No. 97, Separate
16th December 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose the copy of Resolutions passed by the Legislative Assembly of this Colony on the 13th instant on the subject of union of this Colony with British Columbia.
I have nothing to add on this subject beyond that which is contained in my Despatches Nos 14andManuscript image and 16 of the 21st March 1865.
I also enclose for your information copies of communications which have passed between the Legislative Assembly and myself on this subject.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
This half Yankee Assembly now expresses its conV.C.I.n that V.C.I. & B.C. when united should have a regular parliamentary form of Govt. It had previously expressed its willingness to have any form of Govt wh: H.M.G. might think suitable.
As the first resolution of the Assembly on this subject has never been ackd it wd be somewhat inappropriate to ack the second. At the same time I think the Govr shd be apprized that this important subjectManuscript image is undergoing consn.
The Governor's ansr (3rd encl) to the Assembly respecting their application for papers on the Union and Crown Lands questions is, I think, very discreet, & entitled to approval.
My Seymour writes me that he will "really collect his papers" & send in his report on the Union of the 2 Colonies.
ABd 12 Feb
This Resolution puts a difficulty, which did not exist before, in the way of Union.
B. Columbia cannot yet have thoroughly representative institutions, on account of it's sparse and fluctuating population. On the other hand, if there was a simple United Colony, one part could not be represented & the other not.
"Responsible Govt"—so called—would be quite premature in either of these half-formed Communities?
TFE 12/2
WEF 13/2
The Bill must be reconsidered.
EC 14
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, containing three resolutions respecting union of the colonies, signed by R.W. Torrens, Clerk of the House.
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Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 7 December 1865, asking Kennedy to forward all correspondence received from the Secretary of State in response to past resolutions on the subjects of crown lands and union, signed by Torrens.
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Kennedy to Legislative Assembly, unnamed newspaper clipping, 12 December 1865, advising that he could not comply with their request "without the sanction of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies."