Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 16 December 1865, CO 305:26, no. 1450, 571.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 16 December 1865, CO 305:26, no. 1450, 571.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3).
No. 97, Separate
16th December 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose the copy of Resolutions passed by the
Legislative Assembly of this Colony on the 13th instant on the
subject of union of this Colony with British Columbia.
I have nothing to add on this subject beyond that which is contained
in my Despatches Nos 14and
and 16 of the 21st March 1865.
and 16 of the 21st March 1865.
I also enclose for your information copies of communications which
have passed between the Legislative Assembly and myself on this
subject.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This half Yankee Assembly now expresses its conV.C.I.n that V.C.I. & B.C. when united should have a regular parliamentary form of Govt. It had previously expressed its willingness to have any form of Govt wh: H.M.G. might think suitable.
This half Yankee Assembly now expresses its conV.C.I.n that V.C.I. & B.C. when united should have a regular parliamentary form of Govt. It had previously expressed its willingness to have any form of Govt wh: H.M.G. might think suitable.
As the first resolution of the Assembly on this subject has never
been ackd it wd be somewhat inappropriate to ack the second. At
the same time I think the Govr shd be apprized that this important
subject
is undergoing consn.
is undergoing consn.
The Governor's ansr (3rd encl) to the Assembly respecting their
application for papers on the Union and Crown Lands questions is, I
think, very discreet, & entitled to approval.
My Seymour writes me that he will "really collect his papers" & send
in his report on the Union of the 2 Colonies.
ABd
12 Feb
This Resolution puts a difficulty, which did not exist before, in the
way of Union.
B. Columbia cannot yet have thoroughly representative institutions,
on account of it's
sparse and fluctuating population. On the other hand, if there
was a simple United Colony, one part could not be represented & the
other not.
"Responsible Govt"—so called—would be quite premature in either
of these half-formed Communities?
The Bill must be reconsidered.
EC
14
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, containing three
resolutions respecting union of the colonies, signed by R.W. Torrens,
Clerk of the House.
Kennedy to Legislative Assembly, unnamed newspaper clipping,
12 December 1865, advising that he could not comply with their request
"without the sanction of Her Majesty's Secretary of
State for the Colonies."