YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 06680 9691 1 ^ 1 ^^'^^^f>'*<^ ^^^M ^m^WJ'"'- 11 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY %\t Mum of t|e '§xx\u\ "^xMnt A BEIEF ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL CONFERENCE,S MARITIME PROVINCES AND IN CANADA, IN AND OCTOBER, 18G4, ON TIIE P: COKFEDERJlTIOi 9F IH TOGETHER WITH A REPORT OF THE SPEECHES DELIVERED BY THE DELEGATES FROM TIIE PROVINCES; ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC OCCASIONS. COMPILED BY THE HON. EDWARD WHELAN, M. P. f. (One of tlic Prince Edward Island Delegates.) CHABLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. PRINTED Br li. T. HASZ.MID. 1865. INDEX. Introduction. Page. The Conference of Delegates at Oharlottetown 1 Preliminary Observationa — Eesolutioni of the Maritime Legislatares, 1 4 Names op the Delegates 5 Banquet in Charlottetown 6 Speeches of Lieut. Governor Dundas, of Honorables Colonel Gray, J. A. McDonald, George E. Cartier, (Canada) ; Dr. Tupper, Adams G. Archibald, (Nova Scotia) ; John M. Johnson, Col. Hamilton Gray, (New Brunswick,); William McDougall, (Provincial Secretary, Canada,) Hons. J. Longworth and T. Heath Haviland, and F. Brecken, Esqr., fP. E. I. ) 7—17 The Delegation Conference in Nova Scotia, 17 Banquet in Halifax, 18 Speeches of Lieut. Governor McDonnell, of Sir James Hope, Vice Admiral— of the Hon. Dr. Tapper, (Nova Scotia) ; Hon. G. E. Cartier, Hon. G. Brown, (Canada;)— Hon. S. L. Tilley, (New Brunswick)— Hon. Col. Gray, (P. E. I.)— Hon. J. A. McDonald ( Canada)— Hon. A. T. Gait, (Canada), 18—49 The Delegates in New Brunswick 49 Public Dinner at St. John, N. B., 50 Speeches of the Hon. G. E. Cartier — Hon. George Brown — Hon. Charles Tupper — Hon. Col. J. H. Gray— Hon. George Coles— Hon. A. T. Gait 50—57 The Voyage to Quebec 57—59 The Conference at Quebec, 60 Names ef the Delegates from Canada, and from all the Mari time Provinces — Preliminary Arrangements of the Conference, 60 — 61 "Drawing Room" and Reception of the Delegates, 62 Invitations to Festivities, ii. Ball in tbe Parliament Buildiogs, tt .,,.... ib. IV INDEX. Public Dinner by Board of Trade 63 Speeches of Delegates — Speech of Chairman of Board of Trade — Speeches of Hon. Dr. ,Tupper— Hon. S. L. Tilley— Hon. Mr. Carter, (Newfoundland) — Hon. Col. Gray, (P. E. Island)- Chairman of Board of Trade — Hon. Sir E. P. Tache — Mr.Porsyth- Hon. Mr.Galt,...._. 65—80 Continued Meetings of the Conference — Ball at Madame Teesier's, 80 Visit to, and Address prom, Laval University, 81 The Bachelors' Ball, 83 Departure from Quebec 84 Arrival in Montreal ib. Visit to Publip Institutions — Conference — Ball, 84—85 Public Banquet, (Montreal) 85—86 Speeches of Delegates and others — Speeches of Sir William Penwick Williams — Col. Dyde — Sir Eichard MaoDonnell— Hon. Dr. Tupper — Hon. Mr. Archibald — Hon. Col. Gray, (New Brunswick)- Hon. J. A. Shea, (Newfoundland)- Hon. Col. Gray, (P. E I.) -r- Hon. E. Whelan — Hon. T. Heath Haviland— Hon. U. E. Cartier— Hon. Mr. McGee— Hon. Mi-. Gait, 85-120 Departure for, and arrival at, Ottawa, 126 Eiver Scenery- Eeception of the Delegates by the Mayor and Corporation of Ottawa— Torchlight Procession— Speeches by Honorable Messrs. J. A. McDonald and Charles Tupper— Drive through the City— Visit to the Eideau Falls— Trip on the Ottawa Eiver— Visit to tho Parliament Buildings, 126—129 The Dejeuner (at Ottawa,) jgg Description of Dejeuner— Speeches by Hon. J. A. McDonald — Mr.T. C. Clarke— Hon. AV. A. Henry, (Nova Scotia,)— Hon. J. M. Johnson, (New Brunswick)- Hon. George Coles, (P. E. Island)— Hon. A. T. Gait, (Canada)— Mayor Dickinson— Col. Gray, (P. E. Island,) 129-146 Ball at Ottawa, ..„ Departure for Toronto, ., Eeception at Kingston, Belleville and Coburg- Dinner at Kingston, by Mr. Brydges— Complimentary Eemarks by Dr. Tupper— Mr. Brydges' Speech in acknowledgment 147—148 Address from Mayor and Corporation of Belleville— Col. Gray's Keply .....149-151 Index. v Address from Mayor and Corporation of Coburg— Col. Gray's Eeply, 151—153 Torchlight Procession at Coburg — Hospitalities at the Eesi- dence of the Hon. Solicitor General, 153 Arrival at Toronto, ib. Brilliant Eeception — Torchlight Procession — Address from the Mayor and Corporation — Eeply — Addresses at the Queen's Hotel, , 153- 155 Visit to the College of Upper Canada — Address from the Prin cipal and Alumni— Col. Gray's Eeply ;^Visit to Osgood HaU ; — Visit to the University — Eloquent Address from the Eev. Dr. McCaul, and Eeply by Dr. Tupper — View of the Institution ; — Visit to the Normal School — Its great attractions, 156 — 161 The Banquet at Toronto, 161 Speeches by Mayor Medcalf, General Napier, Colonel Denison, Hon. Mr. Allan — by Hon. Mr. McCully, (Nova Scotia)— Hon. Charles Fisher, (New Brunswick) — Hon. Mr. Carter, (New foundland) — Hon. Edward Palmer, (P. E. Island) — Mr. Eoss, (Eed Eiver) — Hon. George Brown, (Canada) — Hon. A.T.Galfc, (Canada) 161—206 Inspection of thi; Volunteers, 206 Speches by General Napier and Colonel Gray, 207 — 209 The Public Ball, (at Toronto) 209 Departure fro.m Toronto .210 Eeception of the Delegates at Hamilton, St. Catheriuo's and Clifton, and Visit to Niagara Falls, : 210 Address at Hamilton — Eeply by Hon. Mr. Tilley; — Address from Board of Trade f Hamilton)— Eeply by Hon. Mr. Shea ; — Address at St. Catherine's — Speech by Mr. JIoGiverio — Eeply, by Hon. Mr Pope; — Dinner at Clifton — Complimentary toast to Mr. Swinyard (Manager of the Great Western) — Mr. Swin- yard's Eeply ; — Visit to the Falls ; — Eeturn to Toronto and Montreal j^Concluding Eemarks,... 210—217 Appendix— Eeport of the Quebec Conference, 219—231 INTRODUCTION. The compilation of the foUowing pages was commenced, during the past winter, at the request of several gentlemen who have taken a deep interest in the que.'jtion of a Confedera tion of the British American Colonies. The Conferences held in the Maritime Provinces and in Canada, in connection with that question, in the autumn of 1864, have excited a great deal of public attention in Great Britain and America ; and it has been considered, that — ^notwithstanding the confidential man ner in which the proceedings of the Conferences were con ducted — there should be some connected account of their meetings — of the times and places when and where they met — and of some of the leading incidents connected with the great business entrusted to them. The most important of these incidents were the utterances of the Delegates on important public occasions. It has been the object of the Compiler to collect all the prin cipal speeches delivered on those occasions. They contain valuable infoi-mation bearing upon the interests of the Colonies ; aud nearly all abound with high-toned patriotic sentiments which entitle them to a more lasting record than could be allotted to them in the newspapers of the passing hour. The speeches herein presented have been revised with much care. The Compiler has availed himself, in all cases where he could do so conveniently, of the polite attention of the speakers residing in the several Provinces, in assisting him to correct the errors that were necessarily attendant upon hastily prepar ed newspaper reports. This has certainly delayed the issuing of the present little work, but it is to be hoped that it may be all the more useful flrom the delay, as being more coiTect than otherwise it would be. This little book makes no pretension to the dignity of author ship, and on that account it may not be supposed to be witliin the range of criticism. The Compiler cannot, however, but expect that those who look with an unfavorable eye on Con federation will find something to cavil at in these pages. It is the fashion of some persons — wise in their own conceit — to 2 UNION OF THE BRITISH PBOVINCBS. three years it seems to have become the unalterable policy of the Crown towards the Colonies, to insist upon their uniting, in order to relieve Great Britain from the whole, burthen of .defending them in the event of any hostilities that might arise between the Mother Country and any Foreign Power. The subordinate ques tion of Defence is, Indeed, the one which may be said to have brought the- primary question of Union to the position which it now occupies in the eyes of the world ; and there is no doubt that if the Union be accomplished, it will, be owing to the sentiment , of self-preservation -against the perils which now threaten the Colonies from abroad, more than to a bejief in the pecuniary advantages which new commercial regulations would confer. The; first official action on the Union Question arose out of a resolution adopted unanimously by the Parliament of Nova Scotia on the 15th April, 1861. It was moved by the Provincial Secretary, and is as follows: — " Whereas the subject of a Union of the North Ameri can Provinces, or of the Maritime Provinces of British Ainerica, has been from time to time mooted and disc^igsfid in all the Colonies ; " And whereas, while many advantages jnay be secured by such a Union, either of all these Provinces, or of a portion of them, many and serious obstacles are presented which can only be overcome by mutual consultation of the leading men of the Colonies, and by free communication with the Imperial Government : therefore Iiesolved,Tha,t His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor be respectfully re quested to put himself in communication with His Grace the Colonial Secretary, and His Excellency the Governor General, and the Lieutenant Governors of the other North American Provinces,, in order to ascertain the policy of Her Majesty's Government and the opinions of the other Colonies, with a view to an enlightened consideration of a question involving the highest interest, and upon which the public mind in aU the Provinces ought to be set at rest. ' mnas of the British provinchs. 3 " Which Resolution being seconded and put was agueed to by the House." This resolution,- having bfeen forwarded to the Colonial Office, was transmitted by the Duke of Newcastle in a deispatch of the 6th July, 1862, to; the Governor Gen- era,l, and to the Lieuteniant Governors of the several Provinces ; and in a separate despatch to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, his Grace expressed his unquali fied approval of the matter referred to in the resolution above quoted, whether the Union referred to should include amalgamation with Canada, or merely a Union of the Lower Provinces., Eeferring to both topics, " I am far from considering," said His Grace, ".thatthey do not form a vei-y proper subject for calm ' deliberation." Then cautiously saying that Her Majesty's" Government was not prepared to annoucce any definite course of policy, on a question which seemed to originate, with only one Province, the nobl6 Duke expressed his own opinion on the question in the following words : — " If a union, either partial or complete, should hereafter be proposed with the concurrence of all the Provinces to be united, I ana sure that the matter would bp. weighed in, this country both by- the public, by Parliament, and by Her Majesty's Government with.no other feeling than an aniiety to discern and to promote any course which might be the most conducive to the prosperity, the strength, and the harmony of all the British communities in North America." • . ¦ - Thus prompted to consider the question of Union, the Lieut. Governors of the several Provinces brought it under the notice of their respective Legislatures at the com mencement of their Sessions of 1864, with the view to tlie appointment of -Delegates to confer upon the practicabilitv of establishing a Legislative Union between the Maritinio Provinces. The question .was discussed in the several Legislatures, with calmness and ability,..by the leading 4 UNION OT THE fiRlTMH PROVnSfCEB.' men of the contendfeg' partiesj and Sn^ithont refertence to local party issues. The discussion elicited, however— ahd more particularly in the Prince Edward Island Legisla- ture-^a strong feeHng-of dissatisfaction at the proposal for a Legislative Union ; but still the Legislature of the Is land felt that they could not honourably keep aloof front. the,propp5.ed Conference^aiid.on the 18th of April passed; but not without- a division, the following resolution,, whicli is identical with the resolutions, aiming at the same object^ passed in the Legislatures of Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick'cr^. . , :,, "'BEsbLVED, That HislExcellencythe Lieutenant-Gov ernor be authorized to appoifat Delegates (not to exceed fiveX to confer with' Delegates wio' fnay, be appointed by the Governments* of Nova Scotia a.iid .New Brunswick. for the purpose ojf. discussing the expediency of a Union, of the three Pifovinces of Nova. Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edwatd Island; under ottb Governnleint atfd L^gis-' lature, the report of the said Delegates to be laid bfefotei the Legislature of this Colony, -before any further action shall be taken in ^regard to the proposed question." In conformity with the resolutions referred to, Delegates were apiioihted by the Governments of Nbva Scotia,. New Bruhswicli and . Prince Edward Island. Canada was at this time, without, previous concert witli the Maritime Provinces, engaged in considering ithe necessity, of a change in its 'constitution,' 60 as to^ reconcile, if possible, the conflicting interests of the Eastern and Western Divisions of: the Province ; and it was deemed an appiro- priate tinie to bring the question of Colonial Union gener-^ ally, which, would embrace Canada, under the notice df the proposed Conference. With this view the Canadian Government solicited permission to be present by Dele gation at the Conference. Their request was most cordially complied with ; and oil the Ist September, the whole of the Delegates, met according to previous arrangement at Charlottetown. xrsiM oip 'Tlffi BRITISH piadriirdifc K THE DELEGATES:; Nova Scotia was represented by — The Hon. ChaYles Ttipper, M.P.P., Provincial Secretary. Wm A, Henry, M.P.P., Attorney General; Eobert Barry Dickie, M.L.G. Jonathan McCully, M.L.C. Adams G. Archibald, M.P.P. ' New Brunswick was represented, by — The Hon. S. L. Tilley, M.P.P., Provincial Secretary, " John- M. Johnston. M.P.P.,' Attorney General. John Hamilton Gray, M.P.P. Edward B. Chandler, M.L.C. ' ' " W. H. Steeyes, M.L.C. ^ Prince Edward Island was represented by — The Hon. Col. Gray; M.P.P., President of the Executive Council. " Edward PalmejjJM.L.C., Attorney General, W. H. Pope, M.PVP., Colonial Secretary. George- Coiesi, M.P.P. - ^ '/\ ] , ! T TU^ / A. A. Mapdonald, M.L.C. . - ; - , , , Newfoundland . sent .no Delegates to t^is Gonforenpe. Canada was represented by — 1j . . ' ^ . TheJHon. John A. McDonald; M.P.P.,' Attorney General, Upper. Canada* i,, " George Brown, M,jP.:P^, President of Executive GouhciL ,., Alexander T. Gait, M.P.P. , Minister of Finance. " George E. Cartier, M.P.F., Attorhey* General, . Lower Ganadai" ; ' ¦ : i o-ii " Hector L. Lahgevin, M.P.P., Solicitor; 'General, of Lower Canada/ " William McDougall, Proviijcial Secretary. , , Thomas D'Arcy McGee, j^.P.P., Minister, of Agriculture. '' ""- ' '•' The Canadian Ministers — not haying been delegated to consider the question of a Legislatiife Uniofi, to which the 6 UKION OF THE BBinSH PBOVINCES, attention of the other Delegates was specially directed by a resolution of their respective Assemblies — were informally present at the Conference. Although no report of the Charlottetown Conference has yet been given to the public, -it is well understood that the proposal to unite the Maritime Provinces under one Go vernment and one Legislature was deemed impracticable ; but the opinion of the Delegates was unanimous that a Union upon a larger basis might be efiected ; and with the view of considering the feasibilty of such a Union in all its details, it was proposed by the Canadian Ministers to hold a further Conference at Quebec, with the consent of the Governments of the Lower Provinces, and at such time as might be named by His Excellency the Governor General. This arrangement was agreed to, and the Con ference at Charlottetown suspended its deliberations. BANQUET IN CHARLOTTETOWN— SPEECHES OF DELEGATES AND OTHERS. Before leaving Charlottetown, a Comtnittee composed of members of the Executive Council of Prince Edward Is land, and some of , the most prominent citizens of the capital, had made arrangement for entertaining at a Ball and Banquet the distinguished Delegates from the other Provinces, together with the Lady friends and others who had accompanied them. The entertainment was given in the Provincial Building at Charlottetown on the evening of the 8th September. The members of both branches of the Legislature,, as well as the principal office-holders in the Colony, were invited as the guests of the Committee ; and no expense or trouble was spared to make the enter tainment worthy of the occasion, creditable to the Colony, and acceptable to its guests, who were unanimous in ex- priBBsing their .iippreciation of the generous spirit which UNION OF THE BEITieH PROVINCES. 7 prtmpted and characterized the festivity. At the Banquet several of the Delegates gave utterance to their sentiments on the greatquestion of Union — aU declaring theiradhesion to that measure, pointing out its advantages, and urging its adoption. The speeches were not reported as fully as could be desired, owing to the inexperience of the Reporter; but they were considered accurate in so far as they con veyed the spirit of the remarks of the different speakers. The main object of this unpretending Compilation is to preserve the sentiments of the Delegates and other pro minent public men, uttered on public occasions, while the former were employed in the duties of their mission in the Lower Provinces and in Canada ; and Charlottetown being the first place where an occasion of this kind presented itself, such a report of the speeches there delivered as can now be obtained, should, of course, appear first. After the usual loyal toasts were honoured in the customary way^ the health of the Govemor General and that of the Go vernors of the Maritime Provinces, were mentioned in the complimentary style which timerhonored usage has pre scribed. George Dundas, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, returned thanks for the toast, on behalf of His Excellency the Governor General, and like wise on his own behalf and that of his brother Governors in the other Provinces. He expressed great satisfaction at the auspicious meeting of so many distinguished gentlemen from the neighbouring Provinces, whose Ooilr vention would, he trusted, be conducive to the best interests of Her Majesty's subjects on this side of the Atlantic— r enabling them to form, as it would, a more extenSiv^- acquaintance with our people and their resources tha^i could be acquired in our present isolated condition, iitid thus greatly enlarge the commercial and social intercourse . between the several Provinces. The next toast was that of " Our distinguished Guests, the Delegates from Canada, Nora Scotia, and New Braos- wiok." 8 TWI,ON QF THE, KEi,If »H PEOiVINOES. ;r Cpi.ONEi' iGbat, lt^-|p,a ¦ time — sooner or later — bear their appropriate, and I hope fortunate, fruits. ' Nevertheless in my position you 'may expebt that I should feel some reserve in speaking on that subject. There is, however, one great pleasure which any representative of the British Crown must feel — and very unlike what he must have often felt in the old days of our colonial history— viz., that no man is now really a repre- sentatiye of that crown, or of the feelings which animate Her ' Majesty's government, unless be has at heart the interests of the peOple among whom he is placed, and uiiless he be determined to promote these interests by all the means in his power. Therefore, gentlemen, I feel in that capacity there is very little reserve necessary on my pArt when I say in bidding you welcome that whatever may be the result of the deliberations of the delegates of the British Provinces, the Crown . of England and the British Gbriirnment have but one object in view, namely, to give the most indulgent consideration to whatever plan you yourselves may devise with a reasonable hope and pros pect of promotingthe social welfare and material progress of Her Majesty's subjects here. I have already alluded to the change which has come over the colonial administra tion in late years— how very different it is from the days when we, lost one of the .finest portions of the earth, the neighboring States, through what would now be considered very great ignorance of the first principles of government, and very culpable mismanagement. Any gentleman serv ing Her Majesty in the capacity' that I do, must feel'very differently from what one would in former days, He is not 'sent out to build up or maintain any monoply here for the benefit of .parties in England. He .has no such mission now ; and I have no hesitation in saying that Her Majesty's -government, though for obvious reasons unlikely to initi- ' 'ate any scheme of union amongst, you, yet looks with an affebtionate and parental interest on the proceedings which yoii have initiated. Though there may be a difference of opinion as to the measures which .you are considering. Her , Majesty's Government, equally with yourselves, is desirous that you should agree upon some unity of action, as to many matters in which you have a community of interest. Her Majesty's Government have not forbidden me to say this much, and I believe it is its intention to. give the most UNION 0? THE BRITISH PROVISpES. .- -^ 21 favourable consideration to the result of the deliberations of the gentlemen who are now around this Bbai'd., I, "can not help aMing, as being personally more or less identified with Noy^^otia, that I trust whatever project, may Jiere- after be ' sitbmitted to tbe united wisdom of the Legislatures of the different Provinces, in case these deli berations ever ripen so far as to bear the fruit of a distinct proposition — that it will be such as, will give the maritime provinces a worthy, and adequate position. (Cheers.) At all events, their geographical position and their identity of interest point to some mOre intindate union amongst them selves at least. Should that be accoinplished in^the first instance, I am sure our Canadian fellow-countrymen would not less willingly receive us when representing large revenues, and larger territories, and larger populations — all of which are matters which could not but have. an effect even with a people so disinterested as those of .Cjanada are. (Cheers and laughter.) , ,; The toast of the " Army and Navy " having- been pro posed by the Chairman, who referred, in a few felicitous remarks to the vast importance of these Services in main taining, as they would do, when the hour of peril came, the connection between England and her Colonies— t-andithe toast having been honoured with the usual enthusiasm, it was responded to, on behalf of the Army, by Commissary General Routh ; and on behalf of the Navy, by— ^ His Excellency Sir James Hope, K,C.B., Vice Admiral on the North American and West Indian Station. After expressing his thanks for the toast. His Excellency .said : I am iglad I have been able to be present, not simply on account of the personal gratification which is afforded me of making the acquaintance of so many , gentlepien .with whom I could hardly have hoped to meet under ordinary circumstances, but because not long from Epgland, I think " that I may venture to say to you that the feelings of jealousy with which a project such as you now entertain might have been regarded not many years- ago, areiiow entirely outgrown. We are now well assured of the strength of the ties by which you are bound, to us ^ the tie, of loyalty to a common Sovereign — the tie of a common 22 UNION OF* THE BRITiSS PROVIIJCES. kindred — the tie of many a name common to us' all, and last, though not least,' the tie of " Auld Lang Syne." Rest well assured that your aspirations, for nationality will find .nothing else than a cordial response amohg us. I "know that there are some who have now begun to tell us that the colonies and the mother-country will cease to be united when common interests cease, but I, don't believe one word of that; and I am sure you don't believe it. Rest well assured that there are feelings which lie far deeper th^ii' that,"and which are far nobler too, and those . who teU us this have either never read history, or if they have read it, have never read it aright. (OheerS.) Only look back t0':th(^. history of the best men in the War' of Independence, whajt a severe wrench it was to sever.them from their allegiance to the mother-country,, and you can tell better than I hov? many descendants stilllive 'among' yOu of those who sacr'i- ficed their all for loyalty to Elngland. -Oatiyou forgot when that young Queen presented herself toher Huri'gatian nobies-^wheri she supposed that she was to be cru'shed qy all the forces of Europe united — and held; up her babe before them— 'can you forget the answer that they paafle ? "We will die for our Queen Maria Theresa," Now ai:e there4;h6se who will tell us that England, who" sent h^jr best blood to the Crimea, would give a deaf ear to the-'cty of .Canada, in the time of peril, or do you doubt thatif a son of our common Sovereign presented himself in Britiuli America, feelings deeper than those, of- self-rintereist would be stirred to their inmost depths ? Therefore it ia, that I, looking to the glory and interest of my country, am able to say tO' you, in this project as in any other which is ¦for your advantage and welfare, go on arid prosper, (cheers). The next toast was : " The ProvincialDelegates." ' la introducirig it, the Hon. CsArles TUppek, (Chairnlan), said : It is no secret to ariy person in this assenlblage that a number of public men of Canada, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, lid,Ve ; been en gaged for some time at Charlottetown in deliberating upon questions of the deepest importance td British Amferica. I -have had the'jride and the satisfaction on the present oc casion 'of:asking' my fellow citizen's in Halifax to testily their appl^cfation dr'the visit of so many distinguished UNI0il,-OF. THj: BRITISH PROVINCES,-. - 23 public ;meif from all these provinces. I am, perhaps, 'safe in saying, that ^li^ ipore. momentous gathering ot public men l^as ever iaken-place in these provinces — whether re garded as comprising ti^e ablest; ai^d best men, not, only of one, party, but of both thq great parties into which all ttese Colonies have been divided— ^-the 'Ins,' and the 'Outs.' When I speak , of Canada, , it is true that on the present occasion only tha'Bxeciitive Government is reprer,,,, sented ; but I need riot tell this assembly that which is no news^tQ tHem_, that on the great question which has en- gage^'olir deliberations, two parties who have stood in the most' determined political antagonism to each other hav« been ' brought together. All minor considerations of, - questions of party have been merged into one common, sentinaenfr — to unite, in order to elevate' their country, and provide it with a stable and.efficien,t Government. I feel, therefore, on the present occasion, "that both, of the great parties in these provinces , a,re represented as fully as they could be. I inay say, .that" engaged as .we ,haye been with thes'erdeliberg-tions during thepgst week, I have the proud satisi4cti(jin of being able to state^to this Assembly to-night that a ?m.O:re ^harmonious, or more j united, or niore cordial body of men, withoT^t a single exception, never were brought together in an en^deavour to benefit their conimon country. I will go further, and say that I believe, and I have reason for believing, so, that the great question in which, they are engaged will receive at ho distant day a satisfactory solution at their hands. But, Civen if that were not the .case, if at present we should fail in devising such a sy stein of Go v- ernnaent in these Colonies as would be calculated to unite us and consolidate pur influence, and place us in a position not only, to aid each other, but in the hour of danger and need to giv.e that united co-operation to "the Parent State which is djj'e to her at our hands — -even ifour deliberations , should fail, I say, still I am confident they -will not have been-, lost upon us, but will exercise a most salutary in fluence. ,. I believe the discussion of these, questions would enable pnblic men. to co-operate on other matters- as they have On this. ' - , The toast having -being drunk — The Honorable Geor0S!- Etienne Cartier, Attornejr.; 24 UNION OF THE BRITISH 'PfeOVINCES. General of Lower Canadaj rose to return thanks on behalf of the Canadian Delegates. After a few prelimiriary' re marks, he said:— True it is that the deliberations of that Conference to which allusion has been made, have been' to a certain extent carried on with closed doors ; but at the same time it must be known "that the great object and the great question subniitted tO that Conference is nothing eke thari-this": If there could not be any means devised by which the great national fragments comprised in each ot the British American' Provinces could be brought together ' and made ihto a great nation ? Now here is the question : Shall we cpritiriue' to remain separate Provinces, presided ovef;'it is 'true'; by a'.coinmon Sovereign,, our worthy and ' gracious Queen, blit at the same tiriie politically divided ? We know very well that there must be attached to that separation a certain" aiHoimt of weakness, and it must be obvious to every'one of dsthat if these Provinces can be brought together in one government they would be more powerful and mOre worthy of being an appendage to the British' Crown., (Cheers.) The question, as I have sub mitted it to yOn," is of very great importance, but is it a presumiition on the' part of those who have sent us together to deliberate on this matter ? I don't think so. I think there -was good cause for this Conference, and that this is a m'ost propitious time for holding it , When we consider that Canada has a population of 3,000,000, Nova Scotia 350,000, New Brunswick nearly 300,000, Prince Edward Island very nearly 100,000, or a total population of over three million and a half, we see there is a sufficient per sonal element in these Provinces to make a nation. When ' we come to the territory occupied by these Provinces, we see again another great element requisite for the foundation of a gt-eat State. I need hardly bring to your notice, gentlemen, that we in Canada have those two great ele ments of nationality— the personal and territorial elements; but._ we' kno^ our short comingS— that though great in territory a,nd population, we want the other element which is absolutely -necessary to make a nation, that is the maritime element What nation on earth has' obtained any amount of greatness unless it has been united with a maritime, element ? We know -that for a long time it was thoiight that the sea was a barrier to the progress of a UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 25 people. I remember when the people of Great Britain were called the insulaires; yet this nation has managed to become the greatest power in Europe. Take again Aus tria, great in territory and population, — take Prussia, even Russia, or any of the great territorial powers — they have had a certain amount of power, but it is limited, for they have not had the sea to enable them to expand it ad infini- turti. Knowing as we do in Canada, that we possess so large a personal element — that we have cleared so much of our territory as would secure to us as respectable a position as many of the European Powers, we want to be something greater yet ; but that cannot be unless you unite with us. Nor must you lose sight of this fact, that though the Maritime Provinces occupy a sea board position, yet if they do not unite with us, they must be for all time to come only a mere strip of sea-shore. (Laughter.) We have too much love for you, I can assure you, and at the same time consideration for ourselves, to allow any such thing. (Renewed laughter.) Is it not within our power to form a -vigorous Confederation, leaving to the local govemnients the power of dealing with their omi local matters ? There are difficulties in the way, but they are susceptible of solution if managed with wisdom. All that is requisite to overcome difficulties is a strong will and a good heart. When I think of the nationality which can be formed if we can but bring the Provinces under one Federal Government, it seems to me I see before me — and I am now speaking by a sort of metaphor — a great British American nation, with the fair Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as the arms of the national body to embrace the trade of the Atlantic. None could make so fair a head as Prince Edward Island. This national body ¦will then want a trunk, and we in Canada having the " Grand Trunk," can afford to be the trunk to the nation. The two Canadas will stretch with their toes far out to the West, and bring as much as possible of the Western territory into the Confederation. When we are united in a system of Federal Gevernment, one of the most important questions that will be submitted to us wiU be; the defence of the country. As it is now, we have each) of us the will and determination to defend ourselves if at tacked, — but can we do so at present with, effiiciencyl?" 4 2^ UNION OF THE BPITISH PEOyiNOES. Take for instance. Prince Edward Lsland, or Nova Scotia, or., New Brunswick, or the Canadasr— can they defend themselves, or help Englapd in their defence, whilst sepa rated, ag they are ? No, but united, one of the questions with which the ,General Government must deal will be that , of ¦ Defence. 'We know very Avell that united the Mlitia,of ,'tlie Provinces' could turn out to the number of at least. 2P0,000, and then, with the 60,000 sailors that the Canadas iinc^ the |Jamtime Provinces could provide, to help the army and na^vy of England, what power would be crazy enough to attack us ? I have heard since I have been in Halifax, tJie,, objection thrown out that there is much danger that you would be absorbed. It will be very easy for me to dispel such fears. I answer them by a question : Have you any objection to be absorbed by com merce ? Halifax througli the Intercolonial Railroad ¦will be the recipient of trade wMch now benefits Portland, Boston and New York. If you are unwilling to do all in your power to bring to a satisfactory consummation this great question, you will:force us to send all this trade which you ought to have .through American channels. Will the people of Nova Scotia or Sew Brunswick be better off because they are not absorbed by commerce or prosperity ? It is as evident as the sun shines at noon that when the Intercolonial Railway is built — and it must necessarily be built if that confederation takes place — the consequence mil be that between Halifax and Liverpool there will be .steamers almost daily leaving and arriving at the former—, in fact it will be a ,ferry between Halifax and Liverpool. (Cheers,) We know very well too, that very many travel ler.^ would come to visit you at the sea side. When I am addressing myself to you on this question I must also dispel a certain amount of fear which I see exists in cer tain minds,, that if this union takes place the tie which connects us with England will be weakened. Now I be lieve the eontrary will be the case. I am living in a Pro vince in which the inhabitants are monarchical by religion, by habit and by the repa^mberance of past history. Our great desire and our great; object in making efforts to ob tain the federation of the Provinces is not to weaken mon,arqhicai institutions, bift on the contrary, to increase their influence. We know very well that, as soon as UOTON OF THE BRITISH PfiOVliSrCES. ' 27 confederation is obtained, the Cotifederacy will have to be erected into a Vice-Royalty, and we may expect that a member of the Royal Family ¦will be sent here as the head. With regard to the feeling iri England, I am sure they understand the question very well. Any orie conversing with Englishmen, or reading the Eriglish papers,' will see that the question which prevails there is the defence of the country. I may say at once that I dislike that school of Bright, Cobden & Co. I was glad to hear a little' wMle ago, the brave and noble Admiral tell us that there is an under-current which is deeper than all that school. We k-now that all this utter indifference to colonial deperidericy only exists among a certain number of politicians ; but at all events it behoves us tO be wise and take a*ay frOm that school every cause of coriiplaint which they may have against the colonial system. If we can orgafliSi^e our militia in such a way as to assure England that iri any case of emergency we can help her, you may depend upon it that school will have no very long existence. Geritlemen, you must not be afraid of us who come froiU' Canada because we represent a country greater in reSpect to popu lation and territory. Don't be afraid of Us,— don't tell us to go back with all our offers of no avail — don't tell us as it was said formerly of others :— Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes. Let me assure you that the promises we make are made in all sincerity and good faith — in urging union upon you we believe we are doing that which will be for your happiness and prosperity. (Cheers.) The Hon. George Brown. President of the Executive Council of Canada, followed the Attorney General of Lower Canada, in a speech replete with statistical and other information. After a few introductory remarks, compli mentary to the people of Halifax for tlieir larp:e and generous hospitality,' the honorable geiitlcmnii paid : — It may be expected that I should say a few words as to tlie object of our present mission ; and perhaps I cannot begin better than by noticing certain statements that have a[)- peared in the public press, and which have received some credence in reference to our visit. It has beea said that 28 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. we have had the opportunity before now of entering into closer union with Nova Scotia and New Bruns'wick, but we did not avail ourselves of it — that we were offered an Intercolonial railway, but refused to undertake it — and that we only come now seeking union with these Provinces to escape from our own sectional difficulties at home. Now, Sir, I am a member of the party in Canada, which up to this moment has been most strenuous in its resistance to the Intercolonial Railway ; and I am persuaded there is not one man in this assembly who, under similar circuqa- stances, would not have acted precisely as we did. In these Lower Provinces you have all had your political troubles, but we in Canada have had sectional difficulties to distract and embitter us vastly more serious than any you h^ive had to contend with. Our Constitution of 1840 brought together under one government two countries peopled by two races, with different languages, different creeds, and different laws and customs ; and unfortunately, while mak ing us nominally one people, it retained the line of demar cation between Upper and Lower Canada, and gave the same number of representatives in Parliament to each section, vrithout regard to their respective populations, their contributions to the general revenue, or any other consideration. The disproportion between the two sections gradually increased, until Upper Canada has 400,000 people more than Lower Canada,and pays full three-fourths of the whole national taxation, — but all the while the Lower Canadians had equal representation with us in both Houses of Parliament. A ^ygjematic agitation for the redress of the great wrong ¦was commenced in Upper Canada — and as the only means of enforcing justice, we ' resistedall^large_^£chgssg,^f improvement, we refused to emef^SroaB^new undertakings involving an increase of our public debt until a reform of our constitutional system was obtained, and we knew what our future position as a people was -to be. We regarded the apparently far-off scheme of Federation of the whole Provinces as no remedy for our present wrongs, and we scouted the idea of build ing more railroads from the public chest until the tax payers who were to bear the burden of their construction, had their just share of control over the public purse. Long and earnestly did we fight for the justice we demand- UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 29 ed, but at last light broke in upon us. Parties were nearly equally balanced, the wheels of govemment had nearly ceased to move, a dead lock was almost inevitable, when Mr. Cartier, who wields great power in Lower Canada boldly and manfully took the ground that this evil must -be met, and he would meet it. On this basis, I and two political friends, * joined the Administration, and the ex isting coalition was formed expressly for the purpose of set tling justly and permanently the constitutional relations be tween Upper and Lower Canada. We have agreed to a principle of settlement acceptable to a large majority of the '^srepresentatives in Parliament, and, I am also persuaded, to the great mass of our people in both sections of the Province. We are pledged as a Government to place before Parlia ment at its next session a Bill giving effect to the con ditions of our compact, — and should the union of the whole Provinces not be proceeded "with, our Canadian Reform Bill will go on and our grievances be redressed. You ¦will therefore clearly perceive that we have not come here to seek relief from our troubles — for the remedy of our grievances is already agreed upon, and come what may of the larger scheme now before us, our smaller scheme will certainlyjbeaccomplifihed. Our sole object in coming here is to~sayntoyou— ^^We are about to amend our con- : stitution, and before finally doing so, we invite you to enter with us frankly and earnestly into the inquiry whether it would or would not be for the advantage of all the British American Colonies to be embraced under one political ¦system. Let us look the whole question steadily in the face — if we find it advantageous let us act upon it, but if not, let the whole thing drop. This is the whole story of our being here — this is the full scope and intention of our present -visit. But, sir, there is another objection raised. It is said that the debt of Canada is very great, our tax ation is heavy, and that we seek to throw a portion of our burdens on the shoulders of our neighbors. Now, I belong to the party of economy in Canada — the party that has resisted the increase of the public debt and taxation, and * The Honorable William McDougall, Provincial Secretary, and Member of Parliament for North Lanark, Upper Canada, and the Honorable Oliver Mowatt, lately Postmaster General, and now Lord /Ghancellor for Canada. 30 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. has loudly complained of their rapid advance— but large as our debt and taxation undoubtedly are for a young country, the people of Canada are abundantly able to bear it all and much riiore without assistance from any quarter whatever. (Cheers.) Were our burdens^ much greater than they are, we would but have to stand still in our extra ordinary expenditures for a few years, and the rapid increase of our population, industrial energy and wealth would easily enable us to overcome it all. ' And if gentle men who make this suggestion would look narrowly into the finances of their own Provinces-^and having regard to the populations of their respective countries,will compare them with ours, I fancy they will find no great disparity between our respective burdens. Sir, it ought not excite any surprise that the Federation of all the British North American Provinces is at last presented to us as a practical question. The subject has often and again been discussed in the press and in Parliament, but at no time has any Provincial Statesman ever expressed a doubt that the fit ting future of these Colonies was to be united under one Government and Legislature under the sovereignty of Great Britain. But two questions ever sprang up at once in considering so great a movement — Have the Colonies -yet gained such a strength as to warrant their undertaking such a charge ? — and could such terms be agreed upon and such a constitution be framed as would be acceptable to the whole of the Provinces ? These questions are as serious and needful to be met at this hour, as they ever were in the past It is no light matter to change the whole political and commercial relations of any country. In these Colonies, • as heretofore governed, we have enjoyed great advantages under the protecting shield of the mother country. We have had no army or navy to sustain, no foreign diplomacy to maintain — our whole resources have gone to our internal improvement — and notwithstanding our occasional strifes with the Colonial Office, we have en joyed a degree of self-government and generous consider ation such as no colonies in ancient or modern history ever enjoyed at the hands of a parent state. Is it any wonder that thoughtful men should hesitate to countenance a step that might change the happy and advantageous relations we have occupied towards the mother country ? I am UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES, 31 persuaded there never was a moment in the history of these Colonies when the hearts of our people were so firmly attached to the parent state by the ties of gratitude and affection as at this moment; and for one I hesitate; not to say, that did this movement for colonial union endanger the connection that has so long and so happily existed, it vrould have my firm opposition. (Cheers.) But far from fearing such a result, a due consideration of the matter must satisfy every one that the more united we are, the stronger will we be — and the stronger we are, the less trouble we will give the Imperial Government, the more advantageous will be our commerce, and the more proud they will be of us as a portion of the Empire. Our relation to the Mother Country does not, therefore, enter into the question. Whether the right time for a gener9,l union has arrived, must be determined by a close examination into the pre^ sent position of all the Provinces, and the possibility of such an arrangement being matured as will be satisfactory to all concerned. And that. Sir, has been the. work in which the Conference has been engaged for two week's past. We have gone earnestly iptp the, consideration of the question in all its bearings, and our unanimous con clusion is, that if terms of union fair to all and acceptable to all could be devised, a union of all the British American Provinces would be highly advantageous to every one of the Provinces. (Loud cheers.) In the first place, sir, from the attitude of half a dozen inconsiderable colonies, we would rise at once to the position of a great and powerful state. At the census taken on 12th January, 1861, the population of the Provinces was as follows : — Upper Canada .....1,396,091 Lower Canada 1.111,566 Nova Scotia ^330,857 New Brunswick 252,047 Newfoundland 122,635 Prince Edward Island 80,857 Total in 1861 3,294,056 But since then nearly four years have elapsed, and the ; average increase meanwhile, calculated at fifteen per cent, makes the population of the six Provinces at this moment 32 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 3,787,750. And if to this we add the large numbers necessarily omitted in countries so vast and Sparsely settled,- We will find that our total population,' in the event of a union, would froni the start be not much less than four- millions of souls. (Cheers.) And there is perhaps a better way of measuring our strength than by mere num bers — and that is, by comparing ourselves, 'with other countries. Now there are in Europe forty-eight Sovereign States. Of these there are no fewer than than thirty-Sevefl containing less population than would the united Britis^h' North American Provinces — and among them are no less prominent countries than Portugal, Holland, Denmark, S'witzerland, [Saxony, Hanover and Greece (cheers) — all of which are inferior to us in population. There are buf eleven states in Europe superior to us in population ; and three of these are so little in advance of us that a very few years would undoubtedly send us far ahead of them; The three are Sweden and Norway, containing 6,349,775 people — Belgium, containing 4,782,255-^ and Bavaria, with 4,689,837. These three once passed, and but eight European States would be in advance of us. (Cheers.) And let us see how we would stand iri regard to the question of defence. I find by the Census returns of 1861, that the male persons then in the provinces were as follows : — Upper Canada From 20 to 30—128,740 30 to 40— 84,178 40 to 50— 59,660 50 to 60— 36,377 .308,955 Lower Canada From 20 to 30 — 93,302 30 to 40— 59,507 40 to 50— 42,682 50 to 60— 30,129 225,620 Nova Scotia From 20 to 60 67,367 New Brunswick — From 21 to 40 — 33 574 40 to 50— 10,739 50 to 60— 7,312 51,625 Newfoundland From 20 to 60 .,25,532 UNiON' OF'thU BRITISH PR0-\aNCES. 3^ Prince E. ISLAift- From 21' to' 45— 11 ,1 44 ' '' 45 to 60— -3,675 .;l4„819 Total Males frota 20 to 60. " ...,,... 693,918 Of this enormous body of men, about 150,000 were between the years of 45 and 60-^but striking therti all off, and throwing off fifty thousarid for the lanie and the halt, we would have' still left ' half a million of' able bodied men ready and willing to defend their cOUrifry. (Cheers.) But let us look at the 'aspect we should present to the world in an industrial arid commerciarpoirit of view. And first,let us examine the agricultural interest.', 'From the Census Returi^S,it appears that there were in 1861 no fewer t|ian 333,604 farmers in the six British Anierican Pro^vinces, and 160,702 laborers, of which doubtless a very large, pi;o- portiori are farm laborers. It also appears that the land granted by government and hoW held by private parties in the Provinces is not less than 45,638,854 acres — of which 13,128,229 are under cultivation, and the balance has yet to be brought into use. These lands are thus distributed: — Held-:' Cultivated. Upper Canada s... 17,708, 232 6,051,619 .Lower Canada 13,680;000. 4,804,235 Nova Scotia ,.,. 5,748,893. : 1,028,032 New Brunswick 6,636,329 .....835,108 Newfoundland, about. . . J i... 100,000.. 41 ,108 Prince Edward Island. .'j.lv365,46o...... 368,lil7 ;.' . • ' '45,638,854 13,128,229. Arid mark the enprmous,ainount,of produce obtained; from these cultivated l^nds. I compile from the Census Iteturns of the several Co.loii^es the following results as our; united crop in the year I860;-;— ; , Wheat bushels .....28,212,760 Barley....;; :" ..........5,692,091'"' ' Rye ...'..... ..;';v.«'.....„.iL.;..;.... 1,934,583 Peas .;..;....:.;i".ii;V.;':..;..V:.... 12302,183 Oats..' ^:..:i!.;.:^:.f\.:.:.:..'.n 45,634,472' 5 34 UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCES. Buckwheat bushels ,3,648,450 Indian Com " 2,624,163 Beans " 75,755 Potatoes " 39,485,246 Other Roots " 23,730,706 GrassSeed " 115,345 Hay tons 2,242,596 Hops lbs 300,439 Maple Sugar " 16,78^,872 Wool :..." 7,010,914 Flax and Hemp " ..,.2,183,759 Butter " 52,570,886 Cheese " 4,602,065 Beef bbls., 2001bs ...134,562 Pork "...,.." 581,802 At a fair valuation, these crops will be found to sum up to the enormous amount of nearly one hundred and twenty miUions of doUars — and if to this we add the increase on the number and value of the farm stock during the year, and the value of garden and orchard produce during the year, and the improvements in clearing and fencing and buildings during the year — we WiU come safely to the con clusion that the products of our fields and gardens in 1860, was not less than $150,000,000. (Cheers.) The assessed value of our farm lands in 1860 was upwards of $550,000,- 000. And then,, if we consider that our agriculture is yet in its infancy — that only a small portion of the thirteen millions of acres in pasture and under the plough is yet in high cultivation and much of it almost in a state of nature — that thirty millions of good lands over which the plough has not passed are yet in private hands — and that vast quantities still remain with government for disposal — some slight conception may be gained of the future agricultural capabilities of the united British American Provinces. (Cheers.) But, Mr. Chairman, if our position would be so remarkable as an agricultural people, our union would give us almost as high an attitude before the world as a great Maritime State. By the census of 1861 it appears that four years ago the saUors and fishermen of the six Colonies summed up no fewer than 69,256, (Cheers.) There were UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 35 In Upper Canada....; 808 In Lower Canada ..5,150 In Nova Scotia 19,637 In New Brunswick 2,765 In Newfoundland 38,578 In Prince Edward Island 2,318 Total saUors and fishermen 69,256 Setting aside the unspeakable value of such a body of men in defence of the country, the commercial returns from their industry must be very great. The exports of fish alone from the united provinces amounted to no less a sum than nearly ten millions of dollars. I have been unable to ascertain with accuracy the number and tonnage of the shipping owned and sailed in British America — but this we do know, that last year no fewer than 628 vessels were built within our borders, having an aggregate tonnage of 230,312 tons. (Cheers.) These vessels were distributed thus : — Built in Canada 158 vesssels 67209 tons. " Nova Scotia 207 " 46,862" " New Brunswick 137 " ' 85,250"' " Newfoundland 26 "about 6,000" " P. E. Island 100 " 24,991" Total 628 vessels 230,312tons And highly gratifying as are these results, they are the product of two branches but yet in their infancy and both capable of great extension. I might continue this analysis through our whole industrial pursuits and show you one and all of them in the same high state of efficiency — I might tell )'ou how we exported last year ,|15,000,000 in timber alone — I might expose to you the rapidly increas ing importance of our Coal Mines, our Gold Fields, our Copper Mines, our Iron Works and our Petroleum "Wells — I might enlarge on the fast rising importance of our manufactures — but already I have detained you far longer than I intended and must come to a close. Let me, how ever, wind up with this, that were the Provinces all united to-morrow, they would have an annual Export trade of no 36 UNION OF THE BRITISH PRC^TINCES. less than $65,000,000, and an Import traffic to an equal amount — they would have two thousand five hundred miles of railway ; telegraph wires extending to every city and town throughout the country, and an annual govern ment revenue of nearly thirteen millions of dollars. (Cheers) Mr. Chairman, it needs no special vrisdom to perceive that a state presenting such resources and offering such varied and lucrative employment to the immigrant and the capital ist, would at once occupy a high position and attract to it the marked attention of other countries. It would be something to be a citizen of such a state. Heretofore we have been known as separate colonies, and the merits and disadvantages of each compared and set off against the other — but with union the advantages of each would pertairi'to . the whole, — a citizen of one would be a citizen of all^ — ^arid the foreign emigrant would come with very different feel ings of confidence to our shores. In England we should occupy a very different position from what we have ever done as separate and feeble colonies. I cannot agree' with my hon. friend, Mr. Cartier, in his opinion as to the great ' political party in Great Britain that has done so much to break the fetters of trade and raise the commerce of Eng land to its present unexampled point of high prosperity. But regretting, as all must do, the extreme colonial views of Messrs. Bright arid Cobden and their political friends, who cannot fail to see that a union of the whole Provinces would have the effect of inspiring respect even with that school of public men, and commanding confidence in our com mercial future. The doubt and uncertainty as to the future of these Colonies that have hung so long and so injuriously over us, would be greatly modified by the union ; and our securities would sensibly feel the effect in the money market ' of the world. How different a position, too, would we oc cupy in the eyes of our American neighbors. Instead of appearing in their commercial returns as separate buyers,' - we would stand out unitedly as their very best customer—^' and we would be able to deal with them for a permanent ' renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty, under advantages that we have not enjoyed before. But far in advance of all other advantages would be this, that union of all the Pro vinces would break down all trade barriers between us, and ' throw open ait once to all a combined market of four UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 37 miUions of people. You in the east would send us your fish and your coals and your West India produce, while we would send you in return the fiour and the grain and the meats you now buy in Boston and New York. Our merchants and manufacturers would have a new field before them — the barrister in the smaUest provinces would have the judicial honors of all of them before him to stimulate his ambition — a patentee could secure his right over all British America — and in short all the advantages of free intercourse which has done so much for the United States, would at once be open to us aU. One other argument there is in favor of the Union that ought with all of us to weigh most seriously, and that argument is, that it would elevate the politics and the politicians of our country (cheers) — it would lift us above the petty strifes of small communities, and give to our public affairs a degree of importance and to our leading public men a status very different from that they have heretofore occupied, On a survey of the whole case, I do think that there is no doubt as , to the high advantages that would result from a union of all the Colonies — provided that terms of union could be found just to aU the contracting parties, and so framed as to secure harmony in the future administration of affairs. That is the unanimous conclusion of the Conference, and I am persuaded that when the facts are before the country it is a conclusion that will be cordially endorsed by the people of all the Provinces. But it were wrong to conceal for a moment that the whole merit of the scheme of union may be completely marred by the character of its details. The consideration of the details has already received in an informal manner the earnest attention of the Convention. I commit no indiscretion in saying that as yet we have arrived at no formal conclusion as to any of those details — and I am sure you will feel we are right in studiously re fraining at present from all discussions of our views in regard to them. A formal meeting for their earnest and mature consideration will be held at an early day — and when difficulties have been removed and our plans matured, the whole scheme will be placed fully and frankly before our constituents in aU the Provinces. The hon. gentle man resumed his seat amid applause. 38 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. The Honorable S. L. Tilley, Provincial Secretary and Leader of the Government of New Brunswick, in replying to the toast on behalf of that Province, said : — I must con fess that I rise under no ordinary degree of embarrassment to-night. We are summoned here by the representatives of royalty, and surrounded by the ablest men that Canada has produced at the present day ; and I am quite sure that the feeUngs which embarrass me at the present mpment wiU be, to a certain extent, participated in by my friends of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, when they reflect on the insignificance of our position in comparison with that of the great country so ably represented by the men who have already spoken. I may say with regard to the question which we have been considering during the past week, that I do not intend to keep my mouth quite as close as my friend Mr. Brown. I don't hesitate to declare my own sentiments upon one or two matters which I consider are of some importance. I may state here eiflphatically as one of those delegates constitutionally appointed for the pur pose of considering the Union of the Maritime Provinces, that I am decidedly in favor of that proposition ; but I am prepared, at the same time, if an arrangement equitable to these Provinces, can be made, to expand this union and have a general confederation. I have been in favor of a Union of the Maritime Provinces because it has been my good fortune to represent my government in delegations in England, in Canada, and in Nova Scotia, either for the pur pose of increasing or improving our inter-colonial communi cation, or extending our trade ; and I don't hesitate to say that in every step we have made we have been frustrated by the existence of these separate Legislatures and Govern ments. Mr. Chairman, I made a visit to Nova Scotia some years ago, in order to extend, if possible, our trade relations, but when we sat down to consider this, what did we find ? We found that any manufacture sent over to New Brunswick from Nova Scotia, was met by a duty of fif teen per cent. , and any from my own province to this one had to pay ten per cent. It is just the same as if a man going from Cumberland into Colchester was met by a duty on his products. We have tried our best to remedy the evil and to remove these absurdities, but we found difficulties UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 39 presenting themselves at almost every step. The expendi ture in some of the Provinces requires a large revenue, and therefore the imposition of large duties. The raw material in some pays two per cent., in another it is free ; and so you will perceive that where that article is free, that province would have a great advantage over the other. Then, again, when we were discussing the subject of an Intercolonial Railway, what did we find ? We found at once a differ ence in the interests of the respective Provinces. In Upper Canada, we found that the people were opposed to the project because it was so far from them, and would not create an expenditure in Canada. And then, as my friend, Mr. Brown, has told you, they have had their constitu tional difficulties to settle before this railway could be built ; and I am glad to hear that these difficulties have been settled. When we go to Lower Canada we find objections also meeting us there. We go to Nova Scotia, and we hear you say : You have large territories to be opened up, and the road is of greater advantage to you than to Nova Scotia. In New Brunswick, they say : all the trade is to be carried away from that Province to Halifax. Now sup pose we were all drawn together into one confederation, you would not be met -with these difficulties in any of your negotiations. If you wanted to secure intercolonial free trade or an iriter-colonial railway, then there would be no trouble. How much more effectually could measures of self-defence be arranged if we were all united ; and I don't hesitate to say that the time is not far distant when we must do more than we have done heretofore. It is shewn that we have a population of nearly four millions ; that our exports reach $130,000,000 ; that the value of our agricultural property amounts to $150,000,000 ; that our assessed pro perty is put down at $550,000,000 ; under these circum stances, knowing, as I believe I do, something of the spirit and intelligence of the people of these Colonies, they are prepared to say, that in view of the privileges we enjoy, and the responsibilities which we ought to assume, we are ready to pay our share for the defence and the maintenance of the liberties of our country. When it is said that those who are engaged in securing the confederation of the Maritime, or of the whole, of the Provinces, do so because the Imperial Government desires it, I say that those who are 40 UNION,, OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES- acting in common with me, ari,d.,I. thi^ Jbav§,}iad-ahHn- dant opportunities of -knowing it, are .actuated- ^7 i^igher motives. I believe there ^xe .-no feeiipgs' on the part of the ' Irhperial G-overnment tliat .ajre antagonistic to these Colo- ' ' nies. We have had it from the Ups of tliose distinguished gentlemen sitting by you, sir, that they are ready to p- sent to any proposition in reference to the provinces which is likely to advance their happiness and promote, their prosperity. If arrangements' -oan be satisfactorily com pleted, so that the interests of each province will _ be main tained, I can s,ee no objection to a confederation of t^e whole. 'We are in the Lower Provinces a manufacturing people to a large ' extent, and w'e would, tp- the whole of British' America, o'ccupy the same position, m^lj-MEassachu- setts does^ to the United States. Reference^, has been made to our, proceedings having been carried ph secretly. I think any bian who reflects .upon the delicacy of Qur mis- 'Jion — and knows that-we have been discussing it in amerely ' conversational matter— rUiust see, that it was labsolutely ne cessary that such informa.1 discussions .should be carried .fin with closed doorsi^b'utwhen we have come to somp, cjQpclji- sion, then it will be submitted to our respective, Legi[slatu;r^. We' have ' only -oiie .common object in view — ^the prgsmo- ' tion of the prosperity Of these Provinces, their"; advance ment, socially and politically ; and I can assure you that all of us fully feer the' impor'tance, and responsibility of the trust. that has been placed in our hands (Cheers.) The Honorable Colonel'. Gray, Premier of Prince,Ed- ¦ward Island, arid President of the Convention of, Marl- tiriie Delegates, spoke, also, on behalf '.gf his Colony, in the following terms: — If an old. practised politician like Mr._ Cartier approaches this .subject, with diffidence ' and hesitation, how much more 'must I feet' who .am the youngest politician, if iiideed ' one . at all.., -Perha.ps it would display a far greater anaount of ,wisdom.if I would observe a complete reticence ; but, Mr. Chairman, thefe are points with regard to which I feel <^alled' upon to,- de^l shortly — ^tjhe one being that which, involves ' my giving thanks to 'the people of this city for their reception of.my- sejf and colleagues, 'and the other being my firm resolve iipon all public occasions, to raise my voice in order to UNION OF THE, BRITISH PRO'VONCES. 41 . idisabuse ,the public mind on a subject on which consider- - able, misapprehension exists^ allude to our public de-' fencesn The people of the Colony in which my lot is at present cast, have been so long intimately connected with Nova Scotia — so much unity has ever existed bet\\feen .them in all their relations, that I consider no union is necessary, between them further, than that which already -..¦pxisfjs. , I have ;always entertained great prognostics as to . the future of this;city ; I look upon it as. certain to be the London of tlie Western Confederation; but throwing aside ,the politician let me speak individually. I have had some little .acquaintance with many countries in the four quar- ters;pf the globe, and I liave come to the conclusion that in, the city of Halifax hospitality has taken her seat,-^ ¦(Cheers.;) .1 thauj? you cordially: on behalf of the Colony i represent, for myself and colleagues, for the high honor you have conferred upon us in the toast which has been pro posed. But there is a question which I think deeply upon, and that is one on which I may offer an opinion. I consider that a considerable amount of misapprehension has arisen in reference to the question of self-defence, both on the part of the profession in which I passed so many years of my life, and of those of our feUow-colonists who appear to nje to underrate themselves, and to forget from whom they are descended. It has been asserted that in case of an in- ¦vasion — aijcl I suppose that in any war that might, arise, it would be one of self-defence on our side simply-^— that ,Our frontiers cannot be maintained, but that the regular soldiery would have to ¦withdraw and concentrate behind i [foftifications, and that the inilitia of the Confederation would be scattered Uke a flock of sheep. I take issue ¦with those that assert this, To my old comrades I would say, .that when that day arrives I hope I may not live to see I thein taking positions behind stonewaUs. Their place has ever been in the front, and there they must ever be. To my fellow colonists, I would say, why underrate your capa,bUities ? Consider what was the conduct .of the MUitia of Britain diiring the Crimean war. I remember, during that period, when serving, on the Staff of a General Officer in the Mediterranean, we had two Regiments of the Lan- , cashire farmers counted worthy to hold the aU important fortfi^ss of Qibraltar ; — at Malta the glistening bayonets of 42 UNIOK OF THB BBITISH PBOVINCES. the brave men of Kent Uned the ramparts, and at Corfu that important post washeld by the stout yeomen of Nor folk ; and need I remind the men of a Province which has lately sent forth a WilUams, an Inglis, the saviour of India, a Welsford and a Parker to add imperishable lustre to the arms of Britain, that they have plenW such, quite as capable of holding Quebec, Montreal, St. tJohn or HaU- fax. (Cheers.) Only let a wise and vigorous policy be adopted, let our MUitia be armed and organized as ttiBy ¦ndU be proud to be, and standing shoulder to shoulder ¦with their brethren of the Royal Army, should the day of trial arrive when our gaUant neighbors forget that,descend- ed from the same stock and Uneage, we ought to Uve in peace and amity as brothers, then we wiU be prepared to shew them that, profitting by their own example in days gone by, there are four rnillions of free men in these pro vinces not unworthy descendants of their sires. (Cheers.) I have now but to say that whatever may be the result of our deUberations, the people we represent may rest assured that we approach the consideration of this grave and mo mentous question in aU its bearings with a fuU sense of our solemn responsibiUties. Hon. Dr. Tupper then proposed as the next toast, " Colonial Union," coupUng with it the name of Hon. J. A. McDonald, -Attorney General for Canada West. Hon. J. A. Macdonald then rose amid loud cheers, and spoke as foUows: My friends and colleagues, Messrs, Cartier and Brown, have returned their thanks on behalf of the Canadians for the Idndness bestowed upon us, and I shall therefore not say one word on that subject, but shaU approach the question more immediately before us. I must confess to you, sir, and to you, gentlemen, that I approach it with the deepest emotion. The question of " Colonial Union" is one of such magnitude that it dwarfs every other question on this portion of the continent. It absorbs every idea as far as I am concerned. For twenty long years I have been dragging myself through the dreary waste of Colonial politics. I thought there was no end, nothing worthy of ambition, but now I see something which is weU worthy of aU I have suffered in the cause of UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 43 my uttle country. This question has now assumed a posi tion that demands and commands the attention of aU the Colonies of British America. There may be obstructions, local difficulties may arise, disputes may occur, local jeal ousies may intervene, but it matters not — the wheel is now revolving, and we are only the fly on the wheel, we' cannot delay it — ^the union of the colonies of British America, under one sovereign, is a fixed fact. (Cheers.) Sir, this meeting in HaUfax -will be ever remembered in the history of British America, for here the delegates from the several pro^vinces had the ¦first opportunity of express ing their sentiments. We have been unable to announce them before, but now let me say that we have arrived unanimously at the opinion that the union of the pro^vinces is for the advantage of all, and that the only question that remains to be settled is, whether that union can be arranged with a due regard to sectional and local interests. I have no doubt that such an arrangement can be effected, that every difficulty wiU be found susceptible of solution,and that the great project wiU be successfully and happily reaUzed. "What were we before this question was brought before the pubUc mind ? Here we were in the neighborhood of a large nation — of one that has developed its military power in a most marveUous degree — ^here we were connected by one tie only, that of common allegiance. True it was we were states of one Sovereign, we all paid aUegiance to the great central authority, but as far as ourselves were con cerned there was no political connection, and we were as wide apart as British America is from AustraUa. We had only the mere sentiment of a common allegiance, and we were liable, in case England and the United States were pleased to differ, to be cut off, one by one, not having any common means of defence. I believe we shaU have at length an organization that wUl enable us to be a nation and protect '' ourselves as we should. Look at the gaUant defence that is being made by the Southern RepubUc — at this moment they have not much more than four millions of men — not much exceeding our own numbers — ^yet what a brave fight they have made, notwithstanding the stern bravery of the New Englander, or the fierce elan of the Irishman. — (Cheers.) We are now nearly four millions of inhabitants, and in the next decennial period of taking the census, perhaps 44 UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. we shaU have eight miUions of people, able to defend then country against aU comers. (Cheers.') _ But we must have one common organization — one political government, It has been, said that the United States Government is a failure. I don't go so far. On the contrary I consider it a marvellous -exhihition of human wisdom. It was as perfect as human wisdom could make it, and under it the American States greatly prospered until very recently; but being the work of men it had its defects, and it is for us to take advantage by experience, and endeavor to see if we cannot arrive by careful study at such a plan as will avoid the mistakes of our neighbors. In the first place we know that every individual state was an individual sovereignty — ^that each had its own army and na-vy and political or ganization — and when they formed themselves into a con federation they only gave the central authority certain specific powers, reserving to the individual states aU the other rights appertaining to sovereign powers. The dan gers that have risen from this system we ¦wiU avoid if we can agree upon forming a strong central government — a great central Legislature — a constitution for a Union which wiU have all the rights of sovereignty except those that are given to the local governments. Then we shall have taken a great step in advance of the American Re public. If we can only obtain that object — a vigorous gen eral government — we shall not be New Brunswickers, nor Nova Scotians, nor Canadians, but British Americans, under the sway of .the British Sovereign. In discussing the question of colonial union, we must consider what is desirable and practicable ; we must consult local preju dices and aspirations. It is our desire to do so. I hope that we ¦wiU be enabled to work out a constitution that ¦vrill have a strong central Government, able to offer a powerful resistance to any foe whatever, and at the same time will preserve for each Province its own idenity — and "wUl protect every local ambition ; and.if we cannot do this we shall not be able to carry out the object we have now in view. In the Conference Ave have had we have been united as one man — ^there was no difference of feeling- no sectional prejudices or selfishness exhibited by any ore ; — ^we all approached the subject feeling its importance ; feeUng that in our hands were the destinies of a nation ; UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 45 and great would be our sin and shame if any different motives had intervened to prevent us carrying out the no ble object of founding a great British Monarchy, in con nection with the British Empire, and under the British Queen. (Cheers.) That there are difficulties in the way would be foUy for me to deny ; that there are important questions to be settled before the project can be consummat ed is obvious ; but what great subject that has ever attracted the attention of mankind has not been fraught 'with diffi culties ? We would not be worthy of the position in which we have been placed by the people if we did not meet and overcome these obstacles. I wUl not continue to detain you at this late period of the evening, but vnR merely say that we are desirous of a union with the Mari time Provinces on a fair and equitable basis : that we de sire no advantage of any kind, that we believe the object in -view will be as much in favor asagainst these Maritime Colonies. We are ready to come at once into most inti mate connection with you. This cannot be fully procured, I admit, by political union simply. I don't hesitate to say that with respect to the Intercolonial Railway, it is under stood by the people of Canada that it can only be built as a means of political union for the Colonies. It cannot be denied that the Railway, as a commercial enterprise, would be of comparatively little commercial advantage to the people of Canada. WhUst we have the St Lawrence in Summer, and the American ports in time of peace, we have aU that is requisite for our purposes. We recog nize, however, the fact that peace may not always exist, and that we must have some other means of outlet if we do not ¦wish to be cut off from the ocean for some months in the year. We wish to feel greater security — ^to know that we can have assistance readily in the hour of danger. In the case of a imion, this Railway must be a national work, and Canada will cheerfully contribute to the utmost extent in order to make that important Unk -without which no political connection can be complete. What ¦wiU be the consequence to this city, prosperous as it is, from that communication ? Montreal is at this moment competing with New York for the trade of the great West. Build the road and Halifax: wUl soon become one of the great emporiums of the world. All the great resources of the 46 UNION OF THB BRITISH PR0."V1NCE8. West ¦will come over the immense railways of Canada to the bosom of your harbor. But there are even greater advantages for us all in view. We wiU become a great nation, and God forbid that it should be one separate from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. — (Cheers.) There has been a feeling that because the old colonies were lost by the misrule of the British Govern ment, every colony must be lost when it assumes the reins of , self-government. I believe, however, as stated by the , gallant Admiral, that England ¦will hold her position in every icolony — she will not enforce an unwilling obedience by her arms ; but as long as British Americans shaU retain, that same allegiance which they feel now, England ¦wUl spend her last shilUng,' and spUl her best blood like wine in their defence. (Cheers.) In 1812 there was an Ameri can war because England empressed American seamen. Canadians had nothing to do with the cause of the quarrelji yet their mUitia came out bravely and did all they could > for the cause of England. Again, we have had the Ore gon question, the Trent difficulty, question after question ' in which the Colonies had no interest, yet we were ready to shoulder the musket and fight for the honor of the mother country. It has been said that England wishes to throw us off. There may be a few doctrinaires who argue for it, but it is not the feeling of the people of England. Their feeling is this — ^that we have not been true to our selves, that we have not put ourselves in an attitude of de fence, that we have not done in Canada as the English have .done at home. It is a mistake: Canada is ready to do her part. She is organizing a mUitia, she is expending an enor mous amount of money for the purpose of doing her best for self-protection. I am happy to know that the militia of Nova Scotia occupies a front rank ; I understand by a ju dicious administration you have formed here a large and efficient volunteer and mUitia organization. We are fol lowing your example and are forming an effective body of miUtia, so that we shaU be able to say to England, that if she should send her arms to our rescue, at a time of peril, she would be assisted by a well disciplined body of men. Everything, gentlemen, is to be gained by Union, and everything to be lost by disunion. Everybody admits that Union must take place sometime. I say now is the time. UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 47 Here we are now in a state of peace and prosperity — ^now we can sit down without any danger threatening us, and consider and frame a scheme advantageous to each of these colonies. If we allow so favorable an opportunity to pass, it may never come again ; but I believe we have arrived at such a conclusion in our deUberations that I may state without any breach of confidence — ^that we aU unitedly agree that such a measure is a matter of the first necessity, and that only a few (imaginary I beUeve) obstacles stand , in the way of its consummation. I wUl feel that I shall not have served in pubUc life without a reward, if before I enter into private life I am a subject of a great British American nation, under the government of Her.Majesly, and in connection with the Empire of Great Britain and Ireland. (Loud cheers.) Dr. Tupper then gave, as the next toast, " British American Commerce," coupling with it the name of the Hon. Mr. Gait, Finance Minister of Canada. Hon. Mr. Galt, in reply, said:^I must confess that I feel very great reluctance in rising to address you at this late hour of the evening. I feel that the remarks made by gen tlemen who have preceded me have exhausted this subject. We must aU of us have Ustened with satisfaction to the views which have faUen firom previous speakers. Thouyh it be true that England's position is due in a great mea sure to her adherence to, constitutional usage, yet at the same time,we cannot but see that after all,the commerce, in dustry, and intelUgence of the people are the true sources of her greatness. I feel proud to be permitted to say a few words this evening — an evening which I consider as form ing an era in the history of British America. Whatever may be our views vrith regard to constitutional questions, there can be no doubt entertained by any of us that our interests are identical in endeavoring to increase the trade and commerce that should exist between the different famiUes of British America. I beUeve the Union of these Provinces must cause a most important change in their trade. Union is fi^ee trade among ourselves. Perhaps in- surinountable difficulties may prevent us carrying out any such tihing whilst separated, but when united our inter- 4S ' UNIOlir OF THE BRllriSH t>ROVlNCE«rP course must be as free as between Laricashire andYorkshire. The free- intercourse bietween the States of the Anleficari Union — ^free trade in the interchange 0|f products,'' has had more to do with their marvellous pl^greSs 'than ariy-- thing that was put in their coristitutiori. ' GiVe us Union and the East shall have free trade with the 'W'est. ' T\^e shaU have a common interest in each Other's proceedings. We shall feel that the political connection is the.' introduc tion to the commercial connection. We have had acom- mercial connection -with 'the great cities of the States, but' we have not had political union with them. We have not that affection for them which we have for', the cities of Britain. We desire to fogter this affection. But, whilst we may all be agreed that in a political and commercial sense we should be united, yet there may be grounds that forbid- the banns. It may, be said that the extravagance of some of the meriibers render this uniOn undesirabK. In regard to this question I think those gentlemen who hear me ¦will be perfectly satisfied to leave it in the hands of the men who represent the Lower Provinces in thp Con ference. If the Union ¦with the Canadas is to be atteridea with such disadvantages, we may be sure they •will see it."' I don-t wish that this audience should go away with the idea that we Canadians, in coming down here, and bringing this subject before you, are actuated by any other Object' than feelings of patriotism. Therefore, I will briefly say this, that notwithstanding the differences that may exist • in the tariffs and excise laws of each of the Provinces;'' there is ' practicaUy very little difference indeed iri the amount per head. New Brunswick raises probably the" highest, NOva Scotia the least, and Canada o.ccupies a cen- ' tral position. Looking alSO at the respective debts, we find that they bear the same proportion per head as in the ease of the Excise and Customs. If we are united we must have an Intercolonial Railway. I km an advOcat^' of this great work, and it becomes ari absolute riOcessity if a union ' Of these Provinces is to take place at all. ' Under the last proposition seven-twelfthd'iwas to be built by' the Lower Provinces, but if the Union is agreed upon, and three miUions of Canadians are to bear a share of the cost proportionate to the 600,000 in the Lower Provinces, 'you wUl get the best of the bargain. But the railway is not to UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 49 be looked upon as a question of cost, but as a bond of union, that will unite us in peace andin time of need — and God forbid the latter should ever arrive. I may venture to say that there is nothing we can more lament than the de plorable war that is disturbing the neighboring States. Situated as we are, we cannot look upon the calamities that are decimating our neighbors without feeling the deepest regret. We cannot but trust that nothing may arise to break up the friendly relations that exist between us ; but, at the same time, it is our duty to provide against all con tingencies. If Ul-feelings should arise, then the Intercolo nial Railway would be of the highest importance to us. It would enable the strength of the Maritime Provinces tOt be avaUable for Canada, and allow us to obtain that assist ance from Great Britain which she will ever accord us when we need it. Let us trust that the difficulties which now stand in the way of the great object we have in view wiU be firmly taken in hand, and overcome ; and that the people of these Provinces, feeling that union is strength, will do their utmost in assisting the men who are strug gling to bring it about. (Cheers.) A few other toasts, which did not bear directly on the question of Union, were then proposed and honored in the usual way. Amongst these was one in reference to Agri culture and Emigration, which called forth an eloquent speech from the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee, Minister of Agri culture for Canada, characterised by wit and humor. The wit, though bright and genial, was evanescent, and pointed by allusion to local objects and persons. Shortly after Mr. McGee's speech, the company separated. THE DELEGATES IN NEW BRUNSWICK. Leaving Halifax the morning after the Dejeuner there, the Delegates from the Maritime Provinces, and several of the Canadian Ministers, proceeded to Fredericton, the seat of Government for the Province of New Brunswick, where ttey held a consultation with His ExceUency Lieut. 6 50 UNION OP THB BRITISH PROVINCES. Governor Gordon, concerning the object of their mission, and where an informal Conference, similar to that at Halifax, was also held. This Conference was of the same private and confidential character as those at the two pre vious places, and no public record of it has yet appeared. PUBLIC DINNER AT ST. JOHN, N. B. The Delegates from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, together with several of the Canadian Ministers, having visited, by invitation, the Commercial Metropolis of New Bruns^wick, the City of Saint John — were enter tained at a Public Dinner in St. Stubbs' Hotel, given by the New Brunswick Delegates, on the everiing of the 14th September. The local press describes the entertainment as a very superior one, highly creditable to the hosts and to the caterer of the establishment, Mr. James Mcintosh,— The Chair was occupied by the Hon. Colonel John Hamilton Gray, M.P.P., (one of the New Brunswick Delegates), and the Vice Chair was filled by the Hon. Charles Watters, M.P.P., Solicitor General of the Province. ' The cloth being removed, and the usual loyal toasts given with all the honors, the Chairman proposed — " Our Friends from Canada, Nova Scotia, and Prince: Edward Island—" In doing so, he referred, in felicitous terms, to the gen erous reception which had been given to himself and his brother Delegates from New Brunswick by the Govern ments and peoples of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The George Etienne Cartier, Attorney General of Lower Canada, was the first to address the company in response to the toast. After alluding to the visit made to the Lower Provinces by some of his friends and fellow UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 51 countrymen in Canada, during the summer of 1864, and dwelling on the grateful impressions of hospitality which they carried home with them, he said — there are matters upon which men are sometimes called to express themselves which are often considered tiresome, but to give expression to the feelings of the heart was never tiresome, and this he would now take delight in doing. The subject which most deeply engrossed his thoughts concerned the welfare and prosperity of his country, and by that word he meant the whole of British America. Prosperity such as this great country was capable of attaining to, could never be fuUy enjoyed untU the several sectional parts of it were united under the same political and commercial systems — their respective populations brought into closer relations with each other, and all the maritime facilities alike afforded to all which Nature had so bountifully bestowed upon some of the parts. This was what Confederation proposed to accomplish. Canada has population and territory sufficient to make a great nation in course of time. But she wants what the Lower Provinces possess — an outlet to the sea. As the Lower Provinces now stand, they are comparatively weak and powerless — and the wealth, labor, and industry which Canada possesses, go, in a great measure to enrich such cities as New York, Boston and Portland. This must continue to be the case until the inter-colonial railway, of which he had ever been an advocate, shall be built ; and as soon as the Colonies were confederated, the construction of that work would undoubt edly commence. He said it had been urged against Confederation, that such a change in our constitution would make us republican, and gradually lead to a final separation from the mother country. But he believed it would have the contrary effect — that it would bind us more closely to that country, and probably secure to us the vice-royalty of a prince of the reigning family. With regard to the question of defence, which was inseparable frorii the general subject, he was confident that when England saw we were self-reliant to a great extent, and capable of organizing a large military and naval force for mutual protection, and which union would only enable us to do — she would cheerfuUy come to our assistance, witb all her vast power, in any difficulty that might ^rise. 52 UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. Cariada had been accused of insincerity in her dealings with the Maritime Provinces, and this led to the formation of a strong prejudice against accepting the proposals of his province for confederation ; but he assured every one who listened to him that Canada was unjustly accused ; and that her Ministers did riot come there to urge them by undue means into the adoption of any scheme of union ; but fairly to point out to them the enormous advantages, which, in a coinmercial point of view, their merchants, traders, and manufacturers would derive from having' a market of four millions of people for the exchange of their several commodities, instead of being restricted to the smaU and scattered populations which now compose the Lower Provinces, where their industry is hariipered by Custom House regulations, different in each. After a few further rem'arks, the honorable and learned gentleman sat dowii ainidst loud and long continued cheers. The Honorable George Bko'wn, President of the Ex ecutive Council of Canada, then rose and spoke to the fol lowing effect. He agreed with the sentiments expressed by his friend Mr. Cartier. Canada had no wish, even if she had the power — which she had not — to force these Provinces into a Union — she only desired to propose fair tetrils under which such' a measure might be effected. It remained for these Provinces to accept or reject them. He hoped to see all the Provinces united, and they would no doubt then constitute one of the first nations iu the Wes tern Hemisphere. They had every advantage^a sea coast on the east, ¦with great fishing, mining, and agricul tural resources ; and a vast territory on the west, contain ing countless miUions of arable land. In Canada there were three millioris of inhabitants —• there were thirteen miUions of acres of land only half cultivated, and thirty mUlions of acres actually in the possession of settlers, but under no cultivation, with miUions upon mUlions of acres yet lying unreclaimed from their wUderness state, which would, at some future day, be inhabited by thrifty farmers, producing breadstuffs for the Lower Provinces, while they received the manufactures of those Provinces in return. What a happy and prosperous state of affairs would thus be presented when compared with the present isolated con- UNION OF THE BBITISH PROVINCES." . 63 dition of the Provinces ! New Brunswick, for instance, instead of being confined to its own small market of 250,- 000 consumers, would have four milUons of cfiStoriiers. Far away on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains were the rich gold fields of British Columbia, awaiting the enterprise and capital of our people, and in the direction of which immigration was now steadily fl'o-wing. It was not unreasonable to suppose that rich deposits would also be discovered on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountain range, which would be the means of attracting vast crowds of the surplus populations of Europe, thousands of whom would halt in their progress westward and settle upon the fertile lands of all these provinces, thus adding to the common wealth by their productive industry and enhanc ing the greatness of the Confederacy. He had no doubt that one of the first results of Confederation would be the construction of a raUway from Halifax to the Pacific, affording an outlet to the Atlantic, through British, and not through foreign territory, for the rich products of Canada and the far west. — There was another practical view of the question, which should not be lost sight of : it was incumbent upon these provinces to make some provi sion for protecting themselves in times of danger. It was evident that the British Government had determined to throw them, in a great measure, upon their own resources, of which the withdrawal of the British troops from Canada was an unmistakeable sign. United, the provinces could readily organize a force of 500,000 men for field duty, besides about 70,000 marines. — The honorable gentleman then referred to the great commercial resources and the extent of shipping now possessed by the provinces in their youth, and showed how rapidly these would increase when there would be freer intercourse between them all, and a closer identity of interests. — He could not speak of what had taken place at the Convention at Charlottetown ; but this he would say, that all the members of it were desirous of having a larger measure of union than the one at first proposed, if the details could be arranged in a satisfactory manner. The Canadian members of Government present at the Convention were clothed with no official authority, but a new Conference would shortly take place, in which all the details of a plan of Confederation would be examin- 54 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. ed 'with the greatest care, which, if it went into operation, would place us all on an equal footing as British Ameri cans, instead of being as now, sectional provincialists with divided interests. The honorable gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. The Honorable Charles Tupper, M.P.P., Provincial Secretary of Nova Scotia, next addressed the assemblage. He had for a long time, he said, favored the project of a federation of the provinces. He referred to the circum stance of having deliverd a lecture before the Mechanics' Institute of St. John in favor of this measure. It was then stated in some of the local papers that in so acting he was not influenced by patriotic motives, but rather from a desire to obstruct the government of Nova Scotia against which he was in opposition. He re-delivered the lecture in Portland, (N. B.,) on which occasion he combatted the arguments or assertions brought against him, and clearly defined his position in reference to the question. One of his first acts, after coming into office in Nova Scotia, was to agitate for a confederation or union of some kind with the other Lower Provinces. To a union with Canada he was not at that time so favorable, because of its large debt But he was anxious to hear the statesmen from that coun try give their views on the measure ; and having heard them, he was free to confess that many of his apprehen sions regarding a union "with Canada had been removed. He believed that the Canadian Government were actuated by honest and patriotic motives in seeking a political aUi- ance with their fellow subjects in the Lower Provinces, which would give strength to each and every portion of the Confederacy, which they could scarcely hope for in their present disunited state. They were weak and de fenceless, living at the threshold, and it might he, at the mercy of a great military nation. To command the respect of such a neighbor, and the maintenance of peace ful relations, it was necessary to show that they had the power to enforce both the one and the other ; and there was no surer way of accomplishing this than by a union of all the provinces. After a few further remarks the honor able gentleman resumed his seat amidst applause. The Honorable Colonel J. H. Gray, President of the UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 55 Executive Council of Prince Edward Island, expressed himself warmly, but briefly, in favor of Confederation. H( ^ had, before leaving England, in order to take up his resi dence in the land of his birth, resolved to use his influence in favor of this measure, and he hoped to see it effected at least in his lifetime, when a railway from Halifax to Van couver's Island would bring us in speedy communication ¦with the rich and ancient countries washed by the Pacific. bearing their treasures to us, and carrying the fruits of ouv industry to them. The Honorable George Coles, M.P.P., (P. E. Island,) then followed in a short and playful speech. Canada, he said, had come down to the Maritime Provinces, and his little daughter, P. E. Island, had been wooed, but had not yet been won. The blandishments of the wooer had not altogether prevailed. Before he would consent to the wedlock, he should understand fully whether Canada, with her expansive territory and great debt, was able to maintain her in the connection as well as she was in her present condition. The prospect, however, he frankly confessed, seemed to favor a happy and prosperous Federal Union. " Tbe Colonial Union,'' having been proposed as a sentiment by the Chairman — The Hon. A. T. Galt, Finance Minister of Canada, promptly responded to a call made upon him, and pro ceeded to review the financial condition of the several provinces. While Canada, he said, did not appear to occupy as favorable a position in a financial point of view as the Lower Provinces, each one of which had a surplus in its favor at the end of the fiscal year, yet Canada should be credited with the vast improvements which were being constantly made to develope its resources ; and this year, (1864), she would have a large balance in her favor against her expenditure. Her debt might appear large, but her population was larger in proportion to her debt than that, of New Brunswick, and the actual taxation on the citizens of Canada was not, all things considered, so heavy as the taxation in New Brunswick. Alluding to 65 UNION OF THB BRITISH. PROVINCES. the efforts that had been made in Canada to iroprove the communication between the St. Lawrence and the ocean, and to the large expenditure of money for the construction of railways, all tending to the same result, those things, he said, were undoubtedly a hea'vy charge upon the public treasury of Canada, but the people were deriving vast benefits from the outlay, and its advantages would be felt more sensibly hereafter when the back country was opened up , and its immense resources to some extent developed. Hp was glad to find that in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick efforts were being made to open up their wilderness country. These efforts would, of course, entail new obligations, but their ability to meet them would be enchanced, as was the case in Canada. Though much had been said in reference to the debts of the respective Pro^vinces from time to time, their position did not appear to be correctly known. Taxes imposed on the people in the provinces were derived from two sources — Customs and Excise. From these sources the debt and expenses of government are paid.. In the case of Nova Scotia, if he rightly remembered, the taxes were $2.32 per head ; in Cariada, $2.50 ; and in New Brunswick, $2 56. Thus it would be seen that Canada would not be such a burthen to her sister Provinces as some persons imagined. As regards the Intercolonial Railway, it was well known that the Canadian Govern ment had some time ago agreed to bear five-twelfths of the cost of constructing that work, and that the other seven-twelfths were to be borne by Nova Scotia ,and New Brunswick. Should the Union be consummated, this work must be done, and Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will only have to bear their share of the cost in proportion to their population, which will be very considerably less than the seven-twelfths. Under the old arrangement, before a Federal Union was contemplated, Canada's pro portion would be very much the smallest, being but $2.50 per head, whUe that of New Brunswick would be $14 per head. He then referred to the commercial advantages of a union, which would confer upon the Colonies 'benefits simUar to those which have been enjoyed by the United States in consequence of their union, their free trade and uniform tariff. — In framing the constitution for British . America, the errors of the RepubUcan Union were avoided. UNION OF THB BRITISH PEOVINCEa. 67 The rebeUion which distracted that Union was, in some measure, caused by slavery, and to a very great, extent, by what was known as state rights. Of course, the question of slavery could never be an element of discord with the •united provinces, and as regards " state rights," collision might be easily avoided in reference to that , subject by clearly defining the powers of the central Goverment as totally distinct from the authority which should be vested in the local legislatures. [After a few further remarks, as the local report reforms us, Mr. Galt sat down, having left the most favorable impression on the minds of his hearers as to the a,dvantages of Colonial Union.] Speeches were made by several other gentlemen, amongst whom were, the Hon. William McDougall, Pro vincial Secretary of Canada ; the Hon. Mr. McCully, one of the Nova Scotia Delegates; the Hon. Mr. Palmer, one of the Prince Edward Island Delegates; the Hon. Mr. McGee, Minister of Agriculture for Canada ; and the Honorables Messrs. Gray and Tilley, New Brunswick Delegates, — ^but it appears that no report of their speeches was taken ; at least, no report has been published. The St. John papers, however, state that their speeches, as well as the foregoing, were aU highly in favor of a Union of the Provinces. • THE VOYAGE TO QUEBEC. The Government of Canada having named the 10th of October as the day on which it would be desirable to com mence the new Conference at Quebec, the beautiful Steam ship Victoria, commanded by Capt. Pouliot, and owned by the Canadian Government — was despatched to Ihe Mari- tiirie Provinces for the purpose of conveying the Delegates to the ancient capital of Canada. She arrived at Pictou, N. S., on the 5th of October, where the Nova Scotia Dele gates came on board of her, together with His ExceUency 58 UNION OF THE BBITISH PRO'TINCES. Sir Richard Graves McDonnell, Lietitentant Governor of the Province, and also his amiable Lady and their servants. Arriving at Charlottetown about noon on Thursday, 6th of October, a delay of four hours was made, which time was employed in driving around the City and suburbs, under the guidance of the Hon. Colonel Gray — also in a brief visit to His Excellency Governor Dundas, at Govern ment House, and in partaking of a sumptuous Luncheon at Inkerman House, the residence of Col. Gray. Shortly after three o'clock the same day, the party — including the . Prince Edward Island Delegates, with the exception of Mr. Secretary Pope and the Hon. Mr. Coles, who had proceeded to Quebec by way of Portland — were conveyed to the Victoria, anchored in the, roadstead, and in a few minutes she was ploughing her way to Shediac, N. B., at which place it was arranged that she should call for the New Brunswick Delegates. Arriving off the harbor^ of Shediac about 10 o'clock, p. m., she anchored there until the morning, a-nd then steamed closer in to the harbor, when, after the delay of a few hours, five of the New Brunswick Delegates came on board — ^two others, Messrs. Secretary Tilley and Hon. Mr. Chandler, having proceeded by the Portland route. The Victoria then at once pro ceeded on her voyage up the Gulf and River St. Lawrence The voyage was rendered interesting by the pftsence of many ladies, whose number included the wife and daugh ter of the Provincial Secretary of Nova Scotia ; the wife and daughter of the Hon. A. G Archibald, Delegate from the same Province ; the daughter of the Hon. Col. Gray, of New .Brunswick ; two daughters of the Hon. W. H. Steeves, and a daughter of the Hon. Charles Fisher, tv^ro Delegates from the last named Province ; and the daugh ter of the Hon. Col. Gray, and Mrg. Alexander, sister, of the Hon. Mr. HavUand, of Prince Edward Island,' The Steamer was most abundantly provided ¦witli every UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 59 conafort and luxury that could be desired, and these were dispensed with an unsparing hand by direction of the obliging Captain, in regard to whom and his staff of officers, and male and female servants, it is only just to observe that they were untiring in their exertions to con tribute in every possible way to the happiness of their guests. Notwithstanding all the discomforts of a sea voyage, when the chilling blasts and the lowering skies of autumn succeed the warm sunshine and the gentle breeze of sum mer — notwithstanding, too, that other discomfort attend ing the payment of tribute to Neptune — too rigidly exacted when the weather is least agreeable — ^yet the trip up the St. La^wrence had many attractions for the voyagers — the deck of the noble Steamer was seldom deserted by prome- naders during daylight and long after dark — the bold scenery of the St. La^wrence, after passing the mouth of the River, being a special object of admiration. To attempt a description of the scenery of the majestic River would be out of place in a compilation of this kind, especially when glowing descriptions can be readily found in the •pages of the poet and tourist. On Saturday evening, the 8th, a violent gale and snow storm occurred, which continued during the whole night, in consequence of which the ship made little progress — the engine" being stopped at frequent intervals to enable the officers to take soundings, and use every precaution that could secure the common safety. Early on Sunday the gale abated, and putting on full steam, the Victoria pursued'her voyage in gallant style, reaching her wharf at Quebec at an early hour the same evening. Apartments having been provided by the Government of Canada, at the St Louis Hotel, for all the Delegates and their lady companions,, they were immediately, on landing, conveyed thither, where they were most sumptu- 60 UNION OF THE BHITIgH PfiOTTNCEB. ously entertained during their whole stay in Quebec, as the guests of the Canadian Govemment. THE CONFERENCE AT QUEBEC. On Monday, 10th of October, at 11 o'clock, the fall Conference met in the Parliament Buildings — the whole Canadian Ministry, consisting of twelve, being present ; there were five Delegates from Nova Scotia ; seven from New Brimswick ; two from Ne^wfoundland ; and seven from Prince Edward Island. The names of aU the gen tlemen who sat in Conference are as foUow : — CANADA. Sir Etienne P. Tache, Premier, Hon. J. A. McDonald, Attorney General, West, Hon. G. E. Cartier, Attorney General, East, Hon. Wm. McDouG:All, Provincial Secretary, Hon. George Brown, President of Executive Coun«dl, Hon. A. T. Galt, Financial Minister, Hon. A. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hon. Oliver Mowatt, Postmaster General, Hon. Hector Langevin, Solicitor General, East, Hon. James Cockburn, Solicitor General, West, Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. J. C. Chafais, Commissioner of Public "Works. NOVA SCOTIA. Hon. Dr. Tupper, Provincial Secretary, Hon. W. A. Henry, Attorney General, Hon. R. B. Dickey, Hon. Jonathan McCully, Hon. A. G. Archibald. NEW BRUNSWICK. Hon. S. L. Tilley, Provincial Secretary, Hon. John M. Johnson, Attorney General, Hon. Peter Mitchell, Hon. Charles Fisher, Hon. Edward Chandler, Hon. W. H. Steeves, Hon. John H. Gray. union of THE BBITISH PROVINCES. 61 NE^WFOUNDLAND. Hon. F. B. T. Carter, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon, Ambrose Shea. prince EDWARD ISLAND. Hon. Col. Gray, Premier, Hon. Edward Palmer, Attorney General, Hon". W. H. Pope, Provincial Secretary, Hon. George Coles, Hon. T. Heath Haviland, Hon. Edward Whelan, Hon. A. A. McDonald. The Conference was organized by the unanimous election of Sir Etienne P. Tache, Chairman, who, on taking the Chair, commented briefly on the vast importance of the object that was to be brought under the consideration of the Convention ; he said he relied on the forbearance and co-operation of the Delegates to enable him to discharge the duties of the Chair; and then, in a few eloquent sen tences, he tendered to the gentlemen composing the respec tive Delegations from the Maritime Provinces, a cordial welcome on behalf of the Government and people of Canada. He fervently hoped that their Mission would be productive of great advantage to all the provinces, and would be agreeable to themselves. The Provincial Secretaries of the several Provinces were then elected Honorary Secretaries to the Conference, and Major Hewitt Bernard was appointed Executive Secretary. The first and second days of the Conference were chiefly occupied in regulating the modes of proceedure ; and as soon as these were disposed of, the Delegates addressed themselves to the general question of a Federal Union. Some admirable speeches were deUvered by several of the Delegates, (which were not reported, as the Conference sat with closed doors ;) and all, without one dissenting voice, pronounced in favor of Union. The main principle having been affirmed, the Conference entered at once on 6p UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVlNCESi the work of arranging the details of a Constitution for the proposed Federation. " DRAWING ROOM" AND RECEPTION OF THE DELEGATES. On the evening of the llth October, His Excellency the Governor General held a " Drawing Rooni" in the CouncU Chamber of the Parliament Buildings, when the Delegates from the Maritime Provinces were formally presented to His Excellency before a vast and brilliant assemblage, inp.luding almost every person of note or influence in the Naval, Military, Volunteer and Civil Services of the -Pro vince, ^ together with the leading members of the best society to be found in the social circles of Quebec and 'vicinity. A lengthy description of the " Drawing Room" appears in the Quebec papers of that date, but it is now unnecessary to take any further notice of it. INVITATIONS TO FESTIVITES.— BALL IN THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. While the Conference was proceeding with its arduous and important duties, invitations were received from Cities and Corporations in both sections of the Province, to par take of their hospitalities. The Stadacona Club, (Quebec,) the Board of Trade, (Quebec,) the Cities of Montreal, Ottawa, Belleville, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, and other places to the remote western boundaries of the Pro vince, forwarded invitations to the Conference Room, proffering their hospitalities. To the distant Corporations and Cities answers of acceptance were returned through, the Chairman, conditional as to the time when the busi ness of the Conference should be completed. On the evening of the 14th a very brilliant Ball was given in the ParUament BuUdings, under the auspices of UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. 63 the Canadian Ministry. It was attended by the same classes—^the same distinguished persons and society as attended the " Drawing Room" on the llth. His Excel lency the Governor General, His Excellency the Lieut Governor of, Nova Scotia and Lady, the Members of the Canadian Government, the Delegates from the Eastern Pro- 'vinces, and about 800 others, formed a large and most agreeable party, by whom the pleasures of the dance were kept up without interruption, and without an incident to mar the harmony of the occasion, until nearly 3 o'clock on the morning of the 15th. PUBLIC DINNER UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE QUEBEC BOARD OP TRADE. SPEECHES OF DELEGATES. The first, and only public occasion on which the Dele gates from the Lower Provinces had an opportunity of expressirig their opinions On the question of Confederation, was at the Dinner given to them by the Quebec Board of Trade on the evening of the 15th of October. It took place at Russell's Hotel, in Palace Street, and was pro nounced by the Quebec journals as the most successful public banquet ever witnessed in Quebec. The attendance was very numerous, including the leading members of the mercantile community, the principal officers of the Army in Garrison, the heads of the Civil Service, several mem bers of both Houses of Parliament, and nearly all the Canadian Ministers. The Banqueting Room was superbly decorated, displaying on its walls mottoes in reference to the several Provinces. The viands were of the best description, including everything which a rich and popu lous city Uke Quebec could afford, to gratify the taste of an epicure. A. Joseph, Esq., President of the Board of Trade, occupied the Chair, and the Vice Chair was occu- 64 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINOlBS. pied by H. S. Scott, Esq. The Stewards arranged them* selves at different tables, and by the most judicious and delicate management, provided for the comfort and con^ venience of their numerous guOsts. When the cloth was removed, and the usual patriotic toasts had been duly honored, the Chairman proposed, amid loud cheers, "The Health of His Excellency the- Governor General." It was drank with all the honors, the Band playing " The fine old Irish Gentleman." The next toast on the list was "Our Guests — ^the Delegates-' from the Maritime Provinces." The Chairman, in rising to propose this toast, said that the ; merchants of Quebec had reason to feel a legitimate pri^e that they had here, as their guests, this evening, gentlemen occupying such a high position in the sister provinces, assembled in this city in order to discuss a highly important subject. (Cheers.) And while the merbhants of Quebec did not think they were called upon to express an opinion on the question of confederation itself, they all heartily desired some change in our present position — they desired a thorough commercial union — they desired that the unequal and hostile tariffs of the several provinces should disappear. (Cheers.) Wewant^ ed one tariff instead of five. We wanted a commercial union in order to bring about closer ties, and we wanted that union under one flag — ^the flag of old England.; (Loud cheers.) We wished, too, that this union should be strengthened still further by the iron ties of the inter colonial railway. (Cheers.) It had long been the habit to call the maritime colonies by the name of the sister provinces ; but notwithstanding this appeUation they were strangers to us and we were strangers to them, as was shown by the diversity of the tariffs. But let us hope that a new era was about dawning upon us, now when we saw the great statesmen of the British North American Provinces assembled in this city, in this month of October, 1864-^let us hope that if we did not obtain a political union, we should at least have a commercial union. (Cheers.) There was b^t one matter to which he would briefly allude before proposing the toast of the evemng. UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 66 As they were all well aware, a vast number of our people were interested in ship-building, and he was glad tO know that it was a highly important interest among the inhabi tants of the Lower Provinces also. Referring to the Reciprocity Treaty, he might say that it was not framed with any particular view to the interests of the eastern section of the Provinces ; but we were as willing to stand by it as others, and when the proper time came we should unite with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island, and say that we should also have free-trade in ship-building. He would now propose the toast of the evening — " Our Guests the Delegates from the Maritime Provinces," and he spoke the wish of the merchants of Quebec, when he said he trusted the Dele gates would receive this small compliment to themselves in the same open, cordial, unreserved spirit in which it had been tendered. (Loud cheers.) The toast having been duly honored — The Hon. Dr. Tupper, Provincial Secretary ,of Nova Scotia, replied on behalf of that Province, as follows : — Mr. President and gentlemen, — I gladly avaU myself of this opportunity to return thanks on behalf of myself and co-delegates from the Province of Nova Scotia, for the kind and hospitable manner in which we have been receiv ed in this country. I feel that our thanks are not only especially due to the Ministry of Canada for the ¦very hos pitable and generous manner in which we have been re ceived, but that they are also aUke due to the city of Que bec, the city of Montreal, and the city of Toronto, in fact, I may say to the people of Canada, who of one accord seem to join most heartUy in rendering our visit to this great Province agreeable as well as useful. (Loud cheers.) I feel not a little embarrassed iri rising to address you. The magnitude of the question which has called the dele gates from the Maritime Provinces to this meeting is one which actuaUy appals me to contemplate, when I reflect that from the time in which the immortal Wolfe decided on the plains of Abraham the. destiny of British America to the present, no event has exceeded in importance or mag nitude the one which is now taking place in this ancient and famous city. You will understand me when I say that 7 66 UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. I feel embarrassed as I approach its consideration before so inteUigent an audience. (Hear, hear.) But this is not the only source of embarrassment which I feel on the preseiit occasion, because I need not tell you that, assem bled as we are to discuss the great and momentous inter ests of British North Ainerica — assembled as we are to de- ¦vi'se, under the authority and with the sanction of the crown of Great Britain, a better and more useful system of government for these Provinces, we are obliged to pre serve to a large extent that confidence in our interchange of opinion which is essential to the discussion of so great a question. (Cheers.) I need not tell you how embarrass ing it would be if the immatured opinions at which we may have in^dividually arrived were thrown, broad-cast be fore the people^ to become matters of contention before we h'ad, by mutual concessions and mutual compromises, ar ranged and matured a plan of action that we could, with ' confidence, submit to the intelligence of British North America. (Cheers.) But beyond this I have another source of embarrassment. I need not remind you that, from ihe time when we had the pleasure of receiving that latgedeputation of the members of the Canadian Govern- irient at Charlottetown down to the present, we have had a series of social meetings in Prince Edward Island, in Nova Scotia, and in New Brunswick, that we have several times been before the, public in connection with this question ; and ¦when I tell you that the question has been already discussed by gentlemen connected with the Government of Canada — men who occupy not only the proudest position as statesmen in British North America, who have not only a British, but I may say a European reputation, you wiU understand how difficult it must be for me, familiarised as you must have been undoubtedly by the intelligent Press of this country, which has discussed this question and made you acquainted with the speeches of these men — you wiU, I say, understand the embarrassment I feel in rising here to-night to attempt to offer anything new in addition to that which has been before offered. When it is under stood that the object of this meeting of delegates is to as certain whether the time has not come when a more use ful system of go-yernment can be devised for those British American Provinces, I need not say that its importance UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 67 18 one wjiich it is impossible to overrate. Uninformed as the public mind in the Lower Provinces was on this ques tion, tl^e visit and the statements m,ade by the gentlemen C9nnected ¦with the Government of Canada have aroused a, large and marked degree.of attention, which I belieye will be fraught -with, the best .consequences in its effects U-pon these Provinces,, (cheers); and as these gentlemen in order to -lead the public mind of the Lower Provinces tj> an appreciation- of this question, took the;opportiinity;to pla,ce before us statements of the vast resources of this great, .colony of Canada, I may, perhaps, be excused ifl invite your attention to some of the facts connected with the growth and increase of the Lower I'rovinces. (Loud cj?e)ers.) It is kue you have a jnagnificent country, em bracing an immense territorial area; it is true you have a comparatively large population of 3,000,000 ; itis true. you have land teeming with inexhaustible resources, on every handj,;, but as .was observed by your able and talented minister, Mr. Cartier, great as is your country, large as is your population, inexhaustible as are your resources, the Maritime Provinces have something to you equally essen tial to the for mation of a great nation.; (Cheers.) 'We shall bring, into the federation wit)i- Canada a territorial area of 50,000 or 60,000 square miles, and an additional population of ^00,000 souls ; and I need not say to the gentleman who has; just sat down, and who has made such complimentary aUusions to. the Lower Proyipces, that the prospect of the addition of a populationof 800,000 souls must necessarily excite the attention of the; manufacturers of Canada. (Cheers.) :We should, bring a revenue to the common purse of f sornething Uke |3,000,000, ,and when, I teU you that Nova Scotia has something like doubled her revenue within the last six years, you will understand that we dq not require a union with; Canada to; draw from her resour- ceSw, We, should, add, at the same time,, to the trade of the common federation- something like $35,000,000 in our expor,ts ,and imports., ,1 need not, teU you how much Canada owes to; the mighty St. Lawrence j^but thishigl)^- way, great and magnificent as it is, is but an imperfect pne, inasmjich, .as it is closed to all comnierce some five njooths. in; the year, nc)t tp speak ,of,,the humUiating posi? tion in which this great country is left, when you feel that §8 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. yoi; are dependent upon a foreign, if not a rival state, for afccbss tb the ocean, one of the' essential requirements of commerce, -without which' liO' country cari be permanently ^rfeat.' (Cheers.) YOu cari readily understand how im- phrtarit it is that Canada should obtain means, of access to the oOeari not only for five months but for twelve' months in the year — irieans of ^ corilriiunication not only 'with the ocean but' with the parent State. (Cheers.) Why is it that the Intercoloriial RaUWay is not a fact ? It is because, being divided, that whifch' is' the' common interest of these Colbnieshas beein' neglected ; and when it is understood that khe construction of this work is gbiflg to give to Canada that which is so essential to' her, its importance toi" be understood, not Only in connection 'with your politi cal greatriesS, but also iri- connection with your commercial ehaf acter, as affording increased means of coipmunicatiori with the Lower Provinces — for the inexhaustible' resources of the Great West wiU flow down the St. La-wrence to QriebeO, and frOm there to the magnificent harbOrs of Halifax 'arid St. John, open at aU seasons of the year. -I ¦*?ould a,^k you; too, to contemplate the inexhaustible wealth of the Ocean which surrourids the Maritime Pro- yiri'ces, in the fisheries which we there have ; but it is not only in that respect that the Maritime Provinces are prepared to show! you that they WUl-be able to bring something to the treasury of British North America. If you look at the Colony ^hich I have the honor to represerit you will find thdt'its rilineral resources caririot be excelled on this side of thfe Atlantic. You wiU find a 'va'st country occupied- by as VaiWalale coal deposits as are to be found on the surface of the earth. You ¦will find iron riaines in the Province of Nova Scotia which; in quality, will successfully rival the finest Swedish iron. You will find iron and coal associat ed with limestone. In fact, you will find in Nova Scotia all those chief natural characteristics which have made Great Britain the chief commercial mart of the world. T'here aire' klsO our gold mines; not yet developed. StiU they are valuable, arid in iUustration of their worth I may iell you that the receipts from rents and royalties have, within the.last six months; enlarged to the extent of $20.^^ 000. You 'wUl thus understand that our gold mines afford ft prospect of remuneratiYe eniployment to the large popu- UNION OF' THE BMiTlSH PRO-VlNcl^S. 69 lation which wUl inevitably ]De attracted by ttfein. '(lioud cheers.), When you look at these facts, you'wilj easijy nnderstand that the confederation which shall unite we, British American Colonies, which will give a .eonimoii airii, and unite by a c'oinmori bond tUe whole people, -will te|id, to enhance their credit — to place them upon the exchanges of the world in a, far better position than we can hope ^ for in our piresent divided state. I fail- myself to ilnderstajid how the commercial union, so ably referred to byygliir^ chairinan, is ever to be reaUzed, except in cpiinectiori ¦with, a poUtical- union. , The public men of 'British. Nwitli, America have not, probably,, yet exhausted that,;'subj;ect ; but they have given it their . carefiil attention, arid hith'er-. to they have been unable to devige ineans ¦whetjeby a corii-, mercial union could be formed separate from a politicsj. union. (Cheers.) Theij: .tariffs would require to bead- justed to meet the necessities of each' people by different legislatures, and wliUe this is the case, while •we are septfrr, ate, we can never hope to have such an adjustnji,ent,:as,tp give to the people of the whole of the Provinces STjch a commercial union as the Quebec ,Bpard of Trade .judges to be so essentia,! to our common interest, B|it .there.|.ai'f. other questions , in presence of which evpn the Sn^pfiial credit and commercial prosperity of thes,ftjColonieS; sink' into comparative insignificance. I do not underrate '.|hese, —I believe it should be t'^e ^'bii^Jness of the statesmen, of every free country to; ^ridpavour'tp incre^sgits comrnercjial prosperity and exalt !its credit, but there Is that which isf dearer still, and that is freedom and safety. (Cheers.) .1 Believe the tirne has come when the statesman of British North Anaerica is unworthy the positlo.n he occupies, who, does, not feel it'.Tiis imperative duty tot.cJevPte his ^nasti earnest attention to the solution of the great anijiriipqf^ tant question, how the lives and property and peace of thf inhabitants of British.|North America may not only b'e preserved, but guaranteed, against any assault. (Cheers,), Occupying the official position I do, in connection 'vrith the,. Government of one of the Provinces, itwoiild be ¦wrong for, me to say ,g. single word oh: this subject liable t6:rniscq,ncep-' tion or misconstruction any'whei^e J; y?t,X..mjiist say^tHat^no' one wno regards the eha,nged,aspee.t of 3.ffe,ir8 ;Oii this conti nent witEin the last few yeairs can''faU"to see that iinless we 70 UNION OF THB BBITISH PRO'VINCES. are to be dependent for our safety on the generous forbear-, ance of our neighbors we must be prepared unitedly tO' co-operate hr the common defence of our country-- (cheers,) and I must Say also that I do not believe, the, time has come when Great .Britain is indifferent to ' oUr defence. I am not one of those Vho fancy there is ariy; large or influential class- of statesmen in Great Britairi who are insensible to the great advantage and inapOrtance of preserving the British American colonies as part of the empire. It may suit the Manchester school and doctri^ naires like Goldwin Smith to put forth the coritrary notidii,' but I speak under the deepest conviction of the truth' of what 1 say, when I assert that the statesmen who have- charge of the Government of the British Enapire ¦would be thrust frorri place and power the very irioment .they should propose a pOlicy so fatal to the greatness of the Crown arid the dignity of England, as wottld be the; cast ing adrift of her polonies. (Cheers.) I need not say 'that ¦ these Provinces have a common interest. The loss of Halifax means the loss of Nova Scotia; the loss 'of Nova' Scotia nieans the loss.of Prince, Edward Island and Ne-W' Brunswick, and the loss of these' necessarily in'vdlVes al^o, the loss of Canada — for we stand or fall together. (Cheers') And the loss pf these Provinces involves al.sb'thy'-Tois'clf the West India Islands, and the result worild"b6 that Great Britairi would sink from the mighty .position slie now occupies into the comparatively insignificant jiOsition of a kingdom comprising only two small islands. (Hear, hear.) I believe the day is far distant— I believe the child is nOt yet born who wiU live to hear the proposition. authoritatively propounded by any Cabinet in Great, Bri tain of the abaridonriient' of the British North Americari Colonies. ' (Loud cheers.) .1 believe that a blbw strrick' which would assail the property or liberty of British^ America would bring into action all the pbWer' of the' British Crown — all the force Of that magnificent arrriy' and gaUant navy on ¦which we confidently rely for .profedT^ tion. But, at the same time, the fact that this is the tem per of the British mind, the sehtimerit of the :British Em pire, instead of rendering us supine and indifferent^ should^ nerve us with increased ¦vigor to' place ourselves in the position in which ¦we can best co-operate with the^'brave' UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 71 army and gallant navy of Great Britain for the defence of this portion of the British Eriipire. (Cheers.) I have little more to say, as I do not wish to trespass on the time reserved for other gentlemen from my o-wn and the sister Provinces who will address you. But I must say that I can not understand the caution which your chairman, the President of the Board of Trade, felt it necessary to exer cise in referring to the great question of -Confederation. I feel. Sir, it was wise on your part, and on the part of the influential body for whom you spoke, that due caution should be exhibited ; but when you were speaking of. a question in presence Of whose magnitude the voice of fac tion has been hushed — for I find aroubd this table, com<- bined to obtain a satisfactory solution of that question, the representatives of the two great parties who have so long been in antagonism to each other, and not particularly tb the advantage of the Province of Canada — I find the re presentatives of these great parties, almost- hereditary iu their antagonism, combinin,g in the 'most patriotic spirit to find a solution of the grfeat question how the best government shall be obtained for British North America. "When I look at all this, I think the circumstances would have justified the President of the Quebec Board of Trade in giving a- little more encouragement to the project than he has given here to-night. (Loud cheers.) And it is not only in Canada alone that, in presence of this ques tion, the voice of faction has been hushed. There is pre sent at this moment in Quebec, not only the extraordinary spectacle of the different Governments of the four outlying sister Provinces being represented here on this occasiori, but we find side by side with the prominent members of the various Administrations, and intimately and closely asso ciated with them, the able and talented leaders of the Opposition in their respective Provinces. (Cheers.) Un der these circumstances, then — when, as I have said,' in the presence of the great question the voice of faction is hushed — why should it be necessary to exercise sc much caution not to commit the public to the conclusion at which we may arrive ? (Cheers.) The question, at all events, is of that magnitude which requires thatany hos tile expression of opinion should be suppressed, and' that 72 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. the public should be ready to give it that calm and dis passionate consideration without which it is impossible that any number of statesmen, however able, can bring it to a satisfactory issue. Dr. Tupper having again express ed his thanks for the generous hospitality with which he and his colleagues had been received in this ancient and venerable capital, resumed his seat amidst loud and pro longed cheering. The Hon. Samuel L. Tilley, Provincial Secretary of New Brunswick, responded as follows, on behalf of his Province : He said that the manner in which the toast had been received showed how deep and earnest was the general feeling respecting the grave question on which the Intercolonial Conference was engaged. His friend, the Hon. Dr. Tupper, had said he felt embarrassed^ and he, too, felt embarrassed at observing a certain table (the re porters' table), but at the same time he was reassured by the great forbearance these gentlemen had shewn on a re cent occasion when several of them visited the Maritime Provinces. (Laughter and cheers.) The delegates from the Lower Provinces were net here seeking this union. They had assembled at Charlottetown a few weeks ago, in order to see whether they could not extend their own family relations, and then Canada intervened, and the considera tion of the larger question was the result. He considered it right to make this remark, inasmuch as it had been assert ed in certain quarters that the Maritime Provinces, weak and impoverished, were endeavoring to attach themselves to Canada, in order to reap the benefits arising from such a union. This was not the case. Look at the immense amount of shipping they owned. He was in a position to state that, for the year 1 864, after paying the interest on all their debts, and after providing liberally for roads, bridges, and other pubUc works, they would have a sur plus of half a million. (Cheers.) Therefore, they were not coming in as paupers — they were coming to put some thing into the capital that was worth having. Next alluding to the Intercolonial Railway project, he said their feeling on this subject was: " We won't have this union unless you give us the railway." (Cheers.) It was utter- UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES; 75 ly impossible we could have either a political or commer cial union without it. With regard to the latter, he miglit say that he had at one time believed with others that we could have a commercial without a po]itic3,l Union ; brit he now held with his hon. friend (Mr. Tupper) that it was all but impracticable, as was easily shewn by the question of tariffs, to which that hon. gentlemaii had referred. With out going into details, he might say that it was the opin ion of the Conference that union was desirable if the de taUs could be satisfactorily arranged. Of course, in mak ing these arrangements we should haye to have due re gard to the wants, requirements and even, in some degree, to the prejudices of the.people. , Even in the Lower Pro vinces the tariffs acted adversely to each other. He asked them as commercial men was it desirable that this state oi affau-s should continue ? (Criesof "No/' "No.") He sa-w no other way of obviating those difficulties than by a political union. He would not now refer -at any great length to the defence question, inasmuch. as we had here the gaUant Colonel from Prince Edward Island (Col. Gray,) who had made it his special study. He would, however, remark that the anxiety respecting the subject of defence in New Brunswick was not intense among the masses of the people. This was because the population was very small, and the people felt that their individual efforts would be useless. But throw the three hundred thousand souls of New Brunswick in with the population of Canada and the other provinces,, making a total of four millions ; and twice as much in the way of a defence contingent might be obtained from New Brunswick, because the peo ple would feel that they were part of a great nation. (Cheers.) If detaUs could be satisfactorily arranged it _was advisable we should be united in one great Confedera tion. Look, for instance, at the example offered by Canada. Since the union of Canada its poptdation had increased from a Uttle over a million to two millions and a half. He (Mr. TiUey) hoped for the best ; and with the intelli gence of which the Conference was composed, he, trusted they would overcome all difficulties ; and that they woidd soon meet in Quebec, Montreal-, or Ottawa, ,to consummate the union — despite the caption of his friend tbe Bre^dent (Laughter and cheers.) 74 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. Hon. Mr. Carter, (of Newfoundland), returned thanks for himself and his cO-delegate. He had Ustened at tentively to the speeches made by his hon. ' friends'' who preceded him, and believed, that they had stated, their cases very ably indeed. ' The colony to which he belonged was not represented in the Charlottetown Convention ; but it had responded to the appeal to take part iri that of Quebec. He might safely say, for the great majority of the people of Newfoundland, thatthey would feel' it a great advantage to enter this proposed union,- arid _that they would consider it a serious loss to be left out of it. New foundland did not occupy such a high position as NOva Scbtia and New Brunswick ; but she would nevertheless ]be no burthen tp the Confederation ^nay, more, he believed if the Union were consummated it would be an advantage to the city of Quebec' What wks wanted was increased facilities for trade. The trade of Canada ' tvould be de stroyed if Newfoundland were in the hands of a foreign power. It was only necessary to look at the map to enable one to arrive at the conclusion that the stability of the Confederation would require- Newfoundland.^ He had' oc casion to visit QuebeO-- several years 'ago, on matters of public business, which brought forcibly before his mind the benefits ¦which would be deri-ved froha a union of the provinces; he had then expressed the wish' that we miglit •one day be' all united in one common country under a scion of the Royal family ; and it' was his belief-' now thnt the wished-for union was riot far distant. (Cheers.) There were, of course, many things to be .arranged ; but he nevertheyss hoped they would be in a position to announce a successful result to their respective constituencies. — The •hon. gentleman concluded by expressing a hope that he would have an opportunity of seeing his kind hosts in Newfoundland, so that he mi^ht reciprocate their courte sies. (Cheers.) _ The Honorable Colonel Gray, President of the Execu- 'tive Council of Prince Edward Island, began by express ing a regret that he was suffering from a severe cold which, he said, almost rendered his voice inaudible. His frierid the HoQ. Mr. TiUey had referred to him an impor tant but rather dry point — ^that of deferiice ;- but he' would UNION OF THE BRITISH PBO'VINCES. 75 ' - ¦>'¦¦¦' , i -I'l M. ,.. ¦¦¦..'.¦ I : I "-*'' not now express his sentiments upon it, nor would he have arisen to speak, but that it was his duty to thank them on behalf of his co-delegates and of the people of Prince Edward Island for their kind and courteous hospitality. When he saw such an amount of wealth and iritetligenqe around this board he looked upon it as a^ proof that Que-' bee was destined to occupy the first 'rank, if .not the first place, in a mighty nation. (LoUd cheers,). \ It would be long, indeed, before the hospitality now extended •wOrild be effaced from their recollection. — After' somte laudatory reference to the articles ori Mr. Howe's letter to Mr. Adder- ley,, which; appeared in a Quebec journal, the hon. 'g'en- tleman went on to say that he was glad to have an opjio'r- tunity of raising his voice to help ih bringing about that which he believed was now about to' be consummated. The dreani of his youth and manhood was that he would, one day, be the citizen Of a great nation, extending from .the extreme, west ,to the^ sea-board ; and he believed that dream was -about to be realized. (Cheers.) What a time was^that in which we met to endeavor to accomplish this, great purpose ! Who could tell what would occur on this coritinent in the next four years ? The ' previous speakers had alluded to our commercial 'interests'', 'and on this point he (Col- Gray,) could , not pretend, to foUow them ; but he would say ' that the colony he represented could .thr^ow something into the conimon treasury. It cojLild contribute its mite — it could be tO the othei- P-ro- vin'ces what Rhode Island was to the other States of- the American Union. But the delegates required from their hosts something more than this feast^-they required their sympathies in another direction. It was impossible to attain the result so ardently wished for unless they gave"' their' aid in banishing all sectional prejudices and jealou sies which' would interfere with the great end. He would say for himself that there was not a man among them who ¦wOuld not dome forward to spill the last' drop Of his blood arid Spend' his treasure rather than the soil of Canada should be polluted by the foot of a foe. ¦ But if the people of the Maritime Provinces united with those of Canada, as a band of brothers, they might rest assured that God would defend his own 'work. (LoUd cheers.) In conclu sion, he hoped they would accept his cordial thariks for 76 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. the honor conferred on his brother-delegates and himself by drinking their health. The Chairman said they had. now to drink the health of their other guests. Her Majesty's Ministers. (Cheets;) These hon. gentlemen had undertaken a great task — a task the object of which was to put an end to those sectional. differences which, for years, had existed in Canada, and to which his hon. friend Mr. Tupper had referred. We had certainly to admit that, in this Province, we had been divided in a way that was nOt to our advantage. It was, he repeated, an important task the Government had un dertaken in trying to mature a measure which would pro mote the material welfare of a,U the British North Ameri can Prb-vincesi and give us a «trong Government. If they succeeded in their endeavors to bring about the Union to which he (the Chairman) had so cautiously referred (laughter) — if they succeeded in giving us a good Govern ment, they would not only deserve but would receive the thanks of every true Canadian. Without further preface, he therefore begged leave to propose, " The Members of the Executive CouncU of Canada." The toast was received with loud cheers — the Band playing " A la Claire Fontaine." Hon. Sir E. P. Tache, Receiver General and Minister of MUitia of Canada, said he arose to thank them in the name of his; coUeagues and for himself, for the toast which had been proposed, and received so cordially. Under ordinary circumstances, he (Sir E. P. Tache) would have contented himself with merely thanking them for this toast, because in mixed assemblies it was looked upon sinaply as a matter of respect to those who, for the time being, held the reins of Government. But there was such a close connection between the principle upon which the Government was formed and the present occasion that he might.be justified in saying more. They were aware that the present Administration was formed for the very pur pose of carrying out the important measure which those distinguished gentlemen from the sister provinces had met in Quebec to endeavor to bring about He had, therefore, as it were, a right to say a few words on the subject, but the UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 77 hon. gentlemen who preceded him had entered so earnestly, so fMly,' and so clearly into the subject, that it was almost useless for him to add more. This project of uniting the British North American Provinces was not a new scheme. It had been suggested years ago by an able statesman^ Lord Durham, in his Report ; and though he (Sir E. E, Tache,) might not. agree 'with aU it contained, he would say that it was undoubtedly the work of a very able states man. One of the recommendations of Lord Durham's Re port had been carried out ; and whatever might have been said then, it would be admitted now that the union of Upper and Lower Canada had doubled our population and trebled our resources in twenty years. (Cheers.) Little,;however, was said about the union of the provinces lintiL 1853, when the late lamented Mr. Merritt moved for a committee on the subject Then there was very little said or done untiri857 or 1858 — he believed in the session of 1858, when his hon. firiend Mr. Galt moved a series of Tcsolu- tions on the subject, which were submited to Her Majesty's Govemment, but were not. acted upon, the other Govern ments not having taken simultaneous action in the matter. But since the last mentioned date it had been amply dis cussed by articles in the public journals and by brochures. However, 1 difficulties of a sectional, nature grew upon us, and after the defeat of the Ministry last spring, a Govern ment was formed on the avowed basis of a Confederation of the British North American Provinces. We had been in political difficulties, no doubt, as an hon. gentleman who preceded him had said, but these difficulties were not so great — ^the body politic was not so sick or incurable as to make a remedy of no avail. (Laughter.) Union wOuld benefit us all — not merely this one or; the other one, but the whole. His hearers might expect something frorii him as to 'the secrets of the Conference ; but if they did they were much mistaken. (Laughter.) The members were not sworn ; but they were bound in honor as geritle men to preserve secrecy. It would be highly imprudent at this stage of the proceedings to divulge anything, for we did not know what njodifications or changes might becoms necessary. The leakirig-out of half-matured points of the arrangement would create erroneous impressions and would produce a very bad effect. He would, before sitting 78 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. down, -form a vow or give expression to a vow — he did nOt know whether the phrase was good English, but it was excellent French — that at no distant period a fraternal era might be ppened untp us by which the cool-^headed ankj persever-ihg Englishman might be di'awn:. closer to the warm-hearted and generous Irishman, to the; keen, pers^ vering and economiical (laughter) — they should reserve their laughter .as he. had not finished the sentence — the persevering and economical son of Caledonia-,- and the gay and chivalric off spring, of old Gaul — each of these- contri buting, their quota pf the gbod^ qualities they had inherited from their .'ancestors, blended- together, in one grand peor pie — -Acadian or Canadian, he did not care which, for they. were both dear! tp his heart. . (Enthusiastic cheering.) : ./ The ChairmA-N, called upcn Mr. James Bell' Forsyth to propose th? next toast. , . , ,, ; Mr. Forsyth, said, the toast he had the honor of pro- posiflg was " The Commercial Prosperity of British North AmeriaGa." - But if statesmen accustomed to speak in public,- on important subjects, felt their position so embar rassing as they bad- themselves declaired, -how much more embarrasiffg; was'it to him (Mr. Forsyth) • unaccustomed to public speaking, yet! called, upon to introduce this extensive subject. The Ministryi of Canada had shewn great patriotism when they cast aside the bickerings and heart-^burnings of past years for the purpose of] uniting us in a great nation. (Cheers.) When' he (Mr. FOrsyth) saw around 'the board those delegates from the Maritime Pro vinces joined' Iwith: our own leading men in .this great undertaking; 'he felt that it was a subject :for congratula tion ; ;and' the general feeling throughout the land, fi-bm Lake Superior to Halifax, was to. wish them " Godspeed/' He would not enter- into statistics, but he did think that if nothing else arose from this meeting but the con struction ; of the Intercolonial RaUway, it would be a great result indeed. He trusted, however, that we would have not-only a railroad, but a uniform tariff, and not only a uni form tariff, but such a union, whether Federal or Legisla tive, as would give us unity of sentiment and community of interest < (Cheers.) '. ¦ It was most oonsoKng, throughout all the bearings of this great question, that there was the UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 7^9"" same good feeling as ever, to glorious old England, under whose flag we lived— ^that ancient flag which, for a thous and years, had braved the battle and the breeze. (Loud cheers.) Without further comment, he proposed the toa^t of" The Commercial Prosperity of British North America." Tl»e toast was enthusiasticaUy received — ^the Band play ing the " Canadian Hymn." Hon. Mr. Galt (Finance Minister of Canada), who was loudly called, for, arose amid much cheering, and observed that though he felt it was highly flattering to be thus called upon, yet that before he ventured to address such an enlighteried commercial commuriity, it would have been only fair to allow him- some time for preparation. — Allud ing to the lack of information so long prevaiUng' in Canada respecting the. Maritime Provinces, he said itj'was to be hoped that. the visit of those gentiemen in •whose honor they had assembled to-night would,, dispel that ignorance. When we saw the abiUty of those gentlemen and reflected that they might be one day caUed to the councils of our united country, it was consoling to think that, if the Con federation of the Pro-dnces were brought about, we might have the benefit of such talents. (Cheers.) With regard to. the question of cpipmercialprosperity arising out of this subject, he might remark, that, in commerce, we should never be contented with the minor advantage if, we could get the major. What depressed the commercial energies of this country ? Because we had ' hitherto been: confined to two markets — England and the United States; . Now. a Union with the Lower Provinces ;would not only give us the benefit of their local markets, but would also open up to us the benefit of their foreign trade— a trade which, in one or two instances, we had once possessed but had now lost. We had in our own Province a certain amount of the maritime element ; but not so much as we should have after a Union with the Sister, Provinces. In the circum stances in which we were placed, it was gratifying; that those points in which we might be deficient would be amply supplied by the other Provinces. We were trying to encourage manufacturing in Canada. A supply Of Coal was a most important elemeritof success in this respect; and we had before us the fact that Nova Scotia possessed that element. The great resources of the Maritime Pro. 8Q, UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. vinces had been amply shewn by the hon. gentlemen who had already spoken, and 'who bad abundantly proved that they cariie not as seeking assistance from us but in abroad and national spirit. (Cheers.) He was glad their speeches would go forth to the public, and that it would be seen that the Provinces did not come together as suppliants, but. with a liberal and patriotic desire to improve oijr lot and to perpetuate and preserve British institutions in a truly British spirit. (Cheers.) And the enthusiasm shewn here to-night was an earnest of the manner in which the realization of the great object in view would be welcomed. The toast of " The Press," was then given, and respond ed- to hy Mr. G. A. Sala, the Essayist, and at that time correspondent of the London Telegraph; — the health of the Chairman was also given and responded to ; and " the Ladles" were likewise remembered as worthy of festive honors ; after which the company dispersed, it being then nearly midnight. The Conference continued to meet daily between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, and adjourning at four o'clock, resumed their sittings at seven o'clock, which were continued ujitil a late hour when no engagements inter fered., Festivities were not wholly abandoned, but were, in a measure,', checked by the declared desire of the Dele gates to apply i themselves assiduously to the discharge of their public duties. At an early date after their arrival in Quebec, M. and Madame Tessier, lady of the Speaker of the Legislative Council, invited the Delegates to a Ball, expressly designed in honor of them. The evening of the 19th October was set apart for this interesting event ; and all the Delegates and dignitaries of the Crown in Quebec, together with some of its best Society in the private walks of life, accepted the generous invitation, and, after many pleasant hours,left the Ball Room with the impression that they bad enjoyed one of the happiest re-unions ever experi enced by theni. xmrKM^Wim t^nm vixmstu. 81 VjktT TQ, AND," ADDRESS FROM, LAVAL. UNIVERSITY. On the ?Otli pf October, the Delegates from the Mari time Provinces were,; ^Y invitation, receiyed at the Laval Univier8ity;:and honored -with a grand official reception, headed by His Lordship the Bishop of Tloa, administra*' tor of the Diofcese of Quebec, His Lordfihip the Bishop of Hamiiton, His Lordship the Bishop of Kingston. The Rectc^ pf the. pniversity, and tlie Deans and Professors of the several FafcultieSi appeared in their official robes. The. attendance of' the' 'indents was unusually large, and the occasion was graced by the presence of many ladies and distinguished persons in Quebec at the time. The whole party .having proceeded to the great HaU, where the pupils , of the Quebec Seminary, to the number of four hundred, were assembled, the Very Reverend Rector read the follow ing Address:-^ HoNopABLE Gentlemen, — There are in the lives of nations, as in those of individuals, moments of solemn import, on which their destiny hangs. TbSteBritiflh Colonies of North America are now in one of those critical periods, th|e influence pf which may even surpass pur prevision. Histpry.will hflrid dnwn tp ppsterity the names of all those to whom the confidence of their feUow-citizens has entrusted with this great mission of examining, the basis of our political eonstitutionfi, and of proposing fundamental, modifications. .... It is not the part of a Uterary and scientifical institution to express an- opinion on the all-important questions of the day; yet it) cannot remain indifferent to debates which concern our common country, understanding as it does.) how well worthy of the best, wishes of all are the emiHant personages on whose shoulders, weighs so heavy a resporisUality. Moreorer^ the prospexity. of an institutiotn snob asthis is 8 82 ..'4 UNIQK; 015 THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. ^ too closely.coi^ec,tpd wth the future of the country not to partake-in theanxiety with which; from the sources to the mouth of the St. Lawrence, five millions of British subjects await the result of your important labors. The students of"" tlie Quebec Seminary arid those Of La-val' University, ¦whom yoti see here united, also 'Share in - our emotion; in after years some of them ' may, in their- - turn^be called on to guide the ship of the.State, and to con^lje .the^i construction, the jfoundatiqns of which it is you5, mission to lay. : "Whatever may be the issue of your deliberations, permit us to'aisure yOu, honorable gentlemen, in the name of all our piipils and Alumni, that your visit will be long borne in mihdiby them. Nor: will it be without result, for, whi^ engaged in the task, of developing their intelligence, thev ¦will be animated by .the grateful remembrance of the honof! conferred on their. q,lma mater by the presence of the most eminent and most infiuential men of this immense territory. , . , ,-<.,,;-,, •-,.,,,' f ', ,. Hon. Mr. Tupper, on behalf of himself and his Associ ate Delegates, read the fpllpwing Reply : To. the Very !Beverend ,E._.A. Taschereau, D.O.L., Rector of the University of Laval. Very Reverend Sir, — ^We beg tP express Pur grate ful estimate of the very flattering terms in which we have' been addressed by you, on behalf of the Faculties and Alumrii of this distinguished' Uftiversity, and of the pro- fessert-B ' and studetits of the Quebec Seminary. Engaged as we are in the important duty of endeavoring; ' in conjunction with the Government of Canada, so to improve the political institutions of the British American Provinces as to promote the common interests of all, we are itluch gratified to learn that our high mission is duly appreciated at a great seat of learning from which the public sentinient of the country must be largely infiuenced. The students of the Quebec Seminary, as alsp the Faculties-and- Alumni cf Laval University, may rest as sured that pur best effprts wUl be exerted to find a wise solution pf the great questipn which has been submitted to UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 88 our 'deliberations ; but in any event we will net soon forget the distinguished mark of respect which you have been pleased; to pffer us on the present occasipn. (Signed,) Charles Tupper, W- A. Henry, J. McCuiLr, R. B. Dickey, A. G. Archibald, pf Npva Scctia. S. L. Tilley, W. H. Steeves, J. M. Johnson, E. B.' Chandler, J. H. Gray, Charles Fisher, of New Bruns wick. F. B. T. Carter,' J. Ambrose Shea, of Newfpundland. J. H. Gray, Edward Palmer, W. H. Pope, A. A. McPonald, George Coles, T, Heath Haviland, Edwabi) Whelan, of Prince Edward Island. The; Seminary tand then struck up a jpypus strain, and the visitprs prpceeded, tp the terrace-rcpf of the main building, whence a magnificent viewpf the city, barber and surrounding country was obtained. The Delegates were highly delighted with the prospect, and unanimously de clared it to be one of the most beautiful they had ever beheld. After having thus feasted their eyes on the beau ties of nature, they proceeded-^accompanied by their hosts — tp visit the several departments pf the University, in cluding the library, the museum cf minerplpgy and bptany, the cabinets pf physics and chemistry, the schocls pf law and medicine, and the students' residence attached, &c. It is needless tp say that they were deeply impressed with the vast extent pf the University and the unrivalled edu cational faciUties which it affords. THE BACHELORS' BALL. The Bachelors of Quebec entertained the Delegates ata Ball at the Parliament Buildings^ on the evening pf the 21st -Octcber. His Excellency the Governpr' General and his Ministry were present ; and, indeed, all the other dis tinguished persons who attended the Government BaU in the same place, pn the 14th, participated in the hUarity hap^il^ and most successfuUy inaugurated by the Bache- 84 to UNKHS OF the BRITISH PROVINCES. loraJ'j?The attendance was large»^the disjday of beauff " higWy 'idttfactive-4-the eritertairiment in the Supper Room of the best description ; and, in short, O'verything combined to mfcke the Baiehelors' Ball- one of the most agrfeeable in cidents remotely bpnnected wilSi the Ccnventipn. • ;,• ..^ ¦/;.,... . r. ?— ,. Di;PARTURE FROM QUEBEC. NOthJtogfurfherief any impprtance remains to be noted duriti^-the time the Delegates remained in Quebec. Th^ ¦ brought their official labors at Quebec to a close On the 27th Oct^Wer;' arid on the afternoon and 'evening of that day, nearly all the Delegates, their lady friOndsjand several mem- ber^e^ the CanadSari Ministry, proceieded to Montreal by special train, most obligingly 'placed at their service by C. J.' Brydges, Esq., the popular and efficient Managing Director of the Grand TrUnk Railway, to whom the Delegates are indebted for tonch' courtesy and kindriess, and which will, no doubt,' be ever gratefully remembered. ARRIVAL IN MONTREAL. VISIT TO 'PUBLIC' liirSTlTtjTlONS — CONFERENCE — BALL. The Delegates and their party arrived at Montreal early on the 'moi-riing of Friday, 28th October, and proceeded to the St. Lawrence Hall, where apartments were provided for them. The weather was wet arid disagreeable during the whole day, which prevented a Volunteer Review from takipgi pl^e, designedi as a mark of respect to the Dele- gatejijand foi^ which extensive preparations had been made. Visits, were niade, however, toseveral of the pubUc institu tions,, fjiuri)ng.t.he :fqr^nPi)n; and, the Geological Survey, undg^ theidirection of the I eminent Geologist,- Sir WUUam Logffl,, vras aij, especial, object, of attraction tp the visitors. The.'$gyi9)qtiQn; of ig^Qlogipal. specimens, fossils, woods and UNION "OFTHE BRITISH' TROVUNCIIS. "'"* 85 minerals, in this institution, is said to b6 the largest and best in America. The Delegates were fortunate in bding introduced by the Hon Mr. McGee; and the gentleman in charge of the institution most ably and^ cheerfully ^ex plained to his ¦visitors every object Of a curious and attrac tive nature vrhich it cpn tained. The Delegates held a brief Cenference at thtf St. Law rence Hall, fpr the purppse pf revising the > Minutes of^ the Prpceedings adppted at Quebec, and adjourned until tthe foUpwing day. ^ On the evening pf Friday, a magnificent Ball ¦^v^a's given in hpupr pf the Delegates, at the St. Lawrence Hall; at which abcut 1,000 perspns were pii'esent — His Excellency Sir Richard G. McDcnnell, Lieut. Gpvernpr 6f Npva Scptia, and Lady, and Sir Gerieral Fen wick Williams, Cpmmander pf the rorces,=^ being ampngst i the guests. It is needless te say that the beauty and fashien of Montreal were' largely represented, and that all the magnates of- the City Were also present, dissporting • iri the ' mazes ofi the dance, or indulging in the lively iriterdhange of thought in ' converfeatipnal circles. The party was, altogether, an ex ceedingly gay and brUliant pne, and affprded 'unmixed sa- tisfactipn to the pleasure-seekers whp filled the spl&idid HaU pf the St Lawrence Hotel. n: PUBLIC BANQUET. SPEECHES OF, DELEGATES AND,, OJIJJ^tJRS.,. r ^ On Saturday morning the Delegates agairi,^,^]^ in ."Con ference to continue and conclude the reyisal of the Minutes of Proceedings,' which they accomplished 4 'little after two o'clock. A magnificent Banquejt" oj JD^jeuner --was prepared in honor of them,, tbe sameday, anql^.served in the Ball Room of the previous evening. ;iTjhejDelegates -and their entertainers met in tkejiDrSWiflgiJEOomiofithe 88 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. Hotel about 3 o'clock, and having been severally presented to General Sir Fen wick Williams, who was a guest on this occasipn likewise, were intrpduced to the leading merchants and professional gentlemen of Montreal, and then conducted to the Banquetting Room, which was ele gantly decorated. Five tables were furnished for the com pany, and a cross table at the head for some of the most dis tinguished of the guests. Large vases, full of beautiful flowers and green-house plants in fuU bloom, were placed upon the bpard in the intervals between the highly decpr- ated dishes and wpnderful specimens pf the cpnfectipner's art. ^ An abundance pf wine, pf most excellent quality, was provided, and the attandance was all that could be required. The music for the feast was supplied by the band of the Rifie Battalion then quartered in Montreal. The Chair was taken by His Worship Mayor Beaudry, and the Vice Chairs were filled by Messrs F. Pominville, Peter Redpath, the Hon. T. Ryan, M.L.C, and A. M. Delisle, Esq. When justice was done to the substantial viands, the intellectual part of the entertainment was promptly commenced by the excellent Chairman. The healths of Her Majesty the Queen, of H, R. H. the Prince of Wales and the other members of the Royal FamUy, and the health of His Excellency the Governor General — were given in quick succession, and received with great bursts of applause, the Band playing an appropriate air to each. The Chairman then proposed " The Army, Navy and Volunteers." General Sir William Fenwick Williams,, who was received with prolonged cheering, said that in responding for the Army and Navy he would only detain them a few minutes. In the first place, he had to express his regret that the gallant Admiral, who cpmmands the fleet pn the North American station, was net here to respond* for the UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 87 Navy. That gallant -Offitegf could have told them ¦>how that Navy gave protection to British commerce with ^dis tant countries, even on the distant 'seas' of Chiria, where Admiral Hope had so gallantly distinguished himself (Cheers.) As regards the Army, they had seeri foj-: them selves its discipline during the last three or four years in this country, but they were aware also of' the -v-eryf Wmited numbers of that portion | of the Britishforces wMcH^lie had the honor to command; and meeting them on this occasion, and especially the Delegates from tlie different Pro^drices, if he were not certain that steps would be takbn'tO add to that smaU force an efficierit militia, he shorilS take more time than he would now take to impi'e^s the necessity of this upon their minds. Another arm of the force was- also included in the toast — the Volunteers — one of whose most distinguished commanders 'he now saw before him,' his friend, Col. Dyde, who had devoted his most ' strenuous efforts to increasing the efficiency ofthat l^r^riohiof the force. (Cheers.) And he must be allowed to ,say a^ain that, without an efficient militia, the army in these 'xro- ¦vinces ccuU dp ripthirig ; but' with such' a militia they cpuld dp everything. (Cheers.) He thanked them for the very kind way in which he h^tdbeen received,, and before sitting down he begged to wish the Delegates leyery success in the great undertaking in connection with ¦which they had come here, that these countries might be'formed into a great arid prosperous Union, under the rule of our gracious Queen, as now, and of her descendants from generation 'to generation, and that the same glorious flag might continue to wave over' their heads for' centuries to come. (Loud cheers.)' Col. DydE returned thanks on behalf of the Volunteers for the honor done them, in not merely drinking their health, but in connecting their names with' the glorious Army and Navy. The "Volunteers, he belietdd he' might safely say, had always been' ready to do their''duty. The Government .also had of late done its duty bytheTri', as far as the law' would allow them; but they required' feofliattiing more than this — they required the dOunteriafice and ''gup - port of their fellow-citizens. (Cheers:) The ^pursuit of wealth was' veiy commendable, -brit there were^ >iiigher 88 TOflON OF THE \B|«TISH PBOVINCES. objects than that tc be aimedjat, and every man,rf ia;>ticu- . larly the influential and the wealthy, PwedsometWng to his country ; and if he had not the ccurage andthepatrietism to: s#ve his cpuntry as a Vplunteer, he pught, at least, to support the Volunteer movement by his countenance and his means. (Cheers.) He regretted to. say there were some exceptiens tp this in this community,, and that some of the most wealthy and influential in it, instead of coun tenancing the Volunteers, discouraged , tliem, , in ; every Eossible way. These cases, however, were; -few,, and he oped they wpuld be fewer stUl. In clcsing he begged te say that the force under his ccmmand were, ready; and wiUing at aU times tn dp their duty ' as Vpluntegr? pr soldiers. Gpd fprbid the pccasicn shpuld, arise thg,t their services shculd be required as soldiers ; but if tliat occasion should arise he was satisfied they would do their duty, shoulder to shoulder, with Her Jilajestyls troops. (QJieiprs. ) The Chairman said he Was stire they' would drink the next toast with mnch pleasure. They had amongst tjiem this afternoon a distinguished gentleman, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. (Cheers.) He projJOsed the health of Sir Richard McDonneU and Lady McDonneU. (Loud cheers.) ' Sir Richard , MacDonnell, C. B.,, on, rising, was greeted with renewed cheers^ He said : , Mr. Chairinan and gentlemen,, your reception of me has been sp very kind and .cordial, as almost to embarrass me, accustfinedas I am to pubUc Ufe and to the kindness of Her Majesfy's; subjects exhibited in various parts of the globe towards the Queen's representatives, who always find her Her Majesty's subjects .;disposed to aid and cp-operate with th©ini in carrying put the objects of Colonial Government, as now administered — those objects being tp increase the Spciai ; wel%erf and material prosperity of the colonists, as the most acceptable service which the. representatives of theCrPwn can .render to their Sovereign. ; (Cheers.) Meeting you here, gentle men, in this fair city, which I may truly call, fjie/i natural commercial centre of a Province which Ijifts 'beep- well jflesignatedas thebrightest jewelin the diade]|^of,Engknd, '•ftUow.me to^jOpgratuiate you on the^ progress. wjsiiph,^see ¦ uwM!^!^. QF-MfSB BjuTisH PHQyiiNCES. ¦ 89 everywhere^ around j£B€,v#iaee a visit,;J.,fiw^j. fortunate enough. to riaake a few years i^go, f,-.j^Uf(wme,aisos on the _- part of one «ery d^ar to ,'me, whose name has been eonnect- 'ed, with mine in; tlie . toast: jfqjj -have drunk, to express to :,yoU;the great pleasure -her Lstdyship fepls ou,uiaking this, ber firsti visit to your city,,to)findiierself sp, surfpunded by friendly and familiar faces, hwirig, had, pccasion, recently to become acquainted at .Halifax with so many. Canadians 5 thafl iu: Montreal she seems to be rather at home than in a rrstranget place. , (Cheers.) I,:am very glad that my visit to. Montreal, althOughJt'may be considered an accidental ¦ circumstance jatithis tim^,, should have enabled me, in a peculiar ,jway; as representing that Province wliich is the second t,o Canada of those Pro.yieKsqa pyer whicli the-British flagiwayes pn this cpntinent, to respond to the kind invi tation to a- dinner in honor of the. Delegates at the Inter- ,. colonial Conference I am sure that I , only express the feeUngof the community at large, when I say: that what- ;i;everm.ay-'be' the 'ultimate fate of the propositions which the Delegates iri due time m'ay submit to the different governments and legislatures of these Provinces, we are all , ready to -concede to them the merit of having given a great r deal I pf. time, labor, and thought,, so far as we can see t through theiriist of secrecy which, has hung over, their pr;Oceedings,,j and. having, brought an amount of patriotism to bear upon these questions, for which I am sure these communities will always feel grateful. I think, therefore, r that the .compliment which has been paid to these, gentle- f-men is a igraceful' one and weU merited. (Cheers.) I look, too,:,at the constitution of [the Relegation ; although jth^y dojuot come here with any authority from the Legis- ; latures of these colonies or from the. Injperial Government, thej' come as gentlemen, representing pretty accurately .-the state of, pubiio opinion in the, different: Provinces they represent; not only, the feeling, of the responsible govern ments in existence in each of those Provinces, but of that, which in a free community, such as yours, is no less neces sary — the feelings ( of Her Majesty's Opposition. -Great weight, therefore, is; due, arid Qo doubt will be given, to whatever ippftposals-, these gentlemen may make. ^.At the .Banje ti^e; I' may, without breaking through th^ufP^ire- tfii^i^M. neee^sary::fi^'g^n;^,;^e8erye,jg8y, that I dOfiiope 90 UNION OF THB BBITISH PBOVINCES. whatever proposals they may make will be duly weighed hereafter by the community at large, to whom they^ must in point of fact finally rejjort their proceedings. (Hear.) The moment is a very critical one in the history of these Provinces, and suggestions, however patriotically made, ought not to be all at once accepted without due consider ation. The whole future history, both of Canada and the Maritime Provinces, wiU, no doubt, be materially afiected for the better or for the worse by the decision which the community at large and the different Legislatures may make on these proposals. I will only say this, proceeding merely on the semi-official announcement, and not drawing for information on any other source, that I do hope when some plan of Union comes to be decided upon, it ¦will be a Union designed to give increased strength in matters of defence, increased economy in conducting the machinery of government, and increased convenience with regard to mercantile arrangements. I do hope that some simple, as well as effective means, wUl be found of carrying out these objects. I trust it will not be thought necessary to build up such a Union on a mass Of guarantees and mutual suspicions. If you are to become a nation, you must lay its foundations in mutual confidence. (Cheers.) If the inhabitants of the British Provinces of America — of the " New Britain" of the West — the simplest, most loyal and fittest name for the intended Confederation — have in them selves the stuff that entitles them to become a great nation, they can only become so by being willing to make mutual sacrifices and to repose in one another mutual confidence. (Cheers.) On the ether hand, if ypu puce begin with the system pf guarantees against pne anpther, where is it to end ? Are we tp have guarantees tp defend an English minprity in a Ipcal Legislature in Lpwer Canada and to defend a French minprity in a Parliament pf the general Cpnfederatipn ? I dp hppe, and believe, there is sufficient food feeling between the inliabitants of these Provinces — aving travelled over them lately and conversed with the leading men in each — ^to enable you to find some simple, effective mode of Union that wUl give you both strength and economy in conduOting your government. (Cheers.) I may say that there is one portipu pf Her Majesty's subjects in these Provinces whom I have always been UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 91 -^accustomed to look upon with peculiar interest, in conse quence of circumstances connected with a former visit of mine to Canada. I allude to my fellow-countrymen of French descent, and I may add, that in the course of my recent trip through Canada, I ruever met any person who was not animated by the most friendly feelings towards that portion of Her Majesty's subjects, and I believe that none would be a more valuable acquisition to the Union. (Cheers.) It is impossible for a traveller like myself to visit this country and traverse a portion of what I may caH a fragment of ancient France, without feeling deeply interested in its present welfare and its future destiny. It is true, that severed long since from its parent country, it has not had the opportunity of .being immediately linked with all the glories of old France. At the same time, French Canadians cannot, and should not, forget that they have been spared much tribulation, which, under other cir cumstances, might have been inflicted on them by the political storms which, since their separation, have swept over the old country ; and they may permit me, before I sit down, to express the great pleasure with which I see Her Majesty's French subjects here enjoying, at this moment, an amount of civil and religious liberty, and of social advantages, which is not equalled in the case of ,, Frenchmen elsewhere, or any other people or race on the face of the earth. (Cheers.) As an old servant of , Her Majesty's Government, I feel proud and happy when I see those of another race enjoying under the beneficent sway of the British Crown these great advantages. The fact that it is so, is the highest compliment that can be paid to the exceUence of British institutions. (Cheers.) I there- , fore hope, whatever shape the present movement may take, it may result in increased happiness and prosperity to my French feUow-^countrymen in this land. (.Cheers.) As I have said already, I am satisfied that the end you have in view, with mutual confidence one towards another, may just as easUy be attained by simple as by complicated means. It may or may not happen that the views of the Delegates will be carried out, but whether the whole of their proposals be accomplished, or only a portion of them, I may say for myself and my brother Lieutenant-Go yer- nors, thatthe Delegates may rely on finding every .disposition 92 UNION 01^ THB BBITISH PROVINCES. on our part to co-operate and assist them in everyway in our power by giving the fullest developement to whatever projects Her Majesty's Government in their wisdom may approve when submitted to them. They may xely upon us for this, as men equally interested as any others nf Her Majesty's subjects inthis part of the world, and; perhaps more interested than any others in all measures for pro mpting the happiness of those over whom for the time being we have been appointed tp preside. (Cheers.) I feel that I may be thpught perhaps tp have teuched on spmewhat delicate grcund ; at the same time I think the hpur has ccme when public ppinipn shpuld be brpught to bear a little pn matters in which the general public'ia so deeply interested. I pnly hope that the future of these Provinces may be worthy the materials for a glorious future which they contain, and I conclude with a very pithy sentence which I notice on this programme of toasts, and the sentiment of which I heartily adept as my o\?n— "Then let us be firm and united — One country, one flag for us all; United, our strength -will be freedom — Divided, we each of us fall." (Loud cheers.) The Chairman said he now came to the toast of the evening. (Cheers.) They were all aware that a number of gentiemen from the Maritime Prpvinces had assembled in Quebec with the representatives pf our o-wn Province, to discuss the necessity or propriety of uniting these Pro vinces. These gentlemen were present, and several of them would be called on to respbnd to this toast He was sure, from the feeling which had been exhibited since these gentlemen entered the Pro^vince, that the toast would be received with the greatest enthusiasm. He begged to propose — " Our distinguished guests, the Delegates from the Maritime Provinces." (Great cheering.) The Band— "Gead mille faeltha." The Hon. Dr. Tupper said, deeply as he felt the kind ness of the company, he had not risen to respond on behalf pf the Delegates pf Npva Scctia, but to state that, in forming that delegaticn. His -Excellency the- Li^tenant UNION OF THB BBITISH PRQ-TINCES. 93 Go'Wlor was enabled, through the kindness and patriot ism of [the Oppositipn, to avail hiniself of the ser^vices pf the Leaders of the Opposition, both in the Legislative! CouncU and in the House of Assembly. At the recent festive gathering in Quebec he (Dr. Tupper) had the privilege pf resppuding pn behalf of the Nova Scctia Dele gates, and pf placing before the public pf Canada, thrpugh the medium pf their intelligent press, his pwn views en the great questipn pf the day. He npw rpse tp ask Mr. Archibald, the talented and ccurtepus Leader pf the Npva Scctia Opposition, to respond to the toast on the present occasion, and to give us the benefit of his sentiments. Hon. Mr. Archibald said that ha^ving been called upon by the hon. gentleman whp conducted the administraticn of Npva Scptia tp resppnd tp the tpast just given, his ley- alty to the, Provineei required him to resppnd. He accept ed .the task that was imppsed on him, but he must say that his difficulty was largely increased by the observations by which he liad been introduced to the meeting. These observations only showed how much more effectually and ably that gentleman could bave responded than he (Mr. Archibald.) He, however, wpuld tell the gentlemen pre sent, pn behalf pf the Prpvince he represented, that he returned his warmest thanks and the thanks pf his cc- delegates fpr the manner in which the toast had been introduced by the Mayor, and for the kindness with which it had been received. (Cheers.) And, while en his feet he might be allpwed tp thank npt pnly the pepple pf Mpu- treal, but pf Canada at large, fpr the kindness, the untiring kindness, with which they (the Delegates) had been wel- ccmed since they entered the Canadian herders. (Ap plause.) The peeple pf the Lpwer Prpvinces had Ipng heard that the Canadians were men pf npble sentiments, generous and hospitable, but their anticipations had been far outstripped by their experience — an experience of pne universal rpund pf kindness and festivity. Whatever might be the results pf the pplitical arrangements which were in prcgress — whatever the effect cf the negpciatipns, pne thing was certain, that the Delegates wpuld carry away a mcst pleasing recpUectien pf the hespitaUty of Canada, and of the kindness of the reoeptioa.th«y had met 94 ~ - UNION OF Mfe BBtTISH PROVINCES. with- everywhere. He might say, if we were permitted to" divulge secrets, that a- very marked impression seemed to be made on some of the members of the delegation— the more susceptible of them, who were present last evening in this room, and who, from their sensibUity to the attractions of the other sex appeared to be in favor, if not of Oonfed- - eration, at any rate of Union. (Cheers and laughter.) From the little acquaintance he had with Canadian gen tlemen, he found that there existed here a very Umited idea of the Lo*er Provinces, of their resources, and of the character and habits of the people. He was not surprised' at this. The business relations of Canada connected- it with the United States, and the old world and its commu nications carried it beyond the Lower Provinces. The' people of- Canada saw nothing of the Lower Provinces,- ; and had little knowledge of their resources or position ; little knowledge, in fact, of that'v^'hich the Lower Provinces desired Canada should know, The Delegates came here with, a view to disseminate such information and state such facts as would shew that Nova Scotia woilld cheerfully assist in the construction of a nation. (Cheers.) The Lower Provinces would require to learn much of Canada, and Canada of them. The magnificence of the proportiom of Canada, the grandeur of the country, the greatness of ^ the land which its people inhabit, insured the attention of the Lower Provinces mOre to her than their smallness was likely to attract her to them. (Applause.) But if the Lower Provinces could not equal Canada in grandeur and magnificence, they far exceeded her in the number and variety pf their resources. Many of those gentlemen who had paid the Lower Provinces a visit a short time ago at first supposed that the country produced nothing but an abundant supply of fog and fish. (A laugh.) He hoped;- however, that the visitors came back to Canada convinced " that these two articles of commerce did not constitute all the resources of the maritime Provinces. (Cheers and ' laughter.) If the Canadian visitors brought back any report of the climate he was sure it would be to the ad-- ' vantage of the Lower Prpvinces, for when they were there it seemed that nature was desirous to propitiate their good wUl, and gave the most lovely and cheerful weather, while, on the othet hand, when the delegates came to Montreal,'* UNION OF THB BBITISH PB0VINCE8. 95 the climate of Canada gave them np right tp suppose that Nova Scotia enjoyed a monopoly of rain and fog. (Lpud laughter.) He would npt assume tp speak pf the respurces of all the Lower Provinces, but take as an instance his own little Province of Nova Scotia, which was hardly known. He would tell them an instance of this: A friend of Colonel Gray's returned to England after having been in Nova Scotia for a long time. Being congratulated on arriving at home she was reminded thfit among other pleasures this one was in store for her, that slie was in a place where she would again hear her own language spoken. (Cheers and laughter.) The fact was that Nova Scotia was not inhabit ed altogether by Hurons, Iriquois and Micmacs, and he did not think that the Canadian gentlemen had any such idea. (A laugh.) He would now say a few words respecting the resources of Nova Scotia. In the first place, she had no predominant interest, although there were a great many interests there. The people of Canada imagine that they possess the finest agricultural soil on the continent, but he could take any Canadian who wished it tp Npva Scctia, tp spme of the fertile vaUeys of the west, and point out land equal to the best in the western peninsula. (Hear, hear.) But though the agricultural interest in Nova Scotia was an important one, it did npt predeminate. A large portion of the pepple were engaged in the fisheries, and drew frpm their inexhaustible stpres immense quantities pf that which added tp the richness and value cf the cpuntry. (Applause.) And this pursuit trained up a large bpdy pf hardy men, whp, if we become one nation, would be ready in the hour of danger to bear the flag of England. But the fishing and farming interests were not aU ; for Nova Scotia was extensively engaged in. manufactures, and in the export of lumber. In that interest which was mixed up with the lumber interest, namely, shipping, he believed that, man for man, the people of Nova Scotia had a larger tonnage than any country in the world. (Cheers.) It was a fact, that for every man, woman and child in Nova Scotia there was about a ton pf shipping. (Applause.) But, passing pver the agricultural, the fishing and lumber ing interests, he wpuld cpme tp a still larger and mere important one, which stood out on the borders of the broad Atlantic. On the entire coast of Nova Scotia there 96 ^'' uNioipf'b^^^BMfiJMMd-VfNfcEiPi" were' inexhaustible miries-'fOf^tH^t- which ' infl.yscfed?'4He industry of the wOrld-^Oal. -'(Applause.) ''Iihes6-' mine's^ were' planted" by the hand of nature, rfeady to be transported- to supply the ¦ wants 'of the people Of the Atl'aritie^ coast No change of circumstances or political relations could ever preverit the people of Nova Scotia from i^ilag^khsM material, which -all thte -Atlantic States of the iiei^tebcififlg. country niust have; and which they could' get fVom' no othet"' .place. (ApplarisS) "Siriee 1858 when they were opened to free mining,' twentjf^fitte large coal tnines had- been-' opened, and it could be easily seen that with such- resources the' fdturfe Of that Country did "riot depdcld on the relat-idnS of any other country. -As the Delegated ' from Canada travelled ove#'th6' country what did they- find? That- there were in 'P'ri'6 harbor no fewer than' 80 square rigged vessels, -'representing a capacity of 16,000 tons, ' employed to- corivey coals tO the Americans on the Atlantic border. (Cheers.) This Wafe a scerie; repeated in mtoy harbors; nevertheless, with 'all this 'supplying -power, the Province -was unable to -supply the -demand for-edal-: He did riot -speak of these things in a boasting 'Spirit of his" counti'y— a country which he' hoped would' soon be- the ' country Of the -people' of Canada. ' (Loud cheers.)." He only* meritiOtafed these'facts to show the people of Canadai that if NOVa Scotia camo'irii^to this Union; and if it came to ask Canada to associate with her, ^t" was in- nO cringing' attitude.' ''(Cheers.) NoVa Scotia came not asking Canada^' to accept her. Or lether intothe Union, but she told Canada -;' thatwiththe magnificenfbackcountry of the latter, and with her territo-ry and wealth, ted her desire to become a great - nation. Nova Scotia had a frontier and resources' of which ' she riieed riot be ashamed^ — (applause) — butif Nova Scotia enjoyed, as she did to a large' esiterit, all the advantages of ' freedom and of responsible institUtionsjwhy was she desir-^' ' ous to charige her relatioris ? He: believed ' the condition-' c of the pepple of the British North Amei'ican Prpvinces was exceptional. 'He believed that if things Could continue- in'' the 'fdtrire :as in thfe past, no' class of people in the-\*-Orld would-'have a greater share of blessings than the people of' these provinOes; (Applause.) We had aU th«{ privUeges ; of freemen ' without their - brii-dens: ^. (Hear, hear; ) But ; ¦ the time hideome Whea We coulid'noteipedt this state 6f-; UNldit '6f THE BBITISH TROVINCES. 97 things to continue. The people of old England were a heavily taxed people, and they were not going to be taxed for ever to support us, while we were doing nothing. (Hear, hear.) We feel that circumstances are occurring on our border which render it necessary that we should be stirring on our own' behalf, and besides all this, can we help feeling that ' it is humiliating to have everything dOrie for us while we do nothing for ourselves. (Hear, hear.) The tirne had arrived when we were about to assume the position of a great nation, and such being the case, we should not shrink from its responsibilities. The pepple of the Lower Provinces entertain a magnificent idea of trie grandeur which awaits us all. A united nation, we silall become a great country, and tlie time is not far dis tant when a colossal power, gl^owing iip on the continent, shaU stand with one foot on the Pacific and the other on the Atlantic, and shall present tp the werld, even pn this side pf the Atlantic, the prcpf that moriarchial institutions are not inconsistent 'with civil and religious liberty, and the fullest measure of material advancement. (Loud cheers.) Lieut., iCol. the Hon. Jo,hn Hamilton Gray, of New Brunswick, rose to respond on behalf of that Province — when the cheering had ceased he proceeded to say, — that being placed in the same position as his honorable friend on the right, who had just addressed them, he had, on the part of New Brunswick, to acknowledge with thanks the kind reception of the toast. And he must say that the em barrassment he would naturally feel under ordinary circum stances in addressing such an assembly faded away before the cordiality of their welcome. That reminded him, that while it was unquestionably the duty of statesmen to con sider tlje bearing any question of iriiportance might have upon the material interests of the people entrusted to their care, yet it was equally their duty to remember that there were times and occasions ¦vyhen kindred emotions and kin dred sentiriients rose superior to- the cold calculations of in terest, and pointed the , way to honor and to patriotism. (Cheers.) The present was su'ch an occasion. At no period before in the history of British North America had auy qriestion of siiCh importance been presented to the 9 98 UNION OF THE BRITISH PBOVINCIS. people. It was not simply that the Delegates from the riiaritime provinces were here assembled to enjoy a hospi tality so generous that no language could properly express their appreciation of it, but their presence — the presence of this vast assemblage — was the public recognition of the fact, that a question was now before^ the people of the greatest importance, momentous in its character, and pregnant with infiuence over the future destinies of this vast country. The public men of the maritime provinces had for years looked forward to a union with Canada. They had hoped for it — ^they had sppken for it — not sim ply a commercial connection, but a political connection — merging our interests, our character, our wealth, in one common union. He could not forget that at a time, in 1837 and 1838, when Canada was threatened with invasion from abroad — the several Legislatures of the maritime prpvinces had,, by unanimpus vptes, by acclamaticn, placed at the dispcsal pf their Spvereign their entire revenues, prpperty and wealth, tp aid their brethren in the west. (Lpud cheers.) He cpuld npt fail tp recall that since that day their public men had striven for this union. Year after year they had turned their attention to the construction of the great Intercolonial Railway which would bring us closer together. Their Legislatures had passed Bills — had granted subsidies — arrangements had been made with Canada, yet year after year from causes which it would be difficult to explain, the object had eluded their grasp, and it was only when it appeared be yond attainment, when the hopes of their people, their Legislatures and their pubUc men, were fading away, that they turned their backs on this cherished idea, and the Parliaments of the maritime provinces had directed cer tain of their leading men to assemble at Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island, and consider how best a union could be effected among themselves, since one with Canada seemed unattainable. When assembled for that purpose,the Ministry from Canada came down and proposed, that, instead of remaining longer divided, we should come to gether, and see if we cpuld nnt lay the foundations of a great empire which should perpetuate on this cpntinent the principles pf British cpustitutipnal liberty. (Cheers.) He need not say that a proposition bo entirely in aooord- UNION OF TEE BRITISH PBOVINCES. 99 ance with the cherished purpose of their lives was received with unqualified satisfaction. He need not say that the statesmen of Canada, fully sustaining their character for talent, had, on that occasion, placed before the assembled Delegates of the maritime provinces such clear, simple, yet masterly arguments why the larger union should take place, that no hesitation was felt in foregoing th» immediate object of their meeting, and in placing the cir cumstances which had arisen before their respective governments. Those governments then delegated them to meet the Canadian Ministry at Quebec. (Cheers.) It was not his duty, on the present occasion, because he thought it would more properly come from one of their own Ministry, to give the details of the conclusion at which they had arrived ;— the conclusion itself was known to all. He, therefore, wpuld make up pbservatipns pn that tppic, but if they wpuld permit him, he wpuld call their attentipn, fpr a few mpments, tp the respurces and ppsition pf the maritime prpvinces. They came net seeking to entor into this Confederation as suppliants. They came not to draw upon the resources of Canada. No ! Though they respected the superior position of Canada, though they admitted the rapidity of her progress in all the material elements of greatness ; they yet thought they could give something which would aid her, would enable her to take a higher position amid the nations of the earth, (Cheers.) Ten years ago he had visited Montreal on a public mission of importance to his own Province, and he could only say that the rapid advance made by this City in the intervening pericd was sufficient to paralyze the most powerful imagi nation. He now saw costly structures where before there were none. He saw numerous buildings which indicated not only wealth, but refinement, rising in places which ware then open fields, almost a morass, broad streets and noble edifices. It was impossible for any man not to see that this City was fast making strides which would soon place it among the first commercial cities of the continent. (Cheers.) In the vastness of the matters with which they had to deal, Canadians had paid but little attention to the maritime provinces. Probably some few who had visited them were not entirely ignorant of their advantages, but, as they did not Ue immediately on the shortest at present li90 't*l6ir''bF'THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. Available roiite^ to Europe, the tendency of the' Canadians had been rather to look in some pther direction ; another "Bay, however, would shortiy come. They wculd be better understood i' and 'appreciated. The maritime provinces were worthy Of their regard. Theamourit of capital, the extent of the resources they wOuld bring' into the Union, their exhaustless miheS,''their broad coal fields, their deep sea fisheries, their hai:dy aiid enterprising population would forrn'no inconsiderable elements in the . foundation of a great'nation. The revenue of the'four maritime prO^vdnces for the year 18fi3 by the official returns amounted to $2,340,000, but' so far as had 'yet been asbertairied for the year 1864 there had been an increase of 20 per Cerit, bringing the amount to nearly |3,000,000, (three miUions,) an increase which, jridging from the past finaricial history of thpsO provinces, might fairly be corinted upon as still ptdgressive. The imports and exports of those four prd-^ ¦virices.from the same returns, for the year 1863, amounted to |44,200,000. He believed those of Canada had amount ed to between $80 and ,$90,000,000. Thus it would be seen the trade of the maritime provinces approached to nearly the'half of that of Canada. (Cheers.) The popu lation of the maritime provinces, as shewn by the census of 1857 and 1861; (they were not taken in each of the Pro vinces in 'the same year,) was 804,000 ; but allowing for the natural increase since those periods,' naight now be safely put down at 900,000. With reference to the shipping tra'de of the maritime provinces, he would observe the registered tonnage by the returns of 1863 amounted to 645,530 tons, which at $40 fie'r ton, a not unreasonable ^^aluatidn, represented an available transferable property of $27,821,200'-^in one article alone^-and he would observe as an evidence of the soundness of the financial position of those four Provinces, that during the present year, 1864, after paying all debts and UabUities, they would have a clear surplus ofbtitween $450,000 and ,$500,000, to be fipplied to' the future exigencies of the several Provinces as the respective Legislatures 'might determine, each dis- jjosing, of course, of its own' siirplus. These figures iirppeared-'large, but they indicated plainly that in the cori- templated' arrangement, the niaritime provinOes could take an honorabliB position. ' While, hpwever, the revenue and UNION OF THE BRITISH- PRpyiN^.ES. , 101. position of Canada could not but be appreciated, he -mjji&tr inake one. observation : great as was tlieir trade, powerful as were their commercial connections, and extensive as M'a.s their domain, they stood for six inonths in the year with- , out the power of access to one mile of ' sea coa.st, or one wave of salt water, accept through ,the,,|territory of theii;^ neighbors. When, during those six mOriths, Englishmeu or Canadians desire to send the proceeds of their industry from Europe to Canada, or from Canada to Europe, they must pass, he would not say ; through a ,)iostile territory,' for he hoped it was a friendly one — (applause) — but, at any rate, a passage had to , be, asked through territory rtot, their own, through lands not; under, ,]British contral.; They held their trade at the beck and, bidding i of a.iiatipij; that might be their foe — a position inconsistent, apart from all other considerations, with the . dignity of any, country. which desired to take a proper ppsition in -the .wprid. (Cheers.) The maritime provinces, proposed' to add .their marine to that of Canada. This done, and British North, America would become the fpurth Maritime Power in the world — England, France, and* the United, States would, alone have a marine supericr to ours, Canada, standing alone, cannpt, claim that position, nor caii thp maritime provinces. Isolated, our ppsition .is, sihigniflcant -7— but unite us, and there was no country, save, England, from whom we claim our birth— save the United States ;whpse , power was derived frorii the samei parent source — save, France, from, whom many of those here'present had sprung, , cpuld take'rank befpre us. (Loud cheers.) He could iiot', but call attention to the fact, that in Canada were com bined the talents and characteristics of the most, industri ous and energetic, as well as of the niost cultivated and ¦ spiritual races in the world. (Cheers.) If we turned back a few years we found, written on the pages,- of , the history of this country, records of heroic deeds. From,, the plains of Abrahain the ascfending spirits of.! Montcalm and Wolfe — ^united in their death — left us the heritage of a common counfry ahd a glorious name. (Cheers.) ,J^an-y men have believed that a mere compiercial, i^nip^^^ a . Zolverein, might , accomplish the object now sought. tp' be obtained ; but in the opinion of practical naen, men of sense, integrity and experieijice, this,- cpuld not, be done. lOS UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINOES. For the last 10 or 15 years the Provinces had been sepa rately carrying on great public works, for which the public credit had been pledged, and it must be apparent to all that it was the duty pf each Prpvince, as it was indeed a ppint pf hpupr, tp maintain its credit intact. While this was the case, it might beccme the interest pf pne Province, nay a necessity, tp imppse duties pu articles that might be incpnsistent with the interests and position of the other Provinces. Trade would be governed by no great or per manent principles. The tariff would fluctuate with local expediency, and be varying and uncertain. Therefore, in the absence of any general arrangemerit, by which the individual liability pf each prpvince cculd be rempved and the general credit afterwards effectually maintained, it was apparent that a mere cpmmercial unicn, pf the kind referred to, was impossible. It would fade away before the neccessities pf the pccasicn. But apart from this question of a commercial union, would they permit him to express the ppinipn that they wanted spmething more — they wanted a National Union, one that would enable them to take an houprable place ampng the natiens pf the earth. (Cheers.) Turning tp the subject pf Natipnal Union, tne honorable and gallant Colpnel said he wpuld not appeal te the ccmpany simply as men, having a prpper pride in their cPuntry and in themselves, but he wpuld speak tp them from a material point of view. He would ask them to bear in mind how little each man contributed towards the defence of his country. He asked them to turn their eyes to Europe, to Russia, to France, tp Eng land, to the United States, and tell him upon what sppt they cpuld place a finger where the pepple contributed so little tpwards the defence pf their hearths and their homes as did we in British North America. (Cheers.) If, in England, wpuld they npt have tp cpntribute largely pf their inccmes tpwards the suppprt pf the Army and Navy ? Np dpubt it was a glpripus thing tp be able to boast of the triumphs of the British arms, to claim a share in the achievements of her warriors, to speak of their ¦victories as ours ; but we had not contributed much from our trea sury to the support of the one or the attainment of the other ; we had sent our sons and our brothers to take their places in the field, and thank God, in the hpur pf difficulty UNION OF THB BBITISH PBOVINCES. 103 and trial, they had shed lustre on the country of their birth. They had shared in the re'wards and honors which a generous country could bestow ; but what had we con tributed to the support of the Army and Navy ? Not one farthing. England drew from the industry of her own Isles alone the means of their maintenance. We would be unworthy of our heritage and race if we did not take cognizance of the fact, and when the mother country pointed out to us, that in her opinion the time had come for us to do something for ourselves, we did not show that we were prepared to do so. (Cheers ) With out violating any rule of secrecy, he might state that the maritime provinces had gone hand in hand with the representatives of Canada, and were prepared to place all their resources, all their wealth, all their power in one general fund for the maintenance pf the liberty and hpnpr pf all. (Prplpnged cheers.) He had had the pppprtunity that mprning, and a spurce pf great gratificaticn it was tp him, tp visit tlie Vplunteer Armpries in this City. He was much pleased to see the nucleus of an prganizatipu thus establidied areund which the cPuntry cculd rally in time pf difficulty or danger. (Cheers.) He had already tres passed on their time, (no, no, go on,) but he had only a few words more to say. He had to ask them all sincerely, that if they approved of this great scheme, this union of their common interests, that their first step would be to sanction by the expression of their strong and earnest opinion the construction of that work which was alone required to bring us together, which would give them, even in the depth of their long winters, free access to the sea, which wOuld make the people of the maritime provinces and of Canada no longer' strangers to each other, but brothers in identity of interests as well as of race. This question of the Union of the Provinces was one of deep importance. And, (continued the honorable gentleman), I now call upon you, Canadians, by your own name, here in the presence of your own hills, which rcse tp their majestic height ere yet ycur race began, — here in the pre sence cf ypur pwn St Lawrence, hallpwed by the memery pf Cartier, and spanned by the stupendeus wprk which shews that in the puward march pf prpgress and improvement, you are not behind — by the memory of the past, by the 1-04 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES, spirit of the present, by the hopes of the future, — I call upon you to rally round a proposition which will tend to perpetuate the glory of your name, and promote the pros perity and happiness of your people. (Great cheering, during which the speaker resume^, his seat.) The Hon. John Ambrose Shea, of Ne^wfoundland, on rising to return thanks on behalf of the Colony which he represented, was greeted with hearty cheers. He said — since the arrival of the delegates in this country they had been the recipients of the most princely hospitality, and such was truly the character- of that which they were now permitted to enjpy. Thpugh remernbrance pf such scenes as the present wpuld npt soon be effaced from their memories, these demonstrations, had a much higher signi ficance than mere good fellowship; they demonstrated how much general interest was taken in the question of Confederation. Canada had many great advantages that he was perfectly willing to, admit, but it would be his duty to mention a few facts which would shew that it would be no disadvantage for her to unite with! Newfoundland. (Hear, hear.) In considering an unicn pf the Provinces, it became necessary to take into account the position of the proposed Confederation -with regard tp, safety and defence. (Hear, hear.) In this view, the ppsition of the Island of Newfoundland became one of marked signifipapce. Look at it stretched right across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, com manding both passages by which the vast trade of the Gulf region and of the St. Lawrence river finds its way to the ocean. Were this Colony in the hands of a hostile power in war time, the trade of Canada would be hermieti- cally sealed, as if perpetual winter prevailed here. (Hear.) Considering this, the statesmen lately assembled at Quebec at once considered that the Confederation would be inse cure unless Ne^wfoundland were made a portion of, it, (Applause.) Nor was it a colony the least entitled to con sideration on account of its commercial and financial standing, and the benefits thence tp be derived. And, perhaps, he would be pardoned going, into somewhat minute details — more, indeed, than many of his hearers might, desire.; WeU,. then Newfoundland had a cq^st of twelve hundred mUes, with some of .the finest ha;fbors,in UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 105 the .world, in; which ships of the Na^vy might repose in security, (Hear.) The agricultural capabilities of New fpundland were not, he admitted, of the highest order ; its soil and climate were not well calciUated for the highest conditions of agriculture, but stiU it derived considerable advantage from them. Some agricultural operations had been conducted with marked success. It possessed large tracts of country highly valuable for grazing purposes, and but for the presence of a race of dogs, for which its people exhibited marked partiality, farming would be very profit able to those engaged in it. (Laughter.) The main stay of Newfoundland, the main element of its wealth was, however, its fisheries ; in which was employed 30,000 men, able, hardy, industrious, fit sa,ilors for anything in which daring and energy were required. In the article of fish it had commercial relations with almost every maritime nation in Europe, with Brazil and the United States. With the Colonies of British North America, however, its relations were very limited. The imports of Newfound land were from five to six million dollars annually ; the exports were six or seven millions per annum. The exr ports almost invariably exceeded the imports. Three hundred and fifty vessels were employed in seal fishing, manned by about fourteen thousand men, the very best and most active portion of the community. The Eevenue of Newfoundland was liigher than that of any of the British North American Provinces, man for man of the population, because it imported almost everything it required. With a population of 130,000 it had a revenue of $500,000 to $550,000. The debt, he was happy to say, was not very large compared with the other colonies, being . about $900,000. Represented by public buildings of yarious descriptions, the province had ample tangible value for all the money it had expended, while such was the credit in which its securities were held, that the government had no difficulty, even at the present moment, when the rate of in terest, in England was unusually high, in raising money at 4^ per cent. (Loud applause). 'They had a Savings Bank in St. John's, guaranteed by the gpvernment, in which were de posited the earnings of its industriours |)epple tp the extent pf .nearly, |9!00,000. (Hear.) Thp cpuntry had nptbj^en sufficiently explered tp enable him tp say a great deal as 106 UNION OF THE BBITISH PROVINCES. to the mineral deposits which lay 'within its bosom, but it was known that there were some very important lead mines; copper mines, too, had been found in various local ities, and it was believed that a very valuable gold mine would be found on the gulf where iu'vestigations wei^e upw being made under the directicn of Sir W. Logan, to whpm he tppli the pppprtunity pf returning thanks for the great assistance he had afforded the pepple pf the Island. (Hear.) There were abput 1,200 vessels entering and clearing annually, gping to all countries. With regard to the financial ppsitipn pf the Island, he might say that, perhaps, it was spunder than that pf any pf the cplpnies pr States pf America, in spite pf the unusual vicissitudes cf trade. In proof of this he would observe that in 1846 a serious calamity befel the town pf St. Jphn's; it was visited by a seripus cpnflagratipn, which swept the whole business part of the place, leaving up stpre npr wharf, sp that spme thpught the city never cpuld reccver frpm its effects. The ampunt pf Ipss was between five and six millipus, npt pne fpurth of which was covered by insurance. The city did, however, recover, and no man failed to meet his business engagements in consequence of the calamity. (Cheers) The Bank of British North America was then the only Bank doing business in the community, and at the time of the fire the amount of paper it held was larger than it had been for several years ; yet he could assert that not a single man failed to discharge his obligations to the Bank; nay more, when the Bank which had been doing business twenty years at last wound up its affairs, the whole of the paper held was handed over to another Bank and taken at its face value, without any reduction. (Hear.) These statements might appear extravagant, but he made them in presence of gentlemen acquainted with the facts, and his position relieved him from suspicion of indulging in misstatements. (Applause.) Under these circumstances Newfoundland might claim to come intothe Confederation on honorable and independent grounds. It would contri bute its share to the general stock of advantages to be en joyed. (Hear.) He had said that the imports amounted to between five and six millions. Now, of this they re ceived from one million five hundred thousand to one miUion seven hundred and fifty thousand in value from UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 107 the TJnited States, chiefly in flour, butter, and other articles of that description. A very small proportion of imports came from Canada. Why ? Was it because the United States offered superior commercial advantages ? This was not the case ; they could generally purchase on better terms in Canada than in the United States. (Hear.) It would, no doubt, be said that political arrangements could have no effect, could exercise no control, over matters of this kind. That doctrine, however, had its limits, which were in some cases very remarkable; but let them look at the inter-colonial railroad as an illustration. That road would be productive of the most important Commercial advantages to the people of these Provinces, and yet every one knew that might have remained for years without any progress towards completion had it not now become a political necessity. How did Newfoundland stand towards Canada at the present moment ? Its people had to go to the United States to do business, for they had to pass by way of Halifax and Boston to reach Montreal. It took nearly a month to carry letters between Canada and Newfoundland and back, and the rate of postage was double what it was between the Colonies and Great Britain. If arrangements had been made designed for the purpose of preventing commercial intercourse they could not have been made more effective than these. (Hear, hear.) A commercial union would do away with such anomalous and almost barbarous features, which all the colonies evidently felt it necessary to uphold in the present position of affairs, not withstanding the fact that they were regarded in England as remarkable illustrations of strange political heresies. These must be got rid of. They must establish steam com munication between Newfoundland and Canada. That Island had what Canada required, and wanted what Canada furnished. Newfoundland .was obliged to pay a million dollars hard money for what it obtained from the United States, without having any reciprocal advantages to obtain from them ; it was owing to fiscal impediments between the colonies that its trade went thither. With free trade it would be a purchaser in Canada for her woollens, her leather goods, her cutlery and products cf these manufactures which were every day growing up within her herders, and must, np doubt, considerably in- 108 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. crease. Give Newfpundland the means pf entering intp trade relatipns, and trade wpuld spon spring up. (Ap plause.) Under thie prpposed Confederatipn the tpwn pf St. John's would become the most easternmost part of the great Unipn, and by making it a pftint of call for the magnificent steamers of which Canada was so justly proud, it wo,uld be placed within six days of the mother country. A close connection with that country was v^hat he believed all the colonies desired, and speaking for his own Province of. Newfoundland, he would say he hoped the day was far distant when she would have forced upon her any other aUegiance than that she now rejoiced to _ acknowledge,. hpjwever remote the contingency of change in this respect might be,,; (Cheers.) When such issues were involved it would be unwise and short sighted, if due weight were not given to it by the men charged with the grave task of lay ing the foundation of a new empire. (Applause.) He would say but one word more, for he felt he had already trespassed, too long upon his hearers' patience. (No, no.) It was that the question of Confederation had never been, in the colony he represented, much discussed in its press ; he he and his fellow laborer were here simply as expressing. their own, opinions on the subject ; but he did not hesitate to say that he would think it a grave error if the people failed to enter into what had been the unanimous feeling of tbe Conference, and hesitated to become members of the Confederation, charged with so high a mission of grandeur, whose future it was impossible for the wUdest imagination to over-estimate. (Cheers.) The Honorable Colonel Gray, Premier of the Prince Edward Island Government, then rose and said : — We had heard from our friends from the other three Pro'vinces a great deal of the commercial, political and mUitary element. Now, as his friends had rather transgressed upon the usual time that had been devoted heretofore to these subjects, he, •proposed to, have something said of the social, and asked, Piermission for his friend and co-delegate, (Hpn. Mr. Whelan,) tp respond, on behalf of Prince Edward Island, as there were, none better able or more worthy, as a son of Erin, to, give effect to their feelings, in answer to the cardial and appropriate niotto with which they had been welcomed : " CaeS mille faeltha." CCheers.'^ UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 109 The Honorable Edward Whelan, M. P. P., then rose amid lOud and protracted cheers,' and spoke as folloWs : He was grateful to the gaUant Colonel for the call with Which he had been honored, and also for the handsome but whoUy undeserved terms in which his name had been announced. While any man, nO matter how great his ability, might be justly proud of the position in which he was placed, he could not subdue a feeling of embarrassment at the con sciousness that he stood in the presence of some of the first men of British America, and before others who had ren- derered eminent service tp the crp^wn in the fpur quarters Of the globe. He felt assured, however, that his embar rassment would receive the generous consideratiori of the many kind friends around him, who would readily forget and forgive in a stranger the errors he might commit, whether, Uke angels' visits, they should be " few and far betweeri," Or " thick as leaves in Yallambrosa." He would, however, bear in mind that the best quaUty of an after-dinner speech was brevity. Speeches, on such an occasion as the present, should be, if possible, like the champagne before them, bright and sparkling, and as soon disposed of (Cheers.) Now, his first duty was to thank that distinguished audience, in the name of the people of Prince Edward Island, for the honor conferred upon their representatives in connection with the other delegates, not only for the splendid entertainment before them, but for the cordial and overpowering welcome they had received on their visit to this fair city, the great commercial emporium of Canada, the grandeur of whose busy marts and palatial residences bear testimony to the enterprise, public spirit and refined tastes of her sons. (Applause.) He was well aware that the compliment was not so much to the gentlemen com posing the delegation as to the colony which they had' the honor tp represent. He accepted it in that spirit, and thanked their generpus entertainers fpr it. Ppliticians are generally cunning fellows, and those in the several Maritime Governments showed this quality to great ad vantage when they appointed members of the Opposition, to which, in Prince Edward Island, he had the horior to belpng, but frpm the cares pf which he hoped to be soon relieved — (laughter) — to aid them in perfecting the great scheme of Confederation, because if the people of the 110 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. several Pro^vinces shculd be sp unwise as to cpmplain that their liberties and cherished institutipns have been taken frpm them, the Opppsitipn wpuld havetp bear the censure as well as these in the Administratipn. Members pf the Government might say, in reply te any cpraplaint, that the gentlemen ppppsite have been quite as bad as themselves. The sequel, he heped, hpwever, wpuld prpve that Cpnfed eratipn wpuld be the means pf enlarging Pur liberties in stead pf restricting them, and that Pur noble institutions would be strengthened and consolidated, instead of impe- riUed, by the proposed alliance. The present was his first visit to Canada. He was so deeply impressed with the greatness of the country in every respect, which so far ex ceeded his expectations, that he ardently hoped it would not- be his last. It was great, he said, in its industrial, cpmmercial and natural respurces, in the ccuntless trea sures pf its vast fprests, its inexhaustible mines, its gigantic public wprks, whpse value is estimated by many millipus of dollars; in the vast lakes which were small inland seas, and the mighty river which flows past us, being the natural highway to and from the Lower Provinces, inviting an interchange of our commercial relations, and an expansion of the resources of them aU. It was great, too, fbr the history it has bequeathed to all time, and which may now be referred to without disturbing the sensitive ness of the gallant people, who, pnly a little mpre than one hundred years ago, acknowledged the sovereignty of Great Britain. He had read that history, and while in Quebec he did net fail tp visit spme of the places which were made famous by the marvellous enterprise and heroism of Wolfe. Montmorenci, at which the first dash was made for the conquest of Quebec, was a place of stirring interest which no visitor could pass by. The Falls were not, perhaps, very wonderful in themselves, (in being directed to the upper portion of which he was indebted to a most agreeable and inteUigent French Canadian girl,) but the historic associa tions which they recall give tliem an enduring claim to at tention. He visited the Cove and walked up the narrow pass which led Wolf and a few followers to the Plains of Abraham, where a soldier's death closed his conquest of Canada. He was delighted to visit in the Geverner's Gar den the monument to the memory of Wolfe and Montcalm, UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES, 111 It was a generous and noble impulse in the Earl of Dalhouise thus to commemorate the names of both heroes, bpth fpe- men werthy pf the great struggle in which they were engaged, bcth Ulustripus in their lives, and hnnpred and lamented in their death; pne the idpl pf the English natipn, the pther the embpdiment pf all that is virtupus and chivalrcus in the French character. (Cheers.) The names pf the twp great Generals, thus united and thus commemorated, beautifully symboUzed the close union now subsisting between the French and British races in Canada. (Cheers.) But of aU.the attributes pf the greatness pf Canada, there was pne pther which he could net overlook. It was to be seen in the perspnal character of the pepple pf Canada, in the large and generpus heart which seemed tc thrpb alike frpm pne end pf the Prpvince to the other. Unaffected by distinctions of race, natien- ality or creed, it appeared to feel, and give visible mani- festatipus pf the feeling, that it was capacicus enpugh to enfold within its tendrils every section of British America. The only fear was that the caressing, as in the case of the Delegates, might be too warmly given, and that they might suffer a most agreeable death from the operation. This was not intended to apply to the fair ladies of Canada, (laughter,) for the Delegates being all married men, were, of course, like Csesar 's wife, above suspicion as regards a breach of the marital engagement, for if not so circum stanced they would be as dead as Julius Csesar long ago. (Laughter.) He would now, with the permission of the chau', offer one or two observations touching the important business which had brought the several Delegates to Canada, and in doing so he would so express himself as not to viplate the cpnfidence which the Ccnventipn seem ed tp cpusider sp essential tp the success of their delibera tions. Politicians sometimes take extraordinary liberties with the patience of the public, and perhaps they did this when they resolved upon holding a secret Conference ; but it may be, that they had so many dark sins to confess to each other that they imagined it would not be safe to let the public listen to the confession. He would, however, bear testimony to the fact that the confession was a most satisfactory one. Each felt that he was entitled to political absolution for many sins done by his province, and now 112 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. behold (said he. touching the champagne glass,) how earnestly we are all doing penance. (Laughter.) The Coiifederation of the Provinces may not follow immediate ly in the steps of the Conference, but that it will come, or that our condition will become very" much worse than it is at present, seems morally certain. Nothing can be worse than to becpme the prey pf a military despptism, not far distant, wherein every vestige of Uberty is daily offered as a sacrifice to the Moloch of Ambition, and wherein the ties thkit were supposed to bind two people of ccmmpn origin and com- rhon language, are now brittle as glass, and an opportunity is desired to cry "havoc and let slip the dogs of war" upon unoffending colonists. If we want to avoid such a misfor tune the people of British America must become more united than they are at present. The Convention, whose labors have just dosed, took the first step in that direction. In the Colonies we have been strangers to each Other too long, as much so as if we lived under ^separate sovereign ties. We have been jealous and apprehensive of each other ; mutually restricting our trade and placing obstacles in the way of our pro.sperity — not knowing and not res pecting each other as we should. In our separate and disjointed condition, we have not been and never can be, treated with due respect by our powerful foreign neigh* bors. Even England is concerned for our feeble arid de fenceless atate, and gently chides us for our apparent supineness and indifference. The Confederation, if per fected, wiU remove that stain, and give all the colonies a national and indivisible character. It will be seen that we are wilUng to struggle and make sacrifices for our own protection ; and then should an evil day and evil counsels bring a conflict upon us, we may rest assured that the red right arm of Britain will be bared to aid us in repelUng aggression. (Loud cheers.) He had only seen, a day or two ago, an able article in the London Telegraph — a paper of great influence and ability — in which this view was clearly set forth — that Englaad would be always wUling to help Us if we first helped ourselves. Alluding to the proppsed Confederation, the writer said : — " Firmly be lieving that the project will be immensely berieficial td.the Colonies, we are convinced that it vrill be equally accept able to the Home Government. As the matter already Uin<>l^ of; THE BRITISH PROVINOES. 113 stands, England is .cqnqmitted . to the protection of every acre qf r^er. soU, ,lje iton the, Indus, the Murray, the St. Lawrence, or the Thames. Doubtless the responsibility is.tgr^tj .doubtless the; work is arduous ; but the duty lexistef .:i The best way, indeed, to lighten it, is to call upon our.qoloiiies themselves to take measures for their pwn dejfence, assuring them' that whenever the odds are top h,e?inly against them„'whenever the danger beccmes seripus, we pledge the, British Empire tothpir aid." (Loud cheers.) Mr, Wlielain, continued — Commercial and pecuniary mo tives, if no other pf a sterner nature prevaUed, should cer tainly teach us to r^pote.. There, should be no hostUe or resti?,ctive tariffs l^etween.the several Provinces — no dissi- .jafliC^ppsfal regulations-T^np dissinplarity in pur currency and ,^chiangei Our ccmmerce, which new flpws into other jeh^nnels, where we get Uttle . thanks for it, wpuld diffuse fits enriching streams amongst ourselves, and nothing could possibly prevent ijs , frpm becoming a great and powerful Confederacy. The union proposed by the Con|'e)|gnp%, in ; which there were mutual concessions of smaU sectional claims, and a unanimous desire for con- ciUatiori, 'wiU not, when its deliberations are more fully known, alarm ariy man. Large sectional rights and interests are proposed to be preserved. The connexion ¦with the British Crown wiU not only, be not impaired, but ¦wiU be strengthened ; and for the preservation of those free institutioris which we aU value so much, and which we hope to transmit to future generations, he thought there was but one ' remedy, and that remeldy was union. (Cheers.) But let no man imagine that this much desired olgeGt can be effected at Quebec or Montreal. The great work is but cppimenced. The haUs of the several local Legislatures, the constituencies pf each Prpvince in public ,Bge?:tings assembled,. and at the hustings, are the places in which the great question must be settled. It will be the duty ;of the public men in each and every Province whose .representatives are np^ in Canada tp educate the public miii§ up .tp ,the adpptiqn pf their views. The task may be a tedious, difficult and pretracted cue ; but up great mea sure was ever yet , accomplished, cr wprth much, unless suwound^d with, difficulties. Defering reverently tp the .pjibliq omipiion of hi»own Province, he would cheerfully 114 UNION '0#'TfiEi BBlTl^ri taoVltf^MSi' gp amOrigst' his peppte,, and expialntng it ks' well as h* could, he '"W-titild ask them tp support ai'measure virhJ^h' "he believed wUl'^ enhance their 'prpsperityi Fe'w a,nd' cptdpa^ ratively pppi* .as; the' population of "the' Islkrid pf Prince Edward "riiay be'noWj 'its fertUe fields and vaUeys- are capable of supporting a population at least threO' times greater than'it is aS'^present. It •w;as once designated thi^ garden of the St LaWfenc'e', and it 'Was a- valu'able fishirig station for Canada' during the Occuj^atiOn of thS' 'Frerich urider. 'Montcalm.- - It stUl possesseB-'kU -the qualitifefs of a garden, arid its riVers 'arid bays gtiU abound 'withffishi He desired that those great resources ShOftdd, become as. w'ell known riow arid in the future as they were in by-gdrie"d^' ; arid regarding -the advantages Which.' modern iriiprOveiSerrts and institutions' afforded as auxiliaries to the natural i"esources of his Colony,- he was satisfied that'She cotil'd'ript fail to become very p'rosperotfs' and happy under tlfe;'^i^O^ posed 'Confederation. "' (Lpud cheers.) -'' - The Chairman then prpppsed " Our Sister"GplOriies," Tjiirhiph, haViri^ been drily .'honored,' the Baiid laid 'aside' their instrumeiits, ; and sung a thrUling melcdy, each verse of which ended with the chcrus: " Then let usi be firm and' united — ' One country, onfi flag for us aU ; . , ,. United, our strength will \>e freedom — ^ ,, ' ' Divided, we each of lis fall." • . i ' The spng ha-ring been, enccred, was sung again, and 'cheered rapturously^- ; . , ,. The Hpu. T, Heath .Haviland, M; P. P., (^f Prince Edward Island, vclunteered a resppuse ' tp the tpast as follows: As a member of the 'smallest province of the whole, he would not detain the- audience long. At the same time he desired to draw attention to some pecuUar facts connected -with the present, movement. They might^ re collect that this 'was nOt the first time that states had 'met together to oi^anize a constitution', for in times gprife'-'by the' states pf HpUand had met tp resist the tyranny pf the Spanish Gpvernment ; and the pld Thirteen States of Ame rica had also assembled uriderthe capnon's njouth and the rear pf artillery; but thepeculiiirif^'of thisin^etihg'was tfNiON bt' THE BRITiSH I'RO'ViNeES. 415 that -it was' held in a time of peace, with the' approbation, and he believed, with the sanction of Her Majesty; that the colpuies might thrpw aside their swaddUng clcthes', tp ' put pn tWmselves the garli ef manhppd, and hand down ¦ to posterity the gloripus privileges fpr which their ancestors contended from age tp age in the pld ccuntryj and which ; had been brpught intP these new cpuritries under the prp- -i'fecting shadpw pf the flag that had braved a thpusand years the' battle and the breeze. (Hear.) Althpugh . i^ince Edward Island had pnly 80,000 inhabitants, prin- 'cijJaUy engaged in agriculture, yet smaU as it was it did net ccme as a beggar to the Conference dpprs. Its revenue was certairily net very great, but there was yet a surplus pf abput £4,000 sterling tp the credit pf the Prp'sdrice ever and abpve the £36,000 it had spent fpr the Gpvernment last year. ¦ Thusj it did npt ccme as a pauper, but was honestly .prepared to do something— -all, in its power-^to organize^ here in America a cpnstitu,tipnal mpnarchy which shculd be able tp spread thpse institutipns in which there was the SPul pf liberty. (Hear, hear.) The despptisna now prevaUing over our border was greater than even that of ^ Bussia. The liberty of the press was gone:. Liberty in the States was altogether a delusion, a mockery and a snare. No man there could express an opinion unless it affl'eed with the opinion of the majority for the time being ; as for the rights pf the minority, they were not recpgnized; 'they did not exist; arid the majority rode rough-shod over all. (Hear, hear.) Well, Prince Ed ward Island, though it was small, was prepared to take ' a •burthen upon it, and share ¦with the other maritime Pro vinces in contributing towards military defence. (Hear, hear.) He believed the day would come when the battle - of civil and religious liberty would have to be fought in America, and he felt that it would be fought between •Canada and the United States. When that time came Prince Edward Island would be prepared to coritribute its qupta pf men and mpney in order to aid Canada in defend ing those free institutions which are so dear to us as British Americans. (Hear, hear.) ' There was a point pf imppr- ¦ tance cpunected with this subject. There was an ircn band wanted tp unite the Celpnies — the band Of the Inter colonial railroad — and that completed, the interior con- 116 * UNION OF THB BRITISH ^BOTINCXS. neoted with, the seaboa;rd, the colonies would be, aUeto go on hand in hand together in commercial and military nndertakkig,s. {Hear, hear.) Some years ago he had the honor of being in Montreal dniing the visit of His Boyal Highness the iPrince of Wales, who would, some day — might that day be distant— rule ovpr this country. Then he was here a stranger, and the maritime provinces were hardly known. It was witli the utmost difficulty he could find so much as a newspaper from the Lower Provinces in the reading rooms. Now, however, he felt Uke belonging to a, nation, for he thought ere long we should be a nation with interests no longer distinct, but one people under the same old time-honored flag which now flpated over us. (Applause.) The CHAIRM.AN gave, as the next toast—" Her Majes^'s Canadian Ministers," which was received with great en thusiasm, the Band pliaying "A la Glaire Fontaine" The Hon. George E. Cartier, M.P.P., Attorney Gen eral East, having been caUed upon, rose amidst great cheering. Being asked to speak in French,, he said, in that language: 1 hope my French Canadian fellow citizens will remember, that at this moment we are hpnfff- ing the visit of the Delegates from the Lower Provinces, by all of whom the French language may not be under stood. He then proceeded in English,, and, after some compUmentary aUusions to the sumptuous banquet before them, he apebgised fpr the absence of his chief and col league. Sir E. P. Tache, and also for the abs^pe, of his other coUeague, the Hon. John A. McDonald, Attorney General West, who were unable to be present. He then addressed himself to the subject of Confederation as fol- ipTjvs : — Mr. Maypr, the questipn which, we may say, brings us together this evening is of great moment. Every one knows that throughout the British North American Pro vinces at this time people are discussing the question whether it is possible for the British American Prpvinces tp form, a strong gpvernment under a system of adminis tration, which -mil allow all the general interests of the Provinces concerned to be dealt with by a general govern ment, and wUl leave aU purely loeai-matters to a local UNION OF THB BRITISH PRO'VINCES. 117 government This is the question which is agitating, all |)ubUc men, and every one taking any interest in the poli tics and the welfare pf British Nprth America. I cannot Ipse sight of the fact that not quite ninety years ago there was a great Confederation doing all in its power, on the other side of the line, to carry out democratic iastitutiona, and that Greneral Washington, supported by a French General, was trying to induce the people of Lower. Canada, (which was then the most populous of the Provinces on this side of the Une,) to join the American Union in 1784 and 1786. What was the answer of the Canadians ? Our ancestors understood what d«nocratic institutions were. (Cheers.) Th^ did not respond to the address of General Washing-, ton, though at tiiat time the rights to which they were entitled had not been granted to them. Yes, they pre ferred to stick to the mpnarchial form of gpvernment. (Cheers.) At this time we are trying to help the mon archial dements to take deeper rppt in these British North American Provinces. I know, Mr. Mayor, that it may be expected fi-om me, perhaps on account of what has fallen from some of the speakers, to disclose the proposals of the Conference at this entertainment ; but, Mr. Mayor, that cannot be the case. The proceedings of those who have taken part in these deUberations are confidential ; they must &st be made known to our Governments, and they , have to be made known to the Imperial Government. Every one must understand the delicacy of the trust reppST ed in us. But though I may be prevented by the cpnfi dence vrith which these grave matters are to be discussed among the gentlemen who are deputed by their respective Governments to deUberate on them, from stating the results arrived at, at aU events I don't think I am committing ajy indiscretion if I proceed to submit them in a sort of hypothetical way. (CheerSj and laughter.) You have already heard several eloquent speeches on the subject. As for myself, I have no pretensions to eloquence ; I am a mere dry poUtician. I go to work when there is anything to be done, and I say very plainly to my friends what I, tMnk, perhaps sometimes too plainly, hut at all events I . am sincere. (Cheers.) I do npt say this tp draw ypur attention to me, for you may perhaps be disappointed,, but if yon do give me your attention, I may have something to 118 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. tell you. (Cheers.) Now, without revealing anything, you all know that at this moment I happen to ibe in theiGOvr. ernment of Canada allied to a gentleman who for fifteeni years has been my great opponent in Upper Canada — I refer to the Hon. George Brown. (Cheers.) Now, when a great matter of public poUcy came before us, though that gentleman and myself had been pitted against each other, he for Upper Canada and I for Lower Canada, yet? we resolved to try whether we could riot concur in a great scheme of Confederation, either of the Canadas, or of all; the' Provinces. I must say this, gentlemen, that in none- pf my mpst imppr tant 'political decisions did I, ever take the advice ofany one. (Cheers.) As a poUtician undeiS': the British system, I know that we are carried on to power in order to give advice to the Governor of the day \ butr; when a gentleman takes office, he ought te undersfeiajJo that a man should not be merely the reflex Of public opin- ¦ ion, but should try to lead public; opinion. (Cheers;)' il don't meari to say that the public voiceishouldi-not be;./ listeried to. But at the same time there are prejudices in the minds of the public, ¦which, however, like: unfavorable winds, may be turned to: good account. A good pilot \vili use the wind to make the ship gO in the direction .he wishes, and in the end every one is'satisfied, both the pUpt,,! and the crew and the passengers. WeU, ¦with regard to this question pf Confederation, and with ^regard to my political alliance with Mr. Brown, I must say thatr he has kept faithfully to his work. I don't know^ what yOU have to say of me, but for my part I have such an amount ; , of self-esteem that it matters not what amount of good or of bad you say. (Laughter.) Then, Mr. Mayor, it is obvious that there are general questions which might be , subjects to be taken up by the General Government of th^ n British North Americari Provinces. 'As to Lower Cariada, i I am not one pf thpse whp -will npt recpgnize that,' thei -, union of Upper and Lower Canada has not done a great- deal of gpod. I am confident, and , I have stated it on many pccasicns, that the union of Upper and Lower Canada has achieved wonders for the two Provinces. .The- 1 prosperity to which we have riseri under the> union- of ihsin Prpvinces, encpura-ges a still larger; union. (Cheers.).. I; am npt pne pf thpse whp wpuld like to see Upper andi* jmiOH OP jTHE-. BRITISH .PROVINCES/ 119 Ijower Canada , separated, and-' ;become t\^oi; distinct Pro- vittces;.; and warring against each other. What, would i he tjlie qqnsequence of this state of things? ;- Montreal' would $oon be a city, in ai corner, for I ^confess.- that the pros perity of Lower Canada is- due, to a great extent, to the trade of Upper ; Cana,da. (Cheers.) , It is ¦weU that the <;ause should -be- stated. As I am one, of thojrepresentar ttives, ©f.BIontreal, I tell you that I , jsvpuld never consent to any astern' of government under whiqli Upper ;and Lower Ganadj^iwould have a different system with respect to the tariff,.and trp.de; of .the, country. (Cheers,). In fact we see to-day that a great part of those. who, ^ were formerly opposed to the union of the two, CapadpS'are now. in, fayor of it. Why? Because the Union; has bestowed ori-the I^rpyinee a great part of its advantages. I must repeat to you w^at I stated while in the Lower Provinces, that while we ipossessed th.© personal andthe territorial elements which'gOitoiCPnstitute a natipn, we, were wanting in the maritime element .(Cheers.) , During six months of the ' year we had. to knock at the. door of our neighbor in order tp carry on our itrade.. This caifinot be tolerated.. This Confederationiimust.be. carried out. I know tha,t| every citizen pf .Montreal, wiU understand that at this critical time, we should look^to Nova, Scotia, to ; New Brunswick and Prince Edward I^and for the elenaents wanting in Canada ito make a great nation; I don't mean a nation distinct from the mother country. (Cheers.) t wish th3,t ^Jiithe power igranted by the mother country to the Colp- nies shpuld befCpmbined in prder.tp make, as far as we can, ope great; nation. If we can do this, I think we shall have done, a good deal.. With regard to. the i General Govern ment, I ^suppose, that some gentlemen would, like to know my hypothesis.,. Is it right that there sho;Uld be- a Custom House erected against the trade, of each Colony ? Nio. Is it right that there should ibe a difference of currency ? Is it right that -tlierej shpuld be a difference between the sys tem pf, weights and measures? .Between the mode of beccming a British subject? That, there should be. a difference in the ppstal service ?,,i Is; it- right th?rt there should be a; difference, iu regard to the question of the de- feneet .of.,the country? (Np, and" cheers.)' Can, fcr in- etaiteei. tlie Island pf Prince Edward, orNova. Scotia, or 120 UNION OF TJBE BRITlSfi'WOVlNOESi New Brunswick, successfully devise separate-^systeffiy of MUitia, so as to secure themselves agaiflSt irivasion ? 'sNo, they cannot Then suppose portions of Novtf 'Scotia; Or New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Islarid, -Wet^ invaded by an American army, the question would present itself, shall the forces of England be transported to the invaded Province for its defence? Well, we kripw that there is a schppl in England which disregards the claims of colonists on imperial prptecticn. I speak pf the schpol of Mr. Btigfet and Mr. Cobden. Canada possesses better means of defettee in men. Would this be sufficient to defend her agairist invasion? I believe it would not. But if we should be united under one Government, the battle' would have tOibe fought somewhere, and the forces of British North America would have to be brought together somOwheretO M6Btth^ foe. In this case there could be-no dpubtthWEfegl^f^ would see that we were really in earnest, and Wtf€fim]Sm our hands to the exten:t of her ability; - 1 See 't^htSh^^fis a great objection on the part of -some tO this MWwSF'dt general Government, because ;We had riot at' ontfef £P'E^¥4 lative Union. But we had to take iato'c'mfsidMia^MPsAt the objections of the different Colonies. 'Arid-if ^^'uttiee^ in presenting a schenie which wUl fofrrii th'S-''^undatl8Bf^ a general Government, to take charge- Jf such 'genetial subjects as interest every one,' i^'alli we not hav^'don^ 'a great deal ? (Cheers.) Now, I am told that in L'0*re^ Canada there is a great objectiori to thte" scheme, because it is asserted that the'British inhabitknts 'of -LoWe*' Canada wiU be at the mercy of the French 'majority.-^' Gfertftifl prejudices are being. impressed upon the' Biittdfe of the British people of Lower Canada against the Confederation, because it embraced a general Government and also local Governments. I think the British' irihabitants of L6w6r Canada should not be frightened by this argument; (Hear, hear.) The British inhabitatits of Lower Cariiada ought to bear this in mind, that in Upper Canada the French Canadians ¦will alwayS be in aJeniall minority; ' In that section the French Canadiatis wUlhave'tOtrast^the good judgment of the British majority, and 'is it teS'iriUHlfe to ask the British minority in the Lower Provinces ii-kitnat to the good judgment arid to the justice of the FrSftfehi Canadians in the lobal Governments? - If.'ften,; I'^Uuve UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VINCES. 121 no objection to the local arrangement as regards Upper Canada, Vhy should the British population of Lower Canada object to the local arrangement because they hap pen to be represented according to their numbers ? T say this to my friends of both races, I wUl never consent that any injustice should be done either constitutionally or ptherwise tp my fellpw-citizens pf any religipu, language pr race., (Cheers.)' In treating pf the questipn pf race with regard tp this great Cpnfederatipn, Ippking tp England, ypri' will find tfcee distinct naticnalities. Each pf these has contributed to the glory of England. Who would like .to take from England the glory conferi^ed on her by ailj^ one of the three nationalities ? By the son of Erin pr the Sect? (Cheers.) 1 think the glpry pf England might npt have been equal to what it is, if the three na- tipnalities had npt' been united. Was it surprising that iOTde shpuldtry tp find difficulties in the Way of the forma tion of a 'Ufaion because there happerifed to be different races and religipris? I have already sppken abOut the elements which are necessary tp ccnstitute a natipn. Every pne ^Hows that England is great; she hasachieveda great deal more than any nation whose history we know. The ROmansl could riot keep their, colonies, because they were wfeting in one of the elements which England possesses — the commercial element. Without detracting from the pewer pf England, I think, when we come tc analyse it we ¦wUl find that it ¦will net be sp great, withput taking into account her commercial power. As soon as a colony is conquered by the bravery of her soldiers and seamen, the wprk is taken up by her merchants, whp cause the colony to prosper to such an extent that it is the interest of Eng land to bring her army and fleet to protect it. The pros perity of the twp sectipus pf Canada illustrates this fact With our prosperity we are enriching the American States, whereas we ought; to be enriching our own States. We ought to be enriching such harbors as St. John and HaU fax. '' Andthen, with regard tp Newfpundland, as had been stated by tte Hen. Mr. Shea, Ne^wfoundland stands at the bottom of the St. Lawrence, and is the key to foreign ti?ade. When we are politically connected with New foundland, this wiU afford an opening that we cannot yet dipplreciate. ' It may be said that by a sprt pf Zplverein we 122 UNION OF; THE BRITISH PROVINCES. might rapihieye the same result a,s we hope to; do, by political, union. ^That. cannot be the case.. ¦ If we succeed there, ¦vv^ be a Ipcal Government to take cognizance, pf such m|ktters as the civil law, regulating prcperty, &c.,- ¦wjEuch arei local, ,a,nd. naturally fall 'witliin the prpvince pf Ipqal gpvernment. ; ^^ut I knp^w that in this city and elsewhere it is scught to turn, public opinion against us by saying that if ,ypu have, a local gove^nment.you,m^8tf resort .to dii-ept. .tration for the support of the government. This wovild never.be the case, for , .a subsidy was to be paid|lby the,, genei^al' Governrnent t.p each pf the 'Lo|t?^V Govern^ inents;to,oover their expenses, ; and tJiereWQuid be sonje small,, ite^s of ipcal [^ revenue i.'whichj, would be sufficientf. Inhere ¦jvilb;be, therefore, no direct tas^Ition if the Govern- naent he wise and prudent. As I stated at the outset, I am, impressed, wjith the ,conyiction that tjhis Cpnfederaticio. shquld not be C9,rried,out if it, deprives us of our connection ¦vyitb, England--' [But jl. am of opinion that tJfe; schenie, if successful, wUl increase the prestige ^f , the j rqonarpi|ial form of govef rjment. . (Cheers.) ''; . The Hon. Dr.' TupPEp'then rose and proposed, in a brief but eloiuent .speech—" The Mayor of Mpntre'?il and Mpu- treal City," which 'wa.s suitably resppnded to by, His Wor ship, and pn his -resuming .his seat, -there were Ipud caUs for the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee, one of.the Members for Montreal City : '¦' ' ''¦ '¦ '-'¦ ''-- Mr. McGee rose amidst prolonged cheering. He said he had no intention at that late hour and after the long sitting, to try anything in, the shape of a' speech. When we, ir|ie)aaid, were down on a visit -to the Lower Pro'vinces, our hospitable entertainers were always pleaded: to hear us speak, and I feel .that I shall best discharge my duty ; in showing myself , a good, host by being a good Usten^.- (Cheers,) However, as one of the leading politicians, and member i of , the Government had been prevented from attending, and as the. other member; for the City of Mon treal — Hon. ;Mr. Roscr— had, he, perceived-, -withdrawn, he could not -allow the meeting , to separate witlaout saying a word of ..welcome, They were welcome to ius as, fellow subjfi^S. long estranged,, ripw. .aboutyto be uriited;; They UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCES- 1.23; were •welcome, as accomplished gentlemen, of ¦whose-, pqwer,s. his hearers bad had specimens that evening. They .were' welcpme as the kind; bests , and iOntertainers in thi^,L()iVife,r Prpvinces. pf many pf thpse ;whpm he, saw. arpund ^him. They ¦were welccme fpr the wprk; in which they haqiiiee^/ engaged., (Cheers.) If ypu asked, wherefore this Confer^eej ¦with closed dpprs at, Que|)ec, why all tl^is inystery, ¦why this assembling tcgether ofi their Excellepcies' advisers at, Quebec, leaving Governors, and, , Li^uten,a;nt $ 0;O''^ernprs , jgp.' ; the meantirpe deprived of their counsels,— if he, were asked. the reason of all ,this, hewpuldgive the a,n8wer in pne word, , circurnspice. Look arpund you .and ypu will see the re^'r spns;fpr the gatherii^ig. Loek arpund ypu tp the valley pf Yirginia, look around you to the mountains of Georgia-,; aQd,-ypu,wiU 'find; reasons as thick as,bl^ckbei;ries... Were, tj^ey to , believe , .ijl^at things would ,gp,'p;(i in the,, future, as ithey had gone in . the past ? ' , It was .necessary that, those engaged' in the work should have with, them, .a(nd,,jh'q- trg§t)ad,, they ¦would Uave with them, the pubjic ppinipn, and, tjie.cpuntenance of the people of Montreal, and of the, pgpple pf Cariada, , If they had assunied, thirity-three of t^eWj^to gp into, a chamber and sketch an outline which wasrto he submitted to Her Majesty, to the Imperial Par- liment, and to our Parliaments, they fpund their justifica- tijOpjii)i-,the- circHjnstances.pf British, Nprth America, and of Bepublicau !^prtii America, and in the intimatipp., con veyed to; us from the most undoubted sources ftorn tHej^p^l^i of. the Imperial Government.-, They had not acted in. ai. empirical spirit. They had gone there to Ijuild,. if they had tpv build, inareyerent spirit,, upon the old foundation— (Ci^eei;^ — :not a sho^wy edificefpr thetqselves, with a stiiocp., fipnt, a,]^ alath and plaster cpntiAuatipn-r(laughter)— :but a s,Glid , f pundation that wpuld bear the tempest . and tbe way^, tliat wpqld stand fpr ages, and affprd an exemplifi cation cf the selidity pf Pur institutipns. (Cheers.), He, trupt^d that they wpuld emulate the races frpjn whom they spf;u^ig, the Norman, the Celtic, and all that went to make , thei,;CPncrete of the .British Empire, the land, of .stajilje-i goj[erp.pient, the .iand pf pld renpwn, where freedom, in the bjowept, sense was.enjpyed by aU. Ope pf tl;ie New, l^erlj , jpjirngJ,?, friendly tp:]us,, the|New Yoxi. Albion, warned us last week net tp make premature rej pipings ever pur she- 124 union: of the British provincies; cess, reminding us of the premature rejoicings over the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph a few years a,go. He would take the liberty to inform that journal that we had not been experimenting and sounding out of our depth. We did not proceed so far without having a very safe intimation of what England's sentiments are. If we want explanation from England we have only to put our hand upon the bopk which cputains the law pf England, and as Ipng as we had that explanatipn iri Pur libraries we could always learn what they would think iri England of what we had been doing;. (Cheers.) Before he sat down -he must express his great regi'Ot that the Delegates- were obUged to leave us at an early hour on Monday morning. The next day being Sunday, would be no day for sight seeing, and the preceding day was a regular damper. (Laughter.) The speakei: proceeded to touch upon what the Delegates might tell their constituents upon their return home. They might say that we desired the Cott- federation for the sake of self-defence, common advance ment, coming into Union Well dOwered. They might' say that Canada desired this Union, though at present 'the public mind was not fully aUve to the advantages -to' be derived from it ; that if she goes into it, she goeS into it for no small or selfish purposes ; that the pebble of Canada are year by year becoming more liberal and enlightened in their views ; that we did not speak of cutting each other's throats for the love of God ; they could say that in Canada religious bigotry was at a discount. He could point them to the place where that bigot withered Upon his stock, that where he was held in hpupf np man is upW sp mean as tO dp him reverence. That we have net ampngst us bigotry of classes or bigotry of race ; or the belief that no gppd cculd ccme put pf Nazareth, pr any reUgiOn but their own. That the day of these .small things had passed away in Canada; that we respected one another's opinioriS, and had shown ourselves fit to be freemen by aUowing bveiy class, every sect and every creed, to manage their ovm af fairs — (cheers) — so long as they did not trouble the peace ahd happiness of the community. He thought they might say aU this in regard to Canada. Their limited stay would not permit them tp see fpr themselves the progress that we union of the BRITISH FBOYINCXCt. 12S had made in, freedom, which gave every man the fullest scope for the exercise of his own rights, but he was sure they could say to their constituents that Canada would come into the Union with the view of securing the common prosperity and welfare. (Cheers.) Hon. Mr. Galt, being loudly called upon to speak, rose and observed that he was sure he would faU in doing jus tice to the kindness with which they called upon him, were iie to make a speech after what they had heard that evening. He hoped that the discussion of this pubUo question would induce gentlemen to look at it in all its bearings, and that they would find that what was good for Canada would be good for the Lower Provinces, and for aU sections of tlie British dominions. He was sure they would lopk at this questipn npt in a selfish peint pf •view, but in ene which has regard tp the benefit pf aU, arid whieh woidd raise this country to a position in which it would be honored. In this . question of Confederation it was perfectly true we had put our confidence in those who were associated with us, and who have lived with us. It is necessary that the French Canadians of Upper Canada should have confi dence in those with whom they have lived, and that we in Lower Canada should have confidence in the fair deaUng of the French Canadian people. (Cheers.) If our insti tutions have borne any fruit at all, they have borne the fruit of harmony. He believed we were united in one common movement for the benefit of both Upper and lidwer Canada. He believed the Union would be produc tive of gppd tp bpth Canada and the Maritime Prpvinces. If we want an ppen port, we could find it in St John or Halifax. He was npt disclosing any secret when he said this, that, so far as the protection pf the interests of the people of Upper and Lower Canada was concerned, there was no secret to be kept— the arrangements were made in a way to do honor to his friend Mr. Cartier. (Cheers.) It was not a light thing for people to trust their prosperity and happiness in the future to others. But he was sure that a very prudent effort had been made to try and bring about a state of things that would rescue us from t!h© troubles that threatened us. (Cheers.) -fcNioit' bF The teRtTlsBi' provinces. i8ei|jj|i .^^^ no-*?- 8 p, 'm.,'the speeches having commenced -about' four o'clock, 'the Cliairihan left the Cbair, ianiS'-'ffie L-j-jTv »..-¦ ',.' -...' , '¦ -'¦ '. -,'iir^ fPigfitie-g', feroke ,up. . ;,.¦',;, .DEPAETUBB FOE,; AND AERIVAI/ A^Pj -¦¦-:-:. . - OTTAWA. • "¦" ''f - .:,^ii^}/Lsiritime Province I)elegates, accompanied by their , lady.friends» together -with several of the Canadian Jflinip- ter-B, and many adsquaintasaces frpm QuebeciandJIontre^ln- '1-^fK 'the latter city eri Mpuday mprning,- 31st Octpber,'Jqr special train f^w'roMite fpr Ottawa. Having travelledv "a ¦shprj; distance by railway, they icmbarked pn'bpard'pf "a . beautiful OStearii,er;at, the first; cpp.venient landing p.lace en the river Ottawa; and prpceeded ¦without delay along, the cburse- cf - that renpwned and- picturesque stream. : Its charrning scenery, diversified, by innunierable isletsrestirig gently pn|il^. tranquil bpspm, were pbjecfs of great attrac tion to the inany persons on, board the, ste,aflaer who had seen them for the, -first time only. The frequent recur rence Of the small islands, as the vessel i wound her devious ¦w'ay' through the' harrow channel. Was a source ' of inexpres- , si^le, delight tp the vovagers. A,l though the garish beams -C^flday had given place to that beautifur compromise . between daylight -and darkness . which is known by the name 'of t-wilight, yet the soft; rich landscape couldjbe easily' seen, and was, perhaps- more impressive at that hour \ahd aj} that season, when the emerald glories of summer fSeem to he struggling for ascendancy oyer the varying' tints lof eariy autumn. Moore's Canadian Boat Song — inspired On this river more than half a centmy ago — recurred to ¦ maifiy minds at the time described, and sweet vcices were -np't^wariting to blend with the gentle airs of heaven the 'meledy wiipse burthen is — , " ' " Blow, breezes, blow, the stream runs fast, Ths Rapids are n«ar, and the daylight's past." UNION ' Bi-' Ttii! 'BRtTl^H''pR6v5M'6E^. l^k Having atrived at'pnebf .the'usrial stOpj[)ing places', named CariUoii, -where freight and^passeri^ers are receive'd arid l'an(ied,''His Wbrship the Mayor of Ottawa, M: Kl 'jB^qi- iiiS6ri,,Esqr., and several' members of the Ottawa Eecieption Oommittee, came on board, to whom the Hon. Mr] Gatt severally introduced the Delegates from the Maritime Produces. About twp hpurs mpre brpught the, whple party 'tp Ottawa. It was tWn quite [dark, but fretn tlie water the scene presented iri the heart pf'the c^ty was highly interesting. It seemed tp be pne mass pf mpvin^ light^ which was spcn fpund tp be an immense tprch liglit prpcessipri, cpmppsed pf the Fire Brigade in^ iinifprm, tpgether with a Istr^e bpdy pf pther citizeris. ' * There were numerpus carriages in waiting at the land ing place, which cpnveyed the Steamer's party tp Eussell's Hotel, escorted by the torch light procession. It 'was im possible tp,eBtimate (the number pf the densecrpwd which ffiled the street,. but it seemed as if the ¦Whple population of Ottawa had tuiined'out on the •Occasion, sending forth rapturous cheers after '^cheers, as welcome notes to their guests.- ,;,;,- -'i ',-¦--¦ - . -r: . ¦ ' Before the crowd separated, the Hon. Johk A. McDon ald was called for, and appeared at one of the windows Of the Hotel, frOm whence he briefly addressed the assembled 'multitude, thankirigthem On behalf of the Government of Canada, and also on behalf of 'his friends from the Lower Provinces, for the very warm-Bearted welccme they had just received. He expressed his gratifica.tipn ait the pros pect cf Ottawa sppu becoming the Capital of Confederated British America, and briefly referredto his own exertion's itf the Legislature and Governmerit to prpcure fct'the young and risirig city 'SO "great a distinction, immeris'e oheeririg followed for sorhe moments, in the midst' of ¦i^hiith Mr. McDonald retired, Whferi— '" ' '' '-" ''Thb Hbn. Dr. Tupper appeared' in 6ne of tHe carriages 128 UNION r.PI!' THB BBITISH PROVINOBa;. in the crowd below, and, addressed tte assemblage {f^tfi^ut fifteen minutes, referring, in the course pf his el^inent remarks, to the stupendous importance ;of-/the work im which tlje Delegates had been engaged. Pe stated tj^atjt was their constant aim to preserve sectional, anji-,, local interests as far as it was in their power to do so^, .^.^lifi result pf their labprs wpuld, he had np dpubt, meet with much hpstUe criticism, but he hcped the intelUgent pepple and their energetic and enterprising press wculd not prer judge the scheme until aU its details cculd be placed- bef^e them, in prdei: tp dp which seme ^unaveidaWp , official forms were necessary. He then thanked the people fpr their cordial reception, and retired amidst eJith,iisiasti9 cheers. On the merning pf the first pf Npvember, abput 10 o'clock, His Worship the Mayor, the Hon. Mr. Skead, M.L.Ci, Mr. Scptt, Mr. McGilvray, Mr. McKinnpn, Mr. S. Keefer, and ether members pf the Eecepticn Committee^ had car riages in waiting at the several Hotels where the visitors were located, to drive them round the City pf Ottawa. After a shprt time mpst agreeably spent in dri'ving thrpugh the several streets, which presented in every directicn marks pf great enterprise and wealth, the party embarked en board. of pne pf Mr^ Dickinson's steamers, and tppk a trip pf twp pr three miles on the river below the Eideau Falls. The sun shone out in all its effulgence, and although the, -wind was keen and cold, still it was exhUa- riting, andtjie objects worthy of npte pn bpth sides pf. the river chaUenged earnest admiratipn. The buildings to he- dedicated tp the use pf the ParUament and the Gpverti- ment Offices, new nearly ccmpleted and ready for use, cpuld be seen tp much greater advantage en the river t)ian in, the city. The beat having been turned, she steagipd to the fppt pf the Chaudiere Falls, penetrating the bpiUlig oauldron further than ever any, vessel had done before- UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES, 129^ The visitors having been affordedample pppprturiitytp ad mire this marvellpus work pf nature, the bpat again turned, and crossed f the ri^er to the Lower Canada side, where. carriages were in waiting. After a short .drive through the bushj the party arrived at the Suspension Bridge over the CSaudiere Falls, and thencd- returned to their several Hotels. ¦ ' At-lialf-past tweli^e o'clock the visitors proceeded to the Parliament Buildings'; ffi'rOugh the various apartments of which theywere cor^ucted by the Contractors and theii* friends. The Delegates warmly expressed their admiration at "thfe exterior design and construction of the edifices, and what then promised" to" b6' the splendour of the interior arrangements. An hour having been Spent in examining and passing through the several parts of the main build ing, it was announeed that THE DEJEUNEE, for which the most extensive preparations had been tnade by the CbntractorS; wks'served in the room to be used as the future Picttire- Gall&ry 'of the Parliament- Houses. This part of the building appeared, to be. nearly finished, and was inost handsomely decorated for the occasion; The walls were'bung with ^diamond shaped frames of flowers, in theicentres of which were inserted brief inscriptions ex pressive of welcomie ; and the time-honored flag of England spread its ample folds 'vyhereyer a place could be found for it on, tlie walls. ,, The decorations about the tables were of the most elegant description, and the viands included every luxury and delicacy that could be desired. About 16Q persons sat , down, to the .several tables, and this nuni- ber included' the ladies of the Delegation Party, and the ladies, of many of , the citizeps of Ottawa,, a,n,d vicinity, whO;Se presence largely contribiji,te_d, to t^e pleasure pf tjhe entertainment-,,; 11 ISO UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO'VaNCES. There was no particular Chairman appointed for the occasion. The Contractors being the Hosts, divided amongst themselves the duties which usually faUto the lot of a Chairman. There were four tables arranged in the form of a paralellogram. At the centre of one table sat Mr. McGreevy, with the Hon. Mr. TiUey, of New Bruns wick, on his right, and Hon. John A. Macdonald, on his left. At the centre of the opposite table sat Mr. Ealph Jones, •with Hon. Col. Gray, of Prince Edward Island, on his right, and Mr. Eose on his left. At the third table sat l^r. Haycock, •with Col. Gray, of New Brunswick, on his right, and Mr. Cauchon on his left. At the fourth table sat Mr. T. C. Clarke, with Dr. Tupper, of Nova Scotia, on his right, and Mr. Johnson, of New Brunswick, on his left. Mr. McGreevy gave the first toast — " The Queen " — which was received and honored with great enthusiasm, the Ottawa Band playing the national anthem. Mr. Jones next proposed, " The Governor Generd," which was received with unbounded applause. After a short pause, Mr. Haycock, one of the other Chairmen, proposed, " The Canadian Administration," coupUng the toast with the remark, that they were much better able to speak for themselves than he for them. The Hon. John A. Macdonald briefly returned thanks. [The honorable gentleman intended to have spoken at some length on the question of Confederation, but Ulness induced by fatigue from assiduous devotion to pubUc affairs, compelled him to curtail his observations, which the whole company deeply regretted^ as no pubUc man in Canada was considered so well qualified by talent, expe rience and statesmanship to speak on the question of Con federation as the Honorable Attorney General for Canada West. His iUnesB excited deep sympathy, and when he UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 131 resumed his seat after the brief expression of his thanks, he was applauded as if he had made the most brilliant oration ever delivered— thus manifesting the profound respect entertained for him at Ottawa.] The Hpu. Mr. Galt having expressed regret fpr Mr. Macdcnald's iUness, and having pronounced a high eulo- gium on the great and universally acknowledged ability of the Attorney General West — Mr. T. C. Clarke, one of the Chairmen, rose to propose the next toast. He said the pleasant duty devolved on him of proposing, " The Delegates from our sister Pro vinces and their fair wives and daughters." On behalf of the people of Ottawa and of the Contractors, their hosts on this occasipn, he tendered them a cprdial and sincere wel cpme. (Cheers.) Their pnly regret was that their guests wpuld be with them fpr sp shprt a time. He might men- tipn pne circumstance in respect pf which this entertain ment differed frpm the magnificent Dejeuner at Mpntreal. There the ladies were permitted to look down on the gen tlemen from the gallery ; here they sat down with the gentlemen, participating in the welcome given to the Delegates. (Cheers.) . The Honorable William A. Henry, Attorney General of Nova Scptia, replied pn behalf pf that Province, and said; " Our hosts, ladies and gentlemen — By an arrangement among the Delegates, the pleasing duty devolves upon me of responding on behalf of Nova Scotia in this city, to the toast which has been so handsomely proposed and enthusi asticaUy received. Frona the time of our first landing at Quebec we have been the recipients of universal kindness and social hospitality. We have, heretofore, had the pleasure of making the personal acquaintance of many of your public men on several previous occasions, when they have visited England and the Lower Pro^rinces on occasions of general importance ; and we have recently had the pleasure of seeing many of your citizens during the excur sion they made to the Maritime Colonies last summer. We, therefore, felt that we were not coming here amongst strangers, or to a terra incognita, but were coming among brothers, equaUy with us the descendants of EngUshmen, 13^'- UNfON of' THE-^'BB'iiJlSH'HPRO'^oisf.'- Frat'thmen--^ Scotchmen, a&d Irishmen; If any thing 'were wantirig'to-Cou'vince us of the hospitable iritentiOris of -yOu aU,, it would be afforded i byi the magnificent reception, we i last night received at your hands. (Cheers.) We were^,, indeed received Uke cpnquerprs, like warriprs returnirig froiti'a 'great wictdry, and indeed ,a great 'victory has been achieved at the Conference, whose labors have just tetriii-:' nated. We have triumphed Over personal jealousies and local and party considerations'- having sacrificed all thfese^' tO:the^iBat plgect we had in •view. (Hear.) ' The'^^recdp- tipn you have given us is all the more pleasing, as it> has'- takerii. place in Ottawa^ a city selected by Hei:;MajeBty the ¦ Queen to be the seat of . govOrnment for Canada, and in a:, building: the corneristone- of which was laid by His Eoyal : Highness the Prince of Wales.. I fdel the extreme difficulty , pf speaking uppn a subjeot. about whidh a dpzen speeches have ibeen akeaidy made, 'and bcrne, by the enterprifeing- press which has repcrted them, to every hamlet in this ProT-i ¦ vince — a difficulty arising frpm the fear pf following in the same; paths already-so well trodden by others. I have, how ever, great pleasure; in communicating for myself and my. coUeagues our warmest thanks to the Contractprs engaged .. in the cpnstructipn pf these magnificent, buildings, fcrCi the very pleasing banquet they have sp liberally prp.vided. It is'tliatter fpr additipual congratulation to see present to many of the leading citizens of Ottawa, for it is an eai^nOst' ' of'their hearty sympathy with Us in oUr labo'rs, and of the " deep interest they take in the Success of the great wPrk in which they are engaged. (Cheers.)' The splendpur pf the" ' entertainments we have received since we left our hpmes has abundantly convinced us of the hospitality pf the peo ple Of Canada, and I can assure ypu that whenever a Cana dian "lands upori our shores he wiU at all times find the' inhabitants' of our Provinces ready to reciprocate these-' nunierous acts of kiridn'ess. Were nO political consequences- immediately to flow from our' present efforts, the intercom-^: munication we have had with you will not be bari-eri of results, for we shaU have learned to know each other bet- tei;, and have discovered 'the' necessity and benefit of more. frequent intercourse. 'The people of Npva Scotia enter-" tain no. mean, or selfish views -when they propose to enter' into a Cpnfederatipn with the pttfer cclonies. 'They knov^ ' UNION OF THE BRITISH PROyiNOES. • <1?3 ,- that -their positipn commands many advantage? not eqi^y enjoyed by the rest, They feel that their princip^ jPOtt, HaUfax;. is pne pf cpmmandlng impprtance. , Situated ^.s it is upcn the mpst, easterly peninsula,, pf; British, Nprth America, and pf parapapunt impprtance tp be retained by iingland -whUe any pprtipn of the West, Indies reniains connected vTitt the British empire,, it will jdr tl|^;last .spot of territory on this continent to te yielded up by the Parent -State, and,^Ul always receive, even ii^oretbanJtie other .pplpnies the protection of the home gpver-;pment, -,T le time, however, may come, ^^^ may .npt- be far .distant, -when, ,with,great political changes froin ¦ffljich we „eapn,pt expect to fee always exempt, the prctection pf the Paj;eht , . State vUiay , ,be .withdrawn, and .if '^e wait tiU that unfprtu- ' nate event arrives, it may bp, tpp late, tp, fprm associatipns fpr Pur Ipcal defpnce. We feel that w^e.may |ie, likened tp pne pf a niimber pfr,pugh,unhe^vyn' stones, which soTs^e pplitical architect may hereafter rapprppriate,. and if, pp measures are, taken tp secure to us a proger,.position, to secure that important place in a grand stTOcture which yire conceive to be{Pur, right, we may by ajcpident,.,pr the fprce pf events, either, occupy an elevated statipn pr form part of a inere pavement, to be, walked, oypr and trampled |i.on. (Applause.) We know, jth^t,. these colonies arenj^d^of the right, material; anij tliat descendants of , the country- mein, pf . a ^ellingtenraqd a Napplepu, pf a Marlbprpugh and a Clyde, :possess when united elenients, pf ipirn©|i?se .^and; almost invulnerable .strength for their defence, and ^ will npt be found ;un^w;orthy of their commoiltaiP.r(^4iy, toasted,, „The Ift^Sifif <^e lower:- ProyiCfce^.had.p.QiieiUereinJciyei'with 138 UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCES. union, and those not in it were prepared to enter into it (Cheers and laughter.) The Honprable George Coles responded for Prince Edward Island. He said the reception given to the Dele gates in this city, last night and to-day, went beyond his expectations. He had thought the same at Quebec, but on coming to Montreal and Ottawa his admiration of the good-feeling and hospitality of the people of Canada had been stUl further increased. (Cheers.) He stood here in a different position from the gentlemen from the other provinces, who had just addressed them, both of whom were members of their respective Governments, whUe he (Mr. Coles) happened to be one of the Opposition. They were aware that the Oppositions of all the Provinces had entered into the Delegation to assist in carrying out the views of their respective Governments. Generally, when an Opposition joined in carrying out the 'views of Govem ment, they were looked upon with suspicion by their con stituents. But the present case was one which stood en tirely by itself, and he claimed that in going for Federa tion the Government of Prince Edward Island were carry ing out his •vie'w;s — ^views which he had entertained for many years. (Cheers.) In former times he had found many opposed to his sentiments on this question. It was the same as in the case of a proposed matrimonial union, when the friends of the famUy are very apt to raise objections on the grounds of disparity in wealth, standing, &c., but in spite of these Objections they had gone to work, and for the last two months— first at Charlottetown, and then at Quebec — ^they had been trying to draw up the marriage settlement — (cheers) — and he had to announce to them that they had succeeded in framing a marriage settlement, which, though in some respects not what some of theni might have wished, he hoped would, taken as a whole, give satisfaction to the entire famUy. (Cheers.) The marriage ceremony had yet to be performed. When that took place he hoped the families thereby alUed would not be such strangers tp each pther as they had been in the past, and that the pepple ef Canada wpuld mpre fre quently visit the pepple ef the Lpwer Provinces, who would be happy to return the OompUment. (Cheers.) Mr. Coles UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 189 went on to speak of the advantages of Prince Edward Island as a delightful summer residence, and of its various resources.^— particularly the inexhaustible treasury it had in the fisheries of its waters. At present hundreds of thousarids of pounds worth of fish were taken from their waters by the American fishermen. He trusted that soon Canada would take that fish for the consumption of her inhabitants, and send her fishermen to catch them. (Cheers.) He thought they had reason to congratulate themselves on the result of the labors of the Conference. That thirty-three meri, representing the various political opinions of six different Pro^vinces, could have assembled and so amalgamated their opinions as to agree upon a constitution suited for that great Confederation, was some thiiig, he believed, such as the world had never seen befOfe, and shewed that the Delegates were worthy of the position they held. (Cheers.) He said this although thfere Was no man more disappointed than himself with respect to some parts of that constitution, but by mutual concession they had arrived at a result which they could all agree iri supporting and submitting to the people, for he held that it must be submitted to the people. They could not force it on the people; they must endeavour to shew them that it was for their benefit, and thus induce them tp accept it. (Cheers;) Maypr Dickinson then proposed, "The prosperity of British North America," and remarked that prosperity depended upori Union. (Cheers.) The Hon. -A. T. Galt, Finance Minister of Canada, then rose and repUed tp the toast as foUpws: — Mr. McGree^vy, ladies and gentlemen — Befpre attempting tp resppnd tp this tpast, I must express the pain I feel that Mr. Macdpnald is unable frpm indisppsitipn tp make the remarks he intended. I kupw the Ipsa ypu have sustained in nPt hearing frpm pur friend the exppsitipn he had prp ppsed to give in reference to the in ter-colpnial unipn. I feel it a public less, and hppe his illness will be tempprary, and thatpn an early pccasicn in Tcrpntp he may be able to offer the explanations he is unable to give to-day. (Hear.) It falls to my duty tc respond to both tpasts at 140 UNION, OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. jonce. I desire to thank; you most cordially for th& wayjn which you respondejl to the toast pf the Canadian Admin istratipn. We receive it, not as representing any poUtical party in this Province, but asrepresentipgthe Government, whoever they may be, who administer affairs.^ Brit on an occasipn. like this, when- events pf the greatest importance to Canada are transpiring, it is perhaps tUe more impor- .tant to us to know that we have, at least fer the, mpment, the cprdial suppprt pf the pepple pf the. cpuntry, as we have a very difficult task to perform and desire to feel .sure that there is confidence in our desire, if npt in Pur ability, tp dp pur duty tP pur ccmmpn cpuntry. i We Jiave iifi^^d frpm the lips of eloquent gentlemen sem^ething aljput the Cpnfederatipn pf the Prpvinces — abcut the object ^^ere had in -riew — which is to give tp the general Gevernment of the British Nprth American Prcvinces .that.amcunt of strength necessary to attend tpcommpu, interests and to reserve to tlie local Legislatures the, power,: to aitend-ito sectional matters. All know that in proposing Confedera tion we have not to deal with a homogeneous people, but we have within our bprders twp different r^cesr-races equaUy distinguished in war and civil /attainments — and we, are bound to attend to the jntetesta of .those,'of French as well asof ; English origin-TT-both,- being alike te H.-COn- sidered and respected. I trust, that in the questipn ,spon tp be submitted tp the pepple pf this ccuntry, it wiU be fpund that while pn the one hand, all necessary' ppwers have been given tp the general .Gpvernment, there has been reserved, at thesame time, tp the locai)GovernmentS'6Uch Two-thirds of that may be too cold for ordinary agriculttiral purposes, but the sputhprn pprtipn, ^hich embraces abput: one-tbii-d ef the whole or one mil Uon, of square miles, is eminently adapted fpr settlement, and I wish the fact tc gp far and wide as authentic and reliable. Being a native pf that region; and a representa tive in an ethnelpgical as well as a geographical sense, I beg.tp.iexpre'ss my great pleasure in seeing, this' measure of Confederatipn likely, to be ccnsumiriated, fpr I believe it will benefit the Nprth West. Apart frpm the extent of the country, its intrinsic value forms an important element. It is cap9,ble of sustaining a vast population, because ex tensive and fertile. For over 150 miles 'width along the boundary line there is as habitable a cbuhtry,as can be found on the surface of the globe. The climate has been represented ' by exploring expeditions sent from England and from this country as very similar tc that pf Canada. I kupw fpr a certainty that it is, pn the whple, celder ; it is alsp more, uniform and reliable. The air may be cpld, but it is bracing and healthy. In truth, it is a mcst salu- UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCES. 185 brious climate. Apart from the fertility of the soil, a source of livelihood to immigrants would be the fish afford ed by the waters of the country. There is abundance of white fish, pike, gold-eyes, perch, sturgeon, &c. — not an uniriipprtant ccnsideratipu in a new region. And the channels which contribute so much to the sustenance of an immigrant population also afford the means of internal navigation. The Eed Eiver district is thcrpughly cpu nected -with all the parts pf that vast regipn. -By means of Lake, Winnipeg it is connected with Nelson Eiver, which, flows into; Hudson's Bay ; connected with the Sas katchewan, whiph leads from near the Eocky Mountains ; connected by the Winnipeg and Eainy rivers with Lake Winnipeg; a-nd coijpected, lastly, with the interior of Minnesota near the sourcesof the Mississippi. There is, indeed, over the -^yhoje- country a vast network of excellent water communication, well adapted for commercial pur poses. Andthen allow me tp say before this distinguished assemblage that the North-'west has mineral resources of great value, Between Lake Superior and Bed Eiver j there are extensive copper mines, and stUl more extensive ^ ones are to be found along the Arthabasca and the Mac kenzie Eivers. . Coal mines, moreover, abound on the- Sas katchewan, and on the branches which flow into the Assiniboine. Gold, too, has been found in the Saskatche wan region, and in such quantities elsewhere also, that there cannot be the least doubt of the auriferous character of that country. From $5 to $15 per day are being made, and every successive discovery only satisfies me more and more that the whple country abounds in gold, and that time alone is requisite to develope its resources in respect of miiier^ls. In conclusipn, allow me, a native of the Eed Eiver country, and its sole representative here — to express the deep gtatifiCation I' feel in having that part of the country so prominently brought before the attention of the delegates from the Low;er Provinces ; and allo-w me to express the, hope that in the scheme now being devised, the vast extent,, the resources, the capabilities and the value of the North-west may be fiUly remembered. There is a country there, to which the over-crowded populations of .European countries may resort and find a comfortable home. (Cheers.) 186 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. The Chairman then proposed "Her Majesty's Ministers." The toast was drank with every demonstration of enthu siasm. Hon. George Bro-rtst, on rising to respond, was received with enthusiastic cheering. He said — Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, I desire to return you the hearty thanks of my colleagues and myself for the manner_ in which you have received this toast. It is an old saying, that Eng land loves not coalitions — and I am sure if the adage is true of England, it is doubly true of Canada. And I am free to say now as I have always said, that, except under the pressure of a most grave and urgent necessity, the combining of public men of opposite poUtical sentiments to form a Government, under the British ParUamentary system, is very strongly to be deprecated. (Hear, hear.) But if ever there was a coalition that had a sufficient object to justify its formation, I do think it is that Administra tion which I represent here to-day. (Cheers.) The present Administration was formed for a special purpose — ^for a great public end — it was formed in the Ught of day — ^its whole object and end was fully and openly proclaimed to the world — and no charge of intrigue or desire for personal aggrandisement cculd with justice be laid at the door pf any party tp the cpmpact. (Hear, hear.) But, Mr. Mayor, if any defence were required, if it were necessary to offer any justification for the formation ofthe coalition — I think we offer it to you abundantly here to-day, in the remarkable scene now before you, as the practical result of our three months' labors. (Great cheering.) Formed though the coalition was of very incongruous materials — this much can most truly be said of it, that so far it has real ized and more than realized all the results that at its creation were anticipated from it. (Cheers.) , It will be recollected that ParUament adjourned immediately after the coalition was formed, and very soon after the adjourn ment the Government opened communications with the Lower Provinces. It is well known that the political party with which I have the honor to be associated did not view a federation of all the Pro-vinces -with that degree of confidence with which it was regarded by, a portion of our opponents. Not that any of us deemed it an objec- .UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 187 tionable thing that all the British American Provinces should be united. On the contrary, I think no public man in Canada, aspiring to the position of a statesman, could have looked at the position of these great and increasing colonies without descrying in the future their association together for purposes of defence and commerce, as an inevitable and desirable event destined at some day to be accomplished. (Cheers.) But •while we all saw and acknowledged this, some of us felt at the same time that we had practical difficulties, which there was an urgent necessity should be promptly and efficiently met — and we were iU content to have our hands tied up from dealing with those great evils while waiting for a scheme, dependent on so many different Provinces, and that might be postponed for many years to come. When, therefore, the Government was formed, it was upon the express un derstanding that the constitutional difficulties of Canada should be met immediately — that a measure for that pur pose should be submitted to Parliament at its first session — and that in the meantime we should strive with all our energies to ascertain whether or not a just and satisfactory arrangement for the union of all the British American Provinces could be effected, so that we might present it at the coming session of Parliament in lieu of the lesser scheme. And, sir, the best proof that could be givea of the zeal with which we have executed our work is to be found in the assemblage before you to-day of gentlemen from all sections of the British American Provinces — gen tlemen representing all the different political parties of their several sections. I had proposed to enter at some length into the details of the great scheme of union which has been elaborated by the Conference, but time is passing swiftly, and it is obvious that to our friends from the Maritime Pro-vinces belongs tbe speaking on such an occasion as this. My colleague, Mr. Galt, and myself, you have all the time with you, but our friends fromthe Lower Provinces you may not have another opportunity of hear ing untU the union has been consummated — an event which, let us fondly hope, is not far distant. (Cheers.) However, as briefly as I can I shall endeavor to glance at pur proceedings of the last few weeks, so as to convey at least a general idea of the scheme which has been unani- 188 UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCHI. mously adopted by the Conference. Every one is aware that at the very time the present Government was formed a conference of delegates from the Maritime Provinces was about to be held, for the purpose of considering the pro priety of uniting Nova Scotia, New Bruns-wick, and Prince Edward Island under one Government. Instantly we opened communications -with the Governments of these Provinces, asking to be permitted tp send representatives tp their Cenference — and in the kindest and most prompt manner they sent us a hearty welcome to their meeting. We arrived at Charlottetown on the 1st September, and most, kindly and hospitably were we received. We were invited to take seats in the Conference and to address its members, and we at once proceeded to open up to them the object of our mission. What we said to them was this — " We in Canada have had serious sectional differ ences ; but at last we have agreed to a settlement pf our troubles on a basis just and equitable to all sections of our country ; we are about to frame a new constitution, which -will be acceptable to the great mass of our people ; and it has occurred to us, on hearing that you too were considering a change of your constitution, whether it would not be well for us all to sit down together, and consider how far it would be for the welfare and good gpvernment pf pur Provinces were we to unite them all under one sys tem of government." Well, Sir, we did sit do-wn together — ^we discussed the whole subject in all its bearings — we looked at it from every point of view — and after eight or ten days' deliberation we came to the unanimous conclu sion that if the details could be settled upon a basis just to all, it would be for the advantage of the whole of these Prpvinces that we should be united. (Loud cheers.) Per haps I should state that we from Canada yvere not content with mere argument in ccming tp this cpuclusipu — for we passed thrpugh a large portion of the Lower Provinces, and saw with our own eyes the fairness of the land. OUr first visit was to the beautiful Island of Prince Ed-watd, and I think my friend Mr. Palmer did no mpre thari jus tice in what he said of his Island home — for a' more delightful spot, a spot more likely to become • ere long the Isle of Wight of the American continent, it were im^ pcssible tP'find. (Cheers.) Arid assuredly these Provinces UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 189 will ,not be long united before the health and pleasure- seeking portion of our people will be finding their way in thousands annuaUy .to her shores. (Cheers.) From Char lottetown we proceeded by steamer to Pictou — the chief shipping-port of the great Nova Scptia coal-beds. We examined the works of one company, conducted on a very extensive scale. Under the able management of Mr. Scott, the products of that one mine had, we were assured, in the short space of five years, been increased from 150 tons per day to the vast quantity of 2,000 tons per day. (Hear, hear.) We found lying at the wharves of Pictou not fewer than from 60 to 80 vessels taking in coal ; and we were told that frequently not fewer than 100 coal vessels were waiting for cargoeg in the harbor. Let it. be remem bered that this is a trade which has only begun to be efficiently developed, and that from Pictou is shipped off the products of but a small portion of the vast coal district of Nova Scotia. From Pictou we passed on for about forty miles through a picturesque agricultural country to the town of Truro. There we found iron claimed to be equal to the best Swedish iron, and works established by an English company for the manufacture of steel, turning out, as we were assured, not less than 15,000 tons per annum of excellent steel. We were told that this valuable iron ore extends over a very large section of the country, and I believe that the geological surveys that have been made prove the accuracy of the statement. From Truro a rapid ride over the rail brought us to the gold country, and we were afforded ample opportunity of examining the working of the gold mines. The general impression of this branch of industry is that it is a species of gambling — that the gold-seekers dig up sand, pass it through a sieve, get little or nothing for their labor for many days together, but some lucky day make a hit and realize a for tune. But very different from this are the gold mines of Nova Scotia. The precious ore is obtained regularly and certainly by patient and persistent labor. We found 200 persons employed at the mines we visited, getting at that time $8 a week, the whole weekly expenses being $1,600, and in 14 successive weeks the product of the works had been not less than |3000 a week, and sometimes consider ably more. We were assured by the intelUgent superin- 190 UNION OF THE BRITISH PRO^ViNCES. tendent that the gold bearing region extends over an im mense tract of country — ^that he had been to many of the other gold works, and while some of them might he more and others less productive than his own, still he was satis fied that, properly worked, the whole of them might be made to give an ample return for the capital and labor invested. We thus found Nova Scotia to be a land of coal, of fron, and of gold. We saw these great sources of wealth in practical development, all within the brief space of twenty-four hours — and when we couple •with these the exhaustless fishing resources of that country, and its ship- buUding industry, I think my friend Mr. McCully was not far astray in suggesting that if Nova Scotia comes in to the union she wUl not by any eieans come in empty- handed. (Cheers.) We proceeded next to Halifax, a most thriving city, and one of the first, harbors of the world, but on our doings there I need not enlarge, for who does not know the enterprise and the hospitality of the good citizens of Halifax ? From Nova Scotia we pro ceeded to the Province of New Brunswick, and there we saw St. John, a city of which, as British Americans, we may all well be proud ; a city showing marked evidences of vitality — extensive commerce, large ship-building inter ests, lucrative timber-trade — and a harbor filled with ships from all parts of the world. (Cheers.) From St, John we passed by the beautiful St. John Eiver to Fred ericton, the political capital of New Brunswick, and we were one and all highly delighted with what we saw of the resources of the country through which we passed. Want of time forbade our visiting the Island of Newfoundland, but I am satisfied that no one who has read anything as to the resources of that Island will say that my friend Mr. Carter has over-stated its capabilities. The fishing and the mineral resources are very great — a vast fleet of ships is constantly employed in the traffic — and the revenues of the Island are very large. But even beyond these, as arguments in favor of its coming into the proposed union, is this consideration: that Newfoundland is the key to the St. La^wrence, and in the event of war would be abso lutely necessary to us for purposes of offence and defence. (Hear, hear.) You will therefore understand, Sir, that the members of the Canadian Government all returned to UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 191 this country with a most earnest desire to carry out the union of Canada with the Maritime Provinces, if it could possibly be accomplished. In this spirit we at once sought the aid of his Excellency the Governor General, in summoning a formal conference for the mature considera tion of articles of union ; and I cannot mention his Excel lency's name without expressing my sense of the debt the country owes him for the earnestness with which he has sought to promote this measure ^nd the hearty desire he has ever shown to give effect to the wishes of the people of this Province. (Cheers.) His Excellency, without delay, summoned a Conference of representatives from the several Governments, and the late sittings at Quebec were the result of that summons. For sixteen days ^e were earnestly engaged in considering all the details of the scheme ; and though, of course, it was impossible tha't such a body of men could be 'without differences of opinion, looking at matters as we did from different points of view, and with different interests to protect — still it is highly questionable whether any body of thirty-three gentlemen, even if composed of men of the same country and the same party, could have sat together for so long a period discus sing matters of such grave importance, with more entire harmony and more thorough good-^will and respect than prevailed throughout the whole of our deliberations. {Cheers.) The various details of the Confederation scheme were brought up for consideration by the Conference in the form of resolutions. These resolutions were separately discussed, amended, and adopted ; and as finally adopted by the unanimous consent of the whole Conference they now stand on record. (Cheers.) The precise course here after to be adopted has not yet been finally settled, but the first step in any case is to submit the results of our official deliberations to the Imperial Government. The next step that will probably be taken is to submit the scheme to the Legislatures of the different Provinces for thefr approval, and in the interim to address Her Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, praying for an Act of the Imperial Legislature to give effect to the resolutions of the Confer ence, which Act will be and remain the foundation of our poUtical system — the Constitution under which the new Confederation •wiU be brought into existence. Sir, it ought 192 UNION OF THE BElTlSH PBOVINCES. ever to be borne in mind, that when we came together to consider the details of the new constitution we were about to frame there were very many interests to be considered. In the first place, we had to consider that this country is of immense extent, presenting a vast variety of interests, great and small, for which it would be exceedingly diffi cult for any one body of men to legislate. And in the second place, even had it been desirable to govern so vast a country by one Executive and Legislature, it would have been impossible to carry it, as our Lower Canadian fellow-subjects would never have consented to it. As the only practicable scheme, therefore, and as in my humble opinion the best scheme, we adopted the plan of constitut ing a general Administration and general Legislature, to which shpuld be committed matters common to all the Provinces, and local Governments and Legislatures for the several sections, to which should be committed mat ters peculiar to their several localities. I know there are those who say — " Oh ! we do not like a federal union, we want a legislative union which will bring us all under one legislature and executive." But setting aside the fact that this could not have been carried had it been ever so desirable, I do think the sectional jealousies and discords that have so long distracted Canada should stand out as a warning to us, and that we should diligently steer clear in the larger federation of whatever has tended to mar the harmony of our present union. And in this view I am persuaded that, by committing all purely local matters to local control, we will secure the peace and permanence of the new Confederation much more effectually than could possibly have been hoped for from a Legislative Union. I am sure it is unnecessary to say that the Governor-General of the United Provinces is to be appointed, as heretofore, by the Crown. The duration of Parliament will be limited to five years, and of course it will be composed of two branches — a Legislative Council appointed by the Government of the day on the principle of equality of the sections, and a House of Commons, in which we are to obtain that so long desired, so long earn estly contended for reform — Eepresentation by Pppulatipn. (Great cheering.) Objections •will np dPubt be urged against the manner in which the Upper House is to be UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINOES. 193 constituted, especially by those who would prefer that the members of that body should be elected rather than appointed. But I do confess, Sir, that in my opinion an appointed Upper House and an elected Lower House would be much more in harmony with the spirit of the British Parliamentary system than two elected bodies. (Cheers.) I was one of those who, at the time the change was made from an appointed House to an elected House, resisted the innovation. Not because I was at all afraid of popular influence, but because I felt that whUe the Lower House controlled the Government of the day, and the Government of the day appointed the members of the Upper House, the people had full and efficient control over the public affairs of the country. But I am free to admit this, and I say it with the greatest pleasure — that the apprehension I and others entertained of a collision between the two elective bodies, and a dead-lock ensuing, has not been realised. I am bound tp say that under the pperatipn of the elective principle, we have had a body of men sent to the Upper House who would do honor to any Legislature in the world, and who have worked with a degree of harmony and a desire to benefit the country which have been really admirable. But we cannot forget that when a new power first passes into the hands of the people, great sensitiveness and care are exhibited in acting upon it — much more than when the new power has lost its freshness, and its exercise sinks down into a thing of every day wont. The Elective Upper House has not long existed in Canada. Besides, when the elected Councillors first took their seats, they found already in the Chamber a large number of old, appointed members, who, no doubt, exerted a certain degree of influence over their proceed ings ; and the question, I think, fairly presents itself whether, when the elective system had gone on for a num ber of years, and the appointed members had all disap peared, two elective chambers, both representing the people, and both claiming to have control over the public finances, would act together with the harmony necessary to the right working of Parliamentary Government. (Hear, hear.) And there is still another objection to elective Councillors The electoral divisions are necessarily of enormous extent — some of them 100 miles, long by 60 16 194 .UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. -, ¦ -' ' ¦ ' . . , ... ,^,r^,-' "- . - . ; , . ¦ , wide — so large that the candidates have great difficulty in obtaining personal access to the electors, and the expense of elestipn is so, great as to banish from the House all who are not able to pay very large sums for the possession of a , seat. From all these considerations, it did appear to me when pur friends of Lower Canada, who were most inter- • estpd in.the constitution of the Upper Chamber, deSi'red to have the members appointed by the Crown, that acting in the interest pf Upper Canada it was my duty to con^ljint The Chamber is to consist of 76 member.s, distributed as follows:— Upper Canada... , .24 , Lower Canada ,.......; — 24 Nova Scotia .lO.i New Brunswick 10 Newfoundland 4 Prince Edward Island. 4 Total : 7G I ,'iiu told that there are persons who object tp ¦L'6'wer Canada, ¦with so much smaller a population, receiving equiil representation with Upper Canada in the Upper House ; but a little reflection will, I am persuaded, remove .all objections on this 'score. I am n'ne of those .who have always stood fir nily up for the rights of the Western bection of , the Province. But now, that our rights are admitted — now that wc are seeking a compro- luisu measure for the final settlement, of all our troubles — now that we are iseekiug to build , up a 'new constitution that will be just to all — I . for one 'am ready to cast' aside old feeling.s of hostility, and to consider not only what will hi' ahslvactly jnst,,but what will carry with it the hearty symi.iathy and assent of, all the parties to the new compact, and lay the foundatiou.s of our new fabric,' deep and per- maneui. 1 .could .riot: but feel tlii;it hiiving obtained for Upper Canada- thai ju^t prepondorancb' in.the Lower Chanib(.'r for which we haveijo lony conteri^ed, we oiight to allow the .Jjonllcmeii from Lower Canada, ^o long as no flagrant iuju,sti(.',e wan done, to _fi-auie the cbtiistitutiou of the other Chauiber very niucn las they cho-se^ ' In the view taken of this matter bv the Lpwer (JanaHians rU Pur UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 195 friends frpm the Maritime Prpvinces entirely agreed. The Hpuse pf Cpmmpns, as I have said, is to be constituted on the basis of Eepresentation by Population. It is to be comppsed at first pf 194 members, distributed as follows : — Upper Canada 82 Lower Canada 65 Nova Scotia 19 New Brunswick 15 Newfoundland 8 Prince Edward Island 5 Total 194 After each decennial census the sectional representation is to be re-adjusted according to population — and for this purpose Lower Canada is always to have 65 members, and the other sections are to receive the exact number of members to which they will be severally entitled in the same ratio of representation to population as Lower Canada will enjoy by having 65 members. Thus the representation will be strictly based on population — the disparity of population between the several sections will be accurately provided for every ten years — but the num ber of members in the House will not be much increased. I come now. Sir, to the ppwers and duties prpppsed to be assigned to the General Government. It is to have control over all questions of trade and commerce ; all questions of currency, finance and coinage ; all questions of navigation and shipping, and the fisheries ; all ques tions of defence and mUitia, all matters connected with the postal service, and all questions affecting the criminal law. To it will belong the imposition of customs and excise duties, and all other modes of taxation — the cori- .struction of great public works of common benefit to all the Prpvinces — and the inccrporation of Telegraph, Steamship, and Eailway Companies. It will also have control of Banks and Savings Banks, Bills of Exchange and Promissory Nptes, Interest and Legal Tenders, Bank ruptcy and Insplvency, Cppyright and Patents pf Inven- tipn, Naturalizatipn and Aliens, Marriage and Divprce, Immigraticn and Quarantine, Weights and Measures, Indians and Indian Lands, the Census, and generally all .196 UNION OP THE BRITISH PROVINCES. matters of a, general character not specially assigned to the local governments. These are the duties proposeji to be assigned to the General Government. And ripw one word as to the constitution and powers of the local governments. It is proposed that each Province shall -be, presided over by a Lieutenant Governor, who will be advised by the heads of the various public depart ments. As to the constitution of the local legislatures we found there was so much difference of ppinipn pu the subject-T-spme of the Prpvinces desiring tp retain their present institutipns while we in Canada must necessarily establish new cues, that we thpught it the wisest plan to leave the ccnstitutipn pf the Ipcal legislatures tp the exist ing Parliaments pf the different sections. The powers and duties of the local governments have been clearly defined by the Conference. They are to have the power of imposing direct taxation— rthe sale and management of the public lands in their respective sections — the mainte- nixnce and management of Prisons, Hospitals, Asylums, and charitable institutions — the construction of local works — the promotion of agriculture — and the imposition' of shop, saloon, tavern, and auction licenses. The control , of all the National Schools and school property is to be vested in the local governments ; and they are to have authority over Municipal Corporations, and all municipal rnatters. They are also to have power to make laws in all matters affecting property and civil rights, and for the administration of justice. And generally, while on the one hand, as we have already seen, all matters of a general character and common to all the Provinces are to be com mitted to the general government ; so, on the other hand, all matters of a local character will be committed to the local governments. The separate powers to be exercised by each will be clearly defined in the Constitution Act to be passed by the British Parliament, ,so that there will be no danger of the two bodies coming into collision In thus defining the functions of the general and Ipcal gpv ernments. it will, no doubt, be pbjected that we have committed certain matters of an important character to the local bodies which he people of Upper Canada would have been well content to have seen left to the general government. But if the details of.the scheme are closely UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 197 examined, it will be seen that we have given nothing to the local bodies which did not necessarily belong to the localities, except education and the rights of property, and the civil law, which we were compelled to leave to the lOcal governments, in order to afford that protection which the Lower Canadians claim for their language and their laws', and their peculiar institutions. I am sure we are all glad that they should have that security. I am. sure, notwith standing all that may have been said to the contrary, that none of us have had any desire to interfere' with the mere local institutions of our fellow-subjects of Lower Canada — and that it will be held as a sufficient answer to all objec tors that the arrangement has been made in a spirit of justice to Lower Canada, and with the view of securing hereafter that harmony and accord which are so desitable in the future government of the countrj'. (Cheers.) There is one point to which I am desirous of calling particular attention. I refer to the fact that in framing our constitution we have carefully avoided what has proved a great evil in the United States, and that is' the acknowledgment of an inherent sovereign power in the separate States, causing a collision of authority between the general and State governments, which, in times of trial like the present, has been found to interfere gravely with the efficient administration of public affairs. In the government to be formed under this new constitution, I believe it will be found we have avoided that difficulty. For, while we have committed tO the local governments all that necessarily and properly belongs to the localities, we have reserved for the general government all those powers which wUl enable the legislative and administra tive proceedings of the central authority to be carried out with a firm hand. With this view we have provided that the whole of the Judges throughout the Confederation — those of the County Courts as well as of the Superior Courts — are to be appointed and paid by the general gov ernment. 'We have also provided that the general Parlia ment may constitute a General Appeal Court, to which an appeal will lie from the decisions of all the Provincial Courts. We have likewise provided that the general government shall be specially charged with the perform ance of all obligations of the Provinces, as part of the 198 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. British Empire, to foreign countries. I may mention also that the Lieutenant Governors of the different sections are to be appointed by the general government, and that the power of disallowing all BiUs passed by the local legislatures is to be vested in the Governor General in Council. In this way we will have a complete chain of authority, extending down from Her Majesty the Queen to the basis of our poUtical fabric. The Queen •wiU appoint the Governpr General. The Gevernpr General in Cpuncil will apppint the Lieutenant Gpvernprs. And the Lieuten ant Gpveruprs will be advised by Heads of Departments resppnsible tp the pepple. Thus we -will have the general gpvernment wprking in harmpny with the local Executives and in hearty acccrd with pppular sfentiment as expressed. thrpugh the peeple's representatives. (Cheers.) A very im pprtant subject is that relating tc the finances pf the Feder- atipn ; but as my hpn. friend, Mr. Galt, is abPUt tp address j'PU, I wUl leave this branch pf the suhject tc him. (Cries of "Go PU !") I may briefly, hpwever^.say, this, that all the debts and assets pf the. different Prpvinces are tp be assumed by the general gpvernment, It has been fpund that, with the excepticn, of Newfpundland and , Prince Edward Island, the debts of the several Provinces are much the same in proportipn tp their pppulatipn. New fpundland and Prince Edward Island have, however, scarcely any debt at all, and we. found a difficulty, in associating Provinces-,, which were free . from debt with those that owed large public obligations. But we .fell upon this plan. ,, We struckranaveragei of the debts ofthe several Provincesr— and we agreed that those whose debts exceeded the average should pay interest at five per cent. annually. into. the public exchequer, while those whose debts>were.belowthcayerage,shouldreceiveinte|rest in like manner from the public. chestTrr-a basis j ust to all. Then it was found that while some of the Provinces could main tain their local governments i without mopey, frpm the , public chest, there were ether, Prpyinces.not accustomed,, to direct taxation, and in order tP meet, their vie-ws,,we, were cempelled tp adppt a ccmprpmi^j?,,! I hppe the -day is npt far distant when we may be ablet® ^d^pt di^^ct ^ taxation to a much greater extent than we ha\fe. yet seen ia Canada— but at present it was very clear' that Coq^- UNION OF THE BBITISH PROVINCES. 199 deration could riot he carried out unless we conceded this point. S^G .agreed to compromise. We ipade the Finance, Minister of each section go carefully over the public expenditures of bin Province, and cut down every item tp. the lowest point practicable, and we found that' the, smallest sum"fov which the machinery of ,tifiverimienf in, the Provinces could be carried on was ;,);-!, ()33, (100. This sum is to be distributed imnually as a frill apd fiual settlftinent'; for local purposes in the Provinces, and I am happy to say it is to be di.stributed ou thp basis of popula tion. As our pppulatipn in Upper Canada is very large, ' of;CPursewe gpt a handspme shave. The principle is so just that I do not see how any pne can reasonably object to it ; and as the sum distributed is not to increase, a very ; few years pf progress -svill make it of compavat.ive unim portance.' There is a very pleasing fieature in the finance question. A Confederation of five states is about to be formed, and it is to the credit of tlie wIkjIc that not one. of them has ever beeipi upable to meet its obligations to the day— (cheers)^and .still further, that the finances of all are riow in such a satisfactory condition th,at every one of them ha^, a large surplus of revenue over expenditure for the current year. (Cheers.) I have thus, Mr. Mayor, as briefly 'as possible trac-c:d the outlines pf the new censtitution which has received the approval of the delegates from the several Provinces. But I cannot conclude without referring tp spme other things whieh have received the grave attention of the Conference. And the first point to which I desire tO call attention is, the fact that tlie delegates have unanimcusly resolved that the United' Provinces .of British America shall.be placed a,t the earliest moment in a thorough state, of defence. (Cheers.) I am pot one of those who con ceive that Canada stands in danger of attack frpni Pur neighbprs ,acrpss the lines. I ca.nnot doubt thatthey have plenty of work already on their ha^ds -\yilhoiit rushing on fresh 'epibrpilments^ — and I 9onfe.s!f| t'ha,f.^"yo,twifhstanding the fierce, eb.ullitipns of the Auaeii.ca'n.'pnV.s, Thave faith , in, the , gppd .^ sense and gppd {eehn;^ qi '.my neighbors .tp".. belieye that the id^a, of an unprovoked ag-gfessioq pii.the soil of Canada) never .¦seriously .entered tlie, riiiiuLs of any large niimber of', tbe inhabitants.'ot', the. Northern. States, 200 UNION OF THE BRITISH PROTINCEB. But come war when it may, I am sure I speak the senti ments of every man in Upper Canada when I say that the first hostile foot placed upon our shores would be the sig nal and the summons for every man capable of bearing arms to meet the enemy — (enthusiastic cheering) — and that the people of Canada would show, in the hour of trial, that that spirit which was manifested in 1812 has not died in 1864. (Eenewed cheers.) And, while on this point of defence, I have one word to say on a matter which I know has made a deep impression throughout Canada. Sir, no man in Canada appreciates more than I do the generous consideration that has ever been shown by the mother country towards this Province. But I desire to enter a firm protest against the manner in which of late our duty has been laid down for us, chapter and verse, by gentlemen three thousand miles off, who know very little of our circumstances, and yet venture to tell us the exact number of men we are to drill and the time we are to drill them. Sir, I venture to assert that the lan guage recently used towards this Province is neither just, nor yet calculated to promote a desirable end. This Pro vince, like the other colonies of the British empire, was founded on a compact entered into between the Crown and the people ; an assurance was virtually given to those who emigrated to this Province that they should be pro tected by all the strength of British arms. And nobly has Great Britain fulfilled that promise. Never has she hesitated for a moment to expend her blood and treasure in defending her Colonial Empire. (Cheers.) I hold that Great Britain is bound to fulfil on her part the con ditions on which the settlement of this and other colonies took place, and to continue to aid us until we have grown to that degree of maturity and strength which will fairly demand at our hands a reconsideration of the terms of the contract. If I am asked whether Canada, united with the Lower Provinces, is able to take upon herself a larger share of the burden of defence than she has heretofore borne, I answer without hesitation — undoubtedly " yes." (Cheers.) It were utterly unreasonable to expect that to these colonies the people of England should much Icnger send armies and navies for their defence, whilst we cpnti- nued develpping the respurces of our ccuntry, and accumu- UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 201 lating wealth untaxed for the appliances of war. But what I do say is this, that when the time arrives that a colony has outgrown the conditions of her first settlement, and when she is fairly bound to assume new and higher relations to the mother country in the matter of defence, it is only right that the whole subject should be discussed in a candid and reasonable spirit. And I am free to ex press my opinion that had the Canadian people been invited frankly to enter on a discussion of the changed relations in matters of defence they ought to occupy to Great Britain, the demand would have been responded to readily and heartily. (Cheers.) And it is only due to the present Colonial Minister, Mr. Cardwell, to say that this is the spirit in which he seems desirous of approaching the ques tion ; and that such is the spirit in which X believe negotiations hereafter will be carried on between these colonies and the Parent State. It is not to be concealed that we in Canada are deeply interested in this whole question of Colonial defence being thoroughly discussed and settled. We all heartily desire to perpetuate our connection with Great Britain; but it is quite evident that a feeUng is growing up in England which may prove dangerous to that good feeling and attachment, unless the duties and responsibilities mutually due are clearly under stood. And there is another though a much inferior motive. The attacks which have been made upcn us have created the impressipn npt only in England, Ireland and Scotland, but in the United States, and in other parts of the world, that these Provinces are in a naturally . weak and feeble state — that they are, in point of fact, almost inde fensible. Such an impression interferes more than any one can estimate with the permanent prosperity of our country ; it stops immigration to our shores, it depreciates our public securities, and prevents the investment of capi tal in new enterprises, however productive they may be. If, then, we would do away with this false impression, so unjustly created, and place ourselves on a firm and secure fppting in the eyes pf the wprld, our course must be to put our ccuntry in such a ppsition of defence that we may fearlessly lppk our enemies in the face. (Cheers.) Holding these views, and knowing that they are the views of tiie great mass of the people of this country, it is a 202 UNIPN OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. pleasure fpr me to be able to state, and I am sure it will be a pleasure to all present to be informed, that the Con ference at Quebec did not separate before entering into a pledge tp put the military and naval defences of the United Provinces in the most complete and satisfactory position. (Cheers.) Nor let me omit to say, that in. coming to this decision, there is no Minister of the Crown sitting at these tables who wpuld not be preparedto rise now and express his conviction, that notwithstanding all that has come and gone — notwithstanding all the diatribes ofthe newspaper press of England, the British Government is prepared now as ever to do its duty by these colonies, and to send us their armies and their navy at any moment to aid us in our defence. (Cheers.) i\Ir. Mayor, I now approach a rather delicate question — delicate, that is to say, as regards the pepple pf the West We have agreed — I annpunce it frankly — tc build the Intercolonial Eailway. (Cheers and laughter.) I have not been in favor of that scheme per se, situated as we have been. But I have at the same time been quite wil ling to admit — and I repeat it heartUy to-day — that ; without the Intercolonial Eailway there could be no union of these I'rovinces — (cheers) — and after a careful consider atipn of the question in all its bearings, and after counting the full cost, I am prepared to advocate the building of that road, in order to accomplish the great objects we have in view in the scheme of Confederation. (Cheers.) , It may, however, be some comfort for my friends to know that we have a prospect of getting the road built upon terms much more reasonable than we had ever hoped to obtain. I shall not tell you of the tempting off.irs that have been made, because I have had seme experi -ace that what is promised in such offers is not always realized in the end. (Laughter.) In agreeing to build the Interco lonial Eailwa,y, it should also be stated that due regard was had to the interests of the West. I am happy to be able to say that with the unanimous consent of the mem bers of the Conference, wi- have resolved on the extension of our canal system. (Cheers.) Still further, I think it well to state that while we have spught Cpnfeders,tiQn ., with Neva Scctia, New Brunswick, Newfpundland, and. Prince Edward Island, we ha\'e not been npglectftit of the ; UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 203 Far West, but 'we have made it a condition of Union that the great North-west may cOme into the Federation on equitable terms at any time it pleases, and that British Columbia and Vancouver Island may also be incorporated with us. (Hear, hear.) We have likewise made it a condition that so soon as the state of the finances will per- , mit communication is to be ppened up frpm Western Canada tp the Nprth-west territpry. (Hear, hear.) There is anpther Uttle announcement which will not be withput its interest tp ypu, Mr. Maypr. The decision was unanimously arrived at by tbe delegates that the old and respectable city of Toronto should be the future capital of the Province of Upper Canada. (Cheers.) On the whole, Sir, when we look at the probable results of this Union, I think there is no man, from one end of the Pro vinces to the .otherj who ought not to give it his most hearty approbation. (Cheers.) But I would repeat what has been so well said by Mr. McCully, that there is one danger we have yet to fear. Let not gentlemen think we are past all danger. We have still to meet the Legisla ture^ .of the different Provinces ; we haye to encounter the prejridices of the people of the different Provinces ; and it requfres the greatest harmony of actipn iri order to obtain a favorabie result. (Hear, hear.) Therefore I would say with my hon. friend, Mr, McCully, if there is one thing more than another necessary at this moment, it is that we should banish our party discords — that we should for get , for the moment that we were at one time arrayed against each other ; and whatever we may do after union is accorh'pli.shed, let i,is forget until it is obtained our feuds and differences, in securing to the country the great boon which this Confederation promises to bring about. (Cheers.) Looking at the schenie in its entirety, I cannot help feeling this, in replying to the toast you have so kindly received, that if the present Administration shall succeed in completing the great work it has begun, and of bringing into operation the political system which has been foreshadowed, under tbe protecting rule of the mother country, we shall all, have great reason to rejoice that wo had the honor. of being "at ,sucb a time the advisers of the" Crown. [Mr» Brown resumed his seat amidst loud and long continued cheering,] 204 UNION OF THE BBITISH PRO'VINCES: Hon, A. T, Galt, on rising, was received with loud cheers. He said — Certainly the kindness with which he had been received was quite overpowering. He had ,not the same claims on their consideration as his respected friend and coUeague, Mr. Brown, who had addressed them in his usual and forcible way. He might be said ' to represent in a certain degree another portion of Canada, and in that light it was exceedingly gratifying to him to be welcomed, because though this measure of Union was, as far as Upper and Lower Canada were concerned, a measure of disunion, he trusted that the good ;teeling which had actuated us in the past would be carried for ward into the future ; and that whUe we might have left local matters to local legislatures, we still might feel •with regard to the great common interests of all that we were a united people, that it was not Canada which was to be divided but British North America which was to become united. (Cheers.) He felt, perhaps, more than any other person present, that from other Ups than his own should have come the explanations with regard to Lower Canada. He would take this opportunity of saying that there was no man in the whole length and breadth of British North America who had shown a greater degree of self-sacrifice than his friend Mr. Cartier. That gentle man had shown a degree of statesmanship, a degree of self-sacrifice, which would, he [Mr. Galt] thought, hand down his name into the future with honor equal to that of his illustrious progenitor, Jacques Cartier ; that while the one was known as the discoverer of Canada, the other will be known as the one who felt that the interests of all were common, and recognized the fact. There was no doubt, so far as Lower Canada was concerned, that a good deal of feeling existed with . regard to the prptecticn pf their Ipcal interests, but he thpught the audience by this time understpod that while prpvisipu had been made in the new ccnstitutipn fpr the prptecticn pf fbpse interests, they wpuld all have desired to effect a legislative unicn had it been ppssible. They wpuld have desired to see a central government extending its eegis over all interests. But there were difficulties which rendered this impossible, and in meeting these difficulties he trusted that the mea sure which would be submitted to the people, to the UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 205 Imperial ParUament, and to the Provincial ParUaments, would be found to be one which protected local interests, while national interests had been reserved for one central ppwer, which he hpped would manage them in a way to do honor to the race from which we had sprung. (Cheers.) He would have Uked, had time permitted, to say a few words •with reference to those subjects to which Mr. Brown had alluded, but really he went into the matter so fully that he (Mr. Galt) felt that he would be trespassing on the patience pf the audience shpuld he venture tp say mpre than a few wprds in expressing his pwn gratitude for the way in which they had drank the tcast pf the Admin istratipn. He fully endprsed the wprds pf Mr. Brpwn, that the announcements made here to-night quite justified the coalition which had been effected. He thought when they were able to present a constitution — not a small affair for the settlement of local difficulties, but a project for the union with communities of the wealth, resources and intelligence of the Lower Provinces, that they would be acquitted in the sight of all of ariything they had done with regard to the formation of the Gpvernment. (Cheers.) He was glad tp have heard Mr. Brpwn say that the Inter cplpnial Eailway pught tp be built, because it was aq) announcement which, coupled with other explanations, he trusted would give them the support of the people of Canada in regard to the future measures which might flow from this. It meant not merely connection with the mother country — the measure went hand in hand with the opening up of the North-west Territory, and the one and the other were equally admitted to be the policy of the Confederate Government. He was glad we had a policy, glad that we were growing out of the littleness of colonial politics, and that we were preparing for the responsibilities which would fall upon us, whether wel come or not — the responsibilities of a national existence. He concurred with every word Mr. Brown had said with 'reference to the mother country. He believed that the people of Canada were prepared to do their duty, and if he did not beUeve it this would be the last moment he (Mr. Galt) would venture to say that he represented them. No one who desired to do his duty could fail to recognize the fact that we were in the presence of a great ppwer. 205 UNION OF THB BBITISH PRO'VINCES. and that we ought to unite our resources and be prepared for whatever there might be in the future in store for us. And he welcpmed the declaratiens made by the Gpvern ments of the different Prpvinces, as shewing their wUling- ness tp dp their part in the cpmmpu cause. It was cerrtaiiily a nipst remarkable circumstance that upcn this pccasion they had seen the Provinces pf New Brunswick and Npva Scctia entrusting the advpcacy pf this great measure tp the leaders pf the Opppsitipn. What might we npt hppe when perspnal ambitipu was thus laid aside, when all were ready thus tp sacrifice tp the ccmmpn good. (Lpud applause.) The health of the Mayor haying then been proposed and duly acknpwledged by His Wprship, three cheers were given fcr the Queen, and the ccmpany dispersed. INSPECTION OF THE VOLUNTEEES. On the evening pf the Srd of November, shortly after seven o'clock, there was a very large assemblage of the Toronto Volunteers in iheir new Drill Shed in that city. They assembled in honor of the Delegates, and were inspected by Mayor General Napier, K.C.B , then in Toronto. The building was brilliantly illuminated, and otherwise was well prepared for the reception of the visitors. There were, it was supposed, fully five thousand persons present on this occasion. The General and the Delegates entered the building about half-past seven o'clock, and having taken their seats on the dais erected for their accommodation, the Volunteers were commanded to "fall in," which they did in excellent military style. General Napier, accompanied by his aides-de-camp, Cap- tnin Hall and Mr. Bell, also by the Commandant, Col. G. T. Denison, Brigade Majors Denison and Dennis — march ed round the force and minutely inspected the men. This duty being performed, the inspecting party returned, when the Brigade formed intp ppen cplumn in front, and UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 207 marched past the saluting point. The Bands of the "¦Queen's Own" and " 10th Eoyals" played spirit-stirring airs during the inspection ; and when the order was given for the officers and colours to " come to the front to salute the General," which was dpne, that gallant pfficer expressed his great pleasure at the military appearance pf the Vplun teers there assembled, and at the efficient manner in which they had gpue thrpugh the various evolutions in so confined a space. He said he should have liked to have inspected them in the open plains and in broad daylight, where he was sure they would have given him great satis faction. He thanked them for their attendance, and as it was getting late he would not detain .them longer, but would entrust the commanding officers to express to their men his satisfaction at thefr appearance. Colonel Gkay, Chairman of the Convention of Mari time Delegates, having expressed a wish to address a few words to the Volunteers, they were drawn up in close order, forming three sides of a square, with the General and party in the centre. Colonel Gray said that, on behalf of his colleagues the Delegates, he had been desired to address a few words to them, and in doing so he must express his great pleasure at witnessing them at drill to-night. It was, he said, very common for people to decry the volunteer movement, and even the fair se.x; were accustomed to look down upon the volunteers, when comparing them with their more favored brethren of the regular army ; but he (Col. Gray) was a volunteer, and he did not think that those who decried the volunteers were serious in thus throwing cold water upon the movement. He was con-vinced that the volunteers were as much to be praised and encouraged as the mem bers of the Eoyal Service. He -himself had at one time belonged to that service, and he never looked slightingly upon the volunteer movement. He had mingled as a civilian a great deal with the soldiers of the Eoyal army, and he was happy to say that no feeling of animosity or 208 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. slight was entertained by them towards the volunteers. A short time since, when there was an appearance that the services of the volunteers would have been required to assist the regulars, he was proud to learn that the volun teers of Canada sprung at once to arms to defend thefr hearths and homes from the attacks of the invader. (Cheers.) He did not believe that any one from his heart slighted the volunteer movement, but the cry was got up by the faint-hearted and craven to cover the disgrace of their remaining in the rear whilst their more manly com panions went to the front. (Cheers.) Who is at present in command of the volunteer force in England ? fie was a man who had nobly fought in many a field of battle, and was son-in-law to an officer — he was going to say next only to Wellington, but he was equal to that able commander. He alluded to Col. McMurdo, spn-in-law pf Sir Charles Napier, whp had been placed in cpmmand pf the vplunteer fprce pf England, and whp had ere this proved that he could command and was not afraid to lead anywhere. This noble officer had now command of 170,- 000 volunteers, as fine soldiers as could be wished. He (Col. Gray) was not in the habit of speaking praise to the face of any one, but he could not let this opportunity pass without saying a few words about the able General now present. He was himself an old comrade of the General's, and he knew what stuff he was made pf He cpuld assure the vplunteers that if there had been any invasion or at tempted invasion of the Canadian soil. General Napier — a name at which the enemies of England grow pale — would not have been satisfied to wait untU the enemy had invaded our territory ; he would have met them on the borders, and side by side with their brothers in arms, would have led the volunteers where imperishable honors would have awaited them. They might rest assured they had the right kind of leader should the day of trial come. Colonel Gray related a circum.stance of which he was cog nizant during the time he was serying in the same force with the General. A small party of Dragoons, about 80 or 90 men, with two or three companies of mounted Eifie- men under General Napier, when on outpost duty, received intelligence that a strong body of the enemy, including 700 picked warriors, were crossing a plain close at hand — UNION OF THE BRITISH PBOVINCliS. 209 was just at the davm of day both parties were surprised. Was there any hesitation there, notwithstanding the odds ? No 1 In one moment " Forward" was the wprd, and pnward they went. The result pf the day's wprk was seen the fpUpwing day when the Cpmmander-in-Chief rede pver the field, and members pf his staff cpunted seme fpur hundred and fifty bedies pf the slain. He alluded tp the Maritime Prpvinces, shewing what a ppwerful fprce cculd be fpund there ready tp cc-pperate in the defence of their territories were the Militia properly armed and organized. In one Province they could muster 60,000,. in another 30,000, in a third 10,000, and what a good right or left would they not form with the aid of Upper and Lower Canada ? He assured the Volunteers of Toronto that they had men of the right stamp in the Maritime Pro vinces. He would only mention four of the sons of Nova Scotia, Williams, Inglis, Welsford and Parker, to shew them the sort of men of which these Provinces could fairly boast, and to whom could be entrusted the sacred duty of protecting the soil on which they stood as freemen proud of their birthright. (Cheers.) Colonel Gray next addressed a few words to the " Naval Brigade," and said there were thirty thousand hardy fellows in Newfoundland alone well worthy of the name of the first seamen in the world, and who would be proud to give the right hand of fellowship side by side with the Naval Brigade of Toronto. He concluded by hoping that one and all would ever press forward and assist each other as brothers, in the name of " our revered and glorious Queen," and do all that was possible to maintain that Kingdom to which we owed allegiance. (Loud cheers.) Three cheers were then given for the Queen ; the bands struck up the " National Anthem ;" three cheers for the General and the Delegates, when the proceedings broke up. THE PUBLIC BALL. A PubUc Ball, unsurpassed for magnificence only by that which was given in honor of the visit of the Prince of Wales, closed, on the same night as that on which the 16 210 UNION OF THE BBITISH PBOVINCES. Volunteer Eeview took place, the^esti'vities of the grand reception given to the Delegates from the Maritime Pro vinces by the people of Toronto. The Ball was held in the same place in which the Dejeuner was given ; and it is needless to add, that it was as briUiant an entertainment as the wealth, beauty, fashion, and high social and pubUd positions of the people of the great cities of Western Canada could pcssibly make it ; and indeed aU the cities, great and smaU, cf this secticn pf the Prp'dnce seemed to be fully represented at this pleasant re-union. DEPAETUEE FEOM TOEONTO. BECEPTIPN OF THE DELEGATES AT HAMILTPN, ST. CATHERINE'S AND CLIFTPN, AHD VISIT TO NIAGARA FALLS. The Manager of the Great Western Eailway, Mr. Swinyard, having kindly placed a special train at the disposal of the Delegation party, they left Toronto on the forenoon of the 4th November for an excursion to Niagara Falls. The General Manager of the Great Western, the Hon. Mr. McMaster, Chairman pf the Cpmpany, and several distmguished perspns, acccmpanied the party. A splendid run pf a little less than an hpur brpught the party tP the Hamfltpu Statipn, where the Maypr and membera of the Corppratipn pf the City, besides many leading citi zens pf HamUtpu, were in waiting tp welccme the Dele gates. The Station was very tastefully .decorated with evergreens and flags, and the inner apartment was amply provided •with refreshments. The Mayor read an address of welccme, in which the missicn pf the Delegates was warmly eulpgised. The Hpu. Mr. Tilley, pf New Brunswick, resppnded tp the address. He said he was rejeiced tc knpw that the pepple of HamUton cordiaUy endorsed the principles of UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 211 the late Conference, and this sentiment he found to increase on proceeding westward from Lower Canada. The questions involved •were of a grave and important nature, involving important advantages to the Lower Provinces, and he trusted the labors of the Conference would prove acceptable to all. The future was fraught ¦with greatness and prosperity, such as these Pro^vinces had never before seen. A closer union was necessary to the welfare of each and all the British North American Provinces. He expressed the thanks of the Delegates for the hearty response of Hamilton to the purposes of the Conference, for the present greeting, and their regret that it should he found necessary to omit from the list of for mal visits one of the most beautiful cities of the West, Hon. Isaac Buchanan, President of the Hamilton Board of Trade, then presented an address on behalf of its members. He said, that in the contemplated Confedera tion great benefits were anticipated for Hamilton in a commercial point, the probabilities of a large trade being speedily opened with the Lower Provinces, and direct water communication with the sea-board. Our city en joyed commercial advant;ages unsurpassed in its magnifi cent harbor, while the Great Western Eailway prpvided an ppen way to the teeming west, with branches in all directions. It was hoped that the labors of so many eminent sta»tesmen would ensure great blessings. Hon. Mr. Shea, of Newfoundland, replied in a brief address. The question of the defences had been previously alluded to, and the hon. gentleman believed that the Dele gates would be obliged to adopt some system of defence, unless their visit to the Upper Provinces was speedily brought to a close. (Great laughter.) The Delegates had been charmed with this section ofthe country, and pleased with the characteristics of its people. There were striking evidences of the elements of wealth and commercial great ness, and direct communication with the ocean was the great requirement ; therein lay mutual benefits to the Upper arid Lower Provinces. He believed that on the establishment ofthe Confederation speedy measures would ensure the completion of the great] public works in view. 212 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. Hamiltpn and neighbpring placeswpuld shprtly beccme sea- pprts. Mr. Shea ccncluded by returning thanks fpr the greeting pf the citizens of HamUton, and he trusted that all her hppes pf the benefits pf Confederation would be realized. Mayor McElboy proppsed the health pf Her Majesty the Queen, which was drunk with Ipud cheers, and " God save the Queen," was played by the band. At St. Catherine's Station, which was also very taste- fuUy decorated, the Delegates were welcomed by the lead ing members of this small but interesting community, and an address of welcome, simUar in tone and spirit to that of the HamUton address, was read by W. McGiverin, Esq., M.P.P. for Lincoln County. After reading the address Mr. McGiverin said he regretted to state that time and circumstances had pre vented the to^wn and district of St. Catherine's from making that display which they would Uke, in order to show their appreciation of the question which the gentlemen from the Lower Provinces, with our Government, had been con sidering. But the time of the Delegates, he knew, was short, and he must, therefore, accept that as an excuse. He regretted that the Mayor was unavoidably absent, in court, at Niagara, with several of thefr leading townsmen, who would have been delighted to have made the acquaint ance ofthe Delegates. He begged to convey to the Dele gates the congratulations of the municipality upon the harmony which Jiad characterized their deliberations at Quebec, and the result they have arrived at ^ respecting one of the most important questions which had ever been "discussed on this side of the Atlantic. He ten dered his hearty congratulations to them at the man ner in which that result had been arrived at, believing, as he did, that the successful accomplishment of the scheme would place the United Provinces in a position of pros perity that they could never otherwise hope for. He regretted that their short stay would not enable them to ¦view one of the prettiest towns in this Pro^vince, nor that great work, the WeUand Canal, (cheers,) connecting the UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 213 Western lakes with the sea, by an enlargement of which the ships of the Lowet Provinces would have free access to the extreme western boundary of „ Canada, and be the source pf further extending and enlarging the prosperity of the United Empire, even beyond their most sanguine wishes. On the part of the municipality and . citizens of St Catherine's he begged to tender the Delegates a hearty welcome, and their best wishes for the consummation of the project in hand, and hoped they might have a pleasant journey home. Hon. Mr. Pope, of P. E. Island, who was received with much applause, said he had been deputed to return thanks on behalf of the Delegates from the Lower Provinces, for the kind manner in vrhich they had been' received, and the very hearty welcome they had met with. The cfr cumstances under which the Convention had assembled at Quebec — the great subject of a Confederation of the British North American Provinces which had engaged their attention, and the arguments in support of the con clusions at which the Delegates had arrived, had aU been very fully stated and discussed in speeches recently deUvered by the able statesmen of Canada and of the other Pro vinces. . Thanks to the noble press of Canada, those speeches had been placed in the hands of the people throughout the country almost as soon as delivered, and had been read simultaneously in Quebec and in Sarnia. It was, therefore, npt his intentipu tp attempt a recapitu- latipu pf them. He stated that the Maritime Prpvinces had sent their Eepresentatives tp the. Cenventipu at the request pf Canada. The peeple pf the Maritime Prpvinces dp npt seek, by entering the Cpnfederatipn, tp lighten their own burdens by placing a portion of them upon the people of Canada. A scale of taxation lower than that existing in Canada supplied a revenue equal to their necessities. But he believed the people of the Maritime Provinces desired those advantages which result from Union. -Many among them are the descendants of American Loyalists, and are acquainted to some extent with the progress made by the old Colonies on this continent At the time when their grandfathers were born, the British Colonies in America were insignificant; their commerce was utterly 214 UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINOES. unknown. When they left the country its export trade was greater than was that of England when they were born, in the days of Queen Ann. It should riot be for gotten that the men, to whom I allude, left that country and the homes in which their children were born, and emigrated to the ports of the Lower 'Provinces, because they desired to live under Monarchial Institutions and the protection of the flag of old England. The hon. gentle man then referred to the great trade of the British Pro vinces before the separation from the mother country, and contrasted the different circumstances under which the Convention just concluded at Quebec had pursued thefr labors with those under which the British Pro^vinces, which formed the nucleus of the great neighbouring Eepublic, discussed Confederation. The hon. gentleman's speech was frequently cheered, and at its conclusion three hearty cheers were given for the Delegates. After the interchange of other courtesies, the train moved off, and the party again delayed at the CUfton Station, which was decorated in a style simUar to that of the others. Mr. Swinyard had here prepared a sumptu ous dinner for his guests, at which speech-making was indulged as far as time permitted. The Hon. Mr. Dickey, of Nova Scotia, proposed the health of the General Manager of the Great Western. In the course of his brief but eloquent remarks, he said, (speaking for the Delegates) — Everywhere they had been most hospitably received, which they thought, had culmi nated in the noble reception they had yesterday met with at Toronto. The regret they felt at leaving that city had, however, been very greatly lessened by the kind arrange ments for their comfort and accommodation which they had that day experienced at the hands of Mr. Swinyard and the Great Western EaUway. He felt that since they had entered the Province of Canada the Managers of Eail- ways had contributed in a very great degree to their pleasure, comfort and accommodation. He heartily thanked Mr, Swinyard for the kindness and forethought UNION OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. 215 which had dictated the placing of a special train at the dis posal of the Delegates and the ladies of their party to visit the Niagara FaUs, a sight of which they would doubtless suppose would not be the faintest remembrance they would carry away with them of their visit They had been deUghted ¦with all that they had •witnessed, and thefr only regret was that time would not permit of a closer ac- quamtance with the cifies of this part of the Province and the beauties of the country. Mr. Swinyard, on rising to respond, was received with lend cheers. He said he was fruly cbUged te them fpr the kindness they had shpwn in drinking tp his health, and the hearty manner in which that tcast had been received, for the Uttle service the Ccmpany had been able tp render to them in enabUng them to visit the great wonder of the world, the Niagara FaUs. He was in hopes that they would have been able to pass with him over the whole of the Great Western line, as weU as the raUways pf then- neighbpurs, the Michigan Central cr the Detrpit and MilwauMe, in prder tp have seen the great signs of prosperity e^vident everywhere in this vast western country. He assured them that they would have been greatly deUghted 'with such a trip, but as their time wculd npt permit pf it, the peeple wpuld gladly excuse them. In seeing Tcrpntp and HamUton he said they had pnly seen the results pf the prpducts and industry of Western Canada. These places have been raised to the importance they have now attained, not as they might suppose by a smaU section of counfry immediately surrounding them, but by a vast and expansive territory beyond them, extend ing back to the Detroit river. They would have seen that these two cities are only the emporiums of the great Pen insula of Western Canada, which had made and is now making the most rapid strides in cpmmercial prpsperity. He knew that it wpuld npt then beccme him tp detain them with any lengthy remarks, as thefr anxiety was no dpubt to visit the Falls. He wpuld pnly say that the pbject fpr which the Cenference had met seemed tc be heartily and unanimeusly apprpved by the peeple and press of this section of Canada, and he hoped that their labours to promote a union, which should make each and 216 UNION OF THB BRITISH PBOVINCES. all the Provinces an integralportion of one great country—. all bound together by ties of commercial and personal relatienship — wpuld be crc^wned with success. The Delegaticn party, ha'ving been prpvided •with car riages, then visited the Falls ; and although the rain feU heavily, they spent several hours in wandering about the grounds of Mr. Street, a gentleman of large property and high standing in that section of the cpuntry, and from which they had a splendid •view of the Falls in all their dread magnificence. At neariy night-fall the party returned to the EaUway Station, where a few ef them separatedi frpm the main bpdy, taking their departure hpmeward via the United States. The ethers reached Tcrpntp the same evenii^in perfect safety. On the evening of the 5th November the Delegatipn party left Torontp fpr Mpntreal in a special train cf the Grand Trunk EaUway, again pbligingly prp^yided by Mr. Brydges, the Managing Dfrectpr; and they arrived at Mpntreal pn the fpUpwing mprning at 10 p'clcck. An infcrmal meeting pf all the Delegates then in Mpn treal was held at the St. Lawrence HaU, where the Minutes and Eesplutipns pf the Quebec Cpnference were, fcr the last time, carefully read ever ; and the parchment copy pf the Eeselutipus was afterwards signed by all the Delegates present. The party left Mentreal en the same evening, pn thefr return te thefr several hemes in the Eastern Prpvinces. Npthing mpre remains for the Cempiler pf these unpre tending pages than tp intrpduce the Eepcrt pf the Quebec Cenference, which was the result cf the deUberatiens so frequently referred to herein, and whose outlines were UNION OF THB BRITISH PROVINCES. 217 dimly shadowed forth in several of the speeches delivered on important public occasions after the Conference had brought its labors to a close. The Eeport has been ex tensively published throughout the British Provinces, and every intelligent person is, no doubt, familiar with its detaUs ; but the Compiler feels that this Uttle work would be unpardonably imperfect if it did not contain a copy of it The Eeport of the Convention, in all its features, may not just now be deemed practicable as the basis of a con stitution for a Confederacy of the British American Pro vinces, as a whole — Pwing tp secticnal differences which are at present apparently irrecpucilable ; but as the fruit pf Ipng and patient deUberatipn, it may, in many ppints, be taken as a guide fpr future and mere successful states manship. The festivities which the Canadian peeple sp lavishly ppur- ed uppn the Delegates, and the pffer pf which it was fpund necessary tp decline mere frequently than tp accept — were net allpwed to inter efere with the business ofthe Conference, when, preliminary matters being adjusted, the details of the proppsed ccnstitutipn ccmmenced tc develppe thena- selves. Early and late hpurs were devpted tp their dis cussicn and consideration ; and if the work of the Quebec Conference Chamber is not perfect — (what human work ever was?) — it wiU not be, however, without its advan tages, inasmuch as it may serve to throw some light on the path of more skilful and sagacious adventurers, who — fearless of prejudice and suspicion — may be required to moil through the dark labyrinths of that most perplexing of all sciences — the framing of a Nation's Constitution. APPENDIX. EEPOET Of Resolutions adopted at a Conference of Delegates from the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunsivich, and the Colonies of Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, held at the City of Quebec, \Qth October, 1864, as the Basis of a proposed Con federation of those Provinces and Colonies. 1. The best interests and present and future prosperity of British North America -wUl be promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain, provided such Union can be effected on principles just to the several Provinces 2. In the Federation of the British North American Provinces the system of Government best adapted under existing cfrcumstances to protect the diversified interests of the several Provinces and secure efficiency, harmony and permanency in the working of the Union, would be a . general Government charged with matters of ccmmpn interest tp the whple Cpuntry, and Lpcal Gpvernments fpr each pf the Canadas aud fpr the Prpvinces pf Npva Scctia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, charged with the cputrpl pf Ipcal matters in their respective secticns — prpvisipn being made for the admission into the Union on equitable terms of Newfoundland, the North-West Terri tory, British Columbia and Vancouver. 3. In franung a Constitution for the General Govern ment, the Conference, with a -view to the perpetuation of our connection with the Mother Country, and to the promotion of the best interests pf the pepple pf these Prpvinces, desire to fpUpw the mpdel of the British Con stitution, so far as Pur circumstances -will permit. 4. The Executive Autherity pr Government shall be vested in the Sovereign of the United Kingdpm_ pf Great Britain and Ireland, and be administered acccrding tp the 220 APPENDIX. weU understood principles of the British Constitution by the Sovereign personally, or by the Eepresentative of the Sovereign duly authorized. 5. The Sovereign or Eepresentative of the Sovereign shall be Commander in Chief of the Land and Naval Militia Forces. 6. There shall be a General Legislature or Parliament for the Federated Provinces, comppsed of a Legislative Council and a House of Commons. 7. For the purppse pf fprming the Legislative Cpuncil the Federated Prp-vinces shall be ccnsidered as cpusist- ing of three divisipns, 1st. Upper Canada ; 2nd. Lpwer Canada ; 3rd. Npva Scptia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, each divisipu with an equal representatipn in the Legislative Cpuncil. 8. Upper Canada shall be represented in the Legislative CpuncU by 24 Members, Lpwer Canada by 24 Members, and the three Maritime Prp-vinces by 24 Members, pf which Npva Scptia shall have Ten, New Brunswick, Ten, and Prince Edward Island, Fpur Members. 9. The Cplony pf Newfpundland shaU be entitled te enter the prpppsed Unipu with a representatipn in the Legislative CpuucU pf Fpur Members. 10. The Nprth- West Territpry, British Cplumbia and Vancouver shall be admitted into the Unipn pn such terms and cpnditipns as the Parliament pf the Federated Prp-vinces shall deem equitable, and as shall receive the assent pf Her Majesty ; and in the case pf the Prpvince pf British Cplumbia or Vancouver, as shall be agreed to by the Legislature of such Pro-vince. 11. The Members of the Legislative Council shall be appointed by the Crown under the Great Seal of the General Government, and shall hold Office during life. If any Legislative Councillor shall, for two consecutive sessions of Parliament, fail to give his attendance in the said Council, his seat shall thereby become vacant. 12. The Members pf the Legislative CpuncU shall be British Subjects by Birth cr Naturalizatipn, pf the full age pf Thirty years, shaU ppssess a ccritinupus real property qualificaticn pf fpur thpusand dollars over and above aU incumbrances, and shaU be and contimte Worth that sum over and above their debts and li^biUties ; but in case of APPENDIX. 221 Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island the property may be either real or personal. 13. K any question shall arise as to the qualification of a Legislative CounciUor the same shaU be determined by the CouncU. 14. The first selection of the Members of the Legislative Council shall be made, except as regards Prince Edward Island, from the Legislative Councils of the various Pro vinces, so far as a sufficient number be found quaUfied and wUling to serve ; such Members shall be appointed by the Crpwn at the recpmmendatipu pf the General Executive Gevernment, uppn the npminatipn pf the respective Lccal Gpvernments ; and in such npminatipn due regard shall be had to the claims of the Members of the Legislative CouncU of the Opposition in each Province, so that all political parties may as nearly as possible be fairly re presented. 15. The Speaker of the Legislative Cpuncil (unless ptherwise prpvided by Parliament,) shaU be apppinted by the Crown from among the members of the Legislative CouncU ; and shaU hold office during pleasure ; and shall only be entitled to a casting vote on an equality of votes. 16. Each of the twenty-four Legislative Councillors representing Lower Canada in the Legislative Council of the Greneral Legislature shall be appointed to represent one of the twenty-four Electoral Divisions mentioned in Schedule A of Chapter first of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, and such CounciUor shaU reside or possess his quaUfication in the Di-vision he is appointed to represent. 17. The basis of Eepresentation in the House of Com mons shall be population, as determined by the Official Census every ten years ; and the number pf Members at first shall be 194, distrihuted as fpUlpws : Upper Canada 82 Lpwer Canada 65 Npva Scctia 19 New Bruns-wick 15 Ne-wfcundland 8 and Prince Edward Island 5 18. Until the Official Census of 1871 has been made up 222 APPENDIX, there shaU be no change in the number of Representatives from the several sections. 19. Immediately after the completion of the Census of 1871, and immediately after every Decennial Census thereafter, the Eepresentation from each section in the House of Commons shall be re-adjusted on the basis of population. 20. For the purpose of such re-adjustments. Lower Canada shall always be assigned sixty-five members, and each of the other sections shall at each re-adjustment receive, for the ten years then next succeeding, the number of members to which it will be entitled on the same ratio of representation to population as Lower Canada will enjoy according to the Census last taken by having sixty- five members. 21. No reduction shaU be made in the number of Mem bers returned by any section, unless its population shaU have decreased relatively to the population of the whole Union, to the extent of five per centum. 22. In computing at each decennial period the num- of Members to which each section is entitled, no fractional parts shall be considered, unless when exceeding one half the number entitling to a Member, in which case a Mem ber shall be given for each such fractional part. 23. The Legislature of each Pro-vince shaU divide such Province into the proper number of constituencies, and define the boundaries of each of them. 24. The Local Legislature of each Province may, from time to time, alter the Electoral Districts for the purposes of Eepresentation in such local Legislature, and distri bute the representatives to which the Pro-vince is entitled in any manner such Legislature may think fit. 25. The number of Members may at any time be in creased by the General Parliament — regard being had to the proportionate rights then existing. 26. Until provisions are made by the General Parlia ment, aU the Laws which, at the date of the Proclamation constituting the Union, are in force in the Provinces respectively, relating to the qualification and disqualifica- cation of any person to be elected or to sit or vote as a < member of the Assembly in the said Pro-vinces respectively — and relating to the qualification or disqualification of APPENDIX, 223 vpters, and to the oaths to be taken by voters, and to Eeturning Officers and their powers and duties, — and relating to the prpceedings at Electicns, — and to the peripd during which such Electicns may be ccntinued, — and relating tp the trial pf Cpntrpverted Electicns, — and the proceedings incident thereto, — and relating to the vacating of seats pf Members, and tp the issuing and exeeutipn pf new Writs in case cf any seat being vacated pther-wise than by a dissplutipn, — shaU respectively apply tc Electicns pf Members tp serve in the Hpuse ef Cpmmpns fpr places sitoate in these Prpvinces respectively. 27. Every Hpuse pf Cpmmpns shaU cpntinue fer five years frpm the day pf the return ef the Writs chcpsing the same, and np Ipnger, subject, nevertheless, tp be sppner prerpgued pr dissplved by the Geverupr. 28. There shaU be a Sessien pf the General ParUament once at least in every year, so that a period of twelve calendar months shaU not intervene between the last sitting of the General Parliament in one Sessipu and the first sitting therepf in the next sessipu. 29. The General ParUament shaU have ppwer tp make Laws fpr the peace, welfare' and gppd Gpvernment pf the Federated Prpvinces (saving the Severeignty pf England), and especially Laws respecting the fcUpwing subjects : — 1. The PubUc Debt and Prpperty. 2. The Eegulatipn pf Trade and Cemmerce. 3. The impcsitipu pr regulatipn pf Duties pf Cus- tpms PU Impprts and Expprts, except'pn Expprts of Timber, Legs, Masts, Spars, Deals, and Sa-wn Lumher, and pf Cpal and pther Minerals. 4. The imppsitipu pr regulatipn pf Excise Duties. 5. The raising pf mpney by all pr any pther medes pr systems pf Taxatipu. 6. The bprrp-wing pf Mpney pn the PubUc Credit 7. Pcstal Service. 8. Lines pf Steam pr pther Ships, EaUways, Canals, and pther works, connecting any two or more of the Provinces together, or extending beyond the limits of any Province. 9. Lines of Steamships between the Federated Pro' vinces and Countries. 224 APPENDIX. 10. Telegraphic Ccmmunicaticn, and the incprppra- tipn of Telegraphic Companies. 11. All such works as shall, although lying whoUy within any Province, be speciaUy declared by the Acts authorizing them to be for the general advantage. 12. The Census. 13. MUitia — MUitary and Naval Ser-vice and Defence. 14. Beacons, Buoys and Light Houses. 15. Navigation and Shipping. 16. Quarantine. 17. Sea Coast and Inland Fisheries. 18. Ferries between any Province and a Foreign Country, or between any two Provinces. 19. Currency and Coinage. 20. Banking, Incorppratipn pf Banks, and the issue pf paper money. 21. Savings Banks. 22. Weights and Measures. 23. Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes. 24. Interest. 25. Legal Tender. 26. Bankruptcy and Insolvency; 27. Patents of Invention and Discovery. 28. Copy Eights. 29. Indians and Lands reserved for the Indians. 30. NatqraUzation and Aliens. 81. Marriage and Divorce. 32. The Criminal Law, excepting the Constitution of the Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction, but includ ing the procedure in criminal matters. 33. Eendering uniform all or any of the laws relative to property and civil rights in Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, and rendering uni form the procedure of all or any of the Courts in these Provinces ; but any Statute for this purpose shaU have no fprce or authority in any Prpvince untU sancticned by the Legislature therepf. 34. The Establishment pf a General Opurt of Appeal for the Federated Proviaces. APPENDIX. 225 35. Immigration. 36. Agriculture. 37. And generally respecting all matters of a general character, not specially and exclusively reserved for the Local Governments and Legislatures. 30. The General Government and Parliament shaU have all powers necessary or proper for performing the pbligatipns pf the Federated Provinces, as part of the British Empire, to Foreign Countries, arising under Treaties between Great Britain and such Countries. 31; The General Parliament may also, from time to time, establish additional Courts, and the General Govern ment may appoint Judges and Officers thereof, when the same shall appear necessary, or for the public advantage, in prder tp the due exeeutipn of the laws of Parliament. 32. All Courts, Judges and Officers of the several Pro vinces shall aid, assist and obey the General Government in the exercise of its rights and powers, and for such pur poses shaU be held to be Courts, Judges and Officers of the General Government. 33 The General Government shall appoint and pay the Judges of the Superior Courts in each Province, and of the County Comts of Upper Canada, and Parliament shaU fix thefr salaries. 34. UntU the Consolidation of the Laws of Upper Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ne-wfoundland and Prince Edward Island, the Judges of these Provinces ap pointed by the General Government shall be selected from their respective Bars. 35. The Judges of the Courts of Lower Canada shall be selected from the Bar of Lower Canada. 36. The Judges of the Cpurt pf Admiralty npw receiv ing salaries shaU be paid by the General Government. 37. The Judges of the Superior Courts shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall be removable only on the Address of both Houses of Parliament. local government. 38. For each of the Provinces there shall be an Execu tive Officer, styled the Lieutenant Governor, who shall be appointed by the Governor General in CouncU, under the Great Seal of the Federated Provinces, during pleasure ; 17 226 APPENDIX. such pleasure not to be exercised before the expiration of the first- five years, except for cause : such cause to be communicated in writing to the Lieutenant Governor immediately after the exercise of the pleasure as aforesaid, and also by message to both Houses of Parliament, -within the first week of the first Session afterwards. 39. The Lieutenant Governor of each Province shall be paid by the General Government. 40. In undertaking to pay the salaries of the Lieutenant Governors, the Conference does not desire to prejudice the claim of Prince Edward Island upon the Imperial Govern ment for the amount now paid for the salary of the Lieutenant Governor thereof. 41. The Local Government and Legislature of each Prpvince shall be cpnstructed in such manner as the exist ing Legislature pf such Prpvince shall prpvide. 42. The Lpcal Legislatures shall have pcwer to alter or amend tlieir constitution from time to time. 43. The Local liegislatures shall have power to make Laws respecting the following subjects : 1. Direct Taxation and the impositiou of Duties ou the export of Timber, Logs, Masts, Spars, Deals and Sawn Lumber, and of Coals and other Minerals. 2. Borrowing Money on the credit of the Province. 3. The establishment and tenm-e of local Offices, and the appointment and i^ayment of local Officers. 4. Agriculture. 5. Immigration 6. Education; saving the rights and privUeges which the Protestant or Catholic minority in both Canadas may possess as to their Denominational Schools, at the time when the Union goes into operation. 7. The sale and management of Public Lands, excepting Lands belonging to the General Government. 8. Sea coast and Inland Fisheries. 9. The establishment, maintenance and management of Penitentiaries, and of PubUc and Eeforma- tory Prisons, APPENDIX. 227 10. The establishment, maintenance and management of Hospitals, Asylums, Charities and Eleemosy nary Institutions. 11. Municipal Institutions. 12. Shop, Saloon, Tavern, Auctioneer and other Licenses. 13. Local Works. 14. The Incorporation of private and local Companies, except such as relate to matters assigned to the General ParUament. 15. Property and ciyil rights, excepting those por tions thereof assigned to the General Parlia ment. 16. Inflicting punishment by fine, penalties, impri sonment, or otherwise for the breach of laws passed in relation to any subject within their jurisdictipD. 17. The Administratipn of Justice, including the Constitution, maintenance and organization of the Courts — both of Civil ahd Criminal Juris- diction,and including also the Procedure in Civil Matters. 18. And generally all matters of a private or local nature, not assigned to the General ParUament. 44. The power of respiting, reprieving and pardonmg Prisoners convicted of crimes, and of commuting and remitting of sentences, in whole or in part, which belongs of right to the Crown, shall be administered by the Lieu tenant Governor of each Province in Council, subject to any instructions he may from time to time receive from the General Government, and subject to any provisions that may be made in this behalf by the General Parlia ment. MISCELLANEOUS. ' 45. In regard to all subjects over which jurisdiction belongs to bpth the General and Local Legislatures, the laws pf the General Parliament shall control and supersede those made by the Local Legislature, and the latter shall be void so far as they are repugnant to, or inconsistent with the former. 228 APPENDIX. 46. Both the English and French languages may be emplcyed in the General Parliament and in its prpceedings, and in the Local Legislature of Lower Canada, and also in the Federal Courts and in the Courts of Lower Canada. 47. No lands or property belonging to the General or Local Government shall be liable to taxation. 48. All Bills for appropriating any part of the Public Eevenue, or for imposing any new Tax or Impost, shall originate in the House of Commons, or in the House of Assembly, as tbe case may be. 49. The House of Commons or Hpuse of Assembly shall net priginate pr pass any Vpte, Eesplution, Address or Bill, for the appropriation of any part of the Public Eevenue, cr pf any Tax pr Impost to any purpose, not first recommended by Message of the Governor General, or the Lieutenant Governor, as the case may be, during the Session in which such Vote, Eesolution, Address or Bill is passed. 60. Any Bill of the General Parliament may be re served in the usual manner for Her Majesty's Assent ; and any Bill of the Local Legislatures may in like manner be reserved for the consideration of the Governor General. 51. Any Bill passed by the General Parliament shall be subject to disallowance by Her Majesty within two years, as in the case of Bills passed by the Legislatures of the said Provinces hitherto ; and in like manner any Bill passed by a Local Legislature shall be subject to disallow ance by the Governor General within one year after the pas^ng thereof 52. The Seat of Government of the Federated Pro vinces shall be Ottawa, subject to the Eoyal Prerogative. 53. Subject to any future action of the respective Local Governments, the seat of the Local Government in Upper Canada shall be Toronto ; of Lower Canada, Quebec ; and the Seats of the Local Governments in the other Provinces shall be as at present. PROPERTY AND LIABILITIES. 54. All stocks. Cash, Bankers' Balances and Securities for money belonging to each Province, at the time pf the Unipn, except as hereinafter mentipued, shall belpng tp the General Gpvernment APPENDIX. 229 55. The following Public Works and Property of each Province, shall belong to the General Government — to wit : 1. Canals ; 2. Public Harbours ; 3. Light Houses and Piers ; 4. Steamboats, Dredges and Public Vessels ; 5. Eiver and Lake Improvements ; 6. Eailways and Eailway Stocks, Mortgages and other Debts due by Eailway Companies ; 7. MUitary Eoads ; 8. Custom Houses, Post Offices and other Public Bmldings, except such as may be set aside by the General Government for the use ofthe Local Legislatures and Governments ; 9. Property transferred by the Imperial Government and known as Ordnance Property ; 10. Armories, Drill Sheds, Military Clothing and Munitions of War ; and 11. Lands set apart for public purppses. 56. All lands, mines, minerals and rpyalties vested in Her Majesty in the Provinces of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, for the use of such Provinces, shall belong to the Local Go vernment of the territory in which the same are so situate ; subject to any trusts that may exist in respect to any of such lands, or to any interest of pther perspns in respect pf the same. 57. All sums due frpm purchasers pr lessees pf such lands, mines cr minerals at the time pf the Unien, shall also belpng tp the Lpcal Governments. 58. All assets connected with such portions of the public debt of any Province as are assumed by the Local Governments shall also belong tp thpse Governments respectively. 59. The several Provinces shall retain all other Public Property therein, subject to the right of the General Go vernment to assume any Lands or Public Property required for Fprtificatipus pr the Defence cf the Cpuntry. 60. The General Gpvernment shall assume all the Debts and LiabiUties pf each Prpvince. 61. The Debt cf Canada, npt specially assumed by 230 APPENDIX. Upper and Lower Canada respectively, shall not exceed at the time of the Union, ,$62,500,000 ; Nova gcotia shall enter the Union with a debt not exceeding |8,000,000, and New Brunswiek with a debt not exceeding |7,000,000. 62. In case Neva Scctia cr New Brunswick dp npt in cur liabilities beycnd thpse for which their Governments are now bound, and which shall make their debts at the date of Union less than $8,000,000 and $7,000,000 respec tively, they shall be entitled to interest at five per cent, on the amount not so incurred, in like manner as is herein after provided for Ne-wfoundland and Prince Edward Island; the foregoing resolution being in no respect in tended to limit the powers given to the respective Govern ments of those Provinces by Legislative authority, but only to limit the maximum amount of charge to be assum ed by the General Gpvernment. Prpvided always that the ppwers sp cpnferred by the respective Legislatures shall be exercised within five years frpm this date pr the same shall then lapse 63. Nevsrfpundland and Prince Edward Island, net having incurred debts equal tp thpse pf the pther Prpvinces, shall be entitled tc receive, by half yearly payments, in advance, frcm the General Gpvernment, the Interest at five per cent, pn the difference between the actual ampunt pf their respective Debts at the time pf the Unipn and the average ampunt pf indebtedness per head pf the pppu latipn pf Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 64. In consideration of the transfer to the General Par liament of the powers of Taxation, an annual i^-rant in aid of each Province shall be made, equal to 80 cents per head of the Population, as established by the Census of 1861. The Population of Newfoundland being estimated at 130,000. Such aid shall be in full settlement of all future demands upon the General Government for local purposes, and shall be paid half-yearly in advance to each Province. 65. The position of New Brunswick being such as to entail large immediate charges upon her local revenues, it is agreed that for the period of ten years from the time when the Union takes effect, an additional allowance' of ,|63,000 per annum shall be made to that Province. • But that so long as the liabUity of that Province remains APPENDIX. , 231 under $7,000,000, a deducticn equal tp the interest pn such deficiency shall be made from the $63,000. 66. In consideration of the surrender to the General Government by Newfoundland of all its rights in Mines and Minerals, and of all the ungranted and unoccupied Lands of the Crown, it is agreed that the sum of $150,000 shall each year be paid that Province, by semi-annual payments. Pro-vided that that Colony shall retain the right of opening, constructing and controUing Eoads and Bridges through any of the said Lands, subject to any Laws which the General ParUament may pass in respect of the same. 67. All engagements that may, before the Union, be entered into with the Imperial Government for the De fence of the Country, shall be assumed by the General Government. 68. The General Government shall secure, without delay, the completion of the Intercolonial EaUway from Eiviere-du-Loup through New Bruns-wick to Truro in Nova Scotia. 69. The communications with the North- Western Ter ritory, and the improvements required for the develope ment of the Trade of the Great West with the Seaboard, are regarded by this Conference as subjects of the highest importance to the Federated Provinces, and shall be pro secuted at the earliest possible period that the state of the Finances will permit. 70. The sanction of the Imperial and Local Parlia ments shall be sought fpr the Unipn pf the Prpvince, on the principles adopted by the Conference. 71. That Her Majesty the Queen be solicited to deter mine the rank and name of the Federated Provinces. 72. The proceedings of the Conference shall be authen ticated by the signatures of the Delegates, and submitted by each Delegation to its own Government, and the Chair man is authorized to submit a copy to the Governor Ge neral for transmissipn tp the Secretary pf State for the Colpnies. Ai