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Date: 1864-09-09
By: The Globe
Citation: “The Charlottetown Convention”, The Globe [Toronto] (9 September 1864).
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The Charlottetown Convention.

A HARMONIOUS CONFERENCE.

Adjournment to Halifax.

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I., Sept. 7.

The Conference of Delegates from the several provinces to consider the expediency of uniting, under one Government and Legislature, certain portions or the whole of British North America, has continued its deliberations here since the 1st inst. The Conference meets every morning at ten o’clock, and adjourn at three p.m.

The Delegates enjoy the evening in the hospitalities of the citizens.

The proceedings of the Conference are kept entirely secret. Not a whisper of what has been going on from day to day in the Parliament buildings has reached the public, but from the apparent cordiality among the Delegates, and the confidence with which they assert the great advantages of confederation to all the provinces, it is schemed, and I suspect correctly assumed, that the original proposal of the Maritime provinces is likely to be merged in the larger scheme of a confederation of all British North America.

It was rumoured this morning that the Canadian gentlemen had their closing interview with the delegates from the Maritime provinces yesterday, having made all the progress in the negotiations that could be made in an unofficial manner. It is also stated that the Maritime Delegates meet to-day finally, to determine whether to go on with the original plan, or drop it and adopt the Canadian scheme.

While writing, I have this moment heard that the Conference has broken up its sittings in this Island, and have adjourned to the 14th instant, then to meet in the city of Halifax.

I am also assured, that after careful consideration of the whole question, the Conference came unanimously to the conclusion, that the advantages from confederation to all the colonies would be very great, provided the terms of alliance could be made satisfactory.

The Maritime Delegates, it is said, are to resume the consideration of the details of the scheme of Halifax, and unless some formidable obstacle arises, a duly authorised Conference of the several Provincial Governments will shortly be held at Quebec, to discuss points of variance, and, if possible, mature a formal proposition for submission to the respective Parliaments.

Our little town has been very gay during the past week.

His Excellency Gov. Dundas has given frequent entertainments, and the several members of the Island Government have vied in their efforts to do honour to our guests.

The Canadian deputation have also received their friends on board their steamer, the Queen Victoria, in a hospitable style, and the citizens of Charlottetown are to entertain all the members of the Conference, official and unofficial, at a grand ball in the Colonial Hall to-morrow evening.

On Friday the delegation cross to Pictou in the Canadian steamer, and proceed direct by Truro to Halifax; thence they proceed home via St. John and Fredericton.