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Date: 1865-05-08
By: Arthur Gordon
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant Governor Arthur Gordon to Right Hon. Edward Cardwell (8 May 1865) 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. 10.

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

(No.[..].) Fredericton , May 8, 1865.
(Received May 22, 1865.)
(Answered No.78, May 27, 1865, page 118.)

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to forward for your information copies of the Addresses which have been lately presented to me by the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly respectively.

2. I thought that concluding words of the Address of the House of Assembly afforded me an opportunity of turning to practical account what was probably intended as an unmcaning phrase, and i accordingly, in a few words, thanked the House for the confirmation they had given to my own conviction that they were not insensible to the obligations entailed by the connexion with the British Empire, and expressed my belief that their acts would afford abundant proof of their desire to discharge the obligations referred to.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ARTHUR GORDON.

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

(Extract.) Enclosure 1 in No.10.

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

THE HUMBLE ADDRESS OF HER MAJESTY’S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

We also thank your Excellency that the resolutions adopted at the Conference held at Quebec in October last, relative to a Union of the British North American Colonies, will likewise be submitted.

The question of affording further facilities for the construction of railways in the Province will receive our consideration. It is satisfactory to learn that though existing laws preclude immediate action in proceeding with the extension of the European and North American railway from the frontier of Nova Scotia to the United States, that work will be proceeded with as soon as practicable.

(Extract.) Enclosure 2 in No.10.

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

THE HUMBLE ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

We thank your Excellency for the assurance that the report of the delegates appointed for the purpose of considering the practicability of effecting a Legislative and Administrative Union of the Maritime Provinces of British North America will be laid before us. We also thank your Excellency for the information that the Resolutions adopted at a Conference of representatives of the British North American Colonies, held in Quebec in October last, relative to a Union of British North America, will be laid before us.

We will consider whether further facilities can be afforded for the extension of railways in this Province. We are pleased to learn that the completion and extension of the European and North American Railway, from the frontier of Nova Scotia to the boundary of the United States, will be undertaken as soon as practicable ; and we regret that existing laws preclude immediate action for the accomplishment of this work.

We agree with your Excellency that notwithstanding the present depression of trade, the condition of the Province is, on the whole, […] and that a feeling of contentment and confidence in the institutions under which we live prevails ; and we assure your Excellency, that whatever differences of opinion may exist on other subjects, the feeling of loyalty to the Crown, for which the popolse of this Province have always been distinguished, animates them still.

We are fully sensible of the advantages we derive from our connexion with Great Britain, and will cheerfully meet the obligations it entails upon us.

CHARLES P. WITMORE, Clerk.