Year: 1868




the Provinces OF the British North American
Union. She has no idea of, sitting down
iamely under her wlongs, OF accepting as in
evitable the state of things imposed ON her by
her faithless legislators, and struggling to car
ry along her proportion OF the burden grow
ing out of the unwieldy and frightfully ex-
pensive confederation. Her people are awake
to their interests, and they know the value of
agitation. The Halifax Chronicle of Decem-
Der IA, is before us, containing the report of
mee ing held in that city the evening before,
to express the popular voice in favor of the
repeal of the Act of Union so far as their
Province is concerned. The meeting seems
to have been crowded and enthusiastic, and
the demonstration a powerful one. A great
number OF the best and ablest men in the
Province were present, among whose names
that Of the Hon. Joseph Howe is probably
the most familiar TO American readers, and
very strong speeches were made on the occa-
sion. The following preamble and resolu-
tons we've adopted with unaninity: -7 tlr
Whereas Owing to the great diversity of in
terests and feelings between the Provinces of
Nova Scotia and Canada, the public sentiment
| OF the people of Nova Scotia is distinctly on
| posel to the Confederation of this Province
with the Province of Canada; .f1 ls
A1ad whereas, The people of Nova Scotia new


or did become asserting parties TO the Act of
| Union, the Legislature which sanctioned such
| Act having done so in direct opposition TO the
| well understood wishes of the people, and by
assuming power never entrusted to them;
| Therefore resolrcd, That in the opinion OF
| this meeting, the Act of Union, as passed and
made law by the Imperial Parliament, has no
claim upon the loyalty of the people of Nova
Scotia, any obedience yielded to such Act be-
ing matter of coercion, and not given with
the free assent of free people -


And 1t is olso resolved, that this meetip.
halls with much satisfaction the action OF the
members OF the Nova Scotia Legislature, and
also OF the Nova Scotia members of the Do
minion House OF Commons who have signified
their determination to use all constitutional
means to bring about repeal of so much of
tho-Act of Union as refers to the Province of
Nova Scotia; and also express the hope that
the Legislature of this Province. Immediately
after assembling for despatch of business, will
take the necessary steps to bring this subject
before the Government aud Parliament of
Great-BritaiB. sfsV Et.


The evils most insisted upon BY the speak
ers were those OF. a financial character; and
statistics were introduced to show the heavy
burdens already incurred under Confederation,
and the probability that these would increase
rather than diminish with time. Mr. Howe
made a speech which, ii more moderate in
statement than some of the others, was GER
tainly as convincing and influential. He rec
commended moderation and good temper in
the appeal for Nova Scotia's release. "Until
the trial of the next three or four months is
made, peace and order must be maintained as
of old; the old flag must float above us stlll,
and be reyered and respected until we have
received our answer I. Should the answer
from the mother country be unfavorable, it
may be asked what should we do then !? He
was hardly prepared to say. Then, without
doubt, would come a season of trial and deep
anxiety. He was satisfied however, from
forty days sitting at Ottawa that the scheme
could never prove acceptable to Nova Scotia.
Ii the British Parliament should say we must
lie down, and bow in bondage to Canada, then
it would be a serious affair, and council of
war would have to be called to consider our
next action.r l5o4ifa @S@ ssaita


1t is this "next action" whiehs likely to
prove the stuff of which the Nova Scotian
Opposition is made. There is scarcely pos
sibility of the Imperial Parliament acceding
to their request; and when the refusal comes
they viii find themselves face to face with the
real crisis OF their fate. II they choose to
stand their ground we do not see what is to
prevent their having their own way. 1t is es
timated that at least nine-tenths OF the popu-
lation win support the petition for repeal. In
face OF a unanimity like this, the Dominion
and Imperial governments have no resource
but in coercion. They must try that or accept
the alternative of acquieseence .sa


The extreme gravity of the situation is
probably recognized by the more clear-sighted
of Canadian statesmen, though they do not
openly admit 1t. But the Toronto Globe, al
ways an ardent supporter Of the Union, said
lately. "We do not yet despair of Confeder-
ation," form of expression certainly not
hopeful. That paper is wise enough to. see
that ii Nova Scotia goes, New Brunswick
must soon follow; and with the harbors OF
| these Provinces lost to her Canada is cut off
from the sea, and so the bottom drops out cf
the Confederation. II must so TO pieces at
once. Probably immense efforts will be made
| in the course of the next six months to con-
| cilate the discontented people of the Mari
time. Provinces, and to buy up their leaders !;
but they have got the idea pretty well fixed in
their dogged English minds that Contedera-
tions means for them nothing but restricted
trade and increased taxation, and it will be
hard to eradicate the notion. We shall watch
the progress of their affairs with interest