Document Information

Date: 1866-11-16
By: Perth Courier
Citation: “Lord Carnarvon and the Canadian Ministry”, Perth Courier (16 November, 1866)
Other formats: TBA

LORD CARNARVON AND THE CANADIAN MINISTRY.

From the New York Albion, Oct. 27.

We have at length had something direct from Lord Carnarvon on the subject of Confederation in British North America. While the new Colonial Secretary very justly views confederation as “one of the most important questions connected with our Colonial politics,” he at the same time expresses his “regrets” that he has “only the delegates from the Maritime Provinces” to address on the subject, and accordingly he has to speak guardedly. “This question has not yet come under the practical consideration of Her Majesty’s Government,” he continues, “it will receive the most careful and respectful attention.” This is certainly as non-committal as any of his Right Honourable colleagues could desire, and yet these declarations are quite as much as Canadian Ministers could expect under the circumstances.

Six months ago confederation promised a speedily realization, and only required prompt action on the part of Canada to have secured its final adoption. New Brunswick had just changed from opposition to a warm support of the scheme. Nova Scotia was about passing resolutions in favour of it, and the provinces of Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island might have been said to be about equally divided, and likely to finally adopt the measure.

The Ministers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick only waited for action on the part of Canada, when all the delegates would meet in London and present an almost unanimous case before the Home Government, asking for an immediate recognition of their acts—and fulfillment on the part of Mother Britania of her oft-repeated promise of Imperial sanction. But no sooner had the delegates from the Maritime Provinces gone to England—having based their calculations upon the Canadian delegates’ promise to follow almost immediately—than the new financial and commercial schemes were sprung upon the Canadian Parliament, and that element of discord introduced which resulted in the withdrawal of one member of the Coalition Ministry on a side issue, followed by a second side issue resignation and the final weakening of the Governmental position to such an extent that the remaining members of the Cabinet felt the necessity of looking after their own positions at home rather than the interests of the Province in the Mother Country. All this has been exceedingly unfortunate, and we make the record of the facts with “regret”—at least equal to that of Lord Carnarvon—upon not meeting the Canadian delegates as expected.

It is now announced that two of the delegates will sail for England on the 31st inst. and others follow on the 14th, but we are sorry to say we believe this trip, at this particular time, almost useless. Nothing whatever can be done in the premises till the meeting of another Parliament; and, from the present position of parties in England, it is exceedingly doubtful whether the existing Government will be in a position to deal with the question promptly even when Parliament meets which cannot be for some months yet. In fact if Canadian Ministers had been working to aid the opponents of Confederation, they could not have damaged the cause more than they have done during the past six months. We are sorry to say this but we feel it to be the truth. And even now the “class” and “caste interests” of Lower Canada are beginning again to crop out, being encouraged by the acts of Ministers and ex-Ministers, who ought to know better than encourage these narrow-minded views in their constituents, if they are actually in earnest in their support of Confederation and the final consolidation of all the British American Provinces.

Mr. Howe and his coadjutors scarcely could have asked or expected a better opportunity of working to some effect in London than has been offered them by the present custodians of Canadian interests. They have remained away from England and have busied themselves exhibiting the commercial and financial position of the province in the very worst light possible, and are now even—to add to the trouble apparently—endeavouring to excite old local animosities which if once really aroused will impede all action on this important subject, particularly when coupled with the telling activity of Mr. Howe and his “party” in Nova Scotia, who—we will do them the credit of admitting—are alive to the interest of the work in hand. And again, we think that at least one of the delegates named ought to be dropped from the list, if not actually from the ministry, as the Lamirande expose does him very little credit either at home or abroad; and, if reporters are correct, will rather detract from, than add to, the influence of the delegation after its arrival in London.