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Date: 1864-08-07
By: The Boston Herald
Citation: “The Proposed Union of the Maritime Provinces of Canada”, The Boston Herald (8 September 1864).
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The Proposed Union of the Maritime Provinces of Canada— A Probable Confederation of All British North America.  

CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. I., Aug. 7. The Conference of Delegates from the several Provinces, to consider the expediency of uniting under one Government and Legislature certain portions of the whole British North America, has continued its deliberations here since the first of September. The Conference meet every morning at 10 o’clock and adjourns at 3 P.M.— 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 hey publicly assert the great advantages of confederation to all the Provinces, it is assumed, and I suspect correctly, that the original proposal of a union 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 was also stated that the maritime delegates meet to day finally to determine whether to go on with their 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 has adjourned to the 14th inst. to meet at Halifax. I am also assured that 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 consideration of the details of the scheme at Halifax, and unless some formidable obstacle arises a duty authorized 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.

His Excellency Governor Dundas has given frequent entertainments, and the several members of the Island Government have vied in their efforts to do honor to our guests. The Canadian delegation have also received their friends on board their steamer in hospitable style. The citizens of Charlottetown are to entertain all the members of the Conference are to entertain all the members of the Conference at a grand Ball tomorrow evening in the Colonial Hall.

On Friday the delegates leave for Halifax via Truro, thence to St. John, Fredericton and home.