Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-28
Infringing Canada into the Union BY
Coercive Measures"

II was meat and drink to the New Yoik
World to assail the acts of the National Ad-
ministratIon of Mr.. Lincoln. and to impugn
the honesty. the patriotism and the common
sense of those who were most prominent in
its service. Its course Is the same now. IN
der Andrew Johnson. Ifit cannot find overt
acts enough on which to make attacks, it will
set up an imaginary policy, imputc it to
some prominent man in the Cabinet. and
then attack it ns a reality In this way il
never lacks material for accusation. If it
cannot find any. 1t makes it. It, latest ex-
hibition in that line j. imputing to Mr. Sew
ard the purpose Of ''jringiEg Canada into he
Uu,ou BIZ ooerore measures" \ pretty bold
charge that. and how u it made out q? Il
saws
"A little sense, moderation, foresight, and
kindness, exercised five years ago. would have
kept the Southern States as willing and potential
members of the Union, and have saved the debt
and bloodshed IT has required 10 coerce them in
TO the quasi membership, in which they perform
of States. But the partial success, Of the gov
eminent in overcoming obstacles which the Re
publican party had raised, emboldens Mr.. Sew
ard, and some other Republican leaders, 10 adopt
similar line of policy for bringing Canada into
federal relations. An attempt i to he made
first, 10 e1asperate Canada. and then coerce her
into the Union
But Row "ooeroe her - Why. 10y .'com-
polling the Canadians to come in by DENYING
them commercial intercourse in a state Of
separation Tire old copperhcad imputa-
ton that Mr.. Lincoln's administration is
chargeable with having caused the rebellion,
We let pass. 1t merely shows the venom Of
the animal and is not worth notice. For the
rest. the World assumes that Mr. Seward
and others with HIM. are eager to nave Can
ada annexed TO the United States-of which
there Is no evidence whatever. Nobody of
any reflection and discernmcnt. unless il he
the Canadians. wishes Canada u be an
ncxod to the United States Cana Ia !. not
feared, for anything whatever. and her an
nexation would bring more yoxatiou than
profit in its tram. The United States has
enough to do with IFS own pc-ert affairs
without cumbcring itself with trying to
bring the con fused and discordant elements
which exist in Canada. into harmony with
our own institutions.
Next, the World assumes tha; the Cana
dians are to be exasperatcd' by denying
them commercial intercourse. Nobody
proposes to deny the Canadians commercial
intercourse, and that the World knows per-
fectly well To call hesitation or refusal
to r,new a certain treaty which has been
found to work injuriously to US and extraor-
dinarily proftablY to fhem,''a denial of COM
mercial intercourse is dishonest pervcrsion.
Our government might as well be charged
with denying commercial intercourse to cy-
ery nation if we DO not IN Ike all our reve
nue. laws TO suit others rather than ourselves
Nobody wishes to exasperate the Canadians,
and nobody is fool enough to suppose that
such evaporation would coerce-that is force |
them against their will-to seek annexation
and the World knows 1t, too. To imputc |
such an intention to Mr.. Seward or to any |
body else. is both ridiculous and malignant. |
Whatever discussions have arisen about the |
reciprocity treaty, have had their founda ton
in proper regard for individual and nation
al interests, more especially pecuniary ill.,
tercsts, and that is the whole of it. Mr..
Seward has had nothing to do with them, any
more than the New York World has, and
the imputatiOn and allegations made by that
paper are essentially dishonest and of evil
intent.