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"There
hasn't been a single piece of law that has been passed
that doesn't take the charter into account"
Bob Rae - former
Ontario premier |
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Documents in History - A Primary View
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Canadahistory.com |
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1864
George Brown
describes the Charlottetown Conference
...Having dressed ourselves in correct style, our two
boats were lowered man-of-war fashion -- and being each duly
manned with four oarsmen and a boatswain, dressed in blue
uniform, hats, belts, etc. in regular style, we pulled away
for shore and landed like Mr. Christopher Columbus who had
the precedence of us in taking possession of portions of the
American Continent. Our brother delegates were there before
us. Five from Nova Scotia, five from New Brunswick and five
from Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland goes heartily with
the movement, but was not notified in time to take part in
the proceedings. At two o'clock the Conference was organized
by the appointment of Col. Gray, Prime Minister of Prince
Edward Island, as President of the Convention. You are aware
that the Conference was originally summoned merely to
consider the question of a union of the Maritime Provinces
and that Canada was no party to that Arrangement and had no
interest in it. We came them, not as recognized members of
the Conference, but unofficially to discuss with them the
propriety of extending their scheme and seeing whether the
whole of British America could not be included in one
government. The Conference was accordingly organized without
us, but that being done we were formally invited to be
present and were presented in great style to the Conference.
Having gone through the shake elbow and the how dyedo and
the fine weather -- the Conference adjourned to the next
morning at 10 when to meet for the serious despatch of
business. In the evening the Governor, Mr. Dundas, gave a
large Dinner party to as many of the party as he could
conveniently receive -- I being one....
On Friday we met in Conference and Canada opened her
batteries -- John A. and Cartier exposing the general
arguments in favour of Confederation -- and this occupied
the time until the hour of adjournment at three. At four
o'clock Mr. Pope gave us a grand déjeuner à la
fourchette....
On Saturday the Conference resumed its deliberations and
Mr. Galt occupied the sitting in opening up the financial
aspects of the Federation and the manner in which the
financial disparities and requirements of the several
Provinces ought to be arranged. When the Conference
adjourned, we all proceeded on board our steamer and the
members were entertained at luncheon in princely style.
Cartier and I made eloquent speeches -- of course -- and
whether as the result of our eloquence or of the goodness of
our champagne, the ice became completely broken, the tongues
of the delegates wagged merrily, and the banns of matrimony
between all the Provinces of BNA having been formally
proclaimed and all manner of persons duly warned there and
then to speak or forever after to hold their tongues -- no
man appeared to forbid the banns and the union was thereupon
formally completed and proclaimed! In the evening, Col. Gray
gave a grand dinner party at his beautiful mansion....
On Monday the Conference resumed its sittings, when I
addressed the members on the Constitutional aspects of the
question -- the manner in which the several governments
general and local should be constructed -- and the Judiciary
should be constituted -- what duties should be ascribed to
the general and local legislatures respectively -- and so
forth. My speech occupied the whole sitting...
On Tuesday the Conference resumed its deliberations --
earnestly discussing the several details of the scheme. The
Canadians this day closed their case, and left the
Conference to decide what course it would take on their
propositions. At four o'clock Mr. Palmer, Attorney-General,
gave the delegates a grand luncheon at his residence....
On Wednesday, the Conference gave the Canadian Delegates
their answer -- that they were unanimous in regarding
Federation of all the Provinces to be highly desirable, if
the terms of union could be made satisfactory -- and that
they were prepared to waive their own more limited questions
until the details of our scheme could be more fully
considered and matured. It was agreed that the Conference
should stand adjourned until Monday the 12th Sept. then to
meet at Halifax.... |
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