The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-12
eBTo-day being FAST DAY, no PAPER will
be issued from this office tomorrow morning.

DB-To-day being FAST DAY, no PAPER will
be issued from this office tomorrow morning.
....| Canadian Confederation.
A dispatch published in our telegraphic
columns of Monday announced the fact that
the upper house of the New Brunswick Par
lament had adopted, 16 to 5, the resolution
urging confederation according to what Is
known as the "Quebec scheme" The report
OF this vote, together with an address asking
that the question of the union of the North
American PROVINCES be submitted to the ac-
tion OF the Imperial Parliament, were for
warded to the Queen.
The advocates of confederation will right
fully consider this as very important point
gained, as only year ago the provincial legis-
lature of New Brunswick refused, by de-
cided vote, to sanction the policy of Union
The efforts which have since been made by
the friends of the scheme to get this decision
reversed have been immense. All sorts Of In
fuences have been brought 10 bear, and per-
sonal animosities and party prejudices have
been made use of to an extent SURPRISING
even what may be seen in the intrigues of our
own political wire-pullers. The trump card,
however, the very "right bower of the Com
federationists, has been Fenianism. The
dread OF a common danger win often unite
for time the most diverse and hostile par
ties; and the vaporing and braggadocio of
Sweeney, OMahoney 6 Co., with the sensar
ton reports got up by the New York papers,
have afforded the friends of the Quebec
scheme precisely the opportunity they desired.
The runors so industriously circulated
throughout the Provinces of invasions here
and raids there, of cellars crammed with fre-
arms, and Fenianl armies marching and coun-
ter-marching, might be supposed to have their
origin partly in guilty consciousness Of the
questionable style OF neutrality maintained by
the Canadians during the recent war, but un-
questionably these rumors are Exaggerated
to the utmost for the very purpose of produc-
| ing panic, and turning the fears OF the peo-
| pie to political account. The powerful infu-
ence OF the Home government, too, is all ar
rayed on the side of the proposed Union,
fact OF great Importance with a people 80 10y
al as the Canadians. If the advocates of this
measure continue to exert themselves with
the energy and skill which have characterized
their efforts for the past six months, they
have certainly fair prospect of success.
In the mean time a sketch of some of the
leading features of the proposed plan may be
OF interest The Toronto correspondent of
the N. Y. Tribune sends to that paper a
heightened statement from which we make
| few extracts: I'D. se ...rf-t
DIVISIONS.
The Provinces are to form three divisions.
| namely: l. Canada West. 2. Canada East.
3. Nova Scotia, New-Brunswick and Prince
EDWARDS Island. Each Of these divisions Is
| to be represented by "a members, appointed
by the Crown, and to hold office for life.-
These to form an Upper House of the general
| legislature.
| The Lower House is at first to consist of
1S6 members, as follows: bl -
SSanada S West .s2New Brunswick. ......B
Nova Scetia nee Edwards Island 8
oS4' 4'''''.'........'...... ...,..............1S ..1S6
Y tThis does not include Newfoundland.)
+ BY this apportionment every 17,os7 people
will have one representative, and every House
is to continue for five years. In Canada, un-
der the present arrangement, 1t is four years.
This General Legislature, or Parliament, Is to
have charge of the public debt, the regulation
OF commerce, the imposition of customs du-
ties, excise duties and taxes, the postal, mill
tary and naval services, currency and coinage.
the criminal law, and all matters of general
character. Tie Local Legislatures will have
supervision of matters relating TO the local In
terests of the different provinces.
gl tag eovERNoRs. 4A 4Is Ai
For each of the Provinces q Lieut. Govern
or is to be appointed by the Governors General
In Council, his term of service to be five years,
he Is to be paid by the General Government.
The Chief Magistrate of the Confederation
| will probably be Governor-General, for two
reasons: one is, that man of ability is need
ed for the position: another, that princes will
not DO on this continent. Canadians and
New Brunswickers do not think that it Is con-
sistent with the progress of the age to have a
person OF rank only at the head of the new
State. They do not like, or care for, high
caste. 1t will not do, In spite of all a small
party may do, or say, in favor Of it. eA U'-
PUBLIC DEBTS.
The General Government is to assume all
the debts and liabilities of each Province:
those of Canada, East and West, not to ex-
ceed 1852 900; of Nova Scotia, SS.OOO,OOO.
and OF New Brunswick, $7,00O,000. 1t will
be seen from this that the debt Of the Cana
das Is huge compared with that of the other
Provinces, and it is this that forms one Of the
main objections of the latter to confederation.
They do not at all like to share the burden Of
that deb:, with their light debt Of $7,OOOOOO
to $sOOoOO0 only as their proper liability. p
The following extracts are from the draft Of
the Scheme" ITSELF and as they give one of
its most important and noticeable features.
we quote them entire: % f & b .ll'
SO. Newfoundland and Prince Edward,s r.ysra
not having incurred debts equal to those of the ot
payments, in advance, from General aovernwsss-rtF
the interest at i've per cent. on the arenes hat,ss
% aStIan 81 tbe no Of their respective debts the
Scotia and New Brunswick. : 0-' -N'''
"a In consideration of the transfer to the Gen.
eral Parliament of the powers of taxation an anrn
grant IN AID Of each province shall be made equal to
~ ~ csn.s per eead Of the Population, established BY
land being estimated at 10000 Such aid shah be IN
iui settlement o. all future demands upon the Gem
half yearly in advance 10 each proyince ,lil- n y
%. The position Of New Brunswick being such as
70 large immediate charges upon her local rev.
enues urged that for the bret period Of ten years
Onal allowance Of sss,ooO per annum shall be made
BSs
to the interest such deficiency shall be made nom
GO. In consideration OF the surrender to the Con-
erai Government by Newfoundland OF all its rights
nnoccupjed lands Of the Crown, it Is agreed that the
sum of $780, shall each year be paid that province,
ov shall retain the right Of opening consructinr
and controlling roads and bridges through any of the
said lands subject to any laws which the general par
lament may pass in respect OF the same.
|, Ard from, tba conoo couroa.