[bourixot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 183 



state of rajtioinal freiedoon than the constitution of the republic. And, sir, let 

 U3 bear in mlmd, thait these form the oaily cluigter of colonies thart have djevised 

 a sysitem which makes freedom aompatible with allegiance, and to wiho^na free 

 insititutions have been conceded. I recoUeat, when in England three years ago, 

 meeting delegates from Australia and the Ca-pe, in sieaarch of cotn&titutions for 

 thedr colonies. I told thiem that we had a very good one in Nova Scoitia which 

 tlhey ooight ito copy. But their heads were filled with theories, repudiating, 

 as we have done, the princdples of the British Constitution, they saw visions 

 and dreamed dreams. The delegates from the Cape wanted an elective council, 

 the mfmbers to be elected by the constituency of the Whole colony. I tried 

 to make him understand that canvassing a county in Nova Scotia was no 

 jioke and that before a genitleiman got through his canvass oif the whole Cape 

 Colony toe would either be devoured by Idon© or shot by Kaffirs. My friend 

 would not believe me, but before he got home the Kaffir war broke out and 

 I feiar that he has been either killed or eaten before tMs, while in search of 

 hiie new constitution. 



If you look across the border, Mr. Chairman, we have in some respects not 

 moioh tio envy. I have never sought to disparage the United States. Familiar 

 witih their early hi^story, their itrials, their achievements and their blunders, 

 I give them credit for all they have accomplished and make liber'al alloiwance 

 even for their mistakes. They speak the same language' and are deisoended 

 from the same ancestors ; but have they more rational liberty, than we 

 have ? Until recently they mrigthit boast of their univeirsal suffrage which we 

 had not ; but we have it nO'W, and even the memlber from Amnapoliig tells 

 us that their institutions are more conservative than ours. As regards public 

 burdens, how do maitters stand ? The United States, with a popullatiion of 

 SO.COO.OOO, owed in 1846 $224,000,000, or $7.00 to each inhabitanit of the country. 

 Nova Scotia, with a population of 300,000, owes but £100,000 (half of it paying 

 four per cent, and the other half paying nothing), or about one dollar twenty- 

 five cents for each inhabitant. Even if our railroads were completed and ■were 

 entirely unproductive, iwle would have the usie of them at all events ; and 

 even then, we would not be as deeply in debt as are, at this moment, the pros- 

 perous United States. 



I think, then, Mr. Chairman, it is obvious that whether we take extent 

 of territo'ry, rivers and lakes, extent of sea coast, natural resources, shipping, 

 imports and exports, revenue, ratio of increase, physical strength, size of 

 cities, the enjoj^ment of freedom, general educajtion, or laotivity of the press — 

 we are entitled to form a nation, if so disposed, and ito control onr foreign 

 relations as well as our domestic affairs. 



How can this be done ? In vajrioius ways ; and, sir, I shall disouiss the 

 modes with the same freedottn as I have done the means. What would be 

 the advantages of that step ? All comm€rcial questions now agitated 

 between the two countries, would be settled at once ; we should have unlimited 

 intercourse with the sea-bioard of that great country and free trade from 

 Maine to California. Our public men would no longer be depressed with the 

 checked aspirations of which the member for Annapolis spoke last 

 night. Every North American whose pride is now Avounded by degrad- 

 ing contrasts , would be eiliiigible to the highest offices and positions 

 — not in a colony, but in a nation ; and we should enjoy perpetual 

 peace with our neigthbours ^along fifteen hundred miles of frontiers. Sir, I do 

 not deny thait any man who sincerely land honestly advocates annexation to 

 the United States has powerful arguments in his favour. I am opposed to it, 

 and would resist such a step by all means within my reaOh. I believe it would 

 be, unless forced upon us, morally wrong, being a violation of our allegiance 

 and a breach of faith plighted to our brethren across the water for more than 

 one hundred years. Of course, if they expect us to be colonists for ever, and 



