Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-03

each other with railroad speed. The pubic O.
pinion assumes Conscience and fndsycn in ac-
ton in less time than it formerly took 10 agtae
la parish. Every thing PUSHES on with accelera-
ted velocity. 1t is word and blow. The in
teryal is brief between the complaint Of the op-
pressed and the overt act of treason, or revolu-
lion, as the result may stamp it. There are few
premonitory signs given Of the approaching tenn
pest. There are few Of the routine statesmen Of
the day capable Of approaching the slight indI-
cations that are visible to the experienced eve
The hurricane Of popular wrath is upon them
when they fancy the ky serene and not a cloud
hanging on the horizon. 1t took nine or ten
years ofaggresscn upon the liberties Of the A.
merlcan Colonies 10 rouse the people TO the point
Of taking up arms. In our own dav-within the
last vear--We have seen a revolution effected in
a great nation in as many hours. Il was but.vcS-
terday we began to hear that the Tory party in
Canada was diSafTeced:that their continued loyal
~ was contingent upon the veto BIZ the Governor
General of the Indemnity bill and that various
pro- ects for the future were already discussed
We were not disposed to pay much attention to
these threats. We considered them the ebulli-
tons Of rage Of a party, long dominant, now re-
duced to a minority and consigned to the chill
ing atmosphere Of placeless patriotism. Events
which have since occurred Show that they really
meant what they said. The Governor General
did 81 on the Indemnity bill-and a Tory mob
has sacked and burnt the Colonial Parliament
House, and arrests for high treason have actually
been made. We give all the details which have
reached us. They are meag.e and unSatisfacto-
ry, but they suffice to show that the future is por-
tentous.
There is something astounding in all this
The attachment TO the institutions Of the mother
country of the Tories, in the British North Amer
lean Colonies, has always been the most ex-
travagant and ostentatious character Many 81
the settlers, of much influence in their respec-
tive neighborhoods, are half-pay army and navy
officers, who entertain towards the Sovereign
whose livery they have 50 long worn much Of
that unreasonlng loyalty-noW happily seldom
secn-which marked the character Of the En-
gish Cavalier of the seventeenth century These
veterans, and other members Of the Tory party III
The provinces. were not more DISTINGUISHED for
their devotion 10 the monarchcal form Of Gov
ernmcnt-to the union of Church aud State
and 70 connection with the mother countrv-than
for hatred Of republican institutions ana Of Tile
nelghborlng people, whose acknowledged pros
perty. under these institutions stood forth in in
vldlous contrast with colonial Stagnation The
Of this country in Europe have
fallen short OF the malice, Misrepresentation
scorn and contempt which have long character
lZed the Canadian press. All this feeling we
think applicable npon we'll known principles Of
human action, and could Surprize no one who
was COnvcrSant with the state of society in the
provinces. The London Times in its malicious
has often adduced this hatred Of TIE
Canadians for their Southern ncighbors, as an
argument against Republican Government. Men
on the spot, who coolly watch the working of our
Institutions it argues, are least progressed in
their favor. Propinquity to the model republic
but increases attachment to the distant monarchy
Intimate acquaintance with the structure of lis
inspires no desire to be subjected to
the action Unpopular sovereignty. The teStimo-
ny of an intelligent Canadian settler against
Democratic rule, the Times would have us be-
lieve, ought, from his means Of forming an opin-
ion, to weigh more than the eXtravagant boasts
of our own people, or the thcoretic preferences
of EngllShmen for Institutions of the practical op-
erations Of which they cannot speak from person.
al observation.
But, whatever importance may have been at
tached to this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS copiouslv it
may have been illustrated by the British press
it will be no longer available. These staunch To-
ries, these dispassionate and intelligent witnesses
against Democracy, have, in single season, been
brought to think seriously discovering the conncx-
ion with The mother country, and Of casting their
lot with their vulgar and derIded Southern neigh
bors. Republican Government, after all, is not
SO bad as subsection to French domination and
the mlSrule of Downing Street. The question
of annexation is discussed with as much apparent
freedom from excitement ifno political prn-
ciple, no long cherished feeling Of patriotism no
habltude of loyalty, was involved. 1t is treated
as question Of political economy and public
convenience In this respect, the discussion is
worthy of particular notice. Not less worthy of
notice is the fact that two things are generally
taken for granted-the consent Of England to the
loss of her colonies, the ability Of the colonies
to achieve their ndependence-and the perfect
willingness Of the American people to annex
them, whether England consents or not
1t would be premature to indulge in specula-
tons upon either head There is a school of po-
litiCal economy which believes colonies to be cur
seS. 1t has many disciples in the British Paria-
ment and certain It is that, financially, Canada,
like all other British Colonies is a heavy incum-
brance. independently of the large sums directly
expended in the maintenance Of military and
naval force for its protection-of the vast appro-
priations made for internal improvements-and
of the taxation upon the British people in the
shape Of duties upon timber, TO favor Canadian
intercStS-the Imperial Parliament has to vote for
the civil list Of the province sum far exceed
ing the annual expenses of any two States in our
Union. Still, we think mere pride would pre-
vent John Bull from consenting"t 10 even 50 we'll
grown a member Of his family setting up for
himself-to say nothing of his entering into part
nership with Brother Jonathan, whose interests
John will persist in thinking are in conflict with