The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-21

Halfway between the Atlantic and the Pacific
The route has not oply already been surveyed
and found practicable, but we are told by Mr.
RoEBUcK, that plans for carrying the railway
across the continent, and establishing direct COM
munlcation between England and Vancouver's
Island by way of Halifax, have been submitted
to the Colonial Secretary, and we are left to infer
from the general tone of the discussion with
reference to the future prospects of the British
North American Provinces, that they have met
with his approval. Our readers are already
aware that the new colony of British Columbia
comprises all that part of the British Territory
north of forty-nine degrees, which hes between
the Pacific ocean and the Rocky Mountains 1t
is now proposed to establish another colony be-
tween the western end of Lake Superior and the
Rocky Mountains of which the settlements at
Pembina, and in the valley of the Red river are to
compose the nucleus-thus forming a complete chain
of colonies across the continent, as "a rampant
against any hostile inroads from the American
frontier, and an essential arch as it were to that
great viaduct, by which we hope" says Sir
EDWARD BULwER LYTToN, Zone day to connect
1.-THE harbors of Vancouver with the Gulf of ST.
Lawrence" This district Is to be offered to
Canada, provided she will consent to undertake
the task ''of forming it into a colony at her own
responsibility and charge" If she declines,
the Home Government will, in all probability,
adopt such measures as may be found ne
cessary to promote the success of the
project Mr.. RoEBUCK heartily advocated the
views expressed by the Colonial Secretary The
extraordinary expansion of the UNITED STATES
filled him with vague fears for the future lie
considered that England ought to do something as
a counterpoise, or ''the UNITED STATES of America
"would overshadow not England only, but the
'earth." He believed that IN the Northern part of
the Continent the means of establishing that coun-
terpose were to be found, and ''if England would
s'carry out systematic plan of Colonization on
''that portion of the Continent which now BELONGED
ITO her. she would enable the world TO resist what
che believed would otherwise be the predominant
''power of the Anglo-Saxon race now established
fin the UNITED STATES" Here then we have the
foreshadowing of a more vigorous Colonial policy
in British North America; but it certainly appears
to us that both Sir EDWARD BULwUR LYTToN and
Mr.. RoEBUcK repose too much faith in the ability
of their proposed chain of Colonies TO resist the
overshadowing influence of the UNITED STATES
The population of Canada does not much exceed
three millions. In the Red river settlement. which
was founded forty years ago, and which is to form
the nucleus of q new Colony, we are told by
Professor HIND, who has recently explored a portion
of the territory, that the European and Canadian
elements have been gradually diminishing for
years, and that the seven thousand half-breeds
now inhabting Pembina and the valley of
the Red, and the Assiniboin rivers, are
relapsing into the habits and tastes of the
Aborigines. The present state of society, and
the condition of the people in the settlements are
in his opinion, far from being either pleasant or
Such is the nucleus which in the
course of years is destined, according 20 the views
of English statesmen, to increase until it offers
efectual counterpoise to the UNITED STATES
British Columbia, also, until lately, had scarcely
any population except the officials attached 10 the
Hudson's Bay Company, and the trappers and
haf-breeds in their service. There can be doubt
however, that n railway across the Continent to
Vancouver would promote the prosperity of
that Colony to an extraordinary degree; but
a work of much magnitude would neces-
Sarily occupy a number Of years in the construc-
ton oft, and to be successful, when completed,
the Railway must be preceded to some extent by
a population sufficiently wealthy and cnterprising
to keep it actively employed. From the plans
laid before the Colonial Secretary, we take it for
granted that it is possible to build q railway from
the western side of Lake Superior to the Pacific
Ocean; but we are not quite so certain that the
rigorous winters and deep SHOWS north of the
forty-ninth parallel of latitude, would not prove
nsuperabe obstacles to its usefulness. However
this may be- it would still remain questionable
whether railway running for some seventeen
hundred miles through narrow strip of habitable
territory, deficient in those resources that are
available for local trade would ever attract
Anglo Canadian settlers in sufficient numbers to
orm "a rampant against invasion from the
'United States, If such a rampant should ever
be needed-so long as the statistics of the move
ment of population North-W estwardly indicate
that before the lapse of another quarter of a
fury, the valleys of the Upper Missouri, the Yellow
Stone, and the Platte, will not only be thckly
inhabited, but that the rehuent wave ofpopulation
will be spreading over the British line and occu-
plying the fertile pasture lands of the Assiniboin
river, and of the Red river of the North.