The New York herald., 1862-02-03
probably conclude that there more in these hints

probably conclude that there in these hints
than appeared on the surface.
10 me Il that. long the civil war lasts In
the United States the State Of Mane and especially the
town Of Portland will occupy position Of peculiar peril
II was lately stated by British officer, whose opinions
were entitled to respect that had resulted from tho
Mason sdell imbrogo Portland would have been In the
possession Of the British within t days after the
declaration Of war; and further that would never have
been given up long Great Britain held foot Of ter
ritory on this continent False attacks be added. might
be made at Boston, Philadelphia and New York, but the
real point Of attack would be Portland for and alone
was Of stratsgical value.
the government OF the United States does not wish
the secession Of the Southern States be followeby
the forcble seizure by Great Britain Of the north
eastery State Of the Union time should be lost
dering Portland impregnabe Your large military popula
tion and your thorough railway and telegraph system Of
fectualy guarantee your whole country against land
tacks But tho naval superiority OF Great Britain
overwhelming that very few Of your seaports except
New York. could be defended against well planned
attacks from the Happily, il is in the
power Of the United States to render Portland as
New York. Properly constructed forts, arm
ed with Rodman guns, will defy oven the ironclad
vessels which Great Britain building. 1t is probable
twenty-inch Rodman gun would settle tho &C.
count Of the Warrior very thoroughly. But no
time should be lost in preparing for tho worst.
Fresh Of quarrel will naturally arise as the
civil progresses and the government OF Great Bri
tain urged by the cotton spnnors the hand and
the Canadians on the other will naturally be even more
ready than IL two months ago to draw the sword.
Portland properly fortified, il is hardly proba
bic that Canada would gain mucheven Independently Of
the immediate commercial ruin which would ensue-by
with the United States. The military deences Of
the province OF the most elementary description,
highly respectable antiquities, but ridiculous in
practical point OF view The citadel Of Quebec, which
point Of pride here 10 consider absolutely impreg
nable, Is crazy old work, without single casemate,
and whose barbette guns (smOoth twenty fours could
not be worked many hours after an enemy had reached
Point Levi now entirely undefended. On the land side
there ditch gacs and labyrinth Of walled passages
which would be rather useful to aseaant than
70 the garrison Within barracks other build
ings are now nnocenty considered bonbproof by the
sarrieon, but would not maintain that reputation
mauy seconds after . ten-inch shell had drop
ped on their roof The key OF Canada, however,
s Montreal In the event Of it would evidently be
the duty Of tho United States TO army upon
Montreal and il would that the British would have
10 light plain the south side Of the river pro-
tect IT, II they could not hold St. Lambert Montreal
would necessarily fall and Quebec would naturally fol-
low notion prevails here to the effect that the Upper
Canadian lakes could be protected by feet Of British
gsnboats sent up the canals. There two difficulties
in tho way Of the execution of any sach project In the
first place the first step taken by the Cnod States in the
event Of war would be seize and destroy the canal
or near Cornwall which could be done by single bat
talon in night and this would be followed by
| seizure Of tho Grand Trunk Railway IN the neigh
| borhood OF Brockville OF these operation
would involve fighting; but the numerical inferorty o.
the British land ought to enable thu United State,
| generals to accomplish both with II they wer'
| successfully accomplished no British gnnboats cou'
ever reach Lake Ontario, and the Communication be
tween the sections Of the province would bo cnt Of
E,cu f the British succeeded in scnng feet Of gun
boats TO the aos before the cation had in
terruped the want Of coal would prove serious bar Il
their evolutions There coal in Canada and II
American army held Brockville British gunboats thu
| lakes would soon DO harmless enough.
would he easy TO pursue this TAIN OF argument
70 show soncusvcly that Canada is far moro likel,
TO be a loser than gamer If she succeeds in per
suading England to attempt to seize Maine fo
her benefit, aud that. while the United States Ger
tainy seek acquisition Of territory at the OF hei
neighbors the most probable issuc of such contcs
woa bo the extension Of their frontier tho HUDSON
Hsy territory All the public works OF the province th
canals the railways the splendid Victoria Bridge
been constructed upon tho assumption that pace wo
| always be maintained with tho United states Wa
would destroy them all. All, nearly all the
tc business Of Canada depends upon the preservation
peace the slidel affair has already Montrea
thousands OF pounds actual hosies would ruin every
merchant and every bank in the province To Canada
word peace with the United States is geographical
necessity and those Canadians who talked Of remaining
| neutral ia the event Of between the United State
and Great Britain the San Juan affair, exhibited IA
more than the provncials of the presen
day. who hoping and scherning for in tho absur,
| hope OF nnncxjng Maine.