Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-23

which they have given their assent by their Representatives in
the Council ofthe Empire This point ssoluey contended
against by the obstinate ministers of obstinate monarch
when you asserted your independence but of the
present day wse the teachings of the last century
not been lost upon them; Lord JoHS RussELL and Sir
CHARLEs GREr have both declared in their places in the
House of Commons that they wish rpresentaon and tar
on be co-srtensiUe" Thus settled doctrine which did
not originate with either Whig, Tory, Radcal-fo has
long been common all the political creeds Of Engshmen
existed before, and will long survive all party factions
1t has, however, FIRST received the official sanction in
British Parliament, by Ware administration Hencefor-
ward will be enacted in spirit well in words
that felow-counrymen in the colonies shall be
governed by laws which have been made without their
'opnion having been asked, shall they pay
which they have not given their assent" But timid
old fashioned politicians may say "If you give the
colonies their government, what is the difference
between that and declaring them independent The diff
ference great. The colonies do ask the right to med
die with matters which the ,choLe empire. They
want to manage the matters which relate themselves.
There is difficulty in determining what matters belong
the empire, aud what to the colony. The federave SYSTEM
under which the United States have pre-emnenty -four
ished, is only beginning be understood by English
legislators and its adoption, certain extent will work out
in great measure, the purzng problem of British Colonial
Government
The question is simply this Is not municipal independ-
compatible with imperial allegiance municipal char
granted TO Englshtown, certain limits laid down
within which the municipality is quite free to act It elects
its officers, taxes ITSELF and responsible ITSELF quite
free within its limits II it steps beyond these limits it
des itself amenabe, not the Crown, bu. to the law. So
let it be with colony. The colony do certain
which attic itself aone and nobody else and trust that
the before Parliament will grant that power
4 A. -r.l II
would be closing our minds all the teach
ngs of experience The day will assuredy arrive when
all the British dependencies in process Of being egaed
for will feel themselves capable of self and independent gov
ernment they will be wise claim this position before
they maintain and the mother country will be
than foolish to attempt to deny it to them and
whenever they shall be judged capable of maintaining
The contemplated measures excellent preliminary steps
they will form good training for, and expediting Of
the final and valuable the colonies present
to the mother country, in commercial point Of view,
have shown them be by the table which have prepared
and stated they will be much when they have
sumed the position of independent nations. Would the
United States have furnished such array Of the commodi
ties which they took from the British looms during 1S40
they had declared their independence in l76 and achieved
and maintained it, Most asuredly AS an independent
nation and friendly Power the United States of hun
dredod importance Great Britain what they could
have been colonial dependencies So will it be said here
after of Canada Australia, and the Cape and it is proud
feature in British Legislation that its present course hasten
that happy consummaton.
We shall this time go into the details of Lord JOHN
RussELL plan, becauss however much the principles which
he has stated may he approved Of the details will pro-
baby be very much modified during the progress Of the
through Parliament The Times says "that short Of
Saying goodby the colonies altogether the proposal
| he and
says Lord JoHs Russell does shrink from contemplating
the eventual Independence Of colonies and proposes
sprepare them for it by free institutions When colony
feels itself really ndependen-ha is able protect its soil,
's citizens its property and its institutions against all assa
ants, and to keep order within its borderst will
'doubtedy aspire the dignity well convenience Of
absolute I is the order of nature and
I'VE fight against excepto Disappointment loss,
and Disgrace" The Times closes its articles upon the SUBJ
ect of the colonies with the oOUng striking passage
s'On the subject Canada the PREMIER spoke with the
loyalty of Engshman and the of minister. We
agree with every word that he said Unless should become
of Hecessy each individual Canadian, certainly
is suPsuous and peous piece OF dsloyaly to consent
annexation No tell what he will have to suffer
he takes that fearful leap and how much the reproaches OF
conscience may be aggravated by disaster But from Lord
oHs RrssEL and from every other statesman who may hold
Office in this country ask for something more than mere
sentiment the disloyay and danger of annexation We
ask for pledge Should the day arive-shoud an over
whelmng majority in Canada declare either tor annexation
or for that independence which will inaibly lead to it. we
have right ask beforehand that loyalty may be
spared painful appeal England has spent 00O O00L
in the attemp. subugae the United States, and she
will do the like again. If Canada chooses to the
fearful risk of causeess separation, let her do if not with
consent, at least without our opposition
One observation respecting the colonies and have
done, for the present, with the subject.
There great hopes entertained that the scheme of
ng the mails between England and Australia by the 18th
of Panama. will be adopted by the Government. The
will be from Panama Tahiti and by Cooks straits
New Zeaand) to Sydney The length of passage will be
reduced by this line just half No small consideration
this whether in commercial, moral political point Of
view. With quick method of getting the mother
try and reasonable price, brethren from the anpodes
would frequently visit Great Britain emigration Of the
better classes would be promoted and greater ntecommun
cation ofeelngs and interests would established We know
of nothing, liberal form Of colonial government
which would rapidly promote the progress Of Australia
than facilitated intercourse with the mother country and the
old world and short from the Atlantic to the Pacific
would bring with advantages the Australian portion of the
world which cannot at present anticipate. But
from other very slowly in all matters of
this kind. striking proof that do SO is before US
About eighteen months ago first startled with the
gold discoveries in California Since then, you have estab
shed 1--WE beeve two lines Of steamers between New York
and Chagres between New Orleans and the latter Point
q can