The New York herald., 1865-03-27
THE AMERICAN QUESTION,

-Pnrlinmcntary Debate the Dcfences or
Canada and the Probability or n War
states-ImporfAnt statements by MIR.
Disfaeii. MIR. Bright and Lord Paimers-
o :.Ssalo%sy" ~ OF AmeTien"D'isT.sii % Tm "esn Coma.
pliments our Executive, and Hopes
Peace from .sEl~m~nts now fn Opera
tion"-Canada More Safe When FOrti-
fed. sSc.
In the House Of Commons the 18th Of March Mr.
g. FzsERALp called att nton to the report OF Colonel
Jervois the defenccs of Canada and asked for ufor
nation with thereto. After clearing himself
false imputaons in taking this course and discaiming
any intention attribute the federal government or
70 the people generally spirit OF hostility towards this
country, he suggested certain possible CONTINGENCIES
which might lead to hostiities between this country
and the United States, and against which England
should not, he said, shut her eyes, nor disregard
be'osn tie Corysdsrate ogests and 0e Jsderai
ncritie. Under these circumstances, Il was Of i'm
porance 10 look 10 the defence Of Canada, upon
which in tho event of the first blow would fall and
would advise that the colony should bo left TO
defend itself in quarrel In which would be involved
solely OF its connection with this country he
proc eded to consider what It's means Of Defence
and what should be duty to contribute towards its
70 tho proposals contained in the report Of Colonel
Jervo and asked what steps had been taken by the
government carry these proposals. and augment
The def sve Of the colony He compared
activity n the Americans In forying all their vulnerable
points with the apathy manifested by US In altogether
lectng the deences Of vulnerable pon Canada
He urged this matter he said Of pressing and para
necessity, and that unless set 10 work vgilantly
20 the proportion this country should bear Of the OF
its OF defence the consequences would be fatal
Mr.. w. FORSTER, observing that II England were 70
Undertake to put the whole frontier OF Canada in
. condition Of complete defence the expense would
Be almost fabulous, said the question was whether,
in the present relations between this country and
Canada ought not to call upon the colony 70 look
20 her own resources and spend her own money in her
defence, VI she desired the connection should
continue But the real question was whether thcre
sufficient for increasing her means OF defence
at ALL Ne bsh red that the fears ~ hosiies ue part
IL rsre
less and he from Of the facts referred 20 by
hr. Fitzgerald conclusions consistent with pacific and
friendly feelings tho part Of that govcrnmcnt
this country Why, then, he aked should there be this
extraordinary suspicion Amcca' arose he said from
agents and sympdtels te other OF dopp tnt rtphes
Having insisted upon the OF the fears OF
war with America he protested against rushing into an
enormous expense for the defence Of Canada
Mr DisaAELt said-I do not think the government
after placing the report OF Colonel Jeryos upon tho table,
could have expected that this subject would not be
touched upon In this House and do not think could
have been brought forward with greater moderation than
has been shown 70 night II rccoect Alright, on par
tcuar occasion, in recalling the rccole ton OF those
whom he addressed the irritation which was the
result Of the affair of the Trent he the humble gentle
opposite, inquired Why four years had allowed
20 pass away without those preparations being made
which IL was were necessary or ,he nroper sup
port Of the dignity % the country That appeared to me
then, and appears to me STILL 10 b. a vcyy dgcut q son
90 meet tHear, hear) With regard 10 the general opn
ION American affairs expressed by the eminent states
man TO whom reference has been made, and In whom
place the greatest confidence say that have re.
QhcntlY eNpfesseu tlfnilh Opnions IN TINS House. and
chat they all respects mutually concurred IN and
shared by Lord Derby and myself tTlcar, hearl with
full recollcco Of the facts do not believe that IL is
possible 10 recall any expression wh has fallen from
the lips OF that noble lord during the last four years
that can in any way justify the auson and the ref
eronces Of the honorable gentlemen | not
here tonight TO impute, and have never imputed,
anything against the conduct OF the government
of the United States throughout this great struggle but
the contrary, prepared after further cxpe
rence, to repeat what said two years ago, ha under
Of unp, d Mt dtcly thai goreyn-
has conducted Isef ulth great energy and disrs
(ear, hearD am not OF opinion that In the event OF
The termination Of the American should be placed
In any immediate danger OF coming into collision with
that government owing to connection with Canada
(Hearl do not pretend to express any
eplnions as " vhat NAV he the term nalon Of the