1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 195
MONDAY, May 26th.
196
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
House in Committee to consider the
despatches relating to Confederation.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT said that since he submitted the
resolution before the Committee, he
had received from the Finance Minister a correct copy of the resolution
passed on the same question, by the
Dominion Parliament, and as it was
necessary that the resolution passed by
this House should be similar in every
respect, he would ask leave to withdraw the resolution now before the
Committee, and substitute the Dominion resolution.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY said that
the resolution passed by this House on
the question now before the Committee, should be identical with that passed by the
Parliament of Canada.
When the delegates were in Ottawa, a
Minute of Council was drawn up in
rather a hurry, and the Law Clerk of
the House of Commons found it was
necessary to extend it in certain particulars in order to make it sufficiently
clear, but its principles were not
changed in any respect.
MR. BEER said that there had been
a good deal of thimble-rigging on the
part of a certain hon. member in the
morning, he wished, in order to prevent a misunderstanding, to hear the
resolution read.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY said that if
the hon. member's language referred
to any hon. member of that House, his
words should be taken down.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT.—The hon. member for Southport talked about thimble-rigging. If
any hon. member of that House knew
any other hon. member to be guilty of
falsifying, or altering any documents
belonging to the Legislature, and did
not immediately expose such conduct,
he was just as guilty as if he had himself committed the offence. The hon.
member had, in the morning, accused
his hon. colleague of altering some
document, and if he was sincere in his
charge, it was his duty to bring the
matter properly before the House
while the Speaker was in the chair ;
but he had no right to refer to it
when the House was in Committee.
The resolution submitted by the
hon. Leader of the Government was
then, according to the request of the
hon. member for Southport, read by
the Chairman.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT said he supposed the Committee
was satisfied to allow him to withdraw
the resolution first submitted, and substitute the one just read. He would,
when this was disposed of, submit
another in reference to the Electoral
districts, into which the Island shall be
divided for the election of members to
the Dominion House of Commons.
As the matter now before the Committee had been pretty fully discussed,
and as there would probably be a good
deal of discussion upon the next resolution which would be introduced, he
would move that the resolution be
agreed to.
MR. D. LAIRD seconded the motion
of his honor the Leader of the Government, and said that the slight alteration in
the wording of the resolution
now before the Committee, would make
it considerably clearer, without changing its principles. Our election laws
would remain the same ; the only
change in reference to the Dominion
elections, would be the division of the
Island into larger districts.
MR. CALLBECK had opposed the
resolution authorizing the appointment of the last delegation to Ottawa, because he
was satisfied with the Terms first brought down, and had been
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 197
elected by the people to accept them,
and to carry out Confederation with
the Dominion ; but as still better
Terms had been obtained by the last
delegation, he would support the reso1ution. The Haythorne-Laird Terms
had been submitted to the supporters
of the late Government, and as he approved of them, he ran his election
upon them, and his action was endorsed by his constituents. It would, in
his opinion, have been a breach of
faith on his part with the Government
of the Dominion, if, on being elected
to vote for the Terms first brought
down, he had voted for the resolution
asking the appointment of a second
delegation for the purpose of seeking
better Terms. After endorsing the
Terms then before the country to the
extent of running an election upon
them, the present Opposition were
morally bound to support their adoption by the Legislature. The last
delegation had brought fresh Terms,
and its action had relieved him of the
moral ties which held him in his former position, so that he was now at
liberty to exercise his judgment and
vote upon the question as he thought
proper. The Terms obtained by
Messrs. Haythorne and Laird, were,
he believed, very good, and it was his
opinion, that no other delegation would,
at that time, if sent upon that mission,
have secured better Terms. The last
delegation had had an advantage over
the first, and they have also done their
duty. Both delegations were well entitled to the approbation and thanks of
that hon. House, as both had done
their very best for the interests of this
Island. The first delegation was generally thought to have obtained as
good Terms as the Dominion could
afford to allow this Colony, and how
the extra sum had been secured he
could not understand, except that it
was through the anxiety of that Government to induce us to enter the
union. The latter reason may have
justified them in giving us an additional grant, which, in his opinion, we
shall find none too large for the necessities of this Colony. But it is more
probable that the Dominion Government intend increasing the allowance
to the other Provinces by a re-adjustment of their several debts to the
extent of an additional $5 per head of
their populations. If so, our gain
from the increased allowance will not
be so large as it would otherwise be.
Be this as it may, he felt justified in
giving the resolution his hearty support.
MR. McNEILL had previously given
his views upon this great question of
Confederation. As both sides of the
House now entertained similar opinions
on the matter, it could scarcely be
called a party question. The necessity for our accepting the Terms now
before us was admitted by every hon.
member of the House, with the exception of Mr. Chairman and his hon.
colleague, who were still of opinion
that we could manage our own affairs
better than the Dominion will do it for
us ; but he (Mr. McN.) believed even
they would see, before the question
was taken, that the best course we
could pursue, would be to cast in our
lot with the great Dominion. When
the Railway Bill was passed, he believed it would land us in Confederation, but did
not think we should have
to go in quite so soon. He thought
that the money expended in the construction of the Railroad would supply
sufficient exchange to enable us to
meet the demands upon the Colony,
but his expectations had not been verified. The late Government found so
many, and such great difficulties to
contend with, that they found it necessary, before matters went too far,
to send up a delegation to Ottawa,
for the purpose of ascertaining what
Terms the Dominion Government
were willing to offer us for our accept
198 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
ance. He gave both delegations credit
for the manner in which they negociated with the Canadian Government in
obtaining the best possible Terms that
could be secured for this Island. The
Terms brought down by Messrs. Haythorne and Laird were considered at
the time as extremely favorable, considering the circumstances of the country. The
people, to a certain extent,
had prepared themselves for going
into Confederation, and the Terms
were fully as good, or perhaps better
than they expected. As they now see
that it is a necessity, they accept the
situation quietly, but solemnly. As
regarded himself and his constituents,
they regretted being placed in such a
position that it was necessary to give
up the coastitution of the Colony as a
separate Province. He, himself, felt
sorry to think that we were about to
give tip self-government, after maintaining out position as a Colony with
an independent Legislature, for one
hundred years. The Island was
originally separated from Nova Scotia
through the influence of the proprietors who wished to get clear of the
Court of Escheat, then established in
that Province, but as that Court was
not now in existence, they wished to
get us into the Dominion. Perhaps
the step we are about to take will
prove a good one after all, and the
host that can be taken under present
circumstances. Both delegations had
done their very best for the Colony,
but the last one had not shown clearly
the basis upon which it obtained the
Terms now before the Committee. If
the $5 have been obtained upon the
basis of a readjustment of the debts of
the several Provinces of the Dominion,
the additional sum will not prove as
great a boon as ifobtnincd upon other
grounds. The hon. junior member for
Belfast had been accused of saying a
good many hard things against the
statesmen of the Dominion; but he (Mr.
McN.) believed that the latter had
also said a good many unpleasant
things against that hon. member. The
hon. jun. member for Belfast had,
probably, never said as much against
the statesmen of the Dominion as the
latter had said against each other, and
it was, therefore, highly probable that
all those ill-feelings would be forgotten
when this Colony forms a part of the
great Dominion. He thought the additional Terms had been obtained
more through the impertunity ofthe
delegates, than through any particular
line of argument. In whatever way
the additional sum has been secured to
this Colony, we should be glad that it
has been granted us. One of the most.
important concessions in the Terms is
that the Dominion agrees to assume
our Railway debt, and to work the
Railway at its own expense. Whether
we should be obliged to remain in the
Dominion, if Canada at any time refused to sustain the Railway and keep
it in working order, he did not know.
He thought the Dominion should be
bound to replace the sleepers when
required, and to run the Railway. He
supposed the time was come for us to
give up our separate Government, and
that. we should bow to what he hoped
would ultimately prove to be for our
benefit. He did not wish to take up
much of the time o! the House, as it
was necessary that country members
should soon return to their homes, but
he had to state that he gave up our
separate Government, as a Colony,
with regret. We were giving up the
power of taxation, and in return would
in his opinion, receive little benefit
from the public works of the Dominion. There was no doubt that we
would receive a present benefit by accepting Confederation; but he believed
we should be losers in the end. A
little branch line of Railway had been
asked for Port Hill, which had not
been granted, but he hoped before
long a short branch would be built to
Rustico. There was no longer any
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 199
doubt that the Railway will never be
a paying affair in this little Island, as
we haVe no connection by land with
any other country. He did not believe
that the road Would ever pay the interest of the money expended 'in its
construction, and this was the principal reason why he would support a
measure to hand over our little Island
to the Dominion of Canada. If the
present offer was not accepted, he behaved we should fare worse than if
included in the Dominion. One circumstance gave him much to hope for.
We belong to the great continent of
America, and it was probable that before long a uhion would take place between the
Dominion of Canada and
the United States ofAmerica, if so, we
should yet form a part of one of the
greatest nations in the world.
Hon. Mr. SULLIVAN thought he
would have had an opportunity of
making a few remarks before the debate had arrived at that stage, but was
prevented, owing to the fact that the
time had been so completely occupied.
It was satisfactory to know, that, after
all the discussion and rambling remarks made by hon. members, the
resolution would be almost unanimously passed by the Committee. Some
eavillipg had been made about the
Terms now before the Committee, and
some hon. members had endeavored to
show that they were little better than
those brought down by Messrs. Haythorne and Laird. Certain hon. members of the Opposition
were not satisfied, because, as they asserted, no basis
had been shown as to the manner in
which the Terms had been obtained.
This was, in his opinion, a matter in
which the country took little or no interest, as long as the Terms were fair
and reasonable, and such as we might
with confidence accept. The hon. member for Murray Harbor stated there was
reason to believe that the additional
$5 per head was obtained on the basis
of a re-arrangement of the assumed
debts of the other Provinces of the
Dominion. He (Mr. S.) could not
agree with that hon. member as the
Terms plainly state that it has been
allowed this Colony, in consideration
of the large expenditure authorized by
the Parliament of Canada for the construction of Railways and Canals, as
well as our isolated and exceptional
condition. We shall receive the sum
of $50 per head till the rearrangement takes place, which may be some
years hence. The hon. Leader of the
Opposition seemed to be dissatisfied
because the delegates had not shown
as clearly as he wished, the reasons
they advanced before. the Privy Coun.
oil for the additional allowance. The
former delegates asked for $56 per
head. and received $45, while the
latter delegates asked for $51 per head.
and received $50. If the last delegation could not show a satisfactory basis
for their claim of $51 per head, how
could Messrs. Haythorne and Laird
show good reason for their claim of
$58 per head ? I think the Terms
now before us must satisfy all parties;
and the people generally will accept
them as fair and reasonable to this
Colony. There is nothing left, therefore, to prevent a speedy consummation of the
union ofthe Island with
the Dominion of Canada. He (Mr.
S.) had not, till lately, been in favor
of Confederation, but he agreed with
the hon. member for Rustico, that,
under present circumstances, there was
no use in our fighting against it. There
was every reason to believe that we
should never regret, in the future, of
having cast in our lot with the great
Dominion. Both delegations had,
in his opinion. done their best to obtain as liberal Terms as possible. A
good deal of praise was due to the
hon. junior member for Belfast for his
long and persistent opposition to Confederation, as it had been the means of
enabling us to make a better bargain.
200
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
If that hon. member and other anti- Confederates had agreed to accept the
Terms offered in 1864, he believed we
would not now be in possession of as
favorable Terms as those now before
the Committee. A great deal has
been gained by resisting Confederation
so long as we had, but as we had now
obtained fair and reasonable Terms,
we should be satisfied to accept them
with good grace. Our entrance into
the Dominion would, to a very great
extent, be the means of settling old
party differences and questions which
should, long ago, have been allowed to
die out. If so, Confederation would
prove a great boon to this Colony.
MR. BEER had canvassed his
district as a Confederate, and had been
returned to that House to support the
Terms brought down from Ottawa by
Messrs. Haythorne and Laird. He
had voted against the resolution to
appoint another delegation, because he
believed that no better Terms than those
then before the country, could be obtained ; and was still of opinion that
be had good reason for acting as he
did. The wording of that resolution
was such that he could not vote for it,
without violating the principles upon
which he was elected. He could not
promise to ratify whatever Terms the
delegation, appointed by the present
Government chose to negociate. The
last delegates had done well in obtaining an additional sum of $25,000.
He would have been glad to have
seen that amount doubled, but we
should be satisfied with the handsome
sum which had been secured. It was
not probable that any additional concession would be made to this Colony
for a long time to come, as we had
been liberally dealt with by the Government of the Dominion. Of all the
Lighthouses, Drill Sheds, Breakwaters,
&c., mentioned by his honor the
Leader of the Gorernment, before
setting out for Ottawa, as public
works for the construction of which we
had a good claim upon the Dominion,
not one was mentioned by the delega:tes in their negociations with the
Privy Council, proving that they did
not base their claims on the omissions
of the former delegates. Before the
last delegation was appointed, it was
rumored that the Government intended to ask the Dominion Government to allow us to
retain the Railway, that we might work it ourselves.
He could not support a resolution
which empowered the delegates to
negociate terms upon those grounds,
because he believed the Railway
would prove a losing affair for years
to come. He was well pleased with
the action of the delegates in obtaining the increased allowance, and would
support the resolution before the Committee.
MR. SINCLAIR thought the hon.
member for Rustico should heartily
support the resolution, because Confederation would be the means of putting an end
to the much vexed Land
Question and Tenant League troubles.
If anything would secure free lands
for the people of this Colony, it was
Confederation, as the Terms amply
provided for the purchase of the proprietory estates. He believed that
this Island would improvejn its agricultural, commercial and fishing operations, at
a more rapid rate than it ever
had done, and that general prosperity
would be the result. The Colony
would occupy a better financial position than ever before, as it would be
entirely free from debt, and would receive a sufficient Revenue to meet its
requirements for many years to come.
Our prosperity would not be caused
by the amount we shall receive from
the Dominion, but on account of our
being relieved from financial embarassment, and from our enjoyment of free
1873 Â
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 201
and unrestricted intercourse and trade.
with the neighboring Provinces. For
these, and other reasons, which he
would not now stop to give, he would
support the resolution submitted by
his honor the Leader of the Government.
Hon. Mr. LEFURGY was proud to
say that Confederation was at last
about to be carried by an almost unanimous vote of that hon. House. Even
the two hon. members for Bedeque,
would be hoped, drop their opposition,
and give the measure their hearty
support. In adopting its present
course, the House of Assembly was,
he believed, carrying out the wishes of
a very large majority of the people of
this Colony. There were some localities, very probably, the people of which
would rather retain their self government, but they would ultimately see
and feel the benefit of unrestricted intercourse with the Dominion. Canada was destined
to be a great country,
and there was no doubt we should enjoy our share of her commerce, and
that our wealth and material prosperity
would increase with hers. He believed that the district which he represented would
bear him out in the
course which he was then pursuing, as
the people now saw that Confederation
would benefit this Colony in every
way. During his canvass at the late
election, he had pledged himself to
endeavor to obtain better Terms than
those then before the country, and he
had now fulfilled his promise to his
constituents. He was glad that [the
delegates had obtained better Terms,
and that the Opposition had heartily
accepted them, although they did, at
first, make some little objection to
them on the ground that the basis upon
which the Terms had been obtained
was not made quite clear enough by
the hon. members who formed the
delegation . As we had received the
guarantee that an additional sum would
be conceded to us, it did not make
much difference what arguments had
been advanced in order to obtain it.
Including certain sums promised by
the Dominion Government, for the
conveyance of mails by inland steam
communication, the additional amount
obtained by the last delegation was
$33,000, which was a very handsome
sum, and would prevent our being
forced to resort to local taxation as
soon as we otherwise would. As this
was but a small Colony, we should
endeavor to elect six good men to
represent our interests in the Dominion House of Commons ; if we did
this, our affairs would not be neglected. We shall go into the Dominion
with a large number of people ; and he
believed she would deal liberally with
us. He would, with much pleasure,
support the resolution, as he felt confident that under Confederation our
affairs would be conducted in a far
better and more satisfactory manner
than ever before, and that all our
little bickerings and old party differences would be forgotten. Some of
our foremost statesman would be taken
away from our local Legislature to
represent as in the House of Commons, and others would take their
places ; but he hoped and believed all
would result in a happy and prosperous career for our littlle Island.
(Cheers.)
MR. ROWE said that the question
now before the Committee was one of
the most important that ever occupied
the attention of the Legislature of this
Colony, as we were now about to resign the constitution under which we
had lived, and under which the Island
had enjoyed a separate government for
the last one hundred years. He had
to confess that he approached the
question with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure. No doubt many
hon. members of that house had looked
forward to the time when they should
202
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
assist in carrying out that great question of Confederation, expecting, thereby, that
they would forward their own
personal interests. Others may have
had the interests of the country, generally at heart, in assisting to bring
this measure to completion, and, therefore, deserved well of their fellow
Colonists. He had, as was well known,
taken his stand in opposition to Confederation, but he had, in obedience to
the wishes of the people of the Murray
Harbor district, sunk his own
individual opinions in reference to this question, and was prepared to give a willing support
to the resolution. He
believed that his constituents would
not have gone in favor of the measure,
were it not for circumstances over
which they had no control. Indeed,
he had reason to believe that his constituents regretted the circumstances
which had placed them in their present position, and necessitated their
acceptance of the Terms of Confederation now offered this Colony. Had it
not been for the introduction of the
Railway Bill, his constituency, and he
believed other constituencies also, would
still have rejected any offer Canada
might make to this Colony to induce
us to unite with her, as the peeple
would have preferred to manage their
own affairs as in times past. But there
is, under our present circumstances, a
necessity for our accepting Terms of
Confederation, in order to escape
financial embarassment. Great credit
was due the former delegates who undertook to negociate Terms of union
with Canada, when they saw the inevitable consequences of the Railway
policy, they must have had a considerable amount of moral courage to have
faced the danger as they did, knowing that a large number of the
people of this Island were averse
to Confederation. They opened up
the ground for our receiving fair and
reasonable Terms at the hands of the
Dominion Government ; but they did
not cover the whole of it. Another
delegation has been sent to Ottawa,
clothed with greater authority, and
has obtained still further concessions
from the Dominion. Whether the
present Terms are an absolute advance
over the former Terms, time will probably reveal ; he hoped they would
prove to be so. In the Minute of
Conference, he found a statement to
the effect that the additional $5 was
obtained " in view of the possibility of
a re-adjustment of the financial arrangements between Canada and the several
Provinces now embraced in the Dominion." It seemed to him that each of
the other Provinces would also receive
a like amount per head of its population.
The force of the language contained in
the Minute of Conference rested on
the force of the word "possibility."
Who would dare to say that the Dominion Government did not possess
sufficient power to re-adjust the financial arrangements with its several
Provinces, and give the $5 per head
all round? The extra sum now granted this Colony, will be an absolute
boon, until the other Provinces receive
a similar amount in addition to their
present allowances ; but when it is
granted them, we shall have to contribute our proportion of the whole,
and our real gain will then be very
small indeed. The $2000 granted
annually for telegraphic communication, will be a direct advantage to this
Colony, and he was willing to accord
to the last delegation due credit in
obtaining an additional amount from
the Dominion whether it amounted to
$25,000 or $2,000 only. There was
every reason to believe that we
should require every cent of the
amount we would receive from the
Deminion. The hon. Leader of the
Government and the hon. Attorney
General seemed surprised that the
Opposition did not accept their view
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 203
of the Terms new offered this Colony.
The first delegation was in a similar
position, a few weeks ago, in reference
to the Government. The Opposition
were willing to accept the words of
the Canadian Ministry and Lord
Dufferin, when they said that no better
Terms could possibly be granted this
Island. The Government side of the
House treated the statement in question with apparent disrespect, but they
now came down and expected the Opposition to accept Terms which hear
an entirely different construction, without expressing any doubt as to the
basis upon which the additional allowance is granted. He most heartily
accorded all due credit to the last delegation for the additional amount they
had secured to this Colony, and would
most cordially support the resolution
before the Committee, in the interests
of his constituents, and of the people of
the whole Island.
Hon. Mr. McEACHEN had, like Mr.
Chairman himself, for many years
fought the battle of anti-Confederation ; but he had never been one of
those who strongly abused the Canadian Ministry, for the part they had
taken in endeavoring to bring about a
union of this Island with the Dominion. He had always considered
them men of whom every true Briton
might feel proud. It had been his
honest conviction that we could do for
ourselves, better in every way, than
Canada could do for us ; but our affairs
had now become so much changed
that it was to our interest to accept
with good grace the Terms now offered
us by the Dominion. There was no
reason to believe that our interests
would suffer by entering the Dominion,
to such a degree, as some people imagined. Some hon. members of the
Opposition did not seem willing to
accept the improved Terms, because
they could not understand clearly the
basis upon which they were obtained.
They must certainly feel that this is a
rich Colony, if they suppose that it can
afford to throw aside so large an
amcunt of money, merely because
they cannot see how it has been secured to us. He had full confidence in
the last delegation, and from the first
believed that they would procure better Terms because they had more
financial ability, and knew better how
to present their claims than the former
delegation. He would willingly support the resolution.
The question was then put, and the
resolution carried unanimously.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT said that before an Address to
Her Majesty the Queen was passed, it
was necessary that the electoral districts, into which this Island should be
divided for the purpose of choosing
representatives to send to the Dominion House of Commons, should be
defined. It would be necessary to set
forth in that Address the bounds of
the six electoral districts, according to
the terms of the British North America Act. As one of the representatives of Queen's
County in that House,
he thought that County fairly entitled
to a much larger representation than
either of the outlying Counties. But,
in whatever way this matter was
viewed, there were serious difficulties
to contend with. Before long an additional member of the House of Commons will be
allowed this Island, as
the representation is based on that of
the province of Quebec, from which
thousands of people are emigrating
every year to Manitoba, where land is
abundant and cheap. The population
of Quebec will increase at a slower
rate than that of the other provinces
and the consequence will be that the
latter will, the sooner, receive an increase of representation, it will upset
the whole arrangement, whereas, by
taking the present County divisions as
204
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
electoral districts, the additional member could be given to Queen's County. All the
arguments used by the delegates sent from this Island to the Quebec Conference, in
reference to our representation in the House of
Commons, were to the effect that two members should be allowed each County. When the
hon. Leader of the Opposition went up to Ottawa on his late mission, he asked that
two members be allowed as the representation of each County. It was probable the hon.
member still held the same opinions in reference to this matter, as at that time.
There will, probably, be two senators appointed for Queen's County, and one for each
of the other Counties, which will, to a certain extent, equalize the representation.
In Montreal East, the population represented by one member is seventeen thousand,
and in St. John County, N. B., fifty-five thousand. Representation by population is
not carried out in detail in the several Provinces, although each Province returns
the number of representatives to which its population entitles it. There are members
in the Dominion Parliament who represent only some 200 or 300 voters, while others
represent more than 30,000. There is no satisfactory way in which an additional member
can be allotted to any particular portion of this Island, except by allotting one
to Queen's County under the proposed arrangement, making each County an electoral
district, which shall return two members. Queen's County, will, no doubt, be able
to return two members who will be a match for any other two returned by the outlying
Counties. The people should take care to return gentlemen able to exercise a pretty
strong influence in the Dominion Parliament, in order that their interests may be
served in the best possible manner. The only battle that will be fought by
our representatives in the House of Commons will be to obtain, each for his own district,
as large a share of the monies granted for local improvements, as possible. In our
representation in the Dominion Parliament, there will be no sectional interests, and
probably no party lines. He hoped to see out representatives in the House of Commons
stand shoulder to shoulder for the interests of this Island and those of the Maritime
Provinces as well. If this principle is fully carried out, we shall secure our share
of the monies granted for local works. The Parliament and people of Canada have a
large, rich country, full of resources, and not half developed, and, therefore, look
upon this Island as a very small place, still they earnestly desire to have us united
with them, as we are a thriving people, and possess a fertile and prosperous country.
Numbers of Canadians will find their way down here in the summer season, as they take
a deep interest in our little Island, and have always manifested a disposition to
deal liberally with us. He was satisfied we should have our full share of influence
in the Dominion Parliament, and that we should receive justice at its hands. As we
would have no local sectional interests to be represented in the House of Commons,
he could not see any objection to giving each County an equal representation, with
the understanding that when the increase of population entitles this Island to an
additional representative, he shall be allotted to Queen's County.
I.O.
Mr. LAIRD maintained that as our population had increased fifteen thousand since the date of
the Quebec Scheme, an additional representative in the Commons had been allowed to
Prince Edward Island, on the principle of increased population. Therefore
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 205
that it is the duty of the Legislature to divide the districts for the representation
in the Commons, on the basis of population, and not by Counties, and would test the
question by submitting the following amendment:—
Resolved, That the districts for the representation of this Island in the House of Commons,
of the Dominion, be six in number, each district returning one member ; and that the
said districts be bounded so as to carry out the principle of representation by population,
as nearly as the sub-divisions of Townships, Towns and Royalties will admit.
Hon. Mr. HAVILAND, admitted the principle was recognized in the North America Act, but denied that
it was carried into effect, when the division of Provinces into electoral districts
was carried out in detail.
Mr. L. H. DAVIES would like to see some well-defined, principle laid down. A division by Counties
was unfair. It was unjust, to say that King's County should have the same representation
as Queen's. Queen's County, to a large extent, represented the weath and intelligence
of the whole Island. Some respect should be paid to Charlottetown, containing as it
does such a large proportion of the wealth, population, and intelligence of the Island.
He would second the amendment of the hon. member for Belfast.
Hon. Mr. BRECKEN said the division of the districts in Quebec are the same as they were before Confederation
took place. If two representatives go from each County, they will have more influence.
It was not a matter to dispute about. It is the most natural division which can be
made, and will give more general satisfaction than the plan of the hon. member the
Leader of the Opposition.
Besides, when our representatives go to Ottawa, they will have to plead as one man,
for general, and not local or sectional rights or interests.
Mr. MCLEAN said that as there is more uncultivated land in Prince and King's County, than there
is in Queen's, it will be found that in the future these Counties will increase in
population at a greater ratio than Queen's. He thought the resolution just and reasonable,
and would support it.
Mr. SULLIVAN regarded the argument urged by the hon. member the Leader of the Opposition, such
as went to show he was striving to make a point, rather than doing so. Nor did the
principle of representation by population, thought admitted in the North America Act,
apply as the Opposition wish it to be understood. Any one who will read that Act will
find that the principle applies to Provinces, and not to electoral districts. Quebec,
for instance, is divided into sixty-five electoral districts, each of which returns
one member for Parliament, yet in this arrangement no respect whatever is paid to
population. Nova Scotia is the same, except in the County of Halifax, which returns
two members, and recently Picton. In New Brunswick the same principle applies. In
Ontario the ridings now returning members existed before Confederation. It cannot
be shown that the principle contended for in the amendment is in harmony with the
practice in the Dominion. The Leader of the Opposition appears to ground his objection
on two reasons:— 1st, That it is unfair to divide this Island into districts by Counties
; and 2nd, that the Opposition had not been consulted in the matter. He was willing
to admit that this was the strongest reason of the two. But he did not consider that
the Government
206 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
was bound to do so. When the members of the Comm9ons go up to Ottawa, it will not
be noticed whether they represent few or many. For his part he would not consent that
King's County should have less of a representation than Queen's. He knew the people
would not be satisfied with less. It is all very well to speak about the attention
due to population, but it should also be borne in mind that there are County rights
to be considered, and these the Leader of the Opposition has entirely lost sight of.
The general interests of one County are pretty much the same as those of another,
all of which will require to be attended to He will support the resolution.
Mr. P. SINCLAIR said the wealth
and population of Queen's County was
three times that of King's. That the
princple recognized in the North
America Act, was representation by
population, and to act upon any other
principle here will be to do Queen's
County an injustice.
Hon. Mr. HOWLAN said it was all
very well for hon. members to boast
of the wealth and extraordinary intelligence of Queen's County ; but other
considerations should be taken into
account also. Queen's County contained the capital of the Island. This one act drew
men of means to Queen's County. Trade and shipping, with emigration, flowed to the
central County first, and these facts account for the increased population of Queen's
County. But the other Counties are gradually increasing in wealth and population,
and at no distant day may increase in these at a greater ratio than in the now more
densely populated County. Besides, in a matter of this kind, it is our duty to look
to the future. Any other course will be unfair, and based upon a wrong principle.
As the hon. member for St. Peter's
said, it was their duty to take care
that County rights were not overlooked.
G.
Mr. T. KELLY said that some hon. members attempted to make light of Summerside, but although it
was a small town, it was not to be despised, as it was rapidly increasing in size,
and its trade flourishing. Hon. members of the Opposition wished to make it appear
that the original intention of those who inaugurated the scheme of Confederation,
was to carve the Provinces into districts, so as to give each but one representative
; but this was not the case. It was not deemed necessary to form new electoral districts,
for the districts existing at the time the union took place, were adopted as they
were. Two much stress had been laid upon the fact that the population of Queen's County
exceeds that of each of the other two Counties. To say that Queen's County is equal
in wealth and intelligence to the other two Counties put together, was going too far.
Was this encomium bestowed upon Queen's County because it was the seat of the famous
Tenant League organization of which a certain hon. member of the Opposition was a
prominent member and endorser, which trampled under foot the laws of the land, and
to suppress which British troops were sent from Halifax? Was that the way in which
it exhibited its intelligence ? He believed that the Tenant League did extend, at
one time, to some parts of King's County, particularly the Murray Harbor district
; but it had never obtained a footing in Prince County. The representation of this
Island should be adapted to the existing County divisions, instead of forming six
new electoral districts, which would require to be re-arranged whenever the Island
is
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 207
entitled to an additional member. The questions which will come up before the Dominion
Parliament, affecting the interests of Queen's County, will, in an almost equal degree,
affect the interests of each of the other two Counties. A representative from either
of the Counties will be a representative of the whole Island as well. It was more
convenient in every way, and adapted to the three divisions into which the country
has been so long divided, to apportion the representation as proposed in the resolution
submitted by the hon. Leader of the Government. He would, therefore, oppose the amendment.
Mr. LAIRD said that the Government party contended that it was more respectable to represent
large districts than for each member to represent one-sixth part of the Island, as
proposed in the amendment. If there was anything at all in their arguments, they should
make the whole Island one electoral district, and let the whole six members run their
election together. In his former remarks he said that the grand principle that underlaid
the Quebec Scheme, was representation by population. If that was the grand aim of
the Canadians, and yet not fully carried out in its details, why might not we begin
right, at once, by dividing the Island into the required number of electoral districts
? It is unfiar that the people of Queen's County should have to bear the heaviest
part of the burden of taxation, and yet be deprived of the representation to which
they are entitled. They have a good reason to complain of unfair treatment, as they
had to bear the largest share of the Railway burden, which was brought upon them by
the representatives from the outlying Counties. They now claim their rights in the
representation to the Dominion House of Commons, and are fully entitled to them. It
is the land
lying vacant in Prince County which the hon. member for Summerside wishes to see represented,
or the industrious and intelligent people of Queen's County ? It seems to be the former
! There is no fairer method of representation than by population. He (Mr. L.) did
not boast of the superior intelligence and wealth of the people of Queen's County,
compared with those of the outlying Counties, but contended that man for man, they
were as intelligent and as wealthy as the people of either Prince County or King's
County, and, therefore, were, on that ground, entitled to representation according
to their number. They had no right to disfranchise, in order to give the people of
the other two Counties a greater representation than they were entitled to receive.
Hon. members who represent large constituencies are generally of opinion that the
smaller the constitution, the smaller the men, or in other words " the smaller the
pond the smaller the frogs." But we often find the reverse to be the case. A great
deal had been said about the interests of the outlying Counties, but not a word about
swamping the electors of Queen's County, although it was well known that the representation
of the latter was virtually swamped in that House by the representatives of the other
Counties. All that he asked for Queen's County was equality, and nothing more. The
views of her people were as much entitled to respect as those of the people of the
other Counties, and were, therefore, entitled to equal representation. The Province
of Quebec is divided into sixty- five electoral divisions, which were in existence
before the union took place, and each division is entitled to return one member only
to the House of Commons. Ontario did not adopt the old electoral districts, but formed
new ones in order that its people might be represented according to population.
208
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
Each Country in Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick returns one member, except the County containing Halifax in the former,
and St. John in the latter Province, which is, in both cases, entitled to send two
representatives. When two members are allotted to a single district, the system of
log rolling is generally practised to a greater or less extent, to the detriment of
the interests of the people. The present County divisions f this Island are merely
artificial, and there is nothing to prevent the division of the country into groups
of townships, each forming an electoral district. The population of the Island should,
as nearly as possible, be divided into six equal parts, by means of the township boundaries,
in order that each electoral district should have only one representative of its own
in the House of Commons, and to carry out the grand principle of representation by
population.
HON. ATTY. GENERAL said that the
hon. Leader of the Opposition was correct in saying that he (Mr. B.) had told him
that the last delegation had secured $88,000 in addition to the Terms brought down
by the former delegation ; but he (Mr. B.) had also told that hon. member that he
did not know whether the whole of that sum was direct or indirect. He was still prepared
to prove that his statement was correct, and would do so, provided that hon. member
would give him in return a history of the scheming of the Opposition during the absence
of the delegates. The hon. member would be sorry to see ten cents granted by the Dominion
Parliament to put an end to the long agitated education question, as it would deprive
him of a large amount of political capital at election times. It was not the man who
polled the largest number of votes that was remarkable for the greatest amount of
political honesty or augacity. What was the means of giving the hon. member, himself,
a seat in the
House ? He printed a thousand
copies of a Speech, delivered by the hon. gentleman, who was his political opponent,
at an educational establishment, under the control of Roman Catholics, and placed
a copy in every Protestant house in his district. Because credit was rendered where
credit was due, that Speech was made use of as political capital by the hon. member.
The people of Pisquid, on the other hand, were told that the same hon. gentleman,
who paid so high a tribute to the Catholic Clergy, was a member of the great Presbyterian
Synod !
MR. LAIRD said that what he did
in Belfast, during the election campaign, he had done openly, and above board. He
had contested the election fairly and openly, and, when electioneering, had frequently
met the hon. Atty. General, who always did more good than harm by his statements.
He had showed up the inconsistency of the hon. Col. Gray, and had acted honestly in
doing so. That gentleman claimed the right to represent the Belfast district, partly
on the ground that he had presided over a meeting of Protestant clergymen, held a
short time before in St. Paul's school room, in this City, for the purpose of opposing
grants to sectarian schools. He showed the inconsistency of the hon. gentleman who
had at one time claimed to be the champion of Protestantism, and at the other expressed
opinions at a certain institution, under the control of Roman Catholics, in favor
of sectarian grants. There was no reason that could be adduced to show that he had
no right to show up such inconsistency, as he, himself, had ever maintained one text
and one principle in reference to the School Question. He had never attempted to deceive
the people of this Island by giving pledges on one question, while, in the meanwhile,
he worked hard in an opposite direction. The present Government had obtained place
and
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 209
power by practising deception on that
very question.
Hon. ATTY. GENERAL said that
when the hon. Leader of the Opposition charged the Government with getting the reins
of power by misrepresentation and deception, he was largely inaccurate. The hon. member
talked about deception, but what was the truth? The very man who raised the Protestant
howl in Belfast, went to Inkerman House, a short before, and invited the hon. Col
Gray to run the Charlottetown election against himself and Mr. Pope, on the Protestant
ticket. No clerical influence had ever been the means of securing his (Mr. B.) election
for Charlottetown, and he had never dragged in the education question as a stalking
horse upon which to ride into place and power.
Mr. L. H. DAVIES believed that every Roman Catholic who supported the hon. Atty. General at last election,
did so on the understanding that the hon. member would support a grant to the Bishop's
schools. It was an extremely suspicious circumstance that the hon. member could not
take part in the discussion before the Com mittee, without referring to a matter that
had no connexion whatever with the matter under consideration. The principle established
in the Province of Quebec was not intended to extend in any way to the other Provinces,
as its representation was fixed, while that of the latter was to be elastic,
i. e. to increase with the population.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT was sorry to see the discussion taking the turn which had been given it, by hon.
members dragging in matters that had nothing to do whatever with the subject under
discussion. The last resolution had been passed unanimously, and he hope the present
one
would be passed in the same manner,
without any loss of time, and that both sides should agree upon the question, in order
that they might be able to join in the Address to Her Majesty. He thought the hon.
Leader of the Opposition much better qualified for acting on the stage than for taking
part in the meetings of the Young Man's Christian Association. The hon. member had
not lost an opportunity for several evenings, of repeating his remarks upon certain
matters which were now worn out. He (Mr. Laird) had referred over and over again to
the rotting hemlock timber, referred to in the correspondence between the delegates
and the Finance Minister ; but the less he said about the arguments used in that correspondence
the better, as he did all his power to prevent the delegates from receiving better
Terms. The hon. member had sent up to Ottawa copies of his newspaper, which did not
contain the facts in reference to the sending of that delegation, in order to prevent
the obtaining of better Terms for his Colony. The editorial stated that he (Mr. Pope)
was prepared to accept the Terms then before the country, if he could not secure better
Terms ; which was not the case. Other statements were sent up to Ottawa by friends
of the hon. member, to the effect that the general expectation of the people was,
that better Terms could not be procured, and that they were satisfied with the Terms
already offered them. Any member of that hon. House, or of the community, who made
a statement in order to prevent securing better Terms from the Dominion, was no friend
to the country, as he had no regard for its best interests. He wold now return to
the question more immediately before the Committee. No County in any of the Provinces
had been divided in the formation of their electoral districts, as had been proposed
by the
210
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
hon. Leader of the Opposition in reference to this Island. Ontario, it was true, owing
to its dense population, had a member allotted to each Riding, into which it was divided,
but no portion of any County had been cut off and joined to another detached portion
of another County. Some members of the House of Commons represent several thousands
of electors, while others represent only a few hundreds, showing that although the
principle of representation by population was carried out with regard to each Province,
as a whole, it was not carried out with regard to the electoral districts. The hon.
Leader of the Opposition had made a statement to him (Mr. Pope) to the effect that
it would be better to divide the Island into electoral districts, according to the
Counties, than to divide it into sections, irrespective of the Counties. But the hon.
member now objected to the division by Counties, on the ground that an unpopular man
might run his election with a popular man, and thus secure his return to the House
of Commons. The remedy for this difficulty would be in the hands of the electors,
who would have the power to return the men of their own choosing. He (Mr. P.) would
like to see Queen's County with a larger representation than at present intended,
but as there will be no sectional differences in our representation in the Dominion
House of Commons, the six members chosen will represent the whole Island, and its
interests as a whole will receive more attention than those of any particular section.
Our representatives should all stand shoulder to shoulder for the general interests
of the Island, and he could not, therefore, see what good would be done by carrying
out the principles contained in the amendment. As we shall be entitled to an additional
member whenever the population reaches the required number, a re-arrangement of the
whole plan
would be required if the amendment
were carried out. On the other hand, if each County is made an electoral district,
the additional member can be given to Queen's County, which will then receive its
full share of representation. In the meantime, this County will have a representation
of two members in the Senate, while each of the other Counties will have but one.
As the other resolution was passed by a unanimous vote of that House, and as it was
intended to appoint a Committee composed of members from both sides of the House,
to prepare an Address to Her Majesty, in conformity with the British North America
Act, he thought it a pity that the Opposition had brought in an amendment which they
were well aware they were not able to carry, He hoped the hon. Leader of the Opposition,
who moved the amendment, would withdraw it, and that every hon. member of the Opposition
would give the original resolution his support, in order that there might be a unanimous
vote on the Address.
Hon. Mr. HOWLAN said that the
Province of Quebec was divided into sixty-five electoral districts, composed of its
former electoral divisions, which were left as they were. He concluded that the representation
of that Province would not be increased with the increase of population, as in the
Maritime Provinces. Each County in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was constituted an
electoral district, irrespective of population, with the exception of Halifax County
in Nova Scotia, and the County of St. John in New Brunswick, which on account of containing
the cities of Halifax and St. John, were entitled to return two members each. The
only exception to the rule of making each County an electoral district, was Ontario,
which was divided into Counties, Ridings of Counties, cities and parts of cities and
towns. As the neighbouring Provinces
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 211
had constituted each County an electora1 district, we would only be following their
example in doing the
same with regard to this Island.
Queen's County had always received
the lion's share of the public money.
The old argument that the people of
that County pay more towards the
construction and maintenance of the
Railway than those of the other
Counties, would not do in the face of
the fact that they had always received
more than their share of the public
money. The people of St. Peters,
Souris, &c., paid pro rata, for the construction of all the macadamized road
in Qeeen's County ; but what amount
of benefit did they rcceive from it ?
What advantage did remote parts of
the country receive from the large
amount of money expended to maintain steam communication, for many
years past, between Charlottetown and
the neighboring Provinces ? Prince
County paid its share of the cost of
steam communication for many years
before it received the benefits of it.
Whose money was contributed to pay
for the erection of those expensive
public buildings in Charlottetown ?
Why should not the people in distant
parts of the country have macadamized
roads as well as Charlottetown and
adjacent districts ? Those who advocated the construction of a Railway
were acting for the best interests of the
people of the whole Island, when they
did so, by making provision for districts, as well as more highly favored
parts. Why should one hundred acres
of land, situated at West River, be
more valuable than an equal area in
the western part of Prince County,
where the soil is equally as good ?
The farmers near Charlottetotvn have
hitherto had a grand monopoly of our
market, and it is now high time that
those of more distant parts should share
in the benefits of a ready market for
their produce. A good deal has been
said about the correspondence between
the last delegation and the Finance
Minister of the Dominion. The former delegation were so wise in their
own eyes, that they thought the people of this Island did not want to see
their correspondence, and the consequence is that there is not a line of it
before the House. The last delegates
placed their correspondence upon the
table of the House, and were not
ashamed of it, in any respect. What
the School Question had to do with the
matter now before the Committee, be
was at a loss to understand. When
the hon. junior member for Belfast
stated that he had no denominational
influence at his back to carry his election, he stated what every gentleman
within the sound of his voice knew to
be false, and what he himself knew to
be untrue. That hon. member, during
his canvass, declared that the hon.
Col. Gray was not to be trusted on the
School Question, because he had stated
at a public examination at St. Dunstan's College, that if he had a son, he
would entrust that institution with his
education. For that reason alone,
twelve hundred Protestants were besought to keep that hon. gentleman
out of Parliament. He (Mr. H.) believed that the public mind was diseased on that
unfortunate School Question. When in Ottawa, he heard the
hon. Hilliard Cameron, Grand Master
of the Orange Lodges in the Dominion,
speak in the House of Commons in
favor of denominational schools, now
established in Ontario, and receiving
State aid. When a division took place
in the House of Commons, in reference to the education question, almost
the whole Protestant majority voted in
favor of denominational education. It
is a most extraordinary fact that the
Protestantism of the Upper Provinces
differs from the Protestantism of this
Island in reference to this great question of education. The hon. Mr.
Cameron said that there was not a
single Protestant in Ontario, who
212
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
would seek to Fon the Catholics of denominational schools. Although the Catholics
of Ontario had enjoyed their separate school system for fifteen years, not a Protestant
in the Province sought to deprive them of it. The only conclusion he could arrive
at, was that the public mind in this country was diseased upon the School Question,
at the present time. Because Mr. Hensley's Government in 1869 extended the rites of
hospitality to two Canadian statesmen who visited this Island, they were denounced
by the editor of the
Patriot as Confederates ; and the ministers of the Dominion Government were abused and declared
to be " swells and pedlars." Four years have passed away, and every hon. member in
the House is now in favor of Confederation ! He (Mr. H.) had no doubt but that the
public mind would undergo a similar change in reference to the School Question, within
the new few years. The time, he believed, was not far distant, when that question
would not be used as a shuttlecock by politicians, and when justice would be done
the Catholic minority of this Island. He had been denounced throughout the length
and breadth of the country, because he had, while a member of the old Liberal Government,
asked that His Lordship Bishop McIntyre, be granted a proportionate share of the public
school funds, according to the number of children taught in his schools. If he had
then committed a sin, he was still a sinner in every respect, in reference to that
matter. He hoped and believed the day would soon arrive when Col. Gray would not be
afraid to enter a Catholic school, and express himself frankly in reference to its
management and the good it was doing among the youths of this Colony. If he (Mr. H.)
went into the new Methodist School, and pronounced his opinion upon the work it was
performing, would that
make him a Methodist ? By no
means. Yet that was all that Col. Gray did with reference to St. Dunstan's College
; he did not express an opinion in favor of Roman Catholicism. He (Mr. H.) could not
understand why hon. members of that House could not speak about farming, fishing,
and the arts and sciences, without flying off at a tangent and getting alarmed on
the School Question. Such conduct could only be compared to that of the turkey cock,
when he sees red flannel –he makes off at full speed. It must be a source of pleasure
to the hon. Col. Gray, when he reflects on the fact that he lost his election through
fear lessly expressing his honest convictions in reference to the denominational school
system.
Hon. Mr. SULLIVAN said that the
hon. junior member for Murray Harbor had misrepresented his remarks altogether. What
he (Mr. S.) endeavored to show, was that the principle of representation by population
was not carried out in its details, in the Province of Quebec. As each of the old
electoral districts was constituted an electoral district under the Dominion, and
as those districts under the immensely in population. He believed it was the hon.
Leader of the Opposition who commenced the digression in the debate. The hon. Atty.
General's remarks were called for by the impertinent language of the hon. Leader of
the Opposition. The matter dragged in by the latter had nothing whatever to do with
the question before the Committee, but the hon. member frequently indulged himself
in snob digressions, when he found some persons ready to tramp their feet and make
some noise. He (Mr. S.) hoped and trusted that as we were about entering
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 213
the Dominion, all the old petty squables would be some, never to rise again ; and
that the hon. member, when contesting the election for the Canadian House of Commons,
with no find it necessary to drag the speech, made by hon. Col. Gray, at St. Dunstan's
College, into the political arena. The hon. member had sounded the pocain among the
hon. members of the Opposition, but he (Mr. S.) would advise him to take the advice
tendered him by the Leader of the Government to let the resolution pass without further
opposition.
MR. LAIRD said that the hon. member for St. Pet's [Mr. Sullivan] had endeavored to show that
the Opposition should not express their opinions in reference to the important matter
before the Committee, because they were in a minority ; and had even went so far as
to pronounce his [Mr. L's] remarks impertinent ! The hon. member's remarks were impertinent
in the highest degrees but he [Mr. L.] dared him to prove that his language had been
impertinent in the slightest degree. The first hon. member who had, that evening,
referred to the School Question, was the hon, Atty, General, who declared he would
tell him [Mr. L] a little about his canvas in the Belfast district. In attempting
to do this, the hon. member had brought up the School Question. He [Mr. L.] had never
questioned the right of the hon. Col. Gray to visit St. Dunstan's College, and express
his opinions on the instruction imparted there. What he [Mr. L.] did state, was, that
if he found that gentleman's conduct at variance with his professions, he had a right
to show it up before the public man. He believed that he had gained his election independent
of that matter. The other candidate for the Belfast district —Mr. Smith, was an Orangeman
and an anti-grant man, and yet he had
been defeated as well as Col Gray.
When the latter visited St Dunstan's College, he not only complimented the scholars
of that institution, but expressed the hope that before long it would receive both
the private and public support of the community. When he heard that hon. gentleman
declare that he had ever been ready to defend Protestant interests, and that his forefathers
had shed their blood in the defence of Protestantism, he [Mr. L.] merely asked the
people to judge but when his present profession and past action, and whether or not
it was likely he would, while in the political field, express his read sentiments.
He did not know that the members of the minority were very unpopular in the country.
He believed that the Government would find that the principles for which the Oppositon
were contending, were most in favor with the people generally. The members of the
Opposition had merely asked that the Island be divided into six districts, according
to population, and in doing so, had shown no impertinence whatever, notwithstanding
the assertion of the hon. Solicitor General. They were merely contending for what
they believed to be the true principle, viz., representation by population, and had
a perfect and unquestionable right to move the amendment now before the Committee,
and to defend it also.
Hon. ATTY. GENERAD said that the
hon. Leader of the Opposition was the first who had broached the School Question.
That matter should have been kept out of the present debate altogether, as the subject
under consideration demanded the fullest attention of both sides of the House. If
this hon. m,ember or his friends wanted a full explanation of his conduct dur ing
the canvass, or at any other time, he was prepared to give it on the floor of that
House, as he was satisfied that it would beat the strictest investigation.
214
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
Hon. Mr. McEACHEN said that the
hon. junior member for Murray Harbor was very sensitive on the score of
taunts in reference to the political
canvass, although he himself was
among the first to taunt others in
refbrenee to their political platform.
Although Catholics were silent in
reference to the School Question, they
were, by no means, satisfied with the
present state of our educational matters. They were in a minority, and,
therefore had to submit to the course
maintained by the majority, but they
looked forward to the time when they
expected to see the School Question
settled satisfactorily and amicably.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY said that
had it not been for the closing remarks
of the hon. Leader of the Opposition,
he would not have spoken. He had
hoped that all side issues would have
been kept out ofthe debate, and that
hon members on both sides of the
House would have confined themselves
to the important question before them,
but it appeared that to the very last
moment of the existence of our separate Legislature, hon. members were
determined to drag into their debates
questions that had nothing whatever
to do with the sutbject before them.
Anti-Confederation and Escheat had
gone to the tomb of all the capulets,
but the School Question had taken
their place. He had heard an hon.
member state, a few days since, that
our Legislature had now been in existence a century, and that when he reflected on
the change that was about to take place, he did not know whether to weep over the
past or to laugh for joy at the grand prospects of the future of our little Colony.
A great deal had been said about the iron rod, but he thought that the greatest iron
rod ever held over hon. members of that House, was the iron rod of the Opposition
! What did the hon. Leader of the Opposition mean by stating that if the House of
As
sembly did not give the Opposition their rights, another House would do
so? He (Mr. H.) never would consent that the Legislative Council
should dictate to the people how they
shall be representedd in the Dominion
House of Commons. It seemed as if
there had been a grand caucus of the
Opposition, at which it had been decided that if their amendment could
not be carried in the House of Assembly, they would bring the question
to a final issue in the Upper Branch,
and throw out the Address to Her
Majesty, altogether, unless the electoral districts are constituted according to the
views of the minority !
But the threat would fall harmless.
Let their Lordships—the Conscript
Fathers as they are styled—imperil
the Colony when she is on the verge
of bankruptcy, and they will have to
bear the responsibility of their political
act. Matters had surely come too
pretty pass in this Colony, when the
minority in the House of Assembly
threatened the majority that if they
did not accede to their wishes, the
Upper Branch of the Legislature
would do so. They wanted an irresponsible body of Councillors to dictate
to the people's Branch of the Legislature, but such threats fell harmlessly
upon the majority of the House of
Assembly, which had the right to say
how this Island should be divided into
electoral districts for representation in
the Dominion House of Commons.
MR. LAIRD had held no threats
over the majority of the House of Assembly, but he had stated that although
for the time being the Liberal Party
were in a minority in the House of
Assembly, they were not in a minority
everywhere in the Legislature, and
that the principles held by the Opposition were not those of a minority in
the other end of the building. Itwas
not long since the hon. Col. Secretary
was glad to have himself wrapped in
" swaddling clothes," as he delights to
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 215
style matters in the Upper end. It
was not in the power of the Goverment to force this measure through the
Legislature, and to make it the law of
the land, contrary to the wishes of the
people, as they did the Railway Bill.
The Opposition were not disposed to
be so obedient as to be frightened by
the iron rod of the Government into
allowing the measure brought down
by the latter to pass without a protest.
He believed that if the present Government were to appeal to the country
at that moment, they would not be
able to bring back a majority to that
House. It was in vain for the hon.
Col. Secretary to say he would put
the Upper Branch at defiance, as he
could not carry the measure, now before the Committee, into effect, without its assistance.
The hon. member
had, at last, confessed that the country
was on the verge of bankruptcy.
What an argument to employ for the
purpose of forcing the Opposition to
vote for the measure before the Committee ! The Government had, at
last, to confess that they had brought
the country to the verge of bankruptcy
by their Railway policy!
Mr. L. H. DAVIES did not wonder that the hon.Leader of the Opposition could not sit silent after the
impertinent remarks of certain gentleman on the other side of the House. He could
understand the remarks of his honor the Leader of the Government, when he expressed
the hope that the measure would be passed unanimously, but he, was surprised at the
hon. member for St. Peters accusing the Oppo sition of impertinence. It was very easy
for his honor the Col. Secretary to tell the Opposition that he would carry the resolution
in spite of them, but it would have looked more manly if he had spoken to the question,
as one of a number, instead of acting in such a dictatorial manner. The hon. members
of the Opposition felt taht they were right in pursuing the course
they had taken. As the delegation
appointed by the late Government, had, in their negociations with the Government of
the Dominion, obtained Terms which the Opposition were elected to support, the latter
would have been false to their principles, if they had swallowed them and voted blindly
for a resolution appoiting another delegation, and promising to ratify whatever Terms
the latter might bring down from Ottawa. He was sorry that insults had also been offered
to the Upper Branch of the Legislature, during the debate. It was not, to say the
least, good policy, to tell the Legislative Council that the House of Assembly could
pass the measure and cause it to become the law of the land, in spite of them.
Mr. MCNEILL said that if each
County were constituted an electoral
district, Queen's County would not
receive a fair representation in the
Dominion House of Commons,although
her people would compare favorably
in numbers and intelligence, with those
of the other two Counties united. The
Island should be divided in such a
manner as to give representation according to the population, to each district, and
the very best men should be
chosen to represent our people in the
Dominion Parliament. A hard battle
had been fought in Canada for the
principle of representation by population, although it had not been carried
out there in its details, as it should
have been. The country should be
divided into six districts, in order that
each might be represented by one
member only. This question should
not be made a party measure, but
should be discussed on its merits.
Queen's County had never had her
fair proportion of representation in
that House, but a good opportunity
now offered to give her a due share of
representation in the House of Com
mons of the Dominion.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY said that the
216 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
hon. member for Rustice had been a
representative of Queen's County for several years, and yet had never been a supporter
of a Government in favor of bringing down a measure to have the country represented
according to population. The hon. member for New London had been a Leader of a Government
before now, but he [Mr. H.] never was aware, till the present time, that he was in
favor of representation by population. He had never heard the party to which those
hon. members belonged, agitate for this princple till to-day.
Mr. SINCLAIR said that if argument
proved anything at all, the Opposition had so far had the best of it; and he believed
the people, generally, would approve the amendment before the Committee. The question
of representation had never before been before the House since he had a seat in it.
He had often thought that Queen's County had not had her fair share of representation
in that House, but had never been so thoroughly convinced of the fact till now. If
ever the iron rod had been threatened, it was on that evening by the hon. Colonial
Secretary, who declared that whether the Opposition wished the Island to be divided
according to Counties or not, the measure submitted by the hon. Leader of the Government
would become the law of the land. To put off Queen's County with only two representatives,
while she has double the population and wealth of each of the other Counties, is unjust,
unreasonable, and countrary to the spirit of the British North America Act. Throughout
the whole of the Dominion, the principle of having only one representative for each
district, was carried out so fully, that there is not a single electoral district
in the whole country that has two representatives in the House of Commons. The Opposition
had advanced the clearest proofs and arguments to show the
correctness of the principle they had
laid down, but the question might just as well be decided at once, as the Government
seemed determined to carry their resolution.
MR. CALLBECK had failed to perceive any argument from the Government side of the House to prove
the principle they had laid down to be a sound one. Some hon. members of the Government,
had, as members of our Banking Institutions, advocated strongly against the very princple
for which they were now contending. As Queen's County represented double the wealth
and population of each of the other Counties, it was very unjust that she should be
deprived of a proportional share of representation in the Dominion House of Commons.
Never had so good an opportunity been offered to secure justice to Queen's County,
as the present one. Representation by population was the only just and equitable mode
of settling the question. If a large vote was all that was wanted by the Government,
they could easily secure it by constituting the whole Island one district, and letting
the six members run for it. When two representatives were allotted each district,
the interests of the minority were sunk altogether. The principle of allotting one
member to each electoral district, was undoubtedly the correct one, and should be
adopted in the present case. The plan proposed by the hon. Leader of the Government
was unfair and unreasonable, and would deprive the people of Queen's County of their
just share of representation. The general rule observed throughout the Dominion was
to allow one member for each district, and there was no reason why it should not be
carried out on this Island. Neither precedent nor justice would bear out the Government
in their present course. Some regard should be had for the wishes of the majority,
as it was not a party ques
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 217
tion, unless the Government made it one.
The question was then put on the amendment and lost on a division of Yeas 10; Nays
18.
The main resolution was then put and carried.
On motion, the Speaker took the chair, and the Chairman reported three resolutions
agreed to.
Said resolutions were again read at the Clerk's table. On motion of hon. J. C. Pope,
seconded by Mr. D. Laird, that the first and second resolutions be agreed to. The
question was put and the House divided as follows:-
Yeas- Hons. Pope, Howlan, McEachen, F. Kelly, Lefurgy, Haviland, Brecken, Sullivan,
Davies; Messrs, Owen, T. Kelly, Arsenault, John Yeo, James Yeo, A. C. McDonald, A.
J. McDonald, J. A. McDonald, McLean, McIsaac, Laird, Callbeck, McNeill, Rowe, Beer,
Sinclair, Stewart, L. H. Davies - 27.
Nays- Messrs, Howatt and Holland.
So it was passed in the affirmative.
The third resolution was then again read and the question having been put the House
divided as follows:-
Yeas- Hons. Pope, Howlan, McEachen, F. Kelly, Lefurgy, Haviland, Brecken, Sullivan,
Davies; Messrs. Owen, T. Kelly, Arsenault, John Yeo, James Yeo, A. C. McDonald, A.
J. McDonald, J. A. McDonald, McLean, McIsaac, Laird, Callbeck, McNeill, Rowe, Beer,
Sinclair, Stewart, L. H. Davies, Holland, - 28.
Nays- Mr. Howatt, - 1
So it was carried in the affirmative.
I. O.
MR. LAIRD's amendment was then put and lost, when, before the resolution was put, Mr. Laird
moved the following amendment:-
Resolved, That the districts for the representation of this Island in the House of Commons
of the Dominion, be the same as the districts for the election of members to the Legislative
Council, excepting the City of Charlottetown, which shall, for the present, be united
with the First Legislative Council district of Queen's County.
Which was seconded by Mr. Sinclair, and being put was lost on the following division.
Yeas- Mr. Laird, hon. B. Davies Mr. Callbeck, McNeil, Rowe, Beer, Sinclair, Stewart,
E. H. Davies, James Yeo,- 10
Nays- Hons. Mr. Pope, Howlan, McEachen, Kelly, Lefurgy, Haviland, Brecken, Sullivan;
Mr. T. Kelly, Arsenault, John Yeo, A. C. McDonald, A. J. McDonald, McLean, McIsaac,
Howatt, Holland, J. A. McDonald, - 19.
On the motion of hon. Mr. Pope, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, when the resolutions
were reported agreed to.
MR. HOWATT said in going into the Dominion it is for all time to come. It is making a bargain
which cannot be broken. Every power vested in the dominion Parliament can be exercised
over us. They have the power now to make a re-adjustment of the debt of the other
colonies, and it will have power also to levy a portion of this upon us. Our credit
will be lost, and our position reduced to something like that of the Magdalen Islands.
He would prefer remaining out in the cold, and thought it would be more patriotic
to manage the affairs of our own little Island ourselves. The time will come when
we will regret the position we are in, and the step now taken.
The resolutions agreed to in Committee, were then severally read by the Clerk, and
are as follows:-
1st. Resolved, That by a Report, dated 21st May, instant, from the hons.
218
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1878
Messrs. Pope Haviland and Howlan,
delegates appointed by His Honor the
Lieutenant 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 Messag from His Honor
the Lieutenant 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.
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 possibility of a re-adjustment 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 en—
titled 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 fiver per cent per annum on
the difference, from time to time, between the actual amount of its indebtedness and
the amount of indebtedness authorized as aforesaid, vix:- 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 debt and liabilities
at the date of the union may exceed For 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 that source for
'the construction and maintenance of
local works, the Dominion Government shall pay by half-yearly instalments, in advance,
to the Government
of Prince Edward Island, Forty-five
thousand dollars ($45,000) per-anunm,
less interest at five per cent, per annum,
upon any sum not exceeding Eight
hundred thousand 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 Legislature—that is
to say, Thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000), and an annual grant
equal to eighty 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 cents per head to
be augmented in proportion to the increase of population of the Island, as
may be shewn by each subsequent
decennial Census, until the population
amounts to Four Hundred Thousand,
at which rate such a grant shall there
after 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
{or the following services, viz:-
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 219
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.
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 Telegraphic
Communication between the Island
and the Main Land of the Dominion, and such other chargers 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 are or may be allowed to the other Provinces.
8. That the Railways 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 the
Island, and used as such, shall remain
the property of the Island.
12. That 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 the " 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
it was elected.
14. That the Provisions in the
" British North America Act, 1867 "
shall, except those parts there of 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 the Colony of
Prince Edward Island had been one
of the Provinces originally united by
the said Act.
220 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
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 the 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 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 Houses 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 of Union ; and that an humble Address
be presented to Her Majesty, praying 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 set forth.
MR. LAIRD said, Mr. Speaker, in moving the amendments which have been lost in Committee, I
did so because I thought such division of the Island into electoral divisions for
representation in the Dominion, was due to Queen's County, and did so from a deep
sense of what I considered to be my duty, and not for the sake of opposition or appearance.
But as the main resolutions have been reported agreed to, I shall now, for the same
reason, press the same ammendments upon the attention of this honorable House. I refrain
from doing so because, since we are about agreeing to accept of Confederation, it
is very desirable we should vote unanimously on the resolutions. I hope, therefore,
that the hon. members for Bedeque will reconsider the matter. I can
assure you, Sir, I ask them in all sincerity to do so. Confederation has become a
necessity ; of this the hon. members trust themselves feel satisfied, therefore, it
is the more desirable that the representatives of the people should all as one man
record their vote for the resolutions.
MR. HOWARD.—Sir, the hon. member gives good advice, but I would like him to put in practice
what he professes. His present advice does not agree with many others which he has
given, nor am I prepared to say that the one which he has given is good. I opposed
a union with the Dominion of Canada from the first ; and firmly believe we are taking
a step which will injure our fair little Island. Indeed, I am surprised that the hon.
member should undertake to advise me as to the course I should pursue, or how I should
vote. I am responsible to the men who sent me here, and if I wanted advice, they,
and not the hon. member, are the men I would go to for it.
MR. HOLLAND.—It was not my intention to address you Sir, at this advanced hour of the night,
but as the hon. member, the Leader of the Opposition, has thought proper to make special
reference to my hon. colleague and myself, I feel that it is my duty to do so. I assume
the hon. members imagine that as I voted for sending the late delegates to Ottawa,
I should now support the present resolution. But when I voted on that occasion I had
to choose between two evils ; and the result has proved the wisdom of the vote I then
gave. I had reason to believe that the delegates would obtain better Terms for this
Island than the former had arranged, and their success shows that this House did right
when it decided to send them up. It shows also that so far, in obtaining Terms, nothing
has been lost by delay, and that if we were to delay the matter a
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 221
few years longer, we would be gainers
by so doing. The hon. member, Mr. Laird, wishes my hon. colleague and myself to fall
in line, and act, as he seems to imagine, a consistent part. But, Sir, if there is
an hon. member in this House who has been really inconsistent as a public man, that
member is himself. Before, therefore, he undertakes to instruct others about consistency,
he should first put in practice what he preaches. He should recollect that the many
advices of a quite contrary nature, which he has so often given, renders his present
advice of little value, and entitled to scarcely any respect. Indeed, I would feel
myself humiliated were I to follow the hon. member as my political leader, or recognize
him as my adviser. He ought to remember that he told the people, at one time, that
Confederation would cause each family to be taxed to the tune of ÂŁ40 a year. Now the
hon. member has seen fit to change his tune, and thinks others should vaccilate also.
I ran my election on the anti-Confederate ticket, the people have not relieved me
from that pledge, and I can assure the hon. member I am not going to violate any promise
I made to my constituents.
The hon. Mr. Pope moved, seconded by Mr. Laird, that the first and second of the said
resolutions be agreed to.
The third resolution was then again read, and is as follows :—
3rd. Resolved, That the Electoral Districts for which the first election of members to serve in
the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada, shall be as follow :—
That Prince County shall constitute one District, and return two members.
That Queen's County shall constitute one District, and return two members.
That King's County shall constitute one District, and return two members.
That the first election for members to serve in the House of Commons in Canada, shall
take place within three Calendar months after this Island shall be admitted into and
become part of the Dominion of Canada.
And the question being put on the said resolution, the House divided, and the names
being called for, they were taken down as follows :—
Yeas—Hons. Mr. Pope, Howlan, McEachen, Kelly, Lefurgy, Haviland, Brecken, Sullivan,
Davies ; Messrs. Owen, T. Kelly, Arsenault, John Yeo, James Yeo, A. C. McDonald, A.
J. McDonald, J. A. McDonald, McLean, McIsaac, Laird, Callbeck, McNeill, Rowe, Beer,
Sinclair, Steward, L. H. Davies, Holland,—28.
Nays—Mr. Howatt,—1.
Resolved, That a Committee of seven members be appointed to prepare an Address to Her Majesty
the Queen, praying that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to give effect to the
resolutions of the House on the subject of a Union of Prince Edward Island with the
Dominion of Canada, agreed to in a Committee of the whole House this day.
Ordered, That the hon. Mr. Pope, Mr. Laird, the hon. Mr. Haviland, Mr. Sinclair, hon. Mr.
Howlan, Mr. L. H. Davies, and the hon. Mr. Brecken, do compose the said Committee.
The hon. Mr. Pope, from the last preceding Committee appointed, presented to the House
the Draft of an Address, as prepared by the Committee, which is as follows :—
222
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty :
MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,—
We, Your Majesty's most dutiful
and loyal subjects, the House of Assembly of Prince Edward Island, in
Parliament assembled, humbly approach your Majesty, and pray that
your Majesty will be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of your
Majesty's most Honorable Privy
Council, under the provisions of the
146th section of "The British North
America Act, 1867," to admit Prince
Edward Island into the Union or
Dominion of Canada, on the terms and
conditions expressed in certain resolutions recently passed by Houses of the
Parliament of Canada, and also by the
Houses of the Legislature of Prince
Edward Island, which said resolutions
are as follow :—
1. That Canada shall be liable for
the debts and liabilities of Prince
Edward Island at the time of the
Union.
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 possibility of a re-adjustment 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, be
tween the actual amount of its indebtedness and the amount of indebtedness
authorized 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 debt 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 that source for
the construction and maintenance of
local works, the Dominion Government 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 thousand 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 Legislature—that is
to say, Thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000), and an annual giant
equal to eighty 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 cents per head to
be augmented in proportion to the increase of population of the Island, as
may be shewn by each subsequent
decennial Census, until the population
amounts to Four Hundred Thousand,
at which rate such a grant shall there
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 223
after 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 the 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.
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 Telegraphic
Communication between the Island
and the Main Land of the Dominion,
and such other chagers 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 are or may
be allowed to the other Provinces.
8. That the Railways 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 Canad, 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 the
Island, and used as such, shall remain
the property of the Island.
12. That 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 the " 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
it was elected.
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
224 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
way and to the same extent as they apply to the other Provinces of the Dominion, and
as if the 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 the 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 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 Houses of the Legislature
of the said Colony of Prince Edward Island may specify in their said Addresses.
And we further humbly pray that all laws which, at the date of the Order in Council
by which the said Island of Prince Edward shall be admitted into the Dominion of Canada,
relating to the qualification of any person to be elected to sit or vote as a member
of the House of Assembly of the said Island, and relating to the qualifications or
disqualifications of voters, and to the oaths to be taken by voters, and to Returning
Officers and Poll Clerks, and their powers and duties, and relating to Polling Divisions
within the said Island, and relating to the proceedings at Elections, and to the period
during which such Elections may be continued, and relating to the trial of controverted
Elections, and the proceedings incident thereto, and relating to the vacating of seats
of members, and to the execution of New Writs in case of any seat being vacated otherwise
than by a dissolution, and to all other matters connected with or incidental to elections
of members to
serve in the House of Assembly of the said Island, shall apply to elections of members
to serve in the House of Commons, for the Electoral Districts, situate in the said
Island of Prince Edward Island.
Hon. Mr. POPE, said, Mr. Speaker, I rise to move that the Address be agreed to. In doing so, I
will embrace the opportunity to say, that for several years I have been of the opinion
that our interests would be greatly promoted by a Union with the Dominion of Canada.
Nor can I now but feel, that a high honor has been conferred upon me, in being the
agent, as it were, through whom, with my associates, the measure is to be completed,
while the Leader of the Opposition was the mover in the question that is now before
us. While saying this, it is due to my hon. friend, the hon. member for Georgetown
(Mr. Haviland) to say that in this matter he has been the most consistent. At first
I was not satisfied with the Quebec Terms. But when I found that the Dominion Government
was prepared to deal fairly with us, I became a Confederate in principle at once ;
but never felt disposed to urge the quesiton upon the country, believing as I did,
that if the measure should, at any time, be carried against the will of the people,
it would be an unfortunate day for this Colony. No valid reason has been shown by
my old colleague, the senior member for Bedeque, why he and his colleague should continue
to oppose the measure. Bedeque is my native district, in the welfare of its people
I have ever felt the liveliest interest. They are in independent circumstances, and
perhaps the most intelligent of any district in the Island. Some of them believe in
Confederation, others do not ; while not a few regard it as a necessity. I rejoice
myself, that I, as a native of that district, will soon see this Island a part of
the Dominion, of the benefits of which Union,
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 225
Bedeque will participate, perhaps more largely than any other part of the Island.
Such being my convictions, I would be glad if any hon. friends the representatives
of that district, saw their way clear to support the resolution. I, therefore, move
that the Address be agreed to. I feel pleased that an all but unanimous vote will
be taken on this important question, and sorry that even one vote should appear upon
our Records against it. (Applause.)
Mr. LAIRD.—I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution of the hon. member the Leader of
the Government. I am happy to think that when we are about entering the Dominion,
that we are likely to do so almost unanimously. I thought, some few years ago, that
such would not be the case. But now we shall have notheing to complain of. The people
are willing, and this House all but unanimous. (Hear.) We go in willingly. Not soÂ
in Nova Scotia. That Province was forced in against the wish of the people, and as
a result, it has been the source of much discontent and dissatisfaction. They said
they were not consulted, and that they were treated as if they had no right to have
a voice in the matter. Such relfections cannot be cast upon the public men of this
Colony. The late election was conducted principally with a view to ascertain the mind
of the people upon this question. It would have been more agreeable to some, to have
carried the measure without an appeal to the people, but I always contended for the
reverse, and said, though I should stand alone, and never again occupy a seat in this
House, I felt it my solemn duty to test the question at the polls. As a party, we
were defeated, yet, nevertheless, the question has been sustained. In this House we
are almost one in voting upon it, and I cannot but regard it as a happy era in the
history of this Island, that such is the case. The whole question in all its
aspects has been fairly and freely discussed. No advantage in any way has been taken
of the people. We are now going into union with Canada at their desire, and with their
free consent and concurrence. And even though the step we are now taking, should not
prove advantageous to the interests of the people of this Island, they cannot throw
any blame upon the Legislature for what it is now doing. But I fear no such results.
On the contrary, as one, who for a long time opposed the measure, I rejoice that when
we are entering, we do so under circumstances so satisfactory, and full of hope and
promise. The Quebec Scheme did not contain Terms that were just to this Island. Those
of 1869 were not such as we should have accepted ; they were not such as would have
justified this Colony in surrendering up its constitution for. I am therefore, happy
to see that the late delegates, in their correspondence with the Committee of the
Privy Council did set some value upon our independent position. I am free now to admit
that I do not fear any bad results from Confederation. The people in the other Provinces
are as much afraid of taxation as we are. No increase of taxation can be levied upon
us, but what must also be imposed upon them, therefore, in that respect we have nothing
to fear. When at the time of the Quebec Conference we heard so much about the debt
of old Canada, I felt there was very just grounds for apprehension and doubt. At that
time, old Canada was, on their public securities, borrowing money at a discount of
7 1/2 per cent. while Nova Scotia paper went at par. But I am happy and glad to find
that the history of old Canada in this respect, has not been repeated in that of the
New Dominion. That taxation is actually decreasing, though the numbers of their public
works are constantly increasing, and extending in magnitude and number from the Atlantic
to the Pacific.
226
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
I rejoice, therefore, to see a prospect
so bright before us, and of uniting with
such a good, great and glorious country, and as the learned Atty. General
once said that the same sun and rain
shone and fell upoa the Dominion as
what brightened and watered our little
Island, so I hope and trust that the
same blessings from on high may ever
continue to shine and fall upon us and
the people of this great Dominion.
(Applause and cheers.)
Hon. Mr. HAVILAND.— I cannot,
Mr. Speaker. sit and give a silent vote
on the very important question now
before this hon. House. We have tonight decided that we shall not longer
continue to be a separate Colony.
For my part, I am not a Confederate
from circumstances of necessity, but
from a long and sincere conviction that
it will be for the general and permanent interests of this Island. I have
been such from the date of the Quebec
Conference, up to the present time. I
saw that Cofederation, under the
time honored old flag, was to prove a
glorious success ; and firmly believe
that our destinies would have been
more prosperous if we had entered in
1864. But, because I then gave utterance to the conscientious convictions of my mind,
I was looked upon
as a traitor, and many thought I ought
to have been hung up upon the nearest
tree as a warning to public men. Yet,
notwithstanding, I have never swerved
from these principles. But while retaining these opinions, I was never an
advocate of the policy that was practiced in Nova Scotia. To give a man
a boon, unless it is appreciated, does
him more harm than And so it
would have been here if Confederation
had been forced upon an unwilling
people. But, now that an appeal has
been made to our people, and the result shown in the vote this night given,
we may reasonably conclude that our
people appreciate the advantage of
union with Canada; and that the action
of this House tongiht will be fraught
with much good to Prince Edward
Island; and so far from realizing the
evils dreaded by the hon. member for
Bedeque (Mr. Howalt) it will be
found that Confederation will confer
blessings upon this Colony. No doubt
it is a question that effects our interests for all time, but while this is the
case. instead of cancelling our rights,
as the hon. member seems to suppose,
we are enlarging them, and by the
vote this night given, have taken the
first step to extend our privileges and
increase our influence; so that in fact,
our rights are only being enlarged.
Although our population is but 100,000, or thereahouts, yet we are entering on terms
which secures to us the
advantages of a Colony much larger
and more populous. Our peeple will
become a portion of the Dominion
which extends from the blue waters of
the Atlantic, to the shores of the
bright and Sparkling Pacific Ocean.
Do you call that selling our rights?
No. Is it putting your hand in a vice
from which you cannot extricate it?
Nothing of the kind. We are, and
shall be, but enlarging and adding to
our more expanding rights and privileges ass people. For disposing of all
matters of ordinary interest, we shall
still have our Local Legislature; and
as for taxation, I believe we shall have
nothing to fear from that scare crow
which has been raised to frighten the
timid. I believe that even the men
who supported the ice-bound resolution.
do not now dread that huge bugbear.
It is also a matter for the most entire
satisfaction, that the question should
be carried as it has been to-night. To
think that the. resolution. should be
proposed by the Leader of the Government, and seconded by the Leader
of the Opposition, is certainly a fact
which cannot fail to be gratifying to
every true friend of this Colony. We
need not be afraid of our future destinies. We may be proud that we
are to form part of a Dominion that
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 227
has a form of Government so superior to that of the United States. There
they have. no responrible Government.
The President, during his term of
office, is literally invested with despotic powers. He is to all intents as
much of a despot, for the term of four
years, as any man can be. These are
facts which cannot be contradicted.
No matter what he may do, the people
have, no constitutional means of getting
rid of him untilhis term of office expires. But under our glorious constitution, the
representatives of the people,
when Parliament is assembled, can in
one moment make or unmake a ministry. Long, long, therefore, may the
Dominion continue to grow and prosper. Why, Sir, in the commerce of
the world, the Dominion occupies no
mean place, and to-day as rivals of the
United States, her commerce is fully
one-third that of the Great Republic.
When such is the case now, what may
we not hope and expect the future to
be? We have no grounds then for
misapprehension or doubt.
And let us be firm and united,
One country. one flag for us all.
United our strength will be freedom,
Divided we each of us fall.
(Great applause and cheering.)
MR. P. SINCLAIR.—Sir, it would
not be proper for me to give a silent
vote on the present occasion. Perhaps I had as much to do in bringing
about what we have agreed upon, and
in what has called forth this Address,
as any one here. I believe, if the late
Government had not pursued the
course it did, we would be called upon
to levy an increase of taxation upon our
people, which would create much discontent. In reviewing the past, I
cannot but regard all the changes,
which has taken place amongst, us
within the past few years, as so many
waves upon the sea, each one of which
had a tendency to land this Colony
into the haven of Confederation. We
have had different Governments, yet each contributed tis share in working
onward in one certain course, and now
we are about dropping anchor in ,the
harbor of the Dominion at the proper
time. Figure aside. Had we not
taken this course we would nowbe
levying a tax ,of fifteen shillings upon
every member of each family in the
Island. Now I ask the hon. members
from Bedeque whether the course
now taken, or the one proposed by
them, is likely to give the most satisfaction? I find no fault with them.
They have a right to act as they feel
duty demands. But representing a
district as intelligent as Bedeque, they
should have shown better reasons than
they did, or have voted with the majority. Any hon. member, who will
look fairly into the whole question,
cannot fail to arrive at such a conclusion. In going into Confederation, we
will have as much freedom as we
now enjoy. We are but entering Into
partnership with one of more influence and skill than we possess. For
some years to come we will not require to increase our taxes, and supposing that in
the course of seven or
eight years we will require to raise
$50,000, it will only amount to half
a dollar a head. In the meantime see
what an amount of commercial freedom we shall enjoy. The manufactures of Canada, which
now pays
duty of 15 per cent, will come in free.
We will receive more than we give.
We are uniting with a country that
will manufacture all that we require.
No argument which has been advanced
in opposition to the course taken,
meets the case. We leave the local
Parliament in the possession of all its
rights to deal with local questions.
When the question is viewed from all
sides fairly, it will be seen that we
have taken the proper course. I have
seriously considered the question, and
am happy to see that we are so unanimous in this matter of union with Canada- I do
also most sincerely hope
228 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
that from this but, that personalities in debate may cease. All such modes of arguing
only lowers this hon. House. Let us see to it, that it is now done with. We will now
have to take our stand in the Dominion, and I do most sincerely hope the Island will
return men to the Commons, who, with credit to themselves and honor to this Colony,
will be able to represent our interests in the Parliament of the Dominion. If so,
I think we shall never have cause to regret the day we entered into union with a country
so great as that of which we are so soon to form a part. (Applause.)
Hon. Mr. BRECKEN.—Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you, Sir, and this hon. House, on the happy and satisfactory
manner in which this important question is being discussed and dealt with. I fully
agree with the able and practical remarks of the hon. members who have preceded me.
I believe, when we duly consider, that the manufacturers of Canada will fully keep
pace with the growing wants of the Dominion. When we further think of the amount of
manufactured goods which are annually imported hither, I think it will be seen that
we are going to get more than we will give in return. IÂ feel happy that I am in accord
with the Leader of the Opposition now on this question. I have been a Confederate
for some time ; although a few years ago I believed it to be a question of Imperial,
rather than one of Colonial policy. I felt that in the great and important public
works of Canada, if I had a vote I would have cheerfully recorded it in their favor,
believing, yes, knowing as I do, how rapidly they will contribute towards opening
up the resources of that great country. I feel glad now too, that I recorded a vote
in favor of our own Railway, and also for Confederation. Union with Canada will bind
us more closely to the Mother Country, while I am sure it will add to our prosperity
as a people. I am also sure, Sir, we
are all glad to hear that in some respects she is going soon to rival the United States.
The United States is perhaps the greatest country in the world. But they have forty
millions of people, while Canada has but four or five millions. Yet, notwithstanding,
in trade, commerce and manufactures, the latter country, in proportion to its population
and existence, is vastly ahead of the United States. Every British subject should
be a hearty Confederate. To be that now, is simply to be a loyal subject. Perhaps
it is as well that we have been allowed our own way and time of joining with Canada.
We have not married in haste. No doubt the hon. member the Leader of the Opposition
has rendered good service in opposing the measure so long, and perhaps his position
and the influences he brought to bear, has, more than anything else, contributed to
the result now achieved. I thank him for going off to Canada ; congratulate him for
pulling down his anti-Confederate flag ; and am glad he now sees in the public men
of Canada, sufficient to admire to induce him to vote to cast in his lot with them.
The conversion of the hon. member has been slow, but I doubt not it is sincere. (Laughter.)
He did more when he went to Canada as a delegate, than when he went on with the Branch
Lines to hasten on Confederation. I again thank him for the good services he has rendered
in helping to make us a part and parcel of Canada. (Applause.)
Hon. Mr. SULLIVAN.—It is Sir, a satisfaction to know, that after all the angry debating which we have
had, we have come to a unanimous resolution. Nor do I think we shall have any cause
to regret the decision at which we have so happily arrived ; or to fear that any unpleasant
consequences will result therefrom. In Confederation we will find that our advance
on the road to prosperity will
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 229
not be hindered because of a union with Canada. On the contrary, I firmly believe
that we shall soon make greater strides in that direction than we ever did. And Sir,
after all, the change is not very great. In the Dominion, as British subjects, we
shall rejoice to have responsible Government ever carried out in its purity. We shall
then be represented by the ablest and best men which this Colony can send to the Canadian
Parliament. I am of the opinion that the country will be satisfied that the best thing
has been done for this Colony which their representatives had in their power to do.
And of what we have this night done of our union with Canada, I think we shall never
be ashamed. The Opposition fought the battle bravely, and yielded when it was graceful
in them to do so. For my part I am quite willing to accord to the Leader of the Opposition
credit for having very materially aided in bringing about that unanimity on this question,
which we have this night witnessed. No doubt a great deal is due to him. I am glad
to see the Opposition laying aside their fears, when our interest and destiny are
uniting with those of the people of Canada. In the future I hope we shall unite our
energies for the common good, and forget the angry discussions which we have had,
and those acrimonious feelings which they gave rise to. (Cheers and applause.)
Mr. L. H. DAVIES.—Sir, it seems to have been the intention that this stage of the procedure should
be a kind of peroration to the debate on Confederation. I have not been a Confederate
for many months, but that is no reason why I should not unite in indulging in the
good hopes and bright prospects which seem to loom up before hon. members. Still,
I do not think we are entering a political El Dorado, where everything will be happy
and glorious. I see that in the Dominion this year
many elements which forbid the hope
that such bright and glowing prospects are before us. So far the Dominion has been
guided by men of no mean political order. As a result, their country, finances and
credit, is year after year improving, and to-day they are fast building up a vast
and widespread Empire. The change we are making will be found one that will not affect
us greatly. This is the one hundredth year of our Parliamentary history as a separate
Colony, and Sir, when I look up at the portraits of so many of those who have occupied
the Speaker's chair within that time, some of whom are still living, and others who
are not, I incline to believe if they were all here to-night, and had a voice in this
Assembly, they would only be too happy to record a vote with us to-night. I will be
glad, Sir, to see not only the hon. member the Leader of the Opposition, and all who
support him, doing so too, but I would be happy also to see the hon. members for Bedeque
casting in their vote also. We have had a time when differences of opinion were called
for, and these brought forth quite enough of angry discussion ; but on this occasion
I see no reason why we should not vote as one man. (Hear.) Considering our position
as a Colony in the past, I find that our prospecity has increased at a ratio which
will compare favorably with any part of Canada. That each seven years marks an increase
in our wealth, which reflects credit upon our Island. Our people have, under the free
system of education we possess, sent forth many of their sons to occupy places of
honor in the world, and have embraced and improved at home the advantages it confers,
as much as they have in any part of Canada. We have a better class of farming people,
and a better informed people than they have in many parts of the Dominion. I therefore
feel that we are able to take our stand in the position which we shall have to occupy
and maintain to
230
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
our advantage. And while I look
back with deep feelings on the happy
years of the past, I rejoice to know
that I can look forward to an equally
happy and prosperous future. Yes,
Mr. Speaker, I feel inclined to look
forward to the high political calling
which is set before us, and to which we
smcalled in the Dominion of Canada.
(Laughter and applause.)
Mr. HOWATT.—Why Mr. Speaker
one would think in listening to these,
hon. members, that the political millenium of the world had arrived.
(Laugter.) But Sir, I do not think
we are justified in hearkening to such
sudden converts to Confederation.
[Hear.] Let us take a common sense
view of the subject. In the United
States they have a population of forty
millions, and I maintain we are but a
unit when placed beside that that great
country. Hon. members have said
that we will be under the old flag. I
would like to know if we are not under
it now? Are we not already under
the protection and connected with the
the greatest nation in the world? I
am not one of those who feel dissatisfied with this connection, nor with the
protection Great Britain extends to us.
This great Dominion of which we hear
so much, will, before long, be separated
from Great Britain and thrown upon
its own resources, and I see nothing
pleasing to such a prospect. Why in
the event of such a result, the probability is that it will fall into the hands
of the United States. The greater the
Dominion becomes, the less disposed
it will be to submit to the dictation of
the Home country. Her statesmen
will want to chalk out acourse of their
own. Our young may be called out
to fight against those who have been
our friends; and as regards our trade,
we have no market in the Dominion
for what our country produces. We
will, in the Dominion, even as now a
have to look to some other place for a
remunerative market for what we will
have to sell. I believe the day will come when we will have to pay a higher duty,
than we would if we should now resolve to retain our constitution, and continue to
paddle our
own canoe. I know, Mr. Speaker
that in this House, I occupy about the
same position that our representatives
will to the Dominion Parliament.
They will be left out and have their
news treated in the same way as mine
are here. I maintain it is the privilege
and duty of every hon. member to
assert his rights and state his views.
That I have done, and believe I have
been much more consistent in doing so
than the hon. member the Leader of
the Opposition has been. Will the
hon. member tell us that he will go up
and be at the nod and beck of the
leading men of Canada? If he goes
up there he will, no doubt, watch
which way the majority will go, and
govern himself accordingly. I, for
one, believe in a men taking a stand
for himself, and not watching how
others go, and then following their
shadows. But such is the position of
the hon. member, and such also will
be the position of those whom we may
send to Ottawa. Two votes here, is a
larger minority than six will be in the
Dominion House of Commons. I
have for several years represented a
district, which, for wealth and intelligence, is second to none, save Charlottetown,
in the Islmd. The electors
decided against Confederation, and I
would look upon myself as a traitor,
were I to vote against my promise to
them.
Hon. Mr. POPE.—Sir, I would like
to see my hon. friend supporting the
motion on the present occasion. Both
of the hon. members should be satisfied
in having continued their opposition
to the present moment. They can
effect nothing by opposing the Address, but should remember, that in
view of what has already been so
unanimously agreed to, it is disrespect
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 231
ful to oppose the motion that an Address be presented to the Queen's
Representative. I hope they will
reconsider the matter, and not vote
against the Address. I am pleased,
Mr. Speaker, to see the good feeling
that is existing when a vote so im:
portant is about to be recorded on our
journals. The fact is, whatever our
former or present differences have
been, or are, we are all too patriotic to
record our vote otherwise than for the
Address, rejoicing, as we all do, in the
bright future which looms up before
us. [Applause]
MR. HOLLAND.— Sir, most heartily
do I congratulate the Government in
the success of their delegates in obtaining better Terms. Still I am not
satisfied that it is my duty to support
the motion. We have heard several
speeches, but no reason has been produced, save the glory argument, to
show why we should support Confederation. I would like to see it
shown from historical facts which can
be relied on as correct, that the union
of a small isolated Colony like ours,
with a great and large country, has
been of advantage to the former.
History, on the contrary, abundantly
proves, that whenever a small country
becomes united to a larger, its prosperity ceases to increase proportionate
with that of the larger country. Such
has been the case in the union of Scotland and Ireland with England. The
smaller country has to hear her full
proportion of the burdens, but seldom
participates in the general advantages.
The Leader of the Opposition presumes to advise my hon. colleague and
myself, and sat we had better now
submit. I have often noticed that
when the leader of a flock of sheep
runs, the sheep follow; but I can assure the hon. member I have no idea
of following so erratic a guide as he is.
What is the situation of affairs now in
New Brunswick? That Province is
almost ready to take up arms. I saw
a man from thence, who said, be exerted himself to the utmost to carry
Confederation in that Province, but
that if he had the same duty to discharge again, he would rather cut off
his arm than exert it in favor of a
union with Canada. Here the education question has been resorted to as
a lever to push us in; in that Province the Fenian raid was used as a
means to frighten the people into an
acceptance of union with the Dominion.
That the late Government party made
use of the School Question to accomplish similiar results, cannot be successfully
denied, and were it not for
that question, a much larger vote
would have been recorded against
Confederation. I have no hesitation
in saying this. The Leader of the
Opposition tells us that we are, by
going into the Dominion, only enlarging and adding to our rights and privileges. I
see matters in a different
light. We are simply giving up to
the Dominion the greatest privileges
any people ever possessed. We enjoy
the sole right of making our own laws,
of taxing ourselves as we see fit, and
spending these when collected, as he
may deem proper; and all these blessings and privileges we are surrendering simply
for the glory of becoming a
part of a great country. Yet the
greatness of Canada is more in the
extent of her territory, than in anything else. The greater portion of her
wide domain is yet a wilderness. True
her public works are in excess of those
of any other country, according to her
pepulation, and her debt will soon be
in the same proportion. Yet hon.
members speak as if we were going
into Paradise. But what are the
facts? We export more and import
more, according to our population,
than any part of the Dominion. This
is an incontrovertible fact. We send
more children to school, and mail more
letters, in proportion to the number of
our people, than in any part of Canada.
The Leader of the Opposition took the
232 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
trouble to say the same sun shone and the same rain fell on Canada as here, but the
hon. member ought to know that they fall also upon the Hottentots in Africa and the
people of Asia as well. In the district my hon. colleague and myself represent, there
are men of wealth and intelligence, who look upon Confederation with great suspicion.
Some are in favor of it, but not many. Have our resources been tried ? They have not.
No effort has been made in any shape or form, but an effort for terms of union. Yet
I hope and trust that the hopes and expectations indulged in, may be fully realized.
We were told about the factories of the Dominion, but not one word has been said about
our own. The 15 per cent tariff, which operated as a protection, will be removed ;
and if they can manufacture goods in the other Provinces cheaper than we can here,
our factories will go down. We have sold our noble little ship. She now stands stripped
of all the glory with which for one hundred years she was adorned. If we were not
ice-bound, our circumstances might be different, and our little barque might long
continue to float. But such being our fate, I hope that in the future our prospects
and successes may improve, and that no devious course may mark the career of those
who may lead our destinies.
Hon. Mr. LEFURGY.—Mr. Speaker, for my part I have, for the last ten years, looked upon this question
with favor. In running my election, I have had it brought up against me, but now,
I am happy to be able to say that my hon. colleague and myself can vote for this question,
with the full consent of our constituents. The hon. member who last addressed you,
Sir, said that when a small country united with a larger, it never obtained its rights.
I believe the reverse to be the fact. If you look to the United States, such will
not be found to be the case. Nor
would that country or its people to-day
be as great and prosperous as they are, had they not united as they did ? Our country
is small enough, nor is it by retaining our isolation, but by merging our interests
with a larger country, that our prosperity is to be enhanced. I know many of our people
believe that we will be better off by entering the Dominion ; while some think our
best course is to remain as we are. But I believe, before ten years roll round, it
will be seen that we have this night acted wisely for the interests of this Colony.
In future the politics of this country will be carried on differently to what they
have been. I believe in proportion to our population,that we have more men among us,
in proportion to our number, who can take their stand in the Dominion Parliament,
in a creditable manner, than they have in any Province of Canada. When I know that
such is the case, I have no fears that our interests will be overlooked. I am sorry
that the junior member for Bedeque cannot unite with us on this occasion. But I believe
that before twelve months go round both he and his constituents will not be of the
opinion they are now. Knowing, Mr. Speaker, that at this hour of the morning you must
be tired, I shall not further tresspass on your time.
The question was then put and carried on the following division :—
Yeas—Hons. Mr. Pope, Howlan, McEachen, Kelly, Lefurgy, Haviland, Brecken, Sullivan,
Davies ; Messrs. Owen, T. Kelly, Arsneault, James Yeo, John Yeo, A. C. McDonald, McLean,
McIsaac, Laird, Callbeck, McNeill, Rowe, Beer, Sinclair, Steward, L. H. Davies.
Nays—Mr. Howatt, Holland.
Ordered, That the said Address be engrossed.
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 233
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare an Address to His Honor the Lieut. Governor,
praying that His Honor will be pleased to forward the preceding Address to be laid
at the foot of the Throne.
Ordered, That the same Committee who prepared the Address to Her Majesty, be a Committee
to prepare the said Address to His Honor.
The House having continued to sit until after 12 of the o'clock on Tuesday morning,
adjourned until 10 o'clock to-day.
G.
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