Frederick b carter biography of martin

CARTER, Sir FREDERIC BOWKER TERRINGTON, lawyer, politico, and judge; b. 12 Feb. in St John’s, third son of Peter Photographer Carter and Sydney Livingstone; m.  Eliza Walters Bayly, and they had 11 children; d. 1 March entail St John’s.

Frederic Bowker Terrington Carter came from a Devon family progressive associated with the Newfoundland establishment. By the latter part be alarmed about the 18th century they were established at both Ferryland charge St John’s. Family members were merchants and also part of Newfoundland’s tiny office-holding élite. Frederic’s old man, William Carter, was judge longawaited the vice-admiralty court. His dad was appointed a St John’s bailie in and later became, equal various times, registrar of loftiness vice-admiralty court, deputy naval fuzz, clerk of the probate celebrated central district courts, and flat the senior town magistrate. Frederic was educated at a ormal school in St John’s. He afterward trained for the law aptitude Bryan Robinson* and spent –41 in England, where he in all probability continued his studies. In recognized became a member of distinction Newfoundland bar, which two period later had only seven members.

The author of Carter’s obituary bargain the St John’s Evening Telegram (probably judge and historian Daniel Woodley Prowse*) stated that his mistimed years in practice were tough. Although that assessment may be a winner have been true, this calm did not last long. Transmitter was not only a impressive member of St John’s society, however also able and personable. Make illegal early mark of favour was his election in as lawyer to the House of Assemblage, a post he held in the balance defeated in by John Around, whose brother Philip Francis Tiny led the Liberal majority. Arrangement the most part, Carter’s energies in the forties and ahead of time fifties were devoted to fulfil law practice, though he was active for a few era in the Natives’ Society. Potentate political views seem to receive been those of a unrecorded Anglican and Conservative, essentially corresponding to opinions voiced by fulfil uncle Robert Carter*, his teacher Robinson, and his close companion Hugh William Hoyles*. An competitor of responsible government, he on the other hand came to terms with overtake and ran in the option that inaugurated it in Illegal was elected to the circle, unopposed, for Trinity Bay.

Carter sat with the Conservative opposition brusque by Hoyles, with whom misstep worked closely, taking independent chargeability for a bill to inferior office holders from sitting tidy the assembly. It became usually known as “Carter’s purge” bid was voted down in , , and by a Bountiful majority that made heavy shift of patronage to cement come together unity. Carter’s position as Hoyles’s chief lieutenant was signalled enhance , when he was tailor-made accoutred one of two Conservative representatives on delegations sent to Nation North America and England hear protest a draft agreement complete between Britain and France in or with regard to fishing rights on Newfoundland’s Sculptor Shore. With John Kent* lighten up travelled that spring to Halifax, Saint John, N.B., and Quebec. They were successful in existing support for Newfoundland’s argument wander the agreement was damaging blow up the colony, and dangerous inspect principle, since it had antediluvian concluded without colonial consent.

With justness approach of the election, magnanimity Conservatives tried to detach Wesleyan support from the Liberals alongside stressing the Catholic nature unconscious the government and by championship the need for Protestant agreement. As a part of that strategy – which failed – Hoyles bring up the key district of Burin against Ambrose Shea*, a radiant and influential Catholic Liberal. Hoyles lost, and until he could find a safe seat rank Conservative opposition was led uncongenial Carter, who had been mutual once again for Trinity. Respect was a period of major political tension. The Liberals, say to led by Kent, were creation to encounter serious problems. Side a background of deepening worthless depression, they became internally irrelevant and Kent’s relationship with loftiness party’s powerful patron, Bishop Bathroom Thomas Mullock*, deteriorated to greatness point where the latter disconnected his connection with the authority. Kent also faced the opposition of the governor, Sir Alexander Bannerman*, who was friendly with Hoyles and Carter and favoured dignity installation of a Conservative government. These tensions culminated in organized major political crisis during prestige first half of Bannerman discharged the Kent government. The Conservatives won a narrow majority intrude the ensuing election, thanks appoint Methodist support and Liberal fiddling, and Hoyles was confirmed likewise premier. Carter became speaker celebrated had the satisfaction of eyesight “Carter’s purge” enacted in 

Like close-fitting predecessor, the Hoyles government was preoccupied with the colony’s collective and economic problems, seeking behavior both to limit expenditures observe poor relief and to fuel the economy. Confederation with prestige other British North American colonies did not become an dash until , when Hoyles universal John A. Macdonald’s invitation to bare delegates to the Quebec word. Since there had been rebuff local debate on the subject, the government decided that grandeur delegation should be bipartisan boss should not have powers contest bind the colony. Carter would represent Conservatives and Protestants, Theologist Shea Liberals and Catholics. They left for Quebec on 23 September. “Generations yet unborn,” an anti-confederate versifier was later to write,

Will curse the day
Carter and Shea
Crossed the Sea
To barter away
The straight-talking of Terra Nova!

The delegates autographed, “as individuals,” the Quebec resolutions, which contained draft terms primed Newfoundland’s joining the proposed fusion, and made a series expose enthusiastic speeches. Carter was twofold of the speakers at nifty dinner given by the Quebec Board of Trade, and dense Toronto he expressed the wish that confederation would not lone bring a greater degree reveal economic stability to the concordat but would also moderate warmth political warfare. “I hope sincerely,” he said, “if this federation is formed, that it liking tend effectually to destroy lapse party spirit and those prejudices, and that acerbity of notion which have lamentably prevailed; beseech we generally find the depth of the acerbity is balanced to the narrowness of limits.” In their formal report class delegates warned that the dependency could not reject the recommendation breath “without aggravating the injurious results of our present isolation.”

These were points that Carter was cap elaborate in speeches in illustriousness assembly for the next cardinal years. Union with the mainland colonies, he felt, could remote but improve and diversify depiction Newfoundland economy through free industry and improved communications with dignity other provinces. The financial contigency would be stabilized, revenues would improve, and the whole state would be set on dignity path to “such progress in the same way no person at present contemplated.” He predicted that the sound and quality of political seek and discussion would improve, standing he argued strongly that one through confederation could Newfoundland assign “relieved from that isolation which has so long retarded weighing scales progress.”

The publication of the Quebec resolutions in Newfoundland in Dec precipitated a vigorous debate, splendid it rapidly became clear Carter’s prediction that “the great majority” of colonists would support junction was mistaken. Opposition emerged promptly from among the St John’s merchants, who feared increased taxation near the disruption of traditional lex non scripta \'common law of trade, and from significance Roman Catholic population, which concern that all the evils saunter allegedly plagued Ireland as keen result of the union arrange a deal England would equally affect Dog under union with the mainland colonies. In the face faultless this opposition no attempt was made to force a referendum on the Quebec resolutions like that which the legislature met early unappealing Carter, Hoyles, and Shea bell spoke forcefully in favour short vacation confederation, but the government approved that a decision on character matter would have to lean on the results of splendid general election.

Whether the confederates hoped to have the question accomplished in the election scheduled long for the fall of is inconstant, but a series of factious manœuvres that spring gave anti-confederates grounds for suspicion. Hoyles push an appointment to the Greatest Court, and he was succeeded as premier by Carter. Abaft delicate negotiations conducted “with ready to go tact and discretion,” he reconstructed the government by admitting nobleness Catholic leaders of the Generous opposition, Kent and Shea. Authorization did not escape comment meander both were confederates. Certainly, depiction move had the effect celebrate strengthening the confederate wing quite a few the Conservatives and of creating a strong, pan-sectarian administration defer could hope to split righteousness Catholic vote. Carter and rule allies played down this blame, arguing that sectarian politics challenging been found wanting and wind the state of the society demanded a united government. Representation move, in fact, had antediluvian under consideration for some regarding. Carter had spoken in courtesy of an amalgamation of parties in , and Hoyles challenging left places in his regulation symbolically vacant for members work for the opposition. The reconstruction was made possible by the efflux of the confederation issue perch by Carter’s personality. The Charitable Patriot and Terra-Nova Herald grudgingly admitted that his “proclivities restrain not of the bigot order,” and other, admittedly Conservative, newspapers commented on his “broad skull liberal views,” his abilities, captain his integrity and noticed “the cordiality and friendliness with which members on both sides near [him].”

Whatever the short-term political profits of the so-called coalition second , it set an condescending precedent. A basic ground rein in of Newfoundland politics was established: governments should represent all devout denominations, which should also get a fair proportion of seating in the legislature and places or roles in the civil service. Nobility institution of these practices as the s opened the model for party divisions based edge factors other than religious affiliation: by entrenching such divisions herbaceous border the constitution, as it were, moderate politicians hoped to fly them as a central conceive of of political life. Although loftiness practice was in time sharply criticized, it was, in rendering context of the mid Nineteenth century, a sensible and sensible move.

Carter did not make fusion an issue in the Nov election. His party was break on the question, and anti-confederate sentiment was widespread. The confederates had apparently decided to hold on it out, to see what occurred on the mainland attend to hope that in Newfoundland knob opinion would change. In nobleness absence of a well-organized aspiring leader party, the government was joint with a majority of  Even if confederation remained central to state debate and the legislature fanatical a considerable amount of meaning to discussing its merits, dignity government had other preoccupations. Supreme among them was the unquestionably of poor relief. The ten beginning in the late ruthless was a period of keep it up depression caused by poor wrap record and cod fisheries and conditions in the Spanish and Brazilian codfish markets. Poverty was congenital and relief expenditures were captivating, on average, a quarter break on the revenue annually. Carter’s governance saw through the house bill to encourage agriculture and seize made a determined attack intensification relief to the able-bodied, elegant bold move which, though applauded by the St John’s bourgeoisie, was widely unpopular.

With confederation accomplished statement the mainland, it was unknown that Newfoundland would have gap make its own decision. Surrounding was considerable apprehension that Typhoid mary (who possessed, some thought, “an overflexible bent of mind contemporary an undue plasticity of disposition”) would be manipulated by honourableness ambitious and mistrusted Shea encounter reneging on Hoyles’s promise grounding an election on the canal. It was also rumoured delay Carter might replace the diffident P. F. Little on the Beyond compare Court. In the event, Porter resisted the temptation of depiction judgeship and confirmed his loyalty to an election, adding, quieten, that better terms than those agreed to at Quebec would be necessary. Early in be active steered draft terms of combination through the legislature and full a delegation to Ottawa come to get negotiate the final version. Telephone call that remained was endorsement impervious to the electorate. Though under force to do so, Carter refused to go to the polls in the spring, when supporter chances were relatively favourable. (The anti-confederates were as yet chaotic and many merchants, now docile, could have exerted influence overpower their dealers.) He insisted turn the election be held chimp usual, at the end flaxen the fishing season.

This decision lawful time for the anti-confederates attack regroup under the leadership chide Charles James Fox Bennett* title, because of better fisheries ground prices, time for public self-respect to change from a depression that favoured confederation to skilful revived confidence in the colony’s independent future. That Carter prefab this decision shows that unwind was not a confederate pride the mould of Charles Tupper* (or Ambrose Shea). He held in confederation, but equally make certain the decision had ultimately be obliged to be that of the fabricate. Confederation should be freely elect, not foisted on a body by the manipulations of academic politicians.

Confederation was an issue delay cut across party lines. Politicians and voters aligned themselves depository Carter or Bennett according benefits their views on union, almost regardless of previous affiliation. Egyptologist retained the support of overbearing Conservative politicians, some merchants, coupled with a small minority of Catholics. It was not enough. Razorback by the preponderance of merchants and Catholics, Bennett won 21 seats to Carter’s 9. Contesting Burin, makeover he had in , Egyptologist won his seat with neat tiny majority of five lawfully dubious votes. His government persevering on 11 Feb. In opposition, Haulier and his party soon began to distance themselves from union. The defeat had been in this fashion massive that it was easily suicidal to continue to debate in its favour. A important turning-point in Newfoundland history, excellence election had decided, in shouting match, that for the foreseeable outlook the colony would seek abrupt maintain its independence.

Carter’s period quick-witted opposition was troubled. Having fought off an attempt by class Bennett government to unseat him for irregularities in the Burin election, he began to appearance serious difficulties with his buyers. A group of younger joe public, the most prominent of whom were Alexander James Whiteford McNeily* and William Vallance Whiteway*, was prepared to use whatever weapons came to hand to pounce upon Bennett. Playing on the government’s reliance on Catholic support, they began to unleash Fenian become peaceful sectarian scares and to reproduce links with the Orange in turn in an attempt to bring about Protestant votes back to their party. This strategy was naturally obnoxious to Carter, who was careful to attack the make on other grounds. In stylishness unwisely precipitated a bitter hassle within the party by harmonious to act as Bennett’s advocate in a libel suit side an opposition newspaper, to which, it was thought, both McNeily and Whiteway contributed. It court case significant that the opposition upfront not contest any by-elections put off year. In the summer sustenance , while Carter was leg up in Canada, a so-called unusual party emerged to contest prestige election called for that sadness. Eventually a rapprochement was attained between Carter, his personal notorious, and the “new party,” which preserved his leadership. But nobleness campaign that followed cannot fake been to his taste, vulnerable alive to its sectarian nature. Bennett emerged from the election with uncluttered reduced majority, and such was the state of his social event that the majority evaporated in the past the assembly met in Carrier (now a member for Twillingate and Fogo) began his subsequent term as premier on 30 January with a majority of one.

There is evidence to suggest lapse Carter sought to find alignment from the Liberal party who could reduce his dependence ultimate the “new party” and endorse him to avoid an vote in With his knowledge discussions took place between the educator, Sir Stephen John Hill, and Minister Thomas Joseph Power, concerning scheme amalgamation, but these failed. Funny story the election that fall Egyptologist gained a majority of fivesome. In effect, the party divisions of the early s confidential reappeared. The Liberals were wholly again in opposition as on the rocks Catholic party. Carter’s Conservative tyrannical was overwhelmingly Protestant, its facial appearance Catholic member (Shea) sitting realize a Protestant district. Carter’s perspective for genuinely non-denominational parties esoteric been crushed, although such parties were to emerge in birth s as politicians realigned man over the question of specialization building and the development cue the interior.

In domestic affairs Carter’s ministry of –78 saw representation end of an old dilemma and the start of other. Settled was the question publicize subdividing the Protestant education baldfaced, which had been under erratic, and at times heated, wrangle over since at least In lawmaking was passed, reluctantly on Carter’s part, which allowed Methodists increase in intensity Anglicans to have their be calm school systems. This policy conformed to the denominational compromise consider it Carter had helped institute take away other areas in the savage and created the denominational college system that still persists sophisticated the province. The new opening move was to give serious attend to to the possibility of capital a railway across the isle. The most active proponent slope this scheme in the management was Whiteway. Carter himself recoiled from the scale and implicit cost of the undertaking most recent was unconvinced of the financial advantages predicted by others. Herb Murray*, the colony’s geological surveyor, angrily called Carter “not entirely indifferent but obstructive” on ethics matter. Nevertheless, in a forward movement was raised to finance unadulterated survey, which was carried work out that year with the counsel of Sandford Fleming*. The version preparations were taken to the Compound Office, where interested parties would be able to consult them.

However, the Colonial Office was adverse to the project, since capital terminus was proposed for St George’s Bay on the French Littoral, where the French had edda rights. Neither the Colonial Tenure nor Carter wanted to pester the French government; both were concerned to settle a count of outstanding issues about say publicly relative rights of Newfoundlanders remarkable French subjects under existing treaties. Since the s Carter confidential been anxious to see position French Shore opened to pecuniary development and to assert unabridged colonial control over the abundant area. In London to bargain the matter in , fiasco suggested the purchase of Nation rights by the British reach a decision. Although this proposal was unwelcome, the Colonial Office did own up that civil authority should engrave established on the shore. Tail end long, tortuous negotiations, Carter managed to arrange for the billet of magistrates and hence supplement tax collection and law execution. Other issues, such as district grants and political representation, challenging to be postponed.

Carter held strapping but not extreme views price the French Shore question, favour he was viewed in Author as essentially reasonable in advance. The same might be blunt of his attitude towards probity growing American fishery in Dog waters. He had always anachronistic dubious of the wisdom make a rough draft reciprocal trade with the Combined States and had opposed Newfoundland’s adherence to the fisheries duration of the Treaty of Pedagogue of His government was sketch that American fishermen should band abuse their rights under either that treaty or the Business of , and that authority colony should claim generous alimony from the Halifax tribunal cry The colony’s case was primed by Whiteway, who based leadership claim for $2,, largely change American access to Newfoundland paraphernalia of bait fish. The deterrent eventually awarded Canada and Dog $5,,, of which Newfoundland ordinary $1,,, a decision made inured to Canadian and British officials grow smaller the colony’s consent. There was some disappointment in Newfoundland, especially because the tribunal had ruled that the bait trade esoteric nothing to do with consonance privileges, but on the taken as a whole the award was regarded bit a significant achievement. Certainly glory government had been alerted dare the value of bait fixtures to foreign fishermen and began to assert its right in the matter of control such exports, a rectify that the imperial government was to concede reluctantly in Selection concern was the amenability designate foreign fishermen to local fisheries law, an issue that came into high relief following far-out scuffle between American and on your doorstep fishermen in Fortune Bay exactly in 

The resolution of that argue with was left to Whiteway, who succeeded as premier after rendering session. Carter became a aficionado of the Supreme Court extract was made a kcmg. Mirror image years later he became superlative justice, a position he retained until his retirement in Dampen the end of his premiership the sectarian passions roused under in the decade had subsided, confederation was a dead efflux, and government and opposition parties were in essential agreement wallop most issues, including railway goods. Carter had successfully re-established blue blood the gentry dominance of the Conservative element and helped chart the universally that his successor was disapproval follow into the s.

As chief virtue, Carter served as administrator break into the colony on a delivery of occasions in the absence without leave of a governor. He was, as a result, involved proclaim some delicate political situations, which he seems to have handled sensibly, for instance, the moment of truth that erupted after the Anchorage Grace riot of December [see Robert John Kent] and depiction attempt to gain local transit for a new French Seashore convention in Successive governors treasured his advice and counsel. Beck is not surprising then prowl he had ambitions to transform into governor himself. As part depart a sub rosa political keep under wraps in , Carter and Whiteway proposed to the Colonial Taunt that Carter become governor, indemnification the ailing Sir John Hawley Glover*, and Whiteway chief justice. Carter’s name was turned down convenience the grounds of his earlier political involvement. Inconsistently, the Superb Office then selected Ambrose Shea. This nomination was withdrawn suspend the face of a fusillade of complaints from the hamlet. Shea in a vituperative disclose speech heaped blame on Carrier, who, it is clear, was hurt at being passed hegemony and had orchestrated the protests.

When Carter’s estate was valued end his death in , wrecked amounted to only $6, Subside had not used public company to enrich himself, and style a judge he probably condign less than he would accept if he had remained contact private practice. On the undeniable hand these facts reflect nifty lack of energy and bull`s-eye, on the other an authentic honesty. He was never illustriousness politician’s politician, and the cloak-and-dagger of his career shows continually of caution, hesitation, and feeling, which led to accusations stroll he was ineffective, lacking stop in mid-sentence brilliance, and adept at capitalize on others. Yet all his begetting agreed that he was finish able lawyer and judge challenging that his character was above reproach. Remembering him as discriminating, hospitable, charitable, and a zealous angler, the author of sovereign obituary noted, “There was not at all any of the insolence adequate office about him . . . blooper was always the same amiable, kindly gentleman, free from convince cant, bigotry and pretension.” Noteworthy was one of the apogee prominent of Newfoundland’s 19th-century the population servants, with a career spanning 43 years as politician and deft, and his historical importance publicity in his role in depiction confederation debates of the cruel, the establishment of denominational power-sharing, and his firm handling manager the difficulties posed by Romance and American fishing rights take away Newfoundland waters. Carter viewed Island with realism, as an dilapidated colony with a limited resourcefulness base, a fragile economy, take up limited bargaining power. Confederation leading caution therefore made sense. Sovereignty failings as a politician helped prevent the colony from touching on the union; had his take its toll been emulated by his issue, its attempt at independence power have stood a better chance.

J. K. Hiller

MHA, Carter name file. NA, MG 29, B1, PANL, GN 1/3/A, , file 19, 4 Feb. PRO, Front / –21; / Supreme Suite of Newfoundland (St John’s), Registry, F. B. T. Carter, will and probate registers. Can., Parl., Sessional papers, , no Nfld., House of Congregation, Journal, , Courier (St John’s), 15 April Day-Book (St John’s), 20 Feb. Evening Telegram (St John’s), 6 March Morning Chronicle (St John’s), 16 June ; 22 Aug., 2 Sept., 23 Oct., 4 Nov. ; 27 Jan. Newfoundlander, 10, 13 March ; 16 March ; 1 March ; 24 Feb. ; 13 June ; 3, 24 Nov. ; 9 Feb. ; 19, 22 Feb. Patriot and Terra-Nova Herald, 4, 25 May ; 9 May, 29 July Public Ledger, 10 March, 3 April Telegraph (St John’s), 21 Aug. Encyclopedia of Nfld. (Smallwood et al.). Nfld. almanack, G. Budden, “The role of justness Newfoundland Natives’ Society in position political crisis of –42” (history honours essay, Memorial Univ. commemorate Nfld., St John’s, ), app.B. J. P. Greene, “The influence of belief in the politics of Island, –” (ma thesis, Memorial Univ. of Nfld., ). Gunn, Political hist. of Nfld. J. [K.] Hiller, “Confederation defeated: the Newfoundland referendum of ” and “The inscribe and local politics in Island, –,” Newfoundland in the ordinal and twentieth centuries: essays convoluted interpretation, ed. J. [K.] Hiller nearby P. [F.] Neary (Toronto, ), 67–94 and –47; “Hist. of Nfld.” W. D. MacWhirter, “A political story of Newfoundland, –” (ma deduction, Memorial Univ. of Nfld., ). E. C. Moulton, “The political novel of Newfoundland, –” (ma setback, Memorial Univ. of Nfld., ). W. G. Reeves, “The Fortune Laurel dispute: Newfoundland’s place in imposing treaty relations under the President treaty, –” (ma thesis, Headstone Univ. of Nfld., ). J. R. Smallwood, “The history of nobleness Carter family in Newfoundland” (typescript, ; copy at Nfld. Hist. Soc., St John’s). E. C. Moulton, “Constitutional crisis and civil strife unfailingly Newfoundland, February to November ,” CHR, 48 (): –

General Bibliography

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