Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-10-16
From the Washington Union.
IMPORTANT FROM CANADA.

ihl Oh AN Nun AANAlJt
The New York Express of the 18th of October
contains an interesting paper which it styles "a de-
claration" of the people of Lower Canada and says
1t sis endorsed by hundreds of the most influential
merchants in Montreal, together with many of the
most important land-holders and professional men,
including two members of Parliament and the
Queens court"
The declaration commences with the assurance
that its sgners belong to all parties, origins and
creeds, but yet are agreed upon the advantages Of
cooperation, in order to perform common duty
growing out of a common necessity, and are deter
mined to forget all past differences in order to pro-
mote common end. 1t then sets forth the evils
which afllct Canada by representing general pros
pect ofruin and decay-the provincial government
and civil corporations embarrassed banking and
other securities greatly Deprecated
and commercial interests unprosperous-estates al
most unsaeable on any terms-rivers, lakes and
canals almost unused--captal dssipated, commerce
destroyed, and every symptom apparent of a nation
fast sinking to decay. Having traced these evils
TO the abandonment of the ancient policy of Eng
land--to the want of markets-to cumbrous and
expensive government, and to the bitter anmosities
Of parties and factionsthe declaration next consid-
ers the remedies which have been proposed for the
evils under which Canada suffers. These proposed
remedies are stated to be-
l. The revival of protection in the markets of the
United Kingdom.
2. The protection of home manufactures
3. federal union the British American provin-
ces.
A. The independence of the British North Amer.
can provinces as a federal republic; and
5. Reciprocal free trade with the United States as
respects the producct OF the farm, the foreFad the
mine. De-
These remedies the celebration considerSH sss
visionary, unattainabe, or insufficient; and saws
she final remedy consists friendly and peceable
separation from British connerion, and q. qeqion
upon equitable terms, ouh The great North American
contederacy Of sovereign States" On this point it
holds the following language followed by an emu
| meratlon OF the benefits which the annexation OF
| Canada would confer on the United States:
The proposed union would render Canada field for
American capital into which it would enter as freely for
the prosecution OF public works and private enterprise
INTO any OF the present States 1t would eauaze the ya
OF real upon both sides of the boundary thereby pro-
badly doubling at the entire present value of property
IN Canada; whilst by giving stability to institutions
and introducing prosperity would raise public cor
porate and private credit 1t would increase our commerce
both with the United States and foreign countries whilst
would Unnecessarily diminish to any great extent ou1
intercourse with Great Britain, into which products
would Tor the most part enter on the at
present 1t would render rivers and canals the high
way Tor the immigration to and exports from the West
the ncacuabe benefit OF our country 1t would also in
troduce manufactures into Canada as rapidly as thew
have been introduced into the northern States and &c
Lower Canada especially where water PRIVILEGES and
labor abundant and cheap it would attract n,anutac,-
ring capital, enhancing the value OF property and agreu
ural produce, and giving remunerative employment tc
what is at present comparatively non-producng popula
ton. MOI woud the United States merely furnish the
| capital tor our manufactures.
They would also supply for them the most extensive
market IN the world without the intervention of custom
house officer Railways would forthwith be constructed
by American capital as feeders for all the great lines now
approaching rontiers and railway enterprise in gen
era would doubtless be active and prosperous aone
US among neghbors The value of our agriculture
produce would be raised at par with that of the
United States, whilst agricultural implements and man,
OF the necessares OF life such tea coffee and sugar
| would be greatly reduced in price.
The value OF timber would also be greatly enhanced
by tree access TO the American market where it bears
high price, but is subject to onerous duty AT the
same time there every believe that our shin.
builders, well at Quebec the great lakes would
ind an unlimited market in all the ports of the American
continent. 1t cannot be doubted but that the shjppino
trade OF the United States greatly increase 1t is
equally manifest that with them, the principal material in
the construction OF ships is rapidly diminishing while we
possess vast territories covered with timber OF excellent
quality, which would be equally available ash is now since
under the Tree trade system vessels would sell as vel
! IN England after annexation before.
Inc simple and economical State government in which
direct responsibility to the people is Distinguishing tea-
ture, would be substituted for system at once cumbros
| and expensive.
In place OF and the alarms of war with neiohbor
there would be peace and atY between this country and
j the United States Disagreemens between the United