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Date: 1867-06-03
By: New Brunswick (House of Assembly)
Citation: New Brunswick, House of Assembly, Journal of the House of Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick, 21st Parl, 2nd Sess, 1867 at 9-14.
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The Honorable Mr. Speaker then reported, that when in attendance on His Excellency the Administrator of the Government in the Council Chamber, His Excellency had been pleased to make a Speech to both Houses, of which Mr. Speaker said he had, for greater accuracy, obtained a copy, which he read to the House, and is as followeth:—

“Mr. President, and Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

IT affords me sincere pleasure to meet you for the first time in Parliament.

In conformity with the Address of the House of Assembly, Delegates were appointed to proceed to England to unite with Delegates from Canada and Nova Scotia in arranging with the Imperial Government for the Union of British North America.

I congratulate you upon the successful manner in which those Gentlemen discharged the important and delicate mission confided to them. I will direct the Papers connected with the subject to be laid before you.

Her Majesty the Queen, with that earnest solicitude for the welfare of all Her Subjects which she has always evinced, having been graciously pleased to assent to the Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, in which the immediate construction of the Inter-Colonial Railway was secured; I feel confident that the people of this Province, ever distinguished for their loyalty, will cheerfully unite in giving effect to the provisions of that Act, and that, under Providence, it will be productive of lasting benefit to New Brunswick.

Your attention will be called to the changes necessarily consequent upon the Union.

It is, I know, a source of rejoicing to you all that the Imperial Parliament has authorized the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury to guarantee the Interest on Three Millions of Pounds Sterling, for the construction of the Inter-Colonial Railway; an object so long desired by the inhabitants of this Province, so necessary for defence, for the developement of its resources, the advancement of its material interests, the more perfect union of the different Provinces, and the consolidation and perpetuation of British power on this Continent.

The success which, during the past year, bas attended Agricultural and Lumbering operations, affords cause for gratification and thankfulness; and I trust that the depression, which unfortunately at present exists in the important business of Ship building (a business in which this Province bas been so pre-eminently distinguished) may soon cease, and that the commercial prosperity of your Sea Ports may be thus restored.

I consider it my imperative duty to express my opinion, as to the necessity of the Militia being placed upon a more efficient footing; for the determination evinced by the Imperial Government, to maintain the integrity of this portion of the Empire, demands corresponding exertions on the part of this Province.

The Officers of that Force are, I am aware, most desirous that immediate steps may be taken to attain that object; and it affords me the greatest satisfaction to be able to bear testimony to the zealous and soldier-like feeling, which pervades both the Volunteers and Militia of the Province.

By the Imperial Act of Union, the power to enact Laws regulating the Militia, and for defensive purposes, is vested in the Parliament of Canada; otherwise I should have pressed upon your attention the necessity of preparing the able-bodied men of the Province, by Military drill, exercise, and organization, to defend their homes and their country. At present I can only express my sincere desire that every means may be adopted for this purpose; and I well know that Her Majesty’s subjects in New Brunswick will consider to sacrifice too great to attain so important an object.

You will, I am sure, agree with me in the opinion that the Rifle Association which has been recently organized, will be of great service in stimulating the military ardour and keeping alive the loyal zeal of the Volunteers and Militia. It is my pleasing duty to inform you that this Association has met with marked success.

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembty,

I have given directions that the Accounts of the Provincial Income, and Expenditure, for the past year, should be laid before you. You will be gratified to find that the Revenue was considerably in excess of the Expenditure, notwithstanding the large sum required for defensive purposes, in consequence of the threatened attack of lawless desperadoes on the Frontier. Estimates also for the current year have been prepared and will be submitted to you.

Mr. President, and Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

Towards the close of the year 1865 the Lieutenant Governor, in conjunction with the Governments of the other British North American Provinces, appointed a Commission to make enquiries with a view to opening new channels of Trade with the West Indies and South America. The Report of this Commission will be laid before you.

A large increase of Trade with these Countries will afford a wider scope for the enterprise of our Merchants, and must be productive of general advantage.

In leaving you to your Legislative duties, I must assure you of my confident belief that your deliberations will tend to the welfare of New Brunswick; and you will readily join with me in grateful thanks to Almighty God, for the peace and prosperity which have fallen to your lot, and in a heartfelt prayer, that the changes which will shortly be made in your position, as an integral portion of the British Empire, may result, as well in the developement of the vast natural resources of the Province, as in the increased honor and renown of the Mother Country.

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Mr. Stevens, a Member for the County of Charlotte, then proposed the Address to His Excellency, in answer to the Speech, which he read in his place; and the same being seconded by Mr. Ryan, a Member for King’s County, it was handed in to the Chair, where it was again read, and is as followeth:—

To His Excellency Major General CHARLES HASTINGS DOYLE, Administrator of the Government and Commander in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick.

The Humble Address of the House of Assembly.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,—

1. We, Her Majesty’s faithful Subjects, the Commons of New Brunswick, thank Your Excellency for your Speech at the opening of the present Session.

2. We are pleased to learn that the Delegates appointed to proceed to England to unite with the Delegates from Canada and Nova Scotia in arranging with the Imperial Government for the Union of British North America, have successfully accomplished that object, and we thank Your Excellency for the assurance that the Papers relating thereto will be laid before us.

3. We feel confident that Her Majesty’s loyal Subjects in New Brunswick will cheerfully unite in giving effect to the provisions of the Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and that, under Providence, it will be productive of lasting benefit to this Province.

4. We will consider what changes may be necessary consequent upon the Union.

5. We are gratified with the information that’ the Imperial Parliament have made provision to guarantee the Interest on Three Millions of Pounds Sterling, for the construction of the Inter-Colonial Railway, a work so necessary for the improvement of all our interests, indispensable to our union and to the consolidation and perpetuation of British power on this Continent.

6. The success which in the past year has attended the labours of the Farmer and the Lumberer is a source of gratification and thankfulness, and we unite with Your Excellency in the hope that the depression which unfortunately at present exists in the business of Ship building may soon cease, and that important branch of industry be restored to its accustomed activity.

7. We agree with Your Excellency in the conviction that the Militia requires a more perfect organization, and are well assured that Her Majesty’s Subjects in New Brunswick would cheerfully make any sacrifice to provide for the defence of their homes and country in the event of foreign aggression.

8. We are gratified with the success that has attended the Rifle Association which has been recently organized, and trust that it will be an additional incentive to the military ardour and loyal zeal of the Volunteers and Militia.

9. We thank Your Excellency for having directed the Accounts of the Revenue and Expenditure of the past year and the Estimates for the current year, to be laid before us, and are gratified to learn that the Revenue exceeded the Expenditure.

10. We thank Your Excellency for directing the Report of the Commission to the West Indies and South America to be laid before us, and trust that the labours of that Commission will result in opening up new channels for the enterprise of our merchants, and be productive of general advantage.

11. We trust that our deliberations will be promotive of the, best interests of the people of this Province, and we cordially unite with Your Excellency in the expression of grateful thanks to a beneficent Providence for the peace and prosperity which we enjoy, and in the heartfelt prayer that the changes about to be made in our condition may promote the best interests of this Province, and redound to the glory of the Mother Country.

On motion of Mr. Stevens,

Ordered, That two hundred Copies of the Speech of His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, be forthwith printed for the use of the Legislature; and

On like motion of Mr. Stevens,

Ordered, That two hundred Copies of the proposed Address in answer to His Excellency’s Speech, be also printed; and

On like motion of Mr. Stevens,

Ordered, That the House do, on Monday next, the 13th day of May instant, at the hour of eleven o’clock, A. M., go into consideration of the Address proposed in answer to the Speech of His Excellency the Administrator of the Government.

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