The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-07 00:00:00

The North American Confederation,

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The following is the text of the despatch from
Mr. Cardwell to Lord Monk, relative to the
proposed confederation- of the North American
provinces :

" Downivp.stvet, Dec. 3, 1864.
" My - Lord,---Her Ajestiti-Government have
received with the most, cordial satisfaction your
lordship's despatch of the '7th ultimo, transmitting
for their consideration the resolutions adopted by
the representatives of the several provinces of British
North America, which were assembled at Quebec.
With the sanction of the crown, and upon the invi-
tation of the Governor-General, men of every pro-
vince, chosen by the respective lieutenant governors,
without distinction of party, assembled to consider
questions of the utmost interest to every subject of
the Queen, •of whatever race or faith, resident in
those provinces, and have arrived at a conclusion
destined to exercise a most important influence upon
the future welfare of the whole community. Ani-
mated by the warmest sentiments of loyalty and de-
votion to their sovereign—earnestly desirous to secure
for their poiterity throughout all future time the
advantages which they enjoy as subjects of the British
crown—steadfastly attached to the institutions under
which they live, they have conducted their delibera-
tions with patient sagacity, and have arrived at
unanimous conclusions on questions involving many
difficulties, and calculated, under less favourable
auspices, to have given rise to many differences of
opinion. SO& an event is in the highest degree
honourable to those who have taken part in these
deliberations. It must inspire confidence in the

men by whose judgment and temper this result has
been attained, and will ever remain on record as an
evidence of the salutary influence exercised by the
institutions under which these qualities have been so
signally developed. Her Majesty's Government have
given to your despatch, and to the resolutions of
the Conference, their most deliberate consideration.
They have regarded them as a whole, and as having
been designed by those who have framed them to
establish as complete and perfect an union of the
whole into one government as the circumstances of
the. case and a due consideration of existing interests
would admit. They accept them, therefore, as being,
in the-deliberate-judgment of those best qualified to
decide upon the subject, the best framework of a
measure to be passed by the Imperial Parliament
for attaining that most desirable result. The point
of principal importance to the practical well-working
of the scheme is the accurate determination of the
limits between the authority of the central and that
of the local Legislatures, in their relation to each
other. It has not been possible to exclude from the
resolutions some provisions which appear to be less
consistent than might, perhaps, have been desired
with the simplicity and unity of the system. But,
upon thf whole, it appears to her MajcstL's Go-
vernnieA that: .precattftemligYillMarliattiii,
which are obviously intended to secure to
the central government the means of effec-
tive action throughout the several provinces,
and to guard against those evils which must
inevitably arise if any doubt were permitted to
exist as to the respective limits of central and local
authority. They are glad to observe that, although
large powers of legislation are intended to be vested
in local bodies, yet the principle of central control
has been steadily-kept in view. The importance of
this principle cannot be overrated. Its maintenance
is essential to the practical efficiency of the system,
and to its harmonious operation both in the general
administration and in the governments of the several
a
provinces. A very important part of this subject
is the
central expensen d local whigchovemrnamy
governments,
Htheerwmoajrkeinst,
gyosfGthoe
.
vernment cannot but express the earnest hope that
the arrangements which may be adopted in this
respect may not be of such a nature as to increase,
at least in any considerable degree, the whole ex-
penditure, or to make any material addition to the
taxation, and thereby retard the internal industry,
or tend to impose new burdens on the commerce of
the country. Her Majesty's Government are anxious
to lose no time in conveying to you their general
approval of the proceedings
of the Conference.
There are, however, two provisions of great import-
ance which seem to require revision. The first of
these is the provision contained in the 44th resolu-
tion with respect to the exercise of the prerogative
of pardon. It appears to her Majesty's Govern-
ment that this duty belongs to the representative
of the Sovereign, and could not with propriety be
in
devolved upon the lieutenant-governors, who will
under the scheme be appoted, not directly
by the Crown, but by the central government of
the united provinces. The second point which
her Majesty's Government desire should be re-con-
sidered is the constitution of the Legislative Coun-
cil. They appreciate the considerations which
have influenced the Conference in determining the
mode in which this body, so important to the con-
stitution of the legislature, should be composed.
But it appears to them to require further conside-
ration whether, if the members be appointed for life
and their number be fixed, there will be any sail-
, cient means of restoring harmony between the
Legislative Council and the popular assembly, if it
shall ever unfortunately happen that a decided
difference of opinion shall arise between them.
These two points, relating to the prerogative of the
crown and to the constitution of the Upper Cham-
ber, have appeared to require distinct and separate
notice. Questions of minor consequence and mat-
ters of detailed arrangement may properly be re
served for a future time, when the provisions of the
bill intended to be submitted to the Imperial Par-
liament shall come under consideration. Her
Majesty's Government anticipate no serious diffi-
culty in this part of the case, since the resolutions
will generally be found sufficiently explicit to guide
those who will be entrusted with the preparation of
the bill. It appears to them, therefore, that you
should now take immediate measures, in concert
the lieutenant-governors of the several provinces,
for submitting to the respective legislatures this
project of the. conference ; and if, as I hope, you are
able to report' that these legislatures sanction and
adopt the .scheme, her Majesty's Government will
render you all the assistance in their power for
carrying it into effect. It will probably be found to
be the most convenient course that, in concert with
lieutenant-governors, you should select a deputa-
tion of the best persons qualified to proceed to this
country, that they may be present during the pre-
paration of the bill, and to give to her Majesty's
Government the benefit of their counsel upon any
questions which may arise during the passage of the
measure through the two Houses of Parliament.—
. I have, &e., • E. CARDWELL."