The New York herald., 1864-11-12
Oar Monsssal Covrespou dsnce.
MONTREAL, Nov. 6, 1854.


MONTREAL, Nov. 6, 1854.
Neutyolisy Of the Provinces may be
Ott0a,et.
The two great topics of the day in this old town
sfHnc quays tin roofs and Catholic churches are the
examination the St.Albans raiders AMI the plan Of
eSe confederation The delegates from the Que.
hee convention have been making 6 kind of tri-
umphal procession all the way up the rivers and
lakes, and are supposed to be seeking information
Dy torchlight. If no other, how the new scheme
affects the popular mind. One thing is certain:
the Canadian statesmen have their hands full, and,
though the general principles may have been ar
ranged and settled they find immense difficulties
in detail. 1t seems to many persons here. weA
wishers of the country, TO which there h every
where evidence of sincere attachment, that the
great danger to which they are exposed is that of
future difficulties with the United States. The
81. Adams raid and the threatened attack on
OgdensbUrg, Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit, all
originating on the Canadian side, must lead to an
enforcement Of the same measures on the part
Of the Americans which were taken by the Cana
dians in the case of the Caroline. They know
tAatf United States force crosses their frontier
to punish the rebel robbers. there is British law
for it. It is this apprehension which shapes the
present policy of the Canadian statesmen to .
considerable degree. They are evidently acting
under the impression that the future safety Of the
provinces lies in the protection Of the mother
country; and to secure this they are willing in
many particulars TO sacrifice their Independence
They, therefore, retain the final consent Of the
imperial government, a. being necessary to the
most important acts Of confederate legislation,
and are ready to he governed by viceroy or
prince Of foreign selection. They are committing
serious error in taking this position, rs may be
easily shown. The provinces, if they behave them,
selves, require no protection from the mother
Gy, ana have nothing TO fear from the people Of
the United States. They do not covet their ter
Titory, having much more valuable one
OF their own to occupy and improve than
any to be found north Of the st. Lawrence and the
lakes, half the year shut out from the ocean, and
with soil which, except where it is found near
our own boundary, offers but small inducements
Tor immigration and settlement. As long as they
nave boundless prair!es rich in SOIL and territories
hlled with gold and silver, there is not much pos
sibility that the great stream of European emf
grants will turn aside from those fertile and tempt.
ing plains in the West, or mines richer than the
sands OF Pactolus.. Besides, the United States
have shown at no time an aggressive or even an
untrendly disposition towards their neighbors. The
old Continental Congress invited the Canadas to
come into the Union with themselves, and when
compelled to seize Montreal and threaten Quebec
they published official declaration that the
movement was military necessity, and not hos
tile act against the Canadians themselves.
More than this, the articles Of confederation
afterwards made provision for the reception of
these provinces whenever they chose to come into
the Union. In the war of 1S12-15 the invasion of
Canada was the unavoidable consequence of the
eonlilct with the mother country, as it would not
nave been safe to leave the provinces on our from
tier in undisturbed possession of an enemy who
nom thence could at pleasure assail the Ameri-
cans.
Since then, as the great system of railways and
in flpn Init fata 1a.
tion. pari p0ssu with that of the Canadians their
interests have become almost identical, particu-
lariy with regard to the Northwestern trade: and
Montreal, one of it's chief outlets, has in conse-
Quence suddenly risen to the rank of q great city.
Now, war would be utterly destructive Of the in
ternal commerce of the Canadas. Their railways
would be OF no value, and the Welland and st.
Lawrence canals be without traffic, and fall into de-
cay 1t is clear that these mutual interests enoyed
y common cannot well be endangered by any real
G1mcuty between the provinces and the United
states. II any arises 1t will be wholly Of transat-
1antac origin, or be the effect of foreign insti-
CATION.
Now, lby proper measures, all this may be
avoided, especially at the present moment, when
the confederation is about to be formed with popu-
lar Representation as the basis and the good Of
the provinces the sole inducement. The future
peace, tranquility and happiness of the united
provinces are entirely within their own reach, and
This by the simple process of stip,latiag soith the
t1pAidl goueSnnaett that in case of anu
future a0or betsceen and the United SaGtes TIE
confederation may and slaau remain strictly
ne,Sfrdl.
This principle established, the security of the
provinces will be permanent. The imperial gov
Srnment will be relieved from the care and ex-
Denss Of defending them, and they, in fact. will
need NO defence. Thus one difficult problem, which
now confuses Che public men at home. will be
easily solved. Such condition Of things. as e
perceptfble at glance, would be immensely
advsntagsous TO the provincials, particularly the
Canadians. hwould remove every possible occa-
sion of difficulty with the United states.
30, too, it would be large inducement for foreign
emigration, As 1t would be attracted to a country
where peace would be perpetual and progress
uninterrupted.
The attention of the Browns, Carriers and Galts,
who are ut the head of the new movement, may
very properly be directed to this proposition,
which furnishes an easy solution of all questions
of the future stability Of the confederation: places
cations likely to produce war makes lasting
friend Of the United States. and cuts the gordian
knot which British Statesmen have been trying 80
long to unite.