Squelching the Disloyal, Fenian-Sympathizing Brood: T. W. Anglin and Confederation in New Brunswick, 1865–6

WILLIAM M. BAKER uelchmg the Dis a FemanSympathiZing Brood: T.W.Angh'n andConfederation in NewBrunswick, 1865-6 IT IS A SIMPLEGEOGRAPHICAL TRUTHthat without New Brunswick,British NorthAmerican unionwasanimpossibility. In anelection heldin thespring of I865, however,New Brunswick overwhelmingly rejectedthe Quebec Resolutions. • OneyearlatertheConfederates regained powerbyanequally decisive margin.The reasons forthistremendous reversal werenumerous but perhaps themost important wasthe'loyalty' cryraised bytheConfederates? , The closest approximationto accurateresultsseemsto be that twenty-nineantiConfederates and twelve Confederates were elected.SeeNew BrunswickReporter (Fredericton),3' March ,865; MorningFreeman(St John), 3ø March ,865; and PublicArchivesof Canada[PAG], New Brunswick, Lieutenant-Governor's Letter Books, r.xiii,ArthurGordonto EdwardCardwell,e7March ,865. e A more detailed account of the various factors involved in the reversal can be found in W.M. Baker,'No Shillelagh:The Life, Journalism and Politicsof Timothy Warren Anglin' (unpublishedPHDdissertation, University of WesternOntario, •97' ) Seealsothe relevantsections in the recentgeneralworkson the Confederation era by D.G. Creighton,The Road to Confederation: The Emergence of Canada •863-•867 (Toronto i964); W.L. Morton, The Critical Years:The Unionof BritishNorth America•857-•873 (Toronto ,964); and P.B.Waite, The Life and Timesof Confederation •864-•867 (Torontoi96e). Otherusefulbooks are: J.K. Chapman,The Careerof Arthur Hamilton Gordon:First Lord StanmoretSe9it91 , e (Toronto,964); J. Hannay,Historyof New Brunswick (St John,909); W.S. MacNutt,New Brunswick: A History•784-•867 (Toronto,963). Articlesof value are: A.G. Bailey,'The Basisand Persistence of Opposition to Confederation in New Brunswick,' CanadianHistoricalReview [CHR],XXU,,I94e, 374--97;A.G. Bailey,'Railwaysandthe Confederation Issuein New Brunswick, ,863-,865,' CHR, XX•,,94o, 367--83;J.K. Chapman,'Arthur Gordonand Confederation,' CHR,XXXVU, '956, '4'-57; D.C. Harvey,'The Maritime Provinces and Confederation,' Canadian HistoricalAssociation, Report,•9e7, 39-45; P.B. Waite, 'Edward Cardwell Vol. LVNo e June'974 142 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW It willbethepurpose ofthis paper todemonstrate thatone significant element of this'loyalty' involved drawing a connection between fourapparently separate entities: Catholicism, Fenianism, anti-Confederation, andTimothy Warren Anglin. TheConfederates wereabletolinkthese fourinsuch away that an attack on one was an attack on all. Anglinhad beenborninto a landowning familyof CatholicIrishat Clonakilty, CorkCounty, in 1822. Throughout hisyouth heappeared headed foraprofessional career, butthegreat famine of 18459 destroyed thefamily savings and in I849 Timothydecided to seekFortunain St John,New Brunswick. He foundherquickly.Less thantwomonths after. hisarrivalin thecity,hebrought outthefirstissue ofa newnewspaper, theFreeman. The Freeman provided ablesupport fortheLiberal side ofNewBrunswick politics until 1855whenAnglinfelloutwiththeCharles Fisher-S.L. Tilleyfo.rces, or 'Smashers' astheybecame known, overtheProhibition bill.It wasalso during the 185os thatAnglinassumed thelayleadership oftheIrishCatholic communityin NewBrunswick. Hisgeneral approach to politics wasoneof nonviolentredress of grievances; to urgepatience andgoodconduct onthose he led,andontheirbehalfto demand 'justice' fromthesystem anditsleaders. Hiswasa 'noshillelagh' style ofleadership. Whilehismainsource ofstrength lay within the Irish community,it is clear from his electionto the New Brunswick Assembly in 1861that the appealof hispoliticalviewswasnot restricted to that group.Certainlyfrom 1861to 1866Anglinwasoneof the half-dozen most influential politicians intheprovince despite orbecause ofhis consistent opposition to theSmashers. Of utmost significance isthefactthat perhaps morethan anyone elsein New Brunswick hespearheaded thecampaignagainst Confederation. It isimpossible to analyse herewhyhethought thatBritishNorth Americanunionalongthelinesof theQuebec Resolutions wouldbeeconomically andpoliticallydisadvantageous to St JohnandNew Brunswick andwhy heconsidered that Confederation wouldbeweakness not strength onthequestion ofdefence andtheimperialtie,butheargued hiscase strenuously and convincingly, andhaddonesoa yearbeforethe Charlottetown Conferenceevermet. Indeed, it would be difficultto overestimate his rolein defeating the Quebec Resolutions in 1864--5,andaftertheelection he tooka positio.n ontheExecutive Council, though without portfolio/It was and Confederation,' CHR,xt•In, •962, •7-4•; C. Wallace,'Albert Smith,Confederation , and Reactionin New Brunswick •852-x882,'cI-tR, xt•v, •963, 285-3x2;and G.E. Wilson,'New Bmnswick's EntranceInto Confederation,'cI-tR,IX, •928, 4-24. See alsoC. Wallace, 'The Life and Times of Sir Albert JamesSmith' (unpublishedMaster 'sdissertation, Universityof New Brunswick,x96o). 3 After the Confederate victoryof •866, Anglin resolved to acceptthe situationand giveConfederation a fair trial. He foundit not totally unsatisfactory. As early as •872 he had backedinto Canadianismasthe leastrepugnantof alternatives and CONFEDERATION IN NEW BRUNSWICK 143 obvious,then, that if the Confederates couldundermineAnglin, the antiConfederates wouldbegravely weakened. In conjunction withtheConfederates' needto reduce Anglin'sappealwas theconviction of Confederates suchasJ.H. Graythatin the 1865 election the RomanCatholics ofNew Brunswick hadvotedagainst Confederation 'almost to a man. '4 They votedlike a flockof sheep. Out of a thousand votesin thisCity & County upwardsof...