Gentleman's taunts
might have been spared.
"The British Provinces had taxed themselves 360,000l. a-year for
the execution of these works, which Lord Durham had proposed in 1838,
with the object of binding together, by the means of physical
communication, the varied sections of the Queen's American dominions.
"The evidence of every military man, including Sir John Michell, the
present Commander-in-Chief in Canada, was that this Railway was
absolutely necessary for the military defence of the Colonies. It was,
however, to be defended not only on that ground, but upon the ground of
its great commercial advantages.
"There were now in the Government offices memorials from many of the
large towns in the three kingdoms, concurring in the commercial
necessity and advantages of the measure which the House was now asked
to agree to. Therefore, originating as it did with Lord Durham, -
sanctioned as it was by Lord Grey's proposals of 1851 - adopted by the
late and present Governments, - demanded for purposes of defence, as
also for the more genial and generous objects of commerce and peace, -
he hoped the House would support the construction of the Railway by a
guarantee, which would not cost this country a shilling."
The motion for giving the guarantee was carried by 247 votes to 67 - or
by a majority of 180.
