Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-01-08
Brttishf for,h Am erican cspf feder.i1on-.s
AosS Bury apd the Pasiac .>RSii-,
resa via st. EAul.

Britishf forth AMERICAN csnreder7i1on-.
Aosg Bury sapd the Pacific <RSiiJ
req via st. raul.
we referred some time since to the idea of
confederation of the British North Ameri-
csE fre.hsees.=sEhe NewtYork journal of-
Commerce says: "The disbanding of the
H6dsohi Bay Company and opening of its
territory to settlement; the Frazer river ex-
citement and rush of population westward
and northward to which it gave rise-and
possibly some indications Of uneasiness among
the British Canadian provinces, which might
finally result in alienation or annexation or
something else prejudicial to British interests
in that direction prompted the home govern
ment to dispatch Lord Bury on a special mis-
sion with instructions, as is alleged, to ascer-
tain the feelings of the people of Canada,
Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, on the SUBJ
ject of union," project which has recent
~ eccasioned animated debates in the prov
lncial Legislatures. Soon after his arrival,
Lord Bury took occasion, at public banquet
| in Toronto, to discaim any official functions
in strictness of language, such may have been
| the fact but the importance attributed to
his mission by the English press shows that
it was regarded with no ordinary interest.
Lord Bury, on the occasion referred to, said,
"you want these things principally viz:
| more rapid means Of communication, an Or
ganized system Of emigration, and some means
OF annihilating, SO far as practicable, the dis
tance separating the colonies from the mother
| country. He also announced that he was
connected with line of European steamers
| now having its western terminus at New York,
but which might be transferred to Quebec if
| sufficient inducements offered, and he was
authorized to treat with the provinces for the
construction of a line of railway from Hall
fax to Quebec. " Canada, /" he thought, ''must
eventually become the great carrying power
of the world" The grand project of connect
ing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which is
| doubtless contemplated in this proposition,
| and towards which consummation this is the
first step, is one not only affecting British in
terests in the Orient, but will directly operate
to bind the North American provinces insep-
arably to each other and to the British crown.
The three great mail routes to her possessions
in the East which England will ultimately
possess may be stated as follows 4. ~ ~
| s,.t s-. ....a .si .l.-. - MILES. wEEKs
Southampton to Birmah via Suez, 5000 S
| to Australia via Panama, 49, 600 z
| - to China via b. N. A.. IL 900
The rapid transit to be accomplished by the
last route, afording the most expeditions in.
tercoursc with China and the East, comman-
ding the North Pacific, and counteracting the
influence Of Russia (Vancouver's Island af-
fordng alEneedful supplies Of Goa, y are con-
siderations Of controlling weight, saying moth
ing of other objects of an Importance not at
all inferior, affecting the integrity of British
Territory. 1t is therefore matter which
need excitcs no surprise should it appear that
great inter-oceanc highway through British
America constitutes the basis of compre-
hcnsive scheme of consolidating the empire of
Great Britain, and binding its remote parts in
| one harmonious system. Further confirma-
ton of the views advanced above respecting
British designs in North America appears in
letter from Victoria ". ~ published in the
Illinois State Journal, which, speaking Of the
corps of engineers recently arrived there (to
commence the survey of a railroad 10 Hall
fax in the spring remarks as follows: "This
railroad scheme has been put on foot by o
company of British capitalists, who in view
of. the opening Of the ports of China to the
free trade of the world, have determined to
build up q second Liverpool at Victoria, on
Vancouver's Island, and direct, if possible,
the trade of the East across British Territory
by line of railway which will connect with
the Grand Trunk Railway through the Cana
das" We cannot better exhibit the views
entertained in England in regard to this mat,
ter, than by making the following extracts
from late papers:
From the London News. .y7S EIT
| Sooner or later it seems to us inevitable
that federal relations of some kind must grow
up between the Canadas, Nova Scotia New
Brunswick, and New Foundland All we
venture to think that we see clearly in the
matter iS that these relations should be al
lowed to grow freely and spontaneously, and
that no temporary purpose, either local or i'm.
| perial, should be sought for in their Premature
development. In legislating for Australian
colonies some years ago, the Government of
| Lord John Russell introduced provisions
whereby those communities were enabled to
establish federal union amongst themselves
whenever they saw fit. A declaratoly act of
the Imperial Legislature is hardly requisite to
| assure our American kinsfolk that no obec-
lion would be raised by public opinion in this
country to their doing likewise. But were
we to hazard an opinion on this subject, we
| would be inclined to say that the wisest and
! most timely work which they have at present
| before them is the completion, as rapidly as
prudence will permit, of those great lines Of
| internal communication which their widely
| extended territories SO much need and the
practical effect of which, far beyond all politi-
| cal influences and effects, must inevitably be
the creation of oneness amongst them Re-
moteness and mutual ignorance are the pro-
| life parents of dstrust and disagreemeIts be-
tween communities, and anything that con-
tributes legitimately to- interchange of ideas
and social fusion helps in the best of all ways
to facilitate the establishment Of sound political
institutions. b.. s.s....;. .....'r,
From the London Globe, Dec /. a.. ...1-
The time is not arrived, although close at
hand for the construction of railway to the
Pacific {; but there is no reason why interco-
lonial railways should not be commenced at
once, and with inter-colonial railways must
come fedhrafiht,A ,af r,rnof5 doeldrxx,%,,~, r.