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Date: 1864-09-09
By: Perth Courier
Citation: “The Seat of Government”, Perth Courier (9 September, 1864)
Other formats: TBA

THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

The Globe of Tuesday, the 6th inst., contains a reply to our article of last week on the seat of Government question, in as which it is claimed that Ottawa has good a chance of becoming the capital of the Confederation as any other city within its boundaries. For the disappointment of our hopes of seeing the next session of Parliament held there, we are consoled by the assurance that there is a prospect of getting the Legislature there at some future time. A faint hint at the danger of losing it altogether though, is here given:—

“It is possibly true that the achievement of that constitutional change might give rise to a fresh discussion of the seat of government question. It might produce rivals for Ottawa, but surely not such formidable ones as to render it incumbent upon the friends of that city to give up the prize without a struggle. Surely it would not be difficult for the Courier to furnish some arguments in favor of making Ottawa the capital in the event of a British American federation. Is there no argument in the immense buildings which have been erected there at so great a cost?. Is there no argument in the beautiful situation, the magnificent scenery, the capacity for defence, and the accessibility of the place, which used to be deemed by the friends of Ottawa very strong arguments in its favour. Are they of no value at all now? Then as to the locality—in what sort of a confederation would Quebec be more central than Ottawa? Not certainly in a federation of the Canadas, nor in a British American confederacy, extending from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains—to say nothing of the even grander idea of a confederation extending from ocean to ocean.”

Without going the length of the Globe’s “grander idea” “of a confederation extending from ocean to ocean,” we may, for the present, confine our fancies within the probable and ask Messrs. Brown and McDonald what prospect there is of Ottawa becoming the capital of the confederation that they may be able to form? No sane man, in this part of the country at least, entertains any more idea of extending the government of Canada from ocean to ocean, than of establishing its capital in the regions of the moon. Such wildness of speech is left to our “statesmen,” whilst the plain people of Canada, content themselves with serious and anxious reflections on the political situation of their country, and the means whereby they can overcome the constitutional difficulties under which they have laboured in the past. If moonshine phrases about an “ocean to ocean” confederation, will overcome these difficulties, all well and good, and Messrs. Brown and McDonald will get all the credit due to their use. But in the meantime we may be excused the liberty of doubting their efficacy, and of confining ourselves to a consideration of the plain facts of the case. These facts indicate, at most, a probability of a union between Upper and Lower Canada and the Maritime Provinces, and exclude, for the present, the idea of a Union extending further westward than the present boundary of Upper Canada. A confederacy so formed would naturally seek the most central place within its boundaries for a Capital, and that is one of the reasons why we believe the Queen’s decision in favor of Ottawa will not be carried out if the scheme of Messrs. Brown and McDonald prove successful. That there is a prospect of its success, and consequent danger to Ottawa interests, is evident, for, whilst the “grand” idea of an “ocean to ocean” confederation is altogether too sublime to be realized, a natural possability does exist of a union being effected with the Lower Provinces. The building of the Intercolonial railway would almost effect it at once; to go westward and “annex” the Pacific Ocean, is too great a stretch of imagination to be compassed by the Canadians of the present age, and its consideration must therefore remain in abeyance, whilst the smaller scheme of practical probability is being tried.

The Globe having mounted the “grand” hobby-horse at the beginning of the “constitutional negociations,” has not yet descended to the level of this smaller scheme, but continues to talk, in what one of its own correspondents a short time ago called “the D’Arcy McGee style,” of the lofty beauties of a British North American Confederation. Of such small matters as Ottawa interests it speaks in this manner:—

“If a British American union is found practicable either now or ten years hence, the imaginary danger to their local interests which the people of Ottawa see in it, will not be allowed to baulk the wishes of all British North America. The interests of half a continent cannot be subordinated to the supposed interests of a single town. With that point settled, the Ottawa people will do well not to make so much outcry against federation, on the single ground that they think it inimical to their local interests. As the question of federation is certain to be considered on its public merits, let them join the rest of their countrymen in so considering it. If it should ever become a disputed point whether the confederacy ought to make use of the costly and magnificent buildings at Ottawa, or to throw them away and build others elsewhere at an immense outlay, it seems to us that the advocates of Ottawa will be able to make out an exceedingly good case in favor of the former course on public grounds.”

From the stand point of the grand confederation this is no doubt correct, but viewed from the actual position of facts, it indicates danger to what the people of Central Canada consider of vastly more importance than all the grand humbugs the Globe can invent. The Government was pledged to move to Ottawa this Fall; the people relied on the promise, and now they are not only disappointed but told that the capital of the confederation will be selected on its own merits, entirely unmindful of the “inhabitants of a single town.” This announcement, in connection with the manner in which the work on the public buildings has been conducted since the formation of the Coalition, looks very much like a deliberate design on the part of the Administration to upset the Queen’s decision. We are informed, on reliable authority, that but a pretence of work has been kept up on the buildings this summer, and that, not only could they be occupied this Fall, if the Administration had so desired, but that, at their present rate of progress, it will take at least two years yet to finish them. All this danger and delay may fairly be charged to the Ottawa members, for if Messrs. Currier, Bell, Poupore, Wright and Morris had not basely betrayed the interests of their constituents, the organ of the Confederation party would not now be in a position to tell us that Ottawa has as good a chance of becoming the Capital as any other town in British America.