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Date: 1866-04-09
By: Arthur Gordon
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant Governor Arthur Gordon to Viscount Monck (9 April 1866). “RETURN To an Address of the Honorable the Legislative Assembly, of the 12th June, 1866, asking for Correspondence relative to the Union of the North American Provinces” in Sessional Papers (1866).
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FREDERICKTON, April 9, 1866.

MY LORD,—I have the honor to enclose copies of a Resolution and Address passed by the Legislative Council of this Province, praying Her Majesty that an Act may be introduced into the Imperial Parliament to the end of a Confederation of British North America, and of my Reply thereto.

I have the honor to be, My Lord,
Your Excellency’s most obedient servant,
(Signed,) ARTHUR H. GORDON.

His Excellency
The Viscount Monck, &c., &c., &c.

(Copy.)

ADDRESS of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty.

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,—We, Your Majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Council of New Brunswick in Provincial Parliament assembled, humbly approach Your Majesty with the conviction that a union of all Your Majesty’s British North American Colonies, based on the Resolutions adopted at the Conference of Delegates from these several Colonies, held at Quebec on the tenth day of October, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four, is an object highly to be desired, essential to their future prosperity and influence, and calculated alike to strengthen and perpetuate the ties which bind them to Your Gracious Majesty’s Throne and Government, and humbly pray that Your Majesty may be pleased to cause a measure to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament for the purpose of thus uniting the Colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, in one Government.

[Signed,] JOHN S. SAUNDERS,
Acting President of the Legislative Council.

(Copy.)

RESOLUTION of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER,

6th April, 1866.

Resolved,—As the opinion of this Committee, that a union of all the British North American Colonies, based on the Resolutions adopted at the Conference of Delegates for the several Provinces, held at Quebec on the 10th day of October, 1864, is an object highly to be desired, essential to their future prosperity and influence, and calculated alike to strengthen and perpetuate the ties which bind them to the Mother Country; and further,

Resolved,—as the opinion of this Committee, that the Legislative Council should concur in any measure which may be necessary to carry such union into effect.

(Copy.)

REPLY to the ADDRESS of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick.

Mr. President and Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council:

I will immediately transmit your Address to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in order that it may be laid at the foot of the Throne.

Her Majesty the Queen has already been pleased to ex-press a deep interest in the Union of Her North American dominions, and will no doubt graciously appreciate this decided expression of your opinion.

I rejoice to believe that the avowal of your desire that all British North America should unite in one community under one strong and efficient government, cannot but tend to hasten the accomplishment of this great measure.