Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 8 August 1866, CO 305:29, no. 10160, 150.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 8 August 1866, CO 305:29, no. 10160, 150.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3).
[Separate]
[Note on microfilm:]
Union of Vancouver Island with B. Columbia.
8 August 1866
I trace from a letter of a very clear headed Colonist.
Trusting implicitly to the discretion and good sense of the
Home Government, we applied for Union. I will say nothing of the
vacillation, the political puerilities, the inconsistency which have
throughout characterized our policy. The broad fact is there: we
asked for Union, and the House of Assembly, whose action, as being
professed by the Representatives of the people we are bound to
support, agreed to ratify any arrangement that the Home Government in
its supposed wisdom might authorize and propose.
Misled by the statements laid before them the Government
regard with
aversion: but as if of set purpose we have meanwhile been
weakening, by all means in our power, the hands of our own
Governor, who alone could have aided us in this Emergency, had he
received in his Endeavours that support to which he was Entitled; and
who, thus strengthened might effectually have counteracted in our
favor in this Emergency.
regard with
aversion: but as if of set purpose we have meanwhile been
weakening, by all means in our power, the hands of our own
Governor, who alone could have aided us in this Emergency, had he
received in his Endeavours that support to which he was Entitled; and
who, thus strengthened might effectually have counteracted in our
favor in this Emergency.
We may have been foolish in this matter, and if so must bear the
Consequences of our folly.
Let us not seek to Evade the penalty of our simplicity by proving
ourselves rogues. As we have made our bed so we must lie
down—we cannot retract in this
matter without a sacrifice of honor:
and honor to a community is, or should be, no less precious than to
an individual.
matter without a sacrifice of honor:
and honor to a community is, or should be, no less precious than to
an individual.
Thus there does the case stand, and thus must we firmly view it. For
myself I derive a consolation from the reflection that the purposed
terms of Union are so absurd that if Union be Consummated without a
Modification of these the very absurdity will shortly correct the Evil.
I believe, however, that the terms proposed will not be suffered to
pass without material changes: for there are in London at the
present time many influential Gentlemen who, with an experience and a
power of judgment
certainly not inferior to that of Governor
Seymour, will strive for every prudential reason, to correct the
misapprehensions under which the proposition has been framed at the
Colonial Office. As regards the removal of the Seat of Government to
New Westminister, this folly, like many others, may for a while be
Countenanced. But sooner or later Victoria must take the lead, and
here Eventually the Seat of Government will surely be; surely, that
is, unless we pre suppose an infactuation which cannot exist.
certainly not inferior to that of Governor
Seymour, will strive for every prudential reason, to correct the
misapprehensions under which the proposition has been framed at the
Colonial Office. As regards the removal of the Seat of Government to
New Westminister, this folly, like many others, may for a while be
Countenanced. But sooner or later Victoria must take the lead, and
here Eventually the Seat of Government will surely be; surely, that
is, unless we pre suppose an infactuation which cannot exist.
In the intervene we must bow to circumstances which possibly we may
not Control.
As regards the feeling
in British Columbia, I have reason to know
that it is strongly in favor of Union with this Colony on fair and
Equitable terms. I do not speak of the petty clique at New
Westminster, who professedly represent the Colony, but to the great
body of the inhabitants dispersed thro the interior, who Compose the
People, and who are alive to the importance of Victoria to their
interests, and can appreciate the importance of Union to both
Colonies.
in British Columbia, I have reason to know
that it is strongly in favor of Union with this Colony on fair and
Equitable terms. I do not speak of the petty clique at New
Westminster, who professedly represent the Colony, but to the great
body of the inhabitants dispersed thro the interior, who Compose the
People, and who are alive to the importance of Victoria to their
interests, and can appreciate the importance of Union to both
Colonies.
[No signature]
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Carnarvon
I think you should see this. Govr Kennedy sent it to me. The Bill which the writer refers to and characterizes as absurd is Mr Cardwell's Bill. Yr Bill had not, as I believe, reached V.C.I. at the date on which the writer wrote. But I don't imagine that your Act will calm the troubled waters at V.C.I., though you have given the Legislature what it asked for viz Union. If the Act be inappropriate and if influential persons were in London why did they not by remonstrance, or in the form of a Deputation address Mr Cardwell, whose bill was for some weeks on the table of the Ho: C. or you when yr bill was gone on with? Why, also, if there were people on the spot who knew anything abt B.C. and V.C.I. did they not get up an opposition in Parlt? To the best of my knowledge not a word was said agt the Bill in either House. The condition of these Colonies was for a long time under Mr Cardwell's consn. With the advice of the two Governors he framed his Bill. You altered it & went on with it. As nobody, on the part of the public, criticized or objected to it, it was carried. And it remains to be seen whether it will not ansr its purpose. If the Governor is discreet, & good Laws are passed by the Legre I am under the impression that it will work well. At the same time I fully expect all sorts of indignation meetings at V.C.I., got up by the Bankrupt, half Yankee population, & that you may be burnt in effigy.
I think you should see this. Govr Kennedy sent it to me. The Bill which the writer refers to and characterizes as absurd is Mr Cardwell's Bill. Yr Bill had not, as I believe, reached V.C.I. at the date on which the writer wrote. But I don't imagine that your Act will calm the troubled waters at V.C.I., though you have given the Legislature what it asked for viz Union. If the Act be inappropriate and if influential persons were in London why did they not by remonstrance, or in the form of a Deputation address Mr Cardwell, whose bill was for some weeks on the table of the Ho: C. or you when yr bill was gone on with? Why, also, if there were people on the spot who knew anything abt B.C. and V.C.I. did they not get up an opposition in Parlt? To the best of my knowledge not a word was said agt the Bill in either House. The condition of these Colonies was for a long time under Mr Cardwell's consn. With the advice of the two Governors he framed his Bill. You altered it & went on with it. As nobody, on the part of the public, criticized or objected to it, it was carried. And it remains to be seen whether it will not ansr its purpose. If the Governor is discreet, & good Laws are passed by the Legre I am under the impression that it will work well. At the same time I fully expect all sorts of indignation meetings at V.C.I., got up by the Bankrupt, half Yankee population, & that you may be burnt in effigy.
