te in your rejoicings over our new birth as a
nation, I beg to address you some words on our national duties and
interests. I do so because my opinions and advices have been requested
by many persons deeply interested in the public welfare; because I am
approaching the close of a public life of more than forty years, during
which I have carefully observed the hindrances and aids of our social
progress, and have taken part, since 1825, in the discussion of all
those constitutional questions which involved the rights and relations
of religious denominations and citizens, and which have resulted in our
present system of free government and of equal rights among all
religious persuasions; because my heart's desire and prayer to God is,
that the new Dominion of Canada may become prosperous and happy, by
beginning well, by avoiding those errors which have in time past been
injurious to ourselves, and which have impeded the progress and marred
the peace of other peoples, and by adopting those maxims of both feeling
and conduct which the best and most experienced public men of Europe and
America have enjoined as essential to the strength and happiness, the
advancement and grandeur of a nation....

We are passing from an old into a new state of political existence. The
alleged evils of former civil relations have induced the creation of new
ones; and the denounced evils of a former system of government have led
to the establishment of a new system.... We have been raised from a
state of colonial subordination to one of affectionate alliance with the
mother country. Then the first act of wisdom and duty is, to note and
avoid the evils which marred our peace and prosperity in our former
state, and cultivate those feelings and develop those principles of
legislation and government which have contributed most to the promotion
of our own happiness and interests as well as those of other nations.

If you will call up to your recollection the events of our country's
history for the last twenty years, I am sure you will agree with me that
personal hostilities and party strife have been the most fatal obstacles
to our happiness and progress as a people--an immense loss of time and
waste of public money in party debates and struggles--a most fruitful
source of partiality and corruption in legislation and government....
During the last two years that there has been a cessation of party
hostilities and a union of able men of heretofore diff