The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-31
NOVA SCOTIA.
Her Reply To Great -BriIRin's Refusal OF
SPIEGOvernment.


in and over the province of Nova Scotia, the
Executive Council of that province say that
they have read the despatch, his Grace the
Duke of buckingham in reply to the address
of the Representatives of the people, for
repeal of the Act OF Union, with mingled emo
tions of surprise and regret.
When the Representatives OF the people
unanimously informed the Queen that Con-
federation had been forced upon the Province,
without in any manner consulting them, it is
astonishing that the Colonial Minister should
take the liberty of contradicting them, and of
asserting that Confederation first originated
with the Legislature of Nova Scotia. This
assertion is unsustaned by the slightest foun-
dation in fact. The Legislature never offered
an opinion in favor OF Confederation by vote,
resolution or any other action on the subject
before the Quebec scheme was published.
Confederation was devised altogether in
Canada, and the scheme was never in any
manner submitted to the people of this Pro-
vince, and every expression that they have
been able to give of their wishes on the sub
ject has been directly adverse to the measure.
When il was brought forward in the session of
1865, no less than Is 600 Of the people petit
toned against it. When it was ascertained that
the leaders of the Government and Of the op-
position had conspired to have it carried
through the Imperial Parliament, upwards of
thirty -oue thousand petitoned against it, and
delegates were sent to England to oppose its
passage.
Since the Constitution was conferred on the
Province upwards Of a century ago, the laws
were made and all taxes were levied by the
representatives of the people in their own
legsla ure. The Legislative Council in the
Upper Branch were appointed by the Sover-
eign under the ad gice OF the Executive Coun-
Gil, who, since the introduction OF responsible
Government always possessed the confidence
OF the people. Their whole Legislature were,
therefore, either actually or virtually chosen
by themselves, and the members of that
branch, 10y which the taxes We're imposed, had
to render an account OF their stewardship, at
least once in four years. The regulation OF
their trade and commerce was in the hands of
the people through this Legislature They
had the exclusive management aud control of
all their taxes. The revenue was regularly
and rapidly increasing, and they had ample
means OF meeting all their Ii biities and main
tanning all their public services. They had the
exclusive right OF their fisheries and all their
public property was in their own possession
The general prosperity was so great that low
tarin was sufficient for raising, by indirect
taxation, all the revenue that was required.
Such was the happy condition of the pro-
vince up TO 1867, when all was suddenly
changed; and without consulting the loyal
people OF Nova Scotia, and in spite of every
thing that they could do to prevent it, an act
OF Parliament was passed to strip them of all
them under new constitution that few
sOutlulIb pOllllClduS III Odudlh ndu CO0IrlV6U
these senestimable rig hts and privileges, and place
for the suhjugation OF this province, and which
they accomplished by corrupting the faithless
public servants of Nova Scotia.
Instead II hh7ing our laws made by Legis-
lature OF Nova Scotians, responsible 10 and
5ympathiziUg with us, they are henceforth TO
be make by a Legislature of Canadians, COM
posed of House OF Commons and Senate,
with a Governor General at their head. This
House OF Commons consists Of Isl members,
whereof Nova Scotia elects l9 The rest are
elected 10y people Of other, and to us strange
countries, and We can have no control over the
remaining majority OF l62. In the Senate our
representation is a mockeTy. There are in all
" members, II OF whom are, by a curious
fiction Of the Union act, said to represent Nova
Scotia; but she has nothing to say in their
appointment, and they are the nominees and
creatures OF the Executive Council OF Canada.
All direct communication with our Queen has
been cut OIL, and our allegiance has virtually
been transferred to any subject that the Colo
nial Office may hereafter appoint to rule
over US.
How has confederation operated upon Nova
Scotia already 1t has been in exist lnce one
year; we have already had our tariff raised,
and our indirect taxes very largely increased,
We have been saddled with veXatious stamp
duties, with taxes on newspapers and a tax
upon our bank circulation. Oar railroads
have been taken from us, and under Confede-
IatlOh can De ssld, ana the price taken into
the Canadian chest. We have had all our
revenues of customs taken from us, and we
have been placed on a trihing allowance which
is totally insufficient for our support. The
refusal to renew the Reciprocity Treaty and
the consequent closing up of our coal trade,
and the general stsgnation OF commerce, are
probably chargeable on Confederation and its
natural effect OF excluding the manufactures
OF the United States from the Maritime
y Provinces by means Of high Canadian
tariff.
II confederation is entailed upon us, we shall
be compelled to submit to direct taxation to
raise sufficient revenue to carry on the
public business, and TO sustain our roads and
bridges, which are already greatly in need Of
\ repair.
The statute requires Canada to pay as eighty
cents a head annually until our population
reaches 500, ,OOO-so that when it doubles or
increases to 400, 600, and our expenses have
also doubled, We shall have forty cents a head.
| That is, when orr expenses are double we
shall have only half as much 20 meet them
and so, as our population aud expenses in
crease, our means will diminish in an equal
ratio. In other words, direct taxation must
= increase in proportion as our limited allow
1 ance fails TO meet the augmented expenses OF
! the Government.
Here, then, we have the prospect Of an
eternally increasing direct as we'll as indirect
taxation.
The people have received valuable and
admirable working Constitution from their
ancestors, and they are bound TO transmit IL
unimpaired to their children, Tor whom they
are but temporary trustees.
An arbitrary and tyrannical attempt has