Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 21 March 1865, CO 305:25, no. 4618, 152.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (4).
Kennedy transmits copies of
Resolutions passed by the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island on the subject of Union with British Columbiaand newspaper accounts of debates concerning the issue. Kennedy explains that the minority alleged
that the majority did not fairly represent public opinion, that a member from each side of the debate went up for re-election, and that the minority was proved correct when pro-union representatives were elected to both seats.
No. 14, Separate
21st March 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit a copy of Resolutions passed by the
Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island on the subject of Union with
British Columbia, and in doing so I will shortly trace their history.
They were introduced byMr
Mr De Cosmos one of the Members for Victoria
and passed on the 27th January 1865 after a warm debate, by a
majority of 8 to 4.
Mr De Cosmos one of the Members for Victoria
and passed on the 27th January 1865 after a warm debate, by a
majority of 8 to 4.
It was thereupon alleged by the minority that the majority did not
fairly represent public opinion, and to test this fact Mr De Cosmos
who proposed and Mr C.B. Young who opposed the Resolutions (being
two Members for the City of Victoria) agreed to resign their seats,and
and went before their constitutents for re-election, which resulted
in the return of Mr De Cosmos and Mr McClure both advocates of
Union and a tariff by a large majority.
and went before their constitutents for re-election, which resulted
in the return of Mr De Cosmos and Mr McClure both advocates of
Union and a tariff by a large majority.
The majority of the House of Assembly in favour of
Unconditional Union with British Columbia is now I believe
11 to 4 and I have no doubt that a dissolution of the House
would undoubtedly increase that majority by two more.
I
I submitted these Resolutions to the Legislative Council for their
information, and the majority present being
ex officio Members, resolved that it was inexpedient for the
Council to express any opinion on the subject, but two dissenting
Members Messrs Finlayson and Rhodes recorded their views in the
Protest herewith.
I am in a position to know that the majority if not
all the ex officio Members are infavour
favour of Union with some
small differences of opinion on matters of detail, and that they
refrained from a public expression of their opinion from a desire to
avoid possible complication, and with a view to giving their
untrameled support to such measures as Her Majesty's Government may
deem most fitting on a future occasion.
favour of Union with some
small differences of opinion on matters of detail, and that they
refrained from a public expression of their opinion from a desire to
avoid possible complication, and with a view to giving their
untrameled support to such measures as Her Majesty's Government may
deem most fitting on a future occasion.
The local Legislature of Vancouver Island have thusI
I think adopted
the only course by which the union of these Colonies can be
satisfactorily effected, namely, leaving conditions and details even
to the form of Government to your decision.
I think adopted
the only course by which the union of these Colonies can be
satisfactorily effected, namely, leaving conditions and details even
to the form of Government to your decision.
I enclose newspaper copies of the debates on the subject, and will
reserve my further observations for another Despatch of this date in
reply to yours dated 30th April 1864, No 2.
I
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I have searched the Correspondence since the date of this Despatch, but can find nothing to shew that the public feeling in V. Couver Island in favor of the Union of the two Colonies has undergone any change.
I have searched the Correspondence since the date of this Despatch, but can find nothing to shew that the public feeling in V. Couver Island in favor of the Union of the two Colonies has undergone any change.
VJ
12 Jan: 66
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Newspaper clipping, unnamed, reporting resolutions passed in
support of union with British Columbia, confirmed by House of Assembly
on 27 January 1865, signed by R.W. Torrens, Clerk of the House.
Minutes by CO staff
Union
under such Constitution as H.M. may be pleased to grant.
under such Constitution as H.M. may be pleased to grant.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
*
Extract from Minutes of the Legislative Council, 2 March
1865, reporting Finlayson's proposed resolutions in favour of union
and the decision of the majority in support of an amendment to decline
any expression of opinion on the subject, signed by E.J. Nesbitt,
Clerk of the Council.
Extract from Minutes of the Legislative Council, 6 March
1864, reporting the protest of Henry Rhodes and Finlayson against the
amendment recently passed by the majority as noted above,
signed by E.J. Nesbitt, Clerk of the Council.
Newspaper clippings, unnamed, reporting the union debates in the
House of Assembly, as per despatch (four pages).