the way of its consummation. in public life without a reward, if, before I enter into private life, I am a subject of a great British American nation, under the government of Her Majesty, and in connection with the Empire of Great Britain and Ireland."

I shall feel that I have not served

From Halifax, the Canadian members and delegates went over to St. John, in New Brunswick, and in that large and thriving commercial city again availed themselves of the opportunity of speaking on the question of the day. On the 12th September they were handsomely entertained at a public dinner at Stubb's hotel. As in Halifax, the leading public men, the prominent merchants, politicians of all shades, and the representatives of the press, were present. The chair was occupied by the Hon. John H. Gray, the member for the county of St. John and one of the delegates. A warm feeling towards the guests, and a spirit of enthusiasm on the subject of Union, pervaded the meeting. The speeches were listened to with deep and earnest attention. There was no Governor present, and no Admiral. But there were business men; men of energy and enterprise; men of trade, whose ships were far away, carrying the commerce of the world; men of science; mechanics-men of the steam engine and the forge, whose works of toil and labour were telling on the progress of a young country; men of the railway and the telegraph; men whose life was work.

In answer to the toast, "Our friends from Canada, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island," the Attorney-General for Canada East, Hon. George E. Cartier, said:

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Prosperity such as this great country was capable of attaining to, could never be fully enjoyed until the several sectional parts of it were united under the same political and commercial systems, their respective populations brought into closer relations with each other, and all the maritime facilities alike afforded to all, which nature had so bountifully bestowed upon some of the parts. This was what Confederation proposed to accomplish. Canada has population and territory sufficient to make a great nation in course

of time; but she wants what the Lower Provinces possess, an outlet to the sea. As the Lower Provinces now stand, they are comparatively weak and powerless; and the wealth, labour and industry which Canada possesses, go in a great measure to enrich such cities as New York, Boston and Portland. This must continue to be the case until the Intercolonial Railway, of which he had ever been an advocate, shall be built; and as soon as the Colonies were confederated, the construction of that work would undoubtedly commence. With regard to the question of defence, which was inseparable from the general subject, he was confident that when England saw we were self-reliant to a great extent, and capable of organizing a large military and naval force for mutual protection, and which union only would enable us to do, she would cheerfully come to our assistance, with all her vast power, in any difficulty that might arise. Canada had been accused of insincerity in her dealings with the Maritime Provinces, and this led to the formation of a strong prejudice against accepting the proposals of his Province for confederation; but he assured every one who listened to him, that Canada was unjustly accused, and that her ministers did not come there to urge them by undue means into the adoption of any scheme of union, but fairly to point out to them the enormous advantages which, in a commercial point of view, their merchants, traders and manufacturers would derive from having a market of four millions of people for the exchange of their several commodities, instead of being restricted to the small and scattered populations which now compose the Lower Provinces, where their industry is hampered by custom-house regulations different in each."

Hon. George Brown followed Mr. Cartier, reiterating with much effect his arguments reported so fully as delivered at Halifax.

Hon. A. T. Galt, Finance Minister of Canada, in answer to a call made upon him, reviewed the financial condition of the several Provinces, referred to the efforts that had been made in Canada to improve the communication between the St. Lawrence and the ocean, the large expenditure for the construction of railways, and to the advantages that were resulting, and must continue

to result from these expenditures. He referred to the relative taxation of the several Provinces: Nova Scotia $2.32 per head, Canada $2.50, New Brunswick $2.56. In answer to the objection that Canada sought the union to be relieved of her burdens, spoke of the Intercolonial Railway, of the benefit it would confer on the Maritime Provinces, whilst the expense under the proposed union must be borne principally by Canada, an arrangement entirely different from that which had been contemplated while the Provinces were separate. He then referred to the commercial advantages of a union, which would confer upon the Colonies benefits similar to those which have been enjoyed by the United States in consequence of their union, their free trade and uniform tariff. In framing the constitution for British America, the errors of the Republican Union were to be avoided. The rebellion which distracted that Union was, in some measure, caused by slavery, and to a very great extent, by what was known as State rights. Of course, the question of slavery could never be an element of discord with the united Provinces, and as regards "State rights," collision might be easily avoided in reference to that subject by clearly defining powers of the Central Government as totally distinct from the authority which should be vested in the Local Legislatures.

the

Hons. Mr. McCully and Dr. Tupper of Nova Scotia, Messrs. Palmer, Coles and Gray of Prince Edward Island, and Messrs. McDougall and McGee of Canada, with the Chairman, and Mr. Tilley, also spoke briefly on the occasion, supporting the views that had been expressed, and urging the adoption of the measure by the public.

Shortly afterwards the delegates presented their report to their respective Governments, and the Prince Edward Island Convention was at an end.

CHAPTER II.

Meeting of Delegates at Quebec, October 10, 1864-Reflections on the time, place and circumstances American war-Sittings with closed doorsReasons for-Voting by Provinces - Adoption of Federal instead of Legislative Union-Submission of Resolutions defining proposed Constitution-Discussion of do- Contrast of source of power in the proposed Coustitution and that of the United States-Policy of free trade-No distinction in political rights-Difficulties in representative and financial arrangements Electoral Divisions of Lower Canada-Representation by Population-Rule exceptional on entering Confederation-Absolute for subsequent guidance-Similarity to original provision in the American Constitution-Upper House, territorial and nominative-Provision for primary selection- Admission of North-West Territories and British Columbia-Adjustment of the financial arrangements-Direct taxation for general purposes unknown in Maritime Provinces-Crisis - SubCommittee of Finance Ministers-Report-Apportionment of powersCrown Lands and Minerals to Local Governments-Reasons for Judiciary-Court of Appeal-Uniformity of Laws-Intercolonial RailwayCrown Lands in Newfoundland-Exceptions for Prince Edward IslandExport duty on lumber in New Brunswick-Royalties in Nova ScotiaResolutions Financial Statement of the position of Canada as compared with the other Provinces--A.D. 1864.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Canadian Ministry, the Governor-General had addressed the several LieutenantGovernors of the Maritime Provinces, including Newfoundland, to send delegates to a Convention to be held at Quebec on the 10th October. The request had been responded to. The same gentlemen had been re-appointed, with the addition in New Brunswick of the Hon. Peter Mitchell, a member of the Legislative Council and of the Government, and the Hon. Charles Fisher, a prominent member of the Liberal party, twice Attorney-General in the Government of New Brunswick with Mr. Tilley and one of the oldest members of the House of Assembly; in Prince Edward Island, of the Hon. T. Heath Haviland, a Conservative, and the Hon. Edward Whelan, a Liberal, and editor of the "Charlottetown Examiner." In Newfoundland, the Hon. F. B. T. Carter, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the Hon. Ambrose Shea, had been appointed.

The Canadian Government steamer " Victoria" had been sent down to Pictou for the delegates. On the 5th October, Sir Richard

Graves McDonell and Lady McDonell, and the Nova Scotia delegates, embarked. On the 6th she called at Charlottetown for the Prince Edward Island delegates, and thence proceeded to Shediac for the New Brunswick delegates. On the 7th she bore away for Quebec. Many ladies were on board, members of the families of the gentlemen from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Every provision had been made for comfort. On Sunday evening, the 9th, she arrived at Quebec; and on Monday, the 10th October, 1864, at 11 a.m., in the Parliament House of old Canada, the Conference was opened.

The respective Provinces were represented as follows:

CANADA. Hon. Sir Etienne P. Taché, Premier, M.L.C.; Hon. John A. Macdonald, Attorney-General West, M.P.P.; Hon. George E. Cartier, Attorney-General East, M.P.P.; Hon. George Brown, President of the Executive Council, M.P.P.; Hon. Alex. T. Galt, Finance Minister, M.P.P.; Hon. Alex. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands, M.L.C.; Hon. William McDougall, Provincial Secretary, M.P.P.; Hon. Thomas D'Arcy, McGee, Minister of Agriculture, M.P.P.; Hon. Hector Langevin, Solicitor-General East, M.P.P.; Hon. J. Cockburn, Solicitor-General West, M.P.P. ; Hon. Oliver Mowat, Postmaster-General, M.P.P.; Hon. J. C. Chapais, Commissioner of Public Works, M.L.C.

NOVA SCOTIA. Hon. Chas. Tupper, Provincial Secretary, M.P.P.; Hon. W. A. Henry, Attorney-General, M,P.P.; Hon. R. B. Dickey, M.L.C.; Hon. Adams G. Archibald, M.P.P.; Hon. Jonathan McCully, M.L.C.

NEW BRUNSWICK.-Hon. Samuel L. Tilley, Provincial Secretary, M.P.P.; Hon. John M. Johnson, Attorney-General, M.P.P.; Hon. Edward B. Chandler, M.L.C.; Hon. John Hamilton Gray, M.P. P.; Hon. Peter Mitchell, M. L. C.; Hon. Charles Fisher, M.P.P.; M.P.P.; Hon. William H. Steves, M.L.C.

Newfoundland.—Hon. F. B. T. Carter, M.P.P., Speaker of the House of Assembly; Hon. Ambrose Shea, M.P.P.