Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-02
From the London rius,.

.tsst Prom the London Times.
Times are changed indeed when hnd ourselves en-
gag,d In . European with hardly thought OF IN,
colonies Men sill living may remember when war "a
regarded as little ese hama greet game OF chess Il
which tho pieces alternately lost and back were ls
lands ports, dependencies and trades. The Interest
the sport was intense for the time though have sines
discovered were playing with counters oten some
people say always, OF purely conventional value W.
have learnt something from bitter aud costy experience
We have learnt that must not trust to colonies
that our emigauts will choose their future homes fol
themselves aud that merchants will 20 where hey
hnd the best markets There indeed, some consde-
ratons which will to urge to tho protec-
ton OF our colonies In the season Of danger We shall
feel for our own flesh and blood shall; ever sup
port the loyal and be grateful for sympathy shall
feel the national honor stake wherever the flag Of Eng
laid Is unured, her allegiance acknowledged, and her
laws obeyed but we shall light what may be called
war OF colonies. We shall not send out fleets to
extend nominal sovereignty aud an Improbable
merce to barren rocks, hostile cities and inhosptabc
shores Nor 10 likely that other nations will take up
our exploded foier, aud begin where We end Imme-
date danger indeed there cannot be to colonies for
earth and sea closed to the common enemy who
refused to be content with the half Of two continents No
Russian ship live on the No ocean, no gulf no
channel with but three fathoms OF salt water will tolerate
that piratca flag which henccforth only over
pe-huilt sdmiralties aud mudgirt orti6cations Our
colonies safe enough from her violence fraud But
as We have been lately reminded that know part
uers at the opening Of the ball. but not at the end Is
possible that new combinations may arise, and that
may ultimately have maritime foe. 10 that case We
may have To send fleets colonies, aud depend
their affection Of self interest for their corporation in
their own defence. Il may become question Of painful
soctude how they stand affected to the mother country
aud whether mutual relations supply that "chcap
fence Of colonies Of other States that will last when
fleets have rotted and armies passed So IL not
too early, even now, to cast eye colonies
Is then, most consoatory to reflect that this crisis
OF our fortunes we have neither war disigreemeu
nor question Of kind worth With our colonies
Not only towards US but within themselve they present
Ia
s'uons or n We enjoy at home The process which
We have arrived at this happy conclusion as regards
British America, vas well described by Lord Elgn the
ohe DAY at the city banquet We have given up the old
idea OF governing Canada and the colonies by
means OF party srrogstug to itself exclusive claim
20 loyal feelings and British aiuitc, We have ceased
10 oroe one party to call itself imperial aud concede
10 the other monopoly of colonial sympathes. BY the
various measures OF free trade have put end-a
lent end a. seemed at the tne-o the forced trade of
me 81 LAWRENCE with its artificial diversions of traffic
tnu us Sratuous proyocstons the neighbourng
pu lic Commerce takes its natural course there q
veil as in the ports and along the of the British
sizes we have granted seif-governhent beyond the
dreams OF the most liberal politicians The result is e1
emphhed IN the career Of the who, with other
otion than TO be useful has Ia the genius be prudent
and the courage 10 wait quietly Tor the end. Lord Eign
mas nearly attained length Of reign equal the FIVE pre-
Sous ones put together and beginning with stormy dis.
sessions tumulis conhigraons, furious debates frenxied
ppeis TO faction a home and all the other usual out.
breaks OF colonial passion has attained "ths serene
ueikut no duOru 10 look back and smile
Tue dtusons Of the already forgotten past II he visits
The neghoorng Republic he receives that sympathy which
once ohy existed between rebels the side OF the
1on'er and marauders on the other. 1t is discovered
mat the Brush emigrant may continue cherish his 10y
Atty without the sacrifice OF independence aud that the
subjects OF Queen Victoria be wealthy as grea, aud
is Zee as the citizens of the neghboriug States.
To England herself her generous policy towards her
colonies has already brought signal reward All parties
-for parties there still oeeagerly unite TO express
heir enduring loyalty to the Sovereign in whose
teat war mas been undertaken In 50 righteous a
commons oil Nova Scotia after unanimously declaring
heir interest in that cause and promising their sympa
mes whe her in triumph disaster concluded with the
oher that should the land forces in their province be
eqilred elsewhere Her estv may rely upon the LOYALTY
and devotion Of the militia OF Nova Scotia who until The
return oil peace in Europe will defend their own country
hd protect Her Mjesys forts and arsenals from foreign
'sgresSlon We have already norced the fears which
ome people nave expressed Tor the safety of our
colonies, and have venured observe that the p.cp
sydney Tor example, perfectly competent to defend
themselves against any force all likely for many Years
to assa them from this part Of the world There il no
OF defence which civilians with pre,, wealth.
i"xterity and occasional hours leisure have so much
command Tor the purposes OF defence artillery With
little Instruction the Canadians aud other British Amer
cans may easily important point from
tgate one should by any chance iud itef SO far from
nome and escape cruisers There can no Ion or he
any reason why all our colonies should not undertake
their own defence on scale proportoned to the really
possible Danger They have our population Free T,.d
mas not deprived them Of our commerce. and A vas,
lmount OF British capital is employed in the communities
ton between them and the mother co"-'-y on- ~.
there will no longer DE that feeble jealousy with which
the puny politicians of the last century the
session OF arms by colonial hands We have now shown
that we rus. the British subject wherever he ia PLACED
under whatever temptations, and however far from the
march oil our armies aud the range Of broaddes-
Military establishments on sufficient scale will add TO the
credit as well as the discipline Of colonies and will
contribute to that idea ofndependence or rather equality
which one English county enjoys in relation TO another
ana "hch makes tue gentleman OF Northumberland hold
himself al least on par with whose family has resi-
died. time out OF mind, in midland county or accumua.
ted wealth and come Iions still the metropos-
Literal Independence neither possible nor desirable in
the component States of Empire. What we want to
AVOID 'nvidous distinctions contrary the very notion
an Empire united under constitutional
we want no insiders aud outsiders no British and alien
no imperial and colonial no dominant party no govern
sh interests. What do want Is Enpishmen nj bom.
and EngIshmen in the colonies, Or If the term should
give offence nearer home, British subjects everywhere
equally privileged, equally honorable equally well affect
ed, aud loyal.