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Date: 1864-08-29
By: A.G. Archibald, John Locke
Citation: Despatch from A.G. Archibald and John Locke to the Provincial Secretary (29 August 1864) in Journal and Proceedings of the House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Appendix No. 3—Union of the Colonies (1865).
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Halifax, 29th August, 1864.

SIR,—

Being desirous that the grounds upon which we declined to act in the delegation to which his Excellency was pleased to appoint us, should be distinctly understood, we beg to repeat to you in writing for the information of his Excellency, what we have already stated verbally, that a question of so important a character as that of a Union of the Maritime Provinces ought in our judgment to be matured by the aid of gentlemen of both sides of politics in each branch of the Legislature, and feeling that the position of Mr. McCully as leader of the Opposition in the Council, and seconder of the resolution on Union passed in that branch, naturally pointed him out as the Opposition delegate for that branch, we felt that we could not accept the office bis Excellency was pleased to confer on us without seeming to acquiesce in what might be understood as an act of personal discourtesy towards a political colleague.

We have, &c.

                                                                                                (Signed)          A. G. ARCHIBALD.

                                                                                                (Signed)          JOHN LOCKE.

The hon. the Provincial Secretary, Halifax.