Section II, 1920 [31] Trans. R.S.C. 



The A ttitude of Governor Seymour Towards Confederation 

 By His Honour Judge F. W. Howay, LL.B., F.R.S.C. 



(Read May Meeting, 1920) 



The Story of British Columbia between 1858 and 1871 is one of 

 continual political changes. To understand the situation in which 

 Governor Seymour was placed in dealing with the question of union 

 with Canada these changes must be remembered; and the hetero- 

 geneous population and the reflex action of local animosities upon 

 their feelings towards him constantly borne in mind. 



In 1858, on the discovery of gold in the bars of the Fraser, the 

 Colony of British Columbia was created by Act of the Imperial 

 Parliament. Referring to its future Her Majesty, the late Queen 

 Victoria, in her prorogation speech, said: "I hope that the new colony 

 on the Pacific may be but one step in the career of steady progress by 

 which my dominions in North America may ultimately be peopled in 

 an unbroken chain from the Atlantic to the Pacific by a loyal and 

 industrious population."^ 



At that time there had already existed for nine years the Colony 

 of Vancouver Island, which, though containing very few inhabitants 

 and controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company, yet boasted a Legis- 

 lative Assembly of seven members and a Legislative Council of three 

 members. The two colonies were separate and distinct entities, 

 though having the same governor, James Douglas. He resided in 

 Victoria, where all his property interests were centred and where also 

 the majority of the officials of British Columbia had their homes. All 

 laws for the governance of the mainland colony were promulgated from 

 the capital of the island colony and by the authority of the governor 

 alone. Though this was supposed to be only a temporary measure, 

 necessitated by unique conditions, it continued for five years — 1858- 

 1863. 



The gold seekers of 1858-9 as well as a large proportion of those 

 who came during the Cariboo excitement, 1861-3, were Americans, 

 or, at any rate, persons, who, having lived for years in California, had 

 distinct American leanings. These inrushes transformed Victoria 

 from a fur trader's post into a bustling town. Some traders settled 

 on the mainland, but the larger merchants located in Victoria. 

 Naturally, the two colonies were thus closely linked with San Francisco, 



1 Watkin's Canada & the States, p. 57. 



