When he became a member of Parliament Cartier continued his agitation for adequate railway facilities, and one of the first speeches he delivered in the legislature of United Canada, February 15th, 1849, was in advocacy of the completion of the Montreal & Portland Railway. "There is no time to lose in the completion of the road," said Cartier on that occasion, "if we wish to assure for ourselves the commerce of the West. All the cities of the Atlantic Coast are disputing for that commerce." Referring to the efforts being made by New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other American cities to capture this commerce, Cartier said: "In seeing the efforts that an intelligent population is making, we cannot doubt the importance of the trade of the lakes which they covet and the profits which will result. Now, we may secure the greater part of that trade by constructing this road as soon as possible." At another great mass meeting of the citizens of Montreal, held at the Bonsecours Market on July 31st, 1849, at which resolutions were adopted favoring the completion of the Montreal & Portland Railway, on motion of Cartier, seconded by John Rose, it was resolved that the city should take shares in the company. Cartier on that occasion made a fervent appeal that the interests of Montreal should be considered. "I do not fear to say," he declared, "that Montreal will be recreant to its best interests, and will be the most backward of cities if it neglects the means that is offered it to reclaim a prosperity which is now leaving it. I appeal to the large proprietors, to the small proprietors who make the prosperity of the large ones, and to the industrial and working classes which make the prosperity of both. We have an exceptional chance to attract foreign capital. The city has only to guarantee a bagatelle compared to the enormous debts contracted by the smaller cities of the United States to attract capital which passes through the hands of tradesmen and workingmen, to relieve trade which is languishing. It is an advantage which will be enjoyed even before the work is completed." Cartier pointed out that New York had contracted a debt of $25,000,000 to provide proper railway facilities, as it had sufficient faith in itself and in the spirit of enterprise of its citizens to discount the future. "The time has come," said Cartier, addressing the citizens of Montreal, "to belie your reputation as apathetic men without energy and without a spirit of enterprise. Let those terms cease to be applied to the name 'Canadian'. This great meeting is one of the first to be held in a city of the British Provinces to encourage an enterprise of this importance. It is proper that the example should come from Montreal, the commercial head of British America. It should show itself worthy of its position. Let us arouse ourselves, let us agitate."