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Date: 1866-03-02
By: Montreal Herald
Citation: “THE MINISTERIAL DEMONSTRATION AT CORNWALL” Montreal Herald (2 March, 1866)
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THE MINISTERIAL DEMONSTRATION AT CORNWALL.

(SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “HERALD.”)

Cornwall, March 1.

The Western train brought from Ottawa Hons. Messrs. McDonald; Galt, Howland, and McGee.

At about three o’clock an address of congratulation was presented by the Mayor of Cornwall, to which the Hon. J. A. McDonald responded in a brief speech. The address of congratulation referred to the efforts of the Ministry in the cause of Confederation, and stated that the demonstration given by their friends in Stormont, Dundas and Glengary, was intended to mark their approval of the efforts on behalf of that measure.

Hon. J. A. McDONALD thanked the Mayor and Council for their invitation and reception, expressing a belief in the early adoption of Confederation.

At about six o’clock the train from Montreal arrived, bringing Hon. Mr. Cartier, Mr. Brydges, and a few others.

About half-past seven o’clock the guests proceeded to the Town Hall, which was decorated with flags ahd evergreens. Amongst the mottoes were, “British America united for ever,” “Confederation not Annexation.”

On the dais besides the Ministers were Hon. Mr. Ferrier, Hon. Mr. Carling, Mr. Bell of Russell; Mr. Ross, of Dundas; Messrs. A. Morris, M.P.P., Ault, M.P.P., McGauvran, M.P.P., Mr. Mattice, Mr. Brydges, Mr. McGillevray, of McGillevray; Hon. C. L. Vankoughnet, Hon. Mr. Bennet, Judge Jarvis and Sheriff McIntyre. There were between 500 and 600 guests.

Letters of excuse were then read from R. Scott, Ottawa; Hon. Geo. Crawford, and Hon. J. Hamilton, of Inkerman, also sent an apology.

The band of the 25th regiment were present. The Pipers, marching through the village, produced great excitement.

The Mayor, Dr. ALLEN, presided.

Rev. Mr. DOBIE said grace.

The dinner was excellent and furnished by Mr. Carlisle of the Terrapin, Montreal.

The dinner over, the CHAIRMAN said—The first toast in loyal countries as well as elsewhere in the Empire was the Queen. Drank with all honours.

The National Anthem, Major Stevenson.

The next toast was the Prince and Princess of Wales and Royal Family, introduced with appropriate remarks and drank with honours.

The Governor General, was proposed in an elegant speech by the Chairman, who said he was proud to be a countryman of Lord Monck. Received with due honours.

The Army, Navy and Volunteers were proposed in very complimentary terms and received with enthusiasm and all honors.

Responded to by Capt. BERGIN in a brief but excellent speech. He referred proudly to Chrysler’s Farm, and said we were indebted to the present Minister of Militia if we had a Volunteer Force at all. The origin of the force here was the Trent difficulty when the Province generally sprung to arms, Cornwall among the first.

Next toast our Guests, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ministers, was proposed in an eloquent speech by the Chairman.

Hon. J. A. McDONALD responded. He had hoped Sir N. Belleau would have responded to such a kind and magnificent demonstration, but illness prevented him from doing so. He endeavoured to do his duty as it was gratifying on many accounts. First, because the loyal Eastern District saw men on his right and left who shed their blood in 1812, and some here were as ready to shed their blood in the same cause in 1866. Not mere party demonstration, not mere conservative, nor Reform, but approval of the coalition for great purposes, not simply to put an end to party strife, but for a much greater purpose, that of uniting petty colonies into one country, great enough to have some influence of itself as an Empire. He referred to the despatch of 1858 and Mr. Brown’s Committee of 1864, and dwelt on the evils of the separation of the colonies when they were no longer able to carry on a Government. He appealed to Mr. Brown who, in a frank, manly and patriotic spirit responded, and the result was the Coalition Government which he left, not simply because of a disagreement on the Reciprocity question, in which he thinks us in error; but Mr. Brown conscientiously thought he should retire, and it was only due to Mr. Brown to say this. He believed he would continue to give his assistance and influence to carry out Confederation, and that was now certain in a few weeks. He referred at some length to the embassy sent to England on the subject. They offered all the strength of Canada as to out-works and defence of the empire was received. As representing that great country they offered in return all their strength to defend us. He spoke of the kindly feeling shown in Britain toward us, their willingness to defend and protect us as long as we desired to remain a colony. He concluded with remarks on the militia system. There were some things in it which would be uncandid and unfair if he did not give credit to his predecessor, Hon. Sandfield MacDonald The best military schools had been extended from two to five by the present Ministry, and there was now 2,000 officers prepared to lead the Militia of the Provinces.

Hon. Mr. CARTIER returned thanks in a humourous and effective manner, referring to his past career, and denied the charge that he had ever forced upon Upper Canada legislation, by a Lower Canada majority, of the union of the Canadas. He had worked beneficially for both, giving us a desire for greater union, which we must obtain. (Cheers.) He asked was the present the time, when mere sectional difficulties distracted the State, to knock for admission into the American Union. (Cries of no, no.) It was time to form a union under a British monarchical system, and not denounce the system of the United States. (Cheers.) A union formed upon a British system would possess qualities of stability and permanency. After the adoption of Confederation no voice would ever be raised against it. (Cheers.) Confederation was popular in Lower Canada because it guaranteed the continuance of British connexion. This great demonstration showed that any former prejudice that might have existed in Upper against Lower Canada had died out. This was a further reason for the union of all the British Provinces. (Cheers.)

The MAYOR next proposed Canadian Enterprise and Progress, associating therewith the name of the Hon. Mr. Galt, which was referred to in a complimentary manner.

Honourable Mr. GALT returned cordial thanks for the reception given to Ministers. There had been no occasion on which they had met with such a hearty welcome as this from the men of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. There was no place in which this toast could have been more appropriately proposed. Referring to his mission to Washington, he said it was well that, when we were threatened with the interruption of our trade, we had received from a beneficent Providence such a bountiful harvest as the last. Judging from information at his command, he was able to say that Canada was never in such a prosperous condition as at present. We had sold, during the last seven months $10,000,000 worth more of our products than we had bought, which never was the case before. He denied that the Government even showed any apathy regarding efforts for the renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty. The Government believed it was their duty to do what was fair, but nothing more. In July Messrs. Howland and Galt went to Washington, but found that no negotiations could be entered upon at that time. The English Government had previously instructed its Minister at Washington to co-operate with us in the fullest manner, and they had given us the largest powers in the matter. We were informed at Washington that the Americans could not proceed in the matter by negotiation, but only by legislation. We then saw that the course the Government determined to pursue was what they believed to be alike consistent with the dignity and interest of the country.

After being informed that it would be inconsistent with the American fiscal system and unconditionally to give us the renewal of the treaty by negotiation, we thought it better to obtain it any way rather than not at all. We thought, if it could be obtained on fair and equitable principles, it was all that was required. As to the statement respecting the Americans obtaining everything and yielding nothing to us, the principal ground on which they gave notice of the abrogation was internal taxation, they being unwilling that Canadian products should enter the States without being taxed in some way like their own. It never was intended nor asked by them that they should impose duties on Canadian products which they were not to have a right of imposing on them. The Canadian Government never desired to concede any right to the Americans that they would not grant us. Another agreement was that no change whatever should be proposed respecting inland navigation, provided the other relations between the countries continued satisfactory, and no alteration was proposed respecting the Fisheries. We were charged with going out of our way by offering enlargement of our canals. There had been a pressure for years respecting this project, which had been recommended in motions and the speech of His Excellency, and last August he (Mr. Galt) declared that the Government would recommend enlargement of the canals on receiving assurance that American commerce would be ensured for them. That was all we proposed in Washington, and we did so, because, in no other way, could our canals be enlarged. We were charged with agreeing to make the legislation of Canada subordinate to that of the United States, but the Americans were willing to make their legislation precede ours, and to pass an act of Congress before the 17th of March, though we told them our legislature could not meet by that day. They had thus left it to Canada to legislate or not respecting a measure to be agreed upon. There was no subordination whatever of our government to that of the Americans. (Cheers.) It would be a merely selfish man, however, who would stick on points of form respecting the management of such important negotiations. The second point on that charge brought against us was respecting the excise duties of the two countries. Last August we declared the government were prepared to consider, with the American government, such an augmentation of the excise tax as would tend to prevent smuggling, and that was in effect, our proposition at Washington. The intention was the devising of a mode whereby the largest amount of revenue could be secured to us as well as them. We acted in a spirit of amity towards them to prevent the defrauding of their revenue, and the demoralization of our people on the frontier. All we asked at Washington was fair play, demanding no advantages in their markets we were not willing to give them in ours. Our position was not one of dependency on the States, but of equality with them. (Loud cheers.) They met us in the most kindly and courteous manner, and we parted with mutual respect. We had done our duty to our people in this respect. Referring to the charge that, in proposing to add certain articles to the free list, it would give an advantage to the Americans, Mr. Galt said the proposal was made because our government had faith in the industry, enterprise and ability of Canada to compete in manufacturing and otherwise. (Cheers.) He repudiated, indignantly, the alleged intention to throw the negotiations in favour of the United States. Whatever advantages we were prepared to allow the States they were also prepared to accord the same to Canadians and others. (Cheers.) Referring to the attacks in the Globe ever since their departure for Washington, Mr. Galt sarcastically observed that Mr. Brown and the Editor of the Globe were two distinct persons, and that Mr. Brown was quite incapable of giving any information to the Globe of any relations as to the mission of his colleagues. The Globe had greatly misrepresented Messrs. Howland and Galt in the affair However, if it be a fact, that interest and honour were sacrificed by the Government policy, why did he (Mr. Brown) agree to wait till Parliament opened before informing the country of the matter? It was not a fact that he was justified in resigning on certain grounds. (Cheers.) At a future time he would reply at length to Mr. Brown when Parliament was open. The statement that we were offering great advantages to the States was of a nature to create ill-feeling in England. As to Confederation being injured in our course in the negociations, the Premier, Hon. Mr. Smith, of New Brunswick, anti-Confederationist, and Attorney-General Henry, of Nova Scotia, Confederate, fully concurred with us throughout. It could not be but that the loss of a market for half of our produce would be attended with considerable difficulty and disturbance, but he hoped the United States would soon restore trade to a satisfactory footing. Mr. Galt defended the Government in the opening and carrying on of the negociations for the renewal of Reciprocity, claiming that they had been, on the whole, beneficial, and that our liberal terms had converted public sentiment to a favouring of the renewal of the treaty, &c. Every man in Canada was opposed to depending on the States and advocated self-reliance. (Cheers.) Their efforts had not been altogether unsuccessful. They, the Americans, would see, he thought, that the cutting off of a portion of their trade would entail heavier burdens on their people than would be necessary and leave us to consider how to deal with the future commercial policy of Canada arising out of the failure of the negociations. We must initiate commercial relations with the Lower Provinces, and endeavor to give effect to whatever recommendations our Trade Commissioners, now abroad, might make, and open the still further markets of Europe and South America to our products. (Cheers.) We must legislate to attract hither, largely, capital and emigration and develope the resources of all the British North American Colonies. We should have to postpone for the present enlarging our canals, but would have to devote our attention to opening up the North West; we would continue to maintain good neighborhood with the United States, respecting their reciprocation, and that they will do, as to invasions on our frontier, what we did for them during their war. He concluded by advocating self-reliance on the part of Canadians, and believing that the people of these three countries, like all their fellow countrymen, were prepared for any future—whether weal or woe.

The CHAIRMAN next gave, with a few introductory remarks, British America for ever United. The toast was drank with enthusiasm.

Hon. Mr. HOWLAND responded in a brief speech, in the course of which he said that, having entered the Government for the purpose of obtaining a measure which he considered necessary for the welfare and prosperity of the people of these Provinces, he would have failed in his duty if he had permitted any other issues to have interfered or prevented the carrying out of the original agreement. He had found nothing in the course pursued by the Government from which he could have dissented, and he had, therefore, the more strongly felt it to be his duty to adhere to the bond. (Cheers.)

Mr. McGIVERIN, M. P. P., for Lincoln, proposed the next toast. He said he looked upon Hon. Mr. Howland as his political chief, because he was the leader of the Reform members in a government which he (Mr. McGiverin) had promised to support, and which done nothing to forfeit the confidence he had reposed in it. He regretted the Hon. Mr. Brown’s retirement from the Ministry, and said, as far as he was aware, there was not sufficient cause for this step, and that, at any rate, it was not fair for him to have acted as he had done, without having first consulted his political friends, who had loyally supported him while in the government. He (Mr. McGiverin) might be alone in the opinion, but he believed the Hon. Mr. Howland was right, and the Hon. Mr. Brown was wrong, in the opposite courses they had pursued. He approved of the government attempting, by negotiations, to obtain the continuance of reciprocal trade with the United States. It would have failed in its duty if it had acted otherwise; but, having failed in this negociation, it was our duty to strike out for ourselves, trusting, at the same time, that the good sense of the American people would make them appreciate the advantages which they had now thrown away. He proposed the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengary.

Mr. AULT, M.P.P., for Stormont, responded. He was glad that the people had had an opportunity of seeing the men who had governed the country in the past, and who, he hoped, in all sincerity, would long continue to govern it. (Cheers.) He reposed confidence in the Government, and believed that in doing so he was supported by an immense majority of his constituents.

Hon. Mr. MaGEE proposed the Mayor and Town Council of Cornwall.

Mr. ALLEN responded in a neat speech, referring to the satisfactory manner in which the proceedings had passed off, attributing much of it to the efforts of the ladies.

After toasts of the Press and Ladies, the demonstration was brought to a close about two o’clock.