Document Information
Date: 1866-10-10
By: The Montreal Herald
Citation: “Confederation”, The Montreal Herald (10 October, 1866)
Other formats: TBA
CONFEDERATION.
— Our readers will no doubt remember that some time since the Legislatures of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia sent delegates to England for the purpose of arranging with delegates from Canada, and the Imperial Government, the terms of the act which was to put in force the new constitution to be foisted upon the people of these Provinces. The Legislatures we have named were by no means favorable to the scheme of Union adopted at Quebec, to give effect to which would of course be the object of the Canadian delegates—the only object they would really be authorized to carry out. On the contrary, the debates in those Legislatures showed that there existed the strongest feeling against the Quebec scheme; but after a great deal of manoeuvring—and much more under-hand work we have not the slightest doubt than most outsiders are aware of—the parties in power succeeded in obtaining a majority for resolutions affirming the general principle of Union, and nothing more. The same majorities which passed these resolutions, clothed the Governments of the two provinces with power to send home delegates with carte blanche to negotiate with the representatives of Canada and the Imperial Government for a Union to bind all the Provinces together. Whatever the people may have been willing to accept, it was but natural that they should view with some alarm this irresponsible mission, whose proceedings must have so important a bearing in determining the future of their country. It was not surprising, therefore, to hear that a counter delegation had been sent home to to explain to the Imperial Government the actual position of the question, and the strong objections entertained to the proposed union by a large portion of the Colonists. Circumstances favored the objects of the gentlemen to whom this duty was entrusted. The Union delegates sailed from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but no Canadian delegates followed them. The Canadian Government were too busily engaged in forcing through Parliament obnoxious tariffs and banking schemes, to think of Confederation. There is many a slip between the cup and the lip, and Confederation might possibly never be accomplished. By all means then hurry through measures which they never before felt themselves strong enough to press, and might never again have a majority to enable them to carry. Of what consequence was their promise to meet the representatives of the Lower Provinces in England on a day which found them still occupying the time of Parliament in this way, still unprepared to submit their measures such as they were? What cared they for the peremptory telegram of the Colonial Secretary demanding the reason of their non-appearance in London? Such an inquiry was evidently considered an impertinence, unworthy of notice from our Dictators. The Colonial Secretary waited in vain for an explanation, and at length informed the Imperial Parliament that no steps could be taken that session to consummate Confederation. But Mr. Howe and Mr. Annand had now appeared on the scene, armed with a petition “signed by more than half the adult population of Nova Scotia,” against the projected Union. That such a petition, signed quite as numerously, could be obtained in Canada, is a fact patent to every observer. But even this single protest is evidently opening the eyes of the English public to the fact that the ship of Confederation is not sailing through altogether as untroubled waters, and already we find some of the leading journals of the Metropolis giving publicity to the views thus set forth, and urging in very forcible terms the necessity of their meeting with careful consideration. Two articles on this subject—from the Daily News and the Morning Star, we print in other columns this morning. The Star after an examination of the case, expresses its belief that when the people of England learn how the facts stand “they will at least see the wisdom of leaving the matter wholly to the decision of the populations concerned.” “More than that,” it adds, “we do not understand the opponents of Confederation to ask at the hands of England, and this much they are fairly entitled to expect.” That is certainly what the people of this Province think they are fairly entitled to; but what they have hitherto been refused. The pamphlet which Mr. Howe is said to have published, we have not received; but the Star gives a resume of his argument, which seems to be simply in favour of an appeal to the people. This is a right which the people of Canada feel they should not be deprived of, and which would have been granted long since had not the government feared the result. Mr. Howe’s mission may possibly have the effect of securing for the Canadians privileges denied them by their own rulers.