The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-07
DlSCoNTENT.
A Long Resolution condemning the
Canadian Confederation.

HALIFAX, May Gin the Provincial House
Of Assembly last evening, Provincial Secre-
tary Fielding gave notice of motion en-
bodying the following resolution:
Resolved, That previous to confederation, Nova
Scotia was in the most healthy financial condition
that the financial terms of the Union were wholly
inadequate to permit Nova Scotia to meet the re-
qurements of the various services left under her
management; that an appeal was made by Nova
Scotia to the imperial government for the repeal
of the Union, and that. the imperial government
refused assent until further trial of the Union
was made, but requested the government and Par
lament of Canada to modify any arrangement
which might be Prejudicai to the interests OF
Nova Scotia; that in October, 1868, Sir John A.
Macdonald, in letter to Hon. Joseph Hume, re-
ferrng to the imperial request stated that for the
sake of securing the cooperation of the people OF
Nova Scotia in putting in operation the new con-
stitution, his government would enter upon the
inquiry whenever it would suit Nova Scotia'S con-
venience end would engage to, press upon Parlia-
ment with all the influence they possessed, the
legislation required TO carry out any financial re-
minion government and Parliament had never
carried out the request OF the imperial govern
ment, nor the promise OF Sir john A. Mcdonald; ;
that for l 8 years under union a feeling of dis
content with regard to financial arrangements has
prevailed; that this feeling is believed by this
house to be more general and more deeply fixed
than ever before; that the commercial as well as
the financial condition of Nova Scotia is in an un-
satisfactory and depressed state; that the terms
/. of the Confederation, the high tariff and fiscal
laws of the Dominion largely the cause OF this
unsatisfactory state Of the finances and trade !;
that thereis at present no prospect, while the
Province remains upon the existing terms of un-
ion, a member of the Canadian Federation, that
any satisfactory Improvement in the foregoing re
spects is at all probable; that previous to 1867
negotiations were in progress for union OF the
Maritime Provinces. but were Interrupted by me-
gotiations or larger union; that it now appears.
as it did then that the interests of the people of
the several Maritime Provinces now incorporated
with Canada are in most respects Identical; that
the members of this branch OF the Legislature OF
Nova Scotia are of the opinion and do hereby de-
clare their belief that the financial and CONNER
cial interests Of the people of Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick and Prince Edwards Island would be
advanced by those Provinces Withdrawing from
the Canadian Federation and uniting under one
government; that if this be found impossible that
this Assembly deems it absolutely necessary that
Nova Scotia should ask permission from the i'm
peral Parliament to Withdraw from the union
with Canada, and return to the status of Prov
ince of Great Britain with full control over all
fiscal laws and tariff regulations within the Prov
ince, such as prevailed previous to 1857 and that
this house thus declares its opinion and belief in
order that the candidates for the sufrages of the
people at the approaching elections may be ena-
bled to place this yitally important question OF
separation from Canada before them for decision
at the nOlls