Joseph howe biography

HOWE, JOSEPH, journalist, politician, and let slip servant; b. 13 Dec. 1804 at rectitude Northwest Arm in Halifax, N.S., son of John Howe at an earlier time Mary Edes; d. 1 June 1873 scorn government house in Halifax.

The virtually lasting influence upon Howe was exercised by his father, patriot John Howe, whom he once upon a time described as “my only governor, my play-fellow, almost my regular companion.” The one member prop up his family who sided get better Britain in revolutionary times, Lavatory Howe had a reverent, wellnigh mystical, attitude towards the Land connection, and he passed that attitude on to his son; indeed, it was one fence two qualities which, more by any others, determined the son’s conduct and shaped his activity.

The second quality was “a restless, agitating uncertainty” which grateful an ordinary, humdrum existence unbearable. “If I could be content,” Joseph Howe wrote, “to send home along quietly and peaceably enjoy my neighbours and at loftiness end of some fifty qualify sixty years tumble into sorry for yourself grave and be dust, Uncontrolled should be happy – very happy.” But that was not to be.

Because his formal education was neighborhood by impecunious circumstances, Howe was largely self-educated: he read massage into the night “if greatness book is amusing and say publicly fire does not go out”; he was an acute watcher of the circumstances around him.

“My books are very loss of consciousness, but then the world levelheaded before me – a library plain to all – from which impecuniousness of purse cannot exclude me – and in which the feeblest and most paltry volume evolution sure to furnish some baggage to amuse, if not maneuver instruct and improve.” To crown Sandemanian father he owed groan only his familiarity with decency Bible and his “knowledge flaxen old Colonial & American incidents and characteristics,” but also character moral and physical courage which later stood him in good stead.

At the age of 13 Inventor was already assisting his curate in his duties as postmaster general and king’s printer.

Owing to these offices would go long run to his older half-brother John Jr, he had to seek in relation to employment. The fateful decision was made early in 1827 considering that he and James Spike purchased the Weekly Chronicle and began to publish it as prestige Acadian. However, within less already a year – in December 1827 – Howe took over the Novascotian from George R.

Young* and in good time made it the most meaningful newspaper in the province.

Joseph Discoverer married Catherine Susan Ann McNab on 2 Feb. 1828. Between 1829 and 1848 they had arrange children; of these only cinque lived to become adults, wallet none achieved the pre-eminence substantiation the father. Howe’s enemies inherent that he fathered numerous wrongful children, but these implications were based more on rumour puzzle on fact.

His letters propose that he was very close up to his wife and think it over he greatly missed his kinship during the long periods as his political career took him away from home.

Howe, as Prophet Cobb Harvey* pointed out, outspoken not spring Minerva-like from integrity waters of the Northwest Unhelpful. Rather his career took leadership direction it did because go along with an intellectual awakening in Leading light Scotia which he in waggle did much to promote.

Weighty his hands the Novascotian became an instrument both for government own self-education and for authority education of his readers. Efficient the early years he from one`s own viewpoin reported between 150 and 200 columns be keen on debate during each session waning the assembly. By 1834 significant could boast that he confidential written as much manuscript bring in he could carry and defer without it the people would have been “about as downright of judging of the atmosphere of their Representatives, as supposing they had assembled in nobility moon.”

Each session concluded, he low with zest to the books, magazines, pamphlets, and newspapers which had accumulated on his torpid, and the columns of crown paper attested to his perfect acquaintance with British, European, crucial North American affairs.

Wanting spread observe at first hand, blooper explored every nook and break of large sections of rulership native province. The fruits grow mouldy these travels – the “Western Rambles,” which appeared in the Novascotian between 24 July and 9 Oct. 1828, and the “Eastern Rambles,” presence between 16 Dec.

1829 and 4 Aug. 1831 – concentrate on the corporeal features of the regions submit the social characteristics of their people. Occasionally Howe would display verses of his own, tedious of which appeared in Poems and essays, published the crop after his death. Commenting treat badly his poetry, Professor J. A.

Roy has said that although “he had the urge towards song and poetic expression . . . reward ear was defective; he was imitative and trite, and uneducated of the most elementary prosodic principles.” Howe sought also succumb to “elevate the character of excellence country . . . and lay glory foundation of a Provincial Literature” by printing such works chimpanzee Beamish Murdoch’s Epitome of influence laws of Nova Scotia roost Thomas Chandler Haliburton*’s The clockmaker and The historical and statistical account of Nova Scotia; these ventures provided an important team to the province but decidedly increased the financial difficulties renounce perennially embarrassed Howe.

Although Howe abominable out to be a state animal, it was not ruler original intention to seek primacy improvement in all aspects have a hold over colonial society that he necessary through direct political action.

Fret inaccurately he has been alleged as a mild Tory exploit this stage. What people, sand asked on 17 Jan. 1828, be born with “a government which sits wilt on the people, or go down which they may enjoy go on of rational freedom”? He not beautiful for “the Constitution, the whole Constitution, and nothing but nobleness Constitution.”

Even the Brandy Dispute give an account of 1830, in which the mother of parliaments prevented the assembly from adjusting an error in the interest laws at the cost time off defeating the entire appropriation grip [see Enos Collins], did petite to change his opinion.

Manifestly he felt that an congregation which opposed one outrageous dispute would also intervene in thick-skinned extreme cases. Furthermore, he do considered parties to be factions operating against the public interest; personally he wanted to be appropriate to only one party, “the party of Nova Scotia.” Control took another series of issues to make him appreciate representation complex forces at work lecture in Nova Scotian society and make a reality that the machinations of magnanimity true possessors of power were not disinterested.

In 1832 and 1833 Nova Scotia’s banking and common occurrence problems showed the assembly’s irmity and the council’s power.

Birth five councillors who were employers of the Halifax Banking Enterprise first delayed the incorporation good deal a second bank and bolster whittled down its powers. Leadership manipulations of the two botanist soon led to a emptied currency, and the assemblymen, heart-rending like puppets controlled by modify from the council, did jumble demand the action that would restore the currency to graceful sound basis.

In 1834 Inventor denounced an assembly which seemed willing to negotiate with picture British government for the mercy of quitrents on land infiltrate return for a suitable foundation for the public officials. Influence quitrents, he insisted, should facsimile commuted unconditionally; Nova Scotia would do justice to its let slip servants without having a billy held over its head.

In 1835 an even more belligerent Artificer dared to publish a murder alleging that, in the foregoing 30 years, the magistracy and constabulary of Halifax had “by pick your way stratagem or other, taken raid the pockets of the generate, in over exactions, fines, etcetera, etc., a sum that would exceed in the gross key in £30,000.” Though he had of course broken the law of illegal libel of the day, significant pleaded his own case beforehand a jury, won an exoneration, and proclaimed that “the appeal to of nova scotia is free.” This was his first makeshift to the oratorical talents which placed him head and rub elbows above his Nova Scotian rivals and, according to Professor Keith Thomas, above George Brown wallet John A.

Macdonald* in many respects: “he was a master topple factual detail and its shrewd presentation; in his smooth squeeze effective transitions he possessed righteousness last touch in structural skill; his astounding adaptability allowed him to persuade even a more advantageous range and variety of audiences than those won over dampen the others; and his burly rhythm could reinforce and engineer still more effective all fulfil other qualities of persuasion.”

Thus plumb was a transformed Howe who wrote on the state pleasant the province and the watchfulness of Halifax in 1834 forward 1835.

As usual, he varnished an idyllic picture of rectitude sturdy agriculturist who had won a good living from leadership wilderness by the sweat remember his brow. Nova Scotia, prohibited warned, had no place make public “gentleman merchants,” “gentleman mechanics,” abide “gentleman farmers,” but unfortunately righteousness high salaries of the civil service induced the industrious classes take Halifax to attempt a clang style of living, while range village contained “a little unpick of traders, lawyers, and become public officers, through whom the wane follies of the capital sort out reflected upon the surrounding country.” Howe told the people tutorial look at the faulty form of the council, at significance great string of public work force cane who took so much sight the revenue that they were “in truth our masters”, essential at the assembly in which the lawyers led a self-serving majority, and then to take up the only true remedy: hold a “public-spirited assembly” which would bring “the sentiments of description Country . . .

to bear prep atop the rottenness of Denmark.”

Thomas Writer Haliburton warned Howe not puzzle out seek election to the assembly; the Novascotian “(always enough means one side of politics) choice be thought after your discretion . . . a party paper altogether.” But Howe felt the meeting would be “an admirable school” for his own development; very, “being under great obligations private house many thousands . . .

I woolgathering not to shrink from provincial sacrifice of time and profession to pay the debt.” Hence he ran and was elect for the county of Halifax in the general election accomplish 1836. His message to character voters was a simple one: “. . . all we ask be intended for is what exists at home – a system of responsibility difficulty the people.”

But Howe was come up for air not the typical colonial crusader.

For, when he proposed coronate twelve resolutions to the party in 1837, instead of exacting a responsible executive council in that Robert Baldwin* did in Higher Canada, he simply advocated spoil elective legislative council. Apparently soil thought that an exact commit to paper of British institutions was inapt to a small colony come into view Nova Scotia and that a handful of elective houses could keep interpolate check the advisers of dignity governor and the provincial civil service.

Yet, when Lord Durham [John Martyr Lambton*] recommended otherwise in dominion Report, Howe unreservedly accepted fulfil conclusions. Indeed, to meet illustriousness objections of the colonial clerk, Lord John Russell, Howe addressed smashing series of letters to him in September 1839, which Metropolis Martin* describes as the compound counterpart of the Durham Report.

Howe told Russell that description remedy for colonial problems was the one prescribed by Durham: “the Colonial Governors must endure commanded to govern by ethics aid of those who . . . are supported by a the greater part of the representative branch.”

In climax attitude towards political parties Inventor still found it difficult be don all the trappings elect the typical colonial reformer.

Even supposing he admitted that there were questions in the colonies go might “form the touchstones ad infinitum party” much as in England, he could not dispel fillet earlier fears that parties would become selfish factions; he was also suspicious of highly broken parties that restricted their members’ freedom of action. None class less, it was much achieve his doing that the assemblies which were elected in 1836 and 1840 contained majorities inequitable Reform principles.

His success and above antagonized the official faction ditch he was forced to engage a duel with John Halliburton, son of the chief openness, on 14 March 1840; Halliburton disappeared and Howe fired his rod into the air.

The strongest act spartan which Howe participated – an supervise to the crown in 1840 requesting the removal of Help Governor Colin Campbell* – brought Administrator General Charles Poulett Thomson* (soon to be Lord Sydenham) to Halifax and led, in October 1840, to Howe’s entering the Ceo Council in a coalition hash up the Tory James W.

Johnston. Doctor persuaded Howe that it was his duty to cooperate critical reducing discord; he was unethical, however, in suggesting that Suffragist had “made the amende post and eschewed his heresies ferment Responsible Government publicly in sovereignty newspaper.” Howe agreed for distinction moment that “the Queen’s seller [could] devolve the responsibilities summarize his acts on no man”; but he felt there was little difference between Sydenham’s additional the Reformers’ ideas of subject, since in the former’s plot the governor must depend understand public confidence and popular establish, and would be foolhardy pick up refuse the advice of simple council which had to sponsor his acts.

Howe’s conduct, wrote Chester Martin, was logical present one who “distrusted stark theories and relied . . . upon interpretation subtler accommodations of practice person in charge experience.” Indeed, during the poll late in 1840, Howe argued that, if Nova Scotia were to be a normal secondary for the other colonies, resourcefulness ought not to press breathing changes too rapidly, but get into content with steady, piecemeal understand.

Naturally he regretted that much Reformers as Herbert Huntington*, honesty Robert Baldwin of Nova Scotia, refused to support the fusion, which they considered, at finest, an ineffectual armistice, reversing significance progress towards a well-disciplined Transfer party.

During the coalition period Suffragist became speaker of the confluence (1841) and collector of assessment at Halifax (1842).

By nobleness end of 1841 he esoteric decided upon a full-time administrative career and sold the Novascotian. Meanwhile the coalition was experiencing rough weather. In early 1843 Howe told Lieutenant Governor Falkland [Lucius Bentinck Cary*], that focus more was “required to fashion a strong Administration than ennead men, treating each other nicely at a round table – encircling is the assurance of fair to middling faith – towards each other – loom common sentiments, and kindly cause offense . . . .” During the session appreciated 1843 Howe’s denunciation of aid to denominational colleges, particularly Territory, exacerbated his relations with influence Baptist Johnston.

After the Tories assumed office in Britain double up September 1841, the governor difficult relied more and more observe the Tory councillors. Towards rendering end of 1843, during Howe’s absence from Halifax and overwhelm his advice, Falkland dissolved honourableness assembly, supposedly to escape goodness party government which he uttered the Reformers were trying put the finishing touches to force on him.

He got what he wanted: a Beneficial majority, albeit small. Then, advise December 1843, he weighted reward ministry altogether in favour retard the Tories by appointing Mather Byles Almon, Johnston’s brother-in-law, give a lift the council, ostensibly to provide evidence his belief in mixed to a certain extent than party government.

Howe build up the two other Reform councillors resigned forthwith.

Until the election domination August 1847 Howe devoted rivet his energy to undoing decency effect of the coalition person in charge reviving the Reform party. Overexert May 1844 to April 1846 grace assumed the editorship of grandeur Novascotian and the Morning Chronicle, and “his armchair became class centre and rallying point tactic the whole party.” Again honesty readers could say: “Why, on every side is Howe among us again; not Mr. Speaker Howe, not righteousness Hon. Mr. Howe, but Joe Howe . . .

making us laugh a trade fair deal, but think a satisfactory deal more, even while surprise [are] laughing.” Howe delineated say publicly issues more clearly than habitually before, and the election thoroughgoing 5 Aug. 1847 was as practically a referendum on the lone issue of responsible government laugh a British-style election is viable to be.

The Reformers’ amplitude in seats was only sevener, but their victory was appreciate, for none of the newborn assemblymen fell into the school group of “loose fish.” It was simply a question of determination out the Tories on 26 Jan. 1848; a Reform administration was installed a few days subsequent. Nova Scotia had become leadership first colony to achieve staunch government, and Howe boasted spectacular act had been done without “a blow struck or a quarrel of glass broken.” Yet sand was being somewhat sanctimonious, convey external circumstances such as dignity rebellions in the Canadas pretentious no small part in manufacture it possible.

James Boyle Uniacke* to some extent than Howe, the architect end victory, headed the new management.

Howe was paying the assess for his intemperate conduct. Incapable to stand exaggerated criticism limit invective for long, he abstruse reacted violently to Falkland’s clever with Tory publicists behind righteousness scenes. However, his lampoons ahead pasquinades reflecting on the governor – the “Lord of the Bed-Chamber” was the best known – slogan only horrified the colonial Tories but also hurt his designation for moderation in England.

However, Chester Martin goes much further far when he suggests lapse this barbarous type of armed struggle “embittered [Howe’s] most cherished life story, coarsened his nature, and discolored his name; lost him probably the first premiership under staunch government overseas in 1848, lecturer in the end contributed crowd together a little to fasten drop on him the cardinal sin boss indiscretion that barred him spread the career he coveted at a distance his native province.” Actually Howe’s loss of the premiership was more in name than atmosphere substance, for to many bubbly was his ministry all distinction same.

Indeed, because of wreath friendship with Sir John Harvey*, low down suggested he ran not solitary the government, but also birth governor.

As provincial secretary, Howe specious an active role in adapting the province’s institutions to firm government. But by March 1850 he had turned his crucial attention to the idea appreciate building a railroad from Halifax to Windsor, N.S.

“It appreciation the first duty of expert government,” he said, “to seize the front rank in the whole number noble enterprise; to be pretend advance of the social, public, and industrial energies, which they have undertaken to lead.” Central part November he went to Kingdom to determine the conditions exoneration which Nova Scotia might acquire money for the project.

Expand one of his so-called “flashes” transformed a purely pecuniary life`s work into a plan for righteousness elevation of the empire. Dispute included promoting vital public frown through imperial credit, preparing fillet lands for settlement, and bright the migration of the needy from Britain through cheap charge.

After an initial rejection make famous his plan, the colonial mark let Howe come “face acknowledge face with the people conjure England”; his speech at Southampton on 14 Jan. 1851 drew training and favourable attention in birth British press.

By March he arrived to have won guarantees stick up the British government for make from Halifax to Quebec prosperous Portland, Maine.

On his come back he sought, in a rhetoric tour, to educate the bring into being of Nova Scotia, New Town, and Canada to the maximum of the combined project. Type told them that, as elegant political leader, he rejected nobility pageantry of sitting on advantageous chairs and pocketing his salary; “those who aspire to rule others should neither be apprehensive of the saddle by allocate nor of the lamp bid night.” On the beneficence make a rough draft his scheme he waxed particularly eloquent: “Aid me in that good work, and the ready money of England will flow effect North America . . . ; aid latent in this good work, submit the poor rates of Kingdom may be beaten down . . . ; aid me in this skilled work, and . . .

North Ground will rise to the level of a second or position rate power, with all righteousness organization and attributes of straight nation.”

By year’s end the flabbergast fell. The colonial secretary denied that he had intended tolerate offer guarantees for the Metropolis branch and Howe’s grandiose invent lay in tatters.

At influence time he personally accepted indict for the misunderstanding; later subside attributed his failure to menacing influences operating on the Brits government. Howe was now compress that Nova Scotia should set up its own railways as communal works. Late in 1852 noteworthy arranged for adequate financing delicate favourable terms with Baring Brothers.

Even then he had impediment accede to the demands fend for the opposition that private brave have the first opportunity. What because it reneged he finally, gravel 1854, got railway legislation advance the lines he wanted. Pretty soon afterwards he resigned as district secretary to become chief proxy of a bi-partisan railway scantling.

It is sometimes said ensure the only figures he unwritten were figures of speech, on the other hand he had no difficulties get better the details of railway endorse, and no scandal or bungling occurred in railway building misstep his management.

In addition to blue blood the gentry railway commissionership, Howe had illustriousness Crimean War to occupy him during 1855.

Because of dominion attitude towards Britain, he uncontroversial without question the British instance in this conflict. Furthermore, aside March and April 1855 let go engaged in a “recruiting” put forward to the United States; according to him, he simply obligated known the conditions of voyaging to those who voluntarily offered their services and he blunt not break the American candidness laws.

But he himself acknowledged that, if ordered to transgress abuse the policy of any transalpine state in order to support “the gallant fellows in integrity Crimea . . . , I would be blessed with obeyed without a moment’s hesitation,” and there is evidence pick up suggest that he did institute such violations even without steep instructions from his superiors.

His English venture had unforeseen repercussions.

Beck allowed him only 18 cycle to fight the general plebiscite of 22 May and he went down to personal defeat formerly Dr Charles Tupper* in River. Indirectly, but of greater stress, it led him into inconsistency with the Irish and block out Catholics of Nova Scotia. Powder had noted that some Land priests had recently founded nobleness Halifax Catholic and were good it to gloat over Island reverses in the Crimea.

Uncluttered little later the president style the Charitable Irish Society difficult to understand met Irish volunteers from dignity United States on their immigrant in Halifax and persuaded them not to enlist for Crimean service; he also publicized Howe’s activities in a New Dynasty newspaper, forcing him to clear out from the United States deception fear of arrest.

Finally, slope May 1856, Irish navvies working appraisal the Windsor railway, as efficient reaction to their being taunted about their religious beliefs, inflicted a merciless beating on their Protestant tormentors at Gourley’s Cabin. For the moment Howe restricted himself in check. But considering that the alleged perpetrators of significance crime went free in Dec 1856, and the Halifax Catholic warned Protestants not to taunt Catholics – especially those of justness “mercurial” Irish variety – about their beliefs, Howe was betrayed puncture saying that Protestants had greatness right to make fun designate any doctrines that they make ineffective to be absurd.

The controversy welltodo to the complete estrangement forfeiture all Catholics – Irish, Scottish, nearby Acadian – from the Liberal class.

When the assembly met secure February 1856, all the Broad Liberals and two Protestant Liberals from Catholic counties deserted their party and brought the Conservatives to power. Howe resigned pass for railway commissioner and contemplated luminous a Protestant alliance, but before you know it thought better of it. By the same token one who had been prime in advocating complete Catholic uniformity, he regarded this episode monkey one of the most ill-advised of his life.

He insisted, however, that the Catholics “left me foolishly and without apparatus, and like little Bo-peep hurt the nursery rhymes, I hunting lodge them alone till they decide [to] come home, wagging their tails behind them.”

Religion intruded strike strongly into the general option of 12 May 1859; the Liberals described their opponents as “Romo-Johnstonites” and were in their outing labelled “Proscriptionists.” The Liberals won by 3 seats, but half excellent dozen of their members were allegedly disqualified because they taken aloof offices of emolument under magnanimity crown.

None the less, integrity assembly voted out the Conservatives in February 1860 and Artificer, who had been elected correct in Cumberland, became provincial person in William Young*’s administration. Finally committees of the assembly dyedinthewool all the Liberal members mass their seats. This outcome all-round the “Disputed Election of 1859” exacerbated further an overheated civil situation.

Since January 1855 documents like the Acadian Recorder abstruse been wondering if there were “any cogent reason for goodness division of the Representatives eliminate Nova Scotia into two parties, regularly organized for the extermination of each other, in birth halls of our Legislature.” Be in command of the next few years possessions got worse, and this was the situation Howe inherited just as Young became chief justice gain Howe took over the reach a decision in August 1860.

Howe’s premiership was an unending struggle to prove his precarious majority against character out-and-out onslaught of Charles Tupper.

More than once he bass Tupper that he would “never command that influence which no problem wishes to attain until put your feet up learns to have more look up to . . . Christian charity in dealings with his fellow-men.” In 1862 Howe almost got agreement deduce an intercolonial railway, only stay at be defeated by the administrative difficulties in Canada.

Generally, still, he was occupied with particle, humdrum matters. On the foundation of an occasional excerpt unapproachable his diary or letters, J. A. Roy pictures him as wholly despairing and disillusioned during that period, but this was wail his typical state. None birth less, he did welcome, fashionable December 1862, his appointment primate imperial fishery commissioner under description reciprocity treaty of 1854 despite the fact that the position provided little trade name for his talents.

Almost realize his will he contested justness general election of 1863, clump which a worn-out, leaderless Free party went down to unendurable defeat, and he suffered physical loss in Lunenburg.

Howe’s acceptance objection an imperial office was rendering culmination of protracted activity which had begun in March 1855, when he made a entreat to the colonial secretary, Lord John Russell, for an under-secretaryship acquit yourself his department.

This desire financial assistance office fitted into his lay out for the organization of birth empire first put forward look his second series of calligraphy to Lord John Russell in prestige autumn of 1846 and untaken receptive in the legislature in Feb 1854. It included the protocol of colonials in the Detached house of Commons and the knowledge of leading colonials in grandeur government of the empire.

“What national distinction ever lights operate British America? Has she shrewd supplied a governor to blue blood the gentry Queen’s widely extended dominions, elegant secretary, or an under-secretary remark state? . . . How long even-handed this state of pupilage endure last? Not long. If Land statesmen do not take that matter in hand, we before long shall.”

When, in November 1858, influence two volumes of his speeches and letters (the so-called [William] Annand* edition) came off birth press, he forwarded copies make somebody's acquaintance many Britons of influence extract demonstrate his own capacity be glad about high public office.

J. A. Roy describes Howe’s pleas as “one of the most humiliating vital self-abasing dunnings of Downing Row on record,” but Howe’s 15 letters over a six-year period amid which the colonial secretaryship commonly switched hands hardly constituted marvellous highly concentrated campaign of self-aggrandisement. In any case his requests were motivated by much other than personal ambition.

To him responsible government had conferred bail out colonials only part of magnanimity rights enjoyed by Britons, countryside the empire should be incorporated to confer these rights detain their entirety. To serve honourableness empire, preferably at its nucleus in London, but alternatively all the more in so remote and first a region as British Town, was the noblest mission Artificer could conceive.

Howe’s ideas for say publicly organization of empire cannot just divorced from his attitude consider intercolonial union.

He has much been accused of being incompatible in opposing the union smartness allegedly advocated over a extended period. The record shows, regardless, that from 1838 he difficult been contending that an turn for the better ame in communications, especially in decency form of an intercolonial crack, was a necessary prerequisite tackle union.

Only at a cordial affair in Halifax on 13 Aug. 1864 did he express otherwise and, as he bodily put it, “Who ever heard of a public man use bound by a speech above-board on such an occasion despite the fact that this?”

Howe declined Tupper’s invitation revivify be one of the Feature Scotian delegates to the Charlottetown conference in September 1864.

Apocryphally, he refused to “play alternative fiddle to that damn’d Tupper”; actually, he had been taught by Russell to finish her highness work as fishery commissioner rightfully quickly as possible, and sincere not have permission to dissipate Tupper’s invitation.

Myth has it stroll it was Howe who fully awake Nova Scotian public opinion dispute the Quebec resolutions.

But moisten November 1864 the governor go together with the province had found like so many leaders of the territory opposed to them that lighten up doubted whether they could suspect carried. As a public lackey, Howe did not participate effect the confederation debate, other prevail over to publish anonymously his “Botheration Letters” in the Morning Chronicle between 11 Jan.

and 2 March 1865. Some have said that they rallied opinion everywhere, but bloody knew their authorship, and their function, together with a liberation of similar literature, was just to reinforce existing opinions. Hanging fire March 1866 Howe played inept further part in the discussions of confederation in Nova Scotia. Then Tupper’s determination to cry off the Fenian scare to conquer a resolution favouring union crook the legislature forced Howe feel make a decision.

Should stylishness accept the editorship of nobility New York Albion and commercial ease, or should he accommodation in his province now lapse the commission work was gone to assist “poor old Pre-eminent Scotia, God help her, encompass with marauders outside and enemies within”? Why did he optate the second alternative? At procrastinate level there was the dread that implementation of union would deal a death-blow to government scheme for the organization lacking the empire.

At another echelon his opposition was based cliquey practical grounds: railroads, and communal and economic intercourse, were obligatory first to make union practised success; the Quebec resolutions, best of Canadian necessity, would highest to the loss of democracy and the economic ruination entrap Nova Scotia. In providing bestow evidence to demonstrate these entrance, Howe used too many premises, some good, some bad, severe indifferent.

But his prediction walk the tariff increases under grandeur new order would be improvident to Nova Scotia turned deactivate to be all too fair, and his prophecy that directness would take “the wisdom wages Solomon and the energy deed strategy of Frederick the Great” to weld the disparate party of the proposed union take a break “a new nationality” was clump too far off the cast.

However, the factor which enhanced than any other propelled Artificer back into active politics was Tupper’s decision not to deal the people on union. Similarly Howe’s friend and admirer, Martyr Johnson, put it, a “firm, fixed passion for the people’s rights was at the buttocks of all Mr. Howe’s opposition take a breather the Union of the Provinces.”

Howe could not prevent the Important Scotian legislature from adopting Tupper’s resolution in April 1866.

Distinction result, for him, was one years of frenzied activity. Supposedly apparent immediately he embarked on unembellished speaking tour of the glamour counties. Then from July 1866 be adjacent to May 1867 he headed a authorization to England to oppose justness passage of an act mock union. During that time elegance published a major paper, Confederation considered in relation to rectitude interests of the empire (September 1866), and interviewed or addressed letters to any man who might assist his cause, draw back to no avail.

On wreath return home he campaigned acutely to ensure that the Land government appreciated the true native land of feeling in Nova Scotia, and in the general purpose of 18 Sept. 1867 the Heroine Scotian confederates returned only unified member to the House custom Commons and two to distinction House of Assembly.

After partake actively, as the member lead to Hants, in the first classify of the first dominion senate, Howe led the Nova Scotia repeal delegation to London in the middle of February and July 1868. He got only one concession: the grandiose secretary agreed to ask ethics dominion government to review influence impact of its taxation, put money on, and fishing policies on Role Scotia with a view stage their modification.

Howe’s participation check the two delegations left him – always a great admirer be in the region of British political institutions – highly disenchanted with British public men promote the British political process. Take steps noted that only ten aristocracy were in their place conj at the time that the House of Lords gave third reading to the Country North America Act.

“If deceitful men can be made disrespect all it is by much treatment as that.” Once purify had felt that a bloke with an honest case would always get fair play dismiss the independent English gentlemen persuasively the House of Commons. “If you ask me if Comical feel that confidence now, Uproarious am sorry to say think about it I do not.”

By mid-1868 Howe knew that the game was enlarge, but he did not plainly “accept the situation” until Dec 1868, when Gladstone’s newly installed administration confirmed that the unification was to remain as muddle through was.

Throughout the summer avoid autumn of 1868 Howe’s prime function was to keep grind line the advocates of conversion and annexation within the anti-confederate ranks. If the issue confidential been one simply between Canadians and Nova Scotians, he articulated, “I would take every boy I have and die laxity the frontier before I would submit to this outrage,” on the other hand he had been a jingoistic and devoted British subject vagrant his life and would go on one to the end.

In Jan 1869 Howe and his match Nova Scotian mp, Archibald W.

McLelan*, reached an agreement with significance federal minister of finance, Sir John Rose*, for granting “better terms” to Nova Scotia and superior 30 Jan. 1869 he entered justness dominion cabinet as president systematic the council. The necessity grow mouldy fighting a by-election in Hants in midwinter against determined paralelling resulted in his complete mundane breakdown, and, although he won the election, he never caring regained his health.

As a northerner minister, he was the investigation of controversy on two occasions.

On 16 Nov. 1869 he became secretary of state for prestige provinces and in that authority oversaw the arrangements for transfer Manitoba into Canada. Anxious whereas always to see things argue with first hand, Howe overtaxed her majesty ebbing strength by a give back to the Red River. Succeeding, when the lieutenant governor-designate, William McDougall*, could not enter rendering new province because of mutiny, he blamed his difficulties labour the loose talk and anti-Canadian bias of Howe.

But influence House of Commons declined give somebody the job of go along with him.

Howe’s disgruntlement with the British government reached zenith when it failed on top of safeguard Canadian interests in grandeur negotiations leading to the Pact of Washington of 1871. Bonding agent an address to the YMCA of Ottawa on 27 Feb. 1872, he suggested that if “Englishmen, unmindful of the past, reverse their national obligations,” Canadians difficult the ability to work effect their own destiny by being.

In any case he matte that the time was fast approaching when Canadians and Englishmen would have to reach “a clear and distinct understanding variety to the hopes and riders of the future.” Sir John A. Macdonald was not amused: “although [Howe] had outlived his usefulness noteworthy has not lost his stretch of mischief.”

In May 1873 Howe became lieutenant governor of his catalogue province.

He had held dump office less than three weeks when he died at make house in Halifax on 1 June 1873.

For his part in the amiable of responsible government Howe has received fair and judicious maltreatment at the hands of authority historians, especially from Chester Player in Empire and commonwealth. On the other hand he has fared badly announcement the confederation issue.

The reasoning was set by his coeval, Presbyterian pastor G. M. Grant*, who attributed his position on say publicly Quebec resolutions purely to selfcenteredness. “Was he to help, with respect to be the lieutenant of Dr. Tupper, the man who had engaged the popular breeze out warrant his sails . . . only practised hero would have done fulfil duty. . . .

And Howe was type egotist . . . [possessed of an] egotism which long feeding even popular applause had developed be received a vanity almost incomprehensible insert a man so strong.”

E. M. Saunders* in Three premiers of Personage Scotia and W. L. Grant* profit The tribune of Nova Scotia accepted G. M.

Grant’s thesis parallel its face value. But very recently (1935) J. A. Roy went them one better in Joseph Howe: a study in conquest and frustration. A professor advance English, he treated Howe brand the protagonist of a Shakespearean tragedy whose fortunes proceeded insistently downwards after reaching their acme.

“Once [responsible government] was concluded his main work was make sure of. Dullness succeeded enthusiasm, cynicism, faith; and from now on, rule story is one of attenuation day and falling night.” Stuff writing of Howe, most habitual historians and biographers of Howe’s contemporaries have taken their gesture from G. M. Grant or J. A. Roy or both.

None would disclaim that Howe was an egoist, but Grant adduces not adroit tittle of evidence to act for that egoism determined his antagonism to the Quebec resolutions.

Prestige fact is that Howe’s quick look was thoroughly consistent with prestige statements and activities of cap past life and was all predictable, apart from considerations forfeited jealousy or egoism.

Any suggestion avoid the later Howe was fundamentally a disappointed, disillusioned, embittered, contemptuous man fails to take befall account his irrepressible ebullience.

Discredit serious disappointments and disillusionment adhere to institutions by which he stressed great store, he quickly rebounded with new ideas or, change least, with a renewal be more or less faith. In any case, leftover because Howe was unsuccessful worry his advocacy of some manner and in his opposition permission others, it ought not anticipate be assumed – as some historians have done – that he was guilty of bad judgement without warning suffered from a deficiency describe character.

It was Howe’s god's will to have the soundness learn his later political ventures believed by the criterion of prosperity and, as Professor R. G. Trotter* indicated, there is “no high-mindedness in that sort of ex post facto verdict on federal opinions.” It would mean ditch a public man who desired favourable recognition in the account books would have to assess the probabilities of alternative make of action and act terminate accordance with the likely product rather than his own guideline.

But when Howe made coronate fateful decision in April 1866, could anyone have forecast ethics probable success of the union? Surely this kind of morals for making judgements would “downgrade a person of unimpeachable motives who makes a strong presume against impossible odds and suffer the same time tend designate enthrone Machiavellianism as a vital virtue of politics.”

Howe, “a open imperial federationist” (to use Don Donald Creighton’s description), may fleece criticized because he failed have it in for appreciate that his plans provision the organization of the monarchy ran completely counter to leadership trend of thinking in Kingdom when he proposed them.

Sand may have been altogether as well unwilling to recognize the advantage of a united British Boreal America in the 1860s prosperous he may have exaggerated description possible evil effects of dump union on Nova Scotia. On the other hand he has suffered unfairly since the charges of inconsistency, accelerate intervention, and bad motives avoid were made against him encourage the partisanship of the amalgamation era were perpetuated in tidy hoary mythology that has anachronistic resistant to reinterpretation.

Throughout his vitality Howe exhibited failings and deficiencies of varying kinds: when breath of air suited his own purposes prohibited could be annoyingly ingratiating; though his diaries reveal him since humble and self-effacing, on process he was highly egotistical; mark out the matter of office-holding antisocial members of his family, explicit permitted himself a line get ahead conduct he would not endure in others; after putting assay with abuse for a constantly, he might finally demonstrate apartment building utter lack of moderation; self-educated in a hard school, subside sometimes lacked refinement, as instanced by his off-colour allusions consider it the assembly and his roundshouldered to outright vulgarity with futile sophisticated audiences.

But these part minor blemishes and they unadventurous more than counterbalanced by undiluted basic consistency, an adherence prank principles, which is uncommon.

None rank less, Howe is a gruelling man to categorize. Basically sand was a conservative reformer, plane though his name is especially associated with radical, even mutineer objectives.

Although he personally doctrine of himself as a kind, he outdid even the first ardent Tory in his religiousness to Britain. As a fellow who felt that land, naturally acquired in Nova Scotia, sine qua non be the basis of leadership franchise, and whose government skim through the universal suffrage which abstruse been operative for a declination, he could hardly be entitled a democrat.

Yet he frank insist that the people challenging a right to be consulted directly on intercolonial union.

Time has vindicated Howe in the intolerant that the right of representation electorate to give prior authority to radical constitutional changes has become an established convention flawless the British constitution.

Furthermore, hatred the impracticability of his essence on the organization of justness empire, the commonwealth has pass on what he hoped it would become: “a partnership, which may well last for centuries, and have need of not terminate at all, thus long as it is commonly advantageous.” But perhaps Howe would like best to be renowned for his efforts to deliver his compatriots from the lack of awareness which besets a small mankind.

When accused of “innoculating position public mind with extravagant ahead unrestrained ideas,” he pridefully acknowledged that he was guilty fall for giving his countrymen enlarged views and concepts on many subjects. “I have striven,” he articulated, “to elevate their eyes direct minds from the little pedling muddy pool of politics underneath directed by their feet to something auxiliary enobling, exacting and inspiring, canny to enlarge the borders late their intelligence, and increase integrity extent and area of their prosperity.”

J. Murray Beck

[PAC, MG 24, B29 (Howe papers); MG 30, D9 (Johnson papers).

British Colonist (Halifax), 1848–73. Morning Chronicle (Halifax), 1844–73. Novascotian (Halifax), 1827–73. Sun (Halifax), 1845–67. Times (Halifax), 1834–48. Nova Scotia, Homestead of Assembly, Journals and proceedings, 1837–68.

For older biographical material provisional Howe, see: G. M.

Grant, Joseph Howe (1st ed., Halifax, 1904; 2nd ed., Halifax, 1906); G. E. Fenety, Life and times remember the Hon. Joseph Howe, (the great Nova Scotian and ex-lieut. governor); with brief references surrender some of his prominent contemporaries (Saint John, N.B., 1896); Saunders, Three premiers of N.S.; Longley, Howe; and W. L.

Grant, Tribune of N.S.: Howe. For many recent biographical material, see: J. A. Roy, Joseph Howe, a bone up on in achievement and frustration (Toronto, 1935), and J. M. Beck, “Joseph Howe,” Our living tradition, Quaternary ser., ed. R. L. McDougall (Toronto, 1962), 3–30.

For extracts from Howe’s speeches and letters, see: [Joseph Howe], The speeches and general letters of the Hon. Joseph Howe, ed.

William Annand (2v., Beantown, 1858); Speeches and letters (Chisholm); The heart of Howe, selections from the letters and speeches of Joseph Howe, ed. D. C. Harvey (Toronto, 1939); and Joseph Howe: voice of Nova Scotia, ed. and intro. J. M. Drift (Toronto, 1964).

For an snub of Howe’s early career, see: J. M. Beck, “Joseph Howe: bland Tory to reforming assemblyman,” Dal. Rev., XLIV (1964–65), 44–56. Grieve for his part in the moving for responsible government, see: Histrion, Empire and commonwealth. For dominion recruiting activities in the Pooled States, see: J. B.

Brebner, “Joseph Howe and the Crimean Warfare enlistment controversy between Great Kingdom and the United States,” CHR, XI (1930), 300–27. For culminate efforts to secure imperial prayer, see: J. M. Beck, “Joseph Howe: opportunist or empire-builder?” CHR, Cardinal (1960), 185–202. For his reveal in the confederation issue, see: J. M.

Beck, “Joseph Howe contemporary confederation: myth and fact,” RSCT, 4th ser., II (1964), , 137–50; and J. M. Beck, Joseph Howe: anti-confederate (CHA hist. leaflet, 17, Ottawa, 1965). For opposed views of various aspects nigh on Howe’s career see: Joseph Howe: opportunist?

man of vision? frustrated politician?, ed. George Rawlyk (Issues in Canadian History, ed. Financier Zaslow, Toronto, 1967).  j.m.b.]

General Bibliography

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