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The Eve of Confederation. 429

by Mr. Matthew Crooks Cameron, member for North Ontario. This, as well as other motions embodying the same prir‘iple, was defeated by the solid Lower Canadian vote, but the discussions and division lists rendered it evident that the Government held office by a feeble tenure, and were in fact too weak to carry on the public business with any assurance of success. A measure introduced by Mr. R. W. Scott, member for Ottawa City, amending the Upper Canadian Separate School law, rendered the ministerial position still more precarious. They had adopted the separate school system as a part of their programme, but they were now abandoned by the entire body of Clear Grits on the question, as well as by other members upon whom they had counted for support. At the head of the Clear Grits Mr. George Brown once more presented himself in the Assembly, having been returned for South Oxford, where a vacancy had occurred while the House was in session. His views on Rep. by Pop. and separate schools had undergone no change, and he now waged war against the Ministry on both those questions. A large Upper Canadian majority voted against the separate school measure, which, however, was carried by means of the Lower Canadians. Under these circumstances the Ministry, who had professed to adopt the double majority principle in local matters, should have resigned ; but this they were not disposed to do. They threw their professions to the winds, and held on to office. For this abandonment of their alleged principles they suffered still further desertions. Early in May Mr. J. A. Macdonald moved and carried, by a majority of five, a direct vote of want of confidence. Ministers advised a prorogation with a view to dissolution, which was assented to by the Governor. The regular business was completed, and the session came to an end on the 12th. A dissolution followed, and election writs were issued, returnable on the 3rd of July. Two ministerial changes had occurred during the session. On the 6th of March Mr. Morris, on account of ill-health, resigned the

Receiver-Generalship, and was succeeded by Mr. Fergusson-Blair. On the 10th of May Mr. Adam Wilson ceased to be Solicitor-General, and accepted a seat on the bench. Before the appointment of the latter’s successor, other important changes had become necessary. There had for some weeks been a want of perfect harmony between the two sections of the Cabinet. The Premier was fully conscious of his weakness, and wished to strengthen his position by admitting Mr. Dorion and Mr. Holton to office. Mr. Dorion, it was well known, would only accept office as the chief of the Lower Canadian section; and to this Mr. Sicotte would not consent. À general break-up of the Government ensued. Mr. Sicotte, with his Lower Canadian colleagues, withdrew in a body.* Mr. Macdonald retained only three of his Upper Canadian Ministers— Messieurs Howland, McDougall and Fergusson-Blair—and supplied the places of Messieurs Foley and Wilson by Messieurs Oliver Mowat and Lewis Wallbridge. Mr. Dorion, having consented to form the Lower Canadian section, applied himself to his task with success, and on the 16th—four days after the prorogation—the Macdonald-Dorion Government came into being. It would answer no purpose to give the membersh: » at that date, as it underwent various modifications before the met sing of Parliament, consequent on the defeat of some of the Ministers at the polls. The policy propounded by the late Government also underwent modification with a view to the conciliation of the Clear Grits. The intercolonial railway scheme was for the time abandoned, as were also several other projects of less importance. The elections came off in the heat of June. In Upper Canada the Ministry gained considerably, but the loss in the Lower section of the Province left the total result practically unchanged. As finally adjusted on the 12th of August the Ministry stood as follows :—

* Messieurs Tessier and Abbott did not formally withdraw until the 27th of the month, but it does not appear that they discharged any official duties after the withdrawal of their colleagues.

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