The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-27
Enr ne Sonihern Prlss.
InteTCOmmunlCa alton between the United
States and Canada.

Western States and the British Provinces, to-
gethcr with the proposed construction Of inter.
national lines Of communication, by means OF
railroads, passir & through the Eastern States to
the shores OF the Atlantic, has suggested to my
mind, the adoption OF plan, by which the vel
fare of both countries would be permanently
promoted; and which, if carried out, would tend
eiIectuaIly to aliay the approximations of con
4 sequences which, in The present state of things,
would follow a disruption OF those peaceful re-
! lations chat ut present exist between England
and America; by which, should war ut any future
time occur, its effects would be ueutraIized, so
far, at least, Is respects the territory in the VI
cinity Of the boundary line, between the North
ern States ard Canada and New Brunswick,
whose inhabitants could possess no other inter
est in the contest, than that which would have it's
origin in prinei Ples Of loyalty and attachments
to their respt Give governments.
My attention was called to this subject during
the last year, when the treaty relative to the
! Nicaragua canal was made publicity which the
entire route is to be considered as neutral terri
tory, together with such portions of the adacent
coast at its termini, us might hereafter be agreed
upon; which treaty il to have full force and eff.
feet in this particular, Notwithstanding war
/ should occur between the two contracting par.
] ties. Hence, il has occurred to me, that SINH
| lar arrangement might be entered into with ref.
erence TO the railroads and canals that are at
/ present in existence, or which may hereafter be
constructed, intcrsecting the British Provinces
and United States, $780,.
( Not only would such an arrangement be con-
sonant with the dictates Of humanity, but it
/ would form an additional inducement with men
of wealth, in both countries, to invest their cap.
ital in works of general utility which the pres
ent state of public affairs may otherwise prevent,
T. LII,
the ravages of war.
There is at present much and increasing good
feeling existing amongst the inhabitants of both
countries, in the neighborhood of The American
! frontier; which has manifested itself on several
recent occasions, in very gratifying manner,
in the reciprocal interchange Of courteous and
social intercourse.
Owing to the boundary line, under the Ash
burton treaty, penetrating between New Bruins
wick and Canada, until it strikes the GrandFalls
on the river st. John, and the eastern territory
of Maine at the North, running parallel with, and
at no great distance from the post road between
st. Andrews and theFals, and for several miles
near the river, predatory warfare IS much to
be apprehended there; and an attempt was made
a few years since by the Provincial government,
to open road on the opposite side of the st.
John, but which after Elnch expense had been
|
natural obstacles which the route presented.
Even during the late survey Off route for the
proposed railroad from Halifax to Quebec the
danger that would result in ease Of hostility,
haunted the mind of the engineer, and was one
of the main reasons which led him TO recon-
mend route deviating from direct line and
sweeping round the Bay de Chaeurs, as far
north as the Restgouche, thence proceeding to
Quebec in the vicinity of the ST. Lawrence Still
the same objection there presents itself as the
road approaches its termination, where it must
necessarily pass in the vicinity of the American
lines, which in some places, believe, are not
more than thirty miles distant from that river
and which in of hoStilities, could mt any
time he destroyed by n hostile demonstration or
individual enterprise; to guard against which,
British troops must be placed in positions caru
lated to repel invasion and protect the line, or
TO threaten lIoulton and other vulnerable points
and thus transfer the seat of war TO the soil.
tudrs of Maine.
The most eligible rou e from Halifax to Que.
bee, after arriving Mt the head OF the Bay Of
Fundy would be rs directly across the country
as the nature of the ground would permit to
the shores of the st. Lawrence, or until il in
tersected Woodstock which is twelve miles
from lIoulton; and thence continue il Jointly
with the people of Maine, through that State
by the most favorable route TO Quebec There
is atpreSent a railroad in progress from 81. An.
drews, near the entrance Of the Bav Of Fundy
10 Woodstock and il seems probable, that il
will ultimately be continued by the line ! have
suggested into Canada. 1t is much the shortest
route, and st. Andrews is an excellent shipping
port, open at all seasons of the year.
There is also in the course of construction
and near completion, railroad from Montreal
I =. d. -, 4
to connect it by means of branch with Quebec:
both of which would be utterly useless, with
/ reference to the main object in view--a commu.
nication with the Atlantic, were n war under
/ present circumstances 10 occur
4 Then, again, the people Of Portland finding
that that port will not answer for a terminus, by
which o. secure portion Of the European trade
which now passes their doors and goes to New
York, have formed company to extend the
Montreal railroad to Halifax, the nearest point
to Europe, where a secure harbor, and one of
safe approach, can he found The people of ST.
John, 10 New Brunswick. are decidedly favorable
/ to this enterprise, and the Legislature Of that
/ province stands pledged to its support.
| The British government, however, seem at
/ length 10 have determined To- have n line excu
sivcy within The British provinces, from Quebec
| to Halifax, TO which ] have already advertcd
/ ana nave agreed 10 advance thlriy.hye millions
Of dollars, or TO guarantee the interest upon
certain conditions, TO which the legislatures Of
/ Canada and Nova Scotia have agreed, and to
which the government Of New Brunswick has
committed itself; il being understood that por
ton Of that sum is to be cxpend d on the Hall
fax and Portland route. cannot conceive how
the British government can lend its sanction 10
a scheme, the success of which depends upon it,
connection with line extending for a consid.
cradle distance through the United States, and
which would certainly be defeated were hosti
ties TO occur between the two countries, unless
some such permanent national convention "a
have alluded to, should be entered into between
the two nations.
ltappears to me, therefore, it only requires
that public attention. and that Of the govern
ments of the United States and Great Britain.
should be drawn TO this subject, TO produce an
arrangement, by which a defined space on each