[BouRiNOT] BUILDERS OF NOVA SCOTIA 185 



to hold his head as hag'h as the head of any other man on earth ; hut I trust, 

 nay, I know, thiat there is not one "wiho would raise hiis hand in hoiaitiliity 

 against that revered country, from whose loins we have sprung and whose 

 noble iinistditutionis it ibas been our pràde to imitate. If the slave startles could 

 be cut off, and the free states oould t>e oambdned with uis, m perpétuai peace 

 wi'.lh Er gland, we miig^ht see noitbing objeotionalble in la uniom isoiah, ajs thait. 



Having discussed the question of annexation, let me inquire ho^w else 

 could we organize ourselves iavto a nation. ? By fonming North America inito 

 a kingdom or comfedeiration by itself, and esitaiblisihing friendly conmections 

 with other countries, with the entire concurrence of our brethren at home. 

 I agree with the member for Annapolis, that there would be great advan- 

 tages arising from a union of these colonies. But there must be differences 

 of opinion as to the various modes of aocomplishing that oibject. "We may 

 have a king or a viceroy and a Legislature for the whole of North America ; 

 or we may have la fedenal and democratic union. The afdvantages of the 

 first would be a atriong executive, a imited Parliament, the Crown hiereditiary, 

 distinctions permiainent. But tlhere would be disa-dvantagas. Such a govern- 

 ment would toe expensive, theire would be mo peerage or feudal bulwark to 

 sustain a sovereign ; and we mig*hit get a dynasty ot knaves, fools or tyrants. 

 We should have a mionarchical and democratic elements warring for ascend- 

 ency, and our people «would isoion feeJI the loiss' of tlheiir local Legislatures. 

 What has been the oomiplainit of Irelland for years ? That there was no 

 Parliament in College Green. Of Scotliand at this' mo^ment ? That tlhere is 

 no Parliament at Holyrood. A higher deisicription of taJlent, a more elevated 

 ordar of men, in a united leiglslatiire would mat compensate the peiople for 

 the loiss of locail législation wihidh they have enjoyed for a oenitury. By a 

 Federal Union of the Colonies we slhonHd have siomethiing like the neighbouring 

 rapubliic ; lamid if I saw nothing better, I sihould say at once, let us keep our 

 local Legislatures, anid have a President and Central CongresiS' for all the 

 higher and external rellations of the United Provinces. We should then have 

 nationality with purely republican institutions. But if we so far change our 

 organization, we muist substitute American precedents anid practise for 

 British. We now refer to Hatsell, as our guide in Parliamentary perplexities. 

 We should then have to take the practice of the neighbouring republic. There 

 migliit be cme disadvantage in havinig a king or a viceroy. The Queen across 

 the water, because the Atlantic rolls between us, offers nothing obnoxious to 

 the prejudioes of our American neighbours. But once egta>blish a ononaroh 

 or viceroy here and I am not quite sure that we would not have a fight to 

 maintain him on his throne, with those who apprehended danger from our 

 exan^ple. Under a Federall Union we should form a large and proisiperous 

 nation, lying tetv^r-een the other two branches of the British faimiily, and our 

 duty would evidently be to keep them both at peace. 



But, sir, I will say to the memtoer for Annapolis that before we can have 

 this organization or any atheir we musit ha,ve railways. The company which 

 hais made a line of railway from Hamilton to Windsor, Cianiada West, desierve 

 great credit for their enterprise and energy. I admit that the Grand Trunk 

 Company of Canada is pre^jaring to connect a large part of that country with 

 these indispensable lines of communication ; but, sir, it will take years to 

 complete what Canada has begun ; and then we have New Brunswick between 

 us. It is clear we cannot have a united Parliament without railroads ; 

 for if any of us were summoned to Quebec tomorrow «we should have to 

 travel from the enid of our own country to its metropolis through a foreign 

 state. Wo must have railroads, first ; and then take my word for it, the 

 quesition iwie are now discuissiing wiilll assume a form and shape that would 

 soon lead to a tangible solution. Once put my honourable friend from Clare 

 (Mr. Comeau_ a French Acadian) on a railway, and send him up among the 



