January 31, 1868

OPENING OF NOVA SCOTIA LEGISLATURE

The Nova Scotia Legislature was opened yesterday with a speech from Lieutenant-Governor Sir Charles Hastings Doyle.

His Excellency warned members of the Assembly that the public accounts of the Province were in poor condition and would not likely be able to meet the government’s obligations. A financial commission has been appointed to investigate the state of financial affairs in the Province. He also called on the Assembly to move forward with planning on the recently contemplated industrial exhibition to showcase the merits of the Province.

In addressing the failure of the fisheries and the destitution amongst the fisherman, Sir Doyle advised that the Government had made significant withdrawals from the Treasury, which would be accounted for, in order to provide relief. The Lieutenant-Governor also called on the province to make unspecified amendments to the education law.

The Lieutenant-Governor’s speech did not directly address the Dominion. As the Globe points out, the Anti-Union government could not consent to have it praised, and the Lieutenant-Governor could not consent to have it condemned. Instead, His Excellency said:

The Province of Nova Scotia has ever been distinguished for loyalty and unswerving fidelity to the British monarchy, and it is peculiarly gratifying to me to entertain a firm conviction that if the people should desire any political change, they will seek the attainment of that object through their representatives in a constitutional manner, and that their sincere and ardent attachment to British institutions will not fail to manifest itself in all their proceedings.

John Joseph Marshall was elected Speaker.