East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-03-29
NUMBER 295.

by a unanimous vote have decided on
contributing money toward placing
our country in proper state OF de.
fence. We may regret that the neces-
sity for this expenditure has arisen
but as this is matter totally beyond
our control, it is useless to grumble.
Our country is threstoned with con-
quest by people whom we have
hitherto looked upon as peaceable
neighbors, and it is our duty to make
such preparation as to convince them
that such a conquest cannot he 40
complished without the sacrifice on
their part Of much blood and treasure,
and probably not then. The act of
voting one million dollars at once for
defence, and $3.50, 900 for the purpose
Of keeping the volunteers on the from
tier, will show to the people at homo
that wo are prepared "the blessings
we enjoy to guard and should influ-
onoe them, we imagine, to deal more
literally with us than the debate in
tho House Of Lords tho other day
would indicate they are inclined.
The Canadians are prepared and
determined, if necessary, 80 make sac
rifces in the defence of the country,
but as it is scarcely possible that we
can or will give to our belligerent
neighbors cause of quarrel, and as
wo have no voice in deciding on
question of hostilities, it seems but
reasonable to large majority of them
that the larger proportion of tho ex-
pcndituro should bo borne by the I'M
perial Government. 70 Acting on Col.
Jervois' report, the home authorities
propose to provide for the fortifcation
of Quebec f200, 900 stg, and to send
gunboats to Lake Ontario If the treaty
of 1Sl7is annulled by the Americans;
while Canada shall provide for tho
defencos of Montreal and places west
ward, involving an expenditure of
Fl, l43, 600 stg., or nearly $G,000,OO0.
We do not know what tho cost Of the
naval armament may be, but it seems
to us that onc-sixth Of the expense for
land defences is too small q proportion
for the Imperial authorities to contri-
butte, if the possession of Canada is
doomed of any Importance. We be-
lieve that Great Britain will give US
all the assistance in her power in case
of actual hostilities, but it must be
borne in mind that it is highly proba-
bio that she will be fighting her own
battles and not ours, while we will
have to receive the full force of the
storm, for in such war Canada must
of necessity be the battle ground
The English statesmen are acting in
this matter on the presumption that
the Canadians are the cause Of the i'll
feeling existing on "the other side"
but we knOw that the policy of ncu-
trality, the violations Of thatneutrality
by Inhabitants of the "old country"
the connection Of Ireland with tho
Crown of Great Britain, the Trent
difficulty, and the ill-founded prejudice
which exists in the United States
against everything British, are the
reasons for the unsatisfactory position
in which the two countries stand
toward each other. Tho Home Gov
ernment's proportion for defensive
works should therefore be greater
than it is, if not in access Of that Of
Canada.
An attompt has been ]mado TO con-
meet this question Of defence with that
of Confederation, the opponents Of
the latter scheme endeavoring to show
that Union Of the Colonies will add
to our burthens. This is
wrong. The obligation to defend the
country exists now in as full forco as
it would under Confederation, and the
only influence the question of Union
could possibly have on it would be 10
increase our power here, add to our
influence with the Imperial Goverh--
ment, lessen our taxes for this purpose
by increasing the Imperial grant, and
restore confidence in our securities,
which, owing to our violated and de-
tached condition, and our manifest in
security, have deprecated to S0,.wheE
they should be at or near par We
lre bound in honor, by interest, and
by everything we hold dear, to pro-
vide for our defence under any cir
but sColonial Union no
doubt will lessen the amount which
we will DO called upon to oxpend for
this purpose. So far and no farther,
the question of defence is an arg,,-
mcnt in favor Of Confcd Grafton, but
,annst, under any view, be one against
30 desirable a consummation. ~ e ata