Document Information

Date: 1865-08-08
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Legislative Council, Journals of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada, 8th Parl, 4th Sess, 1865 at 11-12.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).
Note: All endnotes come from our recent publication, Charles Dumais & Michael Scott (ed.), The Confederation Debates in the Province of Canada (CCF, 2022).

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1865[1]

Speech from the Throne

His Excellency the Right Honorable Charles Stanley, Viscount Monck—Honorable Gentleman of the Legislative Council, Gentleman of the Legislative Assembly: In conformity with the announcement which I made to you at the end of the last Session of Parliament, a Deputation from the Canadian Ministry proceeded to London to confer with Her Majesty’s Government[2] on questions of importance to the Province.

I have now called you together at the earliest convenient moment after the return of the Deputation, in order that you may receive the report of their mission, and complete the important business which at the conclusion of the last Session, was left unfinished. I have directed that the correspondence referring to the mission to England[3] shall be communicated to you for your consideration.

The happy termination of the Civil War which has for the last four years. prevailed in the United States of America, cannot fail to exercise a beneficial influence on the commercial and industrial interests of this Province, and we may trust that the re-establishment of peace will lead to a constantly increasing development of friendly relations between our people and the citizens of the great Republic.

The circumstances which rendered it necessary to place a portion of the Volunteer Militia of the Province on permanent duty, having ceased to exist, the force has been recalled, and I have to express my feeling of satisfaction at the readiness with which the men responded to the call of duty, and the general good conduct which they exhibited during the period of their service.

Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly: I have directed that the estimates for the current year, and the statement of the expenditure which has been incurred chargeable against the vote of credit of last Session shall be laid before you.

You will find with reference to both that economy has been combined with a due regard to efficiency.

Honorable Gentlemen and Gentlemen: I have not failed to transmit to the Secretary of State for the Colonies [Edward Cardwell], for presentation to Her Majesty, the Addresses to which you agreed during the last Session, in favor of a Federal Union of the Colonies of British North America[4].

I have desired that the reply of the Secretary of State [Edward Cardwell][5] shall be communicated to you, and I trust that mature examination of the project will, ere long, induce the Legislatures of the other Provinces to concur with you in giving their sanction to a measure which has been adopted as a great feature of Imperial policy, and has been twice noticed with approbation in Her Majesty’s Speeches from the Throne[6].

His Excellency the Governor General [Viscount Monck] was pleased to retire, and the Legislative Assembly withdrew.

ENDNOTES

[1]      Source: Journals of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada (Aug. 8, 1865), pp. 11-12.

[2]      The Canadian delegation consisted of John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, and Alexander Galt. They drafted a report on their discussions with the Imperial Government on Jul. 12, 1865 and it was presented to the Legislative Council on Aug. 9, 1865, p. C:2.

[3]      ibid. The correspondence was also presented to the Legislative Council.

[4]      For the Legislative Council’s address see Feb. 20, 1865, p. 346. For the Assembly’s see Mar. 13, 1865, pp. 1027-1032.

[5]      Despatch from Edward Cardwell to Viscount Monck (Apr. 8, 1865). Supra footnote 3.

[6]      For the speeches see, UK, House of Lords, “The Lord Commissioners’ Speech,” (Feb. 7, 1865) and UK, House of Lords, “Speech of the Lords Commissioners (Jul. 6, 1865).