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Date: 1865-04-01
By: Montreal Witness
Citation: “The True Solution”, Montreal Witness (1 April, 1865)
Other formats: TBA

THE TRUE SOLUTION.

Our constitution makers and menders of the Quebec Conference, are turning from the general Confederation plan, which is generally felt to be impracticable at present, to the alternatives which they previously contemplated. The Maritime Powers are once more looking to a union among themselves, which, until the Intercolonial Railway interest obtained the ascendancy among their leading men, was all they thought of; and Canada has now to turn to the lesser Confederation scheme to which its present coalition government stands pledged in the event of not being able to carry the greater. This lesser Confederation of the two Provinces of Canada is a very important, because practical question. It is one with which we can deal without a great increase of debt and taxation, on account of an all but useless railroad, and without bribing provinces that have little or no debt of their own, to assume a share of ours. The lesser Confederation plan, or Federal Union of these provinces is neither more nor less than an extension of the double majority principle, which though taking away some of the worst features of that iniquitous device, will yet be cumbrous and difficult.

There is only in our opinion one right solution of our present difficulties, and that is Representation according to Population, and it will be just as easy to carry that as to carry either the greater or lesser Confederation scheme.—A majority of one in our legislature can carry this great reform,—a reform alike just in principle and expedient in practice,—without reference to any other province or to the Imperial Government; and, were it adopted, all would doubtless work smoothly, because all good cause of complaint would be taken away. Indeed but for the extraordinary move of Mr. Brown, in stepping in to support the very Ministry which he had spent the best part of his life in denouncing as incurably corrupt and unjust, we would in all probability be enjoying Representation by Population now.

What, then, is to hinder all just and patriotic men, East and West, to join in carrying this reform? Let the two Canadas be really one Canada; let a rigid economy and accountability take the place of the corruption and peculation which have disgraced us. Let our Legislature no longer be dragged through the mire whenever a railroad company chooses to command the operation, (as in that most disgraceful piece of legislation at the close of the session concerning the Prescott and Ottawa Railroad); let us try to make Canada the freest, best governed, and least burdened country in the world, and our peace and prosperity will be like our river, the admiration of all men.