The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-27


tom houses, and taken the public money in
Sub Treasures as though such acts of violence
and confiscation were part and parcel of the
spirit of the age and perfectly justiia-
bic. Our police, even in the city Of New York,
in order that the North may not be behindhand
with the South, steal muskets, powder, and
other legitimate merchandise, and under the
absurd plea that they are "contraband of war;
when no condition Of war is recognized by the
government at Washington, invade ships and
steamers, and resort to many other illegal and
unjustifiable acts. Such decentralization, South
and North, cannot fail to have its effect upon
the neighboring subjects of Queen Victoria
and, while they may, some Of them, deprecate
the INSCRIPTIONS means that are resOrted to by
some of us, it is impossible that they should
not end by following in our footsteps. The
progress Of the age, demands that they should
throw off foreign 1ske. The spirit that ami
mates Sclavo mic, Italian and German popula-
tons to struggle for national autonomy, is not
wanting on the Western continent Our own
patriots are resolved that Halifax, Quebec,
Montreal and Toronto, shall receive the mpe-
tus republican institutions alone can give
which is all that is required to make them the
rivals of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago,
and it behooves the people of the provinces of
which those cities are centres to organize at
once to effect so desirable an end.
Not many years will elapse before not
only the whole of the British possessions
Of North America, but also the north
western portion of the continent owned
by Russia will be included in the great nom
slaveholding republic, which will rival in
grandeur the empire which will be carved out
by the hands of Southern enterprise and ener-
gy. The advantages to ourselves and to the
world of such an alteration of the map of the
continent, are apparent. Canada which has no
navy, but limited commercial feet, and which
is restrained in its development by want of in
dependence, will become the centre of one of
the greatest marine powers on earth It's popu-
lation will be quadrupled in thirty years. its
manufactures will vie with those of England;
and an incalculable impetus will be given to
agriculture by intimate relations with our corn
growing States. The Canadian people, instead
Of revolving with dimmed lustre, around a
distant centre, will derive their glory and re-
nown from themselves alone, while they con-
tribute to extend the influence of mighty
Power, over which they will have controlling
voice, to the remotest bounds of the globe.
1t can scarcely be questioned that England,
with the teachings of her own greatest states
men before her; the precepts to guide her
which che has given to other nations; and the
wisdom and enlightenment of
the century in which we live, will
rejoice in permitting Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick, to secede in peace. The
loss of the thirteen colonies to the Crown, has
done more to augment the national wealth of
Great Britain, than any event of the past CEN
fury. Her trade with the United States since
the peace of 1882, has received an extension,
which would have been deemed the widest
hallucination of crazied brain, had it been
then foretold. The loss of this republic as
market, would hurry her into bankruptcy, and
be the signal for her political as well as COM
mercial downfall. Every step taken by us in
advance, is an advantage to the mother coun-
try, and what Injuries us reacts unhealthy
there. Equally beneficial for her would prove
the loss of Canada. The population of three
millions in Canada, will have become, like
ours thirty millions in half a century, and her
imports from Great Britain, which, in 1860,
amounted to but a fraction over eighteen mil
lions, will be nearer two hundred millions,
within the same period. 1t is, therefore, for
the interest of the British government that her
North American provinces should become free,
and part of the vast republic, which nature de-
crees shall rule on this continent Its fortresses
and the crown property should be coded for
what they are worth, and the people be per
mitted to launch, unmolested, into the new sea
of enterprise towards which destiny calls
them.
Should Great Britain madly persist in the en-
deavor to retain possession of her provinces by
force of arms, we have the memory of two sue
cessful wars, under circumstances far more dis
couraging than any by which the country is sur
rounded now to inspire us with knowledge what
course we should pursue. With so just cause,
and so grand an end to attain, neither Canada
nor the Northern States would shrink from q
COHHlCt. ~ Wouiu ut iOICtu uPou us Ny
cidal pride, and would inevitably terminate in
gloriously to arms which, excepting when ar
rayed against us in unnatural and tyrannical
strife are ever prosperous. The people Of the
North are bound to the kindred race from
which they descend, by a thousand ties; but
while desiring her prosperity, our first duty is
to guard our own rights and the fruition of our
own freedom. Let the Canadian people begin
at once therefore to make the arrangements
which the time calls for. Her present ties we
trust can be sundered amicably, but, in any
case, they must be sundered
RELIGION IN NEW YoRK.-In another column
will be found an interesting article on the reli-
gious statistics of the metropolis. Itwould APP
pear from its statements that the accommoda-
ton afforded by the churches does not keep