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Un des symboles suivants appa<'aitra sur la dernidre image de chaque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — «^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. rata 3 lelure. J )2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 BRITISH AMEEICA. AEGUMENTS AGAINST A UNION OF THE PROVINCES REVIEWED; WITH Jfuitljer ^icas0n:s for Cnnfcbenitioii: BY THE HON. J. M^CULLY, Q.C. MEMIIEU OF TirE I,K(;ISLAT1VK COUNCIL OF NOVA SCOTIA, AND «iMi: (.)V THK DEl.EOATES. " This is my owu, my native land." " Cifihnn nan aniriium riin*ant cjni trans mare rurrvnty LONDON: F. ALGAR. 11. CLEMENT'S LANE, LOMBARD STREET. MDCCCLX^ni. s? CONFEDERATION OF THE BRITISH NORTH- AMERICAN PROVINCES. Confederation Considered in Relation to the Interests of the Empire ; a Pamphlet. By the Hon. Joseph Howe. A Letter to the Right Eon. the Earl of Carnarvon. Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. By the Hon. Charles Tupper, in reply to Mr. Howe. British American Union, a Review of Hon. Joseph House's Essay. By P. S. Hamit,ton, Esq. The Organioation of the Empire : a Pamphlet. By the Hon. Joseph Howe. nnHE Future Destiny of Bi-itish North-America, — an expanse of territory considerably lar-er than the wliole of the United States,— with its mines, its minerals, its forests, its fisheries, its lakes and its rivers, is a subject of the very deepest interest, and may well command the gravest consideration of the foremost men of the af^e. Tlif populidinii of tlic iiiiiiicnsc iiiicl of country, strctcliinjj; qiiiU' across the American Continent, tVoni Jlalifiix on tlw Atiuntic, to Vancouver on the Pacific Ocean, at present entirely under JU'itisli dominion, and aeknow]i!di;in2c British rule, is between fou)- and iive millions of souls, rlastofthc HMcky Miauitains and tlie X^i'th west. territory there is a ])opul;!t ion <<\' lour millions, and it is in. reference to this portion of these Bi-itisii posse.-,sieins that ihe scheme e)i' Con- federation more immediately j-efeis. Counthig the two Canadas as one |irovinee, which t hey have been for many purposes for the last iwenly-live years, durinu which time they have been united by an Act of the Iniporial raiiiament, there are five Colonies — that is to say, Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and PruiC(> Edwai-d Island, which it has been proposed, should be united under a system of ConfeiUa-ation, that, so far as the outside world is concerned, would constitute them thenceforward a single province, and tla^ tz(>rm of a future nation. At present they possess five separate? independent tariffs. It is proposed that after Confederation there should be but one. They have five different currencies, five separate independent post-office departments, five militia systems, and five legislatures, exercising law- making powers, suboi'dinato only t() the Imperi.al Government, which it is contemplated so to reconstruct, that one central legislature shall take cognisance of the vsdiole. There would remain nevei-theless, in each province, a local legislature, having jurisdiction over local sulyects, and dealing with them much after the manner that Muni- cipal Corporations manage alluirs within the larger cities of Great Britain. This scheme of union was struck out, and reduced to form, at Quebec, in the autumn of 1864, by leading men from all the Pro- vinces named. In order to secure as far as possil)le a fair represen- tation of all interests and all parties at the Quebec Convention, as it was called, the governor for the time being in each Province was advised to appoint, and did aj)point, as delegates not only the leading men of his cabinet, but the leaders of the Constitutional Opposition, as well. In Canada a coalition govennnent liad recently been formed, in which the leaders of government and opposition, Honorable I i : i i s : i. John A. McDonald on the one side, and tlie Unnoiable Gioj^e P.rown on the uther, -wit)) their respective political friends, held office, and had soots in this convention. In New I'rnnsAvick, Honorable Mr. Tillcy, Icidcr of ,2-^iiin upou its merits, it met the a.jiprobalion of al)Oiit three-fom-ths of the members of both houses. In su(;h a case the nat'oii at large would, I appre- hend, not hesitate to accept a conclusion thus arrived at, aud with a great deal of confidence. That there would nevertheless be in Great Britain, as in the Provinces, a dissenting- minority, even after passing such an ordeal, is by no means unlikely, and that the opposition would be led up by . some clever man who either iiever liad obtained a seat in Parliament, or, if he had, had lost it, is about the most likely thing imaginalde. Such is ;,hc condition of this Confederation question as I write. The Hon. Mr. Howe, who now takes e.xci'piion to the policy of imiting the Xt.irth American Provmc(,'s, although he has figured prominently in times past as its enthusiastic advocate hi Nova Scotia, is i »t, at present, and has not been since the lust general election in 18G3, a member of the Legislature. i 'mmmmm Mr. Howe, however, takes up a bold position of hostility, and now prououncc'S hroadly against thu policy of ConlcdiT;;tioii. Ho argues that the Canidas uiil New Brunswicli arc such distant out- lying indofensibio possessions of the Crown that in ease of war with the United States, it w>)nl(l he inipnssiblc to retain them; but that Nova Seotiu, Prince Ivlw.ii'd Island, and Newfoundland aro so situate, that thrv niigiit In.' .successfully hehl iiuninst all comers. Without at all conceding sn much, with New Ih'unswick, Canada, and all the great coiuitry lying in the rear, nine-tenths of the whole gone, fisheries and all, wiiut cuitldy interest could the people of Great Britain possibly have, one wuuld hke to know, in the remaining Provinces to justify a contest for sovereignty there'? But it is said that Nova Scotia could be made a second Gibraltiir. 1 douli)t it ; and if it could, there is a very ])revalent impression abroad in this country I find, that one Gibraltar is quite as much as the nation needs, or is disposed to maintain. Besides, the people of British North America claim to be a portion of the Empire, and liave recently evinced tlieir willingness to exert themselves to the utmost to defend their boil against all invaders, and if it were tin; nation's interest so to do, — which I by no means admit, — it is liardly to be expected that Great Britain is going to play the Hindu, and cast her young ofls))ring on the other side of the ocean, into the neighbouring political Ganges, that wliirls, and (Ml(hes, and rushes away down to tiie ocean of Democracy. In the arrangements contemplated undo" Confederation, the Provhices ask no additional favors, no countenance or protection beyond what tliry have had extended to them in times past. On the contrary, they avow themselves lioth wilhng and prepared to contribute their fair (]uota, if ever the occasion siiall require it, to defend their common country. They have recently given hostages for this at Limestone Bidgc ; they are not prepared, however, to erect themselves into a separate and independent nati<)u;dity at present, and may be unwilling to have such great- ness and such a responsibility unexpectedly thrust nynm ihtnn. Still less are they desirous of being- annexed to the United States, or to hiivo the nionairhiciil institutions they enjoy mdely with- drawn, and oihens of a republican, distasteful character substituted. And yet a settled conviction has already taken possession of the minds of leading Colonial statesmen, and that opinion I find, is gaining gi-rnutted unmolested to assail the policy of (^nifederation. The Hon. Dr. Tuppei' has written a pamphlet, by which, in a masterly manner, ]\Ir. Howe is made to refute himself. Whatever the ability disi)layed by him in attacking (Confederation, nothing is clearer than that he himself has in times past displayed vastly more ability in its advocacy. Assuming that up to 1SG4 he was a warm and ardent advocate and supporter of Union, and such there can be no doubt but he was, it is uo»v equally unfortunate for himself, and for the cause of which he has become the newly fledged champion, that he, of all men in British America, should have been selected as the oi)ponent of Confederation. All the while that this gi-and question has been before the Provinces — we refer to the Quebec vScheme — say from October 18(51:, up to the date of the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty, March 1866, when Mr. Howe's office, as Imperial Fishery Conniiissioner ceased, and with it his salary, he boasted that he had made no sign, uttered never a word hostile to Confederati«)n, or inconsistent with his life-long advocacy of the measure. If so, his salary must have muzzled his pen a full year and a-half. Be that as it may, one thing is certain, both Dr. Tupper and Mr. Hamilton have possessed themselves of his own aitiliery, tuniod if \\]it)'.\ iiiiii witli a voiiji'eMiicc. ,iiie, ahout his identity. I'\)r instance, m (hesumnierof 1804, addveHsiing a public iiicctini^ in Halifax, ^'ivi.ii in honor of a visit of Cunadiun gentlunien who were quests, Mr. Howe said : " Ho was not one of those who thiuiked God that he was a Novascotiau merely, for lie was a Canadiau as wi^ll. IIo had novor tlioiijhi'(l by his oppoucuts, of tlu: CDiitiuilitiory, iiR-uiisistcnt views of Mi', Howe iu refeiviift' li» this iill-iiiiportuut topic. What authority cau ho now Ix", fur or against ContVik'ratioa ? Anil yvi what seems most imaceountahle is, tliat lie I'el'uscs |m ;almit, up to tiiis hour, tluit he has ehanged his opinions, or advoeated inconsistent views ou the subject. Mr. Annand, who is also liere in Enyland— until lately a Unionist also, and h very iioswell to Mr. Howe— finding probably that his friend could not well survive the onslandit made upon hiiu by his antagonists, and that the selection of sueh an advocate to oppose Confederation Ijad iiccn most unhappy, throws hnnself into the breach, and rushes to the rescue. He has furnished a pamphlet of forty-two pages, which howevci- has coupwaiidi'd little or no attention. Th.e [irincipal object of this writer is evidently to create ill feeling if possible, and foment discord between the nuuiufaet uring classes of Great Britain, and the peojilo of Canada. During the recent Session of their Legislatinv. tiie Canadians, iu view of Confederation, have pronounced against Troteetion, and struck out boldly in favor of a Free Trade policy. This Mr. Annand ehaiges upon the Caiuidian Government and Legishiture as mere dissimulation ; an attempt to wheedle the Abu-it ime Provinces into Confederation, and to conciliate public opinion iu this eountiy until the measure is passed. Tho averment is as unsubstautiatcd as it is disiu«»euuous. if. » 10 A Protcctiou policy once abandoned, in any Lcaislature, is not likely ever aga"n to be re onacted. Tf it be ul.jit, its friends and advocates contuud it is, not only the more rational but the more prosperous policy, how dues Mr. Annand expect that under Confedera- tion the T,eg-islatLiie, with such an irfusion of free traders as the Maritime Colonies v.'ould supply, — how does he expect that the country can ever apxin fall back to Protection? Nothing could !)c more unlikely. ^Mr. Annand has referred to the New York Albion, one of the most, ably conducted newspapers in America, and lias reproduced a lengthy article from its colmuns, written in condem- nation of the policy of the rinance Minister of Canada, on the subject of a provincial loan and mouetiiry transactions, which occurred in the year 186."). The editor of the Albion may have been quits right in his st.rictures upon tb.at subject. 1 pronounce no opinion. It is not immediately under considerution. But on the subject of Confedei-ation, the Albion, under date ■>f the 13th October hist, s])eaks out most unmistidvcably. Of the i\^r-. York A llnon Mr. Annand lias said : " It is a paper of the highest respeccabillty, moderate in tone, and haslieen forfM-ty-four years the c(»nsistent advocate of British interests.' Granted : und 1 tlmnk him ibi- tlie admission. The New York Albion, looivin.u at ( 'oiifederation I'roni a wholly ditlerent, and an independent stand-])o:!it from tiiat occupied in thi' Provinces, or here— to do liiui full and am[»le justice Invin- fir.st republished Mr. Howe's entire pamphlet— among other things ol /serves : " Mr. Howe is a gertloman whom wo wi;re ibrmorly gLid to immber amongst the foremo.-^ of tlio advocates ofUnion ami Consolidation of .strougtli for all BrilLsh Aiuerica. liiu lie now disingeu.jusly attemijtd to .show, that the be.st interests of both Colonies and Empn-o are to hv fonnd in u histhig sov('r;i,nce of all tics between tho several Provinees themselves, and i;i a por[)etual elin;. ng to the parOiit Htate for prolectiou and snstcuaneo. * '■' bi fact tho urguments eontained iu tliis pamphlet from beginuiag to end, u-e calcuhUed to divide and weaken Britisli America ti.ronghonc, and would liuve a leudeney to dampen, if not entirely extingni:ili. any genns of national feehng tlint mny be at presem gi'ow- ing up in the nunda of the most iidviuieed and iuCelligent Colonists. Certainly the Uonoriibh) ^jatlcmau's stay ai, Wii-^hhigUm, ana his seeuung dread of tho terrible Fenians, manifested siiie;> his return, has (piit • nnnei vetl iiim as a Briton, and for tiie present unlit ted him foi- eitlier advocating or representing British America's interests, either in the old world or tlio new." In this passage, without any tlistorlion of wiiat is jdainly 11 enough written, the reader becomes paintiilly aware that Mr. Howe stands openly and undisn-uisedly charged with infidelity to the land of his birth and to the flug of his country ; and Mr. Anuand's eulogy of the Albion and its Editor, and all so well merited, gives this crushing '-ebukc a significance and an emphasis not likely to bu misunderstood either in England or the Provinces. Mr. Annand, in the first ])age uf Ids pamphlet addressed to Lord Carnarvon, says: "Assuciated with my friend Mi-. Flowe, I have been sent to this cmmtry to oppose the scheme uf Confederation, &c., &c." But a preliminary qiiestion may well Uv asked here. Three of the Provinces, Canada, Nora Scotia, and New Brunswick, in Legis- lature convened, have authorised the Queen's representatives to select delegates to come to England, and confer among themselves and with the government of Great Britaiii, and i>repare the draft of an Act having for its object the Confederation of the Provinces, which shall then be submitted to the Imperial Parliament — there to be di8cusr>etl, and finally passed, lUit where, gentlemen, are your credentials ? Mr. Anuand's position, and that of his friend Mr. Howe, is that the Resolutions of the two branches of the Legislatui-c of a Colony, no matter Avith wiiat amount of unanimity passed, are not to be received as expi-cssive of the opinions <4' the people of that Colony — that the nunority by collecting signatures to petitions of persons of all classes, all ages, and. all conditions — electors and non-electors — arc then in a condition to overrule and counteract the constitutionally expresseil flesires of a Colonial Parlianient. Thei-e may indeed be '•■ nothinu new under the sun," but 1 greatly mistake if any precedent is to be found for such a piocedure. If Messrs, Howe and Annand are the properly constituted representatives of the people of Nova Scotia, l)y vu'tue and in cpfcombpr, 18 10, Mr. IJowo liimself attacked thia project of Representation of th(! Colonies in Parliament, of whicli it would appear 17 A largo portion of the pampliletcering against a Union of the Provinces, I am sorry to ..h.sorv.-, has for its unconcealed oojoct to excite the pnyudices of the I5ri,ish poupl., H.^iusf Ihcir fellow .uhjcets in the Colonies, and to create nmtual distrust, antipathy and dislike. It k represented iu tliese Essays that one of the leading motives of the delegates, anmitry belies^ed that any sucii intentions Inrke.l in the min.ls of the j.eople of the American Provinces, then indeed, inst.ad of according a hearty welcome to their delegates, as by their ,,nblie press and otiierwiJe they have done, then they wonld turn a deaf ear, and properly so, to then- application for Imperial legislation, and recommend them to return again to their respective Provinces as they came. But it is not so ; atid the Anti-Unionists wlio, in this country, make use of such misrepresentations, in order to accomplish their purposes, when in tluProv!,-:., str.n;:v to say, endeavour to awaken prejudice against the mother-onntiy, and against Conf(^deration, by statements and reasonn.g exactly the reverse. I say this advisedly. Thsre the peoi)le are toid, and the Anti-Confederate Press never wearies repeating Thomag Bannister, Esq., of iho Inner Temple, if r>H the originator, was among the earhost advocates, ilr. Howe, t re- to the in.!.. .t of poliLai suicide, amon| other thmgs, thon wrote-" Of a Coloaial Kepresentation iu Parliament, we have long ente.-tain(>a a strong aad uufavourabI(. opinion. * « * j, ^^uld be mipossible we think to form a Colonial phalanx or party ; and why ? Becanse the (.0 otnsts hav<- no eommon and univt.rsal bond of interest and connexion. The pohcy wlneh vvould suit one Colony would be inimical and oflensive to another.' Iho Colonies would lose the benefit of that sympathy which now operates upon amass of the members, temwsc.c-. have no representative, there:' And by wav f sHv-n "T- T "'''~r '•^"' '''' '"■'" ^'-^'^^ ''''' '^^'-'y °PPO'-tumty of denov^cing a sclu me wincli, ..v.n .f practicable, nngla involv. th,- Colonies ir, embarrass mentsfu- more wei.:hty and disastrous than any benefits it would confer." Such were Mr. II ow.'s views in IN!,): a good while aeo it is true, but tho reasomng ,s as api^u.abh. ,,ow as rh.n. B..;,,... if, f. hazily fair to , h. onginator of the .cheme for Mr. ITow,= no,v,o ela,m th- p.u.rnify of it, wIkm, he evh!e,.tly draws his msp.racion from an article in ..he C.l.r.J Magazine, which he wa^ lov^ewing; and we are not surprised Hku Mr. Bannister, the aathor of it, should cmnplain that the reviewer at this time of day should bo uund "stealing his uiumler, or, m the more modern phrase, be canght -shining in borrowed 18 il, there in ilie Provinces the principiil ,!j:rouiKl of oltjection taken iiiul urjjed too jimono- the loss intelligent, and with not a little sncccsH, is, that Confederation moans — additional Colonial taxation for self- defence, for Provincial armies and navies, and military ori^anisations, from which the people arc at present free ; and from which, Imt for this impolitic Quehcc Scheme, they would certainly, in all time coming, so have remained. Such a method of attack hy unscrupulous agitators, with a leading Colonial Press at command, is well adapted in ])rovincial communities to produce effects not easily counteracted. Fancy a staff of smooth glib-tongued emissaries of a central organisation, with a clever man at its head, lot loose upon the rural population of a new country, with a story that Confederation means immediate inde- pendence, a "new nationality," separation from Great Britain, a standing army, and a navy to be provided for out (jf new taxes, to bo levied indiscriminately — poll taxes if need be — on all classes. In Nova Scotia Mr. Annand, by means of his newspaper press — being the pub- lisher and proprietor of the Ilalifax Mornirnj Chronicle, — Mr. Annand has not hesitated to sound a note of alarm all over Nova Scotia, by declai ,ug that the object of uniting the Provitices is, that the Militia of Nova Scotia may be liable to do duty on the frontiers of Canada, a thou- sand miles away ; that tlie fishermen of the Maritime Provinces may be required to man gunboats on the Canadian lakes; and by some tyrannical exercise of Canadian influence, Nova Scotians in some unexplained manner may be made targets for American marksmen, with their deadly improved breach-loading rifles. Their wives, he has declared, are thus to be made widows, their children orphans. Iliiving by such and similar tales of horror to be enacted, paved the way, Mr. Howe, spending weeks travelling from place to place, calling public meetings and addressing them, exciting terror, and Mr. Annand aiding as described, they follow up the advantage by sending out paid agents with petitions ready prepared into the houses and hamlets of the rural population for signatures. Is it matter for Avonder that old men and children, electors smd non-electors, — aye, and the very paupers of the parishes, — should rush forth to sign them? It would have been a much stranger thing if all who could be duped by such misrepresentations had not pressed forward to aid in counteracting a 19 schome, .vl.ich they inv UM, f,,,- tl.c M-uraixlisoiuont of afew is to ruin tho many, to dvmhiW their )„»n.cs, and rvdw-r their country to u C()ii.liti..n of \vr..'rc';u^.liR.ss und ..lisci-y nI(,)o-ethL-r indescribable. This ib the |.!,iiii, easy niid tnillirnl explanation of tho nature and character of thp ;,reater poHio,, n\- 'auv ))otiti..ns lidd by Mr. flowo and his frifi! ' Mr. xVnn.nid, Wliile the pcopie ..f British North America, however, are in no • •nnditioi. at pivs,.,it to take npou ti.emselvrs the status, or to assmno the rrspousil)iiitifs of an indepetideiit nation, they iiave n..tsen1 their ivpivsentaiives in iMi-liind, as n.^adi cants, to increase t!ie bm-.iens of hvy people, and uonid he ad.ai-ied in any uay. for their exclusive benefit, to add to the v.-lnn,.' of taxation the jxn.ple of Great Britain are abvadv rallrd up.ui to hear. On tho contrary, accordino- to their means, accorduc. ro thcii- ahility. fliev are ready and j.ledo-e themselves to on-eof th.'irsui,.staii<.., nor hold their lives dear, in the common c.uise, whenever liu exi-Micies of the Ku.pire re.pnre the sacrifice. In the earh'ei- history of the ('oloni lar-ely monopolize.) their attention. But the provincial, like his nei-hbour over the border, possesses an a])tif,ide f-r military acipiirements, which a very small amount of trainiiiu- wouM in a short time so ]KMfect, that in a ri-hteous cause, he sv.udd not be likely to reflect discredit n[)..n the race from which he has spnm-. Chippewa and Chateau.miay are associated with inci.h'ntsof a kin.l that need brin- no blush to the clieeks of the native Canadian. And >\il1iams of Rars, and luolis of Lucknow, are but types of colonists, I hope fmd trust, evervwhcre. 20 Hut we arc told, tliut Britiali Auicricu under Confoileratioji, \vo\ild bo indefensible ; that such in the gcograpliical outlines of it, the frontier so extended, accesa to the interior so far overland in winter, that it must fall an eas}' prey to the intruder. That may l)o so, but it remains to bo proven. Far hence in futurity be the occasion which only can test the restdt of any effort to conquer British America ; there is but one quarter whence a hostile attack need ever be feared, and so long as the present relations with the Emjiire continue, so long as the country remains a Province, no rams hdli can well occur, except it be provoked by Great Bi'itain herself That must never be forgotten. AVith our present steam and telegraphic communication between the new world ruid the old, no embroglio can happen that could seriously jeopardise the relations of England and America without ample opportunity being first afforded for a satisfactory adjustment. And if it be so, that the great Rjpublic has determined, soon or late, right or wrong, that there must be a passage-at-arms between the two countries, — and I am not one of those who believe in, or desire such a thing, but if it must be so, why let it come, and (JJod defend the right ! — England is not likely to seek such a quarrel. The Provinces know that their broad acres mast surely be the battle-field, with all its horrors, at least so far as the land-figlit would be concerned, and victory itself on their side would be all but ruin. Wliy, then, should they ever seek a quarrel with America ? I am not disposed to speculate upon results, but while the Colonists themselves are content to stand by a frontier which is no longer in dispute, which for the most part has been recognised for well nigh a hundred years, it is hardly likely that the people of the British Islands — -just when the Provinces are organizing for common defence, wheti they are adopting a policy which Great Britain has recommended — will bid a younger brotherhood, speaking the same language, proud of the same lineage, enjoying the same institutions, devoted to the same Sovereign, begone ! No ; No. When the separation comes, and that event, T trust, for many reasons, is yet far distant, it will be at the instance of the new Nation itself, and with the blessings upon its head, of the great old Empire, of which it is destined for many a long day yet, I trust, to be an integral portion. i i 21 Cut llicii till' (Ick-att's, ii is siiid, uro set kin- fur a <,nuimntrc trom the Jii.tish (;ovii'iniuiit for it loan (>\' Hiuiicv lo ho expended iu huihliii-' all " Int. rcdl.Miial .-uiii military Jiailway," anl for dthcr purpo.scis. hiij jMi-ni-- ihat iv \)v so, voul.l liicri' !.f anything improper or unrcasonaMr in .^iich an applirul i-,, / Al (lie time tliv late unll.'ippy civil \va; l.foia- out in 'Aw I i.iImI States, lolluwcd almost mmu'tliatily hy tli.Tivui dillu'ulty, thu cndit of Canada wa-s such that inr ,1100 ti j,ir dui. d. btiitiii'cs lu.rc! on the Stock Exchange wore sold as l,i-|, u.< iVnm f 1 i;j t(, .£ 1 15, and were eagerly sought for at that premium. Tlu' dviuutin..^ of IN' ova Scotia and New Brunswick had touclud about I'll:; p.. r £100. An angry leoling, as i.s \\r|l kiiowii, arose and grew in connection with that difficulty, and the course of pohcy i.ursued by the British Government in reference to the question of })elligeient rights, claimed hy the revolted States, that has not subsided up to the present lioui-. The jjeace of the two countiies on more than one occasion was en«.iangered in consequence, and the residt has been rudely to shake Colonial eivdlt at home and ahioad. Close upon this unhapiA- event followed the Fiinaii disturhanci^s in Ireland, n-hich were forthwith transplanted lo Auk rica, and the contiguous States of the Union have evei' since been sullered to he a base of operations for outlaws mid diseontented vagabonds h) assail the Provinces. The consequence of this state of t lungs has Iteen that the credit of all the North American Colonies has suirered most materially. From bemg at a [)ivmium as described, these securities have been seriously depreciate,!.. Even yet, as is well known, the stocks of the Provinces are at a sniall discount. All this, unquestionably, has been brought about by causes over which the Provinces have had no control. If then they ask that Croat Britain shraild aid, not in c onstructing an Intercolonial Bailway vrhich on all sides is admitted as an absolute necessity for military and defensive purposes, but merely to enable them to obtain money at a lower rate of interest, hy guaranteeing a loan of three or four indlions-and which the Confederated Provinces shall, by an Act of their Parliament, first make ample and .atishtctorj' provision to repay --would there be anything inireasona})lP in such an apphcation? 22 I' Is there luj prcccdciii fur mu:1i m favdur ^ It. Wduld he: iiiconvi-iiifiit to mist' this sum uii L'olouiiil credit, uloiu', nud it could nuly he obtained i)t'rh!i})s. by siibmittiii^ to sovcru loss; but with an im[H'rial Guarauttt', it can be hud on Itrins much more udvuutageous to the l)orrowers. It' it were u case of ns iukyra, such are some i>f the reastius wliich might be advanced in favour, but it is not so. The Provinces have at this moment tin; faith of the British Govenjment, pledged by that late eminent and enlightened statesjuan, the Duke of Newcastle wliilst he tilled theothee of Colonial Minister, extending for a term of years ni>t yet expired, and I'atitied by his successor, and the (Jovennnent of which he was a member as well, to assist the Provinces in obtaining a loun tit construct this great national and indispensable pulilic \.ork. It is a fact, as humiliating as true, that for several months of each year, iluring winter, access to the ocean from Canada for most practical piu'poses is now over territory of the United States. lUit the Intercolonial Railway once constructed, and the case would immediately to a large extent be reversed. Not nuly would Canadians not be necessitated to cross American ti'rritoiy, l)nt a larg-j portion of the travelling population of the Western States boimd for Europe, their mails as well, as also much of the tine and light goods destined from Europe to the Great West, would take the Intercolonial as the ([uickest and much the shortest route. At present, for six months of the year, the entire of British America has but a single steamer once a fortnight touching their shores, calling on her way to and from Boston, being one of the subsidized Cunard Liners. Let the Intercolonial but lie completed, nxaking the connection between Halifax aiid the Grand Trunk — and less than five hundred miles will now stop the gap between Truro and River DuLoup — let t his (/?m« national operation be completed, and by that route all passengers Avho desire^ the shortest sea voyages between the two WDilds are sure to travel. Halifax is live hundred miles ncarei" (^ueeiistown than New Vork, and three hundred miles nearer than I'oston. How long, with the Intercolonial completed, before a tri-weekly line of steamers, instead of a fovliiightly one, would ply between Halifax and this country? In the wond) of futurity the answer to this and similar questions reposes; but looking at the effect mast likely to \,v |.io(lu(V.l Uy tnmhvj; Ww ,nMt ntrcam of w-.vU- and trav.'l fV(.iu its pnsdit iiMlii,r( ,-,n,tc i.. ,,i,r .s.. imicl, ^|.^l■t^r and """•^' d.iT.t, aiKl a vu.v early day ii i,-, huprd will ,valiz<., and nioro than a.-lizi', the hi-h. r.1 hM|M-; ind i\|Mrtatioiis of all interested. There is yet aii.llpf reasuii i|,:,t miuht Ik« nd.lihvd ul,y tlio Pj-uvnu:c.s, if ui'ed r-.inii'ed, ,siinuld lu' as-,;,>te,| m tlui way JiUfrgcsted to pei-flrt their ■ ''■''''■^' ••• '•"■-•'■ l>'>'f"»' "<■ tlH' til., .St i,,,rl ..I \,,u- I'.rmiswiek wa8 suninianly iruislVrred t- the Stat.' uf Maine, access from fa.mda to the Ocean in uintiT woiiM n.,i have heen anythin- like as diflicult as It IS. Without seekin- however, to revive unpleasant recollections— ill view ..f the pa>t then, as well as of tin- future, il is to he hoped th.il (he sti-on-eonl tiiat Mow hinds these l'i-..vinces to the Parent (.^uvernnieiil, is, l,y Confe.leratiun, di^stined to he still further .streim'theiied. :>^, hui it is not too readily to he taken foi' ur.inted. Jfe who familiarises his mind with tlie prelections of the Oxford Professor, who thinks ivn-land can atioivl to part with the North American Provhices, must, as the Professor intimates, lie prepareil to include the West Indies in the concession as well. And, if with( ait any transatlantic possessions, without even a coal in-' station from Hudson's Bay to CJape Horn, En-land's |)restige remains, why or wherefoi-e should Australia, New Zealand, or even the East Indies, he retained i! But, are Englishmen jjrepared lor this new Anti-colonial theory ? It is not yet live years since the Pi'ofessor wrote his tirst letter on Colonial Emancipation, and, since then, many unexpected and startling events, thnigs not dreamed of in his philosophy, have dready transpired. The relation of the Colonies to the mother-country Professor Smith, in one of his letters, designates a state of "Childish thraldom." Ill another, he asserts that "They enjoy all the suhstantial attrihutes of nationahty." Neither of these statements is correct, and could he have foreseen that the (.Jovenmient of the United States would have so boon been erectin-- a Chiuese w.dl of protection about the Republic, 24 in Hhapc of a Tariff to exclude tho manufactures of Gi-eat Bv'taiu and all other nations, he would, I apprehend, have qualified many of his opinion.s. If what the Times^ l:owcvci-, af!ina(Hl in 1862, and \/hich needs no verification, viz.: that "Our Colonies are our best customers" — and which Mr, Smith took such sliarp exception — be not strictly true, it will hardly now be contended, in the face of what is transpirinjx, that the reverse is the fact, or that such will not ere long l)c realised. In seeking to unite and be consolidated the British Provinces of America are quite in harmony witli the spirit of the age. But what disthir'uishes this union movement from cveiy other attempt :it cond)ination, is the voluntary principle that undeidics it. T1.V Colonies that are seeking Confederation have themselves originated the scheme. In a time of profound peace, with no impending danger, no hostile aggression forcing upon them the necessity of immediate uution for conunou safety, these British Provinces attracted towards each other by a common sympathy, by mutual intwchange of the kindliest sentiments, decided out of five separate snuUl conmi unities, to ((mstruct one — one desirable for hal)itation as an emigraTir/s 'i^' m,', blesov.d with the .argest measure of fVeedonx civil and i 'i..ious, ami within a week's steam voyage fi'om Albion's shoi'i . In Nova Scotia, among the nearest of the group, gold mints ;i:id coal mines lie almost side by side. More than half-a-millio; i tons of the finest bituminous coals were raised during the lajected that this desire for union is, on the part o*" Canada, an act of " spoliation." ('nfort\uiately, too, for the autln^i of that assertion, the modern idea of Union did not originate with Canada. It hails from Nova .Scotia. If then these several young thrifty and rising comuiunities think it for their interest hereafter to be one; it not only the large over- whelming majority of the population themselves — nine-tenths probably of the whole, have so decided, but the foremost men also of the late, as well as of the present Imperial Government, and the t itii-e press of this country almost without exception, so far as it has spoken, coimsel Union and Confederation, and desire that these Provinces should be joined together, who is he, and who are tbey, that in:iist upon keeping them asunder ? An objection has been started by some persons as to the method pursued for l)i'inging about this contemplated union. A chiss who affect to be, pur excellence, the people's protectors, who for the time being ha])peu o be heading the opposition in Caniula and Nova Scotia, are clamorous fov -a 2'nebiseifum, or at least an aj)])er not, the people returned a House of Assembly pledged against it thirt;/, for it eleven. In 18(j(j the same Electors, with the same fnuichise.. and the s:unc issue submitted, the recently elected House having been dissolved, returned a new one — pledged for Con- federation ihirty-ihree, against it eight ! Vox populi, vox Dei, is there- fore scarcely to be received as orthodox in this British North American Province, unless tlic presiding deity is at l)estii very changeable being. But I have yet to iearn, that one branch of the Legislature, though 27 it 1)0 the popular cuo, ii. ,-, I'l-ovince posscssiuu' CoiistiLutioiml (i..vcni- n.uiit alter the 13vitish iiiudel, can si)eak for the other two l)raiiche«, or must of ueceHsify be obeyed. Where au attinnative proposition is submitted to any Legislature consistino- of two Houses and the Repre- sentative of MaJ est j, the consent of ail is required to bind. That has already been .ione in tij)-ee at least out (jf tlie tivo British North American Colonies, and it is not eonteniplatod, I apprehend, to provide in the Aet of Confederation t\>y any other than those that voluntarily seek admission into the Union. The Opj)o.sition leaders, lio\\ever, require juore than this. They take the ground, that when it is pi-oposed to make a change in the Constitution, before the Legislatiu-e can deal witii it, if there be not u plebiscitum, thei-e must be a reference at least to die Electors, and their si.ecial sanction obtained. Tins is s])ecious enough, and almost sure to be popular with an Opposition. But is it sound ? It may under certain circumstances be prudent to do such a thing, but is it indispensabk. ? After some organic change of the Cons:titutiou specially atlecting the rights of the Electors, there is much reason in ordering an ap[)eal to the peo])!e ; l>ut what authority is there, or what precc^ dent has been, .,i- can there l)e produced, to show that nnrler the British Constitution there nmst be au appeal to the Electors pivpara- tory to a change of the Constitution? If such had been the received opinion hero in Knghuid, if any such principle had existence, how came Earl Russell and Ur. Gladstone to introduce to Parliament their swecpnig Reform Bill without the measure tirst having been sulnnitted to the people themselves at the hustings. It was not done. Indeed, it cannot be pretended that the Electors of (heat Britain had passed upon the measure, for it was kept a j)rof unid secret until aftei- Parliament met. More than that, the question of a Reform Bill cannot In, sjiid to have been l)eloi'e the country at the time of the last (General Election; aud had Lord Palmerston survivemitte(l to their consideration. Such at all events was the opinion of the late lamented Duke of Newcastle, and such also is the view ul' tluH subject taken l\y his successor, Mr. Cardwell, as severally exprcs.^ d in despatches easy of reference, in which they recommended the very method of procedure which has been adopted to the letter. Already, as intimated, the people, speaking through their lawluily elected representatives, have, by majorities of nearly tAVO-thirds to one-third, pronounced in favour of Confeileratiou. But suppose the matter were referred back to them mixed up with all the side issues inseparable in such a case, and a lean majority of one or two were obtained, would that be satisfactory? I fear, ho^vever, that I liave devoted more time and attention to this feature of the subject than it merits, but as a gi'cat deal of stress has been laid upon it 1»\' those who oppose the Union vi' the Pi'ovinces, I have thought proper to expose the fallacy, as well as the unconstitutionality of such a position. Another objection has been started, namely, that the power of Parliament does not extend to u case like that under consideration, and that it is not competent for the Legislature of any country to reconstruct its constitution. Othii- writers on this subject, whose names ap[)eHr in pamphlets published, have shown iVoui the highest authng period past, was the woi*k of a Parliament chosen only foi- a period «»f three years, it would be difficult ti^ draw a line any- where, and say thus far shall a Legislature go, and no further. It is but tlu' other day the Legislature of .ramaica, by its own resolve deliberately struck down tlu; ConstiTAiti< »n enjoyed, and, instead, asked and accepted a new and an entirely ditferent system of Government, which is no^\ actually in operation. There is a gi'eat diversity of opinion about what has transpired in Jamaica, but I am not awart^ that the power ol' the Colonial Parliament ts, at least in Nova Scot ia and Xew Brunswick, and partially so in Canada, that lih,. Peers would in this country ; and Avhen out of eighteen Legislative Comicillors in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick respectively alike independcmt of the people and the Crown, thirteen have actually' „...,., X... Confederation, and but tivo against, surely it nmst be voted 30 conceded that unless somt! straiij^c iinaccouutuhle lialluciiiatl(.m !imk taken possession of tljcse respective bodies, actinu; as they have ihnm independently of each other, Confederation is a nieasni'o id 'jvo-.xf measure under eonsideration ? From .Sychiey to Sarnia, from the Bay of Fundy to the Bay of Hudson, tiiere is but one prevailing senti- ment of loyalty towai'ds the Sovereign of these realms. The prayers of the ])eople there, as lierc, iiscend for her welfare. In the history of England, her laws and her institutions, we elaim a eounnou property. We speak, toi- the most part, the same language, we sing the same songs, and we cherish the same national t?-aditious and reminiscences. Oui- forefathers were familiar with tlie sights and scenes that the peoj)le of these Islands hold most dear, and all the great achievements that reflect honour upon the memory of the patriots and heroes of former days we, too, recount witii pride and pleasvu-e. England's National Anthem is ours. We know no other. The very nirrsery-rhymes, as well as the festive songs of her palaces and princely halls, are snug in the cottages and fai'm-houses of every portion of British ^Vmerica. The statesmen of England, her orators, her jurists, her poets, her scholars, her Press, and her benevolent institutions, are the models we imitate ; ar.d, as descended from the same stock, those of our ycuitli who have never set foot upon these shores, yd instinctively, as it wei-e, learn to call (Jreat Britain " Home," and these Islands "The Mother Counts'." To the people of England then we a])peal, and say if not exactly in obedience to vour biddinu', vet certainlv comnlving with vour recommendation, os expressed l)y the fned ]H)pulati(.n, keenlv smarting under the eft'ccts of such an mmatural, impatriotic policy. The lajjse of a few weeks, a coupk.' of months at farthest, must now settle all doubts as to the success of one of the most imjwrtant tjucstions of the eentuiT ; and without anv doubts or gloomy foreb'-lings whatever, the del(>gates from Canada, Nova Scotia, and iNew Brunswick, and those whom they represent, will iiwait the determination of that august assembly, whose ratitication alcaie is uow -efiuired to consummate a Union of the British North American Provinces. London : F. Algai;, 11, Clement's-lane, E.G. bo laid 3XcliiHivo lis W Uilli (li'i'isiun losu who ttf their ill aloiij;' (1 daviny' Ii oviT a such ail ;i couple e success I without Lies fr()m om they issciiiblv, Uuiou of A