Wilmot and Tilley

The Story

The narrative begins with Lemuel Allan Wilmot, born into a family with deep roots in New Brunswick, who emerges as a passionate reformer in the province’s early political scene. The book traces Wilmot’s journey from his early life and education through his active participation in the House of Assembly beginning in 1835. His initial efforts focus on reforming the colonial administration, particularly the opaque and unfair customs duties system, which funneled revenue away from the colony’s legislature to the British exchequer. Wilmot’s early legislative work includes addressing boundary disputes with Maine and advocating for judicial expenses, but his most persistent cause is political reform, especially the demand for responsible government—where the executive is accountable to the elected assembly rather than the colonial governor or appointed councils.

Wilmot confronts entrenched interests in the executive and legislative councils, bodies dominated by officials who hold their positions independently of the legislature and resist reform. The governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, supports this status quo, making Wilmot’s reform efforts difficult. Despite setbacks, Wilmot champions education reform, pushing for better schools and a more inclusive college charter, though these efforts repeatedly meet resistance from conservative religious authorities and the legislative council.

As Wilmot’s political career advances, he becomes attorney-general and later a judge and lieutenant-governor, reflecting both his influence and the complexities of colonial governance. His speeches reveal a deep commitment to the principle that government power derives from the people, not the Crown, and that responsible government is essential to good administration.

Parallel to Wilmot’s story, the book introduces Sir Leonard Tilley, whose political career begins as Wilmot’s ends. Born in 1818 in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Tilley comes from a loyalist farming family with a history of allegiance to the British Crown. His rise in politics coincides with a period of significant change in the Maritime provinces. Tilley’s early career is marked by business success and entry into the legislature in 1850. He becomes involved in key issues such as the prohibitory liquor law, reflecting the social and moral concerns of the time, and the push for infrastructure development, notably the Intercolonial Railway, which would link the Maritime provinces with Canada.

Tilley plays a central role in the movement toward Maritime union and ultimately Canadian confederation. He participates in the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences, where delegates from the Maritime provinces and Canada negotiate the terms of union. Despite initial opposition and political setbacks, including the defeat of confederation proposals in New Brunswick, Tilley’s leadership helps secure eventual acceptance. He serves as finance minister and later as lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, guiding the province through the transition into the Canadian federation.

Throughout the book, the political and social context of New Brunswick and the Maritime provinces is richly detailed. The struggles over responsible government, education reform, infrastructure, and confederation are set against the backdrop of colonial administration, local interests, and imperial policies. The narrative closes with the establishment of the first Canadian parliament and the integration of New Brunswick into the new Dominion of Canada, marking the culmination of the political careers of both Wilmot and Tilley and the realization of many of their reformist goals.

The People

• Lemuel Allan Wilmot: A reform-minded legislator and later judge, Wilmot seeks to wrest control of colonial revenues and governance from entrenched officials and the imperial government. His obstacles include a resistant legislative council and conservative religious authorities. He ends his career as lieutenant-governor, respected for his oratory and dedication to responsible government.

• Sir Leonard Tilley: Emerging from a loyalist farming background, Tilley balances business acumen with political leadership. He champions infrastructure projects like the Intercolonial Railway and plays a pivotal role in Maritime union and Canadian confederation. Despite early opposition, he becomes finance minister and lieutenant-governor, guiding New Brunswick into the Dominion.

• Governor Sir Archibald Campbell: Representing imperial authority, Campbell supports the established executive council and resists reform efforts, embodying the colonial government's conservative stance that Wilmot and others challenge.

• Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils: Figures like Baillie, Robinson, Odell, Street, and Saunders hold entrenched positions, opposing reform and maintaining control over colonial administration, often at odds with the elected assembly.

• Opposition Leaders and Reformers: Various political figures, including Mr. Fisher and John Ambrose Street, illustrate the shifting alliances and tensions within New Brunswick politics, especially around confederation and government reform.

• Lady Tilley: Beyond politics, she contributes significantly to social welfare, founding hospitals and reformatories, reflecting the broader social responsibilities embraced by political families of the era.

In Its Own Voice

Wilmot’s commitment to reform and the people’s power is clear in his speech on responsible government:

"The freedom of government does not come down from the Crown, it goes up from the people; and if the people are fit for these institutions they are fit for self-government."

On education reform, Wilmot laments the public’s apathy:

"Before I sit down I must again revert to the greatest difficulty which has to be encountered to render the provisions of that bill effective... I mean the apathy of the parents themselves."

Reflecting on peace and unity between English-speaking peoples, Wilmot declares at a convention:

"The spirit of peace has at last prevailed... National hostility has given way to commercial and social intercourse... they can never again become hostile or unfriendly."

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the evolution of colonial governance in New Brunswick and the Maritime provinces, focusing on the struggle for responsible government—a system where elected representatives hold real power rather than appointed officials or imperial governors. This political transformation is not merely administrative but deeply tied to ideas of democracy, accountability, and the rights of the governed.

The tension between entrenched colonial elites and reformers like Wilmot highlights the challenges of dismantling old power structures resistant to change. The legislative council’s role as a conservative check on reform, often unelected and unaccountable, embodies the obstacles to democratic progress.

Education reform emerges as a significant theme, illustrating the broader social challenges of the time. Wilmot’s efforts to improve schools and make education more accessible reveal the intersection of politics, religion, and public will. The resistance from religious authorities to changes in college governance underscores the sectarian divisions influencing public policy.

The book also delves into the economic and infrastructural development of the region, particularly through the Intercolonial Railway project. This endeavor symbolizes the practical and political efforts to unify the Maritime provinces with Canada, facilitating commerce, communication, and political integration.

Confederation itself is portrayed as both a political achievement and a contested process. Tilley’s role in the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences, the electoral battles over union, and the eventual acceptance of the British North America Act reflect the complexities of nation-building. The narrative does not shy away from the opposition and doubts that accompanied this transformation, showing confederation as a negotiated and sometimes fragile consensus.

Finally, the book touches on social reform and moral issues, such as the prohibitory liquor law, reflecting changing attitudes toward public health and social order. These elements provide a fuller picture of the era’s political and social landscape.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a detailed, grounded account of a formative period in Canadian history through the lives of two influential figures. Readers interested in political history, colonial governance, and the origins of Canadian confederation will find rich insights into the practical and ideological struggles that shaped modern Canada.

The writing is precise and warm, avoiding sensationalism, which makes the complex political developments accessible without oversimplification. However, the period language and detailed legislative discussions may require patience and attention from modern readers.

The book also provides valuable context for understanding ongoing themes in Canadian politics, such as federal-provincial relations, the balance of power, and the role of political reform movements. The personal stories of Wilmot and Tilley bring humanity to these larger historical processes, making the abstract tangible.

Readers should be aware of the 19th-century attitudes reflected in the text, including the colonial mindset and the social norms of the time, which may feel dated but are integral to understanding the historical context.

Ultimately, the book leaves a lasting impression of the slow, often contested progress toward democratic governance and national unity, offering lessons on leadership, perseverance, and the complexities of political change.