Examiner -- 1865-03-06 -- Page 02

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Instead of our finding allies in the Nova:
Reotia, New Brunswick and Newgfoundiand
Delegates—-38 it miueht have beep supposed
we would—-when advocating the interests of
Prince Edward Island, we found them close-
ly united in their views with the Canadian
ministry; and, in no instanee, did one of the
Delegates of the other Maritime Provinces,
vote in our favor

Although the bon. and lear
Mr. Haviland, has, this ever
great ability, asa special pleader,in favor
of the Union; he has not, in my opinion,
advanced a single fact or argument, calcu-

We lo he Goijetrwoted for her ships to pase to the
tar West without unlading their cargoes by the
way? Hew ling will men be blind to their own
lutérests! And Lower Canada will help Upper
Canada in securing this! But
would it not be the interest of Lower Canada to
detain them by the way, and have the transporta-
tion of their freight rather than see them pass her
by without, it may be, opening their hold.

Iam not against P. E. island getting better
terme if she ¢an—I am not for having her in-
tereste sacrificed in any way, but [ am aguinst
hasty decisions in this matter. I do not approve
of passing resolutions in all parts of the country
condemnatory of a scheme, where only one side,

Se she should.

‘d gentleman,
ng, displayed

‘ing the representation of the Union, what| Old Fie

: ' : . . : f° :
and the gross injustice and ha sag of the | — oe bat OES Ee Goncoghtt a
\rinciple in relation to the Lower Provinces; | or mor U : ‘
he it te uid down that no inerease of mem- representatives, with pt Eargrnr apr
bers shall take place in any of the Provinces cast in our lot. View the } . io Flees
until they sbali exceed that of Lower Cana-| stand point you please, we sha ; 1@ lo
da. Now, the population of that Province, | if we enter the ¢ onfederation, | d ar sir,
is estimated at 1,200,000 and that of this we have been told we must canter the i
Island at 80,000; therefore, if we should in-| on the score of defence. I have oe to —
crease to 13 times our present numbers, we | that the Power which has, up tot e —
would not be entitled to an additional Re-| time, fostered and protected us will not do so
presentative. If a disregard tu principle, as still. England has the power — me will
respects the Maritime Provinces, has been) to protect her Colonies while they remain
shewn at the Conference of Delegates, wffect-| loyal. 1 would much sooner hang on to the
g for protection than trust to the

lated te prove that, were we to enter the
Unien, it would, in any way, be conducive
either to our present or future prosperity;
or, in any way, to damage the arguments
advanced, or the position assemed, by those
who oppose it. I give him credit for the
ability whick he has displayed in the advo-
eacy of a bad cause; but I cannot refrain
from observing, at the same time, that, had
he been on our side—the Anti-Unionist side
—and had he spoken with that happy, ener-
g tic, and fervid flow of eloquence, with
w nich he spoke against the Union, last ses-
sion, in the House of Assembly he would
have secured us the victory to-night.

{llon, Mr. Haviland explained that the
ilun. Mr. Coles wag in error in saying that
be (Mr. H_) opposed the Union as now pro-
jected—that is Federal Union. What he
opposed, last Session, in the Uouse of As-
sembly, was a Legislative Union ]

Hon. Mr. C —In hisadvocacy ct the Union,
the hon, and learned gentleman has not indeed
said, as the Lon. Colonial Secretary has done,
that ¢he terms of Union proposed to us, are
just and |iberal, but he has said that he is
willing to accept the terms such as they are
1, however, Sir—believing that the terms of |
Union offered to us are neither just nor

but if they accept it will be absurd for us to refuse. | words about defences.

aud the worst side of the subject, has been fairly | may Prince Edward Island expect after it is) tender mercies of Canada. But are told that
opened up. The people should have time to con-| gonsummated? Well may Mr. Palmer ex- ‘if the other Colunies enter the Union we
sider. These ex-parte resolutions are little worth. | claim that he was astonished at the ruthless | shall be forced in—that we are too small,
[ believe thie Union would be of great benefit to! ot vacance and want of principle in the too insignificant, to be allowed to remain @
the whele country. If Neva Scotia and New} not se G ent. We will be thrown
leading politicians of Canada. separate Governm
Brunswick go in, shall we stay out? If they | eacing p . . h will be the case the British
jecline, it would be useless for us to think of it;| While I am on my feet, I would say a few |off. That such wi e the case the Britis!
but if ti , 4 Several gentlemen | Government have never intimated ; and if
(bereture all these hasty resolutions are out of| have expressed themselves favorably towards | ee ee Fre gt “1 aot cook nig #4
place. We must share the lot of our sisters—we/ the Union, because they argue it would be | and the dole of Mos, we Sp “se hie
must not stay “out in the cold.” If you do,weu| the means by which the Central Government ailowed to retain a separate Government,
will drive from your shores every wan of noble! eould concentrate the powers for defence of | Legislature, laws and tariff, while lying rr
enterprising spirit, who wishes to stand on alevel| ai] the Colonies, at a given point. Now, [| near the British coast that they may be said
with hie fellow-men. As a clergyman, I may| ay these gentlemen, is not that power pos-| to be within the range of her guns ; and with
remark, that by the Union of two Synods we sessed by Her Majesty under the present | population, in 1828, mot averaging more
lately formed the Presbyterian Church of the|*>* - ‘ : If, unfortunately, a foreign than one four poy

Lower Provinces. And what is the result?) We | & onstitu . : " 18a r .

| have a power, a weight, an influence for good, as | foe should invade our svil, have not the Im-| pre at oy ong od ae ont ; a J =

well as an eularged field tor the exercise of| perial authorities power to assemble ourloy-|be thrown ou. 4 . ing. sng
cannot do without her Volonies. She does

lenergy and ability which our limited legislature |

jand influence which would be felt all over the |

superior ability, which we never could have in| al militia for repelling aggression ? And does | - ; “ “i
our stnall separate Synods. And so it would be| not the history of the early Colonies exem- | not wiga to throw them off or give them up.
with this Union. Here would be a field for) plify the readiness with which they nonpent-| 7 knows too well that, if should do 80,
ed to the call to arms, and do not the gallant | the star of her glory would svon decline, ana
eannot eflord—here weuld be a field for enter- sections which they performed, form the| that from being a first rate power, she would
prise which our restricted commerce will not) proudest part of Colonial tistory? And, | soon become a second or third race power.
allow—and here would be a weight and power | hee thas gall fe made. shall we not be| Her territory as @ Nation is too small to
ready to serve our country? With respect | maintain ber supremacy without them. Por
to the advan‘ages which, it is said by some,| many yeurs past the only cost this Island
this great measure bave been spoken of here to-| a free trade would confer on the Lower Pro-| bas been to the Imperial Governmet has been
night @s men incapable of managing their own) vinces, I, for one, feel confident no such the payment of the Governor’s salary, £1500;
agairs, as men approaching the condition of} benefits as they speak of would acerue from and I do not believe they would accept that

° p i
world, and which we cannot command in our |
separate condition. And yet the advocates of |

liberal, nor in apy way as advantageous as
we have @ right to expect they should be
—I feel it to be a duty unreservedly to ex-|

New Britieh American Expire—that go where | {and she also demands the power to tax us to-|

o " ~~, Hy ety hp — ba myself 80} wards the support of her military and naval
stranger, but ¢ rome, seem , . d Seah —

a een bas charma for all but reeeenih wet |service. These are her demands. Are we
a scheme has charms for all, but especially for | going tosubmit to them? I think not. On
yeang and enterprising and aspiring men. Lean. | the other hand, she purposes tu retur t

pe | Say ae +" po hg rthedreusdennaad part of the ‘dati . lil ; d - 1 t . cm the
can be hostile to the project, if it ean be aceom-| PY ‘ ro rena Wn: CO POF SNe
plished on honorable terms. It has been said interest on & sum that will equalize our debt
that the scheme originated iu the recent difficul-| With that of Canada ; and she will also allow

ties of Canada. No, Sir, they may bave been the | us @ House of Assembly, but with no further

immediate eecasion of the late Conference, but,| power than what is necessary to tax our land |

Sir, the subject has been before the minds of the} for any local improvements we may require,
Jeading men of British America ever since Lord| such is a summary of the Stipulations as-
L yes was pa anada, ie ly thirty — | sented to by a majority of our Delegates.

e27% ; and, sir, It has ever eukindled their noblest | Sut, Mr. Mayor, I doubt if tiese delegates

uspirations, aud claimed their best atiention. | } ’

. | had the power even asset any proposi-

From that day to this, the best minds in these | ob Gg vedlacgs = - nny Ve oe
: e know that the

maniacs. Sir; we are able to manage our own | jt. Caneda requires nothing that we can) amount if our Legislatere offered to pay it
affairs, and to comprehend and appreciate this
important, this vital project alse. Such insinua-

: ; ' tious are ignoble. Let the subject be fully and
re » m 8h *, ‘Yea " Ss} : : :
press wy seatiments concerning them. Should fairly discussed on its own merits. I have no

the people be in favour ot Union—although fear Sir, of the ultimate result. Pardon we, Sir,
Tam yery far from believing they will—lliy | a clergyman—yet a eitizen—have come
shall haye to submit to their decision. Still,| forward. in the faee of the powerfal opposition
however, even were that the case, | should arrayed against this measure, to express my
fee] myself called upon, in the conscientious | seutiments before this crowded audience on a
discharge of my duty, as a representative of | question of such vitel importance to the welfare
the people, to oppose the Lnion, in my|¥! Prince Edward Islarid.
piace in the House of Assembly, with all the | [The Rev. Geatlewan who had been frequently
ability | possess ; and that I certainly will do. applauded im the course of his Speech, sat down
i anid prolonged applause }

REV. GEORGE SUTHERLAND. — Mr!
Chairman, I think it right that a!) classes of the}.
citizens should be heard on this important ques-; The question of & Union with Canada is one
tien. We have heard several eo the delegates! of vast importance, one which we shonld and
and certain menbers of parliament—it is bat) will, no Coube, carefully consider. On the
faw that the sentiments of others ould be knowa.! one hand we are called on to render up all
It is one thing to be popular, another thing te be) the privileges which we now enjoy, to relin-
right. Jtis well when both can be combined ; } i . - ; y

st 2 F quish to che hands of strangers tliose civil li-
but if they cannot be, let me be nght rather than | hertics entailed , 5 see
popular. ‘This subject is one which deeply eon-| Corti ntailed to us by our father-land
cerns the whole country. All my sympathies, all | \@)¢da demands our revenue ; the power to
wy aspirations, Sir, are in faver oe! Union. I wish | tax us, to support herenormous debt ; to tax
tu look over this east termtory stretching from | U8 for establishing gigantic railways, and for
Newfoundland to Vaneourer Island and call that} the cutting and building of canals, which
ecuntry my eva. I wish to be a member of thas) will be of nomanner of use tu us or our trade ;

‘

afford to export. Her object is to cstablish | (Question, from Mr. Haviland.) My reason
manufactures in ber own towns and terri- | tor taking this ~~ oS it, is simply this:
tories, and to compel us to becume her cns-|} When Sir Aretas Wiltiam Young was Go-
tomers, in the sawe way in which the Suuth- | vernor ot this Island, the Legislature deemed
ern had to purchase “from the Northern| the salaay paid the Governor at that time,
States. Even with a high protective duty | viz. £1000 sterling, insufficient, and voted
of 30 perecent., the manufacturers of the| £300 currency additional, but the Home Cio-
North found it up hill work to be able to| vernment would not allow him to receive it;
compete with taose of the old country. Sir, and replied : ae wish the Governor to be
this is purely an agricultural country; and) independent of the Legislature or any party
it ought to be our chief aim to support the politicians, and if the salary is not sufficient,
farmer, and to cultiyate a frindly feeling we will give him £500 sterling additional,
‘with those countries which want, and give | Which they have done to the present time.

BENJAMIN DAVIES,Esq.—Mr. Mayor, ‘the highest prices for our exports, as well | and I have no doubt will continue to do;

as to be able to purchase onr goods in the| While in the other Colonies they are expend-
cheapest markets. Now the Union does rut | 'ng bundreds of thousands yearly. But to
offer the fecilities which we now enjoy; but,| turn to our defences : How isit to bedone?
on the contrary, the amount of tax, levied | The Quebee Conference declared that we are
by the Government, would, in a few years, | indefensible by land. 1 grant we ar, but
bring us to poverty. This, taken with the| by sea we are easily protected. Two or
amount of tax which would have to be laid] three gun boats would effectually protect the
on the agriculturist, confirms me in the} ®pf roaches to the Guls of St. Lawrence, and
opinion that the Union ought to be opposed. | thus most effectually protect us. If the
: : eae : other Colonies enter the Union, in the event

HENRY HASZARD, Esquire, said—Mr-.| of a war they must take the means of defence
Mayor and Gentlemen, with your permission, | jaye indicated, and thas must of necessity,
I keg leave to offer a few remarks, touching | while protecting themselves, secure us from
briefly on some of the leading points of the! inyasion. Should they not adopt this course
Union scheme, or Confederation, or whatever | ¢h¢ whole north shore of Nova Scotia, New
you may please to call it; and, sir, let me) Brunswick and all the seabvard that Canada
observe that L deem the subject one of more possesses, will be exposed to the enemy.
importance than has ever betore engaged the| Should the Confederation not take place, the
attention of the citizens of this city or the! British Government will continue to us the
people of this Island—a measure deeply af-| same protection she has hitherto aforded us.
lecting the best interests of our country for} Myr, Chairman, reference has very frequent-
all coming time, both socially, politically ly beea made to Mr. Cardwell’s celebrated

I am in favor of Union on fair and equita-
ble terms. It bas been asserted that by
going into it we lose Self-Government. I
deny it. At present our acts are referred to
Downing street for approval, and we are all
aware that, on the Land Question, afew Pro-
prietors have more influence there than the
Government of this Island. Under Union
our local acts would have to be approved of
by the Central Government. If we kept out
of Union, our agricultural and other produce
would probably be taxed in Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick. Our vessels would be shut
out from the coasting trade, (as they are at
present in the United States); for instance.
and Island vessel would not be allowed to
carry a cargo between Pictou and Halifax.
In making Commercial Treaties we would
not be in as favuarable a position as if in the
Union. We would then have the privilege
of being able to sell our ships in France under
the Canadian Treaty, When our fisheries
were prosecuted we would have the advantage
of the Canadian market free. United, I
believe, our progress would be much more
rapid than if we remain as we are. The
much more rapid material progress of the
United States, since they obtained their
independence, than as Colonies, or as con-
trasted with us, was proof of that. It had
been asserted that the political deadlocks
that ocour so frequently in the Canadian
Government, was the reason of their seeking
for the Union; but it is well known that
the British Government had been pressing
them on the subject of defence, and the
question could not any longer be starved off.
Hence their anxiety to unite with us. There
were many in England who proposed to get
rid of the Colonies, or at least the North
American Colonies, on the ground that they
would be better customers to Great Britain
if independent, than as Colonies,and that they
would not then be under the necessity of de-
fending them at an enormous expense, to
which Canada did not seem willing to con-
tribute.

His objections to the constitution framed
by the Quebec Conference were that in the
formation of the Upper House of the pro-
posed Federal Legislature, they had departed
widely from the principle that obtained in
the formation of the Swiss and American
Republics, viz: that small countries should
have the same representation in that Louse
as large ones. Ile was quite satisfied that
population should be the basis of representa-
tion in the Lower House, and therefore with
the number allotted to us of five ; but in the
Upper House, it had not been shewn why we
should not have an equal representation with
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

With regard to the financial part of the
scheme, he was strongly opposed to it. He
was in favor of free trade. The Canadian
tariff, if adopted, would compel us to buy
there. He did not think that this Island
wguld ever be a manufacturing country
beyond our local wants ; because, being shut
out from other markets for six months, would
he thought, prevent thac. Under such a
tariff many English goods would be shut out.
We would be tureed to buy in the Union.
The adjustment of the publie debts of the
Colonies was fair. We were all allowed 25
dollars a-head, according to population for
that parpose. Canada, Nova Seotia and
New Brunswick, being in debt to about the
full amount they would have toreceive under
that arrangement, would have nothing to

and religiously. A constitution bas been despatch. ‘There is just one point in it which
given to us by the British Government as/ | have not heard noticed, and which | deem
good, as free and as liberal as any under the | one of the most important, if nut the most
sun ; nO restraint is imposed upon usin the important, it ia this: ‘+ Her Majesty’s Go-
management of our affairs more than is be- | yopnment are very desirous that the taxes of

get ; but this Island, being comparatively out
lof debt, would get half a million of dollars.

With respect to the future, we were treated
‘most unfairly. We bad no Crown Lands,
| mines or minerals, to be handed over tw the

neficial to us; but, Mr. Chairman, should

any of the Colomies should not be materially | Local Government as was the case in the

Provinees,—educated, enterprising men,—have
looked forward to the time when these Colouies

| tions touching a Union.

a ; we enter the Unicn, we lose our identity,
Legislature appointed a Committee to meet "

increased by Confederation.”? [ think, Sir,

lother Colonies. We were isolated for six

should form one nation, inferior in nothing that | Delegates from the Maritime Provinces, and
eonstitutes greatness to ab y nation on the face of} that it was clearly stated that that app pint-

the globe. I wish. sir, that Prince Edward Island ment was made more out of courtesy to

shall form a part of this nation—-I wish that she|an invitation from Nova Scotia and New}!

mag join her sisters, and go int) this great Con-| Brunswick. than from any desire on the part
federation. Will you keep her out? Will you! of our L-gislature to erter into a Union
keep her back when the others advance? No, | N a
ne! Give her a place with the rest, and she alll] o¢ phe mean er 1 , aun aware
nobly perforin ah part. ‘This, sir, is not any nae] . 7 pe ple = One rand, you are aware
tive land, but Lam deeply attached to it. It is) “)" “PO dig sf. 00, manele 40 them as the
the birth-place of iny children, and in its interests | chought of a Union, the threat of which bas
I must ever be identified. Nova Scotia is my na- often been used to quell the turbulence of
tive land , but all that can elevate, all that can Radicalism.
any warmest sywpathies aud ardent efforts. Do| amend our Constitution; and, even had the
you suppeae, sir, that J would ever be a party to) offer made to them been ever so advanta-
anything that woudd degrade her before the world! geous, it would not have been binding. But
—te anything that would retard her industr; —te the terms offered are the reverse. as il been
anything that would blast her prospeets? No— clearly shown by the zentlemen who have
never Pbheretore it is that 1 desire to see her} ed ite .

enter the Confederation. because I belicve she | PteCeded me, on the anti-Uuion side of the
would share in the greatness and presperity and | Westen. I vill, thereture, only broach on
glory of this new Empire. Is it said that this is} 4 few points. In reply to the long array of
the “glory” argument? = It is the glory argument
But it is something more than glory.
the foundations on which true n tional] glory rests. slightly increased under the Canadian Tariff,
Here are all the elements to form a glorious na-| | would refer to this matter as luid down by
tion — the territory, the health, the strength, the} Mr. Galt, in the 23d page of bis pamphlet,
virtue, which form the glowy.ei a nation. Here) under the head of «Average of the present
is ee “ot ¢ qur pep ining ms yyy, Tariffs’? : **Canada 20 per. eent, Prince Ed-

ouths. Since cawe tw the Islane ave al- pa fis 7. ae * ce ™

cathe taken the deepest interest in the education | ng Fa ” = F one oaew ie yal
of the young. And now, sir, I would like tuenter | 28; Mayor, aps ts all the labours and calcu-
a school, and say: “ My sens, there is a noble | lations that have been laid before us.
field tor your highest ambition. Although you! But Sir,for my own part,| put little faith in
are natives of Prince Edward Island, British | any of the statements which have been made
America is yours.
talent, the enterprise and the integrity, there is| we are to be benefited in a pecuniary point
nothing to prevent you becoming Prime Minister | of yiew by this grand Union. Sir, I do not
British Awerica, Chiet Just ce of British Ame- | believe that the conclusion arrived at by the
riea, or Governor of Prince Ec ward Island.” To Delegates, in relation to the amount of the
this last office some would take ‘xception. Why? Cc dian debt. i ae They | ,

is DOt a Man—a man wherever he is found ? ‘Is eonapeurde ts ee vag | ares otated

he any the worse for being born on this side the
Atlantic? I bave wet one word to say against

No, Sir, Lj resume that from your knowledge

Sir, it is my opinion these gen-
advance Price Edward Island, must ever claim | tlemen held no valid authority to revoke or |

statistics which has been exhibited for the|
Here are| purpose of showing that our taxes wiil be but

If you have the energy, the | as having a tendency to leadus to think that |

that the debt of Canada is $62,500,000. |
Now,l am prepared to prove that this isa mis- |
the representatives of our Queen ou this Isia.d; | ¢presentation; for L hold in my hand the audi- |

they have all been excellent wen, and especially | tors’ statement of the liabilines of that co: n-

the gentleman who now represcuts Her Majesty. | try, showing the net amount to be $67.263,-

But why may net a colonist espire to this posi- 994; thus proving, by the Canadian auditors, |
the debts of that Colony to be $5,000,000 more
| than the Convention guaranteed them to be. |
lam well aware of the explenations that

tion? If he possess the necessary ability and in-
tegrity, why should he not rule his native land?
On the question of Representation | have some-

thing to say. In the Upper House there has been “ , .
an elfurt to do us justice. The Lower Provinces | have been offered by Hr. Galt, the month-

Daten Shell satan aaaahon he althet of tee tanden (PO of the Union, viz., that these

tive

our independence; we surrender all our

this is @ good and sufficient reason for our not, months during the winter, and could not

rights, our privileges, our property, into the
hands of the General Government, even the
very building we now occupy passes out of
our hands: we become subject to two powers,
and L have learned from unerring authority
that we cannot serve two masters

1] wiil now say a few words on the financial]
part of the scheme, and, in doing so, | shall,
for the sake of argument, adopt the figures
given us by the Ilon, Culonial Secretary the
correctness of which is extremely prubiema-
tical, and L think, as respects whut we ure respecting the fotlowlug subjects :—
to receive, much over-rated. The Colonial! 1. The Publie Debt and Property.
Seeretary stated, if [ recollect aright, (1) 2. The Regulatiou of Trade aud Commerce.
quote from memory, and if I am wrong. |
have no doubt he will
£55,000 would be the largest sum we could |
receive under the Union from al] sources ; |
and this, it must be borne in mind, is a fixed |
revenue, not progressive as at present. The|

entering the Union, as by doing so our taxes
would be most materially Increased --yes,
doubled. The general Government reserves
to themselves the right of taxation, as ap-
; pears by the 29th Article of the Report, a
| part of which | willmow read. Mr. Haszard
then read as follows: —

other Minerals,

~

Duties.

revenue of 1864. He also stated the revenue | modes or systems of Taxation.

of that year under the Canadian tariff would) 6, The Borrowing ot Money on the Public

have given us £27 ,U00 over what we received. | Credit.”

29. The General Parliament shall have power | .
to make Laws for the peace, welfare and good | Lake Huron, ke., &e. .
government of the Federated Provinces (saving | annual allowance to our Government by the

. The imposition or regulation of Lxeise

‘send our produce to market. Our people
| were already heavily taxed to pay rents sor
their lands. In the other Colonies, be
believed their farmers were freeholders, and
| vet they asked us to contribute pro rata with

)
ment, and that they cannot pass laws to oppress
us without oppressing all tl Colories, it does
not appear that we have any just cause for soyes*
plait en this head. ws ro
e Upper House might have been arrange
«te ‘equitable terms, but if Nova Scotia and |
New Brunswick are satisfied, I don’t think we!
should be the first to complain. It is evident)
that Great Britain considers the time has arrived
that she can only retain her connection with her
colonial possessions in North America by them
uniting under one Government. Sire is willing
and anxious to leave the arrangement of the
terms of that Union, as far as is compatible with
justice to us and her own dignity, to ourselves.
So far all the Colonies have agreed to a Consti-
tution which ouly awaits the sanction of the dif-
ferent Colonial Legislatures to render the duty of
the Imperial Parliament an easy ant agreeable
ove in framing and passing an act in accordance
with those resolutions, but in the event of any of
the Colonies, through their representatives, pro-
posing by resolution any amendment to any of
the resolutions passed at the Quebec Conference,
such proposed amendment would be considered
by the British Parliament, and if deemed just
and equitable, would doubtiess be adopted in the
framing and passing of the Imperial Act. If, on
the other hand, through a miscone-ptien of our
true position, or from the force of publie opinion,
as moulded by the opponents of Confederation,
our Legislature should reject the adoption of the
resolutions of the Quebee Conference, without
proposing any equitable terms for our admission.
I do not beheve that Prince Edward Island would
be allowed to remain a stumbling block to British
Colonial policy, but would be imeluded on the
terms that have been deemed equitable to all the
other Colonies, and by her own ablest aud im-
partially selected statesmen ; and although nearly
all the opponents of Confederation on the terms
agreed upon at the Conference admit that a
Uniov must take place, I have not seen that there
has been any terms proposed on which they are
willing to unite, although the time is fast ap-
proaching when it will be too late to seek amend-
ment. On the contrary, all the eloquence and
taleut of many of our public men ave «mp oyed in
haunting the public mind with visions vf oppres-
sive taxes, ruined trade, and our sons on the Ca-
nadian frontier in arms for the defence of a coun-
try not their own, whilst admitting the necessity
vf a Union. ‘That such mey be turned trom the
error of their ways, and strive for the advance-
ment of the true interests of tais our Island, is
the siucere wish of
Your Friend,
J. C. UNDERHAY.
King’s County, Feb. 25th, 1365.

[FOR THE EXAMINER. ]

THE UNION OF THE PROVINCES TO
SELTLE THE LAND QUESiION.

Those questions having engaged the public
attention fur some time past, and various
opinions having been published, and as [ have
given both subjects some consideration, I
send my opinions for publication with the
rest.

First, with regard to the prophesied exces-
sive taxation, and where our taxes ought not
to be applied: It is my opinion, that who-
ever can conquer and keep possession of the
Canadas, will be masters of the Lower Pro-
vinces, and whoever can take and keep pus-
session of the coal mincs of Nova Scotia and
Cape Breton, will be masters of our sea
coasts. Now, if the passes into the Canadas
and dutside sea coasis can be defended by for-
tifications and ships of war, they will be our
defences ; and it will be our duty to contri-
bute our quota of men and money towards
their maintenanee. But | agree with the
opinion of the British Ministry, that if there
is any excessive taxativn in consequence of
the Union of the Provinces, it will be im pos-
ed by the local Legislatures, and especially
that of this island, where it required seven
Delegates to be sent to Quebec to do the
work of three or four, and thirty representa-
tives to our Llivuse of Assembly to do the
work of eighteen, with offivee multiplied to
suit men ip peoportion.

A Government Jounded by the free w:!} of
the people of the several Provinces, to Be
durable and permanent, must be free from
all taint of favoritism or corruption, as a

| them towards the great public works they
proposed entering upon, such as the inter-
Colonial Railway, making ship canals to
lo his opmion the

the Sovereignty of England) and especially Laws | Central Government ought to be double the

suin allowed the other Colonies. The prin-
ciple had been departed from by allowing
New Brunswick $63,000, and Newfoundland

3. The imposition or regulation of Duties of £150,000 per annum, over the general al-
correct me,) that| Customs on Linports and Exports, except on |
Exports of Tiuber, Legs, Masts, Spars,
Deals, and Sawa Lumber and of Coal and | :

lowance. It was well known that the ad-
vantage of Railways in opening up a country
| were quite equa! to the interest paid on the
| cust of construction, and therelore they had
ino claims upon us. Before concluding he

Col. Secretary's figures lave relerence to the) 5, ‘The raising of money by all or any other| would say that he thought the Island Dete-

yates who were dissatistied with the proceed-
ings of the Quebee Conference ought to have
|withdrawn from it, and not have made

Let it be borne in mind 1t would be £27,000
additional taxation, to be taken from the
pockets of the consumers. I shall now speak
of the revenue of 1864, which shows a large
increase over that of the year previous, the
receipts being (1 omit hondreds) £66.000;
this by the same ratio of increase would,
under the Canadian tar.ff, give £20,000
more. Thus our revenue would have been,
by the Col. Secretary's own shewing, £96,-
000, from which deduct the £55 0UU0—thus
leaving a balance of £41,000 per year to be
carried out of the country tor the benefit of
the General Government; and to this must
be added the yearly increase of our receipts.
t now pause, Mr. Chairman, to ask what we
are to reevive, What are the benefics we will
get in return for the great sacrifices we are
called upon to make. 1 think those who ad-
voeate Union have failed most signally tu
voint them out. ‘The Island is different
from all the other Provinces, from its isulated
position, The gigantic public works intend-
ed to be carried out by them, at an enormous

}

expense, will not be of any more advantage |

to us by entering the Confederation than

Nova Scotia, New Brunewick and P. EF. Islaud millions of dollars vught nut to be charged, | they will be by our remaining as we are;

nithough having a population far below either because the Government lent this sum out to!

Lower or Upper Cauada, have the same number the municipalities. That is very fine, very

of representatives in the Couneil as either of | Deral; but it will not release the Bonds. |
The interests of the Maritime | Che total amount of the Debt of Canada is!
The busi-| set down at 675.578,022; and I see a credit

those Provinces.
Provinees are considered as identical.

ness of the Federal Legislature is with general get down in that account of $4,883,177, as

woatters, and what would afivet P. EB. Island) a Sinking Fund—a smail amount Lam told
would also affect Nova Scotia and New Bruis- Boll

om in a publie point of view in Canada. Now. |

wick. Piey will, therefore, siand together and | | want to seer where this Sinking Fund is
cuuserve the rights of each ollier. But do you sedeved and of Ghat a ‘ 5 le it t
ne se ; ar. 0 ma oOnsis 8. sg Ot}

suppose that any part of the Confederation would

and we would thus avoid increased taxation

offer a few remarks. We have been told by
one of the delegates and advocates of Union,
|that, if we do not rush into the Union, we
ishall be like the little state of Riode Island
| that deelined to enter the Confederation with
| the other states of the neighbouring Repub-
lic, but which, in the course of 18 mont!s or
two years, went knocking at the dour, seek-

With respeet to representation, I shall |

seek to destroy another part? Is not the wealth | 5Pecie, Bonds, Stocks, or ix it imaginary? | ing for admission: but, sir. if we can vain
gf one the wealth of all—and the prosperity ot | WI8h to bave this explained ; to have tt made) 1,6 game advantage by remaining out “in
pe the prosperity of all? Canada seck to crush | 0 @ppear, if possible, that there is truly | the ould,” as it is termed as she did, L think |
poor Prince Edward Island !—-Canada wants a) such a sum placed to the credit of Canada, | we seal sun po small iheinilintaas b dving
Union with us to make us pay ler debts! Well,| and for the purpose, as I should suppose, of | : P ; net onde en. perk Pmt
t will vy Rare: Lae ’ sv. She entered the Union vith a represen- |
what will men not say after that?) Ne: Canada paying off, in time the Debt of that country. | : : . |
pede par ey speliarcnE gag nl Mart). 8 7 **| tation in the Senate the same as that of the
wid rejoice In our prosperity — Canada would | Yes, Mr. Mayor, an explanation, if it can be | ¢ . ; : .

promote, with all her fluence, the welfare of the ofered iad id i at aces nce i ti fa boon ‘in State of New York, at that sang having a
whole Confederation. But it is said what can we tl * passer te B ss } . an | 1 re 4 i times and now twenty times her population.
us meeting. by-the-by, while Lam Spenrking | i¢ we go into the Unior, I contead that each

do with our five representatives in the Lower +
House? . Would these five ctund slne? Are| °° this subject, | would refer your Honor to

I will now speak of the Report of the Con-| speeches at Toronto and Cttowa altogether
ference. ‘The Delegates were promised that|in favor of it, after the proceedings of the
the proceedings of the Convention should be | Conference bad been concluded. Le thought
in accordance with the established rales of | 1t was the policy of the Imperial Government
the Canadian Legislature, which are the! to unite us, but hoped we would not be forced
same as vur own. But it appears a differ-| into Union on unfair terms.
ent cuurse was pursued to further their own) [The sentiments of all the gentlemen who
mtepnInee, and everything 2 y ua. of oppo- spoke against Union were heartily applauded by
sition was carefully omitted from the min- reagoag as
utes of the Conference; thus making it ap- apparently, a large majoriity of the meeting.—
pear that all were unanimous. No record R. B. Irvine, Reporter. ]
was made of any resolution in ameudment,) ———— =
The question of a Federal Union isquital CORRESPONDENCE.
new thing and widely different from the sub-| AnAARARARARAARAARARA}ARAARARRAR}R}AARRARRARR;RAR
ject the delegates were at first appuinted to To rue Eprron of THE EXAMINER.
consider, viz: the Legislative Union of the) pesr sir:

Le » ;

three Maritime Proviness; and 1 would ask As almost every person has something to sey
t at authority the Deley: ae re : 6 i ag
y Aime bey gf all ieiectaces pies pw about Confederation, and as the saying Ts, if 18
; ‘ ‘ as well to be out of the world as out of the fashion,
concocting for us a new Constitution? I! 1 pave availed wyself of a sare hour te give to
have said the subject is a new one, although | the public with your permission some of my own
one of the delegates has said, “that union) views on the subject. Aad in the first place, I
was the dream of his childhood and his} cannot agree with you that Mr. Whelan’s gon-
youth.”? But, Sir, L tnink he has made a| stituents are prepared to pass any resolution on
mistake, and that it was only the dream of | the subject which he might submit to them, al-
the night befure, or of bis ripened manhood, though fully aware of the full measure he de-
But let me ask, who dig the Canadians seek | *°'¥edly enjoys of their confidence and esteem.
to benefit in drawing us into the Union?| !*Y feel that the question is one which will
‘ Phi i ? materially affeet the prosperity of generations
Was it not to serve their own pu rpose % ‘yet nuborn, and ought to be dealt with apart from
Again [ would ask why were the public shut) i) personal aud party considerations. I have
, out from the Conference in Charlottetown ?| long thought that a Federal Union of the British
| Why conducted with so much secrecy? W ho! North American Colonies would benefit the whole;
so deeply mterested in the result as the pub- | but on the receipt of the Report of the Confer-
lie. Buti do affirm that the Delegates can-} ence at Quebee, I saw, or fancied I caw, that the
‘not point to one imstarce where they stood | arrangements entered into there were not such
out tor the best interests of the Colony and | #8 would do justice to Prince Edward Island, in-
Let the Unionists shew me that the! #s™much as, whilst they made provision fur the
] | expenses already incurred by the other Provinces
“Ge : . lover that of Prince Edward Island, no provision
am open to Conviction 5 I will not oppose it ‘| was made for their future extravagance, although
but 1 must confess that as yet lL have heard) i; might reasonably be supposed that if we had
or seen nothing to induce me to change my | jivyed more economically tor the time past, we
views on this question. To do so it will re-|¢ould also do so for the time to come; or, in
quire more logic and soander argument than! ovher words, from our geographical position we
that of sending oar produce to Halifax for| would not receive our due share of, nor partici-
reshipment to @ market. I need hardly ad-| pate in, the benents frum the amount voted for
vert tu it—a greater fallacy was never pro- | public works. ‘To remedy this injustice, I would

people.
change will be a benefit to the Island.

the Provinces te be antagonistic to cach other ? | Se State ol the public credit ot Canada, in
Will Canada be a unit? Who does not know London, in July last, just previous to the
that there will be two or three parties in both | meeting of the Convention. The Times states
Upper and Lower Canada; aud instead of Canada| that the 5 per cent Debenturs of that
being united against us, you tay see men from) country bave fallen to 75. That is, that
the extreme West of Canada standing shoulder! Canadian Debentures for £100 sterling were
to shoulder with the wen of 1 BE. Isiond. Ide). ff-red at £75 for a bundred, carrying 5 per
wot say that aa? w= wt is pertect, or that the! eeng interest, which is considered a large
men who framed it were intallible. But they |, , A : a WF
were the ableet mep in the Provinces—men ot rr gy oe Ane peg dy oh perl one
experience as well as taleat. Theories may full, @4!* in speaking of the impetus advance

wiich the prospect of a Union with the

fw the ground when it ‘s attempted te put them | : Z :

ig practice; but here is the matured experience | Lower Colonies had bad in Evgland, says,
of men long acquainted with the science of go | ‘* Our five per cents, which were sel'ing at
vernment, and with the results of various methods | 75 are now quoted at 90 ard 91.’ Well might
of influencing ard controlling their fellow men—|the announcement be received with ap-
Jn regard to taxation, two fa lacies have been | plause. But we must remember that the
widely propagated on this Island—the lose which | cause of the advance of Canadian eredit, is
we would sustain by imposing » certain tariff out | owing to the fuct, that we are ubout to be
ot the Union, when it ix manifest that no govern ‘mortgaged to supportit. To shew that ! am

ment has the remotest idea of inposing such a : Saat
tariff out of the Union, and the imagination that | popyecee by tated’ Sis agra agin

& high tariff must produce a proportionately bigh low smat'y of the morality of the ( anadian
pentant,. We conmet speak it that 9s. hove! public, L would reter your honour to a public
awhich we have vet gained. And who, acqnainted deepateh, from the Lieut. Governor of New
with revenues, does not know that up to a certain | Brunpewick, to the Governor-General of
qiark only can you get revenue by a high tariti—| Canadg, publisbed in the leading Provincial
that beyond that it becomes prohibition, and im-| papers, some years ago, upbraiding the
portations are few, and income from such a tariff Governor's administration with a want of
swall, aud not large. And is it not a certainty | faith in carrying out certain propositions on
that uoder the Confederation a yast amount oll tne part of the Canadians which had been

goods would pay no duty. ‘Ihe gain, not the} -
loss, would be ours. But, oh! are we not to be pecepted on the part of New Bresewick

purdened with paying for raily ays’ Should nel That isa very strong document, and ought
not bear our share if we share in the benefits 2) © teach us not fe place much reliance on the
Yor whow bas New Brunswick pushed her rail- faith of the leading politicians of that country.
way to Shediac? For whow i+ the Nowa Scotian I shall now, Sir, pass on from Finance, to
overnment extending her rolway to Pictou? | shew a glaring inconsistency, which exhibits
8 it pot for the trade of the Guif? Is it poz! itself in the new Constitution, I do not 1n-
specially and waiely for the benetit of PE. Js | tend to wade through the programme. but
~~! Aud would ae “ e~ as _ ee merely to touch on a certain part that has
about paying our Sina gueta lor such objects . ad ; *
Would there pvt be something in feeling, while 0 Pyare de ong ey ose
travelling yu those railways, tat we bad coutri-| |), a: b am all tig
bated fur their eprction 1 that representtion by population sha
! beard to-night anne singulp: etgtementa about | the basis of the return of members to the
the Cayals ot Western Canada! Por whow are Ubion House of Commons. Now, no dele-

}

t is declared |
! | cated. Such disclosures do net give us a favour-

| Mr. Chairman, I would ask how dves tins |

;
|
j
/
|
j

these Canale? Are they not (orthese who have £4°¢ could have migunderst od gach an im.

sinps? And are the Maritine Proyineea tu, portaatdeewion; byt, mark Mr. Bayor, tie
giject—is P. E. Island to objet that p highway | inconsistency which follows and governs it,

| Dec. 29th, 1864, to this effset :—

Colony should have an equal number of re- pounded. Tuus give up the most profitable | Propose that there should be a proportionate
presentatives in the Upper House. Witt) part of the business, viz: the carrying trade?
respect to the Lower Branch, our number | and incur an additional expense of at least
| there is far tuo small; one wember would be | 61 per bushel, and cause all our shipping to
| just of as much service to the Island
| have been told we must enter the Union on} as L have said, | am not given to change. I
(the svore of economy. The same reason was) am not willing to give up a certainty for an
assigned for the Union of the Canadian Pro- | uncertainty. Lam quite satisfied with our
vinces, but what bas been the result? Lu | present system of Government, particularly
the year 1840 they entered with a debt of a when we have so much that is excellent in
litte more than one million, and now they | the representative of Majesty who now rules
have increased it to more than £15,000,000.| over us with sneh general acceptation and
So much for Union on tie score of economy. | henefit to the Coiony and people, J] would
like, then, to adhere to the old system until
a better is more clearly defined than has yet
| beendone. I give it, as my cali oonyiction,
that the Island cannot, and will nos, be bet-
‘tered by the Union.

Mr. Chairwan, the question is a serious
cone. ‘The results of a Union we may specu-
}late on, but we cannot arrive at a certain
/conclusion, other than this—it will be to our
sree ee “ om money bas been | disadvantage. Ifthe step be once taken it
avished in every description of lang and advanevs | wij be fixed and irreversibie. Then let us
on colouial credit, made to the municipalities aud | i Wea chall
tor public works, ‘The members of the House of | P*&S? belure we take that step. We shall be
Assembly being returucd by the municipalities, | Ving in the Legislature of Ottawa. Let
gave their support to the inistry on Condition | us Temuln as we are, & contented, happy,
ot the advauce of sume loan to their constituents | tree, honest (if not rich) people. The mure
for a speculative object of loca improvement. { think of, and consider the measure, the
The loan is sanctioned out of money which has! more am 1 disineiined to it. Wecannot lose
been raiwed under public guarantee. lt thus anything by nut entering the Urion now.—
happens, not untrequeutly, that the money so) Terms more to our disadvantage cannot be
a pana is agers -aiholarging 4 offered. Then, why asoon Fane ° Let it

we? ose ; seid Alb en be the unanimous response of the people of
not pay the rates imposed to detray the imterest, this Island—Nv ! neil net “radhoys set

and the public treasury is heuce called upou on
the guarantee. Hon. DANIEL DAVIES said —1l am
satisfied that we are drifting into Union, and

extravagance arise? In answering it. I] shall
quote from a speech whick appeared in the
Halifax Morning Chronicle, under the date

“To the period which has elapsed since the |
provinces of Upper and Lower Canada were |
united, the public debt has been increased frou
ove million to fifteen millions sterling. Mean-

* The wunicipality, being in this unpleasant
condition, 1s new appealing to the Provincial) in my opinion, itis better to meet the diffi-
Parliament tor a upon the Kround that, haviag culty and grapple with it. I do not think
given them these large powers, they are un pli- | that by holding Public Meetings and dogma-

; ; tically resolving that we won't go into
able estimate of Canadian public morality, and it 8 ‘
will be importaut to cousider What may be the| Unwwn, 19 the best way to. avers 46; ae
result of corruption in the constityencies, corrup- |!" @Y Opipion, the British Government will
tion in the representatives, and no immediate | TeQuire reasuns from us for opposing it, or
check between the demands yf the constituencies | decliping to go into it on the terms of the
and the public exchequer.” Quebse Conference.

We | go ia search of freights to other places. But|

‘amount of the money annually expended for pub-
/he works voted for the use of Prince Edward
Island, after deducting the amount required
| tor fortifications, of which I think we should in
justice pay a share, to be expended by our local
Legislature in such manner as this Island should
deem best. 1 would also propose so to amend
the 29th resolution, as to allow each Legislature
or Provinee to impose all taxes excepting impost
duties and postal dues, only requiring each Colo-
ny to previde its fair proportion of the amount
required to be raised for the use of the general
Government. 1 believe the above amendment
might be made without any injustice to any of
the Culonjes, or materially disturbing the pro-
posed plan of Confederation. That a union on
some terms will take place, I do not doubt, be-
lieving it to be out of the power of Prince Ed-
ward Island to prevent jt; and I believe it to be
the duty of those to whose charge is committed
the management of the political interests of this
Island, to lay aside all personal and party consid.
erations, aud earnestly to study how to obtain gd-
missien on such terms as will be most ganducive
to the prosperity of the Colony. I am aware
that, at present, the movement is an unpopular
one, aud that it is hard for men depending oy the
popular suffrages for their political position, to
stey) the tide of public opinion; nevertheless, it
is a duty they owe to their country and ons that
should be met fearlessly and honestly, atid I have
oo hesitation in saying thet if a union takes place
on terms affording us financial justice, there
would not, after five years, be found one man in
five who would advocate a return to the old sys-
tem of separation. It is argued by many that a
representation of only five members would have
no influence in a Parliament consisting of nearly
two hundred members; bat I cannot see that
there is any injustice done to Prince Edward Is-
land, a8 she gets her full share aecording to po-
pulation; and each electora) district on this
Island might, with equal reasen, say, that two
members would have no influenge in a House
consisting of thirty members. There might be
some grounds for sych reasoning if all the other
Colonies were combined against Prince Edward

would be thejr juterest, and that our prosperity
would add {¢ the prosperity of the general govern-

Island; but when we cousider that our interest.

fayor to one party would be as the expense
of the rest. Therefore, the frame-work of
'the constitution for the government of the
United Provinees appears to have been drawn
up with cireumspection, to ailow equal rights
toall parties ; and cofts:quently it has merited
and received the approval of the British Mi-~
nistry. Then, what object had oar Delegates
in view to mar the work of the Conference
by one demanding @ special grant of £200.-
0QUU, and another demanding an extra repre-
sentative to the Federal Legislature? To
me it has such an ugly look, t must leave it
to others to make their comments, and com-
pare the work of our leading wen with the
work of statesmen—the Kepurt of the Con-
ference drawn up at Quebec.

In that Report they propose, in general
terms applicable to the other Provinces, to
settle our Land Question. They offer what |
have agitated for, for upwards of thirty
years, to place the holders of property in this
Island on the same footing with the settlers
in the other Provinces. See the twenty-ninth
proposition in the Report of the Conference.
as follows :—

‘© 29. The General Parliament shall have
power to make laws for the peace, welfare
and good government of the Federated Pro.
vinces (saving the sovereignty of England.)
and especially laws respecting the following
subjects :

*» 23. Rendering uniform all or any of the
laws relative to property and civil rights in
Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Branswick,
Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island,
and rendering uniform the procedure of all
or any of the Courts of these Provinces ; but
any statute for this purpose shall have no
force or authority in any Province until sanc-
tioned by the Legislature thereof.’’

Although the above is made to apply to

five Provinces, it is in this Island where it is
especially required, where the agricultural
inbabitants who have reclaimed the land, and
supplied the first elements of commerce to
the community, are driven tu the necessity of
associating to save their property from per-
sons oluiming to be land owners, and yet
have no title, but the unconstitutiona! indul-
gence of Colonial Ministers, who have refused
to allow the law to be put in operation for
revesting forfeited lands in the Crown. And
to show the necessity of reform'ug the pro-
ceedings of our courts of law, to constitute
any perton a proprietor of land in this Is-
land requires no title; it is only necessary
for bim to procure some ignorant persons to
attorn and execute leases. Then he is a
proprietor according to our law, !vaving the
respoesibility of such a gross imposition on
the most ignorant and innocent persons.
But in the other Provinces there are Courts
for the investigation of titles, and for per-
sons claiming to be proprietors by holding
over furleited lands, could be inquised- into,
if they had such a title as would authorise
them to impose a rent upon Britis subjects
fur wild land.
The 15 Years Purchase Bill raised no
question of title, nor do | think the Tenants’
Petition to quiet parties in possession of
fishery reserves and liable tu arrears of quit
rent appears a Concessivn to all parties, and
to those who know little of the value of the
Proprietors, claims, the offer of the freehold
to the tenant, at 15 years purchase, would
appear a concession from the Proprietor.
But there is nothing in the Bull to prevent
the Federal Government settling the Land
Question. In the early settlement of Ame-
rca, persons of property obtained grants of
large tracts of land, to settle with
other persons. But the demands of the
grantees were complained of as exorbitant,
and British subjects had a right to be settled
by the Crown without being left to be settled
by a middle party, who is not responsible to
them, and may favor sowe and oppress
others. And this appears the reason for the
Conference at Quebec, requiring **a unifor-
— of the laws relative to property and
civil rights,’’ that the inhabitants shall have
no cause for complaint or discontent.

Bat the title to the lands of this Island de-
pends on its settlement with foreign Protes-
tants, for it is declared in every Township
grant that unless the lands are settied with
such persons, within four years from the
date of the grants, the Jands shall revert to
the Crown, and the grant shall be yoid and
of no effect. This was public notice to Brit-
ish subjects, that if the land was not settled
with foreigners it would be at the disposal
et the Crown, and consequently for se:tle-
ment with British subjects; and the refusal
of the Government to resume the land for the
settlement of the inhabitants is the wrong
the tenants have to complain of: and the
Escheat of Townships 15 and 55, and settle.
ment of the inhabitants in freehold, and

leaving all the reet of the tenants in bond
age, sete the wrong in a stronger light; and

after long agitation the wrong remains stil]

unredressed.

The report drawn ap hy the Conferengs
at Quebec shows its authors to be statesmen,
fit to administer the Government of @ nation,
They know that to release the tenants from
bondage will give a new impulse to industry
to increase property, and lead tu prosperity;
and they know that the more Prosperous
they can make a country the greater will be
its resources and revenue. No man of rense
will object to necessary taxation; and no
man fit to be a statesman will impose an up.
necessary tax. The prosperity of a country
and wellere of its people, is an honor
after by the stateemen who administer the
Government; and the Federal Government

proprietary Government and the inhabitants
are two parties with opposite interests—thg
one pretending Proprietors without a title,
and the other the men they have ensnared ag
tenants. And instead of a Government tg
give even handed juwtice to all parties, the
state craft is a system: of jugglery, to make
believe that they are legislating to set the
tenants free, while the object is to make be.
lieve they have gained a title for themselves,
to bird the tenants more and more. There.
fore, for the tenants to be placed on a foot.
ing with the settlers .n the other Provinces,
their safest course ie te sepport the Uniog
of this Island with the other Provinces,
WM. COUPER,

Sailors’ Hope, Feb. 24, 1865.

MEETING AT CARDIGAN.

A meeting of the inhabitants of New.
bridge, Cardigan, and vicinity, was held on
Thursday, 23d of Fetruary, to take into con-
sideration the advantage or disadvantage
that would accrue to this Island from a Con-
federation of the Colonies.

Allen Campbeli, Esquire, was appointed
to tuke the Chair. ae the menting was
duly organized, the Hun. A. A. McDonald
was requested to give an account of his
stewardship while a Delegate to the Confer-
ence. He responded to the invitation, and
gave a detailed account of the labors of the
delegation and Report in general.

Thomas Owen, Esquire, then requested

the Representatives :n Parliament, the Hon,
E. Thornton and Roald Walker, Esquire,
to express their opiaions on Confederation,
The Hon. E. Thornton then rose and —
at some length in opposition to Confe
tion. .
Mr. W. P. Lewis requested Ronald Walk.
er, Esquire, to express his views on the sub-
ject. He declined, saying that be thought
that some of the Unionists ought now to ad-~
dress the meeting, as he was an anti-union-
ist, as was his colleague, the Hon. E. Thorn.
ton.

Thomas Owen, Esquire, then rose and ade
dressed the meeting, expressing his views in
favur of Conlederasion, and concluded by
stating that the thanks of this meeting are
due to the Hons. Col. Gray, TI. Heath Hayi-
land, W. Ul. Pope, Sdward Whelan, and A.
A. McDonald, for their straight-forward
conduct while at the Conference.

Ronald Walker, Esquire, then rose and
addressed the meeting in opposition to union,
stating that P. E. Lsland was at present weil
enough.

Mr. W. P. Lewis then addressed the meet-
ing, and spoke at considerable length in favor
ot Union.

Mr. Thomas Clay also addressed the meet-
ing, aod expressed himself opposed to Union,

Mr. Jobn Kaneen expressed himself in
favor ot Union.

It was then moved by Thomas Owen, Esq.,
seconded by W. Alley, Esq:

Resolved, That this meeting consider it
ture to express any ojivion on tbe Contederation
of the North Awericas Colonies until an appeal
be made to the people threagh a general election,
and the action taken by New Brunswick and
Nova Seotia is known to the people of this Island,

Moved by Mr. W. P. Lewis, seconded by
Donald Stewart, Esquire,

Whereas, the Legislature of this Island did in
186-— reduce? the Government allowance to Teach
ers of the First Class from £55 to £40, render.
ing 1 obligatory on the part of the inbabitauts of
each Schoul District to raise £15, or more, ter
the deficiency of Teachers’ Salary; ard whereas
it offew happens that the School Trustees are put
to a great deal of treble and annoyance to com
pel many of their poorer neighbors to contribute
their share of such Gefjeieney, so that m any
cases the teacher os poorly paid or not paid at all:

Resolved, therefore, Vat it is the opinion of thin
meeting (bat the Legistature at its next Session
should increase the Goverument allowance to
School Masters te the sane amount as formerly,
and impose a swall additional public tas to meet
the proposed increase of the teachers” salaries.

Moved by Mr. W. P. Lewis, seconded by
T. Owen, Esquire,

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting are
due te the Hons. A. A. Meldonald, E. ‘Thornten,
and Renald Walker, Lsquire, for their attendauce
at this meeting.

After the usual votes of thanks were given
to the Chairman and Secretary for their im-
partial conduct, the Hop. B. fhornton pro-~
posed three cheers for the Queea, which was
lustily responded to.

W. P. Lewis thea proposed that the pron
ceedings of this meeting be sent to the Ex-
aminer for publication, and that the other
papers be requested to copy.

OC. A. ALLEY, Sec’y.

MEETING AT CASCUMPEG.

The very laudable course has been adopted by
the representatives of the first Electoral district of
Prince County, prior t« 2he meeting of the Legisla-
ture, to call meetings ia different localities in order
to hear an expression of opinion from their consti
tnents on such questions of iuterest as may then at-
tract public attention. A large and influen:ial
meeting of this description took place at Cascumpee
Temperance Hall on Thureday last, the 23rd Feb.
After the meeting was duly organized, Messrs
Conroy and Howlan, by request, expressed their
views at large on the, at present, all-important
question of Confederation ; the latter gentleman, in
particular, made one of bis most brilliant efforts,
and exposed at some length, the unsoundness of
principel on which the Quebec basis of Cenfeders-
ation was framed. Various speakers 04 both sides
of the question having expressed their opinion, the
following resolutions were then pat, and with the
exception of five nays to the second, were i
unanimously.

Resolved—That the thanks of this meeting are
respectfally teudered to the Represeutatives of the
District for calling wad attending this meeting,
and for the very able exposition of their views on
the Confederation scheme.

The second was moved by Mr. William Montgo-
mery:

Resolved—That however desirable it might be
to enter the proposed Coufederation of these British
North American Provinces on terms just and equit-
able, it is the decided opinion ot this meeting that
the terms of Union coatained in the Report of the
Quebec Conference are neither just nor equitable
to P. E. Island, aud therefore such as we cannot
uecept.

Moved by John Clark, Esq.

Resolved, That it ie the wish of this meeting
that the Representatives of this District do not
vote for the Union of the Colonies under the basis
laid down at the Quebec Conference, should the
matter be brought before the House of Assembly
at the ensuing Session.

Matters of a meicly local interest then occupied
the attention of the meeting. After expressi
their approval of the impartial manner in whi
the Chairman had performed his duties, and agree-
ing that the above resolations be printed, the
meeting finally closed.

The madersigned begs to apologize to the gentle-
men who seconded the above resolutions, as the
Secretary having leit the meeting, a record of theit
names was not taken.

JAMES FORSYTH, Senr., Chairman.
—=—oe

(FOR THE EXAMINER.)

Ata —_ meeting of the Inhabitants of Horse
Head, Lot 1, held iu the School House in the
said place, on the 28th February, for the purpose
of changing the name of the lvcality, Mr. Loeb
lin Shea being called to the chair, it was pro
posed by William Shea, Senr. and carried unani-
mously that in future the name “ Saint Andrew's,
Lot 1,” be used iastead of “ Horse Head” a8
before. i

Ordered that the proceedings of this meeting
be sent to the Examiner and Hcrald newspapers,
for publication.

LOCHLIN SHEA, Chairman.
St. Andrew's, Lot 1, March Ist, 1865.
—2-a>-
CHARLOTTETOWN LITERARY AND
DEBATING SOCIETY.

it be direct or indirect,” was discussed with lively

great importance of the subject, it was agai
adjourned, and will de continued ou next Friday
evening, the 10th instant. Should the next

bate bo sustained in the same spirited mauner a

the a very pleatant evening will be en,
by the : F. LONGWORTE
Mareh 6th, 1865,

can only have that ooject in view}; but g

:

The adjourned question of “Taxation, should —

iuterest on last Friday evening; but owing tothe —

Ser
Bis
‘2

Pe ee

a
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