The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-30
Affairs In Canada.

We give in our columns to-day some very inte-
resting and exciting extracts from the Canadian
press, concerning the revolutionary proceedings
which recently took place in Montreal-the burn
ing of the Parliament House, &c. We are await
ing with interest the course of events in that part
of the world.
We have some prospect that the people of Canada
will, before long, cut the slim thread which connects
them with the parent country, and that before our
next presidential election shall have come around,
we in this country will be called upon to decide
whether they shall or shall not be admitted to par
take in the benefits and enjoyments of our glorious
inheritance In fact the subject of the annexation
of Canada may now be considered as already
opened, and we look forward to and expect an acr-
monious discussion of the subject in the American
press Immediately. In treating the question, there
are great many considerations connected with it,
that it will not do to overlook OF these, the most
important is the feeling of the Canadians in regard
TO the institution of slavery. In this respect, the
Canadian as well as the British character is ncom-
prehensible. Slavery of one kind or another, whe-
Their religious, POLITICAL personal, has invariably
been concomtant of British rule ever since Britain
has been a nation and imtermlxed is it with the
character of the people, that they even make virtue
oft. The beggar in his rags will shout God save the
King or Queen, the case may be, and testify his
serve loyalty, by tossing up his crownless hat in
ecstaces at the mention of royalty This feeling
exists in Canada in perfection, and it seems as if
it actually gained strength by transportation
Now, slavery does exist in this country, and the
feelings of the people of Canada such, that our
Southern friends would never submit to the an
nexing of that province, without guaranty that
the anti-sayery influence which would thus be
brought into the national councils, would be coun-
terbalanced by apro-savery check from some ohe
quarter. Where can this influence be brought
from! We have drawn largely from Mexico, and
the Southern States have gained nothing by it in
that respect; they likely to gam, for it is
almost beyond dispute, that the people of that
newly acquired region will take upon themselves
to decide that there shall be no slavery there.
Where, then, shall we look for this counter
acting influence! To no other place, in our
opinion, but the Spanish Island of Cuba Hence
1t is, that of late years, Canada and Cuba are
always mentioned IN this same connection-annex-
alton with different soil, climate, habits, customs,
&c. Yet they SO linked together, that we can
not have one without the other. And perhaps it is
as well that such should be the case for it seems to
be the destiny of the United States to grow and to
keep growing, until the American eagle covers with
Its broad wings the whole of this fair continent,
and its dependencies, the isles of the Atlantic
and it would not do, while destiny is leading us, to
allow any portion of our confederacy to attain a
preponderating influence, in any respect, and least
of all in that Of slavery. Therefore it is, that
oahada ana c,lba must go together If one is to
ue Sr.nexed, SO is the other