ces may be
formed, larger than any we have, and presenting to the hand of industry
and to the eye of speculation every variety of soil, climate, and
resource. With such a territory as this to overrun, organize, and
improve, think you that we shall stop even at the western bounds of
Canada, or even at the shores of the Pacific? Vancouver's Island, with
its vast coal measures, lies beyond. The beautiful islands of the
Pacific and the growing commerce of the ocean are beyond. Populous
China and the rich East are beyond; and the sails of our children's
children will reflect as familiarly the sunbeams of the South as they
now brave the angry tempests of the North. The Maritime Provinces
which I now address are but the Atlantic frontage of this boundless and
prolific region--the wharves upon which its business will be transacted
and beside which its rich argosies are to lie. Nova Scotia is one of
these. Will you then put your hands unitedly, with order,
intelligence, and energy, to this great work? Refuse, and you are
recreants to every principle which lies at the base of your country's
prosperity and {107} advancement; refuse, and the Deity's handwriting
upon land and sea is to you unintelligible language; refuse, and Nova
Scotia, instead of occupying the foreground as she now does, should
have been thrown back, at least behind the Rocky Mountains. God has
planted your country in the front of this boundless region; see that
you comprehend its destiny and resources--see that you discharge with
energy and elevation of soul the duties which devolve upon you in
virtue of your position. Hitherto, my countrymen, you have dealt with
this subject in a becoming spirit, and, whatever others may think or
apprehend, I know that you will persevere in that spirit until our
objects are attained. I am neither a prophet nor a son of a prophet,
yet I will venture to predict that in five years we shall make the
journey hence to Quebec and Montreal and home through Portland and St
John, by rail; and I believe that many in this room will live to hear
the whistle of the steam-engine in the passes of the Rocky Mountains
and to make the journey from Halifax to the Pacific in five or six
days.'[5]

The question of the future of British North America had long occupied
his mind. His first recorded speech was a call to young Nova {108}
Scotians to raise their province to a place amid the nations of the
earth. The easy patronage of English