source: The Islander, Charlottetown
date: Friday, September 9, 1864

Leaving Saint John in the morning train of Wednesday,the usual hour of arrival found us in Shediac, where a delay occurred of nearly an hour to afford the lieutenant governor an opportunity of conferring with Judge Ritchie, who had come to Shediac for the purpose, in reference to the commutation of Hicks sentence.

Hon. Messrs Tilley, Gray, Steeves,Chandler and Johnson, were awaiting the arrival of the train at Shediac and proceeded with it to Point Du Chene, where we found Captain Evans' equanimity somewhat disturbed by the long delay at Shediac; but when he learned that the detention was in the cause of mercy, he relented and guided his excellent little boat, The Princess of Wales, out into the bay, and across the Straits in a true seaman like manner, which, together with his natural urbanity, has made him a favorite where ever he is known. The Lieutenant Governor his Secretary and the Hon. Peter Mitchell, accompanied the delegation thither. The trip was new to a number of the party, three of them, at least, never having visited the island before.

From Shediac to Charlottetown was very pleasant, the day being fine and the surface of the water smooth. In three hours we reached Summerside, a neat little town pleasantly situated, as every body knows, where in the course of the present season thirteen vessels have already been launched, and five more nearly completed, each of these ranging in tonnage from 200 to 600. A printing office has recently been established there, the proprietor of which intends shortly to issue a weekly paper. During the half hour we remained I noticed many evidences of prosperity and enterprise, which I must not stop to enumerate at present. Within the past ten years it has attained its present growth.

At Summerside we had a large accession to our travelling party; in a very few minutes the deck of the steamer became quite crowded, and still the people came flocking down the wharf, wise and witty, gentle and simple, old, young and middle aged, male and female-it seemed as though the whole adult population of Summerside were going off on a bender. Could it be that the inhabitants like those of ancient Sodom, had been warned to leave the city? Or was it a case that the whole Island population clamorous for a union of the lower provinces, were flocking to Charlottetown to enforce their views on the minds of the delegation? These and other queries arose in my mind, as with eager step and anxious mien I rushed to the strangers to ascertain, if possible, the cause of this wonderful migration. The reply from one and another as the surging throng moved us on was, "the circus, sir, the circus" On further inquiry it was ascertained that the circus was in Charlottetown and that for a period of twenty-one years no circus has visited the island. And that inhabitants were travelling, many for a distance of 60 miles over land to see it. From the facts your readers may make one of two inferences, either civilization on P.E. Island is advancing or it is not. I would ask them in forming their judgment to lean to the side of liberality, considering well, whether if they had not seen the circus for 21 years, their course of action might have been different.

Shortly after leaving Summerside night settled down upon the sea; before us was a sky of heaven's own blue, bestudded with its native pearls; behind us a cloud black as Erebus whence lightning ever and anon gleamed athwart the western sky.Taking the deck as our scene of observation, these together with the white foam in the trackway of the boat, the phosphorescent glitter of the watery furrow, the occasional sail in the distance, looming up through the darkness afforded food for contemplation; but the scene inside, here a solidarity one reading Gadley or the last Novelette, there a sighing lover pouring love sick sentiments into the willing ear of his betrothed-about-to-be; yonder a noisy group of card players-all lent to the scene a variety which was charming, or otherwise according to the mental indosyncracies of the observer. It was well nigh eleven before we reached Charlottetown.

We see that the papers of little Prince Edward Island are not willing to hazard an opinion on the desirability of a legislative union of the Island with its big sisters, Nova Scoitia and New Brunswick. One Mr. Coles there, who was appointed from the opposition as a representative to meet the delegates from the other provinces, is opposed point blank to a Legislative union for Acadia. This Islander, however, goes for a federation from the Atlantic to the Pacific-a great thing-at once, and he is now busy preparing a constitution for the "Colonial Empire" which appears by installments in the Charlottetown Examiner. We should think from the style of Coles that he is not one to back down, at all. He evidently is not prepared to listen to the other delegates. He has made up his mind, and is perhaps a century ahead of such men as Tupper and Tilley. He won't go for a legislative union. And worse than all he has nothing to learn. Instead of being obligated to prepare himself quietly for a calm discussion if the grave subject, this fiery islander can afford to blaze away in the newspapers. He opposes the object of the mission he is appointed to, before the first sitting of the conference, and burns with a great ardor for a federal union.

"SIR:- Having been named by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor as one of the delegates to meet similar persons appointed by the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, to take into consideration the question of union of the lower province-and I having opposed the appointment of such delegates in my capacity as a Representative of the people, but at that time expressed my desire to have a federal union of all the Provinces from the Atlantic to the Pacific-I thought, by accepting the appointment, my long wished-for desire may be obtained"

This is enough from Coles. He tells us "he has had led an Island government for eight years-and this is the classic English of Coles, The federalist, who goes for none of your small unions, but who must have a genuine big thing. There is one good which will result from enlarging our legislative power by union, namely, that a considerable number of superfluous "statesmen" of the "rampaging" breed will be "snuffed" out as our "Federal" friends say.

The man in any of the Colonies who has a single objection to offer a Legislative power by union of Acadia has yet failed to state it. Until we see an objection we had perhaps consider the discussion of the general subject at an end. The federal union is a thing of the future, and when it comes these Colonies will not be ready for it, unless they are legislatively united.

We think there is very little doubt that Nova Scotia and new Brunswick will join their fortunes. The only thing we have to fear, is the little men who consider themselves somebody, now, but who will sink out of sight in the larger country. Mr. Coles is not among the ascendant party in the Island, and we suppose we may put him out of the question in calculating the chances of the Island's voting to join other Acadians. It matters less to Acadia than the Island whether the Island is in the "Union" or not.

We ask anti-unionists on the Island to beware. Exercise caution. Messieurs Islanders, else if you are loud in your objections, and put on airs, our big Attorney General may "Carry the Island home in his pocket"