tion of our troubles than that which has entailed on other countries such deplorable results? And should not every one of us endeavour to rise to the magnitude of the occasion, and earnestly seek to deal with this question to the end in the same candid and conciliatory spirit in which, so far, it has been discussed?

"The scene presented by this chamber at this moment, I venture to affirm, has few parallels in history. One hundred years have passed away since these provinces became by conquest part of the British Empire. I speak in no boastful spirit-I de re not for a moment to excite a painful thought-what was then the fortune of war of the brave French nation, might have been ours on that well-fought field. I recall those olden times merely to remark the fact that here sit to-day the descendants of the victors and the vanquished in the fight of 1759, with all the differences of language, religion, civil law, and social habit, nearly as distinctly marked as they were a century ago. Here we sit to-day seeking amicably to find a remedy for constitutional evils and injustice complained of -by the vanquished? No, sir-but complained of by the conquerors! Here sit the representatives of the British population, discussing in the French tongue whether we shall have it. One hundred years have passed away since the conquest of Quebec, and here sit the children. of the victor and the vanquished, all avowing hearty attachment to the British Crown-all earnestly deliberating how we shall best extend the blessings of British institutions-how a great people may be established on this continent in close and hearty connection with Great Britain. Where, sir, in the page of his tory, shall we find a parallel to this? Will it not stand as an imperishable monument to the generosity of British rule? And it is not in Canada alone that this scene is being witnessed. Four other colonies are at this moment occupied as we are declaring their hearty love for the parent State, and deliberating with us how they may best discharge the great duty entrusted to their hands, and give their aid in developing the teeming resources of these vast possessions.

"And well, Mr. Speaker, may the work we have unitedly proposed rouse the ambition and energy of every true man in British America. Look, sir, at the map of the continent of America and mark that island (Newfoundland), commanding the mouth of the noble river that almost cuts our continent in twain. Well, sir, that island is equal in extent to the kingdom of Portugal. Cross the streets to the mainland, and you touch the hospitable shores of Nova Scotia, a country as large as the kingdom of Greece. Then mark the sister province of New Brunswick-equal in extent to Denmark and Switzerland combined. Pass up the river St. Lawrence to Lower Canadaa country as large as France. Pass on to Upper Canada-twenty thousand square miles larger than Great Britain and Ireland put together. Cross over the continent to the shores of the Pacific, and you are in British Columbia, the land of golden promise-equal in extent to the Austrian Empire. I speak not now of the vast Indian Territories that lie between-greater in extent than the whole soil of Russia-and that will, ere long, I trust, be opened up to civilisation under the auspices of the British American Confederation. Well, sir, the bold scheme in your hands is nothing less than to gather all these countries into one-to organise them all under one government, with the protection of the British flag, and in heartiest sympathy and affection with our fellow-subjects in the land that gave us birth. Our scheme is to establish a government that will seek to turn the tide of European emigration into this northern half of the American continent that will strive to develop its great natural resources-and that will endeavour to maintain liberty and justice and Christianity throughout the land.

"Sir, the whole great ends of this Confederation may not be realised in the lifetime of many who now hear me. We imagine not that such a structure can be built in a month or in a year. What we propose now is but to lay the foundations of this structure-to set in motion the government machinery that will one day, we trust, extend from the Atlantic

to the Pacific*. And we take special credit to ourselves that the system we have devised, while admirably adapted to our present situation, is capable of gradual and efficient expansion in future years to meet all the great purposes contemplated by our scheme. But if the honourable gentleman will only recall to mind that when the United States seceded from the Mother Country, and for many years afterwards their population was not nearly equal to ours at this moment; that their internal improvements did not then approach to what we have already attained; and that their trade and commerce was not then a third of what ours has already reached; I think he will see that the fulfilment of our hopes may not be so very remote as at first sight might be imagined. And he will be strengthened in that conviction if he remembers that what we propose to do is to be done with the cordial sympathy and assistance of that great power of which it is our happiness to form a part.

"Such, Mr. Speaker, are the objects of attainment to which the British American Conference pledged itself in October. And said I not rightly that such a scheme is well fitted to fire the ambition and rouse the energies of every member of this House? Does it not lift us above the petty politics of the past, and present to us higher purposes and great interests that may well call forth all the intellectual ability and all the energy and enterprise to be found among us?"

*Rupert's Land was transferred to Canada in 1869, and the North-West Territories and Manitoba were formally admitted to Confederation on July 15th, 1870. One year and five days later, British Columbia entered. On July 1st, 1873, Prince Edward Island completed the circle. Thus was the hope fulfilled, of creating a country which would extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

After requesting that the subject should be discussed without mere fault-finding and partisanship, but "in the earnest and candid spirit of men. loving the

same country," he went on to point out that the scheme was necessarily somewhat of a compromise. He said:

"No constitution ever framed was without defect; no act of human wisdom was ever free from imperfection; no amount of talent and wisdom and integrity combined in preparing such a scheme could have placed it beyond the reach of criticism. And the framers of this scheme had immense difficulties to overcome. We had the prejudices of race, and language and religion to deal with; and we had to encounter all the rivalries of trade and commerce, and all the jealousies of diversified local interests. To assert, then, that our scheme is without fault, would be folly. It was necessarily the work of concession; not one of the thirty-three framers but had on some points to yield his opinions; and, for myself, I freely admit that I struggled earnestly, for days together, to have portions of the scheme amended. But admitting all this-admitting all the difficulties which beset us-admitting frankly that defects in the measure exist-I say that, taking the scheme as a whole, it has my cordial, enthusiastic support, without hesitation or reservation. I believe it will accomplish all, and more than all, that we parliamentary reform ever hoped to see who have so long fought the battle of accomplished. I believe that, while granting security for local interests, it will give free scope for carrying out the will of the whole people in general matters-that it will draw closer the bonds that unite us to Great Britain-and that it will lay the foundations deep and strong of a powerful and prosperous people."

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Gilbert John Elliot Murray-Kynnynmond, Earl of Minto and Viscount Melgund of Melgund, County of Forfar, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Baron Minto of Minto, County of Roxburgh, in the Peerage of Great Britain, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, etc., etc., Governor-General of Canada. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY

We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the NorthWest Territories of Canada, in Session assembled, humbly approach Your Excellency for the purpose of representing

That by the British North America Act,

1867, it was (amongst other things) enacted that it should be lawful for the Queen, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, on Address from the Houses of the Parliament of Canada, to admit Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory, or either of them, into the Union on such terms and conditions in each case as should be in the Addresses expressed and as the Queen should think fit to approve subject to the provisions of the said Act;

That by an Address from the Houses of the Parliament of Canada Her Majesty was prayed to unite Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory with the Dominion of Canada.;

That in order to further the petition of the Parliament of Canada, Her Majesty, under the authority of The Rupert's Land Act, 1868, accepted a Surrender from the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay of all the lands, territories, rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and authorities whatsoever granted or purported to be granted by certain Letters Patent therein recited to the said company in Rupert's Land;

That in the said Address it was represented to Her Majesty, as a reason for the extension of the Dominion of Canada westward, that the welfare of the population of these Territories would be materially enhanced by the formation therein of political institutions bearing analogy, as far as circumstances will admit, to those which existed in the several Provinces then forming the Dominion;

That the Houses of the said Parliament of Canada by their said Address expressed to Her Majesty their willingness to assume the duties and obligations of government and legislation as regards these Territories;

That in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in the Queen by the aforesaid Acts, Her Majesty, by and with the advice of Her Most Honourable Privy Council, ordered and declared that from and after the fifteenth day of July, 1870, Rupert's Land and the NorthWestern Territory should be admitted into and become part of the Dominion of Canada, and granted power and authority to the Parliament of Canada to legislate for the future welfare and good government of these Territories;

That by the British North America Act, 1871, the Parliament of Canada was further given power from time to time to make provision for the administration, peace, order and good government of any Territory not for the time being included in any Province;

That under the several authorities so given the Parliament of Canada has created political institutions in these Territories bearing a close

analogy to those which exist in the several Provinces of the Dominion;

That by the Confederation compact the Provinces which formed the Dominion on the fifteenth day of July, 1870, were furnished with the means of carrying on local self-government upon certain well-defined bases;

That the Territories being an integral part of the Dominion, and having had imposed upon them the duties and obligations incidental to the political institutions which have been given to them, and which said duties and obligations the Parliament of Canada has declared its willingness to assume, are entitled to such Federal assistance for their maintenance as will bear due proportion and analogy to that given to other portions of the Dominion for similar purposes.

That repeated representations have been made in various ways to the Government of Canada with a view to obtaining just and equitable financial assistance towards providing for the proper and effective administration of local affairs in the Territories and for the public necessities of their rapidly increasing population;

That such representations have been met by intermittent and insufficient additions to the annual grant, the provision so made by the Parliament of Canada never bearing any adequate proportion to the financial obligations imposed by the enlargement and development of the political institutions created by itself;

That it is desirable that a basis should be established upon which the claims of the Territories to suitable financial recognition may be settled and agreed upon;

That we do therefore most humbly pray that Your Excellency will be graciously pleased to cause the fullest enquiry to be made into the position of the Territories, financial and otherwise, and to cause such action to be taken as will provide for their present and immediate welfare and good government, as well as the due fulfilment of the duties and obligations of government and legislation, assumed, with respect to these Territories, by the Parliament of Canada;

And furthermore that, by the British North America Act, 1871, it was (amongst other things) enacted that the Parliament of Canada may from time to time establish new Provinces in any Territories forming for the time being part of the Dominion of Canada but not included in any Province thereof, and may, at the time of such establishment, make provision for the constitution and administration of such Province, we do therefore most humbly pray that your Excellency will be also graciously pleased to order enquiries to be made and accounts taken with a view to the settlement of the terms and conditions upon which the Territories or any part thereof shall be established as a Province, and that, before any such Province is established, opportunity should be given to the people of the Territories through their accredited representatives, of

considering and discussing such terms and conditions.

All of which we humbly pray Your Excellency to take into Your Excellency's most gracious and favourable consideration.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories.

Legislative Assembly Chambers,

Regina, N.W.T., May 2, 1900

MR. HAULTAIN'S BILL.

On December 7th, 1901, the Hon. F. W. E. Haultain wrote to Sir Wilfrid Laurier at some length, explaining the reasons for immediate autonomy. The letter is interesting, but too long to reprint in full here. One quotation and the full text of Mr. Haultain's proposed Bill are given. He says:

This request is made in the belief that such an enquiry will make it clear that the establishment of a Province in the Territories upon equitable terms will relieve the Dominion of any necessity for annually considering Territorial questions. It is thought that the time is opportune for looking into this matter. Our official machinery is now upon a working basis and it does not appear that any disturbance of the equilibrium can result from the operation of the increased powers and added duties that will follow the change. The present tentative nature of much of our legislation and some of our public institutions can be amended by the introduction of measures tending to place them upon a permanent footing, which work can be better done in the near future than at a time when the weakness and ineffectiveness of much of our work due to causes already referred to, have had time to create public dissatisfaction and uneasiness. During the consideration which I have no doubt will be given to this part of the prayer of the Legislative Assembly there are some matters which, we respectfully submit, should receive most careful and thorough examination. It goes without saying that the principles of the British North America Act will form the basis of the constitution of any Province created. We seek for no advantages over any other Province, and we do not anticipate that we will be denied any privilege given elsewhere. After giving some earnest thought to the matter of presenting this part of the subject as desired by the sub-committee of the Privy Council, I have concluded that I cannot do so in any better manner than by submitting the views of the Executive Council of the Territories in the form of a draft Bill, in which the several points we would like to have brought to an issue are duly set forth, making such comment upon the principles involved as occurs to me in connection with each section or group of sections, and from this point onwards this communication will take the form thus indicated.

The Bill, with two of Mr. Haultain's comments, is given below. Parallel with it is given the Bill introduced during the present session of the Ottawa Parliament. There are two Bills really, one for Alberta

(No. 69) and one for Saskatchewan (No. 70), but as only clause No. 1 in each is different, only one Bill is given. The two No. 1 clauses are printed consecutively.

HAULTAIN'S DRAFT BILL.

An Act to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of

His Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows;

1. On, from and after the first day of January, 1903, that portion of the territory known as Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory admitted into the Union or Dominion of Canada by Her Majesty Queen Victoria by and with the advice and consent of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council by Order bearing date the twenty-third day of June, 1870, under the authority of the 146th Section of the British North America Act, 1867, described as the Provisional Districts of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta as the said Districts are defined by Orders of His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada made in Council on the eighth day of May, 1882, and the second day of October, 1895, respectively; and that portion of the Provisional District of Athabasca, as the said District is defined by Order of His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada made in Council on the eighth day of May, 1882, and the second day of October, 1895, respectively, lying to the south of the fifty-seventh parallel of north latitude, shall be formed into and be a Province which shall be one of the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada and which shall be called the Province of

MEMO. In considering the question of the area to be included in this Province it may be claimed that the area proposed is too large for one Province. In this connection it should first be noted that the proposed area when compared with several of the other Provinces of the Dominion stands as follows:.347,000 sq. miles. 220,000

Quebec

Ontario.

British Columbia.. 383,000

Proposed Province. 404,000

From this comparison it will be noted that the proposed Province contains an area considerably larger than that contained in either of the three other Provinces mentioned, but it must be remembered that a large portion of the district of Athabasca and of the northern and eastern portion of Saskatchewan proposed to be included in the new Province will never, owing to situation or physical

OTTAWA BILL.

An Act to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Saskatchewan. (Clauses 17, 18, and 19 will be moved in Committee of the Whole.)

WHEREAS in and by The British North America Act, 1871, being chapter 28 of the Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in the session thereof held in the 34th and 35th years of the reign of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, it is enacted that the Parliament of Canada may from time to time establish new Provinces in any Territories forming for the time being part of the Dominion of Canada, but not included in any Province thereof, and may at the time of such establishment, make provision for the constitution and administration of any such Province, and for the passing of laws for the peace, order and good government of such Province and for its representation in the said Parliament of Canada;

And whereas it is expedient to establish as a Province the territory hereinafter described, and to make provision for the government thereof and the representation thereof in the Parliament of Canada: Therefore His Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows;

1. The territory comprised within the following boundaries, that is to say,—commencing at the intersection of the International boundary dividing Canada from the United States of America by the west boundary of the Province of Manitoba, thence northerly along the said west boundary of the Province of Manitoba to the north-west corner of the said Province of Manitoba; thence continuing northerly along the centre of the road allowance between the twenty-ninth and thirtieth ranges west of the principal meridian in the system of Dominion lands surveys, as the said allowance may hereafter be defined in accordance with the said system, to the second meridian in the said system of Dominion lands surveys, as the same may hereafter be defined in accordance with the said system; thence northerly along the second meridian to the sixtieth degree of north latitude; thence westerly along the parallel of the sixtieth degree of north latitude to the fourth meridian in the said system of Dominion lands surveys, as the same may be hereafter defined in accordance with the said system; thence southerly along the said fourth meridian to the said International boundary dividing Canada from the