The warhorse of Confederation, the great Charles Tupper of Nova Scotia, delivered his maiden remarks in the new Dominion of Canada’s Parliament on this date in 1867.
“I, Sir, from the first hour of my public life, been an ardent advocate the Union of British North America under one Government,” he told the House. “Whether considered in relation to the position and progress of the whole Confederation or in reference to the Province of Nova Scotia, to which I belong, I have never doubted the advantage of Union.”
Tupper would go on to hold most of the senior cabinet positions under Sir John A. Macdonald, and eventually, in 1896, serve ever-briefly as Prime Minister in his own right.
You can read the future PM’s remarks in Canada’s first Parliament in full at this link.