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Date: 1866-06-22
By: John A. Macdonald
Citation: Letter from John A. Macdonald to Viscount Monck (22 June 1866) [Library and Archives Canada, MG26-A, Vol. 51, 20216-20221)].
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Confidential

June 22^nd 1866

My dear Lord Monck,

I received your note yesterday afternoon, and I must say that it has distressed me greatly. I regret very much that you should feel yourself forced from a sense of duty to write the note, and I regret more that you should suppose there is any insincerity in my frequent assurances that the local constitution measure would be submitted to Parliament early in the session.

No one is more anxious than I am that the event which will make us historical should be carried to completion with as little delay as possible. We do not know what a day may bring forth, and not with my will would another person take my position in completing the scheme for which I have worked so earnestly.

But, my dear Lord Monck, the

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proceedings have arrived at such a stage that success is certain, and it is now not a question even of strategy. It is merely one of tactics. Galt, the representative of the British race in Lower Canada, has taken the best step possible for settling the educational question, for that section of the province. He has asked Judge Day, one of the ablest men and best judges that ever sat on the Lower Canada Bench, to frame a measure for the protection of the British and Protestant minority. Mr. Day (although a Protestant) has the confidence of the French Canadians. He is now here on this duty, and I do not doubt that he will produce a satisfactory measure.

The sole question now is as to the proper moment for projecting the local scheme. So much depends upon the temper of Parliament, that I have felt it my duty to have confidential conversations with the

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leading supporters of the Government (Liberal and Conservative), and I am now satisfied that the one-Chamber scheme, which is favoured by Your Lordship, and which accords with my own opinions, will be acceptable to a sufficient majority. There is, however, a strong minority which desires the two Chambers, as is proposed for Lower Canada.

The only point, then, remaining unsettled is the redistribution of constituencies. I am now consulting the leading members on this point, in order to prevent discussion in the House. I have prepared and printed a population return, and hope in a few days to perfect a scheme with the consent of my Reform colleagues, which we shall submit to Your Lordship, in the first place, and then to Parliament.

With respect to the best mode of guiding the measure through the House, I think I must ask Your

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Excellency to leave somewhat to my Canadian Parliamentary experience. As leader of the House I am responsible for the successful conduct of Government measures, and I can assure you that I have the best means of knowing that it is important that the principle (at all events) of the financial measures of the Government should be submitted to Parliament, and receive its sanction before there is any serious debate on the local constitutions.

Our proposition is that, today, Mr. Galt will take the necessary steps for his speech on the Budget on Tuesday next. The debatable points will be brought up first and determined. Under our Audit Act, and indeed our constitutional principles, we cannot well be prorogued until supplies are granted and provision made for the expenditure of the year. It will not, therefore, in any way expedite the close of the session to introduce the local Government resolutions before the financial measures.

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I think that there are three undeniable propositions: —

1^st That the delegation to England must contain some members of the Canadian Government.

2^nd That no member of the Government can leave his post in Parliament until after prorogation.

And 3^rd That it is therefore a matter of no consequence whether the question of Finance or of Local Government be first submitted, so that they both are carried.

Galt’s scheme includes large reductions of the duties on British manufactures, and it will strengthen Your Lordship’s hands greatly in England to be able to present to the Imperial Parliament and Government both measures at the same time.

As to the personal portion of your note, all I can say, as a sincere friend of Your Excellency, is that you must take no such step as you indicate. To you belongs, as having initiated, encouraged, and I may

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now almost say completed, the great scheme of Union, all the kudos, and all the position (not lightly to be thrown away) which must result from being the founder of a nation.

I am infinitely obliged for your kindly expressions with regard to myself, and I can assure Your Lordship that it is my greatest pleasure to believe that, with your support and under your sanction, I have not been uninfluential in carrying to completion the union of British North America.

Believe me,

my dear Lord Monck,

Very faithfully yours,

J.A. McD.

“P.S. My lame finger makes me write rather indistinctly. I hope you can read this note.