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Alfred Deakin
Pictorial Collection
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At the Athenaeum Club in the early 1880s Barton met and conversed with the Tasmanian Attorney-General, Andrew Inglis Clark, a passionate spokesman for an American model of Federation. It was not, however, until Barton read reports in the press of the Tenterfield address Henry Parkes gave to a meeting in the Sydney Town Hall that he gave his full and unconditional commitment to Federation.

In March 1891 Barton proposed his blueprint for Federation at the National Australasian Convention. He argued that an elected senate composed of State representatives would effectively balance the powers between the States and a Federal government. Barton also advocated an autonomous Australian legal system, and the necessary abolition of the right of appeal to the British Privy Council. Among others, the Victorian politician Alfred Deakin was impressed by Barton’s speech.

 
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