The Black Republican., 1865-04-15

United States they Ilave.acted III a fair and
honorable manner I'M ali fhe matters that
may have arisen between us"
However long this discussion may have
garded as the official statement Of Che views
been, ], for one, cannot regret that It has
taken place; for by the a5ority Of members
in this House two opinions have. been ex-
pressed which cannot faihto be useful In the
quarters to which they relate. The first.
opinion Is that which has been peculiarly
dwelt upon by the honorable member who
has just sat down, namely. an earnest desire
that the most friendly relations should be
maintained between Great Britain and the
United States of America; and next, the
opinion that we should n1aintain the connec-
ton which exists between this country and
our provinces on the North American cOflti-
nent SO long as the people Of those provinces
are DESTROYS of maintaining their connection
with the mother country. The honorable
member who has Just spoken has made what
IN one respect may appear q paradoxlcal3
but what, | think, as human nature is con-
stituted, was very concllatory speech to-
ward the United States. Though he re-
viewed q long course of events to prove that
the United States have been most griev0usly
i1l-treated by this coumtrY-I don't agree
with him in any one of these points-itsis
no doubt part of human nature that you
cannot please any man or any set of men
better than BY telling them they have been
exceedingly iltused. ] won't follow the
honorable member when he complains that
we admitted the belligerent rights of the
South-aa admission which was the result.
of necessity and not OF choice; wlll not
follow him into the discussion of the Trent
question, which | thought had been fully
disposed Of and into the questions which
have arisen between the Government, or
rather, should say, the people of some parts
Of Canada and the United States, because,
as he admitted himself, the conduct of the
Canadian Government has been such as to
be acknowledged gratefully by the Govern
ment of the United States as full and COM
plete fulfillment of the duties of friendly
neighborhood The honorable gentleman
says there exists in this country a jealousy
of the United States. Sir, I utterly deny
that assertion. We feel no jealousy
of the United States. On the con-
trary, am sure that every Englishman
must feel proud at seeing upon the other
side Of the Atlantic a community sprung
from the same ancestry as ourselves rising
in the scale of civilization, and attaining
power, as well as wealth. therefore en-
tirely deny that therehas been in this coun-
try any feeling of jealousy as regards the
United States. Undoubtedly there are men
who, differing from the honorable gentlemen
In their theory Of government, cannot see
with the same appreciation which he feels
the trial on the other side of the Atlantic of
"a system of government which we do not
think is the best or most conducive to the
happiness of those for whom it was estab-
lished. But that is an entirely difEeret thing
from the feeling which the honorable gentle
man has supposed. No doubt during this
contest in America there has been expe-
rienced, and probably felt, botnin the North
and in the South, some irritation against
this country. But that irritation was caused
by the natural feeling which two parties in
a quarrel have, that third party who does
not espouse either side is, to certain de-
gree, doing both sides an injury or g. ng
some cause of complaint or of jealousy. The
North wished US to declare on their side; the
South wished us to declare on theirs !; and,
as we maintained a perfect neutrality be-
tween the two, some slight degree Of Irritation
arose on both sides against us. But am equal
ly pursuaded, with the hon. gentleman, tnat
among the great bulk Of the people OF the
United States there are feelings deeper than
that iritation-feelings Of good will toward
the country with which their ancestors We're
connected; and am satisfied that when this
unfortunate contest shall have ceased, WHAT,
ever its termination the natural feeling oi
GOOD will and relationship which ought TO
the place of any temporary irritation Wnlch
the war may have occasione d. am quite
satisfied also that England will not give to
America any Just cause of complaint; that
war will not proceed from u.s. ana Il war
does not proceed from our side, and II, as
the honorable gentleman thinks, it does not
proceed from theirs, then we may have q
well-founded expectation that, In spite OF
adverse appearances for the moment, and in
spite of the representations of many, the
friendly relations between this country and
the United States will not incur any real
danger of Interruption. But that is no rea-
son why we should not use the means IN our
power to place our feilow-citizens, II may
SO call them, in Canada and the NORTHERN pro-
vinces in a state of defense, should they be
attacked, There is nc better security for
peace than strength to resist attack, if
attack should come That is no provoca-
ton. It Is an abuse of terms to say that
When YOU employ means to prevent danger,
YOU are provoking that danger and irritat-
ing the party against whom those precau-
tfons may be taken. Ifro animOsity exists
these precautions can nave no erect except
that OF inspiring confidence in the party in
whose favor they are made. II, on the
other hand, there be a disposition to attack,
that disposition is sure to be lessened in pro-
portion as the chance of success is dimin-
Ished. Now, cannot agree with my right
honorable friend (bIr. Lowe) in thinking
that whatever are the difficulties diff
ficulties undoubtedly there may be--ln sue
cessfully resisting an attack If 1t should be
made by America, we should regard the de-
tense of Canada as an undertaking which
we could not succeed In accomplishing. |
think. on the contrary, that Canada may
be defended, and I also feel that the honor
of England, and the good faith which Is due
to our loyal fellow-countrymen In these
Northern provinces require that az all
events. we Should make the attempt success
fully to defend her. Not concurring there
fore, in the argument my right honorable
friend that Canada cannot be defended,
least Of all do I concur in his conclusion
that. assuming defense to be impossible, we
ought forthwith to withdraw our troops l
neither admit the argument nor assent 10
its conclusion; and | am anxious thaE tneIe
should be no mistake on the subject, and
that 1t may be fully understood that 1t Is
not the intention of the Governments to fol
low the advice of my right honorable TREND,
and withdraw our troops from Canada. On
the contrary. | feal that the honor OF Eng
land demands, and thatour duty as q Gov
ernment. binds us to do every tilla more d
over. that we shall have the sanction OF the
British nation IN doing every hg-lhat We
Canada. AS I have already said, | am
persuaded that the tone OF moderation Wnlcn
has prevailed in this debate must be
useful both in Canada and the United states
No doubt there are those who have en-
deayored to persuade the people of the
United States that there exists in this coun,
strysa spirit OF hostility toward them, and
that we are looking out for grounds OF quar-,
rel. There can, however, be no real and an,
lust grounds for quarrel between us. we
certain, shall not seek such grounds, nor
shall W. invent them; and if the speech Q,
the honorable gentleman VINO has just sa'
down be a true and faithful exposition. 9
| the sentiments Of the people of the UnlteS
states there can be no wen founded apIR;re \; :,
hension that the peace happily preFaIlinl
/ between us is in danger ofinterruptlon. ca e.
confirm the statement Of my right honoraol
friend, that the present relations petWee e
the two Governments are perfectly Irle ehsll !
| and satisfactory We have no eompiainI Z
make Of the Government OF the Unite
i States: they have acted In a faIr ana noI 10
orable manner in all the the rnA5gers tlls
NAV have arisen between US. NO d09i
there are claims which they have put 10
ward. not urging them at present, but Ia.
inc tfle ground for their discussion at som