enn,

Weekly

‘This is true Liberty, when Freel

Vol. XV.

Hournal of Lolitics,

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Ist

20rn Men, having to advise

dd

Litera

: Monday, Februar

ture, w

the Public, muy speak

free.”’---Euripides.

‘'y 20, 1865.

nd Alews.

ee a Ee

New

eries.---No, 12.

20. Sanking, Incorporation of Banks, and | mation, the 69th section of the Re

OBSERVATIONS UPON THE PRO-.

CONFEDERATION MEETING.

| the first law officer of the Crown, in t

his

vocates, Charles Lord Grey, when he raised | troduced by it, could not fail to affect them

port of | the issue of paper money. j . Savings Banks. Weights and Measures. Bills of Exchange and Promissory

Colony, and as—now at least, whatever else he may have appeared to be in Canada—a determined and persevering opponent of the Confederation Scheme.

‘the Conference, which is as follows : 69. ‘Western Territory, and the improvements

POSED UNION OF THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES,

READ BEFORE

his voice in its favour, in the House of Com-| most injuriously in every branch of trade aad mons, could scarcely obtain a hearing. Its/ traffic in which they might be engaged. advocates, however, nothing daunted Ly the} But that with which the Unionists have

The Town Meeting, held on Friday , in the Colonial Building, ealled

' | ee : . he communications with the Merth- | ; evening last

}

BEING A PAPER

THE CHARLOTTETOWN LITERARY AND tae

DEBATING SOCIETY, 9 ntercet. p 3 By tHe Hon. W. H. POPE, Con. Secretary - aa — regarded by this Conference as subjects of lottetown, was attended b

Srd February, 1863 Bankruptey and Insolvency.

—_ : *atents of Invention and Discovery. : : Ar th 4 ae on ear —— mratarmnbetucstenns J liest possible period that the state of the At the request o: your Association, com- <°- Vopy signts. " ne rmi municated a ime | 7 var Seeretaty, a few 22: Indians and Lands reserved for the Io- Finances will permit. } 1i€s < { ( oec i . ° * municate ' v5 3 - etary for dians. Here it is exoress!y stated that the im- lays since appes vere, this Feninyr, 10 9 ; anti | ae beep dbneentaalag ln 4, “eer sintar-aey Spmeagslibengeen * | 30. Naturalization and Aliens. provements required for the development of the purpose Of placing before you my VieWS, 3). Marriage and Divorce. the trade of the Great West with the sea-

and opinions upon the question of the pro- pized Union of the British North Am rican Colonies, upon the basis of the Resolutions ad ipted ut the Conference held at Q rebec on Ocrober last.

I acceded to your request with ple

. The Criminal Law, excepting the-Con-

tig : a board, shall be prosecuted “ at the earliest stitution of Courts of Criminal Jurisdic-

tion, bat inclading the procedure in possitle period that the state fa nae Criminal matters. will permit.’ Tue opponents of Confede- 3. Rendering uniform all or any of the, ation may assert that these improvements, laws relative to property and civil rights) when completed, would not benefit Prince in Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New) Edward [sland, or even that they would in-

ure,

assured that an opportunity would here be Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince jure the Island, and would benefit Upper sti-rded we of advancing, at least, a ‘ew of Edward Island, and rendering uniform |Ganada alone. believe that. the cade, the arguments which might be adduced in the procedure of all or any of the Courts | ~" : ¢ 7 ae . ai Q & West a : favor of the great proposed Loter-c Onial in these Pr VinceR; but any Statute for ee pe we 4 éhe : ‘kick! a fi rr Union, and of baving the soundaess and this purpose shall have no force or au- wee re a eT er 7. free of my arguments tested by an assembly thority in any Province until sanctioned a every — of the ¢ onfederation. bhe such as ls e before me I valued your lin. by the Legislature there ot. : i Maritime Provinees could not but derive iit ae A Te ae ey ar 34, The establishment of a General Court) benefit from the opening of a passage for 2 cee ae e Caen sco of wills od 35 Suctnenieen Pe ee ships, ey Os tntorine of tities Aemories » the part ofa Literary Society to d seuss 36. Agriculture. pei 0B} the nae lakes of Canada, and -_ a question which la most feared was Jeem-| 37. And generally respecting all matters of ~ oe oe Law er ae an ne ed, by the citizens of Charlottetown, un- a general character, not specially and rotan. the ret mamiaheet of Lower worthy of s¢ rious consideration. Permit exclusively reserved for the Local Goy-| Vanada, Nova Seotia, New Branswick and

r ernments and Legislatures. me to say that L attach much importance to

the cone os at which, after debating the I do so, beeause | believe that your object will be to ascertain the TRUTH

The subject which [ am about to bring under your notice is one of vast importance, sua is wer hy of your wost serious aud atten- tive ratiog,

Time will aot admit of my entering upon

re? us!

your Association will arrive.

To promote the peace, security, welfare | the proposed improvements for the develop- Oo 0 e @ peace, secur eijare - oe r ; I I - ys ,, | Ment of the trade of the Great West would and good government of his country, shoa!d : ; aa Pg & : not be a general benefit, they, having a be an object of earnest solicitude with every ae > ot r ; ; arge majority in both branches of the geve- citizen. Good government, peace, security oy Roe : = Pee sid dine, once. eee segisiature, would not sanction the pro- ind prosperity caar ‘ Q sountry : ; 2 peopers*) are Y secution of them. The first object of the unless it be governed by laws founded upon et al Siteha i meal a.” The knowledge and virtue (em eer of the Legislatere, as well! those * Figt reason, OWielwge ani tue : “a ° ore ae . 5 = who represent the Maritime Provinces, which are requisite in Legislators, in order io qualify and dispose them to enact wise | a full expesition of the Report of the Con- Cv just jaws, are likely to be found in a) —— terevee. 1 shall, therefore, with a few di-/much greater degree in the Parliament of

st ; of i ‘

Const it sen aeensusanene ae (Concluded on the last page.)

‘MEETING AT SOURIS. —

the highest importance to the Federal Pro- | |. vinces, and shail be prosecuted at the ear-

| Prince Kdward Island should consider that |

with the meeting,

‘thought proper that a Public Meeting of | deavouring | the Citizens, so called, should give way to | questions,

ae * ; . ; gressions, confine myself to the enquiry,| the Confederation, among the representa- | . , a i aia . bik what would be our position FINANCIALLY, | tives of four millions, than in the Legisla-

The Hons. Joseph Hensley and Donald Beaton, Representatives of the Ist District of King’s |

required for the development of the rade | by His Worship the Mayor, im compliance of the Great West with the Seaboard, are witha Requisition from the citizens of Char- | h y nearly all the\, ading men of the City, representing every | that he is fall A large number of the

branch of trade,

also present. tial farmers from the country also attende this meeting.

At half-past six o'clock, His Worship the Mayor was called to the Chair. He

|

Was supported on his right by John Morris, | question of the day—the Question of Confe-. rep

| Esquire, High Sheriff of Queen’s County, | City Councillor. | Peter McGowan, Esquire, City Clerk, then read the Requisition, alter which Lis Worship briefly announced to the audience the object of the Meeting, which, he said, was then open for the discussion of the mo- /mentous question gf Colonial Confederation H. Haszarp, H-quire, then rose and

moved that the Meeting be adjourned be- |

' . | jcause the same subject was about to be|

debated at a Meeiing of the Debating So-

f us that he

has, it seems, preferred attending lof a Lite | which, pe | which

a meeting rary Society or Debating Club, rhaps, he is now addressing, and to he is imparting his views of the great ‘deration—has, 1 say, it seems, preferred a public meeting of his parliamentary con- | Stituents and fellow citizens—especially con | vened for the purpose of discussing that great | question —and imparting to them, as he is in | duty bound to do, the reasons by which he is | influenced in his oppos tion Scheme. | In that Literary Society or Club, which |the Hfon. the Attorney General has, this evening, thought peoper to honour with his

preference to attending here to discharge his

'bounden duty to his constituents, there are,/ the slaves in the British West Indies, were

The Honorable the Attorney General, owever,—strange as it must appear to most should do so—notwithstanding y aware that this public meet-| plish —and of the absolute necessity of | j}ing of his own parliamentary constituents which, for the prese | members of the different professions were | has been duly called, and is now being held, | the peace, well-beir

Many respectable and influen-/!® Compliance with a requisition to Hs country, ; q Worship the Mayor, most respectatly signed, perse

| powerful opposition which they encountered. but strong in their convictions of the wisdom, justice and propriety of the great and funda- mental reform which they sought to accom-

rvation and promotion of g. and prosperity of the they were thoroughly convinced— vered in their patriotic endeavors, and, at length, those endeavours resulted in that extension of the electoral franchise, and the liberties of the people, which, although at first dreaded and denvunced as revolutionary, ublican and anarchical, has hapmily been found to have had no other effects than those of

and on his heft by James Reddin, Esquire, | doing this to appearing here, this evening, at imparting greater security and strength to

constitutional power, increasing the love and veneration of the people forthe Crownand the ‘noble and time-honoured institutions of the land, and imparting new life and vigour, (encouragement and contentedness to the

relations of life and society.

So was it also with respect to the abolition lacy; for even if we should be calle

of slavery in the colonial possessions of Great | Britain. The great philanthropists, Wilber |

presence and to enlighten with his views, in| foree, Clark and Brougham, who first raised much more th

their voices in favor of the emancipation of

ciety, in the Temperance Hall, that same | doubtless, several individuals of great res-| looked upon and decried, both witbin and |

evening, zard’s motion,

His Worship the Mayor then he considered it his duty, in compliance with the requisition submitted to him, to proceed

for it surely could not be |

the meeting of a private’ Debating Society. |

Hon. Mr. Cours said he was in favor o discussing the question openly and fairly, and free from the restrictions of the rules of any

| Society.

Hon. D. Davins said be regretted that | two meetings on this subject should be held |

(on the same evening in Charlottetown; but | tation, attended a meeting of that Society,

j

but, as a whole, it is chiefly composed of |

stated that | 7°4"%g men—to many of whom, as respects held, however, by their inte

their age, Lam old enough to be the father— |

|young men who—in a manner, in itself, vocated, they nobly persevered, their

praise worthy

enough — have associated | themsel ve

8 together for the purpose of en- | by their discussiors of public! to acquire a@ facility in oratory, | and to become proficients in the art of public speaking; but I hesitate not to eay that it is most presumptuous, most prepos- terous, on the part of such a Society, to ar- rogate to themselves the right to direct the public mind, or to control the public discus- sion of any public question whatever. On the evening of Friday week last, 1, on invi-

Mr. D. Laird seconded Mr, Uas- | pectability and influence in the community ;/ without the walls of Parliament, as the ene- |

mies of the commerce of their country. Up-| ronal convictions | of the justice of the measure which they ad- | efforts | were at last crowned with success,and the Im- | perial Purliament, in 1833, by one of the noblest resolutions that have ever done hunor toa national lezislatare, consummated the triumph of the labors of these great men in the cause of hamanity,by voting £20,000,000 sterling for the emancipation of the negro slaves in the British West Indies, and by decreeing the abolition, for ever, throughout the British empire, of the most abominable and corrupting institution of slavery. Again, so was it with respect to the long-

agitated and much-vexed question of Catholic

Lhe few liberal-minded and

| chiefly to contend is the dread of taxation— ‘“*the raw head and bloody bones” with | which, as Judge Wilmot of New Brunswick | has well and happily expressed it, political | hurses—our present alarmistsand anti-Union agitators,to wit—employ to terrify theirchil- dren into obedience. And as Judge Wilmot, when adverting to this ‘*éug-a-boe,”’ most justly observed, so do I now: As respects the prospective taxation to which, under a federal government and legislature, it is pos- sible we may be sobjected, there might be something in tho apprehension of it, if we were required to give up the right of impos- ing it to an irresponsible power; but, wren | it comes to taxation by representatives, and a continually recurring responsibility of the representatives to their constituencies, tha Security against taxation remains with the | people themselves. ‘To say that we should be | either unjustly or unequally tax+d, or ruined

ition to the Confedera- whole body of the nation in all the various | by the burthens laid upon us by the Federal

legislature, is, therefore, worse than a fal- d upon to contribute a little more to the public r- venue than we do at present, we should gain an an equivalent in the increase of the general prosperity,

The question of Colonial Confederation is the greatest, the most momentous—not only to the existing gencrations in these Pro- vinces, bat to generations yet unborn which sha:i come after them—that has ever agitat- ed the public mind in British America sines first the British flag waved triumphant and

| Supreme Over any portion of American terri-

tory; and it is pregnant with greater and more lasting results than any which have arisen from any changes—even the greatest —which, as directly affecting the best inter- ests and destinies of British races or British subjects in America, have as yet occurred on this side of the Atlantic. When compared with it, all other questions which have ever in these Proviaces, been most seriously de- bated and discussed in our Legislaturce, or most deeply pondered, earnestly agitated, and anxiously canvassed among the people,

)at the Temperance Hall, to which the publie | were admitted, on the payment of 9d. each, /and on which occasion it was proposed that

: ; ; Emancipation. he Confederation, and to a few ob-!tive Halls of Prince Edward Island, where 4 P

County, attended a very large meeting of their | it could hardly be expected that the whole servations upon the questions of Defence’ | but 380,000 pecple are represented; and,

coustituents, numbering over 400 voters, from all public were to be ruled by a Debating So- - ° : - | parts 4 strict, ¢ B ising the stamina | cie , ww sreli F

ind “Representation 1a the Federal Legis- | ineomeech as that tree law on which their | Parts of the District, aud comprising the stamina | ciety, He would, therefure, support free | the great Question of Cuufederativu should ‘ . ¢ ‘ , jof the County, assembled at Souris, on Wed- diseussi hi bj ‘ . : ”% Jature.” | Legislation will, [ trast, ever be founded, | nesday, the 8th inst., for the developement aud | “2CU8s!08 09 this subject. be discussed, ** under their auspices,’ as they a : : : I’. Brecken, E-quire, expressed his regret | expressed it. The public having been invited

is, In its nature, universal, immutable an | discussion of the principles and conditions of the en aes in ; 2 . uuchangeable—not one thing to-day and | momentous question of Union of the Colonies, as that any ill-feeling should be manifested | to attend—and especially as they were com-

seem to have been matters light as air, and projects of the merest insignificance. The light of every other question of change or improvement — how great and important soever—which has hitherto awakencd and lured on to action the intellects of our Uo-

Ts uoucer ¢t

enlightened Protestant members of the lm- perial Parliament who first ventured to raise their vvices iu favour of it, were ws- sailed and denounced as the enemies of the established church and of Protestant succes sion to the throne. The opposition which

’ a

VHS QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION IN THE}

LEGISLATIVE COUNCHL, The 6:b section of the Report of the (uebee Conference reads as fellows:

|another to-morrow—not one thing in Char-| *s"eed upon at the Quebee Conference, by the

i ; ; re -, | Delegates of the Lower Provinces in October last

| lottetown and another in Ottawa, [ think it] ~p,2 meeting having been organized with

lig a watter of congratulation to all, and one | Edward Kickbam, Esq. in the chair, Hon. Mr.

‘6. There shall be a general Leyistature or | of the strongest arguments io favor of Con-| Hensley arose and addrcssed the meeting in a » > Pocus: mae © ‘ . . — _ ing abot ' - ) oo, Variiament for the Federated Provinces, federation, that our incorporation into the | ** ech occupying | about an hour. Phe hon. compored of a Legislative Council and a/ ~ oS eee iii aan 4 ‘gentleman went fully into the Confederation House of Communs.’’ | Great British American o1ON Would CONs | scheme, and madea searching analytical review of

| fer upon us the many Jimportant advantages

the Constitution. Among other important points,

| which would necessarily result from b: ing- | Mr Heusley adhered to representation by popula. . . }tion in the Lower House; but emphatically ing e 2 eration of the Laws : : a & ; ees ng = wad . the a mrt ; gy TG? claimed numerical equality for Prince Edward which the General | arliamenut, In Its Wis-| [and in the Upper House, as assteguard to our dom, may deem roper for securlug the rights. The hon. gertleman attacked the financial » May pro} 6 i : . ees a near Wer OTs hein aes comiemnloneemiaatomede £9 fadarat a , a ie 7 Op aur uc ite Cqyiviiie as , 0

ment of the Coufederated Provinces. | P. . Island fer the proposed relinquishwent of | ! that Prince | her Revenue. The hon. gentleman contended that under the |

wh be ; lad ae | wording of the resolutions, the proceeds of lands | weepeag jer bund 1 snows and acres, and | purchased under the Purchase Bill would belong | | its small population of eighty thousand, can-! 5, the General Government, and not to the Local, | not reasonably expect to be represented | as assumed by Union advocates. Any such lands |

{ | i : The 7th section provides tbat:

-

7. For the purpose of forming the Legis- lative Couneil, the Federated Provinces shall be considered as copsisting of divisions: lst, Upper Canada; ind, Lower Canada ; 3rd, Nuva Seotia, New Bran: wick and Wrince Faward-tsiand-; eavh di

* with an equal representation inthe | ,

ree

Sion alin.

“A It must be apparent to al

lative Cauacil. edward Island, with its limited area of one} The 8:h section declares that:

5. Upper Caaada shall be represented in the Legislative Council 24 meni bers, Lower Canatia by 24 members, avd the ‘ither in the House of Commons of a Cun-| as were vested in Her Majesty and ungranted, | three Maritime Provinees by 24 members; | . ner sire - «| would go to the Local Goverument. The pro-| of whieh Nova Scotia shall have ten. New |! leracy of nearly four mitlions, ~~ es eveds of the lands under the Purchase Bill would | Brunswick ten, and Prince Edward Island | Legislative Council, by a number of mem- | git) go in reductiva of the debt incurred by their | four members.’ bers sufficiently large to enable the Island | purchase. which was to be assumed by the Fede- EPRESENTATION IN THE FEDERAL wovss or | to influence, ia auy material degree. the | tation. It would absorb much time aud space to | st- | Legislative action of either of these bodies, | (til the exceptions taken by the hon. gentleman |

? : wi ae race to the general scope of the conditions ot the Con- | Lr it shall be our privilege to enter the Cone | federation scheme. Yet Mr. Hensley was not| These watters are provided for by sections | federation under the terms proposed in the | opposed to the Union if just and equitable terms |

., uy

c AND THE METHOD OF RE ADJ

MENT EVEXY TEN YEARS.

\MMONS,

17, 18,19, 20. 21 aed 22 of the Report, | Report of the Quebee Conlerence, we shall | were conceded to this [slaiid. Mr. H. submitted | i ; : i ‘ ' have five re satativ in an Axsemb! _| his digest of the Conference scheme, and ex-| Wicd are as follow : eee SPE ennaew e et pressed his opinion thereon, for the ecalin and!

1-

17. The basis of Representation a the coLsisting of 1J4 members; and if our in- deliberate consideration of his constituents ; and | House of (‘ommons, shall be Populatioa, as terests canoot be protected by that number, | left the matter of Uniou or ne Union wiih them determined by the Official Census every ten |depend upon it we should not be safer, | to decide upon.

years; and the number of Members ac first thouge we hal séx or even tex represetta- |

The Hon. Donald Beaton followed Mr. Hensley ; : in a clear and succinct matter of tact address, in suall be 194, distributed as fuiluws ,

: a tives, Our safety will consist in the fact | which he eclogised his hon. colleague's exposition | U peer Canada a ‘that owr interests would be the interests of of the Union Constitution, and expressed his | Sere aneme a |our fellow subjects throughout the Confede- | adhesion to the principles and opinions enunciated | Nova Seotia ly ‘ration. and that ev'ry member who takes | °Y Mr. Hensley. The Hon. Mr. B. received the | New Brunswick 15 neon at Pens gpg ovat? | unanimous applause of the assemblage. Newfoundland 8 | his seat io the House of Commons, or 10) Wim. MacGowan, Esq, Hoa. Emanuel Me- and Prince Edward Island 56 the Legislative Council, would be, to all in-| Eachen, E. B. Muttart, Esq., M. D., Donald |

| McDouald, Esq., Lot 45, Hon. James Dingweil, | | Michael MeWade and P. Leslie, Esqrs., each | | respectively followed, expressing similar opinions j Iwo or three gentlemen, however, differed some-4 of Customs and Excise, and also to impose what, but not materially, excepting ouly Hon. . ’ such general taxes as th y may deem re- | Euauael McEactien, who was opposed to any the Census of 1871, and immediately atter | uistte, This power, 1 ‘shall be told. the Union, and was desirous to “ Let well alone. every Devennial Census thereafter, the Re- | 4" Te me | ; Se a a Z ne The other gentlemen above pamed would ac- presentation from each section in the Louse | h ederal Legislature would exercise, wholly | cept Union upon just and equitable couditious — of Commons shall be re-acjusted on the busis | uniafluenced and uncontrolled by the repre-| Very excellent aud pertinently terse ad Jresses | of Population, | seatatives of the people of this Is!and. The} were delivered by the gentlemen quoted; each |

> er . “ d or : tras ‘ 18. Until the Official Census of 1871 has|teats and purposes, a representative o! been made ap, there shall beno change inthe| Prince Edward Island. The general Go- neaber of Representatives from the scveral yernment will possess power to impose duties Sections.

19. Easmediately after the completion of |

| j

|

| 7 ; : . . jdid his couvictions and judgment justice in the | 20. For the purpose of such re-adjust ments, suppost of the National Government—the} 4i4 his co ee eee 7 es . at : i jenunciation; and Michael MeWade, Esquire, | ywer Canada shall always be assigned siaty- developement of the natioual Trade and) ya. particularly happy in his argumentative Live We = es arene of oa Genes puEse 6 Commerce—and the security aud defence | liberal, and comprehensive address, which yeas | nail ¢ ach re-i stinen eceive, | . } regver grace a shes artineus! vile Sree “ see a 7 | of our Common couniry—would aloue be the | moreover graced by dashes of pertineg: stein | sen years then next sucgeeding, the nuuber of

bjects, for the promotion of which taxati p | ality: All the speeches were listened -te with | members to which it will be entitled on the | °°)", for te promotion of which taxatio

T

a4

. , | sum ratio ol representation to populauon as | will be imposed by the general Legislature; Lower Canada will enjoy according to the! and [ submit that no inhabitant ot this Ls-

marked attention, andr geived the respect of the assembiy in applause. Qn motion of Dr. Muttart, seconded by John

about this matter. He and his colleague | {the Hon. D. Davies) waited o2 the Presi-| dent of the Debating Society, Mr. Laird, | who readily expressed bis concurrence with

their views relative to the discussion of

this question ; and said that he would use his

influeuce with the Committee of the Debat ing Society to have the subject adjourned to their next night of meeting; and, from the! manner in which Mr. Laird expressed him- self at the last meeting of the Society, he | (Mr. Brecken) understood that they would | be willing to give place to a public meeting | relative to this discussion. To him (Mr. B ) it appeared extraordinary that the members of a private Society, which exists to-day and may be defunct to-morrow, should arrogate to themselves the exclasive right to discuss a subject of such vital importance to the whole public. Ile himself was told at the meeting of that Society, last Friday evening, that he had no right to opea his mouth there.

Mr. D. Latrp said that the subject pre- sented a large field for discussion, and he could not see why that very vight must be named by His Worship for the di-cussio.n | The citizens of Charlottetown bad to be| wrenched out ou this subject by the Debating | Suciety.

I. Brroxen, Esqr., replied to Mr. Laird, | and said, that whea the Society of which | Mr. Laird is President declared that they | would not give way to the public meeting, | be would a-k, were the public to succumb to the “little brief authority” of a Debating | Society ?

H. Haszarp, Esqr., s‘ated that the public | had declined to take up the question,

Hon. T. Heara Havitany expressed his surprise that any Association, got up for literary purposes, should atterapt to narrow up the righis of the community. by the re- | strictions of their Suciety, when discussing the ail absorbing aud important question fur which this meeting was convened,

The Meeting having, by exies of “Ques- tion,” given expression to their desire that the business of the evening shou'd be pro- ceeded with; and Mr. Haviland having been «diled upon to open the discussion, that hoa. and learned gentleman cawe forward, ia obedience to the cali, and, baving taken his place on the platform, spoke us follows :—

|

Census last taken by having sixty-five mem-| land, entertaining proper views of his ob is ee ee or following Resolution was ‘ “6 : ry: “ PF acciamanu —

bers | gations as acitizen, would be found unwilling | *40Pte@ Sy acckumation i, se f “1. No redcetion shall be made inthe! : ©) 1. Resolced, That in the opinion of this meeting SS oe fM td nahauneal ‘ any saation that we should e mtribute our fall share o! | the terms embodied in the Resolutions adopted |

ee gn li 7 hall } y ; fl . d ithe funds requisite for these purposes, | ay the Quebec Conference on the basis of a pro-

uolces ite population shall have decrease That Psinee Edward Island ld send | P°e4 Contederation of the British North Ameri-

relatively to the populatioa of the whole | dal 2 eIBSe foi wark _— Would Seng | ean Colonies are unjust and disadvantageous to

Union to the extent of five per centuin. ; but five members to the Federal House of | this Island, and that no such Confederation will 22. In computing at each decennial period, | Commons, is, to my wind, no valid reasou be acceptable to the Electors of this District, un-

the number of Members to which ech sec- | why the people of this Island should fear | less a cousiderable alteration be wade iu the ig ; , les no fr ‘ art al : $ - ; rims preposed,

tion is entitled, no fractional parts shall excessive taxation. Inthe Federal Legis-| terins prepu

ve considered, unless when exceeding one : ; eo") Moved by the Hon. Emanuel McEachen, and halftne number entitling to a Member, in lature, L presume, there would not be elas- | secouded by ¢ harles MeEachen, k SEM s. which case a Nember shail be given fur each legislation; aud, [ think, we may rest dy 2. Resolved, eae oer eea of this puch fractional part. jsured that the people of Canada, ard of the | District be requested to resistany final legislative . Prev bald took +t that te | action on the question of Confederation as laid ‘fbe powers of the General Par!iament | larger rovinces, would 1v0K to it e at taxa- | down in the Report of the Delegates, until after are expressed in section 29 of the Report. |"02 be kept as low as possible. Ot (a dissvlution of the present House of Asseinbly, att : i ie : ‘every one hundred dollars of taxation, im- | and a direct appeal tu the people on the subject. 2. The General Parliament shail have) 1d by the general Legislature, Prince | Passed mem con power to make Jaws for the peage, weliare | POSS? DY ’ err et ade | Michael MeWade, Esquire, moved, and Dovald ind good Goverfiment of the Federated Pro-| be lwerd Island would estar > oe | McDonald, Esquire, seconded the anuexed :— jinces (Saving the Sovereignty of Ex gland) / $2.50; the reweloing $97.50 would be! 3. Resolced, That the thanks of this meeting and especially Laws respecting the fullowing | borne by o:her portions of the Confedera-| be given to the Hon: Joseph Hensley for his at- gubjects :— | tion. eudaace and explanations oa the occasion. |

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Dan cit eani . . t. Ihe Public Debt and Property. ss Passed unanimously. : e x E ake aa Property I have seen recently, in the local news-| 1. Kickham, Esquire, Biving vacated the - Abe LvPulation ol Trade and Commerce. . | chair, Dr. Muttart was cael thereto 3. The imposition or regulation of Daties | P2P&"s, an appalling array of figures, de-) chair, Dr. Mutts a ee

‘The thanks of the meeting having been pro-

Cust , igue pres li hieh | “apy 7 of Customs on imports aod Exports, ex- sigued to represent the millions in which posed to E. Kickham for his masterly conduct in

cept on Exports of Limber, Logs, Masts, | we are to be taxed for the coustruction 0! | the ehair, were given with applause and were Spars, Deals, and Sawn Lember, and of | Canals io Upper Canada, for the develop- | succeeded by three cheers for the Representatives Coul and other Minerals. iment of the trade cf the Great West ?’ | of tie District. ‘

‘The imposition or regulation of Excise | with the seaboard; and I should most cer-| Hou. Emanuel MeEachen moved that the pro-

Duties. ete b ltl 'n: ‘take, in k evedings of this meeting be published in the vari- 5. The raising of money by ell or any other tainly have been io a O join the Favks ous papers in Charlottetowu. ‘This motioa was modes or systems of Taxation. of the opponents of Confederation, had | adopted by the meeting eee ee G. The Borrowing of Money ou the l’ublic ‘regarded these figures, and the remarks a een: eee were ae paoaing eae Credit. which accompanied them, in the light i) tho mocting diapered. — Com. : Postal Service. which I am inclined to believe they have | "bisnidesalh ihlalidelind edais Lines of Steam or other Ships. Rail-| peen regarded by numbers of the tax-pay-| Pexrecriy Sarisracrory.—Tlis is the expres- ee re een) See ‘ers of Prince Edward Island. Very many sion of every aue after using Mrs. S. A. ALLEN's aber as extending ‘hepeen d he "fecehdel have been induced to believe that the im- World's Mair Restorer and Zylobalsamum, or Hair

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Hon. T. H. HAVILAND.—Mr. Mayor, I must confess that, for many reasons, I would | uave preferred that it had fallen to the lot of | some one else to open the debate upon the momentous question which is to be discussed here thisevening. The first reason by which L am influenced 1n feeling a reluctance to be the first to address the meeting, is that, in} coasequence of a painful affection in my throat, occasioned by a cold, | fear that my voice may fail me before | shall have been ‘able to conclude the observations, which, | having once entered upon the question, L| shail feel it to be my duty, buth to this meeting and myself, to submit for the con- sideration of the punlic mind. And, besides, { was under the impression that sume of

pelled to pay for their admission—it might have been expected that, by whatever rules they chose to govern their private debates, they would, on that occasion at least, have, of their own accord, suspended such of them a3 militated against that freedom of speech, which, not only in parliament, but in all duly constituted and properly regulated public meetings, is the privilege of all who are permitted to take part in the discussion of the question under consideration. When I found that their rules were not thus to be relaxed, for the occasion, 1 remonstrated against the impropriety of their binding down to their observance the public men whom they had invited to attend their meet- ing that evening, and who, no doubt, it was expected, would incline to take a part in the discussion ; but my remonstrance was not only ineffectual, but it was so ill received, as, on reflection, to make me think I had been very foolish in saying a word upon the subject. However let that pass; and, since the hon. gentlemen, of whom I have just spoken, who, I say again, ought, in my opinion, to have considered it to be their bounden duty to be here to open, or to take a leading part in, the most important discus- sion &ppoiuted for this evening, have, as it seems, thought otherwise, | will, without farther preface—having been called upon, at one of the late Delegates, to give an exposi- tion of my views and sentiments concerning the proposed Federation, and having consent- ed to do so—now address myself to the task to the best of my ability.

We are now met, Mr. Chairman, either— according to the views and convictions which we may individually entertain relative to the question—to advocate the contemplated Fe- deration, and to maintain the propriety and justice of the terms or conditions, on which it is proposed that we, the people ef Priace Edward Island, shall become a party therein ; or to endeavour to prove that it would be much better for us to remate & separate and independent British Celway, as we are, and to progress, as best we may, in the old beaten and familiar track. First, as respects the principles which are to be called into action in the formation of the proposed Federation, it is our duty to enquire—are they in accord- ance, are they in perfect unison with those of that noble, that unrivalled Constitution, under which it is our boast, our glory, and our happiness now to live? The principles, in conformity with which to lay the founda- tion, and, in the most serupulous observance of which, to raise the superstructure, and closely and firmly to unite and bind together the several parts of the proposed Federation, it was, Mr. Chairman, by the Conference—a most unmistakeable evidence of admiration and love of that Constitution, and loyalty to the British throne, which cannot be surpassed —unanimously and enthusiastically agreed should be the principles of the British Con- stitution, and of their strict and most scru- pulous adherence to that determination, the Federal Constitution, so framed by them, bears, in every particular the most undenia- ble evidence. So far at least then that Con-

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they encountered served only, however, to render them more strenuous in the cause ; and, in the end, through their reiterated and persevering exertions, the popular voice was raised in its favour, its enemies in high places quailed before such demonstration of public sentiment, Catholic Emancipation was recommended to Parliament in the speech from the throne, and, finally, its triumph was secured by a Bill, which, although vi- gorously opposed, passed both Houses by triumphant majorities, and whs promptly confirmed by the royal assent; and, thus, when justice and right reason arose in the

ascendant, political disqualification of chris- tian men, On account of the peculiar tenets and doctrines of the church to which they individually belonged, was justly and hap- pily expunged from the statute books of the realm.

(Cheers.) Free Trade also, after its introduction, had

been long withstood and most furiously bat- tled against by the landocracy of the coun- try and others, who fancied that the security of their sv-called vested interests would be most injuriously affected, if not completely destroyed, by the legislative adoption and

enforcement of its principles, has, at length —happily for the prosperity of the trade of Great Britain and for the lessening of the hardships and privations of the poorer, the labouring, and operative classes of her po- pulation, and to the great enhancement of their family comforts and social enjoyments — become part and parcel of the established and leading financial, industrial and commer- cial policy of the kingdom, and, in its results and progressive operation, it has borne the fullest and most satisfactory evidence to the wisdom and patriotism of its first advocates — Cebden out of Parliament, and Charles Villiers in it—and so far has the triamph of Free Trade principles been from being detri- mental, as it was loudly proclaimed it would be, to public, and to class or individuai inte- rests, that their free operation has carried | the agricultural and the commercial pros- | perity of Great Britain toa greater heig!t | than either of them had ever previously