The Fathers of Confederation

The Fathers of Confederation, described as A Chronicle of the Birth of the Dominion, is by A. H. U. Colquhoun. The contents list names chapters called The Dawn of the Movement, Obstacles to Union, The Charlottetown Conference, The Quebec Conference and The Debates of 1865, among others. A dedication to Colonel George T. Denison says his life-work is proof that loyalty to the Empire is fidelity to Canada.

The text says William Lyon Mackenzie declared as late as 1833 that he had long desired to see a conference assembled at Quebec, consisting of delegates freely elected by the people of the six northern colonies. The text says Lord Durham came and found the leading minds of the various colonies strongly and generally inclined to a scheme that would elevate their countries into something like a national existence. A passage about one colony says it was resolved to take no action until after a general election, and that the representations made to the legislature by Governor Musgrave produced no effect.