166
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
FRIDAY, May 23rd.
Hon. LEADER or THE GOVERNMENT moved that the House resolve
itself into a Committee of the whole
to consider the message received from
His Honor the Lieut. Governor, containing the Terms offered by the Dominion of Canada
to this Colony for
its admission into Confederation, procured by the last delegation, and said :
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 167
This question of Confederation is the
most important matter ever taken into
consideration by a Committee of the
House of Assembly of this Colony.
The Government considered the Terms
brought down from Ottawa by Messrs.
Haythorne and Laird, were such that
if accepted, the Colony would be
forced to resort immediately to local
taxation in order to meet its yearly
requirements ; and, therefore, felt it to
be their duty to appoint another delegation for the purpose of obtaining
better Terms, if possible. This Island
occupies an entirely different position
from that of any of the other Colonies,
as the latter have many great sources
of revenue which we have not. Ontario derives a revenue from her Crown
lands, amounting to a million dollars
per year ; New Brunswick has her
Crown lands and forests, and Nova
Scotia lands and mines. Although
this Province is the most fertile and
productive in British America, it is
dependent upon the products of its soil
and fisheries, and has no Crown lands
or forests as sources of revenue, as
have the other Provinces. Owing to
our isolated position, we could not expect to successfully carry on manufacturing
Operations or anything of that
kind, while the other Provinces are
not cut off from each other during half
the year, and have four millions of
customers for their manufactured
.goods. I, therefore, looked upon this
Island as occupying an exceptional
position, and in giving up the power
of self government and taxation, I felt
that we should receive a sum sufficient
to enable us to meet our requirements,
as we have hitherto done. Although
we had a Railway from one end of the
Island to the other, it was only fair
that Canada should take it off our
hands and keep it running. The
Government were told that the Terms
brought down by Messrs. Haythorne
and Laird were liberal, generous, and
the best that could be obtained ; but
we did not consider they would supply
the wants of the Colony. The House
then authorized the appointment of
another delegation to proceed to Ottawa, and endeavor, if possible, to obtain better
Terms which would meet
our requirements, and, at the same
time, be just, reasonable and fair.
Messrs. Haviland, Howlan and myself
were appointed on that delegation, and
proceeded on our mission. On our
arrival at Ottawa, we had a good deal
to contend with. We had been preceded by the Leaders of the Opposition in both Branches
of the Legislature, who composed the former delegation, and who, I believe, did all
they
could to obtain the most liberal Terms.
On their return they had declared that
no better Terms would be granted.
And we had also heard a great deal
about the Governor General's telegram which had been sent down here ;
but we know that telegrams of that
kind are sometimes asked for by the
ministry of the day, and paid no attention to it. Representations bad preceded us
from this Island to the effect
that the great bulk of the people were
satisfied with the Terms already offered, and that I had stated that if I could
not obtain better Terms, I would accept the Terms brought down by the
former delegates. Some of our friends
and well wishers had written to Ottawa, stating that they considered the
Terms already obtained just and
liberal, and that they were satisfactory
to the people generally. We stated in
plain terms that what we wanted was
a sufficient amount to carry on our
local Government, and meet the usual
wants of the Colony, without being
compelled, immediately after entering
Confederation, to resort to local taxation. Our idea was that the manner
in which we presented our claims
would enable the Dominion Government to judge for themselves, and they
could then provide for them as they
thought fit. I wrote a note to the
168
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
Finance Minister, and asked for an
answer ; but the latter was very short,
and most people would think there
was no prospect held out in it of obtaining better Terms. However, we
persevered, and made out as good a
case as we possibly could by taking a
rather prospective view of our expenditure, and after spending some time
in negociation we succeeded in obtaining the following addition to the
Terms brought down by the preceding
delegates: Instead of entering Confederation with an assumed debt of
$45 per head, we shall be entitled to
incur a debt equal to $50 per head of
our population, which will give us
$23,500 annually. Then, in order to
keep up constant communication with
the capital, the Dominion Government
agreed to pay $2,000 as a subsidy to
the Telegraph Company. As we require a great deal of inland Steam
communication, such as the line to
Mount Stewart, Orwell, Crapaud,
Georgetown, Summerside, &c., we
claimed an annual allowance for that
purpose, and obtained an assurance of
$10,000 yearly for mail service by
those lines. Our inland Steam Communication, will, we are assured, be
connected with the Steam Service connecting this Island with Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick. This would fully
make up the sum of $33,000 per year
over and above the Terms obtained by
Messrs. Laird and Haythorne. We
endeavored to impress upon the Dominion Government the fact that it
would be better to prevent the necessity of our being compelled to resort to
direct local taxation for a few years
after entering Confederation, than to
have our people enter the Dominion
discontented and dissatisfied. We
were also promised that the wharves
in our principal harbors would be
taken by the Dominion, and
maintained, which would be another valuable addition to the preceding Terms.
When the House of Commons is in a
Committee of Supply, a small amount for such a purpose does not receive much attention,
while it will materially assist us. The Opposition were perfectly satisfied with the
Terms procured by their Government, and, therefore, I am sure, that when they
find them supplemented by the handsome sum procured by the last delegation, they will
give them their cordial
support. I sincerely hope and trust that
this great question of Confederation
will be carried by a unanimous vote of
this House. A resolution, embodying
the Terms now offered us, has been
passed in the Dominion Parliament,
and also an Address to Her Majesty,
in accordance with the North America Act. I have received a telegram
from the Finance Minister, stating
that the Legislation necessary on the
part of Canada was done and, therefore, the matter only requires action
on our part to consummate the arrangement or our admission into the Dominion. The
resolution passed through
their Parliament without much opposition, and I hope this House will
follow their example in that respect.
Something was stated in that Parliament to the effect that the Terms were
too liberal to this Colony ; but as there
was a general feeling in favor of the
consolidation of all the Provinces, little
opposition was offered. As delegates,
we did all that was in our power to do
in the short time allotted us, and I think
we accomplished a good deal, considering the circumstances. The House of
Commons was about to rise, and the
Ministers had a great many duties to
attend to, which occupied their attention to a very late hour. If we had
been allowed more time, we might
have done still more, but we did not
think the House should be detained
much longer, as hon. members were
anxious to return to their homes and
business. As delegates we assented
to the Terms, and the Government
approved of all we had done. 1 be
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 169
lieve our supporters are ready to support the acceptance of the Terms, and to carry
out this great question to its final issue ; and that the hon. members of the Opposition
will also approve of the Terms we have obtained, instead of being grieved at the additional
allowance we are to receive. I hope that when we go into Committee for the consideration
of the matter, it will be dealt with in a proper spirit, and in a manner that will
reflect credit upon this House. If the Opposition give their support in carrying out
Confederation upon the basis of the Terms now before us, they will receive their full
share of the credit resulting from it. I hope we shall have a unanimous vote upon
the Terms now before the House, and I believe we shall, with the exception, perhaps,
of my hon. friend from Bedeque (Mr. Howatt), but I hope that even he will make up
his mind and support their acceptance, also. I do not think he will like to see his
name recorded as that of the only hon. member who has voted against the important
measure which will be introduced for consummating this matter of Confederation. The
increased trade that will result from a union with the Dominion will be of very great
service to us as a Colony. The people of the Dominion take a very great interest in
this little Island, and I believe free intercourse with them in every respect will
be of vast benefit to us. There will be no trouble about our credit, and with proper
economy, I believe we shall be able to get along without asking our people to contribute
anything, for many years to come, in direct taxation for local purposes. The sum we
shall receive from the Dominion would amount to more than two dollars on every acre
of land in this Colony, and if that tax had to be levied from our people, it would
be found very objectionable. With due economy I think we shall have suffi
cient for our wants, and I, therefore, rejoice that the time will soon arrive when
we shall become a part of the great Dominion of Canada.
Hon. Mr. HAVILAND seconded the motion of the hon. Leader of the Government to go into Committee for
the consideration of the Terms lately offered to this Colony by the Dominion of Canada.
Mr. LAIRD.—I am surprised that
the hon. member for Georgetown
would second the motion of the hon.
Leader of the Government without a
single remark upon the important
matter contained in the message from
His Honor the Lieutenant Governor.
I thought he would certainly have
given some explanation of the proceedings of the delegation to Ottawa ;
and it seems he is merely going to
give a silent vote upon the question.
However, we may hear from him
when the House goes into Committee.
It is surprising that the hon. member
would append his name to the statement made to the Privy Council of the
Dominion, that the people of this
Island were dissatisfied with the Terms
then before them, and wished so much
more in addition, and also, that those
Terms were not just and equitable.
The hon. member voted for Confederation on the basis of the Quebec
Scheme, and when the Haythorne- Laird Terms came down, he declared
in public, that they were just and
liberal to the people of this Colony,
but in this communication to the Privy
Council, he states that those Terms
were not just and equitable. Perhaps
he thinks we should endeavor to obtain all we can. Well, I will agree
with him in that, and am very glad
he has got better Terms. The hon.
Leader of the Government has given
us an account of the doings of the
delegation, and was very moderate in
his speech ; but his statement in refer
170
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
ence to the $10,000 promised him by
the Dominion authorities for Inland
Steam communication, is not backed
up by any written document to that
effect, and cannot be taken into account as forming any part of the Terms
now offered us. The written Terms
contain nothing in reference to either
Inland Steam communication, or to
Harbor improvements, and, therefore,
grants for those matters are not guaranteed to us. We may set down the
statements in reference to them as so
much mere assertion, because we cannot expect to have anything granted
that is not contained in the written
Terms. Although ministers may give
certain assurances, the fulfilment of
them depends upon the ministry of the
day, and are not to be depended upon
for all time to come. The Terms
brought down by the last delegation to
Ottawa, amount, therefore, to only
$25,000 more than the Terms obtained
by the former delegation and we have
not had, so far, any explanation as to
the basis upon which this additional
amount has been secured. The former delegates explained the basis upon which they
obtained the $45 per head, and how the calculation was made. They showed that the
Dominion was engaged in carrying on several great and costly public works, which would
swell her debt to a certain amount, and that in receiving the $45 per head, we would
receive an equivalent to that expenditure. But the House has not been informed how
the extra five dollars, obtained by the last delegation, has been secured, whether
it was because there is to be a re-adjustment of the assumed debts of all the Provinces
of the Dominion, or whether additional public works to those already spoken of are
to be undertaken? If any new work is to be undertaken by the Dominion, in addition
to those previously mentioned by them, the House should be informed of it. If
there is to be a re-adjustment of the
debts of the several Provinces of Canada, we should also be informed of it.
New Brunswick is seeking for better
Terms, and at next session of the Dominion Parliament we may see their
Government offer to increase the
grants to all the other Provinces. If
this turns out. to be the real state of
matters, it will make a vast difference
as to the real value of the Terms now
offered us, as we shall have to hear
our share of the taxation necessary to
carry out that arrangement. I must
say matters look very suspicious, as
they at present appear. I do not say
that this is really so, but I do say that
the explanation given by his honor the
Leader of the Government, as to the
hams upon which the present Terms
have been secured, is extremely unsatisfactory, and leaves great room for
doubt and suspicion. I have looked
over the arguments contained in the
correspondence with the Finance Minister by the last delegates, and I fail
to see in the claims they put forth, one single argument to justify the sending of
that delegation to Canada. Before the delegation was appointed, the House was informed
that certain Lighthouses and the Drill Sheds were built since the Quebec Conference
took place, and that the expense of their construction should be borne by the Dominion
Government. But we find that when the delegates reached Ottawa they did not even mention
those items. I think the Opposition must have so thoroughly convinced them of the
shallowness of their arguments, that they felt ashamed of them and did not dare to
present them. There is something remarkable in the fact that the Minute of Council,
containing their claims, was nearly identical in substance to that adopted by the
late Government, before their delegation started for Ottawa. They actually stole the
arguments advanced by the
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 171
late Government, and based their
claim for better Terms upon them.
There was only one item in their
claims different from those of the former delegates, and that was, a claim
for $100,000 for a little branch line
of Railway to Port Hill. This, I can
say with all my heart, I wish they had
obtained. With that single exception,
the last delegation could not raise a
single argument in addition to those
contained in the Minute of Council of
the late Government, and which was
presented by the former delegates to
the Dominion Government. The former delegates received a memorandum
from the Dominion authorities stating
that their claims were inadmissable,
and the last delegation received a
similiar memorandum, stating the
same thing in a very few words.
When the former delegates found that
they could not obtain the Terms they
asked for, on the grounds they took,
they asked for them in connection with
our lands. We claimed that we
should receive full compensation for
the loss of our Crown lands. Ontario
received a revenue of a million of
dollars per year from her Crown lands,
and it would be unfair that we should
suffer on account of the granting away
of our lands. Under this head we
gained $5000, although we received
$15,000 per year less than the amount
we claimed. In the claims put in by
the last delegation we find them talk
about rotten hemlock wood in our
bridges and wharves. There was
nothing very powerful in that line of
argument. The hon. Leader of the
Government stated in this House, before the last delegation were appointed,
that unless we received $70,000 per
year in addition to the Terms obtained
by the late Government, the Colony
could not work its way in Confederation without resorting to immediate
local taxation ; but the Terms they
have obtained come far short of that
amount, and according to his own
argument, we shall still be compelled
to resort to direct local taxation, immediately after entering the Dominion,
if we accepted the Terms he has
brought down. The last delegates
asked $51 per head of our population,
but obtained only $50 per head, which
shows they were not all powerful with
the Dominion authorities. I wonder
how the Government are going to keep
up a system of mail communication by
inland steamers? Unless they send
the mails regularly by those steamers,
they cannot secure the $10,000 promised them for that purpose. The
country was assured that they had
obtained $33,000 in addition to the
Terms brought down by the former
delegates, but that amount has dwindled down to $25,500. However, I am
glad that the delegates have gone up
to Ottawa, and that the Terms now before us have been obtained, as Confederation will
now be supported by both
political parties, with the exception of
the no-Terms men. I do not think
any person could find fault with the
Opposition for opposing the sending
of the last delegation to Ottawa, as
they had no reason for expecting any
additional concessions from the Dominion immediately after the return of
the former delegates from Canada, and
as they had been elected by the people
at the late election to accept the Terms
then before the country. But as bet- Terms have actually been secured, the
country should be satisfied with the
result of the last delegation. I consider that the Opposition would have
been guilty of a dereliction of duty, if,
after having been returned to support
the acceptance of the Terms secured
by the late Government, they had not
opposed sending another delegation.
By following the course we then took,
we were doing our duty tol our own
constituents as well as to the Dominion
Government. I sent no telegram to
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PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
Ottawa to endeavor to prevent the
last delegates from obtaining better Terms, not did I, in any way, endeavor to throw
any obstacle in their way ; but I know that telegrams were sent when the former delegation
went up there to find the effect that we (Messrs. Haythorne and Laird) were not to
be trusted, and those telegrams were published in the Ottawa newspapers at the time.
I do not blame any member of the present Government with sending those Telegrams,
but somebody sent them. We took no such means to injure the labors of the last delegation
; but, at it is well known, such telegrams will, by some means, be sent in such cases.
The newspapers of this Island find their way to the Senate Chamber and the House of
Commons, and while there, I went, upon the arrival of every mail, to see them. During
such times as these, when a great question, such as Confederation is before the people,
the members of the Dominion Government are sure to look at those papers of both sides
of politics. I am not at all satisfied with the explanation of the hon. Leader of
the Government as to the basis upon which the present Terms have been obtained. In
their negociations with the Dominion Government, the last delegates nearly lost sight
of the fisheries altogether, although they delcared their in tention, previous to
starting upon their mission, of putting in certain claims in reference to that matter.
They also stated that they would not give up the New Law Courts to the Dominion Government,
as required it ourselves, but there has been no change made by them in this respect.
With the exception of the $5 per head and the grant for telegraph communication, the
Terms are word for word with those obtained by the former delegates. At the end of
the first memorandum there are a dew words said in reference to the fisheries, but
there is nothing said about them afterwards. The former
delegation endeavored to press that
question upon the attention of the Dominion Government, to a considerable extent,
but did not succeed. They also claimed a grant for the telegraph communication, but
it was refused. We thought the Dominion Government should take charge of that matter
and pay the annual subsidy, but the Finance Minister said they did not pay for telegraph
communication for any of the other Provinces, and could not promise to do anything
for us. But they have now done us justice in this respect, and will find the telegraph
almost a necessity for the purpose of keeping up a communication between the general
Government and the Dominion officials. If any accident happened to the telegraph,
they could not communicate with their officers here ; they had, therefore, a good
right to pay the subsidy. They should have allowed us that grant from the first, and
I am glad to hear that it has now been conceded. I shall reserve further remarks in
reference to details, till the House resolves itself into a Committee of the whole.
I.O.
Hon. Mr. HAVILAND.— Mr. Speaker, the hon, member who has just resumed his seat, and who is so anxious
to hear my views, was in such a hurry to rise himself, that I had no opportunity to
speak, when I seconded the motion of my hon. friend the Leader of the Government,
and after thus hastily springing to his feet, and occupying the floor, the hon. member,
the Leader of the Opposition, twits me for not expressing an opinion on the general
subject. I am not one of those who think it is at all necessary that every hon, member
should speak upon questions which come up for discussion. In the House of Commons,
at Ottawa, where there are two hundred members, every man does not speak upon all
matters which are introduced.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 173
When I was there, a few days ago, I
heard a question discussed which reflected upon the whole Government, and yet they
left the matter to the Leader of the Government to defend. Any other course would
be wearisome and attended with so prolonged a discussion that the public business
could not be proceeded with. But as the hon. member is so anxious that I should not
give a silent vote, I will favor him with a few remarks ; and first I must congratulate
him on his aptitude as a learner, for, as Leader of an Opposition he is becoming thoroughly
acquainted with those facilities which Teinrey lays down as a rule when he says, the
duty of an Opposition is to oppose everything which comes from a Government. The hon.
member is anxious to know upon what basis we obtained the additional allowance of
$5 per head ? Well, the best answer to that is :
argumentem ad hominem, as it is an argument which applies to the pockets of the people, and they care little
for those of the ablest speakers in comparison with that which bears upon their personal
welfare. The hon. member seems sore because we have succeeded so much better than
he did, and asks upon what basis we received more ? Well we got the additional $5
a head, upon the same basis as he obtained the $45, with this difference, that we
convinced them by our argument that on account of our isolated and exceptional condition,
we were entitled to more than $45, and yielding to the force of this reasoning, when
taken in connection with the principle laid down in the North American Act, they allowed
us the extra $5 per head. The hon. member expressed surprise that I went on the delegation.
Why, Sir, if he is surprised at me for going on the delegation, because I said I would
go for the Terms be hrought down, if better could not be obtained, I may, with much
more reason, express my surprise and astonishment, that he, who had been pledged himself,
against Confederation, and who,
through the use of the columns of the
Patriot had been the means of having other public men pledged, should have thought of going
on such a mission. Who would have thought that a gentleman, who, for so many years
had been comparing Canda to the scarlet something,—which was not to be trusted—that
after all this, he should turn round in favor of a union with this same country, may
well surprise any one. That he, the quintessence of anti-Confederate sincerity, should
so suddenly change his views, and in one night decide and go to Canada, may well astonish
the public. Indeed, I think the hon, member is surprised himself at the suddenness
of his conversion. But I am glad that he is now a Confederate. I am proud to know
that the good seed of Confederation has taken root and is thriving so well ; and that
the hon. member himself is one of the tallest trees which this seed has produced.
What I said at Georgetown was, that sooner than that this Island should go into a
state of bankruptcy, I would go for Mr. Laird's Terms, if better could not be had.
But, says the hon. member, you asked for $51 and only got $50. Well, even so, is not
$50 better than $45 ? it is useless to go into this question at any length to attempt
to convince this hon. House of the advantages of a union with the Dominion, or that
the Terms we received are better than Mr. Laird's. Such an attempt would be as unnecessary
asit would be to get up and attempt to show to the people of this Island the advantages
of education. It has now become a self-evident proposition, that we cannot any longer
remain out of Confederation. A concession was made to us on account of our ice-bound
position for so many months in the year, and also in view of the fact that our people
had not been accustomed to direct taxation, and that if we went in under terms which
would necessitate
174
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
us to resort to this, the people would
be dissatisfied. Perhaps the hon.
member, the Leader of the Opposition,
made use of such arguments too. I do
not doubt but that he did his best, nor
do I doubt either. but that he approves
of all we did. I am inclined to think
the hon. member is only joking. The
question, however, is important. So,
also, is the crisis which has arrived in
our history. It is one which, in the
decision we may arrive at, will affect
us for weal or woe for all time; therefore, it is important. Unless we accept the
Terms now before us and go
into Confederation, it will be utterly
impossible, with the large debt now
thrown upon us, to float our Debentures, and establish our public credit.
If we go in we will be better off. The
taxation will be less, and I believe,
hope and trust. that when we go into
Committee that a resolution will be
agreedto which will be forwarded to
Her Majesty, together with an Address, which will enable us forth with
to become a part of the great Dominion of Canada. It would be to our
advantage that we should go in before
the 1st of July. That is the time when
the financial year begins, and, therefore, in many ways it would be to our
advantage. We will receive our half
yearly allowance in advance, which as
a matter of course will facilitate the
public business of the Island. As his
honor the Leader of the Government.
has stated, Canada has done her part.
We have to do ours when all that
will be required will he to agree upon
an Address to the Queen, asking Her
Majesty to have this Island united
with the Dominion, in accordance with
the Terms of the North America Act.
Hence, as Mr. Tilley says, if we wish
to go in by the 1st of July, we know
what we have to do. The hon member said, when he and his friend were
up there, they did all in their power
to get the Dominion to relieve us of Â
the subsidy paid to the Telegraph
Company. That they did so, I do not
for a moment doubt. But we showed
the Finance Minister of Canada that
by the Teams of the North American
Act, the general Government is bound
to keep up all Telegraph communication between the Provinces in the
Union. He became convinced of the
reasonableness and justness of the plea,
and when he saw it in that light, consented at once to allow it.
Hon. B. DAVIES.—Mr. Speaker, as
I have no wish that we should go to
Canada in the position of mendicants,
I contend we have a right to be told
what the basis is upon which the $50
per head has been obtained. As we
are about to enter the Dominion, it is
a matter of importance for us to know
how she spends her money, therefore,
there must be some reason upon which
this extra amount has been based. We
should know why it is given. If a
proportionate allowance, on a re- adjustment of the debt of the Colonies,
is to be made to the other Provinces,
it amounts to an extra additional debt
of twenty millions dollars. And if so,
I do not think they would think of undertaking such an outlay without making it known
to the delegates. When
the delegates are so unwilling to communicate fuller information to this
House, on this subject, I am inclined
to suppose that they probably obtained
it by importunity. I do not see, Sir,
that we can arrive at any other conclusion. The Canadian Government
was satisfied they offered to the late
delegates all we were entitled to ; and
it appears to me that the late delegates,
on account of the late Government
being defeated on the floor of this
House, took advantage of that fact to
persuade the Privy Council of Canada,
that unless an additional allowance
was granted, this Island would not
enter the Dominion. Now, if such
were the arguments resorted to, to
obtain this, they were dishonorable.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 175
It was wrong to beg money of them
in this way. It is. due to the Opposition and also to the supporters of the
Government in this House, to explain
how this extra allowance was obtained,
and upon what principle it was granted. But as they took such care, by
the resolution they carried before they
went, to have every man bound by its
construction to vote for the Terms they
would bring down. they feel independent of this side of the House in
this matter; knowing as they do,
thatno hon. member of this hon. House,
would, for a moment, think of being so
dishonorable as to vote against the
Terms brought down, after having
supported the resolution upon which
the delegates was appointed.
The motion was then put and agreed
to when the House resolved itself into
a Committee of the whole House, for
the further consideration of the Report.
MR. LAIRD said the late Government laid the telegrams before the
Home, which passed between the
delegates and the Government when
they were in Canada, and maintained
that the telegrams which passed between the present delegates and the
Government should have been laid
upon the table of the House consecutively with the other correspondence.
It was said that the addition to the
Haythorne and Laird Terms was
$33,000 in excess of those brought
down by the delegates of the late
Government. It is fair to enquire
what has become of the balance?
Perhaps it has been used for some purpose.which the telegram, respecting the
$10,000 which fell so heavily upon
some poor man's head, might explain.
Why, the Committee should report
progress and gather up the fragments
which constitute the remaining $1,500,
in order that nothing might be lost.
Besides, it is not fair to this hon.
Committee that any information should
be withheld. In the speech of the
hon. gentleman, the Leader of the
Government, which he made, he stated
that we were entitled to receive $70,000 in addition to the previous Terms.
In the memorandum, sent into the
Privy Council, but which is not dated,
they say :—
"Prince Edward Island to be entitled to incur a debt of $51 per head
instead of $45, in other words to he at
liberty on entering the Union to incur
a debt of $4,795,071 instead of $4,230,945.
"To receive an annual grant of
$8,000 for maintenance of Steam communication up the rivers and along
the coasts of the Island.
"The subsidy of $2,000 a year to
Telegraph Company for connecting the
Island with the Dominion by means of
electric telegraph, to be assumed by
the Dominion.
"The difference between the Terms
offered by the Dominion, and the
Terms required by the undersigned is
$70,887."
But how they run it up this amount
does not appear, for, according to his
(Mr. L.) calculation, $51 per head
of our population would yield but
|
$4,795,071 |
| From which if we deduct
the amount $45 per
head, viz., |
4,230,535 |
| There is simply a gain of |
$564,126 |
| Which at 5 per cent |
|
| Yields in excess of the
Haythorne Terms, |
$28,206 |
| To which when we add for
Steam communication |
8,000 |
| Do, for Telegraph Co., |
2,000 |
| We have a total of |
$38,206 |
176 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
or a trifle more than half what they claimed. But he supposed they went on the principle
that it was better to take half a loaf than starve. He thought he heard the hon. Leader
of the Government state the other night that he was always convinced that if the real
friends of the Dominion went up to Ottawa, they would obtain better Terms than others
could. But who are the real friends of union ? Whatever may be said of some, he knew
the record of the hon. member for Tignish was not very bright on that question. The
hon. member quoted history largely, in the past, to show the evils which Confederation
would entail upon our Island. He felt surprised the learned Colonial Secretary should
have been so silent. Perhaps he always felt that the Railway would impose too heavy
a burden upon the Colony, and saw that it would bring about that union with Canada
which he so much desired. Had it not been for the exertions of the late Government
and their friends, the Hon. member the Leader of the Government and his friends could
never have carried Confederation. And if they had any true gratitude they would erect
over our political graves a monument as high as the Pyramids of Egypt. (Laughter.)
The record of the other two delegates is somewhat more favorable than that of the
hon. member from Tignish. But at one time, viz., when the Terms of 1867 came down,
the learned Attorney General was regarded as somewhat heretical in his views. It would
be tedious to go through the course some of them have pursued, but in the meantime
it was obvious that truth was stranger than fiction. If he had written and spoken
against Confederation, it could be shown that from the first, up to the present moment,
he never deceived any one. The hon. Col. Secreatry, according to his speech on Declaration
day at Georgetown, would rather take the Haythorne-Laird Terms than have none at all.
But why the hon. gentleman should have consented to throw these into the teeth of
Canada, he could not understand. Probably, on that occasion, the hon. gentleman waxed
more eloquent than wise. For his (Mr. L.) part, he thought that even then he would
rather have the Quebec Terms, those of 1869, or the Haythorne-Laird Terms, than remain
outside. So desirous has the hon. member ever been to have a Dominion horse, that
he would rather have a spavined one than none at all. But the truth was, nothing taking
place now in regard to politics, should astonish any one.
MR. SINCLAIR was pleased with the
Terms, but thought the information
brought down was not as full and explicit as it should be. It was telegraphed down
to the Government that
$33,000 had been obtained. Now it
turns out there are but $25,500. The
late Government was charged with
having mutilated the Terms secured
by their delegates. But no one ever
charged them with boasting of having
received more than they said they had
obtained. With respect to what they
have secured, no basis has been shown
for a single dollar, except what was
secured for the telegraph line, and the
late Government were told we had a
right to that, and he had no doubt but
that it would have been received.
This only seems to have been asked
for upon a certain basis. If the $50
per head has been granted upon the
principle that a re-adjustment of the
debt of the other Provinces is to take
place, then they have received nothing
more in that particular than we would
receive when that re-adjustment takes
place. They said at one time, some
of them at least, that they were willing to accept the Terms of 1869. But
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 177
the late Government asked and received far better than those of that
year. They asked for more than the
present delegates did. The late Government, in a Minute of Council, agreed
to ask for $5,000 on account of the
increased expense of legislation, and
their request was acceded to. What
have the last delegates asked for ?
Just think of it, a branch of Railroad
from Port Hill to Egmont Bay. Well,
he could hardly think that they
thought that request would be granted
though they did ask for it. Before
they went up, they coutended that the
land upon which the new Post Office
stands should be paid for. Now we
do not hear a word about it. Nothing
less would do them than $70,000. If,
when they put in that claim, they
were sincere, they were not justified
in closing for $25,00. If this sum
was obtained as payment for the land
upon which the Post Office stands, for
the Barracks, Drill Sheds, &c., then it
would be a gain ; but if on the basis of
a re-adjustment of the Colonies, why
there is no gain at all. He was surprised that when they went up to
Ottawa, they did not at once put in a
claim for all the specified objects of
which they spoke before they went. If
this extra allowance has been on the
basis of the re-adjustmeut of the debt
of the Colonies, for the Drill Sheds,
&c., and if it is only because the other
Colonies are to receive a certain
amount, then it will all come out of
the Dominion Exchequer, and in the
end, we will have to pay our full share
of it. The delegates have not shown
that we have any right to the extra
allowance granted. We have a right
to know whether it is a free favor or
an allowance based upon a legitimate
claim. If we are to have it as a free
favor, it is as well to make it known.
He (Mr. S.) would like to know also
whether anything has been obtained
for education ? We have reason to
assume and to believe that the Terms
telegraphed down were correct. If so,
$33,000 is what has been gained ?
What has become of the balance ? It
is due to the House to show the basis
upon which it has been received. He
found that the press of the Dominion,
in the interest of Sir John's Cabinet,
say the other Provinces are to have
the same advantages extended to them.
Hon. Mr. POPE said, the hon. member said he was pleased with the
Terms, and then endeavored to show
that they were no better than those
brought down by Messrs. Laird and
Haythorne. The hon. member must
have known that his statement had
no foundation to rest upon. He (Mr.
P.) cannot look upon the statement
of the hon.member as being made
for any other purpose than that of
deceiving the country. The hon.
member knew full well that the
extra $5, obtained by the late delegates, was not obtained because of the
re-adjustment of the debt of the other
Provinces. No such a consideration
was thought of. In so far as the telegrams go, the hon. member is welcome
to make what use of them he pleases.
We have obtained a clear gain over
the Laird-Haythorne Terms of $25500. There are also many other concessions promised,
all of which will be
fulfilled, which would have justified
the delegates in saying they had received concessions equivalent to $40,000 over
the Laird-Haythorne Terms.
True, for some of these the delegates have
but the assurance of the Privy Council,
but when such a Government as that
of Canada will guarantee that it will
be all right, that $10,000 will be expended in connection with the inland
mail service, are we to suppose they
will not fulfill their promise ? Again,
in the Dominion Act, they are not
bound to take wharves, but they have
given us the assurance that they will
send an Engineer to report upon the
property of the Dominion, or what
178
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
will become such, and he (Mr. P.)
thought all that might be safety estimated at $10,000 ; and he contended still that
the whole may fairly be regarded as equal to $40,000. He did not say it was that much,
but he believed it to be such. He thought the hon. member for New London was not only
striving to deceive the country, but the Committee also. With respect to the new Post
Office, why, we left that as it had been fixed by the delegates who preceded us, but
he, for one, would not think of calling that a bargain. The building cost the money,
while the land it stood upon, with what will be given with it, was worth ÂŁ4,000 or
ÂŁ5,000. Under any circumstances it was simply selling a building for what it was worth.
We took the ground that we were entitled to all that was included in the Terms of
1869, and also that they should take our Railway and assume its debt on account of
our isolated position as a Colony. Our isolation, and exceptional condition for so
many months in the year was the reason, when the matter was urged upon them, why our
allowance was increased above that allowed to the former delegates. We said that we
felt we would have no right to ask for concessions not made to the other Provinces
but for these reasons viz., our isolation, &c., and having told them that our people
would not consent to go in at all unless we could receive enough to enable us to carry
on the local Government without having to resort to direct taxation. We are as independent
as any of the Provinces, and there is nothing to compel us to go in. Place us in as
good a position as we are present, our people will be much more contented. We have
no lands or minerals to fall back upon. Such were the arguments we used. Although
he gave the ministry at Ottawa credit for being willing to do the best they could
for us, yet he (Mr. P.) felt certain
they felt themselves hampered, owing
to the statements made by them to the former delegates. Had the late delegates not
been preceded by Messrs. Laird and Haythorne, he (Mr. P.) felt quite convinced that
there would have been no difficulty whatever in arranging for Terms much more favorable
than he had been obtained.
Mr. SINCLAIR still contended there is no basis given for the extra $5 per head. He also believed
that it had been telegraphed down that $33,000 had been secured in addition to what
was obtained by Messrs. Laird and Haythorne.
Hon. Mr. HAVILAND wished to know if it had been telegraphed down that $33,000 had been secured in addition
in cash ?
Mr. SINCLAIR thought that answer would not do. There is no guarantee for any amount save $25,500.
The late Government was charged with making statements which were not correct. But
here is a Government whose delegates telegraphed that $33,000 had been secured, and
when the guarantee for this is asked for, we are told they have the assurance of the
Dominion Government. The late Government had the same, but they did not include such
in the Terms.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL, (Mr. Brecken) said the hon. member the Leader of the Opposition made allusion to
his (Hon. Atty. General's) political career when the Quebec Terms came down ; and
had the temerity to go so far as to say that he had been whipped into line at that
time, and that he had to do duty then a little against his will. But the hon. member
should recollect that the resolution placed upon the table of the House was too strong.
That, according to it, if the Dominion Government were to agree to offer Terms which
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 179
would literally pave our streets with
gold, yet according to that resolution we could not accept them. Besides, at that
time he felt disposed to look upon it as a Colonial, rather than an Imperial question.
He, therefore, considered it his duty to act as he did in the matter, and believed
he did right. But in 1869, when the Terms came down, he knew that there were quite
a number in the Island who said that if a Railroad from Charlottetown to Summerside
had been added to the Terms, and the building thereof guaranteed within a reasonable
time, they would have been willing that the Terms should have been accepted and when
the delegates from the Dominion Government declared, in a Minute of Council, that
the Terms would be favorably considered if supplemented by a Railway. He was one of
those, who, at that time favored this view of the matter, believing as he did that
Confederation would, on Terms just to this Island, ultimately prove beneficial to
this Colony. Yet the Opposition have the hardihood to charge Mr. Pope's Government
with passing the Railway Bill for the purpose of bringing this Island into Confederation,
than which nothing can be further from the truth. As to the hon. member, the junior
member for Belfast, as an anti-Confederate, he stood head and shoulders above any
other man in the colony, and when he undertook the mission to Ottawa, as a delegate,
he removed every objection which the anti-Confederate party on the Island had to a
union with Canada. But the hon. member says he is now a Confederate from necessity
and not from choice. Well, how far that is so, after all that the late Government
did to forward a union of this Island with Canada, forms matter for reflection, if
not of doubt. But for his (hon. Atty. General) part, he could truly say he was a Confederate
from choice. If the
hon. member is sincere, then before
going up as a delegate to seek for
Terms of union with Canada, he
should have put forth every effort to
enable the Island to retain its political
independence. He should have
thought of the time when he published
to the world that he saw, in our union
with Canada, the subjugation of our
independence. When every family
was to be taxed, and when burdens so
weighty and so grievous would be imposed upon the men, women and
children in the Colony. If, however,
the hon. member has seen that he was
then in the dark, and had been laboring under a delusion, then he should
come over and shake hands with every
Confederate on the Government side
of the House. If he is sincere in
what he says, and is in favor of union
from necessity, rather than choice, he
should have left no stone unturned to
prevent so dire a calamity falling upon
our people. But what does the hon.
member mean when he speaks about
consulting our independence? He
(Mr. B.) feared he did not go up to
Canada as a loyal Confederate. He
was afraid his loyalty pointed more to
the political larder of the Dominion
than to the principles embodied in
Confederation, either as a Colonial or
Imperial question. The hon. member,
in the course of his remarks, was severe
upon the hon. member for Alberton,
because he had, at one time, been an
anti-Confederate. The hon. member
seemed to think hon. Mr. Howlan
should not, therefore, have gone up as
a delegate. The conduct of the hon.
member for Alberton was quite legitimate and consistent, but such could
not be truthfully said of the political
career of the junior member for Belfast.
Had Mr. Pope's Government sent off
a delegation at the dead of night, how
soon would the
Patriot" have sounded
the Toscin. Everything would have
been tortured to suit his purpose, and
pictured forth to the detriment of Mr.
180
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
Pope and his friends. His hon. friend
from Alberton had a perfect right to go up as a delegate to Ottawa. Had the late delegates
not gone up, this Island would be annually minus $25,500 less than it will now receive.
Will the hon. member for New London say he would rather it was ? No doubt they would
have been glad if the delegates had returned without obtaining an additional dollar.
It is time the country saw and understood the loyalty of the Opposition, and the great
interest they feel in the welfare of the Island. Just look at the resolution moved
by the Opposition before the delegates went up, and contrast it with what has been
said by the hon. member for New London. It is clear if he had his own way we would
have been annually poorer by $25,500 than we will now be. But he is anxious about
those telegrams. Well, he (Mr. B.) received one which stated that what had been obtained
might be placed at $30,000. and another that it amounted to $33,000. Nor had he (Mr.
B.) any hesitation in saying that in what has been secured in cash, and what has been
promised for other purposes, that amount is under, rather than over what has been
secured.
Hon. Mr. BRECKEN.—Does the hon. member mean to insinuate that so little faith is to be placed in the
word of Canadian Ministers ? He felt astonished at the remark. Why a few weeks ago
he was wishing to place our destinies in their hands. If he could trust them in a
great matter, surely he can do so in a small. He thought the Leader of the Opposition
had great influence over his followers. He can do with them as he pleases. The hon.
member told us that we gave expression to statements which were not in accordance
with the fact. This he (Mr. B.) denied. And if the ex
pression of Mr. Pope and his friends
manifested some feeling, it is proper to recollect that last year they were there
politically hand-cuffed, nor had the hon. member and his friends the manliness or
candor to enquire if we had a right to wear them, or honorably to remove them. It
was on that account we spoke warmly. But the country has nobly done what they had
not the magnanimity to do. The hon. member may say he was not then in the Government,
but if he was not, he had a very good idea of what was going on. Why, to see the apostle
of all the anti-Confederates going on a mission to Ottawa, was indeed a sight worth
seeing. In the name of common sense who sent him up to Canada ? He still represents
an anti-Confederate constituency ; yet without consulting them he started off at the
hour of midnight to put this Island into the Dominion. Could the conduct of a public
man be more unscrupulous ? Then again there is the hon. member for New London, very
likely it took three or four months to feed him up so that his political strength
would enable him to mount the Confederate political hustings. But judging from that
" dashaway " letter of his, when he did so, he went about it quite vigorously. He
first favored the opening up of a correspondence with the Dominion, and then gave
his free consent for the delegation to proceed at midnight to Ottawa. Well, considering
the anteceddents of the hon. member, it must be admitted that the hon. Leader of the
Opposition did most effectually succeed in converting the hon. member for New London
over to his views. Yet he was willing to admit that the course adopted by the late
Government, was constitutionally correct, though on other grounds it was not consistent.
But for the late Government to say they treated the people with consideration in the
matter, was what they could not say and confine
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 181
themselves to statements consistent with the fact. He did not believe the late Government
were defeated upon the Terms brought down. The country was flooded with an array of
figures which they did not understand, but they were defeated upon their own record.
Had the late delegates returned without obtaining any additional concessions, they
would only have been laughed at. We have, however, secured the best Terms, and if
any re-arrangement for the re-adjustment of the debt of the Provinces shall take place,
we will come in for our share. Although the hon. member the Leader of the Opposition
is a Confederate from necessity, yet he (Mr. B.) cannot but congratulate him on the
service he has rendered to the Confederate cause.
G.
Mr. LAIRD.—After the late delegates reached Ottawa, their actions are, as far as we are concerned,
enveloped in complete darkness, as they have, up to the present time, kept us in ignorance
of the little game they played. We have no report of the progress they made in their
negotiations with the Dominion Government, to throw light upon the matter. The former
delegation, on their return, submitted certain figures which will bear the strictest
investigation, showing most clearly the basis upon which they founded their claims,
and the progress made in obtaining them. As far as mere promises are concerned, it
was a very easy matter to get them by the bushel, but what were they worth ? They
were similar to those made by his honor the Atty. General to many a friend throught
the length and breadth of the Island before the late election, in order to obtain
their support. Wonderful service he has done them ! I have no doubt many of them are
to-day sighing over the disappointments he has caused them in reference to some coveted
public office.
It is an easy matter for politicians to
give fine promises, but it is another matter for them to fulfill them. I have not
the slightest doubt that members of the present Government made many promises before
the late election, which they now find they cannot carry into execution, and it may
prove to be the same with the Dominion Government in reference to the promises they
made to the last delegation. The former delegation received similar assurances, but
I did not consider them of much account. It may be the intention of the Dominion Government
to carry out the promises they have made, but when they place their resolution before
the House of Commons, the members of that body will ask them why they wish to grant
a sum for steam communication for P. E. Island when they withhold a similar grant
from the other Provinces ? Nova Scotia has her large rivers upon which there are steamboats
running by the dozen, and so has New Brunswick. If we receive the promised grant,
those Provinces will demand the same upon similar grounds. The Dominion Government
never undertook to sustain the steam communication of the several Provinces, and I
would like to know how a grant for that purpose can be conceded to this Island. The
former delegates obtained precisely similar promises, but they did not boast of what
they received from the Dominion Government in that way. They did not send down anything
in the telegrams except what was contained in the written Terms, because they knew
that those alone could be depended upon. We already have the written assurance, obtained
by the former delegates, that the Island shall receive a fair proportion from the
Dominion for public works, in the $45 per head. As far as mere promises are concerned
they are of no account whatever. The Dominion Government may be well intentioned,
but they may find that their supporters may not bear them
182 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
out in those promises, and beside this, the men in power to-day may not be the men
in power to-morrow. We know that a few days ago, there was an adverse vote in the
House of Commons to the Government, and that the Dominion Ministry may soon be among
the things that were. The hon. member for New London was, therefore, perfectly justified
in saying that the Terms brought down by the last delegates did not contain more than
$25,500 in addition to the previous Terms. I wonder that business men would telegraph
a statement from Ottawa to the effect that they had received $33,000 in addition to
the Terms obtained by the former delegation, when they knew it was partly founded
on mere promises. They had a right to state what Terms had been obtained in black
and white, but nothing further, as to make a statement on mere promises would be an
attempt to deceive the country. The figures telegraphed down by Mr. Haythorne and
myself, stood the most searching investigation, and were borne out by the Minutes
of the Executive Council, laid on the table of this House. The hon, member for Alberton
is astonished beyond measure that I should become a delegate to Ottawa, after having
done so much for years past to oppose Confederation. I can tell that hon. member that
my going upon that delegation, and in conjunction with my co-delegate, obtained the
handsome Terms we brought back, was the proudest action of my life. What I then did,
was done conscientiously, and the Terms we secured was one of the greatest boons ever
secured to this Colony. If it had not been for my opposition to Confederation in years
gone by, we would to-day have the old spavined horse with the hon. Col. Secretary
was willing to accept, and with that old horse we would now be limping and hobbling
along. The eighty cents per head, and the debt
equivalent, were all that were granted
under the Quebec Scheme, and I am to-day proud that I opposed that scheme. The Better
Terms of 1869 I also opposed, and I am glad I did so, as the Terms secured by the
former delegation were $14,000 better than they were. Any pledge which I have given
to my constituents, I have kept in good faith. I went to Ottawa merely upon a mission
of inquiry, for the purpose of ascertaining what Terms could be obtained from the
Dominion. I never appended my name to any document, pledging myself to accept the
Terms we brought down. The first statement I made in favor of accepting those Terms,
was at a public meeting held in the Market Hall, Charlottetown, before the late election,
when I said that if returned by the people to the House of Assembly, I was prepared
to accept the Terms then offered. The hon. member for Charlottetown, (Mr. Brecken)
became an ardent Confederate upon the better Terms of 1869, although he had been pledged
at his nomination to oppose Confederation, and night after night, during the session
of 1870, this Hall re-echoed with his elegant voice while be descanted upon the glories
of the great Dominion, and the blessings that would flow from our acceptance of the
Terms then offered us. He then declared that our liberties would not be impaired by
casting in our lot with Canada, and that it was useless on our part to oppose Confederation,
as it was inevitable ; yet he now declares that in taking that course, he only did
his duty ! After his re-election, he obtained absolution for all his political sins,
but in his opinion there was no pardon for me, as my course was so entirely different
from his ! Before the first delegation started for Ottawa, our financial prospects
were anything but bright. Our debt had been run up to a very large amount, and as
a natural consequence, our debentures
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 183
going down below par. The late
Government found it extremely difficult to negotiate the sale of the Land Damage Debentures
at par, and I believe the present Government have had some experience of the same
trouble. Did the Government sell the Debentures in order to pay the note held by the
Maritime Bank of New Brunswick? No, they took the money out of the treasury, contrary
to the principles of the Railway Bill, for that purpose. I thought we should look
at our real position, and then adopt the best plan that could be devised to relieve
the Colony from its financial difficulties. I broke no pledge and gave Confederation
no public advocacy, until there were Terms before the people, which, under our then
existing circumstances, I considered it my duty to accept. All we promised the Dominion
to do, was to lay the Terms offered us before the country at a general election ;
we were not pledged to accept them, and there is no record to show that we were bound
in any way to do so. The first delegates asked the Dominion for an allowance of $58
per head of our population, but obtained only $45 per head, so that they did not lose
for want of asking and pressing their claims. A great deal has been said in reference
to the Revenue received by the other Provinces from their Crown lands. When the first
delegates to Ottawa found they could not obtain any addition to the $45 per head,
they took up the land argument more strongly, and said that this Colony should receive
an additional allowance on account of the loss of our lands. On this ground they secured
$5000 annually, in addition to the amount formerly granted. If the additional Terms,
brought down by the last delegation, were obtained upon the same basis, the $800,000
would be increased to $1,200,000. But, the hon. member for Georgetown declares that
the isolated and excep
tional position of Prince Edward
Island was the argument upon which
the increase was obtained. That was
something new certainly ! The reason the last delegation secured the $5
per head extra, was because P. E.
Island is really an Island ! Why did
they not tell the Dominion Government that there was ice on the north
side of this Island up to the first of
June, and that Tignish Run was jammed full of ice up to the same date?
There is not a word in their memorandums about the little Summerside
Lighthouse, and some others, or about
the Drill Sheds! The rotten hemlock argument did not secure the increased allowance;
there must have
been some other reasons put forward,
which have not yet been spoken of.
Before the hon. Leader of the Government went upon the last delegation, he
stated that in reckoning the indebtedness of the Dominion, the Finance Minister had
forgotten to include ten millions of dollars expended upon the Intercolonial Railway
last year, and that
our share of thst sum would be $250,000; but we find that in his negociations with
the Dominion Government
this matter was never once mentioned.
Where are his claims for the alleged
five millions of dollars to be expended
in addition to the estimated cost of the
Bay Verte Canal? We do not find a
word in his memorandums about them.
We are even left in doubt whether the
$5 per head additional, that has been
obtained, is secured to us on a sound
financial basis for all time to come, or
whether there is to be a re-arrangement of the debts of the other Provinces. If the
taxation of the Dominion is to be increased, the extra
Terms secured will be no clear gain to
this Colony, as they will not place us
in a better poaltion than we would
have been under the Terms procured
by the former delegates. The last
delegates were all able men, occupying
the first position among our Island
184
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
politicians, well versed in all the political questions of the day, the first financiers
of the Colony, and one of them had even been on a delegation to Washington ! I was
nothing to be compared with them, Sir, except in lineal measure ! They were all Colonels-three
gallant Colonels- we need not, therefore, be surprised that they took Ottawa by storm
! There is no need to ask for further explanation ; they stormed the city, and carried
off $33,000, but lost a part of it while on their way home ! There were two
ex- officio delegates at Ottawa besides the three delegates, and it may be that their services
were the means of securing more than those of the latter. We have a right to see all
the telegraphic correspondence between the delegates and the Government, as they were
sent upon the authority of this House, and also because this House agreed to ratify
the Terms they brought back. With all their financial and legal knowledge, the last
delegates did not do as much financiering as the former delegates. The Terms brought
down by the first delegates were understood by every school boy in the country, and
the people generally were in favor of them. Some hon. members on the Government side
of the House, would not look at those Terms first published, because they considered
them spurious, and looked upon them as a piece of deception of the part of the late
Government ; it was no wonder then, that they did not calculate and ascertain what
they would amount to. But the people generally understood the financial position of
the Colony, and were soon able to come to a conclusion as to the amount of money the
Island would receive if the Terms were accepted. His honor the Leader of the Government
assured us that the Terms first obtained were $70,000 per year short of our local
wants, and that he would never be willing to go into Confederation, if we were to
be forced
to resort to local taxation immediately
after we enter the Dominion. How is local taxation to be avoided under the Terms he
has obtained, if his statement was correct? The Terms now before us are still $45,000
short, according to his own estimate ! In the absence of information as to the basis
upon which the Terms were obtained, we shall wait for more light upon the matter.
Hon. Mr. HOWLAN.- I have had the pleasure of hearing a good many discussion in this House, but I
must candidly say that the remarks just offered by the hon. Leader of the Opposition
contained the greatest rigmarole of buncome I ever listened to. It was, in his eyes,
a great sin for me to accompany the other delegates to Ottawa, because I held anti-Confederate
views, although he well knows I did not consent to the appointment of another delegation,
till I found that by the mismanagement of the late Government, the country was left
in such a position, that there was no other course to be pursued. He, himself, had
arrived at a similar conclusion, when he started upon that self-constituted delegation
to Ottawa. He certainly imposed most successfully upon the people of Belfast, when
he made them believe it was perfectly right for him to seek Terms for Confederation
at Ottawa, but that it was altogether wrong for his political opponents to do so.
There are men whose hearts and souls are so narrow, that they can only conceive that
to be right which emanates from themselves. When a man slanders his political opponents,
robs them of their character, and after all, turns round and adopts the measures they
supported, declaring at the same time that he has acted conscientiously and honestly,
on would suppose that he would be the last man to attack others who had changed their
views upon just and reasonable grounds.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 185
I have held anti-Confederate views,but
owing to the bad management of men who called themselves financiers, whom the people
returned to occupy a high place in the Government of the country for twelve months,
and whose only characteristic was their inability and incompetency, I find that no
other course is now let open to us, as a Colony, but to accept the best Terms we can
procure, and enter the Dominion. The Government have been accused of sending over
a bag of gold to New Brunswick, for what purpose? To pay a debt contracted by the
late Government, where the credit and honor of the Island were at stake. The late
Government would have renewed the note, held by the Maritime Bank of St. John, at
the enormous rate of one per cent, per month, interest, if the present Government
had not been returned to power. We paid the debt, and thereby made out credit godd.
What was the result of that act ? I have, on my desk, an agreement signed by the President
of that Bank, that it will take $100,000 in our Island debentures, at par. This is
what we have done to preserve the credit of the country while absent on that delegation,
and i we had done nothing more, our time would have been well spent. But I am glad
to say we have done a good deal more. We have no correspondence before this House
in referecne to the doings of the delegation sent up to Ottawa by the late Government,
although there are two or three telegrams about snow storms. The documents on the
table of this House, show clearly that we did not neglect the interests of this Island
in our negociations with the Dominion Government. We told them we would be unwilling
to return to this Colony without receiving Terms that would be just and fair, and
re ceived every attention that could possibly be given us. Certain men,
within the hearing of my voice, exerted all their influence in endeavoring to defeat
us in the object of our mission ! I ask was such conduct patriotic ? The very men
who declare that it was necessary for us to go into Confederation, used all their
influence to prevent our obtaining better Terms ! The Terms we have brought back are
ridiculed by the same individuals as of no advantage to the country, simply because
they were greatly in advance of anything they were able to procure. The majority in
the Upper Branch of the Legislature went up a reolution to Ottawa, showing, falsely,
that the delegates represented the v iews of but a small portion of the people of
this Colony, although they well know that we were the representatives of a very large
majority of our population. When our own guns were turned against us, we were placed
at a great disadvantage in endeavoring to obtain better Terms. The additional Terms
which we have secured, are held up to ridicule by the hon. junior member for Belfast
; in his exalted idea of millions of dollars, a few thousands are nothing at all.
The increase of the amount procured by us, is, in his eyes, a mere bagetelle. The
$33,000 extra are certainly most annoying to that hon. member. We are told that the
promise of the Dominion Government to grant ten thousand dollars annually for Inland
Steam Communication, is a humbug. I have an authenticated copy of the proceedings
of the Dominion Parliament, and I find there an allowance for increased mail service
to P. E. Island. This annual grant will be secured to us on condition that a portion
of our inland mails are forwarded by steamboat. Each succeed ing Government is bound
by the contracts made by the preceding Government, and, therefore, there will be no
danger of our being dissapointed in reference to the grant for the carriage
186
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
of the inland mails by the steamers
employed for that purpose. We are
also told, by the hon. junior member
for Belfast. that there is to be a. rearrangement of the debts ofthe various
Provinces of the Dominion, and that
we shall be no better off by obtaining
the additional $5 per head, as the increase of our taxation will be greater
than the amount we shall receive. A
most extraordinary piece of intelligence surely! If a rearrangement
of the debts does take place next year,
should we be saddled with less taxation if we had accepted only $45 per
head? The hon. member says he
never broke any pledges to his constituents. It is very hard to say what
he means by a pledge, as he appears
in so many different colors. There
is nothing to show us how or when
the correspondence between certain
members of the late Government. and
the Governor General of the Dominion commenced. Hon. Mr. Haythorne stated a short
time ago, that it
began last August, but thereis nothing
in the public Records to show that
such was the case. The hon. member
was taken into the late Government
shortly afterwards, and surely Mr.
Haythorne explained to him the position he would occupy in that Government. But the
hon. member, although
knowing the policy of the Government of which he was a member, did
not risk the people of Belfast whether
they were willing to go for Confederation or not. Nothing of the kind was
mentioned to them. I, on the contrary. wrote to my constituents before
I went with the other delegates to
Ottawa to ask whether they were
willing or not for me to go upon the
delegation? I stated to them plainly
that the position of the affairs of the
Colony was such that I could not
avoid the question of Confederation,
and that there was no other way of
redeeming our credit, but to obtain
the best possible Terms, and enter the
Dominion. This was all that I could
do in the limited time: allowed me to
decide as to the course i should take.
The hon. member states that when he
returned from Ottawa, he. advised his
Leader to dissolve the House, in order
to give him an opportunity to consult
the people of Belfast. After doing all
he could to put the Colony into Confederation, he turns round and asks the
people to sanction what he did. This is
the hon. gentleman who upbraids hon.
members of this House with voting in
favor of Confederation, without consulting their constituents. He endeavored to make
out that the Terms
we brought back from Ottawa amount.
to nothing at all. If he had stated
that we had secured an additional
annual amount equal to the interest
upon half a million of dollars at five
per cent, he would have been honest,
but to do so would be against his
principles. The Terms are unjust and
actually against our interests, but he
is going to vote for them! Wonderful! As to the correspondence between the delegates
and the Dominion
authorities, it shows clearly that we
were not unmindful of the powers of
this House, or of the hon. gentlemen
who sent us upon our mission. If the
delegates had returned empty handed.
and the Government had been compelled to levy additional local taxation.
matters would have assumed a different aspect. They asked more than
they received, unlike the former delegates. who received all they asked for.
During the night of the torch light
procession, for which, by the way, we
have to thank the citizens of Charlottetown, the hon. junior member for
Belfast was heard to say, " Well, I
believe they have got better Terms
after all." If the hon. member will
give us all the telegrams sent up by
his party to oppose our getting better
Terms, I will promise him a copy of
all we sent down from Ottawa. It. is
nothing but fair for the hon. member
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 187
to admit that the promises made by
the Dominion Government, both to the
first and last delegates, will be kept in
good faith, as he had no reason to
come to any other conclusion. The
Railway will be taken and worked by
the Dominion, but I am in favor of retaining it, to be worked by our local
Government, because I believe that if
I live five or six years, I shall find it
a paying institution. I cannot believe
that a Railway, about two hundred
miles in length, running through a
fertile and highly cultivated country,
will ever prove to be worthless, useless
or non-paying; but as my friends in the
Government are opposed to our retaining it, I give way to their opinions
on the matter. Time will prove that
1 am correct in my opinions, and that
our railway will yet be one of the best
paying lines in the Maritime Provinces. The Government is, of course,
ruled by the Opinions of the majority
of its friends, and as the latter are in
favor of the Dominion taking and
working the railroad, their wishes will
be acceded to.
MR, STEWART.—I willingly accord
the last delegates my meed of praise
for the addition which they have obtained to the Terms brought down by
the former delegation. I opposed the
motion to appoint the last delegation,
not from personal motives, but on account of the great latitude which the
resolution gave them in their negociations with the Dominion Government.
I had reason to believe that some
members of, the Government were in
favor of retaining the Railway, for the
purpose of being worked by our local
Government, and with the opinion of
the highest authority—that of the
Government Engineer — before me,
showing that it would entail a great
loss upon the country, I could not vote
for a resolution giving the delegates so
much latitude. As it is, I am proud
to acknowledge that, they have obtained better Terms, and will not stop
to ask whether the latter are $25,000
or $33,000 better than those brought
down by the former delegates. I
stated before the last delegates left for
Ottawa that I would vote for the
Terms then before the country. but I
also said that if better Terms could be
obtained, I would vote for their acceptance when laid beforetbo House.
It would, I think, have been better if
the delegates had not led the people
to believe they had received so large
an amount as they at first named.
There is no doubt that we shall be
fairly dealt with by the Parliament of
the Dominion, and that whenever we
can clearly show that we do not receive
justice, it will act fairly towards us.
I am sorry that hon. members enter
into personal disputes, which only tend
to belittle them in the eyes of the
country and of the people of the Dominion, who are watching our proceedings. Whilst
I give my vote in
favor of the Terms, I would have been
better pleased if the delegates had not
made Such a tremendous cackling over
them. I have nothing to say against
the torch light procession, and fire
works, but I should like to see hon.
members on the Government side of
the House address themselves to the
facts before them. I do not for a
moment think the hon. member for
Alberton believed that the late Government, were prepared, or ever intended to give
one per cent per month
to the Maritime Bank of St. John, N.
B., for the renewal of the note, about
which so much has been said. The
present Government had no right to
to take the money out of the Treasury
to pay that note, as their action in
that respect was contrary to law.
They should have sold Land. Damage
Debentures to pay the amount of the
note. The reason why our debentures
have gone up, or increased in value, is
that Confederation is near its consummation. For that reason,and that
only, our debentures have risen in lllt'
market. I am only too happy to
188
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
know that Confederation is so nearly
consummated on fair and reasonable
terms, that our Island is to be freed
from its tremendous debt, and that we
shall be a free, independent, and well
governed people, retaining all our present rights and privileges.
MR. L. H. DAVIES.—I am in the
same dilemma as the hon. Leader of
the Opposition, in reference to the
Terms now before the House, and
think we should have been informed
as to the basis upon which they were
granted. When the hon. Attorney
General stated that the greater number of the people did not understand
the terms of Confederation upon which
they voted at last election, he made an
incorrect statement Ifthe people have
voted in ignorance of the matter, this
House would not bejustified in voting
away the constitutioa of the Colony,
as the electors should know the facts
of the case, and have an opportunity
to deal with them accordingly. It
would be unjust and unfair to take
advantage of the peeple, and if his
statement is correct, the question of
Confederation should be referred to
the magain for their decision. But I
take issue with the hon. member on
thts matter, and am prepared to vote
for the Terms now before us, because
I believe that nearly every voter in
the country understood the financial
aspect of the great question of Confederation, and was in a position to
give an intelligent decision as to
whether the Terms should be accepted
or not. Any man who has read the
published debates of this House, and
the comments of the newspapers on
political affairs, must be well posted
up in reference to the Haythorne- Laird Terms. The late Government
laid the figures clearly before the country, and the leading men of both political
parties discussed the matter so
fully, that all must have understood it.
If the hon. Atty. General really be
lieves that the people did not understand what they voted upon, he is
placing himself in a false position by
voting for the present Terms, and has
a right to refer the question. again to
the electors, in order to obtain an intelligent decision. I believe his honor
was one of those who voted for the
celebrated " No terms," resolution,
which precluded the idea of entering
into negociations with the Government
of the Dominion at all He has
therefore, only become a Confederate
at the eleventh hour, and that too, before Canada conceded the liberal
Terms now offered us. I, on the other
hand have become a Confederate upon
grounds which the hon. member cannot deny I should occupy. He has
stated, time and again, that the man
who persistently adheres to his opinion
in the face of logic and facts, is more
a fool than a politician. The enormous debt which presses heavily upon
this Colony, and which we cannot
much longer bear, has been the means
of my becoming a a Confederate. The
Terms now before us are good, but I
do not think them better than the
Haythorne-Laird Terms, because the
latter were granted on a good sound
reasonable basis, while the former
seem to be based upon a re-adjustment
of the debts of the several Provinces
of the Dominion. The delegate telegraphed from Ottawa, that they had
received $33,000 in addition to the
Terms obtained by the first delegation,
but that sum has dwindled down to a
little over $25,000. What has become of the difference between those
amounts? We have no information
before us, as to the grounds or basis
upon which the additional sum has
been secured. If I understand the
second section of the Minute of Conference, aright, this extra sum has been
given us in "view of the possibility of
a re-adjustment of the financial arrangements between Canada and the
seven Provinces now embraced in
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 189
the Dominion." I believe that any
person who reads that section, impartially, will come to the same conclusion. The
$45-per head was agreed
to by the Dominion, because they intended to increase their public debt to
that amount, by the construction of
certain important public works. The
hon. Leader of the Government states
that be obtained the addition upon the
same grounds upon which the first
delegation obtained their Terms, and
that the latter made a mistake in their
calculations. If this is the case, why
does he not point out that error, and
show the basis upon he obtained the
additional sum? There is an ominous
silence upon this matter, on the part
of the delegates. I believe that the
other Provinces will receive the five
dollars per head, all round, in addition
to their present allowances from the
Dominion Treasury. If they (the last
delegates) proved to the Dominion
Government that Messrs. Haythorne
and Laird omitted something in their
calculations, why do they not show us
in what respec and how the error
was made? If, the other Provinces
receive $5 per head of their population,
in addition to their present allowances,
$20,000,000 will be added to the debt
of the Dominion. If this is the case
we shall, under Confederation, be
forced to pay an additional tax to pay
the interest on that amount, and the
real gain on our part will be nothing
stall. If this is the real state of
matters, the House has been deceived,
and the country is being deceived.
When the Haythorne-Laird Terms
came down, the hon. Col. Secretary,
one of the last delegates, said he was
prepared to accept them at once.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—I stated
that l was prepared to accept them, if
I could not get better Terms.
MR. L. H. DAVIES.—The hon.
member stated publicly in George
town, and that statement was published in the newspapers, to the effect,
that he was prepared to vote for the
Terms then offered, and he never denied the correctness of the report.
On what grounds did the Government
ask the appointment of the last delegation? They asked it upon the
grounds that Messrs. Haythorne and
Laird bad omitted certain demands
which were contended to be just and
reasonable, and which they would have
made, if they had been authorized to
send a delegation to Ottawa. They
also stated that the Haythorne-Laird
delegation did not claim the cost of
the land upon which the new Post
Office is built, and of certain Lighthouses and the Drill Sheds, for all of
which we should receive remuneration,
according to their reasoning. But it
now appears that not one of those
items was urged before the Privy
Council of Canada. A great deal was
also said before the late delegation
was appointed, to the effect, that one
section of the former Terms was not
carefully enough worded, and that the
Steam Dredge could be taken away
by the Dominion Government for use
in the other Provinces; but we find
that there was not a word said about
this matter. His honor the Leader of
the Government discovered a mares
nest, when he found out that ten millions of dollars had been omitted by
the former delegates in their calculation. I challenge him, now, to state
whether his remarks in reference to
that matter were correct or not.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT.—I made no such a statement,
but according to the report of the
Budget Speech of the Finance Minister, as published in the
Toronto Mail,
no other interpretation could he put
upon it. That portion did not appear
in the speech as published in pamphlet
form, and if there was any mistake it
190 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
was in the report of the speech published in that newspaper.
Mr. L. H. DAVIES.—The inference which his honor drew from the Budget Speech, was, that the ten millions
of dollars were not included in the calculations of Messrs. Haythorne and Laird ;
but it was a mere Will-o-the-Wisp, as those calculations in reference to the present
and prospective debt of the Dominion, were correct in every particular. I can come
to no other conclusion than that the extra sum was obtained on the basis that there
is to be a re-arrangement of the debts of the several Provinces of Canada. If this
is not so, I should like to know upon what other basis it was obtained ?
Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—The $5 per head was obtained on the same basis as that upon which Messrs. Haythorne
and Laird obtained the $45 per head. I am not aware that there will be any addition
made to the allowances received by the other Provinces on account of the concession
to this Colony.
MR. LAIRD.—Does his honor the Col. Secretary mean to say that the addition to the Terms was
obtained on the same calculations as were made by the former delegates ? The statement
will not hold good, for it cannot be proved.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—The isolated and exceptional condition of this Colony was given as a reason why
we should obtain better Terms. We also stated that our people had never been used
to direct taxation, and that the union with the Dominion would be unpopular, if our
educational establishments, roads, bridges, &c., had to be sustained by local taxation
immediately after going into Confederation.
MR. L. H. DAVIES.—Every hon. member of this House will rejoice that such a concession has been made
to
this Colony ; but if it were made on the same basis as the former Terms why were not
the statements in reference to this matter embodied in the same paragraph ? There
is reason for believing that the addition was granted on other grounds that those
mentioned by his honor the Col. Secretary. If a re-adjustment of the financial arrangements
petween the Dominion Government and the several Provinces is the basis upon which
the last concession has been made, not a member from this Island could vote against
a similar allowance to the other Provinces, if it is proposed next year in the Dominion
Parliament ; and this Island will not receive one dollar in addition to the Haythorne-Laird
Terms. Before the last delegation was appointed, his honor the Leader of the Government
stated that if the country accepted the Terms then before it, there would be an annual
deficit of $70,000. If that statement was correct, there is still a very large deficit
; no less than $45,000 per year ! Is his honor prepared to tax the people to that
extent after accepting Confederation ? I rejoice that we are about to become a part
of the Dominion, and shall, therefore, vote for the acceptance of th Ters now before
us, even although they are no better than the former Terms, because I believe we cannot
carry on our local Government any longer without over-burdening the people with taxation.
I am not much afraid of the future of this Island under the Terms we are about to
receive. The former Terms would, in my opinion, if accepted, give us surplus of Revenue
to the extent of $17,000 per year, and we shall, at least, be no worse off under the
present Terms. In a matter of this kind, the very least the Government could do, is
to explain fully the basis upon which the additional sum has been obtained. The paragraph
in the Minutes of Conference, states that the $5 per head
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 191
was obtained in view of a re-adjustment of the debts of the Provinces of the Dominion.
If so, I do not think we have, in the Terms now before us, anything in addition to
that brought down from Ottawa by Messrs. Haythorne and Laird.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT.—The additional sum of $5 per head conceded to this Colony by the Dominion, was not
given us on the basis of a re-adjustment of the debts of the Provinces of the Dominion.
That amount was granted for the purpose of placing us in the same position, financially,
as the people of the other Provinces. The delegates did not get as large an amount
was was asked for, but they received as much as it was expected they should receive.
As the season was far advanced, and the Dominion House of Commons about to rise, and
as knew that our own Legislature was awaiting our return, our time was extremely limited
; but we did the best we could do, under the circumstances. The hon. member for Strathalbyn
(Mr. Stewart) made a most reasonable speech in reference to the action of the last
delegates ; but I cannot agree with him when he says that the Government had no right
to take $25,000 out of the Treasury to pay the amount due from this Colony at the
Maritime Bank of St. John, N. B. Should that amount be drawn from the Treasury, or
should we allow the note to be dishonored and the credit of the Colony injured to
a far greater extent than it has already been ? No Government whose credit was worth
anything would have agreed to renew their note at the enormous interest of one per
cent per month ! The President and Vice President of that Bank were members of the
Dominion Parliament, and if we had not paid the amount due, those gentlemen, owing
to their position, might
represent to the Dominion Government that the Colony was in such a state that it was
forced to accept any Terms they might offer, and we should thus be prevented from
obtaining any additional concession. We considered it our first duty to redeem that
note and save the credit of the Colony. As soon as that sum was paid, I made an arrangement
with the President of that Bank by which he agreed to take the Land Damage Debentures
to the extent of $100,000 upon the terms that when those debentures are put into the
market the Government of this Colony shall receive the interest that has accrued upon
them. The credit of the country has thus been maintained, and the members of that
delegation, in acting as they did, deserved, I think, the thanks of this House and
of the country. As this matter has been pretty fully discussed, I beg to submit the
following resolutions :—
1st. Resolved, That a Report dated 21st May, instant, from the hons. Messrs. Pope, Haviland and
Howlan, delegates appointed by His Honor the Lieut. Governor of this Island, in accordance
with an Address from this House, to negotiate for terms and conditions of union with
the Dominion of Canada, together with other papers upon the same subject, laid before
this House by Message from His Honor the Lieut. Governor, of the 22nd day of May,
instant, this House learns that the said delegates have agreed with the Government
of the Dominion of Canada that this Island shall enter into union with the said Dominion
of Canada, upon the terms and conditions following :—
1. That Canada shall be liable for the debts and liabilities of Prince Edward Island
at the time of the union.
192 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
2. That, in consideration of the large expenditure authorized by the Parliament of
Canada for the construction of Railways and Canals, and in view of the financial arrangements
between Canada and the several Provinces now embraced in the Dominion, as well as
the isolated and exceptional condition of Prince Edward Island, that Colony shall,
on entering the Union, be entitled to incur a debt equal to fifty dollars per head
of its population, as shown by the Census Returns of 1871, that is to say : Four millions
seven hundred and one thousand and fifty dollars- $4,701,050.
3. That Prince Edward Island, not having incurred debts equal to the sum mentioned
in the next preceding Resolution, shall be entitled to receive by half-yearly payments,
in advance, from the General Government, interest at the rate of five per cent per
annum on the difference, from time to time, between the actual amount of its indebtedness
and the amount of indebtedness authorised as aforesaid, viz:- Four millions seven
hundred and one thousand and fifty dollars, ($4,701,050.)
4. That Prince Edward Island shall be liable to Canada for the amount, if any, by
which its public debts and liabilities at the date of the Union may exceed Four millions
seven hundred and one thousand and fifty dollars. ($4,701,050), and shall be chargeable
with interest at the rate of five per cent per annum on such excess.
5. That, as the Government of Prince Edward Island holds no lands from the Crown,
and consequently enjoys no revenue from the source for the construction and maintenance
of local works, the Dominion shall pay by half-yearly instalments, in advance,
to the Government of Prince Edward
Island, Forty-five thousand dollars, ($45,000) per annum, less interest at five per
cent per annum, upon any sum not exceeding Eight hundred dollars ($800,000), which
the Dominion Government may advance to the Prince Edward Island Government, for the
purchase of lands now held by large proprietors.
6. That, in consideration of the transfer to the Parliament of Canada of the powers of taxation, the following sums shall be
paid yearly by Canada to Prince Edward Island for the support of its Government and
Leglislature— that is to say, Thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), and an annual grant
of 80 cents per head of its population, as shown by the Census Returns of 1871, viz
: 94,021 both by half-yearly payments in advance ; such grant of eighty per cents
per head to be augmented in proportion to the increase of population of the Island,
as may be shown by each subsequent decennial Census, until the population amount to
Four Hundred Thousand, at which rate such a grant shall thereafter remain, it being
understood that the next census shall be taken in the year 1881.
7. That the Dominion Government
shall assume and defray all the charges for following services, viz:—
A. The Salary of the Lieutenant
Governor.
B. The Salaries of the Judges of the Superior Court, and of the District or County
Courts, when established.
C. The charges in respect to the Department of Customs.
D. The Postal Department.
E. The Protection of the Fisheries.
F. The Provision for the Militia.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 193
G. The Lighthouses, Ship-wrecked crews, Quarantine and Marine Hospitals.
H. The Geological Survey
I. The Penitentiary.
J. Efficient Steam Service for the conveyance of Mails and Passengers, to be established
and maintained between the Island and the Main Land of the Dominion, winter and summer,
thus placing the Island in continuous communication with the Intercolonial Railway,
and the Railway system of the Dominion.
K. The maintenance of Telegraph Communication between the Island and the Main Land
of the Dominion, and such other charges as may be incident to and connected with the
services, which, by the " British North America Act, 1867." appertain to the general
Government, and as or may be allowed to the other Provinces.
8. That the Railway under contract in course of construction for the Government of
the Island, shall be the property of Canada.
9. That the new building, in which are held the Law Courts, Registry Office, &c.,
shall be transferred to Canada on the payment of Sixty-nine thousand dollars ($69,000).
The purchase to include the land on which the building stands, and a suitable space
of ground in addition, for yard room, &c.
10. That the Steam Dredge Boat in course of construction shall be taken by the Dominion
at a cost not exceeding Twenty-two thousand dollars, ($22,000.)
11. That the Steam Ferry Boat, owned by the Government of this Island, and used as
such, shall remain the property of the Island
12. Tat the population of Prince Edward Island having been increased by fifteen thousand
or upwards since the year 1861, the Island shall be represented in the House of Commons
of Canada by six members. The representation to be re-adjusted from time to time under
the provisions of the "British North America Act, 1867."
13. That the constitution of the Executive Authority and of the Legislature of Prince
Edward Island shall, subject to the provisions of " British North America act, 1867."
continue as at the time of the Union, until altered under the authority of the said
Act. And the House of Assembly of Prince Edward Island, existing at the date of the
Union shall, unless sooner dissolved, continue for the period for which Â
14. That the Provisions in the " British North America Act, 1867," shall, except those
parts thereof which are in terms made, or by reasonable intendment may be held to
be specially applicable to, and only to effect one, and not the whole of the Provinces
now composing the Dominion, and except so far as the same may be varied by these Resolutions,
be applicable to Prince Edward Island, in the same way and to the same extent as they
apply to the other Provinces of the Dominion. and as if they Colony of Prince Edward
Island had been one of the Provinces originally united by the said Act.
15. That the Union shall take place on such day as Her Majesty may direct by Order
in Council, or Addresses to that effect, from the Houses of Parliament of Canada and
of the Legislature of the Colony of Prince Edward Island, under the one hundred and
forty-sixth section of the " British North America Act, 1867," and that the Electoral
Districts for
194 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
which, the time within which, and the laws and provisions under which the first election
of members to serve in the House of Commons of Canada for such Electoral Districts
shall be held, shall be such as the said House of the Legislature of the said Colony
of Prince Edward Island, may specify in their said Addresses.
2nd. Resolved, that this House concurs in the above terms and conditions of Union ; and that an
humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased, by
and with the advice of Her Most Honorable Privy Council, under the 146th clause of
the " British North America Act, 1867," to unite Prince Edward Island with the Dominion
of Canada on the terms and conditions above set forth.
Mr. D. LAIRD.—If the influence of his honor the Leader of the Government was so great that he
could easily have negociated the loan of a sum of money, from our Island capitalists,
without going out of the Colony, sufficient to meet the wants of the country, why
did he not use his great influence to raise those debentures to par, the moment he
obtained the reins of power, and thus have prevented the necessity for taking the
money out of the Treasury to pay that note. If his influence with that Bank was as
great as represented, all he had to do was to negociate the sale, at par, of the debentures
deposited in the Maritime Bank, to prevent the necessity of taking the gold out of
the Colony. He was in a position to issue an additional quantity of Land Damage Debentures,
which, if his influence was sufficient, he could have sold at par, and thus have redeemed
the note in question. But it seems that he has no more influence in getting our debentures
cashed at par than any other person, or he would have done so long before this.
The President and Vice President of that Bank knew that Confederation was certain
to become an accomplished fact with regard to this Island, and, therefore, were quite
willing, under these circumstances, to take our debentures at their full value. If
the late Government had remained in power, the gold would never have been taken out
of the Colony to redeem that note, as the debentures lying in the Bank as security,
would have been sold at par for its payment, whenever Confederation became a certainty.
The hon. Leader of the Government endeavors to make out that if that note had not
been redeemed in the way it was, the last delegation would have been thereby placed
at a disadvantage in obtaining better Terms. Now, I maintain that his whole argument
before the Privy Council for better Terms, was based on the necessities of the Colony,
from rotten hemlock down to the repairing of the Government House. If the statement,
so often made by his honor, that the Railway was worth what it cost, was correct,
why did he not repeat it at Ottawa ? If that assertion were correct, we should receive
the $50 per head over and above the Railway debt. His honor knew, too well, that the
Dominion Government would not be caught by such chaff as that. The hon. member for
Alberton declared, in this House, that the Railway would pay $50,000 per year over
working expenses, but he never ventured to put forth that argument at Ottawa. The
last delegates well knew that the statements I made in reference to the Railway, before
the Privy Council, were nearer the truth. Hon. Mr. Haythorne and myself presented
the statement of the Chief Engineer as to the working expenses and receipts of the
Railway, and said that its friends and promoters calculated it would be very soon
self-sustaining.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 195
We gave the latter statement as the opinion of the hon. Leader of the Government and
his friends, and not as our own. We did not entertain that opinion ourselves, but
we let it go for what it was worth. In return we were laughed at for our pains, and,
therefore, took good care not to repeat the statement again. I never boasted of my
influence or ability ; but the highest compliment has been paid me this evening by
his honor the Atty. General, who says that I can keep back Confederation or push it
forward, just as I please ! It seems that the last delegates repeated our arguments
in reference to the Railway, but they were choked off at once by the Privy Council.
They stated that the Legislature was not satisfied with the Terms. In doing so, they
gave ony one side of the story, forgetting all about the action of the Legislative
Council and the Opposition in this House. In this correspondence we now have it stated
that the delegates to Quebec went unauthorized by the people of this Island. This
is certainly a great admission after all that has been said on that subject. The present
Government party condemned the late Government because they appointed their delegation
without convening the Legislature and asking its consent to the action ; yet the same
men sent the delegation to the Quebec Conference without the authority of the people
! Scarcely had the first delegation to Ottawa left the Island, when an indignation
meeting was called by the then Opposition, and the resolution which was passed, condemning
the action of the late Government, was immediately sent to Ottawa, for the purpose
of thwarting the delegates in obtaining fair and reasonable terms of Confederation
for this Colony. They condemned the late Government because it sent up delegates to
ascertain what Terms Canada would offer for our acceptance.
The hon. member for Charlottetown, (Mr. Brecken) forgot his patriotism and his duty
to his country, and joined in a declaration of indignation at the conduct of the late
Government in merely sending up a delegation to Ottawa, to ask what Terms they would
offer this Colony for its entrance into the Dominion !
On motion the Speaker took the chair, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again.
Ordered, That a call of the House be made for Monday next.
House adjourned till twelve o'clock, on Monday next.
I. O.
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