|
Union of the Canadas |
Stalemate |
Responsible Government |
Elgin Report |
Responsible Government Maritimes
| Newfoundland |
Barkerville
The transition to responsible government
in the Maritimes transpired in a much different manner
then in the Canada's. The Maritimes colonies had
experience no rebellions by disaffected political
groups, and both Tories and Reformers in the Maritimes
were loyal supporters of the Crown and mother country.
The Maritimes also were a largely homogeneous group with
no discernable population of French Canadians such as
existed in Lower Canada. The Acadians were present and
parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick but were small in
comparison to the general population.
The idea of
republicanism, of independence, of severance from the
mother country, never crosses my mind. I wish to live
and die a British subject, but not a Briton only in the
name. Give me - give to my country, the blessed
privilege of her constitution and her laws; and as our
earliest thoughts are trained to reverence the great
principles of freedom and responsibility, which have
made her the wonder of the world, let us be contended
with nothing less. Englishmen at home will despise us,
if we forget the lessons our common ancestors have
bequeathed.
Joseph
Howe to Nova Scotia Assembly, February 11, 1837
Due to the fact that the Maritimes had
not rebelled and had displayed consistent loyalty to
Britain, requests for consideration of responsible
government were much more warmly received.
In 1839 Lord Russell instructed Governor
Sydenham, to govern according to the wishes of the
people. This lead to the acceptance of a few reformers
in the Executive Council, which lead to by precedence to
the establishment of the principle that members should
come form the Legislative Assembly. This was system
evolution through establishment or principle rather the
legislative change from above. Governor Falkland who
ruled from 1843 to 1846 was unable to bring reformers
into the Executive Council and presided over a fragile
period. In 1847 an election was called and the reformers
scored a decisive electoral victory. Lord Grey followed
the new spirit of reform and called upon the reformers
to form a ministry. In 1848 J.B. Uniacke an ex-Tory
formed an all reformer Executive Council and hence they
achieved responsible government before any of the other
British American Colonies.
Both New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island progressed under slightly different
circumstances revolving mainly around land issues,
timber rights in New Brunswick and absentee landowners
in Prince Edward Island. Once the establishment of
responsible government principles took hold in Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were hard
pressed to follow and in 1848 it was extended to the
people of New Brunswick and in 1851 to Prince Edward
Island. Newfoundland established responsible government
in 1855.
|
