Full text: Responsible government in the Dominions (Vol. 2)

CHAP, 1] THE DOMINION OF CANADA 647 
In New Brunswick there was a general election in 1865, which 
resulted in a majority against federation, but the Government 
resigned on a quarrel with the Lieutenant-Governor, and in 
1866 the new election returned a majority in favour of federa- 
tion. In Nova Scotia the people were never consulted at all : 
the Legislature, after long and anxious debate, decided in 
1866 to adopt the measure in view of the pressure brought to 
bear by the Canadas and New Brunswick, and, through the 
Lieutenant-Governor, by the Imperial Government, despite 
Mr. Howe’s violent opposition. In December 1866 there was 
a conference at London when the terms were finally settled, 
some minor financial changes being made in favour of the 
Maritime Provinces, and the Act was introduced into the 
Imperial Parliament and passed without amendment, though 
Messrs. Howe, Annand, and Macdonald offered a vigorous 
protest against the passing of the Act without consulting 
the people of Nova Scotia. It was then provided by Order in 
Council that the Act should take effect from July 1, 1867, 
and the first Parliament assembled in November, the period 
allowed being six months after the commencement of the 
Act. The members of the first Senate were nominated by 
the Crown in large measure, as had been agreed upon in the 
preliminary discussions, from the existing Legislatures, and 
their names appeared in the Union proclamation! Lord 
Monk went out again as Governor-General, and at once 
chose Sir J. Macdonald as Prime Minister of the Dominion. 
Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland remained out 
of the federation, though the Governor of Newfoundland 
Was sanguine at first of including it, and the vast territories 
of the Hudson’s Bay Company remained still not subject to 
the power of the Dominion. Canada had negotiated for years 
for their surrender. and now. with Imperial aid. terms of 
* For the history of confederation, see Parl. Pap., February 7, 1865, 
February 8, 1867, June 10, 1868; Pope, Life of Sir John Macdonald, 1. 
209 seq. ; and Confederation Documents ; Bourinot, Canada under British 
Rule, chap. viii; Confederation Debates (1865); Egerton and Grant, Canadian 
Constitutional H istory, pp. 352 seq. ; Hannay, New Brunswick, ii. 209-70 : 
Hansard, ser. 3. elxxxv. B57 seq.. 804 seq., 1011, 1164 seq., 1313 seq.
	        
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