Document Information
Date: 1866-10-08
By: Montreal Herald
Citation: “The Confederation Delegation” Montreal Herald (8 October 1866).
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).
THE CONFEDERATE DELEGATION.—Rumours begin to circulate that the delegates in the interest of Confederation are about to leave for Britain. No date is given for that event to take place, and the Gazette, through whose telegrams it is given to the public, wisely dreading another hoax, declines to say on what authority it gives the report, and does not vouch for its correctness. Possibly it fears that other wicked Confederates may be at work to cast doubt upon the sources of its official information, upon which its conductors, no doubt justly, plume themselves. Take it as it is given, and with the wise proviso as to its doubtfulness, it leaves room for some curious speculation among the British population of Lower Canada as to what is in store for them. In our, no doubt blamable ignorance, we had imagined that the minority in Lower Canada were of some small account, and that in any scheme carried out for the Confederate Union of these Provinces, a little consideration would have been shown to their wants and wishes. With the strong monarchical leanings of the Attorney General East, coupled with the declarations he has always made, that the utmost liberality would be shown to the British population, so that they might have some shadow of liberty and a few privileges left them, it was but natural to suppose that a puppet might have been got to play the part of representative of British interests in Lower Canada, the strings being of course pulled by Mr. Cartier. But in this little parti carre there is no room for a fifth. Mr. Cartier must go, as he is at the head of affairs, Mr. Langevin has never had a trip yet and he is anxious to see Windsor, so he can’t be left behind. Mr. McDonald thinks the sea air might do him good, and for a week or two at least carry him beyond the reach of Mr. Brown’s envenomed attacks, and as for Mr. McDougall, he has been wandering about so much lately that although, as Provincial Secretary, he ought to remain behind and attend to his correspondence, he cannot be satisfied to do so, but fancies himself all the better for being circulated, like a Provincial Note. It is true that a hint is thrown out that the consideration of the financial affairs of the Province may be taken up, but as that is a mere trifle, the accomplishment of Confederation of itself, rectifying all blunders, supplying all the deficiencies, and paying all the debts due and over due, it is doubtful if that subject will be broached. Should it be so, however, the Finance Minister, who acts under Mr. Cartier, and who is represented by his organs as a nothing—a nobody—a respectable grocer about Toronto—but a good harmless creature—is to replace Mr. McDougall, to whom probably Mr. Cartier will transmit his orders about the patronage. Such being the composition of the delegation, it is evident that the prediction we wickedly ventured to make at the time Mr. Galt so magnanimously threw up office on the defeat of the School Bill, has been completely falsified. It is in all cases by far the safest plan to predict what is to come after the event has happened, and this may possibly, like the malicious hoax played off on our neighbour, teach us carefulness and humility. If the party is made up already, Mr. Galt clearly is not one of them. Of that there is no doubt. We should have known better at the time than to have disputed the superior information which our Government contemporary can at all times command, and which must necessarily place it beyond the temptation of acquiring from its neighbours anything which it has not received itself. But while our vaticinations have been proved by events to have been wrong, the friends of the country and of Mr. Galt must rejoice to find that by a most fortunate concurrence of events, the delegates will not be without his powerful assistance. Urgent private business, the same telegram informs us, will not improbably bring Mr. Galt to London at the same time, and doubtless his services will be sought for, more especially if his successor and pupil, Mr. Howland, be of the party, vice McDougall, resigned to remain in his office. Having Mr. Galt’s presence the British population of Lower Canada may feel assured that their interests will be in safe hands and well cared for, the experience they have had of Mr. Galt’s influence in the Cabinet on their behalf,—notably, in the carrying out of his pledges with respect to the Education Bill and guarantees as to representation—having taught them that they may rely upon his power to fulfil his engagements. Our situation is certainly a singular one. A minority in Lower Canada, but by no means a contemptible one, if it were not for the apathy and indifference of those who ought to shape the policy of the country, and who ought now, if ever, to be alive to the necessity of having the position of affairs properly made known. Yet a large portion of the community, the wealthiest commercial men, the whole, or nearly the whole of the industrial Corporations, a large population in the Eastern Townships, not to speak of the British inhabitants of Montreal and Quebec, are to be totally ignored. Mr. Cartier and Mr. Langevin go to the Home Government as the representatives of Lower Canadian interests, the French Canadian interests being understood. Can the British Government and Parliament be blamed if, under these circumstances, they legislate exclusively for them in the scheme of Confederation to be sanctioned by the Crown? We have no wish nor desire to accuse our French Canadian fellow-subjects of seeking to tyrannize over those of other nationalities. But it is not in human nature to resist using irresponsible power if placed in the hands of a majority who have habits, modes of thought and peculiar opinions, differing from those of the minority so materially as they do in the present case.