On 15th April, 1861, the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia passed resolutions nem. con. urging the expediency of a union, and requesting the Lieutenant Governor to communicate with the Colonial Secretary, the Governor General of Canada, and the Lieutenant Governors of the other Provinces in order to ascertain the policy of Her Majesty's Government, and the opinions of the other Colonies, with a view to the consideration of the question of Confederation. A year passed away before action was taken on this resolution; but, in 1862, Mr. Howe, its mover, and head of the Nova Scotia Ministry, proceeded, with two other members of his cabinet as delegates to Quebec, where they met delegations from the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick assembled for the purpose of settling on a scheme of union. The mission failed:-Canada was not ripe for the movement. In October of 1861, Sir Edmund Head was succeeded by Lord Monck. The difficulties between the Upper Canada and the Lower Canada sections of the House of Assembly had been steadily increasing during his Administration. Lord Monck found the political parties much excited, and the conviction was daily increasing in strength that the administration of affairs by a sectional majority could not long be tolerated. The struggle continued with varying success until the defeat of the MacDonald-Sicotte Ministry in the early part of 1864, when both parties acknowledged that it was impossible to carry on the Government under the existing system. A Coalition Ministry was formed for the avowed object of carrying Confederation. As the year advanced the attention of the Imperial authorities was closely devoted to the question; Lord Monck entered into active communication with the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces, and the question became the great one of the day.

The Legislature of Canada in 1864 passed resolutions in favor of a union of all the North American Colonies,-failing which, they provided for a dissolution of the Union of the two Canadas, and their re-union upon a federal basis. At the same time, Nova Scotia, disheartened, it would seem, by the obstacles in the way of a general union of all the Provinces, passed a resolution in favor of a union of the Maritime Provinces alone, and providing for a conference upon the subject with delegates from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The Legislatures of these Provinces each passed a similar resolution. On the 1st of September, 1864, the delegates from these three Provinces met at Charlottetown, the seat of Government of

Prince Edward Island. It was soon discovered that some of them really desired a union of the Maritime Provinces alone. In the meantime delegates from Canada arrived, who proposed to confer with their fellow-colonists on the subject of a union of all the British North American Provinces. This proposal was cordially and unanimously accepted, and Newfoundland volunteered to join in the negotiations. The conference was therefore adjourned to Quebec, where a convention met on the 10th October, 1864. It was composed of thirtythree representatives from the Provinces of United Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island. Seventy-two resolutions were adopted as the basis of Confederation, which were to be submitted to the Legislatures of the different Provinces, and the final decision was to be made by the Imperial Parliament. This is known as the "Quebec Scheme," and on it was based The British North America Act of 1867-the Act of Union.

But now unexpected difficulties arose. Both Upper and Lower Canada were anxious for union. Their governments had come to a deadlock, and so strong and universal was the popular opinion in its favor that no one even seriously mooted the idea of submitting the "Scheme" to a new Assembly elected for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the country. It was considered, as the fact really was, that the action of the existing House, though not elected with any special view to legis lation on the question, would be satisfactory to the people. The British Government warmly approved the scheme, and Mr. Cardwell, the Colonial Minister, lost no time in urging on the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces the desirability of taking immediate and effective action on it. New Brunswick was the first to move. Her Parliament was dissolved, that the sense of the people might be ascertained on the question. But the electors, taken by surprise, and alarmed at the magnitude of the change involved in a scheme which they had not had time or opportunity to discuss, refused their assent. The Ministry resigned, and an anti-confederate one took its place. The Confederates of Nova Scotia took warning, and determined to wait further developments in New Brunswick. The Colonial Office, while placing such pressure on New Brunswick as the relations of parent state and colony permitted, did not urge Nova Scotia for a reply. Early in 1866, another election was brought on in New Brunswick, and a re-action having set in, the vote of the previous year was reversed,—the assent of the people to the union was constitutionally obtained, and its terms were cheerfully and loyally accepted. Now, Nova Scotia moved, but she did not, like

New Brunswick, dissolve her Parliament, and seek approval of the proposed union from an Assembly elected for the purpose of deciding on the scheme. She used the existing House, disregarding numerous petitions for a dissolution, and the Confederates triumphed. But it was a dearly bought victory. The conduct both of the Imperial and of the Colonial Government was fiercely assailed, and a deep bitterness of feeling was created which is hardly yet removed. In truth, the policy was, to say the least, unwise. It was not just,—and it placed a strain on Constitutional Government which it bore with difficulty. The facts seem to be, that the Imperial Ministers were somewhat too willing to believe the representations, doubtless made to them by the Confederates of the Province; and deeply impressed with the conviction that the policy was one of good to all as a whole, and to each Province as a unit, they consented to a little constitutional wrong in order to secure a great material benefit. It led, however, to serious inconveniences, and the experiment will, doubtless, not soon be repeated of placing a Province in a union upon which its people had been given no specific opportunity of expressing their opinion at the polls, though this opportunity had been demanded by addresses, deputations, and representations through the press. The enlightened ideas now entertained of Constitutional Government would doubtless restrain the hand of an Imperial Minister who should contemplate such an act.*

From the 3rd to the 13th February, 1865, the debate on Confederation continued in the Canadian Assembly. Mr. John A. Macdonald moved :

"That a committee consisting of himself, Messrs. Cartier, Galt, Brown, Robitaille and Haultain, he appointed to draft an Address to Her Majesty on the subject of the Union of the Colonies of British North America."

It is only proper to notice that the course pursued by the Imperial Government has been ably and warmly defended on the following grounds: Firstly, constitutionally it was not bound to ask for any expression of feeling, or opinion, on the part of the people of Nova Scotia by a plebiscite, or otherwise, before passing the Act of Union. Secondly. Admitting for argument's sake that these feelings and opinions should have been ascertained and consulted, the Imperial Authorities, in the summer or autumn of 1866, were put in possession of what they were constitutionally bound to consider the expression of Nova Scotia's feelings and opinions, for they were placed in possession of the solemnly avowed sentiments of the Parliamentary Representatives of the Province. And, thirdly, the Imperial Government, without being under any sort of obligation to concern itself to know whether the constitutional representatives of Nova Scotia represented the real sentiments of their constituents, or not, had the best of reasons for supposing that they did represent them. "The Repeal Agitation," by P. S. Hamilton.

After four amendments had been lost, the resolution was carried by a large majority. This vote established Confederation. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had adopted the scheme, but Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island left the question in abeyance.

On the 8th June, 1866, Parliament commenced its first sittings in the new buildings at Ottawa. The Ministry immediately took the necessary steps to complete the work of Confederation, and the House adjourned on the 18th August. Delegates from the two Canadas, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick lost no time in proceeding to England to effect a final arrangement of the terms for their Federal Union. On the 7th of February, 1867, the Bill for Confederation was introduced in the British House of Commons, by the Colonial Secretary, the Earl of Carnarvon. It passed rapidly through all the necessary stages, and received the Royal Assent on the 28th day of that month. It came into force 1st July, 1867.

By "The British North America Act, 1867," the four Provinces of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were federated under the name of "THE DOMINION OF CANADA." Upper Canada was changed into "Ontario," and Lower Canada into "Quebec." The first day of July, 1867, was celebrated with great rejoicing as "Dominion Day." At Ottawa, the seat of the New Government, Chief Justice Draper administered the oath of Governor General of the Dominion to Lord Monck, who, by command of Her Majesty, conferred upon the Hon. John A. Macdonald the order of Knighthood, and upon the Honorables Messrs. Howland, McDougall, Cartier, Galt, Tilley and Tupper, the Companionship of the Bath. The Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald became the first Premier of the Dominion. The Hon. W. P. Howland, C.B., was appointed lieutenant Governor of Ontario; Sir Narcisse Belleau, of Quebec; the Hon. Mr. Wilmot, of New Brunswick; and Lieut.-General Doyle, of Nova Scotia.

Discontent soon began to shew itself in Nova Scotia. Her repugnance to the Union now took a distinct shape in the complaint that she had given up much more than she had received,—and that her share of the public revenues would not meet the current expenses of her government; this position was maintained by the Anti-Unionists, and at the elections for the Commons and the Local Legislature a large anti-confederate majority was returned. On the 18th September, 1867,

* The Hon. Mr. Cartier was subsequently nominated a Knight.

the startling news was sent through the Dominion that in these elections the Confederate party had met with a terrible defeat. Out of eighteen members of the Commons, but one Confederate, Dr. Tupper, was returned, and out of thirty-eight members of the Local House of Assembly but two Confederates had survived the storm of public opinion. This disastrous turn of affairs spread gloom among the friends of the Union, for it was feared that New Brunswick would sympathize with the victorious Anti-Confederates of Nova Scotia, and that the combined opposition of these two Provinces would endanger the whole Union. Here was the natural result of the ill-advised haste with which Union had been imposed on Nova Scotia, for it soon became evident that a large proportion of the people had supported the Anti-Union cause in the recent elections, not so much from love of it as from dislike to the mode by which they had been carried into Confederation. The magnitude of their success surprised and embarrassed the conquerors themselves, for the serious question now presented itself: "What shall we do with our victory?" They were compelled to adopt some policy, and, after much halting, it was authoritatively announced by the Attorney-General, Mr. Wilkins, the Premier, and one of the chiefs of the Anti-Confederates, in a manifesto issued in December, 1867, that the ultimate aim of the party was Repeal. of the movement, now began to hesitate. battle of the Anti-Unionists up to this spirits had compromised themselves and him by openly tampering with disloyalty,-dallying with treason,-advocating annexation, and hinting at the material aid which they would receive from American "Sympathizers" in the event of their throwing off their allegiance to the British Crown. This was excessively repugnant to Mr. Howe; his feelings of loyalty were outraged, and his sense of reason was shocked. "The old flag," he said, 66 must float above us still, and be revered and respected until we receive Our answer from England." It soon came. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Howe, Annand, Troop and Smith, went to England to lay their case at the foot of the Throne. They were instructed to accept nothing but the Repeal of the Union, but they soon found, what every one out of the House already felt, that such a demand would not be yielded by the Imperial Government. Their case was brought before the British House of Commons, where, by a large majority, a Committee of Inquiry was refused, and in the Lords the motion for one was withdrawn. The Duke of Buckingham,

Mr. Howe, the real leader He had loyally fought the point, but the more ardent