July 25, 1867

JOHN A. CALLS FOR END TO OLD PARTY SYSTEM

At a speech before 1,500 people in London, Ontario last evening, the prime minister, Hon. John A. Macdonald said the time was ripe for bringing an end to the old party factions that had fought one another in the old colonies. Confident that he could win a majority under the old party lines in the new Dominion, Macdonald said a new course was necessary. Had he constructed his cabinet from members of his pre-Confederation party he would have faced two difficulties: 1. He would have had to deal with criticisms that the government was dominated by the French, and 2. He would have had to include some who remained opposed to Union, a situation as untenable, he said, as making a horse-thief a policeman. With Confederation now a fact, it is necessary, Macdonald suggested, that a new party system develop on that basis.

Macdonald further endorsed several candidates who had put forward their names as candidates for both Dominion and provincial legislatures, including Hon. John Carling, Hon. George-Étienne Cartier, and Hon. Hector Langevin, on the grounds that the provincial legislatures require experienced legislators. He said he would have done so himself, save for his work as prime minister demanding his time.

REP BY POP DEMAND HURTING REFORM

The London meeting was also addressed by J. Sandfield Macdonald, whose late arrival was owing to his having travelled by special train from the South Ontario riding where he’d been two nights before. Sandfield said that Reform’s demands for Representation by Population were hurting the party amongst French Canadians and decreasing their chances of forming a government.

CAMERON TO RUN IN NORTH BRANT

Hon. Matthew Crooks Cameron, Provincial Secretary and Registrar for Ontario, has indicated his intention to run for the provincial seat of North Brant.

His cabinet colleague, Hon. E. B. Wood (Treasurer), faced some difficulty at a meeting at the Town Hall in Brantford last evening. The meeting, called by Wood and his supporters for the purposes of winning the support of employees of the Grand Trunk Railway, was interrupted by Henry Leeming, the deputy reeve, and a well known Reformer in the town. The motion was defeated but the vote is reported to have been close, suggesting some bitterness amongst his neighbours regarding his decision to join Sandfield Macdonald’s coalition cabinet.

SANDFIELD AND BROWN SQUARE OFF IN VILLAGE OF BROUGHAM

The second of George Brown’s election meetings in the South Ontario riding was held on July 23 and attended by candidates for both legislatures and from both parties, as well as Ontario’s premier Hon. J. Sandfield Macdonald.

Sandfield defended his decision to appoint a “Patent Combination” government in order to avoid becoming beholden to the extreme wing of the Reform party. He had not, in fact, gone over to the Conservatives, he told the assembly, but rather, brought the Conservatives to him, and that he would not let either party, nor the Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, tell him what to do.

A motion declaring support for Mr. Brown was adopted with a closeness similar to the motion voted on in Brantford the following night.

July 24, 1867

MEETING OF CANDIDATES IN CARLETON PLACE

On Thursday, July 18, 1867, Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) and his Reform rival for the riding of North Lanark, Kenneth Mackenzie, met in the drill shed in Carleton Place in front of some 100 spectators for the purpose of making speeches. Though the meeting had been called and arranged by supporters of McDougall, Mackenzie was in attendance and given the floor following McDougall on a motion by Mr. Dickson of Pakenham.

The meeting was extensively reported across five columns by The Globe, devoting the vast majority of the coverage to Mackenzie’s speech. Macdougall, reported the paper, spent the bulk of his speech on attacks on George Brown, that paper’s founder, and Reform candidate in the Ontario South constituency.

The attacks got the attention of Mr. Mackenzie delivered a withering response that produced great laughter at the minister’s expense.

It is plain that the hon. gentleman is oppressed with night mare every night, and starts out his disturbed sleep with George Brown’s hand at his throat. He opens his eyes in the morning, and horror, the spectre of George Brown is in the corner of his bedroom. He dines with John A., and while the champagne sparkles so invitingly, there between the glasses is the head of the dreadful George Brown. Was it consistent with the dignity of a Minister of the Crown to come and do nothing more than show the people of the North Riding how he is haunted day and night by George Brown. (Mackenzie) submitted that if Mr. McDougall was powerless to rid himself of his terrible imagination, he ought at least refrain from exposing his weakness and tiring out sensible people. To charges that Mackenzie was following Brown’s orders in attending the meeting, the Reformer said he had a mind of his own and was following the Brown policy because he believed it to be right. Mackenzie said he took no pleasure in opposing McDougall, a man he had defended on earlier occasions but who, in letting Mackenzie down, had forced Mackenzie into putting his name forward for the North Lanark seat.

NEW BRUNSWICK GOVERNMENT CLINGING TO OFFICE

Despite a spate of Dominion appointments, the executive of the new province remains in office. With the exception of Hon. Samuel Tilley, the Dominion Minister of Customs, who last week resigned his position as Provincial Secretary, the remaining executive members in the province have kept their offices. This includes Hon. Peter Mitchell, premier of the province, who is a colleague of Mr. Tilley in the Dominion cabinet, responsible for Marine and Fisheries.

Other members of the New Brunswick executive remaining in office are:

• Hon. Abner Reid McClelan, Commissioner of the Board of Works. He was called to the Senate in May.
• Hon. Robert Duncan Wilmot, minister without portfolio. He has been called to the Senate by Royal Proclamation.
• Hon. Edward Williston, solicitor-general. He was appointed judge of the County Court in June.
• Hon. Charles Fisher, attorney-general. He has put forward his name to stand for the House of Commons in the constituency of York (New Brunswick).
• Hon. Charles Connell, surveyor general. He is a candidate for the Dominion Parliament in the constituency of Carleton, New Brunswick.

NOVA SCOTIA ELECTION NEWS

A report suggests that nine of the eighteen House of Commons constituencies in the province are still in search of a candidate to carry the Government banner.

JACKSON WITHDRAWS

George Jackson has withdrawn from the race for the House of Commons in the Ontario constituency of South Grey. Jackson, once a Liberal, had been set to stand for office as a member of the prime minister’s party. In a letter to the electors of the riding, Jackson cites continued opposition to the Grey and Simcoe railway, and his unwillingness to continue the fight as an election issue, as his reason for his resignation.

GLOBE COPS TO FAKE NEWS

In reply to a complaint from R. M. Allen, a candidate in East Toronto, who said that The Globe’s favourable comparison of Allen to James Beaty, another candidate in the riding, will result in a loss of support, the paper writes:

We shall regret exceedingly if anything we have said or done damages Mr. Allen’s prospects, but we do not see exactly how we can remedy the error. There are a great many mischiefs in this world more easily done than undone, and this is one of them. We can only promise ‘not to do so anymore.’

DEATH OF JUDGE HARRISON

Hon. Samuel Bealey Harrison, Judge of the Country Court for the Count of York passed away yesterday, the cause being heart disease.

Born to John and Mary in Manchester, England, on March 4, 1802, Judge Harrison moved to Upper Canada in 1837, where he built Bronte’s first saw mill. Judge Harrison, known for his legal career in England was pressed to enter public life, becoming leader of the government in the Legislative Assembly of Canada in 1841, a position he held until 1844.

Among Harrison’s legislative initiatives was the Common Schools bill, creating a system of public schools in Canada East and West, and the District Councils Bill, creating the first elected municipal governments in Canada West.

When Robert Baldwin introduced his resolutions calling for responsible government in the colony, Harrison introduced resolutions of his own which won the support of Baldwin. The Harrison resolutions, stopping short of the legal definition (the governor was not required to act on executive council advice and the requirement for the executive to have the confidence of the assembly was a suggestion only) established a de facto system of responsible government in the united Canada.

His funeral will take place tomorrow at 10 am, beginning at his former home.

July 23, 1867

ELECTIONS ANTICIPATED

As anticipation of the coming Dominion and provincial elections grows, candidates their public meetings. George Brown commenced a week of meetings in South Ontario last night in Dunbarton, in the Township of Pickering. Thomas Gibbs, the Conservative candidate was in attendance and engaged Brown in debate.

In the constituency of Châteauguay, in Québec, Mr. Ramsay will stand against Luther Holton.

The electors in the riding of Québec East have decided to nominate one candidate for each of the Dominion and provincial legislatures. Pierre Huot (Liberal), will represent the riding in the House of Commons. Jacque-Phillippe Rhéaume (Conservative) will represent the riding in the provincial legislature.

MORTALITY INCREASING IN MONTREAL

Last week saw a total of 181 burials in the Protestant (31) and Catholic (150) cemeteries in the city. 151 of those buried were children.

COUNCIL ADJOURNED

Toronto City Council adjourned last night without conducting any business on the grounds that the necessary quorum of members was not present.

July 22, 1867

ONTARIO ‘PATENT COMBINATION’ COMPLETE

A new week has dawned in Ontario and news emerges that over the weekend Sandfield Macdonald has solved the puzzle he named the Patent Combination and appointed the final two men to his cabinet. Edmund Burke Wood of West Brant, a Reformer with legislative experience, has been appointed as Treasurer. Matthew Crooks Cameron will serve as Provincial Secretary and Registrar.

The complete membership of Macdonald’s Ontario ministry is:

• Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald (Premier, Attorney-General)
• Hon. E. B. Wood (Treasurer)
• Hon. Matthew Crooks Cameron (Provincial Secretary and Registrar)
• Hon. John Carling (Agriculture and Public Works)
• Hon. Stephen Richards (Crown Land Commissioner)

News of Mr. Wood’s appointment had not reached his home constituency until after a meeting of local Tories, convened for the purposes of nominating a candidate against him had been called to order. When a telegram announcing Mr. Wood’s position in Sandfield’s administration was read, the meeting broke up in confusion. The meeting will reconvene tomorrow. Brant Reformers have declared their intention to nominate a new candidate to stand against Mr. Wood.

$100 THE PRICE OF A JUDGES BRUISED EGO

Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald (Justice) has submitted to the Privy Council an Order (1867-0029) for consideration. In a report dated July 11, 1867, the prime minister reported that the attendance of a number of judges was required for the swearing in of His Excellency the Governor General of Canada. The prime minister is of the opinion that the judges should be paid $100 each for their attendance and duties performed during His Excellency’s swearing-in.

The compensated judges are:

• The Hon. Chief Justice William Henry Draper (Court of Queen’s Bench, Ontario)
• The Hon. Chief Justice William Buell Richards (Court of Common Pleas, Ontario)
• The Hon. Mr. Justice John Hawkins Hagarty (Court of Queen’s Bench, Ontario)
• The Hon. Mr. Justice John Wilson (Court of Common Pleas, Ontario)
• The Hon. Mr. Justice Charles-Elzéar Mondelet (pro tem Court of Queen’s Bench, Québec)

There have been reports that the judges felt slighted at their reception in Ottawa, having been ignored by members of the new Dominion cabinet during their stay in the capital. While these reports were earlier dismissed as attempts by The Globe to stir trouble, the existence of this Order suggests that the judges egos required some soothing.

EAST NORTHUMBERLAND REFORM CONVENTION

Reformers in East Northumberland met at the Warkworth Town Hall at 2 p.m. on July 17, for the purposes of choosing candidates for the upcoming Dominion and Ontario elections. Wilson Webb defeated Kenneth Mackenzie by a vote of 17 to 13 to win the party nomination.

It is the second time Reformers in the riding have met to select a candidate as the man they previously selected, James L. Biggar, who represented the riding in the late Legislative Assembly of Canada, declined the nomination, on the grounds that the riding would not be well served to have two candidates from the “extreme eastern part” of the riding, where support for the party was weaker. James Cumming, a local businessman, also declined the nomination for the Dominion Parliament but did accept the nomination for the provincial legislative seat.

EAST TORONTO

James Beaty, owner and editor of The Leader has been nominated as the Conservative candidate in the riding East Toronto. He is a Protestant Irishman who has received a favourable review from The Globe.

HIS EXCELLENCY’S HONORARY DEGREE

Lord Monck, Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada has received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Dublin.

RAILWAY PATRONAGE AN ELECTION ISSUE

James Trow, Reform candidate in South Perth has accused Minister of Public Works, Hon. William McDougall, of promising voters in that riding that the Government is prepared to spend the full $15 million allotted for the Intercolonial Railway in the election if that is required to secure victory.

REFORMERS COMMANDEER TORY MEETING IN SOUTH WELLINGTON

Tories in Guelph called a public meeting to discuss support for the Dominion government. Several Reformers answered the call and attended in such numbers as to pass resolutions condemning the current Government, supporting the principle of one-party administration, and support for the local Reform candidate, David Stirton.

July 20, 1867

NEW GRAIN REGULATIONS COMING

Hon. Alexander Galt (Finance) has recommended new regulations for the drying, grinding, and packing of maize and other grains. The Order (1867-0028) is made under the authority of An Act to amend the Acts respecting duties of Excise and to alter the duty thereby imposed on Spirits, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Canada. The Order will be considered and approved on August 1, 1867.

MAYOR HUSTLED IN WOODSTOCK WHISKEY RIOT

William Inglis, Minister of the Canadian Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, Ontario, writes to the Editor of The Globe about a recent riot in Woodstock that was “neither a political nor a famine one, but simply a grand stand for the honour and privileges of whiskey.”

We have had the volunteers called out, the Riot Act read, the Mayor rudely hustled…, volunteers collared by ‘respectable’ rioters, the windows of railway cars smashed, a file of soldiers sent along in the cars to protect passengers, ‘respectable’ citizens treating the rioters in order to show their appreciation of their labours; scenes, I am told, of wild fantastic, most brutal drunkenness, and not a prisoner secured nor likely to be. Nay, not only that, but we have the leading breakers of the peace, ruffling and swelling along our streets like so many inflated turkey cocks, as if they had become about the most important personages in the land, and not a question asked of them, nor from all I hear, likely to be.

MAGILL REFUSES ONTARIO CABINET SEAT

Sandfield Macdonald was in Hamilton yesterday for the purposes of completing his cabinet. A meeting with Charles Magill, who was until recently mayor of this city, was held for the purposes of offering that gentleman the position of Receiver-General and concluded with Sandfield boarding a train bound for Haldimand in search of someone else to take the role.

QUEBEC’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Montreal Gazette reports that Hon. Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau (Premier)’s full title will be Provincial Secretary and Registrar, and Minister of Public Instruction. M. Cauveau will appoint Dr. Louis Giard as Superintendent of Education. Dr. H. Miles, vice-principal and professor of mathematics at Lennoxville College will be appointed to the position of Secretary of Education.

July 19, 1867

MR. BROWN SEEKS A SEAT IN OTTAWA

According to a Globe editorial, the scourge of coalition governments in both Ottawa and Toronto have forced George Brown to acquiesce to the call of some 1,200 electors in the riding of South Ontario to carry the Reform banner in the upcoming Dominion election. Mr. Brown’s opponent will be Conservative Thomas Gibbs who represented the riding in the Legislative Assembly of Canada from January 1865 until Confederation.

REFORM CONVENTION IN WEST YORK

West York Reformers met at Kemp’s Hotel in Weston yesterday for the purposes of selecting their candidates for the upcoming Dominion and Ontario elections. The meeting held with it a sense of déjà vu, as the Tories, who had the day before commandeered the Reform delegate selection meeting in Vaughan, descended on the meeting and managed to have their “bogus delegation” (those are The Globe’s words) seated, resulting in Reformers walking out of their own meeting for the second day in a row. Into this vacuum stepped Hon. William P. Howland (Inland Revenue) who received the nomination for the riding in the Dominion election. Dr. Bull was nominated as the candidate for the Ontario legislature, defeating the honourable Mr. Howland’s brother, Harry, by a vote of 15-8. It has been suggested that Dr. Bull’s nomination was an olive branch extended to Reformers on behalf of the Tories. Bull is opposed to Sandfield Macdonald’s coalition cabinet.

In the meantime, the Reformers, once again holding a separate meeting, nominated George Brown to be the candidate for the House of Commons. Concerns that Mr. Brown would not accept the nomination (as indeed, our earlier item indicates, he would not) were swept aside in a fit of enthusiasm. The Reformers postponed the nomination of a candidate for the Ontario election to a future meeting.

REFORMERS ALLERGIC TO PUBLIC OFFICE?

The Reform newspaper The Globe has celebrated the fact that so many Reformers have refused to accept a seat in Sandfield Macdonald’s cabinet. It is a badge of honour and a point of principle, the editorialists at the paper will have us believe.

What, then, to make of yesterday’s Reform failure to find a single candidate to carry that party’s banner in either the Dominion or Ontario elections. Reformers will cry foul about their meeting having been usurped by Tories but when they retreated to their own meeting room they unanimously nominated for the House of Commons a man who they were told would not accept their trust. After that arduous endeavour they decided to adjourn rather than choose a standard-bearer for the Ontario legislature.

If the refusal to fill vacant seats is a sign of the current principles of the Reform party, we predict electors across the Dominion will be listening and cast their votes accordingly.

WILLIAM OLIVER BUYS ‘A FEW SHEEP’

With Hon. Jean Charles Chapais (Agriculture) away from Ottawa, Hon. Hector Louis Langevin (Secretary of State of Canada) has advised the Privy Council, and the Council has recommended (1867-0026) to His Excellency, Lord Monck, that the Order-in-Council of February 20, 1866, that prohibits the importation of cattle be suspended to allow William Oliver to bring back “a few Sheep” from Scotland. The application was made on Mr. Oliver’s behalf by James Cowan, Esquire, of Galt, Ontario. The Order will be considered and approved on August 7, 1867.

DOMINION GOVERNMENT DEBT GROWS BY ANOTHER $500,000

Hon. Alexander Tilloch Galt (Finance) has advised the Privy Council (1867-0027) that a sum of $500,000 is required in order for Her Majesty’s Government to meet its obligations. He is seeking authority to borrow the sum from the Bank of Montreal, repayable on December 1, 1867, at a rate of seven per cent interest.
The Minister has also requested authority to extend an earlier loan ($750,000) from the same institution, that comes due on August 1, 1867, to December 1, 1867, on the same terms as the new loan. The Order will be considered and approved on August 7, 1867.

July 18, 1867

TORY SHENANIGANS IN VAUGHAN

A Reform meeting held in Vaughan yesterday for the purpose of selecting delegates to the West York Reform Convention (occurring today in Weston) was taken over by representatives of the Conservative Party, supportive of Hon. William Pearce Howland, minister of Inland Revenue in the Dominion government. Mr. Howland’s brother, Howard, was elected chairman of the meeting and the Tories attempted to force the election of their own as delegates to the Reform convention.

George Brown led the Reformers out of the hall after objecting to attempts to limit his speech to thirty minutes. Once outside the hall, the Reformers convened around the stump of a pine tree and elected their delegates without interference from the Tories.

Sandfield’s “Patent Combination”

The Tories, meanwhile, remained indoors and heard from Ontario Premier J. Sandfield Macdonald who offered a defence of what he called his “Combination” government, a term for which he told the crowd he would seek a patent. Sandfield said his coalition was necessary to maintain harmony between the provincial and Dominion governments, that lack of which could raise a “revolution”.

Ontario elections

The Premier suggested during his speech that Ontario’s elections would be concluded before the beginning of September.

July 17, 1867

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES

Québec

While recriminations continue regarding the reasons and persons responsible for Joseph Cauchon’s failure to form a government, Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau has announced that, in addition to serving as Premier, he will serve as head of the Education Department, and and act as Provincial Secretary and Registrar.

Christopher Dunkin has accepted a position in M. Chauveau’s cabinet and notably, has not made of Chauveau, as he had of Cauchon, the re-introduction of H. Langevin's education bill a condition of accepting a seat in cabient, lending credence to the notion that M. Cauchon was set up for failure by conspirators in Ottawa and Québec City.

The new Québec ministry will be as follows:

• Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau (Premier, Provincial Secretary, Registrar)
• Christopher Dunkin (Treasurer)
• Gédéon Ouimet (Attorney-General)
• Louis Armchambeault (Commissioner of Public Works)
• Joseph-Octave Beaubien (Commissioner of Crown Lands)
• Charles-Eugène Bouger de Bouchervile (Speaker of the Legislative Council
• George Irvine (Solicitor-General) Readers will note that this administration is the same in terms in personnel as that named by M. Cauchon, with the exception that Henry Starnes has been dropped and de Boucherville added. The portfolios have, in most cases, changed and readers are referred to the report of July 11 for comparison.

Cabinet ministers will receive a salary of $3,000 per year and the Solicitor-General, $1,000 plus emoluments.

Legislative elections are expected to be held mid-August.

Ontario

Nearly one week has elapsed since His Honour, Major-General Stitswell tapped J. Sandfield Macdonald to construct the first ministry of the province of Ontario and still there is no resolution in sight as members of Mr. Macdonald’s own party refuse to join any cabinet containing Tories. The provincial constitution requires a cabinet of five and, as it stands, Mr. Macdonald has managed to find only two others to serve with him. Stephen Richards, a long-since lapsed Reformer and former crown attorney, will serve as Crown Land Commissioner. Brewer John Carling of London will serve as Minister of Agriculture and Public Works. Mr. Macdonald will act as Attorney-General.

Mr. Macdonald’s decision to forge ahead despite being unable to find enough men to fulfill the constitutional obligation for a cabinet in the province ought to raise eyebrows, especially in light of the recent Québec experience.

The Globe today calls coalition in Ontario “the greatest blunder committed by any Canadian politician.” In the view of that paper’s writers, Reformers must reject coalition on the grounds that it is a scheme cooked up by John A. Macdonald to wrest undue Tory influence in a province where that party’s supporters constitute only a “pitiful minority”. Single party government will defend the notion of political parties as contestants in the struggle for the “supremacy of principle” rather than the mere distribution of offices. Conservatives will find their rightful voice in the Legislature, the paper contends, where they will receive all due consideration.

The Conservative Party of Peterborough West has nominated John Carnegie, Junior as their candidate for the upcoming provincial election.

New Brunswick

Hon. Samuel Tilley (Customs) has resigned as Provincial Secretary for the province.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

An Order (1867-0025) has been submitted by Hon. William Macdougall (Public Works) for the expenditure of $11,500 for matters related to Rideau Hall.

July 16, 1867

CAUCHON’S OPPOSITION TO PROTESTANT EDUCATION BILL LED TO HIS UNDOING

Details of the demise of the never-was Québec ministry of Joseph-Edouard Cauchon continue to emerge. Yesterday it was reported that Cauchon had been undone by the deeds of Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) and Hon. Alexander Tilloch Galt (Finance). Reports today from M. Cauchon’s own newspaper, the Journal de Québec contend that demands for the reintroduction of Hector Langevin’s Protestant education bill led to premier-designate’s ultimate resignation. Cauchon had opposed the bill when it was first introduced last year owing to a lack of reciprocity for the Roman Catholic minority in Upper Canada. With M. Cauchon’s objections unaddressed, he could not accede to Protestant demands. This impasse, and the refusal of Protestants to serve in his cabinet, led to M. Cauchon’s resignation from a position, the Journal contends, he accepted only when His Honour Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau (Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Québec) declared it a “necessity”.

Another report, from the Québec Daily News, lends credence to the idea that Messrs. Cartier and Galt conspired against M. Cauchon. The paper reports that Christopher Dunkin, asked by M. Cauchon to serve as Speaker of the Assembly, acting on the orders of M. Galt, made the re-introduction of the Education bill a condition of his accepting the position. Whether it was known that M. Cauchon would not, or could not, agree to the demand is not relayed but, the paper goes on to suggest that M. Cauchon had been set up all along for failure “by the tricksters at Ottawa.”

SANDFIELD STYMIED

Ensconced in the Queen’s Hotel at the corner of Front and York Streets in Toronto, Ontario’s premier-designate J. Sandfield Macdonald continues to fail in his attempts to convince members of his own Reform-party to join his cabinet. The Globe reports that those rejecting the not-yet premier now includes former MPPs Alexander Mackenzie, John White, E.B. Wood, and John Shuter Smith, as well as Senator Simpson and Mr. Stephen Richards. It is reported that Mr. Macdonald met with Mr. Mackenzie on two separate occasions to no avail. The Reformers continue the party line that they are not rejecting government per se, but only government by coalition.

ELECTION NEWS

South Grenville Liberals McCarthy and Patrick have begun their respective campaigns for the Dominion and Ontario elections. Their first campaign meeting will be held at Brady’s Hall in Prescott at 8 pm on July 18.

A meeting of Liberal candidates in the riding of West Toronto was broken up last night by supporters of the Conservative candidate’s in the riding. According to The Globe, disruption occurred when local Tories left their own meeting and descended upon the meeting of Liberal “lambs” “forcing their way into a room already crowded, breaking through the windows and putting a stop to the meeting by the most unmitigated ruffianism.”

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Toronto

A dog with distemper was shot in Toronto, kicking off a rash of dog-poisonings. The poisonings appeared to be related to the worrying of sheep in the City, an occurrence for which Council was compensating owners. Poisoning is not a sanctioned method for the removal of “vicious curs”.

July 15, 1867

FURTHER REVELATIONS FROM QUEBEC

The reverberations from the surprising collapse of Joseph-Édouard Cauchon’s nascent administration in Lower Canada continue with rumours that M. Cauchon was undone by a conspiracy orchestrated by Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) and Hon. Alexander Tilloch Galt (Finance). Having been left out of the Dominion cabinet, M. Cauchon was reported to have been promised the Québec premiership but Messrs. Cartier and Galt orchestrated the collapse of his cabinet.

REFORMERS REFUSING CABINET SEATS IN ONTARIO

Attempts by Hon. J. Sandfield Macdonald to put together a coalition administration consisting of two Conservatives and two Reformers, in addition to himself, are foundering as the Reformers approached have all declined to serve alongside any member of the Conservative Party. To date, no fewer than five Reformers have rebuffed the new Ontario premier’s bipartisanship.

There has been no such hesitation on the Conservative side of the equation with reports that Mr. George Jackson, of Grey, and Mr. John Carling, of London, have accepted offers of seats in the provisional executive council.

The Globe report on which this item is based claims that the Reformers are not opposed to serving in Macdonald’s cabinet but merely that they will not serve in a cabinet alongside any Conservatives.

ELECTION NEWS

The South Norfolk Reform Convention has nominated Peter Lawson as their candidate for the upcoming elections.

The candidates for the constituency of Halton, John White (Reform) and Col. G. K. Chisholm (Conservative) have been campaigning for sometime now and met recently at a meeting in Nasssagaweya where reports suggest Mr. White can be expected to carry the riding when the election is eventually called.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE SETTLERS SEEK TO JOIN DOMINION

A meeting of settlers in Portage La Prairie has adopted a number of resolutions seeking the extension of British law to their settlement. Attempts by the settlers to construct their own local government have failed and they seek relief from Her Majesty Queen Victoria and her Dominion Government. The meeting was chaired by John McLean and Thomas Spence acted as secretary.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

An order (1867-0024) has been tabled to allow Hon. David Christie of Brant, Ontario, member of the late Legislative Council of Canada, to import from Scotland an Ayershire cow to serve as nurse-mother to a bull, recently imported.

July 13, 1867

CABINET REVOLT LED TO CAUCHON’S DOWNFALL

The tensions between English and French that nearly led to the collapse of John A. Macdonald’s Dominion ministry are the very same that consumed the infant ministry of Joseph-Édouard Cauchon in Québec City. Reports from La Vielle Capitale reveal that M. Cauchon’s hostility towards the Québec English, as demonstrated by his response to the Education Bill, resulted in the outright refusals of Messrs. George Irvine and Christopher Dunkin to join the cabinet. It is suggested that several others, including some of the French-speaking nominees were similarly reluctant to serve alongside M. Cauchon for the same reason.

SOUTH LEEDS TORIES REFUSE COOPERATION WITH REFORM

The South Leeds (Ontario) Conservative Party met last week to nominate candidates for the upcoming Dominion and Provincial elections. John Crawford will carry the party standard for the Commons and Benjamin Tett will put his name forward for the Ontario legislature.

D. Ford Jones had been the convention’s initial choice to stand in the Dominion election but declined on the grounds that he could not afford the three or four thousand dollars it is anticipated the campaign will cost. Mr. Jones nominated Mr. Crawford in his stead. Mr. Crawford accepted the nomination despite hailing from Toronto and being unfamiliar with both the constituency and its residents.

When the question of cooperation with the Reform contingent in the riding was put the meeting broke down into chaos. Order was restored long enough for the party membership to reject the idea of not contesting the provincial election in the riding in return for the same consideration from Reform in the Dominion contest.

TARIFFS BLAMED FOR DECLINE IN IMPORTS TO MONTREAL

The Port of Montreal reports the importation of goods with a total value of $25,045,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, which marks a decrease from the previous year of some $203,000. Tariffs are blamed for the loss of trade. Coffee is particularly affected and cannot, by some reports, be sold for a profit due to import duties.

DOMINION ELECTION EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER

The Journal de Québec reports that the Dominion election will be held in the middle of September.

July 12, 1867

GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE IN QUEBEC

Just one day after announcing the composition of his cabinet, Joseph-Édouard Cauchon has resigned and will not be sworn in as the Premier of Québec. Details are scarce but His Hounour Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau has called on Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau to replace Mr. Cauchon as premier for the province.

DOMINION BUSINESS

Hon. Alexander Galt (Finance) has tabled an order (1867-0023) reclassifying Ginger Wine as a cordial on the basis of a a report from the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise, finding that the product has a an alcoholic value equal to 29% on every one hundred gallons. The Assistant Commissioner believes that ginger wine should be considered a cordial as it does not undergo the process of fermentation and assessed a duty of $1.20 per gallon per Schedule A. The Order will be considered on August 6 and approved August 7, 1867.

July 11, 1867

News from the Provinces

Ontario

Major-General the Honourable Henry Stisted, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario has requested that Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald of Cornwall undertake the formation of the province’s Provisional Government. It is reported that Mr. Macdonald has accepted the request. No date has been set for the swearing in of the new government. Hon. John A. Macdonald travelled to Prescott and met with Hon. John S. Macdonald. It is suggested that the meeting between the premiers Macdonald was for the purposes of constructing the latter’s cabinet.

Québec

Joseph-Édouard Cauchon has been called upon by the Honourable Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Québec to lead that province’s Provisional Government. Mr. Cauchon has chosen the following individuals to be members of the Executive Council:

• Gédéon Ouimet (Attorney-General)
• George Irvine (Solicitor-General)
• Henry Starnes (Secretary)
• Joseph-Octave Beaubien (Public Works and Agriculture)
• Louis Archambeault (Registration)
• Christopher Dunkin (Speaker of the Upper House)

July 10, 1867

CABINET CRISIS NARROWLY AVERTED

The absence of Thomas D’Arcy McGee and Charles Tupper from the new Dominion government was explained in Montreal recently by Mr. McGee. Demands by Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) for three French-speaking ministers from Québec necessitate the absence of the two men who had played such an integral role in achieving the union of the provinces and whose appointment to the cabinet had seemed assured.

During a recent meeting in Montreal, the details of which are reported on the front page of today’s Globe, Mr. McGee revealed that Cartier’s demand nearly brought down the Macdonald ministry before it could be sworn in. Failure to give in to Cartier’s ultimatum would have led to the dissolution of the fragile coalition and necessitated the resignation of Hon. John A. Macdonald (Prime Minister) from the office into which he had not yet been sworn. Expanding the size of the cabinet beyond its already thirteen members would have met with the disapproval of voters and surely led to Macdonald’s defeat at the polls when they are held.

Upon witnessing the their prime minister attempting to steer a course between Scylla and Charybdis, Messrs. McGee and Tupper birthed a conspiracy, about which the prime minister was denied any foreknowledge, to refuse their offered spots in the Privy Council, thereby allowing Mr. Macdonald to appease Mr. Cartier, as well as the residents of Nova Scotians and Irish Catholics by appointing the Senator from that province, Hon. Edward Kenny (Receiver General) to the cabinet.

Mr. McGee revealed portions of correspondence between himself and the prime minister in which the prime minister expressed his displeasure at having been kept in the dark about the scheme. The prime minister wrote:

“The difficulties of adjusting the representation in the Cabinet from the several provinces were great and embarrassing. Your disinterested and patriotic conduct — and I speak of Tupper as well as yourself — had certainly the effect of removing those difficulties. Still, I think, you should have consulted me. However the thing is done and can’t be undone for the present….”

The prime minister went on to assess attempts by George Brown and the Grits to win over Irish Catholic support by denigrating Mr. Kenney’s appointment and offering the constituency a number of nominations in constituencies that were, in the prime minister’s assessment, unwinnable by the Grits. To trade Kenney for no-chance candidates was, the prime minister wrote, “an exchange of substance for shadow.”

Of his decision to stand aside, Mr. McGee said, "...I rejoice that I have had in my power to make that sacrifice for the sake of this dear adopted country, which has been so good and so generous a mistress and patron to me."

OTTAWA CABINET BARE AS MINISTERS TAKE LEAVE

Only three ministers remain in Ottawa on this day, the rest having departed for points across the Dominion as preparations for the upcoming elections are made.

ONTARIO CABINET SPECULATION

With a Lieutenant-Governor now in place in Ontario, attention is turning to the appointment of that province’s new government. Rumours around the capital are that His Honour, Gen. Stisted has been given a list of names that John A. Macdonald has directed be named to the province’s executive council.

US SEC OF STATE SEWARD BEATING ANNEXATION DRUM

The Globe is calling for the admittance of British Columbia into the Dominion in the face of repeated calls by the Secretary of State for the United States, William H. Seward, for all of North America to fall under the influence of that nation’s flag. Seward is continuing in his attempts to obtain Russian America. A Canadian Dominion from sea-to-sea will, in the opinion of The Globe result in Russian America becoming Canadian territory in due course.

July 9, 1867

Major-General Henry William Stisted was sworn in yesterday as Lieutenant-Governor for the Province of Ontario. His Honour was escorted to Osgoode Hall by a detachment of the 13th Hussars and greeted by a 100-man honour guard from the 17th Regiment. His Honour proceeded to the Judges’ Conference Chamber where the oath was administered by Chancellor Hon. Mr. Vankoughnet, and Vice-Chancellors, Hon. John Sprague and Hon. Oliver Mowat. Following the ceremony, it was rumoured that a champagne luncheon was held in the Osgoode Hall library but Hall security denied that there was any place in the Hall equipped for such a function (The Globe, July 9, 1867, p. 1).

July 8, 1867

ALERT: MAJOR-GENERAL STISTED TO BE SWORN IN AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO AT NOON TODAY AT OSGOODE HALL

Rumours and Whispers

Following Saturday’s meeting of the Dominion cabinet, several ministers are departing Ottawa this week for the purposes of beginning their election tours. Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) has a meeting scheduled in Almonte, Ontario, in the riding of North Lanark. “Wandering Willy” as he is known, is rumoured to be facing the wrath of Reformers and the indifference of Conservatives at home for his recent switch in party loyalties from the Liberals to the Conservatives. The Prime Minister is expected to depart Ottawa next week.

Election speculation is heating up in the Province of Québec as candidates begin jockeying for positions in the the provincial legislature and House of Commons. Several candidates are putting their names forward for both Houses. The Globe has a riding-by-riding breakdown today.

Government Business

Several matters arising from the Fenian Raids of 1866 and the organization of the militia were attended to today by your new Dominion Government.

A special warrant in the amount of $26,127 (USD) has been requested by Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) (1867-0020) to clear the government’s outstanding account with the Providence Tool Company of Rhode Island for the provision of 3,020 Peabody rifles and bayonets. The rifles had been purchased by the Province of Canada in March 1866 for use by the militia to replace the muzzle-loading Enfield rifles the militia had been using. Those Enfields were damaged, dirty, and lacking the necessary ramrods. The Adjutant-General of the Canadian Militia, Colonel Patrick McDougall reported to the government that

It is very difficult to enforce proper cleaning of their arms by volunteers; they take pride in turning out on parade smart and clean and soldier-like so far as regards the outward appearance; but it is too often the case that their rifles are so fouled within that they cannot be fired.

The total cost of the rifles was $76,180 (USD) with some $50,053 previously being paid ($50,000 in cash, and $40 in gold). Later this year the militia will take delivery of 30,000 breechloading Snider-Enfield rifles from the United Kingdom. The Order will be approved on August 7, 1867.

One of these rifles is available until 11:19 pm on July 9, 2017, for an opening bid of $1,895 plus $60 shipping

The Great Western Railway Company submitted a claim to the Dominion Government in the amount of $5,016 for damages sustained by the Erie and Ontario Railway during the Fenian Raids in June 1866. The damages occurred when Canadian militiamen were transported along the railway prior to its completion. A sum of $1,281.42 had earlier been paid but that payment was for services only. Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) has recommended (1867-0022) payment of $2,800 ($2,550 for damage to tracks; $250 for use of, and damage to, railway offices) be made to the Great Western Railway to satisfy all claims against the government in relation to this matter. This amount was arrived at based on investigations of the claim. The Order was amended from its original drafting to have the amount placed in the Estimates for the fiscal year, rather than paid immediately. The Order will be approved on August 8, 1867.

Col. McDougall is seeking (1867-0021) $1,000 to pay for the construction of a military drill shed in St. Catharines that, once constructed, collapsed under the weight of the winter snow. The Order further requested that the construction of a second drill shed be ordered.

Despite being appointed to the bench for the County Court of the County of Huron on November 15, 1866, Justice Secker Brough did not assume office until January of the following year. In his absence, Acting Judge F. Louis performed the functions of the office for the period November 14, 1866 to December 31, 1866 and sought payment for those services from the Dominion Government. Judge Brough argued that his failure to assume office was owing to no fault of his own and rather because the government had not advised him that the Clerk of the Peace had been “clothed with the necessary authority” to administer his oath of office, and is therefore also claiming his salary for that period.

Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald (Justice and Attorney-General) has recommended (1867-0021 1/2) that the portion of the $2,200 annual judge’s salary covering the period in question be paid by warrant to Acting Judge Louis and deducted from Judge Brough’s annual payment. The order will be approved on August 8, 1867.

July 6, 1867

Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) requested on Saturday, July 6, 1867, authorization for the expenditure of nearly $36,000 for a variety of matters including the Welland Canal ($15,000 repair budget, $2,500 for engineer salaries), the Lachine Canal ($2,000 for engineer salaries), and general surveys over the following six months ($4,000). The Minister further requested $8,000 for the furnishing of the Public Buildings, Ottawa, $2,000 to pay the rent on Rideau Hall for the period April to September, 1867, and $2,400 to pay the salaries of caretakers and others employed at the Government Buildings in Toronto and Québec (OiC 1867-0017). The orders will be approved over the coming months.

July 5, 1867

Even in its first week, Friday was a light day for the Dominion government with but one order introduced assigning the position of Registrar General to the Secretary of State of Canada. The Registrar General is the keeper of the Great Seal. For the Dominion’s first two years, a temporary one would be used before receiving one of its own (pictured) in 1869. The order will be approved on August 1, 1867.

The Expositor today published an account of the July 1 celebrations earlier in the week:

Monday last, the 1st day of July, was celebrated in this town, in a right loyal manner. The weather was all that could have been desired, and the day was ushered in by the ringing of bells and the discharge of firearms of every description. At an early hour the Grand Trunk Artillery boomed forth a Royal salute, and shortly afterwards the streets presented a lively and animated appearance. Crowds from the country came pouring in from every quarter, and by 12 o'clock the streets were one living mass of human beings bent on doing honor to the birthday of the new Dominion. At 9 o'clock the Christian public met in the Congressional Church, and prayer was offered up for the success and prosperity of the Confederacy.

July 4, 1867

July 4 was appointment day for the Dominion government.

The Hon. Edward Kenny, Senator for the province of Nova Scotia, and former mayor of Halifax was appointed to the cabinet as Receiver General.

The Postmaster General appointed Mr. J. Howden as Clerk, 4th Class, upon the resignation of J. G. Leslie.

Thomas Ross was appointed to sign marriage licenses in the provinces of Ontario and Québec. Marriage licenses in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will be signed by the provinces’ respective lieutenant-governor.

July 3, 1867

If an army marches on its stomach, a government operates on its revenues.

So, on July 3, 1867, the new Dominion government continued to organize its financial affairs with the opening of bank accounts at the Bank of Montreal in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for the purposes of conducting their affairs in those provinces. Additionally, existing credits to the two former colonies were transferred to the Dominion, and tax collectors in the provinces were to remit their collections to the Dominion accounts as of July 1. Additional credits of $250,000 and $100,000 were to be paid into the accounts in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick respectively.

One of the conditions of Nova Scotia’s and New Brunswick’s entry into Confederation was a commitment from that the Dominion government would complete the Intercolonial Railway. To this end, Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) began the construction of Canada’s first national infrastructure project with the deployment of engineers to establish the location of that portion of the railway line running between Truro and Amherst, Nova Scotia. Sanford Fleming had been employed by the colonial government of Nova Scotia to conduct surveys and make recommendations for the line. The order from McDougall required that such decisions on the actual pathway of the rail line take into account “the cost of construction - cost of future working and management and also of general interest.” This first section of the Intercolonial Railway will be operational in November 1872.

Finally, in preparation for the upcoming Dominion elections, Edouard-Joseph Langevin was appointed Clerk of the Crown in Chancery. As outlined here, the holder of this office was responsible for the overseeing of elections and the publication of Senate and House journals. The office was abolished in 1920, with the creation of the role of Chief Election Officer.