Canadian Confederation Established

This series has three easy 5 minute installments. This first installment: Discontent of Disunion.

Introduction
The demand in Upper Canada for representation in Parliament in proportion to population, early in the ’sixties, met with bitter opposition in Lower Canada, and along with other causes threatened the permanence of the existing union between the two Provinces. Party strife increased these discords; and the far-seeing began to look in other directions for a solution of the difficulties that now pressed heavily on both sections of the community. Then was revived the suggestion, made at an earlier period in the country’s history, of a more extended union among the British Provinces of North America. At this period there were seven distinct colonies in North America owning allegiance to Britain, each — if we except the two Canadas — having its own political system and separate government. These were the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the two Canadas, and the Crown colonies of Newfoundland and British Columbia.

In 1860 two resolutions were moved in Parliament, which met that year in Quebec, affirming “ that the existing legislative union of the Provinces (Upper and Lower Canada) had failed to realize the anticipations of its promoters,” and recommending “ the formation of two or more local governments, to which should be committed all matters of a sectional character, and the erection of some joint authority to dispose of the affairs common to all.” These resolutions were at the time defeated; but two years later the “joint authority ” scheme was acted upon, and a coalition government was formed, which warmly advocated a confederation of all the British American Provinces, and held a series of conferences with the view to bringing about the desired measure. As the project continued to engage the attention of Canadian statesmen, a convention of representatives from the various Provinces met in 1864, first in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and then in Quebec, to discuss the feasibility of the scheme and finally to arrange the terms of the contemplated union. Next year, the Canadian Legislature adopted the union resolutions, which by this time had received the hearty support of the Imperial authorities; but in the Maritime Provinces the confederation scheme as yet failed to meet the approval of the people. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland withdrew from the negotiations; and the latter colony still maintains its separate political existence. In spite of dissensions and opposition, the project gained way, and delegates from the various Provinces finally met in London to arrange with the Home Government a formal basis of union. The result was the passing in the Imperial Parliament of the British North America Act, and the ratifying of the Confederation of the British American Provinces. Effect was duly given in Canada to the measure, as will be seen from the following article, which narrates the details of the confederation movement that created the Dominion of Canada.

This selection is from Life and Career of Sir John A. MacDonald, G.C.B. by Joseph Edmund Collins published in 1883. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Joseph Edmund Collins (1855-1892) was a writer of Canadian history.

Time: 1867
Place: Canada

The idea of a federation of the colonies had been mooted many times. Indeed, so early as the time when the New England colonies separated from the empire, an article was introduced into the constitution of the new confederacy authorizing the admission of Canada to the union, should the latter seek such alliance. In 1810 an enterprising colonist put forward the federation scheme, but political opinion was in a crude state, and nothing more was heard of the proposition till four years later, when Chief Justice Sewell, of Quebec, submitted a plan of confederation to the Duke of Kent. The Duke, in a very cordial note, agreed with the suggestions. In 1827 the Legislative Council of Upper Canada originated resolutions aiming at a union of the two Canadian Provinces, suggesting likewise a “union of the whole four Provinces of North America under a viceroyalty, with a facsimile of the British Constitution.”

Nothing more was heard of the scheme in public places till Lord Durham had been disgraced and had presented his report. From that hour the question engrossed the public mind, and in 1849 the North American League met in Toronto and discussed the question, though the immediate object of the gathering was an application of the federal principle to the two Provinces of Canada. In 1854 the Legislature of Nova Scotia adopted resolutions recommending a closer union of the British North American colonies. From this period statesmen warmly recommended the measure in the House of Commons, and the foremost newspapers took up a similar tone. But the plan approved by the Nova Scotia Legislature was not for a federation of all the Provinces, but a maritime union, comprehending under one government Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. In 1864 the Legislatures of these Provinces passed resolutions authorizing the appointment of delegates to meet in the autumn, to discuss the project of maritime union.

At once it occurred to the Premier, Mr. [afterward Sir] John A. Macdonald, that the meeting could be turned to account by the Government of Canada in promoting the general-confederation scheme. The Maritime Province delegates were to meet in September at Charlottetown, and thither repaired eight members of the Canadian Administration.

The Canadian ministers, not having been appointed to confer respecting legislative union, had no official standing at the Island conference, but they were invited to join in the discussion, of which courtesy they vigorously availed themselves. “The Canadians descended upon us,” said one of the Islanders; “and before they were three days among us we forgot our own scheme and thought only about theirs.” No longer did anyone speak of maritime union; all were absorbed by the greater project of a general federation, guaranteeing local and joint control. So completely did the general-confederation scheme absorb the maritime idea that the convention closed only to reassemble at Quebec, on a date to be fixed by the Governor-General of Canada.

On October 10th, the day named by the Governor-General for the meeting of the conference in Quebec, the delegates had assembled in that quaint city. The number of delegates had been increased by the presence of Hon. (now Sir) Frederick B. T. Carter, Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly; Hon. Ambrose Shea, leader of the opposition in the same chamber; and Sir Etienne P. Taché, A. Campbell, Oliver Mowat, James Cock burn, and J. C. Chapais, from the Canadian Cabinet. The conference was organized by the election of Sir E. P. Taché to the chair. Then the doors of the conference-chamber were closed, and the discussion went on, without anyone raising his voice to say nay. Before the delegates dispersed, they paid a visit to the capital of this new dominion, of which, it might be said, they were now wildly dreaming. Leaving Ottawa, the party proceeded westward through the Province, receiving cordial welcome and lavish hospitality at Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, and other cities. The delegates then returned to their homes, eager to get before the Legislatures and propose the scheme that had filled them with such high hope.

Parliament met on February 19th, and in the Ministry’s opening speech, which the Governor read, the confederation scheme was warmly recommended to the House. The union question absorbed the attention of Parliament. Some of the ablest speeches ever delivered in a Canadian legislature were heard during the session. On the Ministerial side, Messrs. John A. Macdonald, Brown, Cartier, and McGee supported the question with marked ability, while with scarcely less skill and power Messrs. John Sandfield Macdonald, Huntington, Dorion, Holton, and Dunkin opposed it. All that careful research and skillful manipulation of fact and figures could urge against the scheme was put forward with impassioned force by these gentlemen. “All that a well-read public man,” says the Hon. John H. Gray, in his work Confederation, “all that a thorough sophist, a dexterous logician, a timid patriot, or a prophet of evil could array against the project was brought up and pressed against the scheme.” On Friday, March 10th, the discussion had ended, and Attorney-General Macdonald, rising, offered the following motion, “That an humble address be presented to her Majesty praying that she may be graciously pleased to cause a measure to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament for the purpose of uniting the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland in one government, with provisions based on certain resolutions, which were adopted at a conference of delegates from the said colonies, held at the city of Quebec, on October 10, 1865.” This resolution, after some discussion, was carried by a vote of ninety-one to thirty-three. Of the minority, four were from the Upper Province, and of the majority fifty-four. The question might not have fared so well in the Lower Province but that M. Cartier was an enthusiastic champion of union and was supported by the priests almost to a man. A motion similar to that carried in the House of Commons had been introduced in the Legislative Council by the Premier, Sir E. P. Taché, and carried by a vote of three to one. Parliament was prorogued on March 18th, and in the month following Messrs. John A. Macdonald, Galt, Brown, and Cartier went to England, to confer with the Imperial Government and to promote the scheme of confederation.

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