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Date: 1865-05-06
By: Montreal Witness
Citation: “Confederation”, Montreal Witness (6 May, 1865)
Other formats: TBA

CONFEDERATION.

The result of the elections in New Brunswick is now known, and it is quite adverse to the prospects of Confederation. Out of the 41 members who compose the Assembly 30 are returned in opposition to the scheme. There is reason to fear that this unfortunate result will greatly affect the decision of Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. In short, there can be little doubt that the prospects of the scheme were at first represented to us in too flattering colours. It was said to have the approval of the Colonial Governments and of the principal members of the Oppositions. We are now told that, at least in New Brunswick, it was only approved by a majority of the Government, and that if the leading members of Opposition countenanced they expressed no opinion but their own. Under such circumstances, the project must be considered to have failed for the time, and, indeed, we lately published the intelligence that one of the governments had already renounced its failure, and had proposed to proceed instead with the scheme for the legislative union of the Maritime Provinces, which was under discussion last year, when the larger scheme was started. To any such scheme, however, the assent of the Home Government would be necessary, and we should be justified in refusing our consent to a partial Union when a more complete Federation has been heartily accepted by the most important of the colonies. If the New Brunswickers and other colonists reject so peremptorily a proposal which we think desirable, they could have no reason to complain if we acted in a similar way.

The motives of their perverse determination are too evident. There is, in the first place, a keen jealousy of Canada, and a very strong dislike to any plan by which the minor Provinces would become liable to the influence of the larger colony. The New Brunswickers say they are very good friends with the Canadians, but that is no reason why they should enter into partnership with them. They have, they say, no common commercial interests, and it may be added that the present establishment of a separate Governor for every colony creates a definite pecuniary interest in preserving their isolation. There is, too, an avowed mistrust of the motives by which the Canadian politicians are actuated. It is believed that the chronic difficulties between Upper and Lower Canada are as troublesome as ever, and that the politicians of both parties are seeking a way out of their difficulty by obtaining the separation of the two provinces under the cover of general Federation. We not repeat arguments which we urged to those narrow and one-sided motives. Of course New Brunswick would have to give up something. What may be the object of the Canadians is not worth discussion. Half the useful things done in the world are done from selfish motives. There is, however, one of the arguments which seems to us be refuted in great measure by the Maritime Colonists themselves. They have they say, no commercial interests with Canada. But, at the same time, they are clamouring eagerly for the completion of the Intercolonial railroad. What can be the use of such a railroad if they neither have, nor wish to have, commercial relations with Canada?

There is probably a further and still less satisfactory reason for this disposition of the Maritime Provinces. We noticed in the letter of “Union” that scarcely anything was said of the importance of Federation as a means of defence. That is one of the chief motives urged by the Canadian Government, and is one of the principal reasons why the scheme is thought desirable in this country. It seems, however, to have little weight in the Maritime Provinces. They do not feel the danger, and are not so sensible of the sacrifices which threaten them as Canada is ; and this, probably, for two reasons. In the first place, as Canada is the principal colony, they may think that it would be the main object of attack and the chief sufferer in a war. Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island may perhaps delude themselves with the notion that they are protected by the sea. But there is a further reason. They have a notion that we might decline to defend Canada, but that we should find it absolutely necessary to hold the Maritime Provinces. Moreover, out of the small and sparse population of the minor colonies it would be absurd for us to expect the formation of any effective militia, and therefore, they fancy themselves secure from all the ordinary sacrifices of independence. If they were incorporated with one large Federation, they would have to contribute both men and money.