A man who called himself Amor De Cosmos, or Lover of the Universe, led the forces in favour of Confederation with Canada. His real name was William Smith, and he came from Nova Scotia. He had worked there as a journalist, and for a time in California as a photographer during the 1849 gold rush. He started a newspaper, the British Colonist, and was able to get a number of the colony's newspapers to support entry into Canada. His followers formed the Canadian Party to press for union with Canada.
The issue of Confederation came to a head in the spring of 1870. The motion in the Legislative Assembly to join Canada received unanimous support. A three-man delegation headed off to Ottawa to negotiate the terms.
The delegates got everything they asked for and more. The terms were generous. British Columbia gained provincial status. The colony's debts were to be paid. They were to receive an annual grant and control over most of the public lands. The delegates asked for a wagon road to be built through the mountains. Instead they were promised a railway to be started within two years and built in ten years. Any opposition in the colony to union virtually disappeared and on July 20,1871, the sixth province was officially welcomed into the fold.