Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-16
The Confederation scheme I'm New
RFuusWtck.

S
Brunswick.
We have already spoken of the propo-
sition now being agitated in the British
American dominions TO unite the nov
important provinces into one confedera
ton. As at present organized, the British
possessions in North America are divided
into six or eight different provinces, eacl
having its separate colonial government
consisting, in each case, of Lieutenant,
Governor appointed by the English crown
an executive council, or cabinet, chosen
by the former from the majority il the
popular branch Of Parliament. The lsgis
lative powers of each province are vested
in q Colonial Parliament, the members Of
the upper BRANCH of which are appointed
for life, while those of the lower are
chosen by popular election. A party has
recently sprung up, which, percsiving that
in union there is strength, and that in
confederation only is there any safeguard
against the gradual absorption of the pro-
vinces into the United States, have ma
tured and brought forward q scheme for
confederating all of them under one Gov
ernor and Parliament. The scheme is al
most unanimously favored in Canada, and
has been approved by the Government of
Newfoundland. Nova Scotia and Prince
Edwards Island have not yet acted on it.
New Brunswick; the other province which
it Is proposed to unite in the confederation,
is nov discussing the matter, and excite
ment rum high in her Parliament, parties
being divided into oonfederationists and
Observation-Disclosures. Popular feeling
seems to run against any union of the
maritime with the interior provinces.
But in. Parliament the influence
of England in favor of confederation
is strongly felt. The Upper House, which
being appointed by the Governor for life,
do not represent popular sentiment, on
the eth insts passed a resolution in favor
Of the sQuebeos proposition" as the
scheme of confederation is termed, and
expressed in an address to the Queen s
desire for the Inauguration of steps look
ing toward its adoption. The Governor
General very unexpectedly approved these
resolutions, and thsreupon the ministry,
who were understood to be a~nti-confeder-
ton, were compelled to resign.
The passage of these resolutions and
the adoption of the address to the Queen
praying for home action on the subject
of confederation, CT Gated great indigna-
ton among the Observation-Disclosures
The agitation of the question will lead, it
is believed, to the still more momenteus
question of the right of the home govern
ment to thus arbitrarily iegislate for the
colonies, and may produce in the mari
time provinces Of British North America
the same feeling and circumstances which
resulted in our Revolution of 1919. The
opposition to the scheme of confederation
is very open, bold and undisguised, and
IS represents 10 be a decidedly
revolutionary tendency. The example
of the United States in 1885 is quo
ted as worthy of emulation, and the in1u-
encs of this country is felt in q degree
which the friends of confederation are
slow to confess and admirs. The desire
for annexation to the United States is
stronglaRd Constantly increasing
and profound respect for our institutions,
and men is expressed on sl sides
by the people of the province.