[how ay] governor SEYMOUR AND CONFEDERATION 39 



Following the receipt of this telegram and while the Council was 

 in session there, a public meeting was held at New Westminster, at 

 which a resolution in favour of immediate union upon fair and equit- 

 able terms was adopted. Three days later a public meeting at Yale 

 went on record to the same efïect.^ Emboldened by the manifestly 

 increasing interest in Confederation, to which the sympathetic attitude 

 of the Dominion Government had given an impetus, a memorial was 

 presented to the Governor by the citizens of New Westminster stating 

 that immediate admission into the union was earnestly desired by the 

 colonists and requesting him to bring the subject by message before 

 the Legislative Council.^ 



Though fully aware of the sentiment of the colony as voiced by 

 the press and as shown by the various meetings of the past two years 

 and though urged by the memorial to lead the way in a public manner, 

 by bringing the subject by message before the Council, the Governor 

 remained quiescent. He did not even reply to the request. His 

 failure to act, even though his opening speech had indicated his mind, 

 and though the remembrance of his vacillation in connection with the 

 Grouse Creek trouble and the Capital question was still fresh, yet 

 aroused much murmured dissatisfaction. "Surely," said the British 

 Columbian, "His Excellency is not going to suppress that Memorial."^ 

 The Colonist referred to the Governor as a man who preferred "his 

 own ease and comfort to the good of the people," and charged him 

 with "an utter indifference to the interests of the Colony." The 

 island had always been opposed to him, and now he was losing the 

 loyalty of the mainland. After waiting for a week for some move on 

 the Governor's part, Mr. DeCosmos, on 24th April, brought before 

 the Council an Address such as had been asked for by the telegram, 

 setting forth, presumably with the authority of the Dominion Govern- 

 ment,* the proposed terms of union, and praying for the admission of 

 British Columbia under the provisions of Section 146 of the British 

 North America Act. 



An amendment was immediately ofïered by the official members 

 to the effect "That the Council, while confirming their vote of the last 

 session in favour of the general principle of the desirability of the 

 union of this Colony with the Dominion of Canada to accomplish 

 the consolidation of British interests and institutions in North 

 America, are still without sufficient information and experience of 

 the practical working of Confederation in the North American Pro- 



* British Columbian, April 8, 1868. 

 « Id, April 22, 1868. 



» April 29. 1868. 



* Lytton's Speeches, vol. 2, p. 383. 



