Document Information

Date: 1866-07-27
By: Perth Courier
Citation: “Confederation Postponed”, Perth Courier (27 July, 1866)
Other formats: TBA

CONFEDERATION POSTPONED.

We regret to announce that the Coalition hobby-horse CONFEDERATION has been put in the stable for another year. The trusty animal has done his duty so well during the past three or four Sessions of Parliament, that Mr. McDonald could not find it in his heart to put him away altogether just yet, so he has stabled him carefully until next year, when he will “positively make his last appearance,” and retire from the political stage for good. Session after Session has he been trotted out, as a Ministerial excuse for doing nothing, his beautiful mane, flowing tail, shining coat, and intelligent eye, being each in their turn brought under the notice of an admiring Parliament during the time requisite to secure the six hundred dollars for each Member. All his good qualities having been thoroughly discussed at last, and the House becoming slightly wearied with the show, Mr. McDonald promised “positively” to get through with him this Session, but it now seems he has been prevailed upon to give “one session more” and “positively the last” for the benefit of the Managers. So long as it pays, perhaps Mr. McDonald should not be blamed for running the show, but it seems to us that the HOUSE ought to have a sufficient sense of its duty to the country to give up such nonsense, and turn its attention to the work for which it is constituted, and paid by the people. Not only is the postponement of the question for another year a great strain on the patience of the country, but it is a breach of faith on the part of the Ministry with those who agree to support them for its consummation. Everybody is getting tired of it; the very word itself is becoming a nuisance, and yet, here we are doomed to wait another year before the thing is completed. From the first broaching of the subject to the present time, Confederation has been tolerated rather than warmly supported by the people of Canada; and if the Ministry dilly-dally over it much longer, their indifference may become developed into an active opposition to what seems to be settling down to a mere shield for office-holders. It is plain enough to be seen that it could have been settled finally, and the Delegates sent to England, long before this, had the Ministry pushed it forward with energy; and as they had complete command of the House, there is really no good excuse for their delay. Excursions, and idling, and unimportant debates about minor matters, whiled away the time until the Tariff speech; and during the past two weeks the Tariff has occupied so much attention, and has caused so much delay, that it is not very surprising to be now told that Confederation has to lie over for another year.—The Imperial Parliament is expected to adjourn immediately; and as its sanction must be obtained to the work of the Delegates from each Province, who have yet to meet in London and arrange the terms of Union, it is plain enough that another year must pass before the special work of the Coalition is accomplished. This delay could have been avoided by energetic action at the beginning of the Session; Mr. McDonald promised such action, and he should be held accountable for the breach of faith involved in the delay. The matter has now gone so far that everybody is anxious to see the UNION accomplished as speedily as possible; it could have been accomplished this year by energetic action on the part of its originators, and if anything occurs during the next year to hinder or prevent its consummation, the responsibility must rest on the Canadian Government. Every great public question is exposed to an innumerable chapter of accidents, and who can tell what may arise in the coming twelve months to bar the progress of this measure. Nothing but considerations of the utmost gravity should have prevented the Ministry from fulfilling the pledges made in the Governor’s speech at the opening of the Session; such considerations may exist, but they are not known to the country, and do not appear probable in connexion with the question itself, so that the postponement altogether presents no feature on which the public mind can rest with satisfaction.