THE QUESTION OF CONFEDERATION. 179 secretary (the Honorable W. II . Pope) moved a series of resolutions approving of the terms proposed at the conference held at Quebec . Au amendment in opposition to their adop¬ tion was submitted by the Honorable James C. Pope , and on a vote being taken, only five members voted for confedera¬ tion, while twenty-three were antagonistic to its consumma¬ tion. During the session of the following year (186G) the question was again introduced to the house by a message of IIis Excellency the Lieutenant - Governor , transmitting a despatch from Mr. Cardwell , the imperial colonial secretary, on the subject of a federation of the British North American Provinces, when a resolution, more hostile to union than the amendment already specified, was, on the motion of the Honorable J. C. Pope , submitted to the house. It was moved, " That, even if a union of the continental provinces of British should have the effect of strength¬ ening and binding more closely together those provinces, or advancing their material interests, this house cannot admit that a federal union of the Provinces and colonies, which would include Prince Edward Island , could ever be accomplished on terms that would prove advantage¬ ous to the interests and well-being of the people of this island, separated as it is, and must ever remain, from the neighboring provinces, by au immovable barrier of ice, for many months in the year ; and this house deems it to be its sacred and imperative duty to declare and record its con¬ viction, as it now does, that any federal uniou of the colonies that would embrace this island would be as hostile to the feelings and wishes, as it would be opposed to the best and most vital interests of its people." The Honorable James Duncan seconded this resolution. An amendment was proposed by the Honorable Edward