QUESTION. (Hansard, 23 February 1865)

LORD WHARNCLIFFE,
in asking Her Majesty's Government, What is the Position of the Question of the Establishment of a Crown Colony in the North West Territory of British North America, and when some Report thereon will be made to the House, said, that before he put the Question to the noble Earl he would address a few remarks on the growing importance of the subject. Some fifteen years ago he travelled through the country, and might claim therefore to have some personal acquaintance with the subject he was about to bring under their Lordships' notice. The question of the future position of this large tract of country, lying between Upper Canada and the Rocky Mountains, was one of great importance at this moment, for many reasons. Our other North American colonies had recently taken steps for erecting themselves into a great Confederation, and we must therefore assume that the tie between those colonies and the mother country would no longer be so close as it had been. Another reason why it appeared to him sensible that the Question should not be passed over, was the probability of a dispute arising between this country and the Western States on a question of frontier and population, and it was desirable that everything should be done by Her Majesty's Government which should tend to prevent such a collision. The territory was of such a character as to be likely to become a most important colony. Captain Pallisir had been sent out by the Government to report upon the country which lies between the western boundary of Canada and the Rocky Mountains, and in his Report spoke thus of the Red River Settlement— The soil is that of an ancient lake bottom, consisting of variously proportioned mixtures of clay, loam, and marl, with a remarkable deficiency of sand. It is overlaid by a great thickness of vegetable mould, varying from two to four or five feet in depth. The chief wealth of the agriculturist would be derived from the rearing of cattle, large quantities of very nutritious grasses abounding everywhere, together with hemp, flax, and hops, which grow admirably. Of the lower part of the valley of the Assineboine he said— The lower part of the valley of the Assineboine, for seventy miles, before it joins Red River, affords land of surpassing richness and fertility to the extent of several hundred thousand acres. 584 And of the valley of the Saskatchewan he said— There are often to be found areas of land of fine quality, while the whole distance, sometimes equal to thirty miles between the hills and the river, is fine grazing land, and as it all lies within the limit of the partially wooded belt of country, there are 'bluffs' that will afford shelter to stock. The richness of the natural pasture in many places on the prairies of the second level along the North Saskatchewan and its tributary, Battle River, can hardly be exaggerated. Its value does not consist in its being rank or in great quantity, but from its fine quality, comprising nutritious species of grasses and carices, along with natural vetches in great variety, which remain throughout the winter sound, juicy, and fit for the nourishment of stock. It was but two years ago that the Hudson's Bay Company had transferred their rights to another Company for a very considerable sum of money, he believed £1,500,000. The administration of the old Hudson's Bay Company, no doubt, had been a great obstacle to the colonization of this tract of country, on account of their trading entirely in furs. In regard to that large tract of country two methods only could possibly be pursued, and one would be right and the other wrong, and he would first refer to that which he believed would be the wrong one—namely, a proposal to unite that enormous territory with Canada; but the right course to follow would be to erect that large tract of country into a separate colony, with a jurisdiction of its own. As regarded its union with Canada, it must be remembered that Montreal was at least one thousand miles from the frontier of that territory, and, therefore, there would be the greatest difficulty in maintaining a good system of government at so great a distance from the Executive officers. There was another point which was also one of considerable importance—namely, the recent proposed federation between the different North American colonies—a federation framed upon the basis of allowing due representation to be given to the various elements composing the Confederation. He believed that that basis was that a certain number of representatives should be given to Lower Canada, in such a manner that at no time should there be any preponderance on the part of the Protestant and more active communities of Upper Canada, to the disadvantage of Lower Canada. In connection with that point he would quote the remark of a gentleman who was well acquainted with that country and with the feelings of its inhabitants, in reference to the erection of 585 this large tract of country into a colony in connection with Canada. That gentleman said— Such a measure would of course enable Upper Canada to rule over and destroy the individualization of Lower Canada. Therefore it was that all French-speaking Canadians, and a large number of the most loyal people in both sections of the province, opposed a change leading inevitably to universal suffrage and the extinction of the political influence of an educated minority. Now, if the Hudson's Bay territory were added to Upper Canada, that portion of the province would overbear the remainder, and all the old contests of race and language would be revived, even, perhaps, to the end of civil war. Such was the statement of Mr. Watkin, who from his connection with the Grand Trunk Rail way of Canada, and several years' residence in the country, was well qualified to speak upon the subject. Looking to both of these points, the distance from Montreal, and the disturbance it would create in the balance of the constitution of British North America, he (Lord Wharn-clitfe) could not but regard a proposal to make the territory a colony dependent upon Canada an unwise one. His decided opinion, therefore, was that this large tract of country, capable of vast improvement, should be erected into a separate colony. One of the most important points connected with that plan was to be found in the fact that it was across that tract of country that a telegraph line could be most conveniently run from Lake Superior to the Pacific. The facility and the profitable nature of such an enterprise could be imagined from the fact that the line from St. Loui8 to San Francisco cost only £26 per mile, and the whole cost of construction was repaid in one year. The distance from British Columbia to Lake Superior was not so great as in the instance he had given, and if telegraphic communication were established, it would be of the greatest advantage to this country, and would also prove a source of considerable profit to those by whom it was carried out. At the present time the Russian Government had organized telegraphic communication from the River Amoor to St. Petersburg, and were preparing to cross Behring's Straits, having asked permission to run the line through British Columbia, whence they proposed carrying it to San Francisco. It was quite evident that the line he had suggested from Lake Superior to the Pacific would be a much more practicable one, and would have the advantage of being under the control of the British Government. As he 586 had already stated, it was most desirable to avoid all chance of collision or complication with the American Government. At present it appeared that there was a large number of refugees from the Northern States, who had crossed the frontier, some being desirous of avoiding taxation, others seeking to evade conscription, and another class of persons who were attracted by the discoveries of gold upon the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. He had had sent to him a pamphlet written by Mr. Watkin, which contained the report of Mr. Bridges of those gold discoveries. That report stated— There is no doubt whatever of this gold having been washed from the sand in the Saskatchewan, and there appears to be no doubt whatever, that in the rivers which take their rise in the mountains, gold will be found, and that the whole slope of the Rocky Mountains, on both sides, will be found to be productive gold mines. It appears, among parties interested, to be the settled opinion that gold exists; and M'Kay told me that, until this year, for several years there had been parties, numbering upwards of 100 each spring, who have come to Fort Garry, and getting guides there, have gone across the country to the Rocky Mountains in search of gold. There were none this year owing to the Indian war in Minnesota. Governor Dallas says that last year upwards of 300 persons went across. The settlement round Fort Garry is said to be increasing, by an influx of Canadians, Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Americans. It is expected that a good many of the settlers will proceed from Fort Garry next year to the Rocky Mountains in search of gold. The Question which he had brought before the House was one of great importance, involving, as it did, not only the well-being of this country in case of any collision, but also the retention to the British Crown of one of the greatest inheritances of which Her Majesty was in possession. To carry out such a plan as he suggested, there might be some expense to maintain a separate jurisdiction; but if we sent out a Governor, and gave him a sufficient number of officials conversant with the country, who would keep him informed of all that was going on in the country, and also give him a sufficient number of properly educated military men, noncommissioned officers, for the purpose of training the half-breeds who inhabit that country, and who were warmly attached to the British Crown, no other defence could be required there. He hoped their Lordships would excuse him for trespassing upon their notice at such length, but the subject was of great importance, and he desired to ask of Her Majesty's Government, What is the Position of the Question of the Establish- 587 ment of a Crown Colony in the North West Territory of British North America; and when some Report thereon will be made to the House?

§ EARL GRANVILLE
I can assure the noble Lord that he need not apologize for having introduced this subject, or for the statement which he has made. The noble Lord, from his travels in the country to which he refers, and the interest he has taken in it, has made himself completely master of the subject. I am afraid, however, that my answer will not be in all respects satisfactory to the noble Lord. There is no doubt whatever of the truth of the noble Lord's statement as to the importance of some arrangement being mode in respect to these territories. After the Committee of the House of Commons, which sat in 1857, there was a correspondence with Canada on that subject. In 1863, the Hudson's Bay Company themselves submitted to the Government the importance of establishing a settled boundary between their territory and Canada, and they made a proposal for that end. The proposal, however, involved an enormous charge upon the Treasury at home, and, therefore, it was not a proposal which Her Majesty's Government thought themselves justified in submitting to Parliament. Her Majesty's Government afterwards made a counter proposal, by which an indemnity to the Company should be obtained, not by imposing any positive charge upon the Treasury, but by the sale of lands in the territory ceded. That plan, however, was declined by the Hudson's Bay Company. While these negotiations were pending, application was made to the Canadian Government to join in the arrangement, but they did not choose to do so. More recently, the Hudson's Bay Company has made another proposal to the Colonial Office, and that proposal the Secretary of State has sent to Canada, urging upon the Government there to take part in settling the boundary between their own territories and those of the Hudson's Bay Company, and suggesting to the Canadian Government to make some proposal of their own. No answer has yet been received to this communication, but, I think, notwithstanding what the noble Lord has said, that in the present state of the negotiations for a confederation of the different colonies of North America, it would be impossible for Her Majesty's Government to advise the establishment of a purely separate jurisdiction by the erec- 588 tion of the territory referred to by the noble Lord into a Crown colony.

§ THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY
tendered his thanks to the noble Lord for bringing forward this most interesting and important question, and hoped that Her Majesty's Government would give due attention to his statements. He sincerely hoped that the younger Members of their Lordships' House would follow the example of the noble Lord, who had introduced this subject to their Lordships' in so able a manner, and more frequently take part in their discussions. If they did so, they would greatly add to the credit and efficiency of that House of Parliament.

THE EARL OF AIRLIE
said, that much of the territory referred to by the noble Lord was very fertile, and capable of supporting a large population; but it was not at all surprising that the development of the country should not make any very great progress while it was in the hands of the Company. He would gladly welcome any proposal which would have the effect of drawing a line between Canada and the North Western territory and the territory of the United States, and also that the land should be thrown open as far as possible to settlers, and encouragement given to emigration. Before, however, acceding to the proposed formation of the Crown colony, the Government ought seriously to consider the obligations which they would be undertaking. Such a course would entail not only expense upon this country, but would pledge us to the defence of the colony in case of war; but that defence would be found exceedingly difficult from its isolated position. Before we incurred the responsibility of erecting a colony in that part of the world, we ought to take great care not to subject the honour of the country to engagements which it might be found difficult, if not impossible, to fulfil.