184 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



make no provision for oiir being anything else ; upon their heads, and not 

 up<n our.--, be tûie consequences of the separOition, which when this is appar- 

 ent, will b? Inevitable. I prefer a full incorporation wdth them in one great 

 empire ; free participation with them in Its g-ood and evil fortunes, its perils 

 and its distinctions. All this I believe to be practicable and shall not despair 

 of its fulfilment. 



But, sir, there are otlner considerations which would deter me from any 

 thought of annexation. At the revolutionary struggle the Loyalists were 

 driven seaward, they lost their homes, right or wrong, acting on their honest 

 convictions and I rejoice thart, whether right or wTong, bettieving themselves 

 right, they had the courage, and enterprise, and energy, so to act. They 

 sacrificed everything but the princijiles. Their property was confiscated and 

 they cast their lot into a comparative wilderness. They and their descend- 

 ants have made it to " blossom as the rose." They have fraternized with the 

 French-Canadians and Acadians. Engllslh, Irish, Scotch and German emi- 

 grants have gradually come over to be incorporated with theon to fill up the 

 country to form one mace ; so tJhajt Nortih America presents the outline of 

 a great improving and s jflf -dependenjt community. Sir, the Loyalists le<ft aJl 

 they owned in the United Start.es, and their poesessiions ■w'ere merged in the 

 general property of the union. The Republicans cannot restore it to us and I 

 sh mid be ashajned to go back to tell them, " our fathers made a great 

 mistake, they thought their glorious flag and time-honoured institutions worth 

 preserving ; but w"e, their sons, with a territory larger than yours, and a 

 population larger than you had ^vhen you framed your constituition ; with 

 education that our fathers taught us to prize ; free of debt and at peace 

 with all the world, are not fit for national existence, are unable to frame a 

 conatitution, but come back after a sepaination of seventy years and ask to 

 take refuge under the Stars and Stripes ! " 



No ! Mr. Chadrman, I for one will nisver prefer such a craven requests 

 Sir, I believe annexation would be unwise for another reason. I believe 

 tibe United States are large enough already. In a fefs\- years the population 

 of that country must reach one hundred millions. They have as much work 

 to do now ais they can do well ; ajnd I believe before many years, if their 

 union be preserved, tlhey will have more work to do than any legislature can 

 despatch, alter their modes, in 365 days. Congress norw sits for half a year. 

 Our Lf^prislature occupies about ten weeks ; that of New Brunswick, about 

 the same time. In Ca.nada the session often lasts three or four months. So 

 that if annexation were seriou^y contemplated there would be no time in 

 tbe national congress to get through with the work that ought to be well 

 and wisely done. There is another question which must be settled before 

 you or I or any Nova Scotian wdll be party to annexation. Sir, I belierve the 

 question of slavery must be settled .sooner or later by bloodshed. I do not 

 believe it can ever be settled in any other way. That qu'estion shadows the 

 Institutions and poisons the springs of social and public life among our neigh- 

 bours. It saps all principles, overrides all obligations. Why, sir, I did believe 

 until very lately, that no constable, armed with the law, which violated the 

 law of God, could capture a slave in any of the Northern States. But the 

 Fugitive Slave Law has been enforced even in Puritan New England, where 

 tea could not be sold or stamps collected. British North America, sir, has 

 not a slave in her boundless berrlitory ; and I, for one, would never cast my 

 lot in w'.th that of the people who buy and sell human beànigis, and who would 

 pnofajie or sill with the Fugitive Slave La%N's, or involve us in agrarlam. ^^^a^ 

 for the pre.servaiUt>n of an institution that we despise. There l3 ano-ther 

 reaison that would make me reluctant to be drawn into tilie vomtex of the 

 republic. There might ooane cause for conflict between that country ajid 

 Old England. Sitr, there is not a man in this Assembly who does not aspire 



