tBOURiNOT] BUILDERS OF NOVA SCOTIA 153 



myself, under the authority of the Provincial Government, and for several 

 years past it has, in varied forms, been presented to public notice in the 

 Législature and the press and on the platform in most of the Provinces, by 

 leading public men without distinction. And it is a source of highest gratifi- 

 cation that, after the long^ period since Lord Durham propounded the Union 

 of these Colonies, that policy should meet th,e approval O'f the Imperial Gov- 

 ernment ; and that a Minister of the British Cabinet should, in Parliament, 

 now use in allusion to the present scheme of Confederation, and tihose whf 

 advocate it, such language as this : — 



" They have conceived a noble ambition ; they have designed to form, 

 I venture to say, a nation, but not a nation divided from the allegiance they 

 owe to the British throne, nor separated from the institutions under which it 

 is their pride to live ; nor estranged from the associations and attachments 

 that bind them to the Mother Country. In a spirit of the most fervent 

 loyalty to the British throne, in a close attachment to the British Crown, and 

 in devotion to British institutions they have desired tO' form all the North 

 American Provinces on the eastern coast into one great Confederation." 



In judging of the probability of a Union of all the Provinces being consum- 

 mated the obstacle which ever s'eemed most formidable, was the indifference 

 that might be expected, on the part of Canada, to unite with communities 

 much feebler than herself. Hence the Union of the Maritime Provinces was 

 an object that appeared (though probably without reason) more easily attain- 

 ahle. It was a measure valuable in itself, but was not the fulfilment of all 

 the requirements of the case ; for this the combination of the whole was 

 requisite. 



The apprehended indifference of Canada has been removed in a very 

 striking and unexpected manner ; but so far from seeing reason for prejudice 

 against the measure, because Canada seeks Union from an appreciation of its 

 benefits to herself, that fact would seem to be an element of strength in 

 the compact. 



Were this letter to be silent on the comparative schemes of legislative 

 and confederate union, my sentiments would be liable to misapprehension, 

 because in 1854 I expressed a strong preference for the former ; but it will 

 be seen that the resolutions then submitted, by leaving the choice between 

 the two plans open for deliberation, excluded the idea that L/egislative Union 

 was deemed sine qua non. The reasons which, in 1854, inauced my pref- 

 erence for this form of Union, have lost none of their force ; although I 

 may not then have given quite as much consideration to the obstacles to its 

 accomplishment as I have, since the question has come practically more near. 

 Then, however, the necessity of supplying some mode for meeting the wants 

 of the country, more convenient than legislation in a distant parliament, was 

 felt ; and it will be remembered that I introduced about the same time for 

 this purpose a Bill for the municipal incoriK>ration of the counties, carefully 

 elaborated from the best precedents I could procure. Its fortunes were inaus- 

 picious. The Legislature gave it but a dubious existence, making its opera- 

 tions dependent on acceptance by the counties. The counties courteously 

 declined the boon of self-government it proffered ; half a county alone accepted 

 the gift, and after a few years rejected it. 



Thus, unacceptable proved a measure which is essential should the perfect 

 political amalgamation of the Provinces be effected ; and it is probable that 

 greater obstacles would be found opposed to Legislative than to Confederate 

 Union. But if, after Confederation, the Legislatures of the several Provinces 

 should deem a closer connection desirable, the way would be as open then 

 as now). 



At present, however, the alternative is not before us. It is known that 

 Legislative Union is impossible, and the comparison between the two systems 

 is without object. The choice offered to the Legislature of the Province is : — 



