The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-18
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT In THE NORTH
AMERICAN COLONIES.

|
general OF Canada, the lieutenant governor OF Nova
Scotia New Brunswick and Prince Edwards Island on hC
military establishment to bemaintaned 10 those colonies
later date than the despatch of Earl Grey the Earl
Egin OF the 4h of March, 1851 and the copy of the
port Of the commissioners appointed by letters patent under
the great seal OF the province OF Canada dated the 9th
October 1884 to investigate and report upon the best
means OF reorganzng the militia OF Canada and providing
efficient economical system OF public defence and To
report upon an improved system Of police for the better
preservation OF the public peace and copy of any
acts passed by the Parliament of Canada in pursuance
this recommendation.
few weeks ago he had called the attention of the no
bic Secretary for War TO certain which were then
current respecting alleged intention on the part OF the
government TO make very desirable addition to the mill
ary force maintained in the British North American colo
uies and To make that addition with certain unusual ac
compartments OF pride and osenation lie believed that
OF the reports then very extensively circulated by the
press went the length Of stating that certain portion OF
the magnificent fleet at that time assembled at Spitlead
was to be employed to convey 1000 from the Crimea
TO Canada. Having had experience of the OF
feeling in America he thought that if rumors of this kind
transported across the Atlantic without q single
word OF Denial qualification explanation they might
produce very uneasy feelings both in the British provinces
and in the United States and they might perhaps have
the effect OF inducing the Congress Of the United States
which, he hoped he might say without offence sometimes
acted rather upon impulse in such matesto adopt
tervailng measures of precauon of menace, which
might still further compcate the relations subssting be-
tween the two countries.
He thought that the great object Of public ought to
be any Of possible and
that they should not shrink from suggesting concatory
measures although such a course might occasionally sub
ect them to Misrepresentation and reproach He enter
tanned firm conviction that the better classes in Ameri
caand, indeed the people general most desi-
that friendly relations should be maintained with
this country and were conscious that interruptions Of
those relations would entail upon those countries the most
serious oalanitIes without being accompanied by any
compensatory advantages lie believed tnefe WAS
time since the declaration of independence when the sub
sana interests which bound the two countries together
were SO manifold and SO important, hear, hear and
when the differences between them traing and
puerile as at the present moment. Hear hear He be-
ieved that were It not for the point Of national honor
which they believed to be engaged because the
told them il was, the people of this country would not
take much interest in amy of the pending questions and
would not care whether they settled way the
other. Hear, hearl
He deeply dpored the continuance of angry discussions
between the of the two countre because he
confident that if the British people once brought
TO believe that collision with the United States was
eF or later inevitable and if the Congress Of the United
States continued its military and naval preparations in
der to be prepared against such contingency it would
be impossible much longer to maintain peace between the
two countries He also deprecated the continuance of
these angry discussions because he thought that with ref
erence to the disputes pending between the two goY
6rnmen they had been led by their controversial zeal to
assume positions Numerically opposed to those which
consideration OF their real and permanent interests would
have induced them to occupy II interest for n-
stance that the neutrality laws of the United States should
receive the widest Interpretation that the dispositions
which existed IN some portions of the population of the
should be checked and that the of the United
States should be led recognise the obligations which il
owed to the other governments of the world but in
late controversy with the United States had been led
TO contend for the Interpretation of neura
ty laws Ihear, hear we had been pe to maintain the
right Of persons resident in the United States to into
the service of foreign begerens at their will and that II
not fair subject for remonsrance that dplomasts of
high rank should make themselves parties to such proceed
ings.
1t also the real interest of this country in reference
American
the Central American States should be preserved and that
no one great power should obtain Overwhelming inau-
ence in that territory which destined probably be-
come the highway Of the Of the world. II was
with this view that the BulwerCaytou eay was entered
uo ad It was in pursuance Of this view that very valu
able assurance obtained from Mr. Abbot Lawrence on
behalf Of the United States in despatch from that gentle
man TO Lord Palmcrston dated November the sh ls49
the elect that the American government had ulteror
objects to serve and that they had no intention whatever
OF annexing eolonizng that territory In our zeal
however TO maintain somp rights in Central America
which he fey eogna 2 say he believed to be entirely
SoFthlesswe had been led to Pnt q most restrictive
Interpretation that treaty and to extend the utmost
the limits within which parties might exercise pow
er OF protecorate quassoyeregnty in that territory
lie very greatly feared that the able arguments which
had employed In this discussion would be turned against
us with effect In yet more serious disno which might
arise between ns and the United States but Ia the mean
time all must agree In earnestly desiring that the present
controversy saoud be put an end to at the earliest moment
near near Put ew days ago an American gentleman
bf great ernene bad expressed to him his conviction
that II Lord Clarendon and Mr. Marcy were half an hour
together 10 some they would settle the whole ques.
ton Ia manner most satisfactory all parties. Now
that the noble earl released from the overpowering
abors which had been lately pressing him. he hoped he
would torn his great abilities and his great powers Of
Citation 70 this important subject aud that by putting
end to the discussions between America and England he
would add another TO the many claims which he had upon
the gratitude Of bis country. Hear
To revert however to the question Of the transmission Of
troops Canada The noble lord the Secretary Of State
for War in reply to the inquiries which he had addressed
former evening had stated that the reports which
he had alluded exaggerated and that the addition
which waa 70 be made 70 the military force in the North
American provinces not great Il represented
10 be and moreover that Il not for aggres
sve purposes In America That declaration most
pct and emphatic and II have given great satisac.
ton all persons whose confidence 10 the discretion Of the
government OF that somewhat qualified nature which
rendered nuch desirable lie himself not
OF that number for II had occurred 70 him TO
suppose that IL possible that the government
would be guilty Of the mprdenpe Of undertaking ag
gressiFe movement In America
He confessed however that judging FROM past e1pe-
once and little influenced by those reports be felt
at the time when he put the question little anxiety
upon another point which not wholly removed by the
which he bad received He had thought Just pos
ble that her Maestyis government conscious that they
bad at their disposal OF the most powerful fleets and
one of tho best appointed armies which the country
possessed have conceived tbe opinion that something
In the nature Of demonstration Of force something which
their admirers might vaunt display Of vigor might be
seryipeabp to them ip the negotiations which they were
then carrying on with the United States lie was glad TO
say however that the statement made by the noble lord at
the head Of the government In answer TO an inqary ad
dressed TO him IN another place went far TO remove the
prehensons which, In common with others he had enter
tained on this point
The noble lord, in the Of his reply to the ques-
ton put TO him the other night said that the addition 10
be made to the military force stationed in British North