July 30, 1867

DOMINION NEWS

Cabinet Bare, Ministers All Away

Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia), the last minister in Ottawa, has departed for Montreal. He is expected to return on Thursday along with Hon. Alexander Galt (Finance) and Hon. Hector Langevin (Secretary of State of Canada).

Elections Writs Soon to Be Mailed

Writs for the forthcoming Dominion elections have been prepared and aware only to be affixed with a date and a signature and placed in the mail. It is expected the elections will begin between the 18th and 24th of August. A quorum of the Privy Council is expected in Ottawa on August 2 to deal with the matter. The writs could then be dropped in the mail the following day.

ONTARIO

Brantford Reformers Betrayed by Wood

It did not take long for feelings of betrayal amongst Brantford Reformers to surface following Hon. E. B. Wood”s announcement that he had accepted the position of provincial treasurer in Sandfield Macdonald’s “Patent Combination” cabinet. The Brantford Expositor withdrew its previously announced support for the gentleman, disappointed by his “acrobatic feat” calling into question the existence of his political principles.

The Brantford Reform Association, in the meanwhile, has announced that Mr. Wood will no longer be their candidate in the upcoming elections and that a new candidate will be nominated shortly.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Nothing has been heard from New Brunswick with respect to the formation of its cabinet.

NOTES FROM NOVA SCOTIA

Tupper a Traitor ‘Should be Shot’

Recent political events in this province have clouded consideration of the Confederation question. Rather than being mooted on its merits, support or opposition for the Union became synonymous with support or opposition for the Tupper government.

Beleaguered by public anger over the handling of the railway question, mismanagement of public finances, and providing for the funding of public schools through the use of tax dollars, Tupper found that those who opposed him were likely to oppose Confederation as well.

Given this, it should be no surprise that Tupper refused calls for a referendum on the matter. Had he done so, the scheme would likely have collapsed — not because it was a poor idea but because the people considered Tupper a poor prime minister.

The failure to put the question of Confederation has further inflamed public opinion, resulting in both he scheme and the man being more unpopular than ever. Indeed, if not common, it is certainly not rare to hear one say that he would not defend Canada against a foreign invader and declare Tupper a traitor who ought to be shot.

As the Dominion and provincial elections approach, it is hoped that cooler heads will carry the day and that the issues of Tupper and Confederation will separate in the minds of voters and be considered separately.

Riding Review

The following is a review of Nova Scotia’s eighteen constituencies and their candidates. The province will return nineteen MPs to Ottawa, with two being elected in Halifax and one in each of the remaining seventeen ridings. Given the depth of the enmity that exists in the province towards the Dominion, It is believed that the a decent result for John A. Macdonald in this province will be six or seven members returned who will support his administration though few believe the prime minister’s showing will even that strong here.

Annapolis: Former Commissioner of Railways and Conservative, Avard Longley, is the Union candidate. Liberal, William Ray is the Anti candidate.

Antigonish: Hugh Macdonald is the Anti candidate here. He may be opposed by former Attorney-General, W. A. Henry, although Mr. Henry is said to be considering standing in Richmond.

Colchester: This riding is being contested by two old Liberals. The first, Hon. Adams George Archibald, is a member of the Dominion cabinet, serving as Secretary of State for the Provinces. He is opposed by A. W. McLellan, Anti.

Cumberland: This is Dr. Tupper’s constituency. He will be opposed by the editor of the Halifax Chronicle, Hon. William Annand, carrying the Anti banner.

Digby: Former speaker of the Nova Scotia legislature, John C. Wade will represent the Union in this riding. He is to be opposed by two Anti candidates, A. W. Savery, a Liberal and William Mehan, a Conservative.

Guysborough: Steward Campbell, Anti, is currently unopposed.

Halifax: Both the Union and Anti sides have nominated two candidates each in this constituency and both has one candidate who is an old Conservative and one who is a Roman Catholic. The candidates for the Union side are S. L. Shannon and John Tobias. The candidates for the Anti side are A. G. Jones and Patrick Power. The Archbishop is supporting the Union candidates.

Hants: Joseph Howe is a candidate in this riding. He is opposed by a fellow Anti, J. W. King.

Inverness: Dr. H. Cameron, Anti; Samuel McDonell, Union.

Kings: William Chipman is considered the leading candidate in a field of several anti-Union candidates. There is no Union candidate yet declared.

Lunenburg: E. M. McDonald, Anti. H. A. N. Kaulback, Union.

Pictou: J. W. Carmichael, Anti; James McDonald, Union.

Queen’s: Dr. Forber will carry the Anti banner. John Campbell will stand for the Union.

Richmond: W. J. Croke and Dr. Roberts are both declared in this constituency and they are both standing beneath the Anti banner. M. W. A. Henry, former Attorney-General, may put his name forward here.

Shelburne: Thomas Coffin, Anti, is the only declared candidate in this constituency.

Sidney: James McKeagney, Anti, is currently unopposed.

Victoria: William Ross, Anti is the only candidate declared thus far for this constituency.

Yarmouth: Thomas William and W. H. Townsend are the two Anti candidates in this constituency. There is no Union candidate yet declared.