Letters to the Editors

Confederation thought's in Pictou Country 1867

Pictou County was divided about confederation and joining the country as a nation most citizens knew very little about Upper Canada and the proposed new Constitution.

HOW CANADIANS SEE US

The following unique characteristically Canadian correspondence we find in a late paper of the Montreal Telegraph and we republish in order that our readers may see how many lies the writer has managed to crowd into a few paragraphs. Dr. Tupper we certainly award him the premium for “lack of the essential element”. The long eared individual who is the author of this precious piece of composition, was somewhat of a curiosity, while staying here , but nobody imagined beneath the skin of an ass would be found personification of Diabolus. If the people of Canada, who have never been to Nova Scotia, are as ignorant as would be this clever writer, who professes to have passed through the country , then we must only say it is no wonder they think the of Nova Scotia will quietly submit to a iniquitous scheme which has been forced upon them. We rather think that before long , the rampaging scribblers will find out the “Scotchmen” of Pictou County are neither “bigoted” nor “ignorant” but on the contrary , well informed on this precious Confederation question, and as independent of the smiles and frowns of Canada as is the Czar of Russia. Moreover they will find that little Nova Scotia will never submit to provisions of that political monstrosity –the British North American Act. But here is the correspondence to which we have referred: Arriving in this place again, where the feeling is very high and the Anti-confederates very numerous , there being not more then 30 Confederates in a town of some 2000 inhabitants .New Glasgow is a strangling vintage of wretched appearance, the buildings all of wood and put up in the most economical manner, without the slightest regard of comfort. On entering the village I met a few Canadians from Upper Canada ,and I was at once greeted with, “This is the strangest place in the world . The people don’t know a thing, and hate Canadians, and are down of Confederation” Why So? “That’s the thing they can’t tell you themselves, just wait when you have conversed with them”.

The New Glasgow Public Library has the entire correspondence on microfilm – Eastern Chronicle Saturday August 10, 1867