Year: 1868

THE NOVA SCOTIA McSOGLIo.


There seems to be temporary lull in the
excitement relative to Nova Scotia affairs,
though it cannot be said that any solution of
the difficulty has been reached. The Domin-
ion ministers, who went down to Halifax in
the hope Of effecting some sort OF reconcilia-
ton, have returned and their mission is ad-
mitted to have been failure. The more
ultra portion of the Repeal committee at first
refused even to meet them; but ultimately.
under the prudent advice of Mr.. Howe, con-
sentej to hear what the ministers had to say.
But the latter had no measures of relief to
propose which the discontented Ansis
would consent to listen to. The people re-
iuse to be "conciliated," because "concilia-
tlon," in the mouths of the Ottawa magnates
means merely the distribution of a few Off
ces among the disaffected leaders. Very likely
some ofthese leaders might be "dined and
wined' and talked or bribed over to the
Confederate side, but if they did so they
would cease to be leaders-they would be re-
pudiated by the people. The latter were al
ready very much soured by the treachery
which drag ed them into the Union against
their will, and by the disregard of their in
terests in the adjustment of the Dominion
tariffs; and the contemptuous indifference
with which their petition for redress was re-
ceived in England has added new bitterness
to their resentment. Undoubtedly there is a
large party who would like to proceed at once
to extreme measures, but the counsels of the
moderates seem to have prevailed for the
present. The convention finally and unani-
mously adopted the following resolution:


Whereas, this Convention have fully con-
sidered the reply of the British government
to the address of the representatives OF the
people OF Nova Scotia to Her Majesty the
Queen, praying for the repeal of the act
uniting Canada, Nova Scotia and New Bruins
wick, and the course which it is expedient to
pursue in the present crisis OF the public
affairs OF this Province:


Be 1t therefore resolred, 1t is the opinion
OF this convention that it is necessary to use
every further lawful and constitutional means
to extricate the people of Nova Scotia from
a Confederation that has been forced upon
them without their consent and against their
will. 10
1t is understood that Mr.. Howe opposes
extreme measures-that he advises the Local
Legislature to attend to the ordinary legisla-
latlon OF the country; to maintain its atti-
tude OF hostility to the Union if no satistac-
tory terms can be made, to appeal
again to England; and he urges that
temperate and cautious course will
enable the Repealers to go back to Eng


land with much better grace than they can


do if they put themselves wrong by any RASH
ness now. The Unionists regard this tri-
umph of the moderate men in the Conven-
tion as fatal to the cause of Repeal, and are
jubilant accordingly. They declare that it is
a virtual acceptance of the situation. But
the tone of Mr.. Howe and his friends is mt ch
like that Of men who are so cot fident in the
strength and justice OF their cause that they
are not afraid to await the ripening of events,
1t is understood that the Local Governme mt


is canvassing the propriety of an appeal to
to the people to show that Nova Scotia de-
sire repeal. Should this be done the agita-
tion will quickly assume form in which it is
more difficult for leaders to control it. Some
excited public meetings have already been
held in various quarters, in which resolutions
were adopted declaring that the people would
accept nothing short of Repeal