The New York herald., 1864-11-09
The Muddlod Government or Canad
and Oar Next Congress.

One of the first duties of the new Congress
will be to take into consideration the aggravat-
ing character of our relations with our Canadian
neighbors. Pretending to desire the continu-
anoe of our friendship, they are toierating, not
to say encouraging, piratical incursions from
their midst which are becoming more and
more irritating and dangerous every day.
Bound as we are by our unwillingness to in
wade Canadian territory, we resemble a
unavengcd, the affronts aud injuries Of a host
Of cowardly assailants. This, however, cannot
continue much longer.
The affair OF the Chesapeake ought to have
been sufficient to place the Canadian authori-
ties on the alert, II they were really desirous of
preventing their border from being made the
base Of similar piratical operations. Months
ago they bad distinct information that such
was the intention Of the rebels. When
George Sanders and other notorious rebel
agents took up their residence at Toronto, il
was avowedly for the purpose Of organizing
and preparing thcsc raids. They were lavish!y
furnished with money, and openly made ar
arms. A prudent executive would have
taken such measures as would have thwarted
their designs. The least that government
professedly friendly should have done was to
issue proclamations warning the people of the
provinces OF the dangers resulting from their
cooperation in them. But there were other
and still stronger measures which, under the
&C III
open to them None OF these precautionary
steps we're, however. resorted to. The Cana
dian government Is in sort OF mudde, which
renders il incapable Of prompt or vigorous
action. 1t Is paralyzed between its fear OF
the home authorities and OF the denun Citations
OF the opposition. AS was TO be expected, the
rebels took advantage Of its timidity. On the
10Th Of September they made from Canada the
daring attempt which had for its object the
seizure Of the United States steamer Michigan
on Lake Erie and the liberation OF the prisoners
on Johnson's Island. In these they were folcd;
but not until they had succeeded in burning the
little steamers Island Queen and Philo Par
sons, which they had captured. Now, IT is all
nonsense to say that the Canadian authorities
could not have taken steps to prevent or defeat
this raid. They were fully posted as to tho
time at which 1t was to take place and as to the
parties engaged in IL. This we know from sub
sequcnt facts Why did they not then arrest
these men, as they had power to do, as
guardians Of the neutrality OF the latter? II
they were earnest in their professions Of con-
Germ at such occurrences they would not have
hesitated to adopt some vigorous preventive
steps of this kind And so in the case Of the
st. Albans raiders. II is difficult to believe
that some knowledge Of the intentions Of these
men had not reached them. Their very pre-
sence on the border, even without taking their
actions and declarations into account, was
cause sufficient for the most jealous suspicion
and watchfulness TO . government mindful Of
discharging conscicntiously Its duties towards
It's neighbors. We have still further evil
dence of its carelsssness or Indifference
in this regard,,iu the fact. that IL has allowed
the rebels to purchase from one OF It's own ship.
owacrs an armed vessel. with which IL is ia