New Brunswick, Mr, Palmer, tor Prince Edward Island and seme one else tor Nova Seotia ne doubt, comp'ain that these Provinces are net te have represeniatives enough in the Federal [ar- When seme one is found clever enue igh a sian which shall give every Province, 5 creed, and peeuliar in-

hament. to devise aeetion ot Previnee, race, terests, a majority in the same legislatare, we shail of couree, be abie satisty ail these grumbiers. But until that time it will be q tite impossible, and we shall have te cuatent oe yee with an arrangement which shall satiely al ea Such an arrangement is Repre-

to

sonable ne. wr _ » *opulatien.

eS dicpirened at the idea that the Confederation is to construct the Later-culocial | Railway, to open Gp communication with the

North-west. and to improve the canals of Upper

Canada ‘These improvements will cost a vast | anewut of money, and Priuce Edward Isiand | will help te pay for them. Lo place of beneli ting | by tuem. however, be expects bis Province to) suffer ‘The canais and the railway will bring the

agricultural predyce of Upper Canada down te | the Llaliax and St. Johu markets, where, if| things were rightly ordered, Priace Edward | Islaud ought, as nearly as possible, to have a} monepely. Leat it be thought that we are jesting, | we will quele the ge otleman’s words, supplying the St. Jobn and Halifax markets with the grain and other agricultural produce which is

to come duwna from Upper Canada se svon aa the | re-coustracted and widened |

western canals are «foc the devel pment of the trade of the West with the seaboard,”’ as stipulated in reportot the delegates. Ii to this island, it will, 1 dare say, participate pretty largeiy ia it.”’

And again :—

* Every one can form some idea of the enormous expense of pulling down and re-building the lucks of cavals and deepening these communications, well as the vast sum of money becessary tu wake highways mte the North-west territory. When performed, the benefit these stupendous works wil! evofer on Prince Edward Island would not, | sup- pose, be d fieult to estimate. The Grand Trunk Railway would be better fed, and the markets of St. Jobo and Halilas the better supplied with what is pow furnished by this island.”

dreat the

There is model old fogy certainly. What a fine thing Cuntederation would have been if, in place of providing the weans for effecting great public jroprevements, it had contained a proviso that the peuple of Halitax and St. Joho should buy their breadstuifs from Prince Edward Jand Some ove has said that patriotism is but an en- larged «pecies of selfishness. mee’s patriolisia answers that deseriptivn exactly

It would be tov much, of course, to expect vin te;

see the advantages, from an enlarged market and increased facilities for interchauge of cou modi-

cerely desirous of amelivrating their conditivn. |

Ile says : | «[t(the railway) will offer great facilities for |

this be an advanctaze |

as |

| | |

Lt —_ _ -

i : r j ; ‘ — } of every duty, public or private, appertaining to | the office 7

As the names of which we have just made hon-

minently connected with the measure in its pas- sage through our Legislature, demands that we should, toa very considerable extent, exonerate him from the condemnation so justly due to his proprictary colleagues in the Government: we) mean the Hen. Coleuel Gray, We have always | admitted that that hon. geatleman was, as be) men for our zovernors, should always be given to |

professed to be, deeply interested in the state of natives. To prevent such a misapprebension of our notions with respect to that pvint, we think it necessary to say that we are as much opposed to nativeism as to nepotism; thinking that, at all times, the appointinent to our public offices, from

the highest to the lowest, should invariably be

the tenautry, aud that, actuated by the must or}

i i

seHish and generous motives, he was most sin-

|

He, however, unfortunately mistook the mode of

effecting such amelioration; and hence our op- position to his so-called measures for the wileon! made from amongst those who, on account of of the tenant grievances. Had he had it in his} their own individual merits, independently of any | power to follow the bent of his own paturally | consideration of the places of. their birth, or of (iberal inclinations, touching the question of pro- their relationships, or connections, are the best prietary claims, as opposed to justice and the | enatled to them ; and this just principle, as regu- well-being of the Colony, we believe his parlia-| lating the selection of our officials, both high and mentary endeavors to bring about an equitable | low, will, we doubt not, be carried to a much adjustment of the differences betweeu the indivr | greater extent than it has hitherto ever been al- duals, by courtesy called proprietors, and the | lowed to prevail under any form or system of go- leaseholders, or occupants of the lands, w hether | vernment which has existed in this Colony. Here | successful or not, would have met with the full} again is an argument of no little strength in favor approbation of every truly honest and intelligent of Federation; but it would appear much stronger man in the community. Colonel Gray's unlucky | indeed, could we, in connection with it, lay before alliance—entered into at the commencement ot| our readers a simple history of the selfish and ar- nie public career in this Island, and continued, as| bitrary sway, which, before the establishment of it has been, almost up to the present moment— | Respousible Government in the Colony, was ex with the proprietary faction, bas been unfortu-| ercised over it by a knot of officials, closely unit- nate, both for the best interests of the Colony, and ed by the ties of blood and marriage ; and who ap- fur his own reputation, as a statesman. But such | propriated to themselves and a few of their im-

ja crisis in the state of oar public affairs has

mediate subservient dependents every post or

arrived, that, should that hou. gentleman now re-| office of trust, honor, or emolument, at the dispo-

|

}

solve to free himself at once from the evil influen-| sal of the Government, which was entirely in

ces, by which, perhaps almost unknown to him-| their own hands, to the utter exclusion of all

| self, he has been too much governed ; and, in pur-| others, however great and undeniable their indi-

suance of such resvjution, should he, at the same | vidual worth and merits-

| | time, openly declare himself the steadfast, uncom- promising friend of the tenantry, determined

—should he be so cireumstanced, under the fast

approaching new order of our Culonial affairs, as,

jiu conjunction with political associates of the

This knot of officials, commonly styled “ the Famiiy Compact,” in the height of their power, bestrid our narrow Isle asa veritable Briarean Colossus,

“And we, petty men, Walked under its huge legs, and peeped about To tind ourselves dishonorable graves ;

Certainly Mr. Pal- |

}same mind as bimeelf, to find himself so strong |

for that appeared to be the only privilege ot which they had not deprived us. On the estab- lishment of Responsible Government, against the |

| | that he may most reasonably calculate upon the jattaunment of his object—to leave nothmg unat-

which we sbail then possess, to effect the com-| jytroduction of which into the Colony they con-

plete emancipation of our agricultural population-

Sar —————— eS

THE GOVERNMENT.

Tue following Correspoudence appeared in the Istanpenof Friday last. Itshews how deeply dis-

they had pitched Mer. Palmer overboard as an ob-

| structive and mutinous member of the crew :—

Cuartorrerowns, 7th January, 1869.

Sin.—The undersigned members of the Executive Council of this Island, beg to tender to you the expression of their deep regret, caused by your re- signation of the office of President of the Council and a member thereof. They beg leave, at the sume time, to signify to you their high appreciation of the wisdom and ability displayed by you, while presiding over their deliberations, and leading in the Assembly the Government of this Istand.

Indulging the hope that, under existing circum- stances, you may be induced to re-enter the Executive, and again oceupy the position from

recently retired — they begto requestthat you will,

with this object, allow

to His Exenlbeey for re-appointment.

We have the honor to be, Sir, Very faithfully your obedient servants, (Signed) Jamis Yo,

Joun Loxaworrh, Davin Kare, JAMES MaCLAREN, WwW. rere.

Colonel the Hon. J. H. Gray, &c. &c. &e.

Inkerman Hovusx, 7th January, 1865. GENTLEMEN;

them to submit your name |

orable mention, are all those of natives of the Is-| tressed the Government have been at the retirement | proper to pursue. In resigning, the Presi- |

the Monitor, bow deeply the Government | the institution, and revived some pleasing re-

would be compromised by the extraordinary

course which that gentlemen had thought

land, some, from that fact, may be ready to infer of Col. Gray, and how anxious they are to get bim ident of the Executive Council took care that | vf the most agreeable Concerts of the Season, that we think the preference in the seleetion of) back again as Captain of the Ship of State, after|

his reasons for that step should be fully and} distinctly stated. Those submitted to a quorum of the Qouncil—| consisting of Mr. Palmer, Mr. McLaren, Mr. Yeo, Mr. Kayey Mr. J. Longworth, and Mr. W. Hl. Pope. Mr. Palmer made a pretence | to meet the ‘‘reasons’’ by bringing forward |

‘‘reasons’’ were

the substance of one of Lis published letters | in the Monitor, written with the view to palliate his duplicity at Toronto, and which

‘had, in fact, caused Col. Gray to resign. which, to the great regret of the undersigned, you |

The Councillors above named, with the ex- ception of Mr. W. H. Pope, whu was a dissenting party, attached all the weight they could possibly do to Mr. Palmer's (so- called) explanation or reply, and advised the Lieut. Governor to accept Col. Grav’s resig- nation almost instanter. There was no time given for enquiry into the facts of the case ,— Mr. Palmer, very improperly and indecently,

your letter of this date.

Laccept with much pleasure the expressions con tained in this communication as an acknowledgment ou your part, that iu retiring from the honorable

was actuated solely by a due regard for the honor of the Government of this Island. Notwithstanding the retirement fromthe Execu- tive of the Honorable Edward Palmer, which has just been communicated to me, I regret to inform you that there are considerations which prevent me from allowing my name to be submitted to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, us requested by yon, for re-appointment as President of the Executive Council. I have, &e. J. Hamitton Gray. Messrs. The Honorables James Yeo, John Long worth, David Kaye, James Maclaren, W.U.Pope. ee an THE COLONi‘AL MINISTER'S DE3- PATCH ON CONFEDERATION.

SevERAL opponents of Confederation seem tu

think they may find some crumbs of comfort

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of |

position of President of the Executive Council, 1 |

remained at the Beard, and influenced its |

| decision by his presence and bis voice. In

) chore, he voted on the question — Whether jhe was right, or whether Col. Gray was right? It is very clear that he must have done this, from the nature of the circum- stances. There were only five Councillors pre- 'sent besides himself—it requires five to make la quorum and give efficacy tou yote. Now, ‘take Mr. W. HL. Pope away, who was op- posed to the acceptance of Col. Gray's resig- nation, and it is clear that Mr. Palwer must have been one of the five who passed tlie vote.

But this is, perhaps, not the worst feature in the affair. From the time that Col. Gray resigned up to the present hour he has not been furnished with a copy of Mr. Palmer's ‘reply’? to his **reasons’’ for resigning, and which reply, we have been told, was so satis-

| maintained the nominative plan, except P. E. Is-

in the despatch from the Colonial Office, ap- |

proving of the Plan of Confederation, taken | @¢tory to the Council, that they did not he-

ties, which Prince Fdward Island will obtain | from the Cuion, He can only see the advantages | which others are to reap; bis own dv not come | within the range of his vision at all. Like every other sati confederationist, Mr. Pal- | aner drags in the question of defence, and bases | upon it an argument against the Unien. His! Government, great difficulties are that the Federal Goveroment | went, and wh will tax the peuple to raise money for purposes of | : ee : detence, but will not spend any of the cash in both in the Cabinet and the Legislature, could not building fortifications upen Prince Edward Is-| fail to carry him to the very summit of his most Sand; and that, in the event of war, they will take Prinee Edward Islanders away to fight in Upper fanada! Dreadful, is it not? If fortifications | be built at ail, they shew d be built where they| the great mass of are most needed—not where local politicians are} £ guest anxious to have contracts given out aod the money expended. It would be exceedingly wicked

trom the crushing thraldem in which they are at present heli—he would soon find himself the honored and trusted leader of a party sufficiently numerous and united to enable him to form a purified from the proprietary ele ©, zealously co-operating with him,

honurable ambition—that of being acknowledged

gyptian bondage,

We thus speuk of, and indirectly address our

on the part of apy Goverument to spend moneys | self to the Hon Colooel Gray, not because we re- |

appropriated for purposes of defence, under pres- gard him as the only one ameng our public men sure of such sectional demands as those which | ; wow tow atten decide the distribution of our eolo-| nization grants. ‘The other complaint is, if pes- | honest, to be called upon to undertake the wission sible, even more preposterous. The people of the | of tenant emancipation. Nu: we are, indeed, whole Confederation would be quite as much very far from thinking so; but we would now, at beund te defend Upper Canada in case of need, o as they would be te defend Prince Edward Is-| the preseut erieis, mustgladly see this patriotic | land or any other section under the same cirevm-| mission entered upon by Colonel Gray—-under stances, but uot one whit more. We have ne doubt that Mr. Palmer, in common with most |

who is either sufficiently experienced, talented o1

such auspices as those which we have clearly iv-|

tempted, through the increased legislative power, | i j |

| practised upon them, by wolves in sheeps* cloth-

tended with all their might and with quite as

asa whole. The Colonial Minister has made

i many ands, at least, if wot with quite as many ; : ‘ : : : - | two suggestions, which, if adopted, he thinks

| heads, that 1s of heads worthy of being so called,

; ; ' 2an il vement of the Plan; but | as Briareus warred with against the Gods; but would be an improvem t

| their fate, in their unholy war against the rights | #§ mast be apparent to every one that they

| of the people, was similar to that of Briareus and | 87 not in the form of objections that could | the other giaats, in their attempt to depose Jupi- | interfere with the adoption of the measure. Some of the epponents of Confederatian at- | ter, bound in a hundred chaius, and thrust under| tempt to shew that the British Government

| Mount JEtna, so were they overcome by the is unfavorable to Confederation—

|ter; and as Briareus was dashed down by mats

the liberator of the tenantry of his natwe land—| [Leaders of our Liberal Party, thrust out a First—Because the Secretary of State re- its populativon—from their} what to them was “ outer darkness ’—namely,

commends a reconsideration of the clause

exclusion from the power and emolumeuts of of | which proposes to confine the Prerogative of

fice—and so kept, by the restraining weight of) pardon to the local authorities. The Colo-

nial Minister appears to think that the prero-

gative should rest with the Crown, or its stituencies having been won over to the Tory | representative, the Governor General. a

f Second—Because the Colonial Minister

| apprehends that difficulties might arise be-

| tween the two branches of the Federal Legis-

our Liberal Constituencies, so long as these con- stituencies continued true to their principles and themselves. In 1857, however, some of these con-

rauks, by means of the deception successfully

iung—some of their old Egyptian task-imasters | auda fey fanatical political parsons—all (hat Lad ‘lature, and it would be impolitie, perhaps, been dene fur the people, by the Liberals, was| not to provide a remedy by increasing here-

A ce em

British Awericans, bas been accustomed to com-| Licated — because he is the only man of liberal! simost as completely undone, “as all had never] after, in cases of necessity—(although he

plain bitterly of these Englishmen who propose that, io case thease Provinces were invaded, they shoeld be teft to take care of themeelves; Lut his ewn doctrine, as applied te the different seclivns of British America, is vastly worse.

Mr. Palmer enters into some rather roundabout finaueial caleulafions whieh we da vet profess preetsely to comprehend, exeept iadeed that they

euter the Confederatum, would have to pay sowe- | thing ly the federal treasury. This genera! point} we can freely comecde, willeut understanding or | endorsing Mr. Palwera eseadelians, but we must insist that the Idaud #68 uly psy ite due pro-| gertion. These are, in the coneumstanees of that! isolated colwug, reasene which induce the moat

tutedligent amd progressive of ils peaple w believe Caunut, We feel convineed, be found ene who is

that i wa get benefit a return, fally eoumen- surate wih ite coutributions, Taauc sian. thee

| tendencies amongst us, who — in addition to the | heey”; aud the Briarean Culossus—the Old Fa- |

ueedful sincerity and talent--possesses that pres-

wily Compact—iu nearly ail its foruer integrity | tige of success wich, in all such cases, is impart | and strength, has ever since exercised its old ar- ed toa man, by the possession of wealth and inde-

bitrary and sellish sway, with respect to, every

pendeut pusitiou, aud by freedow, iu all his pri-

| departuent of our little State; and throughout the

) vate relations, from any connection, by the influ! length and breadth of the Island, they have ex: | auean that Proce Edward Island, if it should |

enee of which it might be suspected or supposed i ercised the most odious spirit of revenge oguiaet | he would, for the furtherance of private ends, be | all whow they could reach, amongst those who seduced from the path of public integrity and | had houestly and couscieutiously opposed their |

duty. | return to power.

does not say so in direct terms)—the num-

ber of members in the Upper Livase, or mak- |

ing such other modification in its proposed character as might be called fur by some ex- traordinary emergency. ~-

sitate to recommend the acceptance of Col. Gray's resignation, It was bad enough to condemn the President in his absence, with- out enquiry, and t» accept the special plead- ing of the Attorney General at a place where he hadnorightto be,under the circumstances; but it was very discreditable not to have furnished him with a copy of the ‘treply’’ under which Mr. Palmer obtained his justi- fication,

Now let us come to the second act of this drama. When the Councillors, above named, found that Col. Gray was not so much in the wrong as they at first supposed, they held a meeting, and thereupon determined that Mr. Palmer should be reguired to resign his place at thé Board, with the view of muk- We may be toldyby some apologist of the Ad- ministratien, that Mr. Palmer's resignation was a voluntary one. We know better. Chis was the position in which the Govern- ment stood: if Mr. Palmer continued in the

ing roomfor the return of Col. Gray.

j |

And, Tiird—Because Her Majesty's Gov- |

ernment, through Her Prineipal Secretary of State for the Colonies, express their

“earnest hope that the arrangements which | doubt,by that easy morality which influenced

| i

|

Council it would have been irretrievably broken, because he had not the power and influence requisite to reconstruct it after Col. Gray and Mr. James C. Pope retired. He!

was forced ta go. The post of honour had tv}

be given up: the place of pelf is still coavul- | in that Confederation being evidently the means of

}

sively grasped; and Mr. Palmer, guided, no

Among the quiet, thinking, practical class of| But here, whilst thus justly reflecting upon the | may be adopted may not be of such a nature his conduct at Toronto, evidently thinks that | our fellow colunixts, whom we wow address, there | arrogant, selfish, arbitrary, and exclusive prqc-| as to increase, ad least in any considerable de- 00 principle of honour 1s involved in holding

“ubable to appreciate the great advantages, to)

} might have thought, the knowledge of their ori- | waterial addition to the taxation, and tliere- | classic ground.

| tices of the Old Family Compact, to whom, one | gree, the whole expenditure, or to make any }on to the ‘flesh pots.’’ ‘This reminds us of by

We wonder if the Attorney

the whole of our Island community, which would | gin might have taught the becominguess ot | by retard the internal industry, or tend to General will sit—(in imagination) —*“by the

Teaseuls gre goud exes, but if the Jslapders peeter : ; . eelation aud exclusiveness ty uuion cad Povgtess, | spring fromthe direct boon ty our farmers ot | modesty and mevkness on their part, even when there ys we ces bem a help 4 it. €f the, emancipation from the grinding tyrauuy, tu which atthe very height of their adventitious exalte-| éarger Provinees of the Canadas, with at rrtery they ar biee 1 » a s .

: a *y are gubjiected under the “Ys . ~ cal al ‘ mationd | vast eowugh fer an empire, can affurd to mathe) : ; r ee eben | tone SS Par eee 8 0 sacrifices tor the eake of bringing about the confe- | Weeeber eri —the leasehold systeut: aud when ; spirit, to cast a glance at the conduct of some ot | abe Fat veo of the British Amexican Pr. vinges, | ouer, lige curecl’, fully eunvineed, as, we trust} those by whom they were, for a time, justly, and | surely the little Island for whieh Mr. Palmer is!

Alttoruey General, ean afford to pay ik teuwards the attainment of euch @ grins. Bu imyertant dy Canadians deew the additian vu! twenty-five per ceut to the population and power ef theie country, that the advocates of Catite- deration here deem the abstract idea ef * anion"

wue of their trong avyumeuts Burely thie iden) every man of them will, we doubt ast, be ready) gid firuest friends, if, whilst in power, they bad}ed that those who may be entrusted with | Council, what does it prove? Just this—the |

waght to be of soue aceount te the colonial whose

couutry will be increased furtyfeld by the federal |

union of these Provinercs.

The Tereute Leapeu—a sound Conservative;

paper, which, we believe, Me. Palmer choughit |

ebare |

they sues avill be, that Federation would ufford | beneficially for the country, superseded. Some us the full means, both legislative aud pecuniary,| of chose liberals and reforuiers would have look- —which, be it observed, we can gow become pos-) 4 wo worse in the eyes of the general public— sessed ofiu pe ether way—whereby this emanet-| ‘

pation cuykl be fairly aud eoupletely effected ; | bly aud kindly regarded by sume of their best

}tv admit that this fact is, in itself, se powerful! an argument ia faxeres the propased Federation,” Gomination, jess wubecomme hauteur 12 thei

| that scarcely aputler cau be reguired to prove) wanuers; and had, in fact, known how to impose |

that our wisest caurse would be to accede iv the

something lke a mora) martingale upon the

country.”

The latter observation by the Colonial | choly proof of his selfishness and mercenary Minister cannot be regarded as an objection. | wotives, as to show that he considers honour | 3. Resolved, That the

‘impose new burdens on the commerce of the) Waters of Babylon and weep

| |

*9

over the fate of a politician who has given such a melan-

Lie “Lope” expressed is that whicu will be | nothing in comparison to the holding of an

al Government; and it may be fairly assum-

|

| to the people of the Confederated Provinces | way

}common te us all —it will be ever present, Office, merely by sufferance, from which he

draw three or four handred pounds a

. , t tana’ vay, indeed, would have been mitch more favora- throughout the whole working of the Feder-| year.

Turnicg now to the letter of the Executive

ae . . ; .s ” Pee wauifested leas disposition tu exercise arbitrary |the management of affairs under the new) Councillors believed Mr. Palmer was wroug, Constitution will not risk the luss of public and they shelved him accordingly : they | opinion on their behalf, by making ** any | believed Col. Gray was right, and they begg-|

material addition to the taxation, and there-/ed him to come back to their company

worthy of his patronage while in Toronto—takes | t¢rms—perhaps still, however, to be. considerably

} . . # “i } our Attorney General to task uo less foreilly than | modified for our advantage—on which it is pro-

| Spizit af their newly-assumed dignity, and have}

by retard the internal iudustry.”’ comperted theumelves, in their new-bura state, |

the Girone for his extraordinary conduct in now opposhig a measure which he advocated at Cogonto. After some general remarksou the anunimi! y which tharucterised the proceedings at the Q@uelee Con- ference, tive Leaven, in an able article in its isaue of the 22n@ ultimo, thus alludes to Mr. Pa! mer :—

“ pie gentleman has published a long |etter, in the [sland papers, giving the grounds of luis oppo sition; and Mr. Pope, aco-delegate and a wjnisterial cvlleayue, bus published a letter ju reply. Sat this reply, it must be observed, does nut go into the merits of the case; i ouly deals with the asinor «nestion of the inconsistency of Me. Pahuer. Ou tiis poiut, Mr. Pope has uade out his ease ; but we submit that he has pot attempted enough. It is not sufficient to show that Me Palmer said oue thing at tee dejeuner given tu the deleyutes at Toronto and auotver and totally different thing after his returt home. We do not think Mr. Paluer’s rea sous for his ineousistency good; fer it he was obliged to speak, at Torouto, he was not obliged to

#ay any thing pointedly in favor of a measuxe of}

whieh he disapproved.

“* Bat, after a argumeuts rather than with hisiuconsistency. objections are chiefly fingneial; and as there is a ttrong disposities with as to beliewe that Prince Edward Island bas rather got the beat of the bar fein, cu this respect, his objections, conga. tran an}

1, we have te de with Mr Pa) mer's' of a personage it would be most desirable, under lis)

| posed that weshall enter ipte it, Other argu-; | ments, Lowerer, we have get to adduce, te prove: | how much it would be for our benefit to enter in

; te the Federation, and to do so now at onee ness.

;

with at least a greater outicard shew or sem- blance «f that modesty which is the aca’ | ing accompaniment of tive werth aud real ne . But we wust eriticiee mildly, remenber-| whilst we still have it in our pewer, to a couside- | ing that few, unaceustomed te stand upon the} rable exteot, to make our own conditions; and) heights ar pinnacles of power, fail to grow giddy befare the oppertunity te do so shall have com-) when elevated to thew fraw the Luwble Jevel to} | pletely passed away from us, aud we shall, 220°) which they originally Belonged. } | lens rolene, be wade a party to it by the cuaction |

| of the Jwperiad Parliawent. i ; atc j however, as that which we believe is tikely to! Poderation will be the freaing vs from | be the most popular,

Yo this argument, }

if wot the streegest, we | tating control of such petty tyranny, at once and | give precedence ; and we shall endeavor to sus) fy ever, and we shall no longer be periodically |

| tain it by others, in the order in which, aecord- | distracted and annoyed, disgraced aud disgusted, |

| ing to our own estimation of their weight and) py the paltry intrigues and squabbles fer office, unportance, if xecius proper te advance them. whiek bave, for some years back, preceded, at- Meat then we proceed to consider what sort teyded, and followed every general eleetion.—

| Our publie men, compelled Lo become statesmen jthe eperation of the Federal Constitution, to in reality, wiil throw aside the uarrowmindedness have placed at the head of our Local Executive) and illiberality of party ; and, with an ample field | Most peaples are averee to the government) ond fairer and dobler allurewents, fer their am-

free as possible.

It will) It is the most remarkable case of a reversal o! | | be the duty, as it will, no doubt, be the de- judgment that has ever come under our) sire of the Federal Government, to avoid the notice.

{t is an emphatic condemnatien, by

im position of new and unnecessary burdens, | the Councillors themselves, of an act pre- and to make the commerce of the country as! yjously done by them. Those penitent and |

self-convicted Councillors ‘* deeply regrett-

With regard to the first suggestion of the ‘ed’? Col. Gray's resignation ~ (such are, Colonial Minister, relating to the i’reroga-| substantially, the words they use) — they

tive of Pardon—-it eannot be supposed fhat

Government on this subject.

tive of Pardon should be vested in the Crown or its immediate Representative.

As regards the second suggestion, touch- ing the Constitution of the Upper Branch of the Legislature in the new Federation—the several Colonial Legislatures will, no doubt, give it the most earnest consideration. The

opposite point, will probably help die scheme here | of strangers—as witness the reluctance of the more thaw it will damage itthere. He claims for’ Jrish and of the Scots to submit to the Saxen oe! Prince Edward Island an exceptional position, ou) , : the question of defence, to which we eaunot see| English rule; the expulsion, from their country,

bition before them, their miuds}wid expand with the expausion of the stage upon which they are

puint is one upoa which ample concession may be made to the opinions of Her Majes-

| privileged or called upow tw act. Here again

that she is entitled. Byr even if it could be proved that her present position is preferable to what it would be as a member of the Canfederutium, he is bound to consider whether things eau al ways go on aus they ave. What woubl be the fyture posi

of the proposed Confederation! Could «ie, when the day for it would come, sustain a seperate exis

tence! Dr. Palwer thinks she could remain out

side as a spectator of an experiments) Lujon, and!

become a member of it whenever it might eait her Wishes or interest to do ao. Bat it is dangerous to #peculate ou such contingencies. Ble kuows the terms upou which she can enter now ; bu! she does hot know the terms to which she may have to sub- mit if, asa supplicant for admission, she were, at some future time, to kuock at the door ef tiie Union Mr Palmer has conceived a faatastic idea of the Advantages of isulation to the Island. A local Go- Vvernment it would still have, under the Union; and isolation means helplessness in every sense The best illustration of this may be fouud jn the fuet that Mr. Cunard and two-or three other island proprietors have more tlluence at the Colonial Ulfice than the local Government. But if she wert to Downing Street, iu the name ot the Cou- federation, she would vo longer be in danger of being overpowered by the opposing influence of individuals. Bat Mr. Palmer has selected, of all other points of objection that of whieh lie is least eutitled to avail hinmelf—the question of de*euce. The defence 64 a country depends upon its people ; and assaredly if there is any part of Brivish Ameri- ca whieb cannot perform that duty for itself, it is| Prince Edward Noland. It poinis to the British | fleet. Boumy Nova Seatia, New Branswick aad Lower Ca a, a8 high up as Quebec ; and the up- eo country muy place a similar hope i) gunboats sut this is not the whole question of defence ; the Previnces wwust belp theuselves, and there is no groaud ou which Prinee Edward Island can claim exemption from the counnon lot.

————_>o—_____

THE UNION QUESTION. No. 3.

Coxreperarion with THE Brrrisu Pro- VINCES, OR WITH THE AMERICAN RepuBLic —WiHICH IS THE MST DESIRABLY !

IN our coudemmation of the Pifteen Years’ Purchase Aet.and, by implication most wudoubt- edly, also of the parties who bed the chief hand in the framing of it, we have certainly not been over gentle in our language ; but we have sa d ys more than what we really think and intended to say of the abortive measure. - Simple justice, how- ever, to one hun. Re Adal yuu :

| ns

ition off ‘ 7 Prince Edward Island, standing alone by the side) Countries—and, whey at liberty, or called apon

om.

ofthe Austrian authorities, by the Swiss; and) then js another benefit, which Federation will the emancipation of themselves frogs the yoke of | oui fer upon us; aud, cunseguent!ly, auother ar- Spain by the people of the Netherlands or Lew | gument in faver of it.

* *

chilled viicnninintead / PUBBLIC MEETING AT FORT AUGUSTUS ON THE UNLIOXY OF THE COLONIES.

to make a free election of their rulers, would al- most invariably select them from amongst them- selves. Iu this poiat of view, we should clearly be benefited by Federation. It has been truly * ss Sort

observad, that many of our Colonial perplexities | y peidiprengiase 5 ey es toe ns ec | Wednesday the Ith inst., to explain his views for bave been caused orjnercased by governors, who, | :

| opposing the proposed Uxion of the Colonies. It

entering upon the duties of their appointments | wus intended to be a meeting of his own constitu-

with ideas and notions peculiar to themselves, ents, but many from other districts attended, and have adopted party views, and, by doing &o,| at half past two the Clair was taken by Samuel have augmented puble difficulties and djseon-) Lane, Esq., of Lot 49, and a Secretary being ap- tent; or they kawe been aeedy hangers-on upon the | Imperial Government or aristocracy, to wham ap-| explained the principles of the Constitution agreed pointments to Colonial Governorships aforded | 2 by the Delegates; but at the same time stuted temporary relief from their private pecuniary em- teat ue a ot hag coger yr pete guy barrassinente, and who, satisiied with drawing | 0! JUs#<e net having beeu done to this carga

er

‘ . 5 s . | therefore he had not signed the Copstitation. the amount of their salaries, regarded nothing | Mr. Coles bad fully shown the loss that P. E. Is.

nla..206 wore quite jndiherent to tho well-being} land would sustain by the additional taxatien, und of the peoples, over whom they wore eutrusted | the seyeral objections he had to the Constitution,

Agreeably to Public Notice, a meeiing was held

pointed, Mr. Coles came forward and for two hours

} |

with gubernatorial powera, Under the operation |

of the Federal Constitution, such truly objection-

jable and injurious appointments would not be

made; but, om the coutrary, the severa) Coluuial Goveruors would be selected, by the Federal or General Government, from the leading meno in the Provinces, and in the making of such selections due regard could not fail to be paid to the wishes of the several provincial eommunities.as expressed through their parliamentary representatives, both in their individual Loeal Legislatures and in the Federal Parliament ; and who 18 there amongst us, possessed of one spark of the generous spirit of patriotism, who, in the event of such a selec- tion, as respects ourselves, falling upon a Coles, a Gray, a Davies, or a Longworth, would no hail the appointment as one, upor whieb the whole people might safely rely, for an impartial regard to the well-being of the several classes and individuals composing our Island community,

or an hover right : 6

Resolutions were moved and carried ynanimously, thanking Mr. Coles for the independent stand he bad taken, aud requesting the representatives of the District to oppose the Union of this Island, in their Legislative capacity. The several proposers aud seconders of the Resolutions spoke briefly but determinedly to oppose any Union, believing that no beneficial results would follow, aad nothing but incre sed taxation, which is now too heavy fora r nt paying people.

Hon. F. Kelly then came forward. and in a tell- ing speech opposed the Union. Thanks were given to the Chairman, who spoke favourably of | the movements of Tenant Union, and in favor of a Resolution to carvy out every legal means to resist paying rent untila reasonable purchase could be effected with the Proprietors.

i

Three cheers were then given for the Queen, three cheers for Messrs. Coles and Kelly and the Chairman, when the meeting broke up, being the most numerous as Well as unanimous that ever met in that part of the country —Com.

ty’s Government without disturbing the general Plan ef Confederation. There ean be no serious objectien fo such an alteration us would ieave the number of Legislative Councillors undetermined; or sueh a one as would provide for the vacation, by lot, of a certain number of them at stated periods. Concessions being made to the opinions of the Crown on the two not very important points herein referred te, we have the assur- ance of the Secretary of State, that the gen- eral Plan of Confederation adopted at the Quebec Conference is ‘* the best framework of a measure to be passed by the Imperial Parliament ;’’ and in carrying it into effect through the locel Legislatures, Her Majes- ty’s Government have promised, in the most golemn and authoritative manser, to ‘‘render all the assistance in their power.”’ ——_—__~~+.>e—____— GOVERNMENT PERPLEXITIES AND FOLLIES.