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Date: 1866-04-03
By: Arthur Gordon
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant Governor Arthur Gordon to Right Hon. Edward Cardwell (3 April 1866) in UK, Parliament, Correspondence respecting the Proposed Union of the British North American Provinces (London: George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1867).
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No. 20.

COPY of a DESPATCH from Lieut.-Governor the Hon. ARTHUR GORDON to the Right Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P.

(No. 17.)

Fredericton, April 3, 1866.
(Received April 23, 1866.)
(Answered No. 19, April 28,1866, page 120.)

SIR,

In my Despatch, No. 15a, * of the 26th […]. U transmitted to you the Address which had been agreed to by the Legislative Council of this Province in answer to my speech on the opening of the session.

2. It has been usual not to receive the Address of the Upper House until that of the Assembly is also ready for presentation, when both Houses are formally received at the same time. The debate on the Address in the Lower House, however, having already lasted a month, and showing no signs of terminating, i resolved no longer to delay the reception of the Address of the Council, which was accordingly presented to me yesterday, and to which i replied in terms which will, i hope, be approved by you.

3. I have marked the paragraph of the Address relating to Union, which, you will observe, contains a clear and distinct approval of that measure.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ARTHUR H. GORDON.

The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P.,
&c. &c. &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 20.

To his Excellency the Hon. ARTHUR HAMILTON GORDON, C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New Brunswick.

The humble Address of Her Majesty’s Legislative Council in General Assembly, &c. &c. &c.

(Extract.)

The correspondence on the affairs of British North America, which your Excellency announces will immediately be laid before us by command of Her Majesty, will receive at our hands that careful and respectful attention due to matters emanating from so high a source, and be considered with an anxious desire to meet the wishes of her Majesty’s Government, being fully convinced that a union of the British North American Colonies will strengthen the ties which bind them to the mother country, and be consistent with the true interests and prosperity of this Province.

In the discharge of the duties now developing upon us, we trust that (under a full sense of our responsibilities) our deliberations may tend to promote the welfare of the Province and its people, and cement closer our connexion with the great Empire which it is our ardent desire to maintain.

Enclosure 2 in No. 20.

REPLY TO the ADDRESS of the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL in answer to the SPEECH opening the SESSION

MR. President and Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

I THANK you for your address. I have full confidence in the loyal and patriotic spirit by which your discussions will be guided, and am well assured of your readiness to concur in all measures requisite to ensure the safety and tranquility of the Province.

Your conviction that a Union of the British North American Provinces will strengthen the ties which bind them to the mother country, and be consistent with the true interests and prosperity of New Brunswick, will I know afford much satisfaction of Her Majesty’s Government, who will rejoice to learn that this great measure, the speedy accomplishment of which is ardently desire by them, and which, if carried into effect with a careful regard to the strength and efficiency of the Union, they believe so well calculated to benefit British America, is heartily approved by you.