cuap. vi] TRADE RELATIONS AND CURRENCY 1161 
It is to be deeply regretted that his Grace should have 
given to so great a degree the weight of his sanction to the 
statements in the Memorial, without having previously 
afforded to the Government of Canada the opportunity of 
explaining the fiscal policy of the province and the grounds 
upon which it rests. The representations upon which his 
Grace appears to have formed his opinions are those of 
a provincial town in England, professedly actuated by selfish 
motives ; and it may fairly be claimed for Canada, that the 
deliberate acts of its Legislature, representing nearly three 
millions of people, should not have been condemned by the 
Imperial Government on such authority, until the fullest 
opportunity of explanation had been afforded. It is believed 
that nothing in the Legislation of Canada warrants the 
expressions of disapproval which are contained in the 
dispatch of his Grace, but that on the contrary due regard 
has been had to the welfare and prosperity of Her Majesty’s 
Canadian subjects. 
From expressions used by his Grace in reference to the 
sanction of the Provincial Customs Act, it would appear that 
he had even entertained the suggestion of its disallowance ; 
and though, happily, Her Majesty has not been so advised, 
yet the question having been thus raised, and the consequences 
of such a step, if ever adopted, being of the most serious 
character, it becomes the duty of the Provincial Government 
distinctly to state what they consider to be the position and 
rights of the Canadian Legislature. 
Respect to the Imperial Government must always dictate 
the desire to satisfy them that the policy of this country is 
neither hastily nor unwisely formed ; and that due regard 
is had to the interests of the Mother Country as well as of the 
Province. But the Government of Canada acting for its 
Legislature and people cannot, through those feelings of 
deference which they owe to the Imperial authorities, in any 
manner waive or diminish the right of the people of Canada 
to decide for themselves both as to the mode and extent to 
which taxation shall be imposed. The Provincial Ministry 
are at all times ready to afford explanations in regard to the 
acts of the Legislature to which they are party ; but subject 
to their duty and allegiance to Her Majesty, their responsi- 
bility in all general questions of policy must be to the Pro- 
vincial Parliament, by whose confidence they administer the 
affairs of the country ; and in the imposition of taxation it 
18 so plainly necessary that the Administration and the 
people should be in accord, that the former cannot admit