Document Information

Date: 1865-12-22
By: Perth Courier
Citation: “A Peep Behind the Scenes”, Perth Courier (22 December, 1865)
Other formats: TBA

A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES.

A rumor prevails in Ministerial circles that the Provincial Parliament will not be called together before the end of April or beginning of May next. This is to give time for the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Legislatures to pass measures in favor of Confederation, which it is said they will do at their next meetings. Should a majority of the New Brunswick members continue opposed to the policy of the British Government, the recent retorn of the Hon. Mr. Fisher would, it is held, justify another appeal to the people, who are now reported to be very favourable to the scheme. If successful at the polls, the House would immediately assemble and adopt the measure, after which the Provincial Parliament would meet and take the final steps necessary to carry it out. It is also rumoured, that an understanding has been arrived at by the different Governments, as to the course to be pursued if Reciprocity ends in March next, and that this arrangement includes the imposition on American produce of whatever duties they may put upon our products.

Horace Greeley strenuously urges upon the American Government the resumption of specie payment. He affirms that the issue of an inconvertible currency was necessary to the national existence, but considerers that necessity to have passed away with the war, and declares a further persistence in national insolvency, not only unnecessary but criminal. He acknowledges that resumption now would result in great commercial depression, but holds that the appreciation of the currency and the consequent enhancement of working people’s wages, would more than compensate for a temporary derangement in a trade already radically unsound.