Examiner -- 1865-02-27 -- Page 02

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Generel Meade was present on the field all
day. but was not wounded. as was et first
reporte 1. Some of his staff had narrow es-
capes. Major Pease’s hurse was shot under
him.

The let brivade of the 2d Division of the
Fifth Corps is spoken of as havin: particu-
Jarly distinguished itself during the fight.
Brevet Maj.-Gen. Winthrop was its com-
mander. and had two horses shot under him

Brg General Irwin Gregy, commanding a
brigade of cavalry, was wounded in the ankle.
Gen. Davis was also wounded severely in the
shoulder. Major Lumaine of Gregg s stall
was badly wounded in the foot.
head of Gen. Warren's staff was wounded
in the band. Brevet Brg-Gen. Morrow,
commanding 3d Brigade, 3d Division, Fifth
Corps, was wounded ia the shoulder. Capt

Col. Bank-| the 4

7 i
Liberal and Censervative, had taken a greater |

would support the measure. But such a
Union is impossible ; Lower Canada will not
consent to a Legislative Union, We all
knew when Wolte conquered Canada the
{French Canadians were guaranteed their
religion, their language, and their laws and
customs, and they do not wish their valuable
| privil wes to be endangered by being united
ina Legislative Union with the Anglo-Britons,
The French Canadians are thoroughly mon-
archicl in their principles of Government,
and they have a great horror of Republican
Jnstitations. Wemust lay nside all thoughts
ola Legislative ( nion, ¥ we remain out of
vnfederacy, What will be our destiny ?
What will be tbz ros pects of the future
prosperity of a small Island, with only 80,000
jinhabitan’s, with an independent Govern-
jment vd a hostile tariff, when put in com-

Cowdray, Ass’t Adjt.-Gea. un Gen. Baxter's; pet'ion with four millions of their fellow
staf, was mortally wounded. Ovl. Tilden of|ountrymen, united under one Government

the 20ch Maine Vols., wounded in the leg.

About 150 prisoners were taken, wrong
whom was Col. Allen of the 24th N. C. Re-

and without s Custom-house, from the Atlan-
tic to the Pacific, lam happy to say that
the first article in the Quebec Report, relative

giment, forwerly an officer in the UJ. S. Re-| toa Confederate Union of all the British

gulars.

| North Amer’can Colonies, wag carried unani-

The correspondent capture j yesterday was! mously, with cheers, and not one solitary

Mr. Tremblay of the N. Y. Herald.
party of cavalry whicb captured him subse

The | yoice was raised in the Conference Chamber

-|in oppositioa to the principle. But now a

queatly came in contact with our men in aj change has come o'er the spirit of the dreams

slight skirmish, devog which the correspon
deat made his escape.

Col. Herring of the 18th Pa. Vols. wa
wounded it, the ankle.

TOWN MEETING
ON THE QUESTION OF

CONFEDERATION

Fepavary 10, 1965,
{ Hon. Mr. Meath Haciland’s Speech continued

-jof certain Island Delegates, who say there
j was no unsmimity in the Conference for the
s| first three or four days, until it was decided
i that the Lieutenant Governors of the various
| Provinees were to be appointed by the
Federal Government. I have no selfish object
to gratify in advocating the cause of Conted-
eration. We are told sume Delegates have
| been offered Governorships, Legislative Coun-
cillorships, Secretaryships, &c. As Tam not
fa member of the Government, I should stand
}2 very slight chance of being appointed a
| Lieutenant Governor, I could not qualify

The difSeuities with which the Canadians | for a Legislative Councillor, therefore my
bave had to contend among themselves are | only hope of promotion would be by appeal-

nething whatever to us,

the proposed Confederation be sound, ] care |

wet what may have induced the Statesmen
of Canada to endeayour to accomplish it. I
will, however, endeayour bricily t) shew
what these diffieulijes are, or rather have
been. They originated ia the Unjon between
Upper and Lower Canada. They arose from
a want of foresight on the part of British
statesmen. By a leading provision of the
Union Act, the two Provinces were entitled
to equal representation jn the Legislature ;
the namber of representatives for eac! being
65. Now this fixed equality of representa-
tion in Parliament was a very great error.
All the best lands are in Upper Canada; and,
consequemtiy, the inerease in population in
that Province has far exceeded that of the
Lower Province. And not only does Upper
Capada exceed Lower Canada in population
and the quality of her lands, but she zreatly
exceeds her a)sv in the extent of her territory
and in wealth. The excess of the population
of the Upper Province over that of the Lower
i6 some 35 000. and of the entire revenue
she paid three-fourths; and yet, owing to
the Lower Province haying the same number
wt represeatatiyes in the Legislature as the
Upper Province, when in any sersivn of
Parliament, the apprepriations for ]ocal in-
provements and other purposes in each came

If the principles of | ing to the people of this Colony to elect me

asone of the fivemembers to the Federal
| louse of Commons.
| This question is the most important, the
| most absorbing that has ever been mooted
_by Colonists since the days of the American
| Revolution. As many speakers are waiting
j to express their opinions upon this great
jsubject, I will proceed at once to make a
| few hurried observations upon some of the
| leading features ot the Quebec Report, which
|Report J am tappy to say meets with the
‘approval and cammendation of Mr. Card-
( well, our Colonial Minister, with the excep-
| tion of the paragraphs restricting the number
| of Legislative Councillors, and granting the
| prerogative of pardon to the Lieutenant
Governors. A great out-cry has lk eu raised
,in seme of eur local newspapers against
those Delegates who signed the Report on a
Sunday. 4 plead guilty to the charge of
having affixed my name to it on a Sunday,
as | had ne ether opportunity of signing it,
jand am mow prepared to receive the first
) stone that may be thrown by any individual
| who has never committed a greater breach of
| propriety 8 the Sabbath.
| The Legistatice Council is to be construct-
ved by havimg 76life members, divided in the
following proportions : 24 members for Upper
Canada, 24 members for Lower Canada, and

to be made, the Lewer lrovinee obtmined as } 28 members ‘for the Maritime Col mies, to be
large a share of “ the spoils” as the Upper subdivided so that Nova Scotia and New

Province.
Proviace wes thus subjected hed—in propor-
tion fe hor greater material progress in all
respects over that ef the Lewer Province—
become greater and mre irritating from

The injustice to which the L pper

Brunswick shal. each have 10 members, and
Newfoundland and this Island each 4 mem-
| bers. 1 know there are many present here
to night who vbjeet to this principle of
| division, and who contend that each Colony,

year to year; and at length she came to the | whether large or small, should have an equal
determination that she would no Jonver sub- / umber ot Legilative Councillors, according
mit to it. She resolved that either r-presen- |te the Constitation of the United States of

tation in the Legislature should be based on
population, or that, should she net be abile to
uccomplish that reform, she would seck, with
al! her energies, ‘to obtain a repeal of the
Union Act. With this view they sent the

Jien. George Brown to Parhament, and his |

first endeavours were to be directed to the
effecting of such a change in the representa-
tion as would place it on the basis of popula-
tion. J
representation, the accomplishment of this
objeat was a difficulty which mo means could
be found te overcome: awé then it a) peared
to the leading men that the only mode by
which they could hope to extricate the
country from the mest inauspicious josition
in which it was placed, was cither to repeal
the Uniun Act ef 1840, or to form one Grand
Federation of the whole ot British America.
They bad pledged themselves to seporation.
The Conference of the Delegates of the Mari-
tume Previnees being hc ld here seeme:| likely
te afford them a most desirable opportunity
fer putting into operation such machinery
us might be needful for the effecting of so
eat an object; and they came down to
sharlottetown accordingly.” They came here
with truly patrioticintentions. Their abject
was te form ene Grand Federation under the
Pleg of @ld England: a Federation with the
eame laws, with the same commercii! regu-
tatious, and with one Tariff and one Custom-
house, instead of six or seven, as if these
British Provinces,.instead of being, as they
are, only so many members of one great
national family, with common interests, were
so many different nationalities, al) jealous
ape of another, aad each seeking to benefit
iteelf at the expense of the others. It was
unjust te say they came down to Charlotte-
town, influenced solely by selfish motives.
Nu, they were not actuated by merely selfish
motives. I give them credit for more patriot-
ism, @ \patriotions which includes the whole
of British America, and which urges them
te seek a Union fur the common well-being
and protection of the several peoples, and
for the furtherance of the best interests of
each and all of these Provinces. I know
that it is said at the East Point, and, indeed,
an every other quarter of the Island, that the
Report of the Conference is the work of the
Canadian Government. But this I can fully
disprove. At the very commencement of the
discussion of the great question by the Con-
vention of Delegates, we agreed that Upper
anada should have one vote, Lower Canada
one vote, Nova Scotia one vote, New Bruns-
wick one vote, P. E. Island, and Newfound-
land cne vote. The number of our Di legates
was seven, Uur one vote, therefore, must
have, on all oceasions, been that of a majority
consisting of four or more of our number:
You will also see that, voting accor ling to
this arrangemertit, it was impossible for
Canada to carry any Resolution, how much
soever she might be bent upon it, without
the concurrence of at least two of the Mari-
time Provinces. Therefore, however unjust
our anti-unionists may think any of the
terms of the Report agreed to by the Con-
vention, they act most unfairly in pouring
their vials of wrath upon the heads of the
Canadian Delegates, as if they by their own
votes, wig paw by those of the Maritime
Delegates, had carried the resolutions fixing
the obnoxious terms. The Maritine Pro-
winees had the majority, and nothing was
agreed iv without their consent. It is also
eaid by our anti-unionists that the Cmadian
statesmen, who were Delegates to the Con-
vention, were tow wily, too astute for our
Delegates; that they possessed too much
save for them ; that on any point, when they
wished it, they were able to deccive and
beguile them: and thas, in fact, as respects
our finaaeial interests and representation in
the Federal Parliament, they have coinpletely
outwitted and entrapped them. To this
estimate of the political talents, foresight
and general abilities of the stateamen of
Canada, as so greatly superior tw that ef the
fumanost publie men of the Maritime Pro-
vinces, 1 think many amongst us anti-
U niopiens, a8 well as Unionists, must strongly
Gemur. What! will it be admitiod that
Til hy ae Financier, Tepper, Archibald,
MeCully, New Brunswick Gray, Fisher, and
I say, excepting myself, the Prince Edward
Jaland ‘Delegates, bed not sufficient talent
and i ity tochold their own when brought
face to face with the steteanen of Canada?
Will George Coles, the champion of Respon-
stide Government and the bowated originator
of Free Education‘in:this Island. and Fdward
Palmer, the old and tried leadey of Conser-
gedism, under whew ' — sensed for so
seeny years as a political Lieutenant cop fess
that Gait, taal ag MeDonaid gnd Cartier

' axbidised an undue and mesmeric “nfluence

over them, whilst in Canada, which made

them speek in favor of dvufederstiun at

Ottewa aad Toronto, whilst in t).¢ir con-

scienses they intended to it in every
and form #0 sow as
urns 1 4 there are

apponents Qnebee Report who say,

@ Legielative Union was adyocate:|, they

Qwing to the existing equality of
5 i! |

.

:
ey retiuned to

| America; but bear in mind that it is much
exsier to pull down a political edifice than to
build or constrict one. I was an advocate
for equality of representation in the Upper
Chamber, so that this Island should 8
the same weight and influence as Rhode
Island, in the neighbouring Republic; but I
was over-ruled in the Conference, not by
Canada alone, but by the whole of the
Maritime Colones. Even asit is, Newfound-
land was very displeased at not being allowed
* greater number of members in the Legis-
lative Council than we are entitled to, upon
the ground of her population exceeding ours
by 50,000. We shall find it very difficult to
oppose going into the Union, if all our sister
Colonies consent to do so, particularly as the
Imperial Government has approved of the
Report, with only two exceptions, namely,
the fixed number of members in the Upper
Chamber, and the power of pardon being
vested in the Lieutenant Governors. "I think
the Imperial Government was right in ob-
jecting to the fixed number in the Legislative
Council, for if a conflict took place between
| the two branches of the Legis!ature there
would be no remedy for the evil but a revo-
| lution ; and as to the question of the pre-
rogative of pardon, I imagine every Delegate
will at once give way and consent to carry
/out the suggestion of Mr. Cardwell. In the
| Conference, | was an advocate for an Elective
| Legislative Council, but the rest of the Con-
ference, with the exception ot Messiers Coles
, and McDonald, were opposed to the principle.
| Anti-Unionists oppose the terms of the Que-
| bee Report, because, they say, no public
| works can be constructed in this Colony out
| of the revenues of the General Government;
jand that all our taxes will be drained from
/us to Canada in hard specie. I should like
any Anti-Unionist to point out the clause in
| the Report which prohibits or prevents pub-
lie works being built in this Is!and by the
General Government, provided they are fur
| generaladvantage. Why should nota Canal
| be cut from Savage Harbor to the Hillsborough
| River; it would be a great advantage to the
ishipping in the Gulf to avail themselves
|of it, instead of being obliged to sail round
| either Cape North or the East Point to come
| to Charlottetown and ether ports on the South
side of the Gulf? Gentiemen may laugh at
ithe idea of this Canal being constracted.
| But members of our House of Assembly
laughed several years ago when Mr. Beer
| introduced a Bill to encourage Stéam Navi-
| gation on the Hillsborough River; and in the
| present day it is looked upon, as a matter of
course, to have a Steamer running on Market
|days to Mount Stewart Bridge. George
|Stephenson was laughed at when he first
jattempted his Railway from Liverpool to
Manchester; and now we have 2.500 miles of
Railway in British America alone. Steam
/navigation between England and America,
| was proved by the scientific Dr. Lardner to
| be an impossibility, and yet England sénds
_ her mails by steam across the Atlantic, every
| week, by a line. of Steamers, whose arrival
can be caleulated to the day, if not to the
jhour. We ail recollect when Mr, Tremain’s
| first Team-boat, across our Ferry, was thought
a great step in advan‘e; now we havea
{Steam Ferry beat plying every half hour.
The growth of Colonies is different from that
of old Conntrice ; the Colonies progress as
| fast as giante, and old Countries as slow as
dwarfs ; a Colony is a child to-day and a
|man to-morrow. The Report provides for
|general Bankruptey and Insolvency Laws.
liow many mercantile men have been para-
\lyzed and ruined in our midet for the want
|of a proper system of such laws?
({iion. George Beer,—we can havea Bank-
ruptey Law of our own.]

That is impossible, we cannot pass a law
to bind Nova Scotia, neither can New Bruns-
| wick enact a statute to bind us. 1 wanta
| Gankruptey Law, passed by the Federal

legislature, binding throughout the length
jand breadth of British Nerth America, so
that every honest but unfortunate trader
may ik: enabled to obtain relief, and to com-
|mence the world afresh, without having a

ee

syme unavoidable casuadty in his business or
twade. Again, as a lawyer, I should like to
| See Gur Statute Law similar in all the Celo-
nies: at present they are conflicting; in one
Colony you may arrest fer debt, iu anether
you cannet; in one Colony you may arvest
the hody-@f the debtor in exeeution, and in
another you can only levy on his peopercy.
Instead of diversity, i. should like uniformity.
| By the Report, the Federal and Local Legis
latures are to have a concurrent jurisdiction
in all matters relating to Agriculture and
sr say X therefore, if the Pederad Go-
vernment does not properly encourage im-
‘migration into this! Island. we have the
power in our hands, it we think we are nut
Anereasing a8 fast as our Sister Colonies, aad
that ow Jands are remaining too long an-
settled and uncultivated, and can vote money

—

| British Colonies together, both politically and

millstone of debts, which ne cannat pay,hang- | tween them, and thereby become the voting
ing about his neck fur life, in consequence of | power in the Legislature and the Govern-

oa

which would have to

interest in the matter of immigration, we | case, in the homes of the Island, in paving |

should, in all probability, have been entitled |

to that great bone of contention the sixth

our militia — fathers, sons, brothers and
lovers—drafted away to shed their blood und

be endured, in euch | truly patriotic part. They will cheerfully

go up to Canada; and be found amengst the
foremost in the battle, nobly and bravely
contending for the preservation of the rights, |

: " ‘ ‘ ae, . i he 2e i |
member in the House of Commons at Ottawa, | lay down their lives in defence of the Cana-| the privileges, and the freedom of the united |

This question of representation in the House |

das. All the noble sentiments of the lovers:

peoples of British America. With their

of Commons has been pretty well ventilated | of freedom-—all attachment to the principles: ithe “ with oe ae, they “pe do oucogm:
‘through the papers and at public meetings; | of our glorious Constitution, and desire for }ful oe cl ge oppression
and two of our Island Delegates, at yarious | its preservation—all ties of common interesta| and, thoug ogee! nobly fall, yet —
' mectings, have pronounced against entering | and common ancestry —uall these entirely out| of them, | reer wil _ to gene ~—— -
‘the Confederation with so smaji a representa- | of the question, however, and whoily disre-| from the bloody stri e, to re argh their
tion as five members, Upper Canada, Nova | garded, do these men, I ask, altogether for-| Island homes rejoicing, and around their own

Scotia and New Brunswick are in favor of
the principle of representation by population;
| and, in fact, it is useless to expect or imagine
| that Upper Canada will surrender the prin-
‘eiple for which she bas been struggling and
| contending so many long years. ‘The appeal
‘against the principle of representation by
nopulation can oy be made to the Imperial

i and I think that body wiil be
more likely to confirm the views of the great
majority of the Conference than to reverse
their decision upon the subject. I believe
all the Delegates at the Quebee Conference
were fully aware. before they went to Canada,
that the House of Commons for the Federal
Legislature was to be constructed upon the

rinciple of representation by population,

Ve went there with our eyes open. We
knew the want of that principle was the
chief cause of the difficulties between the
two Canadas. The same principle is carried
out in the construction of the Hquse of Re-
presentatives under the American Constitu-
tion. But the anti-Unioniats who are so
very anxious for the American principle in
the formation of the Upper Branch of the
Legislature, by a singular inconsistency, are
opposed to applying the American principle
| of representation by population to the House
of Commons, | contend that the Quebec
Report gives us more members, in proportion
to our population, than England allowed to
Scotland at the Union in 1707, or than Eng-
land yielded to Ireland at the Union in 1801.
In 1707 the population of England was
6,000,000, with 513 members in her House
of Commons, Scotland’s population was
1,000,000, and she was only allowed 45
members on entering the Union, whereas
she was entitled to 90 members if the

wrinciple of representation 7 population
fad been granted to her. n 1801, the

population of Great Britain was 8,000,-
000, and the number of Members 553.
The population of Ireland at the same
time was 5,000,000, yet Ireland was only
| permitted 100 Members in the United House
| of Commons, 80 that the liberal principles of
| representation by population was entirely
ignored. Next comes the question of the ap-
pointment of Governors by the Confederate
Government for the seyeral Colonies. 1 must
confess I was in favor of this part of the Re-
port at the Conference, and am still of the
same opinion. Surely as eligible men for
Governors can be found in the Colonies, as in
Great Britain. We have men as able, as
honest, and more experienced in Colonial
matters, and in the every day working of
Colonial Governments, than the average of
Governors sent from Downing Street to rule
over us. I have heard it rumored that the
Quebee Conference was nearly coming to a
dead lock until the third day of its sitting,
when the question of Colonial Governors was
settled to the satisfaction of the ambitious
members of the Conference. and that, sub-
sequently, all was peace and harmony, and
everything went assmooth as a marriage bell.
i never heard the subject of the appointment
mooted at the Conference until the 20th of
October, after we had been in Session ten
days, and then the question was introduced
and carried the same sitting without a dis-
sentinent voice.

Some of the opponcnts of Confederation
object to the expense of the Local Legislatures.
But the expenses under Confederation, need
not be half as great as heretofore; we could
dispense with a local Legislative Council, and
the House of Assembly safely invested with
| the powers of local legislation for education,
roads, bridges, Acts of Incorporation of com-
| panies and other matters within this juris-
| diction, as their statutes would be reviewed
_by the General Government. I am aware

(that Anti-Unionists are very indignant at |

| the idea of the Acts of our Local Legislature
being submitted to the Federal Government
for approval; but surely they forget that our
Acts are all sent across the Atlantic to Down-
ing Street; and whether they shall go into
| operation or not, often depends apon the word
or the opinionof a Clerk in the Colonial
Office.

It is said by Anti-Umionists that the Inter-
colunial Bailway, if built by the Confedera-
| tion, will be the erection of a high way by
which Canada will send her oats to Halifax,
and thereby injure the Agricultura] interests
of this Island. ‘There would be some reason
in these parties opposing the Union if our
staying out would prevent theRailroads being
built. But ifthe other Colonies enter the
Confederation, the Railroad will be construct-
ed in spite of all the opposition we can bring
to bear against it. 1 do not believe it will
pete injurious to the interests of our farmers,

out quite the reverse. If the United States
persists in repealing the Reciprocity Treaty,
we must find other markets for our agricul-
tural produce; we must ship le rge quantities
vf oats to England in our new vessels, and
what we cannot find shipping for here, will
find a market at Halifax, which will soon be-
come the Empire City of British America,
and all our grain will concentrate there for
exportation to Europe. Some are jealous of
the probab!e destiny of Halifax, if she Leecomes
the terminus of the great Intercolonial Rail-
way, but lam not. I sincerely hope she wiil
grow rapidly in population and wealth, for
the more mouths she will have to feed, the
hetter for us as an agricultural country.
We need not fear Canadian vats entering
into competition with ours, when they can
realize from 38 to 40 cents a bushel for them
at home, even in the winter season ; and at
any rate our oats are much heavier than
theirs, and when offered in competicion, up-
on equal terms, will always command a higher
price inany market. Our farmers, I say
again, need not be afraid of the great Rail-
road, even ifit should bring the grain of
Canada to St. John and Halitax; it is impos-
sible to foretell the great benefits and ad-
vantages they will reap from the construction
of that public work, which is to unite the

commercially, with an iron band so strong
that it will be impossible for any nation to
sever it. Another bug-a-boo, that has been
raised to frighten us, is the ruinous expense
of opening up the great. West and widening
the fosks of the Canadian Canals. Surel

this is jumping before coming to the style;
but on reference to the report, it will be seen
that these undertaxings are not to be prose-
cuted until the state of the finances will per-
mit. The opponenis of Union have se d
in their own minds that Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick are determined to con-
spire together and ruin us by taxation, if we
join them. We were once called the garden
of Canada, and, I believe, she will receive us
asa pet child, and will do all in her power
to advance our interests and to give life and
energy to our a our commerce, and
our fisheries. We know that the soldiers of
Montealm were fed with rations of Salmon
caught off our own St. Peter’s. Mr. Cartier,
the descendant of the great discoverer of Ca-
nada, is too fund of the Maritime element to
consent to any legislation that would tend to
injure usasa people. The rivairy and jen-
lously will be hetween Upper and Lower Ca-
nada; they are antagonistic in religion, race,
and interests, and, 1 believe, the Maritime
Provinces will bold the balance wheel be-

ment of the Confederacy.

Of all the objections which have been
raised to the Confederation Scheme, by our
anti-Unionists, those based apon our liabi-
lity to be called upon for our quota of men
and money for the defence of Canada, ap-
pear to me to be the most flimsy. If fortti-
cations be required for the defence of Canada,
it will be payee ne A just to ea!l upon the peo-
ple of P. EB. Island to pay their proportion,
according to population, of the cost of con-
structing those fortifications ; aud equally so
would it be to call upon them, for the same
purpose—the defence of (anada—fcr their
quota of men, on the eame scale—that of
pulation ; for both would be for the defence
of our commen country, Our anti-Unionists,
who base their objections to Confederation

yet or disregard the fact that the safety of}
Canadz, or of Nova Scotia, or of New Brun-
swick, is the safety of Prince Edward Is-
land; or that, if Canada should fal) under
the power of American invaders, we should
fall with her? Or, is their feeling of lo7zal-
ty and attachment to the Mother Country 80
weak, that, in case of even only a warlike
demonstration on the part of the United
States, against British America—not actual
invasion of our territories—they would be
ready basely to submit and seek refuge under
the Stars and Stripes? An hon. gentleman,
one of our Delegates, said the other evening,
in his speech upon this great quesition, at
the Temperance Hall, that, in case the
United States of America should make a
warlike demonstration against the British
American Colonies, our wisest course would
be to succumb to them at once; for all the
resistance we would be able to make would
be in vain. A sentiment such as this can-
not, I trust, find much acceptance among
the loyal, brave, and patriotic peoples ot
British America. No! Rather inspirited by
the remembrance of the glorious deeds of
their ancestors, they will be ready and eager,
should the dire necessity arrive, to encount-
er the invaders of our svil—how imposing
soever their aspect—how numerous, well ap-
pointed, and disciplined soever they may be
—and bravely, even cheerfully, to shed their
blood, and lay down their lives for the pre-
servation of their rich inheritance, the price-
less treasure of British freedom. No! Never,
I trust, will even the small population of
Prince Edward Island listen to such base,
such cowardly, such ungenerous sugyestions
Let us rather refer to the spirit-inspiring re-
cords of history—let us there read-and learn
what great deeds have been"performed, what
great victories have been obtained, what
formidable invasions have been cepelled by

hearths to sing the song of victory.

What 1 desire is to see the peoples of
British North America elevated to a common
level with their brethren at home ; for when
they shall once have attained to that posi-
tion, 1 am confident they will be fuund to
have the ability to maintain it; and I
shall then have a country of my own, poss-
essing all the rights of citizenship of the
great empire of which we are a part—a
vountry of which I shall feel [ have every
reason to be proud. That the contest between
the United States, on the one hand, and Great
Britain ard the British American Provinces,
on the other, will not, if 1¢ take place—as
there is but too much reason to believe it
will—be carried on upon the soil of Prince
Edward Island, ought, however, to be a
matter of the greatest thankfulness to us all ;
and, for which, rich and poor, high and low,
married and unmarried, ought to go upon
their knees and fervently to thank the
Almighty. Much as we read in the papers
concerning the suicidal war at present being
carried on in the United States, we can form
but feeble conceptions of the blood, the
havoc, the ravages, the devastation, and
cruelties which mark the tracks of the con-
tending armies : and never, I trust, will such
awful and heart-rendering pictures as*they
present be realized upon the soil of Prince
Kdward Island.

With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I
conclude; and shal] be happy to resign my
position, as a speaker, in favour of any other
individual who may wish to address the
meeting on tae momentuous question con-
cerning which I have so freely spoken, and
for the discussion of which we have assembled
this evening. Before I sit down, however, I
feel it right to say t. at | am very sensible o!
the patient, courteous, aud impartial hearing

simply a few hundreds of brave apd patri-
| Otic men, inspired by a love of freedom and
detestation cf tyranny and oppression, even
when opposed to all the warlike pride, pomp,
and confidence of apparently overwhelming
numbers. Rather than listen to the coun-
sels of those who would advise cowardly sub-
mission to the enemy of Britain, let us, with
stout and true hearts, held ourselves pre-
pared nobly and loyally to perform our part
in the defence of our common country,

the borders of Canada. of New Brunswick,
or elsewhere. Should our Republican neigh-
bors attempt to subjugate these Provinces to
their rule, if the peoples thereof are true to

sires have descended to their sons—they will
be foand able to delepd every inch of their
territories. If they possess the spirit which
animated their sires, which animated the
Greeks of old, they will not yield their soil
to the invaders, nor allow the sanctity of their
homes to be desecrated by the presence and
ruthless deeds of a ruffan soldiery, I do
uot say that these Provinces can, at present,
raise such an army as would enable
them, were they so disposed, to become sue-
cess'ul invaders of another country; but I du
say, that they can raise such bodies of troops,
fur their defence, as, if animated-—as I am
convinced they would be—by the yalorous
spirit of vie races from which they are de-
scended, would render them invincible in re-
pell.ng foreign invasion.

| Should this threatened invasion of British
| America take place~should it commence by
an invasion of Canadian terriory, We, iD
Prince Edward Island, will not, it is true, be
| exposed to the awful calamities, the dreadful

borrors,and fearful ravages which it will bring | Prince Edward Island should enter inte the Union. |

upon the Cenadians But shall we lend them
ho assistance ?

| their miseries?

whether the assault may be commenced on)

themselves—if the spirit and blood of the!

which bas been accorded me, by this very
| !arge and most respectable meeting, notwith-
| standing that the majority are—so at least
| 1 believe—opposed to the views and senti-
| ments which | entertain with respect to the
subject of my remarks. For the very fair and
courteoas hearing which they have given me,
L, therefore, beg they will be pleased to
accept my most respectful acknowledgments.

The honorable and learned gentleman was
repeatedly cheered during the delivery of
| his Speech, and, at its cunclusion, he was
greeted with a very hearty round of applause.

[A letter from the Hon. Mr. Whelan to
his Worship the Mayor, accounting for, and

japologising fur bis absence, and containing

| briefly his views on the question of Confede-
| ration, was then read, and received with
many manifestions of respect and applause.
The letter appeared in our last No. in the
summary account of the proceedings of the
Meeting.
speaker, and his speech is as follows: — ]

Hon. Mr. COLES.—Mr. Chairman, two gen-
| tflemen having new spoken in favor of Union, on
the basis of the Report of the Quebee Couference
—-the Hon. Mr. Haviland in person and the Hon.
Mr. Whelan by letter—I presume I may now
fairly claim to be heard on the other side of the
question. I must say that I quite agree with
much that has just been said by the Hon. Mr.
Haviland; and 1 may alse observe that there wes
a general agreement between bis views and my
own, a8 expressed during the sitting of the Con-
vention in Canada ; but. perhaps, be is uot disposed

The Hon. Mr. Coles was the next!

and most beneficially extended? And have not
our farmers been greatly and wust materially |
benefited by the extension of our trade? More)
wealthy men in their station of life may be found |
in some other countries; but a more contented,
intelligent, aud respeetable class of men, than are |
our own well-to-do farmers, are not, I firmly be-
lieve, to-be found in any couutry ; and, as their
faithin] friend and representative, I cannot, I will
uot, consent to any scheme of Union with the
rest of the British North American Provinces
which would be so fatally prejudicial to their in-|
terests as, [am convineed, such a Union would
be, if based upon the terms laid down in the Re-
port of the Quebee Conference. And not only,
as respects trade and agriculture, have we wade
great and rapid progress, but the learning among
the mass of the people under our Free Educational
System, has been such as, I believe, has never
been surpassed in any other country; and, as
trained under it, the youth of this Isiand, at
this day, cannot be excelled by those ot
similar standing in society, in any other
country, either old or new, in the world.
Politically also, eur progress, under Self Go-
vernment, bas upon the whole, been highly bene-
ficial, honorable, and satisfactory to the coun-
try. The machinery of the system may _per-
haps, occasioually get a little out of Lae fh it
may, at times, sail to work quite as swouthly and
evenly, as some among us could wish; but what-
ever improvements may be required in it towards
rendering it more certain aud beneficial in its
operations, let it be remembered we have itin our
own power to make them, so long as we shall con-
tinue in our present separate and independent
position. That power however would be taker
trom us the moment we became a member of the
coutemplated Colonial Confederation; and we
should, theneefurth, be nothing but an appendage
to Canada: Our Constitution would be swamped
and our independence forever gone. We are now
a free and tidependent people, part and parcel of
an empire, it net absolutely the greatest, certain-
ly inferior to no other in the world; and, as part
and pareel of that empire we are entitled to claim
its protection, and to participate in all the edvan-
tages, which, in any other portion of it, are enjoy-
ed by any Community of British subjects. What-
ever else we may luck, we have freedom vo the
fullest extent that it can be desirable. We have
freedom of thought, of speech, and of public dis-
cussion. England has not more than this. What
more then can we want as a peonle? Are we
dissatisfied? do we undervalue all the blessings
which, as a prosperous aud free people. under a
Constitution and Government of our own, we en-
joy, because we are not avatiua? The aspiration
of the Hon. Mr. Haviland, he has told us, is to
have a nation of his own. Now, for my own part,
1am quite as well satisfied—and so, I believe,
are the vast majority of the people of Prince Ed
ward Island—to remain as we are, under the
shelter and protection of the glorious old Flag ot
England, without being subjected to enormous
taxation, as we would be—not, indeed, as “a
| nation’? but simply as a petty portion of a Federa-
tion of Provinces, in the Legislature of which
our representative voice would have no weight
or influence whatever, when raised on behalf of
our own separate interests. We are certainly only
a small Colony ; but, as such, in our present iselat-
ed and independent position, we are bet subject
to taxation, either on account of an eXpensive
system of national government, or for the support
of a national navy orarmy, or for the erection of
fortifications and other works fur national de-
tence. But were weto enter the contemplated
Confederation, on the terme laid down for our ac-
ceptance in the Report of the Quebee Conference
—to heavy taxation.on all these accounts, and to
many other disadvantages, without any fair or
adequate equivalent, we would at once subject
ourselves. That such would be the case with us,
in the event of our entering the Union is now noi
only openly declared, but the necessity and jus-
tice of our being soare stoutly maintained by our
leading Unionists, as well as for our share of the
$200,000 which Mr. Gray saysare to be laid out
on the defences af New Brunswick, altbough not
one word was said upon the subject during the
sitting of the Conference,
Besides the objections, Sir, which IT have already
stated, I advanced at the Conference Board to
the terms on which it is proposed that we shall
enter jnto the contemplated Confederation, ]
have, since, seen further cause to be still more
strongly opposed to the proposition—and that is
jen account of the unfairness practised by the
Canadians with respect to the Report after its
having been finally revised, corrected, and signed

i

to adhere as strenuously to these views in which
jour sentiments at that time concurred as I am.
| The only two reasons especially adduced by him, as
' those by which he is influenced in his desire that

| we that, in the event of het deing so, he would have

Shall we in a manner stand | a ua‘ien of his own and that for the whole Union
still, the unfeeling passive spectaturs of there y.uld be but one code of Laws, imstead! p,
Shall we, because it is our | of

diferent ones, as is now the case, for

f rears merate ¢ oS os - .
| good fortune not to baye to defend our own) the several seperate and distinct Povinces. He

hearthstones, or to fight at our own doors, to
prevent the plundering of our property, the |
| burning of our dwellings, the murder and—!
| Worse than murder—the violation of our
| wives, Our daughiers, and our sisters—shall |
we, I say, because we are happily exempt
from ull the horrors of war ourse!ves, in she
spirit of the most Lase, the most cowardly
| selfishness, rejoice in our exemption from
| these calamities, and at the same time,
| reluse to aid our brethren who are exposed |
to them? The mao who would counsel such
| conduct—the man who would consent to act
| 80 unpatriotic, so cowardly a part, is wholly
unworthy of his birth-right as a British
subject. Were we, in the event of an invasion
of Canada by the armies of the United States, |
to remuin, as It were, passive spectators of the
calamities and horrors which the Canadians |

the finger of universal scorn would be pointed |
at us, and the records of history would be |
memorials to our lasting disgruce. But no! |
We will never act so ungenerous, so dastardly
a part. We will remember what history |
informs us a few brave, loyal, and patriotic |
men can accomplish, even when opposed to
the most fearful odds; and, shoulder to.
shoulder with our brethren of Canada, Nova,
Scotia, and New Brunswick, in the day of |
danger and conflict, we will emulate the.

, tection of their homes and the preservation

on these grvands, are labouring to preseat to | Island

spirit and the deede of those who, of old,
bravely and successfylly fought for the pro- |
of their freedom. Let us remember and be
inspirited by the records of the glorious!
triumphs of the little States of Greece in the
cause of freedom. In those records, we read
how bravely and successfully the Athenians,
with only about 10,000 men opposed the in-
vasion of Attica, by the generals of Darius,
king of Persia, at the head of one hundred
and twinty thousand men. Again, we find
there, how with equal bravery and success,
when, ten years afterwards, Xerxes, the son
and successor of Darius upon the Persian
throne, invaded Greece, leading on, for bis}
purposed conquest, an army which amounted
to upwards ot two millions of nten, he was
bravely withstood, and successfully repelled
by @ handful of Athenian and Spartan troops,
bot amounting to more than eleven thousand
two hundred men, commanded by the Athe-
nian general, Themistocles; and, in those
records, we also read the ingpiriting relation
of the death of Leonidas and his three
huodred Spartans, at the Straits uf Lhermo-
pyla, in their glorious attempt to cheek the
por of the invaders of their country.

he jealousies which subsisted between the
rival States of Athens and Sparta were very
great ; but we find that, in the time of their
common danger, they forgot their animosities,
and united their powers for the proteetion of
theic common liberties and freedom. We
also find that, when the army of Darius in-
vaded Attica, the Platawans, although hun-
dreds of miles distant from the scene of
danger, nobly and generously sent one
thousand soidiers, to assist their Athenian
brethren ; and so, | trust —when the hour of
trial shall arrive—wi'l the peuple of Prince
Edweid Island assist the Canadians to resist
the invasion of the common enemy. As to
the numbers of their inhabitants and the
extent of their territories, the States of
Athens and Sparta were both comparatively
insigoificant powers; yet these States, with
very little assistance from the inferior re-
publics, were not only able to resist, but
even to bafile and defeat all the attempts of
the Persian monarch upon their liberties;
affording a memorable instance uf what acts
ot heroism may be performed by men anima-
ted by a love of freedom wad tlie ivstitutions
of their country

The courage, the pateictisa, the bonds of
nnion among the peeple of these Provinces.
will not, in the day of danger and trial, |
confidently trust. be found interior to those
of the hervie Greeians of whom [ have just
spoken ; and our own people, scorning the
counsel of those who are unworthy of their
birthright as Britieh subjects, will, | proudly
hope, be found as ready and willing to assist
their Srethren of Canada, in their hour of
need, as were the Plataans to assist their
brethren of Athens against the invading
army of Persia. Yes: when the dark days
of Canada come, the sons of Prinee Edward
» will not * sit down by the waters of

for the punpose of encouraging emigranis to

ae oe

sts ad

the country the most
the etl the

Dr ig.

tne dar atendind fos = 2 oe

and weep,”’ Their, in those days,
ill be a nobk ore spirited, a wor

wishes to build up a nation for himself; be

longs for a new stste of political existenee in a

Federal Union of these Provinces, in order, no
doubt, that he may obtzin a larger field for his

| ambition; but, for my part, a8 a native of little |

Prince Edward Island, I shull be perfeetly well
satisfied if we are allowed inerely te remain
precisely as we are under the protection of Great
Rritain. We have a Coustitution, unsurpassed,
unequalled by that of any other in the world. We
have not only full coutrol over our own i7Danees ;
but, with the exception of the Lieutenant Gev-
ernor, the people have the xe to select every
public officer from one end of the Island to the
other. The Lieut. Governor, it is true, is ap-
pointed by the Imperial Government; but, be it
remembered that, whilst so appointed, his salary
is also paid by the Iinperial Government. We
are, in our present position, as tree as any people
upon the face of the globe. We bave—what they
have not in Great Brtain—universal suffrage ;

would have to endure in consequence of it, and we have in fact greater power over those |

who manage our affairs than is possessed by the
people of the Mother Country. 1 believe that the
existing colanial system, as it respects Prince
Edward Island, is all that can be reasonably de-
sired; and, therefore, I do not wisk to see it
changed on the terms proposed. In their desire
for the formativn of the propesed Confederation,
the leading men of Canada are undoubtedly in-
fluenced by many good and weighty reasons. To
the Cauadians, both internally and externally, it
would certainly be highly beneficial and advauta-
geous. The advantages also, both immediate and
prospective, which would be derived from it, by
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, asd Newfoundland,
on their entering into it on the terms proposed to

| them, are so obvious that 1 am potat all surprised |

that many of the leading public men in these Pro-
vinces are zealous aud cuergetic iu their advocacy
of the measure.

But how advantageous soever it may be
admitted it would be to the other Provinces

1

tend, far syperior to that which we would beve to | to rearrange the whole representative seale ;

accept in lieu of it, should we consent to enter
into the Confederotjon on the terms laid down
for our acveptguge in the Report of the Conven-
tion. We fought long and strenuously for the ex-
tinction of the old cloge and oligarchical system of
goverument which was zo lung maintained in the
Islaud, to the repression, not only of the hovest
aud honourable aspirations of many for official
positions of trust and honor in oyr Jittle state, but
to the positive social degradation apd political
enthralment of the great body of the people, held
in slavish subjection to the will of a few, whom
neither superior talents ner the rights of birt,
but merely adventitious cireuustayces had given

the power to rule over and oppress they. Yes,, ] ; P
Sir, for the vbolition of that aysten:, so repugrant| #/ eecasious in whieh our interests should be

to the feelings of every true lover of his country,
and so subversive of all those noble and generous
sentiments which induce men to aspire to dis-
tinction in the service of their country, bravely
and persistently we fought, and victory, at length
was ours. The vld worn out system of oligar-
chical rule and exclusiveness was completely set
aside; and the establishmeut of Self or Respon-
sible Government was the crowning act of our
victory, By the concessivn to us of this form of
Government, by the Imperial Authorities, the
brand of inleriority was effaced from our brow;
we were ackuowledged us a people worthy to
enjoy ail the privileges of British Constitutional
freedom, and capable of exercising them in a
manner the most honorable and beueticial to our-
selves, aud satisfactory to the Imperial Powers.
And that we were so, Sir, has, I think, been evi-
denced, most fully aud satisfactorily by the pro-
gress which, since the inauguration of Self Go-
vernwent in the Island, we have made in every
direction in which it jg possible for a »ple to
@dvauece. Have we not improved with respect
o commerce? Flas vot ¢ Je_beey i

, ‘| were
T am convinced that, upon the terms and condi- |

| expressive of them, upon record. No wonder,

at Montrea). Since the breaking up of the Con-
| vention, they have taken upon themselves, with-
|out consulting the Delegates of the Maritime
| Provinces, te alter that Report. As it stood when
| finally agreed to—and signed, although, net by
| myself—the Local Governments were empowered
to define the Electoral Districts for the Federal
| Parliament, and to rearrange them when necessa.
;ry. But, by the alteration whieh the Canadians,
}of their own accord, have made in the Report,
the Local Governments have been stripped of
even that power; so that our Local Legislature
would, if brought under the Constitution set forth
jin the Report, be @ mere nonentity, and be

| possessed of less power than our City Carpara-
}tion, The want of integrity evidenced ip thos
| tampering with the Report, adords us 3 proof of
| the uofair consideration whieh we might expect
| to receive, at the hands of the Canadians, were
| we once bound up with them, for the furtherance
wf their ewn interests, in the Confederation ; ard
should, of itself, be sufficient to determune us to
have noting te do with it.

At the commencement of the Session of the
Conference, it was agreed, and fully understood

respects, be regulated and governed by the rules
and principles whieh obtain im the Canadian
Parliament-- which are alimest identieal with
those of our Honse of Assembly—by a due
observance of Which, every Delegate, on the
resumption of the Chair, by the Chairman of the
Convention, would bave had an opportunity of
again moving any and every Resolution which
he had failed to carry in Committee; and of
having it put to the vote, by the Chairman, and
a division of the whole Convention taken upon
it; by which means, exactly as in Parliament,
his rejected Resolutions, with the divisions of the
Convention upen them, would have been duly
|recorded, Had this agreement or understanding,
Sir, been honestly adhered to, L certainly could
| have had no reason to complain of the manner in
which the proceedings ef the Convention were

gentlemen, could any better proof be requit-
fed that this Union is sought to be brought

by us all, that our proveedings should, im atl; had been asked what reductions they could

regulated. I should have been perfectly well

/recorded, But so far was this from being the
lease, that the agreement was completely set
aside; the votes were taken one for each of the
several six divisions of the contemplated Confe-
| deration; and in Committee dissentient Delegates
peremptorily denied an opportunity of
tious, or which it is proposed that Prince Edward | placing eitives nels tent butions, ov Pretante
Island shall be taken or admitted into it, the
Federation, were she to enter into it, would be
ruinous to her best interests. It has, indeed, |
been confidently asserted, again and again, that |
the principles laid down in the Report of the|
Quebee Convention are not only just to the
several Provinces, but, morcever, that they are
especially just and liberal to Prince Edward
Island. Now, Sir, I hold. on the contrary, that
instead of being just and lideral to Prince Edward
Island, the Report is, in almost every respect
the very reverse.

The ‘hon. and learned gentleman, who has
just addressed the meeting, seems to be inflated
by the vain hope of the distinction to which
some of the leading public men of Prince Edward
Island would attain, should she become an inte
gral part of the Great Federation so earnestly
advocated by him. But I argue that we have, |
in discussing this question, to consider something
of far wore importance to the people than the
vain Lope of the personal aggrandizement of a
few of our leading public men. The gra’ifieation
of their ambition would be but a sorry con
sideration in exchange for the subverted
independence of our Government. The Con-
stitution under which we now live is, I con-

then, that, in the form in which the Report has
been made public, it should appear to have been
unanimously agreed to by all the Delegates. No
wonder, then, that the Governor General should
have regarded the Report as the embodiment of
the unanimeus decisions vf the Conference, and
that he should, in bis Despatch to the Colonial
Secretary, Mr. Cardwell, have represented it as
being so, and that the latter should have dealt
with it a8 such—nothing having appeared on the
Minutes of the Conference to the contrary.

The Hon. Mr. Haviland has said that we—the
Delegates—were unanimous; but I say we were
not. Phe representation claimed by us—the P.
E. Island Delegates — in the Federal House of
Commons, was six members—twe for each of
our three Counties. It is certainly true that we
—the P. E. Island Delegates — were unanimous
in requiring that we should be allowed six repre-
sentatives in the Lower House of the Federa)
Parliament, but it is also true that five of the
other Provinees, by their Delegates, voted against
us; and, to our request, it was objected that,
should we be aliowed the number of representa-
tives that we claimed as justly due to ua in the
| Lower House, the Convention would be obliged

and that in yielding us six, it would be necessary,
in order to preserve a due observance of the prin-
_ciple of representation according to population,
that Canada shotild be allowed nine or ten more,
in addition to the number which had been already
assigned to them on that principle. It was also
further objected that such an increase to the
number of representatives would necessarily oc-

| salished with it, because then my views, on whieh how large our revenue may b:-come—even
I was outvoted, would have been fairly and fully | it increases to £150,000 a ycar—the balan@

casion a serious increase to the annual expenses
of the Federal Parliament. So they acted, so they
reasoned, and so they decided against us on the

theirs may be taken asa fair sample of the justice
and sympathy which, should we enter iuto the
Confederation, we might expect to experience on

, found to condict in any way with those either of
Canada, of Nova Seotia, or of New Brunswick.

it js pot my intention, Sir, to follow the hon.
and learned gentleman, Mr. Haviland, over all
the grougg which he bus traversed in his endea-
vours to proye that, were we to enter into the
projected Dujen, the results would be conducive
to the promotiug sf our best interests, and in his
atlempts to shew=>ghat can be more ridiculous ?
—that the opening up of the far West would open
up to ys 2 greater, a more certain, and a more
advantageous warket for the gale of our agricul-
tural produge, | sha}) eyntent inyself with shew-
ing that the wrws of Union set farth in the Re-
port are so far from being simply tair to Prince
Edward Island that they are pasitively most
unjust.

{Owing to illness on the pert of our Re-

porter, we regret to state that he hes been
unable to extend the whole of Mr. Coles's

score of representation; and this decision of |

speech, and, we magt, 10 conseguenge, re-

Se ve VU pest No.

Py dN BIDE vi

ernment; and even the power to levy a dee
rect tax upon ourselyes is not gran

al Government.

entail upon the Colony, is variously estimat—
ed, at from £25,000 to £35,000 a year. f

Mr. Archibald McNeill folldWtd Mr. Coley
whose speech is unreported fur the aaine rea:
son. The on. George Beet was the hext to
speak, and as he had committéd hig tetharks

to paper, we are enabled to give thei ig thie
connection.

The Rev. George Sutherland delivered ae
very excellent speech at one of the adjourned .
meetings, the report of which has been furs
nished to us, but want of space compels ug
to postpone its insertion. }

Hon. GEO. BEER.—Mr. Chai
subject now under consideration mye! nr
with consequences to the inhabitants of P
E. Island of such magnitude and im “
as to demand from every intelligent indivi.
os ane us the most serious investi

ith propriety, the question may be
me : Why id you ‘tector in the sab A
Why not leave it in the hands of those
are much better able to grapple with such a
gigantic subject than yourself? In reply, I
would observe that, although having but the
one talent, 1 know no reason why, at such e
critical and dangerous time, that one talens
should be wrapped ina napkin and hid

Mr. Chairman, the isbabitants of P. E. rs
land weigin a most dangerous position. Jf
appeared,some few months sinee, that al.
most, if net every one of our Jeadi Potiti-
cians had sad a glimpse at what Mr, Whe-
lan calls the ** golden prospect,”’ and
about to hurry us into the Confederation
nolens volms. The Islander, with its leading
articles is favour ef Union, was ja
hard to bas the public mind in that direc.
tion, eves before the meeting of the Dele-
gates. The Laammer, that had, for monthe
before, denounced every idea of Confedera-
tion asant‘expensive absurdity,’ a*-sbam,’”
ke. &e.,—the Examiner, 1 say, all at once
Toned. Tcame out wee ety a eT, the
thought I would sound an aijarm, if I could
do nothing more, and, if I rewember correet-
ly, the very week after that the editor of
the Examiner got completely over the fence,
and an interehange of compliments began
with the editor of the Examiner, the editor —
of the Islander, and, | may say, the whole
of the leading politicians of the Colony. Ip
fact, they appeared nearly all to be riding —
along most triumphantly in the same coach, ©
[ thought we were sold, without even know.
ing the ‘terms’ of sale. It was easy ty —
‘magine what a torrent of eloquence and de.
ciamation, what an amount of special plead.
ing and sophistry (if necessary) would be
brought to bear on the subject , the editom
of tho Islander and Examiner would Ja
in their sleeve at the coalition that had taken
place, and at the unquescionable
that, by their joint efforts, the public senti-
ment could be directed in just such a channel
as would float it into the Union.

Mr. Chairman, | feel proud to think that
my fears are not likely to be realized; for
we have at least two of the Delegates to the
Quebec Convention, two natives of P. EB. Is
land, the Hon. Mr. Palmer aad the Mon. Mr.
Vvles, who will not eonsept to sell the
birthright of their fellow ovlenists for a mere—
mess of pottage. F

The objection to our being absoaded in
this Union. on the terms agreed on at Fs
bee, have been so clearly set forth by Mr,
Laird, Hon. Mr. Coles and others as to ob,
viate any necessity of my entering at large
on the subject; but, with your peruussion, |
will offer a few remarks on two or three
points. ay

The question may well be asked, how came
there to be any talk or negociation im re —
ference to a Union with Canada, sinee the
Legislature of P. E. Island had no sueh mea.
sure before it, nor did it contemplate
authorise the sending of Delegates to
da, nor bas it been urged epon the Island
the British Government? Sir, it origi :
alone in the ** political necessities’ of Canada, —
in proof of whieh, | beg %o quote from the
lion. A, T. Galt, the greas Canadian finan. _
cier, as follows: ‘In coming forward, as we
were objiged to do from the necessities of the —
ease, to consider a remedy for our own evils,
&e., &e. Events, as they were aware had _
ripened rapidly during the last two or three —
years, and within the present year, they had
seen the machine of government almost
brought toa dead lock, ke , &c. In vonela-
sion, he would remark that the political ne
ceasities of Canada seemed to render a mea-_
sure of union of all the Provinces of British —
North Ameviea necessary in itself.’’ Task, —

awe

MEAS

ist

‘wh

about for the especial benefit of Canada?

We are expected to surrender our c»nstitu-—
tion and revenue to the Genera) Government,
and to receive, for our local wants, a fixed
sum for alltime to come. Mr. Galt says,
** The gentlemen from the Lower Provinces

wake in the Giovernment of the several Colo —
pies, etc. Pringe Kaward Island would re
duce her expenditure from $170,000 to
$121,000, ete., ete. It was proposed to take
away from them every source of revenue
they possessed, except minor local revenue
and then to give them, from the publie ebe

a sufficient subsidy to enable the machine
to work, ete., ete. If they inereased tl

expenses in proportion to the growth of pop
ulation, they would be ob iged to resort wl”
direct taxation.’® Gentlemen, this is pretty

plain; aod, [ can assure you, it is a fact tha
during the last fifteen years, our require
ments and expenses bave increased at th
rate of about £2,000 a year; but, from hence —
forth, no matter how much we way need ot

over and above our allowance, is, fur all
to come, to be remitted tu the General Gor

Gouin
without the special permission of the Ge a
Weare expected voluntati-
ly to swhmit to the most huwiliating subjece—
tion that can be conceived, and to become a —
mere appendage to Canada, being virtually

if not actually, distranchised

The annual loss that Confederation wou

have little doubt that it will be nearer the
30 than 20; but, for the sake of argument,
we will suppose it only £20,000 a year to
commence with. Let us suppose the Island

fo have gone into Confederation some twelve

months since, the financial year having end
ed a few days since, the officer of the Gener
al Government for the collection of revenue
finds he has £20,000 on hand, after paying |
over to the Local Government their allow
ance, which he is instructed to remit imme
diately to Ottawa; consequently exchange #
the value of £20,000, is required forthwith
L would ask the business men of P. E. Island —
what would be the effect of such a demanl —
upon the available resources of the Culony’
is it not a well known fact that scarcely
oy’ passes—even now—without consider
le difficulty being experienced in the obtait®
ing of exchange for remittance-? Confede
ration would not increase our exports, ®
sterling exchange; but the balance of revel
ue, received over and above our allowane —

-would have to be remitted to the Ge

Government, and a keen competition w
take place between the collector of reventl
and the merchant in the purchase of &
change; and, if sterling bills could not #
obwined, our specie would be taken awaf,
and. as this new drain of the resources of
Colony would continue and increase,
further effect would be that exchange woul
become dearer, the merchants’ goods woul”
advance in price, the country would g&
cunpiecsi, drained of all its gold and silv®
coin, our Banks would have to close, and
would be thrown back to where we were
quarter of a century since. The only wih
to avoid this impending calamity, is polite)
to give a negative answer to the invitati®®
to enter this one-sided partnership.

_ The above calculation is based on the supp®
tion that, by the assimilation of our tariff ow *
present Ca:adian tariff, there would be a balait
of at least £20,000 a year against the Culotf
but we have ne pened whatever to suppose
the Canadian tariff can be continued at so
arate as 20 per cent. The proeent annual
penditure of Canada is about $10,000,000;
for a number of years past, their income has
len short of expenditure, from one to two
dvuJars per year. 1364 is, I believe, the
out of the last ten, that they have been
to make the two ends meet. The esti

2 bow in coMP
he ¢ interest 8
veut, would be $4