherman, W. Mattico, and N. J. McOillivray. Col. McLean and Captain Farliuger acted as croupiers. The Ministers present were, tho Uon. John A. Macdonald, tho Uon. Mr. Cartier, the Hon. Mr. Gait, tho Hon. Mr. llowland and the Hon. Mr. McGoo On tho dais, besides tho Ministers, were tho H«)n. Mr. Carling, London, Mr. Ross, M.P.P., Dundas, Mr. Ault, M.P.P., Stormont, Mr. Bell, M.P.P., Russell, Mr. McGiverin, M.P.P., Lincoln, Mr. Alexander Morris, M.P.P., S. Lanark, Mr. Burton and Mr. Ralph Jones, Port Hope, C. J. Brydges, Esq., and Mr. Spicer, G.T.R., Rev. Dr. Jenkins, Walter Macfarlan, Dancan Lougb- lin McDonald, Miyor Stevenson, Brown Chamborlin, J. McGrath, Esquires, Montreal, Sheriff Molntyre, Dr. Bergin, Andrew llodgo, Andrew Fulton, P. E. Adams, Robert Graig, James Bethune, John Bergin, J. F. Pringle, Col. McLean, Rev. Mr. Hughill, Rt)bert Macfarlano, C. P. Adams, W. Atchoson, Duncan Fraser, Angus McDonell, Esqrs., Aio-xander BVaser, W. R.McDcmell, ani Angus MoGillis, Cornwall, Archibald Fraser, John McGillis, John Mac- donald, Esq., Angus S. McDonell, John A. Cameron, (Fairfield,) Walter Col- quhoun and Rev. Messrs. Garret, Dobin, Fisher, Lamont, and James Croil, Esq., Stormont, Mr. Doran, Capt. Farlinger, Col. McDonell, (Inch,) and Rev Edwin Louck.i, Dundas, (fee, &o. The body of the Hall was filled with a splendid asHomblage of the yeomanry of the United Counties. Tho galleries wero filled with ladies. The Town Hall, in which tho dinner was given, was tastefully, appropri- ately, and beautifully decorated with cvergreeus, flags and mottoes. Too , ,. ""rimiii MiNc mill siiid- ''"'Ik'h mid (h'' J< ^ l.ir h ' '"V"^^"'" "-"Jt'js. [Loud cheers.J ' J I"''"}' ami '''''■'■(i|iiii, I "'"JX ).>!»> '■-^ lire- ("•'•(llCf., "I (111(1 "'111^ .; Aftor tliiM'titliii-iiiiHin whiili vfii-iliil ||i> Kxifllfiiry'H hfikltb liiid miJi' wrnn of liloudslird and raiiinc — wtioiii liavn we to dcpi'iid nii lint tliu-n' who nrviT di'scrli'd tlirir colors nor wrro foiiiid u-MiitiiiL' wiii'ii ri(iiiir('(l, ami who at |iri'si'nt iirr n ady, avf, ready and wiliiiijt, to oiler ii]! their lives ai the Hlivine of llieir country hefoi'e a foreijiii foe, Hhall for one nioimnt do di-lii>iior to that tla^' whidi we all honor,— a IhiK wliii'h for a thoiHiiiid years hiw Imived the liiittleaiid the hree/e f !,oud, eiithuHliistic cheers.] I tlierefure ^ri\ c yoii with |i!ea-fehost of Ameri- cans (m that oc'casicm, Avero nobly seconded by oi, Canadian Militia. [Loud cheers.] This brinfrs mo to th(! second ]mrt (d'tlie loiist, the Volunteers, and Hpoakiup here, where, 1 may f>ay with, I trust, jiardonable pride, wo furnish a lar>ror number of Volunteers, in proi)ortion to our population, than any other city or town in tho Province, [cheers,] it may not be out of place to call attonti«m to the much preater difliculties we labour under in country parts in Hustaininp the Volunteer forco than in larjro cities. Wo have no larffe class of mercantile or law clerks — no larpe body of mechanics — no thousands or hun- dreds of railway emidoyn.s — no ship labourers — no bitdy of young men with regular orlixed employment to draw upon for substitutes in tho case of vacan- cies in the ranks. Our young men, as a general rule, owing to the want of per- manent, remunerative labor are not by any means a fi.\<'d population, and therefore not ^o available ^r the Volunteer force as the city populations. This point cii e well illusti ted in my own company. "When, four years Bin >>, at the ti e of the Tntif difficulty, it was inspected by Lt.-Col. Wily, \il thJH Pruvinoi. J-lu ^ "'t'>ri«. and the othor i.. J ^'" '^noekinff ti„„,s a.u, ,,, /reZZZ'^"'' «"-,„rnpe,„o„t from !?« ir"' '°' ' C'ornwall aJl th . 1 '"""*''^'- C^''»'«'r,s] That w. h f' ''''" ^« ^^^a^. tiou, we laifl nn,. , '""ur path and ondoarorori f« ®' throw «ontedinthoforco,aud he was e Ll of '"'''""" '^'^^ "«* »>een C: the fact, that they were a.s de" ,ted n thi .'''T '^'""^ ^^^^^^ ^e knew to be Majesty's subjects in this Prov' ,co T t V' '' '^"^ ^'^^^ clas-sof H ! ^Zttrr^^'-'^^^^^^^} m1 *J« Volunteers r^^ iront d,ftc„!tythe whole Province snranl/ ^'^^^ ^'■^^^"""lationoftho ue,ghbo«rto avon,e, should need C^Zm^T'^''^ '^'"^^ -'^^ "is good sp,nt evinced then, has still nuiet', . ^"''^''* ^'"""^ry. The threatened Fenian raids, and the CrnTn Ml ^ been evinced dunL th„ their brother YoiunteerJ ^n t^e X ! TaL f ^J'"" ''^^^ -* ^-^b^hbt - h pride to the alacrity with wh h t e^^ Uu l'' f"^''"-- ^^^ can pS «•ver in support of his old colleagues. They pressed the subject strongly upon the Tmi)erial Gnvemnient, in a paper whieh is admitted by all who have read it to bo (me of the ablest State Papers over written, and urged the doing away with the anarchical, the disjointed, unpleasa'^t and feebh* con- diti(m of these Provinces by liaving a junction of the whole under iler Majesty as one Confederation of the Colonies of Mritish Xorth America. The subject was thus cast upon the waters, and it produccnl fruit in nnmy days, because not many months ago Mr. Brown made a motion in PariianuMit, based upon a quotation from that same State Paper, moving that a Committee should be a* lointod for the purpose of en([uiring into the state of th(; I'rovinco with tho View of obtaining a remedy for the state of things then in existence. That motion, which I must say was most properly and abl}' moved In- Mr. Brown, and can-ied tlirough with that energy and zeal which characterize that gentle- man, resulted in a Committee l)eing appointed, which he fairly chose without distincti4, we remembered the conferences that hiul taken place in the Committee appointed ou Mr. Hrown's motion, and the previous action of this Committee, in which we had come to the conclu- sion that for the safety of «mr common country we .should unite in something like comnum action t«) make one great nation, instead of living as we are now, with five or six small and feeble comnmnities, each independent of the other, and each a cause of weakness to the others. Now, under these cii- cuniBtances, I at once appealed, as you may ail remember, to a gentleman who for yeai's had been in a position of bitter political hostility to myself, the Hon. George Brown; and I say it now, although he is no longer a member of the Government, that in the most manly and honorable spirit he responded to that appeal, and wo thereupon formed the Coalition Government for the purpose of inviting all the Colonies into one great Confederation [Loud cheers.] Mr. Brown has since seen fit to leave the Government, and I have no hesitation in saying that his colleagues deeply regret that he felt it his duty to retire from the Ministry ; but I am happy to say that he retired because of no persona' quarrel with any of us. [Cheers.] But ho retired from his colleagues, simply from a diftereuco of opinion as to the mode of dealing with a question so well known as the Reciprocity Treaty, [ilear, hear.] I regret, I am sure all my colleagues regret, that he did so; for it is a great responsibility for a Mhiister to resign his office, and in many respects f\ step of greater responsibility to retire from than to accept a position in the Government of a country ; for a man in pnvate life, who is offered office, may for private or any other reason refuse it without iucurrmg any gi-eat responsibility by his refusal, but having once accepted, and put his hand to the plough, ho is bound by every consideration of duty to his country not to retire from the position, without good and substantial reasons ; and a grave responsibility rests upon his shoulders when ho breaks oif the r jlations ho has voluntarily assumed. However, every man must be the judge of that responsibility for himself. [Hear, hear.] Of course, from the fact that my colleagues and myself remained in the Govenuneut and that he retired, it may be inferred that we think Mr. Brown was wrong and we were right. Ho thought otherwise, and chose to assume the responsibility of retiring. He declined to assume the responsibility of dealing with that question in the manner which the rest of his coUeagn'-,; thought right and proper ; and if he really and honestly believci that v e were wrong, and that he was correct in his view of it — if ho felt that we were so erroneous that he coiUd not assume the responsibility of the course we proposed to pursue — the only thing that remained for him to do as a man of honor was to retire ; because, I need hardly tell you that, no matter what a man's private opinion may be upon any question of principle or policy to be dealt with, if ho consents to the course adopted by his colleagues, he becomes equally responsible with them T H \^ If m I'"- thcM'r conduct. 12 l';'^"-" '<• carry ..m ^ ^^,'" l'"/"''^"' ''. / l..-l/.,v,. ^ftl ' ' ""'•^ ^^'^^^^ ^o ""•^ '"• ""3- <.U,,.rn vc "' ♦"'^' ''••v.Tn,,,,.,.,, V ; ' '''^''''' "'«' ;-''i'-h at fir.4 r., , ,• , ' ;"^' "'^J''^- Jv.-. will s.. t'Lt th r '" ""^^ ^^^^ '^any .^ff .^O- and Her i.4 ' vN r ''^" """ *" ^'- ■^tro,,^; 'l^ /"t'*' '"''' '^'^«^« l''-7UI>ythoCan ^ ^^- ^Ptod by ,4 ot c^;;^'"^^ -to effect to that ^\ddress m„i " ,^^^'«''iture. Her M„.f /^ • '-onforeneo, and an to hope and exneef fi. ^ '•oviuees did nof rn.. t^ "^^'^^ ^^^^ Joii Oanadawasthn :/, f./^'-'^'^ ^^^'ve clone and rn'"^ -« J>«cl reaU ^^ee .vhether the iZe P^'"^"^'-'''-''*'"'-''^^^- m.tn IT'" ^"^ ^"»»"/^'h the ho,„. r''''^"-'''^ '^'^■^t tobeUoi't '^^'"^^■ththelm. '•""""t denr nn-Je <• f ,0 ; '""^ ^ ^^^'^ to detain roV '""'''^^^^Y- Now, i 13 mipht havo pomo H'w individual friends in tli(> IIoumcs of Parliunifnt, wlm took n particular interest in our welfare, lint as a whole the ('ana' c,,„,pul ion ,^;T """*"^^^°«'«"d -'t /orco u. tton, n' '''^'^"•■^•^ ^'' --so wo ;: Hl't?'"'^'"^^ ^ other colonv y.Uolh '"'"""''"" ^^''th tho o„,nin.i .. ^^''^ «ho would that .onuovicm 1 f."' '^'"^'"'''«' Australia 7"^; 'T' ^^"* ^^ we, or auy --'t "i- a"5nv oftio^ ^'^"'^-^tio: r' rth"/ 'r ^' "^■«-- "•-.'t.ry rep Jenta[ivi-,T r "' ?'"^"^^'^^ "-P^-so^thr th 1"^^^^'^^*^'' «»l>joct, thor sh,.nn "^'ter euluili. an,] ni,,j, ^""'Ugh thoir parlia- «aj-. without o„o S y the alliance shoU be '^"i ''""^^* '* *« their •^^^^^ y^>a." But on ;k , ' ';:' """^ ^'"» ««» walk Ilono "''', "'""^ "^ ««' «<™pel. by any f„"" h" ""''^'- ^''"^ I nay that whl?"'','' ''^'' «°d God i-m the iother Zm ;;Tr /"'"'"^ — ' cll nf f ^''"'^ "^^^^ -* «^--o ^^n,u..^^^^^^^ to continue theZt;;:'^^ '^"^^ «s wo do, and as T h,» " *° ''"'»«'» a porhnn ^,^' "•'^'"O' she would gave pro^f of th /i ^^",'''" ^'^^«3^« ^'i" Jo rH . "'' ^""^^^ ^mpiro still wished to p.Sv; """^ P«^"niary, to fi?ht fi r' "'^'^ '^--""gth fe'«"tlemen, as to the • I' '"""'''"^ with her ^^A f"" ^'"''^"'«« that Quebec Conference I sCk "^*'^" ^'""'"'^'lorat" a ' ^tn ^"'^^^'^-^ ^«^. you. (Cries of " n ,,;''' 7' ^"^ ^^-orcls even at 'o ! ?^*'' '^ *^« tho Conference wMn';. A "^ '^" '^"t say that J^ "''"'*'"'' o^ wearying was of uece"uyt:'X^;r '^ '''' •i-e\2,rit"l''^i^^^^^^^^^ J;^dicos and local diS;:f;;-P--'^ tor eaohSL^^ Z'^' "^ It was the best system or ni ." ^ d^'l^gates had to .id ^ ^"^ Pre- "s. but What wanhr "" "^ "°'"" «ccordin/to tl« •''' """^ ^"^^ ^h«t itu^lilS^ > ■"»«tl8, after wo »H aud porsoufti ' fr""' a poHi. " 'tccesHiou to ;•:'■"». that the '"'"*tical lueii "■ "ff without « allowed to Jid not wish t of En^'lauj "«' yield up "''>e to the <'"j«8 across '"tchmen ui «ho Would ^e, or aujr ■•^d to sever 'ty, ill-eou- iiowledged '<'"■ parlia- '|ie whole it to their od would i"g of as. and God ouid not ^te itself le would Empire, ^ff as it trougth « that J^ow, ijy the flying tes to B- It pre- what Deof lein v-hat sya- the )iroj»n>H:^ (tf <'xi)i'rii'iiiM' pnili.iUly will slimv, tlicrt' arc >oiiii' liincinliiii'iits re- r|uir<'( Kul'IaihI. I call special at- tentiuii til the l';icf that the (iiNt Kesdiiilinii im-ise.I in the ('(tnfereiiec wa^ — that the Uritisli N'orth American I'mvini es shunh! lie unileil in :reat ('oiiCcderntioii, nniler jier Majesty t'le i/ueeii i,\' (Ireaf llritain ami Ireland, (htind cheers.) That Kesolntiim vsus cariii-d wi(li.«ut a di-^enlieni voice. ( Ucncwed iip|)hin,-o.' Meal! rus ■ in ciint'ereiice and deel.iri'd il' tlie^c cidnnic.-^ were to he nnidi e naiinii, it wa< t<» he nnder the L'l'aiiciii^ sway urt/nccn Vi(.'t(iriii, lier hi'irs and snece^^urs. (Clieers.i This \va> nut a mere nnitter 111' lii>-h>yalty, it cime IV«mi tiie heart in the ni>t instance, and I'mm tin' head in the ne.';t. (.\i)phin>e.) It has l)een df ,i saiil liiat the linvernnn-nt nf luifTJand i^ a repiihlic di^frni-ed in nmnarchieal lurni. and ihat l-InirJand i^ a repnhlic wiili tin- (^aei-n a> a mere per~i>u :laud slaniU in a iiecnHarlv liappy position with rcl'erciicc to her Snvereif:ii. (lli'ar, hear ) IT l^njiiand were tn heconn- a rcpuhlic, which iJitd toriiid. (imid clicm's,) the ciiiisei|iience wmild he that the head ot" the (invernnient must l)i; cIccIimI or (dmsen hy ci.e jiarly and op- posed hy aii.tthcr, just as in a [Ktlitical election for a cmmty, town or corpor- ation, a candidate is elected hy a nnijority, and soinetime< hy hut a m.ijority ol' one or two. Just ns the successlul candidate niusi he the exiionent oC the i)rinciples and pa-sions and prejndici's of that nnijority. so inu^t the head !'f a democracy, elected hy a majority, lie, to a certain extent, the exjMirient of the piineiples, pa>sious and prejudices ol' the Uiajurity that elected him, aiul occupy a position opposed to those who voted ajriinst him at the hnst- in.irs or elsewhere. (Hear, hear.) Hut, in Knpland, how diHerent it is. Her Majesty moves far above the re;rioii of jiarty politico. She knows no party; she only knows the whole nation are her subjects, ,'^he hidoiiirs neither to the Conservative, Whiir. I'adical nor any other party, but acts e(|nitably and rul(;s with e(|nal beiKHicence over all. She submits to the will of the peo]de, expressed throujrh In-r ministers, as a Constituliomil Sovereipi always should. Mut when, in the course ot events, one ministry ^oes out and another must come in. Her Majesty selects the best men of the opjiosite jiarty, and leaves it to them to form an Administration. Kvery man in Knjr- land knows the Queen will have no narniw ])rejudice, but that she froveins and holds an even and stea'ly course, .'iiiA' fo ""•• f''l...,.rH.) "•'•■'''"11 lllx.llf ''■•"'A' (•••ntriil ' ''"iiNidcr nil If <>/'fli,. ,.„„. '■'■nmicifs f(, ''"■ 111 nri. • •"iifticiciiflv •"■ «lisfnct"s "A'foalitiip ''■'"•, hofu-,) '"<■•', know ^•"■' Til,.,-,.. 'i'liiiciit f,( '"■ foiinfi-v 'Ms „i- „,;, ' t'iii(,'(I for mi)f! ) Ilop,.,|,„j "it;,.(I („ K'n.' than ' i' 1)0 so ''■"111 il.s iiitural "'" tnio f'i"'ia|).s, >fi li-oiji s hore not a|. ■ iatc I Jwnv •retle- lear.) lefor and 17 for wliii'li I woiilil It,' iitiwortliy ami iui>'uii(hil it I ilul ii<>i ^'im- Imii irctlil — and tlio^c uri' in ('(iniicxion \vitli tlii' ••'tiilili>liinrnt ot Military ScliooU Cor till' ('(liication of onr militia olliccrrt. (CI r>i.) That Irnturf ol' tlin militia liill, which IS one of the nio-it iiiiiip.N ofilu' wliolc, Iuik i-ntirli'd <'oni|iarativfly littlt! ,'X|)i'n>i'. Vou laii nil look Imck at thf lii>tory ,if tlif liiitfd ."'tafi'!<. anil the late civil war no'.v hM|i|iilv iiuhd. I'iini'nili,.r ln»\v, dnrinjf tim lirst two ynars of the war.'intli >i(li >, ('-]K'fially tin- North, » illfn'd I'.ir want of I'dncatcl ofHccrs. Tlicy i-oiild ^:l■t men in aluuKlauri'. I'vim tlifir ^'rcit wealth and I'f- Honrcfs. and iiy \ irt n- of the ^fcncrai i»atrioiisni ; Iml yi-t lln-y conld not pro- curt' conipi'lcnt o'lli'i'r- till after hanl t'\|icricnii' and iiard liirhtinjr and tin* lo>s of many liatlles, entailiiij: tin' exi»enditiir>' of nnieli lijood and treisiire — they conld indy get ofiieer-i after they Inid lieen trained in I lie hard schooj (d' actual service. Canada, Imwever. takini.' adsanlau'e ol' tiii,-< c.\|ierien(e, thnuijih tlic instrunu'nlality of (he Admini-lration that preceded our-^. esiali- lisht'd two Military Sclmols — one for Cpper and aiaillu'r lor Lowt-r Canada — for the education of oli'cers for the mililia. Tiie re-uiis ha\t' most happily shown thcniselvcs already. All that I or this (!o\cninienl can claim i^, that we approve of that system, introduced, us I have staled, and Iw.ve nuiintaincd it vipirously, and have iiicrcaM'd the nuinlier of llu; schools; luit the liill was not our measure, hut that of tiio>e oppo-ed to us. V>'v saw tlie value id'tho M3'stein, maintained and extended it, and from two scho(ds \\>> rai ed tho nuiiibor to live. The result is that already we Ir.ve "J.'MKl oHicer.s ahle and rc.idy to command the militia if ever they should he called out on any ^uddeIl emtMyeiicy. We have, liesides, heen ahli to retain tin- ■<,'rviee, — and I am ftlad to have this opportniuty of expn'ssiiijr my p'atilication to liml it so — ,d' an otHccr recommemled to us by the best military aulhoiitjes in Kn;rland, as one of the iirst theoretical soldiers in I'liiL'land — I iiieau th,^ .\iljulani-lieneral of Militia, C(donel McDinifrull. (t.'heers.) That (dheer's bf.okson llio art of war and the manaireineiit of troops, aiid oil e\-erytliin,it relaliag to strategy and the conduct of military oj)cratioiis, are rpioti 1 and u>ed in the .schools o| Great Britain as standard works on those mailers. fCiuicrs,) ( Iti.lieve that if it should happen that any im'oad or incursion — I am not .uoing to talk to you about Fenian raids oreiiterprisi's — were made uiam lis — no matter frmn what quarter, — under the present militia.systeni, and under the aide inannfr,!- mcut of Colonel McDougall, the militia would show — as he had several tiiics reported of them — thai, they were worthy to light beside Her Majesty's C'hoH'jii lu.d best trained soldiers. (Loinl cheers.) Coh»ncl MclJoiigall stato,< that when he came here ho was prejudiced again.sttlu! Volunteer system, Init that he has since altogether changed his opinion. He finds hi;re a body ,d' militia, not a more body ' ■*'"' "II"' 1 UM iPi. l,„,.,„ .:':;'", '■. ' "^.. ,1 ■',;:■ ...""'■"■' ."■■" r ..,. „t 'm-.|;i^li,. ".ir/iiili -•■".■'■' •.*"i"''l"lllr.||stm(i< "' t"-inVl,(, i„ (Vi,.,,,,, ---"-:l'::r:;,^l;"; - ^ "-.-r;-:,:: """• ilr, (," \ I{'j"|/./f I "•ee-'pfioM Mf hi,,, „,,, ',,i/ ■;;• '■'"'"""'^"'' "iKi al:..,- ..fr,.,-in.. ,h..„L. r c-oodcl t. . .sa,_ -"'^•"^'""■^. "n.1 ...„„. un.un.nu: re ,t t """"'* 'i^'mirhs, /lo pry. •As n L„„.,,r ,',„„„,,•,, ,; ■ . "IL'Iltcd lllK.n (,. <• 1 • " '^'■'"'^ " rcni-s ,,..- . I ^ *"' """1- «"" '" '.«v :::„ ,;:::,■■;;'"»■•" '•:-" r:.^; ;:,.;;;:,«■ ■■■.>■ ' fi""Pt"Jg confederation. ■»■: 19 \">>H, Inun a tor ''"•'■• ""f. as ''■'■ '"'''r vi.iir I' "x »-.. k',„,^j. ''' ""' I'<'..;i/o I" **'"''''i .roll """■ll IIS U(, I'"''- f s|,„M '""'"II <>/'f|)„ '"'■"'"it wiiU ''■ .'"'i «ii,.„ ''""'■«' I'llthu. ■' ''"r t/i,.ir '"(iIht of "I'll those ""' iiiaii- "'t*n coji). hfil.ifaiiLs liiist uio. MJio (ire eon my I to I,„.^ '■'■ th.-re f'l- thp_r "'' inc. It has '•Ttaiu '■ flojin h nil- 'kI he fl luy ih/y", I add. II to the liffl. . on. (Ilcur. h)-nr. ) Wi> have ilniwiii-d, liy Hfokiiit; I'onfmliTutioii, itll thu littltt (lillicullics hd'ort' t'xi^till^r iM'twi-cii I'lHitT iiml Lowt-r (.'aiiiulii. Wtt fuel thai though at oiii' time tin: uiiioti nf the *'aiM(lii.H was ili-^ta.-tti fiil tti tlii' puopltt ot l.osvci' Caiiaila, and, to a ii'itaiii fxti'iit, to tlitt pfoitli* of I'ppi'i' Caiiitclu, it lias woikcil liappiiy Jiir tiic piixl and \\>r tin- laau'lit of laith i'ppcrund Lowi-r t'anada ; and that union lia> wnrki d ho \m>II, sd lirni'llcially tin- tin* intcrc-its ol' liiitii, tlial it ha> ^ivcii ii> a ta.>ti- lor a (frcati'r union, (iirar,) and tliut (trcater iiniiiii \vi' nuiol rarry out. (Luml aiiplai.sc.) .Now, p'iitlt«iin'ii, is it to III' supjio^it'd fur one nnnncnt tiiat, wlirii \vc sec our ',it'ijrlilii»rs sin- rounded witli all kind,-; ol dillii'iltii'-^, tlii'ir politii'al parties distracted liy men represt'iitinjr what is calli'il .Ndrtheru intere-t, ,'^outln'rii inttTt'st, EasttTu interest, and Western interest — when their p'ocnipliieil extent is diviilii;g theui into lour dillerent parties, is it a tiuw tor us to knock at the door of sueli u ^foverninent and ask to \)c allowed tn join tlirin '. (.Vo, no.) I'lide « standiufi our position, we know thaf we can I'onn a eonl'ederatioii ann)n>tsl ourselves, nndcr the suvereijrnty of Her Maje-ty l^ueen Victoria, under thu inoiuu'chical system. (Hear, hear.) The American conledcration was started ninh'r the doinncrntic system, and ours will present this happy cciitriist — it will he iornu'il under the monarchical .system. I will jisk ymi to listen to me for a few minutes hmt^er. W'itli n%'ard to coiifederati(Mi, there is tlio certainty that tliere will he the sniiie loyal spirit— the .-ame I'erviil love for Uritish institutions all over tin- liritisii North American Confederacy. TiuTe will he no fear that afterwards that confederacy will he f(UMi to pieces. The prejudice; which "xisted at one time wln-n the Kchenn- was laid hct'oro the Canadian piihlic was tliut 'he dillerent races, the ditlercnt relji^'icais, the differ- ent provinces, would not he fairly dealt with. Well, now, Air. Maytu', you know well what amount of diliicully oiu' union was attended with. Kvcry one knows the dillicultics which were connected with the union (d' Kufiliuul and Seotlaiul — yet that ninon has existed for a mimher «d' years. Is there u Scotchman in Scotlaml who would desire to repeal that union .' (No, no.) It would ho the same with repard to the North American I'rovinces. "When once consninnntted, every creed, every province, every interest, will find how c:lit. I know that my friends the Minister of Finance and the Postmaster (rcneral, who liave lately c«nne from \Va>hiiiVton, will address you on imitters connect(;d with the coumn-rcial prosperity of this I'ro\ince ; and as the political fri'onuds have heeii ijrone over so ahly liy inj' collcairue the Attorm-y (ieneral for Up- per Canada, it will not do for ine to ini])ose my .self on you for any great length; hut f will tell you this, puntleinen, that with regard to Lower Ca- nadians, the French Canadians in particular have no fonder desire than to live — it matters not with or witlnuit confederation — nn'U hnv.'J^Z^J'^"' Canada, and ^;-uon. ror .4icri ,r.;:;^ ;■" "'^"- ^« ^h.; stThfr """ '' «" plau8e.) '""'t .smcerejy tbank rou ^r , ' ^''eat demon- i "• ^^«»J«"d prolonged ap. 'Ml ,-... '^•"■^MlH.n rose and said: Udi.'s and (;e„ti,.,j, '"honor to "Heri'a'''^ ';■■-'' '"^» '" t'.^. soS^^^^^^^^^^ "^^'^''■■^ thus. ,„,„ whon ' ,? ' "■' '■'^'"•' "■*t)u..,t ,v to us as ,,^ ;^3 '"f:''-PriH. .ruk,, U,, uJ ■'/"'"""'' "^ <'ur ;h<; I"-o.res. of o, '•;;•;;•" - "H no. adu • ' ;':;;;'; ^««- ^on. ,y, ^l': ^"'^HH, .tc, a.| J"-..dueos proo,,..s i ' ^"^^''"''-^ »"t That ^^■•- ''^"- f /-oud eh...:;;^ — '-pii., .,th . th;';;;;:;::, re: Hon. Afr. G ilt . -i nfWone,n,rdtothonr.,vrf'" ^^"■^''"■' ^"'"1''^ aud Go,ui '^•'tf-nained us I, ' ' "r"""^ "'•'^' '<"• Hn-k ,"'"""*''" ''^^^ "'r ihVnds ;:":■" - ''--,. .., y^' :"" '" "-' our n.i..„ds u '""^- •---»- on '" "^" ^'•''^''^•"t. When we ^iM 1 r '1 which J^" speak fftnada, and FW at the P"^ at au P «fli?e(i ap. as n-iiey " ou tJie 't admit ind, "■^e and onjp to u'i that r.) and ■ thain. <'.st,s of ^ocii a "i" our "' kv, "note Lnd r (^1- of the '»ly iug iat ire mi n. 21 l(Kik haciv at the (lUlciiltit's tliat have hi'cii ciicnu-itcn'il hy the first sottlcrs who came here, and sec what ailvanccincnt tlu'V have iiiatlt- — whtMi we ob.scM've what piihlic iiicii thi'y liave L'ivcii to the (•iiuutrv, ami n'ckoii ii]t tlio IxMiefits tlu'se uicii have coiilcrrcd on tlicir I'cllow subicct-i — we sec that 111 no portmu of Canada could this toast be more cticctivcly projtoscd than in the Market Mali of(."orn\ (Hear, hear.) I'.iit there are cireniiistances which, on this occasion more than on others, induce nie to ask you to lend me your especial attention, — I n^l'er to the position in which the Trade and Ciunmerce (tf this Province is at this moment placed. It would nniunder these jieculiar circum- stances, he lit for me or any of my collca^fiies to meet any larfre body of our countrymen wiljionl sayinjr sonu'thiufr in reference to the I'a.-t, and someliiifr also in relation tit the Future. (Hear.) It is well. Sir, for Canadalhat when wo. are tlireatened Vi'ith an interrui)tlon of our <'oniuicrcial intercoursiMsith tlie adjoiniufi country, we have Ihm'u lilessed by a beuclicent I'rovideiice with a bountifid harvest and ffood prices for that harvest; that just when w;' are oblifTcd to look to otlu'r nuirkets for our future trade, a fuller measure of the benefits of our Creator has been showered upon us than for many years before. Within my recollection Canada was never in so ]iros])erous a condition as it is at this jiresent time. I judire by the returns, wliich are sulimitted to me in my official capacity, which show the extent of our exports and our imports, our dealiufrs Willi Hiijriand and all foreiirn countries, and 1 there see that in the last seven months we have sold ten luilli^ms of dollars worth (.sl(i,(l(Ml,0(M)) mon^ tii.m we have bouirht — a tliinir MJiich has never btd'ore occurred, — and when I make tiiis statement, I make one which certainly ou^lit to brin^ forth i'eelin;;-s of thankfulness, iv.nl also of ju'ide and self-reliance. [Applause.] It is well, Sir, that we should have such sentiments ; it is well that we should feel that we are, that we (irr able to meet the difficulties which may arista from the fact that on the 17tli of this month our Trade ]{elnti(ms with the T'nited States will probably be subjected to serious disturbance. [Cheers.] The (iovernment has been accused in the past with having acted wilh ajiathy in rcfrard to this ((uestion. We were cbarired last Session witli not luiviiifr f^iveu due attention to it. for, we were told, the salvation of tiiis country fit' I may use the word) depended u|)i»u t!ie maiuteua.iee of the [{eciiu-ocity Treat}'. We informed I'arliaui'iit that we were awake to the necessitiesof the time, and to the interest we had in coutiiiuiufr the freest possible iutercours" with our neighbours in the I'uited States — that our attention bad been constantly directed to the subject, and that when tiie proper time came the jteople would be aware that the Administration had not been waiitiiif; in their duty in this respect. And when [ a|)pear liefore you this ni.irlit, it is for the purpose of statinji that we are riMdy now and at all times to enter into a statement and a defence of our policy on this question. [Hear, hear.] AVhat I wmild ask any gentleman in these three comities. (U' in any ])art of Canada — what was the position of the country a few monliis ago ! What did many men — the real enemies of the country — say would be the result oi the cessation of our communications with the Cnited States '. More tiian its due importance, Sir, was given to that Trade, and the country was apparently willing to sin- rend er (or it more than oiiglit to be givi'ii. Tiie (iovernment, however, did I' 22 ;^"•".^';--^e.. „„„ ,,„;• i^'^ ;^"- '3- u-iu, ri,,. .^Zt ''^"'^^ "'' ^^<' ' "":^- ^""-'-v 1... i ;;; ' ^^'^ ^^'"--m. ' /^ ;;" """^ ""-" «piu.. '■^VCM flion^rh „-,. .^.„ • "•' '''•''•^' ""(. Di'onan.,! t . '^ " "as unco,,,*; '^'•"^-'^^^'J tids ,,a,i,> , ; ' , ";■ ^'•""" '••■ .nanuain.,, I , ''T"'^ '^ '^ "f very r:^ -i'^al ha. ,,,,„ ;,■';-' -.upon an .,:utale,,f '';:'" '"-'^^ ^-ah- r:'"'"'"- .H,n ■ ? ;; , " '- ' n a.,.,: , ';^^-tia,io„. ,, i,^ 5 """" ^tatos, and so ,. i! " V ^ "" ""^•-" "^'^ -nnr"'''"""*"" ""^ '"^<^" m wliicii "pjios • (ivcd, til f'ii |)('op| '"'» or h-ad( «^ are lal "idi 'oi-n^:. Til u« ^^■as ,>„, '"■""■'■''al gmnnd f), '"•'''^•' pro- '"•'i-icans had "y ^aid (I taxat 'Oil und """"'■"■ i...opi,:z:,; er not ■;/""•' ''"t to P' '■♦'"'<« be ['■"■''' «-a.s OM "cpod ;,f. •'■ ^'i-a-,"e -''»J<'nts. ■;' «'/' the ^■o'li our " "ffai;>. "Naoo; ^'■'<, and «f ifr • Par- 9 the tiiat t /»() ave rv(l «ti. Of L come into their markets without iK'nriiif: RJniilnr Imrdcus to their own. But they never asked, unil we never juoposed lliat they shouhl tax our exports without our havinj: the .same iilierty lo tax theirs. It was never j)roposed that if they eho.^e to put a duty of one cent or of twenty eents on a i)U.xhel of Canadian wiieat imported into tlie States, we should utit have the option of putting an equivalent duty on Anu'riciin wheat imported into Canada. The Ameriean.s never dreamed of asking that th"y slmuid impose duties on ("ana- dian produets whieh Canada sh!o that any man can make it a charge against the (iovermnent of Caimda that we shimld be willing to continue agreements which have been benehcial, provided aiTangenu'Uts in other respects wer(^ satisfactory. [Hear.] It has heeu charged against us, again, that we went out of our way to oiler to enlarge our canals. X«;w, I think, it will have been ol)served by any man who is in tlie habit of reading tlie papers, that there has been a pressure upon us for ytjars to effect this enlargemeiit — every body knows that, from one eiul of the country to the other. "Why, the matter was (expressly iiu-huhjd in the reso- lutions of the Quebec conference. The subject was alluded to in the speech fnun the throne at the opeuing of the session when my lion, friend Mr. Howland lirst entered the Government. And only ]a>t Augu.st, in my place in Parlia- ment, I made the declaration, with the absent of my colleagues, that the Government were prepared to enlarge the c.mals provided they had the assurance that the Anu'ricau Trade would be permitted to go through them. "What nujre did we propose in "W'ashiugton than just what we had laid down as our policy before i The canals aVe Canadian cainds, and if they are to be enlarged it must be by Canadian means and uiuhu- Canadian laws. [Hear, hear.] It has been said, too, that we agreed to make the legislation of Ca- nada suhordhuite to the l.'nited States, and we have been charged with having d(me so in t\V(» ways, the lirst being that the legislation of the United States was to be contingent on ours. The fact is that tlu' .Vnu^ricans M-ere {|uite willing to let their legislatiim precede ours. They wen; willing to pass the necessary Acts of Ctuigress at once, before the 17th of March, althiuigh they were ttdd our Ijcgislatures would not meet and be able to act before that time. If I understand logic at all, the party to whom the option is left is in the stronger ])osition, ami therefore if there was any sulmrdinaticm at all it was not on our sid(!. F.ut Sir, ami gentlemeu, it is perfectly childi.
  • o course we tooii ? If this were so, how was it, I siiould like to know, that in the nego- tiations at Washington the delegates Croni tlie Jiower Provinces were heart and 8011.1 with us { Let nio here pay a well deserved compliment to the llou. Mr. Smith, of Xew Jirunswick. He is tlie Jiead of the anti-Confederate Gov- ernment of that i'rovincc, hut on every point of our negotiations he went as strongly with us as if lie had Iteen one of ourselves. And when F have paid this compliment to Mr. Smith, who is our opponent in party politics, let me tell you of the impression wo carried away about Mr. Henry, who represented Nova Scotia, who has g(m(! for Confederation through good rejiorl and evil report, — who believes that the T'nion will come, and come quickly too — who has taken up his cross in this respect, and is willing to cany it to the triumphant end. He, Sir, like Mr. Smith, agreed with us on every point ; with an entire absence of seltishness, he agreed on the proposals we submitted to the Committee of Congress ; he thoroughly agreed, too, in the rejection of the projiosal made to us, and that, too, although there was some little appearance of a desire to wean the Maritime Delegates from their alliance with us, they representing hshing and sea-trading communities, and we an agi'icultural country, Avith, in some respects, ditt'erent local interests. [Hear, hear.] I regret our failure at Washington. We proposed what I think it would have been the interest of the Provinces and of tlio (Tnited States to have adopted, viz., that a reasona- ble moderate scale of duties should be framed on articles that had been on the free list, Mliich should be mutually adopted by Canada and the United States, so that the trade between the two countries should not be inteiTupted, but should flow cm to the mutual advantage of both, in its natural and most convenient channels. We proposed that these duties should be gradually re- duced, as the United States were aide to take bur'lens off their own people. I know, however, that the general feeling throughout the countiy, from one end to the other, is not one of great regret that the negotiations have failed, but rather the contrary, and that the people seem glad that they are brought to ti\\ their own strength. I nevertheless express my great regret at our failure, because I believe we cannot suddenly change our customers without inconvenience, and l)ecause, as a practical man, I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that there will be a great disturbance of trade resulting fnuu the termin- ation of the treaty. I am not without hope that the time is not remote when the United States will restore the trade to a satisfactory footing, and I am sure that sLx mouths hence the course the Governmenv has taken in endea- vouring to secure its continuance, will meet our hearty approval. What has been the eil'ect of our jiolicy already — both in Canada and in the United States { a jioliey so htudly coiideuined by our opponents. When I look around me to-night I can see that the effect has been most beneficial here, for every man in Canada feels that we have gone as far as we ought to have gone, and that we have met with a very inadequate response. Every man in \\ 27 CdniKlu fee's we must wnke up nnd be independeht (if these people; that wo can have iiothiufr to do with them whilr tlicy hdid their present views; that we will not siilniiir to anythiiiir like extortion or wvonjr at fhi- hands of our neif,'hiionrs ; that we have oUt-red tlieni liread and they pive xu a stone: aial that we should now take our own fourw. how. 'ver. many of the leudiiifr ])aiicrs of the I'nited Slates are sayinir that their peojile were wroiijr, ami that onr people wen- ri,!.'lit : and is it nothing: to have grained that position? Is it nothiiijr to have {rained the nnanimons sniijiort of our own jieopie, and to have indnred probably tin- (aie half of the .Vnn-rican people 'o avow that their rulers on^'lit to have itnitle an ananfrement with n- .' Our poliey, then, thon^rh it may not have aecomplislied all wecduld have de-ire I, has yet aeeomplished nnich. [Loud apiilanse.] The Tnited .States markets, Mr. Chairman, will be elosed a,L^unst ns on the 17th of March. The pi'o]de there will socm feel, \ye hope, that the course they are taking: is an ernaieois (•ne, which will enl all additional burdens upon themsidves, mid I believi' 'r will not be loiifr before different eounsels will ]irevail, but we cantmt hinjr.- the poliey of this country upon any sueh eontinent. "With rcfrard to the nnvrkets of Knfrland and France, the two grciit consuming countries of Kin'oite. it can scarc(dy be imafrined that they can be made nun^e free than they now are. Hut it is the duty of the (iovern- ment to endeavour to make .such arranjrements with the ('(donies of these Powers, and with Spain and her colony (,'uba, .is will secure the reciprocal interchaufre of some of their products and ours. [Rear, hear.] It is jilain that the Government will have to propose to Parliament a coni])lete revision of our system of ta.xation; lor the burdens of the people will In ve to be re- adjusted to stimulate the great agricultural interest of the i'rovince, and to make Canada at once the cheapest country to live in, and the most attractivf^ country in the world for the labor and capital of foreign lands. [ Hear, hear.] Our poliey must be one of development and not of stoppage — flevelopment not of Canada alone, but of all the vast temtory stretching from Newfound- land on the (me hand to the Pacitic on the other. We may have to postpone for a time the enlargement of the canals that has been spoken of for several years, because we have not yet the assurance that the American trade will be permitted to use them, but thu will leave us all the more means for open- m MA ¥: .**- 28 itif? lip tli«' jtrcit Norlli-Wf.-it. [Hear.] Tlio opt'uinjr u]) i»f tliesw liiiidrt, Kiistwiinl and Wi'stwanl, and especially Wi-slward, will rntuil the iiuuiK'im- li(»n of H ni'w sysfciM (d' cmitfrafiiin. l.'iniifrraliiin is wimt the N(mv World muist look to — and 'he fact that my Imn. Inciid Mr. Mc(iw is ut the head of the dcparlnicnt which has cliarfrc of that siiltjcct, must ^ivt! tins people (lonfi- deiice that emijfrution will Ite directed in the liest manner for the hard-work- infT sons of lahmir who conie to Canada as a refnire from all parts of the world. [Oheers.] I am sure, Mr. I'hairman, I (tufrht to apolojrisft for having detained the meetintr no lon^'. [So.] While your kindness forjriv(!S nie, you will be jrlad to hear me conclude. [.Vo, no.] I will only say this in coiiclii- sioii, that if I rijrhlly nmlerstaiul the si)irit of this lueetinj:— if I ri>,'htly un- derstand the spirit of the peoph- of Canada — the hopes and plans of those who think that the abolition of the Uecipmcity Treaty will produtto a sordid de- sire for .Vnne.Katioii, will totally fail, [('heers.] If there are people who could be biassed by con^idenitions such as these, they are unworthy to bo- loufi to any fniP eountry ou the face of the earth, Hut, thank God, the spirit of Mritisli institutions is instilled deep into our hearts, and a bold, manly love for freedom which forbids any such thing as that. [Cheers,] We kuow how to h(dd out the right hand of friendship, but if it is refused we know how t« draw it back again. (Continually have thit (iovernment of this country laboured to jM'r''. rm their duties to the neighbouring people, but we expect the same trom them, — with less we will m)t bo contented. While we love our institutions, we will not interfere with theirs; and while we respect theirs, we expe(^t respect from them for ours, [lioud cheers.] The diHiculties of societies create great men ; out of the, ditficulties of nations may spring great |)rogress. [Hear, hear.] We have been in the hai»it of relying too much on the motht r c(mntry, and too little on our own strong right arms, and this may be a lesson that is being given us for the ])urpose of teaching us to be more self-reliant. We are risiuf into a .sort of national existiince — an exist- ence we hope to see maintained for ages under the rule of the Sovereign of (ireat Hritain. Tlie position wf shall hereafter occupy will be one of higher importance and m<»re note in the eyes of the world than that wo have hitherto held as an ordinary colony, and it will entail (m us greater responsibilities. Perhaps the trial we are now undergoing, is but one of the preliminary trials which are to determine whether we are tit for such a higher state of national existence. .And when I lo(dc (m the countenances of the men (d' Stormont, Dundas and (Mengary, 1 know that they are ready, and I have faith that all the broad country on either side of your counties' limits is ready, too, for whatever the Future may have iu store. [Rounds of applause.] The CH A IRMAN then spoke as follows : Ladies and (xeutleiueu, the great question of our country at the present time is the confederation of our British possessions on this continent, (hear, hear, and loud cheers,) and that it must hare been considered of paranM)unt importance, I need only refer to the present coalitum ministry, (cheers,) a coalition with which all have heartily sympathised, (cheers,) and the very idea of such a coalition being formed from euch opposing elements, must iu- 29 (ltH!(l foiiviiice till" most sic|)ti(iil tluil ilic iiU'air.s of diir ttumtry Jiiid arrivi'i! at, HiU'h n crisis that sonic such action should he taken, ( licar. hear.) and, hidie^ undfjcnlh-nien, I am sure you will ajrrcf with me in sayiii>f tiial tliose jreiitlc- mcn who entered into tlii-< coalition, who, lor the time at least, were williiifi to lorfret all tiic asperities ami diiren-iices ol' opii'ion which acuiatcd them, de- serve well of our country. [Loud cheers.] And that llu' ohject of such coidition inny Ik! soon olitained, we suu'i'reiy wish, (cheers,) and that the union hetwecn those jrentlemen, so happily he>;un, may Ion;: conlimu'. [Hear, hear.] 1 therefore give you the seventh toast, n most imiiortanl tum indeed, not only in my opiidon, hut. 1 think I am safe in sa,\ ing, in the opiinon of a larp' nuijority of this great meeting, viz., " Uri'isli .inu'ficii United for Kver.' [Kiithusiastic cheer-i. | Hon. Mr, HOW LAM', on rising to respond to the toast, was vcr\ warndy received. He said — Air. Alayta- ami gentlemen, the sentiment whicii you have proposed is one that at ail tinn;s would aflord me the greatest 'imi doing it. and therefore 1 will not repeat any portion of itt but 1 Avill merely say this, as being due to you, being my first ajipcarance before you, that at the formation of that coalition, I myself being a member of the Legislature and one of the representatives of the people, it became my duty in that capacity to decide upon my course of action, and I did not hesitate at that time, iu ccunmou with my friends and colleagues in the Legislature, to agree to lay aside all party considerations, issues and cou- tests, for the purpose of obtainiug thi.s object, which was looked upon by all of us as of the highest importance to the present and future welfare of this country. (Loud cheers.) It was certuiuly a very estraordiuary spectacle, 30 nnd oiii' that you will sciirri'ly limj imriillfli'd in the puliticiil history of miy otluT I'oiiiilry, to sf'c |»iirlit's lny down nil llirir wi'iipoiiH ol' warl'iin! iiiid set iisidf all tlu'i • |in'JiHli<('-< and tcclinfr- tor tin- piirpoMi' of uhtainiiijt n jrri'Ut coninion olijcct wliidi they liotli arkiiow Ifd^rc wa~i for the interest and jrood of the connlry ; iiiid I do >ay it is an example tliaf eiititlef* those who were en^jajred in it to liic liis/liesf con-ideralion of the people of this country. (Clieer-^.) And vliile 1 >i)y Mial thu-e irentlenien who made this acritictMif I'eelinir and party i)a>^ion to edcct this oliject in tlie way they did are deserv- ing' of tile L'ratitude of the people of this country, they have ^'iven (•\iil(?iic(' that they themselves Imvi' an e(|ually hifrh appreciation of the ohjcct in view, anil are e(|nally ready to sacrilice their own feelinirs and llieir own local mid parly inlcrc^ts I'ur the pur|icp>e nl' it - utiaiiiiiient. (lioud checrH.) Mr. Chair- niaii, haviii>r airreed that tlii^ was an o'oji-ci of ]iaramouut importance overall others for till- future pind ol this (unniry. and hiivinir ajfrecd that a frovern- nieiil should he formed especially for the purpose of its attainment, ami that duriiifT the period that was necosary should elapse lietwoen it« lonimiion and the attainment of that ohjcct party issues should he set ivsidc — havinjr aL'rccd, I say, to all that, I have ever since fell it my duty to adhere to the hond. (Loud and iirohm^ed cheers.) Whilst I have not found anything in the general course imrsned hy the froverumeiit since its formation in the way ilcscrihed that I could dissent from, and whilst I have found nothing in its ordinary policy which 1 ciaild not heartily a|)prove, I Lave felt it my duty under these circumstances to adhere to the original arrungeniont, and to carry it through as far as my jinor ahilities and assistance may be necessary to help it. (Cheers.) I will ask to he allowed, in ii few words, to c'X])ress my regret that 1 am called upon here, as leader of the Heforni section of tho government, to respond to this toa>'.1. 1 regret it because one who occupied that position, and who would have much more ably fuUiUed this duty, is no longer with us ; audi regret it the more because that gentleman's ability and influence and position in the country nud their parentage or birthplace. (L(md aud hearty cheering.) Mr. ilcGIVEUIX — I feel that at this lato hour 1 ought not to detain you, but having been requested to propose! "the United Counties (d" Stornumt, Dundas and (Jh-ngarry," 1 cannot decline the honor. This occasion is cer- tainly a very important one. The p(;riod is eventful, for we arc in the midst of circumstances which will have a gniat inlluem;e on tin; futures of the coim- try. We are forming, I may say, a new nati<»nality, :ind it is the plain duty of all, of whatever shade of political leeling, to sink party politics at least for the time, and unite in carrying into effect that great scheme of Union now before the people. (Cheers.) I am here somewhat accidentally ; but I feel happy that I am here that I may testify by my presence and voice that Mr. Uowland, my political leader iu the Goveniment, shall have my support in developing into practice the Confederation agreed ui)on at the Conference at Quebec, which was afterwards so unanimously sustained by the liberal party iu Upper Canada. I have always identified myself in this country with tho liberal interest, and I have honestly sustained and supported the liberal principle of government ever since I have had a vote, nor do I intend to change. As I understand this question, after the plans for the coiiledera- tiou of the Provinces had arrived at a certain stage, the matte, was submit- ed by lion. Mr. IJrown to the liberal members from Upi»er Caiuida, who, after maturely considering the great subject in all its possible bearings, felt that justice and their plain duty to themselves, to their constituents and to their country, rendered it necessary t(» sink all party feelings and dilference.s for the accomplishment of these puqioses. (Cheers.) There is no doubt that party feeling for some years had risen to an extreme, nay, even to an alarm- Ing c.vti'iit, SM iiim-h H(i that at (nic tiiiit- iimny ft-nred it mijfht iiltiiimti'ly n>. milt ill (lidii'ultifs .'e jtroiMirlion of tlie jteople of thti Hriti^h Xortii Ainencan Trovinces will feel, ere lon^r, is for their proteefinn find iiitere.-i|, nainel}', the union into one ^jroal country of our hitherto dis- jointed I'rovinee-t. (Ciieers.) As n member representing' ono of tin- impor- tant constitueneies of this (■(imitry, after hearing ail tlie views sultmitted to tho consideration of the confereiu'c held in t/ueliee, I stated that I for one* would Hii|tpp()rl Mr. lirown in liis alliance with Mr. Macdonald for that ol»- ject, heiieviufi .auli to he my duty to my country. I have thus far carried o>it that ph'djre, and until I soo reasons for chanKiu)? my courso, moro than I have thus lar seen, I shall still continue honestly to carry out and reilecm it, for it was made not simply to Mr. Mrowu jiersoinilly, hut to the other miMU- hers who entered tlio Clovernmont with him. (Loud applause.) I do not believe ii puhlic man is at liherfy to sacrifice his word and his h(Uior, and no iiuiu has a ri^fht to place himsolf in such a position. I have failed as yet t»» soo HuUicient cause to warrant mo in witlidrawiii,<; from my plod)»os in this uuitter, — i.nd I intend to adhcro to them. Now, Sir, tho liberal i)arty have sustained the late President of tho ONmncil Ibr yoars iu tho most gonorous manner, — thoy have placed uuboundod conlidonco iu him, and I lor tln« iiili'D'sts nf this nmiitry iiiiiy liiivc urist'ii rrnin a niisuitprfht'iisioii (if our iiri'scut. londitiipu. Tiic (jovcniiiii'iit iiiivc very iiu- portiuit iiU'iiKurfs under their roiK.idt'ruliuu : the eiilur^reiiient of tlie caimls, thf opelliun "!• "' t'"' N'ortll-West, us well us tilt! (."ollledenilioil of tllese jrri'Ut Provinces ;— measures aitprnved l)y ineiiof all shades of iHilitical jioliey, iiyiill classes of tluj eouulr) ; and we tiiereldm sliould nut fail to retleet ix-fori' takin;.' (I course that may not, iiiily utlccl tho reciprocal truths rtdiUions lie. twoen till) I'niled States and this ctiuutry, Imt hy up.-ettiiiK that govern- melit de-r on your ])atience. (Cries of *' go on, gii on.") Tpontho siihjcct of reciprocity 1 do liiiiik everyone in Canada will admit that it is the interest of this country seriously to consider our position and our triwle relations witli the I'niti'd States, liefore we cast iiside tiiut miittor, disregard everything relating to it, and at once state in the teeth of the American people that >vv will have iiotliing to do with them, and that wo can live without them, however true this nuiy or may not be. It is not an easy matter to change a part of the trade relations of a country, involving more than one-half of its foreign tradtMU one year or one month; and I do think the (lovernnieut have acted wisely in endeavoring to renew the arrangements we have had while maintaining the integrity and independence of this countiy. I believe it was our duty, consistently with our honor and self-respect, to do every- thing we possibly could to secure freedom of trade with the Anujricans, whether by treaty or whether aa a mere temp(U"ary arrangenumt, by legisla- tion. After doing all that a people can do, and failing in that, we should strike out a course for ourselves. (Applause.) I believe, Sir, tliis country does not need to depend upcm the United States. I believe that we have immense wealth, and that we shall be able to maintain a separate commer- cial existence, and to flourish independently. (Cheers.) Now, in reference to my political belief, 1 believe that this is not considered a political meet- ing. There is a sentiment expressed in the motto on the wall that actuated the people of this part of the country in bringing the Govenunent together here, viz., " British America united forever ;" and I say forever let us stand by our colors, be true to our coimtry, and success will surely attend us. Mr. McGiverin resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Mr. AULT, M.P.P. for Stormont, responded. Hon. Mr. McGEE then proposed " The Mayor and Town CVmncil of Corn- wall," to which Dr. ALLAN responded in fitting terms. He next proposed, in a witty speech, " The Ladies," — responded to by Mr. R. MACFARLANE, Secrete ry to the Committee. 34 The CllAIKMAX culIo