The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-17
The Annexation of Canada.

The recent elaborate report of an agent of
the Treasury Department upon the commercial
relations between the United States and Cana
da, and the financial terms upon which peace
full annexation might be adjusted, having been
followed by the introduction of a resolution
providing for the admission of the British prov
inces into the Union. in the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Jealous loyalists of Montreal,
and especially those who are connected with
the colonial government, are reported to be
quite indignant at this action. That fraction
of the Brii ish lion which may be supposed to
represent the portion of the Queens dominion
living above our northern boundaries, has not
the slightest occasion or excuse for an angry
growl at the course we have taken, or any
measures we are likely to adopt, so long as
peaceable relations are maintained with Great
Britain, No one proposes to absorb these de-
pendencies until mutual understanding is es-
tablished between themselves, the mother coun-
try, and the United States, which is not likely
to occur until each party is fully convinced
that its interests would be promoted by the
proposed change. The matter has been fire.
quently discussed in many of its aspects, and as
it belongs to a class of subjects which require
much careful consideration, there can he no
harm in paying it sufficient attention to clear
away some of the obscurities by which it has
heretofore been surrounded That the Prov
inces would be immensely benefited by an
nexaton scarcely admits of doubt, The dis
tress caused by the abrogation of the recIproc-
ity treaty affords ample proof of the import
ance to them of maintaining an intimate con-
nection with us, for this country affords their
best and almost only available market for sur
plus products. They would have found it
very convenient to enjoy all the advantages of
free trade without sharing any of our burdens;
but free trade and the friendly care of our Fed
eral Government would infinitely more than
compensate for any additional taxation that
might be imposed upon them. Besides, while
they remain subject to Great Britain they are
convenient objects of attack for her foes, and
thus become embroiIed in contests they do not
originate and cannot arrest. Even the Fenans
considered them legitimate objects Of hostility,
and if our Government had not strictly en-
forced the neutrality laws the RoBERTs-SwEE-
Ny demonstration would have proved decidedly
annoying and destructive, With our expert
ence, as we'll as the history of the Old French
and Spanish dependencies we have annexed
before them, it is difficult to understand Why
as matter of choice, sensible Canadians should
prefer remaining under the control of distant
and neglectful government, TO such partici-
patton in the management of public affairs as
they would acquire by annexation. As to
Great Britain, some of her leading ministers
and statesmen have repeatedly contended that
pride rather than interest stimulates her to re-
tain possession of her North American PROV
inces, She gains no advantages that comPens-
ate for the trouble and annoyance they cause
in time of peace or the terrible expense they
would entail if in time of war Especially with
this country she attempted to defend them.
As for ourselves, we are no more restrained by
sentimental fancies from a candid expression of
our views, than farmer who, looking at some
neighboring plantation likely to come into
market, calmly decides on the propriety of
purchasing and how much it is worth When
we make up our minds the present Propriotors
can decide with equal freedom when and how
they ought to strike bargan.-Prees.