Letter from Lachlan McCallum to Sir John A. Macdonald, 16 February 1891

Abstract

A letter written by Lachlan McCallum to Sir John A. Macdonald reads: "Yours of the 12th inst. is at hand and I am very much pleased to hear from you and note particularly what you say. In reply would say that I have no wish to...the question now before the country as you say with canal management by Mr. Ellis & Co. that is done by your government and all that I can do cannot prevent it while your government keeps him Ellis on the canal.

As for me being loyal and may be the cause of defeating loyal men in a fight for British connection I must plead not guilty. Allow me to say to you in all kindness that you cannot consider the danger to be very great or you will remove the cause of the trouble in this part of the country by the dismissal from office of those that have been proven by sworn evidence to have disgraced their position under your government and I am of opinion that that would have been done long ago if your loyal candidates and men you speak of understood the interest of the party of the government and the country.

And I would further say that I am not asking anything unreasonable in requesting you to remove or dismiss those proven guilty of wrongdoing by the evidence at the canal investigation. If this is not done I have no blame in the matter it rests with you my chief.

I will vote for your candidate and get those that I can directly control to do the same as far as I can be consistent in doing so for your sake, but there will be a number of your supporters on former occasions and I may say supporters of your by every vote cast during their lives who will not vote for your candidates and may vote for the other side and no living man can prevent them from doing so while you keep Mr. Ellis in power and to be honest I cannot blame them after the treatment received. So if you do have a miscarriage with some of your candidates in the Niagara district do not blame me but put the blame on the right shoulders where it belongs on your own government by their actions as to Ellis & Co.

I have no doubt but hope not that your candidates will have to answer all that has taken place as to canal management by Ellis & Co. and if so how can they answer in favor of your government unless by clubbing me and that I will not stand. I think I can see the storm coming and it is not for me but for you to act in the matter as I must stand by my remarks made as proven by the evidence no matter who may suffer until the cause is removed.

I hope you will pardon me for troubling you at such length. I think it my duty to let you know how matters stand although I know that I am trespassing on your valuable time.