THE HON. LUCIUS SETH HUNTINGTON

The Eve of Confederation. 431

UPPER CANADA

The Hon. J. S. Macdonald, Premier and Attorney-General West, “ “° W. McDougall, Commissioner of Crown Lands. k “°W. P. Howland, Receiver-General.

1 “À, J. Fergusson-Blair, Provincial Secretary. “ “Oliver Mowat, Postmaster-General,

LOWER CANADA

The Hon. A. A. Dorion, Attorney-General East. se “I, H. Hoilton, Minister of Finance.

sf “Isidore Thibaudeau, President of the Council. “ “ [, Letellier de St. Just, Minister of Agriculture. LÉ “LS. Huntington, Solicitor-General East.

# “Maurice Laframbnise, Commissioner of Public Works.

The Solicitor-Generalship for Upper Canada had from the original formation of the Government in May been held by Lewis Wallbridge, who resigned on the 12th of August—the day of the final readjustment.* The office thenceforward remained vacant for more than four months. Mr. Thibaudeau was a wealthy Quebec merchant, who had just been returned to the Assembly for Quebec Centre. Mr. Huntington, who has since become one of the most prominent public men in Canada, was at that time comparatively new to Parliamentary life. He had, however, even then acquired considerable repute as an advocate and journalist, and had made his mark as an effective speaker. He sat in the Assembly for the county of Shefford. Mr. Laframboise, who represented Bagot, was also an advocate, resident at Montreal. The other members of the Ministry are already known to the

* Mr. Wallbridge’s resignation seems not to have actually taken place until some time later, but the official records show that he ceased to hold office, and to draw the salary attached thereto, on the date indicated,

432 The Last Forty Years.

reader. Mr. Drummond, who had accepted the portfolio of Public Works, had failed in his election in two constituencies, and had accordingly resigned office. Messieurs Dorion and Holton had also sustained defeat, but afterwards secured election in other constituencies.

The portfolios having been finally apportioned, the first session of the Eighth Parliament met on the 13th of August. Mr. Tessier was elected Speaker of the Legislative Council, and Mr. Wallbridge of the Assembly. The opening Speech was unimportant; but the Address in Reply evoked the warmest debate in the Assembly that had been heard there for years. It soon appeared that what the Government had gained on the one hand by reconstruction they had lost on the other. The ousted members, Messieurs Sicotte, Foley, and McGee, now reinforced the Opposition ranks, and poured out the vials of their wrath upon the Premier’s head in unstinted tide. That gentleman admitted that the policy of the Government had been modified during the recess, and he was accused of having no fixed policy except a lust for power. Grave charges of unstatesmanlike intrigues were brought against him by the ex-ministers, who gave full rein to their anger. In the wordy warfare Mr. Macdonald held his own, for he possessed a sharp tongue—the only edged tool that grows sharper by constant use—and hurled back with scathing energy the accusations brought against him. This, however, was not precisely the way to win votes, and though he contrived to drag through the session, he narrowly escaped defeat on several occasions. The legislation was insignificant, too much time being taken up by personal discussions to admit of important additions to the statute-book. The almost barren session came to an end on the 15th of October.

The Government lost further ground during the recess. On the 26th of December they appointed Mr. Albert Norton Richards, member for South Leeds, to the vacant Solicitor-Generalship for

The Eve of Confederation. 433

Upper Canada. Upon returning to his constituents for reëlection Mr. Richards was opposed by Mr. David Ford Jones, a pronounced Conservative, who received all the support which the personal presence of the ablest speakers of the Opposition could give him. Mr. J. A. Macdonald and T. D. McGee took the field, and delivered effective harangues against the Government in different parts of the riding. The Solicitor-General was beaten by a majority of 75 votes, and this in a constituency wherein he had, a few months before, been returned by a majority of 135. He accordingly resigned office.* The Premier was determined not to recognize the inevitable until the last moment, and still professed confidence in his possessing a Parliamentary majority. Under such ominous circumstances the Houses met on the 19th of February, 1864.

The Speech referred, among other matters, to the progress made in the erection of the public buildings at Ottawa, and to the probable early removal thither of the Seat of Government. The programme was not very comprehensive, the Ministry feeling too insecure in their positions to venture upon any innovations. The Opposition did not move any amendment to the Address, but assailed the Ministry on the score of tergiversation and general inefficiency. When the business of the session began in earnest, it soon became apparent that the Government could not command a working majority in the Assembly. There was a preponderance of Upper Canadian votes in their favour. In the Lower Province they were in a decided minority. They commanded a small majority of the whole House, but were too weak to carry on the Government with advantage to the country or themselves. After some fruitless attempts at reconstruction, they voluntarily resigned office on the 21st of March.

The situation was critical. Parties were divided by majorities so narrow that no Government, by whomsoever formed, and of whom-

* His resignation took place on the 30th of January, 1864.

434 The Last Forty Years.

soever composed, could feel safe. The constitution was on its trial, and far-seeing statesmen predicted that it would not emerge from the ordeal without serious damage. The future looked ominous, and a general feeling of insecurity began to permeate the minds of our public men.

The Governor himself could not conceal his anxiety. As a possible means of getting over the crisis, he entrusted the ex-Provincial Secretary, Mr. Fergusson-Blair, with the formation of a Ministry. That gentleman made the attempt, and failed. Mr. Cartier was applied to, with a precisely similar result. His Excellency then had recourse to Sir Etienne—formerly known to us as Colonel—Taché. Since his retirement from the Government in November, 1857, the Colonel had had the dignity of knighthood conferred upon him by Her Majesty. Of late he had not taken any very conspicuous part in public affairs, though he had regularly attended the sittings of the Legislative Council, of which—having been appointed under the old system—he was a life member. No man in the country was more highly respected. He had been approached by the late Premier, Mr. J.S. Macdonald, with a view to taking charge of the Lower Canadian section of the Cabinet, Similar approaches had more recently been made by Mr. Fergusson-Blair. To all overtures Sir Etienne had hitherto responded courteously, but unfavourably. He had reached an age when ambition had no longer much sway over him. He loved quiet, and had no longing to undertake the burden of constructing and carrying on a Governnient, more especially in the face

: of mauiold difhualties. The matter being pressed upon him in the light of a public duty, however, and it being represented to him that he, more than any man in the country, was in a position to bring confidence to the Administration, he consented to make the attempt.

He put himself in communication with Mr. John A. Macdonald, who

undertook the formation of the Upper Canada section of the Administration. The arrangements occupied some days, and were attended

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with no little difficulty, but they were finally successful, and on the 30th of the month the new Ministers took possession of their portfolios. Thus, for the second time since the Union, a Taché-Macdonald Government came into existence. The membership was as follows : —

LOWER. CANADA

The Hon. Sir E. P. Taché, Premier and Receiver-General. G. E. Cartier, Attorney-General East.

a “A, T. Galt, Minister of Finance.

J. C. Chapais, Commissioner of Public Works.

“TD. McGee, Minister of Agriculture.

H. L. Langevin, Solicitor-General East.

UPPER CANADA

The Hon. J. A. Macdonald, Attorney-General West,

Alexander Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands. M. H. Foley, Postmaster-General.

Isaac Buchanan, President of the Council.

John Simpson, Provincial Secretary.

James Cockburn, Solicitor-General West,

The reader has formed the acquaintance of all these gentlemen except the two last-named. Mr. Simpson was a prominent citizen of Niagara, which constituency he represented in the Assembly. Mr. Cockburn, who represented West Northumberland, was a barrister, and resided at Cobourg.

Mr. Foley had always up to this time acted with the Reformers of Upper Canada, so that the new Administration partook, to that extent, of the nature of a Coalition. In other respects it was essentially Tiberal-Conservative in its character, Its policy was declared in the Assembly by Mr. Cauchon in French, and by John Hillyard Cameron in English. It embraced a strict attention to the

436 The Last Forty Years.

Provincial defences, and an effort to place the militia in an effective condition; an endeavour to maintain and extend the Reciprocity Treaty, and to establish more intimate commercial relations with the Maritime Provinces. Departmental reform and retrenchment in the public service were also promised, and it was announced that the question of the representation of the people in Parliament would remain an open question. After some discussion of this programme, Parliament adjourned, on the 31st, in order to enable Ministers to complete their arrangements, and to secure re-election in their respective constituencies. The adjournment was until the 3rd of May.