The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-14
Troubles of the Canadians.

The Canadians appear TO be in an u',.o'' NJ
able condition. Their contiguity 10 ' ,non
ted States has long been aram go. oC
their happiness. Reared IN ,n,i,;cal and
vo,-ernmant and with Engiish P..,
social pre;udices il has been ~ which
s"N''i =. ,n,try geographically winch
a,d socially, is their ahuPooes
=, -, moreover, from the hrs'' pee" Wv
-, Geld of the Powers con'enaihs ioi ''
.,orv of the North American coh.i"e"'
,Y-hi,st undcr French domination lhes hau Nv
,o,a from the British colonies. heaf ai'ei
,oar successive wars of Invasion, bScKea ps
The regulars and fleets of Britain, swept from
tho New England colonies over that cold aho
;nhospitable region, and though theS WERE
uniformly driven back, it was only 10 return
with inexhaustible pertinacity and increase"
strength till resistance was overpowered ana
Canada became subject 10 the British 'fo""'
IN, tho transfer of the sovereignty worked II"
change in the insecurity OF the ffoN'n''S
The American Revolution brought uPo" '",''
norders n more formidable enemy thah tue
French colony had found in EnGiaho' - Wv
again subject 10 invasion upon the o'l"''
e o,.or,. ,,-,r and IL was TOO remote from me
Inperial Government TO summon feaoiiN 'h'
resources of the Empire 10 its defence. Even
>yban war WAS not raging, every domestic
AGITATION was likely to lind sympathizer>
on the other side Of the border VINO wonio OF =
ganize fillibustering and predatory bands ana
create great excitement and alarm through
out the country. We cannot conceive Vi
a more uncomfortable and unpromislnS si'u'-
lion than Canada is placed i'll by its contigni'E
IN This powerful this always unsympathiZ'nS'
and sometimes hostile Republic. In addition
~ the prrils 10 its stability and prosperity,
there is the modification 10 the PRIDE ana
ambition OF its public men OF having so lhsiS-
nific2ut and circumScribed a theatre for their
natural aspirations for greatness. lhey can
not he admitted 10 seats in the British Parlia'
nent they cannot even aspire TO be Governor
of their own passive Province. The highest
political position they can reach is Il seat In
The Executive Council, or membership of the
Provincial Legislaturc-and every one knows
what 4 Canadian Legislature Is. The OLD
county courts of Virginia were much more
dignifed and respectable bodies than the
Canadian Parliament. This must be 4 gall
ing state Of things 10 men who feel that thcN
possess powers and energies worthy higher
destiny Such men, suppose, there must
be III Canada-men who, If living in the
United States, would have had 4 seat IN the
Senate, and perhaps risen 10 the Presidency.
If we imagine that gifted and aspiring men
in the British North American Provinces do
not chafe under the colonial condition which
condemns them to obscurity, human nature
in Canada must be entirely different from
what it is in other parts of the world
The present misery of Canada is the appre-
hended Fenian invasion. We Oh the Ameri-
can side of the border may attach little
importance TO that demonstration. We are
aware that Canada Is Il country i'll which
lines of defensive Notifications, mfnhcd by
comparatively small number of troops, have
time and again bailed superior numbers led
bv the highest military skill. That was the
case when il was held by the French, and
when, from the physical features OF the FRO
vinces, it was found easy TO hold ii against
overwhelming odds both by land and sea. 1t
was only when MoSTCALM abandoned his foru-
fications and met WOLFE in the open field, that
the French armies proved inadequate to the
defence of Canada. The experienced officers
Of the British army in Canada are, OF course,
aware OF these facts, and understand that
even if the FenianS could cross The border
in strong force, they could make no per-
manent impression. But the mass OF the
population may naturally indulge serious APP
prehensions, and though the Fcnian invasion
prove, as il Will, a mere fash in the pan, will
become more anu more restless in Il condition
which exposes them TO periodical panics, and
to the certainty of having their farms and VIII
lagos the theatre of war in the event of any
future hostilities between the United States
and Great Britain. The result Of all these
things will be that the Canadian Provinces
will ultimately become wearied OF their colo
NAL condition, and seek repose, dignity, and
the security of person and property, i'll a sepa-
rate and independent State. 1t may be doubted
whether the British Government Will inter
pose any serious obstacles TO such a consum-
nation provided ii can be effected in Il manner
not compromising its pride and honor. The
Canadas are a source of greater outlay than
income 10 the Home Government, and, like the
American colonies, would become more proiita-
BILE tributaries of British trade and commerce
as independent States than dependent Pro
yiEces.
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Motives of the Radicals.