THE NEWFOUNDLANDER.
St. John's, Thursday, February 2, 1865
1
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
FRIDAY, Jan. 27.
The SPEAKER and Members met in the Assembly
Hall shortly before two o'clock.
At two o'clock the Usher of the Black Rod delivered
a message at the Bar from his Exceleney the Governor, commanding the attendance of
Mr. Speaker and
the members in the Council Chamber.
Mr. SPEAKER and the members proceeded to the
Council Chamber accordingly, and being returned.
The SPEAKER informed the House, that when in attendance on the Governor, his Excellency had been
pleased to open the session with a speech, of which,
for the sake of accuracy, he had obtained a copy, which
he read to the House. (Published in Monday's
Newfoundlander.
Mr. WYATT rose to move the appointment of a
select Committee to prepare the draft of an address in
reply to the gracious speech with which his Excellency
had been pleased to open the session. He (Mr. Wyatt)
was sure they had all listened to the speech with particular attention, as he was
satisfied there would be but
one opinion respecting it in that house and throughout
the colony. His Excellency had addressed the Legislature for the first time since
his assumption of the
Government; and they must all feel gratified with the
deep interest he manifested for the improvement of the
country. He (Mr. Wyatt) felt he was ouly expressing
the feeling of the House when he said they would give
the most careful attention to all the suggestions of his
Excellency, especially as these suggestions were for
the benefit of the people whose representatives they
were. They felt, with his Excellency, for the suffering
to which so many of the people were reduced, arising
from the failure of the seal fishery, last spring, the
short catch in the shore cod-fishery, and the partial
failure of the Labrador fishery. Having, in numerous
instances, secured notining to sustain themselves and
their families during the winter, a large number of the
fishermen were in circumstances of deep distress, which
the Government were doing all in their power to mitigate. The system of relief which
had grown up of
late years was one of which they all complained, and
which was liable to many abuses; but still they must
not suffer the people to starve. It was necessary,
however, that the attention of the House shall be
given to the subject of poor relief, with the view of
checking the growing evil of pauperism. His Excellency suggested that they should
give encouragement
to the Mackerel and Bank fisheries, which were a
source of profitable employment to the fishermen of
other countries. The Bank fishery had been neglected
for years, and with the present high price of fish there
was every prospect of its proving remunerative. The
Mackerel and Salmon fisheries were of great importance, and should have every encouragment
the Legislature could give them. His Excellency also directed
their attention to the mineral resources of the Island,
which there was reason to anticipate would furnish
means of employment to a large number of our people,
as well as a source of wealth to capitalists. He would
now say a few words on a subject of the deepest importance to the country, the proposed
federation of the
British North American Coionies. The Government
had been invited last summer, to take part in a convention, at Quebec to take this
important question into
consideration, and had appointed the hon. the Speaker
of that house, and the hon member for Piacentia and St.
Mary's, Delegates from this colony to the Convention.
Although the Report of the proceedings of that Conference was not yet laid before
the House, it had been
made public through the newspapers, and he was satisfied it had been read by every
member of the House.
They must all agree with his Excellency that the subject was one of the deepest interest
to the whole community, and one which they ought to approach in a
spirit of calm examination, with an earnest desire to
come to such a conclusiod as would best promote the
permanent interests of the colony. He (Mr. Wyatt)
was aware that there was much difference of opinion
it, this colony on the subject. Many considered the
terms proposed for the admission of Newfoundland
very favorable, while others were of a different opinion.
It would be for the House, when the papers were laid
before them, to weigh all that would be urged for and
against the union. If, upon full consideration, it
should be the opinion of the House that the decision
should be referred to their constituents, he trusted
that the matter would be fairly placed before those
they represented. It was not a matter into which
they should hastily rush, for they ought to bear in
mind that the union once effected, it would be impossible to undo it, should they
not find it to their advantage. There were several other important subjects
referred to in his Excellency's speech, to which the
attention of the House would be directed in the course
of the session, and which he (Mr. Wyatt) was satisfied
would receive that careful attention to which their
importance entitled them. In conclusion, he (Mr.
Wyatt) would join in his Excellency's prayer that the
Altnighty Ruler of all events would bless their labors,
and those of the whole community, and render them
more productive, and the country more prosperous
than for many years past. He moved that a Select
Committee be appointed.
Mr. WHITEWAY had much pleasure in seconding
the motion proposed by his honorable friend Mr.
Wyatt. That gentleman had spoken truly when he
said that the speech of his Exceitency the Governor
referred to many matters of great interest and importance, as regards this country.
But there was
one subject alluded to in that speech, of paramount
importance—that of the proposed Confederation of
the British North American colonies. No one who
had listened to the speech of his Excellency could but
have been deeply impressed with the eminently enlightened views it contained. The
dignified tone,
style and language of his Excellency represent him
as one possessing all the characteristics essential in
the Representative of Her most Gracious Majesty the
Queen. His Excellency had been among us but a
short time; but that period had been devoted to acquiring a thorough knowledge of
the condition and
requirements of the people. He had now given us
the benefit of his inquiries. He had discovered evils, and
he had not failed to suggest remedies. He had now
discovered a great and growing evil which his predecessors had pointed at, but which
no government had
as yet had the hardihood to grapple with and eradicate, that abominable system as
regards pauper reliet, which existed in this country. The reinedy suggested by his
Excellency was the only one which could
be imployed to secure an economical administration
of the paupar fund; that is the raising of that fund by
direct taxion, and casting upon the tax payers themselves, in every community, in
duty of checking the
expenditure; or, in others words, making each District support its own paupers. He
(Mr. Whiteway)
regretted that the Bill brought in by the government,
during the last session, having this object in view,
had been withdrawn. The enormous annual drain
from the general revenue for poor relief had stayed
public improvements; and public buildings were going
into decay, our roads were scarcely passable, and their
was no new work in operation. He (Mr. Whiteway)
was gratified to learn that there was an intention on
the part of the government to introduce some measure
calculated to resuscitate the Bank Fishery. It was
much to be regretted that sufficient enterprise did not
exist amongst us to induce an active competition with
foreigners in this branch of the fisheries; and that
we were satisfied to depend altogether upon our shore
and Labrador fisheries. He believed that the people
of this country would be much better off, if, instead
of locating themselves upon the most extreme points
of land, as they had done, upon the coast, and carrying on the fishery in small punts,
as it were at their
very doors, they had settled at the heads of the bays,
where existed lands adapted for agricultural purposes.
Then if they were provided with a larger class of fishing craft, large enough to proceed
to the Banks, if
necessary, one branch of the family might be employed
in making agriculture an auxiliary to the fishery,
during the absence of the fishermen, and upon
their return, attend to the curing department.
He (Mr. Whiteway) was glad to see a recommendation to encourage agriculture. The best
way, be behaved, to accomplish this, was to make good roads to
the country. No sooner is a good road made through
a piece of good land, than we at once see a tilt spring
up, then a potato plot is cleared. Next follows a
cottage, and a little farm. Give the people facilities
for communication, free grants of land, and agriculture
will advance. It requires no bounty. There is every
reason to believe that sheep may be kept to an unlimited number upon our wild pasturage;
but it seems to
be the cry on all sides, that the dogs prove a great
obstacle. He (Mr. Whiteway) regretted that, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts
of one who had
evinced a deep interest in agricultural improvement
generally, and had accomplished much in that direction,
Mr. Justice Robinson, his attempt to establish a joint
stock company for the purpose of carrying out sheep
farming on a large scale, had as yet come to nothing;
not from lack of energy on the part of that gentleman,
but because of the absence of that enterprising spirit
among the people which induces a deviation from the
old beaten track, and an embarking in new pursuits.
The great and all-important subject of Education, it
seemed, would be brought before the House during
the present session. He (Mr. Whiteway) believed
that in no colony of Great Britain was there so large
an amonnt, in proportion to its population, appropriated oy the Government for educational
purposes; but
the benefits derived from it were not commensurate
with the exuendiure. However, he did not agree
with those who asserted that the money was thrown
away, for it much good had been accomplished, a
desire from improvement had been created, a taste for
knowledge, and the people of the smallest settlement
are now anxious to have their children taught, and the
closing of their school would be viewed as a great
deprivation, The idea of establishing a normal training school for teachers was a
good one, and, if carried
out, would tend materially to improvement. The
great want felt was for efficient teachers were obtained,
they must be adequately paid, for men of attainments
would not be satisfied with the small salaries which
are now paid. In his (Mr. Whiteway's) opinion, they
had now arrived when the Government may fairly say
to the people of every locality where a school is required, if you will subscribe
or guarantee one half or
one third, the government would provide the other
half or two thirds of the teacher's salary; and it might
be depended upon that there are few places in which
to secure a good teacher, the people would not willingly lend their aid, for they
now are feeling the advantages of having good schools. He (Mr. Whiteway)
had frequently before, in his place in the house, spoken of the ruin which must ensue
from the manner
in which our salmon fisheries were prosecuted. In
rivers heretofore prolific, scarce a salmon now was to
be seen. He had seen a net stretched across a river
from bank to bank, the salmon playing about below
it, barred from getting into the river, and several salmon in the net, which had not
been visited for two
days. This, perhaps, was an isolated case, but those
who had attended to the subject knew well that in
prosecuting this fishery the most ruinous practices
were followed. There is an excellent law upon our
statute book relative to this subject, but it is nugatory,
there being no police regulations to secure its being
carried out. More and more it was becoming apparent
how necessary was our establishment of some general
supervision of the fisheries. The appointment of an
able, educated and energetic man, as a general superintendent of the fisheries, with
a handsome salary, to
secure the services of an efficient person, having at
his command a steamer, for the purpose of visiting
every part of the Island, during the summer, and invested with magisterial authority,
to enforce the laws
relative to the fisheries, was the only way this could
be effected, and looking to the all importance of the
subject, it was that for which, no matter what it might
cost, should be the first money appropriated from the
revenue; for the country was woolly dependent on
the fisheries. The great question of Confederation
was unquestionably the most important ever submitted to the Legislature of this country;
and the
view of being united to a country so rich in resources
as Canada, New Brunswick add Nova Scotia, and forming the nucleus of a great nation,
was peculiary fascinating and attractive. That country possessed every
internal resource uecessary to become great; and it
required no prophetic spirit to foretel what she would
be. Her unbounded forests, her vast mineral deposits as yet put partially developed,
her rich plains,
[?] for agricultural operation, her magnificent
rivers intersecting every part of the county, and
forming natural highways for the transport of her
produce, the safe and capacious
[?] of Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick, afforded the means
which required only sufficient population to raise her
to the first rank, as a dependency, and in the course
of years, the equal of the parent state. Was there
anything wanting that nature had not bestowed in
that country? Still it had been said that Canada
wanted to tax Newfoundland to sustain her resources.
Rich Canada abstracting from the barren island of
Newfoundland, with 100,000 inhabitants one-thirtieth
part of the whole population, a something to sustain
her resources. The view was too absurd to need
comment. But it was a matter that required grave
consideration. When once we had embarked in confederation thera was no return. We
were bound for
ever. It should not be disposed of hastily, but be approached in a spirit of calm
deliberation and
[?]
enquiry. But when once a conclusion had been ar
2
THE NEWFOUNDLANDER.
rived at, when hon. gentlemen had formed their opinions, he tructed that each would
fearlessly act, on
these opinions, guided by his conscience to do what
he conceived to be the most advantageos, for
the public good, present and future. His Excellency
referred to the Geological Survey, in which some progress had been made, which was
due to the efforts of
the present administration; and by its results it had
given us hopes that our mineral wealth was extensive.
There were at present two copper mines in operation,
which were affording employment and assistance to
many, who, from the failure of the fisheries, and but
for such timely aid, would be in great distress. The
enterprising capitalists who were working these mines
should be encouraged. Everything should be done by
this House to assist parties who had thus invested
their capital, as these gentlemen had done. He (Mr.
Whiteway)referred to this matter, because he believed
these parties had not received that consideration from
the government to which they were entitled. He said
this with regard to the postal communication. They
had been compelled to employ special messengers to
carry their mails, to maintain their communication
with England, and this ought not to be. If a small
amount were given for that purpose it would be well
expended. He (Mr. W.) thought that all must coincide in the hope expressed by his
Excellency relative
to the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable. He
(Mr. Whiteway) never could refer to this subject without thinking of one who was its
pioneer in this country. He referred to Mr. F. N. Gisborne, who after
connecting all the British North American Provinces,
first conceived the idea of uniting this colony with
the mother country by means of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable. Nothing gave that gentleman
greater
pleasure now than looking
forward to its successful
completion next summer. He (Mr. Whiteway) would
not detain the House any longer at present, as each
matter referred to by his Excellency would individually form a subject for discussion
hereafter. He
begged to second the motion for the appointment of a
Select
Committee.
Mr. PARSONS—No person who had heard that
speech but must agree that it was a masterly effort.
It was the maiden speech of an able statesman who
pandered to no party. There were suggestions in
which he (Mr. Parsons) did not concur; but taken
as a whole, it was the most practical opening speech
to which the House had listened for a long time. It
touched on many important subjects; and shadowed
forth some things, which, if carried into effect, would
be productive of incalculable benefit to the people of
the country. His Excellency, during the short time
he had been amongst us, appeared to have directed
his attention to the wants of the country with an
earnest desire to promote the best interests of the
people over whom he had been appointed to rule.
There were, however, suggestions in which he (Mr.
Parsons) could not concur. His Excellency recommended that every district should be
made to support
its own poor. That appeared to be very reasonable;
but when, from the failures of the fisheries, the people
of many districts of the island were reduced to destitution, there were few or none
in those districts who
were in a condition to contribute any thing for the
support of their neighbours. He (Mr. Parsons)
thought if his Excellency had gone farther with the
subject of agriculture he would have pointed out the
only means of raising the people above want. It was
well known that the fisheries of the country were inadequate to sustain its increasing
population, and that
it was, their partial failure, for several years past,
which had brought the people to their present state.
No people were hardier or more energetic than the
fishermen of this colony; but still, from unsuccessful
fisheries, many of them were reduced to a state of
absolute want. He (Mr. Parsons) had long urged
upon successful governinents the necessity of giving
proper encouragement to agriculture, as the only
means of giving the people something to rely on. He
would remind them that the immense sum of ÂŁ30,000
had been annually voted by the House, and expended
by the goverument in relieving the poor. Wound it
not have been more beneficial it that sum, or a large
portion of it, had been employed in the encouragement
of agriculture, which would have placed many of its
recipients above the degradation of poor relief? What
permanent good arose from that expenditure? Did
the government act in that paternal manner to be
expected from them, in expending such a large sum?
When public improvements were spoken of, we were
told that the government had no money; and still we
had this enormous pauper expenditure going on; and
the only return we had was the making of a few bye roads and the repair of a few
unimportant bridges.
Could any person persuade the people that the money
was properly expended? If that money was expendded in the promotion of agriculture,
or in stimulating
the fisheries, would we not have a different result?
Would the people be degraded, as now, by being
compelled to come to the Chairman of the Board of
Works and the Colonial Secretary to ask for pauper
relief? When was it, until a few years ago, that the
fishermen of the country came bowing to an official,
sustained on the produce of the fishermen's labour,
begging for a crumb of bread? When was it that a
fisherman had to come to a mushroom official to beg
a pittance of that which his own labour had produced?
Few knew the reduced condition of the people of the
country, whose toil had enriched the land. Let the
money of the Treasury be thrown broadcast to those
who wanted it, for it was by their toil that it came into
The Treasury. The speech referred to the mackerel
fishery and the Bank fishery; but how were the fishermen to prosecute these fisheries
without encouragement from the government? Give them the means
out of that money which was their own. But it was
best if they were enabled to cultivate the land; but
from unsuccessful fisheries they were so reduced that
the land remained uncultivated. If the Government
enabled them to cultivate it, they would be relieved
from the necessity of giving poor relief. The government had some years ago offered
land free, with assistance in cultivation, and in building a dwelling house, to any
person who should settle upon it; and
he (Mr. Parsons) had applied to the Surveyor-General
to be intormed how many had availed of the offer,
when it was stated that only one or two bad done so.
But he had been told that thirty or forty had applied;
but that they were sent from one official to another,
and nothing actually done for them, that they had
given up the hope of getting anything. The offer was
a perfect delusion. The hon. member opposite shadowed forth a measure which seemed
to interest him.
much, the proposed federation of the colonies, which
was to produce such beneficial results. He (M.
Parsons) hoped it would be made a government measure. He could not hear from hon.
gentlemen favorable to it what these resuls were to be. They were
content to live on generalities. It was a very great
thing in prospective; but, at all events, hon. members
were not in a position to deal with it this session. He
wished to know who authorised these gentlemen to
proceed to Quebec and sign the resolutions of the
Conference on behalf of the people of this colony,
without the authority of the people. The hon. Premier
forbore to take the constitutional course last session
to obtain authority for sending delegates to the Charlottetown Convention, to confer
about a Legislative
union of the Maritime Provinces. But it never entered into the minds of the people
to unite with Canada, a province so deeply sunk in debt, a union
from which we could not derive any benefit. Canada
was deeply sunk in debt, and wanted to be enabled to
tax the people of the Maritime Provinces to improve
their credit; and the Government came down very
civilly to acquaint the House that a measure would
pass the Imperial Parliament to give effect to the Resolutions of the Conference.
He (Mr. Parsons protested against any proceeding in the matter this session, except
to denounce it. They had experience
in Ireland of the blighting effects of such unions.
Such unions were productive of misery wherever
they were carried into effect. The great O'Connell had been occupied half his life
in the endeavour to effect a repeal of the union of Ireland with
England; and since the death of that great leader, the
people were making constant efforts to get rid of the
union, which was such a drawback on the prosperity of
Ireland. He (Mr. Parsons) thought very few members of the house would consent to give
up their country to Canada, to tax us as they pleased. They would
take our fisheries, lands and minerals, and what would
they give us in return? Nothing tangible. It was all
a delusion. He (Mr. Parsons) trusted the address
would not be a mere echo of the speech. He would
strike out the paragraph about poor relief. He trusted, especially when they came
to the paragraph about
the Quebec Conference, that they would not compromise the interests of the people
until they went to a
new election and had the views of the people on the
subject. He did not feel at liberty to dispose of the
matter now, and could only express his own sentiments on the subject. He thought the
proposed union
was not at all calculated to benefit the people of this
Colony, and so far as he was acquainted with their
views, they were opposed to it. What the people
wanted was remunerative employment in their own
country. The government had expended ÂŁ30,000 a
year in poor relief. Let that money be expended in
enabling the fishermen to cultivate the soil, and
there would be but little poverty. The greater number
of fishermen in the eastern portions of the district
were possessed of land, but they had not the means
of cultivation it. Why, in place of degrading them
by pauper relief, did not the Government assist them
to cultivate this land? They might easily be enabled to
raise from 100 to 200 barrels of potatoes each, which
would readily sell in this market is preference to the
inferior potatoes coming from Prince Edward Island,
and put those that raised them above want, for the
man who had 200 barrels of potatoes required no
relief from the Government.
MR. CASEY.—His Excellency the Governor was
certainly entitled to the thanks of this House for the
admirable speech with which he had opened the present session. It was new and refreshing,
and quite a
contrast to what we had been accustomed to His
Excellency was evidently desirous of carrying out
everything that was beneficial to the interests of the
country. He (Mr. Casey) was pleased with His Excellency's reference to the road service;
and agreed
with him, that it should be a permanent institution in
the country. The road grant was the only return
which the people had for the heavy taxes they had to
pay. Nothing tended so much to civilize a country as
the opening of highways. Another subject of importance was the Bank fishery, it was
a matter of great
moment that something should be done to increase
our fisheries. When the shore fishery was unsuccessful, poverty was the certain result.
Any legislation
tending to benefit our fisheries must be regarded as a
great boom, and ought to be carefully attended to.
He (Mr. Casey) had heard an old experienced fisherman, and one whose opinion on such
matters should
carry weight with it, assert that nothing tended so
much to the injury of the fishery as the destruction of
the roe of the fish. If such was the case, and we had
reason to believe it was so, it was the duty of the
Legislature to enact some law to prevent the destruction. This country possessed great
mineral resources,
and it was high time that they were properly developed,
and made the means of affording employment, and
thus reducing the immense number of those who are
recipients of pauper relief. He had been told that Mr.
Bennett, the pioneer in all such matters, had lately
entered largely and with considerable success into the
working of mines to the Northward. No man deserved more the thanks of the people,
for his liberality and
enterprise in all matters tending to benefit this Colony, than Mr. Bennett. There
was another subject,
namely poor relief, which had been referred to by his
Excellency. Last session a Bill on the subject had
been introduced by the government, to asses the districts fer the support, of the
poor, but after sometime,
it was dropped. He thought too that it was rightly
withdrawn, and anything that in any way tended to
increase taxes should be resisted by this House. All
that the country required was successful fisheries, and
it would soon rise like a Phoenix from its ashes, into
the enjoyment of prosperity. He felt convinced that,
with good fisheries, poverty would cease, and there
would be no necessity for the immense drain now made
on the public purse. But the all absorbing topic of
the day was confederaton; a subject on which naturally, the people felt a deep interest.
It was the duty
of the Representatives of the people to let the public
know what there opinions on the matter were. He
considered that if we joined the Confederation, we
would be doing this conntry a great wrong. We had
already free institutions; and there was no Colony in
which the principles of Governmental Responsibility had worked better than in this.
There was nothing
to prevent, our young men from attaining elevated
positions here now; and the rewards to be obtained
should satisfy their ambition. He felt that there would
be a great deal of ability brought to bear upon this
question, and that matters would be put before the
public in a plausible light. It was idle to suppose that
if we joined this Confederation, we should be exempt
from an increase of taxes. How were an Army and
Navy for the Confederation to be supported? In four
or five years hence we would have as much increased
taxation as we received from Canada. (Here the hon
member read an article from a Nova Scotia newspaper
against Confederation.)
Mr. Casey—A highly influential and respectable
journal, the Bull Frog.—Mr. Casey continued—No
doubt the lawyers took a warm interest in the matter,
having before their eyes Judgeships, Governorships,
and other lucrative appointments. It would, no doubt,
be a fortunate thing for them, when they were pocketing their salaries; but what substantial
benefit was
to be conferred on Newfoundland, was to him (Mr.
Casey,) a mystery. He felt convinced few men would
support such a sploitation of the rights of the people of
this colony.
(To be continued.)
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
FRIDAY, Jannary 27.
Observations of the Hon. R. J. PINSENT in moving
the Address in reply to His Excellency's Speech:—
Hon. R. J. PINSENT rose to make a motion,—the
usual one on an occasion of this kind—that a committee
be appointed to prepare a reply to the very gracious
speech with which the present session of the legislature
has been inaugurated. He should not at this time
ocuupy at very considerable length, the attention of the
Council in discussing elaborately the many subjects
of
public concern which his Excellency the Governor
had
alluded to; nor devote himself to an analysis of the
general affairs of the colony. These matters would come
within the range of their deliberations at future and
more fitting periods for discussion. At present he should
confine his remarks to a summary review of the leading
features of the Speech, preparatory to the motion he was
about to make. He (Mr. P.) regarded the present as no
common period in the history of the colony, viewing its
depressed trade and the destitute gondition of the people,
—the sad result of successive misfortunes and difficulties—a state of affairs which
evoked the anxiety of all
interested in the country's welfare. In this crisis Her
Majesty had been pleased to appoint a new Governor to
preside over our political destinies, in place of the
venerable gentleman of whose very late decease we had
just heard, after the attainment of a mature old age, and
having spent many years of his life in honourable public
service. In the gentleman who had been appointed to
succeed him, so far as we could judge from our necessarily short and imperfect experience,
Her Majesty's
Government had made a very happy and fortunate selection, and we have every reason
to believe that the administration, of the colony affairs of the colony under his
guidance will prove of that vigorous and judicious character which the circumstances
of the country now demand.
We recognize in him a ruler in the prime and vigor of
physical and intellectual manhood, whose ability and
education, general and official, were evidently of a high
order, and who he (Mr. P.) believed possessed in connection with them those qualities
of head and heart
which adorn the high position he occupies, and fit him
to fulfil its duties with honour to himself and with advantage to the interests of
the people whom he has been
appointed to govern, He thought that in giving this
expression to his own sentiments he was also expressing
the feelings of his brother members and of the community
in general. The language of his Excellency, in addressing the legislature to-day,
still further strengthened the
evidence of his desire to promote the welfare of the
country. That Speech was an able State document, as
well as chastely and eloquently expressed,—one adapted
to the time and circumstances, and he (Mr. P ) could not
conceive an occasion when it could afford him greater
pleasure to propose the customary. Address than the
present one. His Excellency first draws our attention
to that subject of most material concern to us—the
fisheries; and expresses his regret that misfortune and
failure attended them. We cannot help deploring with
his Excelleney those misfortunes, the cousequence in a
great measure of physical laws which it is beyond our power
to control. There was nothing that could relieve us and
render our efforts successful in this respect but the mercy of God, and the renewed
bounty of nature combined with the exercise of increased exertion anu self-reliance
upon the part of the people, a duty in which they
should be encouraged by the legislature and assisted in
the prosecution of their labours as far as may be practicable by judicious enactments.
There was an old saying
and an apt one,—"trust in God and keep your powder
dry;" and as a rule it was, a very practical and judicious
policy to follow in the general affairs of the world.
Whatever means we have at our disposal calculated to
contribute in any way to the general promotion of our
resources, we should be culpable in neglecting to use in
the manner and for the ends they were provided by a
kind Providence. As a consequence of the failure of our
fisheries, that terrible incubus—pauper relief, has for
years been expanding into gigantic proportions, destroying the energy of the people
and gradually but surely
encroaching upon the resources of the country. His
Excellency speaks of this subject in a practical aud comprehensive way, but the difficulties
of correcting it by
legislation were in his (Mr. P.'s) mind of no ordinary
character. Successive governments have endeavoured to
apply a remedy, or at least to diminish its magnitude, but
failure has attended their efforts. He hoped that the
anticipation of his Excellency, with regard to the mitigation of this evil and the
settlement of some measure of
practical reform, would be realized. The peutiliar circumstances of the trade and
of the people suggested peculiar
difficulties; and the further circumstances, that the question is so often availed
of in the legislature as well as
out of doors,as political capital and for partisan purposes,
presented another obstacle in the way of reform. He
noped that the same vigour and discretion which had
kept the expenditure for this service within the estimate
for the past year would be brought successfully to bear
upon the important and complicated question. As regards his Excellency's reference
to the desirableness of
prosecuting the mackerel and Bank cod-fiscery, he (Mr.
P.) was not aware that the mackerel fisuery had so far
improved as to be capable of prosecution witn advantage
by the people of this country. Perhaps he was in error
in the belief, but his impression was that the mackerel
did not frequent our coast in sufficient quantities to make
that fishery a profitable pursuit. Repecting the Bank
fisnery, however, his opinion was very different. The
suggestion of his Excellency on this subject was one containing much force, and he
(Mr. P.) trusted that a measure would be introduced giving eucouragement to those
who may be inclined to participate in what he believed
would prove a fruitful acquisition to the resources of the
people and the trade of the colony. Many years ago the
Bank fishery was prosecuted by our people with favourable results, but some cause
or other, perhaps failure of prices or greater comparative success in other
quarters, led to the abandonment. The circumstances
of the country have since that period undergous very
great alterations;—that disproportionate success which
did away with our Bank fishery has ceased to exist, and
the wants of the country demand a resort to other means
of support than those which of late years have proved
inadequate te the necessities of the people. This was a
question of serious consideration for our merchants, planters and fishermen. It was
a tangible one, and was almost certain to renumerate under judicious encouragement,
those who undertake to carry it out. Agriculuure
next engages his Excellency's consideration, aud of his
interest in this subject the country has already had
practical experience. The Agricultural Society was the
first public body which addressed his Excellency after
his arrival in the colouy. He (Mr. P.), as Vice-President in the absence of the President
of that body, had
the honor of presenting its address, and his Excellency's
reply evinced the cordial concern he felt in the promotion of this branch of our industrial
occupatious. Much
more might (he Mr. P. believed) be done in the extension and maintenance of highways
as a potent means
towards the mast desirable end. Cultivation was an immediate cousequence of the construction
of roads
and the opening up of the country through their
means. It was a wise suggestion on the part of his Exellency that means should be
taken to ensure a permanent
legislative grant for the construction of roads, placing it beyond the influence of
chance of the
[?] of
legislation; yet not preventing its extension when the
means of the colony are sufficient to warrant greater expenditure. Roads were of the
highest importance. Go
where you will throughout the country,—wherever a
road is opened, there you find the cotter settling himself
upon the soil; and though in the beginning his labours
seem of little account, they in due time become extended
and bring comfort and support to the family of the poor
man, adding to the improvement of the colony. In this
connection the subject of sheep rearing deserves attention. It was a matter that was
likely to become a
source of great benefit to the people in course of time,
should it receive that liberal encouragement that it
deserves. His Excellency also recommends the cultivation of flax, in which he (Mr.
P.) fully concurred. The
practical suggestion respecting the improvement of the
means of education, and particularly for the formation
of Normal Schools to train teachers for the education of
the people, was one that merited serious attention; and
we can't fail to approve of his Excellency's desire to
promote it, as he trusted they should aid in doing.
Unfortunately it happens that in Newfoundland the low
standard of education amongst the masses of the people
was owing, not so much to a deficiency of Schools, as to
a careless and culpable negligence on the part of the
people themselves to use tho educational privileges placed
within their reach. We have Schools in many parts of
the Island. Besides the institutions supported by Government, wonders had been done
in the establishment
of Schools by worthy Prelates and Ministers of religion;
and very valuable aid was rendered by the Colonial
Church and School Society in England, which has expended annually, for many years,
nearly ÂŁ2,000 a-year
towards educating the youth of the colony, erecting
Schools, and providing efficient teachers, By these means
the opportunities of education were brought to the doors
of thousands who did not avail them. He (Mr. P.)
should leave the discussion of his Excellency's recommendations upon the subject of
the Salmon fishery to
those legislators who were more conversant with the
fisheries and better qualified to give a practical opinion
upon it than he was. The Volunteer organization was a
subject which appeared to have enlisted the particular
interest of his Excellency since his assumption of the
government, and he suggeats measures for its continuance and extension. He (Mr. P.) entertained
the
opinion that in a country like this, the avocations
of the people were of that peculiar character that the
formation of a militia service could not prove practicable,
therefore the best method of obtaining a local force was
by means of Volunteer companies;–they should be encouraged and extended, as his Excellency
suggests. The
compilation and consolidation of the laws was a subject
which had frequently occurred to his (Mr. P's.) mind, as
he felt sure it had to many others, for years past, as a
matter of great necessity. Any expense that would
attend is effectuation would be amply repaid by the convenience
and enlightenment so necessary a measure will
afford, and he heartily coincided in this valuable suggestion in the Speech. With
respect to the proposed
Union of the British North American Colonies, he (M.
P,) should reserve for the present any expression of
opinion. In its official capacity this is the first time that
question has been brought under the consideration of
Council. We therefore know nothing of it beyond the
allusion contained in the Speech from the Throne, and
he should reserve its discussion until a more fitting
season;—after the reports and documents concerning it
promised by his Excellency shall have been laid before
the house. He (Mr. P.) was gratified to learn that the
report of the efficient Geologist, Mr. Murray, who
was employed last summer in surveying the mineral lands of the country, has proved
a highly satisfactory one. This was a subject which he (Mr. P) always
felt a lively interest in, and had brought under the notices
of the legislature nearly every Session since he had the
honor of a seat in it. He always believed that our
mineral deposits would one day prove a source of inestimable wealth to the colony,
and the terms in which his
Excellency speaks of that Report foreshadow a prospective and very valuable addition
to our other branches of
industry. We have already strong evidence of what
may be anticipated, in the fact of the employment of
foreign capital in the working of our mines, which he
regarded as proof positive of the existence of substanĹŁial
grounds of hope. There was one subject referred to in
the Speech which he (Mr. P.) regretted was not
dealt with more explicitly,–that of coastal steam. That
was a question of importance second to none, no even the
roads, as regards the interests of the people; and he was
sorry to see that difficulties had stood in the way of its
being carried out so fully and efficiently, as was universally
desired. We are assured the Government did is utmost
to provide its more efficient establishment in accordance
with the wishes and authority of the Legislature, but
failed in their endeavours. He had no doubt the statement of his Excellency on this
head was correct, and of
course the legislature would be furnisned with a fuller
explanation of the reason which prevented its accomplishment. He did not agree with
those who opposed local
Steam on the ground that there was not traffic sufficient
to make the service remunerative or even self-supporting.
He looked upon such an argument as false in principle
and opposed to experience. Let the undertaking be
established on an efficient basis, and it will in due time
create a trade and business. We should not wait for
traffic, but establish means for its encouragement. It
had, however, another aspect,—the improving influence
it would exercise upon the remote and isolated inhabitants
of the out-posts. This consideration should weigh equally with the pecuniary one,
in a subject of this nature, and
he sincerely trusted that at no remote day local Steam
would be placed upon more extended footing. In conclusion he could not but join in
the aspiration of his Excellency, that "the Almighty Ruler of events may bless
our labours and direct them for the good of the people
whose interests are in our keeping, and crown our deliberations with results promoting
the good order, the
peace, and the prosperity of the community to which we
belong." It was to us indeed a momentous period,—
dark and gloomy one. Let us remember, however,
that "the darkest hour precedes the brightest morn,"
and reflecting upon the difficulties we are now passing
through, we may indulge a hope that they are the procursor of the dawn of happier
and brighter days. He
begged to move the appointment of a committee to
prepare an Address in reply to his Excellency's Speech
1
THE NEWFOUNDLANDER.
St. John's, Thursday, February 6, 1865
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
(Continued.)
FRIDAY, Jan. 27.
Mr. RENOUF.—Since the last session of the Assembly a change has taken place in the representative
of the
Crown, and the House now before them the opening
speech of the talented statesman appointed by Her
Majesty to succeed the late Governor of this Colony.
In that gracious speech there were several suggestions of
very great importance to the Colony. ... He (Mr. Renouf)
must say, we had not, for years, listened to such a
speech. It was altogether free from party views. It did
not betray a bias for any party. He was especially gratified by the first paragraph.
He believed the governor
was perfectly sincere, and from the spirit which his
Excellency evinced since his arrival amongst us, and his
genral deportment and affability of manner, he had
produced a most favourable impression, towards him in
the community. His Excellency regarded, the failure of
the fisheries with deep regret. It had reduced many of
the fishermen to severe distress. The suggestion to
afford encouragement to the Bank and Mackerel
fisheries, was most judicious. These fisheries lay, as it
were, at our doors, and had been neglected for years,
while our neighbours in the United States came upwards
of a thousand miles to prosecute them, and found them
renumerative. These fisheries were entitled to the
special attention of the government; and in place of
allowing the fishermen to depend upon the Treasury for
a miserable pittance in the shape of pauper relief, they
should be encouraged to embark in those fisheries, which
could not fail to prove renumerative. It was time they
should do something to stimulate the energies of the
people, and direct their industry into profitable channels,
—He (Mr. Renouf) was happy to find that the new
Governor differed from his Council. His advisers held
that roads would not pay. They were a mere convenience. But his Excellency was so
satisfied of the importance of roads, that he proposed to make permanent
provision for them. His Excellency was satisfied they
would pay, and that they were essential to civilization
and progress. With regard to education, he (Mr. Renouf) agreed with his Excellency.
But he must have
been misinformed respecting normal schools, for we had
them already. Arrangements were made for training
teachers at St. Bcnaventure College, as well as at the
Central School, and at the Church of England and
Wesleyan Academies. But there was a necessity for
making the schools throughout the colony nore efficient;
especially in the outports. But to secure this provision
much be made for more adequate renumeration to the
teachers.—For £25 a year, they could not get a teacher
of ability and education, with permission to go six weeks
to the fishery. If they expected to have competent
teachers, they must provide them with sufficient emolument. Reference was made in
his Excellency's speech
to the currency. He (Mr. ReuouĹż) said there never was
such a humbug as the present currency. It was a system
most insuitable to the wants of our people. It was passed
twelve months ago, and the copper currency had only
been lately imported. In place of cents the government,
it appeared, sent to England for half-pence which were
substituted for the base copper coin previously in
circulation. They could compet the government departments to keep their accounts in
dollars and cents; but
the trade having declined to do so, the consequence to
the working classes was the loss of four half pence on
the shilling in their purchases They had to take these
coppers at the rate of twenty to the shilling, and they
would be received by retailers only at half pence; which.
was a serious loss to the poor men; and he (Mr. Renouf) would like to know whether
the officials of the
Government were to make up the loss. The hon.
member for Ferryland, Mr. Gen, introduced a Bill, some
years ago, to regulate the currency, which, would not
have effected any change in the rate at which the different
coins passed current, and was all that was required to
give us a sound currency. There was no desire in the
community for the change effected by the present Act.
There were no petitions from the Commercial body in
support of it. His Excellency referred to the subject of
poor relief. The present, Government, had expended
ÂŁ80,000 in poor relief within the past four years; and
there was no guarantee that the money had gone to the
deserving poor. What evidence was there that it was
not applied for the sustentation of political influence in
the Northern districts. We were told there was some
improvement in the revenue. But what benefit would
the people derive from it, after the loss of ÂŁ2,000 on
bogus bonds, taken at the Custom-house by the Receiver
General, from men of straw. But when improvement
in the reveuue was spoken of, why was there no mention
of the Labrador? Was there no increase of revenue
there? It was a subject of boasting last session, that
some ÂŁ1,300 had been collected on the coast of Labrador. He (Mr. Renouf) quite agreed
with his Excellency;
that encouragement suould be given to the Bank and
Mackerel fisheries. 5,000 expended in bounties to these
fisheries would be far preferable to wasting it in poor
relief. But would that be given? No, the government
would not spend a pound for the encouragement of the
fishermen, from whom they derived all their means of
support. Agriculture was referred to, which the govermment made loud professions of
a desire to stimulate,
and proposed to give free grants of land, and assist in
its cultivation, but it resulted in nothing. Applicants
were sent from one official to anotuer, and nothing was
done for them. His Excellency referred to the
raising of sheep, which would be followed by most
beneficial results. The wool would furnish employment to families in the manufacture
of home pun. as
was done in the neighbouring provinces. It was
gratifying to learn that our usineral, resvurces, promised to prove highly remunerative.
They should not
be sold to the Canadians. He (Mr. Renouf) was told
by Mr. Bennett, the pioneer of mining enterprise in
this Colony, before that gentleman left for England,
that next year he would have a thousand men employed
and would expend ÂŁ50,000 in wages, which would be
eminently beneficial to the Colony. It was said that
if the Convention were carried out, the Canadians would
work our minerals. But they did not work their own.
The question of Confederation occupied an important
position in his Excellency's speech and he (Mr. Renouf) must say that his Excellency
was entitled to the
thanks of the community for the promptitude with which
he published the dispatch of Mr. Cardwell. He received in the morning, and the same
evening it was made
public through the
Royal Gazette. The communication
from the Colonial Ministry seemed somewhat of an intimation that he wished the Confederation
carried into
effect, but, at the same time, he respected the opinion
of the people of these colonies, and maintained, a desire to force it upon them. His
Excellercy told them
of his having received a despatch from the Governor
General of Canada, intimating that his Government
would move an address to the Queen, requesting that an
Act of the Imperial Parliament might be passed to give
effect to the resolutions of the Convention; "and he (Mr.
Renouf) understood that information had been received
here by telegraph, that the address had been passed by
the Canadian House of Assembly by a large majority.
But, at the same time, the members of this House, and
the people out of doors, would have something to say
in the matter. It must have been taken for granted,
that the Delegates from the Maritime Provinces
spoke of the views of the people, and, not merely their
own. He (Mr. Renouf) did say that this House had
no power to come to a decission on the matter. We
should give no opinion on it this session. It was a new
question to the House; and he did trust that no attempt
would be made to bind this Colony until the people
had time to give expression to their opinions on the
subject. He did think it was well to send Delegates;
but he must say that the resolutions adopted by the
Delegates at the Conference were not such as he considered for the advantage of Newfoundland
to accept. As
be would have an opportunity of expressing his views
more fully when the several matters referred to in the
speech would be submitted for the sanction of the House,
he would not occupy more time at present; but would
again express his gratification at the enlightened views so
ably set forth in his Excellency's speech.
Mr. Prowse was afraid the hon, gentlemen opposite
had mot been in the path of progress during the recess;
especially the hon. member, Mr. Renouf, had been drifting down into the slough of
toryism, . He was fast realizing that picture which a great wit had give nus of a
Conservative, who would not look upon the new moon, out
of respect to that ancient and venerable institution the
old moon; now his hon. friend would not look upon the
bright shining faces of the new bright bronze halpennies
out of respect to the old, beaten out buttons and ship
coppers, to all the bastard currency we rejoiced in before.
No, hon gentlemen did not want progress; no Confederation for them, and one hon gentleman,
Mr. Casey, used
as an argument against the confederation scheme, as a
proof, said he, how brilliantly Responsible Government
has worked with us, and that we want no change. One
party remained in office during the whole of one Parliament, and when the next party
came in, they did the
same. No wind of popular opinion was ever found strong
enough to blow them out of office, certainly a most extraordinary proof of our fitness
for representative enlightened. He (
Mr. Prowse ) agreed with every word of
praise which the hon gentlemen opposite had bestowed
upon the able and eloquent speech just delivered by his
Excellency; it was a matter of congratulation for the
country, that Her Majesty had sent so able and distinguished a Representative. His
Excellency had taken a
very clear view of the evils we were labouring under; he
comprehended all the dangers which the giant evils of
pauper relief exposed us to, and he (Mr. Prowse) considered that the Government deserved
the highest praise
which we could bestow upon them, for the able way in
wnich they had dealt with this question; the fact that
in a year of unparalled detitution, they had kept the
poor expenditure within the estimate, was, he considered
the highest proof of their merit as an Executive. The
excess of expenditure for shipwrecked crews they could
not be blamed for it. It was the result of a fearful calamity, which they could not
reasonably have calculated
on, and if in this battle with our great political enemy,
pauperism, they have been powerless to subdue it, which
sets at naught the efforts of our Priests and Ministers,
and all the exertions of our various charitable Societies,
they certainly have done all that could be done in grappling with what an emineut
Ecclesiastical Authority has
designated as our only great political, question.—We
had heard Confederation spoken against by hon gentlemen who are opposed to it on the
ground of increased
taxation? but he would like to ask what else is there
for us in the dim vista of the future but increased taxation.
Will one good seal fishery, or one good codfishery pull
up all the leeway you have lost? No, even with the
best prospects, there is nothing before us but increased
taxation, and that without corresponding improvements.
Now, Sir, this is not the proper time to go into the merits of this great question
of Confederation, but I will
take this opportunity of expressing my opinion on the
question. The hon member, Mr. Renouf, tells us that
we ought not to express our opinion upon this question;
he must grievously misapprehend the position of a Representative here, when he says
so., What are we here
for but to express our opinons on all questions, coming
before this Honse? And the man is a coward and a
miserable driveller, unfit for his position as a representative who shrinks from expressing
his conscientious opinion
on any question, who is frightened by the clamor of noisy
politicians-outside, or who is crushed under the weight
of the mercantile influence which is arrayed against this
question, and dares not express his opinion. He (Mr.
Prowse) would take this opportunity of expressing his
thanks to the Delegates, who so ably managed our interests in the Conference at Quebec;
no man can deny that
they did well, and they have committed us to nothing.
I should like to see a guarantee for direct and local
stem, and I believe we will have it; and whilst, however,
we are listening to all the reasons which must influence
every one of us who is favorable to the scheme, I don't
think we will have to search very deep into the motives
or speculate widely to find out the reasons for their
opposition. One, well salaried official candidly says if
Confederation will increase my salary of ÂŁ500 to ÂŁ600.
I am for Confederation. Every man who has anything
to lose by the curtailed expenditure of our local Government and our local Legislature,
all the
best of
official vampires and small fry of newspapers and reporters are dead against it, and
so are all those whose interests as merchants will, as they fear, be affected, or
whose
trade will be turned into new; channels, or whose
hatchets will be better ground now, but on the other
hand, will any one believe that the six dollans a day for
our Delegates and other leading gentlemen is sufficient
inducement or bribe for them to sell their country; it is
amusing to see the new born love which hon gentlemen
have for Mr. C. F. Rennett; a few years ago he was
in their opinion a narrow minded sectary, a one horse
politician, but now he is an angel of light. I agree with
everything they say in his praise as a gentletuan and as
as upright enterprising merchant, but I would be sorry
to pin my faith to him as a politician, in this question.
Mr. GLEN said that in his opinion the Delegates had
done wrong in signing the report of the Conference. By
doing so they had induced the British Government to
suppose that Newfoundland was in favor of Confederation, and the consequence was that
a copy of Mr. Sardwell's despatch has been forwarded to His Excellency.
By their unwise conduct our delegates had almost
succeeded in
[?] us to the Confederation without our
knowledge or consent. It would be charitable to suppose they did not know what they
were doing; They
were not sent there to sign this report, nor indeed to sign
anything. They were sent merely to watch the proceedings, and report them to this
House. They had not
received any commission from the people, but only from
the Government. In any case, it was the duty of the
2
THE NEWFOUNDLANDER.
Delegates, when they returned, to have given the
public some information as to what had been done.
They did not do so, however, and we have yet to learn
what took place at that Conference: As for the benefits
we were t receive by this Confederation, nothing
could benefit the country so much as good fisheries and
he (Mr. Glen) did not think the Confederation would
bring the fish to, our shores. He must express his
condemnation of the action of the Delegates in signing
that report, which they had no business and were not
authorised to do. Fortunately from the reading of the
despatch, it was evident the British Government did
not mean we should be coerced.
Mr.A. SHEA, said that at this late hour when the
House was necessarily wearied, he would not trespass
on their time, as he had intended, with any elaborate
observations on the subject which at the present moment naturally commanded the largest
share of public
attention. In the prominent place he held in relation.
to this question, it would rationally be expected that
he would be ready to go fully into the discussion; and
the lateness of the hour alone induced him to forego
their attention for the present. He must, however,
express his regret that hon. gentlemen should have
deemed it fitting to deal with the great question of
Confederation as they had done in the remarks they
offered to the House; for he had hoped that its magnitude and the great issues it
involved would have
secured for it that calm investigation of its real merits,
which the welfare of the public so earnestly demands.
This was not like the many ordinary subjects that
came before them, and on which the course not very
uncommon in that House, of unmeaning windy declamation, might do no great harm; but
here, where the
decision they might arrive at so deeply affected the
whole interests of the country, it was of the last importance that reason and intelligence
should guide
thier deliberations to their ultimate result. For these
reasons he was sorry to hear observations made that
day which involved gross misrepresentations of the
case, and seemed addressed rather to the passions and
prejudices of the people, than to their sober and
dispassionate judgment. Nor was he less surprised
at the character of some of the logic that had been
employed in the discussion. This colony was described as being in the lowest condition
of pauperism,
which caused an outlay of one-third of our revenue,
and yet by those who thus painted our condition, we
are told of the great eagerness of Canada to secure
this prize, and of the great advantages we are to confer to our own detriment. Does
not this mode
of dealing with the subject show how little thought
of relfection has been bestowed upon it by some who
take upon themselves the task of instructing the mind
of the public. The reasoning, public would demand
some more thoughtful mode of inquiry in relation to
this question. It should not be gone into hastily, and
ample time must be given for its consideration, in
order that no decision should be come to before the
public were fully informed of its real nature, and its
probable bearing upon our future interests: Various
cries had been unfairly resorted to to prejudice the
public mind. It was put forward as a strong ground
of objection that the Union of Ireland with England
had led to great evils in the former country, and
hence the efforts of O'Connell for so many years to
repeal the Union. Such arguments betray a lamentable ignorance of the grounds on which
that great
man based his agitation for Repeal. O'Connell sought
repeal because the connection with England was not a
Union in its true sense, because there was no equality
of rights and privileges between the two countries,
and the whole history of his life shows that all he desired was union with England,
on terms that would
have made Ireland her equal in all the conditions of
fair partnership. But he was not going into the question at that late hour. The subject
of taxation and
the other points that had been raised would be discussed at length when the matter
was fairly before
them, and when he had little doubt the many misrepresentations made on these subjects
would be satisfactorily explained and disposed of.
Mr. KENT—It appeared to him that those hon.
gentlemen who had spoken so favorably of the Governors speech were totally ignorant
of the first principles of Responsible Government. They had praised
the speech of the Governor without seeming to know
at the same time that it was that of the leader of the
government. All the rough edge of that speech had
been so beautifully rubbed off that it showed his Excellency to be a most accomplished
master of English.
But he (Mr. Kent) would not indulge in the sycophantic praises which his learned colleagues
had so
constitutionally bestowed on the speech of the Ministry. These hon. gentlemen had
worked themselves
up into a parliamentary perspiration; and all in praise
of the leader of the government. But for the reference that had been made to the Atlantic
Telegraph
Cable, he (Mr. Kent) would say that it was like a
lady's letter, the most important part of it was the
postscript. With reference to the question of pauper
relief, he believed that it was an ulcer in our social
condition. The Government could have done a great
deal to remedy this. They might have employed the
people on public works, and thus reduced the number
of recipients from the pauper fund; and for this grave
omission they could offer no excuse. Now that the
fisheries were a failure, they were obliged to open the
public purse and distribute the money among the
people. The suggestion in the speech that all relief
should not come out of the public funds, was a very
important one. He thought it was obligatory on the
public generally to assist in the support of the poor.
He believed that local assessment was the only way
in with this could be accomplished. If the Bank
and mackerel fisheries were to be encouraged by
bounties, why were not the cod fisheries to be cared
for also? Gradually, but slowly, the principles of
Free Trade were permeating through France; and
were we to retrograde, and resort to bounties for the
extension of our fisheries? Would not the proper
appropriation of the public monies in bounties, be to
take the ÂŁ30,000 that was uselessly squandered in
pauper relief, and with it encourage the rearing of
sheep and other graminivorous animals? He would
advise the hon. Attorney General that he was running
a tilt in this matter of bounties, but, like a drowning
man, he would grasp at a straw. The suggestion in
his Excellency's speech on the subject of Agriculture
was an excellent one. Surely our climate was not less
genial than that of Iceland. He (Mr. Kent) could see
no reason why we should not raise flax extensively in
this country. The suggestion was creditable to the
Ministry and to his Excellency, as the head of it. The
reference to a permanent Road Act, however, was
certainly an extraordinacy one. He (Mr. Kent)
would like to see any Premier attempt to bring in a
permanent Road Bill, and make it a perennial spring
of petty abstractions. If he (Mr. Kent) wanted to
keep a party together he would not dare to propose
such a thing. He might possibly, in carrying out its
rovisions, leave out some delightful little locality, rejoicing in some peculiarly
effloresent name, and the
result would be an entire overthrow of his ministry.
His Excellency the Governor appeared, on this point,
to be in a blissful state baptismal innocence.
With reference to the question of Steam communication, he believed that it had been
impossible for the
Government to carry out their intentions by reason of
the impoverished state of the Treasury. He trusted
that something would be done respecting the
Ellen
Gisborne. There was one useful work which he (Mr.
Kent) had to observe had been specially mentioned,
and that was a breakwater at Portugal Cove. If that
were accomplished it would be one of the greatest
benefits that could be conferred upon the inhabitants
of the district of Conception Bay. The question of
education was a very delicate one to deal with. He
(Mr Kent) did not understand what was meant by
normal schools. He had been in the Magistrates'
office the other day and he saw sixteen men sign there
by making their mark. He considered that was a disgrace to the country, and hoped
the youth of the
country would endeavour to take advantage of the
benefits of education which were afforded them, and
in some measure ameliorate their condition. With
reference to the volunteers, he thought the Executive
were too fightened about arming the fishermen of the
country. He (Mr Kent) deeply regretted these unfortunte distinctions. He was glad
to hear that the
revenue was a fair one, and hoped that when his hon
colleague, Mr Renouf, looked into the public accounts
he would find them satisfactory. He (Mr Kent) considered the question of Confederation
was one of no
ordinary importance. If we were going to be recalcitrant in this matter the Home Government
might
withdraw the troops and we would lose the great benefit we derived from the protection
they afforded us
as well as from the expenditure on their account by
the Imperial Government among us. He (Mr Kent)
believed that if we kept on good terms with the Home
Government they would extend to us for the next fifty
years the aegis of their protection, Let us enter into
the consideration of this matter calmly. Looking at
the question in its commercial aspects, he (Mr Kent)
considered that it must be of great advantage to this
country. If we did not join in this confederation,
Newfoundland might be met by a hostile tariff in every
direction, for there was reason to apprehend that the
Americans would terminate the reciprocity treaty. It
might be said that we would still receive our flour and
provisions from the United States; but if there was
war between the United Kingdom and the United
States, whence would we get them? How could they
protect their fisheries if the British government were
to tell them to set up for themselves? As to the cost
of a navy, a navy was a very remote thing under this
federation, because the British navy would, as now,
give us all the naval protection we required. But if
seamen were required for the British navy in time of
war, it was evident we could supply them with men
whose physical vigour and gallantry would reflect the
highest credit on the service. As to the military expenditure of the Confederation,
we were already
ledged to contribute towards the military expenditure
incurred for our defence, but as yet we had not been
called upon for anything. Politically considered, he
(Mr Kent) regarded the Confederation, as fraught
with important benefits to this colony. Although he
had been himself aparty to legislating for the existing
representation in that House, still he must state his
conviction that it was not such as was calculated to
promote useful legislation or a feeling of harmony
among the people of the colony. The representation
was based on religious distinctions; and the two great
religious denominations in the island being, so nearly
balanced numerically,the consequence was that a slight
advantage in one or two electoral districts gave a small
numerical majority in that House to the representatives of one party or the other,
and the effect of this
was a constant struggle in that House for the possession of power, to the retarding
of useful legislation,
and leading to the estrangement of parties in private
life, and producing that otium theologicum, which was
the bitterest of all hatreds. Viewed socially, federation with the other provinces
would be productive of
great advantages. There was an expansive benevolence and an enlargement of views generated
by amalgamating with large and populous communities. Our
isolation and contracted sphere of action was apt to
operate injuriously in many respects, whereas union
with the neighbouring provinces would produce increased intercourse, and an interchange
of sentiments
and hospitalities must result beneficially in many respects. He merely referred generally
to these aspets
of the question. When the subject was brought formally before the House he would be
prepared to go
more fully into its consideration. He was satisfied that
great social, political and commercial advantages would
accrue from it. He did say there was a great deal in
the objection raised, that we ought to consult the consutuencies. He was pleased with
the manner in which
the question was brought before the public in the
other colonies, where the supporters and opponents
of confederation appeared at public meetings and fully
set forth their views without introducing any clap-trap
into their speeches. With respect to the Governor's
speech, he (Mr. Kent) was very glad the ministry had
advised his Excellency to lay such an unexceptionable
speech before the House. With the prospect of soon
appearing before their constituents they have appeared
to have acted in accordance with the remark,that politicians have four-years for sinning
and one for repenting, previous to having to give an account of their
conduct. He hoped they might so direct their legislation this session as to do something
towards relieving
the people from that deep despondency with which they
are now pressed down.
Mr. TALBOT felt great pleasure in expressing his
satisfaction with the speech from the throne; not only
with the style of that able document; but with the important practical suggestions
it contained. He (Mr.
Talbot) did not think it was the speech of the minis try. It was not in accordance
with the sentiments
they had expressed in the House in former sessions,
It must have been written by the Governor himself;
and was a speech which did him very great credit—
And judging by it, we might anticipate that his Excellency would give great satisfaction
in the administration of the Government of this Colony. There was
one portion of it, that in reference to roads, recommending a permanent appropriation
for their repair
and extension, which was not in accordance with the
sentiments of the ministry, for the Premier himself was
opposed to roads. He (Mr. Talbot) was informed,
although he never heard him say it himself, that the
Premier had said, in his place in the House, that
roads were only a convenierce, and would not pay for
the outlay upon them. He (Mr. Talbot) thought a
permanent Road Act would be very useful. They
bould prevent the roads from falling into decay, by a
permanent Act. During the last year they might be
said to have no road grant at all, for the roads, equired
such repairs, from the neglect of preceding years, and
there were such large deductions for other purposes,
that the whole grant in the St. John's district was
required for repairs, and no new roads could be opened. With respect to education,
he thought it was
necessary to provide suitable renumeration for the
teachers, but no training school was required. His
Excellency must have been in error when he penned
that recommendation. There was a training School
for Catholic teachers in connexion with St. Bonaventore College, and he (Mr. Talbot,)
believed arrangements were made in connection with the Protestant
Academies for the training of teachers for the Protestant elementary schools.He did
not, therefore, see why
the Colony should be put to the expense of a separate
training institution. With respect to the new Currency Act, be thought the copper
coinage introduced was
not such as would give satisfaction to the country. He
considered its result to the poor man was the loss of
two pence on the shilling. The labourer on the
wharves, who received them in payment of his wages
at the rate of twenty half pence to the shilling, had
afterwards to give them for ten pence at the shops
where he purchased necessaries, for his family. He
had to comply with the old custom which their legisjor could not change. He (Mr. Talbot)
was very
much gratified to learn that the report of Mr. Murray,
the geologist, was so favourable respecting our mineral resources. It gave us reason
to anticipate that
valuable mines would be found which would furnish
a source of employment, and prove remunerative to
capitalists. The speech was unexceptionable, with the
exception of the question of poor relief; and that was
difficult one. We were so situated that, at present,
we had no source of employment for any large portion
of our people, except the fishery, and when that failed
the people were reduced to want, and they had, no
means in the outports of paying an assessment for their
relief, for they were all dependent on the fishery. If
the circumstances of the country were such that they
could make each district support their own poor, it
would be a most desirable course, but he (Mr. Talbot)
did not see how it could be done here. The next subject in the speech was Confederation.
It was a subject
of very great importance, and ought not to be treated
as a party question. He did not think it could be disposed of by the bandying of terms.
It was too solemn
a question to be so treated. It was one of life or death
to the country. He had given it a great deal of consideration too, and after all he
could not make up his
mind upon it. There might be something in the advantages pointed out by its supporters.
He had regarded it in the light of history and experience, and it
struck him to be a measure calculated to prove fatal
to the liberties of the country. He would like to see
in it a measure calculated for relieving the country
from pauperism which at present pressed it down. But
he did declare he could not see in it any practical
benefit calculated to lift the people from that state of
poverty into which so many of them were plunged.
And he solemnly declared he could not give it his
adhesion. He could see some advantage in extended
territory and a population of so many millians under
one Government; but the question of our liberty was
involved; and for liberty people have been ready to
sacrifice every thing. People regarded liberty, as
dearer than life itself. The proposed confederation
appeared to him like people bartering away their liberty for a certain price. With
respect to the Delegates
appointed by the Government of this Colony, they
were gentlemen of distinguished, talents, who he was
satisfied, would do nothing which they considered to
the prejudice of the Colony, or which would reflect
discredit on themselves; but he could not concur in
the resolutions to which they were parties; and with
regard to any decision on the question this session, he
did say that if they decided upon a measure of such
importance without consulting public opinion outside
they would act most unconstitutionally. He (Mr.
Talbot) was under the strongest impression that they
had not the power to pass a measure for giving effect
to these resolutions. They had been struggling for
twenty years to secure a free
constitution for the
country, and would they put their liberties in jeopardy,
or give over to any country the power to trample upon
them? He did say that he could see no good in it.
As to free trade, we could have free commercial intercourse with the other Colonies
without giving them
the power to control our legislation. And as to opening a field for the enterprise
of our young men, they
could now proceed to ony of the colonies, and had
free scope for their talents. Again, with respect to
the manner in which these Delegates were sent, the
question never had been brought before the House,
and the proceeding was entirely that of the Government. After some further observations,
the hon.
member concluded by saying that he was decidedly
pposed to the question of confederation being entertained this session.
The hon. Attorney GENERAL said he was much
pleased with the manner, in which his Excellency's
speech had been received by both sides of the House.
He fully concurred in the very marked expression of
satisfaction expressed by hon. members with that
speech, and with the opinions expressed as to the emiment qualifications possessed
by his Excellency for the
exalted and responsible position to which he had been
appointed by Her Most Gracious Majesty. There was,
however, as was to be anticipated, some difference of
opinion on several of the subjects referred to in that
speech. The hon. member for St. John's East,
Mr.
Parsons, as was his usual practice, complained of the
course followed by the Government, and expatiated
in glowing terms on the results which would flow from
a different policy shadowed forth by him, a policy of
giving the public money to any who would receive it,
to be expended in cultivating the soil, a policy of
which the certain result would be to render all the
recipients dependent upon government support. It
was somewhat remarkable that although that hon.
member had been upwards of twenty years in that
House, and had been declaiming all that time about
some comprehensive policy that would make abundance pervade the land, and banish want,
and pauperism from our midst, yet he had never introduced a
single measure to give effect to his own suggestions.
With respect to the poor expenditure the hou. member
had given free scope to his in agnation, and asserted
that it was far larger than it had actually been. The
hon. member for St. John's East,
Mr. Kent, did
object to some things in the speech, as was to be expected from the leader of the
opposition; but he (
hon.
A. Gen) could not but admire the good humour
and wit with which the hon, member spoke in the
house; except when he got into bad humour, and then
he said things which he (hon A. Gen.) was sure he
did not mean. He must say however, that he could
not agree with the hon, member in some matters. He
objected to the encouragement suggested by his Excemency to the Bank, and mackeral
fisheries. Now
he (hon. A. Gen.) admitted that bounties, in the
abstract, were objectionable. But in this case it was
not proposed to give bounties to sustain an unprofitable branch of business, but to
give temporary encouragement for the purpose of resuscitating a fishery
which gave employment to the fishermen of other
countries, but in which our fishermen did not at present engage; and which we had
reason to believe
would be, after a short time, not only self-sustaining,
but a source of profitable employment to a large number of our fishermen. Our fishermen
had for many
years past engaged only in the shore, and Labrador
cod fisheries, which, we all regretted, had not baen so
remunerative as could be wished. He did not think
that there was any thing else to which his hon. friend
had referred which required any observation. There
was another matter, however, on which a good deal
had been said on both sides of the House, on which
he (hon. A. Gen.) would make a few observations.
He referred to the proposed Confederation of the
British North American Colonies. It was a matter of
great importance and one equiring the gravest attention. it was one which would require
them to
take into consideration, not only the present condition
of the colony and its relation to the parent state and
the neighbouring colonies; but also the circumstances
that might be anticipated to affect these relations in
future years. It was
the subject on which a great deal
might be said and written on both sides. He would
not at present go into the consideration of the question. The government were invited
by that of Canada to take part in the deliberations at Quebec, and
considered it their duty to the country to accept the
invitation. He concurred in the opinion
expressed
by hon. members as to the zeal and ability with which
the Delegates had discharged their duty; and he
would take that opportunity of expressing his approval of the terms as respected
Newfoundland. He differed from those who thought the Delegates should
not have taken part in the discussions at the Conference. Their instructions were
not to do anything to
bind this colony, as the subject had not been before
the Legislature, and these instructions bad been complied with. But the course they
had followed resulted in arrangements which he (hon. Attorney General)
considered it would be to our advantage to accept.
He considered it was also their duty to sign the Report, by which the proceedings
of the Conference
were authenticated; and it must be gratifying to them
all to learn the high
opinion entertained at the
Conference, and by leading gentlemen in Canada, of
the Delegates and the manner in which they had acquitted themselves. He should be
expected to state
the course which the Government intended to take
respecting that matter. He deprecated any discussion of the matter until all the papers
were laid before the house, which, to save time, were now in the
course of being printed, and would be laid on the table
in a few days. Notice would be given of a day for
taking the matter into consideration probably the 15th
February, which would give hon. members three weeks
to consider the documents on the subject, and the resolutions to be proposed by the
Government. There
was no desire to press the decision of the House on
the question with undue haste. He thought ample
time should be given for its consideration, and concurred with those who thought its
importance entitled it
to the gravest deliberation. He did trust that hon.
members, after full consideration of the whole question, would come prepared to consider
the resolutions
with a full sense of the responsibility which devolved
upon them, and whether they confirmed the resolutions or decided that we remain as
we are, that they
would be actuated by no motive except an earnest
desire to promote the permanent interests of the country in which they occupied the
honourable and responsible position of the peoples' representatives; and
that their decision would be such as they could afterwards reflect upon with satisfaction.
Mr. GLEN wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to force the matter
through
the house this session?
Hon. Attorney GENERAL.—The Government
never forced any matter through the House. They
were always satisfied with submitting their views to
the House, and accepting the decision of hon. members upon them.
Mr. GLEN.—Was he to understand that the resolutions to be submitted by the Government would,
as
regsrds this Colony, affirm the report of the Conference?
Hon. ATToRNEY GENERAL.—Certainly. Such would
be the effect of the resolutions, if concurred in by the
House.
Mr. GLEN.—The constitution was granted, not to
the House of Assembly, but to the people of Newfoundland, and he (Mr. Glen) considered
the people
were entitled to be consulted before we came to a
decision on the subject.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The question would
be submitted to the House, and it would be for hon.
members to decide what course should be adopted.
The government, were prepared to acquiesce in the
decision of the House.
After some observations by Mr. Kent and Mr.
Talbot, the motion for the appointment of a Select
Committee to prepare the draft of an address in reply
to his Excellency's speech was put and carried.
Ordered that Messrs. Wyatt, Whitewny, E. D.
Shea, Winter, and Casey do form the committee.
The hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL gave notice that on
Wednesday, the 15th February next, he will move the
House into Committee of the whole on the subject of
a Confederation of the North American Provinces.
Mr. RENOUF gave notice that on to-morrow he will
ask the hon. the Acting Colonial Secretary to lay on
the table of the House a copy of all correspondence
between the Government and that of Canada on the
subject of Colonial ConĹżederation; also copy, of Instructions furnished the Delegates,
Messrs. Shea and
Carter, to the Quebec Convention, and the Report of
the said Delegates.
Also to ask the hon. Acting Colonial Secretary for
copy of correspondence from Dr. Stabb, Manager of
the Lunatic Asylum, to the Government, in December last, complaining of the visit
of inspections made
by the Representatives of St. John's West to that Institution twelve months ago.
Mr. TALBOT gave notice that on to-morrow he will
ask the hon. Attorney General what arrangement has
been made by the Government to provide Medical
attendance for the St. John's Hospital in place of the
late Dr. Rochford.
The House then adjourned until Monday at three
o'clock.
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