OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
207
Mr. ANNAND laid on the table instructions
relative lo the division of road moneys for
the County of Halifax,for the information of
the Government.
EXPLANATION.
Mr. ANNAND—The hon. Provincial Secretary, On a former day, made a special allusion
to myself in respect to an attempt I was making to find a seat in the New Dominion.
I may
say to the hon. gentleman that so far as I am
concerned I have not authorized any one to
make such an offer, as it has been stated, has
been made. I may say further that overtures
have been made to me from several counties,
but to all I have given invariably a denial,—
only under very peculiar circumstances would
I offer for a seat in either parliament. I am
very much like the soldier at Inkerman, I am
going into a soldier's battle, and I am willing
to assist anybody but myself. I therefore
may say explicitly that the statement in respect to the County of Queens was altogether
unauthorized.
Hon. PROV. SECY.—Perhaps I should not
have made the remark I did. I had, however,
letters shewn me by the members who represent Queens stating the fact that I mentioned,
that overtures had been made to certain electors in the interest of the hon. gentleman.
I
must say that I envy somewhat the position
which the hon. member proposes to occupy.
Those who engage in political life do so at a
great personal sacrifice. So far as politicians
are concerned, we who are laymen have not
the gaol ahead of them that members of the
Bar have. When they enter into these political struggles, they have before them a
prospect of a time when they can leave public
life and serve their country in an influential
position. There is, however, no position more
honorable or more important than that of a
public servant. The public business must be
done by some one ready to give up a considerable portion of his time for the sake
of
his country. In doing so, however, he must
expect to sacrifice his personal comfort and
private interest to no inconsiderable degree.
There are many gentlemen in this Legislature who could have acquired any reasonable
amount of wealth—who could have enjoyed
the greatest personal luxury and comfort,
but they have forgone all that in order to
give their services to their country. As this
is the last occasion on which I shall be able to
make any remarks on the floor of this Legislature, I must say I feel a great deal
is due not
only to the kindness and courtesy of gentlemen
on this side who have sustained me throughout my public career, but also to the courtesy
and kindness of those who discharge the important duties of an Opposition in the House
since I have had the honor of a seat on the
Government benches. I can say further that
there is nothing that I regret more at the close
of my career in this Legislature, than at anv
time, in the heat of debate on Public matters, I
should have forgotten what was due to the personal feelings of gentlemen to whom I
was opposed, and should have used expressions
which, in my calm and reflecting moments it
would have pained me excessively to have uttered. I trust that the good feeling which
has
characterized this Legislature—and I have
never seen a Session in which there was such
a large amount of personal good feeling and
less political asperity exhibited—will continue
to animate gentlemen when we separate, and
that all will leave animated by the most kind- lv sentiments for the prosperity of
each other
MISCELLANEOUS.
On motion of the Hon. Financial Secretary,
seconded by Mr. Armand, each of the Clerks
was voted an additional hundred dollars for
their services during the Session, the number
of bills passed having been unusually large.
Hon. Mr. MACFARLANE reported from a
special committee to whom was referred the
petition of Mr. J. Campbell, claiming to be the
first discoverer of gold, that it had been found
impossible to examine into the subject at the
present session.
It was suggested that the Commissioner of
Mines should inquire into the subject during
the recess, so as to be able to give the next
House the necessary information.
At three o'clock His Excellency came down
and prorogued the House with the follow- Speech:—
Mr. President, and Honorable Gentlemen of the
Legislative Council:
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of
Assembly:
It affords me much pleasure to release you
from further attendance during the present
Session, which will doubtless be the last of the
existing Parliament.
The numerous and valuable measures which
you have passed will, I doubt not, largely contribute te the prosperity of the Province.
Under the operation of the laws effecting
Constitutional changes in the Local Government and Parliament of Nova Scotia, the
business of the country will,1 believe, be efficiently
conducted at a large saving of public expenditure.
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of
Assembly:
I thank you for the supplies voted for the
public service.
Mr. President, and Honorable Gentlemen of the
Legislative Council:
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of
Assembly: Â
I cannot close this Session without expressing the deep gratification with which I
have
witnessed the action of both Branches of the
Legislature on the question of Union of the
two Canadas, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, under one Government and Parliament,
as 1 firmly believe that your adoption of that
measure will not only greatly increase the
general prosperity of British America, and
elevate all these Provinces in the scale of
Nations, but that the Union was imporatively
demanded, in order to give stability to the Institutions you enjoy, and permanent
security
to this portion of Her Majesty's dominions as
an integral portion of the Empire.
In the sincere hope that Almighty God will
bless and prosper you all, and that the loyal
people of this my native Province may be happy and prosperous, I now close this Session
of
the Legislature.
This individual participated in:
