The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-07
canadian Annexation Upset-A New Ca
madam COnfcderacy Proposed

Canadian Annexation Upset-A New Ca
madam Confcderacy Proposed.
Our readers will find, in another part of to-day's
paper, highly important document, which has
been addressed to the people of Canada by the
members of the British League, which recently
convened at Kingston, for the purpose of taking
the present condition of Canada into consldera-
ton, and adopting measures for improving the
commercial and manufacturing interests of those
provinces. 1t is plain, calm, and unostentatious
paper, and will no doubt have great influence on
the minds of those to whom it is addressed, and
may bring about, at some late early day, before
the day OF judgment, the measure which is pro-
posed by the League for benefttng Canada
The present depressed state of the provinces is
attributed by the League the free trade policy of
Great Brtain-to the withdrawal of the discrimi-
nation in favor of Canadian produce, which threw
Canada into a ruinous competition with those TO
whom the ports of England are more Immediately
and cheaply accessible. The remedies proposed
are, federal union Of all the British American
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and economy in the pub
lie expenditure, and protection to home industry.
The United States is but alluded to in the ad-
dress, and then as mighty and prosperous nation
1t was expected by great many in the United
States that the British League would have de-
clared for something like anne xaton of the Cana
das TO this republic; but after reading the proceed
ings Of the League, and the debates of the men,
bers, we were satisfied that such a change had not
a, any time been seriously contemplated by any but
a very small portion of the people. The Canadians
have been reared under royalty, are attached to a
nonarchical form of government, and think that il
is the only government under which they can pros
per. This was plainly evinced during the sitting
OF the League. Indeed, one of the first things the
members did was to pass declaration of attach
nent TO the mother country. AS as we OBJ
served this, we knew the annexation game was
over
We have no doubt that federal union Of all the
British American colonies will tend greatly to the
advantage and prosperity of each and all of them.
BY the establishment Of federal congress to le-
gislate tor the whole confederacy, the French SUI
premacy, odious to the British portion Of the in
hsbtants, would be impossible; for the addition of
British representatives that would be brought from
the other colonies into the halls of legislation,
would give a vast preponderance over those re-
turned by the French. 1t would also create COM
munity and identity Of interest and feelings, as
well as diminish the public expenditures. We do
not know whether it is contemplated that each
province shall have its separate provincial leglsla
tive, as the American States have, leaving the fe-
dera Legislature to act general matters only con-
eeming the good of all, as in our Congress at
Washington; or tor there to be no provincial legis-
latures, but general one at the seat of the general
government, wherever it may be. 1.-THE latter were
adopted, there would, Of course, be very great
diminution in the expenses of government, and in
he tan ffn n of for ths ybnla
expense Of the federal government would not be a
great deal more than is now paid for the support OF
each separate provincial legislature.
BE this as il may, there is apparently no desire
among the Canadians to be annexed to the United
States; nor, rnder all the circumstances, do we
think il would be to our interest that such should
for the present, at least, be consumated. Ii would
cause an excitement concerning slavery, to which
all others would be trhes The luminosity and i'll
feeling between the North and South on that subject,
now too viruent, would be increased, for the latter
would never consent to any extension Of the anti
slavery influence, unless that Of slavery were ex-
tended Likewise. The excitement which has been
caused by that most ridiculous of all measures the
wimot proyiso, which is now happily subsiding,
and which will disappear We hope, entirely when
California demands TO be admitted into this Union
as State, next wlnter-this WImoi proviso excite
msnt would be increased hundred-fold, and
might produce a collision between the two sections
Of the Union, that might result in deplorable and
irreparabe injury to both, and to the stability and
permsnence Of the republic. The League, there
fore, having declared for federal union Of all the
Bntish American provinces, General Scott has
written his letter and given his opinion the
ncHtton OF those colonies, to no purpose. twas but
" hasty plate Of soup" The idea Of annexing
Caba too, must GO overheard for the present, UNI
the difficulty growing out Of the abduction case
New Orleans should rpen into a war with Spain,
and obhge us to take Cuba as indemnity for the
pas, and security for the future, ia much the came
way as we ueated Mexico