The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-29
OUR NORTHERN NEvoHBoRS.
The Growth and Prospects OF srftasA AnAe-
rAo~-Arv the Provinces worth AnsoxsAks
rErcn. M. Oh wrca,s Ma july. 1884

rso~-Arv s,,o Provinces worth As.cxtaGS
CFrom Black oods Magazine, july, 1851
II cannot fail to he of interest to BrftisN
readers to trace the growth, and TO speculate
upon the prOsp cts OF colonies, the bulk o.
whose population are of British extraction, and
which promise TO lie the favored recipients OF 9
Large portion of the industry and enterprise OIL
the moot valuable classes of our own fellow
countrymen, who are dai y leaving the land o
their birth in search of a wider field and bet
ter reward for their labor. We propose there
FIRE, to review the progress which our Nord
American colonies have made during the pas
ten or twenty years In popul alton, in commerce
and IN agriculture; and whilst doing so, We
believe we cha be erabl-d to show that, vas,
and rapid US has been the growth of the neigh
boring United States" in every thing which
can cOnduce to the greatness the wealth, aud
the social happiness and worth of people, the
growth Of British America, within the past few
years, at all events, has been even more rapid.
aud almost wonderful. Within the memory OF
the comparatively young amongst our readers,
the population of British America was chiefly
an alien one, composed OF the french resi-
dentsr If Lower Canada, chiefly located IN the
city of Quebec, and in the districts bordering
npon the Gulf OF ST. Lawrence, with sprink-
lag of settlers from this country engaged in
the lumber trade of New Brunswick, and the
fisheries OF Newfoundland and the Bay Of Fundy.
Upper Canada was an almost unexplOred terri
sorry, into which only the adventurous trapper
penetrated during the bunting season, returning
al the fall 10 the lower province to dispose of
his peltries, and to locate himself for the win
tee months hey ond the reach of attack from the
Red Indians, whore cunning and revenge he
hI TO dread in return for his trespasses upon
their forests and prairies. Whilst, as late as
1881, the population of Lower Canada was
Sll922 souls, that of Upper Canada numbered
only in 1880, 2l0,437 SOULS of which the bulk
were located in Montreal and along the banks
OF the st. Lawrence to the mouth of Lake On
1ario The agricultural portion of this p0pula-
dion were chiefly composed Of small holders of
partially cleared land on the lower banks of
the Ottawa Interchangeable, but humble men,
living in log huts, and cultvating just as much
land as would subsist them, aided by the game
won by their rifles during the season when their
numbering operations could be pursued. A few
Insignificant villages, which have since grown
into thriving towns, supplied stores at which
the surplus products of their industry could be
exchanged TOR clothing, and the few articles of
comfort and necessity required by Europeans
embarked in such life of perhaps unaccus-
toned toll and occasional privation, and to
which they could re OIL from time to time for
those religious consultations which they had
been wont to enjoy in the land which had
given them birth for the bulk of the popula-
English or of Scottish extraction; and it is
gratifying to fluid that provision for religious
instruction and education has progressed, step
by step, with the settlement of this and other
provinces Of our North American colonies
For many years subsequent to this period
moreover there was little good feeling exist
ing between the population of Upper aud
Lower Canada differing, as they did, in religion
and In race; and, as natural consequence, the
DnFl Vnfy ~ tkAx Sc. 14 Ill F. "a
crease rather upon an accession of new set
tiers from Great Britain than upon immigra-
lion of the French Inhabitants from the lower
province, whose very 10y atty to the crown was
of dubious character. A strong feel
ing Of irritation, in fact, existed be-
tween the populations Of Upper and
Lower Canada which was aggravated by the
lntermeddlipg and vacillating policy Of success
sive colonial secretaries, by whom the agitating
patriots C) Of the latter were shielded from the
consequences Of their turbulence and sedtion.
whilst the 10y alists of the former whose irmuess
ultimately saved its brightest jewel" from
being reft from the diadem Of the British sove-
reign had the cold shoulder of authority turned
TO them at every available opportunity. when
sueh studied insult could serve to conciliate
and fatter the disaffected. Upon both pro-
yinces imperial legislation was the means OF
infiicting serious Encouragement. A constant
tampering with the trade Of the colony was car
ried on, alternately stimulating and depressing
il, giving ii now one direction and again anoth-
er, until little certainty for the investment of
capital could be said to exist.
Upon this subject Mr.. T. G. Keefer. of Mon
treal. in his prize essay upon the Canals Of
Canada, written in 1851, remarks
A wise and liberal policy was adopted with re
OF either bank OF the st. Lawrence were ndierenty
exported TO the sister colonies, If of Canadian
origin; and those markets received not only our
own, but large share OF American breadstuffs and
provisions. Our timber was not only admitted
Freely into the British markets, but excessive and
almost prohibitory duties were imposed upon i'm
portatons Of this arti lie from the Baltic, for the
purpose Of fostering Canadian trade and British
shipping. The British market was closed by pro
ADDITION against wheat until 1914, which was
then only admitted when the price in England rose
to about two dollars per bushels privilege in
. great measure nugatory: but the West Indies and
lower provinces gave sufficient demand so long as
free export Of American produce was permitted
acts Of the imperial Parliament by imposing duty
upon American agricultural produce entering the
British American colonies and the West Indies. de-
tEoyed half OF the export trade Of the St. Law.
renee; and the Simultaneous abun lance Of the Eng.
hsh harvest forbade our exports thither
1t will be naturally inferred from the above,
that Canada had not Up to 1922. been an eX-
tensive exporter Of agricultural produce Of her
tWh EIuWH p'puiutioH uoWcNtr, WtTc
largely engaged in milling pursuits. in the
manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, &c and
the existing railways and canals of the United
States not having then been formed, and afford
ed routes for the shipment of the agricultural
produce of their western territory from the At
iantic seaboard, such produce could be forward
ed only by the St Lawrence, as if of Canadian
origin-the people Of Canada, and especially
the sbipowners, proftting largely by the trade
But to proceed with our essayist:-
As recompense for the damage done by the
Trsde act Of 1922, four and wheat in 1926 were
OF five shnbgs serling per quarter. The opening
Il the Erie and Cbamplain canals at this critical
juncture gave permanent direction to those Ameri-
can exports which had before sought Quebec, and
an amount Of injury was inflicted upon the st.
Lawrence which would not have been reached rad
The British action Of 1875 preceded that Of 1922
TIE accidental aevantages, resulting from the
differences which arose between the United
States ard Great Britain, on the score of recipro