PERS

War going on in the United States, and the impessibility of anticipating what international questions might at any moment arise, Her Majesty’s Government felt it their duty from time to time to direct the attention of the Government of Canada to the insecure position of the Province in the event of disturbed relations unhappily resulting, and to urge the adoption of pretective measures. In these communications it was not concealed that Her Majesty’s Government expected the people of Canada to assume more onerous military duties than they had previously borne. Your Excellency’s Advisers were always prepared frankiy to consider these proposals, and to submit for the approval of Parliament such measures as might be found just and reasonable. But they feit at the same time that to secure the hearty assent of Parliament and the country for any important changes in the military relations between the Parent State and the Coleny, an explanation on the whole subject should first be had, s0 that a clear understanding as to the share of defence to be’ borne by each might be arrived at, and ali ground of irritating and hurtful reproach for alleged neglect of duty by the Colony, entirely remeved. In view also of the anticipated early union of aïl the British North American Colonies — s0 well calculated to simplify the system of defence — the Government of Canada deemed it highly desirable that the settlement of this important question should be reserved for the action of the Government and Legislature of the new Confederation. Her Majesty’s Government concurred in these views.

In the early part of this year, however, events occurred that changed the situation of affairs. The conference at Fortress Munroe for the cessation of hostilities, the disturbances on the Canadian frontier, the imposition of the Passport system, the notice given by the American Government for a termination of the convention restricting the Naval Armament on the Lakes and other events tended to revive and deepen the feeling of insecurity ; and Her Majesty’s Government urged the immediate erection of permanent works of defence at Quebec and Montreal — the cost of the former to be borne by the Imperial Treasury, and of the latter by the people of Canada. Your Excellency's Advisers were most anxious to meet the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government, but they could not feel it their duty to propose to Parliament a vote for defensive works at Montreal while the defence of Upper Canada, on land and on the lakes, was unprovided for. The position of affairs was further complicated by the result of the New Brunswick elections, which postponed at least for a time, the union of the Provinces — and by the formal notice given by the American Government for the termination, in March next, of the Reciprocity Treaty. It became evident that the time had arrived and could no longer be postponed, for a full and frank explanation with Her Majesty’s Government on the whole state of affairs; and with that view an immediate mission to England, with Your Excellency’s assent, was resolved upon. The state of the case was forthwith communieated to the Legislative Council and Assembiy, which were then in session : and Parliament was shortly after prorogued on the understanding that it would be summoned to learn the resuit of the negotiations and complete the business of the Session, so soon as the delegates returned from Great Britain.

On arriving in England we lost no time in placing ourselves in communication with Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies ; and a Committee of the Imperial Cabinet, consisting of His Grace the Duke of Somerset, the Right Honorable the Earl De Grey and Ripon, the Right Honorable Wm. L. Gladstone, and the Right Honorable Edward Cardwell, having been appointed to confer with us, negotiations were opened and continued at frequent interviews, up to the close of our mission.

The subject to which we first invited the attention of the Conference was the proposed Confederation of the British North American Colonies. We reminded the Imperial Ministers how largely all the questions, with the discussion of which we were charged — and especially those of defence, foreign Commercial relations, and internal communication — would be affected by the Union, and how great!y their satisfactory settlement would be facilitated by it. We explained the reasons that existed for obtaining the assent of all the Colonies to the Union at an early date, and the promise to which the Government of Canada stood pledged to proceed without delay with Constitutional reforms for Canada alone, in the event of the larger measure failing to be obtained. We received at once from the Members of the Imperial Cabinet assurances of their hearty approval of the Confederation scheme, and of their anxious desire to promote its earis accomplishment, by all the iegitimate influence of the Imperial Government, In the disenssion of the means to he adapted for effecting Canfederation, we trust it is unnecessary to assure Your Excellency that the idea of coercing the Maritime Provinces into

of Canadian Defences, and especially to the assertions confidentiy made by certain members of the House of Commons that Canada was incapable of efficient protection against invasion from her inland border. We explained the injury such statements tended to produce and the necessity of our ascertaining, as a preliminary step to our discussions, whether or not they were well founded. We asked that a Repors on the whole subject of the defence of Canada, with plans and estimates, might be obtained from the highest Military and Naval authorities of Great Britain. Such a Report was obtained and communicated to us confidentially — and we rejoice to say that it was calculated to remove all doubt as to the security of our Country, so long as the hearts of

our people remain firmly attached to the Rritish Flag, and the power of England js wielded in our defence.

On the part of Canada we expressed the desire that this plan for the defence of all parts of the Province should be taken as the basis of arrangement : and that a full and candid discussion should be had as to the share of the cost that ought to be borne respectively by the Imperial and Provincial Exchequers. We expressed the earnest wish of the people of Canada to perpetuate the happy existing connection with Great Britain, and their entire willingness to contribute to the defence of the Empire their full quota, according to their ability, of men and money. But we pointed out that if war should ever unhappily arise between England and the United States, it could only be an Imperial war, on Imperial grounds — that our country alone would be exposed to the horrors of invasion — and that our exposed Position, far from entailing on us unesual

Progress sleadily and rapidiy, it was a vast country, sparsely populated — that the difficulties of first settiement were hardly yet overcome — that the profits of our an-

crops, the effects of the American civil war on our commercial relations, and the te € of insecurity to our position (greatly aggravated by statements of the defenceless… of the country in the British Parliament and by portions of the British Press) —: Canada was laboring under a temporary but serious depression. We pointed out that, while fully recognizing the necessity and prepared to provide for such « system of defence as would restore confidence in our future at home and abroad, the best ultimate defence for British America wat to be found in the inerease of her population as rapidly ss possible, and the husbanding of our resources to that end ; and, without claiming it as a right, we ventured to suggest that by enabling us to throw open the north-western territories to free settlement, and by aiding us in enlarging our canals and prosecuting internal productive works, and by promoting an extensive plan of emigration from Europe into the unsettled portions of our domain — Permanent security would be more quickly and surely and economically secured than by any other means. We did not fail to point out how this might be done without cost or risk to the British Exchequer, and how greatly it would lighten the new burden of defence prepared to be assumed at a moment of depression by the people of Canada. Û Much discussion ensued on alt those points, and the resuit arrived at, was, that if the people of Canada undertook the works of defence at and west of Montreal, and. agreed to expend in training their militia, until the union of all the Provinces was determined,

« sua not less than is now expended annually for that service, Her Majesty's Goverument would complete the fortifications at Quebec, provide the whole armament for all for the sum necessary to construct the works undertaken undertake the defence of every portion of Canada,

me and order in which those propositions

the Imperial and Provincial Legisiatures, it appeared that no action could be: taken upon them during the present year ; and it was therefore deemed inexpedient to complicate the Confederation question by changing the basis of the Quebce Conference Resolutions, which might result from the present adoption of these propositions. The further consideration of the defensive works was accordingly deferred for the action of the Government and Legislature of the proposed British North American Confederation — but the assurance of Her Majesty's Government as time given, that if circumstances arose to render an application expedient by Canada alone for the immediate prosecution of the works of defence, such application would be received in the most friendly spirit.

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Les délégués relatent ensuite leurs négociations avec les autorités {mpériales au sujet du Tra'té de Réciprocité avec les Etats-Unis et de l'acquisition des territoires de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson.

t document bears date the 17th June, 1865, and has already reached Your Excelcontains a correct statement of the result of the conference (1).

Afithough the subject was not speciaily referred to us, we did not fail to call the

the anomalous position of foreigners who have settied in Canada and become naturalized subjects under our Provincial Statutes. Mr. CardweH at once admitted the hardship of the case, and stated that it was the desire of Her Majesty's Government to remedy it, and that with that view he had referred the Law Officers of the Crown for their opinion as to the best mode

It will be gratifying to many devoted subjects of Her Majesty's throughout British

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the Canadian people, and to draw closer the