Sir John A. Macdonald said those who were in favour of Confederation would vote against the amendment.
(Loud cries of No, No). It was well that the veil should be removed and the position
exactly understood. It was well that the member for Lambton, by seconding this amendment,
had at last revealed his true position as an enemy to Confederation. (Cries of No,
No, and ironical cheers). That hon. gentleman had claimed to be a friend of Confederation
and had made all kinds of professions on the subject. But when he found the key-stone
of Confederation was about to be put in its place, without which all other efforts
were useless, the hon. gentleman for party considerations, negated all his previous
professions. Rather than see Confederation carried out by the present Government,
to which he was opposed, he would insidiously, if not openly, oppose it. (No, No.)
The object of Confederation was to bring all British North America into one Union.
We were now incorporating the North-West, we were about to admit Newfoundland. All
that remained was this measure to pacify Nova Scotia and hon. gentlemen opposite were
found opposing it. If the gentlemen opposite were successful, then there would be
a jubilee among anti- Unionists, and such classes in Nova Scotia, throughout Canada,
and outside of the Dominion as well. Let them reconcile Nova Scotia —the very keystone
of the Dominion. The people of that Province at first refused to come into the Union,
but now were about to be reconciled.
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