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

ERI2 Mil NORTH AMERICAN ASSO-
CIATION.

A u ieeting of gentlemen connected with Canada,
and ne British North American colonies generally,
was held yesterday at the London Tavern, for the
pur pose of promoting the objects of the Association,
and forwarding the interests of the Intercolonial
Railway. Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P., took the
cb Air at two o'clock. About 70 gentlemen responded
V) the invitation, among whom were the Hon. A.
!'f. Galt, late Finance Minister of Canada ; the Hon.
H. Hamilton, Canada ; the Hon. Beverley Robin-
son, Canada ; the Hon. 13. W. Wier, Nova Scotia ;
the Hon. R. B. Dickey, Nova Scotia ; Mr. John
Boyd and Mr. Jobn Daniels, New Brunswick; the
Hon. A. J. Langley, of Vancouver ; Mr. B. Cham-
berlin, of Canada; Major Campbell, 0.13., of Canada;
Mr. Thomes Baring, M P., Mr. G. C. Glyn, M.P.,
the Hon. A. Kinnaird,
Mr. K. Hodgson, M.P.,
M.P., Mr. Weguelin, M.P., the Right Hon. E. P.
Bou
Mr. H. Seymour, M.P., Mr. Schole-
fie'id, MX., Mr. G. G. Glyn, M.P., Mr. Cave, M.P.,
Mr. Hennessy, M.P., Mr. A. Morrison, Mr. John
Chapman, Mr. G. F. Young, Mr. Chowne, Mr.
Ilartridge, Mr. Newmarch, F.R.S., Mr. Robert
Gillespie, Mr. Wathin, &c.
The CHAIRMAN said that a meeting was held in the
London Tavern in the latter part of January last,
at which it Was determined to form an institu-
tion under the name of the British North
American Association, for the purpose of afford-
ing a 'place of meeting and reunion for gentlemen
from the North American colonies, and interested
in, the trade therewith. The idea had been received
W ith considerable encouragement, and there were
few gentlemen or firms in the city connected with
British America who had not joined the Association.
It was felt, however, that on the other side of the
water the Association had not received the support
to which it 'was entitled, and one result it was hoped
of the present meeting would be to remind the vari-
ous prJvinces of British North America of the
existfance of the 'Association, and its claims upon
their support. An institution of this kind could not
be expected to succeed , unless it showed that it
maid be practically useful. Various subjects of in-
terest had arisen which had engaged the attention
of the Association, among which he might mention
the Intercolonial. Railway, and the subject of emi-
gration to Canada and the other North American
provinces. It would be a great advantage to emi-
grants goi:ng to Canada if they knew they could
come to the offices of the Association and receive
information of an authentic character. With regard
to Vae Intercolonial Railway, he had been with
others actively engaged in pressing this undertak-
ing on the attention of the Government. He was
happy to say that the Duke of Newcastle had ad-
dressed a despatch to the various governors on this
subject, and he trusted that the Legislature would
accept the proposal of her Majesty's Government
in regard to the construction of this great line of
communication. Several gentlemen connected with
British North America were now on a visit to this
country, partly to see the Exhibition, and partly
Mr. Galt and other gentlemen
for other purposes.
heid honoured them with their presence, and any
jAnformation that they could give the meeting would
be gladly received. Any other gentleman who was
connected with British North America might
address the meeting, and the proceedings would, he
hoped, satisfy the public on both sides of the water
that the British North American Association had
been formed for purposes of practical utility.
Mr. KINNAIRD, M.P., said that, notwithstanding
what had occurred in some recent debates, he be-
lieved that the opinion of the great majority of
members of both Houses of Parliament, as well as
of the people of this country, was in favour of main-
taining and strengthening the ties that bound the
mother country to her North American colonies.
(Hear, hear.) He moved the first resolution ;
"That this meeting has heard with great satisfac-
tion that a convention is to be held at Quebec early
in the ensuing month of delegates from the several
British North American provinces, to consider the
liberal proposal made by the Duke of Newcastle in
his despatch of the 12th of April last, with reference
to the International Railway, and it desires to ex-
press the hope that the necessary measures for
carrying out this important national undertaking
will be then adopted."
Mr. HENNESSY, M.P., seconded the resolution ;
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. GALT said he was happy to have the present
opportunity of moving a resolution declaratory of
the confidence of the colonists in the colonial ad-
ministration of the Duke of Newcastle. He was
also glad to hear from Mr. Kinnaird that the sen-
timents expressed in recent debates in the Imperial
Legislature were not those which actuated the peo-
ple of this country. The sentiments imputed, on
the other hand, to the colonists were equally in error.
He was a member of the Administration by which
the Militia Bill was proposed, and which retired
upon the defeat of that measure. He could, however,
assert that, notwithstanding the rejection of the
Militia Bill, the feeling that actuated the Canadians
was still the same which they evinced on the affair of
the Trent. (Hear.) The Canadians had their political
parties, which endeavoured, like those in the mother
country, to obtain power, and to carry out the im-
provements which they thought were required. But
no response would be made to any attempt to break
off or to weaken the connexion with the mother
country. The Canadians had their local politics, but
when they visited the mother country they were no
longer political partisans, and he, for one, deeply re-
gretted that the course of events in Canada had been
so greatly misunderstood in this country. It was a
mistake to suppose, as some did, that the legislation of
Canada had been hostile to the industrial interests
of Great Britain. The Canadian Legislature, on
the contrary, had endeavoured to follow as rapidly
as possible the altered state of commercial legisla-
tion which had been induced by the free trade
legislation of the mother country, although they
had not been able to make the necessary changes
immediately. It was said, however, that the Cana-
dians had systematically increased the duties on
British geed,.
In order to an accurate compre-
hension of the subject, it would first be necessary to
explain that all articles of export and import were
once subject to heavy charges in consequence of the
difficulty and cost of conveyance, whereby goods
imported
cost the consumer more, and articles of
as grain
export, such timber, produced him
Government of
less, The Go Canada took measures
to facilitate and cheapen the e
ommunteation with
: The sum of L 1,600
Great Britain. MO was raised
guaranteeconstruct
on an imperial gu to the St. Law-
rence Not one sixpence of this
canals. amount
would be chargeable to the mother
meet the whole country, for
funds had been invested to amount
when it fell due. (Hear, hear_) A large Dablie
debt had been incurred by Canada for these and
similar objects, but the result had been to reduce to,
a minimum the cost of conveying British goods to
the Canadian consumer, while it largely augmented
the value of his breadstuffs and the demand for
English produce. It was necessary to lay on Cus-
toms' duties to meet the interest of the debt and
other charges ; but, although from 15 to 20 per
cent. was levied on British goods, yet this was a
far less amount of charge than was formerly paid
iu the transport of goods before canals and rail-
ways were made. The policy of the Canadian Go-
vernment had not merely been beneficial to the
people of that y ,ountr , • it had also enormously in-
creased the trade with the mother country. It
was no doubt said that it was possible to make pro-
vision for the debt of Canada otherwise than by
Customs' duties. It was, however, very difficult,
if not impossible, to impose direct taxes in a
new country, and it was, therefore, necessary to
fall hack on Customs' duties as the main
portion of the revenue of the country. The Cus-
toms' duties, too, had necessarily to be arranged
with reference to the tariff of the United States. The
policy of the United States had been until recently
to leave certain articles such as tea, sugar, tobacco,
and spirits free from duty. These articles formed
the bulk of the indirect taxation of England. The
Canadia
• a Legislature Could not, however, impose
high duties on these articles, because, with 1,000
u, are
miles of exposed frontier, neehug would have
Until now,
been the molt. , . .therefore, they had not
• of raising any
bad the opportunity'material part of
the revenue of Canada from these sources. But for