The Oregon dispute had been settled, like the question of the Maine boundary, without any regard to British interests in America, and it was now deemed expedient to replace Lord Cathcart by a civil governor, who would be able to carry out, in the valley of the St. Lawrence, the new policy of the colonial office, and strengthen the ties between the province and the parent state.

As I have previously stated, Lord John Russell’s ministry made a wise choice in the person of Lord Elgin.  In the following pages I shall endeavour to show how fully were realized the high expectations of those British statesmen who sent him across the Atlantic at this critical epoch in the political and industrial conditions of the Canadian dependency.

CHAPTER III

POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES

Lord Elgin made a most favourable impression on the public opinion of Canada from the first hour he arrived in Montreal, and had opportunities of meeting and addressing the people.  His genial manner, his ready speech, his knowledge of the two languages, his obvious desire to understand thoroughly the condition of the country and to pursue British methods of constitutional government, were all calculated to attract the confidence of all nationalities, classes, and creeds.  The supporters of responsible government heard with infinite pleasure the enunciation of the principles which would guide him in the discharge of his public duties.  “I am sensible,” he said in answer to a Montreal address, “that I shall but maintain the prerogative of the Crown, and most effectually carry out the instructions with which Her Majesty has honoured me, by manifesting a due regard for the wishes and feelings of the people and by seeking the advice and assistance of those who enjoy their confidence.”

At this time the Draper Conservative ministry, formed under such peculiar circumstances by Lord Metcalfe, was still in office, and Lord Elgin, as in duty bound, gave it his support, although it was clear to him and to all other persons at all conversant with public opinion that it did not enjoy the confidence of the country at large, and must soon give place to an administration more worthy of popular favour.  He recognized the fact that the crucial weakness in the political situation was “that a Conservative government meant a government of Upper Canadians, which is intolerable to the French, and a Radical government meant a government of French, which is no less hateful to the British.”  He believed that the political problem of “how to govern united Canada”—­and the changes which took place later showed he was right—­would be best solved “if the French would split into a Liberal and Conservative party, and join the Upper Canada parties which bear corresponding names.”  Holding these views, he decided at the outset to give the French Canadians full recognition in the reconstruction or formation of ministries during his term of office.