The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-18

The Coming Absorption OF Canada by the
United states-Our Canals as High
ways for War Uses.
From the London Times, June 2s.l
The war in America has been q war of gun
boats. It is by the aid of these vessels that the
Federals have obtained an asceudeney over the
Confederates at all points of the coast and
along the banks aof all the greas rivers. On
the Mississippi the opportune arrival of
couple of gunbOats saved the Northern arms
from terrible disaster, and nothing probably
has so efectually impeded McClellan's recent
operations as the inability of his gunboat 1otila
to force q passage to Richmond. This last de-
mand made by the federal government on the
country has been 3 demand for fifteen new
gunboats, and the Americans have boasted
that in short time their new navy viii bethe
most powerful navy in the world. As far as
coast and river service is concerned, this esti-
mate is, perhaps, not i'll founded; and propo-
sition is now before the Legislature which will
open to these vessels wider field of action than
anybody has hitherto conceived. 1t is actrally
proposed to compete an entire and unbroken
circuit of inland navigation through the enor-
NOUS territories of the American States. Yes
| sells are tc be enabled to pass from the waters
OF the Atlantic into the heart of the continent
and to find their way out into the gulf of Mex
leo. The Hudson River in the east is to be
connected with the Mississippi in-the west, so
that the vast tract of country enclosed win be
| surrounded by water like a prodigious island.
But this plan has something more in it than a
mere improvement in communications. Its
immediate object is essentially military. The
Mississippi on the one side and the Hudson on
the other are to be connected with the great
lakes of the North. On the shores of those
lakes lies the British territory of Canada, and
| it Is ayowedly for the purpose of insuring
superiority of force on these important waters
that the works in question are o be under
taken.
-
The Americans are not absolutely excluded
from these lakes. They have a system of
canals by which access is gained to the lakes;
but these canals being constructed for purposes
of traffic only, are not large enough for the
passage of gun boats. The fest proposal,
| therefore, is to enlarge the locks of the ETie
aud Oswego canal, so that vessels of war may
be enabled to get through and by these means
the Hudson river would be at once connected
with the lakes. Mr.. Ericsson, the builder of
| the Monitor, has been consulted on the sub
| lect, and has specified the dimensions which
should be given to the locks in order to admit
gunboats of his model. An estimate of cost
has also been framed, and it is computed that
! the work may be performed for about S700,-
| 600. But this is only one-haf of the scheme.
A narrow and shallow channel embracing the
small lake of St. Clair, unites the waters of
! Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with those
of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. That chan
mel might easily be stopped, and it has on that
account been proposed to open an independ.
ent access to Lakes Huron and Michigan from
! the Gull of Mexico through the Mississippi
and, Illinois rivers. Thus in the event of
contest on the lakes, naval expeditions could
! be dispatched to those waters at once from
/ New York and New Orleans, and if the st.
| Clair was open n gunboat fleet could sail right
round the chief portion of American terri.
/ tory. Fl .a#
| 1t is not improbable that the Federal gov
ernment may discern some domestic advan-
/ tages in the scheme thus opened: but it is pro-
posed and recommended exclusively with ref
erance to Canadian war, and is, indeed, de-
| signated as measure of national defenss."
The object is to provide facilities for throwing
powerful force on to the waters of the lakes
in as short time as possible, and this object
might, be attained, it is said, as regards the
two eastern lakes, within single year.
The execution of the plan would uR-
donbtedly modify the relative positions of
Great Britain and America on the Cana
dian frontiers, but we do not know
that anything more can be said on tae point.
The treaty of Ghent would not close these ca
mails to the Americans any more than it closes
the st. Lawrence to US; in fact the Federals
would probably say that the new project is
required to put them on level with ourselves.
The chief security of Canada win be found, not
in frontier arsenals or fortresses, but in the
spirit with which its population is animated.
The period OF suspense which followed on the
! Trent affair disclosed to tae Americans the
unwelcome and apparently surprising fact
that Canadians OF all classes and parties we're
resolved to bear the brnnt of unequal war
rather than be absorbed in the great republic
We fear that it cannot be assumed that taste
of war viii leave the Americans with desire
for beace. 1t seems, on the contrary as il
they were reeonciled to all the evils which
war brings in its train, and as if they preferred
military glory, with all its costs, to tranquility
and ease. Still it will undoubtedly be felt
} that to attempt the conquest OF Lardy and
3 courageous people is q very different thing
5 from annexing a willing province. The Fed
erals, even if they should prevail over the Con
federates viii infalliby oiscoT er that rebellion
: subjects are more troublesome than indepen
. dent neighbors, and that it will be hardly
8 worth their while to repeat in the North 81
1 attempt which has cost them SO dearly in tn
3 South. While it was believed that Canad
e wanted only an opportunity to become part Q
g the Union it was natural enough for Unionis
; | statesmen to speculate on the chances of tn
b acquisition but now that the feeling of the Ca
d nadians has been shown, these speculation
v can find no place. The Americans viii prob
e ably think twice before they attack Canads
o and they may be perfectly assured that zoe haV
d rot the renaotest iatentioas of attacking then
Q They can build as many gunboats as the
please, but we think it would best consist wit
i the good sense as well as the financial advan
; tage of both countries if the understandin
, which has hitherto 50 successfully prevaile
"A | rasnaafiu0 the netIirality of the Lakes shnu1
is be left undisturbed.
+ From Carthagena.
= The steamer Talisman of Holt's Liverpo,
y line, arrived at Aspinwall from Liverpool Vi