Confederation

My name's Brian Lilley, your host.

And today we're going to delve into Alberta's quest within Confederation, where this referendum stands within it, and the historical push for new powers for a change in how the Federation worked.

Joining me are two gentlemen who have been at this for... a little bit longer than they probably like to admit.

They were both signatories to the firewall letter, which was published on January 24th, 2001 in the National Post, just a short time after the 2000 federal election that returned the Kretsch and liberals to power.

The dignity of the State, if any might be bold enough to question it, was safeguarded in the opening line by the declaration that each acted in its sovereign and independent character in forming the Southern Union.

financing the confederacy no government ever set out upon its career with more perplexing tasks in front of it the north had a monetary system the south had to create one the north had a scheme of taxation that produced large revenues from numerous sources the south had to formulate and carry out a financial plan Like the North, the Confederacy expected to secure a large revenue from customs duties, easily collected and little felt among the masses.

To this expectation, the blockade of Southern ports inaugurated by Lincoln in April 1861 soon put an end.

Following the precedents set by Congress under the Articles of Confederation, the Southern Congress resorted to a direct property tax apportioned among the states, only to meet the failure that might have been foretold.

The Confederacy also sold bonds, the first issue bringing into the treasury nearly all the specie available in the southern banks.

This specie, by unhappy management, was early sent abroad to pay for supplies, sapping the foundations of a sound currency system.

Large amounts of bonds were sold overseas, commanding at first better terms than those of the North in the markets of London, Paris, and Amsterdam, many an English lord and statesman buying with enthusiasm and confidence to lament within a few years the proofs of his folly.

The difficulties of bringing through the blockade any supplies purchased by foreign bond issues, however, nullified the effect of foreign credit, and forced the Confederacy back upon the device of paper money.

Well, guess what? They were fired from the State Department in March and now they've got private factors and they're talking about creating a color revolution right here in the United States.

They're talking about the federal government becoming illegitimate and for governors to take over in their states and essentially create a new Confederacy.

They even have a network, Rick, of 1600 former flag officers and people who had been in the military who are working with them.

This is a seditious effort right here in the United States.

The train drew into Montgomery, the little city that stood on the high banks of the Alabama River.

Here they were in the very heart of the new Confederacy, and Harry and Arthur were eager to see the many famous Southern men who were gathered there to welcome the new president.

Jefferson Davis was expected on the morrow, and would be inaugurated on the day following.

They heard that his coming was already a triumphal progress.

The applause compelled him to stop at times, but throughout Mr. Davis stood rigid and unsmiling.

His countenance expressed none of his thoughts, whatever they may have been.

Harry's eyes never wandered from his face, except to glance now and then at the wheezed, shrunken little man who stood near him, Alexander H. Stevens of Georgia, who would take the oath of office as Vice President of the new Confederacy.

He had been present throughout the convention as a delegate from Georgia, and men talked of the mighty mind imprisoned in the weak and dwarfed body.

I like the detail of it.

On February 19, 1867, Lord Carnarvon, Secretary for the Colonies, moved the second reading of the Bill for the Confederation of the North American Provinces of the British Empire.

This was in fact a measure to carry out in practical form the great principles which Lord Durham had laid down in his celebrated report.

The Bill prepared by Lord Carnarvon proposed that the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, in other words, Upper and Lower Canada, along with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, should be joined in one federation to be called the Dominion of Canada.

It may be assumed, however, that this curious isolation will not last long, and the act constituting the Dominion opens the door for the entrance of this latest lingerer outside, whenever she may think fit, to claim admission.

The idea of a federation of the provinces of British North America was not new in 1867 or even in the days of Lord Durham.

When the delegates of the revolted American colonies were discussing among themselves their terms of federation, They agreed in their Articles of Union that Canada, quote, exceeding to the Confederation and joining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into and entitled to the advantages of the Union.

No answer to this appeal was made by either of the Canadas, but the idea of union among the British provinces among them evidently took root back then.

The legislature in Prince Edward Island is opening its doors for the first time in 12 years following an extensive renovation project.

It's a National Historic Site celebrated as the birthplace of Confederation after the fathers of Confederation met there in 1864.

Wayne Thibodeau reports.

Joey Jeffrey is clerk of the PEI Legislative Assembly.

He's beaming with pride as he walks through the hallways of a historic province house, billed as the birthplace of Confederation in Charlottetown.

It's

a beautiful building and to see it kind of restored to its former grandeur was very exciting.

[upbeat music] Hi, folks.

Like I said earlier, that it's BC's 130th anniversary since joining Confederation, being Canada's sixth province.

But I wanna tell you about British Columbia's first premier.

His name was John Foster McCreight.

He was a lawyer, surprise there, and he was premier from, uh, 1871 until, oh, 1872, so he wasn't in there very long.

Anyways, after practicing law in Australia, where he probably had a phenomenal amount of clients, he arrived in Victoria in 1860, there he earned a reputation as an effective lawyer.

In 1871 after the province entered Confederation, he was one of the 25 members elected to the first provincial legislature, and the Lieutenant Governor Joseph Trutch asked him to become premier.

I guess in those days you just asked.