The Portland daily press., 1867-10-01
en- place it was part of their avowed purpose


from England. This was the position maintain
ed from the first by Mr.. Joseph Howe, the very
abb, leader of the present victorious party in
the Province, and was set forth by him in GER
tain pamphlets which had an extensive circu-
lation while the question of Confederation
was still pending. With the state OF public
feeling such as we have described the Howe
party went into the canvass ON the simple ba-
sis of opposition to the new Constitution
The political lines were run sharply between
Unonists and ti-Unonists and in the case
of each member the question was Of his past
record in relation to this one point The re-
suit is that out OF nineteen deputies TO the
General Parliament at Ottawa the Anti-Un-
ionsts have elected eighteen; and they have
an overwhelming majority in the local Legis-
lature. The Local Ministry, formed in July,
Immediately after Confederation, must now
go to the wall, and The Province falls into the
hands of the opponents of the Constitution
This result therefore is TO be regarded as a
distinct declaration on the part OF Nova SEQ
tia that she loes not favor the union with
Canada. She is an unwilling member OF the
Confederation as it now exists, ard she may
either emulate the example of South Carolina
and secede, on remaining in the Union, prove
constant check and obstruction TO the ca
reer of the latter. The Montreal Witness, a
dlspassionate and not partizan journal, in dis
cussing this new phase of affairs, admits that
it is ofa nature to excite grave apprehensions.
After remarking that If the Union had been
legislative one, like that of England, Scot
land, and Ireland, the result of the elections
in any one Province, however unanimous,
would rot have assumed the same serious as
pect, the Witness adds:
But Nova Scotia has a separate legislation,
which will be able to give much trouble in
case it continue disaffected towards the Union.
Let us suppose that Scotland and Ireland rad
each separate parliament, and we can Ieaii-
ly imagine in how many ways they could op-
pose and annoy the Federal Government at
London. That they would do so, we do not
assert; and still less, do we assume that the
parliament OF Nova Scotia will offer any fac
tious opposition to that OF Ottawa but, If No.
va Scotia persistently protests against the
Confederation into which she has
been unwillinaly led, we see not but
that she must, through her separate legis-
lature, carry her point. Indeed, as il is, her
position is sufficiently puzziing. Nova Scotia
has two Cabinet Ministers, ore of whom re-
quires to have a seat in the Lower House,
This he has lost, and must necessarily resign
The other will represent, in the Cabinet, a
Province whose solid vote goes against that
Cabinet. This win beno enviabie position for
him, and he must probably resign also. In
that case Nova Scotia will have no represen-
tative in the Cabinet unless that shall be so
| modified as to permit of calling info it Mr..
Howe or some other leader oltne same stamp.
But such modification would be an abdica-
ton of power by Sir John A. Mcdonald and
the Hon. George Etienne Cartier!
The Witness concludes with expressing the
hope, which does not seem to be by any means
a conviction shat there will be no disruption
of the Dominion, but that the Nova Scotians,
united with the Liberals OF Ontario, and those
of New Brunswick and Lower Canada, may
be able to form a strong, honest, economical,
and progressive government, wholly above the
nefarious arts and practices with which Cana
da has been so painfully familiar Tor many
years past"
CHANGE DEMANDED.
The serious abuses which arise out ct the
present system of voting in most OF the
Provinces Of the Dominion have been SO OBJ
vious during the recent contest that the jour
mails OF both parties are agitating for change
in the election law. A Toronto letter-writel
says
1t is contended that unscrupulous electors
who demand price for their votes hold back
until the second day, and then their demands
are met; therefore, in order to prevent such
thing in future one days polling is asked
for. There can be no question that such 8
change would be for the better. The other
change demanded is one that will prevent the
use OF intimidation at elections, and the ballot
| is accordingly recommended. BE not sur
| prised, therefore, if those changes are pro
| posed very soon after the meeting of the as
sembled wisdom Of the Dominion at Ottawa
ITEMS.
The French of Nova Scotia have, it seems
be,h increasing in numbers with marvellou
rapidity. The ratio of increase, without th
aid of immigration, has been 40 per cent. i
ten years; whereas the whole population {
the counties where they reside has only il
creased at the rate of "a per cent in the sam
time French statists think that the Frenc
element will soon preponderate in some OF th
counties OF Nova Scotia.
A Montreal paper says that smart shock Q
an earthquake was felt in some parts of On
tario ON the night of Saturday week, and adds
'Itis singular that similar occurrence wa
noticed at San Francisco on Monday night
Had they any connection ?n
Mr.. w. b. Dawson, a tanner of Charlotte
town, Prince Edward Island, in letter adj
dressed to one Of the Island papers, assert
that since the 1st of May last, he has export
ed three thousand seven hundred sides o
leather to Montreal.
| A Roman Catholic French Canadian assert
in Montreal paper that the priests have ov
erdrawn their credit with the people, an,
| greatly weakened their influence, by taking
decided stand in politics during the recent ell
ection. A striking proof this is saidto hav
occurred at st. Hyacinthe, where the candidat
opposed by the priests was elected and wher
his supporters, nearly all French Canadians
turned out in triumphal procession to cele
brate their victory, and groaned in passin
the Bishops palace.