Document Information
Date: 1867-05-03
By: True Witness
Citation: “No title”, True Witness (3 May, 1867)
Other formats: TBA
The Globe ingenuously admits that the political agitation which it and its friends are stirring up in Upper Canada, has for its sole object a change in the personnel of the present Ministry. It tells us that the power to effect this, to turn, let us say, Messrs. Cartier and J. A. Macdonald out of office, and to put Mr. George Brown and some of his hungry crew into office, is the “main boon” conferred by Confederation:—
“Can the men fancy the Reformers of Upper Canada do not perfectly comprehend that the main boon secured by the accomplishment of Confederation is the power to bring to an end the outrageous misgovernment of the last dozen years, and place at the helm of State, men who will pursue an entirely opposite course from that of their predecessors.—Globe, April 23.”
There will be a very pretty quarrel evidently, as soon as the new Constitution comes into operation. One question that will then be raised will be, as to whether the Dominion of Canada is to have a Ministry, or merely Ministers? and upon the solution of this much depends. By a Ministry, we mean of course a body of confidential advisers of the Governor General, enjoying the confidence of the Legislature, and of the elective branch thereof in particular, and at the same time all united, or of one accord upon all the chief political questions of the day, and all morally responsible for the measures laid before Parliament. Such a body is, so it seems to us, as impossible under the new Constitution, as it was under the old. No political party that enjoys the confidence of the majority of the representatives of Upper Canada, will enjoy that of the representatives of Lower Canada; the political leaders of the latter will, in like manner, be far from acceptable to the ruling party in the Western Province. A “Double Majority” will be therefore as unattainable in the future, as it has been in the past: and unless Upper Canada is to inflict its rule upon Lower Canada, and to aid a small and very unpopular minority to represent the latter in the Governor’s Council Chamber, we see not how anything resembling a Ministry will be possible. Ministers, of course, we shall have; but not a united body of political chiefs, united together in the Cabinet by community of principles, and identity of interests. All is confusion at present, and it behoves the people of Lower Canada to be bold, honest, and united, lest they find themselves delivered over helpless, bound hand and foot, to the cruel mercies of Mr. G. Brown and the Reformers of Upper Canada, their bitter and implacable enemies.