, 1865-08-26
CAN 4 DA.
The Question Of Annexation.

5aVS4A1A41 4au{5s ""f 4otASs
Since I wrote my last, you will perceive
have changed my base. Thefurore at Quebec
attending the opening Of Parliament and Its
first discussions has subsidized, ind with the
exception Of fire now and then for which
that city has m unenyiable notorlety, there Is
nothing to relieve the monotony peculiar to
Canadian cilics. Ministers, instead Of dis
cussins the questions Of reciprocity, consed-
eration, ctc., hare done little more than In
dulgc in party attacks abounding with fnrec-
want OF othcr topics, follow suit, and the Ca
madam who short time ago anticipated
solution to The political difficulties Of the pc
Rod, reals only Of Ministerial trips to the
sasucnay, and the postroncmc1t, one after
another 1f measn1cs ct paaam199nnGt lmI;o.
citizen asked mo} Of those rcpresentatire;s ot
the people who, ut time fruught with dan.
ger, and with such questions pending. quarrel
one day and make steamboat excursions tho
next We pay each member twenty dot1ars
per dag, and their time is too precfousf for one
teur to be Wastcd.'
Another session mnv witness the detcrmina-
tion Of these great questions, but, at present,
II must he admitted Canadian affairs are IL
INV cxcept satisfactory state. 1had intend
cd to select and treat upon Parliamentary
questions Interesting 10 both sides Of ths bor-
der but, denied the opportunity, VIII ln-
stead, devote tkis letter tn the result OF my
latc rerecripatsons, continuing myself on the
Annexation question, to tile views OF the l'co-
nm aware that tlc subject Of Annexation
is more Canadian than American. Indifferent,
however, about Its Issue, you In America are
not the less careful to note any expression OF
sympathy from this side. am 1ar from beng
d .sulonifcst destiny" man, but an convinced
that those propagandsts Of British loyalty
who write down au annexation ideas, know
more than it is expedient to tell. The first
outburst has been guellc1 because IT was nj
tempted npon an objectionable basis. There yet
remains an undercursent Of feeling, which,
spreading quietly, only awaits = more
opportunc moment to manifest itself. Ii no
cause for apprehension. Why do newspaper
writers catch up every annexatfonaI utter
ancc, and nuke 1t the theme OF inai!snant
peroratIons II, as they say, annesationlsts
arc solitary erasshoppers, why heed theE1
Tho very solicitude OF these writer's argues
wider sprad feeling tLan they arc willing TO
acknowledge. A few Journals. SUCH as thc
1Tifnes. ofthls city, Canada" Ffee'nan Ct ~ O.
Jpnto, Frtt TrsAs Of London, and the f>oss OF
| st. Cathnrines, hare brought down upon
themselves roar Of indignation because they
cantiidly avowet the inutiljty Of denying The
tendency to Union, nnd Discounted upon TUG
| advantages Which would follow st1eh stcp.
| "A In tie lays Of religious bigotry, Wien any
/ Dcrson holding opinions at variance "s1n q
ct theoloricnI creed was denounced MS m lnfi.
| III anil rhl1uned III IN alligator, 50 now, IL
| tbc synonym be permitted to politics, every
| anncxationist Is political hereto, ana ms
| II il well for ot1lce-hollcrs to crush every
| symptom, and to establish q standard Of loyal
conscientfousncss; but, place the Eorkman
inlcpeuicut Of his master, and he Will speak
cnntlidly. ,,,-;
I nj
Ncssrs. O'IInlloran and White having spoken
fYcely In lie st. Louis hotel at Quebec not long
| ago. In attempting an explanation ID tnt
House they did not mend matters by deeiar
ing their readiness to withdraw allegiance IRON,
Tia BritisL crown when they saw Ut to do 50
III. Pcrrault, another though perhaps weak
er vessel Of Parliament, Joined them. 4 stor,
I IS afloat TINT preparatory to the Detroit Con
| y,ntiou Mr. Potter held a meeting here Of tn
| r;cpls Of Mr.. Holton {tho opposition Cham
pson1 and from them received inspiration. ~
tIolton 1t has been said does not des'fe ~
| renewal Of the Reciprocity Treaty, but seek
| In this manner to deyelope his annexationa
| n,ofects. sit may he strange" writes
| lower Canada paper, "but it is nevertheless
| tue that there are men to he found III the OF!
| torv party who would consent to the unlon.'
When the people see those y h'gh pos'sl4ni I
natural that themselves should preserve 1u
d;cious silence. "If 4 man darc speak, " som
| newspaper said "let lin do sou Yes, bl
1napy link Twice, and deem II polite not t
sneak: und In Canada tho lnboring classe
hare yet to learn what 1t is to have indisidn1
nolitical power. L was nmuscl this moEp!..i
with a gentleman Of tie medical 1acult,
whom lad occasio:l TO summons for i sion
| achic ailment. Upon his entry into my roou
was Engaged With newspaper. lie S:
i'1.;Nn quietly, and, shaking me by the ham
+ said abruptly (indiscreotly, If you like), "ic
sir, our better policy is union With tue state
Iisave opportunities q nfisa1e eoaThio COZ ~ his
social positions. and 1tellyou there Is q tee
jnr latent but sincere Tor ;;GGoe1ation."
Another gentleman holding good posttto
{yon will understand the wisdom Of Withhold
inc na1ncsl remarked, "Thcrc were mar
+ WHO prefer the British Constitution but desi
|. | unlotl with America, British politics Wou
E not ill their pockets; Union would"
II / Tie immense sums of money which will
q | required to protect their country, and Il
= | prospect Of being denied American market
iorm matters for serious consideration.
tho event of any quarrel between the Inlp
i. | r;al Government ind America, their land mi
- he the battle ground, their towns demolishc
farms devastated, people suffer, and these
| exchange for the benefits accFusng from Br
Isl, alliance! Business is, comparatively spea
ing, very dull. Coming from your great naf
+ nf business, and wcll-sprlngs Of energy, q q
o | caunot avoid surprise at the quietness o1 I
II madam cities. There seems no enterprise
y any magnitude, no field for my. have hea
t. EXPRESSIONS which betoken longin; eyes
ward the States, and anxious hopes to req
their cities soon.
:, rof];on affairs, Government may ultimate
~ =. succeed Ii, establishing British Empire ~
u u IN extendinc trudc, but If Canadian pap
IL viii nereist +, extraragant densafs OF icant
10 toward America, its Institutions, and Pr