PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.
41
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Mr. MACNEILL—I have just got what I wanted to
get out of the hon. member; and I wish, through the
Reporters, to let my constituents know that the hon.
member for Charlottetown called me a "fire-brand." I
am glad also to hear him say that he was sorry that Mr.
Dodd was not a member of this House. Mr. Dodd was
the man who wrote this vile slander against the people
of this Colony, and, therefore, I am glad that he is not
here. A man who could put upon paper that which
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.
42
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I believe that our late Conservative Government wished, if possible, to induce the
Imperial Government to force us into Confederation;
but of the folly of such proced ures the British Government have had enough in what
has since transpired in
Nova Scotia. But notwithstanding the foul libels
heaped upon the people of this Colony by the late Government, the Colony has maintained
her reputation
and her independence.
[...]
ber. Let him now demand such an examination and
he will find that Mr. Dodd has nothing to fear. If the
Tenant Union was pursuing a right and proper course,
why was it that it crumpled up so suddenly, when Her
Majesty's troops came here ? The men, Sir, whom I
blame the most are not the body of the people who united themselves with that organization,
but their leaders.
Those men knew that Her Majesty's Despatch made it
unlawful to resist the just claims of the proprietors.
They knew that her troops did not come here to enforce
obedience to unlawful demands ; and no man, who duly
respected the honor and good nature of the country,
would have justified the action of that organization at
that time. I may be told that I am slandering the
Tenant Union ; but will the hon. member (Mr. McNeill) rise here, and propose a resolution
that will justify
the one adopted by that body, which said they would
hold no communication, except in cases of necessity,
with any person who would not support their organization ? Let him bring such a resolution
forward and I
will call him a patriot, though a misguided one. Let
the hon. member give notice of this on the Order Book,
and then we will see where his political manliness rests.
I do not glory in the unfortunate state of affairs, which
called forth Mr. Dodd's letter ; on the contrary, I regret
it as much as any man in the country, for I know there
is a good deal of truth in what the hon. member has
said, but at the same time, had the hon. member and
the League with whom he was associated, had their own
way at that time, they would have done more to have
forced us into Confederation than any Government
could. Before Responsible Government was granted to
us, it was doubted whether we were able to work it out
successfully, and to duly prize the privileges it would
confer ; but the only time when any portion of the people showed that they did not
appreciate it, was when a
portion of them were led by that hon member. Responsible Government was granted on
conditions which were
binding upon us and upon the Home Government ; and at
that time the Home Government might justly have said
to us you have not adhered to those conditions ; you
do not appear to be a low abiding people, and we will
wash our hands clear of you by handing you over to
Canada ! Let the hon member read the Bloody Despatch as carefully as he has Mr. Dodd's
letter, and he
will be convinced of the truth of what I say. It was
not to support the Liberals that the hon. member was
sent here by the League ; for if that was their object,
why did Mr. Ross oppose the Leader of the Government,
after he had accepted office?
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