The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-14 00:00:00

41
Ay' *raise&

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more directly responsible for v.
where the people have no voice in the government,
than foe that of Canada, which is actually
independent, and the government of which
taxes our merchants without justice or mercy.
Nevertheless, we Bonilla, immense sums an-
nually rather then guarantee the Indian debt.
Politically, however, the arguments by which Mr.
GALT shows we ought to give the Imperial gus-
antes for the loans spent on the permanent
defences for Canada would be equally valid to
show that we ought to assumerthe burden of that
expenditure in the first instance. There are
reasons why these argument& are not pushed
home just now, but we may be sure that whenever
any difficulty arises between the Colony and the
Mother Country we shall hear of them again, and
be reminded that the money, however, borrowed,
was spent on our aooount, in the cause of England,
and for Imperial works. The financial difficulties
of Canada are returning, the revenues from Cus-
toms duties thisyear have disappointed the Govern-
ment, and if the interest on new debts to be
contracted for fortifications is to be punctually
paid, the money will be raised, as taxes are now
raised, out of additional duties levied on English
merchandise. If we are actually to find the money
to defend a country which has assumed its inde-
pendence, we may as well hams the honour of
doing so. But perhaps a straightforward proposi-
tion to this effect would disclose too clearly the
nature of the only tie that remains to bind Canada
to England.

Owes more General GRANT has become the
centre of attraction in the American campaign.
&menus having effected his junction with his
Ilieutenant at Goldshorough, is now resting for a
season and recruiting his army. How long this
pause may continue it is needless to discuss, for it
is quite certain that SlizaßAN is not likely to halt
longer than is absolutely necessaryln the mean-
time General GaAra has resumed the offensive.
For many months the Confederate army has been
massed near Petersburg, which lies on the
south bank of the Apomattox, a few miles
westward of City Point, where that river
joins the James. The object of General
GRANT has been to seize the railroads by
which Petersburg and Richmond are supplied, and
thus to compel the evacuation of those towns. On
the north, Richmond is supplied by • railroad and
by a canal ; through the daring activity of SHERI-
DAN the bridges on that railroad have been broken
down, much of the road itself has been rendered
impracticable, and the canal has been practically
destroyed. It is said that the Confederates are
now busily engaged in repairing the damage, but
this is not the work of a few hours. On the
south, however, the railroads by which Rich-
mond and Petersburg communicate with
the west and south-west are still unin-
jured. At Lynchburg, which lies more
than a hundred miles west of Richmond
and Petersburg, vast supplies are said to have
been accumulated, and, indeed, this is the place to
which it is suppoeed the Confederates would re-
treat in case they were compelled to abandon their
present position. It is obvious, therefore, that
General Lzz must guard with the utmost jealousy
the coeds connecting Lynchburg with Richmond
or with Petersburg. Now there is only one rail-
road which connects these towns, and, as might be
expected, it is the work of seizing this line, on the
one hand, and of protecting it on the other,
which is now employing all the energies
of the rival commanders in Virginia. But
even assuming that the force under General
GRANT is much larger than that under General
Lax, the task of the former is by no means easy.
It must be remembered that the rail-
road between Petersburg and Lynchburg rune
east and west. By what means is General GRANT
to establish himself upon it ? On Wednesday, the
29th of March, the movement designed to accom-
plish this object was begun, but at the date
of the latest accounts we have it cannot be
said to have succeeded. Withdrawing his troops
from the north aide of the James River, and placing
them in the works about City Point to protect his
depots at that place, General GRANT marched with
the bulk of his army westward. On Thursday
he had advanced • few miles, but was still
some distance south of the coveted railroad.
On Friday, General GRANT admits that much
hard fighting took place, and that his left
was driven back. But, the same day, GRANT
says that be resumed the offensive, and at the close
'drove the enemy back in turn and occupied the
I ground which they occupied in the morning.
Still he was many miles from the railroad. In the
meantime General SHRRIDAN, with the cavalry,
had made a sweep further to the southward and
had arrived near Burkesville. This is about fifty
miles west of Petersburg and half-way to Lynch-
burg. It is the point of junction of all the rail-
ways north, south, east, and west. The
army which holds Burkesville holds every
approach to Lynchburg, Richmond, and
Petersburg. But, according to the telegrams,
Burkesville is strongly fortified, and the Confede-
rates occupy their works in force. Thus it
appears that so far General GRANT has his work
still before him. It is impossible not to admire
the skill with which the Confederate commander
attains great ends with small means. It is true,
the defender of Richmond has the immense advan-
tage of interior lines ; but this would not suffice
if he had not besides the art of disposing of his
men to the best advantage. Ilia troops always
happen to be in the right place. General GRANT
has never yet succeeded in effectually out-
flanking his great adversary, or in penetrat-
ing the line which he holds round Richmond
and Petersburg. And yet that line is not less
than 60 or 70 miles. The army of his rival is,
and always has been, greatly superior in numbers,
but the skill with which the smaller army is
handled has been such that whenever a vital
point has been assailed • sufficient force has been
ready to protect it. GRANT has circled round and
round his adversary—he baa dashed himself
furiously against entrenchments, but has never
yet succeeded in seizing and permanently occupy-
ing any of the great arteries by which Richmond
land Petersburg are supplied.
states-

REPREMENTAIIO/1 OF FINSVNIT.—A meeting of
the electors of the Old-street district of St. Luke's wee bald
on Wednesday evening, at the Prieto el Wales, Beam,
Mout, to promote the return of Mr. Toffees. The chair
was occupied by Dr. Bros, who, in aomplimentary terms,
loczataleted these preeset oe the prayer their cause bad
. After an address from the hoseerable emadMath
which touched on many of the leading topics of the day,
woes especially those connested with foreign and colonial
policy, a vote of neelideoce, moved by Mr. Mired Walker
and wooded by Mr. Bilby, was paned uessimusly. A
numerous committee was thee appointed, eoroprieing the
names of most of the leading persons in the locality ; and
thanks having been voted to the ethirmaa the routing
Srated.
STRIKE AMONG RAILWAY OPWLATIVEB AT PAD-
=scam—About 120 of the men employed in the locomo-
tive department of the Great Wagers Railway at Paddlop
ton, struck for an Incteese of oe Woodsy, an increue,
it is said, having been promid sl some time eek bet not
greeted. The employs refused to resume their work eon
raj usibt Is. As. abse:,72 to, kse AAA' two atal6 Lad
elapsed it wee decided by the anthasities to give the higher
rate of immeshed, and therefore theme have returned to
' their work.