72 OUR ISLAND STORY

feeling anxious to meet the desire of Her Majestys Imperial Goveinment to unite under one Government all the British possessions in America, is willing, in good faith and loyalty to merge the interests of the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island with those of their fellow subjects 1n the Dominion on terms that are just and reasonable, and such as will not involve the people of this Island in direct local taxation for objects for which the ordinary revenue has hitherto enabled them to provide.” It was therefore resolved that “this House being most desirous to secure to the people of Prince Edward Island on entering the union just and reasonable terms, do hereby authorize His Honor the Lieu- tenant Governor to appoint delegates to proceed at once to Ottawa to confer with the Government of the Dominion of Canada on this great and important subject, with full confidence that the terms to which they will agree will be such as will ensure their immediate and unqualified ratification by the Legislature of this

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colony. To this proposed resolution the HOn. Mr. Laird moved an

amendment 1n which the opinion was expressed that“ no addit- ional concessions would have any chance of being accepted by~ the Parliament of Canada” and that this question of Union should be carried by the Legislature of this Island With as little delay as possible, in view of the financial and commercial necessities of the Colony;——therefore the House should appoint a committee of seven to prepare an Address to the Queen, praying Her Majesty- in-Council to pass an order in conformity with. the 146th section of the British North American Act, 1867 uniting Prince Edward Island with the Dominion of Canada on terms and conditions approved of 1n the Minute of the Privy Council of Canada, of the 10th March, 1873. ” -

This amendment was rejected by the House. Ten members voted for it and sixteen against it. Mr. Howatt then moved in . i amendment “that it is the opinion of this House that the best interests and future prosperity of Prince Edward Island would be secured by refusing terms of admission into Union with the Dominion of Canada. " Again the amendment was voted down, ——only two members, Messrs. Howatt and Holland, voting for it.

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