The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

their development. For sixty years after the este.
blishment of the Independence of the United States
the colonies were hampered by petty interference.
" We could not change an officer, retina.: a salary,
or impose a duty, without the permission of Down-
ing-street. The Republicans could open mines in
any part of their country. Our mines were locked
up until seven years ago by a close monopoly held
in this country by the creditors of the Duke 0,
YORK." Those who gazed with admiration at the
marvellous specimen of Nova Scotian coal in the
Exhibition, adds Mr. Howe, would have been
surprised to know that, for half a century, the
colonies could not dig a ton of it without
asking leave of half a dozen capitalists in this
metropolis. This was the second of the three stages
of our colonial government referred to on Tuesday
evening by ADDERLEY. Had the co'onies then
possessed the advantages now accorded them, had
emigration been turned in that direction, had no
monopoly of any kind been allowed, nor the fine
district of country, now known as British Columbia,
been left to the marten and the trapper, the popu-
lation and resources of the British North American
colonies would show very different results. What
a lesson is conveyed in the statistics of the shippiog
of one Nova Scotian port alone, as given in the Yar-
mouth Tribune ! The tonnage owned in the
port of Yarmouth in the year 1822 was 3,000
tons; in 1832, 4,318 tons ; but, in 1839, Lord
RUSSELL conferred the boon of self-government,
on the provinces, and in the next decade the figures
rose to 13,765. The recent increase is even
more remarkable—the tonnage in 1862 showing an
advance of more than 26,000 upon that of 1852.
Mr. HOWE busies himself to show that the force
furnished by the Canadians is fully commensurate
with the military preparations of England in the
days of the great Armada, when her population bore
more resemblance to that of Canada than it does at
present. This is hardly fair, considering the ad-
vance made in every respect since those days, and
the independent legislation accorded to the colonies.
More plausible is his argument, that the young
Canadians are trained to field work and field sports
from childhood ; they are inured to exposure and
ready in resource; "they can camp in the woods
in half an hour without the aid of canvas, and
hut themselves in the winter anywhere where wood
is to be had." Such training is by no means des-
picable; it lays the foundation upon which the
superstructure of military drill is easily raised, and
Mr. HOWE, who suggests the co operation of
English and British North American troops, says
with truth, that the-young recruits would as speedily
acquire the necessary discipline and routine from
experienced soldiers, as the latter would learn
from them the knowledge so indispensable amid
the snows of Canadian winters. Our author in his
advocacy of colonial public spirit and energy, re-
minds us of the achievements of the Provinces in
the war of 1812-15, in the defence of Quebec and
at Chateaugay. In reference to the latter he quotes
the words of General SMITH, who says that the
action "is remarkable as having been fought on
the British side almost entirely by Canadians. The
Republicans were repulsed by a very inferior num-
ber of Canadian Militia and of troops raised in
Canada," thus affording, he adds, a practical proof
of the good dispositions of the Canadians, and of the
possibility of improving thier militia so as to render
them fully equal to American troops. From the
annals of his own particular colony Mr. HOWE cites
another instance. On the occasion of the dispute
respecting the north-eastern boundary, Governor
FAIRFIELD called out the militia of Maine to setVe
the question by invading New Brunswick. The
Nova Scwians waited for no assistance from
England, but revised their militia law in a single
day, and gave their Governor powers " to spend
every pound of revenue and call out every
man in defence of the sister province." The
memories of that affair may perhaps be more grati-
fying to the co:onists than they are to Englishmen ;
but President Lincoln and his war advisers may be
very sure that when " the day of retribution" they
talk of so often, comes at last, that mistake will be
rectified, together with a good many others, and
Portland and Maine will swell the extent of those
British-American provinces which Mr. HOWE is
justly proud of.
With regard to the vexed question of expense,
Mr. HOWE remarks that the real cost of the war of
1812 fell upon the co!onies. It was a war, he re-
minds us, into which they were precipitated withon

their knowledge or consent, and he bids us to pic-
ture the wars of the Roses come back again in Eng-
land, and then to calculate the cost of the campaign.
Mr. HOWE has justice on his side when he pleads

that because the old Thirteen Colonies defended
themselves against a few thousand French and
Indians, the five provinces of British America are
not to be expected to fight twenty or

thirty States, with a population of thirty
millions. He brings forward an argument, too,

which carried great weight in the House,
that as the colonies are liable to be plunged into
wars, in which they have no interest, by the policy

of the mother country, it is but fair that they

:hey should look to her for help. In fact, the

duties and advantages are reciprocal, and Mr,

HowE, while stating his own case very ably, does

not do full justice to the numerous advantages
which the colonies derive from their connection

with the mother country. The shadow of English

sovereignty sweeping across the seas is a stronger

ortification on their coasts than forts and arsenals,

The fame of her sword, sheathed though it be at

present, deters the boldest aggressor. Mr. BUXTON

justly observed that had it not been for England
being in the background, the long arm of Russia

might ere this have been stretched out to grasp the
northern part of Canada. The wise and

equitab'e Government which the colonists en-
joy, free thought, free speech, free action—the

countless blessings of civil and religious liberty are
not to be lightly estimated in the debtor and credi-

or account. At the same time, we do not under-

value those magnificent possessions which have

raised our country from a kingdom iuto an empire ;
and have given us representatives and kinsmen to
share our language and represent our interests in
every habitable zone. Let both sides come forward

with hearty goodwill, and matters will be amicably
settled. Let the colonists furnish their due con-
tingents, and, above all, train their militia without
an hour's delay for effective field service, as well
as mere casual volunteering, and let the mother
country not begrudge her help to those who are
willing to help themselves. In one important
point, at least, the colonists may undeceive them-
selves. In spite of the extravagant theories of
Mr. GoLDWIN SMITH and the absurd arguments of
Mr. WILLIAMS, who seems to narrow his policy to
the old adage of " a penny saved is a penny gained,"
Englishmen are not disposed to surrender the links
that bind them to their kinsmen in other latitudes.

The angry opposition called forth by the proposed

surrender of the protectorate of the lonian Islands,
which certainly brought us no profit, may give
these politicians some idea of what would be the

sentiments of Englishmen should a severance of
the ties which bind our noble colonies to us be

seriously proposed. No British statesman would

recommend so suicidal a policy, but if he did, he
would assuredly encounter the indignant opposi-
tion of the whole British
public.

* A.
the Hon.e Ltter to the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, 31. P., by
ford. Joseph Howe, Premier of Nova Scotia. Stan-