[boueinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 157 



Hence they who oppose the measure should rightly assumti. the burden 

 of sustaining their views — unless there be something in the nature, situation 

 and circumstances of the several parties to be amalgamated, unsuited for 

 effective union. 



If nothing be found to show that the Provinces are unsuited for union, 

 then the way is cLear for the question ; and the comparisom will present itself 

 between : — 



The Provinces severed and dis-united ; and 



The Provinces combined and one. 



In the preliminary enquiry, the obstacles to union, arising from distance, 

 dissimilarity of race and habits — the difference in their public debt — opposing 

 interests of trade and revenue — geographical obstructions — seem the most 

 obvious and serious. 



The impediments resulting from distance and from the unhappy circum- 

 stances of both the Canadas, at the time, were chiefly felt by Lord Durhlam 

 In 1837 when the subject was discussed at Quebec by that distinguished and 

 acute statesman and his able advisers — ^among whom were the late Charles 

 Buller and Mr. Turton ; and the delegates attending from the Provinces. 



These impediments have passed away. Since that time railroads have 

 been introduced into Canada, and the time I believe will not be long before the 

 works of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company will unite Sarnia, on Lak.ie 

 Huron, with River du Loup, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, below Quebec. 



I hold in my hand a prospectus and plan of the vast undertakings of that 

 company. 



Behold here their lines of railways — running a distance of 1,100 miles, and 

 traversing the whole extent of Canada, by an unbroken line, and with an almost 

 undeviating course, bringing the distant Huron nearly to the border of New 

 Brunswick. 



Still shorter will be the time that will suffice to show St. John connected 

 by the iron road with Shediac. For this we have the high authority of Sir 

 Edmund Head in his opening speech to the Legislature of New Brunswick, 

 'and I assume as an inevitable ooncomitant of the Union a continuation of the 

 railroad from River du Loup to Halifax. Thus Montreal, situated not very 

 far from a central position, will be but a few days' journey from the extremest 

 points of the Provincial lines. 



Since 1837 the almost magic power of the electric telegraph has heen called 

 into use, to annihilate time and distance in the communication of thought and 

 intelligence ; and thus the ohjection from the distances that separate the 

 inhabitants of these Provinces no longer offers any sound reason against their 

 Union. 



The condition of Upper and Lower Canada was in 1837 unable for Union, 



Both Provinces still heaving and agitated under the effects of recent trou- 

 bles, and divided into parties embittered by a struggle of no ordinary charac- 

 ter, were in a condition the worst imaginable for adjusting a new constitution, 

 or carrying a Union into operation. 



Besides — differences in language, laws, habits and modes of thinking and 

 feeling— and the rivalry naturally growing out of these differences, placed 

 an obstacle in the way of the Union of Lower Canada with the Upper or the 

 Lower Provinces, which in the nature of things, is the most difficult to be 

 overcome. 



This barrier wa.3 not sufficient to prevent the amalgamation of the 

 Canadas, and the successful result of that measure not only proves ade- 

 quately that no dissimilarity that exists in the hahits and feelings of different 

 sections of the population of the various Provinces, is a just reason againtet 

 entertaining the question of their Union, but affords encouragement to its 

 extension to the other Provinces. 



The geographical relations of the Colonies can, I think, he no hindrance. 



