CONFEDERATION;

OR,

THE POLITICAL AND PARLIAMENTARY

HISTORY OF CANADA,

FROM

THE CONFERENCE AT QUEBEC, IN OCTOBER, 1864,

TO THE

ADMISSION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, IN JULY, 1871.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

BY THE

HON. JOHN HAMILTON GRAY, D.C.L., M.P.

Umpire between Great Britain and the United States under the Treaty of Washington,
1857-1858.

H. M.'s Commissioner on the Tenant Question in Prince Edward's Island, 1860-1861.
Dominion Arbitrator between the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, under the British
North American Act, 1867.

Formerly Attorney-General, and Speaker of the House of Assembly in New Brunswick.
One of the Delegates to the Charlotte Town and Quebec Conventions, in 1864.
And Member for the City and County of Saint John, New Brunswick, from 1850 to 1872.

FIRST VOLUME.

TORONTO:

COPP, CLARK & CO., PRINTERS, KING STREET EAST.
1872.

Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, by JOHN HAMILTON Gray, D.C.L., M.P., in the

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary observations as to the Imperial Colonial Policy, from the time of

the American Revolution to the adoption of Free Trade- Progress of

opinion in England—Concurrent progress of opinion and political deve-

lopment in Canada and the Maritime Provinces-Lord Durham's mis-

sion - Intercolonial Trade-Intercolonial Railway - Frontier disputes

with the United States-Ashburton Treaty-Consequences- Intercolo-

nial negotiations respecting commercial union--Abortive-Galt's policy

on joining the cabinet in 1858-Imperial policy undecided-American

troubles in 1862-Trent affair-Effect on Imperial policy-Dead lock in

Canada-Brown joins the government in 1864--Ministerial explanations

Movements in the Maritime Provinces towards Legislative Union-

Charlottetown Convention Attendance of Canadian Ministers - Dis-

cussions - Halifax - Macdonald and Brown's speeches Saint John-

Cartier and Galt-A. D. 1776 to 1864.

-

----

CHAPTER II.

Meeting of Delegates at Quebec, October 10, 1864-Reflections on the time,

place and circumstances - American war-Sittings with closed doors-

Reasons for Voting by Provinces - Adoption of Federal instead of

Legislative Union-Submission of Resolutions defining proposed Consti-

tution-Discussion of do Contrast of source of power in the proposed

Constitution 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- Sub-