The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-04

OI6cu6eluR ue question In the WtuucI nave
pointed ost. am one who thinks that that time
has arnved,-that circumstances exist, which
shall eDdeavour to point out, that render the pro-
posed change In our national relations imperative,
10 order to secure the prosperity and happiness OF
this country.
The necessity Of our having settled and per:
manent tom OF government established, that shall
create confidence in the minds ofmen of all classes,
both at home and abroad, Is every day forcing IT.
self upon US. The entire absence OF any thing ap-
preaching confidence in the stability of our insti-
tutons, constitutes the whole secret OF our misor
tunes For twenty years, Canada has been the
subject for politicians of every shade to experiment
upon During this long period II has been the the
atre OF unceaslng agitation, ending on one Occa-
sion IN open rebellion. However pertinent to the
que stion now before the public a sketch OF these
incessant and sickening dissensions might be, 1t
ls not my intention at present TO draw even brief
picture OF them. They are too deeply craven on
the memory of every Canadian to require emu
meIatlon. Every man IN the Province must be
deeply impressed with the necessity OF political
Quletnde and IepOse, order tina. the energies OF
the inhabitants may be properly directed to the de-
veoI ement of the resources which the country
possesses.
IL is only by contrasting our conditlsn with that
OF surrounding countries, approaching nearest to
our owl IN climate, soil, and geographical posi-.
ton, that we can arrive at a just appre clat,on o
our progress IN civilization and wealth. Let us,
then, Tor moment. turn our attention to these
countries or States, and how the matter stands
cI,
selves at ence In land teeming with an active,
busy population, full OF life, energy and enterprise
"a land full OF large cities and fiourlshing towns,
supported by manufactures OF every description,
and traverfed IN all directions by railrouds-those
lndispe nssble aids to wealth. civilization and hap
plness We re-cross to our homes, and behold a
country rich in all that nature and Providence can
bestow. !anguishlng like slckly infant, def
thy and vigorous manhood. On enc side OF the
RIVER we see the sites OF hourishing towns and
cities, indicated by columns of smoke rising from
numerous factories, where the steam engine is
aiding human industry by Its gigantic powers,
in producing the elements Of human happiness.
There, by means OF the same power applied upon
railways, we see passengers and merchandise
conveyed with nconceivabe- speed from place to
place, equallzing the valne of lands, produce and
merchandise over the whole country. On the
other side OF the same river we see nothing but
miserable Villages and hamlets, mostly the progeny
Of a system Of smuggling. formerly foseered by
hlgh dules and injurious restrictions. Here, the
absence OF railways affords to the business man
and the traveller the choice between staying at
home and neglecting his interests for weeks and
months, until the sun shall dry up the roads or the
navigation shall open, or Of being dragged for
coach, over muddy roads. This, every perssa
acquainted with our frontier must admit, 10 not an
exaggerated picture Of the two sides OF the line
The questions then arise, why all this difference
In the condition and characteristics OF the two
countries! Are they not inhabited by the same
race OF people, speaking the same language, as to
Upper Canada, and governed by laws ano institu-
hons derived from the same common source Do
we not possess a climate and soil equal to any,
and superior to most, of the neishboring States?3
hold that the only rational answer to these ques.
tons ID to be found IN the fact that the United
States possess settled and well defined govern
ment. The stability Of their institutions affords
the pest guaranty tor security to life and prOperty
whilst the government and institutions Of Canada
arc regarded In Europe, and especially In England,
ss unsettled. and In a state of transition. The
want OF confidence, as before observed, is the
grand secret OF this unfavOrable contrast which
exists between Canada and the States This ls
the reason why we have no nufactures, no rail-
wsys, snd comparatively thin population This
IL is that causes the best classes OF Engishmen to
settle on the other side Of the line, and gives 10
Americans an almost unlimited command Of En-.
glish capital, that places American government
SECURITIES at premium OF ten per cent. in the
English market, whilst those of Canada are reject
ca az unsafe ana worthless, unless Endorsed by the
Imperial government.
The remedies for the evils under which we Ia
Dor. Of want of fxedness or stability in the poll.
teal institutions OF the country, hitherto applied,
proved total failures. The last OF these--ihe union
Of Upper and Lower Canada-is likely to tarn out
the worst OF all. Without resorting to one which
now regard as inevitable and near at hand, the re
are two, which have not yet been tried. and which
have their advocates. These are representation IN
the Imperial Parliament and federal union of all
the British American colonies. For the first of
these plans, regard the time as past, even if there
was the remdtest chance OF it's being conceded by
England. Under the old colonial system, when
Biisln afforded her colonies protection tor their
produce and timber In her markets, such system
would have been wise, and would doubtless have
extended the Terod of their connection with the
pa, ent state. But, from some cause or other, the
scheme Tor colonial representation In the British
Psrllame Dt though often and ably urged never re-
celvcd much support In England; and now that the
colonial system has been abandoned, without a
shadow OF hope tor return to 1t, even could il be
desired, now that England has placed US on pre-
clsely the same footing us foreign nations 1t would
be useless to possess it. The mutual bond of nte-
rest no longer exists, and without mutually of
interests, such representation would be- just as alb
surd as TO desire to send representatives to Paris
or any other European Legislature.
The second proposition, which has also had lts
advocates, would not in any degree remedy our
position; The very arguments urged In Its favor,
regard as the strongest reasons against lis adOp-
ton. The chief end sought to be attained by the
friends OF this project, Is the destruction OF French
nationality IN Lower Canada, or rather the de-
structien Of French influence in the Legislature
and councils OF the country, by bringing together
an overwhelming weight Of British influence and
feeling. In the first place, the principle is unjust
In itself. The idea Of uniting tar distant colonies
having no common interest, in order to destroy
French nationality, appears TO me not only unjust,
but extremely absurd. You might as well bring
representatives IIOW Inc DIltl6n west Indies. or
any other distant posse on, If the chief object
be to swamp French influence and destroy French
ascendancy In the government. II this be lead
ing object, as stated by the Courier for federal
union, better consummate 1t at once, by an IN
cretse OF members from Upper Canada. But can
not perceive In what way the British race in Low
er Canada would be benefited by such federal
unien. Local legislatures would still be requir-
ed, and Upper and Lower Canada would each
have its own, with all the machinery OF a local
government, The COnfler asapffQ that n fadava
union would lessen the expenses of govern.
ntnt, but does not show us how. According to
all sound principles, the expenses OF government
must necessarily be greatly increased, for each
province would have, in addition to maintaining
local government, to contribute largely. towards
the federal government. If our expenditure is,
therefore, to be increased, and the British inhab.
iants OF Lower Canada LETT more at the mercy Of
their French neiRhbors than at present, | should
ike to know what good is to come OF this proposed
union OF all the North American Provinces
Having thus hastily glanced at our past and pre-
sent condition, the facts may be summed up under
l.