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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26086-8.txt b/26086-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9819c9e --- /dev/null +++ b/26086-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7610 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wilmot and Tilley, by James Hannay + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wilmot and Tilley + +Author: James Hannay + +Release Date: July 19, 2008 [EBook #26086] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + + + THE MAKERS OF CANADA + + EDITED BY + + DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT, F.R.S.C., + PELHAM EDGAR, PH.D., AND, + WILLIAM DAWSON LE SUEUR, B.A., LL.D., F.R.S.C. + + + + +WILMOT AND TILLEY + + + + +[Illustration: L. A. Wilmot] + + + + + _THE MAKERS OF CANADA_ + + + WILMOT AND TILLEY + + + BY + + JAMES HANNAY + + + _EDITION DE LUXE_ + + + TORONTO + MORANG & CO., LIMITED + 1907 + + + + +_Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada in the year 1907 +by Morang & Co., Limited, in the Department of Agriculture_ + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Unique page headings have been retained, placed within {braces} and + positioned before the relevant paragraphs. Minor typographical + errors have been corrected without note. Variant spellings have been + retained. Inconsistent hyphenation has been standardised. The oe + ligature is represented by [oe]. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT + + _CHAPTER I_ Page + ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 1 + + _CHAPTER II_ + EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM 13 + + _CHAPTER III_ + WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE 31 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE 41 + + _CHAPTER V_ + LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE 57 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + THE READE APPOINTMENT 67 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION 83 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT 99 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + THE VICTORY IS WON 113 + + _CHAPTER X_ + JUDGE AND GOVERNOR 131 + + + SIR LEONARD TILLEY + + _CHAPTER I_ + EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER 143 + + _CHAPTER II_ + ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE 159 + + _CHAPTER III_ + THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW 171 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + REFORM AND PROGRESS 183 + + _CHAPTER V_ + THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY 195 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION 201 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE 215 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION 231 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER 239 + + _CHAPTER X_ + THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT 253 + + _CHAPTER XI_ + THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA 269 + + _CHAPTER XII_ + FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR 277 + + + INDEX 293 + + + + +LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE + + +The contest for responsible government which was carried on in all the +provinces of British North America for so many years resembled in some +of its features a modern battle, where the field of operations is so +wide that it is impossible for a general to cover it with his eye or to +keep control of all the movements of his subordinates. In such a case, +everything depends on the ability of the generals who command the +different army corps, who, operating in remote parts of the field, must +take the responsibility of success or failure. The two Canadas were so +far removed from New Brunswick, and the means of communication were so +poor, that there was but little help, even in the way of suggestion, to +be expected from them, while the contest for responsible government was +being carried on. Even the efforts in the same direction which were +being made in the province of Nova Scotia had but little influence on +the course of events in New Brunswick, for each province had its own +particular grievances and its own separate interests. Thus it happened +that the battle for responsible government in New Brunswick was fought, +to a large extent, without reference to what was being done in the +other provinces which now form the Dominion of Canada, and the leaders +of the movement had to be guided by the peculiar local circumstances of +the situation. Still, there is no doubt that the efforts of all the +provinces, directed to the same ends, were mutually helpful and made the +victory more easily won. + +Among the men who took a part in the contest for responsible government +in New Brunswick, Lemuel Allan Wilmot undoubtedly held the foremost +place, not only by reason of the ability with which he advocated the +cause, but from the trust which the people had in him, which made him a +natural leader and the proper exponent of their views. There were, +indeed, men working in the same field before his time, but it was his +happy fortune to witness the fruit of his labours to give the province a +better form of government, and to bring its constitution into line with +the system which prevailed in the mother country. He not only viewed the +land of promise from afar, but he entered into it, and he became the +first native lieutenant-governor of the province,--a result which even +he, sanguine as he was, could hardly have contemplated when he began his +career as a public man. + +{THE WILMOT FAMILY} + +Lemuel Allan Wilmot was born in the county of Sunbury, on the banks of +the St. John River, on January 31st, 1809. He was the son of William +Wilmot, a respectable merchant and lumberman, who was in partnership +with William Peters, grandfather of Sir Leonard Tilley. William Wilmot +was the son of Lemuel Wilmot, a Loyalist, who was a resident of +Poughkeepsie, New York, at the beginning of the Revolution. He (Lemuel) +raised a company of soldiers for the service of the king, and became a +captain in the Loyal American Regiment which was commanded by Beverley +Robinson, serving in that corps during the war. At the peace, he came to +New Brunswick and settled in Sunbury County on the river St. John. The +Wilmots were a respectable English family, and the first of the name in +America was Benjamin Wilmot, who was born in England in 1589 and came to +America with his wife Ann, probably prior to 1640. He was one of the +early settlers of New Haven, Connecticut, and the records of that colony +show that he took the oaths of fidelity at a court held on May 2d, 1648. +He died in 1669. His son William, who was born in 1632, was probably +also a native of England. He married Sarah Thomas in 1658, and died in +1689. + +Thomas Wilmot, his son, was born in 1679. He married Mary Lines, and +their son Ezekiel was born in 1708. Ezekiel Wilmot and his wife Beulah +were the parents of Lemuel, who was born in 1743. Lemuel Wilmot married +Elizabeth Street, and William, the father of the subject of this +biography, was their son. William Wilmot married Hannah Bliss, a +daughter of the Hon. Daniel Bliss, a Massachusetts Loyalist, who became +a member of the council of New Brunswick and was the father of John +Murray Bliss, one of the judges of the supreme court of that province. +His grandfather was Colonel John Murray, a Massachusetts Loyalist, who +was for many years a member of the general court of that colony and who +became a mandamus councillor. It will thus be seen that Lemuel Wilmot +came from the best New England stock, and that his connections were +highly respectable and even distinguished. He was proud of his New +England descent, and claimed the usual ancestor from among the +passengers of the _Mayflower_ who landed at Plymouth in 1620. If this +claim is correct, his descent from the Pilgrim Fathers must have been +through the female line, and no record of it has been preserved. The +matter is not of much consequence at the present day, for the Wilmots +have made a record in their province far more distinguished than that +which they won in New England, for they have given to New Brunswick five +members of the legislature, a senator and member of the House of Commons +of Canada, two members of the executive of New Brunswick, and one of the +privy council of Canada, an attorney-general and a provincial secretary +of New Brunswick and two lieutenant-governors. + +{LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CARLETON} + +The system of government which existed in all the British North American +colonies at the time when L. A. Wilmot was born was practically the +same. New Brunswick had been separated from Nova Scotia in 1784, and, in +the autumn of that year, its first governor was sent out in the person +of Thomas Carleton, a brother of Sir Guy Carleton. Thomas Carleton had +been an officer in one of the regiments which fought during the War of +the Revolution, but he was in no way distinguished, and had no special +qualifications for the position he was called upon to fill. That fact, +however, did not concern the persons in England who appointed him. In +those days, fitness or ability had very little to do with colonial +appointments. Carleton continued to fill the office of governor and +lieutenant-governor until his death in 1817; but for the last fourteen +years of his term he resided in England, and the duties of his office +were performed by a succession of administrators under the name of +presidents. To assist him in his deliberations, Carleton had a council +of twelve members, who were appointed by the Crown and were therefore +wholly under the influence of the governor and the authorities in +England. In 1809, its number had been reduced to ten, and it was +composed of the four judges of the supreme court, the provincial +secretary and the surveyor-general, who held their offices for life, and +four other persons. This council, in addition to its executive +functions, also sat as the upper branch of the legislature, and, besides +being wholly irresponsible except to the governor, it sat with closed +doors, so that the public had no opportunity of knowing what was being +done. It was not until the year 1833 that any portion of the journals of +the legislative council was published. + +The House of Assembly consisted of members chosen by the freeholders of +the several counties and the freeholders and freemen of the city of St. +John. This House was able to exert but a limited influence on the +government of the country, for all authority was vested in the +lieutenant-governor and he was able to act in a manner quite independent +of the legislature. All the appointments to office were in his hands, +and they were made in many cases even without the knowledge of his +council. In England, even under the most despotic kings, parliament was +always able to curb the power of the Crown by refusing to grant +supplies; but this check did not exist in New Brunswick, or in the other +colonies of British North America at that time, because the governor had +sources of revenue quite independent of the legislature. The British +government maintained a customs establishment in the colonies, which +levied duties on all merchandise imported, and over which the +legislature had no control. The British government also retained the +revenues arising from the Crown lands of the province, and these +revenues the governor expended as he pleased. The House of Assembly, +therefore, might refuse to vote supplies; but the governor could go on +without them, and the only effect of such a procedure was to injure its +own officials, and to deprive the people of the money which was expended +on roads and bridges. + +{THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND} + +Another feature of the system of government in New Brunswick was the +predominant influence it gave to the members of the Church of England. +Every member of the council of the province belonged to that +denomination, and it was not until the year 1817 that any person who was +not an adherent of the Church of England was appointed to the council. +This exception was William Pagan, a member of the Church of Scotland, +and his was a solitary instance because up to the year 1833, when the +old council was abolished, all its other members were adherents of the +Church of England. The same rule prevailed with respect to all the great +offices in the gift of the Crown. All the judges of the supreme court +for the first sixty-seven years of the existence of the province were +members of the Church of England. L. A. Wilmot, who became +attorney-general in 1848, was the first person not a member of the +Church of England who filled that office, and he was the first judge not +a member of that Church who sat on the bench of New Brunswick. + +For some time after the foundation of the province, the salaries of the +Church of England clergymen were paid by the British government, and +large grants of land were made for the purpose of supporting the +churches. In addition to this, financial assistance was given to them +in erecting their places of worship. No dissenting minister was allowed +to perform the marriage ceremony, that privilege being confined to +clergymen of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Quakers +and the Church of Rome. This was felt to be a very serious grievance, +and, needless to say, produced a great deal of inconvenience. + +Another grievance was the fact that the great offices were held by +members of certain favoured families. These families, from their social +position and in some cases from their wealth, had the ear of the +governor, or of the authorities in England, and were able to obtain and +hold all the valuable places. The two Odells, father and son, held the +office of provincial secretary for sixty years. The Chipmans were +another favoured family, both the father and son being successively +judges of the supreme court, and the former receiving large sums from +the British government as one of the commissioners who settled the +boundary between Maine and New Brunswick. One of the greatest offices in +the province--that of the surveyor-general--was held by one person for +thirty-three years, and this individual was in no sense responsible to +any authority in New Brunswick except the governor. Those in power at +that day were very fond of expatiating on the glories of the British +constitution and the privileges the people enjoyed under it. But nothing +less like the British constitution can be imagined than the system +which then prevailed in the British North American colonies. + +{THE OFFICIAL CLASSES} + +One feature which is not to be lost sight of in considering the +political condition of the province at that time is the social element. +The distinctions between the upper classes and others was then far more +marked than it is at present. The officials and the professional men +formed a class by themselves, and looked with contempt upon those who +were engaged in business. The salaries of the government officials were +then three or four times as large as they are at present, and they kept +up a corresponding degree of state which others were not in a position +to imitate. This assumption of superiority was carried out in all the +relations of life, and the sons of those who occupied an inferior +station were made to feel their position keenly. This was the case with +Lemuel Allan Wilmot, for, although his family was as good as any in the +provinces, he was the son of a man who was engaged in business and who +was not only a Dissenter but was actually a preacher in the denomination +to which he belonged. No doubt the insults which the son received from +those who claimed to occupy a higher station had a good deal to do with +his zeal for the cause of Reform, and influenced his future career to a +considerable extent. + +William Wilmot, although he afterwards failed in business, was in +prosperous circumstances when his son Lemuel was born. He was a Baptist +and was one of the original members of the Baptist Church at Canning, +in Queens County, which was founded in 1800. On Christmas Day, 1813, +William Wilmot and nine others received their dismissal from the Canning +Church for the purpose of founding a Baptist Church in Fredericton. +Wilmot was a local preacher and used his gift of eloquence in that way. +He also aspired to legislative distinction, and was elected a member of +the House of Assembly for the county of Sunbury in 1816. He was an +unsuccessful candidate for the same seat in 1819, and again in 1820. At +the general election of 1827 he ran for the county of York, to which he +had removed several years before, but was again defeated. This was his +last attempt to become a member of the House of Assembly. His loss of +three elections out of four had certainly been discouraging, and was in +singular contrast to the fortune of his distinguished son, who never +experienced a defeat. + +{AS A LAW STUDENT} + +Lemuel Wilmot's mother died when he was only eighteen months old, so +that he never knew a mother's love or a mother's care. But his father +early recognized his youthful promise, and gave him all the educational +advantages then available. He became a pupil at the College of New +Brunswick, which was situated in Fredericton, of which the Rev. Dr. +Somerville was the president and sole professor. This college was in +fact merely a grammar school, but Wilmot acquired there some knowledge +of the classics. However, his scholastic career was not prolonged, for +in June, 1825, he entered as a student-at-law with Charles S. Putnam, a +leading barrister of Fredericton. He was admitted an attorney of the +supreme court in July, 1830, and a barrister two years later. He was +then twenty-three years of age. + +The men who were contemporaries of Mr. Wilmot as a youth are all dead, +and not many anecdotes of his career as a student have been handed down +to us. Being of an ardent and ambitious disposition, he took a keen +interest in the stirring events that were being enacted around him; for +it was a time of great political excitement, and the business troubles +of the province increased the difficulties of its inhabitants. In 1825, +all the lumbermen in the province were ruined, and the bad management of +the Crown lands office which had added to the business difficulties +became more than a political question, for by cramping its leading +industry it affected the prosperity of every man in New Brunswick. It +was then that young Wilmot resolved to enter upon a political career and +to do what he could to redress the wrongs from which the people were +suffering. Strange to say, at this time he, who afterwards became most +eloquent, had an impediment in his speech, which it took much labour to +overcome. To improve his knowledge of French, he spent some months with +a French family in Madawaska, among the descendants of the ancient +Acadians. In this way he acquired a colloquial knowledge of that +language. + +Wilmot's ambition was to become a public man and to assist in the +reformation of the constitution of his native province. He enjoyed many +advantages for the rôle he had undertaken. He was tall, his height being +upwards of six feet, well proportioned, handsome and striking in his +features, and he possessed a voice of great strength and sweetness. He +was proficient in all athletic exercises, and took an interest in all +those movements which commend themselves to young men of enterprise and +force of character. He was a lieutenant in the first battalion of the +York County Militia when he was only eighteen years of age, and his +devotion to the militia force continued until the end of his life. +Possessed as he was of all the elements which make men popular and +prominent, he was early marked for advancement in the field that he had +chosen for the exercise of his talents. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM + + +The agitation for an improvement in the constitution of New Brunswick +began long before L. A. Wilmot was born. The first man who took a +prominent stand for reform in the legislature was Mr. James Glenie, a +member for the county of Sunbury from 1792 to 1809. Mr. Glenie, who was +a Scotchman and a man of much ability, had been an officer in the Royal +Engineers during the Revolutionary War. His efforts to obtain reforms +were met by the friends of the governor, Mr. Carleton, with the most +violent opposition. He was denounced as an incendiary, and indeed there +was hardly a limit to the fierceness with which he was attacked for +attempting to bring about an improvement in the system of government. +The old Family Compact and their friends were ever ready to tell the +public how loyal they were, and to denounce as a traitor any person who +presumed to object to the existing state of things. Mr. Glenie was not +able to effect anything substantial for the improvement of the +constitution, because the time was not ripe for the changes he proposed. +England itself was suffering at that time from a relapse from true +constitutional methods, so it was not to be expected that much +attention would be paid to complaints which came from a remote province +of North America. + +The cause of Reform would not have been nearly so well supported as it +was, had it not been for the fact that the abuses which existed touched +the self-interest of many persons who were by no means Reformers at +heart, and who in fact cared nothing about responsible government. The +first successful attack which was made on the existing order of things +was with regard to the fees charged on land grants. These fees went to +the various officials, including the governor, and it was shown that on +a lot of land not exceeding three hundred acres, the enormous sum of +forty-seven dollars was charged as fees, while on a lot of one thousand +acres to ten grantees, the fees amounted to about two hundred dollars. +The reader will be able to understand from these figures how it was that +the officials of the government were able to live in such princely +style. This evil was remedied by permission being obtained from the +colonial secretary to include a large number of grantees in one grant. + +{THE MARRIAGE QUESTION} + +Another grievance which was attacked long before Mr. Wilmot entered +public life was the law which related to the performance of the marriage +ceremony. At that time the only clerical persons authorized to solemnize +marriages were the clergymen of the Church of England, ministers of the +Kirk of Scotland, Quakers, and priests of the Roman Catholic Church. +This was felt to be an intolerable grievance, because it prevented +Methodists, Baptists and all Presbyterians except those connected with +the Church of Scotland from being married by their own ministers. In +1821 a bill was passed in the House of Assembly authorizing all +ministers of the Gospel to solemnize marriages. This was rejected by the +council, a fate which befell many subsequent bills of the same kind. For +several years the House of Assembly continued to pass the Dissenters' +Marriage Bill, and the council as steadily rejected it. Finally, in +1831, the House of Assembly concluded that nothing would serve to bring +about the reform asked for but a petition to the king, and accordingly a +petition was prepared in which the facts were set forth and His Majesty +was asked to give instructions to the administrator of the government to +recommend the legislature to pass a bill extending the privilege of +solemnizing marriages to all regularly ordained clergymen of dissenting +congregations in New Brunswick. In 1832, a bill was passed by both +Houses carrying out these views. It contained a suspending clause, +however, which prevented it from going into operation until approved by +His Majesty. It was thought that this would settle the question, but in +1834 a despatch was received from His Majesty's secretary of state for +the colonies in which it was announced that the royal assent had been +withheld on the ground that the Act was confined in its operation to +four denominations of Christians,--the Wesleyan Methodists, the +Baptists, the Presbyterian seceders from the Church of Scotland, and the +Independents. It appeared, therefore, that the Act had been disallowed +because it was not liberal enough, but this defect was speedily remedied +by the passage of another bill during the session of 1834 in the terms +suggested by the colonial secretary, and the Dissenters' Marriage +Question was thus settled. + +{IMPERIAL CUSTOM DUTIES} + +It has already been stated that the British government continued to +maintain a custom-house establishment in New Brunswick, and to impose +duties on goods imported into the province. These duties, which were +levied for the regulation of trade, were disposed of by the British +government and by the lieutenant-governor of the province with little +reference to the wishes of the legislature. The old restrictive system +which placed shackles on trade was modified by two Acts passed by the +imperial parliament in 1822, under which the importation of provisions, +lumber, cattle, tobacco and other articles from any foreign country in +North and South America and the West Indies, into ports of British North +America and the British West Indies, was allowed under a fixed scale of +duty, and a free export was allowed to goods going from all our ports to +these countries. The importation of the productions of foreign countries +in Europe into the ports of British North America was also permitted, +and a schedule of duties annexed. Under these Acts it was provided that +the duties on both imports and exports were to be collected by the +imperial officers of customs, and the net revenue thus obtained was to +be placed at the disposal of the colonial treasuries. This arrangement +was a decided gain to New Brunswick, because, for the first time, it +placed nearly all the revenue collected by the imperial officers under +the control of the legislature. + +The Acts of the imperial parliament, 6th George IV, Chapters 73 and 114, +went still farther in the way of removing restrictions from colonial +trade. These Acts provided that the duties imposed under them should be +paid by the collector of customs into the hands of the treasurer or +receiver-general of the colony, to be applied to such uses as were +directed by the local legislature of such colony, exception being made +in regard to the produce of duties payable to His Majesty, under any Act +passed prior to the eighteenth year of his late Majesty, George III. +This exception is important for the purpose of illustrating the +pernicious system under which duties had been collected. Even so late as +the year 1833, Messrs. Simonds and Chandler, the New Brunswick delegates +to the imperial government, were complaining that duties were collected +at the several custom-houses in New Brunswick upon wine, molasses, +coffee and pimento under the provisions of the Acts of parliament, 6th +George II, Chapter 13; 4th George III, Chapter 15, and 6th George III, +Chapter 52, amounting to upwards of one thousand pounds sterling +annually, which duties were not accounted for to the legislature, and +that it was not known to the House of Assembly by whom and to what +purpose these duties were applied. The reply to this on the part of the +imperial government was, that in pursuance of the directions contained +in the statutes themselves, the duties levied under them were remitted +to the exchequer in England in aid of the expenses incurred for the +defence of the British colonies in North America. Thus ten years after +the British government had undertaken to remit the duties collected in +the colonies to the exchequers of the colonies in which the money was +collected, there still remained a considerable revenue, obtained under +old and obscure Acts of parliament, which was held back, and the +destination of which was not known, until disclosed to the delegates +sent to England to obtain the redress of New Brunswick's grievances. + +But the grievance which caused the greatest amount of dissatisfaction in +New Brunswick was that which arose from the management of the Crown +lands. It was bad enough that the revenues arising from the public +domain should be disposed of without the consent of the legislature; but +it was still worse when such regulations were made by the +surveyor-general as hindered the settlement of the country and +interfered with one of its leading industries. One great abuse was that +large areas of the best land in the province were locked up as reserves +for the production of masts for His Majesty's navy. Another grievance +was the imposition of a duty of a shilling a ton on all pine timber cut +in the province. This was done by the authority of the surveyor-general, +and its effect was seriously to injure many of those who were engaged in +lumbering. This tax was remitted for a time after the panic of the year +1825, but it was revived when that crisis in the commercial life of the +province had passed. The management of the Crown lands office had been +the subject of criticism at almost every session of the legislature for +twelve or fifteen years before Lemuel Wilmot entered public life, and +every year the complaints grew louder. + +{AN ADDRESS TO THE KING} + +At the session of 1831, an address was presented to the president, the +Hon. William Black, asking him to lay before the House a detailed +account showing the amount of the casual and territorial revenue from +the beginning of 1824 to the end of 1830, and the expenditures from that +fund for the same period. This was refused on the ground that it was +inconsistent with his instructions. The House then resolved to bring the +matter to the notice of the king in an address, the spirit of which may +be gathered from the following paragraphs:-- + +"By the operation of the system practised in this office, very large +sums are taken from the people of this province for licenses to cut +timber on Crown land, and, although the assembly do not question the +right Your Majesty undoubtedly has to the lands in question, they think +the tremendous powers with which the commissioner is vested, with regard +to impositions of tonnage money and the enormous exactions for fees, to +be incompatible with a free government, and to require redress. + +"It is generally understood, as well as universally believed, that the +commissioner in question is under no control in this province, and to +this may be ascribed the mode in which licenses to cut timber are issued +in very many cases, in quantities less than one hundred tons, subject to +a duty of one shilling, three pence per ton, and the excessive fee on +each of forty-five shillings. By this mode, a large part of the receipts +is paid in the shape of fees, at once injuring the subject without +benefiting the revenue; and the assembly feel convinced, if the office +were under colonial management, that while the oppressions would be +removed, the revenue would be more productive; and besides, the assembly +cannot but view with just alarm that the day may possibly come when, by +a single mandate from the office, exactions of such magnitude may be +made as literally to stop the export trade of the country, a power which +no person should have even the shadow of authority to exercise. + +"The assembly at an early day in the present session, by an address to +the administrator of the government, sought for documents regarding +this office, to enable them officially to bring the subject more in +detail under the consideration of Your Majesty, but this information, so +highly desirable and necessary, has been withheld from them; and the +assembly, therefore, with great submission, lay before Your Majesty +herewith, a copy of the said address, with the reply thereto, for Your +Majesty's gracious consideration. + +"It will by that be seen that the objects contemplated by the assembly +are no less than relieving Your Majesty's government permanently from +the burthen of the whole civil list of the province, a subject which the +assembly humbly conceive to be of great advantage to the parent state, +and only requiring that the revenues, from whatever source or sources +derived in or collected within the province, should be placed under the +control of its legislature." + +{THE CIVIL LIST} + +A portion of the Crown-land revenue went to pay what was termed the +civil list, which included the salaries of the lieutenant-governor, the +judges, the attorney-general, solicitor-general, private secretary, +provincial secretary, auditor, receiver-general and commissioner of +Crown lands. The latter official received seventeen hundred and fifty +pounds sterling per annum besides enormous fees, so that his income was +greater than that of the lieutenant-governor. Thomas Baillie, an +Irishman, who had been a subaltern in a marching regiment, had filled +that office since the year 1824, and continued to hold it until 1851, +twenty-seven years in all, when he retired with a pension twice as large +as the salary of the present surveyor-general of New Brunswick. + +What the Reformers in the legislature of New Brunswick sought to obtain +was the control of the public lands, and the disposal of the revenues +derived from them. To accomplish this they were willing to undertake to +pay the salaries embraced in the civil list, although these salaries +were looked upon by the people of the province generally as altogether +too large. Yet there were great difficulties in the way of this +necessary reform, for King William IV was known to be violently opposed +to it. At a later period, 1835, in the course of a conversation with the +Earl of Gosford, who had been appointed governor of Lower Canada, "I +will never consent," he said with an oath, "to alienate the Crown lands, +nor to make the council elective. Mind me, my Lord, the cabinet is not +my cabinet. They had better take care, or by ---- I will have them +impeached." + +Such was the language which this king used in regard to his +constitutional advisers. It was fortunate for New Brunswick and the +other colonies of British North America that at that time he had done +his utmost to get rid of his ministers and had been defeated and +humiliated, so that they could set him at defiance. But in 1832 they +were more disposed to defer to his wishes, and in May of that year we +find Lord Goderich, the colonial secretary, writing to Sir Archibald +Campbell, the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, in the following +strain:-- + +"The preservation to the Crown of the territorial revenue is an object +of the first importance, and it would only be resigned on its being +clearly proved that the right of the Crown could not be maintained +without producing still greater inconvenience. You cannot, therefore, +more usefully exert your influence than in endeavouring to prevent the +assembly from urging the surrender of this revenue." + +{CONTROL OF THE REVENUE} + +The question of the control of the Crown-land or casual and territorial +revenues was made the subject of an address to the king by the House of +Assembly in 1832. In this it was stated that the expense of collecting +these revenues was far greater than it would be under proper management, +and it was proposed that they be placed under the control of the +legislature, which would undertake the payment of all the necessary +expenses of the civil government of the province by making such +permanent and other grants as might be necessary for this purpose. The +reply to this proposition was received during the legislative session of +1833. In it Lord Goderich, with some appearance of sarcasm, observed +that "His Majesty did not consider it necessary at present to call upon +the House for a grant of the nature proposed, as he did not anticipate +such a falling off in the revenue at his disposal as the House appeared +to have apprehended." This reply can hardly be regarded otherwise than +as an insult to the House of Assembly, for the meaning of their address +to the king was deliberately misrepresented. They were contending for a +principle, that the revenue derived from the public domain should be +under the control of the legislature, and the amount of the revenue did +not enter into the question. + +In 1833 the House of Assembly appointed a committee on grievances for +the purpose of taking into consideration and investigating all matters +in connection with the Crown lands, which were the subject of complaint. +After this committee had reported to the House, it was resolved to send +a deputation to England to endeavour to make some arrangement with the +colonial secretary in reference to the Crown lands. + +{MR. STANLEY'S DESPATCH} + +The deputies appointed to proceed to England and lay the grievances of +the province at the foot of the throne were Charles Simonds and Edward +B. Chandler, both men of wealth, influence and position, and well +qualified for the performance of the work with which they were +entrusted. Messrs. Chandler and Simonds arrived in England in June, +1833, and immediately placed themselves in communication with the Right +Honourable E. G. Stanley, who was then colonial secretary. Their report +was laid before the legislature in February, 1834, and the result was +highly satisfactory to the House of Assembly. A few days later a +despatch from Mr. Stanley to Sir Archibald Campbell was laid before the +House, in which he stated the terms on which he should feel that His +Majesty might properly be advised to place the proceeds of the casual +and territorial revenue under the control of the assembly of New +Brunswick. He would, he said, be prepared to advise His Majesty to +accept a permanent appropriation by the legislature, duly secured to the +amount of fourteen thousand pounds per annum, and that the Crown should +undertake to charge on any such permanent grant the salaries of the +lieutenant-governor, his private secretary, the commissioner of Crown +lands, provincial secretary, chief-justice, three puisne judges, the +attorney-general, auditor, receiver-general, the expenses of the indoor +establishment of the Crown lands department, and a grant of one thousand +pounds to the college. It would be necessary, Mr. Stanley stated, that +any bill passed in consequence of the proposal contained in this +despatch should contain a suspending clause in order that it might be +submitted to His Majesty before it was finally assented to. It was also +stated, in order to prevent misunderstanding or delay, that the House +should be apprised, that, unless some other fully equivalent and +sufficient security could be devised, it would be expected that the Act +should provide that the stipulated annual commutation should be payable +out of the first receipts in each year, and that in case of any default +in such payment the whole of the revenue surrendered should revert to +the Crown. A committee was appointed to prepare the bill on the subject +of the surrender by His Majesty of the casual and territorial revenues +of the province. The House of Assembly had previously passed a +resolution that the sum of fourteen thousand pounds required by His +Majesty's government as a permanent grant for the surrender of the +casual and territorial revenues of the province was greater than the +charges contemplated to be thereon required, yet that the great desire +of the House of Assembly to have this important subject finally settled +should induce them to accept the proposal contained in Mr. Stanley's +despatch. On the day after this resolution was passed, the +lieutenant-governor communicated to the House of Assembly an extract +from a despatch received the previous day by him from the Right +Honourable Mr. Stanley, dated January 4th, 1834. This extract was as +follows:-- + +"In your message communicating to the assembly the proposal contained in +my despatch of the 30th September, you will take care distinctly to +explain that the payments expected from the New Brunswick Land Company +are not included in the revenue which is offered to the acceptance of +the assembly." It is with great regret that an historian of this period +must record the receipt of such a despatch from an imperial head of +department to a colonial governor, for the spirit displayed in the +message was not that of an enlightened statesman, but such as might have +been expected from one who was endeavouring to drive the hardest +possible bargain with the province of New Brunswick, in order that a +number of officials, swollen with pride and enjoying enormous salaries, +might not suffer. + +{NEGOTIATIONS FAIL} + +A few days after the receipt of this despatch, a resolution was passed +by the House in committee, regretting that the additional condition +contained in Mr. Stanley's last despatch would prevent the committee +recommending to the House further action in the matter of preparing a +civil list bill. Thus ended the attempt to settle this vexed question in +the year 1834. The House of Assembly, however, still continued to +agitate the matter, and to make Sir Archibald Campbell's life a burden +to him. On March 7th, they addressed him, asking for accounts in detail +of the casual and territorial revenues, and calling for a number of +statements which they had not received except in such a shape that they +could not be properly understood. They also addressed His Excellency, +requesting him to lay before them copies of all official despatches +transmitted to him by the secretary of state for the colonies, since he +assumed the administration of the government, relating to the subject of +the casual and territorial revenues. The reply of His Excellency to the +request for more detailed accounts was a courteous one; but while he +consented to furnish the accounts requested in detail, it was with the +understanding that his compliance was not to be considered as a +precedent. He declined, however, to give the names of the parties who +had their timber seized or forfeited, or the names of the petitioners +for Crown land. He also refused to furnish the accounts of the +receiver-general and commissioner of Crown lands, on the ground that +they were accounts exclusively between these officers and the Crown. + +With regard to the request for his correspondence with the colonial +secretary, Sir Archibald Campbell in another message gave a tart +refusal, stating that such a request was subversive of the principles +and spirit of the British constitution, and that he would ill deserve +the confidence put in him by His Majesty were he to hesitate in meeting +so dangerous an encroachment, not only on the independence of the +executive, but the prerogatives of the British Crown, with a most +decided and unqualified refusal. This military officer considered +himself a proper exponent of the principles and spirit of the British +constitution. He failed to understand that the British constitution +rests upon the support of the people, while his system of government was +intended to ignore the people altogether. + +{QUARREL WITH THE GOVERNOR} + +A few days after the receipt of this message, a resolution was passed +by the House of Assembly declaring that the language used by the +lieutenant-governor, in his reply to the address of the House, was at +variance with all parliamentary precedent and usage, and such as was not +called for by the address. Some of the governor's friends attempted to +weaken the force of this resolution by an amendment of a milder nature, +but their amendment was defeated, and the resolution carried by a vote +of fifteen to eight. Another address on the subject of the casual and +territorial revenues and civil list was prepared and passed by the +assembly for the purpose of being forwarded to His Majesty. It recited +the proceedings, in regard to the matter, which had taken place already, +and the desire of the House of Assembly to accept the proposition +contained in Mr. Stanley's despatch, and expressed the regret of the +House at the new condition imposed with regard to the New Brunswick Land +Company, which made it impossible to accept the settlement as amended. +The House concluded by expressing the hope that the terms proposed in +the original despatch might yet be considered definitive, and that the +proviso with regard to the New Brunswick Land Company might be +withdrawn. This was transmitted to England; but, before the year ended, +Sir Archibald Campbell concluded to rid himself of the House of +Assembly, which had given him so much annoyance, and accordingly it was +dissolved early in November; so that when the legislature met again in +January, 1835, the House was a new one, although largely composed of the +old members. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE + + +Wilmot acquired a good legal practice soon after his admission to the +bar, and was recognized as a highly successful advocate in cases before +a jury. In the opinion of the legal profession he never was a deeply +read lawyer, either as a barrister or as a judge, but in the conduct of +a case at _nisi prius_ he could hardly have been surpassed. He had the +gift which has been possessed by all great advocates, of seizing on the +leading feature of a case, and, regardless of all minor issues, pressing +it home on the minds of the jury. His eloquent and impressive speeches +on behalf of his clients soon began to attract general attention, and +the court-house was thronged when it was known that he was about to +address a jury. He was speedily marked as the proper person to represent +the views of the people in the House of Assembly, and, on a vacancy +occurring in the representation of the county of York in consequence of +the death of one of the members in the summer of 1834, Wilmot was +elected without opposition, none of the government party having the +courage to oppose him. Before the time came round for the meeting of the +legislature, the House was dissolved by Sir Archibald Campbell, in the +hope that he might be able to get an assembly more amenable to his +wishes, and, at the general election which followed, Wilmot was again +elected, at the head of the poll. At that time he had barely completed +his twenty-fifth year. It was a great triumph for Wilmot and the friends +of Reform, for all the influence of the friends of the governor and the +Family Compact was arrayed against him. + +{ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE} + +Mr. Wilmot took his seat as a member of the House of Assembly on January +25th, 1835. Young as he was, he had already made a great reputation as a +public speaker, and there was no man in the legislature or in the +province who could stand any comparison with him in point of eloquence. +Indeed, it is doubtful whether the British North American provinces have +ever produced a man who was Wilmot's superior in that style of oratory +which is so telling on the hustings or where great masses of men are to +be moved. The evidence of this fact does not rest on the testimony of +his countrymen alone, for he acquired a wider fame for eloquence than +they could give him. At the Portland Railway Convention of 1850, where +the ablest men of the Northern States were gathered, he easily eclipsed +them all by his brilliant and powerful oratory. The reporters are said +to have thrown down their pencils in despair, being unable to keep pace +with him as he aroused the enthusiasm of all who heard him by his +burning words. Unfortunately, there is no form of ability which is so +transient in its effects as this perfervid style of oratory. So much of +its potency depends on the action of the speaker, on the glance of his +eye and the modulation of his voice, that no report could do justice to +it, even if there had been reporters at that time capable of putting +down every word he uttered. The speeches of even Gladstone, when +reported word for word, read but indifferently when seen in cold type, +and no speech of Wilmot's was ever properly reported. He was incapable +of writing out a speech after he had delivered it, so that we must take +the united testimony of his contemporaries, whether friends or enemies, +that he was, upon his own ground, an unequalled speaker. + +The House in which he now found himself was not one that was remarkable +for its eloquence. Unlike most of the legislatures of the present day, +the proportion of lawyers was very small, there being only five in a +House of thirty members, and of these five the only one who was an +orator was Wilmot. The other twenty-five members were mostly business +men and farmers, some of whom could express their views on public +questions clearly enough, but had no pretensions to eloquence. Yet it +was a good House, and one of its best features was that its members were +able to appreciate the worth of the new representative from the county +of York. + +The aim of Wilmot, when he entered the legislature, was to bring the +province into line with the principles of responsible government as +understood in the mother country. Yet, looking at the state of New +Brunswick then, it is easy to see that the task he had undertaken was +one of enormous difficulty. Most of the evils of which the people had +been complaining still existed. The casual and territorial revenue was +still under the control of the home authorities, the custom-house +establishment still remained unreformed, the Family Compact still +controlled all the great public offices, and none but members of the +Church of England were thought worthy to serve their country in a public +capacity. + +Two years earlier the executive and legislative councils had been +separated; but the change had made little or no improvement in the +system of government. The executive council consisted of five members, +all of whom held public offices from which they could not be removed by +any act of the legislature. The first on the list was Baillie, the +surveyor-general, whose record has already been referred to; next came +F. P. Robinson, the auditor of the king's casual revenue; another was +William F. Odell, whose father had been provincial secretary for +twenty-eight years, and who himself filled the same office for +thirty-two years. George F. Street, the solicitor-general, was another +member of the executive, and the last on the list was John Simcoe +Saunders, who was advocate-general and held three or four +commissionerships besides. All these men were so solidly entrenched in +their positions that it seemed impossible they should ever be disturbed. +They formed a solid phalanx opposed to all reform, and they were +supported by the governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, most of whose life +had been spent in India and who, however well fitted to govern Hindoos, +was hardly the man to give laws to white men who claimed to be free. + +{BECOMES A LEADER} + +As soon as Wilmot entered the House of Assembly, he began to take a +leading part in its debates. The very day he took his seat he was +appointed on the committee to prepare an address in reply to the speech +from the throne. On the following day he gave notice of a resolution +with regard to the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, a subject +that was then coming to the front. A day or two later he brought in a +bill to continue the Act to provide for the expenses of judges on +circuits. Indeed, no man was more active during that first session than +the new member for the county of York. + +There were two questions that came up for discussion in which, as a +Reformer, he was specially interested,--the salaries of the customs +establishment, and the casual and territorial revenue. With regard to +the latter, when the House had been sitting about a month, the reply of +the colonial secretary to the address of the previous session was laid +before it. That address, it will be remembered, related to the offer +which had been made to the British government to take over the Crown +lands and provide for a civil list of fourteen thousand pounds sterling, +the payments expected from the New Brunswick Land Company to be included +in this arrangement. The reply of the colonial secretary was as +follows:-- + +"From various parts of the address I infer that the proposal conveyed to +the assembly, through my predecessors, must have been misapprehended in +more than one important particular; and I have especially remarked the +erroneous assumption that, in offering to surrender the proceeds of the +Crown lands, it was intended also to give up their management, and to +place them under the control of the legislature. + +"From the course of their proceedings, as well as the tenor of the +present expression of their sentiments, the assembly must be understood +to consider it an indispensable condition that the payments of the Land +Company should be comprised among the objects to be surrendered to them. +This is a condition to which His Majesty's government cannot agree. His +Majesty's government would also be unable to recognize the +interpretation which was placed on their former offer, so far as regards +the control over the lands belonging to the Crown in New Brunswick. +Under these circumstances, I can only desire you to convey to the +assembly His Majesty's regrets that the objects of their address cannot +be complied with, and, adverting to the wide difference between the +views entertained by the government and those manifested by the assembly +on this subject, it seems to me that no advantage could be anticipated +from making any further proposals at present respecting the cession of +the territorial revenue." + +{RENEWED AGITATION} + +This despatch, which brought a sudden close to the negotiations with +regard to the casual and territorial revenues of the province, did not +emanate from the government with which the House of Assembly had been +previously negotiating, but from a new administration which had just +been formed under the premiership of Sir Robert Peel, and which lasted +just one hundred and forty-five days. The creation of this +administration was due to the action of King William IV, in dismissing +his advisers on the death of Earl Spencer, which removed Lord Althorp +from the House of Commons. The king had grown to detest his cabinet for +their reforming spirit, but his designs were thwarted by the failure of +Sir Robert Peel to form an administration capable of facing the House of +Commons. As a consequence, Viscount Melbourne again became premier, and +a renewal of the negotiations with the government in regard to the +casual and territorial revenues was rendered possible. + +The House of Assembly was still determined to keep the question of the +casual and territorial revenue to the front, and at a later period in +the session another address on this subject was prepared by the House of +Assembly, to be laid before His Majesty. In this address the grievances +with regard to the management of the Crown lands of New Brunswick were +recited, and the willingness of the legislature to provide for the civil +establishment of the province was stated. The address urged the benefits +that would result to the people of New Brunswick from placing the net +proceeds of the Crown-land revenues under the control of the +legislature. Attached to this address was a schedule of salaries +proposed to be paid out of the casual and territorial revenues, +amounting in all to £10,500 currency. The address was transmitted to the +governor to be forwarded to His Majesty. No specific answer was ever +made to this proposal, a fact which was probably due to the confusion, +incident to the change of government, which took place about the time +the address reached Downing Street. + +{CUSTOM-HOUSE SALARIES} + +Another matter which engaged the attention of the House during this +session, and in which Wilmot took an active interest, was the settlement +of the salaries of the custom-house officials. Although the surplus +revenue from this source went into the provincial treasury, the amount +thus received was much less than it ought to have been, in consequence +of the large salaries which were paid to the officials. In the year 1830 +the amount of custom-house duties collected in the province was £16,616 +18s. 11d. sterling, from which was deducted for salaries £7,073 6s., or +nearly one-half of the whole amount. The House of Assembly objected to +the payment of such large salaries, and in 1831 proposed to the British +government to make a permanent annual grant of £4,250 sterling for the +payment of customs officials in New Brunswick. This proposal was +accepted, and in the following year a bill was passed in accordance with +this arrangement. But it was protested against by the customs +authorities in England and disallowed because the salaries of the +officers of customs were not made the first charge on the revenue. +During the session of 1835, an amended bill embracing this provision was +passed, and the question was settled for the time. Mr. Wilmot was not +satisfied with this arrangement, because it was a violation of the +principle that the House of Assembly should have control of the +provincial revenue, and he therefore voted against it. Nevertheless, the +measure apart from this violation of a fundamental principle, was a gain +to the province, as it placed a considerable sum additional in the +public treasury. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE + + +Mr. Wilmot took a very active part in the proceedings of the legislature +during the session of 1836, and was the moving spirit in the committee +of the whole to inquire into the state of the province during that +session. The result was the passing by large majorities of a series of +twenty-six resolutions condemning the management of the Crown lands +office, the composition of the executive council and also of the +legislative council, and declaring that the control of the casual and +territorial revenues should be placed in the hands of the legislature. +These resolutions were made the basis of an address to His Majesty, +which was to be carried to England by a deputation of two members of the +House of Assembly. This address relates at length the principal facts of +the management of the Crown lands and the reasons of the House of +Assembly for dissatisfaction therewith. Mr. Wilmot, in recognition of +the active part he had taken in this business, was appointed a member of +the delegation, the other member being William Crane of Westmorland, a +gentleman of experience, wealth and standing in the province. This +appointment was the highest compliment that could possibly have been +paid to Wilmot's capacity, for the negotiation then to be conducted with +the colonial office was of the most important and delicate character, +and one which vitally affected the interests of the province. + +The colonial secretary at that time was Lord Glenelg, a statesman whose +character has been drawn by Sir Henry Taylor, who was then a clerk in +the colonial office. "Amiable and excellent as he was," says Taylor, "a +more incompetent man could not have been found to fill an office +requiring activity and ready judgment. A dart flung at him by Lord +Brougham in 1838 points to his notorious defect as a minister called +upon to deal with a crisis. The then crisis was that of the Canadian +Rebellion." "It is indeed," said Lord Brougham, "a most alarming and +frightful state of things, and I am sure must have given my noble friend +many a sleepless day." It was probably because of Lord Glenelg's habit +of procrastination that the delegates had to remain in London for four +months before they were able to bring their business to a conclusion. +They arrived there about the middle of June, and it was well on in +October before they were able to leave. The result of their work was +that an arrangement was made satisfactory both to the British government +and to the delegates representing the House of Assembly, by which the +casual and territorial revenues were to be transferred to the province, +in consideration of the legislature undertaking to provide for a civil +list of £14,500 currency annually, for the payment of certain salaries +chargeable to that fund. A draft of a Civil List Bill was prepared and +agreed to by the lords of the treasury, and the understanding was that +this bill should be passed by the legislature, and receive the assent of +the lieutenant-governor, when it would immediately become operative. + +{CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL} + +The first clause of this bill transferred the proceeds of the +territorial and casual revenues, and of all woods, mines and royalties +which had been collected and were then in hand, or which should +thereafter be collected, to the provincial treasurer, who was authorized +to receive them for the use of the province, while the Act remained in +force. The second clause charged the revenues with the payment of +£14,500 for a civil list. The third clause enacted that all the surplus +over and above the sum of £14,500 currency, should remain in the +treasury of the province until appropriated or disposed of by an Act or +Acts of the general assembly. The fourth clause gave the +lieutenant-governor, with the advice of his executive council, power to +expend such sums as they might deem necessary for the prudent +management, protection and collection of the said revenues, a detailed +account of which was to be laid before the legislature within fourteen +days of the commencement of each session, with all vouchers for the +same. It was also enacted that all grants or sales of Crown lands should +be void, unless the land had been sold at public auction after due +notice in the _Royal Gazette_. By this arrangement the House of Assembly +had obtained the boon for which it had so long been contending, but +there was still one more obstacle to be overcome,--the opposition of the +lieutenant-governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, who had entered into a plot +with some of the enemies of freedom in the province for the purpose of +thwarting, not only the wishes of the House of Assembly, but also the +intentions of the home government. As soon as Sir Archibald Campbell was +apprised of the intention of His Majesty's advisers in England to +transfer the casual and territorial revenues to the provincial +legislature, he commenced a correspondence with the colonial office, +pointing out what he deemed to be imperfections in the scheme which they +had prepared for the management of the public lands. He pretended to +have discovered that there was some error in the calculation of the +lords of the treasury with regard to the sum to be paid in lieu of the +civil list, and that the amount of £14,500 currency would not be +sufficient to defray all the expenditures chargeable on the civil list. + +{AN OBSTRUCTIVE GOVERNOR} + +Sir Archibald Campbell, soon after the opening of the session of the +legislature, in December 1836, requested the House of Assembly to add a +suspending clause to any Civil List Bill they might pass, so that he +might forward it to the home government for their approval. As this was +entirely contrary to the understanding which had been reached between +Messrs. Wilmot and Crane and the colonial secretary,--it being +understood that the bill if passed in the form agreed upon would be +immediately assented to by the lieutenant-governor,--the House of +Assembly very naturally refused to comply with Sir Archibald's wishes. +He, however, held firm in his resolution, and the Civil List Bill which +had been agreed to by the home authorities, after being passed by both +Houses, did not receive his assent. At the close of the session, while +the matter was under discussion, at the instigation of the +lieutenant-governor one of the executive council, Solicitor-General +Street, was sent on a secret mission to Downing Street. The object of +this mission was to make such representations to the home authorities as +would induce them to delay giving their assent to the Civil List Bill. +The truth of the matter seems to have been that Sir Archibald Campbell +and his advisers in New Brunswick thought if they could only gain time +the Liberal government of England which had granted such favourable +terms to the province might be defeated, and a Tory government come into +power which would speedily undo all that their predecessors had done, +and refuse to grant any concessions to the legislature of New Brunswick. +There was great excitement in the province in consequence of the action +of the lieutenant-governor, and this excitement was fairly voiced in the +House of Assembly, where an address was prepared representing the +condition of affairs to His Majesty, and detailing the manner in which +the lieutenant-governor had sought to thwart the intentions of the +imperial government. This address was passed by a vote of twenty-seven +to two, the only members of the House who ventured to stand with the man +who occupied Government House being John Ambrose Street and William End. + +{CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL PASSED} + +Messrs. Crane and Wilmot were again appointed a deputation to proceed to +England with the address of the House of Assembly, and took their +departure two days after it was passed, amidst great popular +demonstrations by the citizens of Fredericton. The legislature was +prorogued on March 1st, on which day the House of Assembly again +requested the lieutenant-governor to pass the Civil List Bill, pointing +out that under the arrangements made with the colonial office it was his +duty to do so, but their request fell upon deaf ears. In the speech +proroguing the legislature, Sir Archibald Campbell stated that he had +withheld his assent from this bill because a suspending clause had not +been appended to it. These were the last words that this obstinate +governor was destined to speak before a New Brunswick legislature. +Finding that all his hopes of impeding the progress of the province in +the direction of political liberty were in vain, he tendered his +resignation to save himself from being removed, as he would have been, +for his direct disobedience to the commands of his superiors in +England.[1] Sir John Harvey, another soldier, but a man of a very +different spirit, was appointed to succeed him as lieutenant-governor. +The Civil List Bill was again passed at a special session of the +legislature and received the assent of the governor, becoming law on +July 17th, 1837. From that time to the present, the province of New +Brunswick has controlled the revenues which it derives from its Crown +lands and similar sources, and, whether wisely expended or not, the +people of this province have at least the satisfaction of knowing that +the money is appropriated by their own representatives, and by a +government which is responsible to them for its actions. + +The death of King William IV took place during the summer of 1837, and +brought about another general election. Mr. Wilmot again stood for the +county of York and was returned at the head of the poll. This was only a +proper recognition of his eminent services to the province in the +legislature and as a delegate to England. At this election, Charles +Fisher, a young lawyer, was also returned for the county of York. Mr. +Fisher, although not so fluent a speaker as Wilmot, was second to no man +in the legislature in devotion to Liberal principles, and he proved a +most valuable lieutenant in the battle for responsible government which +now began. The contest for the control of the Crown lands of the +province had been won, but a still more difficult task remained for the +friends of constitutional principles to accomplish,--the making of the +executive responsible to the people. The members of the House of +Assembly had been almost unanimous in demanding the control of the Crown +lands, but, when it came to applying the principles of responsible +government to the affairs of the province generally, there were many +deserters from the ranks of those who had called themselves Reformers. +This was partly due to the principles of responsible government not +being well understood even by some members of the legislature, and +partly to the fact that the question did not touch the self-interest of +the members in the same manner as the mismanagement of the Crown lands +department had done. + +Under a thoroughly constitutional system of government the initiation of +money grants would have been in the hands of the executive, but in 1837 +not a single member of the executive council had a seat in the House of +Assembly. Three of the five members of the executive council were also +members of the legislative council, but the two others had no seat in +either House, a fact which shows on what lax principles the executive +was constructed. The initiation of money grants being in the House of +Assembly, any private member had it in his power to move an +appropriation of money for any object that he pleased. In this way a +system of "log rolling" was inaugurated in the legislature, which +resulted in extravagant expenditures and the appropriation of money for +objects which, under a better system, would not have received it. It was +impossible to put any check upon the expenditure or to keep it within +the income under such an arrangement, and one of the first efforts of +the Reformers was therefore directed to the removal of this abuse. +Unfortunately this was, of all the proposed reforms in the constitution, +the one most difficult to carry, and it was not accomplished until after +Wilmot had retired from public life. + +{KING'S COLLEGE} + +One of the subjects which engaged the attention of Mr. Wilmot, at an +early period of his legislative career, was the charter of King's +College. This charter had been obtained in 1828 from His Majesty, King +George IV, and the legislature had granted the college an endowment of +eleven hundred pounds currency a year, in addition to ten hundred pounds +sterling granted by the king out of the casual and territorial revenues +of the province. The aim of the charter was to make the college a Church +of England institution exclusively, for it provided that the bishop of +the diocese should be the visitor of the college, and that the president +should always be a clergyman in holy orders of the United Church of +England and Ireland. No religious test was required of students +matriculating or taking degrees in arts, but the council of the college, +which was the governing body, was to be composed of members of the +Church of England, who, previous to their appointment, had subscribed to +the thirty-nine articles. The professors, to the number of seven, who +were members of the Church of England, were to be members of the +council, so that, although no religious test was required of them, it +was reasonably certain that none but persons of that denomination would +be appointed to professorships. These terms were much complained of, and +surely it was absurd to place a provincial college under the control of +a single denomination which could not claim more than one-third of the +population of the province as belonging to its communion. It is stated +in Fullom's _Life of Sir Howard Douglas_, who was lieutenant-governor of +the province at the time, that the charter would have been much less +liberal than it was if it had not been for his efforts. The Bishop of +Nova Scotia and the Bishop of London desired to confine it entirely to +students belonging to the Church of England, and to make subscription to +the thirty-nine articles a condition precedent to the granting of +degrees in arts. On the other hand, Attorney-General Peters in 1845, +when the amendments to the charter were discussed in the legislative +council, stated that the charter as originally drafted and sent to +England was much more liberal in its provisions than when finally +passed, but that in 1828, to the surprise of Sir Howard Douglas, the +then existing charter came out copied from one obtained by Dr. Strachan +for Upper Canada. If this statement was correct, it affords a singular +illustration of the injury that the bigotry of one man can cause to +future generations. If King's College had treated all denominations on +equal terms, all would have resorted to it for higher education. As it +was, it became the college of only a section of the people, the +different denominations established colleges of their own, and when +finally the connection between the Church of England and King's College +was severed and it became the University of New Brunswick, the +denominational colleges had become so well established that it could +hardly compete with them on equal terms. + +{AN EXCLUSIVE INSTITUTION} + +During the session of 1838 Mr. Wilmot, as chairman, submitted to the +legislature the report of the select committee which had been appointed +to take into consideration the state of the college. In this report it +was proposed to make certain alterations in the charter for the purpose +of rendering it more acceptable to those who were not in the communion +of the Church of England. In 1839 he introduced a bill in the House of +Assembly embracing these amendments. The principal changes were to make +the lieutenant-governor visitor of the college instead of the bishop, to +repeal the section which provided that the president of the college must +be a member of the Church of England, and to make persons of every +denomination eligible for members of the college council. The +professorship of theology was still retained, and students in that +course were still required to subscribe to the thirty-nine articles, +while services were held in the college morning and evening according to +the rites of the Church of England. These changes were certainly of a +very moderate character, but they were stoutly resisted by the college +authorities and their friends. They put forward the plea that the +legislature had no right to alter a royal charter, that to do so was an +interference with the royal prerogative, and that the direst consequence +would ensue if the constitution of the college was changed. According to +their view, a royal charter once granted, the king himself, even with +the assistance of both branches of the legislature, could not amend it. +The college authorities also denied that they were under the control of +the legislature in any way, or responsible to it for their management of +the institution, although they were living on money voted by the +legislature for its support. + +{ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN} + +Wilmot's bill passed the House of Assembly, but was defeated in the +legislative council. A similar bill was introduced by him in 1840, but +postponed in consequence of a communication from the college council +which seemed to show an inclination to yield something to the demands of +the public. But a fatal objection to these modifications being accepted +was the insistence of the college council that the bishop of the +diocese, or in his absence the archdeacon, should be a member of that +body. Representatives of the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists +pointed out in a memorial to the lieutenant-governor that the exclusive +character of the council would still remain, as that body would be +composed wholly of members of the Church of England. Lord John Russell, +the colonial secretary, to whom the matter had been referred, suggested +that the college should surrender its charter and that a new one should +be prepared embracing the proposed changes, but the college council took +no steps to carry these suggestions into effect. This being the case, at +Wilmot's instance the House of Assembly proposed an address to the queen +setting forth the facts of the case and asking Her Majesty to assent to +a bill, a draft of which was enclosed, which the House of Assembly was +prepared to pass. + +At the session of 1842 Wilmot again introduced the King's College Bill, +and it was passed by the House, but again rejected by the legislative +council. Early in the session of 1843, the lieutenant-governor +communicated to the House by message two despatches from Downing Street +on the subject of the college. One of these was from Lord John Russell, +and the other from his successor, Lord Stanley. Lord John laid down the +doctrine that "it is a principle of undoubted validity that a grant of +franchise by the Crown is irrevocable and unalterable by a further +exercise of the royal authority unless the power of revocation and +change be embodied and reserved in the original grant, or unless the +grantees make a voluntary surrender of their franchises." Lord John had +evidently forgotten his English history, or he would have known that +English kings on many occasions had revoked charters granted by +themselves or their predecessors.[2] Lord John desired the college to +surrender its charter and accept a new one, but Lord Stanley and the law +officers of the Crown whom he had consulted held a different view, and +thought that a new charter could be granted to supersede the old. Both +colonial secretaries were desirous that the changes in the constitution +of the college should be effected by a new royal charter. But this did +not suit the views of the House of Assembly, and after another college +bill had been defeated in the House and rejected by the council, on +March 20th, 1843, the following resolution, which was moved by Mr. +Wilmot, was passed by the House without a division:-- + +"WHEREAS, The assembly, during several years past, have endeavoured, +without success, to effect certain reasonable modifications in the +charter of King's College; and whereas those modifications as contained +in the bill which has been rejected by the legislative council, during +the present session, have been loudly and repeatedly called for by +numerous petitions from nearly every county in the province, while no +petition has ever been presented against those modifications; and +whereas it is in vain to expect the amount of public benefit from the +institution which its munificent endowment from the provincial revenue +should ensure; therefore, + +"_Resolved_, That this House have learned with much regret and +disappointment that a majority of the legislative council have rejected +the said bill during the present session; and further + +"_Resolved_, That this House should persevere in their endeavours to +amend the said charter by legislative enactment, and not resort to an +address to the throne for a new charter; and that this House will +steadfastly adhere to the principle that all the educational +establishments of the province, which are endowed from the colonial +revenues, whether incorporated by royal charter or otherwise, should be +at all times subject to the supervision of the local legislature." + +{COLLEGE CHARTER AMENDED} + +This resolution embodied a great principle to which the House of +Assembly was determined to adhere, and which was very soon carried out. +In 1844 the college amendment bill was again rejected by the council, +but this was the last effort of that reactionary body to defeat the +wishes of the people. At the session of 1845, the college bill was +again introduced by Mr. Wilmot, and this time it passed both Houses. +But like many important bills of that day it was reserved for Her +Majesty's pleasure and although passed in March, 1845, it was not until +December, 1846, that it received the royal assent and became law. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This is shown by the correspondence of Sir John Harvey with the +colonial office. Sir John was then governor of Prince Edward Island. + +[2] Charles II annulled the charter of Massachusetts, and disposed in a +similar fashion of the charter of the city of London, as well as of many +English towns. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE + + +In the session of 1840 Sir John Harvey, the lieutenant-governor, +communicated to the legislature a despatch which he had received from +Lord John Russell a short time before. This dealt with the question of +the tenure of public offices in the gift of the Crown throughout the +British colonies. Lord John had been struck by the fact that, while the +governor of a colony was liable to have his commission revoked at any +time, the commissions of all other public officials were very rarely +recalled except for positive misconduct. In New Brunswick offices had +been held generally for life and sometimes for two lives, as was the +case with the Odells, father and son, who filled the position of +secretary of the province for sixty years. One attorney-general of the +province had held office for twenty-four years, another for nineteen +years and a third for twenty years. One surveyor-general held office for +thirty-three years and another for almost thirty years. Under such a +system, it was clear that responsible government could make no advance, +for these officials held their positions quite independently of the +wishes of the legislature. Lord John Russell thought that the time had +come when a different course should be followed, and his despatch was +for the purpose of announcing to the lieutenant-governor the rules which +would hereafter be observed in the province of New Brunswick. He said:-- + +"You will understand, and cause it to be made generally known, that +hereafter the tenure of colonial offices held during Her Majesty's +pleasure will not be regarded as equivalent to a tenure during good +behaviour, but that not only such officers will be called upon to retire +from the public service as often as any sufficient motives of public +policy may suggest the expediency of that measure, but that a change in +the person of the governor will be considered as a sufficient reason for +any alterations which his successor may deem it expedient to make in the +list of public functionaries, subject, of course, to the future +confirmation of the sovereign. + +"These remarks do not extend to judicial offices, nor are they meant to +apply to places which are altogether ministerial, and which do not +devolve upon the holders of them duties, in the right discharge of which +the character or policy of the government are directly involved. They +are intended to apply rather to the heads of departments than to persons +serving as clerks, or in similar capacities under them. Neither do they +extend to officers in the services of the lords commissioners of the +treasury. The functionaries who will be chiefly, though not exclusively, +affected by them, are the colonial secretary, the treasurer or +receiver-general, the surveyor-general, the attorney-general and +solicitor-general, the sheriff or provost marshal, and other officers, +who under different designations from these, are entrusted with the same +or similar duties. To this list must be also added the members of the +council, especially in those colonies in which the legislative and +executive councils are distinct bodies. + +"The application of these rules to officers to be hereafter appointed +will be attended with no practical difficulty. It may not be equally +easy to enforce them in the case of existing officers, and especially of +those who may have left this country for the express purpose of +accepting the offices they at present fill. Every reasonable indulgence +must be shown for the expectations which such persons have been +encouraged to form. But even in these instances it will be necessary +that the right of enforcing these regulations should be distinctly +maintained, in practice as well as in theory, as often as the public +good may clearly demand the enforcement of them. It may not be +unadvisable to compensate any such officers for their disappointment, +even by pecuniary grants, when it may appear unjust to dispense with +their services without such an indemnity." + +{AN HISTORIC DESPATCH} + +This despatch produced consternation among those who had been accustomed +to regard their offices as held on a life tenure, but it was looked +upon by all the friends of good government as the beginning of a new +and better order of things with respect to the public services. The +matter was considered by a committee of the whole House a few days after +the despatch was received, and an effort was made by Wilmot to have a +favourable vote with regard to it. But although the friends of the old +Family Compact always professed to be extremely loyal and to pay great +deference to the wishes of the British government, on this occasion they +pursued a different course. A majority of the House voted down a +resolution which affirmed that this despatch should be "highly +satisfactory," "affording, as it does, the most satisfactory proof of a +sincere desire on the part of our Most Gracious Queen and her government +to infuse principles in the administration of colonial affairs strictly +analogous to the principles of the British constitution." Instead of +passing this sensible resolution the committee, by the casting vote of +the chairman, passed the following absurd amendment:-- + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this committee, that there is nothing in +the despatch of the Right Honourable Lord John Russell, now under +consideration, to call forth any expression from the House on the +subject of colonial government, and that in the event of any occurrence +taking place to disturb the present happy political state of the +province, the House cannot but entertain the opinion that any loyal and +dutiful representations which they may have occasion to lay at the foot +of the throne will receive, as they have always done, the royal +consideration." + +The vote on the original resolution was fifteen to thirteen, so that, +although defeated, it had a strong support in the House, yet it was +years before the principles embodied in the despatch of Lord John +Russell were carried into full effect in New Brunswick. + +{OFFICIAL SALARIES} + +When the Civil List Bill was passed in 1837, the salaries of the public +officials which were provided for in it were placed on a very liberal +scale. The lieutenant-governor was to receive £3,500 sterling, or almost +double the present salary of the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick. +The commissioner of Crown lands was to have £1,750 sterling, or about +five times as much as the present holder of that office; the provincial +secretary got £1,430 sterling, or more than three times as much as the +secretary of the province now receives. All the other salaries were in +the same proportion, and on a scale altogether beyond the means of the +province. It was admitted by Lord Glenelg, when the arrangements were +being made for the transfer of the casual and territorial revenues, that +these salaries might require modification, and he suggested that the +legislative council and the House of Assembly should at some future day +present him with their views on this subject. At the session of 1837, a +committee of the House of Assembly, of which Wilmot was a member, +reported in favour of a reduced scale of salaries, and this report was +adopted by the House. During the same year, a committee of the council +recommended that the salary of the surveyor-general or commissioner of +Crown lands should be reduced to twelve hundred pounds currency. This +reduction was protested against by Mr. Baillie, who had held the office +for many years, but it was thought to be reasonable by Lord Glenelg. The +executive council, however, took no steps to effect this reduction, +possibly because Mr. Baillie himself was a member of that body. At the +instance of Mr. Wilmot, the matter was taken up by the House at the +session of 1839, and a strongly worded resolution passed censuring the +executive council for not carrying into effect the reduction of the +salary of the surveyor-general, according to the views of Lord Glenelg. +At a later period in the same session, a committee, of which Wilmot was +an active member, laid before the House a scale of salaries which they +had prepared and which they considered sufficient for the public +officials embraced in the civil list. Under this scale, the salary of +the surveyor-general was reduced to £600 currency, and that of the +provincial secretary to the same amount. This report was not accepted by +the House. There were strong interests working for the retention of the +existing salaries, and it was not until a much later period that the +salaries of the public officials were placed on a footing that agreed +in some measure with the means of the province. + +At the session of 1842, Wilmot was an active member of a committee which +was appointed to take into consideration the subject of fees and +emoluments of the public officers, and at a later period in the session +they made a report recommending that all fees should go into the +treasury of the province and that all public officers should receive a +certain fixed salary. They presented with their report a scale of +salaries which they considered sufficient, which gave the provincial +secretary, surveyor-general and attorney-general each six hundred +pounds. Bills were introduced for the purpose of carrying these +recommendations into effect, but, although passed by the House, they +were rejected by the council, which for many years was the graveyard of +all measures for the improvement of the province. + +{RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT} + +The general election of 1842 was mainly fought on the Reform issue, and +the question of responsible government was discussed on every hustings. +Unfortunately very few of the candidates who offered their services as +legislators had a clear idea of what responsible government really +meant, and some of the gentlemen who were not ashamed to confess their +ignorance of the principles of the British constitution were men of +education and position, from whom better things might have been +expected. Mr. Robert L. Hazen, an eminent lawyer, who was a candidate +for the representation of the city of St. John, declared in his +nomination speech that he never met with any one who could explain to +him satisfactorily what responsible government meant. Mr. Humbert, one +of the candidates for St. John County, was entirely averse to the new +principles. "And what," he asked, "are these principles?" "Why," he +would ask, "should the old system be altered; it had never given cause +for complaint, it had always worked well,--then why should the people +complain?" He was not in favour of any innovations on British colonial +government. Very few people understood what responsible government +meant. He hardly understood it himself. It was, in his opinion, just +introducing another branch into our government. He was not in favour of +the government initiating the money votes. He was always sensitive about +the rights of the House--to them ought the power of originating the +supplies to belong, and to none other--and if returned he would oppose +the measure. + +Such absurdities as the above would not be worth quoting, but for the +light they throw on the views of the average New Brunswick politician of +that period. Mr. Humbert had been for many years a member of the House +of Assembly, and yet he had been unable to understand the significance +of the changes which the Reformers proposed in the constitution of the +country. The result of the election in St. John showed that the people +of that city and county were quite indifferent to the new doctrines. +For the county, Mr. Partelow was at the head of the poll, and that +gentleman on the hustings had declared that he was opposed to any change +in the constitution. He went into the House, he said, under a +constitution of fifty years' standing, and he was determined to leave it +as he found it, unimpaired. He disapproved of the initiation of money +votes being placed in the hands of the executive. He thought "such a +system would be wrong and pernicious in the extreme." + +{REFORMERS DEFEATED} + +When the legislature met in January 1843, it was found that the +Reformers were in the minority. Mr. Partelow was determined to make this +fact very clear, for in nominating the speaker he made a speech of some +length in which he declared that the time had come for testing the +principles on which the House should act, and with this object in view +he would throw down the gauntlet to the friends of responsible +government by nominating Mr. J. W. Weldon, to fill the chair. This +gentleman was a very fit representative of the old system, for besides +being a member for Kent, he filled almost all the offices in that county +which one man could hold. He was postmaster of Richibucto, deputy +treasurer for the port of Richibucto, issuer of marriage licenses for +the county of Kent, keeper of the seals and clerk of the peace and of +the inferior court of common pleas, and registrar of probates for the +same county. + +Mr. Wilmot was nominated for the speakership by Mr. Hill, of Charlotte, +but declined to run; the odds were too great, and so Mr. Weldon, the +opponent of responsible government, was elected without opposition. This +was an unsatisfactory result after so many years of conflict, but the +friends of Reform, although they had to admit defeat, were neither +daunted nor discouraged. They knew that many other questions besides the +abstract one of the adoption of responsible government had influenced +the recent election, and that the new principles had been blamed for +results that would have been avoided if they had been in operation. For +instance, the transfer of the casual and territorial revenues to the +treasury of the province in 1837 had placed a very large sum, amounting +to £150,000, at the disposal of the legislature. All this money had been +dissipated by extravagant grants, and in 1842 the province was actually +in debt. Many ignorant electors were made to believe that this result +was due to the Reformers who had been the means of obtaining this money, +which the legislature had squandered; and this feeling was so strong in +the county of York, that Messrs. Wilmot and Fisher stood lower on the +poll than the two anti-Reformers who were elected with them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE READE APPOINTMENT + + +Although elected in opposition to responsible government, the +legislature of 1843 at its first session took one important step in +favour of Reform. The arrangement by which the executive and legislative +councils were separated, which had come into force ten years before, +although a decided improvement on the old state of affairs, did not +produce universal satisfaction.[3] The constitution of the legislative +council was complained of, and it was described as an obstructive body +which disregarded the wishes of the people. Bills of the utmost +importance, which had been passed by large majorities in the House of +Assembly, and which were demanded by the people, were frequently +rejected by the council without being even discussed. Most of its +members were opposed to any change in the constitution of the province, +and everything which seemed to be in the direction of giving power to +the people was denounced as an innovation and condemned as an +infringement of the vested rights of the council. One of the chief +causes of complaint against the council was their rejection of every +bill for the amendment of the charter of King's College. Wilmot had so +frequently had his efforts in this direction nullified by the council +that he introduced a resolution in the assembly condemning the conduct +of that body for rejecting the college bill, and the council retaliated +by unanimously voting this a breach of privilege.[4] The complaints of +the House of Assembly against the legislative council were now embodied +in an address to the queen. In this address it was stated that in the +opinion of the House the legislative council should be composed of +persons not only representing all the leading interests of the province, +but so independent in respect to property and so free from official +control as to form a constitutional check on the executive. Although, by +the laws that existed then, members of the assembly were required to be +possessed of real estate to the value of two hundred pounds, over and +above all encumbrances, there was no property qualification whatever +required for members of the legislative council. The address of the +House expressed the opinion that members of the council should be +required to possess a certain amount of real estate, and that their +seats should be vacant on the loss of this qualification, or on their +becoming bankrupt, or public defaulters, or from neglect to give their +attendance for a given time without leave of the lieutenant-governor. +The address also stated that the constitution of the legislative council +was defective and objectionable in other respects, because, of the +eighteen members who composed it, a great proportion held offices at the +pleasure of the Crown, and the principal officers of the government +usually formed a majority of the members present. It was also complained +that members of the Church of England had too great a preponderance in +the council, the only members not of that communion being one +Presbyterian and one Baptist. + +{THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL} + +At the next session of the legislature, despatches from Lord Stanley +were laid before the House of Assembly in which it was stated that the +council would be increased in number to twenty-one, and four new members +of the council were to be appointed. The new members then appointed were +T. H. Peters, Admiral Owen, William Crane and George Minchin, while the +Hon. Thomas Baillie, the surveyor-general, the Hon. Mr. Lee, the +receiver-general, the Hon. James Allanshaw, of St. Andrews, and the Hon. +Harry Peters, of Gagetown, retired. No doubt the retirement of two +officials who received large salaries was some improvement, but the +council required further remodelling before it could be said to be an +efficient body, or one in sympathy with the inhabitants of the +province. + +The legislative council has now ceased to exist, and it may be said of +it that it was never a very satisfactory body for legislative purposes. +Perhaps the original composition of it created such a prejudice against +legislative councils as to hamper its activities; and, from having been +at first merely the echo of the wishes of the governor, it became +latterly, to a large extent, the echo of the wishes of the government. +Gradually it became relieved of its official members, and in its last +years no head of a department ever occupied a seat in the legislative +council; for it was thought, and rightly, that the power ought to be in +the House, where the responsibility to the people was most felt, and +that it was not wise to place an official whose department expended +large sums of money in a body which properly had no control over the +public expenditure. The legislative council had undoubtedly from time to +time many able and useful members, and, at certain periods in the +history of the province, particularly during the confederation +discussions, it took a firm stand in favour of measures which seemed +essential to the prosperity of the British North American provinces. No +one can deny that at that time it exercised an authority fully equal to +that of the Lower House, but it cannot be doubted that some of this work +was done at the expense of the proper balance of the constitution. Such +an exercise of unusual authority on the part of a body not elected by +the people may serve a purpose at a particular crisis, but cannot be +commended as an example, and if frequently repeated would end in the +destruction of the constitution. + +{THE COUNCIL'S RECORD} + +The legislative council lost a considerable proportion of its able men +at the time of confederation by the removal of eleven of its members to +the senate of Canada, although one or two remained with it who were not +inferior to any of those who then took their departure. The new members +who came in as their successors were naturally inferior to the old in +practical experience and ability, and this had, no doubt, an influence +on the future of the House. The example of Ontario, which was able to +conduct its affairs with one House, showed that two independent branches +of the legislature were by no means necessary, and that the council +might be abolished with safety. No doubt it was difficult to bring this +about among a people who had been trained to believe that there was +something essential to legislation in the balance of king, lords, and +commons, making up one legislative body. But in the course of time the +electors began to think that the council was not exactly the proper +equivalent of the House of Lords, and the lieutenant-governor very far +from standing in the position of a king. Old prejudices in favour of a +constitution framed after a particular model are difficult to remove, +but, in the case of New Brunswick, these prejudices were at length +overcome, and it is safe to say that in the course of time all the +provincial legislatures of Canada will consist of but a single chamber. +It is equally safe to assert that under the new system the work of +legislation will be as well done as it was under the old. + +The session of the legislature in 1843 came to an end on April 11th, and +on the seventeenth of the same month Wilmot became a member of the +government. His appointment had been preceded by the resignation of five +members of the government--Messrs. Black, Shore, Robinson, Odell and +Crane--and by the appointment of Messrs. E. B. Chandler, Hugh Johnston, +John Montgomery and Robert L. Hazen, to fill the vacancies thus created. +Of the retiring members two--Messrs. Black and Shore--were members of +the legislative council; one of them, Mr. Crane, was a member of the +House of Assembly, while the other two were officials who did not belong +to either branch of the legislature. Of the new members of the executive +council, Messrs. Chandler and Johnston were members of the legislative +council, Messrs. Hazen and Wilmot were members of the House of Assembly, +while Mr. Montgomery had no seat in either House. The executive council +as made up at that time included four members of the legislative +council, three members of the House of Assembly and Mr. Montgomery, who +did not become a member of the House of Assembly until three years +later. There is no doubt that the composition of the new executive +council was more in accordance with correct principles than its +predecessor; yet little could be expected from it in the way of Reform, +for Wilmot was the only member who was in favour of responsible +government. + +{ENTERS THE GOVERNMENT} + +Mr. Wilmot has been censured for entering a government composed of men +who were opposed to the liberal views he held on public questions. It +was thought by many that his conduct in this respect looked too much +like a surrender of his principles for the sake of office or official +position, and it certainly would have been better if he had continued in +Opposition. Yet we can easily conceive that he may have thought at the +time he could do more for the cause of Reform inside the government than +out of it, and, although this proved to be an error, it was a natural +one for which it is not difficult to find an excuse. Fortunately for the +cause of Reform, Wilmot's connection with the government did not last +long at that time. A storm was gathering in an unexpected quarter which +was destined to wreck the government, and to cause some of its +Conservative members to reconsider their opinions with reference to some +questions which until then they had regarded as fixed and unchangeable. + +It has been already stated that the governor of the province made such +appointments to office as he pleased, usually without the advice of his +council. He was supposed to have the power to do this as the +representative of the sovereign and in the exercise of what was termed +"the royal prerogative." In this way persons were frequently appointed +to offices who were not residents of the province, and in all other +cases appointments were given to the members of certain favoured +families. In 1834, a vacancy was created on the supreme court bench by +the death of Chief-Justice Saunders. Ward Chipman was appointed +chief-justice in place of Mr. Saunders, and the vacant puisne judgeship +was given to James Carter, who afterwards became chief-justice of the +province. Carter was a young Englishman then living in London, and was +certainly no better qualified to fill the position of judge than many +natives of the province, so that it was regarded as a gross insult to +the members of the New Brunswick bar, to give such an appointment to a +stranger. Yet so slow was public opinion to make itself felt in regard +to the evil of the appointing power being given to the governor without +qualification, that ten years later the House of Assembly presented an +address to Sir Charles Metcalfe, governor-general of Canada, expressing +the high sense entertained by them, as representatives of the people of +New Brunswick, of the "constitutional stand" taken by him in maintaining +the prerogative of the Crown in the then recent memorable "conflict."[5] +The city of St. John also, to show its loyalty, presented a similar +address; and one signed by one thousand persons was sent from the county +of York. + +{SIR CHARLES METCALFE} + +Yet nothing can be more clear than that the stand taken by Sir Charles +Metcalfe in 1844 was wholly wrong, for it consisted in refusing to +consult with his council in regard to appointments, and in making +appointments contrary to their advice. What would the people of Canada +say to-day to a governor-general who insisted on appointing men to +office against the advice of his cabinet? Yet it was for doing this that +the New Brunswick House of Assembly, the city and county of St. John and +the county of York actually grovelled in the dust before this despotic +governor, thus approving of all his acts. Such abasement and +subserviency to an unconstitutional governor was certain to bring its +own punishment, and it came much sooner than any one could have +anticipated. On Christmas Day of the same year the Hon. William Franklin +Odell, who had been provincial secretary for thirty-two years, died at +Fredericton. Mr. Odell's father had been secretary before him from the +foundation of the province, so that the Odell family had held that +important and highly lucrative office for sixty years. + +The governor at this time was Sir William Colebrooke, and on January +1st, 1845, just one week after the death of Mr. Odell, he appointed his +son-in-law, Alfred Reade, who was a native of England and a stranger to +the province, to the vacant office. The gentlemen who had been most +prominent in shouting their approval of the "constitutional stand" taken +by Sir Charles Metcalfe, now suddenly discovered that Sir William +Colebrooke's conduct in making this appointment without consulting his +council, was a fearful outrage, and their distress was pitiable to +behold. Several members of the government, including such zealous +upholders of the prerogative as the Hon. Robert L. Hazen, of St. John, +at once resigned their positions. A communication from three of +them--Hugh Johnston, E. B. Chandler and R. L. Hazen--addressed to His +Excellency gave as their reasons for resigning that they could not +justify the exercise of the prerogative of the Crown in respect to Mr. +Reade's appointment, because they felt that "the elevation to the +highest offices of trust and emolument of individuals whose character, +services, and claims to preferment, however appreciated elsewhere, are +entirely unknown to the country generally, is prejudicial to the best +interests of the province." They did not, however, make it a ground of +objection that the appointment of Mr. Reade was forwarded for the royal +approbation without the advice or concurrence of the council. These +gentlemen evidently thought it was too early for them to eat the words +in regard to the prerogative of the Crown, of which they had been so +free a few months before, but they showed their true characters by +deserting the governor because he had been foolish enough to believe +that their profuse expressions in favour of the royal prerogative were +sincere. + +{RESIGNATION} + +Mr. Wilmot, who also resigned, sent a separate communication to the +lieutenant-governor in which he stated what he considered to be the true +constitutional doctrine which should govern such matters. He said:-- + +"In the first place, I consider it justly due to the people of this +province, that all the offices of honour and emolument in the gift of +the administration of the government should be bestowed upon inhabitants +of the province who have made this country their home, and, in the cases +of the principal offices, those persons should be preferred who have +claims for public services rendered to the province, and who can command +the respect and confidence of the country. With these views, which I +hope I shall ever retain, I must necessarily disapprove of the +appointment in question, as I can only look upon Mr. Reade as a +comparative stranger and a transient person, while, at the same time, I +am of opinion that he has no claim whatever on the ground of public +services rendered to this province. + +"It would be in vain for the parents of our youth to make every exertion +in order to qualify their sons for the higher offices of the province, +if the avenues to honourable and profitable preferment are to be thus +closed against them; and I therefore cannot but view the appointment +under consideration as an act of great injustice to the people of this +country; and I can safely assure Your Excellency that it will be thus +considered throughout the length and breadth of the province. + +"Your Excellency is well aware that ever since I have had the honour of +having a seat in the council, I have approved of, and advocated those +principles of colonial government which are now in full operation in +Canada, which have been distinctly enunciated by the present government +in the House of Commons, and which require the administration to be +conducted by heads of departments responsible to the legislature, and +holding their offices contingently upon the approbation and confidence +of the country as expressed through the representatives of the people. +Still entertaining a strong attachment to those principles from a clear +constitutionality, and, from a conscientious belief in their safe and +practical adaptation to a British colony enjoying the privileges of a +representative form of government, I can see no sufficient reason for +withholding their salutary influence from the loyal and intelligent +people of this province; and considering it more advisable that a +gradual advancement should be made by the government itself towards +those principles as opportunities may offer, than that a concession in +gross should hereafter be made to the urgent demands of the country, I +am of the opinion that the provincial secretary should now be brought +into the executive government, and should hold a seat in one of the +Houses of the legislature--his tenure of office being contingent upon +the successful administration of the government; and therefore, as the +appointment in question has been made irrespective of any of these +conditions, I am bound to give it my opposition." + +{REMONSTRANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY} + +When the House met in the latter part of January, the Reade appointment +immediately became the subject of discussion, and by the vote of +twenty-four to six, an address was passed to Her Majesty the Queen, +condemning the appointment, not, as the members said, because they +questioned "in the remotest degree the prerogative in its undoubted +right to make such appointments," but because they thought that the +right of appointment had been improperly or unjustly exercised. In other +words, the members of the House of Assembly surrendered the principle +that appointments should be made by the governor, with the advice of +his executive, and only objected to the Reade appointment because, in +their opinion, some one else should have been chosen. It is easy to see +that in subscribing to this address the members of the House stultified +themselves; for if it was a part of the prerogative of the Crown to make +appointments without the advice of the council, surely the exercise of +the prerogative in the appointment of a particular individual could not +be fairly questioned. The result of the difficulty, however, was the +cancelling of Mr. Reade's appointment by the home government. This +decision was communicated to the House of Assembly by message on +February 3rd, 1846. The despatch from the colonial office, upon which +the lieutenant-governor acted, was written on March 31st, 1845, and must +have been received by him at Fredericton not later than the last of +April. But notwithstanding this despatch Mr. Reade held office until +July 17th, so it will be seen that Sir William Colebrooke was in no +hurry to carry out the wishes of the home government. Lord Stanley, the +writer of the despatch in question, expressed the opinion that public +employment should be bestowed on the natives or settled inhabitants of +the province, and he thought that Mr. Reade did not come under this +description. He closed his despatch with the following singular +statement:-- + +{READE'S APPOINTMENT CANCELLED} + +"I observe with satisfaction that the House of Assembly have not only +abstained from complicating the subject with any abstract question of +government, but have rejected every proposal for laying down formal +principles upon such questions. The House has, I think, in this course +done justice to the earnest desire of Her Majesty that the colonial +administration generally should be conducted in harmony with the wishes +of her people, whatever may be the variations arising out of local +considerations and the state of society in various colonies, subject to +which that principle may be carried into practice; and it is anxiously +hoped that the same wise forbearance which has led the House of Assembly +to decline the unnecessary discussion of subjects of so much delicacy, +may lead them also to regard the practical decision now announced as the +final close of the controversy, and to unite in the promotion, not of +objects of party strife and rivalry, but of the more substantial and +enduring interests of the colony which they represent." If these words +have any meaning, they seem to show that at that date the British +government believed the right of appointment to be in the Crown, without +reference to the council, and that they were unwilling that any general +principle should be laid down by the legislature of the province which +conflicted with this view. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] This change had been effected by a royal commission under the signet +and sign-manual dated December 3d, 1832. There is nothing in the records +of the province to show why this was done. Neither the council nor the +House of Assembly had asked for it. The Nova Scotia council was not +divided until 1838. + +[4] Mr. Wilmot's resolution was carried in the assembly without a +division, so that he had the solid support of the popular branch of the +legislature, yet little good was to be expected from such votes in the +House. + +[5] The resolution to present this address was strongly opposed by Mr. +Wilmot and his colleague, Mr. Fisher, who both declared the conduct of +Lord Metcalfe to be contrary to the principles of responsible +government. Mr. Wilmot's speech led to a singular result. He was +attacked in the _Loyalist_ newspaper for his opposition to the address, +and this attack having been brought to the notice of the House of +Assembly was voted a breach of privilege. Messrs. Doak and Hill, the +proprietors of the paper, were arrested on the warrant of the speaker +and committed to prison. On the application of their counsel, Mr. D. S. +Kerr, they were released by Mr. Justice Carter on a writ of _habeas +corpus_. Doak and Hill both brought actions against the speaker, Mr. +Weldon, and the result was a decision of the Supreme Court of New +Brunswick that the House of Assembly had not the power to arrest and +imprison the publisher of a libel on a member of the House touching his +conduct and proceedings in the House. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION + + +Among the questions in which Wilmot took a deep interest was that of +education. His views on this subject were far in advance of those of +most of his contemporaries. Education was in a very unsatisfactory +condition in the province of New Brunswick when he entered public life, +and it continued in that condition for many years afterward. If we may +judge from the statute-book, the founders of the province had very +little appreciation of the advantages of education, for no law was +passed with a view to the establishment of public schools until the year +1805. In that year "An Act for encouraging and extending literature in +this province" was passed, under the provisions of which a public +grammar school was established in the city of St. John, which received a +grant of one hundred pounds for the purpose of assisting the trustees to +procure a suitable building for school uses, and also an annual grant of +one hundred pounds for the support of the master. The same Act provided +for the establishment of county schools, and the sections relating to +them, being limited in respect to time, were continued by 50th George +III, Chap. 33 to the year 1816, when they expired and were replaced by +"An Act for the establishment of schools in the province." This Act +expired in 1823, and in its place "An Act for the encouragement of +parish schools" was passed the same year. This last Act was repealed by +"An Act in relation to parish schools" passed in 1833, which continued +in force for many years. All these Acts were essentially the same in +principle, as they provided for government aid to teachers who had been +employed to teach schools in the parishes under the authority of the +school trustees. The Act of 1833, which was considered to be a great +improvement on former Acts, provided for the appointment of three school +trustees in each parish by the sessions, and these trustees were charged +with the duty of dividing the parishes into districts and directing the +discipline of the schools. They were required to certify once a year to +the lieutenant-governor as to the number of schools in their parish, the +number of scholars and other particulars, and on their certificate the +teacher drew the government money. This money was granted at the rate of +twenty pounds for a male teacher who had taught school a year, or ten +pounds for six months, and ten pounds for a female teacher who had +taught school a year, or five pounds for six months, provided the +inhabitants of the school district had subscribed an equal amount for +the support of the teacher, or supplied board, washing and lodging to +the teacher in lieu of the money. Thus a male teacher in a district +where a school was always kept, would receive for his year's work his +board, lodging and washing, and twenty pounds in money; and a female +teacher ten pounds. Such a rate of remuneration was not well calculated +to attract competent persons, and the result was very unsatisfactory. +Most of the teachers employed were old men who had a mere smattering of +learning and who were very incompetent instructors. They usually lodged +with the parents of the pupils, living at each house in proportion to +the number of scholars sent. This system, which raised them but one +degree above the condition of paupers, was not conducive to their +comfort or self-respect. As there was no uniformity in the books +prescribed and no sufficient educational test, the results of such +teaching were not likely to be satisfactory. Sometimes the teacher was a +woman who eked out a scanty subsistence by communicating her small +learning to a few scholars whom she gathered in her kitchen. Generally, +however, the school building was a log hut without any of those +appliances which are now regarded as essential to the proper instruction +of youth. + +{PROVINCIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS} + +In 1816 an Act was passed providing for the establishment of grammar +schools in the several counties of the province. At that period St. John +and St. Andrews had already grammar schools which had been established +under separate Acts, and Fredericton had an academy or college, which +was founded by a provincial charter granted by Lieutenant-Governor +Carleton in 1800. The counties of St. John, Charlotte and York were +therefore excepted from the operation of the general Act for the +establishment of grammar schools. This Act, after being amended in 1823, +was finally repealed by the Act of 1829, which endowed King's College at +Fredericton and made new provisions for the establishment and support of +grammar schools throughout the province. King's College at a later +period developed into the University of New Brunswick. It had its +beginning in the original charter of 1800, already referred to, which +established the College of New Brunswick. In the same year the governor +and trustees of the College of New Brunswick received a grant, under the +great seal of the province, of a considerable tract of land in and near +Fredericton for the support of that institution of learning. Until the +year 1829, the New Brunswick College was merely a classical school +receiving from the legislature annually two hundred and fifty pounds, +which was the same amount then allowed to the St. John Grammar School. + +{MADRAS SCHOOLS} + +At an early period, the attention of the people of that province was +directed to what was called the Madras system of national schools as +conducted by Dr. Bell, the real founder of the system being Joseph +Lancaster. This system depends for its success on the use of monitors, +who are selected from among the senior pupils to instruct the younger +ones. It was supposed at the time to be a notable discovery, but, like +other short cuts to learning, has fallen out of favour. In July, 1818, +the first Madras school was established in St. John by a Mr. West from +Halifax. This was a boys' school; and a school for girls, on the same +system, was opened a year or two later. In 1819, a Madras school charter +was procured under the great seal of the province, and the Madras school +system established on a substantial foundation. The province gave a +grant of two hundred and fifty pounds for the erection of a suitable +building in St. John, and the National Society in England contributed to +its support. This charter was confirmed by an Act passed in 1820. The +St. John school was to be regarded as the central school, but it was the +design of the charter that the benefits of the system should be extended +to other parts of the province, and this was accordingly done. The +Madras schools received liberal appropriations of money, and large +grants of land, and they continued to exist until the introduction of +the free school system in 1872. Two or three of them, indeed, continued +in operation after that time, but they had lost their original character +and had become simply Church of England schools, that denomination +having appropriated the Madras school endowments to the support of +schools in which its principles and creed were taught. In 1900, by Act +of the legislature, the Madras school property was handed over to the +diocesan synod of Fredericton, with the exception of about ten thousand +dollars, which went to the University of New Brunswick. + +From the day when Wilmot became a member of the House of Assembly in +1835, he began to press upon the attention of that body the necessity +for an improvement in the schools of the province. But the same spirit +of apathy which prevailed with regard to purely political questions +affected the legislature with respect to education. The people +throughout the province were not prepared to make the sacrifices +necessary to obtain sufficient schools. Their attitude with regard to +education was well described in a speech made by Wilmot in 1846, when +Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, brought in his bill to provide for a normal or +proper training school for the education of those who were to become +teachers. This bill did not become law, in consequence of the opposition +raised against it in the legislature on the ground of expense. It was +estimated that it would cost an additional two thousand pounds to +provide a normal school, and this sum the men who were at the head of +the government were not willing to pay for the purpose of giving the +children of the province properly trained teachers. Wilmot's speech on +that occasion concluded as follows:-- + +{PARISH SCHOOLS} + +"Before I sit down I must again revert to the greatest difficulty which +has to be encountered to render the provisions of that bill effective in +promoting a better system of education in the parish schools. This is a +difficulty which in this country legislation cannot reach--I earnestly +wish it could. I mean the apathy of the parents themselves. The +honourable member now in the chair can bear me witness as to the extent +to which this apathy prevails in this county at this day. That +honourable member, when out of the chair, could tell the committee that +in a certain district of this county where there is no schoolhouse, a +philanthropic individual told the inhabitants that if they would get out +a frame and provide the boards, he would at his own expense provide +nails, glass, locks, and the necessary materials for finishing a +schoolhouse. What was the result? They did get out the frame and raised +it, and when I and the honourable chairman had occasion to visit that +part of the county together, we enquired why they did not go on and +finish it. The worthy individual who had made the proposition, and +bought and had in his house the materials for finishing the building, +told us that the inhabitants of the district would not find the boards, +and, in consequence of that, the erection of the schoolhouse had not +been gone on with. A gentleman now present (I will not mention names, as +the chairman might blush) offered to give them the boards from a +neighbouring mill if they would go and fetch them, but even this they +would not do. Although everything was to be had without money, there was +no one who felt interest enough in the education of their children to +go and bring them to the spot--and to this day the frame stands, as it +then did, a melancholy monument of the dreadful apathy which is +sometimes to be found even in this comparatively intelligent county." + +Mr. Wilmot lived long enough to see a free school system in force in his +native province, although he had no share in bringing this result about. +Yet that his views on this subject were sound and far in advance of his +time is shown by a speech which he made at the time of the opening of +the first exhibition in the province in 1852. He said: + +"It is unpardonable that any child should grow up in our country without +the benefit of, at least, a common-school education. It is the right of +the child. It is the duty not only of the parent but of the people; the +property of the country should educate the country. All are interested +in the diffusion of that intelligence which conserves the peace and +promotes the well-being of society. The rich man is interested in +proportion to his riches, and should contribute most to the maintenance +of schools. Though God has given me no child of my own to educate, I +feel concerned for the education of the children of those who do possess +them. I feel concerned in what so intimately touches the best interests +of our common country. I want to hear the tax collector for schools +calling at my door. I want the children of the poor in the remote +settlements to receive the advantages now almost confined to their more +fortunate brethren and sisters of the towns. I know full well that God +has practised no partiality in the distribution of the noblest of his +gifts--the intellect; I know that in many a retired hamlet of our +province--amid many a painful scene of poverty and toil--there may be +found young minds ardent and ingenious and as worthy of cultivation as +those of the pampered children of our cities. It is greatly important to +the advancement of the country that these should be instructed." + +{MONEY VOTES} + +The initiation of money grants by the executive, and the responsibility +of the latter to the people, are the two corner-stones on which +responsible government must rest. From the very first, Wilmot was an +earnest advocate of both these measures; but, owing to the apathy of the +people and the disinclination of the members of the legislature to give +up what they considered their privileges, it was a difficult matter to +accomplish these objects. A reference to the journals of the legislature +will show that on numerous occasions he pressed these subjects on the +attention of the House of Assembly, and he was ably assisted by his +colleague from the county of York, Mr. Charles Fisher, who deserves a +foremost place among the men who should be honoured for their efforts to +bring about responsible government in the colonies of British North +America. It was a peculiar feature in the struggle for responsible +government in New Brunswick that, before it ended, the opposition to it +came not so much from the British government as from the members of the +provincial legislature. It was evident that the system of appropriating +money which existed in the House of Assembly was one which was wrong in +principle and resulted in getting the province into debt, because there +was no guiding hand to control the expenditure. The transfer of the +casual and territorial revenues to the provincial treasury in 1837 had +placed a very large sum, amounting to about £150,000, at the disposal of +the legislature, but this sum was speedily dissipated; and in the year +1842, when Sir William Colebrooke became lieutenant-governor of the +province, its finances were in an embarrassed condition. + +Towards the close of 1841, a despatch was received from Lord Stanley, +the colonial secretary, suggesting that it was desirable that a better +system of appropriating the funds of the province should be inaugurated. +This brought up a discussion in the legislature during the session of +1842 in regard to the propriety of adopting the principle of placing the +initiation of money grants in the executive council. Mr. Wilmot moved a +resolution in committee of the whole House "that no appropriation of +public money should be made at any future session in supply, for any +purpose whatever, until there be a particular account of the income and +expenditure of the previous year, together with an estimate of the sums +required to be expended, as well for ordinary as extraordinary services, +respectively, and also a particular estimate of the principal amount of +revenue for the ensuing year." To this an amendment was moved by Mr. +Partelow that "Whereas the present mode of appropriation, tested by an +experience of more than fifty years, has not only given satisfaction to +the people of this province, but repeatedly attracted the deserved +approbation of the colonial ministers as securing its constitutional +position to every branch of the legislature, therefore resolved, as the +opinion of this committee, that it is not expedient to make any +alteration in the same." This amendment was carried by a vote of +eighteen to twelve. + +{AN ABUSE UPHELD} + +Such an amendment as that passed by the House of Assembly of New +Brunswick in 1842 would now only be an object of ridicule, because, as a +matter of fact, the financial condition of the province showed that the +system of appropriation which prevailed was based on false principles, +while the alleged approval of the colonial ministers of which so much +account was made, had been extended to the most illiberal features of +the constitution. There was, however, some excuse for the reluctance of +the members of the House of Assembly to surrender the initiation of +money votes to the executive, because the executive council of that day +was not a body properly under the control of the legislature, or in +sympathy with the people. + +When the House met in 1843, it was seen that the friends of responsible +government were still in the minority. Yet they brought up the subject +of the appropriation of the public moneys by a resolution which sought +to fix the responsibility of the expenditure on the government. This was +met by an amendment moved by Mr. J. W. Weldon, that the House would not +surrender the initiation of the money votes. The amendment was carried +by a vote of twenty-four to seven, which showed that the friends of +Reform had still much leeway to make up before they could hope to +impress their views upon the legislature. + +{SPEECH ON APPROPRIATIONS} + +As it was hopeless to expect that a House of Assembly thus constituted +would vote in favour of the transfer of the initiation of money grants +to the executive, Wilmot did not bring up the subject again during the +remainder of its term; but by the operation of the Quadrennial Act, +which came into force in 1846, a new House was elected in that year, +which was largely made up of the same members as the previous one, and +at the first session of this House, held early in 1847, Wilmot, during +the discussion of the revenue bill, brought up the question of the +initiation of money grants in a vigorous and characteristic speech. He +said:-- + +"Can my honourable gentlemen tell me within five thousand pounds of the +money asked for, or required for the present session? No, they cannot, +and here we are going on in the old way, voting money in the dark, with +a thing for our guide called an 'estimate'--a sort of dark lantern with +which we are to grope our way through the mazes of legislation. Where is +the honourable member for Gloucester who talked so much about the good +old rules of our forefathers? I am opposed to the present principle of +voting away money; it is, in fact, but giving to tax and taxing to give, +this way and that way--every stratagem is used which can be invented in +order to carry favourite grants, and thus we proceed from day to day by +this system of combination and unprincipled collusion. [Cries of 'Order, +Order!'] Honourable members may cry order as much as they please, it is +true, and I care not who knows it--let it go forth to the country at +large. This system is what the honourable and learned member for +Gloucester [Mr. End] denominates 'the glorious old principles of our +forefathers,' which should be held as dear as life itself. It is not now +as in times gone by, when the legislative council and executive council +were one, and consequently we cannot now take the initiation of money +grants. This left the whole power in the hands of the assembly; and now, +with the report of the committee of finance before us, His Excellency's +messages, petitions and everything else, there is not one honourable +member around these benches can tell me within five thousand pounds of +the amount to be asked for, much less within ten thousand pounds of the +amount that will be granted during the present session; and yet, here we +are in committee of ways and means for raising a revenue. But it will +never answer to have too much information upon this point--if we knew +exactly how far we could go and no farther--I perhaps would lose my +grant, or another honourable member might lose a grant; this is the +system that is pursued. I have held a seat here for twelve years and +know the 'ropes' pretty well." + +In the following year there was another discussion on the initiation of +money grants, arising out of a despatch which had been received from +Earl Grey, then colonial minister, in which he referred to the laxity of +the system by which money was voted in the New Brunswick legislature +without any estimate, and suggested that the initiation of money grants +should be surrendered to the executive. This proposal was fiercely +opposed, and all the forces of ancient Toryism were rallied against it, +one member from Queens County, Mr. Thomas Gilbert, going so far as to +apply to the advocacy of the old rotten system the soul-stirring words +contained in Nelson's last signal at Trafalgar, "England expects that +every man this day will do his duty." + +{END'S RESOLUTION} + +In 1850, the last year that Mr. Wilmot sat in the House of Assembly, the +matter came up again on a resolution moved by a private member. This +was met by an amendment moved by Mr. End, of Gloucester, in the +following words:-- + +"WHEREAS, the right of originating money grants is inherent in the +representatives of the people who are constitutionally responsible to +their constituents for the due and faithful user of that right; +therefore, + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this House, that the surrender of such +right would amount to a dereliction of public duty and ought not to be +entertained by the House of Assembly." + +This was carried by a vote of sixteen to eleven. The three members of +the government who sat in the House, one of whom was Mr. Wilmot, who had +joined it in May 1848, voted with the minority. It was not until the +year 1856 that a resolution was passed by the House of Assembly +conceding to the executive the right of initiating money grants, and +this was carried by a majority of only two in a full House. The first +estimate of income and expenditure framed by a New Brunswick government +was not laid before the House of Assembly until the session of 1857. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT + + +When Mr. Wilmot first entered the House of Assembly, many of the members +were office-holders and therefore depended on the goodwill of the +governor for their positions. At the session of 1842, a bill was +introduced for the purpose of putting an end to this evil, in which it +was declared that any member of the House of Assembly who should accept +the office of executive councillor or any office of profit or emolument +under the Crown should be incapable of taking or holding his seat in the +General Assembly while in such office, unless reëlected after acceptance +thereof. An amendment was moved to exempt executive councillors who did +not hold any office of emolument from the provisions of this section, +but it was lost by a close vote. Mr. Wilmot voted for the amendment on +the ground that a man who was merely an executive councillor without +office, and who received no emolument as such, should not be required to +go back to the people for reëlection. The bill, nevertheless, was passed +by a full House, but it was disallowed by the home authorities on the +ground that it was not in accordance with British precedents. The +colonial secretary said, "This Act as actually drawn would therefore +seem to establish a principle of great importance as well as +novelty--the principle, namely, that the Crown may not select its own +confidential advisers from amongst representatives of the people unless +the person so chosen should be willing to hazard a new election. How far +it is wise to erect such a barrier between the executive government and +the popular branch of the legislature would seem to be a matter well +meriting serious consideration." In the same despatch, the propriety of +seats in the assembly being vacated for the same reasons which would +vacate seats in the House of Commons was fully conceded. The stand taken +by Wilmot in regard to this subject was therefore the one which was +approved by the home government and was further endorsed by subsequent +legislation. Yet it was not until 1849 that the Act was passed which +finally settled the question, and required members of the legislature +accepting office to vacate their seats in the House of Assembly and go +back to their constituents for reëlection. + +{THE GOVERNOR CENSURED} + +Sir William Colebrooke had not been a popular governor since the +appointment of his son-in-law to the office of provincial secretary. The +House of Assembly, therefore, was disposed to watch his conduct very +closely and to criticize actions which perhaps would not have attracted +so much attention under other conditions. During the session of 1846, it +was shown that he had appropriated a portion of the surplus civil list +fund, amounting to about three thousand pounds, for the purpose of +defraying the expenses of surveying Crown lands in Madawaska.[6] This +money was taken by the order of the colonial secretary, Lord Stanley. +Thus it appeared that, although the province was supposed to have the +control of the territorial revenue, the British government assumed the +right to dispose of a portion of this revenue without the consent or +authority of the House of Assembly. The conduct of the governor in +connection with this matter was censured in a strongly worded resolution +which was passed by the House of Assembly almost unanimously.[7] The +time had gone by when the representative of the Crown could do as he +liked with the public funds of the province, as had been the case in +former years. + +The legislature was dissolved in 1846 under the provisions of the Act +which limited its term to four years. On the last day of the session +Wilmot bade farewell to the members of the House, and stated that he did +not intend to offer himself again for reëlection. No doubt he was quite +sincere in making this statement at the time, but he soon had reason to +change his mind. The people of the county of York were unwilling to lose +the services of the champion of their rights in the House of Assembly, +so that he found it necessary to consent to be again nominated. He was +returned at the head of the poll, and with him Mr. Charles Fisher, who +had been his colleague in two previous legislatures. + +The general election of 1846 brought a considerable number of new men +into the House, and in point of liberality the new assembly was a slight +improvement on its predecessor. The legislature met near the end of +January in the following year. The government at that time consisted of +only five persons, of whom two were members of the House of Assembly and +three of the legislative council. It appeared that negotiations had been +going on with some of the members of the Opposition for the purpose of +filling up the vacancies in the executive council. Wilmot had been +offered a seat in that body, but made it a condition of his acceptance +that he should go in with two of his friends, provided the council was +filled up to the number of seven, or three, if filled up to the number +of nine. This was not agreed to, so he remained outside the government. +During the first week of the session three new members were added to the +government, one of them being the surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, who had +been elected a member of the House of Assembly for the county of York. +The arrangements made were not satisfactory to Wilmot and his friends, +and the government had to face what was practically a want of confidence +resolution. It was moved by Mr. Fisher and was as follows:-- + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this House, that while it fully +recognizes the accountability of the executive council to the assembly, +it will expect that henceforth the provincial administration will, from +time to time, prepare and bring before the legislature such measures as +may be required for the development of the provincial resources and the +general advancement of the public interests." + +{ASSAILS THE GOVERNMENT} + +In the course of the debate Wilmot spoke with great power and effect. +The following report of his speech on that occasion may serve to convey +to the reader some idea of his manner and method as a public speaker:-- + +{SPEECH ON REFORM} + +"The honourable gentleman might have spared himself the trouble of +making the defence he did. I have heard that he was to be presented with +a gold medal for his admirable defence of that nearly extinct race--the +old Family Compact. I see that I shall have to cross a lance with my +honourable and learned friend [Mr. Hazen] politically. Yet I hope the +same good feeling which has characterized the debate thus far will be +continued. A great deal has been said about politics and political +principles, but my political principles are not of yesterday--I have +gleaned them from the history of my country, a country which we are all +proud to own. Will any honourable member dare to tell me that because we +are three thousand miles from the heart of the British empire the blood +of freemen shall not flow through the veins of the sons of New +Brunswick? If so, I have yet to learn the reason. Before I sit down I +will endeavour to show my honourable friends what the distinction is +between Liberals and Conservatives--what the Liberals have done, and +what the Conservatives have not done. Now to the resolution. My +honourable friend said yesterday that the resolution meant initiation of +money grants. When this announcement was made I heard a shout from the +direction of my honourable friend, Mr. Partelow, in a tenor voice, and +an honourable member in the rear [Mr. Barberie] joining in a sort of +falsetto accompaniment. I think my honourable friend [Mr. Hazen] is much +to blame for having accused his honourable colleague [Mr. Woodward] with +writing an article in a city paper. What, suppose he did write it, do +not some of the first noblemen and statesmen in England write for the +papers? I will not deny that I have written for the papers myself some +little squibs. But it is wrong to place an honourable member in the +position where he will have to affirm or deny it. A great cry has been +raised of a contemplated attack on the government, and, after all, it +has turned out that their fears have been excited by a newspaper +paragraph. The government has fortified all their outposts, and His +Excellency and two aides have been on the lookout for the coming attack. +At length my honourable colleague [Mr. Fisher] brought forth his +resolutions when they said to each other, 'Why, this doesn't mean +anything; there is no attack.' But they slept over it one night, cracked +some wine upon it, and while sitting under the mahogany they +said--'Hazen, there is something in these resolutions of Fisher's, +depend upon it--some hidden meaning--what shall we say it is? what will +we call it? we must give them some ugly name, or they will pass.' 'Oh,' +said Hazen, 'I have it--initiation of money grants--that'll do; I'll +just go down to the House and cry out "mad dog," "initiation of money +grants"; members will become alarmed, and we'll succeed in defeating +them.' But the honourable member from St. John [Mr. Jordan] has made the +most wonderful discoveries; he has taken a peep from the lookout station +at the enemy; he has looked through a political microscope, and has +discovered more than the commander-in-chief himself. 'Why,' says he, +'there's everything there--I see "free trade" and "protection" both, and +let me see--I--there's the "Board of Works," too; and round on the other +side I see "Municipal Corporations."' I will endeavour before I sit down +to prove that the arguments of my honourable friend Mr. Hazen are +fallacious. He has been developing at a great rate yesterday; he was not +asked to develop the money, but to bring down such measures as would +develop the provincial resources; this is the meaning of the resolution, +and, had not my honourable friend become alarmed for the safety of the +government, there is no man into whose hands I would sooner place the +resolution. But he has chosen to put the construction upon the +resolution which he has done, and other honourable members said, 'Oh, he +knows what it means better than I do; he has cried "mad dog" and we'll +follow him.' The government is not asked to bring in the revenue bill, +or any other bill which involves the principle of money grants. All the +resolution requires is, that they shall be prepared, at the opening of +the session, with such measures as may be considered for the general +welfare of the country, and not keep the assembly waiting two or three +weeks for the motion of the government, as has been the case this +session. Honourable members will recollect that there is a constituency +behind them to whom they are accountable; but they may resolve and +re-resolve as they please. There is a spirit of inquiry abroad among the +people, a political intelligence, which was not to be found a few years +since when my honourable friend denounced responsible government as all +nonsense! What was the case when responsible government was first talked +of in this province? Who descended from their lofty eminence to warn the +people to beware of these new doctrines? The old official Family Compact +party--they who entrenched themselves behind the prerogative of the +Crown in 1836, came down to the people and said, 'We who have done so +much for you--we who have watched over and guarded you, beware of that +dreadful monster, responsible government.' These are the people who call +themselves Conservatives. What, I would ask, did they conserve? +Everything but the good of the country; and, had the Conservatism of +1836 been carried out, an insulted people would ere this have risen in +their majesty and would have shaken off the yoke of bondage under which +they had been labouring. + +{RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT} + +{THE PEOPLE SUPREME} + +"It has been said by honourable members of the government that there is +no distinction between Liberals and Conservatives. If this is the case, +why did they object to have me and two others take seats in the council +because we were Liberals? Here is a question which I would like my +honourable friends to answer. The Conservatives do not wish to see any +power in the hands of the people. [Interjection from Mr. End--'Not too +much.'] The honourable member from Gloucester, Mr. End, has receded from +his principles wonderfully; his speech yesterday was certainly a most +extraordinary one. He said to the government in a most supplicating tone +of voice, 'Give me fair play--give me the appointment of all the +bye-road commissioners, magistrates, sheriffs, and so on, in Gloucester, +and I will support you; that is all I want.' I will take care not to be +misunderstood in these matters, I will not allow any man to be the +exponent of my political principles. I believe departmental government +to be inseparable from our institutions, but will oppose the immediate +introduction of the whole system; I will bring it in step by step as the +country is prepared for it. Some extraordinary notions are entertained +as to the source from whence the power of the government is derived; the +freedom of government does not come down from the Crown, it goes up from +the people; and if the people are fit for these institutions they are +fit for self-government. I have frequently said that they who get the +people's money shall do the people's work. [From Mr. Partelow--'Yes, +that's right.'] I will now come down a step further--what was the case +in 1837? I am not going to disclose any secrets this time--but will +speak low. I wish to ask my honourable friend [Mr. Hazen] if, after the +administration changed in 1837, the government had the cordial +coöperation of the heads of departments? No! There has been a +counter-working going on--a constant endeavour to lead the government +astray and place them in a wrong position, and my generous-hearted +friend [Mr. Hazen] has to come down to this House and defend them. It is +a political fact, that previous to 1841 the heads of departments in this +province were in open hostility to the government. [From Mr. End--'They +could do no harm.'] If the departmental system were in operation, and +their tenure of office depended upon their ability so to conduct the +government as to merit the confidence of the assembly and the people, +there would be none of this stabbing in the dark, and running off the +track. It is, in my opinion, the only constitutional remedy for the good +working of the government. These five gentlemen who have lately formed +the mixed government, asked for departmental government when they signed +the address to the queen; yet now they refuse to adopt it. I should like +to know when they intend to graduate--does it depend upon the age of the +country or the state of the atmosphere? The fact is, whenever the people +of this country, through their representatives, choose to ask for it +they must get it. In 1844 they ran to the rescue of the prerogative in +Canada; but the very next year the same case came down to their own +doors! The tune was changed then, and an address was prepared to the +queen signed by the whole assembly except five. Why is this brought +about--why is the tune changed so suddenly? They at first said +responsible government is not fit for a colony--the next cry was, it is +not fit for New Brunswick, and finally they said, when they addressed +the queen--we must have it. Mr. Roebuck called upon Lord John Russell to +explain what responsible government was, which he has done [reads the +speech as delivered in the British parliament], and, when they had first +asked for it here, it was in full operation in Canada. My honourable +friend [Mr. Hazen] has accused me of having receded; but I will now ask +him to point out how I have done so? He has also said that I was brought +forward at the last election by the Conservatives. True, but I was +backed by all my old friends, and I told them if they took me, they must +do so with all my former opinions--opinions which I never will give up. +When they talk about there being no difference in political +names,--there is a difference; those who have contended for Liberal +principles have their names covered with obloquy. We ask for a +constitution that, while it protects the queen upon the throne, throws, +at the same time, its paternal arms around the helpless infant. This we +ask for, this we want--the pure, the free, the glorious constitution of +England; for this we have contended, for this the Liberals of New +Brunswick have fought, and let them call us rebels who have nothing else +to write about, I care not; we ask for a system that will give fair play +to all--that will upset all Family Compacts, and give to the sons of +New Brunswick their birthright, the benefit of free institutions and +self-government. This is what we want, and I will not submit tamely to +be called a rebel; I defy any honourable member to look at my political +life and say where I have overstepped the bounds of the constitution? If +I do live three thousand miles from the great body of the empire, still +that empire sends its blood through the veins of every British subject. +A son of New Brunswick has the same right to the benefit of her +institutions as has a resident of London, and I will not submit to be +cut off by any political man[oe]uvring." + +{REFORM DEFEATED} + +After a long debate, Mr. Fisher's resolution was defeated by a vote of +twenty-three to twelve, which showed that the friends of Reform had +still much work to do. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] This occurred during the time of the "rump" government composed of +Messrs. Simonds, Allen and McLeod, the members of the executive who +refused to resign at the time of the Reade appointment. + +[7] The following resolutions which were moved by Mr. Partelow were +carried in the House of Assembly by a vote of twenty to two: + +"1st. _Resolved_, That this committee deeply regret that His Excellency +the lieutenant-governor in council should not have felt himself +authorized to communicate to the House the despatch of the Right +Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of January 5th, +1845, relative to the appropriation of the surplus civil list, in answer +to the address of the House of Assembly of March 14th, 1845, whereby the +House was prevented from representing, by an humble and dutiful address +to Her Majesty, that such appropriation was not in accordance with the +despatch of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies +of August 31st, 1836. + +"2d. _Resolved_, As the opinion of this committee, that any funds +necessary to carry out the fourth article of the Treaty of Washington, +being a national treaty with a foreign power, ought not to be chargeable +upon the funds of this province; and that the House should, by an humble +and dutiful address to Her Majesty, pray that any appropriation made for +that purpose from the surplus civil list fund may be refunded to the +same." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE VICTORY IS WON + + +The session of 1848 was destined to be a memorable one in the history of +responsible government in New Brunswick. It was evident that with the +House as then constituted no progress could be made unless a change were +brought about in the views of some of its members by outside pressure. +In this instance the pressure came from the imperial government, which +desired to bring the political condition of New Brunswick into line with +that of Canada and Nova Scotia. In March, 1847, Earl Grey, the colonial +secretary, addressed a despatch to Sir John Harvey, the governor of Nova +Scotia, in which he laid down the principles which he thought should +control colonial administration. The most important feature of this +despatch was its declaration with reference to the composition of the +executive council. With regard to office-holders in general, Earl Grey +thought that they ought not to be disturbed in consequence of any change +of government, but he was of opinion that a different rule should apply +to such officials as were members of the executive council. On this +point he adopted the language of Mr. Poulett Thomson (Lord Sydenham), +who, in a despatch to Lord John Russell, written at Halifax, in the +year 1840, said:-- + +"The functions of the executive council, on the other hand, are, it is +perfectly clear, of a totally different character; they are a body upon +whom the governor must be able to call at any or at all times for +advice, with whom he can consult upon the measures to be submitted to +the legislature, and in whom he may find instruments within its walls to +introduce such amendments in the laws as he may think necessary, or to +defend his acts and his policy. It is obvious, therefore, that those who +compose this body must be persons whose constant attendance on the +governor can be secured; principally, therefore, officers of the +government, but, when it may be expedient to introduce others, men +holding seats in one or other House, taking a leading part in political +life, and above all, exercising influence over the assembly. + +"The last, and in my opinion by far the most serious, defect in the +government is the utter absence of power in the executive, and its total +want of energy to attempt to occupy the attention of the country upon +real improvements, or to lead the legislature in the preparation and +adoption of measures for the benefit of the colony. It does not appear +to have occurred to any one that it is one of the first duties of the +government to suggest improvements where they are wanted; that, the +constitution having placed the power of legislation in the hands of an +assembly and a council, it is only by acting through these bodies that +the duty can be performed; and that, if these proper and legitimate +functions of government are neglected, the necessary result must be not +only that the improvements which the people have a right to expect will +be neglected, and the prosperity of the country checked, but that each +branch of legislature will misuse its power, and the popular mind be +easily led into excitement upon mere abstract theories of government to +which their attention is directed as the remedy for the uneasiness they +feel." + +He concluded by expressing the opinion that the peculiar circumstances +of Nova Scotia presented no insuperable obstacle to the immediate +adoption of that system of parliamentary government which had long +prevailed in the mother country. + +{A MEMORABLE DESPATCH} + +A copy of this despatch was sent to the lieutenant-governor of New +Brunswick and it was laid before the House in pursuance of an address +which had been passed a few days before. It was understood that the +principles laid down in this despatch would be equally applicable to the +province of New Brunswick, and Mr. Fisher moved that the House should +approve of them and of their application to New Brunswick. This +resolution was carried by a vote of twenty-four to eleven, which was a +complete reversal of the vote of the previous session. Among those who +voted for the resolution were the three members of the government who +had seats in the House of Assembly and who had been previously opposed +to any such change in the political system of the country. Thus the +victory for responsible government was practically won, and it only +remained to perfect the details. + +Immediately after the prorogation of the legislature, a reorganization +of the government took place, Messrs. Baillie, Shore and Johnston +retired and their places were taken by Messrs. Wilmot, Partelow, Fisher +and Kinnear. Mr. Wilmot became attorney-general in the place of Mr. +Peters, recently deceased, who had filled that office for twenty years. +Mr. Partelow became provincial secretary in place of John Simcoe +Saunders. Mr. Kinnear, who had been made solicitor-general in 1846, now +became a member of the government under the new system, while Mr. Fisher +took his seat as a member of the government without office. Thus were +the principles of responsible government vindicated and established in +New Brunswick. The provincial secretary, the attorney-general and the +solicitor-general became political officers subject to change with every +change of government. The surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, by resigning +from the government escaped this condition for the time being, but it +was not long before that office also became political, Mr. Baillie +himself retiring with a pension in 1851. + +{INFLUENCE OF COLONIAL OFFICE} + +Messrs. Wilmot and Fisher were much censured by their friends for +becoming members of a government that was essentially Conservative and +in which they were in a minority. But as the principles for which they +had contended had been admitted and were now in a measure established, +there seemed to be no reason why they should not assist in working them +out. Wilmot as attorney-general certainly had greater opportunities of +advancing the cause of Reform than as a private member, and he and +Fisher working together were able to exercise a strong influence on the +administration. In the following year, as has already been seen, a +measure was carried voiding the seats of members of the assembly who +became heads of departments in the government, or enjoyed any office of +profit or emolument under the Crown, and this was all that was necessary +to establish responsible government on a firm basis. There was indeed +one other difficulty, the interference of the colonial office and the +influence of the governor, who had been accustomed to govern the +province largely by means of despatches. This influence was one which +could only be got rid of by degrees, for the wise men of Downing Street +always thought they knew much better what colonists required than did +the colonists themselves. The colonial secretary undertook to dictate to +the province as to the kind of tariff it should pass, and to refuse +assent to the passage of bills by the legislature giving a preference +to any particular county or granting bounties to fishermen or others +engaged in any special calling. It was felt to be a hardship that the +province was not permitted to give encouragement to any industry which +it desired to assist, and so strong was this feeling that at the session +of 1850, immediately after the receipt of a despatch from Earl Grey +disallowing the bill of the previous session granting bounties for the +cultivation of hemp, a bill was introduced and carried by an +overwhelming majority in the assembly appropriating three thousand +pounds for bounties to fishermen. This bill was rejected by the council, +so that the colonial secretary was spared the difficulty which would +have been involved in being defied by the New Brunswick legislature. It +was also felt to be a great hardship that, at a time when the colonies +were being deprived of the preferential tariff they had so long enjoyed +in the English markets, they should be debarred from entering into +commercial arrangements with foreign nations. A series of strongly +worded resolutions on this subject was moved by Mr. David Wark, and was +well supported, although not carried. The language used by many of the +speakers during the debate showed that the loyal feelings which had +always distinguished the people of the province were being subjected to +a severe strain by the policy of the British government. These +interferences with provincial rights continued for many years after +Wilmot had retired from public life, and therefore it is unnecessary to +refer to them further. + +{THE PORTLAND CONVENTION} + +Wilmot had but few opportunities during his active career as a public +man of displaying his abilities outside of his native province. His fame +as an orator was therefore mainly a local one, and the Portland Railway +Convention of 1850 was the first occasion on which he was recognized as +one of the best speakers on the continent. That great gathering of the +railway and business men of the United States and Canada was assembled +for the purpose of taking measures to secure a shorter ocean route to +Europe than was afforded by steamships sailing from New York. It was +thought that a better plan would be to run steamships from some port on +the west coast of Ireland to a port on the east coast of Nova Scotia, a +distance of about two thousand miles, and to connect the latter with New +York by a line of railway. No one doubted at that time that this was a +plan that was likely to succeed, and probably it would have done so if +there had been no improvement in the construction of steamships. No one +dreamed in those days that boats with a speed of twenty-five knots an +hour and of twenty thousand tons displacement would be running to New +York before the century was ended, and that the voyage to Liverpool +would be reduced to less than six days. + +The Portland Convention included many eminent men from the United States +and Canada and not a few that could justly be described as orators, but +it was universally admitted that in eloquence Attorney-General Wilmot, +of New Brunswick, exceeded them all. The reporter of the proceedings of +the convention stated, in the pamphlet afterwards published, that it was +due to the speaker and to himself to say that "he had been entirely +unable to give anything like a report of the remarks of Mr. Wilmot." The +reporter also quotes the statement of another that "Mr. Wilmot delivered +one of the most spicy, eloquent and enlivening speeches which he ever +heard, which, while it kept the audience in the best spirits, was +replete with noble sentiments commending themselves to the hearts of all +present. His remarks were generally upon the moral, social and +intellectual influences which would result from the contemplated work. +No sketch would do justice to its power and beauty, its flashes of wit +and humour." + +{WILMOT'S GREAT SPEECH} + +The following report of Wilmot's great convention speech, although +admittedly very imperfect, is given as almost the only example that +survives of his eloquence:-- + +"I find myself in a new position in addressing a convention in a city, +in a state, and under a government that is foreign to me, as far as +citizenship is concerned. But I feel myself at home, for I am among +those who derive their inheritance from the same common ancestry. I am, +Mr. President, not a son of New England, but a grandson, and I can find +the old gravestone which indicates the graves of my ancestors, in a +pleasant village of Connecticut [cheers]. + +"We in the provinces came to this convention at your call. We have +responded to your invitation and you have given us a brother's welcome. +Physiologists affirm that the exercise of the muscles tends to their +enlargement and fuller development; and phrenologists affirm that the +exercise of the different faculties develops in a corresponding degree +the bumps upon the cranium. I would beg to add something to this +category,--the exercise of benevolence and kindness enlarges the heart, +and since I have been among you I have felt my heart growing big within +me [cheers]. + +"I am delighted to see this day, and could I give expression to the +emotions which swell up within me I would do so, but my power fails in +the attempt, and I cannot presume to make a speech. We do not, however, +meet to consult about California, where one hundred and twelve hour +speeches are necessary, or about the admission of New Mexico into the +Union. Our object is to effect an admission into the great railroad +union, and on this question we admit of no 'compromises.' We go straight +ahead in our purpose and the union will be effected [cheers]. + +"I know, Mr. President, it is a great work in which we are engaged. I +know that it looks vast, if not impossible of achievement to those who +have not studied its relations and its details, but those who look at it +through the enlarged medium which its contemplation presents will find +that difficulties diminish as its importance grows upon their vision. + +"Look at the progress of similar enterprises among yourselves in the +state of Maine, and other parts of New England, and then say whether +anything is required of us but union of effort and faith in the result +of our exertions. In prosecuting our work in this matter, we must have +faith; but as faith without works is dead, let us put forth our +exertions and go steadily forward to a speedy and glorious completion of +our great enterprise [cheers]. + +"If the timid falter and the doubting hold back, there are others who +will take their places and keep our ranks full. We have only to hold our +position, and drive back the army of doubters, or opposers, who may +resist our march. We must give them the same reception that General +Taylor gave to the army of Santa Anna at Buena Vista. If opposed by +superior numbers, or if on any part of the field there are those who +hesitate, or hold back when a stronghold of the enemy is to be carried, +I would repeat the order of General Taylor: 'A little more grape, +Captain Poor'[8] [tremendous cheers]. + +"It is written in the decrees of eternal Providence, Mr. President, +that we shall learn war no more; we may then go on side by side with +glorious emulation for the cause of virtue and philanthropy throughout +the world, striving who shall out-vie the other. How changed in every +respect, now, is the condition of our race! How glorious the sight of +two great peoples uniting as one, 'to draw more closely the bands of +brotherhood, that yet shall make of all mankind but one great +brotherhood of nations.' The sentiment of that resolution which embodies +this idea is worthy of its author and of the American character; but it +is also a sentiment to which the people of the British empire will +respond [cheers]. + +"Sir, I found in the circular which invited us here this sentiment +expressed, in terms which aroused to the fullest enthusiasm the mind of +every man in the British provinces: 'The spirit of peace has at last +prevailed--national animosities, sectional and political hostility have +disappeared between the English races since the establishment of the +boundaries of Maine and Oregon, and the contests of war have been +succeeded by a noble and generous rivalry for the promotion of the arts +of peace. The introduction of the steamship and the railway has made +former enemies friends. National hostility has given way to commercial +and social intercourse, and under whatever form of government they may +hereafter exist, they can never again become hostile or unfriendly' +[cheers]. + +"To this sentiment I respond with all my heart. It is this sentiment +that has brought us together. I know not who was the author of this +circular, but whoever he may be, in the name of every Englishman--in the +name of every American, sir, in the name of humanity, I tender him +thanks [cheers]. + +"An enterprise aiming to accomplish such results, and which is in and of +itself calculated to produce such results, cannot fail of success. The +whole civilized world is interested in its accomplishment. There are +some good old-fashioned people who think we are going too fast and too +far in our railroad enterprises. We have, they say, lived and got along +well enough without railroads, and now you seem to think that your +temporal salvation depends upon it! Blot out your telegraphs, lay up +your steamboats,--what darkness would come upon the world! We must form +ourselves into a council of war for the purpose of combating these old +prejudices, and, instead of being turned away from our objects, we will +take stronger grounds than ever occupied before. + +"Mr. President, we of the provinces have made up our minds no longer to +remain quiet in our present condition. With all the fine natural +advantages our country possesses, we make comparatively slow progress, +and our province itself is scarcely known to the world. I shall be +pardoned here for relating an anecdote to illustrate the truth of this +remark. + +"In a recent visit to Washington upon official business, I had occasion +to tarry a few days in the city of New York, and among the places that I +visited with a friend was one of the colleges in the city. My friend +introduced me to a learned professor as his friend, the +'Attorney-general of New Brunswick.' We entered into conversation on a +variety of subjects, and he inquired when I came over to the city, and +as to various matters going on in the neighbouring state. Seeing the +mistake of the learned professor, I thought it hardly kind to mortify +him by correcting it, and I answered in the best way I could, and took +my leave; and to this hour, I suppose, the learned professor thinks he +was talking with the attorney-general of the fine old state of New +Jersey [tremendous cheers]. + +"Seeing that my own country itself was hardly known beyond its bounds, I +felt a little concern that she should not always remain in this +condition. I felt, as many of my friends and neighbours have long felt, +that we must look at home for the means of making our province honoured +and respected abroad. And we intend to open this line of railway +entirely across the breadth of our province and bring ourselves into +connection with the world [cheers]. + +"Mr. President, I cannot omit, in this connection, the expression of my +profound regard for the American Union. It is the union of these states +that has given you greatness and strength at home and the respect and +admiration of the civilized world [long-continued cheers]. + +"The great interests of Christianity, of philanthropy and of liberty, +throughout the world, depend upon the union of these states. We of New +Brunswick, of Nova Scotia, and of Canada are deeply interested in its +existence. If there is any question of the day that interests us more +than all others, it is this very question of the perpetuity of the +union. For myself, I think there should be passed a law providing that +the man who would even conceive the idea of a dissolution of the union +should be guilty of treason. In the sincerity of my heart, I say, perish +the man who should dare to think of it [tremendous cheers]!" + +With respect to railway legislation Wilmot was not in advance of many +others in the province whose general political views were less liberal +than his own. There was always a good deal of local feeling injected +into the discussion of railway matters and Wilmot, who was a resident of +Fredericton, incurred a good deal of censure for the ridicule which he +threw on the proposal to build a railway from St. John to Shediac, which +is now a part of the Intercolonial. As this railway brought the counties +bordering on the Straits of Northumberland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence +into easy communication with St. John, nothing is more clear than that +of all the railways then projected in the province it was the one most +likely to be useful and profitable, but Wilmot apparently could not +forget the fact that it did not touch his own county. His speech on this +subject was made in the legislature before the meeting of the Portland +Convention, and it is worthy of note that five-sixths of the Shediac +Railway was to be used as part of the magnificent European and North +American Railway scheme which was so much lauded by him in his Portland +speech. + +{HIS WORK IN LEGISLATION} + +There is not much to be said in regard to the political life of Wilmot +after he became attorney-general. His principal legislative achievement +while he filled that office was an Act for the consolidation of the +criminal law with regard to the definition of certain indictable +offences and the punishment thereof. This was a useful but not a +brilliant work, which many another man might have performed equally +well. In the session of 1850, Wilmot carried a bill through the House of +Assembly for the reduction of the salaries of the judges of the supreme +court and some other officials, but this measure did not pass the +legislative council. He had always been in favour of a low scale of +salaries as best suited to the conditions which prevailed in the +province. The scale had been fixed in 1836, when the casual and +territorial revenues were placed under the control of the province, but +an agitation soon afterwards commenced for further reductions. The +imperial government would not consent to the reduction of any salary +while the holder of the office lived, except in the case of the +surveyor-general, whose duties had been decreased, but it agreed to a +lower scale for future occupants of the offices. In this way the salary +of the provincial secretary had been reduced from £1,599 11s. to £600; +that of the surveyor-general from £2,019 4s. 4d. to £1,209 12s. 4d., and +that of the auditor-general from £500 to £346 3s. The salaries of the +judges, however, remained the same in 1850 as they had been in 1836, +viz., £1,096 3s. for the chief-justice and £750 for each of the puisne +judges. Wilmot's bill reduced these salaries to £700 for the +chief-justice and £600 to each of the other judges. He also voted for a +resolution in favour of making the legislative council elective, and +that an address should be presented to Her Majesty asking her to consent +to the passage of such a bill. A favourable answer was received from Her +Majesty, but the scheme to make the legislative council elective was +never carried into effect, in consequence of the opposition which it +encountered in that body. + +There is no doubt that the popularity of Wilmot seriously declined after +he entered the government. This was very plainly seen at the general +election which took place in June, 1850, when he narrowly escaped +defeat, being the lowest on the poll of the members elected, while his +colleague in the government, Mr. Fisher, was defeated, polling less than +one-half the number of votes given to the candidate who was highest on +the poll. But, on the whole, the result throughout the province was +favourable to the cause of Reform, and among those elected in York who +stood higher on the poll than Wilmot were two new members who held +advanced views with respect to the amendment of the constitution. + +{THE GOVERNOR AND THE JUDGES} + +Although responsible government had been conceded to New Brunswick, and +it was admitted that public offices should be bestowed in accordance +with the wishes of the people, the close of Wilmot's legislative career +was marked by an event which showed that the old order of things had not +entirely passed away. Chief-Justice Chipman, owing to failing health, +resigned his seat on the bench in the autumn of 1850, and it became +necessary to provide for a successor. A meeting of the executive council +was called for the purpose of filling the vacancy, and six members of +the council out of the eight who were present signed a memorandum to the +effect that it was not advisable to appoint any person to the vacant +office, but that such a division of the work of the judiciary should be +made by the legislature as would secure the efficient discharge of the +judicial duties by three judges, together with the Master of the Rolls. +Wilmot was one of the persons who signed this memorandum, but on the +following day he called on the governor and asked that his name might be +withdrawn from it, he having in the meantime apparently changed his +mind. The governor, Sir Edmund Head, asked the judges whether, in their +opinion, three of them would be able to do all the judicial business of +the country, and received from them a strongly worded protest against +any such alteration in the number of judges. Mr. Fisher, who was one of +the members of the executive present at the meeting, submitted to the +governor a paper in which he took strong grounds against the proposal to +reduce the number of judges. Sir Edmund Head referred the matter to the +home authorities, and they decided that the proposed change in the +number of judges was not advisable. Moreover, they decided as to who +should fill the vacant offices, and asked the governor to appoint Mr. +Justice Carter to the position of chief-justice and to offer a puisne +judgeship to the attorney-general, Mr. Wilmot, and if he refused it to +the solicitor-general, Mr. Kinnear. Mr. Wilmot accepted, and thus +brought his political career to an end. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] This is an adaptation of General Taylor's words. John A. Poor was +the chief promoter of the European and North American Railway and the +chairman of the committee of arrangements of the Portland Convention. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +JUDGE AND GOVERNOR + + +The opinion that was entertained of Mr. Wilmot by those who were closely +associated with him in the work of Reform was well expressed by the late +Mr. George E. Fenety, in his _Political Notes_. + +"A great luminary," says Mr. Fenety, "set in semi-darkness on the day +that Mr. Wilmot left the forum for the bench. He was the light of the +House for sixteen years, the centre from whence radiated most of the +sparkling gems in the political firmament. It was at a time of life +(comparatively a young man) and a period when talents such as his were +most wanted by his party and his country. Notwithstanding his supposed +mistake in having joined a Conservative government, the Liberals were +always willing to receive their old leader back with outstretched +arms--ready to forgive and go along again with him over the old road, +and, to a man, would have held to him had he made a stand against Sir +Edmund Head, and told him--'thus far and no farther shalt thou go'." + +Many of Wilmot's friends regretted that he should have accepted the +office of judge on the conditions under which it was offered. They +thought that as attorney-general he was entitled to the position of +chief-justice, and that in consenting to take the puisne judgeship he +had lowered himself. It is hardly necessary to discuss a question of +this kind at the present day. No doubt he had reasons of his own for +retiring from the arena of politics. The work he had been doing for the +public had placed a great strain upon him and interfered with his legal +business to a very serious extent. He was never a wealthy man, and had +therefore to consider his own future, while a position on the bench was +one of honour and dignity which was regarded as worthy of acceptance by +any member of the legal profession. + +There was nothing worthy of note in the career of Mr. Wilmot as a judge. +He was never considered to be a deeply read lawyer, but he filled the +office of judge with dignity and general acceptance. His duties were not +sufficiently arduous to prevent him from having leisure to engage in +other lines of inquiry, for his mind was much interested in questions +connected with science. He frequently appeared on the lecture platform +and always with success. + +When confederation was accomplished, it was felt that of all the natives +of New Brunswick he was the most worthy to be appointed its first +lieutenant-governor under the new régime. Judge Wilmot himself was +willing to accept the office as a fitting close to his long and active +career as a public man; but for some reason, which it is now impossible +to ascertain, the appointment was not made until about a year after +confederation. Judge Wilmot became lieutenant-governor on July 23rd, +1868, and continued to hold that honourable and important office until +November 14th, 1873, when he was succeeded by the Hon. S. L. Tilley. + +{OTHER ACTIVITIES} + +So far, we have been considering Wilmot as a politician and member of +the legislature, but a very imperfect idea of his character would be +gathered from regarding him merely in these capacities. He was a +many-sided man, and had other interests which occupied his attention as +much as, or more than, those public questions to which he devoted so +much of his vigour. It has already been stated that his father was a +member of the Baptist Church, and one of the founders of the church of +that denomination in Fredericton. It does not appear that the son ever +identified himself with that Church, or that while a youth he gave much +attention to religious matters. It was not until after the death of his +first wife, which took place in 1833, that he became affected by +religious influences and began to attend the services of the Methodist +Church, the pulpit of which was then filled by the Rev. Enoch Wood, a +man of much ability and eloquence whose style of oratory was very +impressive. Under his ministrations Mr. Wilmot became a convert, was +baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Fredericton, and from that +time until the close of his life he was a very prominent figure in it. +He filled the office of superintendent of its Sunday School for upwards +of twenty-five years, and was the leader of the church choir for thirty +years. When he was appointed governor it was thought that he would give +up these offices, but he still continued to fill them, and was +superintendent of the Sunday School up to the day when his life came to +an end. He always took a great interest in questions relating to the +Bible, and frequently lectured on topics connected with it. He +vehemently opposed the teachings of Darwin and others who followed the +same line of inquiry, and he stoutly maintained that wherever the Bible +and science were in conflict, science was in the wrong. He seems to have +been, from first to last, an unquestioning believer in the doctrines of +the Christian religion, and he viewed with great disfavour any one who +ventured to question any part of its creed. As a lecturer he was +eloquent and though discursive, always interesting. None of his lectures +were written, so that to-day they are only a fading memory to those who +heard them delivered. Though found acceptable at the time, it is hardly +likely that, if delivered at the present day, they would enjoy so high a +degree of popularity. People are not now so willing to accept sweeping +assertions which are in conflict with the conclusions of scientific men +who have devoted their lives to a patient study of the phenomena of life +and the records of creation. + +{INTEREST IN MILITARY MATTERS} + +One of the most pleasing features of Judge Wilmot's character was his +fondness for children. He was never so happy as when among the young +people, and long after he became a judge he took an intense interest in +drilling the schoolboys and instructing them in all martial exercises; +indeed, he seemed to be quite as much devoted to this work as he was to +any other of his numerous employments. When a very young man, he became +an ensign in the first battalion of York County militia, and speedily +rose to be captain. When the so-called Aroostook War[9] broke out in +1839 he was major of a company of rifles attached to that battalion, and +he volunteered for active service at the front. His interest in military +matters continued until a late period, and, in the first military camp +organized in the province by the lieutenant-governor, the Hon. Arthur +Gordon, in 1863, he commanded one of the battalions. If Wilmot had not +been a politician and a lawyer, he might have been a great evangelist or +a great soldier. + +Judge Wilmot was very fond of flowers, and the beautiful grounds at +Evelyn Grove, where he resided, were looked upon as the finest in the +province. Nearly every visitor to Fredericton found his way to that +charming place and was sure of a cordial welcome from the judge, who +delighted to show strangers what he had been able to accomplish in +growing flowers and rare plants. Not the least interesting feature of +such visits was the conversation of the host, who abounded in knowledge +of horticulture, and was always ready to give others the benefit of his +information. It was in this lovely retreat that the last years of Mr. +Wilmot's life were passed. When his term as governor expired, the +government of Canada very properly gave him a pension as a retired +judge. In 1875 he succeeded the Right Hon. Mr. Childers, as second +commissioner under the Prince Edward Island Land Purchase Act. He was +nominated as one of the arbitrators in the Ontario and North-West +Boundary Commission, but did not live long enough to act in that +capacity. + +{HIS DEATH} + +During the last two or three years of his life he suffered much from +chronic neuralgia, which sometimes prevented him from stirring +out-of-doors. No serious result was anticipated, and he was generally +able to take active exercise and engage in his usual routine of duty. On +Monday, May 20th, 1878, while driving in his carriage with his wife, he +complained of a sudden and severe pain in the region of the heart. He +was at once driven home and a physician summoned, but in a few minutes +he passed away. He had not quite completed his seventieth year. His +death evoked expressions of regret and sympathy from every part of the +province, and tributes of respect and admiration from many who resided +in other parts of Canada and in the United States. + +Judge Wilmot was twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1832, +was Jane, daughter of Mr. James Balloch, of St. John. She died very soon +after their marriage, and in 1834 he married Miss Elizabeth Black, +daughter of the Hon. William Black, of Halifax, and granddaughter of the +Rev. William Black, who is regarded as the apostle of Wesleyan Methodism +in the Maritime Provinces. + +In estimating the character and achievements of L. A. Wilmot, regard +must be had to the conditions under which the battle for responsible +government was fought, and the peculiar difficulties he had to face. He +had not only to contend against governors determined to use their power +to the utmost, an immovable legislative council and a reactionary +executive, but he had to attempt to inspire with something of his own +spirit a House of Assembly which had but little sympathy with his views. +That he did not accomplish more is less a matter of surprise than that +he accomplished so much. With heavy odds against him, he contended for +the rights of the people and the improvement of the constitution, and he +lived to see the principles for which he had fought so firmly +established in his native province that they can never be disturbed. + +{A CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE} + +It was never his good fortune to be the leader and master of a +government or to have a free hand in the work of legislation. We are +therefore left in the dark as to what he might have accomplished under +more favourable conditions. Yet there is but little doubt that, had he +remained in public life, the progress of Reform would have been greatly +accelerated, and that such important measures as the establishing of +free schools would have been brought about much earlier than was the +case without his vigorous support. The faults of Wilmot were those that +belong to an ardent, enthusiastic and liberty-loving temperament. He +hated injustice in every form, and in his denunciation of evil he was +sometimes led to use stronger language than men of cooler feelings +approved. In this way he aroused opposition and left himself open to +attack. Yet it is doubtful whether the censure of his enemies was as +injurious as the flattery of some who professed to be his friends, and +who were ready to applaud whatever he said or did. Being accepted as a +leader when a mere youth because he had made a few eloquent speeches, he +missed the wholesome discipline which most men have to undergo before +they achieve fame. He would have been a greater and wiser man if he had +been spared the unthinking flattery which was too lavishly bestowed upon +him. Yet, after all has been said by those who would seek to minimize +his merits, the fact remains that this son of New Brunswick stood for +years as the foremost champion of the rights of the people, and that it +is impossible to deny him a place among the great men who have assisted +to build up Canada. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] The Aroostook War arose out of the unsettled boundary question +between Maine and New Brunswick. There was a large area on the St. John +River, the ownership of which was in dispute, and in 1839 the difficulty +came to a head in consequence of the governor of Maine undertaking to +solve the question in his own way by taking possession of the territory. +Governor Fairfield, of Maine, sent eighteen hundred militiamen to the +front and Sir John Harvey, the governor of New Brunswick, issued a +proclamation asserting the right of Great Britain to guard the territory +while it was in dispute, and calling on the governor of Maine to +withdraw his troops. Fairfield denied the right to issue a counter +proclamation and called on the state for ten thousand men. Sir John +Harvey then sent Colonel Maxwell with the 36th and 69th Regiments and a +train of artillery to the upper St. John to watch the movements of the +militia. A large force of New Brunswick militia was also embodied and +sent to the front. Fortunately, President Van Buren sent General +Winfield Scott to Maine with full power to settle the difficulty. He got +into a friendly correspondence with Sir John Harvey, which led to an +understanding by which the troops on both sides were withdrawn and all +danger of war averted. The boundary question was afterwards settled by +the Ashburton Treaty. + + + + +[Illustration: S. L. Tilley] + + + + +SIR LEONARD TILLEY + + + + +CHAPTER I + +EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER + + +The political career of Samuel Leonard Tilley did not begin until the +year that brought the work of Lemuel Allan Wilmot as a legislator to a +close. Both were elected members of the House of Assembly in 1850, but +in the following year Wilmot was elevated to the bench, so that the +province lost his services as a political reformer just as a new man, +who was destined to win as great a reputation as himself, was stepping +on the stage. Samuel Leonard Tilley was born at Gagetown, on the St. +John River, on May 8th, 1818, just thirty-five years after the landing +of his royalist grandfather at St. John. He passed away seventy-eight +years later, full of years and honours, having won the highest prizes +that it was in the power of his native province to bestow. + +{OF LOYALIST STOCK} + +In these days, when a man becomes eminent an effort is usually made to +trace his descent from distinguished ancestors, but most of the early +inhabitants of New Brunswick were too careless in such matters to leave +much material to the modern maker of pedigrees. Sir Leonard Tilley was +unable to trace his descent beyond his great-grandfather, Samuel Tilley. +At one time it was thought that his first ancestor in America was John +Tilley, who came over in the _Mayflower_ in 1620, but a closer search of +the records of the Plymouth colony reveals the fact that John Tilley +left no sons. But there were persons of the name of Tilley in the +Massachusetts Bay colony as early as 1640, and there seems to be no +doubt that Sir Leonard Tilley's ancestors had been long in America. They +belonged to the respectable farming class which has given the Dominion +of Canada and the United States so many of their most distinguished +sons. Samuel Tilley, the great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, was a farmer +on Long Island at the time of the American Revolution. His farm was then +within the boundaries of the present borough of Brooklyn, and the +curious in such matters can find the very lot upon which he resided laid +down upon some of the ancient maps of that locality. At the time the +British occupied Long Island, after the battle which took place there in +the autumn of 1776, resulting in the defeat of the Americans, the +Brooklyn farmers were called upon to provide cattle for the sustenance +of the troops. Samuel Tilley, being a loyal man and a friend of the +government, complied, and for this he was made the subject of attacks by +the disloyal element among his neighbours, and in the course of time was +compelled to seek shelter within the British lines. The occupation of +Long Island by the British during the whole period of the war made it +secure enough for Samuel Tilley, as well as for all loyal men who lived +in the vicinity of Brooklyn; but when the war was over it became +necessary for him to seek shelter in Nova Scotia, the acts of +confiscation and banishment against the Loyalists being of the most +severe character. Samuel Tilley came to New Brunswick with the spring +fleet, which arrived in St. John in May, 1783, and was a grantee of +Parrtown, which is now the city of St. John. He erected a house and +store on King Street, on the south side, just to the east of Germain, +and there commenced a business which he continued for several years. He +died at St. John in the year 1815. His wife was Elizabeth Morgan, who +survived him for many years and died in 1835, aged eighty-four years. + +Sir Leonard Tilley was not born when his great-grandfather died, but had +a clear recollection of his great-grandmother, who lived for about four +years after he came to reside in St. John. James Tilley, the grandfather +of Sir Leonard, was also a grantee of Parrtown, he having purchased for +a trifling sum, when a boy, a lot on Princess Street, which had been +drawn by some person who was anxious to dispose of it. James Tilley was +a resident of Sunbury County and a magistrate there for a great many +years, dying in the year 1851. Sir Leonard Tilley's father, Thomas +Morgan Tilley, was born in 1790, and served his time with Israel Gove, +who was a house-joiner and builder. He spent his early days as a +lumberman, getting out ship timber, his operations being carried on +mainly at Tantiwanty, in the rear of Upper Gagetown. He afterwards went +into business at Gagetown, and kept a store there down to the time of +his death, which took place in 1870. Sir Leonard's great-grandmother, on +his father's side, was Mary Chase, of the Chase family of Massachusetts, +she having come from Freetown, in that state. Sir Leonard's mother was +Susan Ann Peters, daughter of William Peters, who was for many years a +prominent farmer in Queens County, and a member of the legislative +assembly. William Peters owned a large property and had one of the +finest tracts of land possessed by any man in the province in his day. +But he was unwise enough to sell it for the purpose of obtaining money +with which to enter into lumbering with William Wilmot, the father of L. +A. Wilmot, and, being unsuccessful in his operations, his whole fortune +was swept away. The ancestors of William Peters were from New York +state, from which they came with the rest of the Loyalists in 1783. + +{EARLY EDUCATION} + +The house in Gagetown in which the future governor of New Brunswick and +finance minister of Canada was born, is still standing and is now used +as a hotel. Gagetown was at that period, and still is, one of the most +beautiful places in New Brunswick. The river St. John flows in front of +it, and Gagetown Creek, which is almost as wide as the river, laves its +shores. The land in the vicinity is fertile, and fine old trees line the +streets, giving an air of beauty and refinement to the locality. Sir +Leonard was named after his uncle, Samuel Leonard Peters, and the latter +was named after an English schoolmaster named Samuel Leonard, who was a +great favourite with William Peters, the grandfather of the subject of +this biography. Samuel Leonard, after leaving Gagetown, appears to have +removed to Nova Scotia, and probably died in that province. When Sir +Leonard was five years old he was sent to the Madras School in Gagetown, +of which Samuel Babbitt was the teacher. He attended this school from +1823 until 1827, when the grammar school was instituted in Gagetown. The +Madras school system was at that time in high favour with the people of +the province, and these schools received large grants from the +government, it being thought that this system was more advantageous than +any other for the instruction of youth. This idea, however, did not +prove to be universally correct, for in the course of a few years we +find the legislature declaring that while they believed the Madras +system suitable to towns and populous places, it did not answer so well +in rural districts. Samuel Babbitt, the teacher of the Madras School, +was clerk of the parish, and, according to the custom of that day, led +the responses in church. The rector of Gagetown at this period was the +Rev. Samuel Clark. The teacher of the local grammar school which young +Tilley attended from 1827 to 1831 was William Jenkins, a graduate of +Dublin University. Jenkins was a very severe man, and believed in the +doctrine that he who spares the rod spoils the child, and Sir Leonard +had a very vivid recollection of the vigour with which he applied the +birch. He removed from Gagetown shortly after 1831, and took up his +residence in Quebec, where he conducted a large school for many years, +dying about the year 1863. Sir Leonard, after he had become a well-known +political character and a member of the government of New Brunswick, had +the pleasure of paying him a visit some time in 1858. + +An interesting incident occurred in 1827, at the time young Tilley +commenced to attend the grammar school. Sir Howard Douglas, who was then +governor of New Brunswick, paid a visit to Gagetown and was the guest of +Colonel Harry Peters, the speaker of the House of Assembly. While the +governor and his host were walking through Gagetown, they met young +Tilley and a son of Harry Peters returning from school, and the boys +were introduced to His Excellency, who presented each of them with a +Spanish quarter-dollar. Sir Leonard could remember and often spoke of +the appearance of Sir Howard Douglas, dressed in a blue coat with brass +buttons, a fine-looking gentleman, with a pleasant face and a kindly +smile. Little thought the then governor of New Brunswick that the boy to +whom he was speaking, a lad of nine years of age, would fifty years +later sit in his own chair in the government house. + +{ENTERS ON BUSINESS LIFE} + +Young Tilley was not the kind of youth likely to be satisfied to reside +all his life in Gagetown. Other boys of less ambition might be content +to settle down on the farm and to fulfil their destinies within the +comparatively limited sphere of action which that little town in Queens +County afforded, but he had within him longings for a higher destiny +than he was likely to attain as a resident of a rural district. + +Young Tilley came to St. John in May, 1831, at the age of thirteen. He +at once entered the drugstore of Dr. Henry Cook, as a clerk, it being +the fashion of those times for medical men to have a dispensary in +connection with their professional practice, so that they could give +advice, and dispense their own prescriptions with equal facility. He +continued as clerk with Dr. Cook until February, 1835, when he entered +the service of William O. Smith, who, in later years, was mayor of St. +John. It was while a clerk with Smith that Tilley became a member of the +St. John Young Men's Debating Society, an organization which, if it has +no other claim to the remembrance of posterity, at least has that of +giving one distinguished statesman to British America, and a governor to +New Brunswick. It was in this society that he made his first attempt at +public speaking, and it may be said that from the very beginning he +showed a remarkable aptitude for debate and public discussions. + +In December, 1837, he took one of the most important steps of his life +in espousing the cause of total abstinence. Having taken up this +movement, he threw his whole energy into it, and from that time down to +the day of his death he was a consistent temperance man, and a strong +advocate of the principle of total abstinence. It was, perhaps, this +strong advocacy of the cause of temperance, more than anything else, +that brought him before the public as a suitable person to become a +candidate for the House of Assembly, and led to his first election as a +representative for the city of St. John in the local legislature +thirteen years later. Certainly the fact that Tilley, from that time +until the close of his public career, had always the support of the +temperance societies, gave him a strength which he hardly would have +obtained otherwise, and rallied around him a phalanx of friends, who, +for fidelity to his interests and zeal for his political advancement, +could hardly have been surpassed. + +Tilley commenced business on his own account in 1838, before he had +attained the age of twenty years, as a member of the firm of Peters & +Tilley, and he continued a successful career until 1855, when he +transferred his business to Mr. T. B. Barker, the founder of the present +firm of T. B. Barker & Sons. It is unnecessary to say anything more in +regard to Mr. Tilley's life as a business man than that it was a highly +prosperous one. He showed so much energy and enterprise that when he +entered political life he was comparatively wealthy. There is no doubt +that if he had continued in business instead of devoting his energies to +the service of the province and Dominion, he would have made far more +money than he obtained as a politician. + +{COLONIAL TRADE} + +The movement in behalf of free trade, which was changing the fiscal +policy of the United Kingdom in the closing years of the first half of +the nineteenth century, did not meet with much favour in New Brunswick, +because it seriously affected the leading industry of the province. +Colonial timber had long enjoyed a preference in the British market, but +this preference had been seriously impaired by imperial legislation and +was likely to be taken away altogether if free trade principles should +prevail. Many remonstrances had been sent to the British government +against the reduction or abolition of the duty on foreign timber which +came into competition with the colonial product, but these remonstrances +proved wholly unavailing, and it was seriously believed that the +colonial timber trade would be destroyed. This led to the annexation +movement of 1848, which affected all the provinces, while it also caused +the formation of organizations pledged to resist the free trade +movement. Tilley was in sympathy with these efforts to preserve colonial +trade, and it was in consequence of this that he first made his +entrance into political life. + +{GENERAL ELECTION OF 1850} + +At a meeting of the electors of St. John in favour of protection, which +was held previous to the general election of 1850, Tilley was nominated +as one of the candidates for the city of St. John. He was not present at +the meeting and had no knowledge whatever of the intention of the +electors to make such a nomination. A meeting was called a few nights +later in Carleton to confirm the nomination, and at that meeting Tilley +was present. He then made the strongest possible protest against the +nomination, but the electors present would not take "No" for an answer, +and he eventually consented to stand as a candidate, informing them at +the same time that he had an engagement to be in Boston on the day fixed +for the nomination, and could not be at the hustings on that day. +Notwithstanding this statement they still persisted in his nomination, +but as Tilley was absent in the United States, his nomination speech on +that occasion was made by Joseph W. Lawrence, who afterwards was found +among his strongest political opponents. At the general election of 1850 +all the candidates elected for the city and county of St. John were +avowed opponents of the government. Tilley was returned at the head of +the poll, while W. H. Needham, who ran with him, was likewise elected. +The members elected for the county were R. D. Wilmot, William J. +Ritchie, John H. Gray and Charles Simonds; while J. R. Partelow, +Charles Watters and John Jordan were the three defeated candidates. The +list of candidates for the city and county of St. John included two +future governors, a future chief-justice of the supreme court of Canada +and two other judges, to say nothing of the provincial secretary, Mr. +Partelow, a speaker of the House of Assembly and a future mayor of St. +John. It must be admitted that few elections that have ever been held in +any part of British North America have had so many candidates presented +to the electors who were afterwards eminent in public life. This +election took place at an important epoch in the history of the +province, when the old order was passing away and men's minds were +prepared for a great change in political affairs. It was a Reform House +of Assembly, and, although all the members elected for the purpose of +upholding Reform principles did not prove true to their trust, still it +contained a larger number of men of Liberal views than any of its +predecessors. + +Among the members of this House were several who had taken a very +important part in public affairs, or who afterwards became members of +the executive. The county of York sent among its representatives, Lemuel +A. Wilmot, who had been a member of the House for sixteen years, and who +had taken a leading part in many measures of importance for the +improvement of the system by which the country was governed. + +Mr. Charles Fisher, who had been a colleague of Mr. Wilmot in the county +of York, was defeated at the general election, but soon afterwards +became a member of the House. Mr. Fisher had not the oratorical gifts +possessed by Mr. Wilmot, but he was even stronger in his Liberal views, +and as a constitutional lawyer he had no equal, at that time, in the +province. Although his manners were somewhat uncouth and his address far +from polished, Fisher had strong individuality and a singularly clear +intellect. His services in the cause of Liberalism in New Brunswick can +hardly be overestimated, and these services were rendered at a time when +to be a Liberal was to be, to a large extent, ostracized by the great +and powerful who looked upon any interference with their vested rights +as little short of treason. + +Tilley's colleague from St. John city was William H. Needham, who +afterwards represented the county of York in the legislature. Mr. +Needham had some remarkable gifts as a speaker and a public man, and he +might have risen to a much higher position than he ever attained had it +not been that his principles were somewhat uncertain. In truth, Needham +never succeeded in getting sufficiently clear of the world to be quite +independent, and this misfortune hampered him greatly in his political +career. + +{NOTABLE CANDIDATES} + +One of the members from St. John County was William J. Ritchie, a lawyer +who had risen by his own efforts to a commanding position at the bar, +and who became chief-justice of Canada. Mr. Ritchie had been a member of +the House of Assembly for several years, and always a useful one. He +possessed what few members at that time had,--a clear knowledge of the +true principles of responsible government. He had an eminently practical +mind; he was a forcible and impressive speaker, and he was bold in the +enunciation of the Liberal principles to which he held. It was a serious +misfortune to the province that at a comparatively early age he was +transferred to the bench, so that his great abilities were lost at a +critical period when they might have been useful to New Brunswick in +many ways. + +John H. Gray, a new member, also sat in this House for the county of St. +John. Mr. Gray was a man of fine presence, handsome appearance, and had +a style of oratory that was very captivating and impressive. His +fluency, however, was greater than his ability, and he injured himself +by deserting the Liberal party, which he had been elected to uphold. +Gray never quite recovered from the unpopularity connected with this +action, and he never became in any sense a real leader. The party he had +deserted soon obtained the control of the province, and his final +appearance in the legislature was as a supporter of Mr. Tilley, content +to play a secondary part during the great confederation conflict. + +Robert Duncan Wilmot, another of the St. John County members, a first +cousin of L. A. Wilmot, was not new to the legislature, and his mind +being naturally conservative, it is in connection with the Conservative +party that he is best known in the history of the province. He was +elected as a Liberal, however, in 1850, but seems to have forgotten that +fact as soon as he reached the House of Assembly. This was not the only +occasion on which Wilmot contrived to change his principles, for he +performed a similar feat during the confederation contest, and left the +anti-confederate government of 1865 in the lurch at a moment when its +existence almost depended on his fidelity. Wilmot never was an eloquent +man, and he entertained some highly visionary views in regard to an +irredeemable paper currency, but he was a useful public servant, and he +afterwards became a member of the government of Canada and eventually +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick. + +{JOHN R. PARTELOW} + +The Hon. John R. Partelow, who was defeated in St. John but elected for +Victoria, was a man who might have acquired a great political reputation +had the stage on which he appeared been a larger one. Partelow's +qualifications for high public position did not depend upon his oratory, +which was not of a high order, but upon his moderation and good sense. +Partelow's origin was humble, and his early days were spent as a clerk +in a store on the North Wharf, St. John. In that subordinate position he +made himself so useful and displayed so much ability that he was marked +for promotion. The idea of bringing him forward as a candidate for the +city of St. John seems to have originated with his employers, but when +he gained a seat in the legislature he speedily made his influence felt. +Partelow spoke but seldom, but when he did address the legislature it +was generally with good effect, and after the subject had been to a +large extent exhausted by previous speakers. He then had a faculty of +drafting a resolution which seemed to express the general sense of all, +and which was usually accepted as a solution of the matter. He was a +good business man, understood accounts thoroughly and, therefore, had a +great advantage in legislative work over those who were not so well +equipped in this respect. New Brunswick may have produced greater men +than he in public life, but none whose talents were more useful to the +province, or better fitted to serve its interests at a critical period +in its constitutional history. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE + + +Shortly after the general election, Chief-Justice Chipman, who had been +in infirm health, resigned his office, and a vacancy was thus left on +the bench of the supreme court of the province. In the natural course, +this office ought to have gone to the attorney-general, Mr. L. A. +Wilmot, but this appointment was not made. The council were unable to +unite in any recommendation to the governor, who consequently laid all +the facts before the home government and in reply received instructions +to give the chief-justiceship to Judge Carter and to offer the puisne +judgeship to Mr. Wilmot, or, if he should refuse it, to Mr. Kinnear, the +solicitor-general. The executive council complained that the appointment +of Mr. Wilmot to a seat on the bench by the authority of the secretary +of state without the advice or recommendation of the responsible +executive within the province, was at variance with the principles of +responsible government which were understood to be in force. They, +however, had only themselves to thank for this, for they were +continually appealing to Downing Street. As a majority of the House had +been elected as opponents of the government, it was supposed there +would be no difficulty in bringing about a change of administration. Mr. +Simonds, of St. John, who was reputed to be a Liberal, was elected +speaker without opposition, and at an early day in the session Mr. +Ritchie, of St. John, moved, as an amendment to the address, a +want-of-confidence resolution. This resolution, instead of being carried +by a large majority as was expected, was lost by a vote of fifteen to +twenty-two, Messrs. Alexander Rankine and John T. Williston, of +Northumberland, Messrs. Robert Gordon and Joseph Reed, of Gloucester, +Mr. A. Barbarie, of Restigouche, and Mr. Francis McPhelim, of Kent, +having deserted their Liberal allies. Had they proved faithful, the +government would have been defeated, and the province would have been +spared another three years of an incompetent administration. + +In this division, Tilley and Needham, who represented the city of St. +John, and Messrs. R. D. Wilmot and Gray, two of the county members, +voted for Ritchie's amendment. As Wilmot and Gray showed by their votes +that they had no confidence in the government in February, 1851, it was +with much surprise that the people of St. John, in the August following, +learned that they had become members of the administration which they +had so warmly condemned a few months before. Their secession from the +Liberal party destroyed whatever chance had before existed of ousting +the government. Mr. Fisher had seceded from the government in +consequence of their action in reference to the judicial appointments, +and John Ambrose Street, who was a member for Northumberland, became +attorney-general in place of Robert Parker, appointed a judge. Mr. +Street was a ready debater and a strong Conservative, and his entrance +into the government at that time showed that a Conservative policy was +to be maintained. + +{RAILWAY LEGISLATION} + +Mr. Street, as leader of the government in the assembly, presented a +long programme of measures for the consideration of the legislature, +none of which proved to be of any particular value. The municipal +corporation bill was passed, but it was a permissive measure, and was +not taken advantage of by any of the counties. A bill to make the +legislative council elective, which was also passed in the Lower House +at the instance of the government, was defeated in the Upper Chamber. +The bill appointing commissioners on law reform was carried, and +resulted in the production of the three volumes of the revised statutes +issued in 1854. The most important bill of the session, introduced by +the government, was one in aid of the construction of a railroad from +St. John to Shediac. This bill provided that the government should give +a company two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling, to assist in +the construction of the line referred to. There was also a bill to +assist the St. Andrews and Quebec Railroad to the extent of fifty +thousand pounds, and a bonus or subvention to the Shediac line +amounting to upwards of eleven thousand dollars a mile, for which sum a +very good railway could be constructed at the present time. It may be +stated here that, although the company was formed and undertook to build +a railway to Shediac under the terms offered by the government, the +province had eventually to build the road at a cost of forty thousand +dollars a mile, or fully double what a similar road could be constructed +for now. + +{KING'S COLLEGE} + +One of the measures brought forward by the government at this session +was with reference to the schools of the province. The idea of taxing +the property of the county for the support of public schools had not +then found any general acceptance in New Brunswick; indeed, it was not +till the year 1872 that the measure embodying this principle was passed +by the legislature. The government school bill of 1851 provided that the +teachers were to be paid in money, or board and lodging, by the district +to the amount of ten pounds for six months, in addition to the +government allowance. This bill was a very slight improvement on the Act +then in force, and as the government left it to the House to deal with, +and did not press it as a government measure, it was not passed. A +private member, Mr. Gilbert, of Queens, at this session proposed to +convert King's College into an agricultural school, with a model farm +attached. King's College had been established by an Act passed in 1829, +and had received a large endowment from the province, but it never was a +popular institution because of its connection with a single Church. The +original charter of the college made the bishop of the diocese the +visitor, and required the president to be always a clergyman of the +Church of England; and, although this had been changed in 1845 by the +legislature, the number of students who attended it was always small, +and it was shown in the course of debate that it had failed to fulfil +the object for which it was created. The college council consisted of +fifteen members, of whom ten were Episcopalians; and the visitor, the +chancellor, the president, the principal, five out of seven of the +professors and teachers, and the two examiners were members of the same +Church. The services in the college chapel were required to be attended +by all resident students, and of the eighteen students then in the +college, sixteen were Episcopalians. It was felt that this college +required to be placed on a different footing, and Mr. Gilbert's bill, +although it provoked much hostile comment at the time, certainly would +have been more beneficial to the educational interests of the country, +if it had passed, than the state of affairs which resulted from the +continuance of the old system. An agricultural school was the very thing +the province required, while, judging from the limited attendance at the +college at that time, the people of this province were not greatly +impressed with the value of a classical education. In 1851, however, +any one who proposed to replace a college for the teaching of Greek and +Latin with a college of agriculture, and the sciences allied to it, was +looked upon as a Philistine. Then youths were taught to compose Latin +and to read Greek who never, to the day of their death, had a competent +knowledge of their own language; and agricultural studies, which were of +the highest importance to more than one-half of the people of the +province, were totally neglected. Mr. Gilbert's bill was defeated, as it +was certain to be in a legislature which was still under the domination +of old ideas. Had it passed, New Brunswick might at this time have had a +large body of scientific farmers capable of cultivating the soil in the +most efficient manner, and increasing its productiveness to an extent +hardly dreamed of by those who only consider it in the light of the +present system of cultivation. + +During this session, Mr. Ritchie of St. John moved a series of +resolutions condemning the government, and complaining of the colonial +office and of the conduct of the governor. These resolutions declared: +first, that the House was entitled to full copies of all despatches +addressed to or received from the colonial office, and that it was not +enough merely to send extracts from a despatch which had been received +by the governor. They declared that the power of making appointments to +offices was vested in the governor by and with the advice of the +executive council, and that the appointment of the chief-justice and a +puisne judge by the governor, contrary to the advice of his council, was +inconsistent with the principles of responsible government. They +complained that the salaries were excessive, and condemned the refusal +of the British government to allow the colonies to grant bounties for +the development of their resources. These resolutions, after being +debated for about a week, were rejected by a vote of twenty-one to +nineteen, the smallness of the majority against them at the time being +looked upon as virtually a Liberal victory. If the nineteen had been +made up of men who could be relied on to stand by their colours in all +emergencies, it would have been a Liberal triumph, but, unfortunately, +among the nineteen there were some who afterwards deserted their party +for the sake of offices and power. + +{A POLITICAL SURPRISE} + +Early in August it was announced that John H. Gray and R. D. Wilmot, two +of the Liberal members for the county of St. John, had abandoned their +party and their principles and become members of the government. The +Liberals of St. John, who had elected these gentlemen by a substantial +majority, were naturally chagrined at such a proof of their +faithlessness, and their colleagues were likewise greatly annoyed. +Messrs. Gray and Wilmot made the usual excuses of all deserters for +their conduct, the principal one being that they thought they could +serve the interests of the constituency and of the province better by +being in the government than out of it. The friends of the four members +who still remained faithful, Messrs. Tilley, Simonds, Ritchie and +Needham, held a meeting at which these gentlemen were present, and it +was agreed that they should join in an address to their constituents +condemning the course of Messrs. Wilmot and Gray, and calling on the +constituency to pronounce judgment upon it. As Wilmot, who had been +appointed to the office of surveyor-general, had to return to his +constituency for reëlection, the voice of the constituency could only be +ascertained by placing a candidate in the field in opposition to him. +This was done, and Mr. Allan McLean was elected to oppose Mr. Wilmot. +The result seemed to show that the people of St. John had condoned the +offence, for Wilmot was reëlected by a majority of two hundred and +seventy-three. As this appeared to be a proof that they had lost the +confidence of their constituents, Messrs. Simonds, Ritchie and Tilley at +once resigned their seats and did not offer for reëlection. This act +was, at the time, thought by many to indicate an excess of +sensitiveness, and Needham refused to follow their example, thereby +forfeiting the regard of most of those who had formerly supported him. +The sequel proved that the three resigning members were right, for they +won much more in public respect by their conduct than they lost by their +temporary exclusion from the House of Assembly. + +{THE ST. JOHN ELECTION} + +The gentlemen returned for the three seats in St. John which had been +vacated by the resigning members were James A. Harding, John Goddard and +John Johnson. Mr. Harding, who ran for the city, was opposed by S. K. +Foster. Harding was a Liberal, but this fact does not seem to have been +kept in view when he was elected. The net result of the whole affair was +that the constituency of St. John could not be relied upon to support a +Liberal principle, or any kind of principle as against men. That has +always been a peculiarity of the St. John constituencies, men being more +important than measures, and frequently a mere transient feeling being +set off against the most important considerations of general policy. + +Tilley was not in the House of Assembly during the sessions of 1852, +1853 and 1854; that period was one, however, of development in political +matters and of substantial progress. The governor's speech at the +opening of the session of 1852 was largely devoted to railways, and it +expressed the opinion that a railroad connecting Canada and Nova Scotia, +and a connection with a line from St. John to the United States, would +produce an abundant return to the province, and that by this means +millions of tons of timber, then standing worthless in the forest, would +find a profitable market. It was during this session that Messrs. Peto, +Brassy and Betts proposed to construct the European and North American +Railway, on certain conditions. The subsidies offered by the province at +this time were twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty years, and a +million acres of land for the European and North American Railway, as +the line to the United States was termed; and for the Quebec line, +twenty-two thousand pounds sterling for twenty years, and two million +acres of land. A new company, which included Mr. Jackson, M. P., offered +to build the New Brunswick section of both railroads, upon the province +granting them a subsidy of twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty +years, and four million acres of land. Attorney-General Street +introduced a series of railway resolutions favouring the building of the +Intercolonial Railway jointly by the three provinces, according to terms +which had been agreed upon by the delegates of each. The arrangement was +that the Intercolonial Railway should be built through the valley of the +St. John, and for favouring resolutions in the House confirming this +arrangement, Mr. Street's Northumberland constituents called upon him to +resign his seat, a step which he refused to take. + +{INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY} + +The government railway resolutions were carried by a large majority. +During the recess Mr. Chandler, as a representative of New Brunswick, +and Mr. Hincks, a representative of Canada, went to London to endeavour +to obtain from the British government a sum sufficient to build the +Intercolonial Railway. The request of the delegates was refused on the +ground that such a work had to be one of military necessity, and that +the route which had been selected, by the valley of the St. John, was +not a proper one for military purposes. As Mr. Chandler could not obtain +what he wished from the British government, he applied to Messrs. Peto, +Brassy and Betts, who said they were prepared to build all the railroads +that New Brunswick might require, upon the most advantageous terms. Mr. +Jackson visited the province in September of the same year, and it was +agreed that his company should build a railway from St. John to Amherst, +and from St. John to the United States frontier, the distance being then +estimated at two hundred and fourteen miles, for the sum of sixty-five +hundred pounds sterling per mile. The province was to take stock to the +extent of twelve hundred pounds per mile, and to lend its bonds to the +company for one thousand eight hundred pounds additional per mile. The +completion of this arrangement caused great rejoicing in the province, +especially in St. John, a special session of the legislature being +called on October 21st for the express purpose of amending the Railway +Act so that it might conform to the new conditions. As both branches of +the legislature were strongly in favour of the railway policy of the +government, the necessary bills were speedily passed and the legislature +was prorogued after a session of eight days. + +The meeting of the legislature in 1853 derived its principal importance +from the fact that much of its time was taken up with the discussion of +the question of a reciprocity treaty with the United States of America. +The discussion disclosed a strong disinclination on the part of many +members to any arrangement by which the fisheries would be surrendered. +An address to the queen was agreed to by both branches of the +legislature in which it was stated that the exclusive use of the +fisheries by the inhabitants of British North America would be much more +advantageous and satisfactory than anything which the United States +could offer as an equivalent. It was also stated that no reciprocity +treaty with that country would be satisfactory to New Brunswick which +did not embrace the free exchange of raw materials and natural products +and the admission of colonial built vessels to registry in American +ports. The tone of the discussions on this subject, both in 1853 and +1854, shows that reciprocity with the United States was not generally +regarded as being an equivalent for the giving of the fisheries to our +neighbours, and it is quite clear that, so far as New Brunswick was +concerned, the reciprocity treaty would not have been agreed to had it +not been that the matter was in the hands of the British government, and +that the legislature of the province was not disposed to resist +strenuously any arrangement which that government thought it wise to +make. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW + + +The House which had been elected in 1850 was dissolved after the +prorogation in 1854, and the election came on in the month of July. It +was a memorable occasion, because it was certain that the topics +discussed by the House then to be elected would be of the very highest +importance. One of these subjects was the reciprocity treaty, which at +that time had been arranged with the United States through the British +government. This treaty provided for the free interchange of certain +natural products between the great republic and the several provinces +which later formed the Dominion of Canada, and it had been brought about +through the efforts of Lord Elgin, who at that time was governor-general +of Canada. The treaty was agreed to on June 5th, and was subject to +ratification by the imperial parliament and the legislatures of the +British North American colonies which were affected by it. In the St. +John constituencies there was at that time a strong feeling in favour of +a protection policy, but this did not interfere with the desire to +effect the interchange of raw material with the United States on +advantageous terms. Tilley had been originally nominated as a +protectionist, and still held views favourable to the encouragement and +protection of native industries by means of the tariff, but he was also +favourable to reciprocity with the United States if it could be obtained +in such a manner as to be beneficial to the province. At the general +election he led the poll in the city of St. John, his colleague being +James A. Harding, who had been elected at a bye-election to the previous +House. For the county, Mr. William J. Ritchie was one of the successful +candidates, and the only Liberal returned for that constituency. The +other members for the county were the Hon. John R. Partelow, Robert D. +Wilmot and John H. Gray. + +The new House was called together on October 19th for the purpose of +ratifying the reciprocity treaty, and the Hon. D. L. Hanington was +elected speaker by a vote of twenty-three to thirteen. This gave the +opposition an earlier opportunity of defeating the Street-Partelow +administration than would, under ordinary circumstances, have been +possible. An amendment to the address was moved by the Hon. Charles +Fisher, which was an indictment of the government for their various +shortcomings and offences. The amendment was to expunge the whole of the +fifth paragraph and substitute for it the following:-- + +"It is with feelings of loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's person +and government that we recognize, in that provision of the treaty which +requires the concurrence of this legislature, a distinct avowal by the +imperial government of their determination to preserve inviolate the +principles of self-government, and to regard the constitution of the +province as sacred as that of the parent state. We regret that the +conduct of the administration during the last few years has not been in +accordance with these principles, and we feel constrained thus early to +state to your Excellency that your constitutional advisers have not +conducted the government of the province in the true spirit of our +colonial constitution." This amendment was debated for six days, and was +carried by a vote of twenty-seven to twelve. + +{QUESTION OF THE JUDGES REVIVED} + +The general ground of accusation against the government, and the one +most strongly insisted upon, was that it had yielded to the influence of +the colonial office in the appointment of Judge Wilmot. It was well +known that the government at that time, or at least a majority of them, +did not consider it necessary to appoint another judge; at all events, +they took no steps to bring about another appointment; but they yielded +to the colonial office, and the pressure put upon them by Sir Edmund +Head, the lieutenant-governor, so far as to acquiesce in the appointment +of Judge Carter as chief-justice, and the elevation of Mr. Wilmot to the +bench. This was a fair ground of attack, because it was clear that if +the executive council of New Brunswick was under the orders of the home +government, representative institutions and responsible government did +not exist. + +Thus the Street-Partelow government fell, and with it disappeared, at +once and forever, the old Conservative régime which had existed in the +province from its foundation, and which, unavoidably no doubt, had +presided over the early political life of the colony, but the undue +continuance of which was wholly incompatible with the full development +of representative institutions and responsible government. It was a +great triumph for the cause of Liberalism that the Conservatives of that +period were not only defeated, but swept altogether out of existence. +After that a government of men who called themselves Conservatives might +go into power, but the old state of affairs, under which the +lieutenant-governor could exercise almost despotic powers, had departed +forever, and could no more be revived than the heptarchy. All that a +Conservative government could do after that was to fall into line with +the policy of the men they had displaced, and proceed, less rapidly +perhaps, but none the less surely, along the path of political progress. + +The new government which was formed as the result of this vote had for +its premier the Hon. Charles Fisher, who took the office of +attorney-general; Mr. Tilley became provincial secretary; Mr. James +Brown, a few weeks later, received the office of surveyor-general; J. M. +Johnson, one of the members for Northumberland, became solicitor-general; +and William J. Ritchie, Albert J. Smith and William H. Steeves were +members of the government without office. + +The bill to give effect to the reciprocity treaty passed its third +reading on November 2d, only five members voting against it. On motion +of the Hon. Mr. Ritchie, one of the members of the new government, it +was resolved that it was desirable and expedient that the +surveyor-general, who was a political officer, should hold a seat in the +House of Assembly, and that the government should carry out the wishes +of the House in this respect. Before the House again met the wishes of +the House had been complied with, and Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, became +surveyor-general. + +{SESSION OF 1855} + +The House met again on February 1st, 1855, and then the real work of +legislative and administrative reform began. In the speech from the +throne it was stated that the Customs Act would expire in the course of +a year, and that it was necessary that a new Act should be passed. A +better system of auditing the public accounts was also recommended, and +a better system of electing members to the legislature. On March 5th, +correspondence was brought down, dated the previous 15th of August, +announcing, on the part of the imperial government, the withdrawal of +the imperial customs establishment, which was considered to be no longer +necessary, and stating that as the duties of these offices were now +mainly in connection with the registration of vessels in the colonies, +and the granting of certificates of the origin of colonial products, +this work would hereafter be performed by the colonial officers. A +letter addressed to the comptrollers and other customs officers had +informed them that their services would be discontinued after January +5th, 1855. So disappeared the last remnant of the old imperial +custom-house system, which had been the cause of so many difficulties in +all the colonies and which had done more than anything else to bring +about the revolution which separated the thirteen colonies from the +mother country. + +The great measure of the session of 1855 was the law to prevent the +importation, manufacture or selling of liquor. This bill was brought in +by Mr. Tilley as a private member, and not on behalf of the government. +It was introduced on March 3d. Considering its importance and the fact +that it led to a crisis in the affairs of the government and the +temporary defeat of the Liberal party, it went through the House with +comparatively little difficulty. It was first considered on March 19th, +and a motion to postpone its further consideration for three months was +lost by a vote of seventeen to twenty-one. The final division on the +third reading was taken on March 27th, and the vote was twenty-one to +eighteen, so that every member of the House, with one exception, voted +yea or nay. The closeness of this last division should have warned the +advocate of the measure that it was likely to produce difficulty, for it +is clear that all laws which are intended to regulate the personal +habits of men must be ineffectual unless they have the support of a +large majority of the people affected by them. That this was not the +case with the prohibitory liquor law was shown by the vote in the +legislature, and it was still more clearly shown after the law came into +operation on January 1st, 1856. + +{PROHIBITORY LIQUOR ACT} + +The passage of the prohibitory law was a bold experiment, and, as the +sequel showed, more bold than wise. The temperance movement in New +Brunswick, at that time, was hardly more than twenty years old, and New +Brunswick had always been a province in which the consumption of liquor +was large in proportion to its population. When it was first settled by +the Loyalists, and for many years afterwards, the use of liquor was +considered necessary to happiness, if not to actual existence. Every +person consumed spirits, which generally came to the province in the +form of Jamaica rum, from the West Indies, and as this rum was supposed +to be an infallible cure for nearly every ill that flesh is heir to, +nothing could be done at that time without its use. Large quantities of +rum were taken into the woods for the lumbermen, to give them sufficient +strength to perform the laborious work in which they were engaged, and +if it had been suggested that a time would come when the same work would +be done without any more powerful stimulant than tea, the person who +ventured to make such a suggestion would have been regarded as foolish. +Experience has shown that more and better work can be done, not only in +the woods, but everywhere else, without the use of stimulants than with +them; but no one could be persuaded to believe this sixty years ago. +Every kind of work connected with the farm then had to be performed by +the aid of liquor. Every house-raising, every ploughing match, every +meeting at which farmers congregated, had unlimited quantities of rum as +one of its leading features. It was also used by almost every man as a +part of his regular diet; the old stagers had their eleven-o'clock dram +and their nip before dinner; their regular series of drinks in the +afternoon and evening; and they actually believed that without them life +would not be worth living. Some idea of the extent of the +spirit-drinking of the province may be gathered from the fact that, in +1838, when the population did not exceed 120,000, 312,298 gallons of +rum, gin and whiskey, and 64,579 gallons of brandy were consumed in New +Brunswick. Spirits, especially rum, were very cheap, and, the duty being +only thirty cents a gallon, every one could afford to drink it if +disposed to do so. + +It was at midnight on December 31st, 1855, when the bells rang out a +merry peal to announce the advent of the New Year, that this law went +into force. This meant little less than a revolution in the views, +feelings and ideas of the people of the province, and, to a large +extent, in their business relations. The liquor trade, both wholesale +and retail, employed large numbers of men, and occupied many buildings +which brought in large rents to their owners. The number of taverns in +St. John and its suburb, Portland, was not less than two hundred, and +every one of these establishments had to be closed. There were probably +at least twenty men who sold liquor at wholesale, and who extended their +business to every section of the province, as well as to parts of Nova +Scotia, and their operations also had to come to an end. It was not to +be supposed that these people would consent to be deprived suddenly of +their means of living, especially in view of the fact that it was by no +means certain that the sentiment in favour of prohibition was as strong +in the country as it appeared to be in the legislature. It has always +been understood that many men voted for prohibition in the House of +Assembly who themselves were not total abstainers, but who thought they +might make political capital by taking that course, and who relied on +the legislative council to throw out the bill. No men were more +disgusted and disappointed than they when the council passed the bill. + +{PROHIBITORY ACT UNPOPULAR} + +The result of the attempt to enforce prohibition was what might have +been expected. The law was resisted, liquor continued to be sold, and +when attempts were made to prevent the violation of the law, and the +violators of the law were brought before the courts, able lawyers were +employed to defend them, while the sale of liquor by the same parties +was continued, thus setting the law at defiance. This state of confusion +lasted for several months, but it is unnecessary to go into details. In +the city of St. John, especially, the conflict became bitter to the last +degree, and it was evident that, however admirable prohibition might be +of itself, the people of that city were not then prepared to accept it. +At this juncture came the astounding news that the lieutenant-governor, +the Hon. H. T. Manners-Sutton, had dissolved the House of Assembly +against the advice of his council. This governor, who had been appointed +the year previous, was a member of an old Conservative family, one of +whom was speaker of the British House of Commons for a great many years. +The traditions of this family were all opposed to such a radical measure +as the prohibitory law, and, therefore, it was not to be expected that +Manners-Sutton, who drank wine at his own table, and who considered that +its use was proper and necessary, would be favourable to the law. But +even if he had been disposed to favour it originally, or to regard it +without prejudice, the confusion which it caused in the province when +the attempt was made to enforce it, would naturally incline him to look +upon it as an evil. At all events, he came to the conclusion that the +people should have another opportunity of pronouncing upon it, and, as +the result of this view of the situation, resolved to dissolve the +legislature, which had been elected only a little more than a year, and +had still three years to run. + +{DISSOLUTION OF LEGISLATURE} + +The election which followed in July, 1856, was perhaps the most hotly +contested that has ever taken place in the province. In St. John, +especially, the conflict was fierce and bitter, because it was in this +city that the liquor interest was strongest and most influential. All +over the province, however, the people became interested in the +struggle, as they had not been in any previous campaign. + +By the Liberals and friends of the government, the action of Governor +Sutton was denounced as tyrannical, unjust and entirely contrary to the +principles of responsible government. On the other hand, the friends of +the governor and of the liquor interest declared that his action was +right, and the cry of "Support the governor," was raised in every +county. At this day it is easy enough to discern that there was a good +deal of unnecessary violence injected into the campaign, and that +neither party was inclined to do full justice to the other. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +REFORM AND PROGRESS + + +The result of the election was the defeat of the government. Mr. Tilley +lost his seat for St. John city, and the Hon. James Brown, the +surveyor-general, was rejected by the county of Charlotte, so that two +of the principal members of the executive were not in their places when +the House was called together in July. The city of St. John, and the +city and county of St. John, sent a solid phalanx of six members opposed +to prohibition, and an Act repealing the prohibitory liquor law was +passed by a vote of thirty-eight to two. The new government which was +formed had for its principal members, the Hon. John H. Gray, who became +attorney-general; the Hon. John C. Allen, solicitor-general; the Hon. R. +D. Wilmot, provincial secretary; the Hon. John Montgomery, +surveyor-general, and the Hon. Francis McPhelim, postmaster-general. The +other members of the executive council were the Hon. Edward B. Chandler, +the Hon. Robert L. Hazen and the Hon. Charles McPherson. + +When the House met in July, the Hon. Charles Simonds, of St. John, was +elected speaker, and it was soon discovered, after the liquor bill had +been disposed of, that the majority supporting the government was so +small as to make it impossible for them to accomplish any useful +legislation. When the legislature again met, in the early part of 1857, +it was seen that in a House of forty-one members twenty were arrayed +against the government, and the only way in which government business +could be done was by the casting vote of the speaker. This condition of +affairs speedily became intolerable, because it practically made +legislation impossible, but it was brought to an end by Mr. McMonagle, +one of the members for the county of Kings, withdrawing his support from +the government. Two courses only were now open to them, to tender their +resignations or advise the dissolution of the legislature, and they +chose the latter. The House of Assembly was dissolved by proclamation on +April 1st, 1857, and the writs for the election were made returnable on +May 16th. + +{THE FISHER GOVERNMENT} + +The excitement attending this second election was, if possible, even +greater than during the election of 1856, for the public mind had been +wrought up to a high state of tension by the proceedings in the House +and the numerous divisions in which the government was supported only by +the casting vote of the speaker. The result of the election was so +unfavourable to the Gray-Wilmot government that they at once tendered +their resignations to the lieutenant-governor, agreeing to hold office +only until their successors were appointed. The most bitter contest of +the election centred in the city of St. John, and it resulted in the +election of Mr. Tilley, with Mr. James A. Harding for his colleague, the +latter having changed his views in regard to the question at issue since +the previous election, when he was chosen as an opponent of the +government of which Tilley had been a member. When the Gray-Wilmot +government resigned, the lieutenant-governor sent for Mr. Fisher, and +entrusted to him the business of forming a new government. The +government thus formed comprised the Hons. James Brown, S. L. Tilley, +William Henry Steeves, John M. Johnson, Albert J. Smith, David Wark and +Charles Watters. The Hon. Charles Fisher became attorney-general, and, +resigning his seat, was reëlected for the county of York prior to the +meeting of the legislature on June 24th, 1857. The session lasted only +until July 1st, being merely held for the purpose of disposing of the +necessary business. James A. Harding was elected speaker of the House, +and the legislation was confined to the passage of the supply bills, and +matters that were urgent. Tilley took no part in the legislation of this +session, for his seat immediately became vacant by his appointment as +provincial secretary. The other departments were filled by the +appointment of Mr. Brown to the office of surveyor-general; of Mr. +Charles Watters, to the office of solicitor-general, and of John M. +Johnson as postmaster-general. + +The legislature met again on February 10th, 1858, and the speech from +the throne dealt mainly with the financial crisis, the Intercolonial +Railway, and the progress that was being made in the construction of the +line between St. John and Shediac as a part of what was termed the +European and North American Railway. The speech also referred to the +fact that the surplus civil list fund had been, by arrangement with the +British government made the previous year, placed at the disposal of the +House of Assembly. It was soon seen that the government was strong in +the House, the first test vote being that taken on the passage of the +address in reply to the speech from the throne. This came in the form of +an amendment, regretting that the arrangement in regard to the surplus +civil list fund had been acceded to without the consent of the House. +This amendment to the address received the support of only six members. +A return brought down at an early period in the session showed that the +revenue of the province for the fiscal year, ending October 31st, 1857, +amounted to $668,252 an increase of $86,528 over the previous year. Of +this sum upwards of $540,000 came from import duties and what were +termed railway impost, which was simply duties levied on imports for the +purpose of defraying the cost of the railways then building. The casual +and territorial revenue yielded only eighteen thousand pounds but the +export duties reached almost twenty thousand pounds. + +{INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY} + +The Intercolonial Railway still continued to engage the attention of the +legislature, and correspondence with the secretary of state, with the +government of Canada, and with the government of Nova Scotia, in regard +to this great work, was laid before the House soon after the session +opened. The government of New Brunswick consulted with the governments +of Canada and Nova Scotia as to what assistance should be given by the +imperial government towards the construction of the Intercolonial +Railway from Halifax to Quebec, in the form of a guarantee of interest. +The British government professed to feel a strong sense of the +importance of the object, but thought they would not be justified in +applying to parliament for the required guarantee, because the heavy +expenditures to which Great Britain had been subjected did not leave +them at liberty to pledge its revenue for the purpose of assisting in +the construction of public works of this description, however desirable +in themselves. The correspondence on the subject of the Intercolonial +Railway extended over a period of more than twenty years and grew to +enormous proportions, but it is safe to assert that this line of railway +would not have been constructed in the nineteenth century but for the +fact that it was undertaken by the Canadian Dominion as a work which had +to be built for the purpose of carrying out the terms of confederation +as set out in the British North America Act (section 145). + +The railway to Shediac was finally completed and opened for traffic on +August 5th, 1860, its length being one hundred and eight miles. The +nineteen miles between Pointe du Chêne and Moncton had been open as +early as August, 1857, and the nine miles from St. John to Rothesay, on +June 1st, 1858. The railway was opened from St. John to Hampton in June, +1859, and to Sussex in November of the same year. Although the people of +the province had abated something of their enthusiasm for railways by +the time the St. John and Shediac line was finished, still its opening +was a great event, because it was the commencement of a new era in +transportation and gave St. John access to the north shore, from which +it had previously been practically shut out. Goods could now be sent by +means of railway and steamer to Prince Edward Island, and to the New +Brunswick ports on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and a community of interest +which did not exist before was thus created between the most remote +sections of the province. + +The traffic receipts of the complete line were thought to be highly +satisfactory; the business for the first three months amounted to about +$45,000, and yielded a revenue of $18,000. This was a good showing and +gave promise of still better things for the future. It may be +interesting to state that in the last year that the railway was operated +by the government of the province, the gross receipts amounted to +$148,330, and the net receipts to $51,760. The gross and net revenue of +the road had shown a steady increase from the first, and although it had +been a costly public work the people of the province considered it a +good investment. It was only after it had passed into the hands of the +government of Canada, and become a part of the Intercolonial Railway, +that any colour was given to the accusation that it was an unprofitable +line. The railway from St. John to Shediac had always paid well, and +probably, if dissociated from its connecting lines, would at this day +pay three or four per cent, upon its original cost. + +{THE BALLOT} + +The legislation of the province between 1858 and 1861, although it +included many useful measures, evolved nothing that calls for particular +mention, with the exception of the law which provided for voting by +ballot. This was an innovation to which many were opposed, but which the +Liberal party very properly considered necessary to the protection of +the voter, who was liable to be coerced by his employer, or by those who +had financial relations with him. The ballot system introduced by the +government was quite imperfect and did not insure absolute secrecy, +because it did not provide for an official ballot such as is required in +the system of election which now prevails in connection with the choice +of members to our Canadian parliament. Yet it was a vast improvement on +open voting, not only because it gave the voter a certain degree of +protection, but also from the fact that it tended to promote order at +elections, and to do away with that riotous spirit which was +characteristic of the earlier contests in the province. + +{UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK} + +In 1859 an important step was taken for the reorganization of King's +College, which by an Act passed in that year, was changed into the +University of New Brunswick. There had always been a great deal of +dissatisfaction with the college in consequence of its denominational +character, and in 1854 an Act was passed empowering the +lieutenant-governor to appoint a commission to inquire into the state of +King's College, its management and utility, with a view to improving it. +The commissioners appointed were the Hon. John H. Gray, the Rev. Egerton +Ryerson, J. W. Dawson, the Hon. John S. Saunders and the Hon. James +Brown. The report, which was dated December 28th, 1854, was laid before +both branches of the legislature in 1855. In 1857 the college council +appointed a committee and prepared a draft of a bill which was laid +before the legislature. This, with a few slight alterations, was the +bill which was passed in 1859 for the establishment of the University of +New Brunswick, and in this bill were embodied the principal +recommendations of the commissioners appointed in 1854 to enquire into +the state of the college. This Act transferred to the University of New +Brunswick all the property of King's College and its endowment, and made +the university liable for the payment of the debts and the performance +of the contracts of King's College. It created a new governing body for +the college to be styled the senate, to be appointed by the governor in +council, and the president of the college was required to be a member of +that body and also to be a layman. It conferred upon the senate the +power of appointing the professors and other officers of the university, +except the president, and also the power of removing them from office, +subject to the approval of the governor in council. It also authorized +the senate to fix their salaries. It abolished the professorship of +theology and provided for the affiliation of other institutions with the +university, and also for a number of free scholars. This Act, which was +passed in April, 1859, was especially approved by Her Majesty in council +on January 25th, 1860. Thus a new era in the higher education of New +Brunswick was commenced, and a long step was taken towards making the +college more acceptable to the people of that province. Great hopes were +entertained at the time that this liberalizing of the constitution of +the college would lead to a large increase in the number of its +students, and a more general interest in its work, but, unfortunately, +as the sequel showed, these hopes were only partially realized. + +During the spring of 1860 circumstances occurred which led to the +resignation of the postmaster-general, the Hon. Charles Connell. The +legislature having adopted the decimal system of currency in the place +of the pounds, shillings and pence which had been the currency of the +province since its foundation, Mr. Connell, in March, 1860, was +authorized to obtain a new set of postage stamps of the denominations +required for use in the postal service of the province. No person, at +that time, thought that a political crisis would arise out of this +order, but it appears that Mr. Connell, guided by the example of +presidents and postmasters-general of the United States, had made up his +mind that instead of the likeness of the queen, which had been upon all +the old postage stamps of the province, the five-cent stamp, the one +which would be most in use, should bear the impress of his own +countenance. Accordingly the Connell postage stamp, which is now one of +the rarest and most costly of all in the lists of collectors, was +procured and was ready to be used, when Mr. Connell's colleagues in the +government discovered what was going on and took steps to prevent the +new five-cent stamp from being issued. The correspondence on the +subject, which will be found in the journals of 1861, is curious and +interesting; it ended in the withdrawal of the objectionable stamps and +in the resignation of Mr. Connell, who complained that he had lost the +confidence of his colleagues, and in resigning, charged them with +neglecting the affairs of the province. Only a few of the Connell stamps +got into circulation, the remainder of the issue being destroyed. Mr. +Connell's place as postmaster-general was filled by the appointment of +James Steadman. + +{RESIGNATION OF MR. FISHER} + +In the early part of 1861 a very important event occurred in connection +with the government which produced a lasting effect on provincial +politics. Charges were made by a St. John Conservative paper, _The +Colonial Empire_, in which it was stated that members of the government +and certain Crown lands officials had been purchasing the most desirable +and valuable Crown lands of the province for speculative purposes, and +that in bringing these lands to sale the government regulations had been +violated and the public treasury had suffered. A committee of the House +was appointed to investigate these charges, and inquiry established the +fact that an official of the Crown lands department had purchased some +eight hundred acres. These lands were all bought at public sale, but in +the forms of application other names were used, which was a violation of +the rules of the department. A portion of the press at the time created +a widespread excitement upon this subject, and the services of the +official referred to were dispensed with. Some of the supporters of the +government also took such ground in reference to the attorney-general, +Mr. Fisher, that his retirement from the government became necessary, +the accusation against him being that he had negligently permitted some +improper sales of Crown lands to be made. It was felt at the time by +some that the penalty that was paid by the attorney-general was +excessive for the offence; but, under the excitement then existing, it +was the only course that could be taken to avoid the defeat of the +government. At the general election that followed a few months later, +Mr. Fisher was reëlected for the county of York, and later on, after the +excitement had passed over, the delinquent Crown lands official was +reinstated. At the same election, that took place in 1861, the +government was handsomely sustained, after one of the warmest contests +that had ever taken place in New Brunswick. Probably the most effective +nomination speech ever made by Tilley, during his long political career, +was the one then delivered at the court-house, St. John, in his own +defence, and in the vindication of his government against the charges +made by the Opposition candidates and press. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY + + +The imperfect means of communication between the Maritime Provinces and +Canada had long been recognized as a great evil, and very soon after the +introduction of railways into England a line of railway was projected to +run from St. Andrews, in New Brunswick, to Quebec. The transfer of a +considerable tract of territory, which had been believed to be in New +Brunswick, to the state of Maine, under the terms of the Ashburton +Treaty, gave a check to this enterprise, and financial difficulties +afterwards prevented its accomplishment. A more promising scheme was +that of a railway from Halifax to Quebec, and this so far received the +approval of the British government that an officer of engineers, Major +Robinson, was, in 1847, detailed to conduct a survey of the proposed +line. As this gentleman was influenced by purely military +considerations, his line was carried as far from the United States +boundary as possible, and consequently by a very long and circuitous +route. During the session of 1852, Attorney-General Street introduced a +series of resolutions in the New Brunswick legislature favouring the +building of the Intercolonial Railway jointly by Canada, New Brunswick +and Nova Scotia, according to terms which had been agreed upon by the +delegates of each. This arrangement was that the Intercolonial Railway +should be built through the valley of the St. John. These resolutions +were carried by a large majority. During the recess, Mr. Chandler, as +the representative of New Brunswick, and Mr. Hincks, the representative +of Canada, went to London to endeavour to obtain from the British +government financial aid to build the Intercolonial Railway. This was +refused on the ground that such a work had to be one of military +necessity. Further efforts were made in 1855, and again in 1858, to +influence the British government in favour of this railway, but without +result; the answer of Downing Street being that the heavy expenditure +involved in the Crimean War prevented the government from assisting in +the construction of public works, such as the Intercolonial Railway, +however desirable in themselves. + +{DELEGATION TO ENGLAND} + +The effort to secure the construction of the Intercolonial Railway was +renewed in 1861. At a meeting of delegates representing Canada, Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick, which was held at Quebec on September 30th, it +was resolved that the three governments should renew the offers made to +the imperial government in 1858 with reference to the Intercolonial +Railway, and that the route to be adopted be decided by the imperial +government. The Hon. Mr. Tilley, who was at this Quebec meeting, was +sent to England as a delegate to confer with the imperial government +with regard to the railway, while Nova Scotia was represented by the +Hon. Joseph Howe, and Canada, by the Hon. P. M. Vankoughnet. The +delegates reached England in November and placed themselves in +communication with the Duke of Newcastle, who was then colonial +secretary, and they also had interviews with the prime minister, Lord +Palmerston, the chancellor of the exchequer, the secretary of war, and +the president of the board of trade. While in England, the seizure of +the commissioners of the southern confederacy, Messrs. Mason and +Slidell, by Commodore Wilkes, on board the British mail steamer _Trent_, +produced a crisis in the relations between Great Britain and the United +States which seemed likely to lead to a war, and greatly strengthened +the position of the delegates, who were able to point out the difficulty +involved in defending Canada without a railway to the sea. They +presented their views to the colonial secretary in a very ably written +state paper, which should have convinced those to whom it was addressed +that the railway was an absolute necessity. The delegates estimated the +cost of the railway at £3,000,000 sterling, and they asked the imperial +government to join in a guarantee of four per cent. interest on this +sum, each of the provinces to guarantee £20,000 a year for this purpose +and the imperial government, £60,000. This proposal was rejected by the +British government, but it offered "an imperial guarantee of interest +towards enabling them to raise by public loan, at a moderate rate, the +requisite funds for constructing the railway." The British government, +therefore, would do nothing for this great work except to indorse the +bonds of the provinces to a limited extent, for it was stated in the +Duke of Newcastle's letter to the delegates that "the nature and extent +of the guarantee must be determined by the particulars of any scheme +which the provincial governments may be disposed to found on the present +proposal and on the kind of security which they would offer." + +Delegates representing the three provinces met in Quebec in September, +1862, to consider this offer, New Brunswick being represented by Messrs. +Tilley, Steeves and Mitchell. The delegates from the Maritime Provinces +declared their willingness to propose to their respective governments to +accept the proposition of the Duke of Newcastle if Canada would bear +one-half of the expense of the railway instead of one-third. The +Canadian government offered to assume five-twelfths of the liability for +the construction and working of the Intercolonial, and to this the +delegates for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had to agree. This imposed a +very serious burthen on two provinces, which, between them, had only six +hundred thousand inhabitants, and their willingness to assume it shows +the interest they took in this great work. + +{NEGOTIATIONS IN ENGLAND} + +In pursuance of an arrangement made at this Quebec meeting, delegates +from the three provinces went to England to arrange the terms of the +guarantee with the British government; the Hon. Mr. Tilley represented +New Brunswick, and the Hon. Joseph Howe, Nova Scotia. Mr. Gladstone, who +was then chancellor of the exchequer, insisted on a sinking fund being +provided, which was to be a first charge on the revenues of the several +provinces. This sinking fund was objected to by the colonial delegates, +but the only modification in its terms which they were able to obtain +was that the sinking fund was not to take precedence of any existing +liability. Before leaving England, Messrs. Tilley and Howe prepared and +submitted a memorandum to the Duke of Newcastle in which they expressed +a hope that Mr. Gladstone might be induced to reconsider the matter of +the sinking fund, and that it would not be insisted on. The Canadian +delegates left England without an acceptance of the terms proposed by +Mr. Gladstone, and without a formal rejection of them. Previous to the +meeting of the Canadian parliament, Tilley proceeded to Quebec to urge +upon the Canadian government the preparation of the necessary bills to +carry out the agreement entered into for the construction of this great +railway. He reported to the lieutenant-governor on his return that the +government of Canada, for reasons stated, could not then undertake to +pass the legislation required, which they greatly regretted, but that +they had not abandoned the arrangements for the construction of the +railway. The Canadian government's declaration in the course of the +session that they had abandoned this important enterprise was, +accordingly, a source of great surprise and regret. The governments of +New Brunswick and Nova Scotia passed the necessary legislation at the +next session, but the government of Canada took no further step in the +matter until the confederation negotiations were commenced in 1864. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION + + +We now come down to an event of the greatest interest, in which Mr. +Tilley took part, and one of such vast and far-reaching importance that +it quite overshadows all the other events of his career. The +confederation of the Canadian provinces was, beyond all question, the +most notable colonial movement within the British empire since the +American Declaration of Independence. It changed at once the whole +character of the colonial relations which had subsisted with the mother +country, and substituted for a few weak and scattered colonies a +powerful Dominion, able to speak with a united voice, and stand as a +helpmeet to the nation from which most of its people had sprung. No man, +whatever his views as to the wisdom of that political union may have +been at the time, can now deny that it was timely and necessary, if the +colonies and the mother country were to preserve their connection with +each other. It is safe to say that, if confederation had not taken place +in 1867, British interests on this continent would have suffered, and +possibly some of the colonies would now have been a part of the United +States. The policy of separating the colonies from England, which has +been so much advocated by many leading public men in the great republic, +would have found free scope, and by balancing the interests of one +colony against those of another, promoting dissensions and favouring +those provinces which were disposed to a closer union with the United +States, something might have been done to weaken their connection with +the British empire, which is now the glory and the strength of the +Dominion of Canada. + +The question of the union of the several colonies of British North +America was by no means a new one when it came up for final settlement. +It had been discussed at a very early period in the history of the +provinces, and indeed it was a question which it was quite natural to +discuss, for it seemed but reasonable that colonies of the same origin, +owing the same allegiance, inhabited by people who differed but little +from each other in any respect, and with many commercial interests in +common, should form a political union. No doubt it might have been +brought earlier to the front as a vital political question but for the +fact that the British government, which was most interested in promoting +the union of the colonies, took no step towards that end until almost +compelled by necessity to move in the matter. The colonial policy of +England, as represented by the colonial office and in the royal +instructions to colonial governors, has seldom been wise or far-seeing, +and the British colonies which now girdle the world, have been built up +mainly as the result of private enterprise; for the part taken by the +government has, in most cases, been merely to give official sanction to +what private individuals have already done, and to assist in protecting +British interests when they have become important, especially in new +regions of the world. + +{CONFEDERATION FORESHADOWED} + +When the Earl of Durham was sent out as governor-general of Canada after +the rebellion there in 1838, he suggested in his report that the union +of the colonies of British North America was one of the remedies which +ought to be resorted to for the pacification of Canada and the +reconstruction of its constitution. While a large proportion of the +people of the colonies looked with favour upon the idea of a political +union, there was in all of them a large body of objectors who were +steadily opposed to it. People of that kind are to be found in all +countries, and they have existed in all ages of the world's history. +They are the persons who see in every new movement a thousand +difficulties which cannot be surmounted. Their minds are constructed on +the principle of rejecting all new ideas, and clinging to old forms and +systems long after they have lost their vitality. They are a class who +look back for precedents for any step of a political character which it +is proposed to take, and who judge of everything by the standard of some +former age. They seem to forget that precedents must be created some +time or another, and that the present century has as good a right to +create precedents as any of its predecessors. To these people every +objection that could be urged against confederation was exaggerated and +magnified, and whenever any proposal was made which seemed to tend +towards the union of the colonies, their voices were heard upon the +other side. We need not doubt the honesty or loyalty of these objectors, +or consider that they were unfavourable either to British connection or +to the building up of the empire. It was merely their misfortune that +they were constitutionally adverse to change, and could not see any +merit in a political movement which involved the idea of novelty. + +For some time the principal advocate of confederation in the Maritime +Provinces was the Hon. Joseph Howe, a man of such ability and force of +character that on a wider stage he might have risen to eminence, and +ranked amongst the world's great statesmen.[10] It is impossible indeed +not to regret that so great a man, one so imperial in his instincts and +views, should have been condemned to spend his life within the bounds of +one small province. + +{ATTITUDE OF COLONIAL OFFICE} + +The question of the political union of the British North American +provinces was brought up in the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia in +1854, and then the leaders of both parties, the Hon. Mr. Johnson for the +Conservatives, and the Hon. Mr. Howe for the Liberals, united in +advocating the measure, and in depicting the advantage which would +accrue from it not only to Nova Scotia, but to every British province in +North America. In 1858 the question of confederation was discussed in +the parliament of Canada, and such a union was made a part of the policy +of the government; for Mr. A. T. Galt, on becoming a member of the +administration, insisted upon its being made a cabinet question, and Sir +Edmund Head, the governor-general, in his speech at the close of the +session, intimated that his government would take action in the matter +during the recess. Messrs. Cartier, Galt, and Ross, who were in England +representing the government of Canada, waited upon the colonial +secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, asking the authority of the +imperial government for a meeting of representatives from each of the +colonies to take the question of union into consideration. The colonial +secretary informed the Canadian delegates, no doubt after consultation +with his colleagues, that the question of confederation was necessarily +one of an imperial character, and declined to authorize the meeting, +because no expression of sentiment on the subject had as yet been +received from any of the Maritime Provinces except Nova Scotia. The Earl +of Derby's government fell a few months after this declaration of its +policy in regard to the colonies, and was succeeded by the government of +Lord Palmerston, which was in office at the time when the negotiations +which resulted in the confederation of the colonies were commenced. At +first Lord Palmerston's government seems to have been no more favourable +to the union of the colonies than its predecessor; for in 1862 the Duke +of Newcastle, then colonial secretary, in a despatch to the +governor-general of Canada, after stating that Her Majesty's government +was not prepared to announce any definite policy on the question of +confederation, added that, "If a union, either partial or complete, +should hereafter be proposed, with the concurrence of all the provinces +to be united, I am sure that the matter would be weighed in this country +both by the public, by parliament and by Her Majesty's government, with +no other feeling than an anxiety to discern and promote any course which +might be the most conducive to the prosperity, strength and harmony of +all the British communities of North America." It must always be a +subject of astonishment that the British government for so many years +should have had no definite policy on a matter so momentous, and that +they should have sought to discourage, rather than otherwise, a project +which has been of such vast importance to the empire. + +The first impulse in favour of confederation in the minds of the members +of Lord Palmerston's cabinet seems to have developed about the time when +it became evident that the result of the civil war in the United States +would be the defeat of the southern confederacy and the consolidation +of the power of the great republic in a more effectual union than that +which had existed before. No one who was not blind could fail to see +that this change of attitude on the part of the United States would +demand a corresponding change in the relations of the British colonies +towards each other; for from being a mere federation of states, so +loosely connected that secession was frequently threatened by states +both north and south, the United States, as the result of the war, had +become a nation with a strong central government, which had taken to +itself powers never contemplated by the constitution, and which added +immensely to its offensive and defensive strength. + +{A MISSIONARY OF UNION} + +In 1863, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a member of the Canadian cabinet and a man +of great eloquence and ability, visited St. John and delivered a lecture +in the Mechanics' Institute Hall on the subject of the union of the +colonies. His lecture was fully reported in the _Morning News_, a paper +then published in that city, and attracted wide attention because it +opened up a subject of the highest interest for the contemplation of the +people of the provinces. Shortly afterwards a series of articles on the +same subject, written by the author of this book, appeared in the +columns of the _Morning News_, and were widely read and quoted. These +articles followed closely the lines laid down for the union of the +colonies by the late Peter S. Hamilton, of Halifax, a writer of ability +whose articles on the subject were collected in pamphlet form and +extensively circulated. Thus in various ways the public mind was being +educated on the question of confederation, and the opinion that the +union of the British North American colonies was desirable was generally +accepted by all persons who gave any attention to the subject. It was +only when the matter came up in a practical form and as a distinct +proposition to be carried into effect, that the violent opposition which +was afterwards developed against confederation began to be shown. + +An event occurred in the summer of 1864 which had its effect on the +question of confederation. Up to that time the people of Canada and New +Brunswick had been almost wholly unknown to each other, because the +difficulties of travelling between the two provinces were so great. Any +person who desired to reach Montreal at that time from St. John had to +take the international steamer to Portland, Me., and was then carried by +the Grand Trunk Railway to his destination. Quebec could be reached in +summer by the steamer from Pictou which called at Shediac, but in winter +the journey had to be made by the Grand Trunk Railway from Portland, the +only alternative route being the road by which the mails were carried +from Edmunston north to the St. Lawrence. Under these circumstances the +people of the Canadian provinces and of the Maritime Provinces had but +few opportunities of seeing each other, and the people of all the +provinces knew much more of their neighbours in the United States than +they did of their fellow-colonists. One result of the Hon. D'Arcy +McGee's visit in 1863 was an invitation by the city of St. John to the +legislature of Canada to visit the Maritime Provinces. The invitation +was accepted and a party of about one hundred, comprising members of the +legislature, newspaper men, and others, visited St. John in the +beginning of August, 1864. Their trip was extended to Fredericton, where +they were the guests of the government of New Brunswick, and to Halifax, +where they were the guests of that city and of the government of Nova +Scotia. This visit produced a good effect upon the public mind, and +enabled the Maritime people to see what kind of men their +fellow-colonists of Upper and Lower Canada were. + +{POLITICAL CRISIS IN CANADA} + +In the meantime a great crisis had arisen in the government of Canada, +which was the immediate cause of the active part which that province +took in the confederation movement. When Upper and Lower Canada were +united in 1841, it was arranged that the representation of each province +in the legislature should be equal. The arrangement at that time was +favourable to Upper Canada, which had a smaller population than Lower +Canada; but in the course of time, as the population of Upper Canada +increased faster than that of the lower province, the people of Upper +Canada felt that they had less representation than they were entitled +to, and this state of affairs led to the raising of the cry of +"Representation by Population" which was so often heard in that province +prior to the era of confederation. In 1864 Upper Canada had half a +million more people than Lower Canada, and yet was only entitled to the +same number of members in the legislature. Another serious difficulty, +which arose out of the union, was the necessity, which not long +afterwards began to be recognized, of the government having a majority +in the legislature from each section of the province. This, in time, +grew to be so great an evil that the successful government of Canada +became almost impossible, for the majority for the government in one +province might at any time be disturbed by some local feeling, and as a +consequence the government overthrown. To trace the history of the +difficulties which arose from this cause would be to recite twenty years +of the history of Canada; but it is only necessary to point out thus +plainly the reasons for the willingness of the people of Upper and Lower +Canada to resort to confederation as a means of getting rid of their +embarrassments. + +{MACDONALD-BROWN COALITION} + +In 1863, the Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald was leader of the government, +but he was compelled to resign when parliament met in the early part of +1864, and in March of that year a new administration under the +premiership of Sir E. P. Taché was formed. This new government +developed very little strength, and was defeated on June 14th by a vote +of fifty-eight to sixty, on a question relative to some transaction +connected with bonds of the city of Montreal. A deadlock had come, and +as it was evident that no new government which could be formed was +likely to command sufficient support, it became necessary to make some +new arrangements in regard to the system of administration. Immediately +after the defeat of the government, Mr. George Brown, leader of the +Opposition, spoke to several supporters of the administration strongly +urging that the present time should be availed of for the purpose of +settling forever the constitutional difficulties between Upper and Lower +Canada, and assuring them that he was prepared to coöperate with the +existing or any other administration that would deal with the question +promptly and firmly, with a view to its final settlement. After much +negotiation Messrs. Brown, Mowat and McDougall, three prominent members +of the Reform party, agreed to enter the government for the purpose of +carrying out this policy based on a federal union of all the provinces. + +{SCHEME OF MARITIME UNION} + +Prior to this time there had been various efforts made by the government +of New Brunswick to enter into closer relations with Nova Scotia and +Prince Edward Island. Previous to the year 1861 a number of factories of +various kinds had been established in the Maritime Provinces, but the +limited market they then enjoyed prevented their extension and crippled +their operations. To remedy this, Mr. Tilley, with the approval of his +colleagues in the government, visited Nova Scotia and Prince Edward +Island and proposed to the governments of both provinces free admission +of their natural products and a uniform tariff on dutiable goods. In +Halifax he had a lengthy and satisfactory conference with Mr. Howe, then +leader of the government, and with Dr. Tupper, the leader of the +Opposition. Both gentlemen agreed that the proposed arrangements would +be in the interests of the three provinces, and Mr. Howe agreed to +submit the matter to his government with the view of legislative action +at the next session. Mr. Tilley then proceeded to Charlottetown, Prince +Edward Island. At the conference held with the government there, his +proposal was not so favourably entertained, the objection being that the +existing tariff of Prince Edward Island was lower than the tariff of +either Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, and sufficient for the financial +wants of the Island, and that the necessary advance would be imposing +taxation beyond their requirements. Notwithstanding the failure to +secure the coöperation of the Island government, it was decided that the +joint action of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick legislatures in the +direction named was desirable. When the Nova Scotia legislature met and +the public accounts were proposed, it was found that a reduction of +tariff was not practicable, and Howe informed Tilley that the scheme +would have to be postponed, "though in other respects desirable." But +the subject was not allowed to sleep, and in 1864 there was a renewal of +the movement for a union of the Maritime Provinces. At the session of +the New Brunswick legislature held that year, resolutions were passed +authorizing the government to enter into negotiations with Nova Scotia +and Prince Edward Island to hold a convention for the purpose of +carrying such a union into effect. Similar resolutions were carried in +the legislatures of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and the +convention thus authorized was appointed to meet at Charlottetown in the +month of September following. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] For a full account of Howe's views on confederation see the Hon. J. +W. Longley's _Joseph Howe_ in this series. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE + + +The delegates appointed by the government of New Brunswick for the +purpose of representing the provinces at Charlottetown in the convention +for a union of the Maritime Provinces, were the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, +Steeves, Johnson, Chandler and Gray. The first three were members of the +government, while Messrs. Gray and Chandler were leading members of the +Opposition, so that the arrangement had the assent of the leaders of +both political parties and was in no sense a party movement. The Nova +Scotia delegation consisted of the Hon. Charles Tupper, the leader of +the government, the attorney-general, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Dickey, a +Conservative supporter, and also the Hon. Adams G. Archibald and +Jonathan McCully, leaders of the Liberal party. The Prince Edward Island +delegates were also chosen from both sides of politics. The convention +was opened in due form at Charlottetown on September 8th, in the chamber +of the House of Assembly. The delegations had no power to decide finally +on any subject, because any arrangements they made were necessarily +subject to the approval of the legislatures of the three Maritime +Provinces. But at this time the sentiment in favour of maritime union +was so strong it was confidently believed that whatever was agreed upon +at Charlottetown would become the basis of a future union. + +{CHARLOTTETOWN CONVENTION} + +The government of Canada had full knowledge of what was going on at +Charlottetown, and they considered the time opportune for the purpose of +bringing to the notice of the delegates from the Maritime Provinces the +subject of a confederation of all the British North American colonies. A +telegram was received while the delegates were in session announcing +that representatives of the government of Canada had left Quebec for the +purpose of meeting the delegates of the Maritime Provinces, and placing +certain proposals before them. On the receipt of this message the +further consideration of the question which they had met to discuss was +deferred until after the Canadian delegates had arrived. They came in +the government steamer _Victoria_ on the following day and were found to +embrace the leading men then in Canadian political life,--the Hons. J. +A. Macdonald, George Brown, Georges E. Cartier, Alexander T. Galt, +Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Hector L. Langevin, William McDougall and Alexander +Campbell. These delegates represented the Reform, as well as the +Conservative party, and were therefore able to speak with authority in +regard to the views of the people of both Upper and Lower Canada. They +were accorded seats in the convention, and at once submitted reasons +why in their opinion a scheme of union, embracing the whole of the +British North American colonies, should be adopted. The Hon. John A. +Macdonald and Messrs. Brown and Cartier were heard on this subject, the +financial position of Canada was explained, and the sources of revenue +and wealth of the several provinces were discussed. Speeches were also +made by Messrs. Galt, McGee, Langevin and McDougall, and after having +commanded the attention of the convention for two days the Canadian +deputation withdrew. Before doing so they proposed that if the +convention concluded to suspend its deliberations upon the question of +Maritime union, they should adjourn to Quebec at an early day, to be +named by the governor-general, to consider the question of +confederation. On the following day the convention adjourned, on the +ground that it would be more for the general interest of British North +America to adopt the larger union than a union of the Maritime Provinces +merely, and it was thought that this might be effected without any very +great difficulty, for there was then no strong feeling evinced in any +quarter against confederation. + +From Charlottetown the members of the convention and the Canadian +deputation went to Halifax, where they were received most cordially and +entertained at a banquet. They then took their departure for St. John, +where they were entertained at a public dinner at which many leading men +of the city were present. The chair was occupied by the Hon. John H. +Gray, one of the delegates, and the expressions in favour of the +proposed confederation were strong and hearty. No one could have +suspected at that time that the movement for confederation would meet +with so much opposition in New Brunswick. All seemed plain sailing but, +as the result showed, the battle for confederation had yet to be fought, +and it was won only after a long and doubtful struggle. + +{THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE} + +According to arrangement, the delegations from the other provinces met +in convention at Quebec on October 10th, all the colonies, including +Newfoundland, were represented and the delegates were as follows:-- + +Canada.--Hon. Sir Etienne P. Taché, premier; Hon. John A. Macdonald, +attorney-general west; Hon. Georges E. Cartier, attorney-general east; +Hon. George Brown, president of the executive council; Hon. Alexander T. +Galt, finance minister; Hon. Alexander Campbell, commissioner of Crown +lands; Hon. William McDougall, provincial secretary; Hon. Thomas D'Arcy +McGee, minister of agriculture; Hon. Hector Langevin, solicitor-general +east; Hon. J. Cockburn, solicitor-general west; Hon. Oliver Mowat, +postmaster-general; Hon. J. C. Chapais, commissioner of public works. + +Nova Scotia.--Hon. Charles Tupper, provincial secretary; Hon. W. A. +Henry, attorney-general, Hon. R. B. Dickey, Hon. Adams G. Archibald, +Hon. Jonathan McCully. + +New Brunswick.--Hon. Samuel L. Tilley, provincial secretary; Hon. John +M. Johnson, attorney-general; Hon. Edward B. Chandler, Hon. John +Hamilton Gray, Hon. Peter Mitchell, Hon. Chas. Fisher, Hon. William H. +Steeves. + +Newfoundland.--Hon. F. B. T. Carter, speaker of the House of Assembly; +Hon. Ambrose Shea. + +Prince Edward Island.--Hon. John Hamilton Gray, premier; Hon. Edward +Palmer, attorney-general; Hon. W. H. Pope, provincial secretary; Hon. +George Coles, Hon. A. A. Macdonald, Hon. T. H. Haviland, Hon. Edward +Whelan. + +Sir Etienne P. Taché, who was then premier of Canada, was unanimously +chosen president of the conference, and Major Hewitt Bernard, of the +staff of the attorney-general west, private and confidential secretary. +It was arranged that the convention should hold its meetings with closed +doors, and it was laid down as a principle of the discussion that, as +the matters to come up for debate were all of a novel character, no man +should be prejudiced or held liable to the charge of inconsistency +because he had changed his views in regard to any particular matter in +the course of the discussion. It was also agreed that the vote, in case +of a division, should be by provinces and not by numbers, Canada having +two votes, representing Canada East and Canada West, and each of the +other provinces one. This arrangement made it quite certain that the +interests of the Maritime Provinces were not likely to be prejudiced by +the result of the vote, or the work of the convention. It was soon +decided that a federal union was to be preferred to a legislative union, +and on the second day of the meeting the outlines of the proposed +confederation were submitted in a series of resolutions by the Hon. John +A. Macdonald. The general model of the proposed confederation was that +of the United States, but with this difference, that whereas in the +United States all powers not expressly given by the constitution to the +federal government are held to belong to the several states, in the +Canadian constitution all powers not expressly reserved to the several +provinces were held to belong to the federal parliament. Thus in the +United States the residuum of power is in the several states, while in +Canada it is in the federal union and in the parliament of the Dominion. +No doubt the recent example of the civil war in the United States, which +was the result of an extreme assertion of state rights, was largely +responsible for this feature of the Canadian constitution. It is clear, +however, that it is a feature that is to be commended, because its +tendency is to cause Canadians to regard themselves rather as Canadians +than as belonging to any particular province, while in the United States +the feeling of statehood is still very strong. There are, of course, +many other contrasts between the Canadian confederation and the federal +union of the United States, arising from radical differences in the +system of government. Nothing like responsible government, as understood +in the British empire, exists in the United States, while this essential +feature had to be preserved in the Canadian constitution, not only with +reference to the Dominion parliament, but also in the legislatures of +the several provinces. + +{DIFFICULT QUESTIONS} + +In all the proceedings at Quebec, Mr. Tilley, as the finance minister of +New Brunswick, took a very prominent part. One great difficulty which +arose was with respect to the amount of money to be given by the federal +government to the several provinces for legislative purposes, in lieu of +the revenue which they had been accustomed to obtain from customs duties +and otherwise. The whole customs establishment was to be transferred to +the central government, and as most of the provinces would have no other +means of obtaining a revenue except by direct taxation, this feature of +the matter became of very vital importance. The difficulty was increased +by the fact that by the municipal system prevailing in Upper Canada the +local needs of the municipalities, in the way of roads, bridges, schools +and other matters, were provided for by local taxation, whereas in the +Maritime Provinces the provincial government had been accustomed to bear +these burdens. It was therefore an essential requisite to any scheme of +union, to make it acceptable to the people of the Maritime Provinces, +that sufficient money should be given to the provincial governments to +enable them to continue these services as before. It was difficult to +convince the representatives of Upper Canada of this, and it appears +that the conference nearly broke up without arriving at any result, +simply because of the apparently irreconcilable differences of opinion +between the representatives of the Maritime Provinces and those of +Canada in regard to this point. Finally these differences were overcome, +and the conclusions of the conference were embodied in a series of +seventy-two resolutions, which were agreed to, and which were to be +authenticated by the signatures of the delegates, and transmitted to +their respective governments, and also to the governor-general, for the +secretary of state for the colonies. These resolutions formed the first +basis of confederation and became what is known as the Quebec scheme. + +It was perhaps inevitable that during the discussion of the scheme of +confederation by the Quebec convention, the proceedings should be +secret, but this restriction should have been removed as soon as the +convention adjourned. That this was not done was the principal reason +for the very unfavourable reception which the Quebec scheme met with +from the people of New Brunswick, when it was placed before them. It was +agreed at the Quebec conference that the scheme should not be made +public until after the delegates had reported to their respective +governments for their approval, but it was impossible that a document, +the terms of which were known to so many men, should be kept wholly +concealed from the public, and so the details of the scheme leaked out +and soon became a topic for public discussion. These discussions would +have been conducted in a much more friendly spirit if the Quebec scheme +had been given freely to the world, but as it was, prejudices and +jealousies, in many cases, darkened the question, and made men, who were +otherwise favourable to confederation, assume an attitude of hostility +to the Quebec scheme. + +{SUBVENTIONS TO THE PROVINCES} + +One of the points which at once attracted the attention of the opponents +of the scheme was the sum allowed to the several provinces for the +purpose of conducting their local affairs. As the provinces had to +surrender to the general government their right to levy customs and +excise duties, it became necessary to make up in some way a sum +sufficient to enable them to carry on those services which were still +left to the provincial legislatures. It was arranged that this sum +should be eighty cents a head of the population of the provinces as +established by the census of 1861, which would give to New Brunswick +something more than two hundred thousand dollars. This feature of the +confederation scheme was eagerly seized upon as being a convenient club +with which to strike it down. The cry was at once raised that the people +of New Brunswick were asked to sell themselves to Canada for the sum of +eighty cents a head, and this parrot-like cry was repeated with +variations throughout the whole of the election campaign which followed +in New Brunswick. It has often been found that a cry of this kind, which +is absolutely meaningless, is more effective than the most weighty +arguments, for the purpose of influencing men's minds, and this proved +to be the case in New Brunswick, when the question of confederation was +placed before the people. It was conveniently forgotten by those who +attacked the scheme in this fashion that, if the people of New Brunswick +were selling themselves to Canada for the sum of eighty cents a head, +the people of Canada were likewise selling themselves to New Brunswick +for the same sum, because the amount set apart for the provincial +legislatures was precisely the same in each case. It would not, however, +have suited the enemies of the confederation scheme to view the matter +in this light; what was wanted was a cry which would be effective for +the purpose of injuring the scheme and making it distasteful to the +people who were asked to vote upon it. + +{OPPONENTS OF CONFEDERATION} + +It is not necessary to assume that those who opposed confederation were +all influenced by sinister motives. Many honest and good men, whose +attachment to British institutions could not be questioned, were +opposed to it because their minds were of a conservative turn, and +because they looked with distrust upon such a radical change that would +alter the relations which existed between the province and the mother +country. Many, for reasons which it is not easy to understand, were +distrustful of the politicians of Canada, whom they looked upon as of +less sterling honesty than their own, and some actually professed to +believe that the Canadians expected to make up their financial deficits +by drawing on the many resources of the Maritime Provinces through the +confederation scheme. On the other hand confederation was opposed in the +province of New Brunswick by a number of men who could only be described +as adventurers, or discredited politicians, and who saw in this contest +a convenient way of restoring themselves to influence and power. There +were also among the opponents of the scheme some men who recognized in +its success the means of perpetuating British power on this continent, +and who, being annexationists, naturally looked with aversion upon it +for that reason. The vast majority of the people, however, had given the +matter but the slightest degree of attention, and their votes were cast +in accordance with prejudice hastily formed, which they had an +opportunity of reconsidering before another year and a half had elapsed. + +{FEELING IN NEW BRUNSWICK} + +It had been arranged at the convention that the first trial of the +scheme before the people should be made in New Brunswick, the +legislature of which was about expiring, and accordingly the appeal was +made to the people and the elections came on in the month of March, +1865. The enemies of confederation were very active in every part of the +province, and they left no stone unturned to defeat the measure. The +great cry upon which they based their opposition to the union with +Canada was that of taxation, and, as the voters of New Brunswick were +not inclined to favour any policy which involved high taxation, the +appeals made in this way had a powerful effect. All through the rural +constituencies the Opposition candidates told the electors that if they +united themselves with Canada direct taxation would be the immediate +result. They said that every cow, every horse, and every sheep which +they owned would be taxed, and that even their poultry would not escape +the grasp of the Canadian tax-gatherers. In the city of St. John, Mr. +Tilley and his colleague, Mr. Charles Watters, were opposed by Mr. J. V. +Troop and Mr. A. B. Wetmore. Mr. Troop was a wealthy ship-owner, whose +large means made him an acceptable addition to the strength of the +anti-confederate party, although previously he had taken no active part +in political affairs. Mr. Wetmore was a lawyer of standing in St. John, +who was considered to be one of the best _nisi prius_ advocates at the +bar, and who carried the methods of the bar largely into his politics. +In the course of time he became attorney-general of the province, and +later on a judge of the supreme court. Mr. Wetmore, when haranguing St. +John audiences, used to depict the dreadful effects of confederation in +a manner peculiarly his own. His great plea was an imaginary dialogue +between himself and his little son, that precocious infant asking him in +lisping tones, "Father, what country do we live in?" to which he would +reply, "My dear son, you have no country, for Mr. Tilley has sold us to +the Canadians for eighty cents a head." + +In the county of St. John, the Hon. John. H. Gray, Charles N. Skinner, +W. H. Scovil and James Quinton, who ran as supporters of confederation, +were opposed by John W. Cudlip, T. W. Anglin, the Hon. R. D. Wilmot and +Joseph Coram. Mr. Cudlip was a merchant, who at one time enjoyed much +popularity in the city of St. John. Mr. Anglin was a clever Irishman, a +native of the county of Cork, who had lived several years in St. John +and edited a newspaper called the _Freeman_, which enjoyed a great +popularity among his co-religionists. He was admitted to be the leader +of the Irish Catholics of St. John, and had acquired an ascendency over +them which was not easily shaken; yet he was not, as a politician, a +great success, nor did his efforts to improve the condition of his +countrymen always lead to satisfactory results. The Hon. R. D. Wilmot +had been a prominent Conservative politician, but was defeated, and had +retired to his farm at Belmont. For some years he had been devoting his +abilities to stock-raising; but at the first note of alarm on the +confederation question he abandoned his agricultural pursuits and rushed +into the field to take part in the contest. Mr. Joseph Coram was a +leading Orangeman, and a highly respected citizen. + +{A CRITICAL ELECTION} + +In the county of York, the Hon. George L. Hatheway, who was then chief +commissioner of the board of works, appeared in the field as an +Opposition candidate, in company with John C. Allen, John J. Fraser and +William H. Needham. Mr. Hatheway deserted the government in its hour of +need, apparently because he judged from the cries that were raised +against confederation that the current of public opinion was strongly +adverse to the Quebec scheme. Having left Mr. Tilley in the lurch on the +eve of the confederation contest, he deserted the Smith government +sixteen months later, when the second confederation election came to be +run, thereby inflicting upon them a blow from which it was impossible +they could recover. William H. Needham, whose name has already appeared +in this volume, did not lay claim to any high political principles; but +having retired some time before to private life, he found in the +confederation struggle a good opportunity of getting into the +legislature. He was a man of very considerable ability, and had his +principles been only equal to his knowledge and talents, he might have +risen to the highest position in the province. But his course on many +occasions made the public distrustful of him, and he died without having +enjoyed any of those honours which men of far less ability have +obtained. John James Fraser, afterwards governor of New Brunswick, was a +man of a different stamp, and seems to have been a sincere opponent of +confederation from conviction. The same may be said of John C. Allen, +afterwards chief-justice of the province, a man whose sterling honesty +has never been questioned. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION + + +The result of the election was the most overwhelming defeat that ever +overtook any political party in the province of New Brunswick. Out of +forty-one members, the friends of confederation succeeded in returning +only six, the Hon. John McMillan and Alexander C. DesBrisay, for the +county of Restigouche; Abner R. McClelan and John Lewis for the county +of Albert; and William Lindsay and Charles Connell for the county of +Carleton. Every member of the government who held a seat in the House of +Assembly, with the exception of the Hon. John McMillan, the +surveyor-general, was defeated. The majorities against the confederation +candidates in some of the counties were so large it seemed hopeless to +expect that any future election would reverse the verdict. Both the city +and county of St. John, and the county of York, made a clean sweep, and +returned solid delegations of anti-confederates. With the exception of +the two Carleton members, the entire block of counties on the River St. +John and the county of Charlotte, forming the most populous and best +settled part of the province, declared against the Quebec scheme. On the +north shore, Westmorland, Kent, Northumberland and Gloucester +pronounced the same verdict, and, on the day after the election, the +strongest friends of confederation must have felt that nothing but a +miracle could ever bring about a change in the opinion which had been +pronounced with such emphasis and by so overwhelming a majority. Yet +fifteen months later the verdict of March, 1865, was completely +reversed, and the anti-confederates were beaten almost as badly as the +advocates of confederation had been in the first election; such are the +mutations of public opinion. + +Mr. Tilley and his colleagues resigned immediately after the result of +the elections became known, and the Hon. Albert J. Smith was called upon +to form a new government. Mr. Smith had been attorney-general in Mr. +Tilley's government up to the year 1862, when he resigned in consequence +of a difference with his colleagues in regard to the negotiations which +were being carried on for the construction of the Intercolonial Railway. +He was a fine speaker, and a man of ability. At a later period, when +confederation had been established, he became a cabinet minister in the +government of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie. His powerful influence was +largely responsible for the manner in which the North Shore counties +declared against confederation, and he also did much to discredit the +Quebec scheme by his speeches delivered in the city of St. John. Mr. +Smith did not take the office of attorney-general in the new government, +but contented himself with the position of president of the council, +the Hon. John C. Allen, of York, becoming attorney-general, and the Hon. +A. H. Gillmor, of Charlotte, provincial secretary. The Hon. Bliss +Botsford, of Westmorland, was made surveyor-general; and the Hon. George +L. Hatheway retained his old office as the chief commissioner of the +board of works. The other members of the government were the Hon. Robert +Duncan Wilmot, of Sunbury, the Hon. T. W. Anglin, of St. John, and the +Hon. Richard Hutchinson, of Miramichi. + +{THE NEW GOVERNMENT} + +The new government looked strong and imposing, and seemed to be secure +against the assaults of its enemies, yet it was far from being as +compact and powerful as it appeared to the outward observer. In the +first place, it had the demerit of being founded solely on a negative, +and upon opposition to a single line of policy. The reason why these men +were assembled together in council as a government was that they were +opposed to confederation, and, this question having been disposed of, +they were free to differ upon all other points which might arise. Some +of the men who thus found themselves sitting together at the same +council board had all their lives been politically opposed to each +other. The Hon. R. D. Wilmot, an old Conservative, could have little or +no sympathy with Mr. A. H. Gillmor, a very strong Liberal. The Hon. A. +J. Smith, also a Liberal, had little in common with his +attorney-general, Mr. Allen, who was a Conservative. Mr. Odell, the +postmaster-general, represented the old Family Compact more thoroughly +than any other man who could have been chosen to fill a public office in +New Brunswick, for his father and grandfather had held the office of +provincial secretary for the long term of sixty years. As he was a man +of no particular capacity, and had no qualification for high office, and +as he was, moreover, a member of the legislative council, his +appointment to such a position was extremely distasteful to many who +were strongly opposed to confederation. The Hon. Bliss Botsford, of +Moncton, who became surveyor-general, was another individual who added +no strength to the government. In a cabinet consisting of four men in +the government who might be classed as Liberals, and five who might be +properly described as Conservatives, room was left for many differences +and quarrels over points of policy, to say nothing of patronage, after +the great question of confederation had been disposed of. Local feelings +also were awakened by the make-up of the government, for the North Shore +people could not but feel that their interests were in danger of being +neglected, as instead of having the attorney-generalship and the +surveyor-generalship, which had been theirs in the previous government, +they had to be content with a single member in the government, without +office, in the person of Mr. Richard Hutchinson, who, as the +representative of Gilmour, Rankine & Co., the great lumber house of the +North Shore, was extremely unpopular, even in the county which had +elected him. The Hon. Robert Duncan Wilmot was perhaps the most +dissatisfied man of any, with the new cabinet in which he found himself. +He had not been a fortnight in the government before he began to realize +the fact that his influence in it was quite overshadowed by that of Mr. +Smith and Mr. Anglin, although neither of them held any office. Mr. +Wilmot was a man of ability, and of strong and resolute will, so that +this condition of affairs became very distasteful to him and his +friends, and led to consequences of a highly important character. + +{DISSENSIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT} + +The new government had not been long in existence before rumours of +dissensions in its ranks became very common. Mr. Wilmot made no secret +to his friends of his dissatisfaction, and it was understood that other +members found their position equally unpleasant. An element of +difficulty was early introduced by the resignation of the chief-justice, +Sir James Carter, who, in September, 1865, found it necessary, in +consequence of failing health, to retire from the bench, rendering it +immediately necessary for the government to fill his place. The Hon. +Albert J. Smith, the leader of the government, had he chosen, might have +then taken the vacant position, but he did not desire to retire from +political life at that time, and the Hon. John C. Allen, his +attorney-general, was appointed to the bench as a puisne judge, while +the Hon. Robert Parker was made chief-justice. The latter, however, had +but few weeks to enjoy his new position, dying in November of the same +year, and leaving another vacancy on the bench to be filled. Again, as +before, the Hon. Mr. Smith declined to go on the bench, and the Hon. +John W. Weldon, who had been a long time a member of former +legislatures, and was at one time Speaker, was appointed to the puisne +judgeship, and the Hon. William J. Ritchie was made chief-justice. The +entire fitness of the latter for the position of chief-justice made his +appointment a popular one, but he was the junior of the Hon. Lemuel A. +Wilmot as a judge, and the Hon. R. D. Wilmot, who was a cousin of the +latter, thought the senior judge should have received the appointment of +chief-justice. His disappointment at the office being given to another +caused a very bad feeling on his part towards the government, and he +would have resigned his seat forthwith but for the persuasions of some +of those who were not friends of the government, who intimated to him +that he could do them a great deal more damage by retaining his seat, +and resigning at the proper time than by abandoning the government at +that moment. Mr. Wilmot remained in the government until January, 1866, +but although of their number, his heart was estranged from them, and he +may properly be regarded as an enemy in their camp. + +{CONFEDERATION VICTORY IN YORK} + +Mr. Anglin also had some difference with his colleagues with regard to +railway matters, and he resigned his seat early in November, 1865; +still he gave a general support to the government, although no longer in +its councils. But the most severe blow which the administration received +arose from the election in the county of York, which followed the +seating of the Hon. John C. Allen on the bench. The confederation party +had been so badly beaten in York at the general election that no doubt +was felt by the government that any candidate they might select would be +chosen by a very large majority. The candidate selected by the +government to contest York was Mr. John Pickard, a highly respectable +gentleman, who was engaged in lumbering, and who was extremely popular +in that county, in consequence of his friendly relations with all +classes of the community and the amiability of his disposition. The Hon. +Charles Fisher was brought forward by the confederation party as their +candidate in York, although the hope of defeating Mr. Pickard seemed to +be desperate, for at the previous election Mr. Fisher had received only +1,226 votes against 1,799 obtained by Mr. Needham, who stood lowest on +the poll among the persons elected for York. Mr. Fisher by his efforts +in the York campaign, which resulted in his election, struck a blow at +the anti-confederate government from which it never recovered. His +election was the first dawn of light and hope to the friends of +confederation in New Brunswick, for it showed clearly enough that +whenever the people of the province were given another opportunity of +expressing their opinion on the question of confederation, their verdict +would be a very different one from that which they had given at the +general election. Mr. Fisher beat Mr. Pickard by seven hundred and ten +votes, receiving seven hundred and one votes more than at the general +election, while Mr. Pickard's vote fell five hundred and seventy-two +below that which Mr. Needham had received on the same occasion. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER + + +Among the causes that had assisted to defeat confederation in New +Brunswick, when the question was first placed before the people, was the +active hostility of the lieutenant-governor, Mr. Arthur Hamilton Gordon, +a son of that Earl of Aberdeen who was prime minister of England at the +outbreak of the Crimean War. Mr. Gordon had been a strong advocate of +maritime union and had anticipated that he would be the first governor +of the united province of Acadia, or by whatever name the maritime union +was to be known. He was therefore greatly disappointed and annoyed when +the visit of the Canadians to Charlottetown, in September, 1864, put an +end to the conference which had met for the purpose of arranging the +terms of a union of that character. While a governor cannot take a very +active part in political matters, he may stimulate others to hostility +or to a certain course of action, who, under other circumstances, would +be neutral or inactive, and there is reason to believe that some of the +men who were most prominent in opposing confederation at the general +election of 1865 were mainly influenced by the views of the +lieutenant-governor. Confederation, however, had been approved by the +British government, after the terms arranged at Quebec had been +submitted to it in a despatch from the governor-general; and those +officials in New Brunswick and elsewhere, who expected to find support +in Downing Street in their hostility to confederation, were destined to +be greatly disappointed. Not long after the new government was formed in +New Brunswick, Mr. Gordon returned to England, and it was generally +believed that he was sent for by the home authorities. Instead of being +favourably received on the ground of his opposition to confederation, he +is said to have been compelled to submit to a stern reproof for his +anti-constitutional meddling in a matter which did not concern him, and +to have been given decidedly to understand that if he returned to New +Brunswick, to fill out the remainder of his term of office, it must be +as one pledged to assist in carrying out confederation and not to oppose +it. When Mr. Gordon returned he was an entirely changed man, and +whatever influence he was able to exert from that time forward was used +in favour of confederation. + +{FENIAN THREATS} + +Another cause which made confederation more acceptable to the people of +the province arose from the threats of the Fenians to invade Canada, +which were made during the year 1865, and which were followed by armed +invasions during the following year. Although there was no good reason +for believing that the opponents of confederation were less loyal than +its supporters or less inclined to favour British connection, it was +remarked that all the enemies of British connection seemed to have got +into the anti-confederate camp. The Fenian movement had its origin in +the troubles in Ireland arising out of oppressive land laws and other +local causes, and it soon extended to America, where the politicians +found it useful as a means of increasing their strength among the Irish +people. At that time, there were in the United States many hundreds of +thousands of men who had been disbanded from the army at the close of +the Civil War, and who were only too ready to embrace any new +opportunity of winning for themselves fame and rank on other fields of +glory. Among these disbanded soldiers were many Irishmen, and it soon +came to be known that bands of men could be collected in the United +States for the invasion of this country, with the avowed object of +driving the British flag from the American continent and substituting +the stars and stripes. It was impossible that the people of Canada could +view without emotion these preparations for their undoing, and in New +Brunswick, especially, which was the first province to be threatened, +the Fenian movement materially assisted in deciding the manner in which +the people should vote on this great question of confederation when it +came to be submitted to them a second time. + +The House of Assembly met on March 8th, 1866, and the speech from the +throne, delivered by the lieutenant-governor, contained the following +paragraph: "I have received Her Majesty's commands to communicate to you +a correspondence on the affairs of British North America, which has +taken place between Her Majesty's principal secretary of state for the +colonies and the governor-general of Canada; and I am further directed +to express to you the strong and deliberate opinion of Her Majesty's +government that it is an object much to be desired that all the British +North American colonies should agree to unite in one government. These +papers will immediately be laid before you." This paragraph was not +inserted in the speech without considerable pressure on the part of the +lieutenant-governor, and it excited a great deal of comment at the time, +because it seemed to endorse the principle of confederation, although +emanating from a government which had been placed in power as the result +of an election in which confederation had been condemned. When this +portion of the speech was read by the lieutenant-governor, in the +legislative council chamber, the crowd outside the bar gave a hearty +cheer,--a circumstance which never occurred before in the province of +New Brunswick, and perhaps not in any other British colony. + +The members of the House favourable to confederation immediately took up +the matter, and dealt with it as if the government had thereby pledged +themselves in favour of that policy, and indeed there was a fair excuse +for such an inference. When the secret history of the negotiations +between the lieutenant-governor and his advisers, prior to the meeting +of the legislature, comes to be told, it will be found that at least +some of the members of the government had given His Excellency to +understand that they were prepared to reverse their former action and to +adopt confederation. The difficulty with them was that they feared their +own supporters, and thought that if they made such a move they would +lose the favour of those who had placed them in power, and this fear was +certainly a very natural one. + +{DESERTED BY FRIENDS} + +As soon as the House met, it was discovered that Mr. A. R. Wetmore, one +of the prominent supporters of the government who had been elected to +represent the city of St. John as an anti-confederate, was no longer in +sympathy with the government. Mr. Wetmore's long experience as a _nisi +prius_ lawyer, and his curt and imperturbable manner, rendered him a +most exasperating and troublesome opponent, and at a very early period +of the session he commenced to make it unpleasant for his former +friends. He cross-examined the members of the government in the fashion +which he had learned from long experience in the courts. Such attacks +proved extremely damaging as well as very annoying. + +The address in reply to the speech from the throne was moved in the +House of Assembly by Colonel Boyd, of Charlotte County, and when the +paragraph relating to confederation was read, Mr. Fisher asked him what +it meant. Mr. Boyd replied that the government had no objection to +confederation, provided the terms were satisfactory. This reply still +further strengthened the feeling that the government were inclined to +pass the measure which they had been elected to oppose. Mr. Fisher moved +an amendment to the fourth paragraph of the address, which referred to +the Fenian conspiracy against British North America, expressing the +opinion that while His Excellency might rely with confidence on the +cordial support of the people for the protection of the country, his +constitutional advisers were not by their general conduct entitled to +the confidence of the legislature. This amendment was seconded by Mr. +DesBrisay, of Kent, who had been elected as a supporter of the +government, and it was debated at great length. The discussion upon it +continued from day to day for about three weeks, when, on April 10th, +the government resigned in consequence of difficulties with His +Excellency in regard to his reply to the address of the legislative +council. The legislative council had proceeded to pass the address in +reply to the speech, but in consequence of the delay in the House of +Assembly, this reply had not before been presented to the governor. In +answer to the address of the legislative council, His Excellency said: +"I will immediately transmit your address to the secretary of state for +the colonies in order that it may be laid at the foot of the throne. Her +Majesty the Queen has already been pleased to express deep interest in a +closer union of her North America colonies and will no doubt greatly +appreciate this decided expression of your opinion, and the avowal of +your desire that all British North America should unite in one +community, under one strong and efficient government, which cannot but +tend to hasten the accomplishment of this great measure." + +{THE GOVERNMENT RESIGNS} + +The resignation of the government was announced in the House of Assembly +on April 13th by the Hon. A. J. Smith, and the correspondence between +the lieutenant-governor and his advisers was laid before the House at +the same time. The immediate and ostensible cause of the resignation was +the terms of approval in which the lieutenant-governor had replied to +the address of the legislative council in reference to confederation. +Mr. Smith claimed that it was the duty of the lieutenant-governor to +consult his constitutional advisers in regard to the answer to be given, +and that, in assuming to himself the right to reply to such an address +without consulting them, he had not acted in accordance with the true +spirit of the constitution. This was certainly sound doctrine, and the +reply of the lieutenant-governor was by no means satisfactory on this +point, but he was able to show that Mr. Smith had himself expressed his +willingness to enter into a scheme of union, although opposed to the +Quebec scheme, and had suggested that, as a preliminary step, the papers +on that subject should be referred to a joint committee of both Houses +with an understanding that the committee should report in favour of a +measure of union. At a later period Mr. Smith seemed indisposed to carry +out this arrangement, his conduct evidently being the result of +timidity, and so he found himself, to use the language of Sir Arthur +Gordon, "entangled in contradictory pledges from which he found it +impossible to extricate himself." He had, in fact, placed himself in the +power of the lieutenant-governor, and his only resource was to resign. +It was understood at the time, and has never been denied, that His +Excellency was acting under the advice of the Hon. Peter Mitchell, a +member of the legislative council, who was a strong supporter of +confederation. Mr. Mitchell was a man of great force of character, and, +next to Mr. Tilley, must be regarded as the most potent factor in +bringing about the change in the sentiments of the people of the +province with respect to confederation. + +The lieutenant-governor called upon the Hon. Peter Mitchell, who was a +member of the legislative council, to form a government. Mr. Mitchell +had been very active in the cause of confederation, and was the moving +spirit in the legislative council in all the proceedings in its favour +taken in that body; but, when asked to form a new government, he advised +the lieutenant-governor that the proper person to undertake that +responsibility was the Hon. Mr. Tilley. The latter, however, declined +the task on the ground that he was not a member of the legislature, +whereupon Mr. Mitchell associated with himself the Hon. Mr. Wilmot for +the purpose of forming a new government. The government was announced on +April 18th, and was formed as follows:--Hon. Peter Mitchell, president +of the council; Hon. S. L. Tilley, provincial secretary; Hon. Charles +Fisher, attorney-general; Hon. Edward Williston, solicitor-general; Hon. +John McMillan, postmaster-general; Hon. A. R. McClelan, chief +commissioner of public works; Hon. R. D. Wilmot and Hon. Charles +Connell, members without office. The latter afterwards became +surveyor-general. + +{THE FENIAN INVASION} + +While the government was being formed in New Brunswick, a Fenian army +was gathering upon the border for the purpose of invading the province. +This force consisted of four or five hundred young men, most of whom had +been in the army of the United States. It was recruited at New York, and +its chief was a Fenian named Doran Killian. A part of his force arrived +at Eastport on April 10th, and a schooner, laden with arms for the +Fenians, soon after reached that place. From this schooner, which was +seized by the United States authorities, one hundred and seventeen cases +of arms and ammunition were taken,--a clear proof that the intentions of +the Fenians were warlike, and that their presence on the border was not +a mere demonstration. The Fenians appeared to have been under the +impression--as many residents of the United States are to this day--that +the people of Canada and of New Brunswick were dissatisfied with their +own form of government, and were anxious to come under the protection of +the stars and stripes. This absurd idea was responsible, largely, for +the War of 1812, and it has been responsible, since then, for many other +movements, with respect to the British provinces of North America, in +which residents of the United States have taken part. There never was a +greater delusion than this, and, in the instance referred to, the +Fenians were doomed to be speedily undeceived. The presence of a Fenian +force on the border sounded like a bugle blast to every able-bodied man +in New Brunswick, and the call for troops to defend the country was +instantly responded to. About one thousand men were called out and +marched to the frontier. The troops called out consisted of the three +batteries of the New Brunswick regiment of artillery, seven companies of +the St. John volunteer battalion, one company of the first battalion of +the York County militia, one company each of the first and third +battalions of the Charlotte County militia, and two companies each of +the second and fourth battalions of the Charlotte County militia. These +troops remained in arms on the frontier for nearly three months, and +were disbanded by a general order dated June 20th. The Fenian raid on +New Brunswick proved to be a complete fiasco. The frontier was so well +guarded by the New Brunswick militia and by British soldiers, and the +St. Croix so thoroughly patrolled by British warships, that the Fenians +had no opportunity to make any impression upon the province. It ought to +be added that the United States government was prompt to take steps to +prevent any armed invasion, and General Meade was sent down to Eastport +with a force of infantry and a ship of war to prevent the Fenians from +making that place a base of operations against these provinces. + +{CONFEDERATION VICTORIES} + +The general elections to decide whether or not New Brunswick was willing +to become confederated with Canada, were held in May and June. The first +election was that for the county of Northumberland on May 25th, and the +result was that the four candidates who favoured confederation, Messrs. +Johnson, Sutton, Kerr and Williston, were elected by large majorities. +The same result followed in the county of Carleton, where the election +was held on May 26th, Messrs. Connell and Lindsay being elected by a +vote of more than two to one over their anti-confederate opponents. The +third election was in Albert County on the 29th, and there Messrs. +McClelan and Lewis, the two candidates in favour of confederation, were +triumphantly returned. On May 31st, elections were held in Restigouche +and Sunbury, and, in these counties, the candidates in favour of +confederation were returned by large majorities. The York election came +next. In that county, the anti-confederates had placed a full ticket in +the field, the candidates being Messrs. Hatheway, Fraser, Needham and +Brown. Mr. Fisher had with him on the ticket, Dr. Dow and Messrs. +Thompson and John A. Beckwith. Every person expected a vigorous contest +in York, notwithstanding the victory of Mr. Fisher over Mr. Pickard a +few months before. But, to the amazement of the anti-confederates in +other parts of the province, the Hon. George L. Hatheway and Dr. Brown +retired after nomination day and left Messrs. Fraser and Needham to do +battle alone. Mr. Hatheway's retirement at this time was a deathblow to +the hopes of the anti-confederates all over New Brunswick, affecting not +only the result in the county of York, but in every other county in +which an election was to be held. A few nights before his resignation, +Mr. Hatheway had been in St. John addressing a packed meeting of +anti-confederates in the hall of the Mechanics' Institute, and he had +spoken on that occasion with apparent confidence. When his friends in +St. John, who had been so much moved by his vigorous eloquence, learned +that he had deserted them, their indignation was extreme, and they felt +that matters must indeed be in a bad way when he did not dare to face +the York electors. + +The election in the county of St. John was held on June 6th, and that in +the city, on the seventh. For the county, the confederate candidates +were Messrs. C. N. Skinner, John H. Gray, James Quinton and R. D. +Wilmot, and the anti-confederate candidates were Messrs. Coram, Cudlip, +Robertson and Anglin. The former were elected by very large majorities, +Mr. Wilmot, who stood lowest on the poll among the confederates, having +a majority of six hundred over Mr. Coram, who stood highest among the +defeated candidates. The election for the city was an equally emphatic +declaration in favour of confederation. The candidates were the Hon. S. +L. Tilley and A. R. Wetmore on the confederate side, and J. V. Troop and +S. R. Thompson opposed to confederation. Mr. Tilley's majority over Mr. +Troop, who stood highest on the poll of the two defeated candidates, was +seven hundred and twenty-six. The only counties which the +anti-confederate party succeeded in carrying were Westmorland, +Gloucester and Kent,--three counties in which the French vote was very +large,--so that of the forty-one members returned, only eight were +opponents of confederation. The victory was as complete as that which +had been recorded against confederation in the beginning of 1865. + +{THE BATTLE IS WON} + +The battle of confederation had been won, and the triumph was mainly due +to the efforts of the Hon. Mr. Tilley. That gentleman, as soon as the +defeat of confederation took place in March, 1865, had commenced a +campaign for the purpose of educating the people on the subject. Being +free from his official duties and having plenty of time on his hands, +he was able to devote himself to the work of explaining the advantages +of the proposed union to the people of the province; and during the +years 1865 and 1866, he spoke in almost every county on the subject +which was so near to his heart. He had embraced confederation with a +sincere desire for the benefit of his native province, and with the +belief that it would be of the greatest advantage to New Brunswick. If +the fruits of confederation have not yet all been realized, that has +been due rather to circumstances over which neither Mr. Tilley nor any +one else had any control, than to any inherent vice of confederation +itself. If union is strength, then it must be admitted that the union of +the British North American provinces, which consolidated them into a +powerful whole, was a good thing; and there cannot be a doubt that if +the provinces had remained separate from each other, their present +position would have been much less favourable than it is now. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT + + +One of the great objects of confederation was the construction of the +Intercolonial Railway from St. John and Halifax to Quebec. It was +thought that there could be no real union between the several colonies +of British North America unless a good means of communication existed, +and such a means was to be obtained only through the construction of +this line of railway. The Intercolonial Railway, as we have seen, had +been a part of the policy of successive governments in the province for +many years, and it became an essential part of the scheme of +confederation. When confederation was accepted by the people of New +Brunswick in 1866, the Intercolonial Railway had yet to be built. +Western Extension, as the line to the Maine border was called, had only +been commenced; Eastern Extension, from the Shediac line towards +Halifax, was in the same condition; in fact, the total mileage of the +railways in New Brunswick did not exceed two hundred miles, and these +lines were isolated and formed no part of any complete system. New +Brunswick now has three separate lines of railway leading to Quebec and +Montreal; it is connected with the great railway systems of the +continent; there is no county in the province which has not a line of +railway traversing it; and the mileage has risen from less than two +hundred to more than fourteen hundred. + +Mr. Tilley realized that the time had come when the communities which +form the British provinces of North America must either become +politically connected or else fall, one by one, beneath the influence of +the United States. After confederation had been brought about between +Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, enough was seen in the conduct of +American statesmen towards Prince Edward Island to show that their +design was to try to create a separate interest in this colony apart +from the general interest of Canada. The acceptance of the scheme of +confederation by Prince Edward Island, at a comparatively early period, +put an end to the plots in that quarter; but in the case of Newfoundland +the same thing has been repeated, and an attempt was made by American +statesmen to cause the people of that island to believe that their +interests and those of Canada are not identical, and that they would be +specially favoured by the United States if they held aloof from the +great Dominion. The attitude of the people and congress of the United +States towards Canada has not been marked, for the most part, by any +great friendliness. They saw in confederation an arrangement that was +likely to prevent this country from ever becoming absorbed by their +own, and they believed that by creating difficulties for us with respect +to the tariff and other matters, and limiting the area of our commercial +relations, they could put such pressure upon Canada as would compel our +people to unite with them. This scheme has failed because it was based +on a misconception of the spirit of our people; but who will say that it +would not have succeeded if the several provinces which now form the +confederation had been disunited and inharmonious in their relations and +had pursued different lines of policy? + +{HIS SPEECHES} + +It is unfortunate that, owing to the absence of verbatim reports, it is +impossible to reproduce any of Tilley's speeches during the +confederation campaign. No speaker that New Brunswick has ever produced +has been more generally acceptable than was Tilley. His speeches were +pointed, and so clear that they could not be misunderstood. He +possessed, to a very large extent, that magnetism which enabled him to +retain the attention and to awaken the sympathy of his audience. At all +the meetings which he addressed, there were many who regarded themselves +always as his friends and supporters and who formed a phalanx around +him, giving him a confidence and political strength which few statesmen +have ever enjoyed to a like extent. Although his addresses frequently +provoked the bitter animosity of his enemies, he had always enough +friends to counteract their influence; and during the many contests +which he had to fight for his seat in the city of St. John, he was +always able to rely on the loyalty of those who were his early +associates and who remained his supporters until the end of his career. +It is quite safe to assert that confederation could not have been +carried had it not been for the personal efforts of Mr. Tilley. As the +leader of the government which had consented to the Quebec scheme, he +was properly looked upon as the chief promoter of confederation in New +Brunswick, and his name will go down to future generations identified +with that large and necessary measure of colonial statesmanship. + +{THE LEGISLATURE MEETS} + +Although the vote of the electors had been taken on the question, much +remained to be done before confederation could become an accomplished +fact. The last elections, which were those of Kings and Charlotte, were +held on June 12th, but more than a year was to elapse before the union +was effected, and the result which the election was intended to bring +about realized. The first thing to be done was to call the legislature +together and complete the business of the province, which had been +interrupted by the dissolution. The legislature met on June 21st, and +the Hon. John H. Gray, who had been an active advocate of confederation, +and who was one of the members for the county of St. John, was made +Speaker. In the speech from the throne the following reference was made +to the question of confederation:-- + +"Her Majesty's government have already expressed their strong and +deliberate opinion that the union of the British North American +provinces under one government is an object much to be desired. The +legislatures of Canada and Nova Scotia have formed the same judgment, +and you will now shortly be invited to express your concurrence with or +dissent from the view taken of this great question by those provinces." + +The address in reply was moved by Mr. Kerr, of Northumberland, and +seconded by Mr. Beveridge of Victoria, and its consideration was made +the order of the day for the following Saturday. When it came up for +discussion the Hon. Albert J. Smith was not in his place, and Mr. +Botsford, one of his colleagues from Westmorland, endeavoured to have +the consideration of the matter postponed; but the House was in no +humour to await the convenience of any single member, and the address +was passed the same day by a vote of thirty to seven. Attorney-General +Fisher, immediately on the passage of the address, gave notice of the +following resolution, which was to be made the order of the day for +Monday, June 26th:-- + +"_Resolved_, That an humble address be presented to His Excellency, the +lieutenant-governor, praying that His Excellency be pleased to appoint +delegates to unite with delegates from the other provinces in arranging +with the imperial government for the union of British North America, +upon such terms as will secure the just rights and interests of New +Brunswick, accompanied with provision for the immediate construction of +the Intercolonial Railway; each province to have an equal voice in such +delegation, Upper and Lower Canada to be considered as separate +provinces." + +Mr. Fisher moved the resolution in question in a very brief speech, and +was replied to by the Hon. Mr. Smith, who spoke at great length and +continued his speech on the following day. Mr. Smith took exception to +giving the delegates power to fix the destinies of the provinces +forever, without again submitting the scheme of union to the people. He +proceeded to discuss the Quebec scheme, and took exception to the +construction of the Upper House of the proposed legislature of the +confederation, declaring that each province should have an equal number +of representatives in it, as was the case in the United States. After +going over the ground pretty thoroughly and criticizing most of the +terms of the scheme of confederation, he moved an amendment, to the +effect that no Act or measure for a union with Canada take effect until +approved by the legislature or the people of the province. + +{A PLAN FOR CONFEDERATION} + +The Hon. Mr. Tilley replied to the leader of the Opposition in one of +the most effective speeches that he ever delivered in the legislature. +He first took up Mr. Smith's allusion to the constitutional question, +and, with immense power and solemnity, he charged that any want of +constitutional action which existed was due to Mr. Smith and his +colleagues. He stated that the governor's sympathies were with the late +government, and that he had endeavoured to aid and not to injure them. +Mr. Smith had alluded to the Hon. Joseph Howe, who was then an opponent +of confederation, in terms of praise, and Mr. Tilley, in reply, read +from Mr. Howe's speech, made in 1861, a magnificent paragraph on the +union of British America. Mr. Tilley stated that the government would +take the Quebec scheme for a basis, and would seek concessions to meet +the views of those who found objection to parts of it. He mentioned the +various counties of the province to show that they were either expressly +or potentially favourable to the Quebec scheme. He was convinced that +even his friend, the ex-attorney-general and member for Westmorland, was +hardly against union. He asked, "Was there one anti-unionist on the +floor of the House? Where was Mr. Anglin? Mr. Needham? Mr. Hill and all +the rest of the anti-unionists? They were all swept away and unionists +had taken their places, and when the arrangements for union were carried +out, the feeling in its favour would be deeper and deeper." Mr. Tilley +showed the great advantages which would accrue to New Brunswick +eventually in consequence of confederation. He combated the statement +made by Mr. Smith that after confederation the provincial legislature +would become a mere farce, showing that of all the Acts passed during +the previous two years there were only seven which would have come under +the control of the general legislature. Mr. Tilley closed by dwelling on +the impression of power which union would have on the minds of those +abroad who were plotting our ruin. The speech was listened to with the +utmost attention by the members of the legislature and by a very large +audience which completely filled the galleries, and it was generally +considered to have been one of his greatest efforts. + +{SMITH'S AMENDMENT} + +The resolution was finally carried by a vote of thirty to eight, only +two members, both of whom would have voted for the resolution, being +absent. As soon as the confederation resolution was passed the Hon. A. +J. Smith moved a resolution which, after reciting the steps which had +already been taken in favour of union with Canada, continued as +follows:-- + +"THEREFORE, _Resolved_, as the deliberate opinion of this House, that no +measure for such union should be adopted which does not contain the +following provisions, viz.: first, an equal number of legislative +councillors for each province; second, such legislative councillors to +be required to reside in the province which they represent and for which +they are appointed; third, the number of representatives in the federal +parliament to be limited; fourth, the establishment of a court for the +determination of questions and disputes that may arise between the +federal and local governments as to the meaning of the Act of Union; +fifth, exemption of this province from taxation for the construction and +enlargement of canals in Upper Canada, and for the payment of money for +the mines and minerals and lands of Newfoundland; sixth, eighty cents +per head to be on the population as it increases and not to be confined +to the census of 1861; seventh, securing to each of the Maritime +Provinces the right to have at least one executive councillor in the +federal government; eighth, the commencing of the Intercolonial Railway +before the right shall exist to increase taxation upon the people of the +province." + +Mr. Smith supported his resolution in a lengthy speech in which he +predicted increased taxation as the result of confederation. He said +that the House, instead of being a deliberative assembly, had to +surrender its judgment to the government. Confederation was a great +experiment at best, and called for the exercise of other men's judgment. +The government were going on in the most highhanded manner and were not +justified in withholding information asked for. He elaborated the idea +that Canada was pledged to issue treasury notes to pay present +liabilities, and asserted that the government was altogether under the +control of Canadian politicians. He insisted particularly on a provision +in the Act of Union that each of the Maritime Provinces have an +executive councillor in the federal government. Finally the vote was +taken and the following amendment, which had been moved by the Hon. Mr. +Fisher, was carried, only eight members voting against it:-- + +"_Resolved_, That the people of this province having, after due +deliberation, determined that the union of British North America was +desirable, and the House having agreed to request His Excellency the +lieutenant-governor to appoint delegates for the purpose of considering +the plan of union upon such terms as will secure the just rights of New +Brunswick, and having confidence that the action of His Excellency under +the advice of his constitutional advisers will be directed to the +attainment of that end, sound policy and a due regard to the interests +of this province require that the responsibility of such action should +be left unfettered by an expression of opinion other than what has +already been given by the people and their representatives." + +This ended the battle for confederation in New Brunswick, for what +remained to be done was merely the arrangement of the details of the +union by the delegates who had received full powers for that purpose. +The session of the legislature, which must be considered one of the most +important ever held in New Brunswick, came to a close on Monday, July +7th. At a meeting of the government held immediately after the +prorogation, the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, Wilmot, Fisher, Mitchell, Johnson +and Chandler were appointed to go to England as delegates for the +purpose of meeting delegates from Canada and Nova Scotia, and framing +the bill which was to be passed by the imperial parliament for the +consummation of confederation. It was understood that there would be no +delay on the part of the delegates from Canada, but Sir John A. +Macdonald and the other Canadian delegates were unable to leave at the +time appointed, and did not meet the Maritime Provinces delegation in +England until many months after the latter had arrived there. This +unfortunate circumstance produced much comment at the time, because it +looked as if the government of Canada was treating the delegates of New +Brunswick and Nova Scotia with discourtesy. Instead of the business +being completed promptly, as was expected, and the bill passed by the +parliament during the autumn season, the whole matter was thrown over +until the following year, and the New Brunswick delegates, most of whom +were prominent members of the government, had to remain in England for +about ten months at great expense and inconvenience. + +{THE DELEGATES IN ENGLAND} + +The delegates from the three provinces, Canada, Nova Scotia and New +Brunswick, met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, in December, +1866, the Hon. John A. Macdonald in the chair and Lieut.-Col. Hewitt +Bernard acting as secretary. The resolution passed at the Quebec +conference held in 1864 was read, and amendments were moved in +accordance with the suggestions made in the several legislatures during +the discussions at the previous sessions. It was conceded by all that +the Intercolonial Railway, by which facilities for interprovincial +commercial intercourse should be secured, must be built by the united +provinces and without delay. It was also conceded that in the provinces +where separate schools were established by law, that principle should +not be disturbed. In the discussion it was claimed that the sole right +of imposing an export duty should be vested in the federal authority. +This was objected to by the New Brunswick delegates, on the ground that +as the people of that province had expended a large sum of money in the +improving of the navigation of the upper St. John, they had to recoup +themselves by imposing an export duty on lumber shipped from the +province. A considerable portion of the income thus received was paid by +the lumbermen of the state of Maine, the advantage derived by them from +such improvements being very great. The claim thus presented by the New +Brunswick delegates was conceded, and the province was permitted to +retain the right. This right was abandoned after confederation, the +Dominion paying therefor a hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum +to the New Brunswick government. + +{THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT} + +During the sitting of the delegates, which lasted for two months, many +conferences were held with Lord Carnarvon, then secretary of state for +the colonies, and the law officers of the Crown, in regard to objections +which were taken to some of the resolutions adopted by the delegates. +The governor-general of Canada, Viscount Monck, was in London at the +time, and was able to render valuable assistance during the conference, +owing to his intimate knowledge of the previous negotiations at Quebec. +The arrangements there made, in regard to the strengthening of the +central government, founded on the experience of the United States +during the War of Secession, were adhered to in the London resolutions +and accepted by the imperial authorities. When the bill reached +parliament some amendments were suggested, but when it was pointed out +that the bill as presented was the result of the most careful +consideration of both the imperial authorities and the colonial +representatives, the suggested amendments were not pressed and the +measure passed through both Houses with very little discussion. But one +spirit seemed to animate both the imperial government and the members of +parliament, and that was to give the provinces interested the fullest +powers consistent with their relation to the Empire. The parliamentary +opposition to the measure was much less than might have been expected, +when it is remembered that the opponents of confederation had +representatives in London, well able to present objections from their +standpoint, who had the ear of Mr. Bright and other members of the House +of Commons. Her Majesty took a deep interest in the measure and +expressed that interest to members of the delegation, adding that she +felt a great affection for her loyal Canadian subjects. While the bill +was before the House of Lords, Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Galt, Tupper +and Tilley were honoured by a private presentation to Her Majesty, at +Buckingham Palace, and shortly afterwards all the members of the +conference were presented at a drawing-room at the same place. + +{COUNTY COURT ACT} + +The New Brunswick delegates returned to Canada in the spring of 1867, +having completed their labours, and the legislature was called together +on May 8th. The business before it was of great importance, for the +province was entering upon a new era as a member of the Canadian +confederation, and the legislature was about to lose that portion of its +powers which was delegated to the federal parliament. It is not, +however, necessary to enter into any details of the work of the session, +which was carried through without any particular difficulty, the +Opposition being too weak to oppose seriously the measures of the +government. It was felt on all sides that, as twelve members of the +legislative council were about to become members of the senate of +Canada, and as fifteen representatives were to be elected to the House +of Commons, most of whom would come from the House of Assembly, a +striking change would take place in the composition of the legislature, +which would be deprived of the services of a large number of its ablest +men. One of the important bills of the session was the passage of the +Act establishing county courts in the province, and in respect to this +measure a difference of opinion took place between Mr. John M. Johnson, +one of the delegates and member for Northumberland, and his fellow +delegates to England. He thought that the legislature had no authority +under the terms of confederation, or from any understanding between the +delegates while in England, to create county courts, while the other +delegates held a different view. The Act was passed, however, and has +proved to be one of the most useful ever placed upon the statute-book, +relieving the supreme court of many cases, both civil and criminal, +which would otherwise block its business, and enabling them to be +disposed of more rapidly than before. The county court judges appointed +under this Act were, with one exception, taken from the legislature, and +this made another serious drain upon its experienced members. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA + + +The British North America Act, by which the provinces of Upper and Lower +Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were bound into a confederation, +came into force by royal proclamation on the first day of July, 1867. +When it is considered how vast and vital a change this measure brought +about, it is surprising that it produced so little excitement anywhere. +With the exception of one or two demonstrations which were made with +flags by persons hostile to confederation, it was received in the +province of New Brunswick, which had been so much excited during two +elections, with perfect calmness, and although for some years afterwards +there were always a number of persons opposed to union who predicted +direful things from confederation, and thought it must finally be +dissolved, the voices of such persons were eventually silenced either by +death or by their acquiescence in the situation. To-day it may be safely +declared that the Canadian confederation stands upon as secure a +foundation as any other government in the civilized world. + +In June, 1867, the Hon. John A. Macdonald, the leading spirit in the +government of Canada, was entrusted by Lord Monck, then +governor-general, with the formation of a ministry for the Dominion. Mr. +Macdonald naturally experienced a good deal of difficulty in making his +arrangements. In the formation of the first ministry much care was +necessary; provincial and national interests were to be thought of and +denominational claims had to receive some attention. But the greatest +difficulty arose with respect to old party lines. Mr. Macdonald thought +that these ought, as far as possible, to be ignored, and accordingly +selected his men from the leading advocates of confederation belonging +to both parties, placing in his cabinet seven Conservatives and six +Liberals. The Liberals included the names of Mr. W. P. Rowland and Mr. +William MacDougall for Ontario. A large number of the Liberals of +Ontario, including George Brown and Alexander Mackenzie, opposed this +arrangement, called a public meeting in Toronto, and passed resolutions +in favour of a strictly party government on the old lines. It declared +hostility to the proposal for a coalition, and resolved to oppose +Messrs. Rowland and MacDougall, should they accept office under Mr. +Macdonald. This decision was carried out, but these gentlemen were both +elected by good majorities. In this first ministry there were five +members from Ontario, four from Quebec, two from Nova Scotia, and two +from New Brunswick: S. L. Tilley and Peter Mitchell. + +The wisdom of the course adopted will be apparent when it is remembered +that the question of confederation was not settled or carried on party +lines, some of the Conservatives opposing and some Liberals supporting +it. This was clearly the case in New Brunswick, as shown by the last two +elections held there. About one-third of the Liberal party, and a like +proportion of the Conservative party, opposed confederation at the +second election. To have formed the first government on a party basis +would have necessitated the selection of some men who were opposed to +the union, and whose efforts might not have been devoted to making it a +success. + +{FIRST CONFEDERATION MINISTRY} + +The first confederation ministry was a very strong one. The Hon. John A. +Macdonald became premier and minister of justice; the Hon. George E. +Cartier was minister of militia and defence; Alexander T. Galt was +minister of finance; the Hon. William MacDougall was minister of public +works; the Hon. W. P. Rowland was minister of inland revenue; the Hon. +A. J. F. Blair, president of the privy council; the Hon. Alexander +Campbell, postmaster-general; the Hon. J. C. Chapais, minister of +agriculture; the Hon. Hector L. Langevin, secretary of state. The Hon. +Mr. Tilley became minister of customs and the Hon. Mr. Mitchell minister +of marine and fisheries, while the two Nova Scotia representatives, +Messrs. Archibald and Kenny, became respectively secretary of state for +the provinces and receiver-general. + +It will thus be seen that the Maritime Provinces had four +representatives out of thirteen members of the cabinet, and this +proportion has generally been maintained since that time; so that the +fears of those who anticipated that the provinces by the sea would not +receive fair treatment in the distribution of high offices have proved +to be groundless. On the contrary, it can be said that the Maritime +Province members of the government appear always to have occupied a very +influential position. + +The office of minister of customs, which Mr. Tilley received, was +thought by some of his friends to be less important than he deserved, +they being of the opinion that he should have been made minister of +finance. This office, however, went to Mr. Galt, who, owing to a +difference with the rest of the government, resigned four months later, +his place in the cabinet being taken by Sir John Rose, who held the +office of finance minister until October, 1869, Sir Francis Hincks then +receiving the appointment. It was not until the resignation of the +latter in February, 1873, that Mr. Tilley became minister of finance. +The office at first assigned to him, however, was one of great +importance, involving as it did the reorganization of the entire +establishment of the customs of Canada, and it gave ample scope for his +great ability as a business man. + +The elections for the House of Commons in the new parliament of Canada +took place in August, when Tilley was chosen to represent the city of +St. John, and John H. Gray, the county. It had been expected, in view of +the fact that these men had been so largely instrumental in bringing +about confederation, that they would be allowed to walk over the course +unopposed. This was the case with Mr. Gray, whose candidature met with +no opposition; but Mr. Tilley was opposed by Mr. John Wilson, who +received a very small vote. This needless and futile opposition to the +candidature of a man who deserved so well from the province, was merely +one of the proofs of the existence of political rancour in the breasts +of those who had been defeated on the confederation question. + +{FIRST CANADIAN PARLIAMENT} + +The first parliament of united Canada met on November 6th, 1867, and the +address was moved by the Hon. Charles Fisher, who had been elected to +represent the county of York. The session was a very long one, lasting +until May 22nd of the following year; but there was an adjournment, +extending from December 21st to March 20th. This meeting of parliament +was especially memorable, inasmuch as it brought together, for the first +time, the representatives of all the provinces, and the ablest men of +all political parties. The people of Ontario and Quebec were little +known to the people of the Maritime Provinces, and those who resided in +the larger provinces in like manner knew comparatively little of their +fellow-subjects who dwelt by the sea. It was expected by some that the +Maritime Province representatives would be completely overshadowed by +men of greater political reputation belonging to the larger provinces, +but this did not prove to be the case. The Maritime representatives at +once took a leading position in parliament, and this position they have +steadily maintained down to the present time. No man stood better in the +House of Commons than the representative from St. John, the Hon. S. L. +Tilley. At that time Her Majesty, the Queen, in acknowledgment of his +services in the cause of confederation, had created him a Companion of +the Bath, a distinction which was also given to the Hon. Charles Tupper, +of Nova Scotia. + +A vast amount of business had to be disposed of at the first session of +the parliament of Canada. Although the Union Act embodied the plan upon +which confederation was founded, it was necessary to supplement it by a +great deal of special legislation, for the purpose of interpreting it +and making preparations for the practical working of the constitution. +In all the discussions relative to the measures which had to be passed +at that time, Tilley took a prominent part, and, when the session was +over, he had established in the House of Commons, as fully as he had in +the legislature of New Brunswick, a reputation for ability as a speaker +and as a man of affairs. He was looked upon as one whose wide knowledge +of the needs of the province and whose experience in departmental work +were likely to be of the greatest use to the confederation. His high +character gave weight at all times to his words, and caused him to be +listened to with the most respectful attention. During the whole period +that Tilley sat in the House of Commons, he had the pleasure of knowing +that even his political enemies respected his character and abilities, +and, with the exception of the premier, perhaps no man wielded a more +potent influence in the councils of the Dominion than he. + +It is not necessary here to trace to any large extent the career of Sir +S. L. Tilley in the parliament of Canada; that belongs rather to the +history of the Dominion than to a work which deals particularly with his +connection with his native province. Only so much of his public life in +the House of Commons will be dealt with as seems necessary to complete +his personal history. Tilley continued to hold the position of minister +of customs during the whole of the term of the first parliament of +Canada. This parliament held five sessions and dissolved in the summer +of 1872, the general election being in the month of July, upon which +occasion he was reëlected for the city of St. John without opposition. + +{MINISTER OF FINANCE} + +The second parliament met on March 5th, 1873. Eleven days before that +time Mr. Tilley had become minister of finance, succeeding Sir Francis +Hincks, who had resigned that office after holding it for more than +three years. The advancement of Mr. Tilley to this responsible and +influential position was very pleasing to his friends, and was received +with satisfaction by the country generally. + +The first confederation ministry of Canada resigned office on November +5th, 1873, under circumstances which are a part of the political history +of the Dominion and need not be gone into in this volume, further than +to say that, whatever basis there may have been for charges of +corruption in connection with the Pacific Railway contract against other +persons in the government, none were ever preferred against Mr. Tilley; +nor did any one suspect or believe that he had anything whatever to do +with the transactions which led to the resignation of the government. +Prior to that event Mr. Tilley had been appointed lieutenant-governor of +the province of New Brunswick in succession to the Hon. Lemuel A. +Wilmot, whose term had expired. Every one felt that the honour thus +bestowed upon Tilley was a most fitting one, for he was New Brunswick's +foremost son in political life, and had reached his high position purely +through his own ability and his own good character. That position he +filled a greater number of years than any of his successors are likely +to do, and it is admitted on all sides that no man could have performed +the duties of the office more satisfactorily than he did. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR + + +Mr. Tilley took up his residence in the old Government House, +Fredericton, and he must have been struck with the changed aspect +of affairs from that presented under the old régime, when +lieutenant-governors were appointed by the British government and sent +out from England to preside over the councils of a people of whom they +knew little or nothing. Most of these former governors had been military +men, more accustomed to habits of command than to deal with perplexing +questions of state. They looked with a very natural degree of impatience +on the attempts which the people of the province were making to get the +full control of their own affairs. Under the old régime the governor was +surrounded with military guards, and sentries paced the walks and +guarded the entrances to the Government House. The withdrawal of the +British troops from Canada before the lieutenant-governorship of Mr. +Tilley commenced relieved him of any embarrassment in regard to +dispensing with military guards and sentries; but all pretentious +accompaniments of authority were foreign to his nature, and he always +showed, by the severe simplicity of his life, that he felt he was one +of the people, and that it was his duty as well as his pleasure to +permit all who had any occasion to see him to have free access to him, +without the necessity of going through any formal process. + +{THE PROTECTIONIST TARIFF} + +When Mr. Tilley became lieutenant-governor of the province, he was +fifty-five years of age, and he seems to have thought that his political +career was ended, because, by the time his term of office expired in its +natural course, he would have reached the age of sixty, a period when a +man is not likely to make a new entrance into public life. But +circumstances, quite apart from any desire on his part, made it almost +necessary for him to change his determination, and during the summer of +1878, when the general election was imminent, he found himself pressed +by his old political friends to become once more the candidate of his +party for his old constituency, the city of St. John. There was great +enthusiasm amongst them when it was announced that he would comply with +their wishes, and that he had resigned the lieutenant-governorship. The +result of that general election is well known. The Liberal party, which +had succeeded to the government less than five years before with a large +majority in the House of Commons, experienced a severe defeat, and the +Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, seeing this, very properly did not await the +assembling of parliament, but sent in the resignation of the ministry, +and Sir John A. Macdonald was called upon to form a new government. In +the cabinet thus constructed Mr. Tilley resumed his old office of +minister of finance, and one of his first duties was to assist in the +framing of a new customs tariff which was to give effect to the +principle, upon which the election had been run, of protection to home +industries. This idea of protection had not been heard of in the +Canadian confederation as the policy of any political party until Sir +John A. Macdonald took it up about a year before the general election, +but it proved a winning card and was the means of giving the new +government a long lease of power. + +Sir Leonard Tilley's speech in introducing the new tariff was well +received and made a strong impression upon all who heard it. It was +admitted, even by those who were opposed to the views he held, that he +showed a great mastery of the details, and that he illustrated in a very +clear manner the view that the country was suffering because the duties +imposed upon foreign goods were not sufficiently high to protect +Canadian manufactures. + +It is not the intention of this volume to deal to any full extent with +the career of Sir Leonard Tilley during his second term of office as +minister of finance of Canada. To enter into that phase of his career +would be to relate the history of Canada, for he was but one member of +the government, and not its leader. It is admitted that, in respect to +financial questions, Sir Leonard showed the same ability that had +characterized his career during his previous term of office, and he was +looked upon by his colleagues as a man in whose judgment the utmost +confidence could be placed. At this time, however, his health began to +fail, and the disease which finally carried him off developed to such an +extent that he was told he must cease all active work or his days would +be shortened. Under these circumstances, it became necessary for him to +retire from the severe duties of his very responsible and laborious +office, and on October 31st, 1885, he was again appointed +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, an office which he had filled with +so much acceptance between 1873 and 1878. Sir Leonard Tilley continued +lieutenant-governor during a second term, for almost eight years, or +until the appointment of the Hon. John Boyd to that position. He was +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick for considerably more than twelve +years, a record which is not likely to be equalled by any future +lieutenant-governor for many years to come, if ever. + +{SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR} + +There was no event of particular importance to distinguish Sir Leonard +Tilley's second term as lieutenant-governor. The Hon. Mr. Blair was +premier of New Brunswick during the whole period, and there was no +political crisis of any importance to alter the complexion of affairs. +The only event in connection with the governorship which is worthy of +being mentioned is the change that was made by the abandonment of the +old Government House, at Fredericton, as the residence of the +lieutenant-governor. This building had become antiquated, and in other +ways unsuitable for the occupancy of a lieutenant-governor, and its +maintenance involved a very large expenditure annually, which the +province was unable to afford. It was therefore determined that in +future the lieutenant-governor should provide his own residence, and +that the amount spent on the Government House annually should be saved. +Sir Leonard Tilley built a residence in St. John, in which he lived for +the remainder of his life, and the seat of government, so far as his +presence was concerned, was transferred to that city. Sir Leonard Tilley +was always on the most cordial terms with the various premiers who led +the government of New Brunswick during their terms of office. He knew +well the strict constitutional limits of his office, and was always +careful to confine his activities within their proper scope. The lessons +of responsible government which he had learned in his early youth, and +which had been the study of his manhood, enabled him to avoid those +pitfalls which beset the steps of earlier lieutenant-governors. + +During Sir Leonard Tilley's last term of office, and after its close, he +abstained wholly from any interference with public affairs in the +Dominion, and although he still remained steadfastly attached to the +Liberal-Conservative party, he gave no outward sign of his desire for +their success. This neutral position which he assumed in political +matters had the effect of drawing towards him thousands of his +fellow-countrymen who, in former years, had been accustomed to regard +him with unfriendly feelings. They forgot the active political leader +and saw before them only the aged governor, whose venerable figure and +kindly face were so familiar at social or other gatherings, or whenever +work was to be done for any good cause. In this way Sir Leonard Tilley +grew to assume a new character in the public estimation, and at the time +of his death the regret was as great on the part of those who had been +his political opponents as among those who had been his associates in +political warfare. This was one of the most pleasing features of his +declining years, and one that gave him the greatest satisfaction, +because it enabled him to feel that he enjoyed the affectionate regard +of the whole body of the people. + +Sir Leonard Tilley throughout his life gave great attention to his +religious duties. He was a devoted member of the Church of England, and +his attendance at its services was constant and regular. For several +years before his death he was connected with St. Mark's congregation, +and no cause, except severe bodily illness, was ever allowed to prevent +him from going to church on Sunday morning. On many occasions, when his +steps had grown feeble and his strength was failing, it was suggested to +him that he should drive to church, but he always replied that he would +walk to church as long as he had strength left to do so, and that he +would not have people harnessing up horses on the Sabbath Day on his +account. This resolution he maintained to the end of his life. +Sometimes, when he met an old acquaintance, as he toiled up the street +which led to his favourite church, he would cheerfully greet him by +saying, "John, this hill has grown steeper than it used to be," but he +climbed the hill to the end, and the last Sunday he was able to be out +of his bed he walked to church as usual. He also took a deep interest in +all humane and philanthropic objects as well as in the great work +connected with the spread of the Gospel. He was a constant attendant at +the annual meetings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and was a +life member of that admirable association. + +{HIS IMPERIAL HONOURS} + +The honours that Sir Leonard Tilley received from Her Majesty, in +recognition of his great public services, were very gratifying to his +friends as well as to himself, and when he was made a Knight Commander +of St. Michael and St. George, in 1879, his temperance friends embraced +the first opportunity on his return to St. John to have a banquet in his +honour, at which he wore, for the first time in public, the insignia of +the knightly order of which he had become a member. There was probably +no public event in the whole course of his life which gave him greater +pleasure than this proof of the attachment of his old friends. + +Sir Leonard's last visit to England was marked by an extremely gracious +invitation to visit the queen at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. While he +and Lady Tilley were sojourning at Cowes a message was sent summoning +them to Osborne House, where they were received by Her Majesty in the +beautiful grounds that surround that palace. The Princess Louise and +Princess Beatrice, with an equerry in waiting, were the only other +persons present. After an interesting conversation they were permitted +to visit the private apartments of Her Majesty, and the Prince Consort's +farm. + +Sir Leonard Tilley was first married in 1843 to Julia Ann, daughter of +the late James T. Hanford, who died in 1862. By her he had seven +children, two sons and five daughters. In 1867, he married Alice Starr, +daughter of the late Z. Chipman, of St. Stephen. By this marriage he had +two sons, Mr. Herbert C. Tilley, of the Imperial Trust Company, who +resides in St. John, and Mr. L. P. DeWolfe Tilley, barrister, who is +also a resident of St. John. These two sons, Herbert and Leonard, were +the prop and comfort of his declining years and were devoted wholly to +him to the end. + +{LADY TILLEY} + +Sir Leonard Tilley's second marriage was contracted at the time when he +was exchanging the limited field of provincial politics for the wider +sphere which confederation opened up to him in the parliament of Canada. +It was a fortunate union, for it gave him a helpmeet and companion who +was in full sympathy with him in all his hopes and feelings, and who was +singularly well qualified to preside over his household, which, in his +capacity of a minister of the Crown, had become, to a considerable +extent, a factor in the public life of Canada. Lady Tilley had a high +ideal of her duty as the wife of a cabinet minister and of the governor +of New Brunswick, and was not content to lead a merely ornamental life +or confine her energies within a narrow range. She saw many deficiencies +in our appliances for relieving human misery, and with a zeal which +could not be dampened, she sought to remedy them. The Victoria Hospital +at Fredericton is her work; hers also is the Nurses' Home in connection +with the Public Hospital in St. John, and the Reformatory for the care +of bad or neglected boys, who are in danger of becoming criminals if +they are not educated and disciplined when they are young. In every work +of philanthropy Lady Tilley has always taken not only an active, but a +leading part, and her position has enabled her to enlist in the cause of +humanity the energies of many who, under other circumstances, might not +have given their attention to philanthropic work. + +Sir Leonard Tilley for many years had suffered from an incurable +disease, which had been mitigated by rest and medical treatment, but not +removed. It was the knowledge of the fact that his days would be +shortened if he continued in active political life that compelled him +to leave the government in 1885. For many years before his death the +malady had been so far subdued that it gave him comparatively little +trouble, but any unusual exertion on his part was almost certain to +arouse it again to activity, so that he was prevented on many occasions +from taking part in public functions which, under other circumstances, +he would have been glad to attend. Still, he always contrived to take +his daily walk, and few who saw him ever suspected that he was +constantly menaced by death. For three or four years before his decease +his strength had been failing, he stooped more as he walked, and it was +evident that he was not destined to enjoy many more years of life. Yet +during the spring of 1896 there was nothing whatever to indicate that +the end was so near, for he went about as usual, and was able to preside +at the annual meeting of the Loyalist Society which was held during the +last week in May. On that evening he appeared very bright and cheerful, +and he entered with much interest into the discussion of the details of +an outing which it was proposed the society should hold during the +summer. "Man proposes, God disposes." Sir Leonard had gone to Rothesay +early in June to spend a few weeks in that pleasant spot, and he +appeared to be in his usual health until the night of June 10th, when he +began to suffer great pain from a slight cut which he had received in +the foot. The symptoms became alarming and gave indications of blood +poisoning, a condition due to the disease from which he had suffered so +many years. On June 11th, he was taken to Carleton House, his town +residence, and from that time the doctors gave no hope of his recovery. +It was one of the sad features of his illness that his life-long friend +and physician for many years, Dr. William Bayard, was unable to attend +him, being himself confined to his bed by illness. + +{LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH} + +After Sir Leonard Tilley reached his home in St. John he never rallied, +and he was well aware that his end was near. He was attended by Dr. +Inches and Dr. Murray McLaren, but he was beyond medical aid, and +therefore the people of St. John, for several days before the event took +place, were aware that their foremost citizen was dying. The time was +one of great excitement, for the general election was near, yet the eyes +of thousands were turned from the moving panorama of active life which +passed before them to the silent chamber where the dying statesman was +breathing his last. The regret and sympathy that was expressed was +universal, and in their kindly words those who had been his life-long +political opponents were not behind those who had been his friends. Sir +Leonard Tilley died at three o'clock on the morning of June 25th, the +second day after the general election which brought about the defeat of +the party with which he had been so long identified. + +{HIS EMINENT SERVICES} + +His death evoked expressions of sympathy and regret from all parts of +the empire and from many states of the union. The letters and telegrams +of condolence which Lady Tilley received during the first days of her +widowhood would of themselves fill a volume, showing how widely he was +known and respected. The funeral, which took place on the Saturday +following his death, was one of the largest ever seen in St. John, and +was attended by the Board of Trade, the Loyalist Society, the various +temperance organizations, the members of the provincial government, and +a vast concourse of prominent citizens. The services took place at St. +John's Episcopal Church, and were conducted by the rector, the Rev. John +deSoyres, assisted by the Rev. R. P. McKim, rector of St. Luke's Church, +with which Sir Leonard had been identified in his earlier years. The +interment took place in the Rural Cemetery. Many references to the +decease of this eminent man were made from the pulpits of St. John and +other parts of the province on the Sunday following his death, and all +the newspapers had long notices of the event and editorials on his life +and character. We may fittingly close this work by quoting a portion of +what was said of him by the St. John _Telegraph_, a paper that was +politically opposed to him for many years:-- + +"It is greatly to the honour of Sir Leonard Tilley that no scandal, +public or private, was ever attached to his name. A consistent +temperance man to the end of his life, he was faithful to the cause +which he had espoused when he was young, and he enjoyed the confidence +and received the steady support of a vast majority of the temperance men +of the province, who looked upon him as their natural leader. His +capacity for friendship was great, and his friends might be numbered by +thousands, for he had a peculiar faculty of strongly attracting men to +himself. This may be ascribed, in part, to the magnetism of a buoyant +and strong nature, but it was more largely due to the extreme simplicity +of his character, which remained wholly unspoiled by the favours which +fortune had showered upon him. No man, however humble, had any +difficulty in obtaining an interview with Sir Leonard Tilley; he was +every inch a gentleman, and was, therefore, as polite to the poorest +labourer as to the richest in the land. Such a man could not fail to be +loved even by those who had been his most bitter opponents in former +years, when he was in active political life. + +"It is one of the drawbacks of this human life that the wise, the +learned, the good, and those whom we most love and honour, grow old and +feeble, fall by the wayside and pass away. So while we lament the death +of Sir Leonard Tilley, we must recognize it as an event that was +inevitable, and which could not long have been postponed. His lifework +was done; his labours were ended; his active and brilliant career was +closed; he was but waiting for the dread summons which sooner or later +must come to all. The summons has come, and he has gone from among us +forever. His venerable, noble face will no longer be seen on our +streets, his kindly greeting will no longer be heard. But his memory +will live, not only in the hearts of all his countrymen, but enshrined +in the history of this his native province, and of the great Dominion +which he did so much to create, and which he so fondly loved." + + + + +INDEX + + + + +INDEX + + +A + + Allen, Hon. John C., solicitor-general, 183; + opposes confederation, 228; + becomes attorney-general, 233; + appointed a judge, 235 + + Anglin, Hon. Timothy W., opposes confederation, 227, 233; + differences with his colleagues, 236; + resigns from the government, 237 + + Aroostook War, 135 + + Ashburton Treaty, 195 + + Assembly, House of, its composition and powers, 6; + Wilmot's college bill introduced in, 51; + its passage through the House, 52-6 + + +B + + Babbitt, Samuel, teacher of the Madras School, 147 + + Baillie, Thomas, retires with a pension, 116 + + Ballot Law passed, 189 + + Beckwith, John A., member for York, 250 + + Bernard, Lieutenant-Colonel Hewitt, secretary of the confederation + delegations, 263 + + Blair, Hon. Andrew G., premier of New Brunswick, 280 + + Bliss, Hannah, mother of L. A. Wilmot, 3, 4 + + Botsford, Hon. Bliss, surveyor-general, 233 + + Bounties, disallowed by British government, 118 + + Boyd, Hon. John, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 280 + + British North America Act, the, comes into force, 269 + + Brown, George, agrees to support confederation, 211 + + Brown, James, surveyor-general, 174 + + +C + + Campbell, Sir Archibald, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 23, 27; + refuses information to the House, 28; + censured by the assembly, 29; + dissolves the assembly, 29; + opposes the civil list arrangement, 44 + + Carleton, Thomas, governor of New Brunswick, 5 + + Carnarvon, Lord, his interest in confederation, 264 + + Carter, Sir James, appointed a judge, 74; + appointed chief-justice, 130; + resigns the chief-justiceship, 235 + + Cartier, Hon. George E., minister of militia, 271 + + Casual and territorial revenue, _see_ Crown lands + + Chandler, Edward B., a delegate to England in reference to the Crown + lands, 24; + enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76; + goes to England on behalf of the Intercolonial Railway, 168, 196; + confederation delegate to England, 262 + + Chipman, Ward, chief-justice, 74; + resigns, 129 + + Church of England, its predominant influence, 7 + + Civil list, the, paid in part by the Crown land revenue, 21, 25; + the Civil List Bill, 43; + the bill passed, 47 + + Clark, Rev. Samuel, rector of Gagetown, 147 + + Colebrooke, Sir William, lieutenant-governor, 76; + appoints Alfred Reade secretary, 76; + censured by the assembly, 101 + + Confederation, 201, 202; + proposed in Lord Durham's Report, 203; + discussed in 1858, 205; + not favoured by Lord Derby's government, 205; + D'Arcy McGee's party visits the Maritime Provinces, 209; + crisis in the government of Canada, 209, 210; + Canadian statesmen at the Charlottetown conference, 217-19; + the Quebec scheme, 222; + unfavourably received in New Brunswick, 223-5; + the general election of 1865, 226-9; + defeat of, 231; + recommended in the speech from the throne, 242; + carried at the general election of 1866, 249-51; + resolutions in its favour carried in the legislature, 260, 262; + delegation sent to England to arrange details of, 262; + delay in arrival of Canadian delegates, 263; + meeting in London, 263; + discussion of the terms of union, 264; + Confederation Act passed by parliament, 265; + the union of the provinces proclaimed, 269 + + Connell, Hon. Charles, postmaster-general, circumstances which led to + his resignation, 191-2; + member for Carleton, 231; + becomes a member of the Mitchell-Wilmot government, 247; + reëlected for Carleton, 249 + + Cook, Dr. Henry, 149 + + Council, executive, its composition, 48, 72; + reorganized, 116 + + Council, legislative, 5; + rejects the college bill, 52, 53; + its obstructive character, 67; + its conduct condemned by the assembly, 68; + changes in its composition, 69; + favours confederation, 244 + + Crane, William, a delegate to England with an address to His Majesty, 41 + + Crown lands, revenues from, 6; + dissatisfaction with the management of, 18-21; + used to pay the civil list, 21, 22; + control of, made the subject of an address to the king, 23; + a deputation sent to England, 24; + the surrender of the revenues by His Majesty proposed, 25-7, 35-7; + another address to the king, 37, 38; + control of, surrendered to the province, 47 + + Custom-house system, imperial, discarded, 175, 176 + + Customs duties, 6, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39 + + +D + + DesBrisay, L. P. W., seconds Fisher's amendment to the address in reply + to the speech from the throne, 244 + + Douglas, Sir Howard, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 50, 51, 148 + + Dow, Dr., member for York, 250 + + +E + + Education, unsatisfactory condition of, in New Brunswick, 83-5; + the Madras system, 86-8; + Wilmot's speech on, 88-91 + + +F + + Family Compact, the, 13, 110 + + Fees, on land grants, 14 + + Fenians, threaten to invade Canada, 240, 241; + invade New Brunswick, 247; + Doran Killian, leader of, 247; + troops called out to oppose them, 248; + their invasion a fiasco, 249 + + Fisher, Hon. Charles, member for York, 47; + reëlected for York, 102; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 103; + his resolution defeated, 111; + enters the government, 116; + defeated in York, 128; + his services to the Liberal party, 154; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 172, 173; + joins the new government as attorney-general, 174; + retires from the government, 193; + reëlected for York, 194; + elected on the confederation ticket for York, 237; + moves an amendment to the address in reply to the speech from the + throne, 244; + becomes attorney-general, 247; + moves a confederation resolution, 257, 258; + a confederation delegate to England, 262; + elected for York in the first parliament of united Canada, 273 + + Fraser, John J., opposes confederation, 228 + + +G + + Gagetown, birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, 146 + + Galt, Hon. A. T., in favour of confederation, 205; + minister of finance, 271 + + Gilbert, Thomas, advocates agricultural schools, 162 + + Gillmor, Hon. A. H., provincial secretary, 233 + + Gladstone, Right Hon. W. E., 199 + + Glenelg, Lord, colonial secretary, 42, 61 + + Glenie, James, an early Reformer, 13 + + Gordon, Arthur Hamilton, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, opposed + to confederation, 239; + his change of views, 240; + the confederation paragraph in his speech from the throne, 242; + differences with his government, 242 + + Government, responsible, the demand for, 99-111; + granted, 113-16 + + Gray, Hon. John H., 152; + supports the government, 160; + becomes a member of the government, 165; + appointed attorney-general, 183; + favours confederation, 227; + elected for St. John County, 251; + speaker of the assembly, 256; + again elected for St. John in the parliament of 1867, 273 + + Gray-Wilmot government, formed, 183; + defeated, 184 + + Grey, Earl, colonial secretary, on tenure of office, 113; + disallows hemp bounty bill, 118 + + Grievances, committee on, appointed, 24 + + +H + + Hamilton, Peter S., his articles advocating confederation, 207 + + Hanington, Hon. D. L., speaker, 172 + + Hannay, James, his articles in favour of confederation, 207 + + Harding, James A., elected for the city of St. John, 167 + + Harvey, Sir John, lieutenant-governor, 47, 113 + + Hatheway, Hon. George L., opposes confederation, 228; + joins the anti-confederation government, 233; + retires from the contest in York, 250 + + Hazen, Hon. Robert L., on responsible government, 63; + enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76 + + Head, Sir Edmund, lieutenant-governor, 129 + + Hill, George S., member for Charlotte, 66 + + Howe, Hon. Joseph, a delegate to England in connection with the + Intercolonial Railway, 107; + advocates confederation, 204 + + Humbert, Mr., opposes responsible government, 64 + + Hutchinson, Richard, 234 + + +J + + Jenkins, William, teacher of the Gagetown grammar school, 147 + + Johnson, Hon. John M., solicitor-general, 174; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + opposes county courts bill, 267 + + Johnston, Hon. Hugh, enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76 + + +K + + Kerr, George, member for Northumberland, 249 + + King's College, 49; + its illiberal charter, 50; + bill to amend it defeated, 52; + passed, 56, 163; + reorganized and becomes University of New Brunswick, 190 + + Kinnear, Hon. William B., solicitor-general, 116 + + +L + + Legislature of New Brunswick, called together in 1866, 256; + its session of 1867, 266 + + Leonard, Samuel, 147 + + _Loyalist_, newspaper, its proprietors arrested, 75 (note) + + +M + + Macdonald, Sir John A., chairman of the confederation delegation, 263; + forms the first Dominion cabinet, 270 + + McClelan, Hon. A. R., chief commissioner of public works, 247; + reëlected for Albert County, 249 + + McGee, Thomas D'Arcy, favours confederation, 207; + lectures in St. John, 207; + brings a party to visit the Maritime Provinces, 209 + + McMillan, Hon. John, surveyor-general, elected for Restigouche, 231; + becomes postmaster-general, 247 + + McPhelim, Francis, postmaster-general, 183 + + Manners-Sutton, Hon. H. T., lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, + dissolves the House of Assembly, 180 + + Maritime union movement, 211-13; + the Charlottetown conference, 215 + + Marriage laws, 14, 15 + + Meade, General, 249 + + Metcalfe, Sir Charles, governor-general of Canada, 74; + his unconstitutional stand, 74; + his views approved by the New Brunswick assembly, 74 + + Mitchell, Hon. Peter, member of the legislative council, 246; + supports confederation, 246; + called on to form a government, 246; + forms the Mitchell-Wilmot government, 247; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + becomes minister of marine, 271 + + Monck, Viscount, governor-general of Canada, 265 + + Money grants, initiation of, 48 + + Montgomery, John, enters the government, 72; + surveyor-general, 183 + + Morgan, Elizabeth, great grandmother of Sir Leonard Tilley, 145 + + +N + + Needham, W. H., member for York, 152; + his ability and character, 154; + opposes confederation, 228 + + Newcastle, Duke of, colonial secretary, 197 + + +O + + Odell, Hon. William Franklin, death of, 75 + + Odell, Hon. William H., postmaster-general, 233, 234 + + Office, tenure of, 57; + Lord John Russell's despatch, 57; + resolution of assembly thereon, 60 + + +P + + Palmerston, Lord, his government in office during confederation + negotiations, 206 + + Parker, Hon. Robert, becomes chief-justice, 235 + + Parliament of Canada, its first meeting, 273 + + Partelow, Hon. John R., member for St. John County, 65; + on money appropriations, 93; + becomes provincial secretary, 116; + his ability as a business man, 157 + + Peters, Colonel Harry, speaker of the assembly, 148 + + Peters, Susan Ann, mother of Sir Leonard Tilley, 146 + + Peters, William, grandfather of Sir Leonard, 146 + + Peto, Brassy and Betts, propose to construct New Brunswick railways, 167-9 + + Pickard, John, defeated in York, 237 + + Portland Railway Convention, 119; + L. A. Wilmot's speech at, 120 + + Prohibitory liquor law, 176-8; + its failure, 180 + + Putnam, Charles S., barrister, 11 + + +R + + Railways, European and North American, proposed, 168; + its progress, 186; + completed to Shediac, 187, 188; + Intercolonial, building of, proposed, 168, 195; + delegations sent to England to obtain assistance, 169, 196-8; + discussed in parliament, 187; + a meeting held in Quebec to consider the offer of the British + government, 198; + a committee is sent to England to arrange the terms of the guarantee + but fail to come to an agreement, 199, 200; + its construction secured by confederation, 264 + + Reade, Alfred, appointed provincial secretary, 76; + his appointment condemned by the assembly, 79; + the appointment cancelled, 80 + + Reciprocity treaty, discussed, 170, 171; + bill passed, 175 + + Ritchie, Hon. William J., member for the county of St. John, 152; + his great ability, 155; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 160; + complains of the conduct of the governor and the colonial office, 164; + resigns his seat, 166; + reëlected for St. John, 172; + joins the Fisher government, 175; + becomes chief-justice, 236 + + Robinson, F. P., auditor of the king's casual revenue, 34 + + Russell, Lord John, colonial secretary, 53; + on the King's College charter, 54; + on tenure of office, 114 + + +S + + Salaries, official, 61; + reduction proposed by Wilmot, 62 + + Saunders, Hon. John Simcoe, advocate-general, 34 + + Simonds, Hon. Charles, a delegate to England with the grievances of New + Brunswick, 24; + elected speaker, 160; + resigns his seat, 166; + again elected speaker, 183 + + Skinner, Hon. C. N., favours confederation, 227; + member for St. John city, 251 + + Smith, Hon. Albert J., joins the Fisher government, 175; + forms an anti-confederation government, 232; + differences with the lieutenant-governor, 242; + his government resigns, 245; + moves an amendment to confederation resolutions, 260 + + Smith, William O., mayor of St. John, 149 + + Stanley, Lord, colonial secretary, 53; + on King's College charter, 53, 54; + on the Reade appointment, 80; + on money grants, 92 + + Steadman, Hon. James, postmaster-general, 193 + + Steeves, Hon. William H., joins the Fisher government, 175 + + Street, Hon. George F., solicitor-general, 34; + a delegate to England in connection with the Civil List Bill, 45 + + Street, Hon. John Ambrose, attorney-general, 161 + + Street-Partelow government, defeated, 173 + + Sutton, Richard, 249 + + +T + + Tilley, James, grandfather of Sir Leonard, 145 + + Tilley, Lady, 284; + her charitable work, 285 + + Tilley, Samuel, great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, 143 + + Tilley, Samuel Leonard, birth and ancestry, 143; + at the Madras School, 147; + at the grammar school, 147; + removes to St. John, 149; + enters a drug store as clerk, 149; + becomes a total abstainer, 150; + begins business on his own account, 150; + elected to the House of Assembly as member for St. John, 152; + resigns his seat, 166; + reëlected for St. John, 172; + becomes provincial secretary, 174; + defeated on the prohibition question, 183; + again elected for St. John, 185; + a delegate to England in regard to the Intercolonial Railway, 196; + a delegate to Quebec to consider the offer of the British + government, 198; + second delegation to England, 199; + at the Quebec conference, 219-22; + defeated in St. John city, 231; + resigns with his colleagues, 232; + declines to form a new government, 247; + becomes provincial secretary, 247; + reëlected for St. John city, 251; + his efforts for confederation, 252; + his ability as a speaker, 255; + supports the confederation resolutions, 258, 259; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + presented to Her Majesty, 266; + becomes minister of customs, 272; + elected to parliament for St. John city, 273; + made a Companion of the Bath, 274; + his standing in the House of Commons, 274; + becomes minister of finance, 275; + elected to the second parliament, 275; + appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 275; + resigns the governorship, 278; + again becomes finance minister, 279; + introduces a protectionist tariff, 279; + again appointed lieutenant-governor, 280; + resides in St. John, 281; + his simple habits, 281; + his popularity, 282; + a member of the Church of England, 282; + made a K.C.M.G., 283; + his marriages, 284; + visits Her Majesty at Osborne, 284; + his children, 284; + suffers from an incurable disease, 285; + his last illness, 286; + death, 287; + funeral, 288; + tributes of respect, 288 + + Tilley, Thomas Morgan, father of Sir Leonard, 145 + + _Trent_ affair, 197 + + +U + + United States, their attitude towards Canada, 254 + + +V + + Vankoughnet, Hon. P. M., a delegate to England in regard to the + Intercolonial Railway, 197 + + +W + + Wark, David, his bounty resolutions, 118 + + Watters, Hon. Charles, an advocate of confederation, 226 + + Weldon, Hon. John W., speaker of the assembly, 65; + on money grants, 94; + appointed a judge, 236 + + Wetmore, Hon. A. R., opposes confederation, 226; + opposes anti-confederation government, 243; + reëlected for St. John city, 251 + + William IV., objects to alienation of Crown lands, 22; + dismisses the Liberal government, 37 + + Williston, Hon. Edward, solicitor-general, 247; + reëlected for Northumberland, 249 + + Wilmot, Benjamin, first of the name in America, 3 + + Wilmot, Hon. Robert Duncan, 152; + his change of principle, 156; + supports the government, 160; + becomes surveyor-general, 165; + reëlected in St. John, 166; + becomes provincial secretary, 183; + opposes confederation, 227; + dissatisfied with the government, 235; + resigns in January, 1866, 236; + forms a new government with Mitchell, 247; + reëlected for St. John County, 251; + confederation delegate to England, 262 + + Wilmot, Lemuel, grandfather of L. A. Wilmot, 3 + + Wilmot, Lemuel Allan, birth, 2; + ancestry, 3; + education, 10; + studies law, 11; + his interest in politics, 11; + his knowledge of French, 12; + an officer of militia, 12; + elected to the assembly for York, 31; + takes his seat, 32; + his eloquence, 33; + zeal for reform, 34; + on custom house salaries, 38; + a delegate to the colonial office in connection with provincial + affairs, 41; + arranges terms with the British government, 43; + second delegation to England, 46; + reëlected for York, 47; + engaged in the reform of King's College charter, 49-52; + bill rejected by council, 52; + resolutions thereon, 54; + the college bill passed, 56; + proposes a reduced scale of salaries, 62, 63; + nominated for the speakership, 66; + reëlected for York, 66; + becomes a member of the government, 72, 73; + resigns in consequence of the Reade appointment, 76; + his reasons, 77; + advocates improved schools, 88; + in favour of free schools, 90; + an advocate of the initiation of money grants, 91, 94-7; + bids farewell to the House, 102; + reëlected for York, 103; + his speech on the want of confidence resolution, 103-11; + becomes attorney-general, 116; + his oratory, 119; + at the Portland Railway Convention, 120; + his views on railway legislation, 126; + opposes the Shediac Railway, 127; + his bill for the reduction of salaries defeated in the legislative + council, 127; + decline of popularity, 128; + appointed a judge, 130; + Fenety's estimate of, 131; + appointed lieutenant-governor, 133; + his religious views, 133; + as a lecturer, 134; + takes part in the Aroostook War, 135; + his love of flowers, 136; + illness and death, 137; + character and achievements, 137-9 + + Wilmot, William, father of L. A. Wilmot, 3; + a Baptist local preacher, 10; + member of the House of Assembly in 1816, 10 + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wilmot and Tilley, by James Hannay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 26086-8.txt or 26086-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/8/26086/ + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wilmot and Tilley + +Author: James Hannay + +Release Date: July 19, 2008 [EBook #26086] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"> +<p class="center"><b><span class="fxl">THE MAKERS OF CANADA</span></b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="fxs">EDITED BY</span></p> + +<p>DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT, F.R.S.C.,<br /> +PELHAM EDGAR, <span class="smcap">Ph.D., and,</span><br /> +WILLIAM DAWSON LE SUEUR, B.A., LL.D., F.R.S.C.</p></div> + +<hr /> +<p class="center"><span class="fxl"><b>WILMOT AND TILLEY</b></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="bk1" style="width: 319px;"> +<img src="images/001.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt="L. A. Wilmot" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><i><span class="p1">THE MAKERS OF CANADA</span></i></p> + +<h1><big>WILMOT <small>AND</small><br /> +TILLEY</big></h1> + +<h2><small>BY</small><br /> +JAMES HANNAY</h2> + +<p class="p2"><i>EDITION DE LUXE</i></p> + +<p class="center"><small>TORONTO</small><br /> +MORANG & CO., LIMITED<br /> +<small>1907</small></p> + +<hr /> +<div class="bk1"><p><i>Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada +in the year 1907 by Morang & Co., Limited, in the Department +of Agriculture</i></p></div> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +Unique page headings have been retained and appear along the left margin by +the relevant paragraphs. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +Variant spellings have been retained. Inconsistent hyphenation has been standardised.</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr class="tr1"><td class="center"><big><b>LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT</b></big></td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER I</td><td class="td4"><small>Page</small></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE READE APPOINTMENT</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VIII<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER IX</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE VICTORY IS WON</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER X</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">JUDGE AND GOVERNOR</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr class="tr1"><td class="center"><big><b>SIR LEONARD TILLEY</b></big></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">REFORM AND PROGRESS</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VII<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER IX</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER X</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER XI</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA</td><td class="td4" rowspan="2"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">CHAPTER XII</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3">FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR</td><td class="td4"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> +<tr class="tr1"><td class="td3">INDEX</td><td class="td4"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr /> +<h2>LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT</h2> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I<br /> +<small>ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> contest for responsible government which +was carried on in all the provinces of British +North America for so many years resembled in +some of its features a modern battle, where the +field of operations is so wide that it is impossible +for a general to cover it with his eye or to keep +control of all the movements of his subordinates. +In such a case, everything depends on the ability +of the generals who command the different army +corps, who, operating in remote parts of the field, +must take the responsibility of success or failure. +The two Canadas were so far removed from New +Brunswick, and the means of communication were +so poor, that there was but little help, even in the +way of suggestion, to be expected from them, while +the contest for responsible government was being +carried on. Even the efforts in the same direction +which were being made in the province of Nova +Scotia had but little influence on the course of +events in New Brunswick, for each province had +its own particular grievances and its own separate +interests. Thus it happened that the battle for +responsible government in New Brunswick was +fought, to a large extent, without reference to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +what was being done in the other provinces which +now form the Dominion of Canada, and the +leaders of the movement had to be guided by the +peculiar local circumstances of the situation. Still, +there is no doubt that the efforts of all the +provinces, directed to the same ends, were mutually +helpful and made the victory more easily +won.</p> + +<p>Among the men who took a part in the contest +for responsible government in New Brunswick, +Lemuel Allan Wilmot undoubtedly held the foremost +place, not only by reason of the ability with +which he advocated the cause, but from the trust +which the people had in him, which made him a +natural leader and the proper exponent of their +views. There were, indeed, men working in the +same field before his time, but it was his happy +fortune to witness the fruit of his labours to give +the province a better form of government, and to +bring its constitution into line with the system +which prevailed in the mother country. He not +only viewed the land of promise from afar, but he +entered into it, and he became the first native lieutenant-governor +of the province,—a result which +even he, sanguine as he was, could hardly have +contemplated when he began his career as a public +man.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE WILMOT FAMILY</div> + +<p>Lemuel Allan Wilmot was born in the county +of Sunbury, on the banks of the St. John River, on +January 31st, 1809. He was the son of William<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +Wilmot, a respectable merchant and lumberman, +who was in partnership with William Peters, +grandfather of Sir Leonard Tilley. William Wilmot +was the son of Lemuel Wilmot, a Loyalist, who +was a resident of Poughkeepsie, New York, at the +beginning of the Revolution. He (Lemuel) raised +a company of soldiers for the service of the king, +and became a captain in the Loyal American +Regiment which was commanded by Beverley +Robinson, serving in that corps during the war. +At the peace, he came to New Brunswick and +settled in Sunbury County on the river St. John. +The Wilmots were a respectable English family, +and the first of the name in America was Benjamin +Wilmot, who was born in England in 1589 and +came to America with his wife Ann, probably prior +to 1640. He was one of the early settlers of New +Haven, Connecticut, and the records of that colony +show that he took the oaths of fidelity at a court +held on May 2d, 1648. He died in 1669. His son +William, who was born in 1632, was probably also +a native of England. He married Sarah Thomas +in 1658, and died in 1689.</p> + +<p>Thomas Wilmot, his son, was born in 1679. He +married Mary Lines, and their son Ezekiel was born +in 1708. Ezekiel Wilmot and his wife Beulah were +the parents of Lemuel, who was born in 1743. +Lemuel Wilmot married Elizabeth Street, and +William, the father of the subject of this biography, +was their son. William Wilmot married Hannah<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +Bliss, a daughter of the Hon. Daniel Bliss, a +Massachusetts Loyalist, who became a member of +the council of New Brunswick and was the father +of John Murray Bliss, one of the judges of the +supreme court of that province. His grandfather +was Colonel John Murray, a Massachusetts Loyalist, +who was for many years a member of the +general court of that colony and who became a +mandamus councillor. It will thus be seen that +Lemuel Wilmot came from the best New England +stock, and that his connections were highly respectable +and even distinguished. He was proud of +his New England descent, and claimed the usual +ancestor from among the passengers of the <i>Mayflower</i> +who landed at Plymouth in 1620. If this +claim is correct, his descent from the Pilgrim +Fathers must have been through the female line, +and no record of it has been preserved. The matter +is not of much consequence at the present day, +for the Wilmots have made a record in their province +far more distinguished than that which they +won in New England, for they have given to New +Brunswick five members of the legislature, a senator +and member of the House of Commons of +Canada, two members of the executive of New +Brunswick, and one of the privy council of Canada, +an attorney-general and a provincial secretary of +New Brunswick and two lieutenant-governors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CARLETON</div> + +<p>The system of government which existed in all +the British North American colonies at the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +when L. A. Wilmot was born was practically the +same. New Brunswick had been separated from +Nova Scotia in 1784, and, in the autumn of that +year, its first governor was sent out in the person of +Thomas Carleton, a brother of Sir Guy Carleton. +Thomas Carleton had been an officer in one of the +regiments which fought during the War of the Revolution, +but he was in no way distinguished, and had +no special qualifications for the position he was +called upon to fill. That fact, however, did not concern +the persons in England who appointed him. +In those days, fitness or ability had very little to do +with colonial appointments. Carleton continued to +fill the office of governor and lieutenant-governor +until his death in 1817; but for the last fourteen +years of his term he resided in England, and the +duties of his office were performed by a succession +of administrators under the name of presidents. To +assist him in his deliberations, Carleton had a council +of twelve members, who were appointed by the +Crown and were therefore wholly under the influence +of the governor and the authorities in England. +In 1809, its number had been reduced to ten, +and it was composed of the four judges of the +supreme court, the provincial secretary and the surveyor-general, +who held their offices for life, and +four other persons. This council, in addition to its +executive functions, also sat as the upper branch of +the legislature, and, besides being wholly irresponsible +except to the governor, it sat with closed doors,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +so that the public had no opportunity of knowing +what was being done. It was not until the year +1833 that any portion of the journals of the legislative +council was published.</p> + +<p>The House of Assembly consisted of members +chosen by the freeholders of the several counties +and the freeholders and freemen of the city of St. +John. This House was able to exert but a limited +influence on the government of the country, for all +authority was vested in the lieutenant-governor and +he was able to act in a manner quite independent +of the legislature. All the appointments to office +were in his hands, and they were made in many +cases even without the knowledge of his council. +In England, even under the most despotic kings, +parliament was always able to curb the power of the +Crown by refusing to grant supplies; but this check +did not exist in New Brunswick, or in the other colonies +of British North America at that time, because +the governor had sources of revenue quite independent +of the legislature. The British government +maintained a customs establishment in the colonies, +which levied duties on all merchandise imported, +and over which the legislature had no control. The +British government also retained the revenues arising +from the Crown lands of the province, and +these revenues the governor expended as he pleased. +The House of Assembly, therefore, might refuse to +vote supplies; but the governor could go on without +them, and the only effect of such a procedure was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +to injure its own officials, and to deprive the people +of the money which was expended on roads and +bridges.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND</div> + +<p>Another feature of the system of government in +New Brunswick was the predominant influence it +gave to the members of the Church of England. +Every member of the council of the province belonged +to that denomination, and it was not until +the year 1817 that any person who was not an adherent +of the Church of England was appointed to +the council. This exception was William Pagan, a +member of the Church of Scotland, and his was a +solitary instance because up to the year 1833, when +the old council was abolished, all its other members +were adherents of the Church of England. The +same rule prevailed with respect to all the great +offices in the gift of the Crown. All the judges of +the supreme court for the first sixty-seven years of +the existence of the province were members of the +Church of England. L. A. Wilmot, who became +attorney-general in 1848, was the first person not a +member of the Church of England who filled that +office, and he was the first judge not a member of +that Church who sat on the bench of New Brunswick.</p> + +<p>For some time after the foundation of the province, +the salaries of the Church of England clergymen +were paid by the British government, and large +grants of land were made for the purpose of supporting +the churches. In addition to this, financial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +assistance was given to them in erecting their places +of worship. No dissenting minister was allowed to +perform the marriage ceremony, that privilege being +confined to clergymen of the Church of England, +the Church of Scotland, the Quakers and the +Church of Rome. This was felt to be a very serious +grievance, and, needless to say, produced a great +deal of inconvenience.</p> + +<p>Another grievance was the fact that the great +offices were held by members of certain favoured +families. These families, from their social position +and in some cases from their wealth, had the ear of +the governor, or of the authorities in England, and +were able to obtain and hold all the valuable places. +The two Odells, father and son, held the office of +provincial secretary for sixty years. The Chipmans +were another favoured family, both the father and +son being successively judges of the supreme court, +and the former receiving large sums from the British +government as one of the commissioners who +settled the boundary between Maine and New +Brunswick. One of the greatest offices in the province—that +of the surveyor-general—was held by +one person for thirty-three years, and this individual +was in no sense responsible to any authority +in New Brunswick except the governor. Those in +power at that day were very fond of expatiating on +the glories of the British constitution and the privileges +the people enjoyed under it. But nothing less +like the British constitution can be imagined than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +the system which then prevailed in the British +North American colonies.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE OFFICIAL CLASSES</div> + +<p>One feature which is not to be lost sight of in +considering the political condition of the province +at that time is the social element. The distinctions +between the upper classes and others was then far +more marked than it is at present. The officials +and the professional men formed a class by themselves, +and looked with contempt upon those who +were engaged in business. The salaries of the government +officials were then three or four times as +large as they are at present, and they kept up a +corresponding degree of state which others were +not in a position to imitate. This assumption of +superiority was carried out in all the relations of +life, and the sons of those who occupied an inferior +station were made to feel their position keenly. +This was the case with Lemuel Allan Wilmot, for, +although his family was as good as any in the +provinces, he was the son of a man who was engaged +in business and who was not only a Dissenter +but was actually a preacher in the denomination +to which he belonged. No doubt the insults +which the son received from those who claimed to +occupy a higher station had a good deal to do with +his zeal for the cause of Reform, and influenced his +future career to a considerable extent.</p> + +<p>William Wilmot, although he afterwards failed +in business, was in prosperous circumstances when +his son Lemuel was born. He was a Baptist and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +was one of the original members of the Baptist +Church at Canning, in Queens County, which was +founded in 1800. On Christmas Day, 1813, William +Wilmot and nine others received their dismissal +from the Canning Church for the purpose +of founding a Baptist Church in Fredericton. +Wilmot was a local preacher and used his gift of +eloquence in that way. He also aspired to legislative +distinction, and was elected a member of the +House of Assembly for the county of Sunbury in +1816. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the +same seat in 1819, and again in 1820. At the general +election of 1827 he ran for the county of +York, to which he had removed several years before, +but was again defeated. This was his last +attempt to become a member of the House of +Assembly. His loss of three elections out of four +had certainly been discouraging, and was in singular +contrast to the fortune of his distinguished son, +who never experienced a defeat.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AS A LAW STUDENT</div> + +<p>Lemuel Wilmot's mother died when he was +only eighteen months old, so that he never knew +a mother's love or a mother's care. But his father +early recognized his youthful promise, and gave +him all the educational advantages then available. +He became a pupil at the College of New Brunswick, +which was situated in Fredericton, of which +the Rev. Dr. Somerville was the president and +sole professor. This college was in fact merely a +grammar school, but Wilmot acquired there some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +knowledge of the classics. However, his scholastic +career was not prolonged, for in June, 1825, he +entered as a student-at-law with Charles S. Putnam, +a leading barrister of Fredericton. He was +admitted an attorney of the supreme court in July, +1830, and a barrister two years later. He was then +twenty-three years of age.</p> + +<p>The men who were contemporaries of Mr. +Wilmot as a youth are all dead, and not many +anecdotes of his career as a student have been +handed down to us. Being of an ardent and ambitious +disposition, he took a keen interest in the +stirring events that were being enacted around +him; for it was a time of great political excitement, +and the business troubles of the province increased +the difficulties of its inhabitants. In 1825, all the +lumbermen in the province were ruined, and the +bad management of the Crown lands office which +had added to the business difficulties became more +than a political question, for by cramping its leading +industry it affected the prosperity of every +man in New Brunswick. It was then that young +Wilmot resolved to enter upon a political career +and to do what he could to redress the wrongs +from which the people were suffering. Strange to +say, at this time he, who afterwards became most +eloquent, had an impediment in his speech, which +it took much labour to overcome. To improve his +knowledge of French, he spent some months with +a French family in Madawaska, among the descendants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +of the ancient Acadians. In this way he +acquired a colloquial knowledge of that language.</p> + +<p>Wilmot's ambition was to become a public man +and to assist in the reformation of the constitution +of his native province. He enjoyed many advantages +for the rôle he had undertaken. He was tall, +his height being upwards of six feet, well proportioned, +handsome and striking in his features, and +he possessed a voice of great strength and sweetness. +He was proficient in all athletic exercises, +and took an interest in all those movements which +commend themselves to young men of enterprise +and force of character. He was a lieutenant in the +first battalion of the York County Militia when he +was only eighteen years of age, and his devotion +to the militia force continued until the end of his +life. Possessed as he was of all the elements which +make men popular and prominent, he was early +marked for advancement in the field that he had +chosen for the exercise of his talents.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II<br /> +<small>EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> agitation for an improvement in the constitution +of New Brunswick began long before +L. A. Wilmot was born. The first man who took +a prominent stand for reform in the legislature was +Mr. James Glenie, a member for the county of +Sunbury from 1792 to 1809. Mr. Glenie, who was +a Scotchman and a man of much ability, had been +an officer in the Royal Engineers during the Revolutionary +War. His efforts to obtain reforms were +met by the friends of the governor, Mr. Carleton, +with the most violent opposition. He was denounced +as an incendiary, and indeed there was +hardly a limit to the fierceness with which he was +attacked for attempting to bring about an improvement +in the system of government. The old Family +Compact and their friends were ever ready to tell +the public how loyal they were, and to denounce +as a traitor any person who presumed to object to +the existing state of things. Mr. Glenie was not +able to effect anything substantial for the improvement +of the constitution, because the time was not +ripe for the changes he proposed. England itself +was suffering at that time from a relapse from true +constitutional methods, so it was not to be expected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +that much attention would be paid to complaints +which came from a remote province of +North America.</p> + +<p>The cause of Reform would not have been nearly +so well supported as it was, had it not been for the +fact that the abuses which existed touched the self-interest +of many persons who were by no means +Reformers at heart, and who in fact cared nothing +about responsible government. The first successful +attack which was made on the existing order of +things was with regard to the fees charged on land +grants. These fees went to the various officials, +including the governor, and it was shown that on +a lot of land not exceeding three hundred acres, the +enormous sum of forty-seven dollars was charged +as fees, while on a lot of one thousand acres to ten +grantees, the fees amounted to about two hundred +dollars. The reader will be able to understand from +these figures how it was that the officials of the +government were able to live in such princely style. +This evil was remedied by permission being obtained +from the colonial secretary to include a large +number of grantees in one grant.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE MARRIAGE QUESTION</div> + +<p>Another grievance which was attacked long before +Mr. Wilmot entered public life was the law +which related to the performance of the marriage +ceremony. At that time the only clerical persons +authorized to solemnize marriages were the clergymen +of the Church of England, ministers of the +Kirk of Scotland, Quakers, and priests of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +Roman Catholic Church. This was felt to be an +intolerable grievance, because it prevented Methodists, +Baptists and all Presbyterians except those +connected with the Church of Scotland from being +married by their own ministers. In 1821 a bill was +passed in the House of Assembly authorizing all +ministers of the Gospel to solemnize marriages. +This was rejected by the council, a fate which +befell many subsequent bills of the same kind. +For several years the House of Assembly continued +to pass the Dissenters' Marriage Bill, and +the council as steadily rejected it. Finally, in 1831, +the House of Assembly concluded that nothing +would serve to bring about the reform asked for +but a petition to the king, and accordingly a petition +was prepared in which the facts were set forth +and His Majesty was asked to give instructions to +the administrator of the government to recommend +the legislature to pass a bill extending the privilege +of solemnizing marriages to all regularly ordained +clergymen of dissenting congregations in New +Brunswick. In 1832, a bill was passed by both +Houses carrying out these views. It contained a +suspending clause, however, which prevented it +from going into operation until approved by His +Majesty. It was thought that this would settle the +question, but in 1834 a despatch was received from +His Majesty's secretary of state for the colonies in +which it was announced that the royal assent had +been withheld on the ground that the Act was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +confined in its operation to four denominations of +Christians,—the Wesleyan Methodists, the Baptists, +the Presbyterian seceders from the Church of +Scotland, and the Independents. It appeared, therefore, +that the Act had been disallowed because it +was not liberal enough, but this defect was speedily +remedied by the passage of another bill during the +session of 1834 in the terms suggested by the +colonial secretary, and the Dissenters' Marriage +Question was thus settled.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">IMPERIAL CUSTOM DUTIES</div> + +<p>It has already been stated that the British government +continued to maintain a custom-house +establishment in New Brunswick, and to impose +duties on goods imported into the province. These +duties, which were levied for the regulation of trade, +were disposed of by the British government and +by the lieutenant-governor of the province with +little reference to the wishes of the legislature. +The old restrictive system which placed shackles on +trade was modified by two Acts passed by the imperial +parliament in 1822, under which the importation +of provisions, lumber, cattle, tobacco and +other articles from any foreign country in North +and South America and the West Indies, into ports +of British North America and the British West +Indies, was allowed under a fixed scale of duty, +and a free export was allowed to goods going from +all our ports to these countries. The importation +of the productions of foreign countries in Europe +into the ports of British North America was also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +permitted, and a schedule of duties annexed. Under +these Acts it was provided that the duties on both +imports and exports were to be collected by the +imperial officers of customs, and the net revenue +thus obtained was to be placed at the disposal of +the colonial treasuries. This arrangement was a +decided gain to New Brunswick, because, for the +first time, it placed nearly all the revenue collected +by the imperial officers under the control of the +legislature.</p> + +<p>The Acts of the imperial parliament, 6th George +IV, Chapters 73 and 114, went still farther in the +way of removing restrictions from colonial trade. +These Acts provided that the duties imposed under +them should be paid by the collector of customs +into the hands of the treasurer or receiver-general +of the colony, to be applied to such uses as were +directed by the local legislature of such colony, +exception being made in regard to the produce of +duties payable to His Majesty, under any Act passed +prior to the eighteenth year of his late Majesty, +George III. This exception is important for the +purpose of illustrating the pernicious system under +which duties had been collected. Even so late +as the year 1833, Messrs. Simonds and Chandler, the +New Brunswick delegates to the imperial government, +were complaining that duties were collected +at the several custom-houses in New Brunswick +upon wine, molasses, coffee and pimento under the +provisions of the Acts of parliament, 6th George II,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Chapter 13; 4th George III, Chapter 15, and 6th +George III, Chapter 52, amounting to upwards of +one thousand pounds sterling annually, which duties +were not accounted for to the legislature, and that +it was not known to the House of Assembly by +whom and to what purpose these duties were applied. +The reply to this on the part of the imperial +government was, that in pursuance of the directions +contained in the statutes themselves, the duties +levied under them were remitted to the exchequer +in England in aid of the expenses incurred for the +defence of the British colonies in North America. +Thus ten years after the British government had +undertaken to remit the duties collected in the colonies +to the exchequers of the colonies in which the +money was collected, there still remained a considerable +revenue, obtained under old and obscure Acts +of parliament, which was held back, and the destination +of which was not known, until disclosed to +the delegates sent to England to obtain the redress +of New Brunswick's grievances.</p> + +<p>But the grievance which caused the greatest +amount of dissatisfaction in New Brunswick was +that which arose from the management of the Crown +lands. It was bad enough that the revenues arising +from the public domain should be disposed of without +the consent of the legislature; but it was still +worse when such regulations were made by the surveyor-general +as hindered the settlement of the +country and interfered with one of its leading industries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +One great abuse was that large areas of +the best land in the province were locked up as +reserves for the production of masts for His Majesty's +navy. Another grievance was the imposition +of a duty of a shilling a ton on all pine timber cut +in the province. This was done by the authority of +the surveyor-general, and its effect was seriously +to injure many of those who were engaged in lumbering. +This tax was remitted for a time after the +panic of the year 1825, but it was revived when that +crisis in the commercial life of the province had +passed. The management of the Crown lands office +had been the subject of criticism at almost every +session of the legislature for twelve or fifteen years +before Lemuel Wilmot entered public life, and +every year the complaints grew louder.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AN ADDRESS TO THE KING</div> + +<p>At the session of 1831, an address was presented +to the president, the Hon. William Black, asking +him to lay before the House a detailed account +showing the amount of the casual and territorial +revenue from the beginning of 1824 to the end of +1830, and the expenditures from that fund for the +same period. This was refused on the ground that +it was inconsistent with his instructions. The House +then resolved to bring the matter to the notice of +the king in an address, the spirit of which may be +gathered from the following paragraphs:—</p> + +<p>"By the operation of the system practised in this +office, very large sums are taken from the people of +this province for licenses to cut timber on Crown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +land, and, although the assembly do not question +the right Your Majesty undoubtedly has to the +lands in question, they think the tremendous powers +with which the commissioner is vested, with regard +to impositions of tonnage money and the enormous +exactions for fees, to be incompatible with a free +government, and to require redress.</p> + +<p>"It is generally understood, as well as universally +believed, that the commissioner in question is under +no control in this province, and to this may be +ascribed the mode in which licenses to cut timber +are issued in very many cases, in quantities less +than one hundred tons, subject to a duty of one +shilling, three pence per ton, and the excessive fee +on each of forty-five shillings. By this mode, a large +part of the receipts is paid in the shape of fees, at +once injuring the subject without benefiting the +revenue; and the assembly feel convinced, if the +office were under colonial management, that while +the oppressions would be removed, the revenue +would be more productive; and besides, the assembly +cannot but view with just alarm that the day +may possibly come when, by a single mandate from +the office, exactions of such magnitude may be made +as literally to stop the export trade of the country, +a power which no person should have even the +shadow of authority to exercise.</p> + +<p>"The assembly at an early day in the present +session, by an address to the administrator of the +government, sought for documents regarding this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +office, to enable them officially to bring the subject +more in detail under the consideration of Your +Majesty, but this information, so highly desirable +and necessary, has been withheld from them; and +the assembly, therefore, with great submission, lay +before Your Majesty herewith, a copy of the said +address, with the reply thereto, for Your Majesty's +gracious consideration.</p> + +<p>"It will by that be seen that the objects contemplated +by the assembly are no less than relieving +Your Majesty's government permanently from +the burthen of the whole civil list of the province, +a subject which the assembly humbly conceive to +be of great advantage to the parent state, and +only requiring that the revenues, from whatever +source or sources derived in or collected within the +province, should be placed under the control of its +legislature."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE CIVIL LIST</div> + +<p>A portion of the Crown-land revenue went to pay +what was termed the civil list, which included the +salaries of the lieutenant-governor, the judges, the +attorney-general, solicitor-general, private secretary, +provincial secretary, auditor, receiver-general +and commissioner of Crown lands. The latter official +received seventeen hundred and fifty pounds +sterling per annum besides enormous fees, so that +his income was greater than that of the lieutenant-governor. +Thomas Baillie, an Irishman, who had +been a subaltern in a marching regiment, had filled +that office since the year 1824, and continued to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +hold it until 1851, twenty-seven years in all, when +he retired with a pension twice as large as the +salary of the present surveyor-general of New +Brunswick.</p> + +<p>What the Reformers in the legislature of New +Brunswick sought to obtain was the control of the +public lands, and the disposal of the revenues derived +from them. To accomplish this they were +willing to undertake to pay the salaries embraced +in the civil list, although these salaries were looked +upon by the people of the province generally as +altogether too large. Yet there were great difficulties +in the way of this necessary reform, for King +William IV was known to be violently opposed +to it. At a later period, 1835, in the course of a +conversation with the Earl of Gosford, who had +been appointed governor of Lower Canada, "I will +never consent," he said with an oath, "to alienate +the Crown lands, nor to make the council elective. +Mind me, my Lord, the cabinet is not my cabinet. +They had better take care, or by —— I will have +them impeached."</p> + +<p>Such was the language which this king used in +regard to his constitutional advisers. It was fortunate +for New Brunswick and the other colonies of +British North America that at that time he had +done his utmost to get rid of his ministers and had +been defeated and humiliated, so that they could +set him at defiance. But in 1832 they were more +disposed to defer to his wishes, and in May of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +year we find Lord Goderich, the colonial secretary, +writing to Sir Archibald Campbell, the lieutenant-governor +of New Brunswick, in the following +strain:—</p> + +<p>"The preservation to the Crown of the territorial +revenue is an object of the first importance, +and it would only be resigned on its being clearly +proved that the right of the Crown could not be +maintained without producing still greater inconvenience. +You cannot, therefore, more usefully +exert your influence than in endeavouring to prevent +the assembly from urging the surrender of +this revenue."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CONTROL OF THE REVENUE</div> + +<p>The question of the control of the Crown-land +or casual and territorial revenues was made the +subject of an address to the king by the House of +Assembly in 1832. In this it was stated that the +expense of collecting these revenues was far greater +than it would be under proper management, and +it was proposed that they be placed under the control +of the legislature, which would undertake the +payment of all the necessary expenses of the civil +government of the province by making such permanent +and other grants as might be necessary for +this purpose. The reply to this proposition was +received during the legislative session of 1833. In +it Lord Goderich, with some appearance of sarcasm, +observed that "His Majesty did not consider +it necessary at present to call upon the House for +a grant of the nature proposed, as he did not anticipate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +such a falling off in the revenue at his disposal +as the House appeared to have apprehended." +This reply can hardly be regarded otherwise than +as an insult to the House of Assembly, for the +meaning of their address to the king was deliberately +misrepresented. They were contending for +a principle, that the revenue derived from the public +domain should be under the control of the legislature, +and the amount of the revenue did not enter +into the question.</p> + +<p>In 1833 the House of Assembly appointed a +committee on grievances for the purpose of taking +into consideration and investigating all matters in +connection with the Crown lands, which were the +subject of complaint. After this committee had +reported to the House, it was resolved to send a +deputation to England to endeavour to make some +arrangement with the colonial secretary in reference +to the Crown lands.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MR. STANLEY'S DESPATCH</div> + +<p>The deputies appointed to proceed to England +and lay the grievances of the province at the foot +of the throne were Charles Simonds and Edward +B. Chandler, both men of wealth, influence and +position, and well qualified for the performance of +the work with which they were entrusted. Messrs. +Chandler and Simonds arrived in England in June, +1833, and immediately placed themselves in communication +with the Right Honourable E. G. +Stanley, who was then colonial secretary. Their +report was laid before the legislature in February,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +1834, and the result was highly satisfactory to the +House of Assembly. A few days later a despatch +from Mr. Stanley to Sir Archibald Campbell was +laid before the House, in which he stated the terms +on which he should feel that His Majesty might +properly be advised to place the proceeds of the +casual and territorial revenue under the control of +the assembly of New Brunswick. He would, he +said, be prepared to advise His Majesty to accept +a permanent appropriation by the legislature, duly +secured to the amount of fourteen thousand pounds +per annum, and that the Crown should undertake +to charge on any such permanent grant the salaries +of the lieutenant-governor, his private secretary, the +commissioner of Crown lands, provincial secretary, +chief-justice, three puisne judges, the attorney-general, +auditor, receiver-general, the expenses of the +indoor establishment of the Crown lands department, +and a grant of one thousand pounds to the +college. It would be necessary, Mr. Stanley stated, +that any bill passed in consequence of the proposal +contained in this despatch should contain a suspending +clause in order that it might be submitted +to His Majesty before it was finally assented to. It +was also stated, in order to prevent misunderstanding +or delay, that the House should be apprised, +that, unless some other fully equivalent and sufficient +security could be devised, it would be +expected that the Act should provide that the +stipulated annual commutation should be payable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +out of the first receipts in each year, and that in +case of any default in such payment the whole +of the revenue surrendered should revert to the +Crown. A committee was appointed to prepare +the bill on the subject of the surrender by His +Majesty of the casual and territorial revenues of +the province. The House of Assembly had previously +passed a resolution that the sum of fourteen +thousand pounds required by His Majesty's +government as a permanent grant for the surrender +of the casual and territorial revenues of the province +was greater than the charges contemplated to +be thereon required, yet that the great desire of the +House of Assembly to have this important subject +finally settled should induce them to accept the +proposal contained in Mr. Stanley's despatch. On +the day after this resolution was passed, the lieutenant-governor +communicated to the House of +Assembly an extract from a despatch received the +previous day by him from the Right Honourable +Mr. Stanley, dated January 4th, 1834. This extract +was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"In your message communicating to the assembly +the proposal contained in my despatch of the +30th September, you will take care distinctly to +explain that the payments expected from the New +Brunswick Land Company are not included in the +revenue which is offered to the acceptance of the +assembly." It is with great regret that an historian +of this period must record the receipt of such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +despatch from an imperial head of department to a +colonial governor, for the spirit displayed in the +message was not that of an enlightened statesman, +but such as might have been expected from one +who was endeavouring to drive the hardest possible +bargain with the province of New Brunswick, +in order that a number of officials, swollen with +pride and enjoying enormous salaries, might not +suffer.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NEGOTIATIONS FAIL</div> + +<p>A few days after the receipt of this despatch, a +resolution was passed by the House in committee, +regretting that the additional condition contained +in Mr. Stanley's last despatch would prevent the +committee recommending to the House further +action in the matter of preparing a civil list bill. +Thus ended the attempt to settle this vexed question +in the year 1834. The House of Assembly, +however, still continued to agitate the matter, and +to make Sir Archibald Campbell's life a burden +to him. On March 7th, they addressed him, asking +for accounts in detail of the casual and territorial +revenues, and calling for a number of statements +which they had not received except in such +a shape that they could not be properly understood. +They also addressed His Excellency, requesting him +to lay before them copies of all official despatches +transmitted to him by the secretary of state for the +colonies, since he assumed the administration of +the government, relating to the subject of the +casual and territorial revenues. The reply of His<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Excellency to the request for more detailed accounts +was a courteous one; but while he consented +to furnish the accounts requested in detail, +it was with the understanding that his compliance +was not to be considered as a precedent. He +declined, however, to give the names of the parties +who had their timber seized or forfeited, or the +names of the petitioners for Crown land. He also +refused to furnish the accounts of the receiver-general +and commissioner of Crown lands, on the +ground that they were accounts exclusively between +these officers and the Crown.</p> + +<p>With regard to the request for his correspondence +with the colonial secretary, Sir Archibald +Campbell in another message gave a tart refusal, +stating that such a request was subversive of the +principles and spirit of the British constitution, +and that he would ill deserve the confidence put in +him by His Majesty were he to hesitate in meeting +so dangerous an encroachment, not only on the +independence of the executive, but the prerogatives +of the British Crown, with a most decided and +unqualified refusal. This military officer considered +himself a proper exponent of the principles and +spirit of the British constitution. He failed to +understand that the British constitution rests upon +the support of the people, while his system of +government was intended to ignore the people +altogether.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">QUARREL WITH THE GOVERNOR</div> + +<p>A few days after the receipt of this message, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +resolution was passed by the House of Assembly +declaring that the language used by the lieutenant-governor, +in his reply to the address of the House, +was at variance with all parliamentary precedent +and usage, and such as was not called for by the +address. Some of the governor's friends attempted +to weaken the force of this resolution by an amendment +of a milder nature, but their amendment was +defeated, and the resolution carried by a vote of fifteen +to eight. Another address on the subject of +the casual and territorial revenues and civil list was +prepared and passed by the assembly for the purpose +of being forwarded to His Majesty. It recited the +proceedings, in regard to the matter, which had +taken place already, and the desire of the House of +Assembly to accept the proposition contained in +Mr. Stanley's despatch, and expressed the regret of +the House at the new condition imposed with regard +to the New Brunswick Land Company, which +made it impossible to accept the settlement as +amended. The House concluded by expressing the +hope that the terms proposed in the original despatch +might yet be considered definitive, and that +the proviso with regard to the New Brunswick +Land Company might be withdrawn. This was +transmitted to England; but, before the year ended, +Sir Archibald Campbell concluded to rid himself of +the House of Assembly, which had given him so +much annoyance, and accordingly it was dissolved +early in November; so that when the legislature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +met again in January, 1835, the House was a +new one, although largely composed of the old +members.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III<br /> +<small>WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Wilmot</span> acquired a good legal practice soon +after his admission to the bar, and was +recognized as a highly successful advocate in cases +before a jury. In the opinion of the legal profession +he never was a deeply read lawyer, either as a barrister +or as a judge, but in the conduct of a case at +<i>nisi prius</i> he could hardly have been surpassed. He +had the gift which has been possessed by all great +advocates, of seizing on the leading feature of a +case, and, regardless of all minor issues, pressing it +home on the minds of the jury. His eloquent and +impressive speeches on behalf of his clients soon +began to attract general attention, and the court-house +was thronged when it was known that he was +about to address a jury. He was speedily marked +as the proper person to represent the views of the +people in the House of Assembly, and, on a vacancy +occurring in the representation of the county of +York in consequence of the death of one of the +members in the summer of 1834, Wilmot was +elected without opposition, none of the government +party having the courage to oppose him. Before +the time came round for the meeting of the legislature, +the House was dissolved by Sir Archibald<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +Campbell, in the hope that he might be able to get +an assembly more amenable to his wishes, and, at +the general election which followed, Wilmot was +again elected, at the head of the poll. At that time +he had barely completed his twenty-fifth year. It +was a great triumph for Wilmot and the friends of +Reform, for all the influence of the friends of the +governor and the Family Compact was arrayed +against him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE</div> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot took his seat as a member of the +House of Assembly on January 25th, 1835. Young +as he was, he had already made a great reputation +as a public speaker, and there was no man +in the legislature or in the province who could +stand any comparison with him in point of eloquence. +Indeed, it is doubtful whether the British +North American provinces have ever produced a +man who was Wilmot's superior in that style of +oratory which is so telling on the hustings or where +great masses of men are to be moved. The evidence +of this fact does not rest on the testimony of his +countrymen alone, for he acquired a wider fame for +eloquence than they could give him. At the Portland +Railway Convention of 1850, where the ablest +men of the Northern States were gathered, he easily +eclipsed them all by his brilliant and powerful oratory. +The reporters are said to have thrown down +their pencils in despair, being unable to keep pace +with him as he aroused the enthusiasm of all who +heard him by his burning words. Unfortunately,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +there is no form of ability which is so transient in +its effects as this perfervid style of oratory. So +much of its potency depends on the action of the +speaker, on the glance of his eye and the modulation +of his voice, that no report could do justice to +it, even if there had been reporters at that time +capable of putting down every word he uttered. +The speeches of even Gladstone, when reported +word for word, read but indifferently when seen in +cold type, and no speech of Wilmot's was ever +properly reported. He was incapable of writing out +a speech after he had delivered it, so that we must +take the united testimony of his contemporaries, +whether friends or enemies, that he was, upon his +own ground, an unequalled speaker.</p> + +<p>The House in which he now found himself was +not one that was remarkable for its eloquence. +Unlike most of the legislatures of the present day, +the proportion of lawyers was very small, there +being only five in a House of thirty members, and +of these five the only one who was an orator was +Wilmot. The other twenty-five members were +mostly business men and farmers, some of whom +could express their views on public questions +clearly enough, but had no pretensions to eloquence. +Yet it was a good House, and one of its +best features was that its members were able to +appreciate the worth of the new representative +from the county of York.</p> + +<p>The aim of Wilmot, when he entered the legislature,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +was to bring the province into line with the +principles of responsible government as understood +in the mother country. Yet, looking at the state +of New Brunswick then, it is easy to see that the +task he had undertaken was one of enormous difficulty. +Most of the evils of which the people had +been complaining still existed. The casual and territorial +revenue was still under the control of the +home authorities, the custom-house establishment +still remained unreformed, the Family Compact still +controlled all the great public offices, and none but +members of the Church of England were thought +worthy to serve their country in a public capacity.</p> + +<p>Two years earlier the executive and legislative +councils had been separated; but the change had +made little or no improvement in the system of +government. The executive council consisted of +five members, all of whom held public offices from +which they could not be removed by any act of +the legislature. The first on the list was Baillie, +the surveyor-general, whose record has already +been referred to; next came F. P. Robinson, the +auditor of the king's casual revenue; another was +William F. Odell, whose father had been provincial +secretary for twenty-eight years, and who +himself filled the same office for thirty-two years. +George F. Street, the solicitor-general, was another +member of the executive, and the last on the +list was John Simcoe Saunders, who was advocate-general +and held three or four commissionerships<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +besides. All these men were so solidly entrenched +in their positions that it seemed impossible they +should ever be disturbed. They formed a solid +phalanx opposed to all reform, and they were supported +by the governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, +most of whose life had been spent in India and +who, however well fitted to govern Hindoos, was +hardly the man to give laws to white men who +claimed to be free.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">BECOMES A LEADER</div> + +<p>As soon as Wilmot entered the House of Assembly, +he began to take a leading part in its +debates. The very day he took his seat he was +appointed on the committee to prepare an address +in reply to the speech from the throne. On the +following day he gave notice of a resolution with +regard to the boundary between Maine and New +Brunswick, a subject that was then coming to the +front. A day or two later he brought in a bill to +continue the Act to provide for the expenses of +judges on circuits. Indeed, no man was more +active during that first session than the new +member for the county of York.</p> + +<p>There were two questions that came up for discussion +in which, as a Reformer, he was specially +interested,—the salaries of the customs establishment, +and the casual and territorial revenue. With +regard to the latter, when the House had been sitting +about a month, the reply of the colonial secretary +to the address of the previous session was laid +before it. That address, it will be remembered,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +related to the offer which had been made to the +British government to take over the Crown lands +and provide for a civil list of fourteen thousand +pounds sterling, the payments expected from the +New Brunswick Land Company to be included in +this arrangement. The reply of the colonial secretary +was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"From various parts of the address I infer that +the proposal conveyed to the assembly, through +my predecessors, must have been misapprehended +in more than one important particular; and I have +especially remarked the erroneous assumption that, +in offering to surrender the proceeds of the Crown +lands, it was intended also to give up their management, +and to place them under the control of +the legislature.</p> + +<p>"From the course of their proceedings, as well +as the tenor of the present expression of their +sentiments, the assembly must be understood to +consider it an indispensable condition that the payments +of the Land Company should be comprised +among the objects to be surrendered to them. +This is a condition to which His Majesty's government +cannot agree. His Majesty's government +would also be unable to recognize the interpretation +which was placed on their former offer, so far +as regards the control over the lands belonging to +the Crown in New Brunswick. Under these circumstances, +I can only desire you to convey to the +assembly His Majesty's regrets that the objects of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +their address cannot be complied with, and, adverting +to the wide difference between the views entertained +by the government and those manifested by +the assembly on this subject, it seems to me that +no advantage could be anticipated from making +any further proposals at present respecting the +cession of the territorial revenue."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RENEWED AGITATION</div> + +<p>This despatch, which brought a sudden close to +the negotiations with regard to the casual and territorial +revenues of the province, did not emanate +from the government with which the House of +Assembly had been previously negotiating, but +from a new administration which had just been +formed under the premiership of Sir Robert Peel, +and which lasted just one hundred and forty-five +days. The creation of this administration was due +to the action of King William IV, in dismissing +his advisers on the death of Earl Spencer, which +removed Lord Althorp from the House of Commons. +The king had grown to detest his cabinet +for their reforming spirit, but his designs were +thwarted by the failure of Sir Robert Peel to form +an administration capable of facing the House of +Commons. As a consequence, Viscount Melbourne +again became premier, and a renewal of the negotiations +with the government in regard to the +casual and territorial revenues was rendered possible.</p> + +<p>The House of Assembly was still determined to +keep the question of the casual and territorial revenue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +to the front, and at a later period in the session +another address on this subject was prepared by +the House of Assembly, to be laid before His Majesty. +In this address the grievances with regard +to the management of the Crown lands of New +Brunswick were recited, and the willingness of the +legislature to provide for the civil establishment of +the province was stated. The address urged the +benefits that would result to the people of New +Brunswick from placing the net proceeds of the +Crown-land revenues under the control of the legislature. +Attached to this address was a schedule of +salaries proposed to be paid out of the casual and +territorial revenues, amounting in all to £10,500 +currency. The address was transmitted to the governor +to be forwarded to His Majesty. No specific +answer was ever made to this proposal, a fact which +was probably due to the confusion, incident to the +change of government, which took place about the +time the address reached Downing Street.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CUSTOM-HOUSE SALARIES</div> + +<p>Another matter which engaged the attention of +the House during this session, and in which Wilmot +took an active interest, was the settlement +of the salaries of the custom-house officials. Although +the surplus revenue from this source went +into the provincial treasury, the amount thus +received was much less than it ought to have been, +in consequence of the large salaries which were +paid to the officials. In the year 1830 the amount +of custom-house duties collected in the province<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +was £16,616 18s. 11d. sterling, from which was +deducted for salaries £7,073 6s., or nearly one-half +of the whole amount. The House of Assembly +objected to the payment of such large salaries, and +in 1831 proposed to the British government to +make a permanent annual grant of £4,250 sterling +for the payment of customs officials in New +Brunswick. This proposal was accepted, and in the +following year a bill was passed in accordance with +this arrangement. But it was protested against by +the customs authorities in England and disallowed +because the salaries of the officers of customs were +not made the first charge on the revenue. During +the session of 1835, an amended bill embracing +this provision was passed, and the question was +settled for the time. Mr. Wilmot was not satisfied +with this arrangement, because it was a violation +of the principle that the House of Assembly +should have control of the provincial revenue, +and he therefore voted against it. Nevertheless, +the measure apart from this violation of a fundamental +principle, was a gain to the province, as it +placed a considerable sum additional in the public +treasury.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<small>WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mr. Wilmot</span> took a very active part in the +proceedings of the legislature during the session +of 1836, and was the moving spirit in the committee +of the whole to inquire into the state of the +province during that session. The result was the +passing by large majorities of a series of twenty-six +resolutions condemning the management of the +Crown lands office, the composition of the executive +council and also of the legislative council, and +declaring that the control of the casual and territorial +revenues should be placed in the hands of +the legislature. These resolutions were made the +basis of an address to His Majesty, which was to +be carried to England by a deputation of two +members of the House of Assembly. This address +relates at length the principal facts of the management +of the Crown lands and the reasons of the +House of Assembly for dissatisfaction therewith. +Mr. Wilmot, in recognition of the active part he +had taken in this business, was appointed a member +of the delegation, the other member being +William Crane of Westmorland, a gentleman of +experience, wealth and standing in the province.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +This appointment was the highest compliment that +could possibly have been paid to Wilmot's capacity, +for the negotiation then to be conducted with the +colonial office was of the most important and delicate +character, and one which vitally affected the +interests of the province.</p> + +<p>The colonial secretary at that time was Lord +Glenelg, a statesman whose character has been +drawn by Sir Henry Taylor, who was then a clerk +in the colonial office. "Amiable and excellent as +he was," says Taylor, "a more incompetent man +could not have been found to fill an office requiring +activity and ready judgment. A dart flung at +him by Lord Brougham in 1838 points to his +notorious defect as a minister called upon to deal +with a crisis. The then crisis was that of the +Canadian Rebellion." "It is indeed," said Lord +Brougham, "a most alarming and frightful state of +things, and I am sure must have given my noble +friend many a sleepless day." It was probably +because of Lord Glenelg's habit of procrastination +that the delegates had to remain in London for +four months before they were able to bring their +business to a conclusion. They arrived there about +the middle of June, and it was well on in October +before they were able to leave. The result of their +work was that an arrangement was made satisfactory +both to the British government and to the +delegates representing the House of Assembly, by +which the casual and territorial revenues were to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +be transferred to the province, in consideration of +the legislature undertaking to provide for a civil +list of £14,500 currency annually, for the payment +of certain salaries chargeable to that fund. A draft +of a Civil List Bill was prepared and agreed to by +the lords of the treasury, and the understanding +was that this bill should be passed by the legislature, +and receive the assent of the lieutenant-governor, +when it would immediately become +operative.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL</div> + +<p>The first clause of this bill transferred the proceeds +of the territorial and casual revenues, and of +all woods, mines and royalties which had been collected +and were then in hand, or which should +thereafter be collected, to the provincial treasurer, +who was authorized to receive them for the use of +the province, while the Act remained in force. The +second clause charged the revenues with the payment +of £14,500 for a civil list. The third clause +enacted that all the surplus over and above the sum +of £14,500 currency, should remain in the treasury +of the province until appropriated or disposed of +by an Act or Acts of the general assembly. The +fourth clause gave the lieutenant-governor, with the +advice of his executive council, power to expend +such sums as they might deem necessary for the +prudent management, protection and collection of +the said revenues, a detailed account of which was +to be laid before the legislature within fourteen +days of the commencement of each session, with all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +vouchers for the same. It was also enacted that all +grants or sales of Crown lands should be void, unless +the land had been sold at public auction after due +notice in the <i>Royal Gazette</i>. By this arrangement +the House of Assembly had obtained the boon for +which it had so long been contending, but there +was still one more obstacle to be overcome,—the +opposition of the lieutenant-governor, Sir Archibald +Campbell, who had entered into a plot with some +of the enemies of freedom in the province for the +purpose of thwarting, not only the wishes of the +House of Assembly, but also the intentions of the +home government. As soon as Sir Archibald +Campbell was apprised of the intention of His +Majesty's advisers in England to transfer the casual +and territorial revenues to the provincial legislature, +he commenced a correspondence with the colonial +office, pointing out what he deemed to be imperfections +in the scheme which they had prepared for +the management of the public lands. He pretended +to have discovered that there was some error in the +calculation of the lords of the treasury with regard +to the sum to be paid in lieu of the civil list, and +that the amount of £14,500 currency would not be +sufficient to defray all the expenditures chargeable +on the civil list.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AN OBSTRUCTIVE GOVERNOR</div> + +<p>Sir Archibald Campbell, soon after the opening +of the session of the legislature, in December 1836, +requested the House of Assembly to add a suspending +clause to any Civil List Bill they might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +pass, so that he might forward it to the home government +for their approval. As this was entirely +contrary to the understanding which had been +reached between Messrs. Wilmot and Crane and +the colonial secretary,—it being understood that the +bill if passed in the form agreed upon would be immediately +assented to by the lieutenant-governor,—the +House of Assembly very naturally refused to +comply with Sir Archibald's wishes. He, however, +held firm in his resolution, and the Civil List Bill +which had been agreed to by the home authorities, +after being passed by both Houses, did not receive +his assent. At the close of the session, while the +matter was under discussion, at the instigation of +the lieutenant-governor one of the executive council, +Solicitor-General Street, was sent on a secret +mission to Downing Street. The object of this mission +was to make such representations to the home +authorities as would induce them to delay giving +their assent to the Civil List Bill. The truth of +the matter seems to have been that Sir Archibald +Campbell and his advisers in New Brunswick +thought if they could only gain time the Liberal +government of England which had granted such +favourable terms to the province might be defeated, +and a Tory government come into power which +would speedily undo all that their predecessors had +done, and refuse to grant any concessions to the +legislature of New Brunswick. There was great +excitement in the province in consequence of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +action of the lieutenant-governor, and this excitement +was fairly voiced in the House of Assembly, +where an address was prepared representing the +condition of affairs to His Majesty, and detailing +the manner in which the lieutenant-governor had +sought to thwart the intentions of the imperial +government. This address was passed by a vote of +twenty-seven to two, the only members of the +House who ventured to stand with the man who +occupied Government House being John Ambrose +Street and William End.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL PASSED</div> + +<p>Messrs. Crane and Wilmot were again appointed +a deputation to proceed to England with the +address of the House of Assembly, and took their +departure two days after it was passed, amidst great +popular demonstrations by the citizens of Fredericton. +The legislature was prorogued on March 1st, +on which day the House of Assembly again requested +the lieutenant-governor to pass the Civil +List Bill, pointing out that under the arrangements +made with the colonial office it was his duty to do +so, but their request fell upon deaf ears. In the +speech proroguing the legislature, Sir Archibald +Campbell stated that he had withheld his assent +from this bill because a suspending clause had not +been appended to it. These were the last words +that this obstinate governor was destined to speak +before a New Brunswick legislature. Finding that +all his hopes of impeding the progress of the +province in the direction of political liberty were in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +vain, he tendered his resignation to save himself +from being removed, as he would have been, for his +direct disobedience to the commands of his superiors +in England.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Sir John Harvey, another soldier, but +a man of a very different spirit, was appointed to +succeed him as lieutenant-governor. The Civil List +Bill was again passed at a special session of the +legislature and received the assent of the governor, +becoming law on July 17th, 1837. From that time +to the present, the province of New Brunswick has +controlled the revenues which it derives from its +Crown lands and similar sources, and, whether wisely +expended or not, the people of this province have +at least the satisfaction of knowing that the money +is appropriated by their own representatives, and by +a government which is responsible to them for its +actions.</p> + +<p>The death of King William IV took place during +the summer of 1837, and brought about another +general election. Mr. Wilmot again stood for the +county of York and was returned at the head of +the poll. This was only a proper recognition of his +eminent services to the province in the legislature +and as a delegate to England. At this election, +Charles Fisher, a young lawyer, was also returned +for the county of York. Mr. Fisher, although not +so fluent a speaker as Wilmot, was second to no +man in the legislature in devotion to Liberal principles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +and he proved a most valuable lieutenant +in the battle for responsible government which now +began. The contest for the control of the Crown +lands of the province had been won, but a still more +difficult task remained for the friends of constitutional +principles to accomplish,—the making of the +executive responsible to the people. The members +of the House of Assembly had been almost unanimous +in demanding the control of the Crown lands, +but, when it came to applying the principles of responsible +government to the affairs of the province +generally, there were many deserters from the ranks +of those who had called themselves Reformers. This +was partly due to the principles of responsible government +not being well understood even by some +members of the legislature, and partly to the fact +that the question did not touch the self-interest of +the members in the same manner as the mismanagement +of the Crown lands department had done.</p> + +<p>Under a thoroughly constitutional system of +government the initiation of money grants would +have been in the hands of the executive, but in +1837 not a single member of the executive council +had a seat in the House of Assembly. Three of +the five members of the executive council were +also members of the legislative council, but the +two others had no seat in either House, a fact +which shows on what lax principles the executive +was constructed. The initiation of money grants +being in the House of Assembly, any private member<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +had it in his power to move an appropriation +of money for any object that he pleased. In this +way a system of "log rolling" was inaugurated in +the legislature, which resulted in extravagant expenditures +and the appropriation of money for +objects which, under a better system, would not +have received it. It was impossible to put any +check upon the expenditure or to keep it within +the income under such an arrangement, and one +of the first efforts of the Reformers was therefore +directed to the removal of this abuse. Unfortunately +this was, of all the proposed reforms in the +constitution, the one most difficult to carry, and +it was not accomplished until after Wilmot had +retired from public life.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">KING'S COLLEGE</div> + +<p>One of the subjects which engaged the attention +of Mr. Wilmot, at an early period of his legislative +career, was the charter of King's College. This +charter had been obtained in 1828 from His Majesty, +King George IV, and the legislature had +granted the college an endowment of eleven hundred +pounds currency a year, in addition to ten +hundred pounds sterling granted by the king out of +the casual and territorial revenues of the province. +The aim of the charter was to make the college a +Church of England institution exclusively, for it +provided that the bishop of the diocese should be +the visitor of the college, and that the president +should always be a clergyman in holy orders of +the United Church of England and Ireland. No<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +religious test was required of students matriculating +or taking degrees in arts, but the council +of the college, which was the governing body, +was to be composed of members of the Church +of England, who, previous to their appointment, +had subscribed to the thirty-nine articles. The +professors, to the number of seven, who were +members of the Church of England, were to be +members of the council, so that, although no religious +test was required of them, it was reasonably +certain that none but persons of that denomination +would be appointed to professorships. These terms +were much complained of, and surely it was absurd +to place a provincial college under the control of +a single denomination which could not claim more +than one-third of the population of the province +as belonging to its communion. It is stated in +Fullom's <i>Life of Sir Howard Douglas</i>, who was +lieutenant-governor of the province at the time, +that the charter would have been much less liberal +than it was if it had not been for his efforts. The +Bishop of Nova Scotia and the Bishop of London +desired to confine it entirely to students belonging +to the Church of England, and to make subscription +to the thirty-nine articles a condition precedent +to the granting of degrees in arts. On the +other hand, Attorney-General Peters in 1845, when +the amendments to the charter were discussed in +the legislative council, stated that the charter as +originally drafted and sent to England was much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +more liberal in its provisions than when finally +passed, but that in 1828, to the surprise of Sir +Howard Douglas, the then existing charter came +out copied from one obtained by Dr. Strachan for +Upper Canada. If this statement was correct, it +affords a singular illustration of the injury that the +bigotry of one man can cause to future generations. +If King's College had treated all denominations on +equal terms, all would have resorted to it for higher +education. As it was, it became the college of only +a section of the people, the different denominations +established colleges of their own, and when finally +the connection between the Church of England +and King's College was severed and it became the +University of New Brunswick, the denominational +colleges had become so well established that it +could hardly compete with them on equal terms.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AN EXCLUSIVE INSTITUTION</div> + +<p>During the session of 1838 Mr. Wilmot, as chairman, +submitted to the legislature the report of the +select committee which had been appointed to take +into consideration the state of the college. In this +report it was proposed to make certain alterations +in the charter for the purpose of rendering it more +acceptable to those who were not in the communion +of the Church of England. In 1839 he introduced +a bill in the House of Assembly embracing +these amendments. The principal changes were to +make the lieutenant-governor visitor of the college +instead of the bishop, to repeal the section which +provided that the president of the college must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +a member of the Church of England, and to make +persons of every denomination eligible for members +of the college council. The professorship of theology +was still retained, and students in that course +were still required to subscribe to the thirty-nine +articles, while services were held in the college +morning and evening according to the rites of the +Church of England. These changes were certainly +of a very moderate character, but they were stoutly +resisted by the college authorities and their friends. +They put forward the plea that the legislature had +no right to alter a royal charter, that to do so was +an interference with the royal prerogative, and that +the direst consequence would ensue if the constitution +of the college was changed. According to +their view, a royal charter once granted, the king +himself, even with the assistance of both branches +of the legislature, could not amend it. The college +authorities also denied that they were under the +control of the legislature in any way, or responsible +to it for their management of the institution, +although they were living on money voted by the +legislature for its support.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN</div> + +<p>Wilmot's bill passed the House of Assembly, but +was defeated in the legislative council. A similar +bill was introduced by him in 1840, but postponed +in consequence of a communication from the college +council which seemed to show an inclination +to yield something to the demands of the public. +But a fatal objection to these modifications being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +accepted was the insistence of the college council +that the bishop of the diocese, or in his absence the +archdeacon, should be a member of that body. +Representatives of the Presbyterians, Methodists +and Baptists pointed out in a memorial to the lieutenant-governor +that the exclusive character of the +council would still remain, as that body would be +composed wholly of members of the Church of +England. Lord John Russell, the colonial secretary, +to whom the matter had been referred, suggested +that the college should surrender its charter and +that a new one should be prepared embracing the +proposed changes, but the college council took no +steps to carry these suggestions into effect. This +being the case, at Wilmot's instance the House +of Assembly proposed an address to the queen setting +forth the facts of the case and asking Her +Majesty to assent to a bill, a draft of which was +enclosed, which the House of Assembly was +prepared to pass.</p> + +<p>At the session of 1842 Wilmot again introduced +the King's College Bill, and it was passed by the +House, but again rejected by the legislative council. +Early in the session of 1843, the lieutenant-governor +communicated to the House by message +two despatches from Downing Street on the subject +of the college. One of these was from Lord +John Russell, and the other from his successor, +Lord Stanley. Lord John laid down the doctrine +that "it is a principle of undoubted validity that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +grant of franchise by the Crown is irrevocable and +unalterable by a further exercise of the royal +authority unless the power of revocation and +change be embodied and reserved in the original +grant, or unless the grantees make a voluntary +surrender of their franchises." Lord John had evidently +forgotten his English history, or he would +have known that English kings on many occasions +had revoked charters granted by themselves or +their predecessors.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Lord John desired the college +to surrender its charter and accept a new one, but +Lord Stanley and the law officers of the Crown +whom he had consulted held a different view, and +thought that a new charter could be granted to +supersede the old. Both colonial secretaries were +desirous that the changes in the constitution of the +college should be effected by a new royal charter. +But this did not suit the views of the House of +Assembly, and after another college bill had been +defeated in the House and rejected by the council, +on March 20th, 1843, the following resolution, +which was moved by Mr. Wilmot, was passed by +the House without a division:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Whereas</span>, The assembly, during several years +past, have endeavoured, without success, to effect +certain reasonable modifications in the charter of +King's College; and whereas those modifications as +contained in the bill which has been rejected by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +the legislative council, during the present session, +have been loudly and repeatedly called for by +numerous petitions from nearly every county in +the province, while no petition has ever been presented +against those modifications; and whereas it +is in vain to expect the amount of public benefit +from the institution which its munificent endowment +from the provincial revenue should ensure; +therefore,</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, That this House have learned with +much regret and disappointment that a majority of +the legislative council have rejected the said bill +during the present session; and further</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, That this House should persevere in +their endeavours to amend the said charter by legislative +enactment, and not resort to an address to +the throne for a new charter; and that this House +will steadfastly adhere to the principle that all the +educational establishments of the province, which +are endowed from the colonial revenues, whether +incorporated by royal charter or otherwise, should +be at all times subject to the supervision of the +local legislature."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">COLLEGE CHARTER AMENDED</div> + +<p>This resolution embodied a great principle to +which the House of Assembly was determined to +adhere, and which was very soon carried out. In +1844 the college amendment bill was again rejected +by the council, but this was the last effort of that +reactionary body to defeat the wishes of the people. +At the session of 1845, the college bill was again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +introduced by Mr. Wilmot, and this time it passed +both Houses. But like many important bills of +that day it was reserved for Her Majesty's pleasure +and although passed in March, 1845, it was not +until December, 1846, that it received the royal +assent and became law.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> This is shown by the correspondence of Sir John Harvey with the +colonial office. Sir John was then governor of Prince Edward Island.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Charles II annulled the charter of Massachusetts, and disposed in +a similar fashion of the charter of the city of London, as well as of many +English towns.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V<br /> +<small>LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> the session of 1840 Sir John Harvey, the lieutenant-governor, +communicated to the legislature +a despatch which he had received from +Lord John Russell a short time before. This dealt +with the question of the tenure of public offices in +the gift of the Crown throughout the British colonies. +Lord John had been struck by the fact that, +while the governor of a colony was liable to have +his commission revoked at any time, the commissions +of all other public officials were very rarely +recalled except for positive misconduct. In New +Brunswick offices had been held generally for life +and sometimes for two lives, as was the case with +the Odells, father and son, who filled the position +of secretary of the province for sixty years. One +attorney-general of the province had held office for +twenty-four years, another for nineteen years and +a third for twenty years. One surveyor-general +held office for thirty-three years and another for +almost thirty years. Under such a system, it was +clear that responsible government could make no +advance, for these officials held their positions quite +independently of the wishes of the legislature. +Lord John Russell thought that the time had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +come when a different course should be followed, +and his despatch was for the purpose of announcing +to the lieutenant-governor the rules which +would hereafter be observed in the province of +New Brunswick. He said:—</p> + +<p>"You will understand, and cause it to be made +generally known, that hereafter the tenure of +colonial offices held during Her Majesty's pleasure +will not be regarded as equivalent to a tenure during +good behaviour, but that not only such officers +will be called upon to retire from the public service +as often as any sufficient motives of public policy +may suggest the expediency of that measure, but +that a change in the person of the governor will be +considered as a sufficient reason for any alterations +which his successor may deem it expedient to make +in the list of public functionaries, subject, of course, +to the future confirmation of the sovereign.</p> + +<p>"These remarks do not extend to judicial offices, +nor are they meant to apply to places which are +altogether ministerial, and which do not devolve +upon the holders of them duties, in the right discharge +of which the character or policy of the government +are directly involved. They are intended +to apply rather to the heads of departments than to +persons serving as clerks, or in similar capacities +under them. Neither do they extend to officers in +the services of the lords commissioners of the treasury. +The functionaries who will be chiefly, though +not exclusively, affected by them, are the colonial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +secretary, the treasurer or receiver-general, the surveyor-general, +the attorney-general and solicitor-general, +the sheriff or provost marshal, and other +officers, who under different designations from these, +are entrusted with the same or similar duties. To +this list must be also added the members of the +council, especially in those colonies in which the +legislative and executive councils are distinct +bodies.</p> + +<p>"The application of these rules to officers to be +hereafter appointed will be attended with no practical +difficulty. It may not be equally easy to enforce +them in the case of existing officers, and especially +of those who may have left this country for the +express purpose of accepting the offices they at +present fill. Every reasonable indulgence must be +shown for the expectations which such persons have +been encouraged to form. But even in these instances +it will be necessary that the right of enforcing +these regulations should be distinctly maintained, +in practice as well as in theory, as often as +the public good may clearly demand the enforcement +of them. It may not be unadvisable to compensate +any such officers for their disappointment, +even by pecuniary grants, when it may appear +unjust to dispense with their services without such +an indemnity."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AN HISTORIC DESPATCH</div> + +<p>This despatch produced consternation among +those who had been accustomed to regard their offices +as held on a life tenure, but it was looked upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +by all the friends of good government as the beginning +of a new and better order of things with respect +to the public services. The matter was considered +by a committee of the whole House a few days after +the despatch was received, and an effort was made +by Wilmot to have a favourable vote with regard to +it. But although the friends of the old Family +Compact always professed to be extremely loyal and +to pay great deference to the wishes of the British +government, on this occasion they pursued a different +course. A majority of the House voted down a +resolution which affirmed that this despatch should +be "highly satisfactory," "affording, as it does, the +most satisfactory proof of a sincere desire on the +part of our Most Gracious Queen and her government +to infuse principles in the administration of +colonial affairs strictly analogous to the principles +of the British constitution." Instead of passing +this sensible resolution the committee, by the casting +vote of the chairman, passed the following +absurd amendment:—</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, As the opinion of this committee, that +there is nothing in the despatch of the Right +Honourable Lord John Russell, now under consideration, +to call forth any expression from the +House on the subject of colonial government, and +that in the event of any occurrence taking place +to disturb the present happy political state of the +province, the House cannot but entertain the opinion +that any loyal and dutiful representations which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +they may have occasion to lay at the foot of the +throne will receive, as they have always done, the +royal consideration."</p> + +<p>The vote on the original resolution was fifteen to +thirteen, so that, although defeated, it had a strong +support in the House, yet it was years before the +principles embodied in the despatch of Lord John +Russell were carried into full effect in New +Brunswick.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">OFFICIAL SALARIES</div> + +<p>When the Civil List Bill was passed in 1837, the +salaries of the public officials which were provided +for in it were placed on a very liberal scale. The +lieutenant-governor was to receive £3,500 sterling, +or almost double the present salary of the lieutenant-governor +of New Brunswick. The commissioner of +Crown lands was to have £1,750 sterling, or about +five times as much as the present holder of that +office; the provincial secretary got £1,430 sterling, or +more than three times as much as the secretary of +the province now receives. All the other salaries +were in the same proportion, and on a scale altogether +beyond the means of the province. It was +admitted by Lord Glenelg, when the arrangements +were being made for the transfer of the casual and +territorial revenues, that these salaries might require +modification, and he suggested that the legislative +council and the House of Assembly should at some +future day present him with their views on this +subject. At the session of 1837, a committee of the +House of Assembly, of which Wilmot was a member,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +reported in favour of a reduced scale of salaries, +and this report was adopted by the House. During +the same year, a committee of the council recommended +that the salary of the surveyor-general or +commissioner of Crown lands should be reduced to +twelve hundred pounds currency. This reduction +was protested against by Mr. Baillie, who had +held the office for many years, but it was thought +to be reasonable by Lord Glenelg. The executive +council, however, took no steps to effect this reduction, +possibly because Mr. Baillie himself was +a member of that body. At the instance of Mr. +Wilmot, the matter was taken up by the House +at the session of 1839, and a strongly worded +resolution passed censuring the executive council +for not carrying into effect the reduction of the +salary of the surveyor-general, according to the +views of Lord Glenelg. At a later period in the +same session, a committee, of which Wilmot was +an active member, laid before the House a scale +of salaries which they had prepared and which +they considered sufficient for the public officials +embraced in the civil list. Under this scale, the +salary of the surveyor-general was reduced to £600 +currency, and that of the provincial secretary +to the same amount. This report was not accepted +by the House. There were strong interests +working for the retention of the existing salaries, +and it was not until a much later period that the +salaries of the public officials were placed on a footing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +that agreed in some measure with the means of +the province.</p> + +<p>At the session of 1842, Wilmot was an active +member of a committee which was appointed to +take into consideration the subject of fees and +emoluments of the public officers, and at a later +period in the session they made a report recommending +that all fees should go into the treasury +of the province and that all public officers should +receive a certain fixed salary. They presented with +their report a scale of salaries which they considered +sufficient, which gave the provincial secretary, +surveyor-general and attorney-general each +six hundred pounds. Bills were introduced for the +purpose of carrying these recommendations into +effect, but, although passed by the House, they +were rejected by the council, which for many +years was the graveyard of all measures for the +improvement of the province.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>The general election of 1842 was mainly fought on +the Reform issue, and the question of responsible +government was discussed on every hustings. Unfortunately +very few of the candidates who offered +their services as legislators had a clear idea of what +responsible government really meant, and some of +the gentlemen who were not ashamed to confess +their ignorance of the principles of the British constitution +were men of education and position, from +whom better things might have been expected. +Mr. Robert L. Hazen, an eminent lawyer, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +a candidate for the representation of the city of St. +John, declared in his nomination speech that he +never met with any one who could explain to him +satisfactorily what responsible government meant. +Mr. Humbert, one of the candidates for St. John +County, was entirely averse to the new principles. +"And what," he asked, "are these principles?" +"Why," he would ask, "should the old system be +altered; it had never given cause for complaint, it +had always worked well,—then why should the +people complain?" He was not in favour of any +innovations on British colonial government. Very +few people understood what responsible government +meant. He hardly understood it himself. It +was, in his opinion, just introducing another branch +into our government. He was not in favour of +the government initiating the money votes. He +was always sensitive about the rights of the House—to +them ought the power of originating the supplies +to belong, and to none other—and if returned +he would oppose the measure.</p> + +<p>Such absurdities as the above would not be +worth quoting, but for the light they throw on the +views of the average New Brunswick politician of +that period. Mr. Humbert had been for many +years a member of the House of Assembly, and +yet he had been unable to understand the significance +of the changes which the Reformers proposed +in the constitution of the country. The result of +the election in St. John showed that the people of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +that city and county were quite indifferent to the +new doctrines. For the county, Mr. Partelow was +at the head of the poll, and that gentleman on the +hustings had declared that he was opposed to any +change in the constitution. He went into the +House, he said, under a constitution of fifty years' +standing, and he was determined to leave it as he +found it, unimpaired. He disapproved of the initiation +of money votes being placed in the hands of +the executive. He thought "such a system would +be wrong and pernicious in the extreme."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">REFORMERS DEFEATED</div> + +<p>When the legislature met in January 1843, it +was found that the Reformers were in the minority. +Mr. Partelow was determined to make this +fact very clear, for in nominating the speaker he +made a speech of some length in which he declared +that the time had come for testing the principles +on which the House should act, and with this object +in view he would throw down the gauntlet to +the friends of responsible government by nominating +Mr. J. W. Weldon, to fill the chair. This gentleman +was a very fit representative of the old system, +for besides being a member for Kent, he filled +almost all the offices in that county which one man +could hold. He was postmaster of Richibucto, +deputy treasurer for the port of Richibucto, issuer +of marriage licenses for the county of Kent, keeper +of the seals and clerk of the peace and of the inferior +court of common pleas, and registrar of probates +for the same county.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot was nominated for the speakership +by Mr. Hill, of Charlotte, but declined to run; the +odds were too great, and so Mr. Weldon, the opponent +of responsible government, was elected without +opposition. This was an unsatisfactory result +after so many years of conflict, but the friends of +Reform, although they had to admit defeat, were +neither daunted nor discouraged. They knew that +many other questions besides the abstract one of +the adoption of responsible government had influenced +the recent election, and that the new +principles had been blamed for results that would +have been avoided if they had been in operation. +For instance, the transfer of the casual and territorial +revenues to the treasury of the province in +1837 had placed a very large sum, amounting to +£150,000, at the disposal of the legislature. All this +money had been dissipated by extravagant grants, +and in 1842 the province was actually in debt. +Many ignorant electors were made to believe that +this result was due to the Reformers who had been +the means of obtaining this money, which the legislature +had squandered; and this feeling was so +strong in the county of York, that Messrs. Wilmot +and Fisher stood lower on the poll than the +two anti-Reformers who were elected with them.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI<br /> +<small>THE READE APPOINTMENT</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Although</span> elected in opposition to responsible +government, the legislature of 1843 at +its first session took one important step in favour +of Reform. The arrangement by which the executive +and legislative councils were separated, which +had come into force ten years before, although a +decided improvement on the old state of affairs, did +not produce universal satisfaction.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> The constitution +of the legislative council was complained of, +and it was described as an obstructive body which +disregarded the wishes of the people. Bills of the +utmost importance, which had been passed by large +majorities in the House of Assembly, and which +were demanded by the people, were frequently +rejected by the council without being even discussed. +Most of its members were opposed to any +change in the constitution of the province, and +everything which seemed to be in the direction of +giving power to the people was denounced as an +innovation and condemned as an infringement of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +the vested rights of the council. One of the chief +causes of complaint against the council was their +rejection of every bill for the amendment of the +charter of King's College. Wilmot had so frequently +had his efforts in this direction nullified by +the council that he introduced a resolution in the +assembly condemning the conduct of that body for +rejecting the college bill, and the council retaliated +by unanimously voting this a breach of privilege.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +The complaints of the House of Assembly +against the legislative council were now embodied +in an address to the queen. In this address it was +stated that in the opinion of the House the legislative +council should be composed of persons not +only representing all the leading interests of the +province, but so independent in respect to property +and so free from official control as to form a constitutional +check on the executive. Although, by +the laws that existed then, members of the assembly +were required to be possessed of real estate to +the value of two hundred pounds, over and above +all encumbrances, there was no property qualification +whatever required for members of the legislative +council. The address of the House expressed +the opinion that members of the council should be +required to possess a certain amount of real estate, +and that their seats should be vacant on the loss of +this qualification, or on their becoming bankrupt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +or public defaulters, or from neglect to give their +attendance for a given time without leave of the +lieutenant-governor. The address also stated that +the constitution of the legislative council was +defective and objectionable in other respects, because, +of the eighteen members who composed it, a +great proportion held offices at the pleasure of the +Crown, and the principal officers of the government +usually formed a majority of the members +present. It was also complained that members of +the Church of England had too great a preponderance +in the council, the only members not of +that communion being one Presbyterian and one +Baptist.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL</div> + +<p>At the next session of the legislature, despatches +from Lord Stanley were laid before the House of +Assembly in which it was stated that the council +would be increased in number to twenty-one, and +four new members of the council were to be +appointed. The new members then appointed were +T. H. Peters, Admiral Owen, William Crane and +George Minchin, while the Hon. Thomas Baillie, +the surveyor-general, the Hon. Mr. Lee, the receiver-general, +the Hon. James Allanshaw, of St. +Andrews, and the Hon. Harry Peters, of Gagetown, +retired. No doubt the retirement of two officials +who received large salaries was some improvement, +but the council required further remodelling before +it could be said to be an efficient body, or one in +sympathy with the inhabitants of the province.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>The legislative council has now ceased to exist, +and it may be said of it that it was never a very +satisfactory body for legislative purposes. Perhaps +the original composition of it created such a prejudice +against legislative councils as to hamper its +activities; and, from having been at first merely the +echo of the wishes of the governor, it became latterly, +to a large extent, the echo of the wishes of the +government. Gradually it became relieved of its +official members, and in its last years no head of a +department ever occupied a seat in the legislative +council; for it was thought, and rightly, that the +power ought to be in the House, where the responsibility +to the people was most felt, and that it was +not wise to place an official whose department +expended large sums of money in a body which +properly had no control over the public expenditure. +The legislative council had undoubtedly from time +to time many able and useful members, and, at certain +periods in the history of the province, particularly +during the confederation discussions, it took a +firm stand in favour of measures which seemed +essential to the prosperity of the British North +American provinces. No one can deny that at that +time it exercised an authority fully equal to that of +the Lower House, but it cannot be doubted that +some of this work was done at the expense of the +proper balance of the constitution. Such an exercise +of unusual authority on the part of a body not +elected by the people may serve a purpose at a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +particular crisis, but cannot be commended as an +example, and if frequently repeated would end in +the destruction of the constitution.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE COUNCIL'S RECORD</div> + +<p>The legislative council lost a considerable proportion +of its able men at the time of confederation +by the removal of eleven of its members to the +senate of Canada, although one or two remained +with it who were not inferior to any of those who +then took their departure. The new members who +came in as their successors were naturally inferior +to the old in practical experience and ability, and +this had, no doubt, an influence on the future of the +House. The example of Ontario, which was able +to conduct its affairs with one House, showed that +two independent branches of the legislature were +by no means necessary, and that the council might +be abolished with safety. No doubt it was difficult +to bring this about among a people who had been +trained to believe that there was something essential +to legislation in the balance of king, lords, and commons, +making up one legislative body. But in the +course of time the electors began to think that +the council was not exactly the proper equivalent +of the House of Lords, and the lieutenant-governor +very far from standing in the position of a king. +Old prejudices in favour of a constitution framed +after a particular model are difficult to remove, but, +in the case of New Brunswick, these prejudices +were at length overcome, and it is safe to say that +in the course of time all the provincial legislatures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +of Canada will consist of but a single chamber. It +is equally safe to assert that under the new system +the work of legislation will be as well done as it +was under the old.</p> + +<p>The session of the legislature in 1843 came to an +end on April 11th, and on the seventeenth of the +same month Wilmot became a member of the government. +His appointment had been preceded by +the resignation of five members of the government—Messrs. +Black, Shore, Robinson, Odell and +Crane—and by the appointment of Messrs. E. B. +Chandler, Hugh Johnston, John Montgomery and +Robert L. Hazen, to fill the vacancies thus created. +Of the retiring members two—Messrs. Black and +Shore—were members of the legislative council; one +of them, Mr. Crane, was a member of the House of +Assembly, while the other two were officials who +did not belong to either branch of the legislature. +Of the new members of the executive council, +Messrs. Chandler and Johnston were members of +the legislative council, Messrs. Hazen and Wilmot +were members of the House of Assembly, while Mr. +Montgomery had no seat in either House. The +executive council as made up at that time included +four members of the legislative council, three +members of the House of Assembly and Mr. +Montgomery, who did not become a member of the +House of Assembly until three years later. There +is no doubt that the composition of the new executive +council was more in accordance with correct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +principles than its predecessor; yet little could be +expected from it in the way of Reform, for Wilmot +was the only member who was in favour of +responsible government.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ENTERS THE GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot has been censured for entering a +government composed of men who were opposed to +the liberal views he held on public questions. It +was thought by many that his conduct in this respect +looked too much like a surrender of his principles +for the sake of office or official position, and +it certainly would have been better if he had continued +in Opposition. Yet we can easily conceive +that he may have thought at the time he could do +more for the cause of Reform inside the government +than out of it, and, although this proved to be an +error, it was a natural one for which it is not difficult +to find an excuse. Fortunately for the cause +of Reform, Wilmot's connection with the government +did not last long at that time. A storm was +gathering in an unexpected quarter which was +destined to wreck the government, and to cause +some of its Conservative members to reconsider +their opinions with reference to some questions +which until then they had regarded as fixed and +unchangeable.</p> + +<p>It has been already stated that the governor of +the province made such appointments to office as +he pleased, usually without the advice of his council. +He was supposed to have the power to do this +as the representative of the sovereign and in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +exercise of what was termed "the royal prerogative." +In this way persons were frequently appointed +to offices who were not residents of the province, +and in all other cases appointments were given to +the members of certain favoured families. In 1834, +a vacancy was created on the supreme court bench +by the death of Chief-Justice Saunders. Ward +Chipman was appointed chief-justice in place of +Mr. Saunders, and the vacant puisne judgeship +was given to James Carter, who afterwards became +chief-justice of the province. Carter was a young +Englishman then living in London, and was certainly +no better qualified to fill the position of +judge than many natives of the province, so that +it was regarded as a gross insult to the members +of the New Brunswick bar, to give such an appointment +to a stranger. Yet so slow was public +opinion to make itself felt in regard to the evil of +the appointing power being given to the governor +without qualification, that ten years later the +House of Assembly presented an address to Sir +Charles Metcalfe, governor-general of Canada, +expressing the high sense entertained by them, as +representatives of the people of New Brunswick, +of the "constitutional stand" taken by him in maintaining +the prerogative of the Crown in the then +recent memorable "conflict."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> The city of St. John<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +also, to show its loyalty, presented a similar address; +and one signed by one thousand persons was +sent from the county of York.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SIR CHARLES METCALFE</div> + +<p>Yet nothing can be more clear than that the +stand taken by Sir Charles Metcalfe in 1844 was +wholly wrong, for it consisted in refusing to consult +with his council in regard to appointments, and in +making appointments contrary to their advice. +What would the people of Canada say to-day to a +governor-general who insisted on appointing men +to office against the advice of his cabinet? Yet it +was for doing this that the New Brunswick House +of Assembly, the city and county of St. John and +the county of York actually grovelled in the dust +before this despotic governor, thus approving of all +his acts. Such abasement and subserviency to an +unconstitutional governor was certain to bring its +own punishment, and it came much sooner than any +one could have anticipated. On Christmas Day of +the same year the Hon. William Franklin Odell, +who had been provincial secretary for thirty-two +years, died at Fredericton. Mr. Odell's father had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +been secretary before him from the foundation of +the province, so that the Odell family had held +that important and highly lucrative office for sixty +years.</p> + +<p>The governor at this time was Sir William +Colebrooke, and on January 1st, 1845, just one +week after the death of Mr. Odell, he appointed +his son-in-law, Alfred Reade, who was a native of +England and a stranger to the province, to the +vacant office. The gentlemen who had been most +prominent in shouting their approval of the "constitutional +stand" taken by Sir Charles Metcalfe, +now suddenly discovered that Sir William Colebrooke's +conduct in making this appointment without +consulting his council, was a fearful outrage, +and their distress was pitiable to behold. Several +members of the government, including such zealous +upholders of the prerogative as the Hon. Robert +L. Hazen, of St. John, at once resigned their +positions. A communication from three of them—Hugh +Johnston, E. B. Chandler and R. L. Hazen—addressed +to His Excellency gave as their reasons +for resigning that they could not justify the exercise +of the prerogative of the Crown in respect +to Mr. Reade's appointment, because they felt +that "the elevation to the highest offices of trust +and emolument of individuals whose character, services, +and claims to preferment, however appreciated +elsewhere, are entirely unknown to the +country generally, is prejudicial to the best interests<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +of the province." They did not, however, make +it a ground of objection that the appointment of +Mr. Reade was forwarded for the royal approbation +without the advice or concurrence of the council. +These gentlemen evidently thought it was too +early for them to eat the words in regard to the +prerogative of the Crown, of which they had been +so free a few months before, but they showed +their true characters by deserting the governor because +he had been foolish enough to believe that +their profuse expressions in favour of the royal +prerogative were sincere.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RESIGNATION</div> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot, who also resigned, sent a separate +communication to the lieutenant-governor in which +he stated what he considered to be the true constitutional +doctrine which should govern such matters. +He said:—</p> + +<p>"In the first place, I consider it justly due to +the people of this province, that all the offices of +honour and emolument in the gift of the administration +of the government should be bestowed +upon inhabitants of the province who have made +this country their home, and, in the cases of the +principal offices, those persons should be preferred +who have claims for public services rendered to the +province, and who can command the respect and +confidence of the country. With these views, +which I hope I shall ever retain, I must necessarily +disapprove of the appointment in question, as I +can only look upon Mr. Reade as a comparative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +stranger and a transient person, while, at the same +time, I am of opinion that he has no claim whatever +on the ground of public services rendered to +this province.</p> + +<p>"It would be in vain for the parents of our +youth to make every exertion in order to qualify +their sons for the higher offices of the province, if +the avenues to honourable and profitable preferment +are to be thus closed against them; and I +therefore cannot but view the appointment under +consideration as an act of great injustice to the +people of this country; and I can safely assure Your +Excellency that it will be thus considered throughout +the length and breadth of the province.</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency is well aware that ever since +I have had the honour of having a seat in the +council, I have approved of, and advocated those +principles of colonial government which are now in +full operation in Canada, which have been distinctly +enunciated by the present government in +the House of Commons, and which require the +administration to be conducted by heads of departments +responsible to the legislature, and holding +their offices contingently upon the approbation and +confidence of the country as expressed through the +representatives of the people. Still entertaining a +strong attachment to those principles from a clear +constitutionality, and, from a conscientious belief +in their safe and practical adaptation to a British +colony enjoying the privileges of a representative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +form of government, I can see no sufficient reason +for withholding their salutary influence from the +loyal and intelligent people of this province; and +considering it more advisable that a gradual advancement +should be made by the government +itself towards those principles as opportunities +may offer, than that a concession in gross should +hereafter be made to the urgent demands of the +country, I am of the opinion that the provincial +secretary should now be brought into the executive +government, and should hold a seat in one of the +Houses of the legislature—his tenure of office +being contingent upon the successful administration +of the government; and therefore, as the +appointment in question has been made irrespective +of any of these conditions, I am bound to give it +my opposition."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">REMONSTRANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY</div> + +<p>When the House met in the latter part of January, +the Reade appointment immediately became +the subject of discussion, and by the vote of twenty-four +to six, an address was passed to Her Majesty +the Queen, condemning the appointment, not, as +the members said, because they questioned "in the +remotest degree the prerogative in its undoubted +right to make such appointments," but because +they thought that the right of appointment had +been improperly or unjustly exercised. In other +words, the members of the House of Assembly +surrendered the principle that appointments should +be made by the governor, with the advice of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +executive, and only objected to the Reade appointment +because, in their opinion, some one else should +have been chosen. It is easy to see that in subscribing +to this address the members of the House +stultified themselves; for if it was a part of the prerogative +of the Crown to make appointments without +the advice of the council, surely the exercise of +the prerogative in the appointment of a particular +individual could not be fairly questioned. The +result of the difficulty, however, was the cancelling +of Mr. Reade's appointment by the home government. +This decision was communicated to the +House of Assembly by message on February 3rd, +1846. The despatch from the colonial office, upon +which the lieutenant-governor acted, was written +on March 31st, 1845, and must have been received +by him at Fredericton not later than the last of +April. But notwithstanding this despatch Mr. +Reade held office until July 17th, so it will be +seen that Sir William Colebrooke was in no hurry +to carry out the wishes of the home government. +Lord Stanley, the writer of the despatch in question, +expressed the opinion that public employment +should be bestowed on the natives or settled inhabitants +of the province, and he thought that Mr. +Reade did not come under this description. He +closed his despatch with the following singular +statement:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">READE'S APPOINTMENT CANCELLED</div> + +<p>"I observe with satisfaction that the House of +Assembly have not only abstained from complicating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +the subject with any abstract question of government, +but have rejected every proposal for laying +down formal principles upon such questions. The +House has, I think, in this course done justice to +the earnest desire of Her Majesty that the colonial +administration generally should be conducted in +harmony with the wishes of her people, whatever +may be the variations arising out of local considerations +and the state of society in various colonies, +subject to which that principle may be carried into +practice; and it is anxiously hoped that the same +wise forbearance which has led the House of +Assembly to decline the unnecessary discussion of +subjects of so much delicacy, may lead them also +to regard the practical decision now announced as +the final close of the controversy, and to unite in +the promotion, not of objects of party strife and +rivalry, but of the more substantial and enduring +interests of the colony which they represent." If +these words have any meaning, they seem to show +that at that date the British government believed +the right of appointment to be in the Crown, without +reference to the council, and that they were +unwilling that any general principle should be laid +down by the legislature of the province which +conflicted with this view.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> This change had been effected by a royal commission under the +signet and sign-manual dated December 3d, 1832. There is nothing in +the records of the province to show why this was done. Neither the +council nor the House of Assembly had asked for it. The Nova Scotia +council was not divided until 1838.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Mr. Wilmot's resolution was carried in the assembly without a division, +so that he had the solid support of the popular branch of the legislature, +yet little good was to be expected from such votes in the House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The resolution to present this address was strongly opposed by Mr. +Wilmot and his colleague, Mr. Fisher, who both declared the conduct +of Lord Metcalfe to be contrary to the principles of responsible government. +Mr. Wilmot's speech led to a singular result. He was attacked in +the <i>Loyalist</i> newspaper for his opposition to the address, and this attack +having been brought to the notice of the House of Assembly was voted +a breach of privilege. Messrs. Doak and Hill, the proprietors of the +paper, were arrested on the warrant of the speaker and committed to +prison. On the application of their counsel, Mr. D. S. Kerr, they were +released by Mr. Justice Carter on a writ of <i>habeas corpus</i>. Doak and Hill +both brought actions against the speaker, Mr. Weldon, and the result +was a decision of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick that the House +of Assembly had not the power to arrest and imprison the publisher of a +libel on a member of the House touching his conduct and proceedings in +the House.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII<br /> +<small>WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Among</span> the questions in which Wilmot took +a deep interest was that of education. His +views on this subject were far in advance of those +of most of his contemporaries. Education was in a +very unsatisfactory condition in the province of New +Brunswick when he entered public life, and it continued +in that condition for many years afterward. +If we may judge from the statute-book, the founders +of the province had very little appreciation of the +advantages of education, for no law was passed +with a view to the establishment of public schools +until the year 1805. In that year "An Act for encouraging +and extending literature in this province" +was passed, under the provisions of which a public +grammar school was established in the city of St. +John, which received a grant of one hundred +pounds for the purpose of assisting the trustees to +procure a suitable building for school uses, and also +an annual grant of one hundred pounds for the +support of the master. The same Act provided for +the establishment of county schools, and the sections +relating to them, being limited in respect to +time, were continued by 50th George III, Chap. +33 to the year 1816, when they expired and were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +replaced by "An Act for the establishment of +schools in the province." This Act expired in 1823, +and in its place "An Act for the encouragement +of parish schools" was passed the same year. This +last Act was repealed by "An Act in relation to +parish schools" passed in 1833, which continued in +force for many years. All these Acts were essentially +the same in principle, as they provided for +government aid to teachers who had been employed +to teach schools in the parishes under the +authority of the school trustees. The Act of 1833, +which was considered to be a great improvement +on former Acts, provided for the appointment of +three school trustees in each parish by the sessions, +and these trustees were charged with the duty of +dividing the parishes into districts and directing the +discipline of the schools. They were required to +certify once a year to the lieutenant-governor as to +the number of schools in their parish, the number +of scholars and other particulars, and on their certificate +the teacher drew the government money. +This money was granted at the rate of twenty +pounds for a male teacher who had taught school +a year, or ten pounds for six months, and ten +pounds for a female teacher who had taught school +a year, or five pounds for six months, provided the +inhabitants of the school district had subscribed +an equal amount for the support of the teacher, or +supplied board, washing and lodging to the teacher +in lieu of the money. Thus a male teacher in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +a district where a school was always kept, would +receive for his year's work his board, lodging and +washing, and twenty pounds in money; and a female +teacher ten pounds. Such a rate of remuneration +was not well calculated to attract competent persons, +and the result was very unsatisfactory. Most of +the teachers employed were old men who had a +mere smattering of learning and who were very +incompetent instructors. They usually lodged with +the parents of the pupils, living at each house in +proportion to the number of scholars sent. This +system, which raised them but one degree above the +condition of paupers, was not conducive to their +comfort or self-respect. As there was no uniformity +in the books prescribed and no sufficient educational +test, the results of such teaching were not +likely to be satisfactory. Sometimes the teacher +was a woman who eked out a scanty subsistence +by communicating her small learning to a few +scholars whom she gathered in her kitchen. Generally, +however, the school building was a log hut +without any of those appliances which are now +regarded as essential to the proper instruction of +youth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PROVINCIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS</div> + +<p>In 1816 an Act was passed providing for the +establishment of grammar schools in the several +counties of the province. At that period St. John +and St. Andrews had already grammar schools +which had been established under separate Acts, and +Fredericton had an academy or college, which was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +founded by a provincial charter granted by Lieutenant-Governor +Carleton in 1800. The counties of +St. John, Charlotte and York were therefore excepted +from the operation of the general Act for +the establishment of grammar schools. This Act, +after being amended in 1823, was finally repealed by +the Act of 1829, which endowed King's College at +Fredericton and made new provisions for the establishment +and support of grammar schools throughout +the province. King's College at a later period +developed into the University of New Brunswick. +It had its beginning in the original charter of 1800, +already referred to, which established the College +of New Brunswick. In the same year the governor +and trustees of the College of New Brunswick received +a grant, under the great seal of the province, +of a considerable tract of land in and near Fredericton +for the support of that institution of learning. +Until the year 1829, the New Brunswick College +was merely a classical school receiving from the +legislature annually two hundred and fifty pounds, +which was the same amount then allowed to the +St. John Grammar School.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MADRAS SCHOOLS</div> + +<p>At an early period, the attention of the people +of that province was directed to what was called +the Madras system of national schools as conducted +by Dr. Bell, the real founder of the system being +Joseph Lancaster. This system depends for its success +on the use of monitors, who are selected from +among the senior pupils to instruct the younger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +ones. It was supposed at the time to be a notable +discovery, but, like other short cuts to learning, has +fallen out of favour. In July, 1818, the first Madras +school was established in St. John by a Mr. +West from Halifax. This was a boys' school; and +a school for girls, on the same system, was opened +a year or two later. In 1819, a Madras school charter +was procured under the great seal of the province, +and the Madras school system established on +a substantial foundation. The province gave a grant +of two hundred and fifty pounds for the erection +of a suitable building in St. John, and the National +Society in England contributed to its support. +This charter was confirmed by an Act passed in +1820. The St. John school was to be regarded as +the central school, but it was the design of the +charter that the benefits of the system should be +extended to other parts of the province, and this +was accordingly done. The Madras schools received +liberal appropriations of money, and large grants of +land, and they continued to exist until the introduction +of the free school system in 1872. Two or +three of them, indeed, continued in operation after +that time, but they had lost their original character +and had become simply Church of England schools, +that denomination having appropriated the Madras +school endowments to the support of schools in +which its principles and creed were taught. In +1900, by Act of the legislature, the Madras school +property was handed over to the diocesan synod of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +Fredericton, with the exception of about ten thousand +dollars, which went to the University of New +Brunswick.</p> + +<p>From the day when Wilmot became a member +of the House of Assembly in 1835, he began to +press upon the attention of that body the necessity +for an improvement in the schools of the province. +But the same spirit of apathy which prevailed with +regard to purely political questions affected the +legislature with respect to education. The people +throughout the province were not prepared to +make the sacrifices necessary to obtain sufficient +schools. Their attitude with regard to education +was well described in a speech made by Wilmot in +1846, when Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, brought in +his bill to provide for a normal or proper training +school for the education of those who were to +become teachers. This bill did not become law, in +consequence of the opposition raised against it in +the legislature on the ground of expense. It was +estimated that it would cost an additional two +thousand pounds to provide a normal school, and +this sum the men who were at the head of the government +were not willing to pay for the purpose of +giving the children of the province properly trained +teachers. Wilmot's speech on that occasion concluded +as follows:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PARISH SCHOOLS</div> + +<p>"Before I sit down I must again revert to the +greatest difficulty which has to be encountered to +render the provisions of that bill effective in promoting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +a better system of education in the parish +schools. This is a difficulty which in this country +legislation cannot reach—I earnestly wish it could. +I mean the apathy of the parents themselves. The +honourable member now in the chair can bear me +witness as to the extent to which this apathy prevails +in this county at this day. That honourable +member, when out of the chair, could tell the committee +that in a certain district of this county +where there is no schoolhouse, a philanthropic +individual told the inhabitants that if they would +get out a frame and provide the boards, he would +at his own expense provide nails, glass, locks, and +the necessary materials for finishing a schoolhouse. +What was the result? They did get out the frame +and raised it, and when I and the honourable +chairman had occasion to visit that part of the +county together, we enquired why they did not go +on and finish it. The worthy individual who had +made the proposition, and bought and had in his +house the materials for finishing the building, told +us that the inhabitants of the district would not +find the boards, and, in consequence of that, the +erection of the schoolhouse had not been gone on +with. A gentleman now present (I will not mention +names, as the chairman might blush) offered +to give them the boards from a neighbouring mill +if they would go and fetch them, but even this +they would not do. Although everything was to +be had without money, there was no one who felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +interest enough in the education of their children +to go and bring them to the spot—and to this day +the frame stands, as it then did, a melancholy +monument of the dreadful apathy which is sometimes +to be found even in this comparatively +intelligent county."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot lived long enough to see a free +school system in force in his native province, +although he had no share in bringing this result +about. Yet that his views on this subject were +sound and far in advance of his time is shown by +a speech which he made at the time of the opening +of the first exhibition in the province in 1852. He +said:</p> + +<p>"It is unpardonable that any child should grow +up in our country without the benefit of, at least, +a common-school education. It is the right of the +child. It is the duty not only of the parent but of +the people; the property of the country should +educate the country. All are interested in the +diffusion of that intelligence which conserves the +peace and promotes the well-being of society. The +rich man is interested in proportion to his riches, +and should contribute most to the maintenance of +schools. Though God has given me no child of my +own to educate, I feel concerned for the education +of the children of those who do possess them. I +feel concerned in what so intimately touches the +best interests of our common country. I want to +hear the tax collector for schools calling at my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +door. I want the children of the poor in the +remote settlements to receive the advantages now +almost confined to their more fortunate brethren +and sisters of the towns. I know full well that God +has practised no partiality in the distribution of the +noblest of his gifts—the intellect; I know that in +many a retired hamlet of our province—amid many +a painful scene of poverty and toil—there may be +found young minds ardent and ingenious and as +worthy of cultivation as those of the pampered +children of our cities. It is greatly important to +the advancement of the country that these should +be instructed."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MONEY VOTES</div> + +<p>The initiation of money grants by the executive, +and the responsibility of the latter to the people, +are the two corner-stones on which responsible +government must rest. From the very first, Wilmot +was an earnest advocate of both these measures; +but, owing to the apathy of the people and the +disinclination of the members of the legislature to +give up what they considered their privileges, it +was a difficult matter to accomplish these objects. +A reference to the journals of the legislature will +show that on numerous occasions he pressed +these subjects on the attention of the House of +Assembly, and he was ably assisted by his colleague +from the county of York, Mr. Charles +Fisher, who deserves a foremost place among the +men who should be honoured for their efforts to +bring about responsible government in the colonies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +of British North America. It was a peculiar feature +in the struggle for responsible government in +New Brunswick that, before it ended, the opposition +to it came not so much from the British government +as from the members of the provincial +legislature. It was evident that the system of appropriating +money which existed in the House of +Assembly was one which was wrong in principle +and resulted in getting the province into debt, +because there was no guiding hand to control the +expenditure. The transfer of the casual and territorial +revenues to the provincial treasury in 1837 +had placed a very large sum, amounting to about +£150,000, at the disposal of the legislature, but this +sum was speedily dissipated; and in the year 1842, +when Sir William Colebrooke became lieutenant-governor +of the province, its finances were in an +embarrassed condition.</p> + +<p>Towards the close of 1841, a despatch was received +from Lord Stanley, the colonial secretary, +suggesting that it was desirable that a better system +of appropriating the funds of the province +should be inaugurated. This brought up a discussion +in the legislature during the session of 1842 in +regard to the propriety of adopting the principle +of placing the initiation of money grants in the +executive council. Mr. Wilmot moved a resolution +in committee of the whole House "that no +appropriation of public money should be made at +any future session in supply, for any purpose whatever,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +until there be a particular account of the +income and expenditure of the previous year, together +with an estimate of the sums required to be +expended, as well for ordinary as extraordinary services, +respectively, and also a particular estimate +of the principal amount of revenue for the ensuing +year." To this an amendment was moved by +Mr. Partelow that "Whereas the present mode of +appropriation, tested by an experience of more than +fifty years, has not only given satisfaction to the +people of this province, but repeatedly attracted +the deserved approbation of the colonial ministers +as securing its constitutional position to every +branch of the legislature, therefore resolved, as the +opinion of this committee, that it is not expedient +to make any alteration in the same." This amendment +was carried by a vote of eighteen to twelve.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AN ABUSE UPHELD</div> + +<p>Such an amendment as that passed by the House +of Assembly of New Brunswick in 1842 would +now only be an object of ridicule, because, as a matter +of fact, the financial condition of the province +showed that the system of appropriation which +prevailed was based on false principles, while +the alleged approval of the colonial ministers of +which so much account was made, had been extended +to the most illiberal features of the constitution. +There was, however, some excuse for the +reluctance of the members of the House of +Assembly to surrender the initiation of money +votes to the executive, because the executive council<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +of that day was not a body properly under the +control of the legislature, or in sympathy with the +people.</p> + +<p>When the House met in 1843, it was seen that +the friends of responsible government were still in +the minority. Yet they brought up the subject of +the appropriation of the public moneys by a resolution +which sought to fix the responsibility of the +expenditure on the government. This was met by +an amendment moved by Mr. J. W. Weldon, that +the House would not surrender the initiation of +the money votes. The amendment was carried by +a vote of twenty-four to seven, which showed that +the friends of Reform had still much leeway to +make up before they could hope to impress their +views upon the legislature.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SPEECH ON APPROPRIATIONS</div> + +<p>As it was hopeless to expect that a House of +Assembly thus constituted would vote in favour +of the transfer of the initiation of money grants +to the executive, Wilmot did not bring up the subject +again during the remainder of its term; but by +the operation of the Quadrennial Act, which came +into force in 1846, a new House was elected in +that year, which was largely made up of the same +members as the previous one, and at the first session +of this House, held early in 1847, Wilmot, +during the discussion of the revenue bill, brought +up the question of the initiation of money grants +in a vigorous and characteristic speech. He +said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Can my honourable gentlemen tell me within +five thousand pounds of the money asked for, or +required for the present session? No, they cannot, +and here we are going on in the old way, voting +money in the dark, with a thing for our guide +called an 'estimate'—a sort of dark lantern with +which we are to grope our way through the mazes +of legislation. Where is the honourable member for +Gloucester who talked so much about the good old +rules of our forefathers? I am opposed to the present +principle of voting away money; it is, in fact, +but giving to tax and taxing to give, this way and +that way—every stratagem is used which can be +invented in order to carry favourite grants, and thus +we proceed from day to day by this system of combination +and unprincipled collusion. [Cries of 'Order, +Order!'] Honourable members may cry order as +much as they please, it is true, and I care not who +knows it—let it go forth to the country at large. +This system is what the honourable and learned +member for Gloucester [Mr. End] denominates +'the glorious old principles of our forefathers,' +which should be held as dear as life itself. It is not +now as in times gone by, when the legislative +council and executive council were one, and consequently +we cannot now take the initiation of +money grants. This left the whole power in the +hands of the assembly; and now, with the report +of the committee of finance before us, His Excellency's +messages, petitions and everything else,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +there is not one honourable member around these +benches can tell me within five thousand pounds +of the amount to be asked for, much less within +ten thousand pounds of the amount that will be +granted during the present session; and yet, here +we are in committee of ways and means for raising +a revenue. But it will never answer to have too +much information upon this point—if we knew +exactly how far we could go and no farther—I perhaps +would lose my grant, or another honourable +member might lose a grant; this is the system +that is pursued. I have held a seat here for twelve +years and know the 'ropes' pretty well."</p> + +<p>In the following year there was another discussion +on the initiation of money grants, arising out of a +despatch which had been received from Earl Grey, +then colonial minister, in which he referred to the +laxity of the system by which money was voted in +the New Brunswick legislature without any estimate, +and suggested that the initiation of money +grants should be surrendered to the executive. This +proposal was fiercely opposed, and all the forces of +ancient Toryism were rallied against it, one member +from Queens County, Mr. Thomas Gilbert, +going so far as to apply to the advocacy of the old +rotten system the soul-stirring words contained in +Nelson's last signal at Trafalgar, "England expects +that every man this day will do his duty."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">END'S RESOLUTION</div> + +<p>In 1850, the last year that Mr. Wilmot sat in the +House of Assembly, the matter came up again on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +a resolution moved by a private member. This was +met by an amendment moved by Mr. End, of +Gloucester, in the following words:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Whereas</span>, the right of originating money +grants is inherent in the representatives of the +people who are constitutionally responsible to their +constituents for the due and faithful user of that +right; therefore,</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, As the opinion of this House, that +the surrender of such right would amount to a +dereliction of public duty and ought not to be +entertained by the House of Assembly."</p> + +<p>This was carried by a vote of sixteen to eleven. +The three members of the government who sat in +the House, one of whom was Mr. Wilmot, who had +joined it in May 1848, voted with the minority. It +was not until the year 1856 that a resolution was +passed by the House of Assembly conceding to the +executive the right of initiating money grants, and +this was carried by a majority of only two in a full +House. The first estimate of income and expenditure +framed by a New Brunswick government was +not laid before the House of Assembly until the +session of 1857.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<small>THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">When</span> Mr. Wilmot first entered the House +of Assembly, many of the members were +office-holders and therefore depended on the goodwill +of the governor for their positions. At the session +of 1842, a bill was introduced for the purpose +of putting an end to this evil, in which it was +declared that any member of the House of Assembly +who should accept the office of executive +councillor or any office of profit or emolument +under the Crown should be incapable of taking or +holding his seat in the General Assembly while +in such office, unless reëlected after acceptance +thereof. An amendment was moved to exempt +executive councillors who did not hold any office +of emolument from the provisions of this section, +but it was lost by a close vote. Mr. Wilmot voted +for the amendment on the ground that a man who +was merely an executive councillor without office, +and who received no emolument as such, should +not be required to go back to the people for reëlection. +The bill, nevertheless, was passed by a +full House, but it was disallowed by the home authorities +on the ground that it was not in accordance +with British precedents. The colonial secretary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +said, "This Act as actually drawn would therefore +seem to establish a principle of great importance as +well as novelty—the principle, namely, that the +Crown may not select its own confidential advisers +from amongst representatives of the people unless +the person so chosen should be willing to hazard a +new election. How far it is wise to erect such a +barrier between the executive government and the +popular branch of the legislature would seem to be +a matter well meriting serious consideration." In +the same despatch, the propriety of seats in the +assembly being vacated for the same reasons which +would vacate seats in the House of Commons was +fully conceded. The stand taken by Wilmot in +regard to this subject was therefore the one which +was approved by the home government and was +further endorsed by subsequent legislation. Yet it +was not until 1849 that the Act was passed which +finally settled the question, and required members +of the legislature accepting office to vacate their +seats in the House of Assembly and go back to +their constituents for reëlection.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GOVERNOR CENSURED</div> + +<p>Sir William Colebrooke had not been a popular +governor since the appointment of his son-in-law to +the office of provincial secretary. The House of +Assembly, therefore, was disposed to watch his conduct +very closely and to criticize actions which perhaps +would not have attracted so much attention +under other conditions. During the session of 1846, +it was shown that he had appropriated a portion of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +the surplus civil list fund, amounting to about three +thousand pounds, for the purpose of defraying the +expenses of surveying Crown lands in Madawaska.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +This money was taken by the order of the colonial +secretary, Lord Stanley. Thus it appeared that, +although the province was supposed to have the +control of the territorial revenue, the British +government assumed the right to dispose of a +portion of this revenue without the consent or +authority of the House of Assembly. The conduct +of the governor in connection with this matter was +censured in a strongly worded resolution which +was passed by the House of Assembly almost +unanimously.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> The time had gone by when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +representative of the Crown could do as he liked +with the public funds of the province, as had been +the case in former years.</p> + +<p>The legislature was dissolved in 1846 under the +provisions of the Act which limited its term to four +years. On the last day of the session Wilmot bade +farewell to the members of the House, and stated +that he did not intend to offer himself again for +reëlection. No doubt he was quite sincere in making +this statement at the time, but he soon had +reason to change his mind. The people of the +county of York were unwilling to lose the services +of the champion of their rights in the House of +Assembly, so that he found it necessary to consent +to be again nominated. He was returned at the +head of the poll, and with him Mr. Charles Fisher, +who had been his colleague in two previous +legislatures.</p> + +<p>The general election of 1846 brought a considerable +number of new men into the House, and in +point of liberality the new assembly was a slight +improvement on its predecessor. The legislature +met near the end of January in the following year. +The government at that time consisted of only five +persons, of whom two were members of the House +of Assembly and three of the legislative council. It +appeared that negotiations had been going on with +some of the members of the Opposition for the purpose +of filling up the vacancies in the executive +council. Wilmot had been offered a seat in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +body, but made it a condition of his acceptance +that he should go in with two of his friends, provided +the council was filled up to the number of +seven, or three, if filled up to the number of nine. +This was not agreed to, so he remained outside the +government. During the first week of the session +three new members were added to the government, +one of them being the surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, +who had been elected a member of the House of +Assembly for the county of York. The arrangements +made were not satisfactory to Wilmot and +his friends, and the government had to face what +was practically a want of confidence resolution. It +was moved by Mr. Fisher and was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, As the opinion of this House, that +while it fully recognizes the accountability of the +executive council to the assembly, it will expect +that henceforth the provincial administration will, +from time to time, prepare and bring before the +legislature such measures as may be required for +the development of the provincial resources and +the general advancement of the public interests."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ASSAILS THE GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>In the course of the debate Wilmot spoke with +great power and effect. The following report of +his speech on that occasion may serve to convey +to the reader some idea of his manner and method +as a public speaker:—</p> + +<p>"The honourable gentleman might have spared +himself the trouble of making the defence he did. +I have heard that he was to be presented with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +gold medal for his admirable defence of that nearly +extinct race—the old Family Compact. I see that +I shall have to cross a lance with my honourable +and learned friend [Mr. Hazen] politically. Yet I +hope the same good feeling which has characterized +the debate thus far will be continued. A great +deal has been said about politics and political principles, +but my political principles are not of yesterday—I +have gleaned them from the history of my +country, a country which we are all proud to own. +Will any honourable member dare to tell me that +because we are three thousand miles from the heart +of the British empire the blood of freemen shall +not flow through the veins of the sons of New +Brunswick? If so, I have yet to learn the reason. +Before I sit down I will endeavour to show my +honourable friends what the distinction is between +Liberals and Conservatives—what the Liberals +have done, and what the Conservatives have not +done. Now to the resolution. My honourable +friend said yesterday that the resolution meant +initiation of money grants. When this announcement +was made I heard a shout from the direction +of my honourable friend, Mr. Partelow, in a tenor +voice, and an honourable member in the rear [Mr. +Barberie] joining in a sort of falsetto accompaniment. +I think my honourable friend [Mr. Hazen] +is much to blame for having accused his honourable +colleague [Mr. Woodward] with writing an +article in a city paper. What, suppose he did write<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote">SPEECH ON REFORM</span>it, do not some of the first noblemen and statesmen +in England write for the papers? I will not +deny that I have written for the papers myself +some little squibs. But it is wrong to place an +honourable member in the position where he will +have to affirm or deny it. A great cry has been +raised of a contemplated attack on the government, +and, after all, it has turned out that their fears have +been excited by a newspaper paragraph. The government +has fortified all their outposts, and His +Excellency and two aides have been on the lookout +for the coming attack. At length my honourable +colleague [Mr. Fisher] brought forth his +resolutions when they said to each other, 'Why, +this doesn't mean anything; there is no attack.' +But they slept over it one night, cracked some +wine upon it, and while sitting under the mahogany +they said—'Hazen, there is something in these +resolutions of Fisher's, depend upon it—some hidden +meaning—what shall we say it is? what will +we call it? we must give them some ugly name, +or they will pass.' 'Oh,' said Hazen, 'I have it—initiation +of money grants—that'll do; I'll just go +down to the House and cry out "mad dog," "initiation +of money grants"; members will become +alarmed, and we'll succeed in defeating them.' But +the honourable member from St. John [Mr. Jordan] +has made the most wonderful discoveries; he +has taken a peep from the lookout station at the +enemy; he has looked through a political microscope,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +and has discovered more than the commander-in-chief +himself. 'Why,' says he, 'there's everything +there—I see "free trade" and "protection" +both, and let me see—I—there's the "Board of +Works," too; and round on the other side I see +"Municipal Corporations."' I will endeavour before +I sit down to prove that the arguments of my honourable +friend Mr. Hazen are fallacious. He has +been developing at a great rate yesterday; he was +not asked to develop the money, but to bring down +such measures as would develop the provincial +resources; this is the meaning of the resolution, +and, had not my honourable friend become alarmed +for the safety of the government, there is no man +into whose hands I would sooner place the resolution. +But he has chosen to put the construction +upon the resolution which he has done, and other +honourable members said, 'Oh, he knows what it +means better than I do; he has cried "mad dog" +and we'll follow him.' The government is not asked +to bring in the revenue bill, or any other bill which +involves the principle of money grants. All the +resolution requires is, that they shall be prepared, +at the opening of the session, with such measures +as may be considered for the general welfare of the +country, and not keep the assembly waiting two +or three weeks for the motion of the government, +as has been the case this session. Honourable +members will recollect that there is a constituency +behind them to whom they are accountable; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +they may resolve and re-resolve as they please. +There is a spirit of inquiry abroad among the people, +a political intelligence, which was not to be +found a few years since when my honourable friend +denounced responsible government as all nonsense! +What was the case when responsible government +was first talked of in this province? Who descended +from their lofty eminence to warn the people +to beware of these new doctrines? The old official +Family Compact party—they who entrenched +themselves behind the prerogative of the Crown in +1836, came down to the people and said, 'We who +have done so much for you—we who have watched +over and guarded you, beware of that dreadful +monster, responsible government.' These are the +people who call themselves Conservatives. What, +I would ask, did they conserve? Everything but +the good of the country; and, had the Conservatism +of 1836 been carried out, an insulted people would +ere this have risen in their majesty and would have +shaken off the yoke of bondage under which they +had been labouring.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>"It has been said by honourable members of the +government that there is no distinction between +Liberals and Conservatives. If this is the case, why +did they object to have me and two others take +seats in the council because we were Liberals? +Here is a question which I would like my honourable +friends to answer. The Conservatives do not +wish to see any power in the hands of the people.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +[Interjection from Mr. End—'Not too much.'] The +honourable member from Gloucester, Mr. End, has +receded from his principles wonderfully; his speech +yesterday was certainly a most extraordinary one. +He said to the government in a most supplicating +tone of voice, 'Give me fair play—give me the appointment +of all the bye-road commissioners, magistrates, +sheriffs, and so on, in Gloucester, and I will +support you; that is all I want.' I will take care not +to be misunderstood in these matters, I will not +allow any man to be the exponent of my political +principles. I believe departmental government to +be inseparable from our institutions, but will oppose +the immediate introduction of the whole system; +I will bring it in step by step as the country is prepared +for it. Some extraordinary notions are entertained +as to the source from whence the power of +the government is derived; the freedom of government +does not come down from the Crown, it goes +up from the people; and if the people are fit for +these institutions they are fit for self-government. +I have frequently said that they who get the people's +money shall do the people's work. [From Mr. +Partelow—'Yes, that's right.'] I will now come +down a step further—what was the case in 1837? +I am not going to disclose any secrets this time—but +will speak low. I wish to ask my honourable +friend [Mr. Hazen] if, after the administration +changed in 1837, the government had the cordial +coöperation of the heads of departments? No!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +<span class="sidenote">THE PEOPLE SUPREME</span>There has been a counter-working going on—a constant +endeavour to lead the government astray and +place them in a wrong position, and my generous-hearted +friend [Mr. Hazen] has to come down to +this House and defend them. It is a political fact, +that previous to 1841 the heads of departments in +this province were in open hostility to the government. +[From Mr. End—'They could do no harm.'] +If the departmental system were in operation, and +their tenure of office depended upon their ability so +to conduct the government as to merit the confidence +of the assembly and the people, there would +be none of this stabbing in the dark, and running +off the track. It is, in my opinion, the only constitutional +remedy for the good working of the government. +These five gentlemen who have lately +formed the mixed government, asked for departmental +government when they signed the address +to the queen; yet now they refuse to adopt it. I +should like to know when they intend to graduate—does +it depend upon the age of the country or +the state of the atmosphere? The fact is, whenever +the people of this country, through their representatives, +choose to ask for it they must get it. In 1844 +they ran to the rescue of the prerogative in Canada; +but the very next year the same case came down to +their own doors! The tune was changed then, and +an address was prepared to the queen signed by +the whole assembly except five. Why is this +brought about—why is the tune changed so suddenly?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +They at first said responsible government +is not fit for a colony—the next cry was, it is not +fit for New Brunswick, and finally they said, when +they addressed the queen—we must have it. Mr. +Roebuck called upon Lord John Russell to explain +what responsible government was, which he has +done [reads the speech as delivered in the British +parliament], and, when they had first asked for it +here, it was in full operation in Canada. My honourable +friend [Mr. Hazen] has accused me of having +receded; but I will now ask him to point out how +I have done so? He has also said that I was +brought forward at the last election by the Conservatives. +True, but I was backed by all my old +friends, and I told them if they took me, they must +do so with all my former opinions—opinions which +I never will give up. When they talk about there +being no difference in political names,—there is a +difference; those who have contended for Liberal +principles have their names covered with obloquy. +We ask for a constitution that, while it protects the +queen upon the throne, throws, at the same time, +its paternal arms around the helpless infant. This +we ask for, this we want—the pure, the free, the +glorious constitution of England; for this we have +contended, for this the Liberals of New Brunswick +have fought, and let them call us rebels who have +nothing else to write about, I care not; we ask for +a system that will give fair play to all—that will +upset all Family Compacts, and give to the sons of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +New Brunswick their birthright, the benefit of free +institutions and self-government. This is what we +want, and I will not submit tamely to be called a +rebel; I defy any honourable member to look at my +political life and say where I have overstepped the +bounds of the constitution? If I do live three thousand +miles from the great body of the empire, still +that empire sends its blood through the veins of +every British subject. A son of New Brunswick +has the same right to the benefit of her institutions +as has a resident of London, and I will not submit +to be cut off by any political manœuvring."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">REFORM DEFEATED</div> + +<p>After a long debate, Mr. Fisher's resolution was +defeated by a vote of twenty-three to twelve, which +showed that the friends of Reform had still much +work to do.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> This occurred during the time of the "rump" government composed +of Messrs. Simonds, Allen and McLeod, the members of the executive +who refused to resign at the time of the Reade appointment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The following resolutions which were moved by Mr. Partelow were +carried in the House of Assembly by a vote of twenty to two: +</p><p> +"1st. <i>Resolved</i>, That this committee deeply regret that His Excellency +the lieutenant-governor in council should not have felt himself authorized +to communicate to the House the despatch of the Right Honourable +the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of January 5th, 1845, relative to +the appropriation of the surplus civil list, in answer to the address of the +House of Assembly of March 14th, 1845, whereby the House was prevented +from representing, by an humble and dutiful address to Her +Majesty, that such appropriation was not in accordance with the despatch +of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies of +August 31st, 1836. +</p><p> +"2d. <i>Resolved</i>, As the opinion of this committee, that any funds +necessary to carry out the fourth article of the Treaty of Washington, +being a national treaty with a foreign power, ought not to be chargeable +upon the funds of this province; and that the House should, by an +humble and dutiful address to Her Majesty, pray that any appropriation +made for that purpose from the surplus civil list fund may be refunded +to the same."</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX<br /> +<small>THE VICTORY IS WON</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> session of 1848 was destined to be a memorable +one in the history of responsible government +in New Brunswick. It was evident that with +the House as then constituted no progress could +be made unless a change were brought about in the +views of some of its members by outside pressure. +In this instance the pressure came from the imperial +government, which desired to bring the political +condition of New Brunswick into line with that +of Canada and Nova Scotia. In March, 1847, Earl +Grey, the colonial secretary, addressed a despatch +to Sir John Harvey, the governor of Nova Scotia, +in which he laid down the principles which he +thought should control colonial administration. +The most important feature of this despatch was +its declaration with reference to the composition of +the executive council. With regard to office-holders +in general, Earl Grey thought that they ought +not to be disturbed in consequence of any change +of government, but he was of opinion that a different +rule should apply to such officials as were +members of the executive council. On this point +he adopted the language of Mr. Poulett Thomson +(Lord Sydenham), who, in a despatch to Lord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +John Russell, written at Halifax, in the year 1840, +said:—</p> + +<p>"The functions of the executive council, on the +other hand, are, it is perfectly clear, of a totally +different character; they are a body upon whom the +governor must be able to call at any or at all times +for advice, with whom he can consult upon the +measures to be submitted to the legislature, and +in whom he may find instruments within its walls +to introduce such amendments in the laws as he +may think necessary, or to defend his acts and his +policy. It is obvious, therefore, that those who +compose this body must be persons whose constant +attendance on the governor can be secured; principally, +therefore, officers of the government, but, +when it may be expedient to introduce others, +men holding seats in one or other House, taking a +leading part in political life, and above all, exercising +influence over the assembly.</p> + +<p>"The last, and in my opinion by far the most +serious, defect in the government is the utter +absence of power in the executive, and its total +want of energy to attempt to occupy the attention +of the country upon real improvements, or to lead +the legislature in the preparation and adoption of +measures for the benefit of the colony. It does not +appear to have occurred to any one that it is one +of the first duties of the government to suggest +improvements where they are wanted; that, the +constitution having placed the power of legislation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +in the hands of an assembly and a council, it is +only by acting through these bodies that the duty +can be performed; and that, if these proper and +legitimate functions of government are neglected, +the necessary result must be not only that the +improvements which the people have a right to +expect will be neglected, and the prosperity of the +country checked, but that each branch of legislature +will misuse its power, and the popular mind +be easily led into excitement upon mere abstract +theories of government to which their attention is +directed as the remedy for the uneasiness they +feel."</p> + +<p>He concluded by expressing the opinion that the +peculiar circumstances of Nova Scotia presented no +insuperable obstacle to the immediate adoption of +that system of parliamentary government which +had long prevailed in the mother country.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A MEMORABLE DESPATCH</div> + +<p>A copy of this despatch was sent to the lieutenant-governor +of New Brunswick and it was laid +before the House in pursuance of an address which +had been passed a few days before. It was understood +that the principles laid down in this despatch +would be equally applicable to the province of +New Brunswick, and Mr. Fisher moved that the +House should approve of them and of their application +to New Brunswick. This resolution was +carried by a vote of twenty-four to eleven, which +was a complete reversal of the vote of the previous +session. Among those who voted for the resolution<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +were the three members of the government who +had seats in the House of Assembly and who +had been previously opposed to any such change +in the political system of the country. Thus the +victory for responsible government was practically +won, and it only remained to perfect the +details.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the prorogation of the legislature, +a reorganization of the government took +place, Messrs. Baillie, Shore and Johnston retired +and their places were taken by Messrs. Wilmot, +Partelow, Fisher and Kinnear. Mr. Wilmot +became attorney-general in the place of Mr. Peters, +recently deceased, who had filled that office for +twenty years. Mr. Partelow became provincial +secretary in place of John Simcoe Saunders. Mr. +Kinnear, who had been made solicitor-general in +1846, now became a member of the government +under the new system, while Mr. Fisher took his +seat as a member of the government without office. +Thus were the principles of responsible government +vindicated and established in New Brunswick. The +provincial secretary, the attorney-general and the +solicitor-general became political officers subject to +change with every change of government. The +surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, by resigning from +the government escaped this condition for the time +being, but it was not long before that office also +became political, Mr. Baillie himself retiring with +a pension in 1851.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">INFLUENCE OF COLONIAL OFFICE</div> + +<p>Messrs. Wilmot and Fisher were much censured +by their friends for becoming members of a government +that was essentially Conservative and in +which they were in a minority. But as the principles +for which they had contended had been +admitted and were now in a measure established, +there seemed to be no reason why they should not +assist in working them out. Wilmot as attorney-general +certainly had greater opportunities of advancing +the cause of Reform than as a private member, +and he and Fisher working together were able +to exercise a strong influence on the administration. +In the following year, as has already been seen, a +measure was carried voiding the seats of members +of the assembly who became heads of departments +in the government, or enjoyed any office of profit +or emolument under the Crown, and this was all +that was necessary to establish responsible government +on a firm basis. There was indeed one other +difficulty, the interference of the colonial office and +the influence of the governor, who had been accustomed +to govern the province largely by means of +despatches. This influence was one which could +only be got rid of by degrees, for the wise men of +Downing Street always thought they knew much +better what colonists required than did the colonists +themselves. The colonial secretary undertook +to dictate to the province as to the kind of tariff +it should pass, and to refuse assent to the passage +of bills by the legislature giving a preference to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +any particular county or granting bounties to +fishermen or others engaged in any special calling. +It was felt to be a hardship that the province was +not permitted to give encouragement to any industry +which it desired to assist, and so strong was +this feeling that at the session of 1850, immediately +after the receipt of a despatch from Earl Grey disallowing +the bill of the previous session granting +bounties for the cultivation of hemp, a bill was +introduced and carried by an overwhelming majority +in the assembly appropriating three thousand +pounds for bounties to fishermen. This bill was +rejected by the council, so that the colonial secretary +was spared the difficulty which would have +been involved in being defied by the New Brunswick +legislature. It was also felt to be a great +hardship that, at a time when the colonies were +being deprived of the preferential tariff they had so +long enjoyed in the English markets, they should +be debarred from entering into commercial arrangements +with foreign nations. A series of strongly +worded resolutions on this subject was moved by +Mr. David Wark, and was well supported, although +not carried. The language used by many of the +speakers during the debate showed that the loyal +feelings which had always distinguished the people +of the province were being subjected to a severe +strain by the policy of the British government. +These interferences with provincial rights continued +for many years after Wilmot had retired from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +public life, and therefore it is unnecessary to refer +to them further.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE PORTLAND CONVENTION</div> + +<p>Wilmot had but few opportunities during his +active career as a public man of displaying his +abilities outside of his native province. His fame +as an orator was therefore mainly a local one, and +the Portland Railway Convention of 1850 was the +first occasion on which he was recognized as one +of the best speakers on the continent. That great +gathering of the railway and business men of the +United States and Canada was assembled for the +purpose of taking measures to secure a shorter +ocean route to Europe than was afforded by steamships +sailing from New York. It was thought +that a better plan would be to run steamships from +some port on the west coast of Ireland to a port +on the east coast of Nova Scotia, a distance of +about two thousand miles, and to connect the latter +with New York by a line of railway. No one +doubted at that time that this was a plan that was +likely to succeed, and probably it would have done +so if there had been no improvement in the construction +of steamships. No one dreamed in those +days that boats with a speed of twenty-five knots +an hour and of twenty thousand tons displacement +would be running to New York before the century +was ended, and that the voyage to Liverpool would +be reduced to less than six days.</p> + +<p>The Portland Convention included many eminent +men from the United States and Canada and not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +a few that could justly be described as orators, +but it was universally admitted that in eloquence +Attorney-General Wilmot, of New Brunswick, +exceeded them all. The reporter of the proceedings +of the convention stated, in the pamphlet +afterwards published, that it was due to the +speaker and to himself to say that "he had been +entirely unable to give anything like a report of +the remarks of Mr. Wilmot." The reporter also +quotes the statement of another that "Mr. Wilmot +delivered one of the most spicy, eloquent and enlivening +speeches which he ever heard, which, while +it kept the audience in the best spirits, was replete +with noble sentiments commending themselves to +the hearts of all present. His remarks were generally +upon the moral, social and intellectual influences +which would result from the contemplated +work. No sketch would do justice to its power and +beauty, its flashes of wit and humour."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WILMOT'S GREAT SPEECH</div> + +<p>The following report of Wilmot's great convention +speech, although admittedly very imperfect, +is given as almost the only example that survives +of his eloquence:—</p> + +<p>"I find myself in a new position in addressing a +convention in a city, in a state, and under a government +that is foreign to me, as far as citizenship is +concerned. But I feel myself at home, for I am +among those who derive their inheritance from the +same common ancestry. I am, Mr. President, not +a son of New England, but a grandson, and I can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +find the old gravestone which indicates the graves +of my ancestors, in a pleasant village of Connecticut +[cheers].</p> + +<p>"We in the provinces came to this convention at +your call. We have responded to your invitation +and you have given us a brother's welcome. Physiologists +affirm that the exercise of the muscles +tends to their enlargement and fuller development; +and phrenologists affirm that the exercise of the +different faculties develops in a corresponding +degree the bumps upon the cranium. I would beg +to add something to this category,—the exercise of +benevolence and kindness enlarges the heart, and +since I have been among you I have felt my heart +growing big within me [cheers].</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to see this day, and could I give +expression to the emotions which swell up within +me I would do so, but my power fails in the attempt, +and I cannot presume to make a speech. We do +not, however, meet to consult about California, +where one hundred and twelve hour speeches are +necessary, or about the admission of New Mexico +into the Union. Our object is to effect an admission +into the great railroad union, and on this +question we admit of no 'compromises.' We go +straight ahead in our purpose and the union will +be effected [cheers].</p> + +<p>"I know, Mr. President, it is a great work in +which we are engaged. I know that it looks +vast, if not impossible of achievement to those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +have not studied its relations and its details, but +those who look at it through the enlarged medium +which its contemplation presents will find that +difficulties diminish as its importance grows upon +their vision.</p> + +<p>"Look at the progress of similar enterprises +among yourselves in the state of Maine, and other +parts of New England, and then say whether anything +is required of us but union of effort and faith +in the result of our exertions. In prosecuting our +work in this matter, we must have faith; but as +faith without works is dead, let us put forth our +exertions and go steadily forward to a speedy and +glorious completion of our great enterprise [cheers].</p> + +<p>"If the timid falter and the doubting hold back, +there are others who will take their places and +keep our ranks full. We have only to hold our +position, and drive back the army of doubters, or +opposers, who may resist our march. We must +give them the same reception that General Taylor +gave to the army of Santa Anna at Buena Vista. If +opposed by superior numbers, or if on any part of +the field there are those who hesitate, or hold back +when a stronghold of the enemy is to be carried, +I would repeat the order of General Taylor: 'A little +more grape, Captain Poor'<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> [tremendous cheers].</p> + +<p>"It is written in the decrees of eternal Providence,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +Mr. President, that we shall learn war no more; we +may then go on side by side with glorious emulation +for the cause of virtue and philanthropy +throughout the world, striving who shall out-vie +the other. How changed in every respect, now, is +the condition of our race! How glorious the sight +of two great peoples uniting as one, 'to draw more +closely the bands of brotherhood, that yet shall +make of all mankind but one great brotherhood of +nations.' The sentiment of that resolution which +embodies this idea is worthy of its author and of the +American character; but it is also a sentiment to +which the people of the British empire will respond +[cheers].</p> + +<p>"Sir, I found in the circular which invited us +here this sentiment expressed, in terms which +aroused to the fullest enthusiasm the mind of every +man in the British provinces: 'The spirit of peace +has at last prevailed—national animosities, sectional +and political hostility have disappeared between the +English races since the establishment of the boundaries +of Maine and Oregon, and the contests of +war have been succeeded by a noble and generous +rivalry for the promotion of the arts of peace. The +introduction of the steamship and the railway has +made former enemies friends. National hostility +has given way to commercial and social intercourse, +and under whatever form of government they may +hereafter exist, they can never again become hostile +or unfriendly' [cheers].<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To this sentiment I respond with all my heart. +It is this sentiment that has brought us together. I +know not who was the author of this circular, but +whoever he may be, in the name of every Englishman—in +the name of every American, sir, in the +name of humanity, I tender him thanks [cheers].</p> + +<p>"An enterprise aiming to accomplish such results, +and which is in and of itself calculated to produce +such results, cannot fail of success. The whole +civilized world is interested in its accomplishment. +There are some good old-fashioned people who +think we are going too fast and too far in our railroad +enterprises. We have, they say, lived and got +along well enough without railroads, and now you +seem to think that your temporal salvation depends +upon it! Blot out your telegraphs, lay up your +steamboats,—what darkness would come upon the +world! We must form ourselves into a council of +war for the purpose of combating these old prejudices, +and, instead of being turned away from our +objects, we will take stronger grounds than ever +occupied before.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President, we of the provinces have made +up our minds no longer to remain quiet in our +present condition. With all the fine natural advantages +our country possesses, we make comparatively +slow progress, and our province itself is scarcely +known to the world. I shall be pardoned here for +relating an anecdote to illustrate the truth of this +remark.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In a recent visit to Washington upon official +business, I had occasion to tarry a few days in the +city of New York, and among the places that I +visited with a friend was one of the colleges in the +city. My friend introduced me to a learned professor +as his friend, the 'Attorney-general of New +Brunswick.' We entered into conversation on a +variety of subjects, and he inquired when I came +over to the city, and as to various matters going on +in the neighbouring state. Seeing the mistake of +the learned professor, I thought it hardly kind to +mortify him by correcting it, and I answered in the +best way I could, and took my leave; and to this +hour, I suppose, the learned professor thinks he +was talking with the attorney-general of the fine +old state of New Jersey [tremendous cheers].</p> + +<p>"Seeing that my own country itself was hardly +known beyond its bounds, I felt a little concern +that she should not always remain in this condition. +I felt, as many of my friends and neighbours have +long felt, that we must look at home for the means +of making our province honoured and respected +abroad. And we intend to open this line of railway +entirely across the breadth of our province and +bring ourselves into connection with the world +[cheers].</p> + +<p>"Mr. President, I cannot omit, in this connection, +the expression of my profound regard for the +American Union. It is the union of these states +that has given you greatness and strength at home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +and the respect and admiration of the civilized +world [long-continued cheers].</p> + +<p>"The great interests of Christianity, of philanthropy +and of liberty, throughout the world, depend +upon the union of these states. We of New Brunswick, +of Nova Scotia, and of Canada are deeply +interested in its existence. If there is any question +of the day that interests us more than all others, +it is this very question of the perpetuity of the +union. For myself, I think there should be passed +a law providing that the man who would even conceive +the idea of a dissolution of the union should +be guilty of treason. In the sincerity of my heart, +I say, perish the man who should dare to think +of it [tremendous cheers]!"</p> + +<p>With respect to railway legislation Wilmot was +not in advance of many others in the province +whose general political views were less liberal than +his own. There was always a good deal of local feeling +injected into the discussion of railway matters +and Wilmot, who was a resident of Fredericton, +incurred a good deal of censure for the ridicule +which he threw on the proposal to build a railway +from St. John to Shediac, which is now a part of +the Intercolonial. As this railway brought the +counties bordering on the Straits of Northumberland +and the Gulf of St. Lawrence into easy communication +with St. John, nothing is more clear +than that of all the railways then projected in the +province it was the one most likely to be useful and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +profitable, but Wilmot apparently could not forget +the fact that it did not touch his own county. +His speech on this subject was made in the legislature +before the meeting of the Portland Convention, +and it is worthy of note that five-sixths of the +Shediac Railway was to be used as part of the magnificent +European and North American Railway +scheme which was so much lauded by him in his +Portland speech.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS WORK IN LEGISLATION</div> + +<p>There is not much to be said in regard to the +political life of Wilmot after he became attorney-general. +His principal legislative achievement while +he filled that office was an Act for the consolidation +of the criminal law with regard to the definition of +certain indictable offences and the punishment +thereof. This was a useful but not a brilliant work, +which many another man might have performed +equally well. In the session of 1850, Wilmot carried +a bill through the House of Assembly for the +reduction of the salaries of the judges of the +supreme court and some other officials, but this +measure did not pass the legislative council. He +had always been in favour of a low scale of salaries +as best suited to the conditions which prevailed +in the province. The scale had been fixed in +1836, when the casual and territorial revenues were +placed under the control of the province, but an +agitation soon afterwards commenced for further +reductions. The imperial government would not +consent to the reduction of any salary while the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +holder of the office lived, except in the case of the +surveyor-general, whose duties had been decreased, +but it agreed to a lower scale for future occupants +of the offices. In this way the salary of the provincial +secretary had been reduced from £1,599 11s. to +£600; that of the surveyor-general from £2,019 +4s. 4d. to £1,209 12s. 4d., and that of the auditor-general +from £500 to £346 3s. The salaries of the +judges, however, remained the same in 1850 as +they had been in 1836, viz., £1,096 3s. for the chief-justice +and £750 for each of the puisne judges. +Wilmot's bill reduced these salaries to £700 for the +chief-justice and £600 to each of the other judges. +He also voted for a resolution in favour of making +the legislative council elective, and that an address +should be presented to Her Majesty asking her to +consent to the passage of such a bill. A favourable +answer was received from Her Majesty, but the +scheme to make the legislative council elective was +never carried into effect, in consequence of the +opposition which it encountered in that body.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt that the popularity of Wilmot +seriously declined after he entered the government. +This was very plainly seen at the general election +which took place in June, 1850, when he narrowly +escaped defeat, being the lowest on the poll of the +members elected, while his colleague in the government, +Mr. Fisher, was defeated, polling less than +one-half the number of votes given to the candidate +who was highest on the poll. But, on the whole,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +the result throughout the province was favourable +to the cause of Reform, and among those elected +in York who stood higher on the poll than Wilmot +were two new members who held advanced views +with respect to the amendment of the constitution.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GOVERNOR AND THE JUDGES</div> + +<p>Although responsible government had been conceded +to New Brunswick, and it was admitted that +public offices should be bestowed in accordance +with the wishes of the people, the close of Wilmot's +legislative career was marked by an event which +showed that the old order of things had not entirely +passed away. Chief-Justice Chipman, owing to +failing health, resigned his seat on the bench in +the autumn of 1850, and it became necessary to +provide for a successor. A meeting of the executive +council was called for the purpose of filling the +vacancy, and six members of the council out of the +eight who were present signed a memorandum to +the effect that it was not advisable to appoint any +person to the vacant office, but that such a division +of the work of the judiciary should be made by the +legislature as would secure the efficient discharge +of the judicial duties by three judges, together +with the Master of the Rolls. Wilmot was one of +the persons who signed this memorandum, but on +the following day he called on the governor and +asked that his name might be withdrawn from it, +he having in the meantime apparently changed his +mind. The governor, Sir Edmund Head, asked the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +judges whether, in their opinion, three of them +would be able to do all the judicial business of the +country, and received from them a strongly worded +protest against any such alteration in the number +of judges. Mr. Fisher, who was one of the members +of the executive present at the meeting, submitted +to the governor a paper in which he took +strong grounds against the proposal to reduce the +number of judges. Sir Edmund Head referred the +matter to the home authorities, and they decided +that the proposed change in the number of judges +was not advisable. Moreover, they decided as to +who should fill the vacant offices, and asked the +governor to appoint Mr. Justice Carter to the +position of chief-justice and to offer a puisne judgeship +to the attorney-general, Mr. Wilmot, and if +he refused it to the solicitor-general, Mr. Kinnear. +Mr. Wilmot accepted, and thus brought his +political career to an end.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> This is an adaptation of General Taylor's words. John A. Poor was +the chief promoter of the European and North American Railway and +the chairman of the committee of arrangements of the Portland +Convention.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X<br /> +<small>JUDGE AND GOVERNOR</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> opinion that was entertained of Mr. Wilmot +by those who were closely associated with +him in the work of Reform was well expressed by +the late Mr. George E. Fenety, in his <i>Political +Notes</i>.</p> + +<p>"A great luminary," says Mr. Fenety, "set in +semi-darkness on the day that Mr. Wilmot left the +forum for the bench. He was the light of the +House for sixteen years, the centre from whence +radiated most of the sparkling gems in the political +firmament. It was at a time of life (comparatively +a young man) and a period when talents such as +his were most wanted by his party and his country. +Notwithstanding his supposed mistake in having +joined a Conservative government, the Liberals were +always willing to receive their old leader back with +outstretched arms—ready to forgive and go along +again with him over the old road, and, to a man, +would have held to him had he made a stand against +Sir Edmund Head, and told him—'thus far and no +farther shalt thou go'."</p> + +<p>Many of Wilmot's friends regretted that he +should have accepted the office of judge on the conditions +under which it was offered. They thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +that as attorney-general he was entitled to the +position of chief-justice, and that in consenting to +take the puisne judgeship he had lowered himself. +It is hardly necessary to discuss a question of this +kind at the present day. No doubt he had reasons +of his own for retiring from the arena of politics. +The work he had been doing for the public had +placed a great strain upon him and interfered with +his legal business to a very serious extent. He +was never a wealthy man, and had therefore to +consider his own future, while a position on the +bench was one of honour and dignity which was +regarded as worthy of acceptance by any member +of the legal profession.</p> + +<p>There was nothing worthy of note in the career +of Mr. Wilmot as a judge. He was never considered +to be a deeply read lawyer, but he filled the +office of judge with dignity and general acceptance. +His duties were not sufficiently arduous to prevent +him from having leisure to engage in other lines +of inquiry, for his mind was much interested in +questions connected with science. He frequently +appeared on the lecture platform and always with +success.</p> + +<p>When confederation was accomplished, it was +felt that of all the natives of New Brunswick he was +the most worthy to be appointed its first lieutenant-governor +under the new régime. Judge Wilmot +himself was willing to accept the office as a fitting +close to his long and active career as a public man;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +but for some reason, which it is now impossible +to ascertain, the appointment was not made until +about a year after confederation. Judge Wilmot +became lieutenant-governor on July 23rd, 1868, and +continued to hold that honourable and important +office until November 14th, 1873, when he was +succeeded by the Hon. S. L. Tilley.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">OTHER ACTIVITIES</div> + +<p>So far, we have been considering Wilmot as a +politician and member of the legislature, but a very +imperfect idea of his character would be gathered +from regarding him merely in these capacities. He +was a many-sided man, and had other interests +which occupied his attention as much as, or more +than, those public questions to which he devoted so +much of his vigour. It has already been stated that +his father was a member of the Baptist Church, and +one of the founders of the church of that denomination +in Fredericton. It does not appear that the +son ever identified himself with that Church, or +that while a youth he gave much attention to +religious matters. It was not until after the death +of his first wife, which took place in 1833, that he +became affected by religious influences and began +to attend the services of the Methodist Church, the +pulpit of which was then filled by the Rev. Enoch +Wood, a man of much ability and eloquence whose +style of oratory was very impressive. Under his +ministrations Mr. Wilmot became a convert, was +baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Fredericton, +and from that time until the close of his life<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +he was a very prominent figure in it. He filled the +office of superintendent of its Sunday School for +upwards of twenty-five years, and was the leader of +the church choir for thirty years. When he was +appointed governor it was thought that he would +give up these offices, but he still continued to fill +them, and was superintendent of the Sunday School +up to the day when his life came to an end. He +always took a great interest in questions relating +to the Bible, and frequently lectured on topics +connected with it. He vehemently opposed the +teachings of Darwin and others who followed the +same line of inquiry, and he stoutly maintained +that wherever the Bible and science were in conflict, +science was in the wrong. He seems to have +been, from first to last, an unquestioning believer +in the doctrines of the Christian religion, and he +viewed with great disfavour any one who ventured +to question any part of its creed. As a lecturer he +was eloquent and though discursive, always interesting. +None of his lectures were written, so that +to-day they are only a fading memory to those who +heard them delivered. Though found acceptable at +the time, it is hardly likely that, if delivered at the +present day, they would enjoy so high a degree +of popularity. People are not now so willing to +accept sweeping assertions which are in conflict +with the conclusions of scientific men who have +devoted their lives to a patient study of the +phenomena of life and the records of creation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">INTEREST IN MILITARY MATTERS</div> + +<p>One of the most pleasing features of Judge Wilmot's +character was his fondness for children. He +was never so happy as when among the young +people, and long after he became a judge he took an +intense interest in drilling the schoolboys and instructing +them in all martial exercises; indeed, he +seemed to be quite as much devoted to this work +as he was to any other of his numerous employments. +When a very young man, he became an +ensign in the first battalion of York County militia, +and speedily rose to be captain. When the so-called +Aroostook War<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> broke out in 1839 he was +major of a company of rifles attached to that battalion, +and he volunteered for active service at the +front. His interest in military matters continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +until a late period, and, in the first military camp +organized in the province by the lieutenant-governor, +the Hon. Arthur Gordon, in 1863, he commanded +one of the battalions. If Wilmot had not +been a politician and a lawyer, he might have been +a great evangelist or a great soldier.</p> + +<p>Judge Wilmot was very fond of flowers, and +the beautiful grounds at Evelyn Grove, where he +resided, were looked upon as the finest in the +province. Nearly every visitor to Fredericton found +his way to that charming place and was sure of a +cordial welcome from the judge, who delighted to +show strangers what he had been able to accomplish +in growing flowers and rare plants. Not the +least interesting feature of such visits was the conversation +of the host, who abounded in knowledge +of horticulture, and was always ready to give others +the benefit of his information. It was in this lovely +retreat that the last years of Mr. Wilmot's life were +passed. When his term as governor expired, the +government of Canada very properly gave him a +pension as a retired judge. In 1875 he succeeded +the Right Hon. Mr. Childers, as second commissioner +under the Prince Edward Island Land Purchase +Act. He was nominated as one of the arbitrators +in the Ontario and North-West Boundary Commission, +but did not live long enough to act in that +capacity.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS DEATH</div> + +<p>During the last two or three years of his life he +suffered much from chronic neuralgia, which sometimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +prevented him from stirring out-of-doors. +No serious result was anticipated, and he was +generally able to take active exercise and engage in +his usual routine of duty. On Monday, May 20th, +1878, while driving in his carriage with his wife, he +complained of a sudden and severe pain in the +region of the heart. He was at once driven home +and a physician summoned, but in a few minutes +he passed away. He had not quite completed his +seventieth year. His death evoked expressions of +regret and sympathy from every part of the province, +and tributes of respect and admiration from +many who resided in other parts of Canada and in +the United States.</p> + +<p>Judge Wilmot was twice married. His first wife, +whom he married in 1832, was Jane, daughter of +Mr. James Balloch, of St. John. She died very +soon after their marriage, and in 1834 he married +Miss Elizabeth Black, daughter of the Hon. +William Black, of Halifax, and granddaughter of +the Rev. William Black, who is regarded as the +apostle of Wesleyan Methodism in the Maritime +Provinces.</p> + +<p>In estimating the character and achievements of +L. A. Wilmot, regard must be had to the conditions +under which the battle for responsible +government was fought, and the peculiar difficulties +he had to face. He had not only to contend +against governors determined to use their power to +the utmost, an immovable legislative council and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +reactionary executive, but he had to attempt to inspire +with something of his own spirit a House of +Assembly which had but little sympathy with his +views. That he did not accomplish more is less a +matter of surprise than that he accomplished so +much. With heavy odds against him, he contended +for the rights of the people and the improvement +of the constitution, and he lived to see the principles +for which he had fought so firmly established +in his native province that they can never be disturbed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE</div> + +<p>It was never his good fortune to be the leader +and master of a government or to have a free hand +in the work of legislation. We are therefore left in +the dark as to what he might have accomplished +under more favourable conditions. Yet there is but +little doubt that, had he remained in public life, the +progress of Reform would have been greatly accelerated, +and that such important measures as the +establishing of free schools would have been brought +about much earlier than was the case without his +vigorous support. The faults of Wilmot were those +that belong to an ardent, enthusiastic and liberty-loving +temperament. He hated injustice in every +form, and in his denunciation of evil he was sometimes +led to use stronger language than men of +cooler feelings approved. In this way he aroused +opposition and left himself open to attack. Yet it is +doubtful whether the censure of his enemies was as +injurious as the flattery of some who professed to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +his friends, and who were ready to applaud whatever +he said or did. Being accepted as a leader when +a mere youth because he had made a few eloquent +speeches, he missed the wholesome discipline which +most men have to undergo before they achieve +fame. He would have been a greater and wiser man +if he had been spared the unthinking flattery which +was too lavishly bestowed upon him. Yet, after all +has been said by those who would seek to minimize +his merits, the fact remains that this son of New +Brunswick stood for years as the foremost champion +of the rights of the people, and that it is impossible +to deny him a place among the great men +who have assisted to build up Canada.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The Aroostook War arose out of the unsettled boundary question +between Maine and New Brunswick. There was a large area on the St. +John River, the ownership of which was in dispute, and in 1839 the difficulty +came to a head in consequence of the governor of Maine undertaking +to solve the question in his own way by taking possession of the +territory. Governor Fairfield, of Maine, sent eighteen hundred militiamen +to the front and Sir John Harvey, the governor of New Brunswick, +issued a proclamation asserting the right of Great Britain to guard the +territory while it was in dispute, and calling on the governor of Maine to +withdraw his troops. Fairfield denied the right to issue a counter proclamation +and called on the state for ten thousand men. Sir John Harvey +then sent Colonel Maxwell with the 36th and 69th Regiments and a train +of artillery to the upper St. John to watch the movements of the militia. +A large force of New Brunswick militia was also embodied and sent to the +front. Fortunately, President Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott to +Maine with full power to settle the difficulty. He got into a friendly correspondence +with Sir John Harvey, which led to an understanding by +which the troops on both sides were withdrawn and all danger of war +averted. The boundary question was afterwards settled by the Ashburton +Treaty.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="bk1" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/002.jpg" width="315" height="500" alt="S. L. Tilley" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2>SIR LEONARD TILLEY</h2> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I<br /> +<small>EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> political career of Samuel Leonard Tilley +did not begin until the year that brought the +work of Lemuel Allan Wilmot as a legislator to a +close. Both were elected members of the House of +Assembly in 1850, but in the following year Wilmot +was elevated to the bench, so that the province +lost his services as a political reformer just as a new +man, who was destined to win as great a reputation +as himself, was stepping on the stage. Samuel +Leonard Tilley was born at Gagetown, on the St. +John River, on May 8th, 1818, just thirty-five years +after the landing of his royalist grandfather at St. +John. He passed away seventy-eight years later, +full of years and honours, having won the highest +prizes that it was in the power of his native province +to bestow.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">OF LOYALIST STOCK</div> + +<p>In these days, when a man becomes eminent an +effort is usually made to trace his descent from distinguished +ancestors, but most of the early inhabitants +of New Brunswick were too careless in such +matters to leave much material to the modern +maker of pedigrees. Sir Leonard Tilley was unable +to trace his descent beyond his great-grandfather, +Samuel Tilley. At one time it was thought that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +his first ancestor in America was John Tilley, who +came over in the <i>Mayflower</i> in 1620, but a closer +search of the records of the Plymouth colony +reveals the fact that John Tilley left no sons. But +there were persons of the name of Tilley in the +Massachusetts Bay colony as early as 1640, and +there seems to be no doubt that Sir Leonard Tilley's +ancestors had been long in America. They belonged +to the respectable farming class which has given +the Dominion of Canada and the United States so +many of their most distinguished sons. Samuel +Tilley, the great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, was a +farmer on Long Island at the time of the American +Revolution. His farm was then within the boundaries +of the present borough of Brooklyn, and the +curious in such matters can find the very lot upon +which he resided laid down upon some of the +ancient maps of that locality. At the time the +British occupied Long Island, after the battle which +took place there in the autumn of 1776, resulting in +the defeat of the Americans, the Brooklyn farmers +were called upon to provide cattle for the sustenance +of the troops. Samuel Tilley, being a loyal +man and a friend of the government, complied, and +for this he was made the subject of attacks by the +disloyal element among his neighbours, and in the +course of time was compelled to seek shelter within +the British lines. The occupation of Long Island +by the British during the whole period of the war +made it secure enough for Samuel Tilley, as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +as for all loyal men who lived in the vicinity of +Brooklyn; but when the war was over it became +necessary for him to seek shelter in Nova Scotia, +the acts of confiscation and banishment against +the Loyalists being of the most severe character. +Samuel Tilley came to New Brunswick with the +spring fleet, which arrived in St. John in May, +1783, and was a grantee of Parrtown, which is +now the city of St. John. He erected a house and +store on King Street, on the south side, just to the +east of Germain, and there commenced a business +which he continued for several years. He died at +St. John in the year 1815. His wife was Elizabeth +Morgan, who survived him for many years and +died in 1835, aged eighty-four years.</p> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley was not born when his great-grandfather +died, but had a clear recollection of his +great-grandmother, who lived for about four years +after he came to reside in St. John. James Tilley, +the grandfather of Sir Leonard, was also a grantee of +Parrtown, he having purchased for a trifling sum, +when a boy, a lot on Princess Street, which had +been drawn by some person who was anxious to +dispose of it. James Tilley was a resident of Sunbury +County and a magistrate there for a great many +years, dying in the year 1851. Sir Leonard Tilley's +father, Thomas Morgan Tilley, was born in 1790, +and served his time with Israel Gove, who was a +house-joiner and builder. He spent his early days as +a lumberman, getting out ship timber, his operations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +being carried on mainly at Tantiwanty, in the +rear of Upper Gagetown. He afterwards went into +business at Gagetown, and kept a store there down +to the time of his death, which took place in 1870. +Sir Leonard's great-grandmother, on his father's +side, was Mary Chase, of the Chase family of Massachusetts, +she having come from Freetown, in that +state. Sir Leonard's mother was Susan Ann Peters, +daughter of William Peters, who was for many +years a prominent farmer in Queens County, and a +member of the legislative assembly. William Peters +owned a large property and had one of the finest +tracts of land possessed by any man in the province +in his day. But he was unwise enough to sell it for +the purpose of obtaining money with which to enter +into lumbering with William Wilmot, the father +of L. A. Wilmot, and, being unsuccessful in his +operations, his whole fortune was swept away. The +ancestors of William Peters were from New York +state, from which they came with the rest of the +Loyalists in 1783.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">EARLY EDUCATION</div> + +<p>The house in Gagetown in which the future +governor of New Brunswick and finance minister +of Canada was born, is still standing and is now +used as a hotel. Gagetown was at that period, and +still is, one of the most beautiful places in New +Brunswick. The river St. John flows in front of it, +and Gagetown Creek, which is almost as wide as +the river, laves its shores. The land in the vicinity +is fertile, and fine old trees line the streets, giving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +an air of beauty and refinement to the locality. +Sir Leonard was named after his uncle, Samuel +Leonard Peters, and the latter was named after +an English schoolmaster named Samuel Leonard, +who was a great favourite with William Peters, +the grandfather of the subject of this biography. +Samuel Leonard, after leaving Gagetown, appears +to have removed to Nova Scotia, and probably died +in that province. When Sir Leonard was five years +old he was sent to the Madras School in Gagetown, +of which Samuel Babbitt was the teacher. +He attended this school from 1823 until 1827, +when the grammar school was instituted in Gagetown. +The Madras school system was at that time +in high favour with the people of the province, and +these schools received large grants from the government, +it being thought that this system was more +advantageous than any other for the instruction of +youth. This idea, however, did not prove to be universally +correct, for in the course of a few years we +find the legislature declaring that while they believed +the Madras system suitable to towns and +populous places, it did not answer so well in +rural districts. Samuel Babbitt, the teacher of the +Madras School, was clerk of the parish, and, according +to the custom of that day, led the responses in +church. The rector of Gagetown at this period was +the Rev. Samuel Clark. The teacher of the local +grammar school which young Tilley attended from +1827 to 1831 was William Jenkins, a graduate of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +Dublin University. Jenkins was a very severe man, +and believed in the doctrine that he who spares the +rod spoils the child, and Sir Leonard had a very +vivid recollection of the vigour with which he +applied the birch. He removed from Gagetown +shortly after 1831, and took up his residence in +Quebec, where he conducted a large school for +many years, dying about the year 1863. Sir +Leonard, after he had become a well-known political +character and a member of the government of +New Brunswick, had the pleasure of paying him a +visit some time in 1858.</p> + +<p>An interesting incident occurred in 1827, at the +time young Tilley commenced to attend the grammar +school. Sir Howard Douglas, who was then +governor of New Brunswick, paid a visit to Gagetown +and was the guest of Colonel Harry Peters, +the speaker of the House of Assembly. While the +governor and his host were walking through Gagetown, +they met young Tilley and a son of Harry +Peters returning from school, and the boys were +introduced to His Excellency, who presented +each of them with a Spanish quarter-dollar. Sir +Leonard could remember and often spoke of the +appearance of Sir Howard Douglas, dressed in +a blue coat with brass buttons, a fine-looking +gentleman, with a pleasant face and a kindly +smile. Little thought the then governor of New +Brunswick that the boy to whom he was speaking, +a lad of nine years of age, would fifty years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +later sit in his own chair in the government +house.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ENTERS ON BUSINESS LIFE</div> + +<p>Young Tilley was not the kind of youth likely +to be satisfied to reside all his life in Gagetown. +Other boys of less ambition might be content to +settle down on the farm and to fulfil their destinies +within the comparatively limited sphere of action +which that little town in Queens County afforded, +but he had within him longings for a higher destiny +than he was likely to attain as a resident of a +rural district.</p> + +<p>Young Tilley came to St. John in May, 1831, at +the age of thirteen. He at once entered the drugstore +of Dr. Henry Cook, as a clerk, it being the +fashion of those times for medical men to have a +dispensary in connection with their professional +practice, so that they could give advice, and dispense +their own prescriptions with equal facility. He +continued as clerk with Dr. Cook until February, +1835, when he entered the service of William O. +Smith, who, in later years, was mayor of St. John. +It was while a clerk with Smith that Tilley became +a member of the St. John Young Men's Debating +Society, an organization which, if it has no other +claim to the remembrance of posterity, at least +has that of giving one distinguished statesman to +British America, and a governor to New Brunswick. +It was in this society that he made his +first attempt at public speaking, and it may be +said that from the very beginning he showed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +a remarkable aptitude for debate and public discussions.</p> + +<p>In December, 1837, he took one of the most important +steps of his life in espousing the cause of +total abstinence. Having taken up this movement, +he threw his whole energy into it, and from that +time down to the day of his death he was a consistent +temperance man, and a strong advocate of the +principle of total abstinence. It was, perhaps, this +strong advocacy of the cause of temperance, more +than anything else, that brought him before the +public as a suitable person to become a candidate +for the House of Assembly, and led to his first +election as a representative for the city of St. John +in the local legislature thirteen years later. Certainly +the fact that Tilley, from that time until the +close of his public career, had always the support +of the temperance societies, gave him a strength +which he hardly would have obtained otherwise, +and rallied around him a phalanx of friends, who, +for fidelity to his interests and zeal for his political +advancement, could hardly have been surpassed.</p> + +<p>Tilley commenced business on his own account +in 1838, before he had attained the age of twenty +years, as a member of the firm of Peters & Tilley, +and he continued a successful career until 1855, +when he transferred his business to Mr. T. B. Barker, +the founder of the present firm of T. B. Barker +& Sons. It is unnecessary to say anything more +in regard to Mr. Tilley's life as a business man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +than that it was a highly prosperous one. He +showed so much energy and enterprise that when +he entered political life he was comparatively +wealthy. There is no doubt that if he had continued +in business instead of devoting his energies +to the service of the province and Dominion, he +would have made far more money than he obtained +as a politician.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">COLONIAL TRADE</div> + +<p>The movement in behalf of free trade, which +was changing the fiscal policy of the United Kingdom +in the closing years of the first half of the +nineteenth century, did not meet with much favour +in New Brunswick, because it seriously affected the +leading industry of the province. Colonial timber +had long enjoyed a preference in the British +market, but this preference had been seriously impaired +by imperial legislation and was likely to be +taken away altogether if free trade principles should +prevail. Many remonstrances had been sent to +the British government against the reduction or +abolition of the duty on foreign timber which came +into competition with the colonial product, but +these remonstrances proved wholly unavailing, and +it was seriously believed that the colonial timber +trade would be destroyed. This led to the annexation +movement of 1848, which affected all the +provinces, while it also caused the formation of +organizations pledged to resist the free trade movement. +Tilley was in sympathy with these efforts +to preserve colonial trade, and it was in consequence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +of this that he first made his entrance into +political life.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">GENERAL ELECTION OF 1850</div> + +<p>At a meeting of the electors of St. John in favour +of protection, which was held previous to the general +election of 1850, Tilley was nominated as one +of the candidates for the city of St. John. He was +not present at the meeting and had no knowledge +whatever of the intention of the electors to +make such a nomination. A meeting was called +a few nights later in Carleton to confirm the nomination, +and at that meeting Tilley was present. He +then made the strongest possible protest against the +nomination, but the electors present would not take +"No" for an answer, and he eventually consented +to stand as a candidate, informing them at the same +time that he had an engagement to be in Boston on +the day fixed for the nomination, and could not be +at the hustings on that day. Notwithstanding this +statement they still persisted in his nomination, but +as Tilley was absent in the United States, his nomination +speech on that occasion was made by Joseph +W. Lawrence, who afterwards was found among +his strongest political opponents. At the general +election of 1850 all the candidates elected for the +city and county of St. John were avowed opponents +of the government. Tilley was returned at the head +of the poll, while W. H. Needham, who ran with +him, was likewise elected. The members elected +for the county were R. D. Wilmot, William J. +Ritchie, John H. Gray and Charles Simonds;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +while J. R. Partelow, Charles Watters and John +Jordan were the three defeated candidates. The list +of candidates for the city and county of St. John +included two future governors, a future chief-justice +of the supreme court of Canada and two +other judges, to say nothing of the provincial +secretary, Mr. Partelow, a speaker of the House +of Assembly and a future mayor of St. John. It +must be admitted that few elections that have +ever been held in any part of British North America +have had so many candidates presented to the +electors who were afterwards eminent in public life. +This election took place at an important epoch in +the history of the province, when the old order was +passing away and men's minds were prepared for a +great change in political affairs. It was a Reform +House of Assembly, and, although all the members +elected for the purpose of upholding Reform principles +did not prove true to their trust, still it contained +a larger number of men of Liberal views +than any of its predecessors.</p> + +<p>Among the members of this House were several +who had taken a very important part in public affairs, +or who afterwards became members of the executive. +The county of York sent among its representatives, +Lemuel A. Wilmot, who had been a member +of the House for sixteen years, and who had taken +a leading part in many measures of importance for +the improvement of the system by which the country +was governed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Charles Fisher, who had been a colleague of +Mr. Wilmot in the county of York, was defeated +at the general election, but soon afterwards became +a member of the House. Mr. Fisher had not the +oratorical gifts possessed by Mr. Wilmot, but he +was even stronger in his Liberal views, and as a +constitutional lawyer he had no equal, at that time, +in the province. Although his manners were somewhat +uncouth and his address far from polished, +Fisher had strong individuality and a singularly +clear intellect. His services in the cause of Liberalism +in New Brunswick can hardly be overestimated, +and these services were rendered at a time when to +be a Liberal was to be, to a large extent, ostracized +by the great and powerful who looked upon any +interference with their vested rights as little short +of treason.</p> + +<p>Tilley's colleague from St. John city was William +H. Needham, who afterwards represented the county +of York in the legislature. Mr. Needham had some +remarkable gifts as a speaker and a public man, and +he might have risen to a much higher position than +he ever attained had it not been that his principles +were somewhat uncertain. In truth, Needham +never succeeded in getting sufficiently clear of the +world to be quite independent, and this misfortune +hampered him greatly in his political career.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NOTABLE CANDIDATES</div> + +<p>One of the members from St. John County was +William J. Ritchie, a lawyer who had risen by his +own efforts to a commanding position at the bar,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +and who became chief-justice of Canada. Mr. +Ritchie had been a member of the House of +Assembly for several years, and always a useful +one. He possessed what few members at that time +had,—a clear knowledge of the true principles of +responsible government. He had an eminently +practical mind; he was a forcible and impressive +speaker, and he was bold in the enunciation of +the Liberal principles to which he held. It was a +serious misfortune to the province that at a comparatively +early age he was transferred to the bench, +so that his great abilities were lost at a critical +period when they might have been useful to New +Brunswick in many ways.</p> + +<p>John H. Gray, a new member, also sat in this +House for the county of St. John. Mr. Gray was a +man of fine presence, handsome appearance, and +had a style of oratory that was very captivating +and impressive. His fluency, however, was greater +than his ability, and he injured himself by deserting +the Liberal party, which he had been elected to +uphold. Gray never quite recovered from the unpopularity +connected with this action, and he never +became in any sense a real leader. The party he +had deserted soon obtained the control of the +province, and his final appearance in the legislature +was as a supporter of Mr. Tilley, content to +play a secondary part during the great confederation +conflict.</p> + +<p>Robert Duncan Wilmot, another of the St. John<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +County members, a first cousin of L. A. Wilmot, +was not new to the legislature, and his mind being +naturally conservative, it is in connection with the +Conservative party that he is best known in the +history of the province. He was elected as a Liberal, +however, in 1850, but seems to have forgotten +that fact as soon as he reached the House of Assembly. +This was not the only occasion on which +Wilmot contrived to change his principles, for he +performed a similar feat during the confederation +contest, and left the anti-confederate government +of 1865 in the lurch at a moment when its existence +almost depended on his fidelity. Wilmot +never was an eloquent man, and he entertained +some highly visionary views in regard to an irredeemable +paper currency, but he was a useful +public servant, and he afterwards became a member +of the government of Canada and eventually lieutenant-governor +of New Brunswick.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">JOHN R. PARTELOW</div> + +<p>The Hon. John R. Partelow, who was defeated +in St. John but elected for Victoria, was a man who +might have acquired a great political reputation +had the stage on which he appeared been a larger +one. Partelow's qualifications for high public +position did not depend upon his oratory, which +was not of a high order, but upon his moderation +and good sense. Partelow's origin was humble, +and his early days were spent as a clerk in a store +on the North Wharf, St. John. In that subordinate +position he made himself so useful and displayed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +so much ability that he was marked for +promotion. The idea of bringing him forward +as a candidate for the city of St. John seems to +have originated with his employers, but when he +gained a seat in the legislature he speedily made +his influence felt. Partelow spoke but seldom, +but when he did address the legislature it was +generally with good effect, and after the subject +had been to a large extent exhausted by previous +speakers. He then had a faculty of drafting a resolution +which seemed to express the general sense +of all, and which was usually accepted as a solution +of the matter. He was a good business man, understood +accounts thoroughly and, therefore, had a +great advantage in legislative work over those who +were not so well equipped in this respect. New +Brunswick may have produced greater men than +he in public life, but none whose talents were more +useful to the province, or better fitted to serve its +interests at a critical period in its constitutional +history.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II<br /> +<small>ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Shortly</span> after the general election, Chief-Justice +Chipman, who had been in infirm health, +resigned his office, and a vacancy was thus left on +the bench of the supreme court of the province. In +the natural course, this office ought to have gone to +the attorney-general, Mr. L. A. Wilmot, but this +appointment was not made. The council were unable +to unite in any recommendation to the governor, +who consequently laid all the facts before the home +government and in reply received instructions to +give the chief-justiceship to Judge Carter and +to offer the puisne judgeship to Mr. Wilmot, or, +if he should refuse it, to Mr. Kinnear, the solicitor-general. +The executive council complained +that the appointment of Mr. Wilmot to a seat +on the bench by the authority of the secretary of +state without the advice or recommendation of the +responsible executive within the province, was at +variance with the principles of responsible government +which were understood to be in force. They, +however, had only themselves to thank for this, for +they were continually appealing to Downing Street. +As a majority of the House had been elected as +opponents of the government, it was supposed there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +would be no difficulty in bringing about a change +of administration. Mr. Simonds, of St. John, who +was reputed to be a Liberal, was elected speaker +without opposition, and at an early day in the +session Mr. Ritchie, of St. John, moved, as an +amendment to the address, a want-of-confidence +resolution. This resolution, instead of being carried +by a large majority as was expected, was lost by +a vote of fifteen to twenty-two, Messrs. Alexander +Rankine and John T. Williston, of Northumberland, +Messrs. Robert Gordon and Joseph Reed, of +Gloucester, Mr. A. Barbarie, of Restigouche, and +Mr. Francis McPhelim, of Kent, having deserted +their Liberal allies. Had they proved faithful, the +government would have been defeated, and the +province would have been spared another three +years of an incompetent administration.</p> + +<p>In this division, Tilley and Needham, who represented +the city of St. John, and Messrs. R. D. +Wilmot and Gray, two of the county members, +voted for Ritchie's amendment. As Wilmot and +Gray showed by their votes that they had no confidence +in the government in February, 1851, it was +with much surprise that the people of St. John, in +the August following, learned that they had become +members of the administration which they had so +warmly condemned a few months before. Their +secession from the Liberal party destroyed whatever +chance had before existed of ousting the government. +Mr. Fisher had seceded from the government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +in consequence of their action in reference to +the judicial appointments, and John Ambrose Street, +who was a member for Northumberland, became +attorney-general in place of Robert Parker, appointed +a judge. Mr. Street was a ready debater and +a strong Conservative, and his entrance into the +government at that time showed that a Conservative +policy was to be maintained.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RAILWAY LEGISLATION</div> + +<p>Mr. Street, as leader of the government in the +assembly, presented a long programme of measures +for the consideration of the legislature, none of +which proved to be of any particular value. The +municipal corporation bill was passed, but it was a +permissive measure, and was not taken advantage +of by any of the counties. A bill to make the legislative +council elective, which was also passed in the +Lower House at the instance of the government, +was defeated in the Upper Chamber. The bill +appointing commissioners on law reform was carried, +and resulted in the production of the three volumes +of the revised statutes issued in 1854. The most +important bill of the session, introduced by the +government, was one in aid of the construction of +a railroad from St. John to Shediac. This bill provided +that the government should give a company +two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling, to +assist in the construction of the line referred to. +There was also a bill to assist the St. Andrews +and Quebec Railroad to the extent of fifty +thousand pounds, and a bonus or subvention to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +the Shediac line amounting to upwards of eleven +thousand dollars a mile, for which sum a very good +railway could be constructed at the present time. +It may be stated here that, although the company +was formed and undertook to build a railway to +Shediac under the terms offered by the government, +the province had eventually to build the road +at a cost of forty thousand dollars a mile, or fully +double what a similar road could be constructed +for now.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">KING'S COLLEGE</div> + +<p>One of the measures brought forward by the +government at this session was with reference to +the schools of the province. The idea of taxing the +property of the county for the support of public +schools had not then found any general acceptance +in New Brunswick; indeed, it was not till the year +1872 that the measure embodying this principle +was passed by the legislature. The government +school bill of 1851 provided that the teachers were +to be paid in money, or board and lodging, by +the district to the amount of ten pounds for six +months, in addition to the government allowance. +This bill was a very slight improvement on the Act +then in force, and as the government left it to the +House to deal with, and did not press it as a +government measure, it was not passed. A private +member, Mr. Gilbert, of Queens, at this session +proposed to convert King's College into an agricultural +school, with a model farm attached. +King's College had been established by an Act<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +passed in 1829, and had received a large endowment +from the province, but it never was a popular +institution because of its connection with a +single Church. The original charter of the college +made the bishop of the diocese the visitor, and +required the president to be always a clergyman of +the Church of England; and, although this had +been changed in 1845 by the legislature, the number +of students who attended it was always small, +and it was shown in the course of debate that +it had failed to fulfil the object for which it was +created. The college council consisted of fifteen +members, of whom ten were Episcopalians; and the +visitor, the chancellor, the president, the principal, +five out of seven of the professors and teachers, and +the two examiners were members of the same +Church. The services in the college chapel were +required to be attended by all resident students, +and of the eighteen students then in the college, +sixteen were Episcopalians. It was felt that this +college required to be placed on a different footing, +and Mr. Gilbert's bill, although it provoked much +hostile comment at the time, certainly would have +been more beneficial to the educational interests of +the country, if it had passed, than the state of affairs +which resulted from the continuance of the old +system. An agricultural school was the very thing +the province required, while, judging from the +limited attendance at the college at that time, the +people of this province were not greatly impressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +with the value of a classical education. In 1851, +however, any one who proposed to replace a college +for the teaching of Greek and Latin with a college +of agriculture, and the sciences allied to it, was +looked upon as a Philistine. Then youths were +taught to compose Latin and to read Greek who +never, to the day of their death, had a competent +knowledge of their own language; and agricultural +studies, which were of the highest importance to +more than one-half of the people of the province, +were totally neglected. Mr. Gilbert's bill was +defeated, as it was certain to be in a legislature +which was still under the domination of old ideas. +Had it passed, New Brunswick might at this +time have had a large body of scientific farmers +capable of cultivating the soil in the most efficient +manner, and increasing its productiveness to +an extent hardly dreamed of by those who only +consider it in the light of the present system of +cultivation.</p> + +<p>During this session, Mr. Ritchie of St. John +moved a series of resolutions condemning the government, +and complaining of the colonial office +and of the conduct of the governor. These resolutions +declared: first, that the House was entitled to +full copies of all despatches addressed to or received +from the colonial office, and that it was not enough +merely to send extracts from a despatch which had +been received by the governor. They declared that +the power of making appointments to offices was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +vested in the governor by and with the advice of +the executive council, and that the appointment of +the chief-justice and a puisne judge by the governor, +contrary to the advice of his council, was inconsistent +with the principles of responsible government. +They complained that the salaries were excessive, +and condemned the refusal of the British government +to allow the colonies to grant bounties for the +development of their resources. These resolutions, +after being debated for about a week, were rejected +by a vote of twenty-one to nineteen, the smallness +of the majority against them at the time being +looked upon as virtually a Liberal victory. If +the nineteen had been made up of men who +could be relied on to stand by their colours in all +emergencies, it would have been a Liberal triumph, +but, unfortunately, among the nineteen there were +some who afterwards deserted their party for the +sake of offices and power.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A POLITICAL SURPRISE</div> + +<p>Early in August it was announced that John H. +Gray and R. D. Wilmot, two of the Liberal members +for the county of St. John, had abandoned +their party and their principles and become members +of the government. The Liberals of St. John, +who had elected these gentlemen by a substantial +majority, were naturally chagrined at such a proof +of their faithlessness, and their colleagues were likewise +greatly annoyed. Messrs. Gray and Wilmot +made the usual excuses of all deserters for their +conduct, the principal one being that they thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +they could serve the interests of the constituency +and of the province better by being in the government +than out of it. The friends of the four members +who still remained faithful, Messrs. Tilley, +Simonds, Ritchie and Needham, held a meeting at +which these gentlemen were present, and it was +agreed that they should join in an address to their +constituents condemning the course of Messrs. +Wilmot and Gray, and calling on the constituency +to pronounce judgment upon it. As Wilmot, who +had been appointed to the office of surveyor-general, +had to return to his constituency for reëlection, +the voice of the constituency could only +be ascertained by placing a candidate in the field in +opposition to him. This was done, and Mr. Allan +McLean was elected to oppose Mr. Wilmot. The +result seemed to show that the people of St. John +had condoned the offence, for Wilmot was reëlected +by a majority of two hundred and seventy-three. +As this appeared to be a proof that they +had lost the confidence of their constituents, +Messrs. Simonds, Ritchie and Tilley at once resigned +their seats and did not offer for reëlection. +This act was, at the time, thought by many to +indicate an excess of sensitiveness, and Needham +refused to follow their example, thereby forfeiting +the regard of most of those who had formerly +supported him. The sequel proved that the three +resigning members were right, for they won much +more in public respect by their conduct than they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +lost by their temporary exclusion from the House +of Assembly.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE ST. JOHN ELECTION</div> + +<p>The gentlemen returned for the three seats in +St. John which had been vacated by the resigning +members were James A. Harding, John Goddard +and John Johnson. Mr. Harding, who ran for the +city, was opposed by S. K. Foster. Harding was +a Liberal, but this fact does not seem to have been +kept in view when he was elected. The net result +of the whole affair was that the constituency of St. +John could not be relied upon to support a Liberal +principle, or any kind of principle as against men. +That has always been a peculiarity of the St. John +constituencies, men being more important than +measures, and frequently a mere transient feeling +being set off against the most important considerations +of general policy.</p> + +<p>Tilley was not in the House of Assembly during +the sessions of 1852, 1853 and 1854; that period +was one, however, of development in political +matters and of substantial progress. The governor's +speech at the opening of the session of 1852 was +largely devoted to railways, and it expressed the +opinion that a railroad connecting Canada and +Nova Scotia, and a connection with a line from St. +John to the United States, would produce an abundant +return to the province, and that by this means +millions of tons of timber, then standing worthless +in the forest, would find a profitable market. It +was during this session that Messrs. Peto, Brassy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +and Betts proposed to construct the European and +North American Railway, on certain conditions. +The subsidies offered by the province at this time +were twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty +years, and a million acres of land for the European +and North American Railway, as the line to the +United States was termed; and for the Quebec +line, twenty-two thousand pounds sterling for +twenty years, and two million acres of land. A +new company, which included Mr. Jackson, M. P., +offered to build the New Brunswick section of both +railroads, upon the province granting them a subsidy +of twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty +years, and four million acres of land. Attorney-General +Street introduced a series of railway resolutions +favouring the building of the Intercolonial +Railway jointly by the three provinces, according +to terms which had been agreed upon by the delegates +of each. The arrangement was that the Intercolonial +Railway should be built through the valley +of the St. John, and for favouring resolutions in the +House confirming this arrangement, Mr. Street's +Northumberland constituents called upon him to +resign his seat, a step which he refused to take.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY</div> + +<p>The government railway resolutions were carried +by a large majority. During the recess Mr. Chandler, +as a representative of New Brunswick, and Mr. +Hincks, a representative of Canada, went to London +to endeavour to obtain from the British government +a sum sufficient to build the Intercolonial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +Railway. The request of the delegates was refused +on the ground that such a work had to be one of +military necessity, and that the route which had +been selected, by the valley of the St. John, was +not a proper one for military purposes. As Mr. +Chandler could not obtain what he wished from the +British government, he applied to Messrs. Peto, +Brassy and Betts, who said they were prepared to +build all the railroads that New Brunswick might +require, upon the most advantageous terms. Mr. +Jackson visited the province in September of the +same year, and it was agreed that his company +should build a railway from St. John to Amherst, +and from St. John to the United States frontier, +the distance being then estimated at two hundred +and fourteen miles, for the sum of sixty-five hundred +pounds sterling per mile. The province was +to take stock to the extent of twelve hundred +pounds per mile, and to lend its bonds to the +company for one thousand eight hundred pounds +additional per mile. The completion of this arrangement +caused great rejoicing in the province, +especially in St. John, a special session of the +legislature being called on October 21st for the +express purpose of amending the Railway Act so +that it might conform to the new conditions. As +both branches of the legislature were strongly in +favour of the railway policy of the government, the +necessary bills were speedily passed and the legislature +was prorogued after a session of eight days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>The meeting of the legislature in 1853 derived +its principal importance from the fact that much of +its time was taken up with the discussion of the +question of a reciprocity treaty with the United +States of America. The discussion disclosed a +strong disinclination on the part of many members +to any arrangement by which the fisheries would +be surrendered. An address to the queen was agreed +to by both branches of the legislature in which it +was stated that the exclusive use of the fisheries by +the inhabitants of British North America would be +much more advantageous and satisfactory than +anything which the United States could offer as an +equivalent. It was also stated that no reciprocity +treaty with that country would be satisfactory to +New Brunswick which did not embrace the free +exchange of raw materials and natural products and +the admission of colonial built vessels to registry in +American ports. The tone of the discussions on this +subject, both in 1853 and 1854, shows that reciprocity +with the United States was not generally +regarded as being an equivalent for the giving of +the fisheries to our neighbours, and it is quite clear +that, so far as New Brunswick was concerned, the +reciprocity treaty would not have been agreed to +had it not been that the matter was in the hands of +the British government, and that the legislature +of the province was not disposed to resist strenuously +any arrangement which that government +thought it wise to make.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III<br /> +<small>THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> House which had been elected in 1850 +was dissolved after the prorogation in 1854, +and the election came on in the month of July. It +was a memorable occasion, because it was certain +that the topics discussed by the House then to +be elected would be of the very highest importance. +One of these subjects was the reciprocity treaty, +which at that time had been arranged with the +United States through the British government. +This treaty provided for the free interchange of +certain natural products between the great republic +and the several provinces which later formed the +Dominion of Canada, and it had been brought +about through the efforts of Lord Elgin, who at +that time was governor-general of Canada. The +treaty was agreed to on June 5th, and was subject +to ratification by the imperial parliament and +the legislatures of the British North American +colonies which were affected by it. In the St. +John constituencies there was at that time a strong +feeling in favour of a protection policy, but this did +not interfere with the desire to effect the interchange +of raw material with the United States on +advantageous terms. Tilley had been originally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +nominated as a protectionist, and still held views +favourable to the encouragement and protection of +native industries by means of the tariff, but he was +also favourable to reciprocity with the United +States if it could be obtained in such a manner +as to be beneficial to the province. At the general +election he led the poll in the city of St. John, his +colleague being James A. Harding, who had been +elected at a bye-election to the previous House. +For the county, Mr. William J. Ritchie was one +of the successful candidates, and the only Liberal +returned for that constituency. The other members +for the county were the Hon. John R. Partelow, +Robert D. Wilmot and John H. Gray.</p> + +<p>The new House was called together on October +19th for the purpose of ratifying the reciprocity +treaty, and the Hon. D. L. Hanington was elected +speaker by a vote of twenty-three to thirteen. +This gave the opposition an earlier opportunity +of defeating the Street-Partelow administration +than would, under ordinary circumstances, have +been possible. An amendment to the address was +moved by the Hon. Charles Fisher, which was +an indictment of the government for their various +shortcomings and offences. The amendment was +to expunge the whole of the fifth paragraph and +substitute for it the following:—</p> + +<p>"It is with feelings of loyalty and attachment +to Her Majesty's person and government that we +recognize, in that provision of the treaty which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +requires the concurrence of this legislature, a distinct +avowal by the imperial government of their +determination to preserve inviolate the principles +of self-government, and to regard the constitution +of the province as sacred as that of the parent +state. We regret that the conduct of the administration +during the last few years has not been in +accordance with these principles, and we feel constrained +thus early to state to your Excellency that +your constitutional advisers have not conducted +the government of the province in the true spirit of +our colonial constitution." This amendment was +debated for six days, and was carried by a vote of +twenty-seven to twelve.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">QUESTION OF THE JUDGES REVIVED</div> + +<p>The general ground of accusation against the +government, and the one most strongly insisted +upon, was that it had yielded to the influence of +the colonial office in the appointment of Judge Wilmot. +It was well known that the government at +that time, or at least a majority of them, did not +consider it necessary to appoint another judge; at +all events, they took no steps to bring about another +appointment; but they yielded to the colonial office, +and the pressure put upon them by Sir Edmund +Head, the lieutenant-governor, so far as to acquiesce +in the appointment of Judge Carter as chief-justice, +and the elevation of Mr. Wilmot to the bench. +This was a fair ground of attack, because it was +clear that if the executive council of New Brunswick +was under the orders of the home government,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +representative institutions and responsible +government did not exist.</p> + +<p>Thus the Street-Partelow government fell, and +with it disappeared, at once and forever, the old +Conservative régime which had existed in the province +from its foundation, and which, unavoidably +no doubt, had presided over the early political life +of the colony, but the undue continuance of which +was wholly incompatible with the full development +of representative institutions and responsible government. +It was a great triumph for the cause of +Liberalism that the Conservatives of that period +were not only defeated, but swept altogether out of +existence. After that a government of men who +called themselves Conservatives might go into +power, but the old state of affairs, under which +the lieutenant-governor could exercise almost despotic +powers, had departed forever, and could no +more be revived than the heptarchy. All that a +Conservative government could do after that was +to fall into line with the policy of the men they had +displaced, and proceed, less rapidly perhaps, but none +the less surely, along the path of political progress.</p> + +<p>The new government which was formed as the +result of this vote had for its premier the Hon. +Charles Fisher, who took the office of attorney-general; +Mr. Tilley became provincial secretary; +Mr. James Brown, a few weeks later, received the +office of surveyor-general; J. M. Johnson, one of +the members for Northumberland, became solicitor-general;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +and William J. Ritchie, Albert J. Smith +and William H. Steeves were members of the +government without office.</p> + +<p>The bill to give effect to the reciprocity treaty +passed its third reading on November 2d, only five +members voting against it. On motion of the Hon. +Mr. Ritchie, one of the members of the new +government, it was resolved that it was desirable +and expedient that the surveyor-general, who was a +political officer, should hold a seat in the House of +Assembly, and that the government should carry +out the wishes of the House in this respect. Before +the House again met the wishes of the House had +been complied with, and Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, +became surveyor-general.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SESSION OF 1855</div> + +<p>The House met again on February 1st, 1855, +and then the real work of legislative and administrative +reform began. In the speech from the +throne it was stated that the Customs Act would +expire in the course of a year, and that it was +necessary that a new Act should be passed. A +better system of auditing the public accounts was +also recommended, and a better system of electing +members to the legislature. On March 5th, correspondence +was brought down, dated the previous +15th of August, announcing, on the part of the +imperial government, the withdrawal of the imperial +customs establishment, which was considered to +be no longer necessary, and stating that as the duties +of these offices were now mainly in connection with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +the registration of vessels in the colonies, and +the granting of certificates of the origin of colonial +products, this work would hereafter be performed +by the colonial officers. A letter addressed to the +comptrollers and other customs officers had informed +them that their services would be discontinued +after January 5th, 1855. So disappeared the +last remnant of the old imperial custom-house +system, which had been the cause of so many difficulties +in all the colonies and which had done more +than anything else to bring about the revolution +which separated the thirteen colonies from the +mother country.</p> + +<p>The great measure of the session of 1855 was the +law to prevent the importation, manufacture or +selling of liquor. This bill was brought in by Mr. +Tilley as a private member, and not on behalf of +the government. It was introduced on March 3d. +Considering its importance and the fact that it led +to a crisis in the affairs of the government and +the temporary defeat of the Liberal party, it went +through the House with comparatively little difficulty. +It was first considered on March 19th, and +a motion to postpone its further consideration for +three months was lost by a vote of seventeen to +twenty-one. The final division on the third reading +was taken on March 27th, and the vote was twenty-one +to eighteen, so that every member of the +House, with one exception, voted yea or nay. The +closeness of this last division should have warned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +the advocate of the measure that it was likely to +produce difficulty, for it is clear that all laws which +are intended to regulate the personal habits of men +must be ineffectual unless they have the support of +a large majority of the people affected by them. +That this was not the case with the prohibitory +liquor law was shown by the vote in the legislature, +and it was still more clearly shown after the law +came into operation on January 1st, 1856.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PROHIBITORY LIQUOR ACT</div> + +<p>The passage of the prohibitory law was a bold +experiment, and, as the sequel showed, more bold +than wise. The temperance movement in New +Brunswick, at that time, was hardly more than +twenty years old, and New Brunswick had always +been a province in which the consumption of liquor +was large in proportion to its population. When it +was first settled by the Loyalists, and for many +years afterwards, the use of liquor was considered +necessary to happiness, if not to actual existence. +Every person consumed spirits, which generally +came to the province in the form of Jamaica rum, +from the West Indies, and as this rum was supposed +to be an infallible cure for nearly every ill that flesh +is heir to, nothing could be done at that time without +its use. Large quantities of rum were taken +into the woods for the lumbermen, to give them +sufficient strength to perform the laborious work in +which they were engaged, and if it had been suggested +that a time would come when the same +work would be done without any more powerful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +stimulant than tea, the person who ventured to +make such a suggestion would have been regarded +as foolish. Experience has shown that more and +better work can be done, not only in the woods, but +everywhere else, without the use of stimulants than +with them; but no one could be persuaded to believe +this sixty years ago. Every kind of work connected +with the farm then had to be performed by the aid +of liquor. Every house-raising, every ploughing +match, every meeting at which farmers congregated, +had unlimited quantities of rum as one of +its leading features. It was also used by almost +every man as a part of his regular diet; the old +stagers had their eleven-o'clock dram and their nip +before dinner; their regular series of drinks in the +afternoon and evening; and they actually believed +that without them life would not be worth living. +Some idea of the extent of the spirit-drinking of +the province may be gathered from the fact that, in +1838, when the population did not exceed 120,000, +312,298 gallons of rum, gin and whiskey, and +64,579 gallons of brandy were consumed in New +Brunswick. Spirits, especially rum, were very +cheap, and, the duty being only thirty cents a +gallon, every one could afford to drink it if +disposed to do so.</p> + +<p>It was at midnight on December 31st, 1855, +when the bells rang out a merry peal to announce +the advent of the New Year, that this law went into +force. This meant little less than a revolution in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +the views, feelings and ideas of the people of the +province, and, to a large extent, in their business +relations. The liquor trade, both wholesale and +retail, employed large numbers of men, and occupied +many buildings which brought in large rents to +their owners. The number of taverns in St. John +and its suburb, Portland, was not less than two +hundred, and every one of these establishments +had to be closed. There were probably at least +twenty men who sold liquor at wholesale, and who +extended their business to every section of the +province, as well as to parts of Nova Scotia, and +their operations also had to come to an end. It was +not to be supposed that these people would consent +to be deprived suddenly of their means of +living, especially in view of the fact that it was by +no means certain that the sentiment in favour of +prohibition was as strong in the country as it appeared +to be in the legislature. It has always been +understood that many men voted for prohibition in +the House of Assembly who themselves were not +total abstainers, but who thought they might make +political capital by taking that course, and who +relied on the legislative council to throw out the +bill. No men were more disgusted and disappointed +than they when the council passed the bill.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PROHIBITORY ACT UNPOPULAR</div> + +<p>The result of the attempt to enforce prohibition +was what might have been expected. The law was +resisted, liquor continued to be sold, and when attempts +were made to prevent the violation of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +law, and the violators of the law were brought before +the courts, able lawyers were employed to +defend them, while the sale of liquor by the same +parties was continued, thus setting the law at +defiance. This state of confusion lasted for several +months, but it is unnecessary to go into details. In +the city of St. John, especially, the conflict became +bitter to the last degree, and it was evident that, +however admirable prohibition might be of itself, +the people of that city were not then prepared to +accept it. At this juncture came the astounding +news that the lieutenant-governor, the Hon. H. T. +Manners-Sutton, had dissolved the House of Assembly +against the advice of his council. This +governor, who had been appointed the year previous, +was a member of an old Conservative family, one of +whom was speaker of the British House of Commons +for a great many years. The traditions of this +family were all opposed to such a radical measure +as the prohibitory law, and, therefore, it was not +to be expected that Manners-Sutton, who drank +wine at his own table, and who considered that its +use was proper and necessary, would be favourable +to the law. But even if he had been disposed +to favour it originally, or to regard it without +prejudice, the confusion which it caused in the +province when the attempt was made to enforce it, +would naturally incline him to look upon it as an +evil. At all events, he came to the conclusion that +the people should have another opportunity of pronouncing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +upon it, and, as the result of this view of +the situation, resolved to dissolve the legislature, +which had been elected only a little more than a +year, and had still three years to run.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">DISSOLUTION OF LEGISLATURE</div> + +<p>The election which followed in July, 1856, was +perhaps the most hotly contested that has ever +taken place in the province. In St. John, especially, +the conflict was fierce and bitter, because it was in +this city that the liquor interest was strongest and +most influential. All over the province, however, +the people became interested in the struggle, as they +had not been in any previous campaign.</p> + +<p>By the Liberals and friends of the government, +the action of Governor Sutton was denounced as +tyrannical, unjust and entirely contrary to the principles +of responsible government. On the other +hand, the friends of the governor and of the liquor +interest declared that his action was right, and the +cry of "Support the governor," was raised in every +county. At this day it is easy enough to discern +that there was a good deal of unnecessary violence +injected into the campaign, and that neither party +was inclined to do full justice to the other.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<small>REFORM AND PROGRESS</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> result of the election was the defeat of the +government. Mr. Tilley lost his seat for St. +John city, and the Hon. James Brown, the surveyor-general, +was rejected by the county of Charlotte, so +that two of the principal members of the executive +were not in their places when the House was called +together in July. The city of St. John, and the +city and county of St. John, sent a solid phalanx +of six members opposed to prohibition, and an +Act repealing the prohibitory liquor law was passed +by a vote of thirty-eight to two. The new government +which was formed had for its principal +members, the Hon. John H. Gray, who became +attorney-general; the Hon. John C. Allen, solicitor-general; +the Hon. R. D. Wilmot, provincial +secretary; the Hon. John Montgomery, surveyor-general, +and the Hon. Francis McPhelim, postmaster-general. +The other members of the executive +council were the Hon. Edward B. Chandler, +the Hon. Robert L. Hazen and the Hon. Charles +McPherson.</p> + +<p>When the House met in July, the Hon. Charles +Simonds, of St. John, was elected speaker, and it +was soon discovered, after the liquor bill had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +disposed of, that the majority supporting the government +was so small as to make it impossible +for them to accomplish any useful legislation. When +the legislature again met, in the early part of 1857, +it was seen that in a House of forty-one members +twenty were arrayed against the government, and +the only way in which government business could +be done was by the casting vote of the speaker. +This condition of affairs speedily became intolerable, +because it practically made legislation impossible, +but it was brought to an end by Mr. McMonagle, +one of the members for the county of +Kings, withdrawing his support from the government. +Two courses only were now open to them, +to tender their resignations or advise the dissolution +of the legislature, and they chose the latter. +The House of Assembly was dissolved by proclamation +on April 1st, 1857, and the writs for the election +were made returnable on May 16th.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FISHER GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>The excitement attending this second election +was, if possible, even greater than during the +election of 1856, for the public mind had been +wrought up to a high state of tension by the proceedings +in the House and the numerous divisions +in which the government was supported only by +the casting vote of the speaker. The result of the +election was so unfavourable to the Gray-Wilmot +government that they at once tendered their resignations +to the lieutenant-governor, agreeing to hold +office only until their successors were appointed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +The most bitter contest of the election centred +in the city of St. John, and it resulted in the +election of Mr. Tilley, with Mr. James A. Harding +for his colleague, the latter having changed his +views in regard to the question at issue since the +previous election, when he was chosen as an opponent +of the government of which Tilley had been +a member. When the Gray-Wilmot government +resigned, the lieutenant-governor sent for Mr. +Fisher, and entrusted to him the business of forming +a new government. The government thus formed +comprised the Hons. James Brown, S. L. Tilley, +William Henry Steeves, John M. Johnson, Albert +J. Smith, David Wark and Charles Watters. The +Hon. Charles Fisher became attorney-general, and, +resigning his seat, was reëlected for the county of +York prior to the meeting of the legislature on +June 24th, 1857. The session lasted only until July +1st, being merely held for the purpose of disposing +of the necessary business. James A. Harding was +elected speaker of the House, and the legislation was +confined to the passage of the supply bills, and +matters that were urgent. Tilley took no part +in the legislation of this session, for his seat immediately +became vacant by his appointment as +provincial secretary. The other departments were +filled by the appointment of Mr. Brown to the +office of surveyor-general; of Mr. Charles Watters, +to the office of solicitor-general, and of John M. +Johnson as postmaster-general.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>The legislature met again on February 10th, 1858, +and the speech from the throne dealt mainly +with the financial crisis, the Intercolonial Railway, +and the progress that was being made in +the construction of the line between St. John and +Shediac as a part of what was termed the European +and North American Railway. The speech also +referred to the fact that the surplus civil list fund +had been, by arrangement with the British government +made the previous year, placed at the disposal +of the House of Assembly. It was soon seen +that the government was strong in the House, the +first test vote being that taken on the passage of +the address in reply to the speech from the throne. +This came in the form of an amendment, regretting +that the arrangement in regard to the surplus civil +list fund had been acceded to without the consent +of the House. This amendment to the address received +the support of only six members. A return +brought down at an early period in the session +showed that the revenue of the province for the +fiscal year, ending October 31st, 1857, amounted to +$668,252 an increase of $86,528 over the previous +year. Of this sum upwards of $540,000 came from +import duties and what were termed railway impost, +which was simply duties levied on imports +for the purpose of defraying the cost of the railways +then building. The casual and territorial revenue +yielded only eighteen thousand pounds but the export +duties reached almost twenty thousand pounds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY</div> + +<p>The Intercolonial Railway still continued to +engage the attention of the legislature, and correspondence +with the secretary of state, with the +government of Canada, and with the government +of Nova Scotia, in regard to this great work, was +laid before the House soon after the session opened. +The government of New Brunswick consulted with +the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia as to +what assistance should be given by the imperial +government towards the construction of the Intercolonial +Railway from Halifax to Quebec, in the form +of a guarantee of interest. The British government +professed to feel a strong sense of the importance +of the object, but thought they would not be justified +in applying to parliament for the required guarantee, +because the heavy expenditures to which +Great Britain had been subjected did not leave +them at liberty to pledge its revenue for the purpose +of assisting in the construction of public works +of this description, however desirable in themselves. +The correspondence on the subject of the Intercolonial +Railway extended over a period of more than +twenty years and grew to enormous proportions, +but it is safe to assert that this line of railway +would not have been constructed in the nineteenth +century but for the fact that it was undertaken by +the Canadian Dominion as a work which had to be +built for the purpose of carrying out the terms +of confederation as set out in the British North +America Act (section 145).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>The railway to Shediac was finally completed +and opened for traffic on August 5th, 1860, its +length being one hundred and eight miles. The +nineteen miles between Pointe du Chêne and Moncton +had been open as early as August, 1857, and +the nine miles from St. John to Rothesay, on June +1st, 1858. The railway was opened from St. John +to Hampton in June, 1859, and to Sussex in November +of the same year. Although the people of +the province had abated something of their enthusiasm +for railways by the time the St. John and Shediac +line was finished, still its opening was a great +event, because it was the commencement of a new +era in transportation and gave St. John access to +the north shore, from which it had previously been +practically shut out. Goods could now be sent by +means of railway and steamer to Prince Edward +Island, and to the New Brunswick ports on the +Gulf of St. Lawrence, and a community of interest +which did not exist before was thus created between +the most remote sections of the province.</p> + +<p>The traffic receipts of the complete line were +thought to be highly satisfactory; the business for +the first three months amounted to about $45,000, +and yielded a revenue of $18,000. This was a good +showing and gave promise of still better things for +the future. It may be interesting to state that +in the last year that the railway was operated by +the government of the province, the gross receipts +amounted to $148,330, and the net receipts to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +$51,760. The gross and net revenue of the road +had shown a steady increase from the first, and +although it had been a costly public work the +people of the province considered it a good investment. +It was only after it had passed into the hands +of the government of Canada, and become a part +of the Intercolonial Railway, that any colour was +given to the accusation that it was an unprofitable +line. The railway from St. John to Shediac had +always paid well, and probably, if dissociated from +its connecting lines, would at this day pay three or +four per cent, upon its original cost.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE BALLOT</div> + +<p>The legislation of the province between 1858 +and 1861, although it included many useful measures, +evolved nothing that calls for particular +mention, with the exception of the law which provided +for voting by ballot. This was an innovation +to which many were opposed, but which the +Liberal party very properly considered necessary to +the protection of the voter, who was liable to be +coerced by his employer, or by those who had +financial relations with him. The ballot system +introduced by the government was quite imperfect +and did not insure absolute secrecy, because it did +not provide for an official ballot such as is required +in the system of election which now prevails in connection +with the choice of members to our Canadian +parliament. Yet it was a vast improvement +on open voting, not only because it gave the voter +a certain degree of protection, but also from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +fact that it tended to promote order at elections, +and to do away with that riotous spirit which was +characteristic of the earlier contests in the province.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK</div> + +<p>In 1859 an important step was taken for the +reorganization of King's College, which by an Act +passed in that year, was changed into the University +of New Brunswick. There had always been a great +deal of dissatisfaction with the college in consequence +of its denominational character, and in 1854 +an Act was passed empowering the lieutenant-governor +to appoint a commission to inquire into +the state of King's College, its management and +utility, with a view to improving it. The commissioners +appointed were the Hon. John H. Gray, +the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, J. W. Dawson, the +Hon. John S. Saunders and the Hon. James Brown. +The report, which was dated December 28th, 1854, +was laid before both branches of the legislature in +1855. In 1857 the college council appointed a committee +and prepared a draft of a bill which was laid +before the legislature. This, with a few slight alterations, +was the bill which was passed in 1859 for the +establishment of the University of New Brunswick, +and in this bill were embodied the principal recommendations +of the commissioners appointed in 1854 +to enquire into the state of the college. This Act +transferred to the University of New Brunswick all +the property of King's College and its endowment, +and made the university liable for the payment of +the debts and the performance of the contracts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +King's College. It created a new governing body +for the college to be styled the senate, to be +appointed by the governor in council, and the +president of the college was required to be a member +of that body and also to be a layman. It conferred +upon the senate the power of appointing +the professors and other officers of the university, +except the president, and also the power of removing +them from office, subject to the approval of the +governor in council. It also authorized the senate +to fix their salaries. It abolished the professorship +of theology and provided for the affiliation of other +institutions with the university, and also for a number +of free scholars. This Act, which was passed +in April, 1859, was especially approved by Her +Majesty in council on January 25th, 1860. Thus a +new era in the higher education of New Brunswick +was commenced, and a long step was taken +towards making the college more acceptable to +the people of that province. Great hopes were +entertained at the time that this liberalizing of +the constitution of the college would lead to a large +increase in the number of its students, and a more +general interest in its work, but, unfortunately, as +the sequel showed, these hopes were only partially +realized.</p> + +<p>During the spring of 1860 circumstances occurred +which led to the resignation of the postmaster-general, +the Hon. Charles Connell. The legislature +having adopted the decimal system of currency in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +the place of the pounds, shillings and pence which +had been the currency of the province since its +foundation, Mr. Connell, in March, 1860, was +authorized to obtain a new set of postage stamps of +the denominations required for use in the postal +service of the province. No person, at that time, +thought that a political crisis would arise out of this +order, but it appears that Mr. Connell, guided by +the example of presidents and postmasters-general +of the United States, had made up his mind that +instead of the likeness of the queen, which had been +upon all the old postage stamps of the province, the +five-cent stamp, the one which would be most in +use, should bear the impress of his own countenance. +Accordingly the Connell postage stamp, which is +now one of the rarest and most costly of all in the +lists of collectors, was procured and was ready to +be used, when Mr. Connell's colleagues in the +government discovered what was going on and took +steps to prevent the new five-cent stamp from +being issued. The correspondence on the subject, +which will be found in the journals of 1861, is +curious and interesting; it ended in the withdrawal +of the objectionable stamps and in the resignation +of Mr. Connell, who complained that he had lost +the confidence of his colleagues, and in resigning, +charged them with neglecting the affairs of the +province. Only a few of the Connell stamps got +into circulation, the remainder of the issue being +destroyed. Mr. Connell's place as postmaster-general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +was filled by the appointment of James +Steadman.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">RESIGNATION OF MR. FISHER</div> + +<p>In the early part of 1861 a very important event +occurred in connection with the government which +produced a lasting effect on provincial politics. +Charges were made by a St. John Conservative +paper, <i>The Colonial Empire</i>, in which it was +stated that members of the government and certain +Crown lands officials had been purchasing the +most desirable and valuable Crown lands of the +province for speculative purposes, and that in bringing +these lands to sale the government regulations +had been violated and the public treasury had suffered. +A committee of the House was appointed to +investigate these charges, and inquiry established +the fact that an official of the Crown lands department +had purchased some eight hundred acres. +These lands were all bought at public sale, but in +the forms of application other names were used, +which was a violation of the rules of the department. +A portion of the press at the time created a +widespread excitement upon this subject, and the +services of the official referred to were dispensed +with. Some of the supporters of the government +also took such ground in reference to the attorney-general, +Mr. Fisher, that his retirement from the +government became necessary, the accusation +against him being that he had negligently permitted +some improper sales of Crown lands to be made. It +was felt at the time by some that the penalty that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +was paid by the attorney-general was excessive for +the offence; but, under the excitement then existing, +it was the only course that could be taken to +avoid the defeat of the government. At the general +election that followed a few months later, Mr. +Fisher was reëlected for the county of York, and +later on, after the excitement had passed over, the +delinquent Crown lands official was reinstated. At +the same election, that took place in 1861, the +government was handsomely sustained, after one of +the warmest contests that had ever taken place in +New Brunswick. Probably the most effective nomination +speech ever made by Tilley, during his long +political career, was the one then delivered at the +court-house, St. John, in his own defence, and in +the vindication of his government against the +charges made by the Opposition candidates and +press.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V<br /> +<small>THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> imperfect means of communication between +the Maritime Provinces and Canada +had long been recognized as a great evil, and very +soon after the introduction of railways into England +a line of railway was projected to run from +St. Andrews, in New Brunswick, to Quebec. The +transfer of a considerable tract of territory, which +had been believed to be in New Brunswick, to the +state of Maine, under the terms of the Ashburton +Treaty, gave a check to this enterprise, and financial +difficulties afterwards prevented its accomplishment. +A more promising scheme was that of a railway +from Halifax to Quebec, and this so far received +the approval of the British government that an +officer of engineers, Major Robinson, was, in 1847, +detailed to conduct a survey of the proposed line. +As this gentleman was influenced by purely military +considerations, his line was carried as far from +the United States boundary as possible, and consequently +by a very long and circuitous route. During +the session of 1852, Attorney-General Street +introduced a series of resolutions in the New +Brunswick legislature favouring the building of the +Intercolonial Railway jointly by Canada, New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +Brunswick and Nova Scotia, according to terms +which had been agreed upon by the delegates of +each. This arrangement was that the Intercolonial +Railway should be built through the valley of the +St. John. These resolutions were carried by a large +majority. During the recess, Mr. Chandler, as the +representative of New Brunswick, and Mr. Hincks, +the representative of Canada, went to London to +endeavour to obtain from the British government +financial aid to build the Intercolonial Railway. +This was refused on the ground that such a work +had to be one of military necessity. Further efforts +were made in 1855, and again in 1858, to influence +the British government in favour of this railway, +but without result; the answer of Downing Street +being that the heavy expenditure involved in the +Crimean War prevented the government from +assisting in the construction of public works, such +as the Intercolonial Railway, however desirable in +themselves.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">DELEGATION TO ENGLAND</div> + +<p>The effort to secure the construction of the +Intercolonial Railway was renewed in 1861. At a +meeting of delegates representing Canada, Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick, which was held at +Quebec on September 30th, it was resolved that +the three governments should renew the offers +made to the imperial government in 1858 with +reference to the Intercolonial Railway, and that +the route to be adopted be decided by the imperial +government. The Hon. Mr. Tilley, who was at this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +Quebec meeting, was sent to England as a delegate +to confer with the imperial government with regard +to the railway, while Nova Scotia was represented +by the Hon. Joseph Howe, and Canada, by the +Hon. P. M. Vankoughnet. The delegates reached +England in November and placed themselves in +communication with the Duke of Newcastle, who +was then colonial secretary, and they also had +interviews with the prime minister, Lord Palmerston, +the chancellor of the exchequer, the secretary +of war, and the president of the board of trade. +While in England, the seizure of the commissioners +of the southern confederacy, Messrs. Mason and +Slidell, by Commodore Wilkes, on board the British +mail steamer <i>Trent</i>, produced a crisis in the relations +between Great Britain and the United States +which seemed likely to lead to a war, and greatly +strengthened the position of the delegates, who were +able to point out the difficulty involved in defending +Canada without a railway to the sea. They +presented their views to the colonial secretary in a +very ably written state paper, which should have +convinced those to whom it was addressed that the +railway was an absolute necessity. The delegates +estimated the cost of the railway at £3,000,000 +sterling, and they asked the imperial government +to join in a guarantee of four per cent. interest on +this sum, each of the provinces to guarantee £20,000 +a year for this purpose and the imperial government, +£60,000. This proposal was rejected by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +British government, but it offered "an imperial +guarantee of interest towards enabling them to raise +by public loan, at a moderate rate, the requisite +funds for constructing the railway." The British +government, therefore, would do nothing for this +great work except to indorse the bonds of the provinces +to a limited extent, for it was stated in the +Duke of Newcastle's letter to the delegates that +"the nature and extent of the guarantee must be +determined by the particulars of any scheme which +the provincial governments may be disposed to +found on the present proposal and on the kind of +security which they would offer."</p> + +<p>Delegates representing the three provinces met +in Quebec in September, 1862, to consider this +offer, New Brunswick being represented by Messrs. +Tilley, Steeves and Mitchell. The delegates from +the Maritime Provinces declared their willingness +to propose to their respective governments to +accept the proposition of the Duke of Newcastle +if Canada would bear one-half of the expense of +the railway instead of one-third. The Canadian +government offered to assume five-twelfths of the +liability for the construction and working of the +Intercolonial, and to this the delegates for New +Brunswick and Nova Scotia had to agree. This +imposed a very serious burthen on two provinces, +which, between them, had only six hundred thousand +inhabitants, and their willingness to assume it +shows the interest they took in this great work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">NEGOTIATIONS IN ENGLAND</div> + +<p>In pursuance of an arrangement made at this +Quebec meeting, delegates from the three provinces +went to England to arrange the terms of the guarantee +with the British government; the Hon. Mr. +Tilley represented New Brunswick, and the Hon. +Joseph Howe, Nova Scotia. Mr. Gladstone, who was +then chancellor of the exchequer, insisted on a sinking +fund being provided, which was to be a first +charge on the revenues of the several provinces. +This sinking fund was objected to by the colonial +delegates, but the only modification in its terms +which they were able to obtain was that the sinking +fund was not to take precedence of any existing +liability. Before leaving England, Messrs. Tilley and +Howe prepared and submitted a memorandum to +the Duke of Newcastle in which they expressed a +hope that Mr. Gladstone might be induced to reconsider +the matter of the sinking fund, and that it +would not be insisted on. The Canadian delegates +left England without an acceptance of the terms +proposed by Mr. Gladstone, and without a formal +rejection of them. Previous to the meeting of the +Canadian parliament, Tilley proceeded to Quebec +to urge upon the Canadian government the preparation +of the necessary bills to carry out the +agreement entered into for the construction of this +great railway. He reported to the lieutenant-governor +on his return that the government of Canada, +for reasons stated, could not then undertake to pass +the legislation required, which they greatly regretted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +but that they had not abandoned the +arrangements for the construction of the railway. +The Canadian government's declaration in the +course of the session that they had abandoned this +important enterprise was, accordingly, a source of +great surprise and regret. The governments of New +Brunswick and Nova Scotia passed the necessary +legislation at the next session, but the government +of Canada took no further step in the matter until +the confederation negotiations were commenced +in 1864.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI<br /> +<small>THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">We</span> now come down to an event of the +greatest interest, in which Mr. Tilley took +part, and one of such vast and far-reaching importance +that it quite overshadows all the other +events of his career. The confederation of the +Canadian provinces was, beyond all question, the +most notable colonial movement within the British +empire since the American Declaration of Independence. +It changed at once the whole character of +the colonial relations which had subsisted with the +mother country, and substituted for a few weak and +scattered colonies a powerful Dominion, able to +speak with a united voice, and stand as a helpmeet +to the nation from which most of its people had +sprung. No man, whatever his views as to the wisdom +of that political union may have been at the +time, can now deny that it was timely and necessary, +if the colonies and the mother country were to preserve +their connection with each other. It is safe +to say that, if confederation had not taken place in +1867, British interests on this continent would have +suffered, and possibly some of the colonies would +now have been a part of the United States. The +policy of separating the colonies from England,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +which has been so much advocated by many leading +public men in the great republic, would have found +free scope, and by balancing the interests of one +colony against those of another, promoting dissensions +and favouring those provinces which were +disposed to a closer union with the United States, +something might have been done to weaken their +connection with the British empire, which is now +the glory and the strength of the Dominion of +Canada.</p> + +<p>The question of the union of the several colonies +of British North America was by no means a new +one when it came up for final settlement. It had +been discussed at a very early period in the history +of the provinces, and indeed it was a question which +it was quite natural to discuss, for it seemed but +reasonable that colonies of the same origin, owing +the same allegiance, inhabited by people who differed +but little from each other in any respect, and +with many commercial interests in common, should +form a political union. No doubt it might have been +brought earlier to the front as a vital political question +but for the fact that the British government, +which was most interested in promoting the union +of the colonies, took no step towards that end until +almost compelled by necessity to move in the +matter. The colonial policy of England, as represented +by the colonial office and in the royal instructions +to colonial governors, has seldom been +wise or far-seeing, and the British colonies which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +now girdle the world, have been built up mainly +as the result of private enterprise; for the part +taken by the government has, in most cases, been +merely to give official sanction to what private +individuals have already done, and to assist in protecting +British interests when they have become +important, especially in new regions of the world.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CONFEDERATION FORESHADOWED</div> + +<p>When the Earl of Durham was sent out as governor-general +of Canada after the rebellion there in +1838, he suggested in his report that the union of +the colonies of British North America was one of +the remedies which ought to be resorted to for the +pacification of Canada and the reconstruction of its +constitution. While a large proportion of the people +of the colonies looked with favour upon the idea of +a political union, there was in all of them a large +body of objectors who were steadily opposed to it. +People of that kind are to be found in all countries, +and they have existed in all ages of the world's +history. They are the persons who see in every new +movement a thousand difficulties which cannot +be surmounted. Their minds are constructed on +the principle of rejecting all new ideas, and clinging +to old forms and systems long after they have +lost their vitality. They are a class who look back +for precedents for any step of a political character +which it is proposed to take, and who judge of +everything by the standard of some former age. +They seem to forget that precedents must be +created some time or another, and that the present<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +century has as good a right to create precedents +as any of its predecessors. To these people every +objection that could be urged against confederation +was exaggerated and magnified, and whenever any +proposal was made which seemed to tend towards +the union of the colonies, their voices were heard +upon the other side. We need not doubt the +honesty or loyalty of these objectors, or consider +that they were unfavourable either to British connection +or to the building up of the empire. It was +merely their misfortune that they were constitutionally +adverse to change, and could not see any +merit in a political movement which involved the +idea of novelty.</p> + +<p>For some time the principal advocate of confederation +in the Maritime Provinces was the Hon. +Joseph Howe, a man of such ability and force of +character that on a wider stage he might have risen +to eminence, and ranked amongst the world's great +statesmen.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> It is impossible indeed not to regret +that so great a man, one so imperial in his instincts +and views, should have been condemned to spend +his life within the bounds of one small province.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ATTITUDE OF COLONIAL OFFICE</div> + +<p>The question of the political union of the British +North American provinces was brought up in +the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia in 1854, +and then the leaders of both parties, the Hon. Mr. +Johnson for the Conservatives, and the Hon. Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +Howe for the Liberals, united in advocating +the measure, and in depicting the advantage which +would accrue from it not only to Nova Scotia, +but to every British province in North America. +In 1858 the question of confederation was discussed +in the parliament of Canada, and such a union was +made a part of the policy of the government; for +Mr. A. T. Galt, on becoming a member of the +administration, insisted upon its being made a +cabinet question, and Sir Edmund Head, the +governor-general, in his speech at the close of +the session, intimated that his government would +take action in the matter during the recess. Messrs. +Cartier, Galt, and Ross, who were in England representing +the government of Canada, waited upon +the colonial secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, +asking the authority of the imperial government +for a meeting of representatives from each of +the colonies to take the question of union into consideration. +The colonial secretary informed the +Canadian delegates, no doubt after consultation +with his colleagues, that the question of confederation +was necessarily one of an imperial character, +and declined to authorize the meeting, because no +expression of sentiment on the subject had as yet +been received from any of the Maritime Provinces +except Nova Scotia. The Earl of Derby's government +fell a few months after this declaration of its +policy in regard to the colonies, and was succeeded +by the government of Lord Palmerston, which was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +in office at the time when the negotiations which +resulted in the confederation of the colonies were +commenced. At first Lord Palmerston's government +seems to have been no more favourable to the union +of the colonies than its predecessor; for in 1862 +the Duke of Newcastle, then colonial secretary, in +a despatch to the governor-general of Canada, after +stating that Her Majesty's government was not +prepared to announce any definite policy on the +question of confederation, added that, "If a union, +either partial or complete, should hereafter be proposed, +with the concurrence of all the provinces +to be united, I am sure that the matter would +be weighed in this country both by the public, by +parliament and by Her Majesty's government, with +no other feeling than an anxiety to discern and +promote any course which might be the most conducive +to the prosperity, strength and harmony of +all the British communities of North America." It +must always be a subject of astonishment that the +British government for so many years should have +had no definite policy on a matter so momentous, +and that they should have sought to discourage, +rather than otherwise, a project which has been +of such vast importance to the empire.</p> + +<p>The first impulse in favour of confederation +in the minds of the members of Lord Palmerston's +cabinet seems to have developed about the time +when it became evident that the result of the civil +war in the United States would be the defeat of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +the southern confederacy and the consolidation of +the power of the great republic in a more effectual +union than that which had existed before. No one +who was not blind could fail to see that this change +of attitude on the part of the United States would +demand a corresponding change in the relations of +the British colonies towards each other; for from +being a mere federation of states, so loosely +connected that secession was frequently threatened +by states both north and south, the United States, +as the result of the war, had become a nation with +a strong central government, which had taken to +itself powers never contemplated by the constitution, +and which added immensely to its offensive +and defensive strength.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A MISSIONARY OF UNION</div> + +<p>In 1863, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a member of +the Canadian cabinet and a man of great eloquence +and ability, visited St. John and delivered a lecture +in the Mechanics' Institute Hall on the subject +of the union of the colonies. His lecture was fully +reported in the <i>Morning News</i>, a paper then +published in that city, and attracted wide attention +because it opened up a subject of the highest interest +for the contemplation of the people of the provinces. +Shortly afterwards a series of articles on the +same subject, written by the author of this book, +appeared in the columns of the <i>Morning News</i>, +and were widely read and quoted. These articles +followed closely the lines laid down for the union +of the colonies by the late Peter S. Hamilton,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +of Halifax, a writer of ability whose articles on the +subject were collected in pamphlet form and extensively +circulated. Thus in various ways the public +mind was being educated on the question of +confederation, and the opinion that the union of +the British North American colonies was desirable +was generally accepted by all persons who gave any +attention to the subject. It was only when the +matter came up in a practical form and as a +distinct proposition to be carried into effect, that +the violent opposition which was afterwards developed +against confederation began to be shown.</p> + +<p>An event occurred in the summer of 1864 which +had its effect on the question of confederation. Up +to that time the people of Canada and New Brunswick +had been almost wholly unknown to each +other, because the difficulties of travelling between +the two provinces were so great. Any person who +desired to reach Montreal at that time from St. +John had to take the international steamer to +Portland, Me., and was then carried by the Grand +Trunk Railway to his destination. Quebec could +be reached in summer by the steamer from Pictou +which called at Shediac, but in winter the journey +had to be made by the Grand Trunk Railway from +Portland, the only alternative route being the road +by which the mails were carried from Edmunston +north to the St. Lawrence. Under these circumstances +the people of the Canadian provinces +and of the Maritime Provinces had but few opportunities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +of seeing each other, and the people of +all the provinces knew much more of their neighbours +in the United States than they did of their +fellow-colonists. One result of the Hon. D'Arcy +McGee's visit in 1863 was an invitation by the city +of St. John to the legislature of Canada to visit the +Maritime Provinces. The invitation was accepted +and a party of about one hundred, comprising +members of the legislature, newspaper men, and +others, visited St. John in the beginning of August, +1864. Their trip was extended to Fredericton, +where they were the guests of the government +of New Brunswick, and to Halifax, where they +were the guests of that city and of the government +of Nova Scotia. This visit produced a good effect +upon the public mind, and enabled the Maritime +people to see what kind of men their fellow-colonists +of Upper and Lower Canada were.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">POLITICAL CRISIS IN CANADA</div> + +<p>In the meantime a great crisis had arisen in +the government of Canada, which was the immediate +cause of the active part which that province +took in the confederation movement. When Upper +and Lower Canada were united in 1841, it was +arranged that the representation of each province +in the legislature should be equal. The arrangement +at that time was favourable to Upper +Canada, which had a smaller population than +Lower Canada; but in the course of time, as the +population of Upper Canada increased faster than +that of the lower province, the people of Upper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Canada felt that they had less representation than +they were entitled to, and this state of affairs +led to the raising of the cry of "Representation by +Population" which was so often heard in that +province prior to the era of confederation. In 1864 +Upper Canada had half a million more people than +Lower Canada, and yet was only entitled to the +same number of members in the legislature. +Another serious difficulty, which arose out of the +union, was the necessity, which not long afterwards +began to be recognized, of the government having a +majority in the legislature from each section of the +province. This, in time, grew to be so great an evil +that the successful government of Canada became +almost impossible, for the majority for the government +in one province might at any time be disturbed +by some local feeling, and as a consequence +the government overthrown. To trace the history +of the difficulties which arose from this cause would +be to recite twenty years of the history of Canada; +but it is only necessary to point out thus plainly +the reasons for the willingness of the people of +Upper and Lower Canada to resort to confederation +as a means of getting rid of their embarrassments.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MACDONALD-BROWN COALITION</div> + +<p>In 1863, the Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald +was leader of the government, but he was compelled +to resign when parliament met in the early +part of 1864, and in March of that year a new +administration under the premiership of Sir E. P.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +Taché was formed. This new government developed +very little strength, and was defeated on +June 14th by a vote of fifty-eight to sixty, on +a question relative to some transaction connected +with bonds of the city of Montreal. A deadlock +had come, and as it was evident that no new +government which could be formed was likely +to command sufficient support, it became necessary +to make some new arrangements in regard to +the system of administration. Immediately after +the defeat of the government, Mr. George Brown, +leader of the Opposition, spoke to several supporters +of the administration strongly urging that the +present time should be availed of for the purpose +of settling forever the constitutional difficulties +between Upper and Lower Canada, and assuring +them that he was prepared to coöperate with +the existing or any other administration that would +deal with the question promptly and firmly, with a +view to its final settlement. After much negotiation +Messrs. Brown, Mowat and McDougall, three +prominent members of the Reform party, agreed +to enter the government for the purpose of carrying +out this policy based on a federal union of +all the provinces.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SCHEME OF MARITIME UNION</div> + +<p>Prior to this time there had been various efforts +made by the government of New Brunswick to +enter into closer relations with Nova Scotia and +Prince Edward Island. Previous to the year 1861 +a number of factories of various kinds had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +established in the Maritime Provinces, but the +limited market they then enjoyed prevented their +extension and crippled their operations. To +remedy this, Mr. Tilley, with the approval of his +colleagues in the government, visited Nova Scotia +and Prince Edward Island and proposed to the +governments of both provinces free admission +of their natural products and a uniform tariff +on dutiable goods. In Halifax he had a lengthy +and satisfactory conference with Mr. Howe, then +leader of the government, and with Dr. Tupper, +the leader of the Opposition. Both gentlemen +agreed that the proposed arrangements would be +in the interests of the three provinces, and Mr. +Howe agreed to submit the matter to his government +with the view of legislative action at the next +session. Mr. Tilley then proceeded to Charlottetown, +Prince Edward Island. At the conference +held with the government there, his proposal +was not so favourably entertained, the objection +being that the existing tariff of Prince Edward +Island was lower than the tariff of either Nova +Scotia or New Brunswick, and sufficient for the +financial wants of the Island, and that the necessary +advance would be imposing taxation beyond their +requirements. Notwithstanding the failure to +secure the coöperation of the Island government, +it was decided that the joint action of the Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick legislatures in the +direction named was desirable. When the Nova<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +Scotia legislature met and the public accounts were +proposed, it was found that a reduction of tariff +was not practicable, and Howe informed Tilley that +the scheme would have to be postponed, "though +in other respects desirable." But the subject was not +allowed to sleep, and in 1864 there was a renewal of +the movement for a union of the Maritime Provinces. +At the session of the New Brunswick legislature +held that year, resolutions were passed +authorizing the government to enter into negotiations +with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island +to hold a convention for the purpose of carrying +such a union into effect. Similar resolutions were +carried in the legislatures of Nova Scotia and +Prince Edward Island, and the convention thus +authorized was appointed to meet at Charlottetown +in the month of September following.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> For a full account of Howe's views on confederation see the Hon. J. +W. Longley's <i>Joseph Howe</i> in this series.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII<br /> +<small>THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> delegates appointed by the government +of New Brunswick for the purpose of representing +the provinces at Charlottetown in the convention +for a union of the Maritime Provinces, were +the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, Steeves, Johnson, Chandler +and Gray. The first three were members of the +government, while Messrs. Gray and Chandler were +leading members of the Opposition, so that the +arrangement had the assent of the leaders of both +political parties and was in no sense a party movement. +The Nova Scotia delegation consisted of the +Hon. Charles Tupper, the leader of the government, +the attorney-general, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Dickey, +a Conservative supporter, and also the Hon. Adams +G. Archibald and Jonathan McCully, leaders of +the Liberal party. The Prince Edward Island delegates +were also chosen from both sides of politics. +The convention was opened in due form at Charlottetown +on September 8th, in the chamber of the +House of Assembly. The delegations had no power +to decide finally on any subject, because any arrangements +they made were necessarily subject to +the approval of the legislatures of the three Maritime +Provinces. But at this time the sentiment in favour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +of maritime union was so strong it was confidently +believed that whatever was agreed upon at Charlottetown +would become the basis of a future +union.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CHARLOTTETOWN CONVENTION</div> + +<p>The government of Canada had full knowledge +of what was going on at Charlottetown, and they +considered the time opportune for the purpose of +bringing to the notice of the delegates from the +Maritime Provinces the subject of a confederation +of all the British North American colonies. A +telegram was received while the delegates were in +session announcing that representatives of the government +of Canada had left Quebec for the purpose +of meeting the delegates of the Maritime Provinces, +and placing certain proposals before them. On the +receipt of this message the further consideration of +the question which they had met to discuss was +deferred until after the Canadian delegates had +arrived. They came in the government steamer +<i>Victoria</i> on the following day and were found to +embrace the leading men then in Canadian political +life,—the Hons. J. A. Macdonald, George Brown, +Georges E. Cartier, Alexander T. Galt, Thomas +D'Arcy McGee, Hector L. Langevin, William +McDougall and Alexander Campbell. These delegates +represented the Reform, as well as the Conservative +party, and were therefore able to speak +with authority in regard to the views of the people +of both Upper and Lower Canada. They were +accorded seats in the convention, and at once submitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +reasons why in their opinion a scheme of +union, embracing the whole of the British North +American colonies, should be adopted. The Hon. +John A. Macdonald and Messrs. Brown and Cartier +were heard on this subject, the financial position of +Canada was explained, and the sources of revenue +and wealth of the several provinces were discussed. +Speeches were also made by Messrs. Galt, McGee, +Langevin and McDougall, and after having commanded +the attention of the convention for two +days the Canadian deputation withdrew. Before +doing so they proposed that if the convention concluded +to suspend its deliberations upon the question +of Maritime union, they should adjourn to +Quebec at an early day, to be named by the governor-general, +to consider the question of confederation. +On the following day the convention +adjourned, on the ground that it would be more +for the general interest of British North America +to adopt the larger union than a union of the +Maritime Provinces merely, and it was thought +that this might be effected without any very great +difficulty, for there was then no strong feeling +evinced in any quarter against confederation.</p> + +<p>From Charlottetown the members of the convention +and the Canadian deputation went to Halifax, +where they were received most cordially and entertained +at a banquet. They then took their departure +for St. John, where they were entertained at a +public dinner at which many leading men of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +city were present. The chair was occupied by the +Hon. John H. Gray, one of the delegates, and the +expressions in favour of the proposed confederation +were strong and hearty. No one could have suspected +at that time that the movement for confederation +would meet with so much opposition in +New Brunswick. All seemed plain sailing but, as +the result showed, the battle for confederation had +yet to be fought, and it was won only after a long +and doubtful struggle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE</div> + +<p>According to arrangement, the delegations from +the other provinces met in convention at Quebec +on October 10th, all the colonies, including Newfoundland, +were represented and the delegates were +as follows:—</p> + +<p>Canada.—Hon. Sir Etienne P. Taché, premier; +Hon. John A. Macdonald, attorney-general west; +Hon. Georges E. Cartier, attorney-general east; +Hon. George Brown, president of the executive +council; Hon. Alexander T. Galt, finance minister; +Hon. Alexander Campbell, commissioner of +Crown lands; Hon. William McDougall, provincial +secretary; Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, +minister of agriculture; Hon. Hector Langevin, +solicitor-general east; Hon. J. Cockburn, solicitor-general +west; Hon. Oliver Mowat, postmaster-general; +Hon. J. C. Chapais, commissioner of public +works.</p> + +<p>Nova Scotia.—Hon. Charles Tupper, provincial +secretary; Hon. W. A. Henry, attorney-general,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +Hon. R. B. Dickey, Hon. Adams G. Archibald, +Hon. Jonathan McCully.</p> + +<p>New Brunswick.—Hon. Samuel L. Tilley, provincial +secretary; Hon. John M. Johnson, attorney-general; +Hon. Edward B. Chandler, Hon. John +Hamilton Gray, Hon. Peter Mitchell, Hon. Chas. +Fisher, Hon. William H. Steeves.</p> + +<p>Newfoundland.—Hon. F. B. T. Carter, speaker +of the House of Assembly; Hon. Ambrose Shea.</p> + +<p>Prince Edward Island.—Hon. John Hamilton +Gray, premier; Hon. Edward Palmer, attorney-general; +Hon. W. H. Pope, provincial secretary; +Hon. George Coles, Hon. A. A. Macdonald, Hon. +T. H. Haviland, Hon. Edward Whelan.</p> + +<p>Sir Etienne P. Taché, who was then premier +of Canada, was unanimously chosen president of +the conference, and Major Hewitt Bernard, of the +staff of the attorney-general west, private and +confidential secretary. It was arranged that the +convention should hold its meetings with closed +doors, and it was laid down as a principle of the +discussion that, as the matters to come up for +debate were all of a novel character, no man +should be prejudiced or held liable to the charge +of inconsistency because he had changed his views +in regard to any particular matter in the course of +the discussion. It was also agreed that the vote, +in case of a division, should be by provinces and +not by numbers, Canada having two votes, representing +Canada East and Canada West, and each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +of the other provinces one. This arrangement made +it quite certain that the interests of the Maritime +Provinces were not likely to be prejudiced by +the result of the vote, or the work of the convention. +It was soon decided that a federal union was +to be preferred to a legislative union, and on +the second day of the meeting the outlines of +the proposed confederation were submitted in a +series of resolutions by the Hon. John A. Macdonald. +The general model of the proposed confederation +was that of the United States, but with +this difference, that whereas in the United States +all powers not expressly given by the constitution +to the federal government are held to belong to +the several states, in the Canadian constitution all +powers not expressly reserved to the several +provinces were held to belong to the federal parliament. +Thus in the United States the residuum of +power is in the several states, while in Canada +it is in the federal union and in the parliament +of the Dominion. No doubt the recent example of +the civil war in the United States, which was the +result of an extreme assertion of state rights, was +largely responsible for this feature of the Canadian +constitution. It is clear, however, that it is a +feature that is to be commended, because its tendency +is to cause Canadians to regard themselves +rather as Canadians than as belonging to any +particular province, while in the United States the +feeling of statehood is still very strong. There are,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +of course, many other contrasts between the +Canadian confederation and the federal union of +the United States, arising from radical differences +in the system of government. Nothing like +responsible government, as understood in the +British empire, exists in the United States, while +this essential feature had to be preserved in the +Canadian constitution, not only with reference +to the Dominion parliament, but also in the +legislatures of the several provinces.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">DIFFICULT QUESTIONS</div> + +<p>In all the proceedings at Quebec, Mr. Tilley, as +the finance minister of New Brunswick, took a +very prominent part. One great difficulty which +arose was with respect to the amount of money to +be given by the federal government to the several +provinces for legislative purposes, in lieu of the +revenue which they had been accustomed to obtain +from customs duties and otherwise. The whole +customs establishment was to be transferred to the +central government, and as most of the provinces +would have no other means of obtaining a revenue +except by direct taxation, this feature of the matter +became of very vital importance. The difficulty +was increased by the fact that by the municipal +system prevailing in Upper Canada the local needs +of the municipalities, in the way of roads, bridges, +schools and other matters, were provided for by +local taxation, whereas in the Maritime Provinces +the provincial government had been accustomed to +bear these burdens. It was therefore an essential<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +requisite to any scheme of union, to make it +acceptable to the people of the Maritime Provinces, +that sufficient money should be given to the provincial +governments to enable them to continue +these services as before. It was difficult to convince +the representatives of Upper Canada of this, +and it appears that the conference nearly broke +up without arriving at any result, simply because +of the apparently irreconcilable differences of +opinion between the representatives of the Maritime +Provinces and those of Canada in regard to this +point. Finally these differences were overcome, +and the conclusions of the conference were embodied +in a series of seventy-two resolutions, which +were agreed to, and which were to be authenticated +by the signatures of the delegates, and transmitted +to their respective governments, and also to the +governor-general, for the secretary of state for the +colonies. These resolutions formed the first basis +of confederation and became what is known as +the Quebec scheme.</p> + +<p>It was perhaps inevitable that during the discussion +of the scheme of confederation by the Quebec +convention, the proceedings should be secret, +but this restriction should have been removed as +soon as the convention adjourned. That this was +not done was the principal reason for the very +unfavourable reception which the Quebec scheme +met with from the people of New Brunswick, +when it was placed before them. It was agreed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +at the Quebec conference that the scheme should +not be made public until after the delegates had +reported to their respective governments for +their approval, but it was impossible that a document, +the terms of which were known to so many +men, should be kept wholly concealed from the +public, and so the details of the scheme leaked +out and soon became a topic for public discussion. +These discussions would have been conducted in a +much more friendly spirit if the Quebec scheme +had been given freely to the world, but as it +was, prejudices and jealousies, in many cases, darkened +the question, and made men, who were otherwise +favourable to confederation, assume an attitude +of hostility to the Quebec scheme.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SUBVENTIONS TO THE PROVINCES</div> + +<p>One of the points which at once attracted the +attention of the opponents of the scheme was the +sum allowed to the several provinces for the +purpose of conducting their local affairs. As the +provinces had to surrender to the general government +their right to levy customs and excise duties, +it became necessary to make up in some way a sum +sufficient to enable them to carry on those services +which were still left to the provincial legislatures. +It was arranged that this sum should be eighty +cents a head of the population of the provinces as +established by the census of 1861, which would give +to New Brunswick something more than two hundred +thousand dollars. This feature of the confederation +scheme was eagerly seized upon as being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +a convenient club with which to strike it down. +The cry was at once raised that the people of New +Brunswick were asked to sell themselves to Canada +for the sum of eighty cents a head, and this parrot-like +cry was repeated with variations throughout +the whole of the election campaign which followed +in New Brunswick. It has often been found that a +cry of this kind, which is absolutely meaningless, is +more effective than the most weighty arguments, +for the purpose of influencing men's minds, and +this proved to be the case in New Brunswick, when +the question of confederation was placed before the +people. It was conveniently forgotten by those +who attacked the scheme in this fashion that, if +the people of New Brunswick were selling themselves +to Canada for the sum of eighty cents a head, +the people of Canada were likewise selling themselves +to New Brunswick for the same sum, because +the amount set apart for the provincial legislatures +was precisely the same in each case. It would not, +however, have suited the enemies of the confederation +scheme to view the matter in this light; what +was wanted was a cry which would be effective for +the purpose of injuring the scheme and making it +distasteful to the people who were asked to vote +upon it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">OPPONENTS OF CONFEDERATION</div> + +<p>It is not necessary to assume that those who +opposed confederation were all influenced by sinister +motives. Many honest and good men, whose attachment +to British institutions could not be questioned,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +were opposed to it because their minds were of a +conservative turn, and because they looked with distrust +upon such a radical change that would alter +the relations which existed between the province +and the mother country. Many, for reasons which +it is not easy to understand, were distrustful of the +politicians of Canada, whom they looked upon as +of less sterling honesty than their own, and some +actually professed to believe that the Canadians expected +to make up their financial deficits by drawing +on the many resources of the Maritime Provinces +through the confederation scheme. On the other +hand confederation was opposed in the province of +New Brunswick by a number of men who could +only be described as adventurers, or discredited +politicians, and who saw in this contest a convenient +way of restoring themselves to influence and +power. There were also among the opponents of +the scheme some men who recognized in its success +the means of perpetuating British power on this +continent, and who, being annexationists, naturally +looked with aversion upon it for that reason. The +vast majority of the people, however, had given +the matter but the slightest degree of attention, and +their votes were cast in accordance with prejudice +hastily formed, which they had an opportunity of +reconsidering before another year and a half had +elapsed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FEELING IN NEW BRUNSWICK</div> + +<p>It had been arranged at the convention that the +first trial of the scheme before the people should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +made in New Brunswick, the legislature of which +was about expiring, and accordingly the appeal was +made to the people and the elections came on in +the month of March, 1865. The enemies of confederation +were very active in every part of the province, +and they left no stone unturned to defeat the +measure. The great cry upon which they based +their opposition to the union with Canada was that +of taxation, and, as the voters of New Brunswick +were not inclined to favour any policy which involved +high taxation, the appeals made in this way +had a powerful effect. All through the rural constituencies +the Opposition candidates told the electors +that if they united themselves with Canada +direct taxation would be the immediate result. +They said that every cow, every horse, and every +sheep which they owned would be taxed, and that +even their poultry would not escape the grasp of +the Canadian tax-gatherers. In the city of St. John, +Mr. Tilley and his colleague, Mr. Charles Watters, +were opposed by Mr. J. V. Troop and Mr. A. B. +Wetmore. Mr. Troop was a wealthy ship-owner, +whose large means made him an acceptable addition +to the strength of the anti-confederate party, +although previously he had taken no active part +in political affairs. Mr. Wetmore was a lawyer of +standing in St. John, who was considered to be one +of the best <i>nisi prius</i> advocates at the bar, and who +carried the methods of the bar largely into his +politics. In the course of time he became attorney-general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +of the province, and later on a judge of the +supreme court. Mr. Wetmore, when haranguing +St. John audiences, used to depict the dreadful +effects of confederation in a manner peculiarly his +own. His great plea was an imaginary dialogue +between himself and his little son, that precocious +infant asking him in lisping tones, "Father, what +country do we live in?" to which he would reply, +"My dear son, you have no country, for Mr. Tilley +has sold us to the Canadians for eighty cents a +head."</p> + +<p>In the county of St. John, the Hon. John. H. +Gray, Charles N. Skinner, W. H. Scovil and James +Quinton, who ran as supporters of confederation, +were opposed by John W. Cudlip, T. W. Anglin, +the Hon. R. D. Wilmot and Joseph Coram. Mr. +Cudlip was a merchant, who at one time enjoyed +much popularity in the city of St. John. Mr. +Anglin was a clever Irishman, a native of the county +of Cork, who had lived several years in St. John +and edited a newspaper called the <i>Freeman</i>, which +enjoyed a great popularity among his co-religionists. +He was admitted to be the leader of the Irish +Catholics of St. John, and had acquired an ascendency +over them which was not easily shaken; yet +he was not, as a politician, a great success, nor did +his efforts to improve the condition of his countrymen +always lead to satisfactory results. The Hon. +R. D. Wilmot had been a prominent Conservative +politician, but was defeated, and had retired to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +farm at Belmont. For some years he had been devoting +his abilities to stock-raising; but at the first +note of alarm on the confederation question he +abandoned his agricultural pursuits and rushed +into the field to take part in the contest. Mr. +Joseph Coram was a leading Orangeman, and a +highly respected citizen.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A CRITICAL ELECTION</div> + +<p>In the county of York, the Hon. George L. +Hatheway, who was then chief commissioner of the +board of works, appeared in the field as an Opposition +candidate, in company with John C. Allen, +John J. Fraser and William H. Needham. Mr. +Hatheway deserted the government in its hour of +need, apparently because he judged from the cries +that were raised against confederation that the +current of public opinion was strongly adverse to +the Quebec scheme. Having left Mr. Tilley in the +lurch on the eve of the confederation contest, he deserted +the Smith government sixteen months later, +when the second confederation election came to be +run, thereby inflicting upon them a blow from which +it was impossible they could recover. William H. +Needham, whose name has already appeared in this +volume, did not lay claim to any high political +principles; but having retired some time before to +private life, he found in the confederation struggle +a good opportunity of getting into the legislature. +He was a man of very considerable ability, and had +his principles been only equal to his knowledge and +talents, he might have risen to the highest position<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +in the province. But his course on many occasions +made the public distrustful of him, and he died +without having enjoyed any of those honours which +men of far less ability have obtained. John James +Fraser, afterwards governor of New Brunswick, +was a man of a different stamp, and seems to have +been a sincere opponent of confederation from conviction. +The same may be said of John C. Allen, +afterwards chief-justice of the province, a man +whose sterling honesty has never been questioned.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<small>DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> result of the election was the most overwhelming +defeat that ever overtook any political +party in the province of New Brunswick. Out +of forty-one members, the friends of confederation +succeeded in returning only six, the Hon. John +McMillan and Alexander C. DesBrisay, for the +county of Restigouche; Abner R. McClelan and +John Lewis for the county of Albert; and William +Lindsay and Charles Connell for the county of Carleton. +Every member of the government who held a +seat in the House of Assembly, with the exception of +the Hon. John McMillan, the surveyor-general, was +defeated. The majorities against the confederation +candidates in some of the counties were so large it +seemed hopeless to expect that any future election +would reverse the verdict. Both the city and county +of St. John, and the county of York, made a clean +sweep, and returned solid delegations of anti-confederates. +With the exception of the two Carleton +members, the entire block of counties on the River +St. John and the county of Charlotte, forming the +most populous and best settled part of the province, +declared against the Quebec scheme. On the north +shore, Westmorland, Kent, Northumberland and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +Gloucester pronounced the same verdict, and, on +the day after the election, the strongest friends of +confederation must have felt that nothing but a +miracle could ever bring about a change in the +opinion which had been pronounced with such +emphasis and by so overwhelming a majority. +Yet fifteen months later the verdict of March, 1865, +was completely reversed, and the anti-confederates +were beaten almost as badly as the advocates of confederation +had been in the first election; such are +the mutations of public opinion.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tilley and his colleagues resigned immediately +after the result of the elections became known, +and the Hon. Albert J. Smith was called upon to +form a new government. Mr. Smith had been attorney-general +in Mr. Tilley's government up to the +year 1862, when he resigned in consequence of a +difference with his colleagues in regard to the negotiations +which were being carried on for the construction +of the Intercolonial Railway. He was a fine +speaker, and a man of ability. At a later period, when +confederation had been established, he became a cabinet +minister in the government of the Hon. Alexander +Mackenzie. His powerful influence was largely +responsible for the manner in which the North +Shore counties declared against confederation, and +he also did much to discredit the Quebec scheme by +his speeches delivered in the city of St. John. Mr. +Smith did not take the office of attorney-general in +the new government, but contented himself with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +position of president of the council, the Hon. John +C. Allen, of York, becoming attorney-general, and +the Hon. A. H. Gillmor, of Charlotte, provincial secretary. +The Hon. Bliss Botsford, of Westmorland, +was made surveyor-general; and the Hon. George +L. Hatheway retained his old office as the chief +commissioner of the board of works. The other +members of the government were the Hon. Robert +Duncan Wilmot, of Sunbury, the Hon. T. W. +Anglin, of St. John, and the Hon. Richard Hutchinson, +of Miramichi.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE NEW GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>The new government looked strong and imposing, +and seemed to be secure against the assaults of +its enemies, yet it was far from being as compact +and powerful as it appeared to the outward observer. +In the first place, it had the demerit of being founded +solely on a negative, and upon opposition to a single +line of policy. The reason why these men were +assembled together in council as a government was +that they were opposed to confederation, and, this +question having been disposed of, they were free to +differ upon all other points which might arise. Some +of the men who thus found themselves sitting +together at the same council board had all their lives +been politically opposed to each other. The Hon. R. +D. Wilmot, an old Conservative, could have little +or no sympathy with Mr. A. H. Gillmor, a very +strong Liberal. The Hon. A. J. Smith, also a Liberal, +had little in common with his attorney-general, Mr. +Allen, who was a Conservative. Mr. Odell, the postmaster-general,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +represented the old Family Compact +more thoroughly than any other man who could +have been chosen to fill a public office in New +Brunswick, for his father and grandfather had held +the office of provincial secretary for the long term +of sixty years. As he was a man of no particular +capacity, and had no qualification for high office, +and as he was, moreover, a member of the legislative +council, his appointment to such a position was +extremely distasteful to many who were strongly +opposed to confederation. The Hon. Bliss Botsford, +of Moncton, who became surveyor-general, was +another individual who added no strength to the +government. In a cabinet consisting of four men +in the government who might be classed as Liberals, +and five who might be properly described as Conservatives, +room was left for many differences and +quarrels over points of policy, to say nothing of +patronage, after the great question of confederation +had been disposed of. Local feelings also were +awakened by the make-up of the government, for +the North Shore people could not but feel that +their interests were in danger of being neglected, as +instead of having the attorney-generalship and the +surveyor-generalship, which had been theirs in the +previous government, they had to be content with +a single member in the government, without office, +in the person of Mr. Richard Hutchinson, who, as +the representative of Gilmour, Rankine & Co., the +great lumber house of the North Shore, was extremely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +unpopular, even in the county which had +elected him. The Hon. Robert Duncan Wilmot was +perhaps the most dissatisfied man of any, with the +new cabinet in which he found himself. He had +not been a fortnight in the government before he +began to realize the fact that his influence in it was +quite overshadowed by that of Mr. Smith and Mr. +Anglin, although neither of them held any office. +Mr. Wilmot was a man of ability, and of strong +and resolute will, so that this condition of affairs +became very distasteful to him and his friends, +and led to consequences of a highly important +character.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">DISSENSIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT</div> + +<p>The new government had not been long in +existence before rumours of dissensions in its ranks +became very common. Mr. Wilmot made no secret +to his friends of his dissatisfaction, and it was +understood that other members found their position +equally unpleasant. An element of difficulty was +early introduced by the resignation of the chief-justice, +Sir James Carter, who, in September, 1865, +found it necessary, in consequence of failing health, +to retire from the bench, rendering it immediately +necessary for the government to fill his place. The +Hon. Albert J. Smith, the leader of the government, +had he chosen, might have then taken the vacant +position, but he did not desire to retire from political +life at that time, and the Hon. John C. Allen, +his attorney-general, was appointed to the bench +as a puisne judge, while the Hon. Robert Parker<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +was made chief-justice. The latter, however, had +but few weeks to enjoy his new position, dying in +November of the same year, and leaving another +vacancy on the bench to be filled. Again, as before, +the Hon. Mr. Smith declined to go on the bench, +and the Hon. John W. Weldon, who had been a +long time a member of former legislatures, and was +at one time Speaker, was appointed to the puisne +judgeship, and the Hon. William J. Ritchie was +made chief-justice. The entire fitness of the latter +for the position of chief-justice made his appointment +a popular one, but he was the junior of the +Hon. Lemuel A. Wilmot as a judge, and the Hon. +R. D. Wilmot, who was a cousin of the latter, +thought the senior judge should have received the +appointment of chief-justice. His disappointment +at the office being given to another caused a very +bad feeling on his part towards the government, +and he would have resigned his seat forthwith but +for the persuasions of some of those who were not +friends of the government, who intimated to him +that he could do them a great deal more damage +by retaining his seat, and resigning at the proper +time than by abandoning the government at that +moment. Mr. Wilmot remained in the government +until January, 1866, but although of their number, +his heart was estranged from them, and he may +properly be regarded as an enemy in their camp.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CONFEDERATION VICTORY IN YORK</div> + +<p>Mr. Anglin also had some difference with his +colleagues with regard to railway matters, and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +resigned his seat early in November, 1865; still he +gave a general support to the government, although +no longer in its councils. But the most severe blow +which the administration received arose from the +election in the county of York, which followed the +seating of the Hon. John C. Allen on the bench. +The confederation party had been so badly beaten +in York at the general election that no doubt was +felt by the government that any candidate they +might select would be chosen by a very large majority. +The candidate selected by the government +to contest York was Mr. John Pickard, a highly +respectable gentleman, who was engaged in lumbering, +and who was extremely popular in that county, +in consequence of his friendly relations with all +classes of the community and the amiability of his +disposition. The Hon. Charles Fisher was brought +forward by the confederation party as their candidate +in York, although the hope of defeating Mr. +Pickard seemed to be desperate, for at the previous +election Mr. Fisher had received only 1,226 votes +against 1,799 obtained by Mr. Needham, who stood +lowest on the poll among the persons elected for +York. Mr. Fisher by his efforts in the York campaign, +which resulted in his election, struck a blow +at the anti-confederate government from which it +never recovered. His election was the first dawn of +light and hope to the friends of confederation in +New Brunswick, for it showed clearly enough that +whenever the people of the province were given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +another opportunity of expressing their opinion on +the question of confederation, their verdict would +be a very different one from that which they had +given at the general election. Mr. Fisher beat Mr. +Pickard by seven hundred and ten votes, receiving +seven hundred and one votes more than at the general +election, while Mr. Pickard's vote fell five +hundred and seventy-two below that which Mr. +Needham had received on the same occasion.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX<br /> +<small>TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Among</span> the causes that had assisted to defeat +confederation in New Brunswick, when the +question was first placed before the people, was the +active hostility of the lieutenant-governor, Mr. +Arthur Hamilton Gordon, a son of that Earl of +Aberdeen who was prime minister of England at +the outbreak of the Crimean War. Mr. Gordon +had been a strong advocate of maritime union and +had anticipated that he would be the first governor +of the united province of Acadia, or by whatever +name the maritime union was to be known. He +was therefore greatly disappointed and annoyed +when the visit of the Canadians to Charlottetown, +in September, 1864, put an end to the conference +which had met for the purpose of arranging the +terms of a union of that character. While a governor +cannot take a very active part in political matters, +he may stimulate others to hostility or to a +certain course of action, who, under other circumstances, +would be neutral or inactive, and there is +reason to believe that some of the men who were +most prominent in opposing confederation at the +general election of 1865 were mainly influenced by +the views of the lieutenant-governor. Confederation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +however, had been approved by the British +government, after the terms arranged at Quebec +had been submitted to it in a despatch from the +governor-general; and those officials in New Brunswick +and elsewhere, who expected to find support +in Downing Street in their hostility to confederation, +were destined to be greatly disappointed. Not +long after the new government was formed in New +Brunswick, Mr. Gordon returned to England, and +it was generally believed that he was sent for by +the home authorities. Instead of being favourably +received on the ground of his opposition to +confederation, he is said to have been compelled to +submit to a stern reproof for his anti-constitutional +meddling in a matter which did not concern him, +and to have been given decidedly to understand +that if he returned to New Brunswick, to fill out +the remainder of his term of office, it must be as +one pledged to assist in carrying out confederation +and not to oppose it. When Mr. Gordon returned +he was an entirely changed man, and whatever +influence he was able to exert from that time forward +was used in favour of confederation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FENIAN THREATS</div> + +<p>Another cause which made confederation more +acceptable to the people of the province arose from +the threats of the Fenians to invade Canada, which +were made during the year 1865, and which were +followed by armed invasions during the following +year. Although there was no good reason for +believing that the opponents of confederation were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +less loyal than its supporters or less inclined to +favour British connection, it was remarked that all +the enemies of British connection seemed to have +got into the anti-confederate camp. The Fenian +movement had its origin in the troubles in Ireland +arising out of oppressive land laws and other local +causes, and it soon extended to America, where +the politicians found it useful as a means of +increasing their strength among the Irish people. +At that time, there were in the United States many +hundreds of thousands of men who had been +disbanded from the army at the close of the Civil +War, and who were only too ready to embrace +any new opportunity of winning for themselves +fame and rank on other fields of glory. Among +these disbanded soldiers were many Irishmen, and +it soon came to be known that bands of men could +be collected in the United States for the invasion +of this country, with the avowed object of driving +the British flag from the American continent and +substituting the stars and stripes. It was impossible +that the people of Canada could view without +emotion these preparations for their undoing, and +in New Brunswick, especially, which was the first +province to be threatened, the Fenian movement +materially assisted in deciding the manner in which +the people should vote on this great question of +confederation when it came to be submitted to +them a second time.</p> + +<p>The House of Assembly met on March 8th,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +1866, and the speech from the throne, delivered +by the lieutenant-governor, contained the following +paragraph: "I have received Her Majesty's commands +to communicate to you a correspondence on +the affairs of British North America, which has +taken place between Her Majesty's principal secretary +of state for the colonies and the governor-general +of Canada; and I am further directed to +express to you the strong and deliberate opinion +of Her Majesty's government that it is an object +much to be desired that all the British North +American colonies should agree to unite in one +government. These papers will immediately be +laid before you." This paragraph was not inserted +in the speech without considerable pressure on the +part of the lieutenant-governor, and it excited a +great deal of comment at the time, because it +seemed to endorse the principle of confederation, +although emanating from a government which had +been placed in power as the result of an election in +which confederation had been condemned. When +this portion of the speech was read by the lieutenant-governor, +in the legislative council chamber, +the crowd outside the bar gave a hearty cheer,—a +circumstance which never occurred before in the +province of New Brunswick, and perhaps not in +any other British colony.</p> + +<p>The members of the House favourable to confederation +immediately took up the matter, and +dealt with it as if the government had thereby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +pledged themselves in favour of that policy, and +indeed there was a fair excuse for such an inference. +When the secret history of the negotiations between +the lieutenant-governor and his advisers, prior to +the meeting of the legislature, comes to be told, it +will be found that at least some of the members of +the government had given His Excellency to understand +that they were prepared to reverse their +former action and to adopt confederation. The +difficulty with them was that they feared their own +supporters, and thought that if they made such a +move they would lose the favour of those who had +placed them in power, and this fear was certainly +a very natural one.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">DESERTED BY FRIENDS</div> + +<p>As soon as the House met, it was discovered that +Mr. A. R. Wetmore, one of the prominent supporters +of the government who had been elected to +represent the city of St. John as an anti-confederate, +was no longer in sympathy with the government. +Mr. Wetmore's long experience as a <i>nisi prius</i> +lawyer, and his curt and imperturbable manner, +rendered him a most exasperating and troublesome +opponent, and at a very early period of the session +he commenced to make it unpleasant for his former +friends. He cross-examined the members of the government +in the fashion which he had learned from +long experience in the courts. Such attacks proved +extremely damaging as well as very annoying.</p> + +<p>The address in reply to the speech from the +throne was moved in the House of Assembly by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +Colonel Boyd, of Charlotte County, and when the +paragraph relating to confederation was read, Mr. +Fisher asked him what it meant. Mr. Boyd replied +that the government had no objection to confederation, +provided the terms were satisfactory. This +reply still further strengthened the feeling that the +government were inclined to pass the measure +which they had been elected to oppose. Mr. Fisher +moved an amendment to the fourth paragraph +of the address, which referred to the Fenian conspiracy +against British North America, expressing +the opinion that while His Excellency might rely +with confidence on the cordial support of the people +for the protection of the country, his constitutional +advisers were not by their general conduct entitled +to the confidence of the legislature. This amendment +was seconded by Mr. DesBrisay, of Kent, who +had been elected as a supporter of the government, +and it was debated at great length. The discussion +upon it continued from day to day for about +three weeks, when, on April 10th, the government +resigned in consequence of difficulties with His +Excellency in regard to his reply to the address of +the legislative council. The legislative council had +proceeded to pass the address in reply to the speech, +but in consequence of the delay in the House of +Assembly, this reply had not before been presented +to the governor. In answer to the address of the +legislative council, His Excellency said: "I will +immediately transmit your address to the secretary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +of state for the colonies in order that it may be laid +at the foot of the throne. Her Majesty the Queen +has already been pleased to express deep interest in +a closer union of her North America colonies and +will no doubt greatly appreciate this decided expression +of your opinion, and the avowal of your +desire that all British North America should unite +in one community, under one strong and efficient +government, which cannot but tend to hasten the +accomplishment of this great measure."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GOVERNMENT RESIGNS</div> + +<p>The resignation of the government was announced +in the House of Assembly on April 13th +by the Hon. A. J. Smith, and the correspondence +between the lieutenant-governor and his +advisers was laid before the House at the same +time. The immediate and ostensible cause of the +resignation was the terms of approval in which the +lieutenant-governor had replied to the address of +the legislative council in reference to confederation. +Mr. Smith claimed that it was the duty of the +lieutenant-governor to consult his constitutional +advisers in regard to the answer to be given, and +that, in assuming to himself the right to reply to +such an address without consulting them, he had +not acted in accordance with the true spirit of the +constitution. This was certainly sound doctrine, +and the reply of the lieutenant-governor was by no +means satisfactory on this point, but he was able +to show that Mr. Smith had himself expressed his +willingness to enter into a scheme of union, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +opposed to the Quebec scheme, and had suggested +that, as a preliminary step, the papers on that subject +should be referred to a joint committee of both +Houses with an understanding that the committee +should report in favour of a measure of union. At a +later period Mr. Smith seemed indisposed to carry +out this arrangement, his conduct evidently being +the result of timidity, and so he found himself, to +use the language of Sir Arthur Gordon, "entangled +in contradictory pledges from which he found it +impossible to extricate himself." He had, in fact, +placed himself in the power of the lieutenant-governor, +and his only resource was to resign. It was +understood at the time, and has never been denied, +that His Excellency was acting under the advice of +the Hon. Peter Mitchell, a member of the legislative +council, who was a strong supporter of confederation. +Mr. Mitchell was a man of great force of +character, and, next to Mr. Tilley, must be regarded +as the most potent factor in bringing about the +change in the sentiments of the people of the province +with respect to confederation.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant-governor called upon the Hon. +Peter Mitchell, who was a member of the legislative +council, to form a government. Mr. Mitchell +had been very active in the cause of confederation, +and was the moving spirit in the legislative council +in all the proceedings in its favour taken in that +body; but, when asked to form a new government, +he advised the lieutenant-governor that the proper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +person to undertake that responsibility was the +Hon. Mr. Tilley. The latter, however, declined +the task on the ground that he was not a member +of the legislature, whereupon Mr. Mitchell +associated with himself the Hon. Mr. Wilmot for +the purpose of forming a new government. The +government was announced on April 18th, and was +formed as follows:—Hon. Peter Mitchell, president +of the council; Hon. S. L. Tilley, provincial secretary; +Hon. Charles Fisher, attorney-general; Hon. +Edward Williston, solicitor-general; Hon. John +McMillan, postmaster-general; Hon. A. R. McClelan, +chief commissioner of public works; Hon. +R. D. Wilmot and Hon. Charles Connell, members +without office. The latter afterwards became surveyor-general.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FENIAN INVASION</div> + +<p>While the government was being formed in New +Brunswick, a Fenian army was gathering upon the +border for the purpose of invading the province. This +force consisted of four or five hundred young men, +most of whom had been in the army of the United +States. It was recruited at New York, and its chief +was a Fenian named Doran Killian. A part of his +force arrived at Eastport on April 10th, and a +schooner, laden with arms for the Fenians, soon after +reached that place. From this schooner, which was +seized by the United States authorities, one hundred +and seventeen cases of arms and ammunition were +taken,—a clear proof that the intentions of the +Fenians were warlike, and that their presence on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +the border was not a mere demonstration. The +Fenians appeared to have been under the impression—as +many residents of the United States are to this +day—that the people of Canada and of New Brunswick +were dissatisfied with their own form of +government, and were anxious to come under the +protection of the stars and stripes. This absurd idea +was responsible, largely, for the War of 1812, and +it has been responsible, since then, for many other +movements, with respect to the British provinces +of North America, in which residents of the +United States have taken part. There never was +a greater delusion than this, and, in the instance +referred to, the Fenians were doomed to be speedily +undeceived. The presence of a Fenian force on the +border sounded like a bugle blast to every able-bodied +man in New Brunswick, and the call for +troops to defend the country was instantly responded +to. About one thousand men were called out +and marched to the frontier. The troops called out +consisted of the three batteries of the New Brunswick +regiment of artillery, seven companies of the +St. John volunteer battalion, one company of the +first battalion of the York County militia, one company +each of the first and third battalions of the +Charlotte County militia, and two companies each +of the second and fourth battalions of the Charlotte +County militia. These troops remained in arms +on the frontier for nearly three months, and were +disbanded by a general order dated June 20th. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +Fenian raid on New Brunswick proved to be a complete +fiasco. The frontier was so well guarded by +the New Brunswick militia and by British soldiers, +and the St. Croix so thoroughly patrolled by British +warships, that the Fenians had no opportunity +to make any impression upon the province. It +ought to be added that the United States government +was prompt to take steps to prevent any +armed invasion, and General Meade was sent down +to Eastport with a force of infantry and a ship +of war to prevent the Fenians from making that +place a base of operations against these provinces.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CONFEDERATION VICTORIES</div> + +<p>The general elections to decide whether or not +New Brunswick was willing to become confederated +with Canada, were held in May and June. The +first election was that for the county of Northumberland +on May 25th, and the result was that the +four candidates who favoured confederation, Messrs. +Johnson, Sutton, Kerr and Williston, were elected +by large majorities. The same result followed in +the county of Carleton, where the election was +held on May 26th, Messrs. Connell and Lindsay being +elected by a vote of more than two to one over +their anti-confederate opponents. The third election +was in Albert County on the 29th, and there Messrs. +McClelan and Lewis, the two candidates in favour +of confederation, were triumphantly returned. On +May 31st, elections were held in Restigouche and +Sunbury, and, in these counties, the candidates in +favour of confederation were returned by large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +majorities. The York election came next. In that +county, the anti-confederates had placed a full +ticket in the field, the candidates being Messrs. +Hatheway, Fraser, Needham and Brown. Mr. +Fisher had with him on the ticket, Dr. Dow and +Messrs. Thompson and John A. Beckwith. Every +person expected a vigorous contest in York, notwithstanding +the victory of Mr. Fisher over Mr. +Pickard a few months before. But, to the amazement +of the anti-confederates in other parts of the +province, the Hon. George L. Hatheway and Dr. +Brown retired after nomination day and left Messrs. +Fraser and Needham to do battle alone. Mr. +Hatheway's retirement at this time was a deathblow +to the hopes of the anti-confederates all over +New Brunswick, affecting not only the result in the +county of York, but in every other county in which +an election was to be held. A few nights before his +resignation, Mr. Hatheway had been in St. John +addressing a packed meeting of anti-confederates in +the hall of the Mechanics' Institute, and he had +spoken on that occasion with apparent confidence. +When his friends in St. John, who had been so +much moved by his vigorous eloquence, learned +that he had deserted them, their indignation was +extreme, and they felt that matters must indeed be +in a bad way when he did not dare to face the York +electors.</p> + +<p>The election in the county of St. John was held +on June 6th, and that in the city, on the seventh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +For the county, the confederate candidates were +Messrs. C. N. Skinner, John H. Gray, James Quinton +and R. D. Wilmot, and the anti-confederate +candidates were Messrs. Coram, Cudlip, Robertson +and Anglin. The former were elected by very large +majorities, Mr. Wilmot, who stood lowest on the +poll among the confederates, having a majority of +six hundred over Mr. Coram, who stood highest +among the defeated candidates. The election for +the city was an equally emphatic declaration in +favour of confederation. The candidates were the +Hon. S. L. Tilley and A. R. Wetmore on the confederate +side, and J. V. Troop and S. R. Thompson +opposed to confederation. Mr. Tilley's majority +over Mr. Troop, who stood highest on the poll +of the two defeated candidates, was seven hundred +and twenty-six. The only counties which the anti-confederate +party succeeded in carrying were Westmorland, +Gloucester and Kent,—three counties in +which the French vote was very large,—so that of +the forty-one members returned, only eight were +opponents of confederation. The victory was as +complete as that which had been recorded against +confederation in the beginning of 1865.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE BATTLE IS WON</div> + +<p>The battle of confederation had been won, and the +triumph was mainly due to the efforts of the Hon. +Mr. Tilley. That gentleman, as soon as the defeat +of confederation took place in March, 1865, had +commenced a campaign for the purpose of educating +the people on the subject. Being free from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +official duties and having plenty of time on his +hands, he was able to devote himself to the work of +explaining the advantages of the proposed union to +the people of the province; and during the years +1865 and 1866, he spoke in almost every county on +the subject which was so near to his heart. He had +embraced confederation with a sincere desire for the +benefit of his native province, and with the belief +that it would be of the greatest advantage to New +Brunswick. If the fruits of confederation have not +yet all been realized, that has been due rather to +circumstances over which neither Mr. Tilley nor +any one else had any control, than to any inherent +vice of confederation itself. If union is strength, +then it must be admitted that the union of the +British North American provinces, which consolidated +them into a powerful whole, was a good thing; +and there cannot be a doubt that if the provinces +had remained separate from each other, their present +position would have been much less favourable than +it is now.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X<br /> +<small>THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">One</span> of the great objects of confederation was +the construction of the Intercolonial Railway +from St. John and Halifax to Quebec. It was +thought that there could be no real union between +the several colonies of British North America +unless a good means of communication existed, and +such a means was to be obtained only through the +construction of this line of railway. The Intercolonial +Railway, as we have seen, had been a part of the +policy of successive governments in the province for +many years, and it became an essential part of the +scheme of confederation. When confederation was +accepted by the people of New Brunswick in 1866, +the Intercolonial Railway had yet to be built. +Western Extension, as the line to the Maine border +was called, had only been commenced; Eastern +Extension, from the Shediac line towards Halifax, +was in the same condition; in fact, the total mileage +of the railways in New Brunswick did not +exceed two hundred miles, and these lines were isolated +and formed no part of any complete system. +New Brunswick now has three separate lines of railway +leading to Quebec and Montreal; it is connected +with the great railway systems of the continent;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +there is no county in the province which has not a +line of railway traversing it; and the mileage has +risen from less than two hundred to more than +fourteen hundred.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tilley realized that the time had come when +the communities which form the British provinces +of North America must either become politically +connected or else fall, one by one, beneath the +influence of the United States. After confederation +had been brought about between Canada, New +Brunswick and Nova Scotia, enough was seen in +the conduct of American statesmen towards Prince +Edward Island to show that their design was to +try to create a separate interest in this colony apart +from the general interest of Canada. The acceptance +of the scheme of confederation by Prince +Edward Island, at a comparatively early period, +put an end to the plots in that quarter; but in the +case of Newfoundland the same thing has been +repeated, and an attempt was made by American +statesmen to cause the people of that island to +believe that their interests and those of Canada +are not identical, and that they would be specially +favoured by the United States if they held aloof +from the great Dominion. The attitude of the +people and congress of the United States towards +Canada has not been marked, for the most part, by +any great friendliness. They saw in confederation +an arrangement that was likely to prevent this +country from ever becoming absorbed by their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +own, and they believed that by creating difficulties +for us with respect to the tariff and other matters, +and limiting the area of our commercial relations, +they could put such pressure upon Canada as would +compel our people to unite with them. This scheme +has failed because it was based on a misconception +of the spirit of our people; but who will say that it +would not have succeeded if the several provinces +which now form the confederation had been disunited +and inharmonious in their relations and had +pursued different lines of policy?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS SPEECHES</div> + +<p>It is unfortunate that, owing to the absence of +verbatim reports, it is impossible to reproduce +any of Tilley's speeches during the confederation +campaign. No speaker that New Brunswick has +ever produced has been more generally acceptable +than was Tilley. His speeches were pointed, and +so clear that they could not be misunderstood. +He possessed, to a very large extent, that magnetism +which enabled him to retain the attention and +to awaken the sympathy of his audience. At all +the meetings which he addressed, there were many +who regarded themselves always as his friends and +supporters and who formed a phalanx around him, +giving him a confidence and political strength +which few statesmen have ever enjoyed to a like +extent. Although his addresses frequently provoked +the bitter animosity of his enemies, he had +always enough friends to counteract their influence; +and during the many contests which he had to fight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +for his seat in the city of St. John, he was always +able to rely on the loyalty of those who were his +early associates and who remained his supporters +until the end of his career. It is quite safe to assert +that confederation could not have been carried +had it not been for the personal efforts of Mr. +Tilley. As the leader of the government which +had consented to the Quebec scheme, he was +properly looked upon as the chief promoter of +confederation in New Brunswick, and his name +will go down to future generations identified with +that large and necessary measure of colonial statesmanship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE LEGISLATURE MEETS</div> + +<p>Although the vote of the electors had been taken +on the question, much remained to be done before +confederation could become an accomplished fact. +The last elections, which were those of Kings +and Charlotte, were held on June 12th, but more +than a year was to elapse before the union was +effected, and the result which the election was +intended to bring about realized. The first thing +to be done was to call the legislature together and +complete the business of the province, which had +been interrupted by the dissolution. The legislature +met on June 21st, and the Hon. John H. Gray, +who had been an active advocate of confederation, +and who was one of the members for the county +of St. John, was made Speaker. In the speech +from the throne the following reference was made +to the question of confederation:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Her Majesty's government have already expressed +their strong and deliberate opinion that the +union of the British North American provinces +under one government is an object much to be +desired. The legislatures of Canada and Nova +Scotia have formed the same judgment, and you +will now shortly be invited to express your concurrence +with or dissent from the view taken of +this great question by those provinces."</p> + +<p>The address in reply was moved by Mr. Kerr, of +Northumberland, and seconded by Mr. Beveridge +of Victoria, and its consideration was made the +order of the day for the following Saturday. When +it came up for discussion the Hon. Albert J. Smith +was not in his place, and Mr. Botsford, one of his +colleagues from Westmorland, endeavoured to +have the consideration of the matter postponed; but +the House was in no humour to await the convenience +of any single member, and the address was +passed the same day by a vote of thirty to seven. +Attorney-General Fisher, immediately on the passage +of the address, gave notice of the following +resolution, which was to be made the order of the +day for Monday, June 26th:—</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, That an humble address be presented +to His Excellency, the lieutenant-governor, +praying that His Excellency be pleased to appoint +delegates to unite with delegates from the other +provinces in arranging with the imperial government +for the union of British North America, upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +such terms as will secure the just rights and interests +of New Brunswick, accompanied with provision +for the immediate construction of the Intercolonial +Railway; each province to have an equal voice in +such delegation, Upper and Lower Canada to be +considered as separate provinces."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fisher moved the resolution in question in a +very brief speech, and was replied to by the Hon. +Mr. Smith, who spoke at great length and continued +his speech on the following day. Mr. Smith took +exception to giving the delegates power to fix the +destinies of the provinces forever, without again +submitting the scheme of union to the people. He +proceeded to discuss the Quebec scheme, and took +exception to the construction of the Upper House +of the proposed legislature of the confederation, +declaring that each province should have an equal +number of representatives in it, as was the case in +the United States. After going over the ground +pretty thoroughly and criticizing most of the terms +of the scheme of confederation, he moved an +amendment, to the effect that no Act or measure +for a union with Canada take effect until approved +by the legislature or the people of the province.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A PLAN FOR CONFEDERATION</div> + +<p>The Hon. Mr. Tilley replied to the leader of the +Opposition in one of the most effective speeches +that he ever delivered in the legislature. He first +took up Mr. Smith's allusion to the constitutional +question, and, with immense power and solemnity, +he charged that any want of constitutional action<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +which existed was due to Mr. Smith and his colleagues. +He stated that the governor's sympathies +were with the late government, and that he had +endeavoured to aid and not to injure them. Mr. +Smith had alluded to the Hon. Joseph Howe, who +was then an opponent of confederation, in terms of +praise, and Mr. Tilley, in reply, read from Mr. +Howe's speech, made in 1861, a magnificent paragraph +on the union of British America. Mr. Tilley +stated that the government would take the Quebec +scheme for a basis, and would seek concessions to +meet the views of those who found objection to +parts of it. He mentioned the various counties of +the province to show that they were either expressly +or potentially favourable to the Quebec scheme. +He was convinced that even his friend, the ex-attorney-general +and member for Westmorland, +was hardly against union. He asked, "Was there +one anti-unionist on the floor of the House? +Where was Mr. Anglin? Mr. Needham? Mr. Hill +and all the rest of the anti-unionists? They were +all swept away and unionists had taken their places, +and when the arrangements for union were carried +out, the feeling in its favour would be deeper and +deeper." Mr. Tilley showed the great advantages +which would accrue to New Brunswick eventually +in consequence of confederation. He combated +the statement made by Mr. Smith that after confederation +the provincial legislature would become +a mere farce, showing that of all the Acts passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +during the previous two years there were only +seven which would have come under the control of +the general legislature. Mr. Tilley closed by dwelling +on the impression of power which union would +have on the minds of those abroad who were plotting +our ruin. The speech was listened to with the +utmost attention by the members of the legislature +and by a very large audience which completely +filled the galleries, and it was generally considered +to have been one of his greatest efforts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SMITH'S AMENDMENT</div> + +<p>The resolution was finally carried by a vote of +thirty to eight, only two members, both of whom +would have voted for the resolution, being absent. +As soon as the confederation resolution was passed +the Hon. A. J. Smith moved a resolution which, +after reciting the steps which had already been taken +in favour of union with Canada, continued as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Therefore</span>, <i>Resolved</i>, as the deliberate opinion +of this House, that no measure for such union +should be adopted which does not contain the following +provisions, viz.: first, an equal number of +legislative councillors for each province; second, +such legislative councillors to be required to reside +in the province which they represent and for which +they are appointed; third, the number of representatives +in the federal parliament to be limited; +fourth, the establishment of a court for the determination +of questions and disputes that may arise +between the federal and local governments as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +the meaning of the Act of Union; fifth, exemption +of this province from taxation for the construction +and enlargement of canals in Upper Canada, and +for the payment of money for the mines and +minerals and lands of Newfoundland; sixth, eighty +cents per head to be on the population as it increases +and not to be confined to the census of +1861; seventh, securing to each of the Maritime +Provinces the right to have at least one executive +councillor in the federal government; eighth, the +commencing of the Intercolonial Railway before +the right shall exist to increase taxation upon the +people of the province."</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith supported his resolution in a lengthy +speech in which he predicted increased taxation as +the result of confederation. He said that the House, +instead of being a deliberative assembly, had to surrender +its judgment to the government. Confederation +was a great experiment at best, and called for +the exercise of other men's judgment. The government +were going on in the most highhanded manner +and were not justified in withholding information +asked for. He elaborated the idea that +Canada was pledged to issue treasury notes to pay +present liabilities, and asserted that the government +was altogether under the control of Canadian politicians. +He insisted particularly on a provision in +the Act of Union that each of the Maritime Provinces +have an executive councillor in the federal +government. Finally the vote was taken and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +following amendment, which had been moved by +the Hon. Mr. Fisher, was carried, only eight members +voting against it:—</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, That the people of this province +having, after due deliberation, determined that the +union of British North America was desirable, and +the House having agreed to request His Excellency +the lieutenant-governor to appoint delegates for the +purpose of considering the plan of union upon such +terms as will secure the just rights of New Brunswick, +and having confidence that the action of His +Excellency under the advice of his constitutional +advisers will be directed to the attainment of +that end, sound policy and a due regard to the +interests of this province require that the responsibility +of such action should be left unfettered by an +expression of opinion other than what has already +been given by the people and their representatives."</p> + +<p>This ended the battle for confederation in New +Brunswick, for what remained to be done was +merely the arrangement of the details of the union +by the delegates who had received full powers for +that purpose. The session of the legislature, which +must be considered one of the most important ever +held in New Brunswick, came to a close on Monday, +July 7th. At a meeting of the government held +immediately after the prorogation, the Hon. Messrs. +Tilley, Wilmot, Fisher, Mitchell, Johnson and +Chandler were appointed to go to England as delegates +for the purpose of meeting delegates from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +Canada and Nova Scotia, and framing the bill +which was to be passed by the imperial parliament +for the consummation of confederation. It was +understood that there would be no delay on the +part of the delegates from Canada, but Sir John A. +Macdonald and the other Canadian delegates were +unable to leave at the time appointed, and did +not meet the Maritime Provinces delegation in +England until many months after the latter had +arrived there. This unfortunate circumstance produced +much comment at the time, because it looked +as if the government of Canada was treating the +delegates of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with +discourtesy. Instead of the business being completed +promptly, as was expected, and the bill passed +by the parliament during the autumn season, the +whole matter was thrown over until the following +year, and the New Brunswick delegates, most of +whom were prominent members of the government, +had to remain in England for about ten months at +great expense and inconvenience.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE DELEGATES IN ENGLAND</div> + +<p>The delegates from the three provinces, Canada, +Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, met at the +Westminster Palace Hotel, London, in December, +1866, the Hon. John A. Macdonald in the chair +and Lieut.-Col. Hewitt Bernard acting as secretary. +The resolution passed at the Quebec conference held +in 1864 was read, and amendments were moved in +accordance with the suggestions made in the several +legislatures during the discussions at the previous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +sessions. It was conceded by all that the Intercolonial +Railway, by which facilities for interprovincial +commercial intercourse should be secured, must be +built by the united provinces and without delay. +It was also conceded that in the provinces where +separate schools were established by law, that principle +should not be disturbed. In the discussion it +was claimed that the sole right of imposing an +export duty should be vested in the federal authority. +This was objected to by the New Brunswick +delegates, on the ground that as the people of that +province had expended a large sum of money in +the improving of the navigation of the upper St. +John, they had to recoup themselves by imposing +an export duty on lumber shipped from the province. +A considerable portion of the income thus +received was paid by the lumbermen of the state of +Maine, the advantage derived by them from such +improvements being very great. The claim thus +presented by the New Brunswick delegates was +conceded, and the province was permitted to retain +the right. This right was abandoned after confederation, +the Dominion paying therefor a hundred +and fifty thousand dollars per annum to the New +Brunswick government.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT</div> + +<p>During the sitting of the delegates, which lasted +for two months, many conferences were held with +Lord Carnarvon, then secretary of state for the +colonies, and the law officers of the Crown, in regard +to objections which were taken to some of the resolutions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +adopted by the delegates. The governor-general +of Canada, Viscount Monck, was in London +at the time, and was able to render valuable +assistance during the conference, owing to his intimate +knowledge of the previous negotiations at +Quebec. The arrangements there made, in regard +to the strengthening of the central government, +founded on the experience of the United States +during the War of Secession, were adhered to in +the London resolutions and accepted by the +imperial authorities. When the bill reached parliament +some amendments were suggested, but when +it was pointed out that the bill as presented was +the result of the most careful consideration of both +the imperial authorities and the colonial representatives, +the suggested amendments were not pressed +and the measure passed through both Houses with +very little discussion. But one spirit seemed to +animate both the imperial government and the +members of parliament, and that was to give the +provinces interested the fullest powers consistent +with their relation to the Empire. The parliamentary +opposition to the measure was much less than +might have been expected, when it is remembered +that the opponents of confederation had representatives +in London, well able to present objections +from their standpoint, who had the ear of Mr. +Bright and other members of the House of Commons. +Her Majesty took a deep interest in the +measure and expressed that interest to members of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +the delegation, adding that she felt a great affection +for her loyal Canadian subjects. While the bill +was before the House of Lords, Messrs. Macdonald, +Cartier, Galt, Tupper and Tilley were honoured by +a private presentation to Her Majesty, at Buckingham +Palace, and shortly afterwards all the +members of the conference were presented at a +drawing-room at the same place.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">COUNTY COURT ACT</div> + +<p>The New Brunswick delegates returned to Canada +in the spring of 1867, having completed their +labours, and the legislature was called together on +May 8th. The business before it was of great +importance, for the province was entering upon a +new era as a member of the Canadian confederation, +and the legislature was about to lose that portion +of its powers which was delegated to the federal +parliament. It is not, however, necessary to enter +into any details of the work of the session, which +was carried through without any particular difficulty, +the Opposition being too weak to oppose +seriously the measures of the government. It was +felt on all sides that, as twelve members of the legislative +council were about to become members of +the senate of Canada, and as fifteen representatives +were to be elected to the House of Commons, most +of whom would come from the House of Assembly, +a striking change would take place in the composition +of the legislature, which would be deprived of +the services of a large number of its ablest men. One +of the important bills of the session was the passage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +of the Act establishing county courts in the province, +and in respect to this measure a difference of +opinion took place between Mr. John M. Johnson, +one of the delegates and member for Northumberland, +and his fellow delegates to England. He +thought that the legislature had no authority under +the terms of confederation, or from any understanding +between the delegates while in England, +to create county courts, while the other delegates +held a different view. The Act was passed, however, +and has proved to be one of the most useful +ever placed upon the statute-book, relieving the +supreme court of many cases, both civil and criminal, +which would otherwise block its business, and +enabling them to be disposed of more rapidly than +before. The county court judges appointed under +this Act were, with one exception, taken from the +legislature, and this made another serious drain +upon its experienced members.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI<br /> +<small>THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> British North America Act, by which +the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, +New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were bound into +a confederation, came into force by royal proclamation +on the first day of July, 1867. When it is considered +how vast and vital a change this measure +brought about, it is surprising that it produced so +little excitement anywhere. With the exception of +one or two demonstrations which were made with +flags by persons hostile to confederation, it was +received in the province of New Brunswick, which +had been so much excited during two elections, +with perfect calmness, and although for some years +afterwards there were always a number of persons +opposed to union who predicted direful things from +confederation, and thought it must finally be dissolved, +the voices of such persons were eventually +silenced either by death or by their acquiescence in +the situation. To-day it may be safely declared +that the Canadian confederation stands upon as +secure a foundation as any other government in the +civilized world.</p> + +<p>In June, 1867, the Hon. John A. Macdonald, the +leading spirit in the government of Canada, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +entrusted by Lord Monck, then governor-general, +with the formation of a ministry for the Dominion. +Mr. Macdonald naturally experienced a good deal +of difficulty in making his arrangements. In the +formation of the first ministry much care was necessary; +provincial and national interests were to +be thought of and denominational claims had to +receive some attention. But the greatest difficulty +arose with respect to old party lines. Mr. Macdonald +thought that these ought, as far as possible, +to be ignored, and accordingly selected his +men from the leading advocates of confederation +belonging to both parties, placing in his cabinet +seven Conservatives and six Liberals. The Liberals +included the names of Mr. W. P. Rowland and +Mr. William MacDougall for Ontario. A large +number of the Liberals of Ontario, including +George Brown and Alexander Mackenzie, opposed +this arrangement, called a public meeting in +Toronto, and passed resolutions in favour of a +strictly party government on the old lines. It declared +hostility to the proposal for a coalition, and +resolved to oppose Messrs. Rowland and MacDougall, +should they accept office under Mr. +Macdonald. This decision was carried out, but +these gentlemen were both elected by good majorities. +In this first ministry there were five members +from Ontario, four from Quebec, two from +Nova Scotia, and two from New Brunswick: S. L. +Tilley and Peter Mitchell.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wisdom of the course adopted will be apparent +when it is remembered that the question of +confederation was not settled or carried on party +lines, some of the Conservatives opposing and some +Liberals supporting it. This was clearly the case in +New Brunswick, as shown by the last two elections +held there. About one-third of the Liberal party, +and a like proportion of the Conservative party, +opposed confederation at the second election. To +have formed the first government on a party basis +would have necessitated the selection of some men +who were opposed to the union, and whose efforts +might not have been devoted to making it a success.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FIRST CONFEDERATION MINISTRY</div> + +<p>The first confederation ministry was a very +strong one. The Hon. John A. Macdonald became +premier and minister of justice; the Hon. George +E. Cartier was minister of militia and defence; +Alexander T. Galt was minister of finance; the +Hon. William MacDougall was minister of public +works; the Hon. W. P. Rowland was minister of +inland revenue; the Hon. A. J. F. Blair, president +of the privy council; the Hon. Alexander Campbell, +postmaster-general; the Hon. J. C. Chapais, +minister of agriculture; the Hon. Hector L. Langevin, +secretary of state. The Hon. Mr. Tilley +became minister of customs and the Hon. Mr. +Mitchell minister of marine and fisheries, while the +two Nova Scotia representatives, Messrs. Archibald +and Kenny, became respectively secretary of state +for the provinces and receiver-general.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> + +<p>It will thus be seen that the Maritime Provinces +had four representatives out of thirteen members of +the cabinet, and this proportion has generally been +maintained since that time; so that the fears of +those who anticipated that the provinces by the sea +would not receive fair treatment in the distribution +of high offices have proved to be groundless. On +the contrary, it can be said that the Maritime Province +members of the government appear always to +have occupied a very influential position.</p> + +<p>The office of minister of customs, which Mr. +Tilley received, was thought by some of his friends +to be less important than he deserved, they being +of the opinion that he should have been made minister +of finance. This office, however, went to Mr. +Galt, who, owing to a difference with the rest of +the government, resigned four months later, his +place in the cabinet being taken by Sir John Rose, +who held the office of finance minister until October, +1869, Sir Francis Hincks then receiving the +appointment. It was not until the resignation of +the latter in February, 1873, that Mr. Tilley became +minister of finance. The office at first assigned +to him, however, was one of great importance, +involving as it did the reorganization of the entire +establishment of the customs of Canada, and it +gave ample scope for his great ability as a business +man.</p> + +<p>The elections for the House of Commons in the +new parliament of Canada took place in August,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +when Tilley was chosen to represent the city of St. +John, and John H. Gray, the county. It had been +expected, in view of the fact that these men had +been so largely instrumental in bringing about +confederation, that they would be allowed to walk +over the course unopposed. This was the case +with Mr. Gray, whose candidature met with no +opposition; but Mr. Tilley was opposed by Mr. +John Wilson, who received a very small vote. This +needless and futile opposition to the candidature of +a man who deserved so well from the province, +was merely one of the proofs of the existence of +political rancour in the breasts of those who had +been defeated on the confederation question.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FIRST CANADIAN PARLIAMENT</div> + +<p>The first parliament of united Canada met on +November 6th, 1867, and the address was moved +by the Hon. Charles Fisher, who had been elected +to represent the county of York. The session +was a very long one, lasting until May 22nd of +the following year; but there was an adjournment, +extending from December 21st to March +20th. This meeting of parliament was especially +memorable, inasmuch as it brought together, for the +first time, the representatives of all the provinces, +and the ablest men of all political parties. The +people of Ontario and Quebec were little known +to the people of the Maritime Provinces, and those +who resided in the larger provinces in like manner +knew comparatively little of their fellow-subjects +who dwelt by the sea. It was expected by some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +that the Maritime Province representatives would +be completely overshadowed by men of greater +political reputation belonging to the larger provinces, +but this did not prove to be the case. The +Maritime representatives at once took a leading +position in parliament, and this position they have +steadily maintained down to the present time. No +man stood better in the House of Commons than +the representative from St. John, the Hon. S. L. +Tilley. At that time Her Majesty, the Queen, in +acknowledgment of his services in the cause of +confederation, had created him a Companion of +the Bath, a distinction which was also given to +the Hon. Charles Tupper, of Nova Scotia.</p> + +<p>A vast amount of business had to be disposed of +at the first session of the parliament of Canada. +Although the Union Act embodied the plan upon +which confederation was founded, it was necessary +to supplement it by a great deal of special legislation, +for the purpose of interpreting it and making +preparations for the practical working of the constitution. +In all the discussions relative to the +measures which had to be passed at that time, +Tilley took a prominent part, and, when the session +was over, he had established in the House of Commons, +as fully as he had in the legislature of New +Brunswick, a reputation for ability as a speaker and +as a man of affairs. He was looked upon as one +whose wide knowledge of the needs of the province +and whose experience in departmental work were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +likely to be of the greatest use to the confederation. +His high character gave weight at all times to his +words, and caused him to be listened to with the +most respectful attention. During the whole period +that Tilley sat in the House of Commons, he had +the pleasure of knowing that even his political +enemies respected his character and abilities, and, +with the exception of the premier, perhaps no man +wielded a more potent influence in the councils +of the Dominion than he.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary here to trace to any large +extent the career of Sir S. L. Tilley in the parliament +of Canada; that belongs rather to the history +of the Dominion than to a work which deals +particularly with his connection with his native +province. Only so much of his public life in the +House of Commons will be dealt with as seems +necessary to complete his personal history. Tilley +continued to hold the position of minister of customs +during the whole of the term of the first +parliament of Canada. This parliament held five +sessions and dissolved in the summer of 1872, the +general election being in the month of July, upon +which occasion he was reëlected for the city of St. +John without opposition.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MINISTER OF FINANCE</div> + +<p>The second parliament met on March 5th, +1873. Eleven days before that time Mr. Tilley +had become minister of finance, succeeding Sir +Francis Hincks, who had resigned that office after +holding it for more than three years. The advancement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +of Mr. Tilley to this responsible and influential +position was very pleasing to his friends, and +was received with satisfaction by the country +generally.</p> + +<p>The first confederation ministry of Canada resigned +office on November 5th, 1873, under circumstances +which are a part of the political history +of the Dominion and need not be gone into in +this volume, further than to say that, whatever +basis there may have been for charges of corruption +in connection with the Pacific Railway contract +against other persons in the government, +none were ever preferred against Mr. Tilley; nor +did any one suspect or believe that he had anything +whatever to do with the transactions which +led to the resignation of the government. Prior +to that event Mr. Tilley had been appointed lieutenant-governor +of the province of New Brunswick +in succession to the Hon. Lemuel A. Wilmot, +whose term had expired. Every one felt that +the honour thus bestowed upon Tilley was a most +fitting one, for he was New Brunswick's foremost +son in political life, and had reached his high position +purely through his own ability and his own +good character. That position he filled a greater +number of years than any of his successors are +likely to do, and it is admitted on all sides that no +man could have performed the duties of the office +more satisfactorily than he did.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII<br /> +<small>FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR</small></h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mr. Tilley</span> took up his residence in the old +Government House, Fredericton, and he must +have been struck with the changed aspect of affairs +from that presented under the old régime, when +lieutenant-governors were appointed by the British +government and sent out from England to preside +over the councils of a people of whom they knew +little or nothing. Most of these former governors +had been military men, more accustomed to +habits of command than to deal with perplexing +questions of state. They looked with a very natural +degree of impatience on the attempts which the +people of the province were making to get the full +control of their own affairs. Under the old régime +the governor was surrounded with military guards, +and sentries paced the walks and guarded the +entrances to the Government House. The withdrawal +of the British troops from Canada before the +lieutenant-governorship of Mr. Tilley commenced +relieved him of any embarrassment in regard to +dispensing with military guards and sentries; but +all pretentious accompaniments of authority were +foreign to his nature, and he always showed, by the +severe simplicity of his life, that he felt he was one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +of the people, and that it was his duty as well as his +pleasure to permit all who had any occasion to see +him to have free access to him, without the necessity +of going through any formal process.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE PROTECTIONIST TARIFF</div> + +<p>When Mr. Tilley became lieutenant-governor of +the province, he was fifty-five years of age, and he +seems to have thought that his political career was +ended, because, by the time his term of office expired +in its natural course, he would have reached the age +of sixty, a period when a man is not likely to make +a new entrance into public life. But circumstances, +quite apart from any desire on his part, made it +almost necessary for him to change his determination, +and during the summer of 1878, when the +general election was imminent, he found himself +pressed by his old political friends to become once +more the candidate of his party for his old constituency, +the city of St. John. There was great enthusiasm +amongst them when it was announced that he +would comply with their wishes, and that he had +resigned the lieutenant-governorship. The result of +that general election is well known. The Liberal +party, which had succeeded to the government less +than five years before with a large majority in the +House of Commons, experienced a severe defeat, and +the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, seeing this, very +properly did not await the assembling of parliament, +but sent in the resignation of the ministry, and Sir +John A. Macdonald was called upon to form a new +government. In the cabinet thus constructed Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +Tilley resumed his old office of minister of finance, +and one of his first duties was to assist in the framing +of a new customs tariff which was to give +effect to the principle, upon which the election +had been run, of protection to home industries. +This idea of protection had not been heard of in +the Canadian confederation as the policy of any +political party until Sir John A. Macdonald took it +up about a year before the general election, but it +proved a winning card and was the means of giving +the new government a long lease of power.</p> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley's speech in introducing the +new tariff was well received and made a strong +impression upon all who heard it. It was admitted, +even by those who were opposed to the +views he held, that he showed a great mastery of +the details, and that he illustrated in a very clear +manner the view that the country was suffering +because the duties imposed upon foreign goods +were not sufficiently high to protect Canadian +manufactures.</p> + +<p>It is not the intention of this volume to deal to +any full extent with the career of Sir Leonard +Tilley during his second term of office as minister +of finance of Canada. To enter into that phase of +his career would be to relate the history of Canada, +for he was but one member of the government, and +not its leader. It is admitted that, in respect to +financial questions, Sir Leonard showed the same +ability that had characterized his career during his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +previous term of office, and he was looked upon by +his colleagues as a man in whose judgment the +utmost confidence could be placed. At this time, +however, his health began to fail, and the disease +which finally carried him off developed to such an +extent that he was told he must cease all active +work or his days would be shortened. Under these +circumstances, it became necessary for him to retire +from the severe duties of his very responsible and +laborious office, and on October 31st, 1885, he was +again appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, +an office which he had filled with so much +acceptance between 1873 and 1878. Sir Leonard +Tilley continued lieutenant-governor during a +second term, for almost eight years, or until the +appointment of the Hon. John Boyd to that position. +He was lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick +for considerably more than twelve years, a +record which is not likely to be equalled by any +future lieutenant-governor for many years to come, +if ever.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR</div> + +<p>There was no event of particular importance to +distinguish Sir Leonard Tilley's second term as +lieutenant-governor. The Hon. Mr. Blair was premier +of New Brunswick during the whole period, +and there was no political crisis of any importance +to alter the complexion of affairs. The only event in +connection with the governorship which is worthy +of being mentioned is the change that was made +by the abandonment of the old Government House,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +at Fredericton, as the residence of the lieutenant-governor. +This building had become antiquated, +and in other ways unsuitable for the occupancy of +a lieutenant-governor, and its maintenance involved +a very large expenditure annually, which the province +was unable to afford. It was therefore determined +that in future the lieutenant-governor should +provide his own residence, and that the amount +spent on the Government House annually should +be saved. Sir Leonard Tilley built a residence in +St. John, in which he lived for the remainder of +his life, and the seat of government, so far as his +presence was concerned, was transferred to that +city. Sir Leonard Tilley was always on the most +cordial terms with the various premiers who led +the government of New Brunswick during their +terms of office. He knew well the strict constitutional +limits of his office, and was always careful +to confine his activities within their proper scope. +The lessons of responsible government which he +had learned in his early youth, and which had been +the study of his manhood, enabled him to avoid +those pitfalls which beset the steps of earlier +lieutenant-governors.</p> + +<p>During Sir Leonard Tilley's last term of office, +and after its close, he abstained wholly from any +interference with public affairs in the Dominion, +and although he still remained steadfastly attached +to the Liberal-Conservative party, he gave no outward +sign of his desire for their success. This neutral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +position which he assumed in political matters +had the effect of drawing towards him thousands +of his fellow-countrymen who, in former years, had +been accustomed to regard him with unfriendly +feelings. They forgot the active political leader and +saw before them only the aged governor, whose +venerable figure and kindly face were so familiar at +social or other gatherings, or whenever work was +to be done for any good cause. In this way Sir +Leonard Tilley grew to assume a new character in +the public estimation, and at the time of his death +the regret was as great on the part of those who +had been his political opponents as among those +who had been his associates in political warfare. +This was one of the most pleasing features of his +declining years, and one that gave him the greatest +satisfaction, because it enabled him to feel that he +enjoyed the affectionate regard of the whole body +of the people.</p> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley throughout his life gave +great attention to his religious duties. He was a +devoted member of the Church of England, and his +attendance at its services was constant and regular. +For several years before his death he was connected +with St. Mark's congregation, and no cause, except +severe bodily illness, was ever allowed to prevent +him from going to church on Sunday morning. On +many occasions, when his steps had grown feeble +and his strength was failing, it was suggested to him +that he should drive to church, but he always replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +that he would walk to church as long as he had +strength left to do so, and that he would not have +people harnessing up horses on the Sabbath Day on +his account. This resolution he maintained to the +end of his life. Sometimes, when he met an old +acquaintance, as he toiled up the street which led +to his favourite church, he would cheerfully greet +him by saying, "John, this hill has grown steeper +than it used to be," but he climbed the hill to the +end, and the last Sunday he was able to be out of +his bed he walked to church as usual. He also took +a deep interest in all humane and philanthropic +objects as well as in the great work connected with +the spread of the Gospel. He was a constant +attendant at the annual meetings of the British +and Foreign Bible Society, and was a life member +of that admirable association.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS IMPERIAL HONOURS</div> + +<p>The honours that Sir Leonard Tilley received +from Her Majesty, in recognition of his great public +services, were very gratifying to his friends as well +as to himself, and when he was made a Knight +Commander of St. Michael and St. George, in 1879, +his temperance friends embraced the first opportunity +on his return to St. John to have a banquet +in his honour, at which he wore, for the first time +in public, the insignia of the knightly order of which +he had become a member. There was probably no +public event in the whole course of his life which +gave him greater pleasure than this proof of the +attachment of his old friends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sir Leonard's last visit to England was marked +by an extremely gracious invitation to visit the +queen at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. While he +and Lady Tilley were sojourning at Cowes a message +was sent summoning them to Osborne House, +where they were received by Her Majesty in the +beautiful grounds that surround that palace. The +Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, with an +equerry in waiting, were the only other persons +present. After an interesting conversation they +were permitted to visit the private apartments of +Her Majesty, and the Prince Consort's farm.</p> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley was first married in 1843 to +Julia Ann, daughter of the late James T. Hanford, +who died in 1862. By her he had seven children, +two sons and five daughters. In 1867, he married +Alice Starr, daughter of the late Z. Chipman, of +St. Stephen. By this marriage he had two sons, +Mr. Herbert C. Tilley, of the Imperial Trust +Company, who resides in St. John, and Mr. L. P. +DeWolfe Tilley, barrister, who is also a resident of +St. John. These two sons, Herbert and Leonard, +were the prop and comfort of his declining years +and were devoted wholly to him to the end.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">LADY TILLEY</div> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley's second marriage was contracted +at the time when he was exchanging the +limited field of provincial politics for the wider +sphere which confederation opened up to him in +the parliament of Canada. It was a fortunate +union, for it gave him a helpmeet and companion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +who was in full sympathy with him in all his hopes +and feelings, and who was singularly well qualified +to preside over his household, which, in his capacity +of a minister of the Crown, had become, to a considerable +extent, a factor in the public life of Canada. +Lady Tilley had a high ideal of her duty as the +wife of a cabinet minister and of the governor of +New Brunswick, and was not content to lead a +merely ornamental life or confine her energies within +a narrow range. She saw many deficiencies in +our appliances for relieving human misery, and +with a zeal which could not be dampened, she +sought to remedy them. The Victoria Hospital +at Fredericton is her work; hers also is the Nurses' +Home in connection with the Public Hospital +in St. John, and the Reformatory for the care +of bad or neglected boys, who are in danger of +becoming criminals if they are not educated and +disciplined when they are young. In every work of +philanthropy Lady Tilley has always taken not only +an active, but a leading part, and her position has +enabled her to enlist in the cause of humanity the +energies of many who, under other circumstances, +might not have given their attention to philanthropic +work.</p> + +<p>Sir Leonard Tilley for many years had suffered +from an incurable disease, which had been mitigated +by rest and medical treatment, but not removed. +It was the knowledge of the fact that his days +would be shortened if he continued in active political<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +life that compelled him to leave the government +in 1885. For many years before his death the +malady had been so far subdued that it gave him +comparatively little trouble, but any unusual exertion +on his part was almost certain to arouse it +again to activity, so that he was prevented on many +occasions from taking part in public functions +which, under other circumstances, he would have +been glad to attend. Still, he always contrived to +take his daily walk, and few who saw him ever suspected +that he was constantly menaced by death. +For three or four years before his decease his +strength had been failing, he stooped more as he +walked, and it was evident that he was not destined +to enjoy many more years of life. Yet during the +spring of 1896 there was nothing whatever to indicate +that the end was so near, for he went about as +usual, and was able to preside at the annual meeting +of the Loyalist Society which was held during +the last week in May. On that evening he appeared +very bright and cheerful, and he entered with much +interest into the discussion of the details of an outing +which it was proposed the society should hold +during the summer. "Man proposes, God disposes." +Sir Leonard had gone to Rothesay early in June +to spend a few weeks in that pleasant spot, and he +appeared to be in his usual health until the night of +June 10th, when he began to suffer great pain from +a slight cut which he had received in the foot. The +symptoms became alarming and gave indications of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +blood poisoning, a condition due to the disease +from which he had suffered so many years. On +June 11th, he was taken to Carleton House, his +town residence, and from that time the doctors +gave no hope of his recovery. It was one of the +sad features of his illness that his life-long friend +and physician for many years, Dr. William Bayard, +was unable to attend him, being himself confined +to his bed by illness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH</div> + +<p>After Sir Leonard Tilley reached his home in +St. John he never rallied, and he was well aware +that his end was near. He was attended by Dr. +Inches and Dr. Murray McLaren, but he was +beyond medical aid, and therefore the people of +St. John, for several days before the event took +place, were aware that their foremost citizen was +dying. The time was one of great excitement, for +the general election was near, yet the eyes of thousands +were turned from the moving panorama of +active life which passed before them to the silent +chamber where the dying statesman was breathing +his last. The regret and sympathy that was expressed +was universal, and in their kindly words +those who had been his life-long political opponents +were not behind those who had been his friends. +Sir Leonard Tilley died at three o'clock on the +morning of June 25th, the second day after the +general election which brought about the defeat +of the party with which he had been so long +identified.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS EMINENT SERVICES</div> + +<p>His death evoked expressions of sympathy and +regret from all parts of the empire and from many +states of the union. The letters and telegrams of +condolence which Lady Tilley received during the +first days of her widowhood would of themselves +fill a volume, showing how widely he was known +and respected. The funeral, which took place on the +Saturday following his death, was one of the largest +ever seen in St. John, and was attended by the +Board of Trade, the Loyalist Society, the various +temperance organizations, the members of the provincial +government, and a vast concourse of prominent +citizens. The services took place at St. John's +Episcopal Church, and were conducted by the rector, +the Rev. John deSoyres, assisted by the Rev. +R. P. McKim, rector of St. Luke's Church, with +which Sir Leonard had been identified in his earlier +years. The interment took place in the Rural +Cemetery. Many references to the decease of this +eminent man were made from the pulpits of St. +John and other parts of the province on the Sunday +following his death, and all the newspapers had +long notices of the event and editorials on his life +and character. We may fittingly close this work by +quoting a portion of what was said of him by the +St. John <i>Telegraph</i>, a paper that was politically +opposed to him for many years:—</p> + +<p>"It is greatly to the honour of Sir Leonard Tilley +that no scandal, public or private, was ever +attached to his name. A consistent temperance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +man to the end of his life, he was faithful to the +cause which he had espoused when he was young, +and he enjoyed the confidence and received the +steady support of a vast majority of the temperance +men of the province, who looked upon him as their +natural leader. His capacity for friendship was +great, and his friends might be numbered by thousands, +for he had a peculiar faculty of strongly +attracting men to himself. This may be ascribed, in +part, to the magnetism of a buoyant and strong +nature, but it was more largely due to the extreme +simplicity of his character, which remained wholly +unspoiled by the favours which fortune had showered +upon him. No man, however humble, had any +difficulty in obtaining an interview with Sir +Leonard Tilley; he was every inch a gentleman, +and was, therefore, as polite to the poorest labourer +as to the richest in the land. Such a man could not +fail to be loved even by those who had been his +most bitter opponents in former years, when he +was in active political life.</p> + +<p>"It is one of the drawbacks of this human life +that the wise, the learned, the good, and those +whom we most love and honour, grow old and +feeble, fall by the wayside and pass away. So while +we lament the death of Sir Leonard Tilley, we +must recognize it as an event that was inevitable, +and which could not long have been postponed. +His lifework was done; his labours were ended; +his active and brilliant career was closed; he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +but waiting for the dread summons which sooner +or later must come to all. The summons has come, +and he has gone from among us forever. His venerable, +noble face will no longer be seen on our +streets, his kindly greeting will no longer be heard. +But his memory will live, not only in the hearts of +all his countrymen, but enshrined in the history of +this his native province, and of the great Dominion +which he did so much to create, and which he so +fondly loved."</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>INDEX</h2> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX</h2> + +<h3>A</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Allen, Hon. John C.</span>, solicitor-general, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;<ul> +<li>opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;</li> +<li>becomes attorney-general, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</li> +<li>appointed a judge, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Anglin, Hon. Timothy W., opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;<ul> +<li>differences with his colleagues, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>;</li> +<li>resigns from the government, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Aroostook War, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></li> + +<li>Ashburton Treaty, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> + +<li>Assembly, House of, its composition and powers, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;<ul> +<li>Wilmot's college bill introduced in, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> +<li>its passage through the House, <a href="#Page_52">52-6</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>B</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Babbitt, Samuel</span>, teacher of the Madras School, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Baillie, Thomas, retires with a pension, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> + +<li>Ballot Law passed, <a href="#Page_189">189</a></li> + +<li>Beckwith, John A., member for York, <a href="#Page_250">250</a></li> + +<li>Bernard, Lieutenant-Colonel Hewitt, secretary of the confederation delegations, <a href="#Page_263">263</a></li> + +<li>Blair, Hon. Andrew G., premier of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_280">280</a></li> + +<li>Bliss, Hannah, mother of L. A. Wilmot, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a></li> + +<li>Botsford, Hon. Bliss, surveyor-general, <a href="#Page_233">233</a></li> + +<li>Bounties, disallowed by British government, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> + +<li>Boyd, Hon. John, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_280">280</a></li> + +<li>British North America Act, the, comes into force, <a href="#Page_269">269</a></li> + +<li>Brown, George, agrees to support confederation, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> + +<li>Brown, James, surveyor-general, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>C</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Campbell, Sir Archibald</span>, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;<ul> +<li>refuses information to the House, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>;</li> +<li>censured by the assembly, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> +<li>dissolves the assembly, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> +<li>opposes the civil list arrangement, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Carleton, Thomas, governor of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li> + +<li>Carnarvon, Lord, his interest in confederation, <a href="#Page_264">264</a></li> + +<li>Carter, Sir James, appointed a judge, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;<ul> +<li>appointed chief-justice, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> +<li>resigns the chief-justiceship, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Cartier, Hon. George E., minister of militia, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> + +<li>Casual and territorial revenue, <i>see</i> <a href="#Crown_lands">Crown lands</a></li> + +<li>Chandler, Edward B., a delegate to England in reference to the Crown lands, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span><ul> +<li>enters the government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> +<li>resigns, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> +<li>goes to England on behalf of the Intercolonial Railway, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</li> +<li>confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Chipman, Ward, chief-justice, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;<ul> +<li>resigns, <a href="#Page_129">129</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Church of England, its predominant influence, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> + +<li>Civil list, the, paid in part by the Crown land revenue, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;<ul> +<li>the Civil List Bill, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> +<li>the bill passed, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Clark, Rev. Samuel, rector of Gagetown, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Colebrooke, Sir William, lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;<ul> +<li>appoints Alfred Reade secretary, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> +<li>censured by the assembly, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Confederation, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>;<ul> +<li>proposed in Lord Durham's Report, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</li> +<li>discussed in 1858, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</li> +<li>not favoured by Lord Derby's government, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</li> +<li>D'Arcy McGee's party visits the Maritime Provinces, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>;</li> +<li>crisis in the government of Canada, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>;</li> +<li>Canadian statesmen at the Charlottetown conference, <a href="#Page_217">217-19</a>;</li> +<li>the Quebec scheme, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>;</li> +<li>unfavourably received in New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_223">223-5</a>;</li> +<li>the general election of 1865, <a href="#Page_226">226-9</a>;</li> +<li>defeat of, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</li> +<li>recommended in the speech from the throne, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> +<li>carried at the general election of 1866, <a href="#Page_249">249-51</a>;</li> +<li>resolutions in its favour carried in the legislature, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>delegation sent to England to arrange details of, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>delay in arrival of Canadian delegates, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;</li> +<li>meeting in London, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;</li> +<li>discussion of the terms of union, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>;</li> +<li>Confederation Act passed by parliament, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> +<li>the union of the provinces proclaimed, <a href="#Page_269">269</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Connell, Hon. Charles, postmaster-general, circumstances which led to his resignation, <a href="#Page_191">191-2</a>;<ul> +<li>member for Carleton, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</li> +<li>becomes a member of the Mitchell-Wilmot government, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for Carleton, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Cook, Dr. Henry, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> + +<li>Council, executive, its composition, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;<ul> +<li>reorganized, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Council, legislative, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>;<ul> +<li>rejects the college bill, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> +<li>its obstructive character, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>;</li> +<li>its conduct condemned by the assembly, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> +<li>changes in its composition, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> +<li>favours confederation, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Crane, William, a delegate to England with an address to His Majesty, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> + +<li><a name="Crown_lands" id="Crown_lands"></a>Crown lands, revenues from, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;<ul> +<li>dissatisfaction with the management of, <a href="#Page_18">18-21</a>;</li> +<li>used to pay the civil list, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</li> +<li>control of, made the subject of an address to the king, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>;</li> +<li>a deputation sent to England, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> +<li>the surrender of the revenues by His Majesty proposed, <a href="#Page_25">25-7</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35-7</a>;</li> +<li>another address to the king, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</li> +<li>control of, surrendered to the province, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Custom-house system, imperial, discarded, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></li> + +<li>Customs duties, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>D</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">DesBrisay</span>, L. P. W., seconds Fisher's amendment to the address in reply to the speech from the throne, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li> + +<li>Douglas, Sir Howard, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Dow, Dr., member for York, <a href="#Page_250">250</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>E</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Education</span>, unsatisfactory condition of, in New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_83">83-5</a>;<ul> +<li>the Madras system, <a href="#Page_86">86-8</a>;</li> +<li>Wilmot's speech on, <a href="#Page_88">88-91</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>F</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Family Compact</span>, the, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li> + +<li>Fees, on land grants, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li> + +<li>Fenians, threaten to invade Canada, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>;<ul> +<li>invade New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>Doran Killian, leader of, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>troops called out to oppose them, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> +<li>their invasion a fiasco, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Fisher, Hon. Charles, member for York, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;<ul> +<li>reëlected for York, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> +<li>moves a want of confidence resolution, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> +<li>his resolution defeated, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</li> +<li>enters the government, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> +<li>defeated in York, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</li> +<li>his services to the Liberal party, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>;</li> +<li>moves a want of confidence resolution, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>;</li> +<li>joins the new government as attorney-general, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>;</li> +<li>retires from the government, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for York, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>;</li> +<li>elected on the confederation ticket for York, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>;</li> +<li>moves an amendment to the address in reply to the speech from the throne, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>;</li> +<li>becomes attorney-general, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>moves a confederation resolution, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>;</li> +<li>a confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>elected for York in the first parliament of united Canada, <a href="#Page_273">273</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Fraser, John J., opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_228">228</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>G</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Gagetown</span>, birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> + +<li>Galt, Hon. A. T., in favour of confederation, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;<ul> +<li>minister of finance, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Gilbert, Thomas, advocates agricultural schools, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> + +<li>Gillmor, Hon. A. H., provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_233">233</a></li> + +<li>Gladstone, Right Hon. W. E., <a href="#Page_199">199</a></li> + +<li>Glenelg, Lord, colonial secretary, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a></li> + +<li>Glenie, James, an early Reformer, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li> + +<li>Gordon, Arthur Hamilton, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, opposed to confederation, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>;<ul> +<li>his change of views, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>;</li> +<li>the confederation paragraph in his speech from the throne, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> +<li>differences with his government, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Government, responsible, the demand for, <a href="#Page_99">99-111</a>;<ul> +<li>granted, <a href="#Page_113">113-16</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Gray, Hon. John H., <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span><ul> +<li>supports the government, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</li> +<li>becomes a member of the government, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>;</li> +<li>appointed attorney-general, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> +<li>favours confederation, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>;</li> +<li>elected for St. John County, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> +<li>speaker of the assembly, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>;</li> +<li>again elected for St. John in the parliament of 1867, <a href="#Page_273">273</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Gray-Wilmot government, formed, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;<ul> +<li>defeated, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Grey, Earl, colonial secretary, on tenure of office, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;<ul> +<li>disallows hemp bounty bill, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Grievances, committee on, appointed, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>H</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Hamilton, Peter</span> S., his articles advocating confederation, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> + +<li>Hanington, Hon. D. L., speaker, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> + +<li>Hannay, James, his articles in favour of confederation, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> + +<li>Harding, James A., elected for the city of St. John, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Harvey, Sir John, lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> + +<li>Hatheway, Hon. George L., opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;<ul> +<li>joins the anti-confederation government, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</li> +<li>retires from the contest in York, <a href="#Page_250">250</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Hazen, Hon. Robert L., on responsible government, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;<ul> +<li>enters the government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> +<li>resigns, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Head, Sir Edmund, lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_129">129</a></li> + +<li>Hill, George S., member for Charlotte, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> + +<li>Howe, Hon. Joseph, a delegate to England in connection with the Intercolonial Railway, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;<ul> +<li>advocates confederation, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Humbert, Mr., opposes responsible government, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> + +<li>Hutchinson, Richard, <a href="#Page_234">234</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>J</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Jenkins, William</span>, teacher of the Gagetown grammar school, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Johnson, Hon. John M., solicitor-general, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>;<ul> +<li>confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>opposes county courts bill, <a href="#Page_267">267</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Johnston, Hon. Hugh, enters the government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;<ul> +<li>resigns, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>K</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Kerr, George</span>, member for Northumberland, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> + +<li>King's College, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;<ul> +<li>its illiberal charter, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</li> +<li>bill to amend it defeated, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> +<li>passed, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>;</li> +<li>reorganized and becomes University of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_190">190</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Kinnear, Hon. William B., solicitor-general, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>L</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Legislature of New Brunswick</span>, called together in 1866, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>;<ul> +<li>its session of 1867, <a href="#Page_266">266</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Leonard, Samuel, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li><i>Loyalist</i>, newspaper, its proprietors arrested, <a href="#Footnote_5_5">75 (note)</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>M</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Macdonald, Sir John</span> A., chairman of the confederation delegation, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;<ul> +<li>forms the first Dominion cabinet, <a href="#Page_270">270</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>McClelan, Hon. A. R., chief commissioner of public works, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span><ul> +<li>reëlected for Albert County, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>McGee, Thomas D'Arcy, favours confederation, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>;<ul> +<li>lectures in St. John, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>;</li> +<li>brings a party to visit the Maritime Provinces, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>McMillan, Hon. John, surveyor-general, elected for Restigouche, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;<ul> +<li>becomes postmaster-general, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>McPhelim, Francis, postmaster-general, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> + +<li>Manners-Sutton, Hon. H. T., lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, dissolves the House of Assembly, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> + +<li>Maritime union movement, <a href="#Page_211">211-13</a>;<ul> +<li>the Charlottetown conference, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Marriage laws, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li> + +<li>Meade, General, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> + +<li>Metcalfe, Sir Charles, governor-general of Canada, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;<ul> +<li>his unconstitutional stand, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> +<li>his views approved by the New Brunswick assembly, <a href="#Page_74">74</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Mitchell, Hon. Peter, member of the legislative council, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>;<ul> +<li>supports confederation, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>;</li> +<li>called on to form a government, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>;</li> +<li>forms the Mitchell-Wilmot government, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>becomes minister of marine, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Monck, Viscount, governor-general of Canada, <a href="#Page_265">265</a></li> + +<li>Money grants, initiation of, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li> + +<li>Montgomery, John, enters the government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;<ul> +<li>surveyor-general, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Morgan, Elizabeth, great grandmother of Sir Leonard Tilley, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>N</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Needham</span>, W. H., member for York, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;<ul> +<li>his ability and character, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>;</li> +<li>opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_228">228</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Newcastle, Duke of, colonial secretary, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>O</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Odell, Hon. William Franklin</span>, death of, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> + +<li>Odell, Hon. William H., postmaster-general, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a></li> + +<li>Office, tenure of, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;<ul> +<li>Lord John Russell's despatch, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> +<li>resolution of assembly thereon, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>P</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Palmerston, Lord</span>, his government in office during confederation negotiations, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> + +<li>Parker, Hon. Robert, becomes chief-justice, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li> + +<li>Parliament of Canada, its first meeting, <a href="#Page_273">273</a></li> + +<li>Partelow, Hon. John R., member for St. John County, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<ul> +<li>on money appropriations, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> +<li>becomes provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> +<li>his ability as a business man, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Peters, Colonel Harry, speaker of the assembly, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Peters, Susan Ann, mother of Sir Leonard Tilley, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> + +<li>Peters, William, grandfather of Sir Leonard, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> + +<li>Peto, Brassy and Betts, propose to construct New Brunswick railways, <a href="#Page_167">167-9</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></li> + +<li>Pickard, John, defeated in York, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> + +<li>Portland Railway Convention, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;<ul> +<li>L. A. Wilmot's speech at, <a href="#Page_120">120</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Prohibitory liquor law, <a href="#Page_176">176-8</a>;<ul> +<li>its failure, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Putnam, Charles S., barrister, <a href="#Page_11">11</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>R</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Railways</span>, European and North American, proposed, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>;<ul> +<li>its progress, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</li> +<li>completed to Shediac, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</li> +<li>Intercolonial, building of, proposed, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>;</li> +<li>delegations sent to England to obtain assistance, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196-8</a>;</li> +<li>discussed in parliament, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</li> +<li>a meeting held in Quebec to consider the offer of the British government, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;</li> +<li>a committee is sent to England to arrange the terms of the guarantee but fail to come to an agreement, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> +<li>its construction secured by confederation, <a href="#Page_264">264</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Reade, Alfred, appointed provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;<ul> +<li>his appointment condemned by the assembly, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</li> +<li>the appointment cancelled, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Reciprocity treaty, discussed, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>;<ul> +<li>bill passed, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Ritchie, Hon. William J., member for the county of St. John, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;<ul> +<li>his great ability, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>;</li> +<li>moves a want of confidence resolution, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</li> +<li>complains of the conduct of the governor and the colonial office, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>;</li> +<li>resigns his seat, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for St. John, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>;</li> +<li>joins the Fisher government, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>;</li> +<li>becomes chief-justice, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Robinson, F. P., auditor of the king's casual revenue, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li>Russell, Lord John, colonial secretary, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;<ul> +<li>on the King's College charter, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> +<li>on tenure of office, <a href="#Page_114">114</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>S</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Salaries</span>, official, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;<ul> +<li>reduction proposed by Wilmot, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Saunders, Hon. John Simcoe, advocate-general, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> + +<li>Simonds, Hon. Charles, a delegate to England with the grievances of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;<ul> +<li>elected speaker, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</li> +<li>resigns his seat, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> +<li>again elected speaker, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Skinner, Hon. C. N., favours confederation, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>;<ul> +<li>member for St. John city, <a href="#Page_251">251</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Smith, Hon. Albert J., joins the Fisher government, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>;<ul> +<li>forms an anti-confederation government, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> +<li>differences with the lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> +<li>his government resigns, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>;</li> +<li>moves an amendment to confederation resolutions, <a href="#Page_260">260</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Smith, William O., mayor of St. John, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> + +<li>Stanley, Lord, colonial secretary, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;<ul> +<li>on King's College charter, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> +<li>on the Reade appointment, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;</li> +<li>on money grants, <a href="#Page_92">92</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Steadman, Hon. James, postmaster-general, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> + +<li>Steeves, Hon. William H., joins the Fisher government, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></li> + +<li>Street, Hon. George F., solicitor-general, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;<ul> +<li>a delegate to England in connection with the Civil List Bill, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Street, Hon. John Ambrose, attorney-general, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> + +<li>Street-Partelow government, defeated, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> + +<li>Sutton, Richard, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>T</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Tilley, James</span>, grandfather of Sir Leonard, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> + +<li>Tilley, Lady, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;<ul> +<li>her charitable work, <a href="#Page_285">285</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Tilley, Samuel, great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> + +<li>Tilley, Samuel Leonard, birth and ancestry, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;<ul> +<li>at the Madras School, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</li> +<li>at the grammar school, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</li> +<li>removes to St. John, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> +<li>enters a drug store as clerk, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> +<li>becomes a total abstainer, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>;</li> +<li>begins business on his own account, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>;</li> +<li>elected to the House of Assembly as member for St. John, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;</li> +<li>resigns his seat, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for St. John, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>;</li> +<li>becomes provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>;</li> +<li>defeated on the prohibition question, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> +<li>again elected for St. John, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</li> +<li>a delegate to England in regard to the Intercolonial Railway, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</li> +<li>a delegate to Quebec to consider the offer of the British government, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;</li> +<li>second delegation to England, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</li> +<li>at the Quebec conference, <a href="#Page_219">219-22</a>;</li> +<li>defeated in St. John city, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</li> +<li>resigns with his colleagues, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> +<li>declines to form a new government, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>becomes provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for St. John city, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> +<li>his efforts for confederation, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</li> +<li>his ability as a speaker, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>;</li> +<li>supports the confederation resolutions, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>;</li> +<li>confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> +<li>presented to Her Majesty, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</li> +<li>becomes minister of customs, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>;</li> +<li>elected to parliament for St. John city, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> +<li>made a Companion of the Bath, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> +<li>his standing in the House of Commons, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> +<li>becomes minister of finance, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> +<li>elected to the second parliament, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> +<li>appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> +<li>resigns the governorship, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> +<li>again becomes finance minister, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>;</li> +<li>introduces a protectionist tariff, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>;</li> +<li>again appointed lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> +<li>resides in St. John, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>;</li> +<li>his simple habits, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>;</li> +<li>his popularity, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> +<li>a member of the Church of England, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> +<li>made a K.C.M.G., <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> +<li>his marriages, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> +<li>visits Her Majesty at Osborne, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> +<li>his children, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> +<li>suffers from an incurable disease, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> +<li>his last illness, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>;</li> +<li>death, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>;</li> +<li>funeral, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>;</li> +<li>tributes of respect, <a href="#Page_288">288</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Tilley, Thomas Morgan, father of Sir Leonard, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> + +<li><i>Trent</i> affair, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> +</ul> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> +<h3>U</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">United States</span>, their attitude towards Canada, <a href="#Page_254">254</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>V</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Vankoughnet, Hon</span>. P. M., a delegate to England in regard to the Intercolonial Railway, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3>W</h3> + +<ul><li><span class="smcap">Wark, David</span>, his bounty resolutions, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> + +<li>Watters, Hon. Charles, an advocate of confederation, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> + +<li>Weldon, Hon. John W., speaker of the assembly, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<ul> +<li>on money grants, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> +<li>appointed a judge, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Wetmore, Hon. A. R., opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;<ul> +<li>opposes anti-confederation government, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for St. John city, <a href="#Page_251">251</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>William IV., objects to alienation of Crown lands, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;<ul> +<li>dismisses the Liberal government, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Williston, Hon. Edward, solicitor-general, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;<ul> +<li>reëlected for Northumberland, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Wilmot, Benjamin, first of the name in America, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> + +<li>Wilmot, Hon. Robert Duncan, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;<ul> +<li>his change of principle, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>;</li> +<li>supports the government, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</li> +<li>becomes surveyor-general, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected in St. John, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> +<li>becomes provincial secretary, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> +<li>opposes confederation, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>;</li> +<li>dissatisfied with the government, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</li> +<li>resigns in January, 1866, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>;</li> +<li>forms a new government with Mitchell, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for St. John County, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> +<li>confederation delegate to England, <a href="#Page_262">262</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Wilmot, Lemuel, grandfather of L. A. Wilmot, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> + +<li>Wilmot, Lemuel Allan, birth, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;<ul> +<li>ancestry, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> +<li>education, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> +<li>studies law, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> +<li>his interest in politics, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> +<li>his knowledge of French, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> +<li>an officer of militia, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> +<li>elected to the assembly for York, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</li> +<li>takes his seat, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>;</li> +<li>his eloquence, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;</li> +<li>zeal for reform, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;</li> +<li>on custom house salaries, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</li> +<li>a delegate to the colonial office in connection with provincial affairs, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>;</li> +<li>arranges terms with the British government, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> +<li>second delegation to England, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for York, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</li> +<li>engaged in the reform of King's College charter, <a href="#Page_49">49-52</a>;</li> +<li>bill rejected by council, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> +<li>resolutions thereon, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> +<li>the college bill passed, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;</li> +<li>proposes a reduced scale of salaries, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</li> +<li>nominated for the speakership, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for York, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> +<li>becomes a member of the government, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> +<li>resigns in consequence of the Reade appointment, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> +<li>his reasons, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> +<li>advocates improved schools, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> +<li>in favour of free schools, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> +<li>an advocate of the initiation of money grants, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94-7</a>;</li> +<li>bids farewell to the House, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> +<li>reëlected for York, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> +<li>his speech on the want of confidence resolution, <a href="#Page_103">103-11</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span></li> +<li>becomes attorney-general, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> +<li>his oratory, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> +<li>at the Portland Railway Convention, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;</li> +<li>his views on railway legislation, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;</li> +<li>opposes the Shediac Railway, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> +<li>his bill for the reduction of salaries defeated in the legislative council, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> +<li>decline of popularity, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</li> +<li>appointed a judge, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> +<li>Fenety's estimate of, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> +<li>appointed lieutenant-governor, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> +<li>his religious views, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> +<li>as a lecturer, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>;</li> +<li>takes part in the Aroostook War, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> +<li>his love of flowers, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;</li> +<li>illness and death, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>;</li> +<li>character and achievements, <a href="#Page_137">137-9</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Wilmot, William, father of L. A. Wilmot, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;<ul> +<li>a Baptist local preacher, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> +<li>member of the House of Assembly in 1816, <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wilmot and Tilley, by James Hannay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 26086-h.htm or 26086-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/8/26086/ + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wilmot and Tilley + +Author: James Hannay + +Release Date: July 19, 2008 [EBook #26086] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + + + THE MAKERS OF CANADA + + EDITED BY + + DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT, F.R.S.C., + PELHAM EDGAR, PH.D., AND, + WILLIAM DAWSON LE SUEUR, B.A., LL.D., F.R.S.C. + + + + +WILMOT AND TILLEY + + + + +[Illustration: L. A. Wilmot] + + + + + _THE MAKERS OF CANADA_ + + + WILMOT AND TILLEY + + + BY + + JAMES HANNAY + + + _EDITION DE LUXE_ + + + TORONTO + MORANG & CO., LIMITED + 1907 + + + + +_Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada in the year 1907 +by Morang & Co., Limited, in the Department of Agriculture_ + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Unique page headings have been retained, placed within {braces} and + positioned before the relevant paragraphs. Minor typographical + errors have been corrected without note. Variant spellings have been + retained. Inconsistent hyphenation has been standardised. The oe + ligature is represented by [oe]. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT + + _CHAPTER I_ Page + ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 1 + + _CHAPTER II_ + EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM 13 + + _CHAPTER III_ + WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE 31 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE 41 + + _CHAPTER V_ + LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE 57 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + THE READE APPOINTMENT 67 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION 83 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT 99 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + THE VICTORY IS WON 113 + + _CHAPTER X_ + JUDGE AND GOVERNOR 131 + + + SIR LEONARD TILLEY + + _CHAPTER I_ + EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER 143 + + _CHAPTER II_ + ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE 159 + + _CHAPTER III_ + THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW 171 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + REFORM AND PROGRESS 183 + + _CHAPTER V_ + THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY 195 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION 201 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE 215 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION 231 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER 239 + + _CHAPTER X_ + THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT 253 + + _CHAPTER XI_ + THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA 269 + + _CHAPTER XII_ + FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR 277 + + + INDEX 293 + + + + +LEMUEL ALLAN WILMOT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE + + +The contest for responsible government which was carried on in all the +provinces of British North America for so many years resembled in some +of its features a modern battle, where the field of operations is so +wide that it is impossible for a general to cover it with his eye or to +keep control of all the movements of his subordinates. In such a case, +everything depends on the ability of the generals who command the +different army corps, who, operating in remote parts of the field, must +take the responsibility of success or failure. The two Canadas were so +far removed from New Brunswick, and the means of communication were so +poor, that there was but little help, even in the way of suggestion, to +be expected from them, while the contest for responsible government was +being carried on. Even the efforts in the same direction which were +being made in the province of Nova Scotia had but little influence on +the course of events in New Brunswick, for each province had its own +particular grievances and its own separate interests. Thus it happened +that the battle for responsible government in New Brunswick was fought, +to a large extent, without reference to what was being done in the +other provinces which now form the Dominion of Canada, and the leaders +of the movement had to be guided by the peculiar local circumstances of +the situation. Still, there is no doubt that the efforts of all the +provinces, directed to the same ends, were mutually helpful and made the +victory more easily won. + +Among the men who took a part in the contest for responsible government +in New Brunswick, Lemuel Allan Wilmot undoubtedly held the foremost +place, not only by reason of the ability with which he advocated the +cause, but from the trust which the people had in him, which made him a +natural leader and the proper exponent of their views. There were, +indeed, men working in the same field before his time, but it was his +happy fortune to witness the fruit of his labours to give the province a +better form of government, and to bring its constitution into line with +the system which prevailed in the mother country. He not only viewed the +land of promise from afar, but he entered into it, and he became the +first native lieutenant-governor of the province,--a result which even +he, sanguine as he was, could hardly have contemplated when he began his +career as a public man. + +{THE WILMOT FAMILY} + +Lemuel Allan Wilmot was born in the county of Sunbury, on the banks of +the St. John River, on January 31st, 1809. He was the son of William +Wilmot, a respectable merchant and lumberman, who was in partnership +with William Peters, grandfather of Sir Leonard Tilley. William Wilmot +was the son of Lemuel Wilmot, a Loyalist, who was a resident of +Poughkeepsie, New York, at the beginning of the Revolution. He (Lemuel) +raised a company of soldiers for the service of the king, and became a +captain in the Loyal American Regiment which was commanded by Beverley +Robinson, serving in that corps during the war. At the peace, he came to +New Brunswick and settled in Sunbury County on the river St. John. The +Wilmots were a respectable English family, and the first of the name in +America was Benjamin Wilmot, who was born in England in 1589 and came to +America with his wife Ann, probably prior to 1640. He was one of the +early settlers of New Haven, Connecticut, and the records of that colony +show that he took the oaths of fidelity at a court held on May 2d, 1648. +He died in 1669. His son William, who was born in 1632, was probably +also a native of England. He married Sarah Thomas in 1658, and died in +1689. + +Thomas Wilmot, his son, was born in 1679. He married Mary Lines, and +their son Ezekiel was born in 1708. Ezekiel Wilmot and his wife Beulah +were the parents of Lemuel, who was born in 1743. Lemuel Wilmot married +Elizabeth Street, and William, the father of the subject of this +biography, was their son. William Wilmot married Hannah Bliss, a +daughter of the Hon. Daniel Bliss, a Massachusetts Loyalist, who became +a member of the council of New Brunswick and was the father of John +Murray Bliss, one of the judges of the supreme court of that province. +His grandfather was Colonel John Murray, a Massachusetts Loyalist, who +was for many years a member of the general court of that colony and who +became a mandamus councillor. It will thus be seen that Lemuel Wilmot +came from the best New England stock, and that his connections were +highly respectable and even distinguished. He was proud of his New +England descent, and claimed the usual ancestor from among the +passengers of the _Mayflower_ who landed at Plymouth in 1620. If this +claim is correct, his descent from the Pilgrim Fathers must have been +through the female line, and no record of it has been preserved. The +matter is not of much consequence at the present day, for the Wilmots +have made a record in their province far more distinguished than that +which they won in New England, for they have given to New Brunswick five +members of the legislature, a senator and member of the House of Commons +of Canada, two members of the executive of New Brunswick, and one of the +privy council of Canada, an attorney-general and a provincial secretary +of New Brunswick and two lieutenant-governors. + +{LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR CARLETON} + +The system of government which existed in all the British North American +colonies at the time when L. A. Wilmot was born was practically the +same. New Brunswick had been separated from Nova Scotia in 1784, and, in +the autumn of that year, its first governor was sent out in the person +of Thomas Carleton, a brother of Sir Guy Carleton. Thomas Carleton had +been an officer in one of the regiments which fought during the War of +the Revolution, but he was in no way distinguished, and had no special +qualifications for the position he was called upon to fill. That fact, +however, did not concern the persons in England who appointed him. In +those days, fitness or ability had very little to do with colonial +appointments. Carleton continued to fill the office of governor and +lieutenant-governor until his death in 1817; but for the last fourteen +years of his term he resided in England, and the duties of his office +were performed by a succession of administrators under the name of +presidents. To assist him in his deliberations, Carleton had a council +of twelve members, who were appointed by the Crown and were therefore +wholly under the influence of the governor and the authorities in +England. In 1809, its number had been reduced to ten, and it was +composed of the four judges of the supreme court, the provincial +secretary and the surveyor-general, who held their offices for life, and +four other persons. This council, in addition to its executive +functions, also sat as the upper branch of the legislature, and, besides +being wholly irresponsible except to the governor, it sat with closed +doors, so that the public had no opportunity of knowing what was being +done. It was not until the year 1833 that any portion of the journals of +the legislative council was published. + +The House of Assembly consisted of members chosen by the freeholders of +the several counties and the freeholders and freemen of the city of St. +John. This House was able to exert but a limited influence on the +government of the country, for all authority was vested in the +lieutenant-governor and he was able to act in a manner quite independent +of the legislature. All the appointments to office were in his hands, +and they were made in many cases even without the knowledge of his +council. In England, even under the most despotic kings, parliament was +always able to curb the power of the Crown by refusing to grant +supplies; but this check did not exist in New Brunswick, or in the other +colonies of British North America at that time, because the governor had +sources of revenue quite independent of the legislature. The British +government maintained a customs establishment in the colonies, which +levied duties on all merchandise imported, and over which the +legislature had no control. The British government also retained the +revenues arising from the Crown lands of the province, and these +revenues the governor expended as he pleased. The House of Assembly, +therefore, might refuse to vote supplies; but the governor could go on +without them, and the only effect of such a procedure was to injure its +own officials, and to deprive the people of the money which was expended +on roads and bridges. + +{THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND} + +Another feature of the system of government in New Brunswick was the +predominant influence it gave to the members of the Church of England. +Every member of the council of the province belonged to that +denomination, and it was not until the year 1817 that any person who was +not an adherent of the Church of England was appointed to the council. +This exception was William Pagan, a member of the Church of Scotland, +and his was a solitary instance because up to the year 1833, when the +old council was abolished, all its other members were adherents of the +Church of England. The same rule prevailed with respect to all the great +offices in the gift of the Crown. All the judges of the supreme court +for the first sixty-seven years of the existence of the province were +members of the Church of England. L. A. Wilmot, who became +attorney-general in 1848, was the first person not a member of the +Church of England who filled that office, and he was the first judge not +a member of that Church who sat on the bench of New Brunswick. + +For some time after the foundation of the province, the salaries of the +Church of England clergymen were paid by the British government, and +large grants of land were made for the purpose of supporting the +churches. In addition to this, financial assistance was given to them +in erecting their places of worship. No dissenting minister was allowed +to perform the marriage ceremony, that privilege being confined to +clergymen of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Quakers +and the Church of Rome. This was felt to be a very serious grievance, +and, needless to say, produced a great deal of inconvenience. + +Another grievance was the fact that the great offices were held by +members of certain favoured families. These families, from their social +position and in some cases from their wealth, had the ear of the +governor, or of the authorities in England, and were able to obtain and +hold all the valuable places. The two Odells, father and son, held the +office of provincial secretary for sixty years. The Chipmans were +another favoured family, both the father and son being successively +judges of the supreme court, and the former receiving large sums from +the British government as one of the commissioners who settled the +boundary between Maine and New Brunswick. One of the greatest offices in +the province--that of the surveyor-general--was held by one person for +thirty-three years, and this individual was in no sense responsible to +any authority in New Brunswick except the governor. Those in power at +that day were very fond of expatiating on the glories of the British +constitution and the privileges the people enjoyed under it. But nothing +less like the British constitution can be imagined than the system +which then prevailed in the British North American colonies. + +{THE OFFICIAL CLASSES} + +One feature which is not to be lost sight of in considering the +political condition of the province at that time is the social element. +The distinctions between the upper classes and others was then far more +marked than it is at present. The officials and the professional men +formed a class by themselves, and looked with contempt upon those who +were engaged in business. The salaries of the government officials were +then three or four times as large as they are at present, and they kept +up a corresponding degree of state which others were not in a position +to imitate. This assumption of superiority was carried out in all the +relations of life, and the sons of those who occupied an inferior +station were made to feel their position keenly. This was the case with +Lemuel Allan Wilmot, for, although his family was as good as any in the +provinces, he was the son of a man who was engaged in business and who +was not only a Dissenter but was actually a preacher in the denomination +to which he belonged. No doubt the insults which the son received from +those who claimed to occupy a higher station had a good deal to do with +his zeal for the cause of Reform, and influenced his future career to a +considerable extent. + +William Wilmot, although he afterwards failed in business, was in +prosperous circumstances when his son Lemuel was born. He was a Baptist +and was one of the original members of the Baptist Church at Canning, +in Queens County, which was founded in 1800. On Christmas Day, 1813, +William Wilmot and nine others received their dismissal from the Canning +Church for the purpose of founding a Baptist Church in Fredericton. +Wilmot was a local preacher and used his gift of eloquence in that way. +He also aspired to legislative distinction, and was elected a member of +the House of Assembly for the county of Sunbury in 1816. He was an +unsuccessful candidate for the same seat in 1819, and again in 1820. At +the general election of 1827 he ran for the county of York, to which he +had removed several years before, but was again defeated. This was his +last attempt to become a member of the House of Assembly. His loss of +three elections out of four had certainly been discouraging, and was in +singular contrast to the fortune of his distinguished son, who never +experienced a defeat. + +{AS A LAW STUDENT} + +Lemuel Wilmot's mother died when he was only eighteen months old, so +that he never knew a mother's love or a mother's care. But his father +early recognized his youthful promise, and gave him all the educational +advantages then available. He became a pupil at the College of New +Brunswick, which was situated in Fredericton, of which the Rev. Dr. +Somerville was the president and sole professor. This college was in +fact merely a grammar school, but Wilmot acquired there some knowledge +of the classics. However, his scholastic career was not prolonged, for +in June, 1825, he entered as a student-at-law with Charles S. Putnam, a +leading barrister of Fredericton. He was admitted an attorney of the +supreme court in July, 1830, and a barrister two years later. He was +then twenty-three years of age. + +The men who were contemporaries of Mr. Wilmot as a youth are all dead, +and not many anecdotes of his career as a student have been handed down +to us. Being of an ardent and ambitious disposition, he took a keen +interest in the stirring events that were being enacted around him; for +it was a time of great political excitement, and the business troubles +of the province increased the difficulties of its inhabitants. In 1825, +all the lumbermen in the province were ruined, and the bad management of +the Crown lands office which had added to the business difficulties +became more than a political question, for by cramping its leading +industry it affected the prosperity of every man in New Brunswick. It +was then that young Wilmot resolved to enter upon a political career and +to do what he could to redress the wrongs from which the people were +suffering. Strange to say, at this time he, who afterwards became most +eloquent, had an impediment in his speech, which it took much labour to +overcome. To improve his knowledge of French, he spent some months with +a French family in Madawaska, among the descendants of the ancient +Acadians. In this way he acquired a colloquial knowledge of that +language. + +Wilmot's ambition was to become a public man and to assist in the +reformation of the constitution of his native province. He enjoyed many +advantages for the role he had undertaken. He was tall, his height being +upwards of six feet, well proportioned, handsome and striking in his +features, and he possessed a voice of great strength and sweetness. He +was proficient in all athletic exercises, and took an interest in all +those movements which commend themselves to young men of enterprise and +force of character. He was a lieutenant in the first battalion of the +York County Militia when he was only eighteen years of age, and his +devotion to the militia force continued until the end of his life. +Possessed as he was of all the elements which make men popular and +prominent, he was early marked for advancement in the field that he had +chosen for the exercise of his talents. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +EARLY EFFORTS FOR REFORM + + +The agitation for an improvement in the constitution of New Brunswick +began long before L. A. Wilmot was born. The first man who took a +prominent stand for reform in the legislature was Mr. James Glenie, a +member for the county of Sunbury from 1792 to 1809. Mr. Glenie, who was +a Scotchman and a man of much ability, had been an officer in the Royal +Engineers during the Revolutionary War. His efforts to obtain reforms +were met by the friends of the governor, Mr. Carleton, with the most +violent opposition. He was denounced as an incendiary, and indeed there +was hardly a limit to the fierceness with which he was attacked for +attempting to bring about an improvement in the system of government. +The old Family Compact and their friends were ever ready to tell the +public how loyal they were, and to denounce as a traitor any person who +presumed to object to the existing state of things. Mr. Glenie was not +able to effect anything substantial for the improvement of the +constitution, because the time was not ripe for the changes he proposed. +England itself was suffering at that time from a relapse from true +constitutional methods, so it was not to be expected that much +attention would be paid to complaints which came from a remote province +of North America. + +The cause of Reform would not have been nearly so well supported as it +was, had it not been for the fact that the abuses which existed touched +the self-interest of many persons who were by no means Reformers at +heart, and who in fact cared nothing about responsible government. The +first successful attack which was made on the existing order of things +was with regard to the fees charged on land grants. These fees went to +the various officials, including the governor, and it was shown that on +a lot of land not exceeding three hundred acres, the enormous sum of +forty-seven dollars was charged as fees, while on a lot of one thousand +acres to ten grantees, the fees amounted to about two hundred dollars. +The reader will be able to understand from these figures how it was that +the officials of the government were able to live in such princely +style. This evil was remedied by permission being obtained from the +colonial secretary to include a large number of grantees in one grant. + +{THE MARRIAGE QUESTION} + +Another grievance which was attacked long before Mr. Wilmot entered +public life was the law which related to the performance of the marriage +ceremony. At that time the only clerical persons authorized to solemnize +marriages were the clergymen of the Church of England, ministers of the +Kirk of Scotland, Quakers, and priests of the Roman Catholic Church. +This was felt to be an intolerable grievance, because it prevented +Methodists, Baptists and all Presbyterians except those connected with +the Church of Scotland from being married by their own ministers. In +1821 a bill was passed in the House of Assembly authorizing all +ministers of the Gospel to solemnize marriages. This was rejected by the +council, a fate which befell many subsequent bills of the same kind. For +several years the House of Assembly continued to pass the Dissenters' +Marriage Bill, and the council as steadily rejected it. Finally, in +1831, the House of Assembly concluded that nothing would serve to bring +about the reform asked for but a petition to the king, and accordingly a +petition was prepared in which the facts were set forth and His Majesty +was asked to give instructions to the administrator of the government to +recommend the legislature to pass a bill extending the privilege of +solemnizing marriages to all regularly ordained clergymen of dissenting +congregations in New Brunswick. In 1832, a bill was passed by both +Houses carrying out these views. It contained a suspending clause, +however, which prevented it from going into operation until approved by +His Majesty. It was thought that this would settle the question, but in +1834 a despatch was received from His Majesty's secretary of state for +the colonies in which it was announced that the royal assent had been +withheld on the ground that the Act was confined in its operation to +four denominations of Christians,--the Wesleyan Methodists, the +Baptists, the Presbyterian seceders from the Church of Scotland, and the +Independents. It appeared, therefore, that the Act had been disallowed +because it was not liberal enough, but this defect was speedily remedied +by the passage of another bill during the session of 1834 in the terms +suggested by the colonial secretary, and the Dissenters' Marriage +Question was thus settled. + +{IMPERIAL CUSTOM DUTIES} + +It has already been stated that the British government continued to +maintain a custom-house establishment in New Brunswick, and to impose +duties on goods imported into the province. These duties, which were +levied for the regulation of trade, were disposed of by the British +government and by the lieutenant-governor of the province with little +reference to the wishes of the legislature. The old restrictive system +which placed shackles on trade was modified by two Acts passed by the +imperial parliament in 1822, under which the importation of provisions, +lumber, cattle, tobacco and other articles from any foreign country in +North and South America and the West Indies, into ports of British North +America and the British West Indies, was allowed under a fixed scale of +duty, and a free export was allowed to goods going from all our ports to +these countries. The importation of the productions of foreign countries +in Europe into the ports of British North America was also permitted, +and a schedule of duties annexed. Under these Acts it was provided that +the duties on both imports and exports were to be collected by the +imperial officers of customs, and the net revenue thus obtained was to +be placed at the disposal of the colonial treasuries. This arrangement +was a decided gain to New Brunswick, because, for the first time, it +placed nearly all the revenue collected by the imperial officers under +the control of the legislature. + +The Acts of the imperial parliament, 6th George IV, Chapters 73 and 114, +went still farther in the way of removing restrictions from colonial +trade. These Acts provided that the duties imposed under them should be +paid by the collector of customs into the hands of the treasurer or +receiver-general of the colony, to be applied to such uses as were +directed by the local legislature of such colony, exception being made +in regard to the produce of duties payable to His Majesty, under any Act +passed prior to the eighteenth year of his late Majesty, George III. +This exception is important for the purpose of illustrating the +pernicious system under which duties had been collected. Even so late as +the year 1833, Messrs. Simonds and Chandler, the New Brunswick delegates +to the imperial government, were complaining that duties were collected +at the several custom-houses in New Brunswick upon wine, molasses, +coffee and pimento under the provisions of the Acts of parliament, 6th +George II, Chapter 13; 4th George III, Chapter 15, and 6th George III, +Chapter 52, amounting to upwards of one thousand pounds sterling +annually, which duties were not accounted for to the legislature, and +that it was not known to the House of Assembly by whom and to what +purpose these duties were applied. The reply to this on the part of the +imperial government was, that in pursuance of the directions contained +in the statutes themselves, the duties levied under them were remitted +to the exchequer in England in aid of the expenses incurred for the +defence of the British colonies in North America. Thus ten years after +the British government had undertaken to remit the duties collected in +the colonies to the exchequers of the colonies in which the money was +collected, there still remained a considerable revenue, obtained under +old and obscure Acts of parliament, which was held back, and the +destination of which was not known, until disclosed to the delegates +sent to England to obtain the redress of New Brunswick's grievances. + +But the grievance which caused the greatest amount of dissatisfaction in +New Brunswick was that which arose from the management of the Crown +lands. It was bad enough that the revenues arising from the public +domain should be disposed of without the consent of the legislature; but +it was still worse when such regulations were made by the +surveyor-general as hindered the settlement of the country and +interfered with one of its leading industries. One great abuse was that +large areas of the best land in the province were locked up as reserves +for the production of masts for His Majesty's navy. Another grievance +was the imposition of a duty of a shilling a ton on all pine timber cut +in the province. This was done by the authority of the surveyor-general, +and its effect was seriously to injure many of those who were engaged in +lumbering. This tax was remitted for a time after the panic of the year +1825, but it was revived when that crisis in the commercial life of the +province had passed. The management of the Crown lands office had been +the subject of criticism at almost every session of the legislature for +twelve or fifteen years before Lemuel Wilmot entered public life, and +every year the complaints grew louder. + +{AN ADDRESS TO THE KING} + +At the session of 1831, an address was presented to the president, the +Hon. William Black, asking him to lay before the House a detailed +account showing the amount of the casual and territorial revenue from +the beginning of 1824 to the end of 1830, and the expenditures from that +fund for the same period. This was refused on the ground that it was +inconsistent with his instructions. The House then resolved to bring the +matter to the notice of the king in an address, the spirit of which may +be gathered from the following paragraphs:-- + +"By the operation of the system practised in this office, very large +sums are taken from the people of this province for licenses to cut +timber on Crown land, and, although the assembly do not question the +right Your Majesty undoubtedly has to the lands in question, they think +the tremendous powers with which the commissioner is vested, with regard +to impositions of tonnage money and the enormous exactions for fees, to +be incompatible with a free government, and to require redress. + +"It is generally understood, as well as universally believed, that the +commissioner in question is under no control in this province, and to +this may be ascribed the mode in which licenses to cut timber are issued +in very many cases, in quantities less than one hundred tons, subject to +a duty of one shilling, three pence per ton, and the excessive fee on +each of forty-five shillings. By this mode, a large part of the receipts +is paid in the shape of fees, at once injuring the subject without +benefiting the revenue; and the assembly feel convinced, if the office +were under colonial management, that while the oppressions would be +removed, the revenue would be more productive; and besides, the assembly +cannot but view with just alarm that the day may possibly come when, by +a single mandate from the office, exactions of such magnitude may be +made as literally to stop the export trade of the country, a power which +no person should have even the shadow of authority to exercise. + +"The assembly at an early day in the present session, by an address to +the administrator of the government, sought for documents regarding +this office, to enable them officially to bring the subject more in +detail under the consideration of Your Majesty, but this information, so +highly desirable and necessary, has been withheld from them; and the +assembly, therefore, with great submission, lay before Your Majesty +herewith, a copy of the said address, with the reply thereto, for Your +Majesty's gracious consideration. + +"It will by that be seen that the objects contemplated by the assembly +are no less than relieving Your Majesty's government permanently from +the burthen of the whole civil list of the province, a subject which the +assembly humbly conceive to be of great advantage to the parent state, +and only requiring that the revenues, from whatever source or sources +derived in or collected within the province, should be placed under the +control of its legislature." + +{THE CIVIL LIST} + +A portion of the Crown-land revenue went to pay what was termed the +civil list, which included the salaries of the lieutenant-governor, the +judges, the attorney-general, solicitor-general, private secretary, +provincial secretary, auditor, receiver-general and commissioner of +Crown lands. The latter official received seventeen hundred and fifty +pounds sterling per annum besides enormous fees, so that his income was +greater than that of the lieutenant-governor. Thomas Baillie, an +Irishman, who had been a subaltern in a marching regiment, had filled +that office since the year 1824, and continued to hold it until 1851, +twenty-seven years in all, when he retired with a pension twice as large +as the salary of the present surveyor-general of New Brunswick. + +What the Reformers in the legislature of New Brunswick sought to obtain +was the control of the public lands, and the disposal of the revenues +derived from them. To accomplish this they were willing to undertake to +pay the salaries embraced in the civil list, although these salaries +were looked upon by the people of the province generally as altogether +too large. Yet there were great difficulties in the way of this +necessary reform, for King William IV was known to be violently opposed +to it. At a later period, 1835, in the course of a conversation with the +Earl of Gosford, who had been appointed governor of Lower Canada, "I +will never consent," he said with an oath, "to alienate the Crown lands, +nor to make the council elective. Mind me, my Lord, the cabinet is not +my cabinet. They had better take care, or by ---- I will have them +impeached." + +Such was the language which this king used in regard to his +constitutional advisers. It was fortunate for New Brunswick and the +other colonies of British North America that at that time he had done +his utmost to get rid of his ministers and had been defeated and +humiliated, so that they could set him at defiance. But in 1832 they +were more disposed to defer to his wishes, and in May of that year we +find Lord Goderich, the colonial secretary, writing to Sir Archibald +Campbell, the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, in the following +strain:-- + +"The preservation to the Crown of the territorial revenue is an object +of the first importance, and it would only be resigned on its being +clearly proved that the right of the Crown could not be maintained +without producing still greater inconvenience. You cannot, therefore, +more usefully exert your influence than in endeavouring to prevent the +assembly from urging the surrender of this revenue." + +{CONTROL OF THE REVENUE} + +The question of the control of the Crown-land or casual and territorial +revenues was made the subject of an address to the king by the House of +Assembly in 1832. In this it was stated that the expense of collecting +these revenues was far greater than it would be under proper management, +and it was proposed that they be placed under the control of the +legislature, which would undertake the payment of all the necessary +expenses of the civil government of the province by making such +permanent and other grants as might be necessary for this purpose. The +reply to this proposition was received during the legislative session of +1833. In it Lord Goderich, with some appearance of sarcasm, observed +that "His Majesty did not consider it necessary at present to call upon +the House for a grant of the nature proposed, as he did not anticipate +such a falling off in the revenue at his disposal as the House appeared +to have apprehended." This reply can hardly be regarded otherwise than +as an insult to the House of Assembly, for the meaning of their address +to the king was deliberately misrepresented. They were contending for a +principle, that the revenue derived from the public domain should be +under the control of the legislature, and the amount of the revenue did +not enter into the question. + +In 1833 the House of Assembly appointed a committee on grievances for +the purpose of taking into consideration and investigating all matters +in connection with the Crown lands, which were the subject of complaint. +After this committee had reported to the House, it was resolved to send +a deputation to England to endeavour to make some arrangement with the +colonial secretary in reference to the Crown lands. + +{MR. STANLEY'S DESPATCH} + +The deputies appointed to proceed to England and lay the grievances of +the province at the foot of the throne were Charles Simonds and Edward +B. Chandler, both men of wealth, influence and position, and well +qualified for the performance of the work with which they were +entrusted. Messrs. Chandler and Simonds arrived in England in June, +1833, and immediately placed themselves in communication with the Right +Honourable E. G. Stanley, who was then colonial secretary. Their report +was laid before the legislature in February, 1834, and the result was +highly satisfactory to the House of Assembly. A few days later a +despatch from Mr. Stanley to Sir Archibald Campbell was laid before the +House, in which he stated the terms on which he should feel that His +Majesty might properly be advised to place the proceeds of the casual +and territorial revenue under the control of the assembly of New +Brunswick. He would, he said, be prepared to advise His Majesty to +accept a permanent appropriation by the legislature, duly secured to the +amount of fourteen thousand pounds per annum, and that the Crown should +undertake to charge on any such permanent grant the salaries of the +lieutenant-governor, his private secretary, the commissioner of Crown +lands, provincial secretary, chief-justice, three puisne judges, the +attorney-general, auditor, receiver-general, the expenses of the indoor +establishment of the Crown lands department, and a grant of one thousand +pounds to the college. It would be necessary, Mr. Stanley stated, that +any bill passed in consequence of the proposal contained in this +despatch should contain a suspending clause in order that it might be +submitted to His Majesty before it was finally assented to. It was also +stated, in order to prevent misunderstanding or delay, that the House +should be apprised, that, unless some other fully equivalent and +sufficient security could be devised, it would be expected that the Act +should provide that the stipulated annual commutation should be payable +out of the first receipts in each year, and that in case of any default +in such payment the whole of the revenue surrendered should revert to +the Crown. A committee was appointed to prepare the bill on the subject +of the surrender by His Majesty of the casual and territorial revenues +of the province. The House of Assembly had previously passed a +resolution that the sum of fourteen thousand pounds required by His +Majesty's government as a permanent grant for the surrender of the +casual and territorial revenues of the province was greater than the +charges contemplated to be thereon required, yet that the great desire +of the House of Assembly to have this important subject finally settled +should induce them to accept the proposal contained in Mr. Stanley's +despatch. On the day after this resolution was passed, the +lieutenant-governor communicated to the House of Assembly an extract +from a despatch received the previous day by him from the Right +Honourable Mr. Stanley, dated January 4th, 1834. This extract was as +follows:-- + +"In your message communicating to the assembly the proposal contained in +my despatch of the 30th September, you will take care distinctly to +explain that the payments expected from the New Brunswick Land Company +are not included in the revenue which is offered to the acceptance of +the assembly." It is with great regret that an historian of this period +must record the receipt of such a despatch from an imperial head of +department to a colonial governor, for the spirit displayed in the +message was not that of an enlightened statesman, but such as might have +been expected from one who was endeavouring to drive the hardest +possible bargain with the province of New Brunswick, in order that a +number of officials, swollen with pride and enjoying enormous salaries, +might not suffer. + +{NEGOTIATIONS FAIL} + +A few days after the receipt of this despatch, a resolution was passed +by the House in committee, regretting that the additional condition +contained in Mr. Stanley's last despatch would prevent the committee +recommending to the House further action in the matter of preparing a +civil list bill. Thus ended the attempt to settle this vexed question in +the year 1834. The House of Assembly, however, still continued to +agitate the matter, and to make Sir Archibald Campbell's life a burden +to him. On March 7th, they addressed him, asking for accounts in detail +of the casual and territorial revenues, and calling for a number of +statements which they had not received except in such a shape that they +could not be properly understood. They also addressed His Excellency, +requesting him to lay before them copies of all official despatches +transmitted to him by the secretary of state for the colonies, since he +assumed the administration of the government, relating to the subject of +the casual and territorial revenues. The reply of His Excellency to the +request for more detailed accounts was a courteous one; but while he +consented to furnish the accounts requested in detail, it was with the +understanding that his compliance was not to be considered as a +precedent. He declined, however, to give the names of the parties who +had their timber seized or forfeited, or the names of the petitioners +for Crown land. He also refused to furnish the accounts of the +receiver-general and commissioner of Crown lands, on the ground that +they were accounts exclusively between these officers and the Crown. + +With regard to the request for his correspondence with the colonial +secretary, Sir Archibald Campbell in another message gave a tart +refusal, stating that such a request was subversive of the principles +and spirit of the British constitution, and that he would ill deserve +the confidence put in him by His Majesty were he to hesitate in meeting +so dangerous an encroachment, not only on the independence of the +executive, but the prerogatives of the British Crown, with a most +decided and unqualified refusal. This military officer considered +himself a proper exponent of the principles and spirit of the British +constitution. He failed to understand that the British constitution +rests upon the support of the people, while his system of government was +intended to ignore the people altogether. + +{QUARREL WITH THE GOVERNOR} + +A few days after the receipt of this message, a resolution was passed +by the House of Assembly declaring that the language used by the +lieutenant-governor, in his reply to the address of the House, was at +variance with all parliamentary precedent and usage, and such as was not +called for by the address. Some of the governor's friends attempted to +weaken the force of this resolution by an amendment of a milder nature, +but their amendment was defeated, and the resolution carried by a vote +of fifteen to eight. Another address on the subject of the casual and +territorial revenues and civil list was prepared and passed by the +assembly for the purpose of being forwarded to His Majesty. It recited +the proceedings, in regard to the matter, which had taken place already, +and the desire of the House of Assembly to accept the proposition +contained in Mr. Stanley's despatch, and expressed the regret of the +House at the new condition imposed with regard to the New Brunswick Land +Company, which made it impossible to accept the settlement as amended. +The House concluded by expressing the hope that the terms proposed in +the original despatch might yet be considered definitive, and that the +proviso with regard to the New Brunswick Land Company might be +withdrawn. This was transmitted to England; but, before the year ended, +Sir Archibald Campbell concluded to rid himself of the House of +Assembly, which had given him so much annoyance, and accordingly it was +dissolved early in November; so that when the legislature met again in +January, 1835, the House was a new one, although largely composed of the +old members. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WILMOT IN THE LEGISLATURE + + +Wilmot acquired a good legal practice soon after his admission to the +bar, and was recognized as a highly successful advocate in cases before +a jury. In the opinion of the legal profession he never was a deeply +read lawyer, either as a barrister or as a judge, but in the conduct of +a case at _nisi prius_ he could hardly have been surpassed. He had the +gift which has been possessed by all great advocates, of seizing on the +leading feature of a case, and, regardless of all minor issues, pressing +it home on the minds of the jury. His eloquent and impressive speeches +on behalf of his clients soon began to attract general attention, and +the court-house was thronged when it was known that he was about to +address a jury. He was speedily marked as the proper person to represent +the views of the people in the House of Assembly, and, on a vacancy +occurring in the representation of the county of York in consequence of +the death of one of the members in the summer of 1834, Wilmot was +elected without opposition, none of the government party having the +courage to oppose him. Before the time came round for the meeting of the +legislature, the House was dissolved by Sir Archibald Campbell, in the +hope that he might be able to get an assembly more amenable to his +wishes, and, at the general election which followed, Wilmot was again +elected, at the head of the poll. At that time he had barely completed +his twenty-fifth year. It was a great triumph for Wilmot and the friends +of Reform, for all the influence of the friends of the governor and the +Family Compact was arrayed against him. + +{ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE} + +Mr. Wilmot took his seat as a member of the House of Assembly on January +25th, 1835. Young as he was, he had already made a great reputation as a +public speaker, and there was no man in the legislature or in the +province who could stand any comparison with him in point of eloquence. +Indeed, it is doubtful whether the British North American provinces have +ever produced a man who was Wilmot's superior in that style of oratory +which is so telling on the hustings or where great masses of men are to +be moved. The evidence of this fact does not rest on the testimony of +his countrymen alone, for he acquired a wider fame for eloquence than +they could give him. At the Portland Railway Convention of 1850, where +the ablest men of the Northern States were gathered, he easily eclipsed +them all by his brilliant and powerful oratory. The reporters are said +to have thrown down their pencils in despair, being unable to keep pace +with him as he aroused the enthusiasm of all who heard him by his +burning words. Unfortunately, there is no form of ability which is so +transient in its effects as this perfervid style of oratory. So much of +its potency depends on the action of the speaker, on the glance of his +eye and the modulation of his voice, that no report could do justice to +it, even if there had been reporters at that time capable of putting +down every word he uttered. The speeches of even Gladstone, when +reported word for word, read but indifferently when seen in cold type, +and no speech of Wilmot's was ever properly reported. He was incapable +of writing out a speech after he had delivered it, so that we must take +the united testimony of his contemporaries, whether friends or enemies, +that he was, upon his own ground, an unequalled speaker. + +The House in which he now found himself was not one that was remarkable +for its eloquence. Unlike most of the legislatures of the present day, +the proportion of lawyers was very small, there being only five in a +House of thirty members, and of these five the only one who was an +orator was Wilmot. The other twenty-five members were mostly business +men and farmers, some of whom could express their views on public +questions clearly enough, but had no pretensions to eloquence. Yet it +was a good House, and one of its best features was that its members were +able to appreciate the worth of the new representative from the county +of York. + +The aim of Wilmot, when he entered the legislature, was to bring the +province into line with the principles of responsible government as +understood in the mother country. Yet, looking at the state of New +Brunswick then, it is easy to see that the task he had undertaken was +one of enormous difficulty. Most of the evils of which the people had +been complaining still existed. The casual and territorial revenue was +still under the control of the home authorities, the custom-house +establishment still remained unreformed, the Family Compact still +controlled all the great public offices, and none but members of the +Church of England were thought worthy to serve their country in a public +capacity. + +Two years earlier the executive and legislative councils had been +separated; but the change had made little or no improvement in the +system of government. The executive council consisted of five members, +all of whom held public offices from which they could not be removed by +any act of the legislature. The first on the list was Baillie, the +surveyor-general, whose record has already been referred to; next came +F. P. Robinson, the auditor of the king's casual revenue; another was +William F. Odell, whose father had been provincial secretary for +twenty-eight years, and who himself filled the same office for +thirty-two years. George F. Street, the solicitor-general, was another +member of the executive, and the last on the list was John Simcoe +Saunders, who was advocate-general and held three or four +commissionerships besides. All these men were so solidly entrenched in +their positions that it seemed impossible they should ever be disturbed. +They formed a solid phalanx opposed to all reform, and they were +supported by the governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, most of whose life +had been spent in India and who, however well fitted to govern Hindoos, +was hardly the man to give laws to white men who claimed to be free. + +{BECOMES A LEADER} + +As soon as Wilmot entered the House of Assembly, he began to take a +leading part in its debates. The very day he took his seat he was +appointed on the committee to prepare an address in reply to the speech +from the throne. On the following day he gave notice of a resolution +with regard to the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, a subject +that was then coming to the front. A day or two later he brought in a +bill to continue the Act to provide for the expenses of judges on +circuits. Indeed, no man was more active during that first session than +the new member for the county of York. + +There were two questions that came up for discussion in which, as a +Reformer, he was specially interested,--the salaries of the customs +establishment, and the casual and territorial revenue. With regard to +the latter, when the House had been sitting about a month, the reply of +the colonial secretary to the address of the previous session was laid +before it. That address, it will be remembered, related to the offer +which had been made to the British government to take over the Crown +lands and provide for a civil list of fourteen thousand pounds sterling, +the payments expected from the New Brunswick Land Company to be included +in this arrangement. The reply of the colonial secretary was as +follows:-- + +"From various parts of the address I infer that the proposal conveyed to +the assembly, through my predecessors, must have been misapprehended in +more than one important particular; and I have especially remarked the +erroneous assumption that, in offering to surrender the proceeds of the +Crown lands, it was intended also to give up their management, and to +place them under the control of the legislature. + +"From the course of their proceedings, as well as the tenor of the +present expression of their sentiments, the assembly must be understood +to consider it an indispensable condition that the payments of the Land +Company should be comprised among the objects to be surrendered to them. +This is a condition to which His Majesty's government cannot agree. His +Majesty's government would also be unable to recognize the +interpretation which was placed on their former offer, so far as regards +the control over the lands belonging to the Crown in New Brunswick. +Under these circumstances, I can only desire you to convey to the +assembly His Majesty's regrets that the objects of their address cannot +be complied with, and, adverting to the wide difference between the +views entertained by the government and those manifested by the assembly +on this subject, it seems to me that no advantage could be anticipated +from making any further proposals at present respecting the cession of +the territorial revenue." + +{RENEWED AGITATION} + +This despatch, which brought a sudden close to the negotiations with +regard to the casual and territorial revenues of the province, did not +emanate from the government with which the House of Assembly had been +previously negotiating, but from a new administration which had just +been formed under the premiership of Sir Robert Peel, and which lasted +just one hundred and forty-five days. The creation of this +administration was due to the action of King William IV, in dismissing +his advisers on the death of Earl Spencer, which removed Lord Althorp +from the House of Commons. The king had grown to detest his cabinet for +their reforming spirit, but his designs were thwarted by the failure of +Sir Robert Peel to form an administration capable of facing the House of +Commons. As a consequence, Viscount Melbourne again became premier, and +a renewal of the negotiations with the government in regard to the +casual and territorial revenues was rendered possible. + +The House of Assembly was still determined to keep the question of the +casual and territorial revenue to the front, and at a later period in +the session another address on this subject was prepared by the House of +Assembly, to be laid before His Majesty. In this address the grievances +with regard to the management of the Crown lands of New Brunswick were +recited, and the willingness of the legislature to provide for the civil +establishment of the province was stated. The address urged the benefits +that would result to the people of New Brunswick from placing the net +proceeds of the Crown-land revenues under the control of the +legislature. Attached to this address was a schedule of salaries +proposed to be paid out of the casual and territorial revenues, +amounting in all to L10,500 currency. The address was transmitted to the +governor to be forwarded to His Majesty. No specific answer was ever +made to this proposal, a fact which was probably due to the confusion, +incident to the change of government, which took place about the time +the address reached Downing Street. + +{CUSTOM-HOUSE SALARIES} + +Another matter which engaged the attention of the House during this +session, and in which Wilmot took an active interest, was the settlement +of the salaries of the custom-house officials. Although the surplus +revenue from this source went into the provincial treasury, the amount +thus received was much less than it ought to have been, in consequence +of the large salaries which were paid to the officials. In the year 1830 +the amount of custom-house duties collected in the province was L16,616 +18s. 11d. sterling, from which was deducted for salaries L7,073 6s., or +nearly one-half of the whole amount. The House of Assembly objected to +the payment of such large salaries, and in 1831 proposed to the British +government to make a permanent annual grant of L4,250 sterling for the +payment of customs officials in New Brunswick. This proposal was +accepted, and in the following year a bill was passed in accordance with +this arrangement. But it was protested against by the customs +authorities in England and disallowed because the salaries of the +officers of customs were not made the first charge on the revenue. +During the session of 1835, an amended bill embracing this provision was +passed, and the question was settled for the time. Mr. Wilmot was not +satisfied with this arrangement, because it was a violation of the +principle that the House of Assembly should have control of the +provincial revenue, and he therefore voted against it. Nevertheless, the +measure apart from this violation of a fundamental principle, was a gain +to the province, as it placed a considerable sum additional in the +public treasury. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WILMOT AS A DELEGATE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE + + +Mr. Wilmot took a very active part in the proceedings of the legislature +during the session of 1836, and was the moving spirit in the committee +of the whole to inquire into the state of the province during that +session. The result was the passing by large majorities of a series of +twenty-six resolutions condemning the management of the Crown lands +office, the composition of the executive council and also of the +legislative council, and declaring that the control of the casual and +territorial revenues should be placed in the hands of the legislature. +These resolutions were made the basis of an address to His Majesty, +which was to be carried to England by a deputation of two members of the +House of Assembly. This address relates at length the principal facts of +the management of the Crown lands and the reasons of the House of +Assembly for dissatisfaction therewith. Mr. Wilmot, in recognition of +the active part he had taken in this business, was appointed a member of +the delegation, the other member being William Crane of Westmorland, a +gentleman of experience, wealth and standing in the province. This +appointment was the highest compliment that could possibly have been +paid to Wilmot's capacity, for the negotiation then to be conducted with +the colonial office was of the most important and delicate character, +and one which vitally affected the interests of the province. + +The colonial secretary at that time was Lord Glenelg, a statesman whose +character has been drawn by Sir Henry Taylor, who was then a clerk in +the colonial office. "Amiable and excellent as he was," says Taylor, "a +more incompetent man could not have been found to fill an office +requiring activity and ready judgment. A dart flung at him by Lord +Brougham in 1838 points to his notorious defect as a minister called +upon to deal with a crisis. The then crisis was that of the Canadian +Rebellion." "It is indeed," said Lord Brougham, "a most alarming and +frightful state of things, and I am sure must have given my noble friend +many a sleepless day." It was probably because of Lord Glenelg's habit +of procrastination that the delegates had to remain in London for four +months before they were able to bring their business to a conclusion. +They arrived there about the middle of June, and it was well on in +October before they were able to leave. The result of their work was +that an arrangement was made satisfactory both to the British government +and to the delegates representing the House of Assembly, by which the +casual and territorial revenues were to be transferred to the province, +in consideration of the legislature undertaking to provide for a civil +list of L14,500 currency annually, for the payment of certain salaries +chargeable to that fund. A draft of a Civil List Bill was prepared and +agreed to by the lords of the treasury, and the understanding was that +this bill should be passed by the legislature, and receive the assent of +the lieutenant-governor, when it would immediately become operative. + +{CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL} + +The first clause of this bill transferred the proceeds of the +territorial and casual revenues, and of all woods, mines and royalties +which had been collected and were then in hand, or which should +thereafter be collected, to the provincial treasurer, who was authorized +to receive them for the use of the province, while the Act remained in +force. The second clause charged the revenues with the payment of +L14,500 for a civil list. The third clause enacted that all the surplus +over and above the sum of L14,500 currency, should remain in the +treasury of the province until appropriated or disposed of by an Act or +Acts of the general assembly. The fourth clause gave the +lieutenant-governor, with the advice of his executive council, power to +expend such sums as they might deem necessary for the prudent +management, protection and collection of the said revenues, a detailed +account of which was to be laid before the legislature within fourteen +days of the commencement of each session, with all vouchers for the +same. It was also enacted that all grants or sales of Crown lands should +be void, unless the land had been sold at public auction after due +notice in the _Royal Gazette_. By this arrangement the House of Assembly +had obtained the boon for which it had so long been contending, but +there was still one more obstacle to be overcome,--the opposition of the +lieutenant-governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, who had entered into a plot +with some of the enemies of freedom in the province for the purpose of +thwarting, not only the wishes of the House of Assembly, but also the +intentions of the home government. As soon as Sir Archibald Campbell was +apprised of the intention of His Majesty's advisers in England to +transfer the casual and territorial revenues to the provincial +legislature, he commenced a correspondence with the colonial office, +pointing out what he deemed to be imperfections in the scheme which they +had prepared for the management of the public lands. He pretended to +have discovered that there was some error in the calculation of the +lords of the treasury with regard to the sum to be paid in lieu of the +civil list, and that the amount of L14,500 currency would not be +sufficient to defray all the expenditures chargeable on the civil list. + +{AN OBSTRUCTIVE GOVERNOR} + +Sir Archibald Campbell, soon after the opening of the session of the +legislature, in December 1836, requested the House of Assembly to add a +suspending clause to any Civil List Bill they might pass, so that he +might forward it to the home government for their approval. As this was +entirely contrary to the understanding which had been reached between +Messrs. Wilmot and Crane and the colonial secretary,--it being +understood that the bill if passed in the form agreed upon would be +immediately assented to by the lieutenant-governor,--the House of +Assembly very naturally refused to comply with Sir Archibald's wishes. +He, however, held firm in his resolution, and the Civil List Bill which +had been agreed to by the home authorities, after being passed by both +Houses, did not receive his assent. At the close of the session, while +the matter was under discussion, at the instigation of the +lieutenant-governor one of the executive council, Solicitor-General +Street, was sent on a secret mission to Downing Street. The object of +this mission was to make such representations to the home authorities as +would induce them to delay giving their assent to the Civil List Bill. +The truth of the matter seems to have been that Sir Archibald Campbell +and his advisers in New Brunswick thought if they could only gain time +the Liberal government of England which had granted such favourable +terms to the province might be defeated, and a Tory government come into +power which would speedily undo all that their predecessors had done, +and refuse to grant any concessions to the legislature of New Brunswick. +There was great excitement in the province in consequence of the action +of the lieutenant-governor, and this excitement was fairly voiced in the +House of Assembly, where an address was prepared representing the +condition of affairs to His Majesty, and detailing the manner in which +the lieutenant-governor had sought to thwart the intentions of the +imperial government. This address was passed by a vote of twenty-seven +to two, the only members of the House who ventured to stand with the man +who occupied Government House being John Ambrose Street and William End. + +{CIVIL GOVERNMENT BILL PASSED} + +Messrs. Crane and Wilmot were again appointed a deputation to proceed to +England with the address of the House of Assembly, and took their +departure two days after it was passed, amidst great popular +demonstrations by the citizens of Fredericton. The legislature was +prorogued on March 1st, on which day the House of Assembly again +requested the lieutenant-governor to pass the Civil List Bill, pointing +out that under the arrangements made with the colonial office it was his +duty to do so, but their request fell upon deaf ears. In the speech +proroguing the legislature, Sir Archibald Campbell stated that he had +withheld his assent from this bill because a suspending clause had not +been appended to it. These were the last words that this obstinate +governor was destined to speak before a New Brunswick legislature. +Finding that all his hopes of impeding the progress of the province in +the direction of political liberty were in vain, he tendered his +resignation to save himself from being removed, as he would have been, +for his direct disobedience to the commands of his superiors in +England.[1] Sir John Harvey, another soldier, but a man of a very +different spirit, was appointed to succeed him as lieutenant-governor. +The Civil List Bill was again passed at a special session of the +legislature and received the assent of the governor, becoming law on +July 17th, 1837. From that time to the present, the province of New +Brunswick has controlled the revenues which it derives from its Crown +lands and similar sources, and, whether wisely expended or not, the +people of this province have at least the satisfaction of knowing that +the money is appropriated by their own representatives, and by a +government which is responsible to them for its actions. + +The death of King William IV took place during the summer of 1837, and +brought about another general election. Mr. Wilmot again stood for the +county of York and was returned at the head of the poll. This was only a +proper recognition of his eminent services to the province in the +legislature and as a delegate to England. At this election, Charles +Fisher, a young lawyer, was also returned for the county of York. Mr. +Fisher, although not so fluent a speaker as Wilmot, was second to no man +in the legislature in devotion to Liberal principles, and he proved a +most valuable lieutenant in the battle for responsible government which +now began. The contest for the control of the Crown lands of the +province had been won, but a still more difficult task remained for the +friends of constitutional principles to accomplish,--the making of the +executive responsible to the people. The members of the House of +Assembly had been almost unanimous in demanding the control of the Crown +lands, but, when it came to applying the principles of responsible +government to the affairs of the province generally, there were many +deserters from the ranks of those who had called themselves Reformers. +This was partly due to the principles of responsible government not +being well understood even by some members of the legislature, and +partly to the fact that the question did not touch the self-interest of +the members in the same manner as the mismanagement of the Crown lands +department had done. + +Under a thoroughly constitutional system of government the initiation of +money grants would have been in the hands of the executive, but in 1837 +not a single member of the executive council had a seat in the House of +Assembly. Three of the five members of the executive council were also +members of the legislative council, but the two others had no seat in +either House, a fact which shows on what lax principles the executive +was constructed. The initiation of money grants being in the House of +Assembly, any private member had it in his power to move an +appropriation of money for any object that he pleased. In this way a +system of "log rolling" was inaugurated in the legislature, which +resulted in extravagant expenditures and the appropriation of money for +objects which, under a better system, would not have received it. It was +impossible to put any check upon the expenditure or to keep it within +the income under such an arrangement, and one of the first efforts of +the Reformers was therefore directed to the removal of this abuse. +Unfortunately this was, of all the proposed reforms in the constitution, +the one most difficult to carry, and it was not accomplished until after +Wilmot had retired from public life. + +{KING'S COLLEGE} + +One of the subjects which engaged the attention of Mr. Wilmot, at an +early period of his legislative career, was the charter of King's +College. This charter had been obtained in 1828 from His Majesty, King +George IV, and the legislature had granted the college an endowment of +eleven hundred pounds currency a year, in addition to ten hundred pounds +sterling granted by the king out of the casual and territorial revenues +of the province. The aim of the charter was to make the college a Church +of England institution exclusively, for it provided that the bishop of +the diocese should be the visitor of the college, and that the president +should always be a clergyman in holy orders of the United Church of +England and Ireland. No religious test was required of students +matriculating or taking degrees in arts, but the council of the college, +which was the governing body, was to be composed of members of the +Church of England, who, previous to their appointment, had subscribed to +the thirty-nine articles. The professors, to the number of seven, who +were members of the Church of England, were to be members of the +council, so that, although no religious test was required of them, it +was reasonably certain that none but persons of that denomination would +be appointed to professorships. These terms were much complained of, and +surely it was absurd to place a provincial college under the control of +a single denomination which could not claim more than one-third of the +population of the province as belonging to its communion. It is stated +in Fullom's _Life of Sir Howard Douglas_, who was lieutenant-governor of +the province at the time, that the charter would have been much less +liberal than it was if it had not been for his efforts. The Bishop of +Nova Scotia and the Bishop of London desired to confine it entirely to +students belonging to the Church of England, and to make subscription to +the thirty-nine articles a condition precedent to the granting of +degrees in arts. On the other hand, Attorney-General Peters in 1845, +when the amendments to the charter were discussed in the legislative +council, stated that the charter as originally drafted and sent to +England was much more liberal in its provisions than when finally +passed, but that in 1828, to the surprise of Sir Howard Douglas, the +then existing charter came out copied from one obtained by Dr. Strachan +for Upper Canada. If this statement was correct, it affords a singular +illustration of the injury that the bigotry of one man can cause to +future generations. If King's College had treated all denominations on +equal terms, all would have resorted to it for higher education. As it +was, it became the college of only a section of the people, the +different denominations established colleges of their own, and when +finally the connection between the Church of England and King's College +was severed and it became the University of New Brunswick, the +denominational colleges had become so well established that it could +hardly compete with them on equal terms. + +{AN EXCLUSIVE INSTITUTION} + +During the session of 1838 Mr. Wilmot, as chairman, submitted to the +legislature the report of the select committee which had been appointed +to take into consideration the state of the college. In this report it +was proposed to make certain alterations in the charter for the purpose +of rendering it more acceptable to those who were not in the communion +of the Church of England. In 1839 he introduced a bill in the House of +Assembly embracing these amendments. The principal changes were to make +the lieutenant-governor visitor of the college instead of the bishop, to +repeal the section which provided that the president of the college must +be a member of the Church of England, and to make persons of every +denomination eligible for members of the college council. The +professorship of theology was still retained, and students in that +course were still required to subscribe to the thirty-nine articles, +while services were held in the college morning and evening according to +the rites of the Church of England. These changes were certainly of a +very moderate character, but they were stoutly resisted by the college +authorities and their friends. They put forward the plea that the +legislature had no right to alter a royal charter, that to do so was an +interference with the royal prerogative, and that the direst consequence +would ensue if the constitution of the college was changed. According to +their view, a royal charter once granted, the king himself, even with +the assistance of both branches of the legislature, could not amend it. +The college authorities also denied that they were under the control of +the legislature in any way, or responsible to it for their management of +the institution, although they were living on money voted by the +legislature for its support. + +{ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN} + +Wilmot's bill passed the House of Assembly, but was defeated in the +legislative council. A similar bill was introduced by him in 1840, but +postponed in consequence of a communication from the college council +which seemed to show an inclination to yield something to the demands of +the public. But a fatal objection to these modifications being accepted +was the insistence of the college council that the bishop of the +diocese, or in his absence the archdeacon, should be a member of that +body. Representatives of the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists +pointed out in a memorial to the lieutenant-governor that the exclusive +character of the council would still remain, as that body would be +composed wholly of members of the Church of England. Lord John Russell, +the colonial secretary, to whom the matter had been referred, suggested +that the college should surrender its charter and that a new one should +be prepared embracing the proposed changes, but the college council took +no steps to carry these suggestions into effect. This being the case, at +Wilmot's instance the House of Assembly proposed an address to the queen +setting forth the facts of the case and asking Her Majesty to assent to +a bill, a draft of which was enclosed, which the House of Assembly was +prepared to pass. + +At the session of 1842 Wilmot again introduced the King's College Bill, +and it was passed by the House, but again rejected by the legislative +council. Early in the session of 1843, the lieutenant-governor +communicated to the House by message two despatches from Downing Street +on the subject of the college. One of these was from Lord John Russell, +and the other from his successor, Lord Stanley. Lord John laid down the +doctrine that "it is a principle of undoubted validity that a grant of +franchise by the Crown is irrevocable and unalterable by a further +exercise of the royal authority unless the power of revocation and +change be embodied and reserved in the original grant, or unless the +grantees make a voluntary surrender of their franchises." Lord John had +evidently forgotten his English history, or he would have known that +English kings on many occasions had revoked charters granted by +themselves or their predecessors.[2] Lord John desired the college to +surrender its charter and accept a new one, but Lord Stanley and the law +officers of the Crown whom he had consulted held a different view, and +thought that a new charter could be granted to supersede the old. Both +colonial secretaries were desirous that the changes in the constitution +of the college should be effected by a new royal charter. But this did +not suit the views of the House of Assembly, and after another college +bill had been defeated in the House and rejected by the council, on +March 20th, 1843, the following resolution, which was moved by Mr. +Wilmot, was passed by the House without a division:-- + +"WHEREAS, The assembly, during several years past, have endeavoured, +without success, to effect certain reasonable modifications in the +charter of King's College; and whereas those modifications as contained +in the bill which has been rejected by the legislative council, during +the present session, have been loudly and repeatedly called for by +numerous petitions from nearly every county in the province, while no +petition has ever been presented against those modifications; and +whereas it is in vain to expect the amount of public benefit from the +institution which its munificent endowment from the provincial revenue +should ensure; therefore, + +"_Resolved_, That this House have learned with much regret and +disappointment that a majority of the legislative council have rejected +the said bill during the present session; and further + +"_Resolved_, That this House should persevere in their endeavours to +amend the said charter by legislative enactment, and not resort to an +address to the throne for a new charter; and that this House will +steadfastly adhere to the principle that all the educational +establishments of the province, which are endowed from the colonial +revenues, whether incorporated by royal charter or otherwise, should be +at all times subject to the supervision of the local legislature." + +{COLLEGE CHARTER AMENDED} + +This resolution embodied a great principle to which the House of +Assembly was determined to adhere, and which was very soon carried out. +In 1844 the college amendment bill was again rejected by the council, +but this was the last effort of that reactionary body to defeat the +wishes of the people. At the session of 1845, the college bill was +again introduced by Mr. Wilmot, and this time it passed both Houses. +But like many important bills of that day it was reserved for Her +Majesty's pleasure and although passed in March, 1845, it was not until +December, 1846, that it received the royal assent and became law. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This is shown by the correspondence of Sir John Harvey with the +colonial office. Sir John was then governor of Prince Edward Island. + +[2] Charles II annulled the charter of Massachusetts, and disposed in a +similar fashion of the charter of the city of London, as well as of many +English towns. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON TENURE OF OFFICE + + +In the session of 1840 Sir John Harvey, the lieutenant-governor, +communicated to the legislature a despatch which he had received from +Lord John Russell a short time before. This dealt with the question of +the tenure of public offices in the gift of the Crown throughout the +British colonies. Lord John had been struck by the fact that, while the +governor of a colony was liable to have his commission revoked at any +time, the commissions of all other public officials were very rarely +recalled except for positive misconduct. In New Brunswick offices had +been held generally for life and sometimes for two lives, as was the +case with the Odells, father and son, who filled the position of +secretary of the province for sixty years. One attorney-general of the +province had held office for twenty-four years, another for nineteen +years and a third for twenty years. One surveyor-general held office for +thirty-three years and another for almost thirty years. Under such a +system, it was clear that responsible government could make no advance, +for these officials held their positions quite independently of the +wishes of the legislature. Lord John Russell thought that the time had +come when a different course should be followed, and his despatch was +for the purpose of announcing to the lieutenant-governor the rules which +would hereafter be observed in the province of New Brunswick. He said:-- + +"You will understand, and cause it to be made generally known, that +hereafter the tenure of colonial offices held during Her Majesty's +pleasure will not be regarded as equivalent to a tenure during good +behaviour, but that not only such officers will be called upon to retire +from the public service as often as any sufficient motives of public +policy may suggest the expediency of that measure, but that a change in +the person of the governor will be considered as a sufficient reason for +any alterations which his successor may deem it expedient to make in the +list of public functionaries, subject, of course, to the future +confirmation of the sovereign. + +"These remarks do not extend to judicial offices, nor are they meant to +apply to places which are altogether ministerial, and which do not +devolve upon the holders of them duties, in the right discharge of which +the character or policy of the government are directly involved. They +are intended to apply rather to the heads of departments than to persons +serving as clerks, or in similar capacities under them. Neither do they +extend to officers in the services of the lords commissioners of the +treasury. The functionaries who will be chiefly, though not exclusively, +affected by them, are the colonial secretary, the treasurer or +receiver-general, the surveyor-general, the attorney-general and +solicitor-general, the sheriff or provost marshal, and other officers, +who under different designations from these, are entrusted with the same +or similar duties. To this list must be also added the members of the +council, especially in those colonies in which the legislative and +executive councils are distinct bodies. + +"The application of these rules to officers to be hereafter appointed +will be attended with no practical difficulty. It may not be equally +easy to enforce them in the case of existing officers, and especially of +those who may have left this country for the express purpose of +accepting the offices they at present fill. Every reasonable indulgence +must be shown for the expectations which such persons have been +encouraged to form. But even in these instances it will be necessary +that the right of enforcing these regulations should be distinctly +maintained, in practice as well as in theory, as often as the public +good may clearly demand the enforcement of them. It may not be +unadvisable to compensate any such officers for their disappointment, +even by pecuniary grants, when it may appear unjust to dispense with +their services without such an indemnity." + +{AN HISTORIC DESPATCH} + +This despatch produced consternation among those who had been accustomed +to regard their offices as held on a life tenure, but it was looked +upon by all the friends of good government as the beginning of a new +and better order of things with respect to the public services. The +matter was considered by a committee of the whole House a few days after +the despatch was received, and an effort was made by Wilmot to have a +favourable vote with regard to it. But although the friends of the old +Family Compact always professed to be extremely loyal and to pay great +deference to the wishes of the British government, on this occasion they +pursued a different course. A majority of the House voted down a +resolution which affirmed that this despatch should be "highly +satisfactory," "affording, as it does, the most satisfactory proof of a +sincere desire on the part of our Most Gracious Queen and her government +to infuse principles in the administration of colonial affairs strictly +analogous to the principles of the British constitution." Instead of +passing this sensible resolution the committee, by the casting vote of +the chairman, passed the following absurd amendment:-- + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this committee, that there is nothing in +the despatch of the Right Honourable Lord John Russell, now under +consideration, to call forth any expression from the House on the +subject of colonial government, and that in the event of any occurrence +taking place to disturb the present happy political state of the +province, the House cannot but entertain the opinion that any loyal and +dutiful representations which they may have occasion to lay at the foot +of the throne will receive, as they have always done, the royal +consideration." + +The vote on the original resolution was fifteen to thirteen, so that, +although defeated, it had a strong support in the House, yet it was +years before the principles embodied in the despatch of Lord John +Russell were carried into full effect in New Brunswick. + +{OFFICIAL SALARIES} + +When the Civil List Bill was passed in 1837, the salaries of the public +officials which were provided for in it were placed on a very liberal +scale. The lieutenant-governor was to receive L3,500 sterling, or almost +double the present salary of the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick. +The commissioner of Crown lands was to have L1,750 sterling, or about +five times as much as the present holder of that office; the provincial +secretary got L1,430 sterling, or more than three times as much as the +secretary of the province now receives. All the other salaries were in +the same proportion, and on a scale altogether beyond the means of the +province. It was admitted by Lord Glenelg, when the arrangements were +being made for the transfer of the casual and territorial revenues, that +these salaries might require modification, and he suggested that the +legislative council and the House of Assembly should at some future day +present him with their views on this subject. At the session of 1837, a +committee of the House of Assembly, of which Wilmot was a member, +reported in favour of a reduced scale of salaries, and this report was +adopted by the House. During the same year, a committee of the council +recommended that the salary of the surveyor-general or commissioner of +Crown lands should be reduced to twelve hundred pounds currency. This +reduction was protested against by Mr. Baillie, who had held the office +for many years, but it was thought to be reasonable by Lord Glenelg. The +executive council, however, took no steps to effect this reduction, +possibly because Mr. Baillie himself was a member of that body. At the +instance of Mr. Wilmot, the matter was taken up by the House at the +session of 1839, and a strongly worded resolution passed censuring the +executive council for not carrying into effect the reduction of the +salary of the surveyor-general, according to the views of Lord Glenelg. +At a later period in the same session, a committee, of which Wilmot was +an active member, laid before the House a scale of salaries which they +had prepared and which they considered sufficient for the public +officials embraced in the civil list. Under this scale, the salary of +the surveyor-general was reduced to L600 currency, and that of the +provincial secretary to the same amount. This report was not accepted by +the House. There were strong interests working for the retention of the +existing salaries, and it was not until a much later period that the +salaries of the public officials were placed on a footing that agreed +in some measure with the means of the province. + +At the session of 1842, Wilmot was an active member of a committee which +was appointed to take into consideration the subject of fees and +emoluments of the public officers, and at a later period in the session +they made a report recommending that all fees should go into the +treasury of the province and that all public officers should receive a +certain fixed salary. They presented with their report a scale of +salaries which they considered sufficient, which gave the provincial +secretary, surveyor-general and attorney-general each six hundred +pounds. Bills were introduced for the purpose of carrying these +recommendations into effect, but, although passed by the House, they +were rejected by the council, which for many years was the graveyard of +all measures for the improvement of the province. + +{RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT} + +The general election of 1842 was mainly fought on the Reform issue, and +the question of responsible government was discussed on every hustings. +Unfortunately very few of the candidates who offered their services as +legislators had a clear idea of what responsible government really +meant, and some of the gentlemen who were not ashamed to confess their +ignorance of the principles of the British constitution were men of +education and position, from whom better things might have been +expected. Mr. Robert L. Hazen, an eminent lawyer, who was a candidate +for the representation of the city of St. John, declared in his +nomination speech that he never met with any one who could explain to +him satisfactorily what responsible government meant. Mr. Humbert, one +of the candidates for St. John County, was entirely averse to the new +principles. "And what," he asked, "are these principles?" "Why," he +would ask, "should the old system be altered; it had never given cause +for complaint, it had always worked well,--then why should the people +complain?" He was not in favour of any innovations on British colonial +government. Very few people understood what responsible government +meant. He hardly understood it himself. It was, in his opinion, just +introducing another branch into our government. He was not in favour of +the government initiating the money votes. He was always sensitive about +the rights of the House--to them ought the power of originating the +supplies to belong, and to none other--and if returned he would oppose +the measure. + +Such absurdities as the above would not be worth quoting, but for the +light they throw on the views of the average New Brunswick politician of +that period. Mr. Humbert had been for many years a member of the House +of Assembly, and yet he had been unable to understand the significance +of the changes which the Reformers proposed in the constitution of the +country. The result of the election in St. John showed that the people +of that city and county were quite indifferent to the new doctrines. +For the county, Mr. Partelow was at the head of the poll, and that +gentleman on the hustings had declared that he was opposed to any change +in the constitution. He went into the House, he said, under a +constitution of fifty years' standing, and he was determined to leave it +as he found it, unimpaired. He disapproved of the initiation of money +votes being placed in the hands of the executive. He thought "such a +system would be wrong and pernicious in the extreme." + +{REFORMERS DEFEATED} + +When the legislature met in January 1843, it was found that the +Reformers were in the minority. Mr. Partelow was determined to make this +fact very clear, for in nominating the speaker he made a speech of some +length in which he declared that the time had come for testing the +principles on which the House should act, and with this object in view +he would throw down the gauntlet to the friends of responsible +government by nominating Mr. J. W. Weldon, to fill the chair. This +gentleman was a very fit representative of the old system, for besides +being a member for Kent, he filled almost all the offices in that county +which one man could hold. He was postmaster of Richibucto, deputy +treasurer for the port of Richibucto, issuer of marriage licenses for +the county of Kent, keeper of the seals and clerk of the peace and of +the inferior court of common pleas, and registrar of probates for the +same county. + +Mr. Wilmot was nominated for the speakership by Mr. Hill, of Charlotte, +but declined to run; the odds were too great, and so Mr. Weldon, the +opponent of responsible government, was elected without opposition. This +was an unsatisfactory result after so many years of conflict, but the +friends of Reform, although they had to admit defeat, were neither +daunted nor discouraged. They knew that many other questions besides the +abstract one of the adoption of responsible government had influenced +the recent election, and that the new principles had been blamed for +results that would have been avoided if they had been in operation. For +instance, the transfer of the casual and territorial revenues to the +treasury of the province in 1837 had placed a very large sum, amounting +to L150,000, at the disposal of the legislature. All this money had been +dissipated by extravagant grants, and in 1842 the province was actually +in debt. Many ignorant electors were made to believe that this result +was due to the Reformers who had been the means of obtaining this money, +which the legislature had squandered; and this feeling was so strong in +the county of York, that Messrs. Wilmot and Fisher stood lower on the +poll than the two anti-Reformers who were elected with them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE READE APPOINTMENT + + +Although elected in opposition to responsible government, the +legislature of 1843 at its first session took one important step in +favour of Reform. The arrangement by which the executive and legislative +councils were separated, which had come into force ten years before, +although a decided improvement on the old state of affairs, did not +produce universal satisfaction.[3] The constitution of the legislative +council was complained of, and it was described as an obstructive body +which disregarded the wishes of the people. Bills of the utmost +importance, which had been passed by large majorities in the House of +Assembly, and which were demanded by the people, were frequently +rejected by the council without being even discussed. Most of its +members were opposed to any change in the constitution of the province, +and everything which seemed to be in the direction of giving power to +the people was denounced as an innovation and condemned as an +infringement of the vested rights of the council. One of the chief +causes of complaint against the council was their rejection of every +bill for the amendment of the charter of King's College. Wilmot had so +frequently had his efforts in this direction nullified by the council +that he introduced a resolution in the assembly condemning the conduct +of that body for rejecting the college bill, and the council retaliated +by unanimously voting this a breach of privilege.[4] The complaints of +the House of Assembly against the legislative council were now embodied +in an address to the queen. In this address it was stated that in the +opinion of the House the legislative council should be composed of +persons not only representing all the leading interests of the province, +but so independent in respect to property and so free from official +control as to form a constitutional check on the executive. Although, by +the laws that existed then, members of the assembly were required to be +possessed of real estate to the value of two hundred pounds, over and +above all encumbrances, there was no property qualification whatever +required for members of the legislative council. The address of the +House expressed the opinion that members of the council should be +required to possess a certain amount of real estate, and that their +seats should be vacant on the loss of this qualification, or on their +becoming bankrupt, or public defaulters, or from neglect to give their +attendance for a given time without leave of the lieutenant-governor. +The address also stated that the constitution of the legislative council +was defective and objectionable in other respects, because, of the +eighteen members who composed it, a great proportion held offices at the +pleasure of the Crown, and the principal officers of the government +usually formed a majority of the members present. It was also complained +that members of the Church of England had too great a preponderance in +the council, the only members not of that communion being one +Presbyterian and one Baptist. + +{THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL} + +At the next session of the legislature, despatches from Lord Stanley +were laid before the House of Assembly in which it was stated that the +council would be increased in number to twenty-one, and four new members +of the council were to be appointed. The new members then appointed were +T. H. Peters, Admiral Owen, William Crane and George Minchin, while the +Hon. Thomas Baillie, the surveyor-general, the Hon. Mr. Lee, the +receiver-general, the Hon. James Allanshaw, of St. Andrews, and the Hon. +Harry Peters, of Gagetown, retired. No doubt the retirement of two +officials who received large salaries was some improvement, but the +council required further remodelling before it could be said to be an +efficient body, or one in sympathy with the inhabitants of the +province. + +The legislative council has now ceased to exist, and it may be said of +it that it was never a very satisfactory body for legislative purposes. +Perhaps the original composition of it created such a prejudice against +legislative councils as to hamper its activities; and, from having been +at first merely the echo of the wishes of the governor, it became +latterly, to a large extent, the echo of the wishes of the government. +Gradually it became relieved of its official members, and in its last +years no head of a department ever occupied a seat in the legislative +council; for it was thought, and rightly, that the power ought to be in +the House, where the responsibility to the people was most felt, and +that it was not wise to place an official whose department expended +large sums of money in a body which properly had no control over the +public expenditure. The legislative council had undoubtedly from time to +time many able and useful members, and, at certain periods in the +history of the province, particularly during the confederation +discussions, it took a firm stand in favour of measures which seemed +essential to the prosperity of the British North American provinces. No +one can deny that at that time it exercised an authority fully equal to +that of the Lower House, but it cannot be doubted that some of this work +was done at the expense of the proper balance of the constitution. Such +an exercise of unusual authority on the part of a body not elected by +the people may serve a purpose at a particular crisis, but cannot be +commended as an example, and if frequently repeated would end in the +destruction of the constitution. + +{THE COUNCIL'S RECORD} + +The legislative council lost a considerable proportion of its able men +at the time of confederation by the removal of eleven of its members to +the senate of Canada, although one or two remained with it who were not +inferior to any of those who then took their departure. The new members +who came in as their successors were naturally inferior to the old in +practical experience and ability, and this had, no doubt, an influence +on the future of the House. The example of Ontario, which was able to +conduct its affairs with one House, showed that two independent branches +of the legislature were by no means necessary, and that the council +might be abolished with safety. No doubt it was difficult to bring this +about among a people who had been trained to believe that there was +something essential to legislation in the balance of king, lords, and +commons, making up one legislative body. But in the course of time the +electors began to think that the council was not exactly the proper +equivalent of the House of Lords, and the lieutenant-governor very far +from standing in the position of a king. Old prejudices in favour of a +constitution framed after a particular model are difficult to remove, +but, in the case of New Brunswick, these prejudices were at length +overcome, and it is safe to say that in the course of time all the +provincial legislatures of Canada will consist of but a single chamber. +It is equally safe to assert that under the new system the work of +legislation will be as well done as it was under the old. + +The session of the legislature in 1843 came to an end on April 11th, and +on the seventeenth of the same month Wilmot became a member of the +government. His appointment had been preceded by the resignation of five +members of the government--Messrs. Black, Shore, Robinson, Odell and +Crane--and by the appointment of Messrs. E. B. Chandler, Hugh Johnston, +John Montgomery and Robert L. Hazen, to fill the vacancies thus created. +Of the retiring members two--Messrs. Black and Shore--were members of +the legislative council; one of them, Mr. Crane, was a member of the +House of Assembly, while the other two were officials who did not belong +to either branch of the legislature. Of the new members of the executive +council, Messrs. Chandler and Johnston were members of the legislative +council, Messrs. Hazen and Wilmot were members of the House of Assembly, +while Mr. Montgomery had no seat in either House. The executive council +as made up at that time included four members of the legislative +council, three members of the House of Assembly and Mr. Montgomery, who +did not become a member of the House of Assembly until three years +later. There is no doubt that the composition of the new executive +council was more in accordance with correct principles than its +predecessor; yet little could be expected from it in the way of Reform, +for Wilmot was the only member who was in favour of responsible +government. + +{ENTERS THE GOVERNMENT} + +Mr. Wilmot has been censured for entering a government composed of men +who were opposed to the liberal views he held on public questions. It +was thought by many that his conduct in this respect looked too much +like a surrender of his principles for the sake of office or official +position, and it certainly would have been better if he had continued in +Opposition. Yet we can easily conceive that he may have thought at the +time he could do more for the cause of Reform inside the government than +out of it, and, although this proved to be an error, it was a natural +one for which it is not difficult to find an excuse. Fortunately for the +cause of Reform, Wilmot's connection with the government did not last +long at that time. A storm was gathering in an unexpected quarter which +was destined to wreck the government, and to cause some of its +Conservative members to reconsider their opinions with reference to some +questions which until then they had regarded as fixed and unchangeable. + +It has been already stated that the governor of the province made such +appointments to office as he pleased, usually without the advice of his +council. He was supposed to have the power to do this as the +representative of the sovereign and in the exercise of what was termed +"the royal prerogative." In this way persons were frequently appointed +to offices who were not residents of the province, and in all other +cases appointments were given to the members of certain favoured +families. In 1834, a vacancy was created on the supreme court bench by +the death of Chief-Justice Saunders. Ward Chipman was appointed +chief-justice in place of Mr. Saunders, and the vacant puisne judgeship +was given to James Carter, who afterwards became chief-justice of the +province. Carter was a young Englishman then living in London, and was +certainly no better qualified to fill the position of judge than many +natives of the province, so that it was regarded as a gross insult to +the members of the New Brunswick bar, to give such an appointment to a +stranger. Yet so slow was public opinion to make itself felt in regard +to the evil of the appointing power being given to the governor without +qualification, that ten years later the House of Assembly presented an +address to Sir Charles Metcalfe, governor-general of Canada, expressing +the high sense entertained by them, as representatives of the people of +New Brunswick, of the "constitutional stand" taken by him in maintaining +the prerogative of the Crown in the then recent memorable "conflict."[5] +The city of St. John also, to show its loyalty, presented a similar +address; and one signed by one thousand persons was sent from the county +of York. + +{SIR CHARLES METCALFE} + +Yet nothing can be more clear than that the stand taken by Sir Charles +Metcalfe in 1844 was wholly wrong, for it consisted in refusing to +consult with his council in regard to appointments, and in making +appointments contrary to their advice. What would the people of Canada +say to-day to a governor-general who insisted on appointing men to +office against the advice of his cabinet? Yet it was for doing this that +the New Brunswick House of Assembly, the city and county of St. John and +the county of York actually grovelled in the dust before this despotic +governor, thus approving of all his acts. Such abasement and +subserviency to an unconstitutional governor was certain to bring its +own punishment, and it came much sooner than any one could have +anticipated. On Christmas Day of the same year the Hon. William Franklin +Odell, who had been provincial secretary for thirty-two years, died at +Fredericton. Mr. Odell's father had been secretary before him from the +foundation of the province, so that the Odell family had held that +important and highly lucrative office for sixty years. + +The governor at this time was Sir William Colebrooke, and on January +1st, 1845, just one week after the death of Mr. Odell, he appointed his +son-in-law, Alfred Reade, who was a native of England and a stranger to +the province, to the vacant office. The gentlemen who had been most +prominent in shouting their approval of the "constitutional stand" taken +by Sir Charles Metcalfe, now suddenly discovered that Sir William +Colebrooke's conduct in making this appointment without consulting his +council, was a fearful outrage, and their distress was pitiable to +behold. Several members of the government, including such zealous +upholders of the prerogative as the Hon. Robert L. Hazen, of St. John, +at once resigned their positions. A communication from three of +them--Hugh Johnston, E. B. Chandler and R. L. Hazen--addressed to His +Excellency gave as their reasons for resigning that they could not +justify the exercise of the prerogative of the Crown in respect to Mr. +Reade's appointment, because they felt that "the elevation to the +highest offices of trust and emolument of individuals whose character, +services, and claims to preferment, however appreciated elsewhere, are +entirely unknown to the country generally, is prejudicial to the best +interests of the province." They did not, however, make it a ground of +objection that the appointment of Mr. Reade was forwarded for the royal +approbation without the advice or concurrence of the council. These +gentlemen evidently thought it was too early for them to eat the words +in regard to the prerogative of the Crown, of which they had been so +free a few months before, but they showed their true characters by +deserting the governor because he had been foolish enough to believe +that their profuse expressions in favour of the royal prerogative were +sincere. + +{RESIGNATION} + +Mr. Wilmot, who also resigned, sent a separate communication to the +lieutenant-governor in which he stated what he considered to be the true +constitutional doctrine which should govern such matters. He said:-- + +"In the first place, I consider it justly due to the people of this +province, that all the offices of honour and emolument in the gift of +the administration of the government should be bestowed upon inhabitants +of the province who have made this country their home, and, in the cases +of the principal offices, those persons should be preferred who have +claims for public services rendered to the province, and who can command +the respect and confidence of the country. With these views, which I +hope I shall ever retain, I must necessarily disapprove of the +appointment in question, as I can only look upon Mr. Reade as a +comparative stranger and a transient person, while, at the same time, I +am of opinion that he has no claim whatever on the ground of public +services rendered to this province. + +"It would be in vain for the parents of our youth to make every exertion +in order to qualify their sons for the higher offices of the province, +if the avenues to honourable and profitable preferment are to be thus +closed against them; and I therefore cannot but view the appointment +under consideration as an act of great injustice to the people of this +country; and I can safely assure Your Excellency that it will be thus +considered throughout the length and breadth of the province. + +"Your Excellency is well aware that ever since I have had the honour of +having a seat in the council, I have approved of, and advocated those +principles of colonial government which are now in full operation in +Canada, which have been distinctly enunciated by the present government +in the House of Commons, and which require the administration to be +conducted by heads of departments responsible to the legislature, and +holding their offices contingently upon the approbation and confidence +of the country as expressed through the representatives of the people. +Still entertaining a strong attachment to those principles from a clear +constitutionality, and, from a conscientious belief in their safe and +practical adaptation to a British colony enjoying the privileges of a +representative form of government, I can see no sufficient reason for +withholding their salutary influence from the loyal and intelligent +people of this province; and considering it more advisable that a +gradual advancement should be made by the government itself towards +those principles as opportunities may offer, than that a concession in +gross should hereafter be made to the urgent demands of the country, I +am of the opinion that the provincial secretary should now be brought +into the executive government, and should hold a seat in one of the +Houses of the legislature--his tenure of office being contingent upon +the successful administration of the government; and therefore, as the +appointment in question has been made irrespective of any of these +conditions, I am bound to give it my opposition." + +{REMONSTRANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY} + +When the House met in the latter part of January, the Reade appointment +immediately became the subject of discussion, and by the vote of +twenty-four to six, an address was passed to Her Majesty the Queen, +condemning the appointment, not, as the members said, because they +questioned "in the remotest degree the prerogative in its undoubted +right to make such appointments," but because they thought that the +right of appointment had been improperly or unjustly exercised. In other +words, the members of the House of Assembly surrendered the principle +that appointments should be made by the governor, with the advice of +his executive, and only objected to the Reade appointment because, in +their opinion, some one else should have been chosen. It is easy to see +that in subscribing to this address the members of the House stultified +themselves; for if it was a part of the prerogative of the Crown to make +appointments without the advice of the council, surely the exercise of +the prerogative in the appointment of a particular individual could not +be fairly questioned. The result of the difficulty, however, was the +cancelling of Mr. Reade's appointment by the home government. This +decision was communicated to the House of Assembly by message on +February 3rd, 1846. The despatch from the colonial office, upon which +the lieutenant-governor acted, was written on March 31st, 1845, and must +have been received by him at Fredericton not later than the last of +April. But notwithstanding this despatch Mr. Reade held office until +July 17th, so it will be seen that Sir William Colebrooke was in no +hurry to carry out the wishes of the home government. Lord Stanley, the +writer of the despatch in question, expressed the opinion that public +employment should be bestowed on the natives or settled inhabitants of +the province, and he thought that Mr. Reade did not come under this +description. He closed his despatch with the following singular +statement:-- + +{READE'S APPOINTMENT CANCELLED} + +"I observe with satisfaction that the House of Assembly have not only +abstained from complicating the subject with any abstract question of +government, but have rejected every proposal for laying down formal +principles upon such questions. The House has, I think, in this course +done justice to the earnest desire of Her Majesty that the colonial +administration generally should be conducted in harmony with the wishes +of her people, whatever may be the variations arising out of local +considerations and the state of society in various colonies, subject to +which that principle may be carried into practice; and it is anxiously +hoped that the same wise forbearance which has led the House of Assembly +to decline the unnecessary discussion of subjects of so much delicacy, +may lead them also to regard the practical decision now announced as the +final close of the controversy, and to unite in the promotion, not of +objects of party strife and rivalry, but of the more substantial and +enduring interests of the colony which they represent." If these words +have any meaning, they seem to show that at that date the British +government believed the right of appointment to be in the Crown, without +reference to the council, and that they were unwilling that any general +principle should be laid down by the legislature of the province which +conflicted with this view. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] This change had been effected by a royal commission under the signet +and sign-manual dated December 3d, 1832. There is nothing in the records +of the province to show why this was done. Neither the council nor the +House of Assembly had asked for it. The Nova Scotia council was not +divided until 1838. + +[4] Mr. Wilmot's resolution was carried in the assembly without a +division, so that he had the solid support of the popular branch of the +legislature, yet little good was to be expected from such votes in the +House. + +[5] The resolution to present this address was strongly opposed by Mr. +Wilmot and his colleague, Mr. Fisher, who both declared the conduct of +Lord Metcalfe to be contrary to the principles of responsible +government. Mr. Wilmot's speech led to a singular result. He was +attacked in the _Loyalist_ newspaper for his opposition to the address, +and this attack having been brought to the notice of the House of +Assembly was voted a breach of privilege. Messrs. Doak and Hill, the +proprietors of the paper, were arrested on the warrant of the speaker +and committed to prison. On the application of their counsel, Mr. D. S. +Kerr, they were released by Mr. Justice Carter on a writ of _habeas +corpus_. Doak and Hill both brought actions against the speaker, Mr. +Weldon, and the result was a decision of the Supreme Court of New +Brunswick that the House of Assembly had not the power to arrest and +imprison the publisher of a libel on a member of the House touching his +conduct and proceedings in the House. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WILMOT'S VIEWS ON EDUCATION + + +Among the questions in which Wilmot took a deep interest was that of +education. His views on this subject were far in advance of those of +most of his contemporaries. Education was in a very unsatisfactory +condition in the province of New Brunswick when he entered public life, +and it continued in that condition for many years afterward. If we may +judge from the statute-book, the founders of the province had very +little appreciation of the advantages of education, for no law was +passed with a view to the establishment of public schools until the year +1805. In that year "An Act for encouraging and extending literature in +this province" was passed, under the provisions of which a public +grammar school was established in the city of St. John, which received a +grant of one hundred pounds for the purpose of assisting the trustees to +procure a suitable building for school uses, and also an annual grant of +one hundred pounds for the support of the master. The same Act provided +for the establishment of county schools, and the sections relating to +them, being limited in respect to time, were continued by 50th George +III, Chap. 33 to the year 1816, when they expired and were replaced by +"An Act for the establishment of schools in the province." This Act +expired in 1823, and in its place "An Act for the encouragement of +parish schools" was passed the same year. This last Act was repealed by +"An Act in relation to parish schools" passed in 1833, which continued +in force for many years. All these Acts were essentially the same in +principle, as they provided for government aid to teachers who had been +employed to teach schools in the parishes under the authority of the +school trustees. The Act of 1833, which was considered to be a great +improvement on former Acts, provided for the appointment of three school +trustees in each parish by the sessions, and these trustees were charged +with the duty of dividing the parishes into districts and directing the +discipline of the schools. They were required to certify once a year to +the lieutenant-governor as to the number of schools in their parish, the +number of scholars and other particulars, and on their certificate the +teacher drew the government money. This money was granted at the rate of +twenty pounds for a male teacher who had taught school a year, or ten +pounds for six months, and ten pounds for a female teacher who had +taught school a year, or five pounds for six months, provided the +inhabitants of the school district had subscribed an equal amount for +the support of the teacher, or supplied board, washing and lodging to +the teacher in lieu of the money. Thus a male teacher in a district +where a school was always kept, would receive for his year's work his +board, lodging and washing, and twenty pounds in money; and a female +teacher ten pounds. Such a rate of remuneration was not well calculated +to attract competent persons, and the result was very unsatisfactory. +Most of the teachers employed were old men who had a mere smattering of +learning and who were very incompetent instructors. They usually lodged +with the parents of the pupils, living at each house in proportion to +the number of scholars sent. This system, which raised them but one +degree above the condition of paupers, was not conducive to their +comfort or self-respect. As there was no uniformity in the books +prescribed and no sufficient educational test, the results of such +teaching were not likely to be satisfactory. Sometimes the teacher was a +woman who eked out a scanty subsistence by communicating her small +learning to a few scholars whom she gathered in her kitchen. Generally, +however, the school building was a log hut without any of those +appliances which are now regarded as essential to the proper instruction +of youth. + +{PROVINCIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS} + +In 1816 an Act was passed providing for the establishment of grammar +schools in the several counties of the province. At that period St. John +and St. Andrews had already grammar schools which had been established +under separate Acts, and Fredericton had an academy or college, which +was founded by a provincial charter granted by Lieutenant-Governor +Carleton in 1800. The counties of St. John, Charlotte and York were +therefore excepted from the operation of the general Act for the +establishment of grammar schools. This Act, after being amended in 1823, +was finally repealed by the Act of 1829, which endowed King's College at +Fredericton and made new provisions for the establishment and support of +grammar schools throughout the province. King's College at a later +period developed into the University of New Brunswick. It had its +beginning in the original charter of 1800, already referred to, which +established the College of New Brunswick. In the same year the governor +and trustees of the College of New Brunswick received a grant, under the +great seal of the province, of a considerable tract of land in and near +Fredericton for the support of that institution of learning. Until the +year 1829, the New Brunswick College was merely a classical school +receiving from the legislature annually two hundred and fifty pounds, +which was the same amount then allowed to the St. John Grammar School. + +{MADRAS SCHOOLS} + +At an early period, the attention of the people of that province was +directed to what was called the Madras system of national schools as +conducted by Dr. Bell, the real founder of the system being Joseph +Lancaster. This system depends for its success on the use of monitors, +who are selected from among the senior pupils to instruct the younger +ones. It was supposed at the time to be a notable discovery, but, like +other short cuts to learning, has fallen out of favour. In July, 1818, +the first Madras school was established in St. John by a Mr. West from +Halifax. This was a boys' school; and a school for girls, on the same +system, was opened a year or two later. In 1819, a Madras school charter +was procured under the great seal of the province, and the Madras school +system established on a substantial foundation. The province gave a +grant of two hundred and fifty pounds for the erection of a suitable +building in St. John, and the National Society in England contributed to +its support. This charter was confirmed by an Act passed in 1820. The +St. John school was to be regarded as the central school, but it was the +design of the charter that the benefits of the system should be extended +to other parts of the province, and this was accordingly done. The +Madras schools received liberal appropriations of money, and large +grants of land, and they continued to exist until the introduction of +the free school system in 1872. Two or three of them, indeed, continued +in operation after that time, but they had lost their original character +and had become simply Church of England schools, that denomination +having appropriated the Madras school endowments to the support of +schools in which its principles and creed were taught. In 1900, by Act +of the legislature, the Madras school property was handed over to the +diocesan synod of Fredericton, with the exception of about ten thousand +dollars, which went to the University of New Brunswick. + +From the day when Wilmot became a member of the House of Assembly in +1835, he began to press upon the attention of that body the necessity +for an improvement in the schools of the province. But the same spirit +of apathy which prevailed with regard to purely political questions +affected the legislature with respect to education. The people +throughout the province were not prepared to make the sacrifices +necessary to obtain sufficient schools. Their attitude with regard to +education was well described in a speech made by Wilmot in 1846, when +Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, brought in his bill to provide for a normal or +proper training school for the education of those who were to become +teachers. This bill did not become law, in consequence of the opposition +raised against it in the legislature on the ground of expense. It was +estimated that it would cost an additional two thousand pounds to +provide a normal school, and this sum the men who were at the head of +the government were not willing to pay for the purpose of giving the +children of the province properly trained teachers. Wilmot's speech on +that occasion concluded as follows:-- + +{PARISH SCHOOLS} + +"Before I sit down I must again revert to the greatest difficulty which +has to be encountered to render the provisions of that bill effective in +promoting a better system of education in the parish schools. This is a +difficulty which in this country legislation cannot reach--I earnestly +wish it could. I mean the apathy of the parents themselves. The +honourable member now in the chair can bear me witness as to the extent +to which this apathy prevails in this county at this day. That +honourable member, when out of the chair, could tell the committee that +in a certain district of this county where there is no schoolhouse, a +philanthropic individual told the inhabitants that if they would get out +a frame and provide the boards, he would at his own expense provide +nails, glass, locks, and the necessary materials for finishing a +schoolhouse. What was the result? They did get out the frame and raised +it, and when I and the honourable chairman had occasion to visit that +part of the county together, we enquired why they did not go on and +finish it. The worthy individual who had made the proposition, and +bought and had in his house the materials for finishing the building, +told us that the inhabitants of the district would not find the boards, +and, in consequence of that, the erection of the schoolhouse had not +been gone on with. A gentleman now present (I will not mention names, as +the chairman might blush) offered to give them the boards from a +neighbouring mill if they would go and fetch them, but even this they +would not do. Although everything was to be had without money, there was +no one who felt interest enough in the education of their children to +go and bring them to the spot--and to this day the frame stands, as it +then did, a melancholy monument of the dreadful apathy which is +sometimes to be found even in this comparatively intelligent county." + +Mr. Wilmot lived long enough to see a free school system in force in his +native province, although he had no share in bringing this result about. +Yet that his views on this subject were sound and far in advance of his +time is shown by a speech which he made at the time of the opening of +the first exhibition in the province in 1852. He said: + +"It is unpardonable that any child should grow up in our country without +the benefit of, at least, a common-school education. It is the right of +the child. It is the duty not only of the parent but of the people; the +property of the country should educate the country. All are interested +in the diffusion of that intelligence which conserves the peace and +promotes the well-being of society. The rich man is interested in +proportion to his riches, and should contribute most to the maintenance +of schools. Though God has given me no child of my own to educate, I +feel concerned for the education of the children of those who do possess +them. I feel concerned in what so intimately touches the best interests +of our common country. I want to hear the tax collector for schools +calling at my door. I want the children of the poor in the remote +settlements to receive the advantages now almost confined to their more +fortunate brethren and sisters of the towns. I know full well that God +has practised no partiality in the distribution of the noblest of his +gifts--the intellect; I know that in many a retired hamlet of our +province--amid many a painful scene of poverty and toil--there may be +found young minds ardent and ingenious and as worthy of cultivation as +those of the pampered children of our cities. It is greatly important to +the advancement of the country that these should be instructed." + +{MONEY VOTES} + +The initiation of money grants by the executive, and the responsibility +of the latter to the people, are the two corner-stones on which +responsible government must rest. From the very first, Wilmot was an +earnest advocate of both these measures; but, owing to the apathy of the +people and the disinclination of the members of the legislature to give +up what they considered their privileges, it was a difficult matter to +accomplish these objects. A reference to the journals of the legislature +will show that on numerous occasions he pressed these subjects on the +attention of the House of Assembly, and he was ably assisted by his +colleague from the county of York, Mr. Charles Fisher, who deserves a +foremost place among the men who should be honoured for their efforts to +bring about responsible government in the colonies of British North +America. It was a peculiar feature in the struggle for responsible +government in New Brunswick that, before it ended, the opposition to it +came not so much from the British government as from the members of the +provincial legislature. It was evident that the system of appropriating +money which existed in the House of Assembly was one which was wrong in +principle and resulted in getting the province into debt, because there +was no guiding hand to control the expenditure. The transfer of the +casual and territorial revenues to the provincial treasury in 1837 had +placed a very large sum, amounting to about L150,000, at the disposal of +the legislature, but this sum was speedily dissipated; and in the year +1842, when Sir William Colebrooke became lieutenant-governor of the +province, its finances were in an embarrassed condition. + +Towards the close of 1841, a despatch was received from Lord Stanley, +the colonial secretary, suggesting that it was desirable that a better +system of appropriating the funds of the province should be inaugurated. +This brought up a discussion in the legislature during the session of +1842 in regard to the propriety of adopting the principle of placing the +initiation of money grants in the executive council. Mr. Wilmot moved a +resolution in committee of the whole House "that no appropriation of +public money should be made at any future session in supply, for any +purpose whatever, until there be a particular account of the income and +expenditure of the previous year, together with an estimate of the sums +required to be expended, as well for ordinary as extraordinary services, +respectively, and also a particular estimate of the principal amount of +revenue for the ensuing year." To this an amendment was moved by Mr. +Partelow that "Whereas the present mode of appropriation, tested by an +experience of more than fifty years, has not only given satisfaction to +the people of this province, but repeatedly attracted the deserved +approbation of the colonial ministers as securing its constitutional +position to every branch of the legislature, therefore resolved, as the +opinion of this committee, that it is not expedient to make any +alteration in the same." This amendment was carried by a vote of +eighteen to twelve. + +{AN ABUSE UPHELD} + +Such an amendment as that passed by the House of Assembly of New +Brunswick in 1842 would now only be an object of ridicule, because, as a +matter of fact, the financial condition of the province showed that the +system of appropriation which prevailed was based on false principles, +while the alleged approval of the colonial ministers of which so much +account was made, had been extended to the most illiberal features of +the constitution. There was, however, some excuse for the reluctance of +the members of the House of Assembly to surrender the initiation of +money votes to the executive, because the executive council of that day +was not a body properly under the control of the legislature, or in +sympathy with the people. + +When the House met in 1843, it was seen that the friends of responsible +government were still in the minority. Yet they brought up the subject +of the appropriation of the public moneys by a resolution which sought +to fix the responsibility of the expenditure on the government. This was +met by an amendment moved by Mr. J. W. Weldon, that the House would not +surrender the initiation of the money votes. The amendment was carried +by a vote of twenty-four to seven, which showed that the friends of +Reform had still much leeway to make up before they could hope to +impress their views upon the legislature. + +{SPEECH ON APPROPRIATIONS} + +As it was hopeless to expect that a House of Assembly thus constituted +would vote in favour of the transfer of the initiation of money grants +to the executive, Wilmot did not bring up the subject again during the +remainder of its term; but by the operation of the Quadrennial Act, +which came into force in 1846, a new House was elected in that year, +which was largely made up of the same members as the previous one, and +at the first session of this House, held early in 1847, Wilmot, during +the discussion of the revenue bill, brought up the question of the +initiation of money grants in a vigorous and characteristic speech. He +said:-- + +"Can my honourable gentlemen tell me within five thousand pounds of the +money asked for, or required for the present session? No, they cannot, +and here we are going on in the old way, voting money in the dark, with +a thing for our guide called an 'estimate'--a sort of dark lantern with +which we are to grope our way through the mazes of legislation. Where is +the honourable member for Gloucester who talked so much about the good +old rules of our forefathers? I am opposed to the present principle of +voting away money; it is, in fact, but giving to tax and taxing to give, +this way and that way--every stratagem is used which can be invented in +order to carry favourite grants, and thus we proceed from day to day by +this system of combination and unprincipled collusion. [Cries of 'Order, +Order!'] Honourable members may cry order as much as they please, it is +true, and I care not who knows it--let it go forth to the country at +large. This system is what the honourable and learned member for +Gloucester [Mr. End] denominates 'the glorious old principles of our +forefathers,' which should be held as dear as life itself. It is not now +as in times gone by, when the legislative council and executive council +were one, and consequently we cannot now take the initiation of money +grants. This left the whole power in the hands of the assembly; and now, +with the report of the committee of finance before us, His Excellency's +messages, petitions and everything else, there is not one honourable +member around these benches can tell me within five thousand pounds of +the amount to be asked for, much less within ten thousand pounds of the +amount that will be granted during the present session; and yet, here we +are in committee of ways and means for raising a revenue. But it will +never answer to have too much information upon this point--if we knew +exactly how far we could go and no farther--I perhaps would lose my +grant, or another honourable member might lose a grant; this is the +system that is pursued. I have held a seat here for twelve years and +know the 'ropes' pretty well." + +In the following year there was another discussion on the initiation of +money grants, arising out of a despatch which had been received from +Earl Grey, then colonial minister, in which he referred to the laxity of +the system by which money was voted in the New Brunswick legislature +without any estimate, and suggested that the initiation of money grants +should be surrendered to the executive. This proposal was fiercely +opposed, and all the forces of ancient Toryism were rallied against it, +one member from Queens County, Mr. Thomas Gilbert, going so far as to +apply to the advocacy of the old rotten system the soul-stirring words +contained in Nelson's last signal at Trafalgar, "England expects that +every man this day will do his duty." + +{END'S RESOLUTION} + +In 1850, the last year that Mr. Wilmot sat in the House of Assembly, the +matter came up again on a resolution moved by a private member. This +was met by an amendment moved by Mr. End, of Gloucester, in the +following words:-- + +"WHEREAS, the right of originating money grants is inherent in the +representatives of the people who are constitutionally responsible to +their constituents for the due and faithful user of that right; +therefore, + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this House, that the surrender of such +right would amount to a dereliction of public duty and ought not to be +entertained by the House of Assembly." + +This was carried by a vote of sixteen to eleven. The three members of +the government who sat in the House, one of whom was Mr. Wilmot, who had +joined it in May 1848, voted with the minority. It was not until the +year 1856 that a resolution was passed by the House of Assembly +conceding to the executive the right of initiating money grants, and +this was carried by a majority of only two in a full House. The first +estimate of income and expenditure framed by a New Brunswick government +was not laid before the House of Assembly until the session of 1857. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE DEMAND FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT + + +When Mr. Wilmot first entered the House of Assembly, many of the members +were office-holders and therefore depended on the goodwill of the +governor for their positions. At the session of 1842, a bill was +introduced for the purpose of putting an end to this evil, in which it +was declared that any member of the House of Assembly who should accept +the office of executive councillor or any office of profit or emolument +under the Crown should be incapable of taking or holding his seat in the +General Assembly while in such office, unless reelected after acceptance +thereof. An amendment was moved to exempt executive councillors who did +not hold any office of emolument from the provisions of this section, +but it was lost by a close vote. Mr. Wilmot voted for the amendment on +the ground that a man who was merely an executive councillor without +office, and who received no emolument as such, should not be required to +go back to the people for reelection. The bill, nevertheless, was passed +by a full House, but it was disallowed by the home authorities on the +ground that it was not in accordance with British precedents. The +colonial secretary said, "This Act as actually drawn would therefore +seem to establish a principle of great importance as well as +novelty--the principle, namely, that the Crown may not select its own +confidential advisers from amongst representatives of the people unless +the person so chosen should be willing to hazard a new election. How far +it is wise to erect such a barrier between the executive government and +the popular branch of the legislature would seem to be a matter well +meriting serious consideration." In the same despatch, the propriety of +seats in the assembly being vacated for the same reasons which would +vacate seats in the House of Commons was fully conceded. The stand taken +by Wilmot in regard to this subject was therefore the one which was +approved by the home government and was further endorsed by subsequent +legislation. Yet it was not until 1849 that the Act was passed which +finally settled the question, and required members of the legislature +accepting office to vacate their seats in the House of Assembly and go +back to their constituents for reelection. + +{THE GOVERNOR CENSURED} + +Sir William Colebrooke had not been a popular governor since the +appointment of his son-in-law to the office of provincial secretary. The +House of Assembly, therefore, was disposed to watch his conduct very +closely and to criticize actions which perhaps would not have attracted +so much attention under other conditions. During the session of 1846, it +was shown that he had appropriated a portion of the surplus civil list +fund, amounting to about three thousand pounds, for the purpose of +defraying the expenses of surveying Crown lands in Madawaska.[6] This +money was taken by the order of the colonial secretary, Lord Stanley. +Thus it appeared that, although the province was supposed to have the +control of the territorial revenue, the British government assumed the +right to dispose of a portion of this revenue without the consent or +authority of the House of Assembly. The conduct of the governor in +connection with this matter was censured in a strongly worded resolution +which was passed by the House of Assembly almost unanimously.[7] The +time had gone by when the representative of the Crown could do as he +liked with the public funds of the province, as had been the case in +former years. + +The legislature was dissolved in 1846 under the provisions of the Act +which limited its term to four years. On the last day of the session +Wilmot bade farewell to the members of the House, and stated that he did +not intend to offer himself again for reelection. No doubt he was quite +sincere in making this statement at the time, but he soon had reason to +change his mind. The people of the county of York were unwilling to lose +the services of the champion of their rights in the House of Assembly, +so that he found it necessary to consent to be again nominated. He was +returned at the head of the poll, and with him Mr. Charles Fisher, who +had been his colleague in two previous legislatures. + +The general election of 1846 brought a considerable number of new men +into the House, and in point of liberality the new assembly was a slight +improvement on its predecessor. The legislature met near the end of +January in the following year. The government at that time consisted of +only five persons, of whom two were members of the House of Assembly and +three of the legislative council. It appeared that negotiations had been +going on with some of the members of the Opposition for the purpose of +filling up the vacancies in the executive council. Wilmot had been +offered a seat in that body, but made it a condition of his acceptance +that he should go in with two of his friends, provided the council was +filled up to the number of seven, or three, if filled up to the number +of nine. This was not agreed to, so he remained outside the government. +During the first week of the session three new members were added to the +government, one of them being the surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, who had +been elected a member of the House of Assembly for the county of York. +The arrangements made were not satisfactory to Wilmot and his friends, +and the government had to face what was practically a want of confidence +resolution. It was moved by Mr. Fisher and was as follows:-- + +"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this House, that while it fully +recognizes the accountability of the executive council to the assembly, +it will expect that henceforth the provincial administration will, from +time to time, prepare and bring before the legislature such measures as +may be required for the development of the provincial resources and the +general advancement of the public interests." + +{ASSAILS THE GOVERNMENT} + +In the course of the debate Wilmot spoke with great power and effect. +The following report of his speech on that occasion may serve to convey +to the reader some idea of his manner and method as a public speaker:-- + +{SPEECH ON REFORM} + +"The honourable gentleman might have spared himself the trouble of +making the defence he did. I have heard that he was to be presented with +a gold medal for his admirable defence of that nearly extinct race--the +old Family Compact. I see that I shall have to cross a lance with my +honourable and learned friend [Mr. Hazen] politically. Yet I hope the +same good feeling which has characterized the debate thus far will be +continued. A great deal has been said about politics and political +principles, but my political principles are not of yesterday--I have +gleaned them from the history of my country, a country which we are all +proud to own. Will any honourable member dare to tell me that because we +are three thousand miles from the heart of the British empire the blood +of freemen shall not flow through the veins of the sons of New +Brunswick? If so, I have yet to learn the reason. Before I sit down I +will endeavour to show my honourable friends what the distinction is +between Liberals and Conservatives--what the Liberals have done, and +what the Conservatives have not done. Now to the resolution. My +honourable friend said yesterday that the resolution meant initiation of +money grants. When this announcement was made I heard a shout from the +direction of my honourable friend, Mr. Partelow, in a tenor voice, and +an honourable member in the rear [Mr. Barberie] joining in a sort of +falsetto accompaniment. I think my honourable friend [Mr. Hazen] is much +to blame for having accused his honourable colleague [Mr. Woodward] with +writing an article in a city paper. What, suppose he did write it, do +not some of the first noblemen and statesmen in England write for the +papers? I will not deny that I have written for the papers myself some +little squibs. But it is wrong to place an honourable member in the +position where he will have to affirm or deny it. A great cry has been +raised of a contemplated attack on the government, and, after all, it +has turned out that their fears have been excited by a newspaper +paragraph. The government has fortified all their outposts, and His +Excellency and two aides have been on the lookout for the coming attack. +At length my honourable colleague [Mr. Fisher] brought forth his +resolutions when they said to each other, 'Why, this doesn't mean +anything; there is no attack.' But they slept over it one night, cracked +some wine upon it, and while sitting under the mahogany they +said--'Hazen, there is something in these resolutions of Fisher's, +depend upon it--some hidden meaning--what shall we say it is? what will +we call it? we must give them some ugly name, or they will pass.' 'Oh,' +said Hazen, 'I have it--initiation of money grants--that'll do; I'll +just go down to the House and cry out "mad dog," "initiation of money +grants"; members will become alarmed, and we'll succeed in defeating +them.' But the honourable member from St. John [Mr. Jordan] has made the +most wonderful discoveries; he has taken a peep from the lookout station +at the enemy; he has looked through a political microscope, and has +discovered more than the commander-in-chief himself. 'Why,' says he, +'there's everything there--I see "free trade" and "protection" both, and +let me see--I--there's the "Board of Works," too; and round on the other +side I see "Municipal Corporations."' I will endeavour before I sit down +to prove that the arguments of my honourable friend Mr. Hazen are +fallacious. He has been developing at a great rate yesterday; he was not +asked to develop the money, but to bring down such measures as would +develop the provincial resources; this is the meaning of the resolution, +and, had not my honourable friend become alarmed for the safety of the +government, there is no man into whose hands I would sooner place the +resolution. But he has chosen to put the construction upon the +resolution which he has done, and other honourable members said, 'Oh, he +knows what it means better than I do; he has cried "mad dog" and we'll +follow him.' The government is not asked to bring in the revenue bill, +or any other bill which involves the principle of money grants. All the +resolution requires is, that they shall be prepared, at the opening of +the session, with such measures as may be considered for the general +welfare of the country, and not keep the assembly waiting two or three +weeks for the motion of the government, as has been the case this +session. Honourable members will recollect that there is a constituency +behind them to whom they are accountable; but they may resolve and +re-resolve as they please. There is a spirit of inquiry abroad among the +people, a political intelligence, which was not to be found a few years +since when my honourable friend denounced responsible government as all +nonsense! What was the case when responsible government was first talked +of in this province? Who descended from their lofty eminence to warn the +people to beware of these new doctrines? The old official Family Compact +party--they who entrenched themselves behind the prerogative of the +Crown in 1836, came down to the people and said, 'We who have done so +much for you--we who have watched over and guarded you, beware of that +dreadful monster, responsible government.' These are the people who call +themselves Conservatives. What, I would ask, did they conserve? +Everything but the good of the country; and, had the Conservatism of +1836 been carried out, an insulted people would ere this have risen in +their majesty and would have shaken off the yoke of bondage under which +they had been labouring. + +{RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT} + +{THE PEOPLE SUPREME} + +"It has been said by honourable members of the government that there is +no distinction between Liberals and Conservatives. If this is the case, +why did they object to have me and two others take seats in the council +because we were Liberals? Here is a question which I would like my +honourable friends to answer. The Conservatives do not wish to see any +power in the hands of the people. [Interjection from Mr. End--'Not too +much.'] The honourable member from Gloucester, Mr. End, has receded from +his principles wonderfully; his speech yesterday was certainly a most +extraordinary one. He said to the government in a most supplicating tone +of voice, 'Give me fair play--give me the appointment of all the +bye-road commissioners, magistrates, sheriffs, and so on, in Gloucester, +and I will support you; that is all I want.' I will take care not to be +misunderstood in these matters, I will not allow any man to be the +exponent of my political principles. I believe departmental government +to be inseparable from our institutions, but will oppose the immediate +introduction of the whole system; I will bring it in step by step as the +country is prepared for it. Some extraordinary notions are entertained +as to the source from whence the power of the government is derived; the +freedom of government does not come down from the Crown, it goes up from +the people; and if the people are fit for these institutions they are +fit for self-government. I have frequently said that they who get the +people's money shall do the people's work. [From Mr. Partelow--'Yes, +that's right.'] I will now come down a step further--what was the case +in 1837? I am not going to disclose any secrets this time--but will +speak low. I wish to ask my honourable friend [Mr. Hazen] if, after the +administration changed in 1837, the government had the cordial +cooperation of the heads of departments? No! There has been a +counter-working going on--a constant endeavour to lead the government +astray and place them in a wrong position, and my generous-hearted +friend [Mr. Hazen] has to come down to this House and defend them. It is +a political fact, that previous to 1841 the heads of departments in this +province were in open hostility to the government. [From Mr. End--'They +could do no harm.'] If the departmental system were in operation, and +their tenure of office depended upon their ability so to conduct the +government as to merit the confidence of the assembly and the people, +there would be none of this stabbing in the dark, and running off the +track. It is, in my opinion, the only constitutional remedy for the good +working of the government. These five gentlemen who have lately formed +the mixed government, asked for departmental government when they signed +the address to the queen; yet now they refuse to adopt it. I should like +to know when they intend to graduate--does it depend upon the age of the +country or the state of the atmosphere? The fact is, whenever the people +of this country, through their representatives, choose to ask for it +they must get it. In 1844 they ran to the rescue of the prerogative in +Canada; but the very next year the same case came down to their own +doors! The tune was changed then, and an address was prepared to the +queen signed by the whole assembly except five. Why is this brought +about--why is the tune changed so suddenly? They at first said +responsible government is not fit for a colony--the next cry was, it is +not fit for New Brunswick, and finally they said, when they addressed +the queen--we must have it. Mr. Roebuck called upon Lord John Russell to +explain what responsible government was, which he has done [reads the +speech as delivered in the British parliament], and, when they had first +asked for it here, it was in full operation in Canada. My honourable +friend [Mr. Hazen] has accused me of having receded; but I will now ask +him to point out how I have done so? He has also said that I was brought +forward at the last election by the Conservatives. True, but I was +backed by all my old friends, and I told them if they took me, they must +do so with all my former opinions--opinions which I never will give up. +When they talk about there being no difference in political +names,--there is a difference; those who have contended for Liberal +principles have their names covered with obloquy. We ask for a +constitution that, while it protects the queen upon the throne, throws, +at the same time, its paternal arms around the helpless infant. This we +ask for, this we want--the pure, the free, the glorious constitution of +England; for this we have contended, for this the Liberals of New +Brunswick have fought, and let them call us rebels who have nothing else +to write about, I care not; we ask for a system that will give fair play +to all--that will upset all Family Compacts, and give to the sons of +New Brunswick their birthright, the benefit of free institutions and +self-government. This is what we want, and I will not submit tamely to +be called a rebel; I defy any honourable member to look at my political +life and say where I have overstepped the bounds of the constitution? If +I do live three thousand miles from the great body of the empire, still +that empire sends its blood through the veins of every British subject. +A son of New Brunswick has the same right to the benefit of her +institutions as has a resident of London, and I will not submit to be +cut off by any political man[oe]uvring." + +{REFORM DEFEATED} + +After a long debate, Mr. Fisher's resolution was defeated by a vote of +twenty-three to twelve, which showed that the friends of Reform had +still much work to do. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] This occurred during the time of the "rump" government composed of +Messrs. Simonds, Allen and McLeod, the members of the executive who +refused to resign at the time of the Reade appointment. + +[7] The following resolutions which were moved by Mr. Partelow were +carried in the House of Assembly by a vote of twenty to two: + +"1st. _Resolved_, That this committee deeply regret that His Excellency +the lieutenant-governor in council should not have felt himself +authorized to communicate to the House the despatch of the Right +Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of January 5th, +1845, relative to the appropriation of the surplus civil list, in answer +to the address of the House of Assembly of March 14th, 1845, whereby the +House was prevented from representing, by an humble and dutiful address +to Her Majesty, that such appropriation was not in accordance with the +despatch of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies +of August 31st, 1836. + +"2d. _Resolved_, As the opinion of this committee, that any funds +necessary to carry out the fourth article of the Treaty of Washington, +being a national treaty with a foreign power, ought not to be chargeable +upon the funds of this province; and that the House should, by an humble +and dutiful address to Her Majesty, pray that any appropriation made for +that purpose from the surplus civil list fund may be refunded to the +same." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE VICTORY IS WON + + +The session of 1848 was destined to be a memorable one in the history of +responsible government in New Brunswick. It was evident that with the +House as then constituted no progress could be made unless a change were +brought about in the views of some of its members by outside pressure. +In this instance the pressure came from the imperial government, which +desired to bring the political condition of New Brunswick into line with +that of Canada and Nova Scotia. In March, 1847, Earl Grey, the colonial +secretary, addressed a despatch to Sir John Harvey, the governor of Nova +Scotia, in which he laid down the principles which he thought should +control colonial administration. The most important feature of this +despatch was its declaration with reference to the composition of the +executive council. With regard to office-holders in general, Earl Grey +thought that they ought not to be disturbed in consequence of any change +of government, but he was of opinion that a different rule should apply +to such officials as were members of the executive council. On this +point he adopted the language of Mr. Poulett Thomson (Lord Sydenham), +who, in a despatch to Lord John Russell, written at Halifax, in the +year 1840, said:-- + +"The functions of the executive council, on the other hand, are, it is +perfectly clear, of a totally different character; they are a body upon +whom the governor must be able to call at any or at all times for +advice, with whom he can consult upon the measures to be submitted to +the legislature, and in whom he may find instruments within its walls to +introduce such amendments in the laws as he may think necessary, or to +defend his acts and his policy. It is obvious, therefore, that those who +compose this body must be persons whose constant attendance on the +governor can be secured; principally, therefore, officers of the +government, but, when it may be expedient to introduce others, men +holding seats in one or other House, taking a leading part in political +life, and above all, exercising influence over the assembly. + +"The last, and in my opinion by far the most serious, defect in the +government is the utter absence of power in the executive, and its total +want of energy to attempt to occupy the attention of the country upon +real improvements, or to lead the legislature in the preparation and +adoption of measures for the benefit of the colony. It does not appear +to have occurred to any one that it is one of the first duties of the +government to suggest improvements where they are wanted; that, the +constitution having placed the power of legislation in the hands of an +assembly and a council, it is only by acting through these bodies that +the duty can be performed; and that, if these proper and legitimate +functions of government are neglected, the necessary result must be not +only that the improvements which the people have a right to expect will +be neglected, and the prosperity of the country checked, but that each +branch of legislature will misuse its power, and the popular mind be +easily led into excitement upon mere abstract theories of government to +which their attention is directed as the remedy for the uneasiness they +feel." + +He concluded by expressing the opinion that the peculiar circumstances +of Nova Scotia presented no insuperable obstacle to the immediate +adoption of that system of parliamentary government which had long +prevailed in the mother country. + +{A MEMORABLE DESPATCH} + +A copy of this despatch was sent to the lieutenant-governor of New +Brunswick and it was laid before the House in pursuance of an address +which had been passed a few days before. It was understood that the +principles laid down in this despatch would be equally applicable to the +province of New Brunswick, and Mr. Fisher moved that the House should +approve of them and of their application to New Brunswick. This +resolution was carried by a vote of twenty-four to eleven, which was a +complete reversal of the vote of the previous session. Among those who +voted for the resolution were the three members of the government who +had seats in the House of Assembly and who had been previously opposed +to any such change in the political system of the country. Thus the +victory for responsible government was practically won, and it only +remained to perfect the details. + +Immediately after the prorogation of the legislature, a reorganization +of the government took place, Messrs. Baillie, Shore and Johnston +retired and their places were taken by Messrs. Wilmot, Partelow, Fisher +and Kinnear. Mr. Wilmot became attorney-general in the place of Mr. +Peters, recently deceased, who had filled that office for twenty years. +Mr. Partelow became provincial secretary in place of John Simcoe +Saunders. Mr. Kinnear, who had been made solicitor-general in 1846, now +became a member of the government under the new system, while Mr. Fisher +took his seat as a member of the government without office. Thus were +the principles of responsible government vindicated and established in +New Brunswick. The provincial secretary, the attorney-general and the +solicitor-general became political officers subject to change with every +change of government. The surveyor-general, Mr. Baillie, by resigning +from the government escaped this condition for the time being, but it +was not long before that office also became political, Mr. Baillie +himself retiring with a pension in 1851. + +{INFLUENCE OF COLONIAL OFFICE} + +Messrs. Wilmot and Fisher were much censured by their friends for +becoming members of a government that was essentially Conservative and +in which they were in a minority. But as the principles for which they +had contended had been admitted and were now in a measure established, +there seemed to be no reason why they should not assist in working them +out. Wilmot as attorney-general certainly had greater opportunities of +advancing the cause of Reform than as a private member, and he and +Fisher working together were able to exercise a strong influence on the +administration. In the following year, as has already been seen, a +measure was carried voiding the seats of members of the assembly who +became heads of departments in the government, or enjoyed any office of +profit or emolument under the Crown, and this was all that was necessary +to establish responsible government on a firm basis. There was indeed +one other difficulty, the interference of the colonial office and the +influence of the governor, who had been accustomed to govern the +province largely by means of despatches. This influence was one which +could only be got rid of by degrees, for the wise men of Downing Street +always thought they knew much better what colonists required than did +the colonists themselves. The colonial secretary undertook to dictate to +the province as to the kind of tariff it should pass, and to refuse +assent to the passage of bills by the legislature giving a preference +to any particular county or granting bounties to fishermen or others +engaged in any special calling. It was felt to be a hardship that the +province was not permitted to give encouragement to any industry which +it desired to assist, and so strong was this feeling that at the session +of 1850, immediately after the receipt of a despatch from Earl Grey +disallowing the bill of the previous session granting bounties for the +cultivation of hemp, a bill was introduced and carried by an +overwhelming majority in the assembly appropriating three thousand +pounds for bounties to fishermen. This bill was rejected by the council, +so that the colonial secretary was spared the difficulty which would +have been involved in being defied by the New Brunswick legislature. It +was also felt to be a great hardship that, at a time when the colonies +were being deprived of the preferential tariff they had so long enjoyed +in the English markets, they should be debarred from entering into +commercial arrangements with foreign nations. A series of strongly +worded resolutions on this subject was moved by Mr. David Wark, and was +well supported, although not carried. The language used by many of the +speakers during the debate showed that the loyal feelings which had +always distinguished the people of the province were being subjected to +a severe strain by the policy of the British government. These +interferences with provincial rights continued for many years after +Wilmot had retired from public life, and therefore it is unnecessary to +refer to them further. + +{THE PORTLAND CONVENTION} + +Wilmot had but few opportunities during his active career as a public +man of displaying his abilities outside of his native province. His fame +as an orator was therefore mainly a local one, and the Portland Railway +Convention of 1850 was the first occasion on which he was recognized as +one of the best speakers on the continent. That great gathering of the +railway and business men of the United States and Canada was assembled +for the purpose of taking measures to secure a shorter ocean route to +Europe than was afforded by steamships sailing from New York. It was +thought that a better plan would be to run steamships from some port on +the west coast of Ireland to a port on the east coast of Nova Scotia, a +distance of about two thousand miles, and to connect the latter with New +York by a line of railway. No one doubted at that time that this was a +plan that was likely to succeed, and probably it would have done so if +there had been no improvement in the construction of steamships. No one +dreamed in those days that boats with a speed of twenty-five knots an +hour and of twenty thousand tons displacement would be running to New +York before the century was ended, and that the voyage to Liverpool +would be reduced to less than six days. + +The Portland Convention included many eminent men from the United States +and Canada and not a few that could justly be described as orators, but +it was universally admitted that in eloquence Attorney-General Wilmot, +of New Brunswick, exceeded them all. The reporter of the proceedings of +the convention stated, in the pamphlet afterwards published, that it was +due to the speaker and to himself to say that "he had been entirely +unable to give anything like a report of the remarks of Mr. Wilmot." The +reporter also quotes the statement of another that "Mr. Wilmot delivered +one of the most spicy, eloquent and enlivening speeches which he ever +heard, which, while it kept the audience in the best spirits, was +replete with noble sentiments commending themselves to the hearts of all +present. His remarks were generally upon the moral, social and +intellectual influences which would result from the contemplated work. +No sketch would do justice to its power and beauty, its flashes of wit +and humour." + +{WILMOT'S GREAT SPEECH} + +The following report of Wilmot's great convention speech, although +admittedly very imperfect, is given as almost the only example that +survives of his eloquence:-- + +"I find myself in a new position in addressing a convention in a city, +in a state, and under a government that is foreign to me, as far as +citizenship is concerned. But I feel myself at home, for I am among +those who derive their inheritance from the same common ancestry. I am, +Mr. President, not a son of New England, but a grandson, and I can find +the old gravestone which indicates the graves of my ancestors, in a +pleasant village of Connecticut [cheers]. + +"We in the provinces came to this convention at your call. We have +responded to your invitation and you have given us a brother's welcome. +Physiologists affirm that the exercise of the muscles tends to their +enlargement and fuller development; and phrenologists affirm that the +exercise of the different faculties develops in a corresponding degree +the bumps upon the cranium. I would beg to add something to this +category,--the exercise of benevolence and kindness enlarges the heart, +and since I have been among you I have felt my heart growing big within +me [cheers]. + +"I am delighted to see this day, and could I give expression to the +emotions which swell up within me I would do so, but my power fails in +the attempt, and I cannot presume to make a speech. We do not, however, +meet to consult about California, where one hundred and twelve hour +speeches are necessary, or about the admission of New Mexico into the +Union. Our object is to effect an admission into the great railroad +union, and on this question we admit of no 'compromises.' We go straight +ahead in our purpose and the union will be effected [cheers]. + +"I know, Mr. President, it is a great work in which we are engaged. I +know that it looks vast, if not impossible of achievement to those who +have not studied its relations and its details, but those who look at it +through the enlarged medium which its contemplation presents will find +that difficulties diminish as its importance grows upon their vision. + +"Look at the progress of similar enterprises among yourselves in the +state of Maine, and other parts of New England, and then say whether +anything is required of us but union of effort and faith in the result +of our exertions. In prosecuting our work in this matter, we must have +faith; but as faith without works is dead, let us put forth our +exertions and go steadily forward to a speedy and glorious completion of +our great enterprise [cheers]. + +"If the timid falter and the doubting hold back, there are others who +will take their places and keep our ranks full. We have only to hold our +position, and drive back the army of doubters, or opposers, who may +resist our march. We must give them the same reception that General +Taylor gave to the army of Santa Anna at Buena Vista. If opposed by +superior numbers, or if on any part of the field there are those who +hesitate, or hold back when a stronghold of the enemy is to be carried, +I would repeat the order of General Taylor: 'A little more grape, +Captain Poor'[8] [tremendous cheers]. + +"It is written in the decrees of eternal Providence, Mr. President, +that we shall learn war no more; we may then go on side by side with +glorious emulation for the cause of virtue and philanthropy throughout +the world, striving who shall out-vie the other. How changed in every +respect, now, is the condition of our race! How glorious the sight of +two great peoples uniting as one, 'to draw more closely the bands of +brotherhood, that yet shall make of all mankind but one great +brotherhood of nations.' The sentiment of that resolution which embodies +this idea is worthy of its author and of the American character; but it +is also a sentiment to which the people of the British empire will +respond [cheers]. + +"Sir, I found in the circular which invited us here this sentiment +expressed, in terms which aroused to the fullest enthusiasm the mind of +every man in the British provinces: 'The spirit of peace has at last +prevailed--national animosities, sectional and political hostility have +disappeared between the English races since the establishment of the +boundaries of Maine and Oregon, and the contests of war have been +succeeded by a noble and generous rivalry for the promotion of the arts +of peace. The introduction of the steamship and the railway has made +former enemies friends. National hostility has given way to commercial +and social intercourse, and under whatever form of government they may +hereafter exist, they can never again become hostile or unfriendly' +[cheers]. + +"To this sentiment I respond with all my heart. It is this sentiment +that has brought us together. I know not who was the author of this +circular, but whoever he may be, in the name of every Englishman--in the +name of every American, sir, in the name of humanity, I tender him +thanks [cheers]. + +"An enterprise aiming to accomplish such results, and which is in and of +itself calculated to produce such results, cannot fail of success. The +whole civilized world is interested in its accomplishment. There are +some good old-fashioned people who think we are going too fast and too +far in our railroad enterprises. We have, they say, lived and got along +well enough without railroads, and now you seem to think that your +temporal salvation depends upon it! Blot out your telegraphs, lay up +your steamboats,--what darkness would come upon the world! We must form +ourselves into a council of war for the purpose of combating these old +prejudices, and, instead of being turned away from our objects, we will +take stronger grounds than ever occupied before. + +"Mr. President, we of the provinces have made up our minds no longer to +remain quiet in our present condition. With all the fine natural +advantages our country possesses, we make comparatively slow progress, +and our province itself is scarcely known to the world. I shall be +pardoned here for relating an anecdote to illustrate the truth of this +remark. + +"In a recent visit to Washington upon official business, I had occasion +to tarry a few days in the city of New York, and among the places that I +visited with a friend was one of the colleges in the city. My friend +introduced me to a learned professor as his friend, the +'Attorney-general of New Brunswick.' We entered into conversation on a +variety of subjects, and he inquired when I came over to the city, and +as to various matters going on in the neighbouring state. Seeing the +mistake of the learned professor, I thought it hardly kind to mortify +him by correcting it, and I answered in the best way I could, and took +my leave; and to this hour, I suppose, the learned professor thinks he +was talking with the attorney-general of the fine old state of New +Jersey [tremendous cheers]. + +"Seeing that my own country itself was hardly known beyond its bounds, I +felt a little concern that she should not always remain in this +condition. I felt, as many of my friends and neighbours have long felt, +that we must look at home for the means of making our province honoured +and respected abroad. And we intend to open this line of railway +entirely across the breadth of our province and bring ourselves into +connection with the world [cheers]. + +"Mr. President, I cannot omit, in this connection, the expression of my +profound regard for the American Union. It is the union of these states +that has given you greatness and strength at home and the respect and +admiration of the civilized world [long-continued cheers]. + +"The great interests of Christianity, of philanthropy and of liberty, +throughout the world, depend upon the union of these states. We of New +Brunswick, of Nova Scotia, and of Canada are deeply interested in its +existence. If there is any question of the day that interests us more +than all others, it is this very question of the perpetuity of the +union. For myself, I think there should be passed a law providing that +the man who would even conceive the idea of a dissolution of the union +should be guilty of treason. In the sincerity of my heart, I say, perish +the man who should dare to think of it [tremendous cheers]!" + +With respect to railway legislation Wilmot was not in advance of many +others in the province whose general political views were less liberal +than his own. There was always a good deal of local feeling injected +into the discussion of railway matters and Wilmot, who was a resident of +Fredericton, incurred a good deal of censure for the ridicule which he +threw on the proposal to build a railway from St. John to Shediac, which +is now a part of the Intercolonial. As this railway brought the counties +bordering on the Straits of Northumberland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence +into easy communication with St. John, nothing is more clear than that +of all the railways then projected in the province it was the one most +likely to be useful and profitable, but Wilmot apparently could not +forget the fact that it did not touch his own county. His speech on this +subject was made in the legislature before the meeting of the Portland +Convention, and it is worthy of note that five-sixths of the Shediac +Railway was to be used as part of the magnificent European and North +American Railway scheme which was so much lauded by him in his Portland +speech. + +{HIS WORK IN LEGISLATION} + +There is not much to be said in regard to the political life of Wilmot +after he became attorney-general. His principal legislative achievement +while he filled that office was an Act for the consolidation of the +criminal law with regard to the definition of certain indictable +offences and the punishment thereof. This was a useful but not a +brilliant work, which many another man might have performed equally +well. In the session of 1850, Wilmot carried a bill through the House of +Assembly for the reduction of the salaries of the judges of the supreme +court and some other officials, but this measure did not pass the +legislative council. He had always been in favour of a low scale of +salaries as best suited to the conditions which prevailed in the +province. The scale had been fixed in 1836, when the casual and +territorial revenues were placed under the control of the province, but +an agitation soon afterwards commenced for further reductions. The +imperial government would not consent to the reduction of any salary +while the holder of the office lived, except in the case of the +surveyor-general, whose duties had been decreased, but it agreed to a +lower scale for future occupants of the offices. In this way the salary +of the provincial secretary had been reduced from L1,599 11s. to L600; +that of the surveyor-general from L2,019 4s. 4d. to L1,209 12s. 4d., and +that of the auditor-general from L500 to L346 3s. The salaries of the +judges, however, remained the same in 1850 as they had been in 1836, +viz., L1,096 3s. for the chief-justice and L750 for each of the puisne +judges. Wilmot's bill reduced these salaries to L700 for the +chief-justice and L600 to each of the other judges. He also voted for a +resolution in favour of making the legislative council elective, and +that an address should be presented to Her Majesty asking her to consent +to the passage of such a bill. A favourable answer was received from Her +Majesty, but the scheme to make the legislative council elective was +never carried into effect, in consequence of the opposition which it +encountered in that body. + +There is no doubt that the popularity of Wilmot seriously declined after +he entered the government. This was very plainly seen at the general +election which took place in June, 1850, when he narrowly escaped +defeat, being the lowest on the poll of the members elected, while his +colleague in the government, Mr. Fisher, was defeated, polling less than +one-half the number of votes given to the candidate who was highest on +the poll. But, on the whole, the result throughout the province was +favourable to the cause of Reform, and among those elected in York who +stood higher on the poll than Wilmot were two new members who held +advanced views with respect to the amendment of the constitution. + +{THE GOVERNOR AND THE JUDGES} + +Although responsible government had been conceded to New Brunswick, and +it was admitted that public offices should be bestowed in accordance +with the wishes of the people, the close of Wilmot's legislative career +was marked by an event which showed that the old order of things had not +entirely passed away. Chief-Justice Chipman, owing to failing health, +resigned his seat on the bench in the autumn of 1850, and it became +necessary to provide for a successor. A meeting of the executive council +was called for the purpose of filling the vacancy, and six members of +the council out of the eight who were present signed a memorandum to the +effect that it was not advisable to appoint any person to the vacant +office, but that such a division of the work of the judiciary should be +made by the legislature as would secure the efficient discharge of the +judicial duties by three judges, together with the Master of the Rolls. +Wilmot was one of the persons who signed this memorandum, but on the +following day he called on the governor and asked that his name might be +withdrawn from it, he having in the meantime apparently changed his +mind. The governor, Sir Edmund Head, asked the judges whether, in their +opinion, three of them would be able to do all the judicial business of +the country, and received from them a strongly worded protest against +any such alteration in the number of judges. Mr. Fisher, who was one of +the members of the executive present at the meeting, submitted to the +governor a paper in which he took strong grounds against the proposal to +reduce the number of judges. Sir Edmund Head referred the matter to the +home authorities, and they decided that the proposed change in the +number of judges was not advisable. Moreover, they decided as to who +should fill the vacant offices, and asked the governor to appoint Mr. +Justice Carter to the position of chief-justice and to offer a puisne +judgeship to the attorney-general, Mr. Wilmot, and if he refused it to +the solicitor-general, Mr. Kinnear. Mr. Wilmot accepted, and thus +brought his political career to an end. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] This is an adaptation of General Taylor's words. John A. Poor was +the chief promoter of the European and North American Railway and the +chairman of the committee of arrangements of the Portland Convention. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +JUDGE AND GOVERNOR + + +The opinion that was entertained of Mr. Wilmot by those who were closely +associated with him in the work of Reform was well expressed by the late +Mr. George E. Fenety, in his _Political Notes_. + +"A great luminary," says Mr. Fenety, "set in semi-darkness on the day +that Mr. Wilmot left the forum for the bench. He was the light of the +House for sixteen years, the centre from whence radiated most of the +sparkling gems in the political firmament. It was at a time of life +(comparatively a young man) and a period when talents such as his were +most wanted by his party and his country. Notwithstanding his supposed +mistake in having joined a Conservative government, the Liberals were +always willing to receive their old leader back with outstretched +arms--ready to forgive and go along again with him over the old road, +and, to a man, would have held to him had he made a stand against Sir +Edmund Head, and told him--'thus far and no farther shalt thou go'." + +Many of Wilmot's friends regretted that he should have accepted the +office of judge on the conditions under which it was offered. They +thought that as attorney-general he was entitled to the position of +chief-justice, and that in consenting to take the puisne judgeship he +had lowered himself. It is hardly necessary to discuss a question of +this kind at the present day. No doubt he had reasons of his own for +retiring from the arena of politics. The work he had been doing for the +public had placed a great strain upon him and interfered with his legal +business to a very serious extent. He was never a wealthy man, and had +therefore to consider his own future, while a position on the bench was +one of honour and dignity which was regarded as worthy of acceptance by +any member of the legal profession. + +There was nothing worthy of note in the career of Mr. Wilmot as a judge. +He was never considered to be a deeply read lawyer, but he filled the +office of judge with dignity and general acceptance. His duties were not +sufficiently arduous to prevent him from having leisure to engage in +other lines of inquiry, for his mind was much interested in questions +connected with science. He frequently appeared on the lecture platform +and always with success. + +When confederation was accomplished, it was felt that of all the natives +of New Brunswick he was the most worthy to be appointed its first +lieutenant-governor under the new regime. Judge Wilmot himself was +willing to accept the office as a fitting close to his long and active +career as a public man; but for some reason, which it is now impossible +to ascertain, the appointment was not made until about a year after +confederation. Judge Wilmot became lieutenant-governor on July 23rd, +1868, and continued to hold that honourable and important office until +November 14th, 1873, when he was succeeded by the Hon. S. L. Tilley. + +{OTHER ACTIVITIES} + +So far, we have been considering Wilmot as a politician and member of +the legislature, but a very imperfect idea of his character would be +gathered from regarding him merely in these capacities. He was a +many-sided man, and had other interests which occupied his attention as +much as, or more than, those public questions to which he devoted so +much of his vigour. It has already been stated that his father was a +member of the Baptist Church, and one of the founders of the church of +that denomination in Fredericton. It does not appear that the son ever +identified himself with that Church, or that while a youth he gave much +attention to religious matters. It was not until after the death of his +first wife, which took place in 1833, that he became affected by +religious influences and began to attend the services of the Methodist +Church, the pulpit of which was then filled by the Rev. Enoch Wood, a +man of much ability and eloquence whose style of oratory was very +impressive. Under his ministrations Mr. Wilmot became a convert, was +baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Fredericton, and from that +time until the close of his life he was a very prominent figure in it. +He filled the office of superintendent of its Sunday School for upwards +of twenty-five years, and was the leader of the church choir for thirty +years. When he was appointed governor it was thought that he would give +up these offices, but he still continued to fill them, and was +superintendent of the Sunday School up to the day when his life came to +an end. He always took a great interest in questions relating to the +Bible, and frequently lectured on topics connected with it. He +vehemently opposed the teachings of Darwin and others who followed the +same line of inquiry, and he stoutly maintained that wherever the Bible +and science were in conflict, science was in the wrong. He seems to have +been, from first to last, an unquestioning believer in the doctrines of +the Christian religion, and he viewed with great disfavour any one who +ventured to question any part of its creed. As a lecturer he was +eloquent and though discursive, always interesting. None of his lectures +were written, so that to-day they are only a fading memory to those who +heard them delivered. Though found acceptable at the time, it is hardly +likely that, if delivered at the present day, they would enjoy so high a +degree of popularity. People are not now so willing to accept sweeping +assertions which are in conflict with the conclusions of scientific men +who have devoted their lives to a patient study of the phenomena of life +and the records of creation. + +{INTEREST IN MILITARY MATTERS} + +One of the most pleasing features of Judge Wilmot's character was his +fondness for children. He was never so happy as when among the young +people, and long after he became a judge he took an intense interest in +drilling the schoolboys and instructing them in all martial exercises; +indeed, he seemed to be quite as much devoted to this work as he was to +any other of his numerous employments. When a very young man, he became +an ensign in the first battalion of York County militia, and speedily +rose to be captain. When the so-called Aroostook War[9] broke out in +1839 he was major of a company of rifles attached to that battalion, and +he volunteered for active service at the front. His interest in military +matters continued until a late period, and, in the first military camp +organized in the province by the lieutenant-governor, the Hon. Arthur +Gordon, in 1863, he commanded one of the battalions. If Wilmot had not +been a politician and a lawyer, he might have been a great evangelist or +a great soldier. + +Judge Wilmot was very fond of flowers, and the beautiful grounds at +Evelyn Grove, where he resided, were looked upon as the finest in the +province. Nearly every visitor to Fredericton found his way to that +charming place and was sure of a cordial welcome from the judge, who +delighted to show strangers what he had been able to accomplish in +growing flowers and rare plants. Not the least interesting feature of +such visits was the conversation of the host, who abounded in knowledge +of horticulture, and was always ready to give others the benefit of his +information. It was in this lovely retreat that the last years of Mr. +Wilmot's life were passed. When his term as governor expired, the +government of Canada very properly gave him a pension as a retired +judge. In 1875 he succeeded the Right Hon. Mr. Childers, as second +commissioner under the Prince Edward Island Land Purchase Act. He was +nominated as one of the arbitrators in the Ontario and North-West +Boundary Commission, but did not live long enough to act in that +capacity. + +{HIS DEATH} + +During the last two or three years of his life he suffered much from +chronic neuralgia, which sometimes prevented him from stirring +out-of-doors. No serious result was anticipated, and he was generally +able to take active exercise and engage in his usual routine of duty. On +Monday, May 20th, 1878, while driving in his carriage with his wife, he +complained of a sudden and severe pain in the region of the heart. He +was at once driven home and a physician summoned, but in a few minutes +he passed away. He had not quite completed his seventieth year. His +death evoked expressions of regret and sympathy from every part of the +province, and tributes of respect and admiration from many who resided +in other parts of Canada and in the United States. + +Judge Wilmot was twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1832, +was Jane, daughter of Mr. James Balloch, of St. John. She died very soon +after their marriage, and in 1834 he married Miss Elizabeth Black, +daughter of the Hon. William Black, of Halifax, and granddaughter of the +Rev. William Black, who is regarded as the apostle of Wesleyan Methodism +in the Maritime Provinces. + +In estimating the character and achievements of L. A. Wilmot, regard +must be had to the conditions under which the battle for responsible +government was fought, and the peculiar difficulties he had to face. He +had not only to contend against governors determined to use their power +to the utmost, an immovable legislative council and a reactionary +executive, but he had to attempt to inspire with something of his own +spirit a House of Assembly which had but little sympathy with his views. +That he did not accomplish more is less a matter of surprise than that +he accomplished so much. With heavy odds against him, he contended for +the rights of the people and the improvement of the constitution, and he +lived to see the principles for which he had fought so firmly +established in his native province that they can never be disturbed. + +{A CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE} + +It was never his good fortune to be the leader and master of a +government or to have a free hand in the work of legislation. We are +therefore left in the dark as to what he might have accomplished under +more favourable conditions. Yet there is but little doubt that, had he +remained in public life, the progress of Reform would have been greatly +accelerated, and that such important measures as the establishing of +free schools would have been brought about much earlier than was the +case without his vigorous support. The faults of Wilmot were those that +belong to an ardent, enthusiastic and liberty-loving temperament. He +hated injustice in every form, and in his denunciation of evil he was +sometimes led to use stronger language than men of cooler feelings +approved. In this way he aroused opposition and left himself open to +attack. Yet it is doubtful whether the censure of his enemies was as +injurious as the flattery of some who professed to be his friends, and +who were ready to applaud whatever he said or did. Being accepted as a +leader when a mere youth because he had made a few eloquent speeches, he +missed the wholesome discipline which most men have to undergo before +they achieve fame. He would have been a greater and wiser man if he had +been spared the unthinking flattery which was too lavishly bestowed upon +him. Yet, after all has been said by those who would seek to minimize +his merits, the fact remains that this son of New Brunswick stood for +years as the foremost champion of the rights of the people, and that it +is impossible to deny him a place among the great men who have assisted +to build up Canada. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] The Aroostook War arose out of the unsettled boundary question +between Maine and New Brunswick. There was a large area on the St. John +River, the ownership of which was in dispute, and in 1839 the difficulty +came to a head in consequence of the governor of Maine undertaking to +solve the question in his own way by taking possession of the territory. +Governor Fairfield, of Maine, sent eighteen hundred militiamen to the +front and Sir John Harvey, the governor of New Brunswick, issued a +proclamation asserting the right of Great Britain to guard the territory +while it was in dispute, and calling on the governor of Maine to +withdraw his troops. Fairfield denied the right to issue a counter +proclamation and called on the state for ten thousand men. Sir John +Harvey then sent Colonel Maxwell with the 36th and 69th Regiments and a +train of artillery to the upper St. John to watch the movements of the +militia. A large force of New Brunswick militia was also embodied and +sent to the front. Fortunately, President Van Buren sent General +Winfield Scott to Maine with full power to settle the difficulty. He got +into a friendly correspondence with Sir John Harvey, which led to an +understanding by which the troops on both sides were withdrawn and all +danger of war averted. The boundary question was afterwards settled by +the Ashburton Treaty. + + + + +[Illustration: S. L. Tilley] + + + + +SIR LEONARD TILLEY + + + + +CHAPTER I + +EARLY LIFE AND BUSINESS CAREER + + +The political career of Samuel Leonard Tilley did not begin until the +year that brought the work of Lemuel Allan Wilmot as a legislator to a +close. Both were elected members of the House of Assembly in 1850, but +in the following year Wilmot was elevated to the bench, so that the +province lost his services as a political reformer just as a new man, +who was destined to win as great a reputation as himself, was stepping +on the stage. Samuel Leonard Tilley was born at Gagetown, on the St. +John River, on May 8th, 1818, just thirty-five years after the landing +of his royalist grandfather at St. John. He passed away seventy-eight +years later, full of years and honours, having won the highest prizes +that it was in the power of his native province to bestow. + +{OF LOYALIST STOCK} + +In these days, when a man becomes eminent an effort is usually made to +trace his descent from distinguished ancestors, but most of the early +inhabitants of New Brunswick were too careless in such matters to leave +much material to the modern maker of pedigrees. Sir Leonard Tilley was +unable to trace his descent beyond his great-grandfather, Samuel Tilley. +At one time it was thought that his first ancestor in America was John +Tilley, who came over in the _Mayflower_ in 1620, but a closer search of +the records of the Plymouth colony reveals the fact that John Tilley +left no sons. But there were persons of the name of Tilley in the +Massachusetts Bay colony as early as 1640, and there seems to be no +doubt that Sir Leonard Tilley's ancestors had been long in America. They +belonged to the respectable farming class which has given the Dominion +of Canada and the United States so many of their most distinguished +sons. Samuel Tilley, the great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, was a farmer +on Long Island at the time of the American Revolution. His farm was then +within the boundaries of the present borough of Brooklyn, and the +curious in such matters can find the very lot upon which he resided laid +down upon some of the ancient maps of that locality. At the time the +British occupied Long Island, after the battle which took place there in +the autumn of 1776, resulting in the defeat of the Americans, the +Brooklyn farmers were called upon to provide cattle for the sustenance +of the troops. Samuel Tilley, being a loyal man and a friend of the +government, complied, and for this he was made the subject of attacks by +the disloyal element among his neighbours, and in the course of time was +compelled to seek shelter within the British lines. The occupation of +Long Island by the British during the whole period of the war made it +secure enough for Samuel Tilley, as well as for all loyal men who lived +in the vicinity of Brooklyn; but when the war was over it became +necessary for him to seek shelter in Nova Scotia, the acts of +confiscation and banishment against the Loyalists being of the most +severe character. Samuel Tilley came to New Brunswick with the spring +fleet, which arrived in St. John in May, 1783, and was a grantee of +Parrtown, which is now the city of St. John. He erected a house and +store on King Street, on the south side, just to the east of Germain, +and there commenced a business which he continued for several years. He +died at St. John in the year 1815. His wife was Elizabeth Morgan, who +survived him for many years and died in 1835, aged eighty-four years. + +Sir Leonard Tilley was not born when his great-grandfather died, but had +a clear recollection of his great-grandmother, who lived for about four +years after he came to reside in St. John. James Tilley, the grandfather +of Sir Leonard, was also a grantee of Parrtown, he having purchased for +a trifling sum, when a boy, a lot on Princess Street, which had been +drawn by some person who was anxious to dispose of it. James Tilley was +a resident of Sunbury County and a magistrate there for a great many +years, dying in the year 1851. Sir Leonard Tilley's father, Thomas +Morgan Tilley, was born in 1790, and served his time with Israel Gove, +who was a house-joiner and builder. He spent his early days as a +lumberman, getting out ship timber, his operations being carried on +mainly at Tantiwanty, in the rear of Upper Gagetown. He afterwards went +into business at Gagetown, and kept a store there down to the time of +his death, which took place in 1870. Sir Leonard's great-grandmother, on +his father's side, was Mary Chase, of the Chase family of Massachusetts, +she having come from Freetown, in that state. Sir Leonard's mother was +Susan Ann Peters, daughter of William Peters, who was for many years a +prominent farmer in Queens County, and a member of the legislative +assembly. William Peters owned a large property and had one of the +finest tracts of land possessed by any man in the province in his day. +But he was unwise enough to sell it for the purpose of obtaining money +with which to enter into lumbering with William Wilmot, the father of L. +A. Wilmot, and, being unsuccessful in his operations, his whole fortune +was swept away. The ancestors of William Peters were from New York +state, from which they came with the rest of the Loyalists in 1783. + +{EARLY EDUCATION} + +The house in Gagetown in which the future governor of New Brunswick and +finance minister of Canada was born, is still standing and is now used +as a hotel. Gagetown was at that period, and still is, one of the most +beautiful places in New Brunswick. The river St. John flows in front of +it, and Gagetown Creek, which is almost as wide as the river, laves its +shores. The land in the vicinity is fertile, and fine old trees line the +streets, giving an air of beauty and refinement to the locality. Sir +Leonard was named after his uncle, Samuel Leonard Peters, and the latter +was named after an English schoolmaster named Samuel Leonard, who was a +great favourite with William Peters, the grandfather of the subject of +this biography. Samuel Leonard, after leaving Gagetown, appears to have +removed to Nova Scotia, and probably died in that province. When Sir +Leonard was five years old he was sent to the Madras School in Gagetown, +of which Samuel Babbitt was the teacher. He attended this school from +1823 until 1827, when the grammar school was instituted in Gagetown. The +Madras school system was at that time in high favour with the people of +the province, and these schools received large grants from the +government, it being thought that this system was more advantageous than +any other for the instruction of youth. This idea, however, did not +prove to be universally correct, for in the course of a few years we +find the legislature declaring that while they believed the Madras +system suitable to towns and populous places, it did not answer so well +in rural districts. Samuel Babbitt, the teacher of the Madras School, +was clerk of the parish, and, according to the custom of that day, led +the responses in church. The rector of Gagetown at this period was the +Rev. Samuel Clark. The teacher of the local grammar school which young +Tilley attended from 1827 to 1831 was William Jenkins, a graduate of +Dublin University. Jenkins was a very severe man, and believed in the +doctrine that he who spares the rod spoils the child, and Sir Leonard +had a very vivid recollection of the vigour with which he applied the +birch. He removed from Gagetown shortly after 1831, and took up his +residence in Quebec, where he conducted a large school for many years, +dying about the year 1863. Sir Leonard, after he had become a well-known +political character and a member of the government of New Brunswick, had +the pleasure of paying him a visit some time in 1858. + +An interesting incident occurred in 1827, at the time young Tilley +commenced to attend the grammar school. Sir Howard Douglas, who was then +governor of New Brunswick, paid a visit to Gagetown and was the guest of +Colonel Harry Peters, the speaker of the House of Assembly. While the +governor and his host were walking through Gagetown, they met young +Tilley and a son of Harry Peters returning from school, and the boys +were introduced to His Excellency, who presented each of them with a +Spanish quarter-dollar. Sir Leonard could remember and often spoke of +the appearance of Sir Howard Douglas, dressed in a blue coat with brass +buttons, a fine-looking gentleman, with a pleasant face and a kindly +smile. Little thought the then governor of New Brunswick that the boy to +whom he was speaking, a lad of nine years of age, would fifty years +later sit in his own chair in the government house. + +{ENTERS ON BUSINESS LIFE} + +Young Tilley was not the kind of youth likely to be satisfied to reside +all his life in Gagetown. Other boys of less ambition might be content +to settle down on the farm and to fulfil their destinies within the +comparatively limited sphere of action which that little town in Queens +County afforded, but he had within him longings for a higher destiny +than he was likely to attain as a resident of a rural district. + +Young Tilley came to St. John in May, 1831, at the age of thirteen. He +at once entered the drugstore of Dr. Henry Cook, as a clerk, it being +the fashion of those times for medical men to have a dispensary in +connection with their professional practice, so that they could give +advice, and dispense their own prescriptions with equal facility. He +continued as clerk with Dr. Cook until February, 1835, when he entered +the service of William O. Smith, who, in later years, was mayor of St. +John. It was while a clerk with Smith that Tilley became a member of the +St. John Young Men's Debating Society, an organization which, if it has +no other claim to the remembrance of posterity, at least has that of +giving one distinguished statesman to British America, and a governor to +New Brunswick. It was in this society that he made his first attempt at +public speaking, and it may be said that from the very beginning he +showed a remarkable aptitude for debate and public discussions. + +In December, 1837, he took one of the most important steps of his life +in espousing the cause of total abstinence. Having taken up this +movement, he threw his whole energy into it, and from that time down to +the day of his death he was a consistent temperance man, and a strong +advocate of the principle of total abstinence. It was, perhaps, this +strong advocacy of the cause of temperance, more than anything else, +that brought him before the public as a suitable person to become a +candidate for the House of Assembly, and led to his first election as a +representative for the city of St. John in the local legislature +thirteen years later. Certainly the fact that Tilley, from that time +until the close of his public career, had always the support of the +temperance societies, gave him a strength which he hardly would have +obtained otherwise, and rallied around him a phalanx of friends, who, +for fidelity to his interests and zeal for his political advancement, +could hardly have been surpassed. + +Tilley commenced business on his own account in 1838, before he had +attained the age of twenty years, as a member of the firm of Peters & +Tilley, and he continued a successful career until 1855, when he +transferred his business to Mr. T. B. Barker, the founder of the present +firm of T. B. Barker & Sons. It is unnecessary to say anything more in +regard to Mr. Tilley's life as a business man than that it was a highly +prosperous one. He showed so much energy and enterprise that when he +entered political life he was comparatively wealthy. There is no doubt +that if he had continued in business instead of devoting his energies to +the service of the province and Dominion, he would have made far more +money than he obtained as a politician. + +{COLONIAL TRADE} + +The movement in behalf of free trade, which was changing the fiscal +policy of the United Kingdom in the closing years of the first half of +the nineteenth century, did not meet with much favour in New Brunswick, +because it seriously affected the leading industry of the province. +Colonial timber had long enjoyed a preference in the British market, but +this preference had been seriously impaired by imperial legislation and +was likely to be taken away altogether if free trade principles should +prevail. Many remonstrances had been sent to the British government +against the reduction or abolition of the duty on foreign timber which +came into competition with the colonial product, but these remonstrances +proved wholly unavailing, and it was seriously believed that the +colonial timber trade would be destroyed. This led to the annexation +movement of 1848, which affected all the provinces, while it also caused +the formation of organizations pledged to resist the free trade +movement. Tilley was in sympathy with these efforts to preserve colonial +trade, and it was in consequence of this that he first made his +entrance into political life. + +{GENERAL ELECTION OF 1850} + +At a meeting of the electors of St. John in favour of protection, which +was held previous to the general election of 1850, Tilley was nominated +as one of the candidates for the city of St. John. He was not present at +the meeting and had no knowledge whatever of the intention of the +electors to make such a nomination. A meeting was called a few nights +later in Carleton to confirm the nomination, and at that meeting Tilley +was present. He then made the strongest possible protest against the +nomination, but the electors present would not take "No" for an answer, +and he eventually consented to stand as a candidate, informing them at +the same time that he had an engagement to be in Boston on the day fixed +for the nomination, and could not be at the hustings on that day. +Notwithstanding this statement they still persisted in his nomination, +but as Tilley was absent in the United States, his nomination speech on +that occasion was made by Joseph W. Lawrence, who afterwards was found +among his strongest political opponents. At the general election of 1850 +all the candidates elected for the city and county of St. John were +avowed opponents of the government. Tilley was returned at the head of +the poll, while W. H. Needham, who ran with him, was likewise elected. +The members elected for the county were R. D. Wilmot, William J. +Ritchie, John H. Gray and Charles Simonds; while J. R. Partelow, +Charles Watters and John Jordan were the three defeated candidates. The +list of candidates for the city and county of St. John included two +future governors, a future chief-justice of the supreme court of Canada +and two other judges, to say nothing of the provincial secretary, Mr. +Partelow, a speaker of the House of Assembly and a future mayor of St. +John. It must be admitted that few elections that have ever been held in +any part of British North America have had so many candidates presented +to the electors who were afterwards eminent in public life. This +election took place at an important epoch in the history of the +province, when the old order was passing away and men's minds were +prepared for a great change in political affairs. It was a Reform House +of Assembly, and, although all the members elected for the purpose of +upholding Reform principles did not prove true to their trust, still it +contained a larger number of men of Liberal views than any of its +predecessors. + +Among the members of this House were several who had taken a very +important part in public affairs, or who afterwards became members of +the executive. The county of York sent among its representatives, Lemuel +A. Wilmot, who had been a member of the House for sixteen years, and who +had taken a leading part in many measures of importance for the +improvement of the system by which the country was governed. + +Mr. Charles Fisher, who had been a colleague of Mr. Wilmot in the county +of York, was defeated at the general election, but soon afterwards +became a member of the House. Mr. Fisher had not the oratorical gifts +possessed by Mr. Wilmot, but he was even stronger in his Liberal views, +and as a constitutional lawyer he had no equal, at that time, in the +province. Although his manners were somewhat uncouth and his address far +from polished, Fisher had strong individuality and a singularly clear +intellect. His services in the cause of Liberalism in New Brunswick can +hardly be overestimated, and these services were rendered at a time when +to be a Liberal was to be, to a large extent, ostracized by the great +and powerful who looked upon any interference with their vested rights +as little short of treason. + +Tilley's colleague from St. John city was William H. Needham, who +afterwards represented the county of York in the legislature. Mr. +Needham had some remarkable gifts as a speaker and a public man, and he +might have risen to a much higher position than he ever attained had it +not been that his principles were somewhat uncertain. In truth, Needham +never succeeded in getting sufficiently clear of the world to be quite +independent, and this misfortune hampered him greatly in his political +career. + +{NOTABLE CANDIDATES} + +One of the members from St. John County was William J. Ritchie, a lawyer +who had risen by his own efforts to a commanding position at the bar, +and who became chief-justice of Canada. Mr. Ritchie had been a member of +the House of Assembly for several years, and always a useful one. He +possessed what few members at that time had,--a clear knowledge of the +true principles of responsible government. He had an eminently practical +mind; he was a forcible and impressive speaker, and he was bold in the +enunciation of the Liberal principles to which he held. It was a serious +misfortune to the province that at a comparatively early age he was +transferred to the bench, so that his great abilities were lost at a +critical period when they might have been useful to New Brunswick in +many ways. + +John H. Gray, a new member, also sat in this House for the county of St. +John. Mr. Gray was a man of fine presence, handsome appearance, and had +a style of oratory that was very captivating and impressive. His +fluency, however, was greater than his ability, and he injured himself +by deserting the Liberal party, which he had been elected to uphold. +Gray never quite recovered from the unpopularity connected with this +action, and he never became in any sense a real leader. The party he had +deserted soon obtained the control of the province, and his final +appearance in the legislature was as a supporter of Mr. Tilley, content +to play a secondary part during the great confederation conflict. + +Robert Duncan Wilmot, another of the St. John County members, a first +cousin of L. A. Wilmot, was not new to the legislature, and his mind +being naturally conservative, it is in connection with the Conservative +party that he is best known in the history of the province. He was +elected as a Liberal, however, in 1850, but seems to have forgotten that +fact as soon as he reached the House of Assembly. This was not the only +occasion on which Wilmot contrived to change his principles, for he +performed a similar feat during the confederation contest, and left the +anti-confederate government of 1865 in the lurch at a moment when its +existence almost depended on his fidelity. Wilmot never was an eloquent +man, and he entertained some highly visionary views in regard to an +irredeemable paper currency, but he was a useful public servant, and he +afterwards became a member of the government of Canada and eventually +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick. + +{JOHN R. PARTELOW} + +The Hon. John R. Partelow, who was defeated in St. John but elected for +Victoria, was a man who might have acquired a great political reputation +had the stage on which he appeared been a larger one. Partelow's +qualifications for high public position did not depend upon his oratory, +which was not of a high order, but upon his moderation and good sense. +Partelow's origin was humble, and his early days were spent as a clerk +in a store on the North Wharf, St. John. In that subordinate position he +made himself so useful and displayed so much ability that he was marked +for promotion. The idea of bringing him forward as a candidate for the +city of St. John seems to have originated with his employers, but when +he gained a seat in the legislature he speedily made his influence felt. +Partelow spoke but seldom, but when he did address the legislature it +was generally with good effect, and after the subject had been to a +large extent exhausted by previous speakers. He then had a faculty of +drafting a resolution which seemed to express the general sense of all, +and which was usually accepted as a solution of the matter. He was a +good business man, understood accounts thoroughly and, therefore, had a +great advantage in legislative work over those who were not so well +equipped in this respect. New Brunswick may have produced greater men +than he in public life, but none whose talents were more useful to the +province, or better fitted to serve its interests at a critical period +in its constitutional history. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE + + +Shortly after the general election, Chief-Justice Chipman, who had been +in infirm health, resigned his office, and a vacancy was thus left on +the bench of the supreme court of the province. In the natural course, +this office ought to have gone to the attorney-general, Mr. L. A. +Wilmot, but this appointment was not made. The council were unable to +unite in any recommendation to the governor, who consequently laid all +the facts before the home government and in reply received instructions +to give the chief-justiceship to Judge Carter and to offer the puisne +judgeship to Mr. Wilmot, or, if he should refuse it, to Mr. Kinnear, the +solicitor-general. The executive council complained that the appointment +of Mr. Wilmot to a seat on the bench by the authority of the secretary +of state without the advice or recommendation of the responsible +executive within the province, was at variance with the principles of +responsible government which were understood to be in force. They, +however, had only themselves to thank for this, for they were +continually appealing to Downing Street. As a majority of the House had +been elected as opponents of the government, it was supposed there +would be no difficulty in bringing about a change of administration. Mr. +Simonds, of St. John, who was reputed to be a Liberal, was elected +speaker without opposition, and at an early day in the session Mr. +Ritchie, of St. John, moved, as an amendment to the address, a +want-of-confidence resolution. This resolution, instead of being carried +by a large majority as was expected, was lost by a vote of fifteen to +twenty-two, Messrs. Alexander Rankine and John T. Williston, of +Northumberland, Messrs. Robert Gordon and Joseph Reed, of Gloucester, +Mr. A. Barbarie, of Restigouche, and Mr. Francis McPhelim, of Kent, +having deserted their Liberal allies. Had they proved faithful, the +government would have been defeated, and the province would have been +spared another three years of an incompetent administration. + +In this division, Tilley and Needham, who represented the city of St. +John, and Messrs. R. D. Wilmot and Gray, two of the county members, +voted for Ritchie's amendment. As Wilmot and Gray showed by their votes +that they had no confidence in the government in February, 1851, it was +with much surprise that the people of St. John, in the August following, +learned that they had become members of the administration which they +had so warmly condemned a few months before. Their secession from the +Liberal party destroyed whatever chance had before existed of ousting +the government. Mr. Fisher had seceded from the government in +consequence of their action in reference to the judicial appointments, +and John Ambrose Street, who was a member for Northumberland, became +attorney-general in place of Robert Parker, appointed a judge. Mr. +Street was a ready debater and a strong Conservative, and his entrance +into the government at that time showed that a Conservative policy was +to be maintained. + +{RAILWAY LEGISLATION} + +Mr. Street, as leader of the government in the assembly, presented a +long programme of measures for the consideration of the legislature, +none of which proved to be of any particular value. The municipal +corporation bill was passed, but it was a permissive measure, and was +not taken advantage of by any of the counties. A bill to make the +legislative council elective, which was also passed in the Lower House +at the instance of the government, was defeated in the Upper Chamber. +The bill appointing commissioners on law reform was carried, and +resulted in the production of the three volumes of the revised statutes +issued in 1854. The most important bill of the session, introduced by +the government, was one in aid of the construction of a railroad from +St. John to Shediac. This bill provided that the government should give +a company two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling, to assist in +the construction of the line referred to. There was also a bill to +assist the St. Andrews and Quebec Railroad to the extent of fifty +thousand pounds, and a bonus or subvention to the Shediac line +amounting to upwards of eleven thousand dollars a mile, for which sum a +very good railway could be constructed at the present time. It may be +stated here that, although the company was formed and undertook to build +a railway to Shediac under the terms offered by the government, the +province had eventually to build the road at a cost of forty thousand +dollars a mile, or fully double what a similar road could be constructed +for now. + +{KING'S COLLEGE} + +One of the measures brought forward by the government at this session +was with reference to the schools of the province. The idea of taxing +the property of the county for the support of public schools had not +then found any general acceptance in New Brunswick; indeed, it was not +till the year 1872 that the measure embodying this principle was passed +by the legislature. The government school bill of 1851 provided that the +teachers were to be paid in money, or board and lodging, by the district +to the amount of ten pounds for six months, in addition to the +government allowance. This bill was a very slight improvement on the Act +then in force, and as the government left it to the House to deal with, +and did not press it as a government measure, it was not passed. A +private member, Mr. Gilbert, of Queens, at this session proposed to +convert King's College into an agricultural school, with a model farm +attached. King's College had been established by an Act passed in 1829, +and had received a large endowment from the province, but it never was a +popular institution because of its connection with a single Church. The +original charter of the college made the bishop of the diocese the +visitor, and required the president to be always a clergyman of the +Church of England; and, although this had been changed in 1845 by the +legislature, the number of students who attended it was always small, +and it was shown in the course of debate that it had failed to fulfil +the object for which it was created. The college council consisted of +fifteen members, of whom ten were Episcopalians; and the visitor, the +chancellor, the president, the principal, five out of seven of the +professors and teachers, and the two examiners were members of the same +Church. The services in the college chapel were required to be attended +by all resident students, and of the eighteen students then in the +college, sixteen were Episcopalians. It was felt that this college +required to be placed on a different footing, and Mr. Gilbert's bill, +although it provoked much hostile comment at the time, certainly would +have been more beneficial to the educational interests of the country, +if it had passed, than the state of affairs which resulted from the +continuance of the old system. An agricultural school was the very thing +the province required, while, judging from the limited attendance at the +college at that time, the people of this province were not greatly +impressed with the value of a classical education. In 1851, however, +any one who proposed to replace a college for the teaching of Greek and +Latin with a college of agriculture, and the sciences allied to it, was +looked upon as a Philistine. Then youths were taught to compose Latin +and to read Greek who never, to the day of their death, had a competent +knowledge of their own language; and agricultural studies, which were of +the highest importance to more than one-half of the people of the +province, were totally neglected. Mr. Gilbert's bill was defeated, as it +was certain to be in a legislature which was still under the domination +of old ideas. Had it passed, New Brunswick might at this time have had a +large body of scientific farmers capable of cultivating the soil in the +most efficient manner, and increasing its productiveness to an extent +hardly dreamed of by those who only consider it in the light of the +present system of cultivation. + +During this session, Mr. Ritchie of St. John moved a series of +resolutions condemning the government, and complaining of the colonial +office and of the conduct of the governor. These resolutions declared: +first, that the House was entitled to full copies of all despatches +addressed to or received from the colonial office, and that it was not +enough merely to send extracts from a despatch which had been received +by the governor. They declared that the power of making appointments to +offices was vested in the governor by and with the advice of the +executive council, and that the appointment of the chief-justice and a +puisne judge by the governor, contrary to the advice of his council, was +inconsistent with the principles of responsible government. They +complained that the salaries were excessive, and condemned the refusal +of the British government to allow the colonies to grant bounties for +the development of their resources. These resolutions, after being +debated for about a week, were rejected by a vote of twenty-one to +nineteen, the smallness of the majority against them at the time being +looked upon as virtually a Liberal victory. If the nineteen had been +made up of men who could be relied on to stand by their colours in all +emergencies, it would have been a Liberal triumph, but, unfortunately, +among the nineteen there were some who afterwards deserted their party +for the sake of offices and power. + +{A POLITICAL SURPRISE} + +Early in August it was announced that John H. Gray and R. D. Wilmot, two +of the Liberal members for the county of St. John, had abandoned their +party and their principles and become members of the government. The +Liberals of St. John, who had elected these gentlemen by a substantial +majority, were naturally chagrined at such a proof of their +faithlessness, and their colleagues were likewise greatly annoyed. +Messrs. Gray and Wilmot made the usual excuses of all deserters for +their conduct, the principal one being that they thought they could +serve the interests of the constituency and of the province better by +being in the government than out of it. The friends of the four members +who still remained faithful, Messrs. Tilley, Simonds, Ritchie and +Needham, held a meeting at which these gentlemen were present, and it +was agreed that they should join in an address to their constituents +condemning the course of Messrs. Wilmot and Gray, and calling on the +constituency to pronounce judgment upon it. As Wilmot, who had been +appointed to the office of surveyor-general, had to return to his +constituency for reelection, the voice of the constituency could only be +ascertained by placing a candidate in the field in opposition to him. +This was done, and Mr. Allan McLean was elected to oppose Mr. Wilmot. +The result seemed to show that the people of St. John had condoned the +offence, for Wilmot was reelected by a majority of two hundred and +seventy-three. As this appeared to be a proof that they had lost the +confidence of their constituents, Messrs. Simonds, Ritchie and Tilley at +once resigned their seats and did not offer for reelection. This act +was, at the time, thought by many to indicate an excess of +sensitiveness, and Needham refused to follow their example, thereby +forfeiting the regard of most of those who had formerly supported him. +The sequel proved that the three resigning members were right, for they +won much more in public respect by their conduct than they lost by their +temporary exclusion from the House of Assembly. + +{THE ST. JOHN ELECTION} + +The gentlemen returned for the three seats in St. John which had been +vacated by the resigning members were James A. Harding, John Goddard and +John Johnson. Mr. Harding, who ran for the city, was opposed by S. K. +Foster. Harding was a Liberal, but this fact does not seem to have been +kept in view when he was elected. The net result of the whole affair was +that the constituency of St. John could not be relied upon to support a +Liberal principle, or any kind of principle as against men. That has +always been a peculiarity of the St. John constituencies, men being more +important than measures, and frequently a mere transient feeling being +set off against the most important considerations of general policy. + +Tilley was not in the House of Assembly during the sessions of 1852, +1853 and 1854; that period was one, however, of development in political +matters and of substantial progress. The governor's speech at the +opening of the session of 1852 was largely devoted to railways, and it +expressed the opinion that a railroad connecting Canada and Nova Scotia, +and a connection with a line from St. John to the United States, would +produce an abundant return to the province, and that by this means +millions of tons of timber, then standing worthless in the forest, would +find a profitable market. It was during this session that Messrs. Peto, +Brassy and Betts proposed to construct the European and North American +Railway, on certain conditions. The subsidies offered by the province at +this time were twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty years, and a +million acres of land for the European and North American Railway, as +the line to the United States was termed; and for the Quebec line, +twenty-two thousand pounds sterling for twenty years, and two million +acres of land. A new company, which included Mr. Jackson, M. P., offered +to build the New Brunswick section of both railroads, upon the province +granting them a subsidy of twenty thousand pounds a year for twenty +years, and four million acres of land. Attorney-General Street +introduced a series of railway resolutions favouring the building of the +Intercolonial Railway jointly by the three provinces, according to terms +which had been agreed upon by the delegates of each. The arrangement was +that the Intercolonial Railway should be built through the valley of the +St. John, and for favouring resolutions in the House confirming this +arrangement, Mr. Street's Northumberland constituents called upon him to +resign his seat, a step which he refused to take. + +{INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY} + +The government railway resolutions were carried by a large majority. +During the recess Mr. Chandler, as a representative of New Brunswick, +and Mr. Hincks, a representative of Canada, went to London to endeavour +to obtain from the British government a sum sufficient to build the +Intercolonial Railway. The request of the delegates was refused on the +ground that such a work had to be one of military necessity, and that +the route which had been selected, by the valley of the St. John, was +not a proper one for military purposes. As Mr. Chandler could not obtain +what he wished from the British government, he applied to Messrs. Peto, +Brassy and Betts, who said they were prepared to build all the railroads +that New Brunswick might require, upon the most advantageous terms. Mr. +Jackson visited the province in September of the same year, and it was +agreed that his company should build a railway from St. John to Amherst, +and from St. John to the United States frontier, the distance being then +estimated at two hundred and fourteen miles, for the sum of sixty-five +hundred pounds sterling per mile. The province was to take stock to the +extent of twelve hundred pounds per mile, and to lend its bonds to the +company for one thousand eight hundred pounds additional per mile. The +completion of this arrangement caused great rejoicing in the province, +especially in St. John, a special session of the legislature being +called on October 21st for the express purpose of amending the Railway +Act so that it might conform to the new conditions. As both branches of +the legislature were strongly in favour of the railway policy of the +government, the necessary bills were speedily passed and the legislature +was prorogued after a session of eight days. + +The meeting of the legislature in 1853 derived its principal importance +from the fact that much of its time was taken up with the discussion of +the question of a reciprocity treaty with the United States of America. +The discussion disclosed a strong disinclination on the part of many +members to any arrangement by which the fisheries would be surrendered. +An address to the queen was agreed to by both branches of the +legislature in which it was stated that the exclusive use of the +fisheries by the inhabitants of British North America would be much more +advantageous and satisfactory than anything which the United States +could offer as an equivalent. It was also stated that no reciprocity +treaty with that country would be satisfactory to New Brunswick which +did not embrace the free exchange of raw materials and natural products +and the admission of colonial built vessels to registry in American +ports. The tone of the discussions on this subject, both in 1853 and +1854, shows that reciprocity with the United States was not generally +regarded as being an equivalent for the giving of the fisheries to our +neighbours, and it is quite clear that, so far as New Brunswick was +concerned, the reciprocity treaty would not have been agreed to had it +not been that the matter was in the hands of the British government, and +that the legislature of the province was not disposed to resist +strenuously any arrangement which that government thought it wise to +make. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW + + +The House which had been elected in 1850 was dissolved after the +prorogation in 1854, and the election came on in the month of July. It +was a memorable occasion, because it was certain that the topics +discussed by the House then to be elected would be of the very highest +importance. One of these subjects was the reciprocity treaty, which at +that time had been arranged with the United States through the British +government. This treaty provided for the free interchange of certain +natural products between the great republic and the several provinces +which later formed the Dominion of Canada, and it had been brought about +through the efforts of Lord Elgin, who at that time was governor-general +of Canada. The treaty was agreed to on June 5th, and was subject to +ratification by the imperial parliament and the legislatures of the +British North American colonies which were affected by it. In the St. +John constituencies there was at that time a strong feeling in favour of +a protection policy, but this did not interfere with the desire to +effect the interchange of raw material with the United States on +advantageous terms. Tilley had been originally nominated as a +protectionist, and still held views favourable to the encouragement and +protection of native industries by means of the tariff, but he was also +favourable to reciprocity with the United States if it could be obtained +in such a manner as to be beneficial to the province. At the general +election he led the poll in the city of St. John, his colleague being +James A. Harding, who had been elected at a bye-election to the previous +House. For the county, Mr. William J. Ritchie was one of the successful +candidates, and the only Liberal returned for that constituency. The +other members for the county were the Hon. John R. Partelow, Robert D. +Wilmot and John H. Gray. + +The new House was called together on October 19th for the purpose of +ratifying the reciprocity treaty, and the Hon. D. L. Hanington was +elected speaker by a vote of twenty-three to thirteen. This gave the +opposition an earlier opportunity of defeating the Street-Partelow +administration than would, under ordinary circumstances, have been +possible. An amendment to the address was moved by the Hon. Charles +Fisher, which was an indictment of the government for their various +shortcomings and offences. The amendment was to expunge the whole of the +fifth paragraph and substitute for it the following:-- + +"It is with feelings of loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's person +and government that we recognize, in that provision of the treaty which +requires the concurrence of this legislature, a distinct avowal by the +imperial government of their determination to preserve inviolate the +principles of self-government, and to regard the constitution of the +province as sacred as that of the parent state. We regret that the +conduct of the administration during the last few years has not been in +accordance with these principles, and we feel constrained thus early to +state to your Excellency that your constitutional advisers have not +conducted the government of the province in the true spirit of our +colonial constitution." This amendment was debated for six days, and was +carried by a vote of twenty-seven to twelve. + +{QUESTION OF THE JUDGES REVIVED} + +The general ground of accusation against the government, and the one +most strongly insisted upon, was that it had yielded to the influence of +the colonial office in the appointment of Judge Wilmot. It was well +known that the government at that time, or at least a majority of them, +did not consider it necessary to appoint another judge; at all events, +they took no steps to bring about another appointment; but they yielded +to the colonial office, and the pressure put upon them by Sir Edmund +Head, the lieutenant-governor, so far as to acquiesce in the appointment +of Judge Carter as chief-justice, and the elevation of Mr. Wilmot to the +bench. This was a fair ground of attack, because it was clear that if +the executive council of New Brunswick was under the orders of the home +government, representative institutions and responsible government did +not exist. + +Thus the Street-Partelow government fell, and with it disappeared, at +once and forever, the old Conservative regime which had existed in the +province from its foundation, and which, unavoidably no doubt, had +presided over the early political life of the colony, but the undue +continuance of which was wholly incompatible with the full development +of representative institutions and responsible government. It was a +great triumph for the cause of Liberalism that the Conservatives of that +period were not only defeated, but swept altogether out of existence. +After that a government of men who called themselves Conservatives might +go into power, but the old state of affairs, under which the +lieutenant-governor could exercise almost despotic powers, had departed +forever, and could no more be revived than the heptarchy. All that a +Conservative government could do after that was to fall into line with +the policy of the men they had displaced, and proceed, less rapidly +perhaps, but none the less surely, along the path of political progress. + +The new government which was formed as the result of this vote had for +its premier the Hon. Charles Fisher, who took the office of +attorney-general; Mr. Tilley became provincial secretary; Mr. James +Brown, a few weeks later, received the office of surveyor-general; J. M. +Johnson, one of the members for Northumberland, became solicitor-general; +and William J. Ritchie, Albert J. Smith and William H. Steeves were +members of the government without office. + +The bill to give effect to the reciprocity treaty passed its third +reading on November 2d, only five members voting against it. On motion +of the Hon. Mr. Ritchie, one of the members of the new government, it +was resolved that it was desirable and expedient that the +surveyor-general, who was a political officer, should hold a seat in the +House of Assembly, and that the government should carry out the wishes +of the House in this respect. Before the House again met the wishes of +the House had been complied with, and Mr. Brown, of Charlotte, became +surveyor-general. + +{SESSION OF 1855} + +The House met again on February 1st, 1855, and then the real work of +legislative and administrative reform began. In the speech from the +throne it was stated that the Customs Act would expire in the course of +a year, and that it was necessary that a new Act should be passed. A +better system of auditing the public accounts was also recommended, and +a better system of electing members to the legislature. On March 5th, +correspondence was brought down, dated the previous 15th of August, +announcing, on the part of the imperial government, the withdrawal of +the imperial customs establishment, which was considered to be no longer +necessary, and stating that as the duties of these offices were now +mainly in connection with the registration of vessels in the colonies, +and the granting of certificates of the origin of colonial products, +this work would hereafter be performed by the colonial officers. A +letter addressed to the comptrollers and other customs officers had +informed them that their services would be discontinued after January +5th, 1855. So disappeared the last remnant of the old imperial +custom-house system, which had been the cause of so many difficulties in +all the colonies and which had done more than anything else to bring +about the revolution which separated the thirteen colonies from the +mother country. + +The great measure of the session of 1855 was the law to prevent the +importation, manufacture or selling of liquor. This bill was brought in +by Mr. Tilley as a private member, and not on behalf of the government. +It was introduced on March 3d. Considering its importance and the fact +that it led to a crisis in the affairs of the government and the +temporary defeat of the Liberal party, it went through the House with +comparatively little difficulty. It was first considered on March 19th, +and a motion to postpone its further consideration for three months was +lost by a vote of seventeen to twenty-one. The final division on the +third reading was taken on March 27th, and the vote was twenty-one to +eighteen, so that every member of the House, with one exception, voted +yea or nay. The closeness of this last division should have warned the +advocate of the measure that it was likely to produce difficulty, for it +is clear that all laws which are intended to regulate the personal +habits of men must be ineffectual unless they have the support of a +large majority of the people affected by them. That this was not the +case with the prohibitory liquor law was shown by the vote in the +legislature, and it was still more clearly shown after the law came into +operation on January 1st, 1856. + +{PROHIBITORY LIQUOR ACT} + +The passage of the prohibitory law was a bold experiment, and, as the +sequel showed, more bold than wise. The temperance movement in New +Brunswick, at that time, was hardly more than twenty years old, and New +Brunswick had always been a province in which the consumption of liquor +was large in proportion to its population. When it was first settled by +the Loyalists, and for many years afterwards, the use of liquor was +considered necessary to happiness, if not to actual existence. Every +person consumed spirits, which generally came to the province in the +form of Jamaica rum, from the West Indies, and as this rum was supposed +to be an infallible cure for nearly every ill that flesh is heir to, +nothing could be done at that time without its use. Large quantities of +rum were taken into the woods for the lumbermen, to give them sufficient +strength to perform the laborious work in which they were engaged, and +if it had been suggested that a time would come when the same work would +be done without any more powerful stimulant than tea, the person who +ventured to make such a suggestion would have been regarded as foolish. +Experience has shown that more and better work can be done, not only in +the woods, but everywhere else, without the use of stimulants than with +them; but no one could be persuaded to believe this sixty years ago. +Every kind of work connected with the farm then had to be performed by +the aid of liquor. Every house-raising, every ploughing match, every +meeting at which farmers congregated, had unlimited quantities of rum as +one of its leading features. It was also used by almost every man as a +part of his regular diet; the old stagers had their eleven-o'clock dram +and their nip before dinner; their regular series of drinks in the +afternoon and evening; and they actually believed that without them life +would not be worth living. Some idea of the extent of the +spirit-drinking of the province may be gathered from the fact that, in +1838, when the population did not exceed 120,000, 312,298 gallons of +rum, gin and whiskey, and 64,579 gallons of brandy were consumed in New +Brunswick. Spirits, especially rum, were very cheap, and, the duty being +only thirty cents a gallon, every one could afford to drink it if +disposed to do so. + +It was at midnight on December 31st, 1855, when the bells rang out a +merry peal to announce the advent of the New Year, that this law went +into force. This meant little less than a revolution in the views, +feelings and ideas of the people of the province, and, to a large +extent, in their business relations. The liquor trade, both wholesale +and retail, employed large numbers of men, and occupied many buildings +which brought in large rents to their owners. The number of taverns in +St. John and its suburb, Portland, was not less than two hundred, and +every one of these establishments had to be closed. There were probably +at least twenty men who sold liquor at wholesale, and who extended their +business to every section of the province, as well as to parts of Nova +Scotia, and their operations also had to come to an end. It was not to +be supposed that these people would consent to be deprived suddenly of +their means of living, especially in view of the fact that it was by no +means certain that the sentiment in favour of prohibition was as strong +in the country as it appeared to be in the legislature. It has always +been understood that many men voted for prohibition in the House of +Assembly who themselves were not total abstainers, but who thought they +might make political capital by taking that course, and who relied on +the legislative council to throw out the bill. No men were more +disgusted and disappointed than they when the council passed the bill. + +{PROHIBITORY ACT UNPOPULAR} + +The result of the attempt to enforce prohibition was what might have +been expected. The law was resisted, liquor continued to be sold, and +when attempts were made to prevent the violation of the law, and the +violators of the law were brought before the courts, able lawyers were +employed to defend them, while the sale of liquor by the same parties +was continued, thus setting the law at defiance. This state of confusion +lasted for several months, but it is unnecessary to go into details. In +the city of St. John, especially, the conflict became bitter to the last +degree, and it was evident that, however admirable prohibition might be +of itself, the people of that city were not then prepared to accept it. +At this juncture came the astounding news that the lieutenant-governor, +the Hon. H. T. Manners-Sutton, had dissolved the House of Assembly +against the advice of his council. This governor, who had been appointed +the year previous, was a member of an old Conservative family, one of +whom was speaker of the British House of Commons for a great many years. +The traditions of this family were all opposed to such a radical measure +as the prohibitory law, and, therefore, it was not to be expected that +Manners-Sutton, who drank wine at his own table, and who considered that +its use was proper and necessary, would be favourable to the law. But +even if he had been disposed to favour it originally, or to regard it +without prejudice, the confusion which it caused in the province when +the attempt was made to enforce it, would naturally incline him to look +upon it as an evil. At all events, he came to the conclusion that the +people should have another opportunity of pronouncing upon it, and, as +the result of this view of the situation, resolved to dissolve the +legislature, which had been elected only a little more than a year, and +had still three years to run. + +{DISSOLUTION OF LEGISLATURE} + +The election which followed in July, 1856, was perhaps the most hotly +contested that has ever taken place in the province. In St. John, +especially, the conflict was fierce and bitter, because it was in this +city that the liquor interest was strongest and most influential. All +over the province, however, the people became interested in the +struggle, as they had not been in any previous campaign. + +By the Liberals and friends of the government, the action of Governor +Sutton was denounced as tyrannical, unjust and entirely contrary to the +principles of responsible government. On the other hand, the friends of +the governor and of the liquor interest declared that his action was +right, and the cry of "Support the governor," was raised in every +county. At this day it is easy enough to discern that there was a good +deal of unnecessary violence injected into the campaign, and that +neither party was inclined to do full justice to the other. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +REFORM AND PROGRESS + + +The result of the election was the defeat of the government. Mr. Tilley +lost his seat for St. John city, and the Hon. James Brown, the +surveyor-general, was rejected by the county of Charlotte, so that two +of the principal members of the executive were not in their places when +the House was called together in July. The city of St. John, and the +city and county of St. John, sent a solid phalanx of six members opposed +to prohibition, and an Act repealing the prohibitory liquor law was +passed by a vote of thirty-eight to two. The new government which was +formed had for its principal members, the Hon. John H. Gray, who became +attorney-general; the Hon. John C. Allen, solicitor-general; the Hon. R. +D. Wilmot, provincial secretary; the Hon. John Montgomery, +surveyor-general, and the Hon. Francis McPhelim, postmaster-general. The +other members of the executive council were the Hon. Edward B. Chandler, +the Hon. Robert L. Hazen and the Hon. Charles McPherson. + +When the House met in July, the Hon. Charles Simonds, of St. John, was +elected speaker, and it was soon discovered, after the liquor bill had +been disposed of, that the majority supporting the government was so +small as to make it impossible for them to accomplish any useful +legislation. When the legislature again met, in the early part of 1857, +it was seen that in a House of forty-one members twenty were arrayed +against the government, and the only way in which government business +could be done was by the casting vote of the speaker. This condition of +affairs speedily became intolerable, because it practically made +legislation impossible, but it was brought to an end by Mr. McMonagle, +one of the members for the county of Kings, withdrawing his support from +the government. Two courses only were now open to them, to tender their +resignations or advise the dissolution of the legislature, and they +chose the latter. The House of Assembly was dissolved by proclamation on +April 1st, 1857, and the writs for the election were made returnable on +May 16th. + +{THE FISHER GOVERNMENT} + +The excitement attending this second election was, if possible, even +greater than during the election of 1856, for the public mind had been +wrought up to a high state of tension by the proceedings in the House +and the numerous divisions in which the government was supported only by +the casting vote of the speaker. The result of the election was so +unfavourable to the Gray-Wilmot government that they at once tendered +their resignations to the lieutenant-governor, agreeing to hold office +only until their successors were appointed. The most bitter contest of +the election centred in the city of St. John, and it resulted in the +election of Mr. Tilley, with Mr. James A. Harding for his colleague, the +latter having changed his views in regard to the question at issue since +the previous election, when he was chosen as an opponent of the +government of which Tilley had been a member. When the Gray-Wilmot +government resigned, the lieutenant-governor sent for Mr. Fisher, and +entrusted to him the business of forming a new government. The +government thus formed comprised the Hons. James Brown, S. L. Tilley, +William Henry Steeves, John M. Johnson, Albert J. Smith, David Wark and +Charles Watters. The Hon. Charles Fisher became attorney-general, and, +resigning his seat, was reelected for the county of York prior to the +meeting of the legislature on June 24th, 1857. The session lasted only +until July 1st, being merely held for the purpose of disposing of the +necessary business. James A. Harding was elected speaker of the House, +and the legislation was confined to the passage of the supply bills, and +matters that were urgent. Tilley took no part in the legislation of this +session, for his seat immediately became vacant by his appointment as +provincial secretary. The other departments were filled by the +appointment of Mr. Brown to the office of surveyor-general; of Mr. +Charles Watters, to the office of solicitor-general, and of John M. +Johnson as postmaster-general. + +The legislature met again on February 10th, 1858, and the speech from +the throne dealt mainly with the financial crisis, the Intercolonial +Railway, and the progress that was being made in the construction of the +line between St. John and Shediac as a part of what was termed the +European and North American Railway. The speech also referred to the +fact that the surplus civil list fund had been, by arrangement with the +British government made the previous year, placed at the disposal of the +House of Assembly. It was soon seen that the government was strong in +the House, the first test vote being that taken on the passage of the +address in reply to the speech from the throne. This came in the form of +an amendment, regretting that the arrangement in regard to the surplus +civil list fund had been acceded to without the consent of the House. +This amendment to the address received the support of only six members. +A return brought down at an early period in the session showed that the +revenue of the province for the fiscal year, ending October 31st, 1857, +amounted to $668,252 an increase of $86,528 over the previous year. Of +this sum upwards of $540,000 came from import duties and what were +termed railway impost, which was simply duties levied on imports for the +purpose of defraying the cost of the railways then building. The casual +and territorial revenue yielded only eighteen thousand pounds but the +export duties reached almost twenty thousand pounds. + +{INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY} + +The Intercolonial Railway still continued to engage the attention of the +legislature, and correspondence with the secretary of state, with the +government of Canada, and with the government of Nova Scotia, in regard +to this great work, was laid before the House soon after the session +opened. The government of New Brunswick consulted with the governments +of Canada and Nova Scotia as to what assistance should be given by the +imperial government towards the construction of the Intercolonial +Railway from Halifax to Quebec, in the form of a guarantee of interest. +The British government professed to feel a strong sense of the +importance of the object, but thought they would not be justified in +applying to parliament for the required guarantee, because the heavy +expenditures to which Great Britain had been subjected did not leave +them at liberty to pledge its revenue for the purpose of assisting in +the construction of public works of this description, however desirable +in themselves. The correspondence on the subject of the Intercolonial +Railway extended over a period of more than twenty years and grew to +enormous proportions, but it is safe to assert that this line of railway +would not have been constructed in the nineteenth century but for the +fact that it was undertaken by the Canadian Dominion as a work which had +to be built for the purpose of carrying out the terms of confederation +as set out in the British North America Act (section 145). + +The railway to Shediac was finally completed and opened for traffic on +August 5th, 1860, its length being one hundred and eight miles. The +nineteen miles between Pointe du Chene and Moncton had been open as +early as August, 1857, and the nine miles from St. John to Rothesay, on +June 1st, 1858. The railway was opened from St. John to Hampton in June, +1859, and to Sussex in November of the same year. Although the people of +the province had abated something of their enthusiasm for railways by +the time the St. John and Shediac line was finished, still its opening +was a great event, because it was the commencement of a new era in +transportation and gave St. John access to the north shore, from which +it had previously been practically shut out. Goods could now be sent by +means of railway and steamer to Prince Edward Island, and to the New +Brunswick ports on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and a community of interest +which did not exist before was thus created between the most remote +sections of the province. + +The traffic receipts of the complete line were thought to be highly +satisfactory; the business for the first three months amounted to about +$45,000, and yielded a revenue of $18,000. This was a good showing and +gave promise of still better things for the future. It may be +interesting to state that in the last year that the railway was operated +by the government of the province, the gross receipts amounted to +$148,330, and the net receipts to $51,760. The gross and net revenue of +the road had shown a steady increase from the first, and although it had +been a costly public work the people of the province considered it a +good investment. It was only after it had passed into the hands of the +government of Canada, and become a part of the Intercolonial Railway, +that any colour was given to the accusation that it was an unprofitable +line. The railway from St. John to Shediac had always paid well, and +probably, if dissociated from its connecting lines, would at this day +pay three or four per cent, upon its original cost. + +{THE BALLOT} + +The legislation of the province between 1858 and 1861, although it +included many useful measures, evolved nothing that calls for particular +mention, with the exception of the law which provided for voting by +ballot. This was an innovation to which many were opposed, but which the +Liberal party very properly considered necessary to the protection of +the voter, who was liable to be coerced by his employer, or by those who +had financial relations with him. The ballot system introduced by the +government was quite imperfect and did not insure absolute secrecy, +because it did not provide for an official ballot such as is required in +the system of election which now prevails in connection with the choice +of members to our Canadian parliament. Yet it was a vast improvement on +open voting, not only because it gave the voter a certain degree of +protection, but also from the fact that it tended to promote order at +elections, and to do away with that riotous spirit which was +characteristic of the earlier contests in the province. + +{UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK} + +In 1859 an important step was taken for the reorganization of King's +College, which by an Act passed in that year, was changed into the +University of New Brunswick. There had always been a great deal of +dissatisfaction with the college in consequence of its denominational +character, and in 1854 an Act was passed empowering the +lieutenant-governor to appoint a commission to inquire into the state of +King's College, its management and utility, with a view to improving it. +The commissioners appointed were the Hon. John H. Gray, the Rev. Egerton +Ryerson, J. W. Dawson, the Hon. John S. Saunders and the Hon. James +Brown. The report, which was dated December 28th, 1854, was laid before +both branches of the legislature in 1855. In 1857 the college council +appointed a committee and prepared a draft of a bill which was laid +before the legislature. This, with a few slight alterations, was the +bill which was passed in 1859 for the establishment of the University of +New Brunswick, and in this bill were embodied the principal +recommendations of the commissioners appointed in 1854 to enquire into +the state of the college. This Act transferred to the University of New +Brunswick all the property of King's College and its endowment, and made +the university liable for the payment of the debts and the performance +of the contracts of King's College. It created a new governing body for +the college to be styled the senate, to be appointed by the governor in +council, and the president of the college was required to be a member of +that body and also to be a layman. It conferred upon the senate the +power of appointing the professors and other officers of the university, +except the president, and also the power of removing them from office, +subject to the approval of the governor in council. It also authorized +the senate to fix their salaries. It abolished the professorship of +theology and provided for the affiliation of other institutions with the +university, and also for a number of free scholars. This Act, which was +passed in April, 1859, was especially approved by Her Majesty in council +on January 25th, 1860. Thus a new era in the higher education of New +Brunswick was commenced, and a long step was taken towards making the +college more acceptable to the people of that province. Great hopes were +entertained at the time that this liberalizing of the constitution of +the college would lead to a large increase in the number of its +students, and a more general interest in its work, but, unfortunately, +as the sequel showed, these hopes were only partially realized. + +During the spring of 1860 circumstances occurred which led to the +resignation of the postmaster-general, the Hon. Charles Connell. The +legislature having adopted the decimal system of currency in the place +of the pounds, shillings and pence which had been the currency of the +province since its foundation, Mr. Connell, in March, 1860, was +authorized to obtain a new set of postage stamps of the denominations +required for use in the postal service of the province. No person, at +that time, thought that a political crisis would arise out of this +order, but it appears that Mr. Connell, guided by the example of +presidents and postmasters-general of the United States, had made up his +mind that instead of the likeness of the queen, which had been upon all +the old postage stamps of the province, the five-cent stamp, the one +which would be most in use, should bear the impress of his own +countenance. Accordingly the Connell postage stamp, which is now one of +the rarest and most costly of all in the lists of collectors, was +procured and was ready to be used, when Mr. Connell's colleagues in the +government discovered what was going on and took steps to prevent the +new five-cent stamp from being issued. The correspondence on the +subject, which will be found in the journals of 1861, is curious and +interesting; it ended in the withdrawal of the objectionable stamps and +in the resignation of Mr. Connell, who complained that he had lost the +confidence of his colleagues, and in resigning, charged them with +neglecting the affairs of the province. Only a few of the Connell stamps +got into circulation, the remainder of the issue being destroyed. Mr. +Connell's place as postmaster-general was filled by the appointment of +James Steadman. + +{RESIGNATION OF MR. FISHER} + +In the early part of 1861 a very important event occurred in connection +with the government which produced a lasting effect on provincial +politics. Charges were made by a St. John Conservative paper, _The +Colonial Empire_, in which it was stated that members of the government +and certain Crown lands officials had been purchasing the most desirable +and valuable Crown lands of the province for speculative purposes, and +that in bringing these lands to sale the government regulations had been +violated and the public treasury had suffered. A committee of the House +was appointed to investigate these charges, and inquiry established the +fact that an official of the Crown lands department had purchased some +eight hundred acres. These lands were all bought at public sale, but in +the forms of application other names were used, which was a violation of +the rules of the department. A portion of the press at the time created +a widespread excitement upon this subject, and the services of the +official referred to were dispensed with. Some of the supporters of the +government also took such ground in reference to the attorney-general, +Mr. Fisher, that his retirement from the government became necessary, +the accusation against him being that he had negligently permitted some +improper sales of Crown lands to be made. It was felt at the time by +some that the penalty that was paid by the attorney-general was +excessive for the offence; but, under the excitement then existing, it +was the only course that could be taken to avoid the defeat of the +government. At the general election that followed a few months later, +Mr. Fisher was reelected for the county of York, and later on, after the +excitement had passed over, the delinquent Crown lands official was +reinstated. At the same election, that took place in 1861, the +government was handsomely sustained, after one of the warmest contests +that had ever taken place in New Brunswick. Probably the most effective +nomination speech ever made by Tilley, during his long political career, +was the one then delivered at the court-house, St. John, in his own +defence, and in the vindication of his government against the charges +made by the Opposition candidates and press. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY + + +The imperfect means of communication between the Maritime Provinces and +Canada had long been recognized as a great evil, and very soon after the +introduction of railways into England a line of railway was projected to +run from St. Andrews, in New Brunswick, to Quebec. The transfer of a +considerable tract of territory, which had been believed to be in New +Brunswick, to the state of Maine, under the terms of the Ashburton +Treaty, gave a check to this enterprise, and financial difficulties +afterwards prevented its accomplishment. A more promising scheme was +that of a railway from Halifax to Quebec, and this so far received the +approval of the British government that an officer of engineers, Major +Robinson, was, in 1847, detailed to conduct a survey of the proposed +line. As this gentleman was influenced by purely military +considerations, his line was carried as far from the United States +boundary as possible, and consequently by a very long and circuitous +route. During the session of 1852, Attorney-General Street introduced a +series of resolutions in the New Brunswick legislature favouring the +building of the Intercolonial Railway jointly by Canada, New Brunswick +and Nova Scotia, according to terms which had been agreed upon by the +delegates of each. This arrangement was that the Intercolonial Railway +should be built through the valley of the St. John. These resolutions +were carried by a large majority. During the recess, Mr. Chandler, as +the representative of New Brunswick, and Mr. Hincks, the representative +of Canada, went to London to endeavour to obtain from the British +government financial aid to build the Intercolonial Railway. This was +refused on the ground that such a work had to be one of military +necessity. Further efforts were made in 1855, and again in 1858, to +influence the British government in favour of this railway, but without +result; the answer of Downing Street being that the heavy expenditure +involved in the Crimean War prevented the government from assisting in +the construction of public works, such as the Intercolonial Railway, +however desirable in themselves. + +{DELEGATION TO ENGLAND} + +The effort to secure the construction of the Intercolonial Railway was +renewed in 1861. At a meeting of delegates representing Canada, Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick, which was held at Quebec on September 30th, it +was resolved that the three governments should renew the offers made to +the imperial government in 1858 with reference to the Intercolonial +Railway, and that the route to be adopted be decided by the imperial +government. The Hon. Mr. Tilley, who was at this Quebec meeting, was +sent to England as a delegate to confer with the imperial government +with regard to the railway, while Nova Scotia was represented by the +Hon. Joseph Howe, and Canada, by the Hon. P. M. Vankoughnet. The +delegates reached England in November and placed themselves in +communication with the Duke of Newcastle, who was then colonial +secretary, and they also had interviews with the prime minister, Lord +Palmerston, the chancellor of the exchequer, the secretary of war, and +the president of the board of trade. While in England, the seizure of +the commissioners of the southern confederacy, Messrs. Mason and +Slidell, by Commodore Wilkes, on board the British mail steamer _Trent_, +produced a crisis in the relations between Great Britain and the United +States which seemed likely to lead to a war, and greatly strengthened +the position of the delegates, who were able to point out the difficulty +involved in defending Canada without a railway to the sea. They +presented their views to the colonial secretary in a very ably written +state paper, which should have convinced those to whom it was addressed +that the railway was an absolute necessity. The delegates estimated the +cost of the railway at L3,000,000 sterling, and they asked the imperial +government to join in a guarantee of four per cent. interest on this +sum, each of the provinces to guarantee L20,000 a year for this purpose +and the imperial government, L60,000. This proposal was rejected by the +British government, but it offered "an imperial guarantee of interest +towards enabling them to raise by public loan, at a moderate rate, the +requisite funds for constructing the railway." The British government, +therefore, would do nothing for this great work except to indorse the +bonds of the provinces to a limited extent, for it was stated in the +Duke of Newcastle's letter to the delegates that "the nature and extent +of the guarantee must be determined by the particulars of any scheme +which the provincial governments may be disposed to found on the present +proposal and on the kind of security which they would offer." + +Delegates representing the three provinces met in Quebec in September, +1862, to consider this offer, New Brunswick being represented by Messrs. +Tilley, Steeves and Mitchell. The delegates from the Maritime Provinces +declared their willingness to propose to their respective governments to +accept the proposition of the Duke of Newcastle if Canada would bear +one-half of the expense of the railway instead of one-third. The +Canadian government offered to assume five-twelfths of the liability for +the construction and working of the Intercolonial, and to this the +delegates for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had to agree. This imposed a +very serious burthen on two provinces, which, between them, had only six +hundred thousand inhabitants, and their willingness to assume it shows +the interest they took in this great work. + +{NEGOTIATIONS IN ENGLAND} + +In pursuance of an arrangement made at this Quebec meeting, delegates +from the three provinces went to England to arrange the terms of the +guarantee with the British government; the Hon. Mr. Tilley represented +New Brunswick, and the Hon. Joseph Howe, Nova Scotia. Mr. Gladstone, who +was then chancellor of the exchequer, insisted on a sinking fund being +provided, which was to be a first charge on the revenues of the several +provinces. This sinking fund was objected to by the colonial delegates, +but the only modification in its terms which they were able to obtain +was that the sinking fund was not to take precedence of any existing +liability. Before leaving England, Messrs. Tilley and Howe prepared and +submitted a memorandum to the Duke of Newcastle in which they expressed +a hope that Mr. Gladstone might be induced to reconsider the matter of +the sinking fund, and that it would not be insisted on. The Canadian +delegates left England without an acceptance of the terms proposed by +Mr. Gladstone, and without a formal rejection of them. Previous to the +meeting of the Canadian parliament, Tilley proceeded to Quebec to urge +upon the Canadian government the preparation of the necessary bills to +carry out the agreement entered into for the construction of this great +railway. He reported to the lieutenant-governor on his return that the +government of Canada, for reasons stated, could not then undertake to +pass the legislation required, which they greatly regretted, but that +they had not abandoned the arrangements for the construction of the +railway. The Canadian government's declaration in the course of the +session that they had abandoned this important enterprise was, +accordingly, a source of great surprise and regret. The governments of +New Brunswick and Nova Scotia passed the necessary legislation at the +next session, but the government of Canada took no further step in the +matter until the confederation negotiations were commenced in 1864. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MOVEMENT FOR MARITIME UNION + + +We now come down to an event of the greatest interest, in which Mr. +Tilley took part, and one of such vast and far-reaching importance that +it quite overshadows all the other events of his career. The +confederation of the Canadian provinces was, beyond all question, the +most notable colonial movement within the British empire since the +American Declaration of Independence. It changed at once the whole +character of the colonial relations which had subsisted with the mother +country, and substituted for a few weak and scattered colonies a +powerful Dominion, able to speak with a united voice, and stand as a +helpmeet to the nation from which most of its people had sprung. No man, +whatever his views as to the wisdom of that political union may have +been at the time, can now deny that it was timely and necessary, if the +colonies and the mother country were to preserve their connection with +each other. It is safe to say that, if confederation had not taken place +in 1867, British interests on this continent would have suffered, and +possibly some of the colonies would now have been a part of the United +States. The policy of separating the colonies from England, which has +been so much advocated by many leading public men in the great republic, +would have found free scope, and by balancing the interests of one +colony against those of another, promoting dissensions and favouring +those provinces which were disposed to a closer union with the United +States, something might have been done to weaken their connection with +the British empire, which is now the glory and the strength of the +Dominion of Canada. + +The question of the union of the several colonies of British North +America was by no means a new one when it came up for final settlement. +It had been discussed at a very early period in the history of the +provinces, and indeed it was a question which it was quite natural to +discuss, for it seemed but reasonable that colonies of the same origin, +owing the same allegiance, inhabited by people who differed but little +from each other in any respect, and with many commercial interests in +common, should form a political union. No doubt it might have been +brought earlier to the front as a vital political question but for the +fact that the British government, which was most interested in promoting +the union of the colonies, took no step towards that end until almost +compelled by necessity to move in the matter. The colonial policy of +England, as represented by the colonial office and in the royal +instructions to colonial governors, has seldom been wise or far-seeing, +and the British colonies which now girdle the world, have been built up +mainly as the result of private enterprise; for the part taken by the +government has, in most cases, been merely to give official sanction to +what private individuals have already done, and to assist in protecting +British interests when they have become important, especially in new +regions of the world. + +{CONFEDERATION FORESHADOWED} + +When the Earl of Durham was sent out as governor-general of Canada after +the rebellion there in 1838, he suggested in his report that the union +of the colonies of British North America was one of the remedies which +ought to be resorted to for the pacification of Canada and the +reconstruction of its constitution. While a large proportion of the +people of the colonies looked with favour upon the idea of a political +union, there was in all of them a large body of objectors who were +steadily opposed to it. People of that kind are to be found in all +countries, and they have existed in all ages of the world's history. +They are the persons who see in every new movement a thousand +difficulties which cannot be surmounted. Their minds are constructed on +the principle of rejecting all new ideas, and clinging to old forms and +systems long after they have lost their vitality. They are a class who +look back for precedents for any step of a political character which it +is proposed to take, and who judge of everything by the standard of some +former age. They seem to forget that precedents must be created some +time or another, and that the present century has as good a right to +create precedents as any of its predecessors. To these people every +objection that could be urged against confederation was exaggerated and +magnified, and whenever any proposal was made which seemed to tend +towards the union of the colonies, their voices were heard upon the +other side. We need not doubt the honesty or loyalty of these objectors, +or consider that they were unfavourable either to British connection or +to the building up of the empire. It was merely their misfortune that +they were constitutionally adverse to change, and could not see any +merit in a political movement which involved the idea of novelty. + +For some time the principal advocate of confederation in the Maritime +Provinces was the Hon. Joseph Howe, a man of such ability and force of +character that on a wider stage he might have risen to eminence, and +ranked amongst the world's great statesmen.[10] It is impossible indeed +not to regret that so great a man, one so imperial in his instincts and +views, should have been condemned to spend his life within the bounds of +one small province. + +{ATTITUDE OF COLONIAL OFFICE} + +The question of the political union of the British North American +provinces was brought up in the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia in +1854, and then the leaders of both parties, the Hon. Mr. Johnson for the +Conservatives, and the Hon. Mr. Howe for the Liberals, united in +advocating the measure, and in depicting the advantage which would +accrue from it not only to Nova Scotia, but to every British province in +North America. In 1858 the question of confederation was discussed in +the parliament of Canada, and such a union was made a part of the policy +of the government; for Mr. A. T. Galt, on becoming a member of the +administration, insisted upon its being made a cabinet question, and Sir +Edmund Head, the governor-general, in his speech at the close of the +session, intimated that his government would take action in the matter +during the recess. Messrs. Cartier, Galt, and Ross, who were in England +representing the government of Canada, waited upon the colonial +secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, asking the authority of the +imperial government for a meeting of representatives from each of the +colonies to take the question of union into consideration. The colonial +secretary informed the Canadian delegates, no doubt after consultation +with his colleagues, that the question of confederation was necessarily +one of an imperial character, and declined to authorize the meeting, +because no expression of sentiment on the subject had as yet been +received from any of the Maritime Provinces except Nova Scotia. The Earl +of Derby's government fell a few months after this declaration of its +policy in regard to the colonies, and was succeeded by the government of +Lord Palmerston, which was in office at the time when the negotiations +which resulted in the confederation of the colonies were commenced. At +first Lord Palmerston's government seems to have been no more favourable +to the union of the colonies than its predecessor; for in 1862 the Duke +of Newcastle, then colonial secretary, in a despatch to the +governor-general of Canada, after stating that Her Majesty's government +was not prepared to announce any definite policy on the question of +confederation, added that, "If a union, either partial or complete, +should hereafter be proposed, with the concurrence of all the provinces +to be united, I am sure that the matter would be weighed in this country +both by the public, by parliament and by Her Majesty's government, with +no other feeling than an anxiety to discern and promote any course which +might be the most conducive to the prosperity, strength and harmony of +all the British communities of North America." It must always be a +subject of astonishment that the British government for so many years +should have had no definite policy on a matter so momentous, and that +they should have sought to discourage, rather than otherwise, a project +which has been of such vast importance to the empire. + +The first impulse in favour of confederation in the minds of the members +of Lord Palmerston's cabinet seems to have developed about the time when +it became evident that the result of the civil war in the United States +would be the defeat of the southern confederacy and the consolidation +of the power of the great republic in a more effectual union than that +which had existed before. No one who was not blind could fail to see +that this change of attitude on the part of the United States would +demand a corresponding change in the relations of the British colonies +towards each other; for from being a mere federation of states, so +loosely connected that secession was frequently threatened by states +both north and south, the United States, as the result of the war, had +become a nation with a strong central government, which had taken to +itself powers never contemplated by the constitution, and which added +immensely to its offensive and defensive strength. + +{A MISSIONARY OF UNION} + +In 1863, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a member of the Canadian cabinet and a man +of great eloquence and ability, visited St. John and delivered a lecture +in the Mechanics' Institute Hall on the subject of the union of the +colonies. His lecture was fully reported in the _Morning News_, a paper +then published in that city, and attracted wide attention because it +opened up a subject of the highest interest for the contemplation of the +people of the provinces. Shortly afterwards a series of articles on the +same subject, written by the author of this book, appeared in the +columns of the _Morning News_, and were widely read and quoted. These +articles followed closely the lines laid down for the union of the +colonies by the late Peter S. Hamilton, of Halifax, a writer of ability +whose articles on the subject were collected in pamphlet form and +extensively circulated. Thus in various ways the public mind was being +educated on the question of confederation, and the opinion that the +union of the British North American colonies was desirable was generally +accepted by all persons who gave any attention to the subject. It was +only when the matter came up in a practical form and as a distinct +proposition to be carried into effect, that the violent opposition which +was afterwards developed against confederation began to be shown. + +An event occurred in the summer of 1864 which had its effect on the +question of confederation. Up to that time the people of Canada and New +Brunswick had been almost wholly unknown to each other, because the +difficulties of travelling between the two provinces were so great. Any +person who desired to reach Montreal at that time from St. John had to +take the international steamer to Portland, Me., and was then carried by +the Grand Trunk Railway to his destination. Quebec could be reached in +summer by the steamer from Pictou which called at Shediac, but in winter +the journey had to be made by the Grand Trunk Railway from Portland, the +only alternative route being the road by which the mails were carried +from Edmunston north to the St. Lawrence. Under these circumstances the +people of the Canadian provinces and of the Maritime Provinces had but +few opportunities of seeing each other, and the people of all the +provinces knew much more of their neighbours in the United States than +they did of their fellow-colonists. One result of the Hon. D'Arcy +McGee's visit in 1863 was an invitation by the city of St. John to the +legislature of Canada to visit the Maritime Provinces. The invitation +was accepted and a party of about one hundred, comprising members of the +legislature, newspaper men, and others, visited St. John in the +beginning of August, 1864. Their trip was extended to Fredericton, where +they were the guests of the government of New Brunswick, and to Halifax, +where they were the guests of that city and of the government of Nova +Scotia. This visit produced a good effect upon the public mind, and +enabled the Maritime people to see what kind of men their +fellow-colonists of Upper and Lower Canada were. + +{POLITICAL CRISIS IN CANADA} + +In the meantime a great crisis had arisen in the government of Canada, +which was the immediate cause of the active part which that province +took in the confederation movement. When Upper and Lower Canada were +united in 1841, it was arranged that the representation of each province +in the legislature should be equal. The arrangement at that time was +favourable to Upper Canada, which had a smaller population than Lower +Canada; but in the course of time, as the population of Upper Canada +increased faster than that of the lower province, the people of Upper +Canada felt that they had less representation than they were entitled +to, and this state of affairs led to the raising of the cry of +"Representation by Population" which was so often heard in that province +prior to the era of confederation. In 1864 Upper Canada had half a +million more people than Lower Canada, and yet was only entitled to the +same number of members in the legislature. Another serious difficulty, +which arose out of the union, was the necessity, which not long +afterwards began to be recognized, of the government having a majority +in the legislature from each section of the province. This, in time, +grew to be so great an evil that the successful government of Canada +became almost impossible, for the majority for the government in one +province might at any time be disturbed by some local feeling, and as a +consequence the government overthrown. To trace the history of the +difficulties which arose from this cause would be to recite twenty years +of the history of Canada; but it is only necessary to point out thus +plainly the reasons for the willingness of the people of Upper and Lower +Canada to resort to confederation as a means of getting rid of their +embarrassments. + +{MACDONALD-BROWN COALITION} + +In 1863, the Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald was leader of the government, +but he was compelled to resign when parliament met in the early part of +1864, and in March of that year a new administration under the +premiership of Sir E. P. Tache was formed. This new government +developed very little strength, and was defeated on June 14th by a vote +of fifty-eight to sixty, on a question relative to some transaction +connected with bonds of the city of Montreal. A deadlock had come, and +as it was evident that no new government which could be formed was +likely to command sufficient support, it became necessary to make some +new arrangements in regard to the system of administration. Immediately +after the defeat of the government, Mr. George Brown, leader of the +Opposition, spoke to several supporters of the administration strongly +urging that the present time should be availed of for the purpose of +settling forever the constitutional difficulties between Upper and Lower +Canada, and assuring them that he was prepared to cooperate with the +existing or any other administration that would deal with the question +promptly and firmly, with a view to its final settlement. After much +negotiation Messrs. Brown, Mowat and McDougall, three prominent members +of the Reform party, agreed to enter the government for the purpose of +carrying out this policy based on a federal union of all the provinces. + +{SCHEME OF MARITIME UNION} + +Prior to this time there had been various efforts made by the government +of New Brunswick to enter into closer relations with Nova Scotia and +Prince Edward Island. Previous to the year 1861 a number of factories of +various kinds had been established in the Maritime Provinces, but the +limited market they then enjoyed prevented their extension and crippled +their operations. To remedy this, Mr. Tilley, with the approval of his +colleagues in the government, visited Nova Scotia and Prince Edward +Island and proposed to the governments of both provinces free admission +of their natural products and a uniform tariff on dutiable goods. In +Halifax he had a lengthy and satisfactory conference with Mr. Howe, then +leader of the government, and with Dr. Tupper, the leader of the +Opposition. Both gentlemen agreed that the proposed arrangements would +be in the interests of the three provinces, and Mr. Howe agreed to +submit the matter to his government with the view of legislative action +at the next session. Mr. Tilley then proceeded to Charlottetown, Prince +Edward Island. At the conference held with the government there, his +proposal was not so favourably entertained, the objection being that the +existing tariff of Prince Edward Island was lower than the tariff of +either Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, and sufficient for the financial +wants of the Island, and that the necessary advance would be imposing +taxation beyond their requirements. Notwithstanding the failure to +secure the cooperation of the Island government, it was decided that the +joint action of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick legislatures in the +direction named was desirable. When the Nova Scotia legislature met and +the public accounts were proposed, it was found that a reduction of +tariff was not practicable, and Howe informed Tilley that the scheme +would have to be postponed, "though in other respects desirable." But +the subject was not allowed to sleep, and in 1864 there was a renewal of +the movement for a union of the Maritime Provinces. At the session of +the New Brunswick legislature held that year, resolutions were passed +authorizing the government to enter into negotiations with Nova Scotia +and Prince Edward Island to hold a convention for the purpose of +carrying such a union into effect. Similar resolutions were carried in +the legislatures of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and the +convention thus authorized was appointed to meet at Charlottetown in the +month of September following. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] For a full account of Howe's views on confederation see the Hon. J. +W. Longley's _Joseph Howe_ in this series. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE + + +The delegates appointed by the government of New Brunswick for the +purpose of representing the provinces at Charlottetown in the convention +for a union of the Maritime Provinces, were the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, +Steeves, Johnson, Chandler and Gray. The first three were members of the +government, while Messrs. Gray and Chandler were leading members of the +Opposition, so that the arrangement had the assent of the leaders of +both political parties and was in no sense a party movement. The Nova +Scotia delegation consisted of the Hon. Charles Tupper, the leader of +the government, the attorney-general, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Dickey, a +Conservative supporter, and also the Hon. Adams G. Archibald and +Jonathan McCully, leaders of the Liberal party. The Prince Edward Island +delegates were also chosen from both sides of politics. The convention +was opened in due form at Charlottetown on September 8th, in the chamber +of the House of Assembly. The delegations had no power to decide finally +on any subject, because any arrangements they made were necessarily +subject to the approval of the legislatures of the three Maritime +Provinces. But at this time the sentiment in favour of maritime union +was so strong it was confidently believed that whatever was agreed upon +at Charlottetown would become the basis of a future union. + +{CHARLOTTETOWN CONVENTION} + +The government of Canada had full knowledge of what was going on at +Charlottetown, and they considered the time opportune for the purpose of +bringing to the notice of the delegates from the Maritime Provinces the +subject of a confederation of all the British North American colonies. A +telegram was received while the delegates were in session announcing +that representatives of the government of Canada had left Quebec for the +purpose of meeting the delegates of the Maritime Provinces, and placing +certain proposals before them. On the receipt of this message the +further consideration of the question which they had met to discuss was +deferred until after the Canadian delegates had arrived. They came in +the government steamer _Victoria_ on the following day and were found to +embrace the leading men then in Canadian political life,--the Hons. J. +A. Macdonald, George Brown, Georges E. Cartier, Alexander T. Galt, +Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Hector L. Langevin, William McDougall and Alexander +Campbell. These delegates represented the Reform, as well as the +Conservative party, and were therefore able to speak with authority in +regard to the views of the people of both Upper and Lower Canada. They +were accorded seats in the convention, and at once submitted reasons +why in their opinion a scheme of union, embracing the whole of the +British North American colonies, should be adopted. The Hon. John A. +Macdonald and Messrs. Brown and Cartier were heard on this subject, the +financial position of Canada was explained, and the sources of revenue +and wealth of the several provinces were discussed. Speeches were also +made by Messrs. Galt, McGee, Langevin and McDougall, and after having +commanded the attention of the convention for two days the Canadian +deputation withdrew. Before doing so they proposed that if the +convention concluded to suspend its deliberations upon the question of +Maritime union, they should adjourn to Quebec at an early day, to be +named by the governor-general, to consider the question of +confederation. On the following day the convention adjourned, on the +ground that it would be more for the general interest of British North +America to adopt the larger union than a union of the Maritime Provinces +merely, and it was thought that this might be effected without any very +great difficulty, for there was then no strong feeling evinced in any +quarter against confederation. + +From Charlottetown the members of the convention and the Canadian +deputation went to Halifax, where they were received most cordially and +entertained at a banquet. They then took their departure for St. John, +where they were entertained at a public dinner at which many leading men +of the city were present. The chair was occupied by the Hon. John H. +Gray, one of the delegates, and the expressions in favour of the +proposed confederation were strong and hearty. No one could have +suspected at that time that the movement for confederation would meet +with so much opposition in New Brunswick. All seemed plain sailing but, +as the result showed, the battle for confederation had yet to be fought, +and it was won only after a long and doubtful struggle. + +{THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE} + +According to arrangement, the delegations from the other provinces met +in convention at Quebec on October 10th, all the colonies, including +Newfoundland, were represented and the delegates were as follows:-- + +Canada.--Hon. Sir Etienne P. Tache, premier; Hon. John A. Macdonald, +attorney-general west; Hon. Georges E. Cartier, attorney-general east; +Hon. George Brown, president of the executive council; Hon. Alexander T. +Galt, finance minister; Hon. Alexander Campbell, commissioner of Crown +lands; Hon. William McDougall, provincial secretary; Hon. Thomas D'Arcy +McGee, minister of agriculture; Hon. Hector Langevin, solicitor-general +east; Hon. J. Cockburn, solicitor-general west; Hon. Oliver Mowat, +postmaster-general; Hon. J. C. Chapais, commissioner of public works. + +Nova Scotia.--Hon. Charles Tupper, provincial secretary; Hon. W. A. +Henry, attorney-general, Hon. R. B. Dickey, Hon. Adams G. Archibald, +Hon. Jonathan McCully. + +New Brunswick.--Hon. Samuel L. Tilley, provincial secretary; Hon. John +M. Johnson, attorney-general; Hon. Edward B. Chandler, Hon. John +Hamilton Gray, Hon. Peter Mitchell, Hon. Chas. Fisher, Hon. William H. +Steeves. + +Newfoundland.--Hon. F. B. T. Carter, speaker of the House of Assembly; +Hon. Ambrose Shea. + +Prince Edward Island.--Hon. John Hamilton Gray, premier; Hon. Edward +Palmer, attorney-general; Hon. W. H. Pope, provincial secretary; Hon. +George Coles, Hon. A. A. Macdonald, Hon. T. H. Haviland, Hon. Edward +Whelan. + +Sir Etienne P. Tache, who was then premier of Canada, was unanimously +chosen president of the conference, and Major Hewitt Bernard, of the +staff of the attorney-general west, private and confidential secretary. +It was arranged that the convention should hold its meetings with closed +doors, and it was laid down as a principle of the discussion that, as +the matters to come up for debate were all of a novel character, no man +should be prejudiced or held liable to the charge of inconsistency +because he had changed his views in regard to any particular matter in +the course of the discussion. It was also agreed that the vote, in case +of a division, should be by provinces and not by numbers, Canada having +two votes, representing Canada East and Canada West, and each of the +other provinces one. This arrangement made it quite certain that the +interests of the Maritime Provinces were not likely to be prejudiced by +the result of the vote, or the work of the convention. It was soon +decided that a federal union was to be preferred to a legislative union, +and on the second day of the meeting the outlines of the proposed +confederation were submitted in a series of resolutions by the Hon. John +A. Macdonald. The general model of the proposed confederation was that +of the United States, but with this difference, that whereas in the +United States all powers not expressly given by the constitution to the +federal government are held to belong to the several states, in the +Canadian constitution all powers not expressly reserved to the several +provinces were held to belong to the federal parliament. Thus in the +United States the residuum of power is in the several states, while in +Canada it is in the federal union and in the parliament of the Dominion. +No doubt the recent example of the civil war in the United States, which +was the result of an extreme assertion of state rights, was largely +responsible for this feature of the Canadian constitution. It is clear, +however, that it is a feature that is to be commended, because its +tendency is to cause Canadians to regard themselves rather as Canadians +than as belonging to any particular province, while in the United States +the feeling of statehood is still very strong. There are, of course, +many other contrasts between the Canadian confederation and the federal +union of the United States, arising from radical differences in the +system of government. Nothing like responsible government, as understood +in the British empire, exists in the United States, while this essential +feature had to be preserved in the Canadian constitution, not only with +reference to the Dominion parliament, but also in the legislatures of +the several provinces. + +{DIFFICULT QUESTIONS} + +In all the proceedings at Quebec, Mr. Tilley, as the finance minister of +New Brunswick, took a very prominent part. One great difficulty which +arose was with respect to the amount of money to be given by the federal +government to the several provinces for legislative purposes, in lieu of +the revenue which they had been accustomed to obtain from customs duties +and otherwise. The whole customs establishment was to be transferred to +the central government, and as most of the provinces would have no other +means of obtaining a revenue except by direct taxation, this feature of +the matter became of very vital importance. The difficulty was increased +by the fact that by the municipal system prevailing in Upper Canada the +local needs of the municipalities, in the way of roads, bridges, schools +and other matters, were provided for by local taxation, whereas in the +Maritime Provinces the provincial government had been accustomed to bear +these burdens. It was therefore an essential requisite to any scheme of +union, to make it acceptable to the people of the Maritime Provinces, +that sufficient money should be given to the provincial governments to +enable them to continue these services as before. It was difficult to +convince the representatives of Upper Canada of this, and it appears +that the conference nearly broke up without arriving at any result, +simply because of the apparently irreconcilable differences of opinion +between the representatives of the Maritime Provinces and those of +Canada in regard to this point. Finally these differences were overcome, +and the conclusions of the conference were embodied in a series of +seventy-two resolutions, which were agreed to, and which were to be +authenticated by the signatures of the delegates, and transmitted to +their respective governments, and also to the governor-general, for the +secretary of state for the colonies. These resolutions formed the first +basis of confederation and became what is known as the Quebec scheme. + +It was perhaps inevitable that during the discussion of the scheme of +confederation by the Quebec convention, the proceedings should be +secret, but this restriction should have been removed as soon as the +convention adjourned. That this was not done was the principal reason +for the very unfavourable reception which the Quebec scheme met with +from the people of New Brunswick, when it was placed before them. It was +agreed at the Quebec conference that the scheme should not be made +public until after the delegates had reported to their respective +governments for their approval, but it was impossible that a document, +the terms of which were known to so many men, should be kept wholly +concealed from the public, and so the details of the scheme leaked out +and soon became a topic for public discussion. These discussions would +have been conducted in a much more friendly spirit if the Quebec scheme +had been given freely to the world, but as it was, prejudices and +jealousies, in many cases, darkened the question, and made men, who were +otherwise favourable to confederation, assume an attitude of hostility +to the Quebec scheme. + +{SUBVENTIONS TO THE PROVINCES} + +One of the points which at once attracted the attention of the opponents +of the scheme was the sum allowed to the several provinces for the +purpose of conducting their local affairs. As the provinces had to +surrender to the general government their right to levy customs and +excise duties, it became necessary to make up in some way a sum +sufficient to enable them to carry on those services which were still +left to the provincial legislatures. It was arranged that this sum +should be eighty cents a head of the population of the provinces as +established by the census of 1861, which would give to New Brunswick +something more than two hundred thousand dollars. This feature of the +confederation scheme was eagerly seized upon as being a convenient club +with which to strike it down. The cry was at once raised that the people +of New Brunswick were asked to sell themselves to Canada for the sum of +eighty cents a head, and this parrot-like cry was repeated with +variations throughout the whole of the election campaign which followed +in New Brunswick. It has often been found that a cry of this kind, which +is absolutely meaningless, is more effective than the most weighty +arguments, for the purpose of influencing men's minds, and this proved +to be the case in New Brunswick, when the question of confederation was +placed before the people. It was conveniently forgotten by those who +attacked the scheme in this fashion that, if the people of New Brunswick +were selling themselves to Canada for the sum of eighty cents a head, +the people of Canada were likewise selling themselves to New Brunswick +for the same sum, because the amount set apart for the provincial +legislatures was precisely the same in each case. It would not, however, +have suited the enemies of the confederation scheme to view the matter +in this light; what was wanted was a cry which would be effective for +the purpose of injuring the scheme and making it distasteful to the +people who were asked to vote upon it. + +{OPPONENTS OF CONFEDERATION} + +It is not necessary to assume that those who opposed confederation were +all influenced by sinister motives. Many honest and good men, whose +attachment to British institutions could not be questioned, were +opposed to it because their minds were of a conservative turn, and +because they looked with distrust upon such a radical change that would +alter the relations which existed between the province and the mother +country. Many, for reasons which it is not easy to understand, were +distrustful of the politicians of Canada, whom they looked upon as of +less sterling honesty than their own, and some actually professed to +believe that the Canadians expected to make up their financial deficits +by drawing on the many resources of the Maritime Provinces through the +confederation scheme. On the other hand confederation was opposed in the +province of New Brunswick by a number of men who could only be described +as adventurers, or discredited politicians, and who saw in this contest +a convenient way of restoring themselves to influence and power. There +were also among the opponents of the scheme some men who recognized in +its success the means of perpetuating British power on this continent, +and who, being annexationists, naturally looked with aversion upon it +for that reason. The vast majority of the people, however, had given the +matter but the slightest degree of attention, and their votes were cast +in accordance with prejudice hastily formed, which they had an +opportunity of reconsidering before another year and a half had elapsed. + +{FEELING IN NEW BRUNSWICK} + +It had been arranged at the convention that the first trial of the +scheme before the people should be made in New Brunswick, the +legislature of which was about expiring, and accordingly the appeal was +made to the people and the elections came on in the month of March, +1865. The enemies of confederation were very active in every part of the +province, and they left no stone unturned to defeat the measure. The +great cry upon which they based their opposition to the union with +Canada was that of taxation, and, as the voters of New Brunswick were +not inclined to favour any policy which involved high taxation, the +appeals made in this way had a powerful effect. All through the rural +constituencies the Opposition candidates told the electors that if they +united themselves with Canada direct taxation would be the immediate +result. They said that every cow, every horse, and every sheep which +they owned would be taxed, and that even their poultry would not escape +the grasp of the Canadian tax-gatherers. In the city of St. John, Mr. +Tilley and his colleague, Mr. Charles Watters, were opposed by Mr. J. V. +Troop and Mr. A. B. Wetmore. Mr. Troop was a wealthy ship-owner, whose +large means made him an acceptable addition to the strength of the +anti-confederate party, although previously he had taken no active part +in political affairs. Mr. Wetmore was a lawyer of standing in St. John, +who was considered to be one of the best _nisi prius_ advocates at the +bar, and who carried the methods of the bar largely into his politics. +In the course of time he became attorney-general of the province, and +later on a judge of the supreme court. Mr. Wetmore, when haranguing St. +John audiences, used to depict the dreadful effects of confederation in +a manner peculiarly his own. His great plea was an imaginary dialogue +between himself and his little son, that precocious infant asking him in +lisping tones, "Father, what country do we live in?" to which he would +reply, "My dear son, you have no country, for Mr. Tilley has sold us to +the Canadians for eighty cents a head." + +In the county of St. John, the Hon. John. H. Gray, Charles N. Skinner, +W. H. Scovil and James Quinton, who ran as supporters of confederation, +were opposed by John W. Cudlip, T. W. Anglin, the Hon. R. D. Wilmot and +Joseph Coram. Mr. Cudlip was a merchant, who at one time enjoyed much +popularity in the city of St. John. Mr. Anglin was a clever Irishman, a +native of the county of Cork, who had lived several years in St. John +and edited a newspaper called the _Freeman_, which enjoyed a great +popularity among his co-religionists. He was admitted to be the leader +of the Irish Catholics of St. John, and had acquired an ascendency over +them which was not easily shaken; yet he was not, as a politician, a +great success, nor did his efforts to improve the condition of his +countrymen always lead to satisfactory results. The Hon. R. D. Wilmot +had been a prominent Conservative politician, but was defeated, and had +retired to his farm at Belmont. For some years he had been devoting his +abilities to stock-raising; but at the first note of alarm on the +confederation question he abandoned his agricultural pursuits and rushed +into the field to take part in the contest. Mr. Joseph Coram was a +leading Orangeman, and a highly respected citizen. + +{A CRITICAL ELECTION} + +In the county of York, the Hon. George L. Hatheway, who was then chief +commissioner of the board of works, appeared in the field as an +Opposition candidate, in company with John C. Allen, John J. Fraser and +William H. Needham. Mr. Hatheway deserted the government in its hour of +need, apparently because he judged from the cries that were raised +against confederation that the current of public opinion was strongly +adverse to the Quebec scheme. Having left Mr. Tilley in the lurch on the +eve of the confederation contest, he deserted the Smith government +sixteen months later, when the second confederation election came to be +run, thereby inflicting upon them a blow from which it was impossible +they could recover. William H. Needham, whose name has already appeared +in this volume, did not lay claim to any high political principles; but +having retired some time before to private life, he found in the +confederation struggle a good opportunity of getting into the +legislature. He was a man of very considerable ability, and had his +principles been only equal to his knowledge and talents, he might have +risen to the highest position in the province. But his course on many +occasions made the public distrustful of him, and he died without having +enjoyed any of those honours which men of far less ability have +obtained. John James Fraser, afterwards governor of New Brunswick, was a +man of a different stamp, and seems to have been a sincere opponent of +confederation from conviction. The same may be said of John C. Allen, +afterwards chief-justice of the province, a man whose sterling honesty +has never been questioned. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DEFEAT OF CONFEDERATION + + +The result of the election was the most overwhelming defeat that ever +overtook any political party in the province of New Brunswick. Out of +forty-one members, the friends of confederation succeeded in returning +only six, the Hon. John McMillan and Alexander C. DesBrisay, for the +county of Restigouche; Abner R. McClelan and John Lewis for the county +of Albert; and William Lindsay and Charles Connell for the county of +Carleton. Every member of the government who held a seat in the House of +Assembly, with the exception of the Hon. John McMillan, the +surveyor-general, was defeated. The majorities against the confederation +candidates in some of the counties were so large it seemed hopeless to +expect that any future election would reverse the verdict. Both the city +and county of St. John, and the county of York, made a clean sweep, and +returned solid delegations of anti-confederates. With the exception of +the two Carleton members, the entire block of counties on the River St. +John and the county of Charlotte, forming the most populous and best +settled part of the province, declared against the Quebec scheme. On the +north shore, Westmorland, Kent, Northumberland and Gloucester +pronounced the same verdict, and, on the day after the election, the +strongest friends of confederation must have felt that nothing but a +miracle could ever bring about a change in the opinion which had been +pronounced with such emphasis and by so overwhelming a majority. Yet +fifteen months later the verdict of March, 1865, was completely +reversed, and the anti-confederates were beaten almost as badly as the +advocates of confederation had been in the first election; such are the +mutations of public opinion. + +Mr. Tilley and his colleagues resigned immediately after the result of +the elections became known, and the Hon. Albert J. Smith was called upon +to form a new government. Mr. Smith had been attorney-general in Mr. +Tilley's government up to the year 1862, when he resigned in consequence +of a difference with his colleagues in regard to the negotiations which +were being carried on for the construction of the Intercolonial Railway. +He was a fine speaker, and a man of ability. At a later period, when +confederation had been established, he became a cabinet minister in the +government of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie. His powerful influence was +largely responsible for the manner in which the North Shore counties +declared against confederation, and he also did much to discredit the +Quebec scheme by his speeches delivered in the city of St. John. Mr. +Smith did not take the office of attorney-general in the new government, +but contented himself with the position of president of the council, +the Hon. John C. Allen, of York, becoming attorney-general, and the Hon. +A. H. Gillmor, of Charlotte, provincial secretary. The Hon. Bliss +Botsford, of Westmorland, was made surveyor-general; and the Hon. George +L. Hatheway retained his old office as the chief commissioner of the +board of works. The other members of the government were the Hon. Robert +Duncan Wilmot, of Sunbury, the Hon. T. W. Anglin, of St. John, and the +Hon. Richard Hutchinson, of Miramichi. + +{THE NEW GOVERNMENT} + +The new government looked strong and imposing, and seemed to be secure +against the assaults of its enemies, yet it was far from being as +compact and powerful as it appeared to the outward observer. In the +first place, it had the demerit of being founded solely on a negative, +and upon opposition to a single line of policy. The reason why these men +were assembled together in council as a government was that they were +opposed to confederation, and, this question having been disposed of, +they were free to differ upon all other points which might arise. Some +of the men who thus found themselves sitting together at the same +council board had all their lives been politically opposed to each +other. The Hon. R. D. Wilmot, an old Conservative, could have little or +no sympathy with Mr. A. H. Gillmor, a very strong Liberal. The Hon. A. +J. Smith, also a Liberal, had little in common with his +attorney-general, Mr. Allen, who was a Conservative. Mr. Odell, the +postmaster-general, represented the old Family Compact more thoroughly +than any other man who could have been chosen to fill a public office in +New Brunswick, for his father and grandfather had held the office of +provincial secretary for the long term of sixty years. As he was a man +of no particular capacity, and had no qualification for high office, and +as he was, moreover, a member of the legislative council, his +appointment to such a position was extremely distasteful to many who +were strongly opposed to confederation. The Hon. Bliss Botsford, of +Moncton, who became surveyor-general, was another individual who added +no strength to the government. In a cabinet consisting of four men in +the government who might be classed as Liberals, and five who might be +properly described as Conservatives, room was left for many differences +and quarrels over points of policy, to say nothing of patronage, after +the great question of confederation had been disposed of. Local feelings +also were awakened by the make-up of the government, for the North Shore +people could not but feel that their interests were in danger of being +neglected, as instead of having the attorney-generalship and the +surveyor-generalship, which had been theirs in the previous government, +they had to be content with a single member in the government, without +office, in the person of Mr. Richard Hutchinson, who, as the +representative of Gilmour, Rankine & Co., the great lumber house of the +North Shore, was extremely unpopular, even in the county which had +elected him. The Hon. Robert Duncan Wilmot was perhaps the most +dissatisfied man of any, with the new cabinet in which he found himself. +He had not been a fortnight in the government before he began to realize +the fact that his influence in it was quite overshadowed by that of Mr. +Smith and Mr. Anglin, although neither of them held any office. Mr. +Wilmot was a man of ability, and of strong and resolute will, so that +this condition of affairs became very distasteful to him and his +friends, and led to consequences of a highly important character. + +{DISSENSIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT} + +The new government had not been long in existence before rumours of +dissensions in its ranks became very common. Mr. Wilmot made no secret +to his friends of his dissatisfaction, and it was understood that other +members found their position equally unpleasant. An element of +difficulty was early introduced by the resignation of the chief-justice, +Sir James Carter, who, in September, 1865, found it necessary, in +consequence of failing health, to retire from the bench, rendering it +immediately necessary for the government to fill his place. The Hon. +Albert J. Smith, the leader of the government, had he chosen, might have +then taken the vacant position, but he did not desire to retire from +political life at that time, and the Hon. John C. Allen, his +attorney-general, was appointed to the bench as a puisne judge, while +the Hon. Robert Parker was made chief-justice. The latter, however, had +but few weeks to enjoy his new position, dying in November of the same +year, and leaving another vacancy on the bench to be filled. Again, as +before, the Hon. Mr. Smith declined to go on the bench, and the Hon. +John W. Weldon, who had been a long time a member of former +legislatures, and was at one time Speaker, was appointed to the puisne +judgeship, and the Hon. William J. Ritchie was made chief-justice. The +entire fitness of the latter for the position of chief-justice made his +appointment a popular one, but he was the junior of the Hon. Lemuel A. +Wilmot as a judge, and the Hon. R. D. Wilmot, who was a cousin of the +latter, thought the senior judge should have received the appointment of +chief-justice. His disappointment at the office being given to another +caused a very bad feeling on his part towards the government, and he +would have resigned his seat forthwith but for the persuasions of some +of those who were not friends of the government, who intimated to him +that he could do them a great deal more damage by retaining his seat, +and resigning at the proper time than by abandoning the government at +that moment. Mr. Wilmot remained in the government until January, 1866, +but although of their number, his heart was estranged from them, and he +may properly be regarded as an enemy in their camp. + +{CONFEDERATION VICTORY IN YORK} + +Mr. Anglin also had some difference with his colleagues with regard to +railway matters, and he resigned his seat early in November, 1865; +still he gave a general support to the government, although no longer in +its councils. But the most severe blow which the administration received +arose from the election in the county of York, which followed the +seating of the Hon. John C. Allen on the bench. The confederation party +had been so badly beaten in York at the general election that no doubt +was felt by the government that any candidate they might select would be +chosen by a very large majority. The candidate selected by the +government to contest York was Mr. John Pickard, a highly respectable +gentleman, who was engaged in lumbering, and who was extremely popular +in that county, in consequence of his friendly relations with all +classes of the community and the amiability of his disposition. The Hon. +Charles Fisher was brought forward by the confederation party as their +candidate in York, although the hope of defeating Mr. Pickard seemed to +be desperate, for at the previous election Mr. Fisher had received only +1,226 votes against 1,799 obtained by Mr. Needham, who stood lowest on +the poll among the persons elected for York. Mr. Fisher by his efforts +in the York campaign, which resulted in his election, struck a blow at +the anti-confederate government from which it never recovered. His +election was the first dawn of light and hope to the friends of +confederation in New Brunswick, for it showed clearly enough that +whenever the people of the province were given another opportunity of +expressing their opinion on the question of confederation, their verdict +would be a very different one from that which they had given at the +general election. Mr. Fisher beat Mr. Pickard by seven hundred and ten +votes, receiving seven hundred and one votes more than at the general +election, while Mr. Pickard's vote fell five hundred and seventy-two +below that which Mr. Needham had received on the same occasion. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +TILLEY AGAIN IN POWER + + +Among the causes that had assisted to defeat confederation in New +Brunswick, when the question was first placed before the people, was the +active hostility of the lieutenant-governor, Mr. Arthur Hamilton Gordon, +a son of that Earl of Aberdeen who was prime minister of England at the +outbreak of the Crimean War. Mr. Gordon had been a strong advocate of +maritime union and had anticipated that he would be the first governor +of the united province of Acadia, or by whatever name the maritime union +was to be known. He was therefore greatly disappointed and annoyed when +the visit of the Canadians to Charlottetown, in September, 1864, put an +end to the conference which had met for the purpose of arranging the +terms of a union of that character. While a governor cannot take a very +active part in political matters, he may stimulate others to hostility +or to a certain course of action, who, under other circumstances, would +be neutral or inactive, and there is reason to believe that some of the +men who were most prominent in opposing confederation at the general +election of 1865 were mainly influenced by the views of the +lieutenant-governor. Confederation, however, had been approved by the +British government, after the terms arranged at Quebec had been +submitted to it in a despatch from the governor-general; and those +officials in New Brunswick and elsewhere, who expected to find support +in Downing Street in their hostility to confederation, were destined to +be greatly disappointed. Not long after the new government was formed in +New Brunswick, Mr. Gordon returned to England, and it was generally +believed that he was sent for by the home authorities. Instead of being +favourably received on the ground of his opposition to confederation, he +is said to have been compelled to submit to a stern reproof for his +anti-constitutional meddling in a matter which did not concern him, and +to have been given decidedly to understand that if he returned to New +Brunswick, to fill out the remainder of his term of office, it must be +as one pledged to assist in carrying out confederation and not to oppose +it. When Mr. Gordon returned he was an entirely changed man, and +whatever influence he was able to exert from that time forward was used +in favour of confederation. + +{FENIAN THREATS} + +Another cause which made confederation more acceptable to the people of +the province arose from the threats of the Fenians to invade Canada, +which were made during the year 1865, and which were followed by armed +invasions during the following year. Although there was no good reason +for believing that the opponents of confederation were less loyal than +its supporters or less inclined to favour British connection, it was +remarked that all the enemies of British connection seemed to have got +into the anti-confederate camp. The Fenian movement had its origin in +the troubles in Ireland arising out of oppressive land laws and other +local causes, and it soon extended to America, where the politicians +found it useful as a means of increasing their strength among the Irish +people. At that time, there were in the United States many hundreds of +thousands of men who had been disbanded from the army at the close of +the Civil War, and who were only too ready to embrace any new +opportunity of winning for themselves fame and rank on other fields of +glory. Among these disbanded soldiers were many Irishmen, and it soon +came to be known that bands of men could be collected in the United +States for the invasion of this country, with the avowed object of +driving the British flag from the American continent and substituting +the stars and stripes. It was impossible that the people of Canada could +view without emotion these preparations for their undoing, and in New +Brunswick, especially, which was the first province to be threatened, +the Fenian movement materially assisted in deciding the manner in which +the people should vote on this great question of confederation when it +came to be submitted to them a second time. + +The House of Assembly met on March 8th, 1866, and the speech from the +throne, delivered by the lieutenant-governor, contained the following +paragraph: "I have received Her Majesty's commands to communicate to you +a correspondence on the affairs of British North America, which has +taken place between Her Majesty's principal secretary of state for the +colonies and the governor-general of Canada; and I am further directed +to express to you the strong and deliberate opinion of Her Majesty's +government that it is an object much to be desired that all the British +North American colonies should agree to unite in one government. These +papers will immediately be laid before you." This paragraph was not +inserted in the speech without considerable pressure on the part of the +lieutenant-governor, and it excited a great deal of comment at the time, +because it seemed to endorse the principle of confederation, although +emanating from a government which had been placed in power as the result +of an election in which confederation had been condemned. When this +portion of the speech was read by the lieutenant-governor, in the +legislative council chamber, the crowd outside the bar gave a hearty +cheer,--a circumstance which never occurred before in the province of +New Brunswick, and perhaps not in any other British colony. + +The members of the House favourable to confederation immediately took up +the matter, and dealt with it as if the government had thereby pledged +themselves in favour of that policy, and indeed there was a fair excuse +for such an inference. When the secret history of the negotiations +between the lieutenant-governor and his advisers, prior to the meeting +of the legislature, comes to be told, it will be found that at least +some of the members of the government had given His Excellency to +understand that they were prepared to reverse their former action and to +adopt confederation. The difficulty with them was that they feared their +own supporters, and thought that if they made such a move they would +lose the favour of those who had placed them in power, and this fear was +certainly a very natural one. + +{DESERTED BY FRIENDS} + +As soon as the House met, it was discovered that Mr. A. R. Wetmore, one +of the prominent supporters of the government who had been elected to +represent the city of St. John as an anti-confederate, was no longer in +sympathy with the government. Mr. Wetmore's long experience as a _nisi +prius_ lawyer, and his curt and imperturbable manner, rendered him a +most exasperating and troublesome opponent, and at a very early period +of the session he commenced to make it unpleasant for his former +friends. He cross-examined the members of the government in the fashion +which he had learned from long experience in the courts. Such attacks +proved extremely damaging as well as very annoying. + +The address in reply to the speech from the throne was moved in the +House of Assembly by Colonel Boyd, of Charlotte County, and when the +paragraph relating to confederation was read, Mr. Fisher asked him what +it meant. Mr. Boyd replied that the government had no objection to +confederation, provided the terms were satisfactory. This reply still +further strengthened the feeling that the government were inclined to +pass the measure which they had been elected to oppose. Mr. Fisher moved +an amendment to the fourth paragraph of the address, which referred to +the Fenian conspiracy against British North America, expressing the +opinion that while His Excellency might rely with confidence on the +cordial support of the people for the protection of the country, his +constitutional advisers were not by their general conduct entitled to +the confidence of the legislature. This amendment was seconded by Mr. +DesBrisay, of Kent, who had been elected as a supporter of the +government, and it was debated at great length. The discussion upon it +continued from day to day for about three weeks, when, on April 10th, +the government resigned in consequence of difficulties with His +Excellency in regard to his reply to the address of the legislative +council. The legislative council had proceeded to pass the address in +reply to the speech, but in consequence of the delay in the House of +Assembly, this reply had not before been presented to the governor. In +answer to the address of the legislative council, His Excellency said: +"I will immediately transmit your address to the secretary of state for +the colonies in order that it may be laid at the foot of the throne. Her +Majesty the Queen has already been pleased to express deep interest in a +closer union of her North America colonies and will no doubt greatly +appreciate this decided expression of your opinion, and the avowal of +your desire that all British North America should unite in one +community, under one strong and efficient government, which cannot but +tend to hasten the accomplishment of this great measure." + +{THE GOVERNMENT RESIGNS} + +The resignation of the government was announced in the House of Assembly +on April 13th by the Hon. A. J. Smith, and the correspondence between +the lieutenant-governor and his advisers was laid before the House at +the same time. The immediate and ostensible cause of the resignation was +the terms of approval in which the lieutenant-governor had replied to +the address of the legislative council in reference to confederation. +Mr. Smith claimed that it was the duty of the lieutenant-governor to +consult his constitutional advisers in regard to the answer to be given, +and that, in assuming to himself the right to reply to such an address +without consulting them, he had not acted in accordance with the true +spirit of the constitution. This was certainly sound doctrine, and the +reply of the lieutenant-governor was by no means satisfactory on this +point, but he was able to show that Mr. Smith had himself expressed his +willingness to enter into a scheme of union, although opposed to the +Quebec scheme, and had suggested that, as a preliminary step, the papers +on that subject should be referred to a joint committee of both Houses +with an understanding that the committee should report in favour of a +measure of union. At a later period Mr. Smith seemed indisposed to carry +out this arrangement, his conduct evidently being the result of +timidity, and so he found himself, to use the language of Sir Arthur +Gordon, "entangled in contradictory pledges from which he found it +impossible to extricate himself." He had, in fact, placed himself in the +power of the lieutenant-governor, and his only resource was to resign. +It was understood at the time, and has never been denied, that His +Excellency was acting under the advice of the Hon. Peter Mitchell, a +member of the legislative council, who was a strong supporter of +confederation. Mr. Mitchell was a man of great force of character, and, +next to Mr. Tilley, must be regarded as the most potent factor in +bringing about the change in the sentiments of the people of the +province with respect to confederation. + +The lieutenant-governor called upon the Hon. Peter Mitchell, who was a +member of the legislative council, to form a government. Mr. Mitchell +had been very active in the cause of confederation, and was the moving +spirit in the legislative council in all the proceedings in its favour +taken in that body; but, when asked to form a new government, he advised +the lieutenant-governor that the proper person to undertake that +responsibility was the Hon. Mr. Tilley. The latter, however, declined +the task on the ground that he was not a member of the legislature, +whereupon Mr. Mitchell associated with himself the Hon. Mr. Wilmot for +the purpose of forming a new government. The government was announced on +April 18th, and was formed as follows:--Hon. Peter Mitchell, president +of the council; Hon. S. L. Tilley, provincial secretary; Hon. Charles +Fisher, attorney-general; Hon. Edward Williston, solicitor-general; Hon. +John McMillan, postmaster-general; Hon. A. R. McClelan, chief +commissioner of public works; Hon. R. D. Wilmot and Hon. Charles +Connell, members without office. The latter afterwards became +surveyor-general. + +{THE FENIAN INVASION} + +While the government was being formed in New Brunswick, a Fenian army +was gathering upon the border for the purpose of invading the province. +This force consisted of four or five hundred young men, most of whom had +been in the army of the United States. It was recruited at New York, and +its chief was a Fenian named Doran Killian. A part of his force arrived +at Eastport on April 10th, and a schooner, laden with arms for the +Fenians, soon after reached that place. From this schooner, which was +seized by the United States authorities, one hundred and seventeen cases +of arms and ammunition were taken,--a clear proof that the intentions of +the Fenians were warlike, and that their presence on the border was not +a mere demonstration. The Fenians appeared to have been under the +impression--as many residents of the United States are to this day--that +the people of Canada and of New Brunswick were dissatisfied with their +own form of government, and were anxious to come under the protection of +the stars and stripes. This absurd idea was responsible, largely, for +the War of 1812, and it has been responsible, since then, for many other +movements, with respect to the British provinces of North America, in +which residents of the United States have taken part. There never was a +greater delusion than this, and, in the instance referred to, the +Fenians were doomed to be speedily undeceived. The presence of a Fenian +force on the border sounded like a bugle blast to every able-bodied man +in New Brunswick, and the call for troops to defend the country was +instantly responded to. About one thousand men were called out and +marched to the frontier. The troops called out consisted of the three +batteries of the New Brunswick regiment of artillery, seven companies of +the St. John volunteer battalion, one company of the first battalion of +the York County militia, one company each of the first and third +battalions of the Charlotte County militia, and two companies each of +the second and fourth battalions of the Charlotte County militia. These +troops remained in arms on the frontier for nearly three months, and +were disbanded by a general order dated June 20th. The Fenian raid on +New Brunswick proved to be a complete fiasco. The frontier was so well +guarded by the New Brunswick militia and by British soldiers, and the +St. Croix so thoroughly patrolled by British warships, that the Fenians +had no opportunity to make any impression upon the province. It ought to +be added that the United States government was prompt to take steps to +prevent any armed invasion, and General Meade was sent down to Eastport +with a force of infantry and a ship of war to prevent the Fenians from +making that place a base of operations against these provinces. + +{CONFEDERATION VICTORIES} + +The general elections to decide whether or not New Brunswick was willing +to become confederated with Canada, were held in May and June. The first +election was that for the county of Northumberland on May 25th, and the +result was that the four candidates who favoured confederation, Messrs. +Johnson, Sutton, Kerr and Williston, were elected by large majorities. +The same result followed in the county of Carleton, where the election +was held on May 26th, Messrs. Connell and Lindsay being elected by a +vote of more than two to one over their anti-confederate opponents. The +third election was in Albert County on the 29th, and there Messrs. +McClelan and Lewis, the two candidates in favour of confederation, were +triumphantly returned. On May 31st, elections were held in Restigouche +and Sunbury, and, in these counties, the candidates in favour of +confederation were returned by large majorities. The York election came +next. In that county, the anti-confederates had placed a full ticket in +the field, the candidates being Messrs. Hatheway, Fraser, Needham and +Brown. Mr. Fisher had with him on the ticket, Dr. Dow and Messrs. +Thompson and John A. Beckwith. Every person expected a vigorous contest +in York, notwithstanding the victory of Mr. Fisher over Mr. Pickard a +few months before. But, to the amazement of the anti-confederates in +other parts of the province, the Hon. George L. Hatheway and Dr. Brown +retired after nomination day and left Messrs. Fraser and Needham to do +battle alone. Mr. Hatheway's retirement at this time was a deathblow to +the hopes of the anti-confederates all over New Brunswick, affecting not +only the result in the county of York, but in every other county in +which an election was to be held. A few nights before his resignation, +Mr. Hatheway had been in St. John addressing a packed meeting of +anti-confederates in the hall of the Mechanics' Institute, and he had +spoken on that occasion with apparent confidence. When his friends in +St. John, who had been so much moved by his vigorous eloquence, learned +that he had deserted them, their indignation was extreme, and they felt +that matters must indeed be in a bad way when he did not dare to face +the York electors. + +The election in the county of St. John was held on June 6th, and that in +the city, on the seventh. For the county, the confederate candidates +were Messrs. C. N. Skinner, John H. Gray, James Quinton and R. D. +Wilmot, and the anti-confederate candidates were Messrs. Coram, Cudlip, +Robertson and Anglin. The former were elected by very large majorities, +Mr. Wilmot, who stood lowest on the poll among the confederates, having +a majority of six hundred over Mr. Coram, who stood highest among the +defeated candidates. The election for the city was an equally emphatic +declaration in favour of confederation. The candidates were the Hon. S. +L. Tilley and A. R. Wetmore on the confederate side, and J. V. Troop and +S. R. Thompson opposed to confederation. Mr. Tilley's majority over Mr. +Troop, who stood highest on the poll of the two defeated candidates, was +seven hundred and twenty-six. The only counties which the +anti-confederate party succeeded in carrying were Westmorland, +Gloucester and Kent,--three counties in which the French vote was very +large,--so that of the forty-one members returned, only eight were +opponents of confederation. The victory was as complete as that which +had been recorded against confederation in the beginning of 1865. + +{THE BATTLE IS WON} + +The battle of confederation had been won, and the triumph was mainly due +to the efforts of the Hon. Mr. Tilley. That gentleman, as soon as the +defeat of confederation took place in March, 1865, had commenced a +campaign for the purpose of educating the people on the subject. Being +free from his official duties and having plenty of time on his hands, +he was able to devote himself to the work of explaining the advantages +of the proposed union to the people of the province; and during the +years 1865 and 1866, he spoke in almost every county on the subject +which was so near to his heart. He had embraced confederation with a +sincere desire for the benefit of his native province, and with the +belief that it would be of the greatest advantage to New Brunswick. If +the fruits of confederation have not yet all been realized, that has +been due rather to circumstances over which neither Mr. Tilley nor any +one else had any control, than to any inherent vice of confederation +itself. If union is strength, then it must be admitted that the union of +the British North American provinces, which consolidated them into a +powerful whole, was a good thing; and there cannot be a doubt that if +the provinces had remained separate from each other, their present +position would have been much less favourable than it is now. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT + + +One of the great objects of confederation was the construction of the +Intercolonial Railway from St. John and Halifax to Quebec. It was +thought that there could be no real union between the several colonies +of British North America unless a good means of communication existed, +and such a means was to be obtained only through the construction of +this line of railway. The Intercolonial Railway, as we have seen, had +been a part of the policy of successive governments in the province for +many years, and it became an essential part of the scheme of +confederation. When confederation was accepted by the people of New +Brunswick in 1866, the Intercolonial Railway had yet to be built. +Western Extension, as the line to the Maine border was called, had only +been commenced; Eastern Extension, from the Shediac line towards +Halifax, was in the same condition; in fact, the total mileage of the +railways in New Brunswick did not exceed two hundred miles, and these +lines were isolated and formed no part of any complete system. New +Brunswick now has three separate lines of railway leading to Quebec and +Montreal; it is connected with the great railway systems of the +continent; there is no county in the province which has not a line of +railway traversing it; and the mileage has risen from less than two +hundred to more than fourteen hundred. + +Mr. Tilley realized that the time had come when the communities which +form the British provinces of North America must either become +politically connected or else fall, one by one, beneath the influence of +the United States. After confederation had been brought about between +Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, enough was seen in the conduct of +American statesmen towards Prince Edward Island to show that their +design was to try to create a separate interest in this colony apart +from the general interest of Canada. The acceptance of the scheme of +confederation by Prince Edward Island, at a comparatively early period, +put an end to the plots in that quarter; but in the case of Newfoundland +the same thing has been repeated, and an attempt was made by American +statesmen to cause the people of that island to believe that their +interests and those of Canada are not identical, and that they would be +specially favoured by the United States if they held aloof from the +great Dominion. The attitude of the people and congress of the United +States towards Canada has not been marked, for the most part, by any +great friendliness. They saw in confederation an arrangement that was +likely to prevent this country from ever becoming absorbed by their +own, and they believed that by creating difficulties for us with respect +to the tariff and other matters, and limiting the area of our commercial +relations, they could put such pressure upon Canada as would compel our +people to unite with them. This scheme has failed because it was based +on a misconception of the spirit of our people; but who will say that it +would not have succeeded if the several provinces which now form the +confederation had been disunited and inharmonious in their relations and +had pursued different lines of policy? + +{HIS SPEECHES} + +It is unfortunate that, owing to the absence of verbatim reports, it is +impossible to reproduce any of Tilley's speeches during the +confederation campaign. No speaker that New Brunswick has ever produced +has been more generally acceptable than was Tilley. His speeches were +pointed, and so clear that they could not be misunderstood. He +possessed, to a very large extent, that magnetism which enabled him to +retain the attention and to awaken the sympathy of his audience. At all +the meetings which he addressed, there were many who regarded themselves +always as his friends and supporters and who formed a phalanx around +him, giving him a confidence and political strength which few statesmen +have ever enjoyed to a like extent. Although his addresses frequently +provoked the bitter animosity of his enemies, he had always enough +friends to counteract their influence; and during the many contests +which he had to fight for his seat in the city of St. John, he was +always able to rely on the loyalty of those who were his early +associates and who remained his supporters until the end of his career. +It is quite safe to assert that confederation could not have been +carried had it not been for the personal efforts of Mr. Tilley. As the +leader of the government which had consented to the Quebec scheme, he +was properly looked upon as the chief promoter of confederation in New +Brunswick, and his name will go down to future generations identified +with that large and necessary measure of colonial statesmanship. + +{THE LEGISLATURE MEETS} + +Although the vote of the electors had been taken on the question, much +remained to be done before confederation could become an accomplished +fact. The last elections, which were those of Kings and Charlotte, were +held on June 12th, but more than a year was to elapse before the union +was effected, and the result which the election was intended to bring +about realized. The first thing to be done was to call the legislature +together and complete the business of the province, which had been +interrupted by the dissolution. The legislature met on June 21st, and +the Hon. John H. Gray, who had been an active advocate of confederation, +and who was one of the members for the county of St. John, was made +Speaker. In the speech from the throne the following reference was made +to the question of confederation:-- + +"Her Majesty's government have already expressed their strong and +deliberate opinion that the union of the British North American +provinces under one government is an object much to be desired. The +legislatures of Canada and Nova Scotia have formed the same judgment, +and you will now shortly be invited to express your concurrence with or +dissent from the view taken of this great question by those provinces." + +The address in reply was moved by Mr. Kerr, of Northumberland, and +seconded by Mr. Beveridge of Victoria, and its consideration was made +the order of the day for the following Saturday. When it came up for +discussion the Hon. Albert J. Smith was not in his place, and Mr. +Botsford, one of his colleagues from Westmorland, endeavoured to have +the consideration of the matter postponed; but the House was in no +humour to await the convenience of any single member, and the address +was passed the same day by a vote of thirty to seven. Attorney-General +Fisher, immediately on the passage of the address, gave notice of the +following resolution, which was to be made the order of the day for +Monday, June 26th:-- + +"_Resolved_, That an humble address be presented to His Excellency, the +lieutenant-governor, praying that His Excellency be pleased to appoint +delegates to unite with delegates from the other provinces in arranging +with the imperial government for the union of British North America, +upon such terms as will secure the just rights and interests of New +Brunswick, accompanied with provision for the immediate construction of +the Intercolonial Railway; each province to have an equal voice in such +delegation, Upper and Lower Canada to be considered as separate +provinces." + +Mr. Fisher moved the resolution in question in a very brief speech, and +was replied to by the Hon. Mr. Smith, who spoke at great length and +continued his speech on the following day. Mr. Smith took exception to +giving the delegates power to fix the destinies of the provinces +forever, without again submitting the scheme of union to the people. He +proceeded to discuss the Quebec scheme, and took exception to the +construction of the Upper House of the proposed legislature of the +confederation, declaring that each province should have an equal number +of representatives in it, as was the case in the United States. After +going over the ground pretty thoroughly and criticizing most of the +terms of the scheme of confederation, he moved an amendment, to the +effect that no Act or measure for a union with Canada take effect until +approved by the legislature or the people of the province. + +{A PLAN FOR CONFEDERATION} + +The Hon. Mr. Tilley replied to the leader of the Opposition in one of +the most effective speeches that he ever delivered in the legislature. +He first took up Mr. Smith's allusion to the constitutional question, +and, with immense power and solemnity, he charged that any want of +constitutional action which existed was due to Mr. Smith and his +colleagues. He stated that the governor's sympathies were with the late +government, and that he had endeavoured to aid and not to injure them. +Mr. Smith had alluded to the Hon. Joseph Howe, who was then an opponent +of confederation, in terms of praise, and Mr. Tilley, in reply, read +from Mr. Howe's speech, made in 1861, a magnificent paragraph on the +union of British America. Mr. Tilley stated that the government would +take the Quebec scheme for a basis, and would seek concessions to meet +the views of those who found objection to parts of it. He mentioned the +various counties of the province to show that they were either expressly +or potentially favourable to the Quebec scheme. He was convinced that +even his friend, the ex-attorney-general and member for Westmorland, was +hardly against union. He asked, "Was there one anti-unionist on the +floor of the House? Where was Mr. Anglin? Mr. Needham? Mr. Hill and all +the rest of the anti-unionists? They were all swept away and unionists +had taken their places, and when the arrangements for union were carried +out, the feeling in its favour would be deeper and deeper." Mr. Tilley +showed the great advantages which would accrue to New Brunswick +eventually in consequence of confederation. He combated the statement +made by Mr. Smith that after confederation the provincial legislature +would become a mere farce, showing that of all the Acts passed during +the previous two years there were only seven which would have come under +the control of the general legislature. Mr. Tilley closed by dwelling on +the impression of power which union would have on the minds of those +abroad who were plotting our ruin. The speech was listened to with the +utmost attention by the members of the legislature and by a very large +audience which completely filled the galleries, and it was generally +considered to have been one of his greatest efforts. + +{SMITH'S AMENDMENT} + +The resolution was finally carried by a vote of thirty to eight, only +two members, both of whom would have voted for the resolution, being +absent. As soon as the confederation resolution was passed the Hon. A. +J. Smith moved a resolution which, after reciting the steps which had +already been taken in favour of union with Canada, continued as +follows:-- + +"THEREFORE, _Resolved_, as the deliberate opinion of this House, that no +measure for such union should be adopted which does not contain the +following provisions, viz.: first, an equal number of legislative +councillors for each province; second, such legislative councillors to +be required to reside in the province which they represent and for which +they are appointed; third, the number of representatives in the federal +parliament to be limited; fourth, the establishment of a court for the +determination of questions and disputes that may arise between the +federal and local governments as to the meaning of the Act of Union; +fifth, exemption of this province from taxation for the construction and +enlargement of canals in Upper Canada, and for the payment of money for +the mines and minerals and lands of Newfoundland; sixth, eighty cents +per head to be on the population as it increases and not to be confined +to the census of 1861; seventh, securing to each of the Maritime +Provinces the right to have at least one executive councillor in the +federal government; eighth, the commencing of the Intercolonial Railway +before the right shall exist to increase taxation upon the people of the +province." + +Mr. Smith supported his resolution in a lengthy speech in which he +predicted increased taxation as the result of confederation. He said +that the House, instead of being a deliberative assembly, had to +surrender its judgment to the government. Confederation was a great +experiment at best, and called for the exercise of other men's judgment. +The government were going on in the most highhanded manner and were not +justified in withholding information asked for. He elaborated the idea +that Canada was pledged to issue treasury notes to pay present +liabilities, and asserted that the government was altogether under the +control of Canadian politicians. He insisted particularly on a provision +in the Act of Union that each of the Maritime Provinces have an +executive councillor in the federal government. Finally the vote was +taken and the following amendment, which had been moved by the Hon. Mr. +Fisher, was carried, only eight members voting against it:-- + +"_Resolved_, That the people of this province having, after due +deliberation, determined that the union of British North America was +desirable, and the House having agreed to request His Excellency the +lieutenant-governor to appoint delegates for the purpose of considering +the plan of union upon such terms as will secure the just rights of New +Brunswick, and having confidence that the action of His Excellency under +the advice of his constitutional advisers will be directed to the +attainment of that end, sound policy and a due regard to the interests +of this province require that the responsibility of such action should +be left unfettered by an expression of opinion other than what has +already been given by the people and their representatives." + +This ended the battle for confederation in New Brunswick, for what +remained to be done was merely the arrangement of the details of the +union by the delegates who had received full powers for that purpose. +The session of the legislature, which must be considered one of the most +important ever held in New Brunswick, came to a close on Monday, July +7th. At a meeting of the government held immediately after the +prorogation, the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, Wilmot, Fisher, Mitchell, Johnson +and Chandler were appointed to go to England as delegates for the +purpose of meeting delegates from Canada and Nova Scotia, and framing +the bill which was to be passed by the imperial parliament for the +consummation of confederation. It was understood that there would be no +delay on the part of the delegates from Canada, but Sir John A. +Macdonald and the other Canadian delegates were unable to leave at the +time appointed, and did not meet the Maritime Provinces delegation in +England until many months after the latter had arrived there. This +unfortunate circumstance produced much comment at the time, because it +looked as if the government of Canada was treating the delegates of New +Brunswick and Nova Scotia with discourtesy. Instead of the business +being completed promptly, as was expected, and the bill passed by the +parliament during the autumn season, the whole matter was thrown over +until the following year, and the New Brunswick delegates, most of whom +were prominent members of the government, had to remain in England for +about ten months at great expense and inconvenience. + +{THE DELEGATES IN ENGLAND} + +The delegates from the three provinces, Canada, Nova Scotia and New +Brunswick, met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, in December, +1866, the Hon. John A. Macdonald in the chair and Lieut.-Col. Hewitt +Bernard acting as secretary. The resolution passed at the Quebec +conference held in 1864 was read, and amendments were moved in +accordance with the suggestions made in the several legislatures during +the discussions at the previous sessions. It was conceded by all that +the Intercolonial Railway, by which facilities for interprovincial +commercial intercourse should be secured, must be built by the united +provinces and without delay. It was also conceded that in the provinces +where separate schools were established by law, that principle should +not be disturbed. In the discussion it was claimed that the sole right +of imposing an export duty should be vested in the federal authority. +This was objected to by the New Brunswick delegates, on the ground that +as the people of that province had expended a large sum of money in the +improving of the navigation of the upper St. John, they had to recoup +themselves by imposing an export duty on lumber shipped from the +province. A considerable portion of the income thus received was paid by +the lumbermen of the state of Maine, the advantage derived by them from +such improvements being very great. The claim thus presented by the New +Brunswick delegates was conceded, and the province was permitted to +retain the right. This right was abandoned after confederation, the +Dominion paying therefor a hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum +to the New Brunswick government. + +{THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT} + +During the sitting of the delegates, which lasted for two months, many +conferences were held with Lord Carnarvon, then secretary of state for +the colonies, and the law officers of the Crown, in regard to objections +which were taken to some of the resolutions adopted by the delegates. +The governor-general of Canada, Viscount Monck, was in London at the +time, and was able to render valuable assistance during the conference, +owing to his intimate knowledge of the previous negotiations at Quebec. +The arrangements there made, in regard to the strengthening of the +central government, founded on the experience of the United States +during the War of Secession, were adhered to in the London resolutions +and accepted by the imperial authorities. When the bill reached +parliament some amendments were suggested, but when it was pointed out +that the bill as presented was the result of the most careful +consideration of both the imperial authorities and the colonial +representatives, the suggested amendments were not pressed and the +measure passed through both Houses with very little discussion. But one +spirit seemed to animate both the imperial government and the members of +parliament, and that was to give the provinces interested the fullest +powers consistent with their relation to the Empire. The parliamentary +opposition to the measure was much less than might have been expected, +when it is remembered that the opponents of confederation had +representatives in London, well able to present objections from their +standpoint, who had the ear of Mr. Bright and other members of the House +of Commons. Her Majesty took a deep interest in the measure and +expressed that interest to members of the delegation, adding that she +felt a great affection for her loyal Canadian subjects. While the bill +was before the House of Lords, Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Galt, Tupper +and Tilley were honoured by a private presentation to Her Majesty, at +Buckingham Palace, and shortly afterwards all the members of the +conference were presented at a drawing-room at the same place. + +{COUNTY COURT ACT} + +The New Brunswick delegates returned to Canada in the spring of 1867, +having completed their labours, and the legislature was called together +on May 8th. The business before it was of great importance, for the +province was entering upon a new era as a member of the Canadian +confederation, and the legislature was about to lose that portion of its +powers which was delegated to the federal parliament. It is not, +however, necessary to enter into any details of the work of the session, +which was carried through without any particular difficulty, the +Opposition being too weak to oppose seriously the measures of the +government. It was felt on all sides that, as twelve members of the +legislative council were about to become members of the senate of +Canada, and as fifteen representatives were to be elected to the House +of Commons, most of whom would come from the House of Assembly, a +striking change would take place in the composition of the legislature, +which would be deprived of the services of a large number of its ablest +men. One of the important bills of the session was the passage of the +Act establishing county courts in the province, and in respect to this +measure a difference of opinion took place between Mr. John M. Johnson, +one of the delegates and member for Northumberland, and his fellow +delegates to England. He thought that the legislature had no authority +under the terms of confederation, or from any understanding between the +delegates while in England, to create county courts, while the other +delegates held a different view. The Act was passed, however, and has +proved to be one of the most useful ever placed upon the statute-book, +relieving the supreme court of many cases, both civil and criminal, +which would otherwise block its business, and enabling them to be +disposed of more rapidly than before. The county court judges appointed +under this Act were, with one exception, taken from the legislature, and +this made another serious drain upon its experienced members. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CANADA + + +The British North America Act, by which the provinces of Upper and Lower +Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were bound into a confederation, +came into force by royal proclamation on the first day of July, 1867. +When it is considered how vast and vital a change this measure brought +about, it is surprising that it produced so little excitement anywhere. +With the exception of one or two demonstrations which were made with +flags by persons hostile to confederation, it was received in the +province of New Brunswick, which had been so much excited during two +elections, with perfect calmness, and although for some years afterwards +there were always a number of persons opposed to union who predicted +direful things from confederation, and thought it must finally be +dissolved, the voices of such persons were eventually silenced either by +death or by their acquiescence in the situation. To-day it may be safely +declared that the Canadian confederation stands upon as secure a +foundation as any other government in the civilized world. + +In June, 1867, the Hon. John A. Macdonald, the leading spirit in the +government of Canada, was entrusted by Lord Monck, then +governor-general, with the formation of a ministry for the Dominion. Mr. +Macdonald naturally experienced a good deal of difficulty in making his +arrangements. In the formation of the first ministry much care was +necessary; provincial and national interests were to be thought of and +denominational claims had to receive some attention. But the greatest +difficulty arose with respect to old party lines. Mr. Macdonald thought +that these ought, as far as possible, to be ignored, and accordingly +selected his men from the leading advocates of confederation belonging +to both parties, placing in his cabinet seven Conservatives and six +Liberals. The Liberals included the names of Mr. W. P. Rowland and Mr. +William MacDougall for Ontario. A large number of the Liberals of +Ontario, including George Brown and Alexander Mackenzie, opposed this +arrangement, called a public meeting in Toronto, and passed resolutions +in favour of a strictly party government on the old lines. It declared +hostility to the proposal for a coalition, and resolved to oppose +Messrs. Rowland and MacDougall, should they accept office under Mr. +Macdonald. This decision was carried out, but these gentlemen were both +elected by good majorities. In this first ministry there were five +members from Ontario, four from Quebec, two from Nova Scotia, and two +from New Brunswick: S. L. Tilley and Peter Mitchell. + +The wisdom of the course adopted will be apparent when it is remembered +that the question of confederation was not settled or carried on party +lines, some of the Conservatives opposing and some Liberals supporting +it. This was clearly the case in New Brunswick, as shown by the last two +elections held there. About one-third of the Liberal party, and a like +proportion of the Conservative party, opposed confederation at the +second election. To have formed the first government on a party basis +would have necessitated the selection of some men who were opposed to +the union, and whose efforts might not have been devoted to making it a +success. + +{FIRST CONFEDERATION MINISTRY} + +The first confederation ministry was a very strong one. The Hon. John A. +Macdonald became premier and minister of justice; the Hon. George E. +Cartier was minister of militia and defence; Alexander T. Galt was +minister of finance; the Hon. William MacDougall was minister of public +works; the Hon. W. P. Rowland was minister of inland revenue; the Hon. +A. J. F. Blair, president of the privy council; the Hon. Alexander +Campbell, postmaster-general; the Hon. J. C. Chapais, minister of +agriculture; the Hon. Hector L. Langevin, secretary of state. The Hon. +Mr. Tilley became minister of customs and the Hon. Mr. Mitchell minister +of marine and fisheries, while the two Nova Scotia representatives, +Messrs. Archibald and Kenny, became respectively secretary of state for +the provinces and receiver-general. + +It will thus be seen that the Maritime Provinces had four +representatives out of thirteen members of the cabinet, and this +proportion has generally been maintained since that time; so that the +fears of those who anticipated that the provinces by the sea would not +receive fair treatment in the distribution of high offices have proved +to be groundless. On the contrary, it can be said that the Maritime +Province members of the government appear always to have occupied a very +influential position. + +The office of minister of customs, which Mr. Tilley received, was +thought by some of his friends to be less important than he deserved, +they being of the opinion that he should have been made minister of +finance. This office, however, went to Mr. Galt, who, owing to a +difference with the rest of the government, resigned four months later, +his place in the cabinet being taken by Sir John Rose, who held the +office of finance minister until October, 1869, Sir Francis Hincks then +receiving the appointment. It was not until the resignation of the +latter in February, 1873, that Mr. Tilley became minister of finance. +The office at first assigned to him, however, was one of great +importance, involving as it did the reorganization of the entire +establishment of the customs of Canada, and it gave ample scope for his +great ability as a business man. + +The elections for the House of Commons in the new parliament of Canada +took place in August, when Tilley was chosen to represent the city of +St. John, and John H. Gray, the county. It had been expected, in view of +the fact that these men had been so largely instrumental in bringing +about confederation, that they would be allowed to walk over the course +unopposed. This was the case with Mr. Gray, whose candidature met with +no opposition; but Mr. Tilley was opposed by Mr. John Wilson, who +received a very small vote. This needless and futile opposition to the +candidature of a man who deserved so well from the province, was merely +one of the proofs of the existence of political rancour in the breasts +of those who had been defeated on the confederation question. + +{FIRST CANADIAN PARLIAMENT} + +The first parliament of united Canada met on November 6th, 1867, and the +address was moved by the Hon. Charles Fisher, who had been elected to +represent the county of York. The session was a very long one, lasting +until May 22nd of the following year; but there was an adjournment, +extending from December 21st to March 20th. This meeting of parliament +was especially memorable, inasmuch as it brought together, for the first +time, the representatives of all the provinces, and the ablest men of +all political parties. The people of Ontario and Quebec were little +known to the people of the Maritime Provinces, and those who resided in +the larger provinces in like manner knew comparatively little of their +fellow-subjects who dwelt by the sea. It was expected by some that the +Maritime Province representatives would be completely overshadowed by +men of greater political reputation belonging to the larger provinces, +but this did not prove to be the case. The Maritime representatives at +once took a leading position in parliament, and this position they have +steadily maintained down to the present time. No man stood better in the +House of Commons than the representative from St. John, the Hon. S. L. +Tilley. At that time Her Majesty, the Queen, in acknowledgment of his +services in the cause of confederation, had created him a Companion of +the Bath, a distinction which was also given to the Hon. Charles Tupper, +of Nova Scotia. + +A vast amount of business had to be disposed of at the first session of +the parliament of Canada. Although the Union Act embodied the plan upon +which confederation was founded, it was necessary to supplement it by a +great deal of special legislation, for the purpose of interpreting it +and making preparations for the practical working of the constitution. +In all the discussions relative to the measures which had to be passed +at that time, Tilley took a prominent part, and, when the session was +over, he had established in the House of Commons, as fully as he had in +the legislature of New Brunswick, a reputation for ability as a speaker +and as a man of affairs. He was looked upon as one whose wide knowledge +of the needs of the province and whose experience in departmental work +were likely to be of the greatest use to the confederation. His high +character gave weight at all times to his words, and caused him to be +listened to with the most respectful attention. During the whole period +that Tilley sat in the House of Commons, he had the pleasure of knowing +that even his political enemies respected his character and abilities, +and, with the exception of the premier, perhaps no man wielded a more +potent influence in the councils of the Dominion than he. + +It is not necessary here to trace to any large extent the career of Sir +S. L. Tilley in the parliament of Canada; that belongs rather to the +history of the Dominion than to a work which deals particularly with his +connection with his native province. Only so much of his public life in +the House of Commons will be dealt with as seems necessary to complete +his personal history. Tilley continued to hold the position of minister +of customs during the whole of the term of the first parliament of +Canada. This parliament held five sessions and dissolved in the summer +of 1872, the general election being in the month of July, upon which +occasion he was reelected for the city of St. John without opposition. + +{MINISTER OF FINANCE} + +The second parliament met on March 5th, 1873. Eleven days before that +time Mr. Tilley had become minister of finance, succeeding Sir Francis +Hincks, who had resigned that office after holding it for more than +three years. The advancement of Mr. Tilley to this responsible and +influential position was very pleasing to his friends, and was received +with satisfaction by the country generally. + +The first confederation ministry of Canada resigned office on November +5th, 1873, under circumstances which are a part of the political history +of the Dominion and need not be gone into in this volume, further than +to say that, whatever basis there may have been for charges of +corruption in connection with the Pacific Railway contract against other +persons in the government, none were ever preferred against Mr. Tilley; +nor did any one suspect or believe that he had anything whatever to do +with the transactions which led to the resignation of the government. +Prior to that event Mr. Tilley had been appointed lieutenant-governor of +the province of New Brunswick in succession to the Hon. Lemuel A. +Wilmot, whose term had expired. Every one felt that the honour thus +bestowed upon Tilley was a most fitting one, for he was New Brunswick's +foremost son in political life, and had reached his high position purely +through his own ability and his own good character. That position he +filled a greater number of years than any of his successors are likely +to do, and it is admitted on all sides that no man could have performed +the duties of the office more satisfactorily than he did. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +FINANCE MINISTER AND GOVERNOR + + +Mr. Tilley took up his residence in the old Government House, +Fredericton, and he must have been struck with the changed aspect +of affairs from that presented under the old regime, when +lieutenant-governors were appointed by the British government and sent +out from England to preside over the councils of a people of whom they +knew little or nothing. Most of these former governors had been military +men, more accustomed to habits of command than to deal with perplexing +questions of state. They looked with a very natural degree of impatience +on the attempts which the people of the province were making to get the +full control of their own affairs. Under the old regime the governor was +surrounded with military guards, and sentries paced the walks and +guarded the entrances to the Government House. The withdrawal of the +British troops from Canada before the lieutenant-governorship of Mr. +Tilley commenced relieved him of any embarrassment in regard to +dispensing with military guards and sentries; but all pretentious +accompaniments of authority were foreign to his nature, and he always +showed, by the severe simplicity of his life, that he felt he was one +of the people, and that it was his duty as well as his pleasure to +permit all who had any occasion to see him to have free access to him, +without the necessity of going through any formal process. + +{THE PROTECTIONIST TARIFF} + +When Mr. Tilley became lieutenant-governor of the province, he was +fifty-five years of age, and he seems to have thought that his political +career was ended, because, by the time his term of office expired in its +natural course, he would have reached the age of sixty, a period when a +man is not likely to make a new entrance into public life. But +circumstances, quite apart from any desire on his part, made it almost +necessary for him to change his determination, and during the summer of +1878, when the general election was imminent, he found himself pressed +by his old political friends to become once more the candidate of his +party for his old constituency, the city of St. John. There was great +enthusiasm amongst them when it was announced that he would comply with +their wishes, and that he had resigned the lieutenant-governorship. The +result of that general election is well known. The Liberal party, which +had succeeded to the government less than five years before with a large +majority in the House of Commons, experienced a severe defeat, and the +Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, seeing this, very properly did not await the +assembling of parliament, but sent in the resignation of the ministry, +and Sir John A. Macdonald was called upon to form a new government. In +the cabinet thus constructed Mr. Tilley resumed his old office of +minister of finance, and one of his first duties was to assist in the +framing of a new customs tariff which was to give effect to the +principle, upon which the election had been run, of protection to home +industries. This idea of protection had not been heard of in the +Canadian confederation as the policy of any political party until Sir +John A. Macdonald took it up about a year before the general election, +but it proved a winning card and was the means of giving the new +government a long lease of power. + +Sir Leonard Tilley's speech in introducing the new tariff was well +received and made a strong impression upon all who heard it. It was +admitted, even by those who were opposed to the views he held, that he +showed a great mastery of the details, and that he illustrated in a very +clear manner the view that the country was suffering because the duties +imposed upon foreign goods were not sufficiently high to protect +Canadian manufactures. + +It is not the intention of this volume to deal to any full extent with +the career of Sir Leonard Tilley during his second term of office as +minister of finance of Canada. To enter into that phase of his career +would be to relate the history of Canada, for he was but one member of +the government, and not its leader. It is admitted that, in respect to +financial questions, Sir Leonard showed the same ability that had +characterized his career during his previous term of office, and he was +looked upon by his colleagues as a man in whose judgment the utmost +confidence could be placed. At this time, however, his health began to +fail, and the disease which finally carried him off developed to such an +extent that he was told he must cease all active work or his days would +be shortened. Under these circumstances, it became necessary for him to +retire from the severe duties of his very responsible and laborious +office, and on October 31st, 1885, he was again appointed +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, an office which he had filled with +so much acceptance between 1873 and 1878. Sir Leonard Tilley continued +lieutenant-governor during a second term, for almost eight years, or +until the appointment of the Hon. John Boyd to that position. He was +lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick for considerably more than twelve +years, a record which is not likely to be equalled by any future +lieutenant-governor for many years to come, if ever. + +{SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR} + +There was no event of particular importance to distinguish Sir Leonard +Tilley's second term as lieutenant-governor. The Hon. Mr. Blair was +premier of New Brunswick during the whole period, and there was no +political crisis of any importance to alter the complexion of affairs. +The only event in connection with the governorship which is worthy of +being mentioned is the change that was made by the abandonment of the +old Government House, at Fredericton, as the residence of the +lieutenant-governor. This building had become antiquated, and in other +ways unsuitable for the occupancy of a lieutenant-governor, and its +maintenance involved a very large expenditure annually, which the +province was unable to afford. It was therefore determined that in +future the lieutenant-governor should provide his own residence, and +that the amount spent on the Government House annually should be saved. +Sir Leonard Tilley built a residence in St. John, in which he lived for +the remainder of his life, and the seat of government, so far as his +presence was concerned, was transferred to that city. Sir Leonard Tilley +was always on the most cordial terms with the various premiers who led +the government of New Brunswick during their terms of office. He knew +well the strict constitutional limits of his office, and was always +careful to confine his activities within their proper scope. The lessons +of responsible government which he had learned in his early youth, and +which had been the study of his manhood, enabled him to avoid those +pitfalls which beset the steps of earlier lieutenant-governors. + +During Sir Leonard Tilley's last term of office, and after its close, he +abstained wholly from any interference with public affairs in the +Dominion, and although he still remained steadfastly attached to the +Liberal-Conservative party, he gave no outward sign of his desire for +their success. This neutral position which he assumed in political +matters had the effect of drawing towards him thousands of his +fellow-countrymen who, in former years, had been accustomed to regard +him with unfriendly feelings. They forgot the active political leader +and saw before them only the aged governor, whose venerable figure and +kindly face were so familiar at social or other gatherings, or whenever +work was to be done for any good cause. In this way Sir Leonard Tilley +grew to assume a new character in the public estimation, and at the time +of his death the regret was as great on the part of those who had been +his political opponents as among those who had been his associates in +political warfare. This was one of the most pleasing features of his +declining years, and one that gave him the greatest satisfaction, +because it enabled him to feel that he enjoyed the affectionate regard +of the whole body of the people. + +Sir Leonard Tilley throughout his life gave great attention to his +religious duties. He was a devoted member of the Church of England, and +his attendance at its services was constant and regular. For several +years before his death he was connected with St. Mark's congregation, +and no cause, except severe bodily illness, was ever allowed to prevent +him from going to church on Sunday morning. On many occasions, when his +steps had grown feeble and his strength was failing, it was suggested to +him that he should drive to church, but he always replied that he would +walk to church as long as he had strength left to do so, and that he +would not have people harnessing up horses on the Sabbath Day on his +account. This resolution he maintained to the end of his life. +Sometimes, when he met an old acquaintance, as he toiled up the street +which led to his favourite church, he would cheerfully greet him by +saying, "John, this hill has grown steeper than it used to be," but he +climbed the hill to the end, and the last Sunday he was able to be out +of his bed he walked to church as usual. He also took a deep interest in +all humane and philanthropic objects as well as in the great work +connected with the spread of the Gospel. He was a constant attendant at +the annual meetings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and was a +life member of that admirable association. + +{HIS IMPERIAL HONOURS} + +The honours that Sir Leonard Tilley received from Her Majesty, in +recognition of his great public services, were very gratifying to his +friends as well as to himself, and when he was made a Knight Commander +of St. Michael and St. George, in 1879, his temperance friends embraced +the first opportunity on his return to St. John to have a banquet in his +honour, at which he wore, for the first time in public, the insignia of +the knightly order of which he had become a member. There was probably +no public event in the whole course of his life which gave him greater +pleasure than this proof of the attachment of his old friends. + +Sir Leonard's last visit to England was marked by an extremely gracious +invitation to visit the queen at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. While he +and Lady Tilley were sojourning at Cowes a message was sent summoning +them to Osborne House, where they were received by Her Majesty in the +beautiful grounds that surround that palace. The Princess Louise and +Princess Beatrice, with an equerry in waiting, were the only other +persons present. After an interesting conversation they were permitted +to visit the private apartments of Her Majesty, and the Prince Consort's +farm. + +Sir Leonard Tilley was first married in 1843 to Julia Ann, daughter of +the late James T. Hanford, who died in 1862. By her he had seven +children, two sons and five daughters. In 1867, he married Alice Starr, +daughter of the late Z. Chipman, of St. Stephen. By this marriage he had +two sons, Mr. Herbert C. Tilley, of the Imperial Trust Company, who +resides in St. John, and Mr. L. P. DeWolfe Tilley, barrister, who is +also a resident of St. John. These two sons, Herbert and Leonard, were +the prop and comfort of his declining years and were devoted wholly to +him to the end. + +{LADY TILLEY} + +Sir Leonard Tilley's second marriage was contracted at the time when he +was exchanging the limited field of provincial politics for the wider +sphere which confederation opened up to him in the parliament of Canada. +It was a fortunate union, for it gave him a helpmeet and companion who +was in full sympathy with him in all his hopes and feelings, and who was +singularly well qualified to preside over his household, which, in his +capacity of a minister of the Crown, had become, to a considerable +extent, a factor in the public life of Canada. Lady Tilley had a high +ideal of her duty as the wife of a cabinet minister and of the governor +of New Brunswick, and was not content to lead a merely ornamental life +or confine her energies within a narrow range. She saw many deficiencies +in our appliances for relieving human misery, and with a zeal which +could not be dampened, she sought to remedy them. The Victoria Hospital +at Fredericton is her work; hers also is the Nurses' Home in connection +with the Public Hospital in St. John, and the Reformatory for the care +of bad or neglected boys, who are in danger of becoming criminals if +they are not educated and disciplined when they are young. In every work +of philanthropy Lady Tilley has always taken not only an active, but a +leading part, and her position has enabled her to enlist in the cause of +humanity the energies of many who, under other circumstances, might not +have given their attention to philanthropic work. + +Sir Leonard Tilley for many years had suffered from an incurable +disease, which had been mitigated by rest and medical treatment, but not +removed. It was the knowledge of the fact that his days would be +shortened if he continued in active political life that compelled him +to leave the government in 1885. For many years before his death the +malady had been so far subdued that it gave him comparatively little +trouble, but any unusual exertion on his part was almost certain to +arouse it again to activity, so that he was prevented on many occasions +from taking part in public functions which, under other circumstances, +he would have been glad to attend. Still, he always contrived to take +his daily walk, and few who saw him ever suspected that he was +constantly menaced by death. For three or four years before his decease +his strength had been failing, he stooped more as he walked, and it was +evident that he was not destined to enjoy many more years of life. Yet +during the spring of 1896 there was nothing whatever to indicate that +the end was so near, for he went about as usual, and was able to preside +at the annual meeting of the Loyalist Society which was held during the +last week in May. On that evening he appeared very bright and cheerful, +and he entered with much interest into the discussion of the details of +an outing which it was proposed the society should hold during the +summer. "Man proposes, God disposes." Sir Leonard had gone to Rothesay +early in June to spend a few weeks in that pleasant spot, and he +appeared to be in his usual health until the night of June 10th, when he +began to suffer great pain from a slight cut which he had received in +the foot. The symptoms became alarming and gave indications of blood +poisoning, a condition due to the disease from which he had suffered so +many years. On June 11th, he was taken to Carleton House, his town +residence, and from that time the doctors gave no hope of his recovery. +It was one of the sad features of his illness that his life-long friend +and physician for many years, Dr. William Bayard, was unable to attend +him, being himself confined to his bed by illness. + +{LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH} + +After Sir Leonard Tilley reached his home in St. John he never rallied, +and he was well aware that his end was near. He was attended by Dr. +Inches and Dr. Murray McLaren, but he was beyond medical aid, and +therefore the people of St. John, for several days before the event took +place, were aware that their foremost citizen was dying. The time was +one of great excitement, for the general election was near, yet the eyes +of thousands were turned from the moving panorama of active life which +passed before them to the silent chamber where the dying statesman was +breathing his last. The regret and sympathy that was expressed was +universal, and in their kindly words those who had been his life-long +political opponents were not behind those who had been his friends. Sir +Leonard Tilley died at three o'clock on the morning of June 25th, the +second day after the general election which brought about the defeat of +the party with which he had been so long identified. + +{HIS EMINENT SERVICES} + +His death evoked expressions of sympathy and regret from all parts of +the empire and from many states of the union. The letters and telegrams +of condolence which Lady Tilley received during the first days of her +widowhood would of themselves fill a volume, showing how widely he was +known and respected. The funeral, which took place on the Saturday +following his death, was one of the largest ever seen in St. John, and +was attended by the Board of Trade, the Loyalist Society, the various +temperance organizations, the members of the provincial government, and +a vast concourse of prominent citizens. The services took place at St. +John's Episcopal Church, and were conducted by the rector, the Rev. John +deSoyres, assisted by the Rev. R. P. McKim, rector of St. Luke's Church, +with which Sir Leonard had been identified in his earlier years. The +interment took place in the Rural Cemetery. Many references to the +decease of this eminent man were made from the pulpits of St. John and +other parts of the province on the Sunday following his death, and all +the newspapers had long notices of the event and editorials on his life +and character. We may fittingly close this work by quoting a portion of +what was said of him by the St. John _Telegraph_, a paper that was +politically opposed to him for many years:-- + +"It is greatly to the honour of Sir Leonard Tilley that no scandal, +public or private, was ever attached to his name. A consistent +temperance man to the end of his life, he was faithful to the cause +which he had espoused when he was young, and he enjoyed the confidence +and received the steady support of a vast majority of the temperance men +of the province, who looked upon him as their natural leader. His +capacity for friendship was great, and his friends might be numbered by +thousands, for he had a peculiar faculty of strongly attracting men to +himself. This may be ascribed, in part, to the magnetism of a buoyant +and strong nature, but it was more largely due to the extreme simplicity +of his character, which remained wholly unspoiled by the favours which +fortune had showered upon him. No man, however humble, had any +difficulty in obtaining an interview with Sir Leonard Tilley; he was +every inch a gentleman, and was, therefore, as polite to the poorest +labourer as to the richest in the land. Such a man could not fail to be +loved even by those who had been his most bitter opponents in former +years, when he was in active political life. + +"It is one of the drawbacks of this human life that the wise, the +learned, the good, and those whom we most love and honour, grow old and +feeble, fall by the wayside and pass away. So while we lament the death +of Sir Leonard Tilley, we must recognize it as an event that was +inevitable, and which could not long have been postponed. His lifework +was done; his labours were ended; his active and brilliant career was +closed; he was but waiting for the dread summons which sooner or later +must come to all. The summons has come, and he has gone from among us +forever. His venerable, noble face will no longer be seen on our +streets, his kindly greeting will no longer be heard. But his memory +will live, not only in the hearts of all his countrymen, but enshrined +in the history of this his native province, and of the great Dominion +which he did so much to create, and which he so fondly loved." + + + + +INDEX + + + + +INDEX + + +A + + Allen, Hon. John C., solicitor-general, 183; + opposes confederation, 228; + becomes attorney-general, 233; + appointed a judge, 235 + + Anglin, Hon. Timothy W., opposes confederation, 227, 233; + differences with his colleagues, 236; + resigns from the government, 237 + + Aroostook War, 135 + + Ashburton Treaty, 195 + + Assembly, House of, its composition and powers, 6; + Wilmot's college bill introduced in, 51; + its passage through the House, 52-6 + + +B + + Babbitt, Samuel, teacher of the Madras School, 147 + + Baillie, Thomas, retires with a pension, 116 + + Ballot Law passed, 189 + + Beckwith, John A., member for York, 250 + + Bernard, Lieutenant-Colonel Hewitt, secretary of the confederation + delegations, 263 + + Blair, Hon. Andrew G., premier of New Brunswick, 280 + + Bliss, Hannah, mother of L. A. Wilmot, 3, 4 + + Botsford, Hon. Bliss, surveyor-general, 233 + + Bounties, disallowed by British government, 118 + + Boyd, Hon. John, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 280 + + British North America Act, the, comes into force, 269 + + Brown, George, agrees to support confederation, 211 + + Brown, James, surveyor-general, 174 + + +C + + Campbell, Sir Archibald, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 23, 27; + refuses information to the House, 28; + censured by the assembly, 29; + dissolves the assembly, 29; + opposes the civil list arrangement, 44 + + Carleton, Thomas, governor of New Brunswick, 5 + + Carnarvon, Lord, his interest in confederation, 264 + + Carter, Sir James, appointed a judge, 74; + appointed chief-justice, 130; + resigns the chief-justiceship, 235 + + Cartier, Hon. George E., minister of militia, 271 + + Casual and territorial revenue, _see_ Crown lands + + Chandler, Edward B., a delegate to England in reference to the Crown + lands, 24; + enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76; + goes to England on behalf of the Intercolonial Railway, 168, 196; + confederation delegate to England, 262 + + Chipman, Ward, chief-justice, 74; + resigns, 129 + + Church of England, its predominant influence, 7 + + Civil list, the, paid in part by the Crown land revenue, 21, 25; + the Civil List Bill, 43; + the bill passed, 47 + + Clark, Rev. Samuel, rector of Gagetown, 147 + + Colebrooke, Sir William, lieutenant-governor, 76; + appoints Alfred Reade secretary, 76; + censured by the assembly, 101 + + Confederation, 201, 202; + proposed in Lord Durham's Report, 203; + discussed in 1858, 205; + not favoured by Lord Derby's government, 205; + D'Arcy McGee's party visits the Maritime Provinces, 209; + crisis in the government of Canada, 209, 210; + Canadian statesmen at the Charlottetown conference, 217-19; + the Quebec scheme, 222; + unfavourably received in New Brunswick, 223-5; + the general election of 1865, 226-9; + defeat of, 231; + recommended in the speech from the throne, 242; + carried at the general election of 1866, 249-51; + resolutions in its favour carried in the legislature, 260, 262; + delegation sent to England to arrange details of, 262; + delay in arrival of Canadian delegates, 263; + meeting in London, 263; + discussion of the terms of union, 264; + Confederation Act passed by parliament, 265; + the union of the provinces proclaimed, 269 + + Connell, Hon. Charles, postmaster-general, circumstances which led to + his resignation, 191-2; + member for Carleton, 231; + becomes a member of the Mitchell-Wilmot government, 247; + reelected for Carleton, 249 + + Cook, Dr. Henry, 149 + + Council, executive, its composition, 48, 72; + reorganized, 116 + + Council, legislative, 5; + rejects the college bill, 52, 53; + its obstructive character, 67; + its conduct condemned by the assembly, 68; + changes in its composition, 69; + favours confederation, 244 + + Crane, William, a delegate to England with an address to His Majesty, 41 + + Crown lands, revenues from, 6; + dissatisfaction with the management of, 18-21; + used to pay the civil list, 21, 22; + control of, made the subject of an address to the king, 23; + a deputation sent to England, 24; + the surrender of the revenues by His Majesty proposed, 25-7, 35-7; + another address to the king, 37, 38; + control of, surrendered to the province, 47 + + Custom-house system, imperial, discarded, 175, 176 + + Customs duties, 6, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39 + + +D + + DesBrisay, L. P. W., seconds Fisher's amendment to the address in reply + to the speech from the throne, 244 + + Douglas, Sir Howard, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 50, 51, 148 + + Dow, Dr., member for York, 250 + + +E + + Education, unsatisfactory condition of, in New Brunswick, 83-5; + the Madras system, 86-8; + Wilmot's speech on, 88-91 + + +F + + Family Compact, the, 13, 110 + + Fees, on land grants, 14 + + Fenians, threaten to invade Canada, 240, 241; + invade New Brunswick, 247; + Doran Killian, leader of, 247; + troops called out to oppose them, 248; + their invasion a fiasco, 249 + + Fisher, Hon. Charles, member for York, 47; + reelected for York, 102; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 103; + his resolution defeated, 111; + enters the government, 116; + defeated in York, 128; + his services to the Liberal party, 154; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 172, 173; + joins the new government as attorney-general, 174; + retires from the government, 193; + reelected for York, 194; + elected on the confederation ticket for York, 237; + moves an amendment to the address in reply to the speech from the + throne, 244; + becomes attorney-general, 247; + moves a confederation resolution, 257, 258; + a confederation delegate to England, 262; + elected for York in the first parliament of united Canada, 273 + + Fraser, John J., opposes confederation, 228 + + +G + + Gagetown, birthplace of Sir Leonard Tilley, 146 + + Galt, Hon. A. T., in favour of confederation, 205; + minister of finance, 271 + + Gilbert, Thomas, advocates agricultural schools, 162 + + Gillmor, Hon. A. H., provincial secretary, 233 + + Gladstone, Right Hon. W. E., 199 + + Glenelg, Lord, colonial secretary, 42, 61 + + Glenie, James, an early Reformer, 13 + + Gordon, Arthur Hamilton, lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, opposed + to confederation, 239; + his change of views, 240; + the confederation paragraph in his speech from the throne, 242; + differences with his government, 242 + + Government, responsible, the demand for, 99-111; + granted, 113-16 + + Gray, Hon. John H., 152; + supports the government, 160; + becomes a member of the government, 165; + appointed attorney-general, 183; + favours confederation, 227; + elected for St. John County, 251; + speaker of the assembly, 256; + again elected for St. John in the parliament of 1867, 273 + + Gray-Wilmot government, formed, 183; + defeated, 184 + + Grey, Earl, colonial secretary, on tenure of office, 113; + disallows hemp bounty bill, 118 + + Grievances, committee on, appointed, 24 + + +H + + Hamilton, Peter S., his articles advocating confederation, 207 + + Hanington, Hon. D. L., speaker, 172 + + Hannay, James, his articles in favour of confederation, 207 + + Harding, James A., elected for the city of St. John, 167 + + Harvey, Sir John, lieutenant-governor, 47, 113 + + Hatheway, Hon. George L., opposes confederation, 228; + joins the anti-confederation government, 233; + retires from the contest in York, 250 + + Hazen, Hon. Robert L., on responsible government, 63; + enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76 + + Head, Sir Edmund, lieutenant-governor, 129 + + Hill, George S., member for Charlotte, 66 + + Howe, Hon. Joseph, a delegate to England in connection with the + Intercolonial Railway, 107; + advocates confederation, 204 + + Humbert, Mr., opposes responsible government, 64 + + Hutchinson, Richard, 234 + + +J + + Jenkins, William, teacher of the Gagetown grammar school, 147 + + Johnson, Hon. John M., solicitor-general, 174; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + opposes county courts bill, 267 + + Johnston, Hon. Hugh, enters the government, 72; + resigns, 76 + + +K + + Kerr, George, member for Northumberland, 249 + + King's College, 49; + its illiberal charter, 50; + bill to amend it defeated, 52; + passed, 56, 163; + reorganized and becomes University of New Brunswick, 190 + + Kinnear, Hon. William B., solicitor-general, 116 + + +L + + Legislature of New Brunswick, called together in 1866, 256; + its session of 1867, 266 + + Leonard, Samuel, 147 + + _Loyalist_, newspaper, its proprietors arrested, 75 (note) + + +M + + Macdonald, Sir John A., chairman of the confederation delegation, 263; + forms the first Dominion cabinet, 270 + + McClelan, Hon. A. R., chief commissioner of public works, 247; + reelected for Albert County, 249 + + McGee, Thomas D'Arcy, favours confederation, 207; + lectures in St. John, 207; + brings a party to visit the Maritime Provinces, 209 + + McMillan, Hon. John, surveyor-general, elected for Restigouche, 231; + becomes postmaster-general, 247 + + McPhelim, Francis, postmaster-general, 183 + + Manners-Sutton, Hon. H. T., lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, + dissolves the House of Assembly, 180 + + Maritime union movement, 211-13; + the Charlottetown conference, 215 + + Marriage laws, 14, 15 + + Meade, General, 249 + + Metcalfe, Sir Charles, governor-general of Canada, 74; + his unconstitutional stand, 74; + his views approved by the New Brunswick assembly, 74 + + Mitchell, Hon. Peter, member of the legislative council, 246; + supports confederation, 246; + called on to form a government, 246; + forms the Mitchell-Wilmot government, 247; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + becomes minister of marine, 271 + + Monck, Viscount, governor-general of Canada, 265 + + Money grants, initiation of, 48 + + Montgomery, John, enters the government, 72; + surveyor-general, 183 + + Morgan, Elizabeth, great grandmother of Sir Leonard Tilley, 145 + + +N + + Needham, W. H., member for York, 152; + his ability and character, 154; + opposes confederation, 228 + + Newcastle, Duke of, colonial secretary, 197 + + +O + + Odell, Hon. William Franklin, death of, 75 + + Odell, Hon. William H., postmaster-general, 233, 234 + + Office, tenure of, 57; + Lord John Russell's despatch, 57; + resolution of assembly thereon, 60 + + +P + + Palmerston, Lord, his government in office during confederation + negotiations, 206 + + Parker, Hon. Robert, becomes chief-justice, 235 + + Parliament of Canada, its first meeting, 273 + + Partelow, Hon. John R., member for St. John County, 65; + on money appropriations, 93; + becomes provincial secretary, 116; + his ability as a business man, 157 + + Peters, Colonel Harry, speaker of the assembly, 148 + + Peters, Susan Ann, mother of Sir Leonard Tilley, 146 + + Peters, William, grandfather of Sir Leonard, 146 + + Peto, Brassy and Betts, propose to construct New Brunswick railways, 167-9 + + Pickard, John, defeated in York, 237 + + Portland Railway Convention, 119; + L. A. Wilmot's speech at, 120 + + Prohibitory liquor law, 176-8; + its failure, 180 + + Putnam, Charles S., barrister, 11 + + +R + + Railways, European and North American, proposed, 168; + its progress, 186; + completed to Shediac, 187, 188; + Intercolonial, building of, proposed, 168, 195; + delegations sent to England to obtain assistance, 169, 196-8; + discussed in parliament, 187; + a meeting held in Quebec to consider the offer of the British + government, 198; + a committee is sent to England to arrange the terms of the guarantee + but fail to come to an agreement, 199, 200; + its construction secured by confederation, 264 + + Reade, Alfred, appointed provincial secretary, 76; + his appointment condemned by the assembly, 79; + the appointment cancelled, 80 + + Reciprocity treaty, discussed, 170, 171; + bill passed, 175 + + Ritchie, Hon. William J., member for the county of St. John, 152; + his great ability, 155; + moves a want of confidence resolution, 160; + complains of the conduct of the governor and the colonial office, 164; + resigns his seat, 166; + reelected for St. John, 172; + joins the Fisher government, 175; + becomes chief-justice, 236 + + Robinson, F. P., auditor of the king's casual revenue, 34 + + Russell, Lord John, colonial secretary, 53; + on the King's College charter, 54; + on tenure of office, 114 + + +S + + Salaries, official, 61; + reduction proposed by Wilmot, 62 + + Saunders, Hon. John Simcoe, advocate-general, 34 + + Simonds, Hon. Charles, a delegate to England with the grievances of New + Brunswick, 24; + elected speaker, 160; + resigns his seat, 166; + again elected speaker, 183 + + Skinner, Hon. C. N., favours confederation, 227; + member for St. John city, 251 + + Smith, Hon. Albert J., joins the Fisher government, 175; + forms an anti-confederation government, 232; + differences with the lieutenant-governor, 242; + his government resigns, 245; + moves an amendment to confederation resolutions, 260 + + Smith, William O., mayor of St. John, 149 + + Stanley, Lord, colonial secretary, 53; + on King's College charter, 53, 54; + on the Reade appointment, 80; + on money grants, 92 + + Steadman, Hon. James, postmaster-general, 193 + + Steeves, Hon. William H., joins the Fisher government, 175 + + Street, Hon. George F., solicitor-general, 34; + a delegate to England in connection with the Civil List Bill, 45 + + Street, Hon. John Ambrose, attorney-general, 161 + + Street-Partelow government, defeated, 173 + + Sutton, Richard, 249 + + +T + + Tilley, James, grandfather of Sir Leonard, 145 + + Tilley, Lady, 284; + her charitable work, 285 + + Tilley, Samuel, great-grandfather of Sir Leonard, 143 + + Tilley, Samuel Leonard, birth and ancestry, 143; + at the Madras School, 147; + at the grammar school, 147; + removes to St. John, 149; + enters a drug store as clerk, 149; + becomes a total abstainer, 150; + begins business on his own account, 150; + elected to the House of Assembly as member for St. John, 152; + resigns his seat, 166; + reelected for St. John, 172; + becomes provincial secretary, 174; + defeated on the prohibition question, 183; + again elected for St. John, 185; + a delegate to England in regard to the Intercolonial Railway, 196; + a delegate to Quebec to consider the offer of the British + government, 198; + second delegation to England, 199; + at the Quebec conference, 219-22; + defeated in St. John city, 231; + resigns with his colleagues, 232; + declines to form a new government, 247; + becomes provincial secretary, 247; + reelected for St. John city, 251; + his efforts for confederation, 252; + his ability as a speaker, 255; + supports the confederation resolutions, 258, 259; + confederation delegate to England, 262; + presented to Her Majesty, 266; + becomes minister of customs, 272; + elected to parliament for St. John city, 273; + made a Companion of the Bath, 274; + his standing in the House of Commons, 274; + becomes minister of finance, 275; + elected to the second parliament, 275; + appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, 275; + resigns the governorship, 278; + again becomes finance minister, 279; + introduces a protectionist tariff, 279; + again appointed lieutenant-governor, 280; + resides in St. John, 281; + his simple habits, 281; + his popularity, 282; + a member of the Church of England, 282; + made a K.C.M.G., 283; + his marriages, 284; + visits Her Majesty at Osborne, 284; + his children, 284; + suffers from an incurable disease, 285; + his last illness, 286; + death, 287; + funeral, 288; + tributes of respect, 288 + + Tilley, Thomas Morgan, father of Sir Leonard, 145 + + _Trent_ affair, 197 + + +U + + United States, their attitude towards Canada, 254 + + +V + + Vankoughnet, Hon. P. M., a delegate to England in regard to the + Intercolonial Railway, 197 + + +W + + Wark, David, his bounty resolutions, 118 + + Watters, Hon. Charles, an advocate of confederation, 226 + + Weldon, Hon. John W., speaker of the assembly, 65; + on money grants, 94; + appointed a judge, 236 + + Wetmore, Hon. A. R., opposes confederation, 226; + opposes anti-confederation government, 243; + reelected for St. John city, 251 + + William IV., objects to alienation of Crown lands, 22; + dismisses the Liberal government, 37 + + Williston, Hon. Edward, solicitor-general, 247; + reelected for Northumberland, 249 + + Wilmot, Benjamin, first of the name in America, 3 + + Wilmot, Hon. Robert Duncan, 152; + his change of principle, 156; + supports the government, 160; + becomes surveyor-general, 165; + reelected in St. John, 166; + becomes provincial secretary, 183; + opposes confederation, 227; + dissatisfied with the government, 235; + resigns in January, 1866, 236; + forms a new government with Mitchell, 247; + reelected for St. John County, 251; + confederation delegate to England, 262 + + Wilmot, Lemuel, grandfather of L. A. Wilmot, 3 + + Wilmot, Lemuel Allan, birth, 2; + ancestry, 3; + education, 10; + studies law, 11; + his interest in politics, 11; + his knowledge of French, 12; + an officer of militia, 12; + elected to the assembly for York, 31; + takes his seat, 32; + his eloquence, 33; + zeal for reform, 34; + on custom house salaries, 38; + a delegate to the colonial office in connection with provincial + affairs, 41; + arranges terms with the British government, 43; + second delegation to England, 46; + reelected for York, 47; + engaged in the reform of King's College charter, 49-52; + bill rejected by council, 52; + resolutions thereon, 54; + the college bill passed, 56; + proposes a reduced scale of salaries, 62, 63; + nominated for the speakership, 66; + reelected for York, 66; + becomes a member of the government, 72, 73; + resigns in consequence of the Reade appointment, 76; + his reasons, 77; + advocates improved schools, 88; + in favour of free schools, 90; + an advocate of the initiation of money grants, 91, 94-7; + bids farewell to the House, 102; + reelected for York, 103; + his speech on the want of confidence resolution, 103-11; + becomes attorney-general, 116; + his oratory, 119; + at the Portland Railway Convention, 120; + his views on railway legislation, 126; + opposes the Shediac Railway, 127; + his bill for the reduction of salaries defeated in the legislative + council, 127; + decline of popularity, 128; + appointed a judge, 130; + Fenety's estimate of, 131; + appointed lieutenant-governor, 133; + his religious views, 133; + as a lecturer, 134; + takes part in the Aroostook War, 135; + his love of flowers, 136; + illness and death, 137; + character and achievements, 137-9 + + Wilmot, William, father of L. A. Wilmot, 3; + a Baptist local preacher, 10; + member of the House of Assembly in 1816, 10 + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wilmot and Tilley, by James Hannay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILMOT AND TILLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 26086.txt or 26086.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/8/26086/ + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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