The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-14 00:00:00

the recent political changes of the policy of the late
Government, which would, he doubted not, have
received the sanction of the Canadian Legislature,
would have been to increase the duties on tea,
sugar, tobacco, and spirits. They wou d also have
proposed the imposition of a stamp di, y. The sur-
plus revenue arising from these sources the late
Government would have applied towards the reduc-
tion of the
duties on goods imported from the
mother country. The Canadians could have no de-
sire to cripple the trade of Great Britain, because
they knew that the mother country was their best
market. The Canadians had made the St. Lawrence
free, and no charge was made for goods passing
over their magnificent system of canals. The Eng-
lish merchant could thus send his goods as well and
as cheaply to the far-distant city of Chicago as to
New York. At the present moment, when the
adoption of a more stringent tariff than even the
Morrill tariff had closed the Federal States of
America against British goods, it was no slight ad-
vantage to the British merchant and manufacturer
to introduce their goods over so vast a territory as
Canada at the smallest duties consistent with the
maintenance of public credit. The import trade of
Canada with Great Britain amounted to about 30s.
per head, while the imports from the United States
from Great Britain did not exceed 10s. per head. If
Canada became annexed to the United States, the
fiscal measures of the rest of the Union would, no
doubt, be put in force in that country, and would
bring the percentage of British imports down to
the average of the rest of the States. Could it, there-
fore, be said with truth that the loss of British
North America would inflict no injury on the trade
of this country ? He maintained that the loss of
Canada would not only injure the prestige, but also
inflict a blow on the material prosperity of the
mother country. (Hear.) He believed that self-
defence ought to march pari passu with
iself-go-
vernment, and that the policy to be pursued with
the British North American colonies was develop-
ment, and not separation. This was scarcely the
question of the preservation of a province, but ra-
ther of an empire. (Hear, hear.) Se was sure
that separation would entail disaster both on Eng-
land and her colonies. Canada was too weak to
stand alone. The Canadians could not maintain
themselves as a separate rower in the face of the
great armaments of the Northern States, and they
would therefore exchange the beneficent govern-
ment of this country for a share in the disasters that
were now overv, hel ming that once great and wealthy
country. The Canadians were gratified to see the
warm interest felt by the Association in the Inter-
colonial Railway. Had that railway been in exist-
ence six months ago, an enormous sum would have
been saved to this country in the transport of
troops. (Hear.) The proposal of the Duke of
Newcastle was worthy of the most serious consider-
ation on the part of the local Legislatures. Hie
own opinion was that a confederation of the British
North American colonies would be very useful, not
only as a defence against foreign foes, but also for
their own internal relations. The productions of
the British North American colonies were almost
the same, and their interests were nearly identical.
It would, therefore, be better that they should form
one great and important confederacy than remain
five or six distinct States. The colonial policy of
the Duke of Newcastle deserved the warmest thanks
of the colonists, and the great interest his Grace had
displayed in the Intercolonial Railway also de-
manded their best acknowledgments. He moved,

" That this meeting desires to record its appre•
ciation of the statesmanlike policy of the Duke o
Newcastle as Colonial Minister, and also its thanks
for the ready assistance he has at all times afforded
to any matter in which the interests of the British
North American colonies are concerned."
Mr. DICKEY seconded the resolution on two
grounds; first, because the Duke of Newcastle
was the only Secretary of State who had ever
visited the colonies in his official capacity ; and,
secondly, because of the great interest which his
Grace had taken in the great colonial question of
the day—the Intercolonial Railway. The weak-
ness of Canada was the opportunity of another
State, and perhaps fewer threats would be heard
of the intention to possess Canada if this railway
were made. He could endorse the statement that
there was no desire in the colonies to evade the
duty of defending themselves against foreign
aggression. When Canada was assailed 25 years
ago, Nova Scotia placed a year's revenue at the dis-
posal of the authorities, and sent almost the whole
of her militia force to beat back the invasion. Nova
Scotia had also supplied in the persons of Sir F.
Williams of Kars and Sir John Inglis soldiers who
would lead the troops of Great Britain to victory.
(Hear, hear.) He thanked the Association for the
interest they had taken in the affairs of Nova
Scotia, and he was satisfied that when the Associ-
ation was properly organized, and when its claims
were submitted to the local Legislatures, it would
receive substantial aid from all the American
colonies. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. B. ROBINSON supported the resolution. He
was not there, he said, to uphold the conduct of the
Legislature of Canada in throwing out the Militia
Bill, because he was one of the sufferers by that
vote. He had supported the Militia Bill because
he had felt that Canada ought to take stronger
measures to protect itself against this American in-
vasion. But those who voted against this measure
were as desirous as those who supported it to
maintain the connexion with the mother coun-
try. The Bill was thrown out because the measure
was too costly, and because it was thought by
the majority that the same result could be attained
with a smaller outlay. It was also argued that the
Northern States were suffering so severely from
their unjust invasion of the South that they were
not at present in the best position to invade Canada.
Another reason given was that the States had al-
ready more territory than they could occupy in
lowa and Wisconsin, and that it would not pay them
to invade Canada when they could not settle and
occupy their own country. For these and other
considerations the Militia Bill was thrown out, and
not upon any question of loyalty or disloyalty to
the British Crown. Those who voted against the
bill were equally loyal with those who supported it.
He entirely approved of the completion of the Hali-
fax and Quebec Railway. He resided 700 miles
from the line, and therefore was not personally in-
terested in the matter ; but he saw very clearly that
it might be the means of curtailing the military
expenditure of the colony and of saving the expense
of sending out a large body of troops from England.
If in 1776, and again in 1812, the United States in
vain endeavoured to take Canada, the knowledge
that England, by means of the Intercolonial Rail-
way, could pour a large military force into the
colony would still further deter the States from a
similar attempt, and would put a stop to all panics
about American invasion. It was said that the
Canadians were too apt to boast of their loyalty to
the British Crown and people. They had a right,
'hove.,
self_ er, to indulge occasionally in the language of
vtulation. In 1770 there was a bitter feeling
Set Mr.
among the Canadians Canadians against the King of England,
Mr. Chase (father of the present
etaez,Treasury), and Mr. Carroll, of
Secretary tbtal,
endeavoured in vain to draw them from
Canadians then were few in
theirallegiance, Carrollton,
number, yet they „ise.
in Quebec, recap to Montreal,
a siege of three weeks
and beat back the
Americans• In the via, of .1
• •ted the Canadiatv.l% 2-14 the Americans
again invited s to forsake the English
banner. The Americans were,ho
Vb.?
Treaty of oh er, again beaten
back, and at the ent, I,
to keep or maintain a 1814, they
were unable toc.
grandfathers "of soil in
Canada. What their . and km,
neration of Canadians
showed
had
done the present ge . au,
the affair of ti7owed
their willingness to do when. el,e .
poor met and stork'
occurred last winter. Rich and
on determination
shoulder to shoulder in the comm ion
to maintain the connection with the Crown ~,d.
1 people of Great Britain. (Applause. If English
statesmen and the English press would recollect
these events they would not feel disposed to use
harsh words to the people of Canada. (Hear, hear.)
A great future lay Open before Canada. The taxes
which the American Government were forced to
levy in carrying out the insane idea of subduing the
South would have the effect of diverting the tide
of emigration from the United States to Canada.
European emigrants would see that the Canadians
enjoyed English institutions, and had tried to base