26 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



of the railway. Though in form an equivalent for the land, it was 

 in reality merely a means of increasing the financial grant.^^ The 

 11th Article of the terms of union (so much debated in later years) 

 was then drafted by Mr. Trutch, whereby the Dominion undertook 

 to commence within two years and complete within ten years a rail- 

 road to connect the seaboard of British Columbia with the railway 

 system of Canada and providing for the grant of the railway belt to 

 the Dominion in consideration of the annual payment of $100,000. 

 The representation was reduced to three Senators and six members 

 of the House of Commons. The other alterations were of no moment, 

 with the exception of that dealing with Responsible Government. 

 Mr. Seelye succeeded in adding to Article 14 clauses to the efïect that 

 the Canadian Government would "readily consent to the introduction 

 of responsible government when desired by the inhabitants of British 

 Columbia," and recording that it was the intention of Governor 

 Musgrave "to amend the existing constitution of the Legislature by 

 providing that a majority of its members shall be elective. "^- 



The negotiations occupied almost a month and on 7th July 

 Mr. Seelye sent the historic telegram: "Terms agreed upon. The 

 delegates are satisfied. Canada is favourable and guarantees the 

 railway. Trutch has gone to England. Carrall remains one month. 

 Helmcken and your correspondent are on their way home." ^^ 



Mr. Trutch's visit to England was to oversee the passing of the 

 British Columbia Act 1870 whereby authority was granted to re- 

 constitute the Legislative Council by reducing it to fifteen members, 

 of whom nine should be elected and six appointed. As soon as the 

 Act and its ancillary Order-in-Council ** were received Musgrave lost 

 no time in forming the new Legislature, in which, for the first time, 

 the people's voice should be supreme. To enable the House to meet 

 at the accustomed time, the elections were hurriedly brought on in 

 November, 1870. The issue was clear cut: Shall we have Confedera- 

 tion on the terms settled? In a considerable number of constituencies 

 both candidates were supporters of Confederation on the agreed 

 terms, and the contest degenerated into a mere matter of personal 

 preference. The answer was decisive. All the elected persons were 

 Confederationists, though only four had previously occupied seats 

 in the Legislative Council. 



No sooner was it certain that the battle was won and the matter 

 settled so far as British Columbia was concerned that there sprang 

 up one of those sectional jealousies that had slumbered under the 

 influence of the great question. A delegation composed of influential 

 citizens of \'ictoria presented to Governor Musgrave a petition 



