Era of responsible government Fisheries revived, and the devolution of responsibilities from London continued. In 1854, the British government established Newfoundland's first responsible government, an executive accountable to the colonial legislature. In 1855, with an Assembly majority, the Liberals under Philip Francis Little (the first Roman Catholic to practise law in St. John's) formed Newfoundland's first parliamentary government (1855–1858). Newfoundland rejected confederation with Canada in the 1869 general election. The Islanders were preoccupied with land issues—the Escheat movement with its call to suppress absentee landlordism in favour of the tenant farmer. Canada offered little in the way of solutions.
erA of rEsponSibLe GoVERnment fisHERIes reVIved, anD the devolUtiOn Of responsibilitiES froM lOndon CoNtiNued. iN 1854, thE British GOveRnmeNt esTaBLIshed newfoUNdlaNd's firsT respONSibLe goveRnMeNt, aN ExecUTive accOuNtAblE to tHe coloNIal lEGisLAture. IN 1855, with An aSsEmBly MajoRiTy, THe lIberAls undeR pHILip francis LiTtLe (thE FirSt roMaN caTholIc TO PRactisE law IN ST. joHN'S) foRmed neWFoUNdLAnD'S FirST ParliAmENtAry gOVErnmEnt (1855–1858). nEWfouNDLAnd RejeCteD conFederatIOn witH caNaDa In thE 1869 GEnErAL ElectioN. tHE isLanDeRS werE preocCupieD wiTH Land ISsuES—THE eschEat MovemEnt WiTh ITs caLL To SUppRESs AbSentEe landlordISm iN favouR oF tHe TenAnT faRmer. CanaDa ofFEreD LIttlE in tHe way of soluTiOnS.