The New York herald., 1866-04-25
Confederation.
THE POLICY, PLAN, AND CONSEQUENCES OF rHl
FENIAN AGITATION IN AMERIOA-sEcRErAkt
srwARDs NEUTR Atty DOCTRINE.

THE POLICY, PLAN AND CONSEQUENCES OF rHl
FENIAN AGITATION IN AMERioA-sEcRErAhs
sEwARD'S NEUTRALITY DOCTRINE.
From the London Times April
As out Of evil sometimes comes good, 50 even the
Fcpan conspiracy has produced its benefits both In Ire.
land and Canada In ireland has shown that sedition
is now confined 10 the lowest and least responsible oas
of tho population and that the Pioers OF reoeon oaa
lection from sympathizing juries In Canada the
Fenlans have given the colonists an opportunity q
ioyay To tho British Crown, their attach,
mont to the British connection, and theis
and tbor institutions from attack What plan Of opera
might really have boon entertained oy the reckee
conspralors who direct Fenianism In America II would
be hard to say Probably General Sweeny himself told
pretty nearly truth when he said that he did not know
what he should do but is plain enough that an invs
sion of Canada included IN the schemes OF action
proposed for the appreciation OF the Brotherhood The
Fenans must have boon half crazy to imagine that they
could oust the Canadians from their country but Wa
ticr in strength sufficient for the work Of rapne and
murder
In four.and.twenty hours ten thousand volunteers
were arraycd for the defence Of their country In few
hours more hundred thousand would have beea
forthcoming for ns da he Al Ss no nsoss q
all classes, English, French and Irish, from Upper
Canada and Lower Canada IL the snc @ cnet t9wns r
the protection Of the colony and tho OF theis
institutions 80 prompt and powerful was the denons!sa-
ACTON Sn INA; The invaders never appeared There ss
longer told s'dnn<sdtion' party IN C1N1d0,
cast IL their lot with the United states That feeling,
seriously entertained has now dsappesredo %
" connned to handful Of persons not worth oonsde.
ration The question of provincial copfederd0n too A0o
materially advaned BY tic operation Of TIE sdxse cos-
viions II the British provinces Of North America ars
to be Independent, selfsuppoying and powerful,
obvious this result DO best promoted by thai
union which Is uniformly strength The coonists see
to uAdcrstand that they. are tho OF q natural
change and that the courss under their
control They regarded theprop0ss OF confederation -
first wish somo differences Of opinion and somo mot un
attn ioalo aiaq UNA
scheme might be undoubtedly benedcis, Canada would
get the lions share Of the benefit was fancied thae
the smaller governments would not only gain less bue
lose more and sundry objections 10 federal union were
unreservedy advanced But these discussions seem -
and we are told that Nova Scotia alone 10 stand
ing out for administrative independence. Tho othes
provinces usc unite aeins 81 p1o soS
this union thoy look FOR the politics. importaaoe
and national strength which form the best guarantee fos
Independence and security. We only say for our
selves that these sentiments the part OF the Cans
dians ou be cordially reciproa,ed in tss country and
that the coloniss may confidently rely on all the sympo
thy and which 1t will be duty 10 give, and
which their loyal anecti IN deserves.
which demands not only attention, but more
active notice from all who dcsre to see the peaoe OF
the world maintained main There a. code , r.,,u or nw
OF the proceedings OF sovereign States among themselves
Tho object Is TO prevent Misunderstanding and war ~
substituting rules or maxms by which governments may
be guided and TO which appeal may bo made Now, we
request pubcsts and morasts of all nations TO observe
tions OF international law, si regarded as admis
sibe fhe citizens OF sovereign State may. seems.
make open preparation for private war against anotheg
State peace with their own. They may establish .
visible machinery OF government for the promotion
Of these purposes They may levy contributions amass
funds organize military forces collect arms and assume
a flag They may constitute and proclaim themselves
nation within nation for tho special purposes OF hlbus
teng and piracy They may do all this without the leass
prctcnse OF cOncealment reserve calling all Things by
their right names and publishing their thcR
resolutions and th ir aims for the information OF the
whole world Al length they may announce their nteu-
ton OF taking the field Immediately, and actually
compel tho government menaced with invasion 70
call Its forces sefdefence, aud accept the costs
and charges Of defensive war This Is what certain
American citizens calling themselves Fcnians have
really done and yet 1t appears that In so doing they
have done nothing In violation OF the laws by which the
good understanding OF nations among themselves Is up
beL and preserved We stating this without malice
prejudice, n simple matter OF fact Mr.. Scwaro
tells that the United States government VIII act
without hesitation as soon as the Fenians brcak
the laws, whether international or municipal appi-
cable their case, but that hitherto those laws
have not been broken British colony has boen pue
upon Its defence a. hedry charge 10 the population, bus
the intending invaders have committed no cognizabie
offence. General Swesny parades his regiments ana
Colonel oMahony opens his depos OF public In
spccon but the American cannot inerere,
for the offence has not been carried far enough. We
repeat that do not mpcach the legal accuracy OF this
he Is saying and 10 bo prepared to give us the
benefit OF the law though moro Bus We think PM
osophers and jursts should avail themselves Of this 90
cason observe what IL still LETT unfosbidden BY laws
other The Fenats, we are assured, and wo viliingy
believe will not b. allowed 20 cross the Brtish frontier
n th Americans prevent thom, but u is surely
worth while 10 consider whether such orert dsd un-
misM not e broah under ae cosainnes Of las vsu
~ ttsAlf