f i, y. g.

‘ OUR ISLAND STORY THE SIXTH CHAPTER

Union of Prince Edward Island and Canada.

On the first day of April, 1865 the Legislature agreed to an Address to Queen Victoria, in which it was stated that “We, the representatives of your faithful subjects the people of Prince Ed- ward Island in Colonial Parliament Assembled, do disagree to the recommendations contained in the said report of the Quebec Conference; and, On the part of Prince Edward Island, do em- phatically decline a union which, after the most serious and care- ful consideration, we believe would prove politically, commer- cially and financially disastrous to the rights and best interests of its people.” i i

This expression of opinion was based upon four proposi- tions. The first proposition was to the effect that, as Prince Ed-

. ward Island depended wholly upon agriculture and the fisheries,

and has no staple commodity for which Canada can furnish a market, there could not be any prOfitable trade with Canada, which is also' essentially agricultural and possesses extensive

fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It was argued that “while

such is and must ever be the relative Commercial position of the

Island and Canada, the products of our soil and fisheries find in the extensive markets of our parent country, the United States, and the West Indies ready and profitable customers; that the 7 proposed union, while admitting the produce and manufactures of Canada into this Island free, would by the assimilation of taxes enormously increase the duty to which those of Great Britain and

' the United States are at present subject in this Island, thereby compelling this colony to take a large portion of imports from

Canada, making payment therefor in money, instead of procur-