Letter to the Earl of Carnarvon Objecting to Confederation

What it is

This printed letter was written by Joseph Howe together with William Annand and Hugh McDonald and addressed to the Earl of Carnarvon, the British Colonial Secretary, in 1867. It set out their objections to the proposed union of the British North American provinces and was presented to both Houses of the British Parliament as the British North America Act was being passed. A copy survives at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.

Why it matters

Howe led the anti-Confederate movement in Nova Scotia, and this letter is direct evidence of that opposition at the highest level, delivered just as Confederation was being finalised in London. It shows that Confederation was not accepted by everyone and that strong arguments were made against it by elected leaders from Nova Scotia.

Look closer

• What reasons do the writers give for objecting to the plan agreed at Quebec?
• Why might they have sent this letter directly to a British official rather than only arguing at home?
• What does this tell you about how much power the provinces had over their own future at this time?