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Speech on Election, November 27 1843

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“Within the last six years, during all which time these wiseacres have been declaring that we were all going to the dogs, Halifax has grown one-third and Dartmouth has nearly doubled in size… Thirty miles of level main road have been made in the western part of the township… Turning to the east; its condition when I first visited it in 1837 was this; for fifty miles there was neither roads, bridges, magistrates nor schools. Now there are six schools dotting the shore, where formerly there was not one; magistrates have been appointed, and while the Great Eastern Road has been carried nearly to the bounds of our county, the shore settlements are becoming one after another closely connected by means of roads and bridges.”

Howe, Joseph. Annand, William. Chisholm, Joseph Andrew. “The Speeches and Public Letters of Joseph Howe” Halifax, Canada: The Chronicle publishing company, 1909. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t87h1hh71?urlappend=%3Bseq=467

Speech on Canadian affairs, April 14 1838

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“The man who resides in Dartmouth complains that he has but one vote, while the man at this side of the harbor (Halifax) has two. An attempt has been made to rearrange the representation, but the attempt failed. We had not the courage or the impartiality to follow out a better system, and to equalize the elective privileges…”

Howe, Joseph. Annand, William. Chisholm, Joseph Andrew. “The Speeches and Public Letters of Joseph Howe” Halifax, Canada: The Chronicle publishing company, 1909. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t87h1hh71?urlappend=%3Bseq=210

Committee of the Baronets of Scotland and Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia Rights.

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The timing of this address in favor of the “rights” of those who considered Nova Scotia their proprietary colony, in 1848, immediately after Nova Scotia had successfully won a measure of self government thanks to the efforts of Joseph Howe and others, says so much, and perhaps points to part of the impetus behind the obstinacy of the British Crown in as it concerns “confederation”.

“As regards justice, the crown charters, of combined justice, policy, and humanity. acts of parliament, and other legal instruments founded upon (upwards of two hundred in number,) demonstrate, beyond all doubt or cavil, that the rights and privileges which they vest in the Order are still valid, subsisting, and effectual. The policy of restoring to activity and usefulness such a great monarchical institute as the Baronetage of Scotland and Nova Scotia, would be a means of rapidly settling, with a loyal and attached landocracy, yeomanry, and peasantry (the main constituent elements of British society,) that portion of our vast trans-atlantic empire which, from geographical position, mineral resources, and water facilities, is, and must ever be, the arx et domicilium of British power, industry, and enterprise, in the western hemisphere, is too self-apparent to require comment.”

“The charters, acts, and other documents referred to in the compilation on the Nova Scotia Question – a copy of which publication is placed herewith in the hands of the Colonial Minister constitute a complete chain of historical and legal evidence in support of the claim of right preferred by the Baronets. With such indefeasible grounds to proceed upon, and seeing that questions connected with subsistence and population will successively arise to embarrass the nation, the Deputation deem it to be impossible that a wise and paternal government, actuated by due fidelity to the Crown, and love for the people, will fail to recognise the duty of restoring the rights in Nova Scotia of the Scottish Baronetage, and making the Older again subservient for the great and paramount ends for which it was devised by the wisdom and patriotism of former sovereigns, privy councils, and parliaments.

The duty of restoring the public functions and utility of the Scottish Baronetage, as a body constituted for ever to advance ‘the opulence, prosperity, and peace’ of Scotland, by and through the right colonization and settlement of Nova Scotia, is one alike onerous upon its members and the Crown. Corruption or non- utility in a great monarchical institute is, under any circumstances, a state evil of enormous magnitude one which reflects equally upon the reigning Sovereign, as the representative of the Royal founder, and upon those whose titles and prerogatives have descended upon them as retaining fees for personal exertions. When James I. annexed Nova Scotia to his ancient kingdom, ‘that its use might arise to the benefit of that kingdom,’ and projected the erection of the Baronetage to superintend its plantation, he declared he would make the business a ‘Royal work of his own.’ And his last injunction to the Privy council of Scotland, dated from his death-bed, on the 23rd of March, 1625, was, ‘Persevere for the furtherance of this Royal work that it may be brought to a full perfection because it is to be the foundation of so great a work, both for the good of the kingdom in general, and for the particular interest of every Baronet’ Whilst, then, in compliance with that Royal commandment, and in consideration of the necessities now pressing upon all ranks and classes of the subject in Scotland, the Baronets are bound in honour and conscience to revive the uses of their Order, our gracious Queen, her ministers and government, are no less bound in honour and conscience to facilitate the restoration of the Baronetage, and to do whatever is needful to render it again the state organ of utility, in that noble but neglected domain of social happiness and national aggrandisement, which its Royal institutor intended it hereditarily to be.”

Committee of the Baronets of Scotland and Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia Rights. “Colonization : Nova Scotia Baronet rights : copy of the memorandum and protest placed in Earl Grey’s hands by a deputation on the 2nd of June, 1848, and of the address of the Hon. Sir Richard Broun, Bart., delivered before the Committee of the Baronets of Scotland and Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia Rights, on the 16th of October, 1848.” [London : s.n., 1848?] (London : Blackburn and Burt) https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.4841

Stirpiculture, or, The ascent of man

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“…any favoured trait can be developed by the proper study of heredity.”

“The human family is composed of four classes:

  1. The Good, Those who are actuated by high resolves, no matter what their position or associations may be.
  2. The Bad, Who are quite intractable
  3. The irresponsibles, Insane and idiotic
  4. The great bulk of humanity that is moulded by and are the creatures of association and training.

The first does not need our attention. The second are ulcerous and diseased outgrowths on society that will pass away and our efforts must be directed to prevent future recurrence. The third, a gradually increasing class, the result of natural causes, and if not to be eliminated in toto could be greatly reduced in numbers. The fourth class is the one that all efforts of society should be directed towards perfecting, for from it the preceding classes spring, and but few laws need to be studied or acted upon. They are:

  1. Hereditary transmission
  2. Indissolubility of the marriage tie with its home associations
  3. A correct appreciation of the dignity of labour, and that all individuals be trained to make their own living by the hand as well as the head.
  4. Moral training with fixed or positive religious ideas.
  5. A general and practical education
  6. Definite instruction in sanitary laws.”

“We have about 1,500 to 2,000 insane in our province … a very large percentage of whom are immured in asylums, many for a great part and more for the whole of their active lives, at a very large and increasing cost to the communities. These people are nearly all dependent on state aid, but the impoverished condition of them and their dependents is due to their affliction. In looking over the histories of the 2400 admissions to our own asylum, I could not find one who had not been self-supporting before his or her affliction.

…there is no vivid consciousness that men and women of every grade of society, except the paupers and criminals, are immured in what to them is a prison, and all civil rights and personal freedom denied them, and as far as they can see, for no just cause. They never did any injury (except now and then in self-defense from their point of view) and have not even the melancholy pleasure enjoyed by the criminals of at least knowing how long their liberties are to be restrained and the cause for their incarceration. They were simply honest in expressing their opinions and these did not coincide with those prevailing in the community.”

“From one tainted emigrant to this province there has been a thousand crippled intellects”

“A rule that was once general and still obtains at the Imperial Palace, at Berlin, that every young man should be proficient in some handicraft and every woman in the practical details of household work, has, unfortunately, been falling into abeyance; more so in America than in Europe.”

“…it stands to reason that if Jack were as good as his master he would occupy that position.”

“…the subject of Stirpiculture, the perfection of our race, is a grand one and deserves more care and study than it has thus received”

Reid, A. P. “Stirpiculture, or, The ascent of man”, N.S. Institute of Natural Science, 1890. https://archive.org/details/cihm_13074

Nova Scotia and Nova Scotians

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“Dartmouth, on the opposite side of the safe and spacious harbour, offered an inviting appearance for the formation of a village, and in one year after the foundation of Halifax, some of the company of Lord Cornwallis passed over and commenced a settlement. But a sad catastrophe befell the little town: in six years from its beginning it was destroyed by [Mi’kmaq], who made an irruption upon it from the forest in its rear, destroying with merciless cruelty the inhabitants, demolishing the houses and laying waste the newly tilled lands.”

“Dartmouth was laid even with the ground”

Hill, George W. “Nova Scotia and Nova Scotians” [Halifax, N.S.? : s.n.], 1858 (Halifax, N.S. : J. Bowes) https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.22739/1?r=0&s=1

Opportunities in Nova Scotia

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“Dartmouth -(Halifax Co.), on Halifax Harbor. Ferry, 15 minute service to Halifax (1 mile). 2 hotels, 6 churches, 5 public schools, park, 2 banks. Industries include cordage works, spice, chocolate and soap factory, sugar refinery, lumber mills, foundries, boiler works, rolling mills, cornmeal mills, brewery, marine railway, and skate and bolt factory. Beautiful lake scenery. Fine beach, good boating and bathing. Pop 5,058.”

Heaton, E. “Opportunities in Nova Scotia, 1915: containing extracts from Heaton’s Annual.” Toronto : E. Heaton, c1914. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.76296/1?r=0&s=1

Nova Scotia, its climate, resources and advantages

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“Opposite the city stands the pretty little town of Dartmouth, containing a population of about three thousand. A couple of miles south of Dartmouth, opposite the centre of the city of Halifax, on a commanding site, is the Provincial Asylum for the Insane, a very large, handsome stone building capable of accommodating 300 patients. The scenery around Halifax and Dartmouth, is charming… The Dartmouth lakes.. also present some beautiful landscapes.”

Crosskill, Herbert. “Nova Scotia, its climate, resources and advantages : being a general description of the province for the information of intending emigrants” Halifax [N.S.] : Province of Nova Scotia, 1872 (Halifax [N.S.]; C. Annuad) https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.03628/65?r=0&s=1

Nova Scotia considered as a field for emigration

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“There is not a finished canal in Nova Scotia, but there are two now in course of construction. As early as 1825, operations were commenced for connecting the harbour of Halifax with Cobequid Bay, by means of the waters of the Shubenacadie River, the Dartmouth Lakes, and the “Shubenecadie Canal.”

Hamilton, Pierce Stevens. “Nova-Scotia considered as a field for emigration” London : J. Weale, 1858. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.44945/6?r=0&s=1

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