Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 3 March 1866, CO 60:24, no. 4649, 88.
Abstract
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 3 March 1866, CO 60:24, no. 4649, 88.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
No. 16
3rd March 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to forward a Petition addressed to Her
Majesty by certain Merchants, Miners and others resident in
British Columbia.
2. The Petition to whichthe
the signatures are attached was
drawn up in Victoria in February 1865. Printed Copies were
very freely distributed, placarded on every wall, and left for
signature at every Public House. After a lapse of more than
twelve months the petition has been presented to me for
transmission bearing the signature of four hundred and forty
five persons out of a white population, estimated at six
thousand, although, every opportunityhas
has been afforded, and,
I may say, some pressure has been brought to bear on the
inhabitants, as well as the migratory population, to swell the
number of petitioners. The result of this attempt to foster
discontent has thus proved a complete failure.
the signatures are attached was
drawn up in Victoria in February 1865. Printed Copies were
very freely distributed, placarded on every wall, and left for
signature at every Public House. After a lapse of more than
twelve months the petition has been presented to me for
transmission bearing the signature of four hundred and forty
five persons out of a white population, estimated at six
thousand, although, every opportunityhas
has been afforded, and,
I may say, some pressure has been brought to bear on the
inhabitants, as well as the migratory population, to swell the
number of petitioners. The result of this attempt to foster
discontent has thus proved a complete failure.
3. The arguments used to arrive at a calculation of the
taxation of the Colony in 1865 are so fallacious ashardly
hardly to
require explanation at length, more especially as the Gentlemen
who formed the Deputation on presenting the Petition, stated to
me that they were satisfied the calculations were incorrect, and
that their only object in now presenting the Petition rested in
their desire for the Union of the two Colonies.
hardly to
require explanation at length, more especially as the Gentlemen
who formed the Deputation on presenting the Petition, stated to
me that they were satisfied the calculations were incorrect, and
that their only object in now presenting the Petition rested in
their desire for the Union of the two Colonies.
4. I regret I am unable to furnish accurate statisticsto
to
refute the statement that the Chinese and Indian population
"contribute in a very small proportion to the general Revenue,"
but I fully agree with the remarks made by the Chief Magistrate
of this District, in a letter copy of which I enclose, that a
very large share of the Taxation is borne by these two Races.
to
refute the statement that the Chinese and Indian population
"contribute in a very small proportion to the general Revenue,"
but I fully agree with the remarks made by the Chief Magistrate
of this District, in a letter copy of which I enclose, that a
very large share of the Taxation is borne by these two Races.
5. As regards the one object of the Petition, thedesire
desire
for Union of this Colony and Vancouver Island, I am convinced
from the information I received during my recent tour in the
Interior, that the people of the Upper Country care little
whether there be Union of the Colonies or continued separation
and a petition of opposite effect to the one now forwarded
would be signed by at least an equal number of the resident
population.
I
desire
for Union of this Colony and Vancouver Island, I am convinced
from the information I received during my recent tour in the
Interior, that the people of the Upper Country care little
whether there be Union of the Colonies or continued separation
and a petition of opposite effect to the one now forwarded
would be signed by at least an equal number of the resident
population.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This is not a very satisfactory desph to lay before Parlt for it does not prove much in favor of the projected Union of the two Countries. The plan must be argued very much on Imperial considerations. The petition is said to have been got up in Victoria. If so it can not be said fairly that it represents the wishes of B.C. at all.
This is not a very satisfactory desph to lay before Parlt for it does not prove much in favor of the projected Union of the two Countries. The plan must be argued very much on Imperial considerations. The petition is said to have been got up in Victoria. If so it can not be said fairly that it represents the wishes of B.C. at all.
Mr Cardwell will give us directions as to printing
these papers for Parlt.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Printed petition in favour of union, "signed by 445 persons."
C. Brew, Magistrate, New Westminster, to Birch, 3 March 1866,
advising he could not accurately determine the amount of "excisable
articles used and consumed by the Indians in this Colony."