Document Information

Date: 1866-04-27
By: True Witness
Citation: “CONFEDERATION IN NOVA SCOTIA” True Witness (27 April, 1866)
Other formats: TBA

CONFEDERATION IN NOVA SCOTIA.

—This long-agitated question has assumed quite a new aspect, in consequence of a Resolution lately adopted by the Legislature of Nova Scotia by a large majority—31 to 19. We may therefore accept it as indicative of the views upon the question generally entertained by the people of that Province.

The Resolution, which was introduced by Dr. Tupper, the Premier, and seconded by Mr. Archibald, leader of the Opposition, was conceived in the following terms:—

“Whereas, in the opinion of this House it is desirable that a Confederation of the British North American Provinces should take place,—

“Resolved—Therefore, that His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor be authorised to appoint delegates to arrange with the Imperial Government a scheme of Union which will effectually ensure just provision for the rights and interests of this Province; each Province to have an equal voice in such delegation,—Upper and Lower Canada being for this purpose considered as separate Provinces.”

It will be seen that by this Resolution Nova Scotia rejects, or ignores all that has hitherto been done in the premises, whether by the delegates to the Quebec Conference in 1864, or by the Canadian Legislature in 1865. The Sister Province is for a Union of some kind; to that Union it is willing even to give the name of Confederation, though such a title applied to any conceivable Union of States not sovereign and independent, not absolutely the arbiters of their own destinies, is a ludicrous misnomer; and to bring about this Union it is willing to send its delegates to confer, under the auspices of the Imperial Government, with delegates from the other Provinces. This Resolution, if acted upon, is a death blow to the Quebec scheme.

Again it is proposed, that the Union of Upper and Lower Canada into one Province, should, for the purpose of carrying out the plan of a new Conference of Provincial delegates, be treated as rescinded; that they should, as represented in the said delegation, be considered as to all intents and purposes two distinct and separate Provinces. This also is what we have insisted upon in the TRUE WITNESS. The very term of Confederation implies previous separation: since, as no one at a ball can be his, or her, own partner, so for a Confederation of any kind there must be at least two distinct, or separate States or Provinces. A virtual repeal of the existing incorporating Union betwixt Upper and Lower Canada, by which they are at present welded into one mass, or political organisation, is a condition, sine qua non, of any future Confederation betwixt them.

It is highly probable that the lately passed Resolution of the Nova Scotia Legislature will be accepted as the basis of fresh negotiations on the question of the Union of British North America. If so, we say, the whole work has to be done over again; and Lower Canada, if in the contemplated delegation she be treated as virtually a distinct State or Province, will be to a much greater extent than she has been heretofore, mistress of her own destinies; provided only that it be clearly understood that no system of Union be imposed upon her by a majority of the said delegation, contrary to the expressed views and the votes of her own particular delegates. These, as the representatives of their several Provinces, must have, severally, the right of stipulating absolutely for those whom they represent, and of accepting, or rejecting without appeal, the proffered terms. In a word, each Province should have through its delegates the right of absolute veto upon the entire proceedings: for without this, Catholic Lower Canada would be obliged to put up with any terms that a majority of Protestant delegates might be pleased to impose upon her.