Tbourinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 1S9 



This places us on the broad field ot enquiry to which the subject invites. 

 The difficulties are to select and arrange the materials Within a reasonable 

 compass, rather than to find matter for observation. 



The Union of the Coloaiies of Great Britain in North America is a familiar 

 Idea, of which their history before and after the Revolution furnishes many 

 instances. 



As early as 1643 occurred the Confederation of the New England Colonies, 

 and it is not uninstructive to notice the causes and motives of that Union — 

 by which, to use the language of the day, the Colonies of New" England 

 were " made all as one." Bancroft, from whom I quote, says: — " Protection 

 against the encroachment of the French and Dutch — security against the 

 savages— the liberty of the gospel in peace, were the motives of the 

 confederacy." 



The Union embraced Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New 

 Haven. Its affairs were conducted by Commissioners, two from eadh Colony, 

 irrespective of their size or population. The Commissioners, who were to 

 meet annually, or oftener if necessary, might deliberate on all things which 

 are " the proper concomitants or consequents of a confederation." Peace and 

 war and especially Indian affairs, exclusively belonging to them — they wlelre 

 authorized to make internal improvements at the common charge, and they 

 were the guardians to see equal and speedy justice given to all the confederates. 

 The coThmon expenses were to be assessed according to the poipulafiioTi. But 

 the Comm.issioners were in reality little more than a deliberative body ; they 

 possessed no executive power, and while they could decree a war, and a levy 

 of troops, it remained for the Colonists themselves to carry the vote into 

 effect. " Thus remarkable," Bancroft notices, " for unmixed simplicity was 

 the form of the first federated G-ovemment in America." 



Among the active agents in forming this Union, and its first President, 

 was Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts— a name distinguished in the early 

 annals of New England for the wisdom and virtue of its possessors — and 

 which at the present day has been borne to situations of high elevation and 

 made conspicuous by the integrity, ability and eloquence of the patriotic 

 statesman and the refined taste of the scholar. 



I refer to one known publicly to us all for the wisdom and moderation of 

 hig course in Congress on the Oregon boundary question — while those who 

 have the pleasure of his acquaintance personally have found lilm the courteous 

 and urbane gentleman. 



The next instance is the proposal of William Penn in 1697, for an annual 

 Congress of all the Provinces on the continent of America, with power to 

 regulate commerce — but which does not appear to have issued in any practical 

 result. 



This is followed at the distance of more than half a century by another 

 proposal for Union which reached greater maturity, although it failed in ulti- 

 nuate adoption. 



The celebrated Albany Convention is a well-knowfn historical fact, and I 

 shall beg the attention of the committee to this case, both as showing the 

 motives that incited to union at that time, and also for the purpose of enquir- 

 ing at another stage of my argument into the probable effect that Union, had 

 It gone into operation, would have had on the connection between England 

 and the Colonies, which not very long afterwards revolted from her sway. 



The dread of approaching hostilities with France, and the necessity of 

 increased contributions from the Colonies, induced higli Colonial officials to 

 entertain the idea and to desire to see it enforced by act of Parliament. In- 

 telligent Colonists preferred a voluntary Union, and they used a significant 

 argument :— " It would be a strange thing if six nations of ignorant savages 

 should be capable of forming a scheme for such an Union, and be able to 

 execute in such a manner as that it has subsisted for ages, and appears indis- 

 soluble, and yet that a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen 



