American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-07
VOLUME 4.
Commercial Intercourses With the
"New Dominion"

tnaJ they OuShG HUI W pe ihuih0iNht "
the political movements now in progress
In the New Dominion of Canada. When
the policy of the New Government is
fully developed, it will be found to en-
brace comprehensive and wholesome
plan for future action which must affect
the material interests of the States no less
than their own. 1t will depend upon
the States, however, whether they use 1t
to their own advantage or disadvantage.
If we examine the scheme under which
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and tho
Canadas have been confederated we per,
ceive at once that it is as nearly republi>
can in form, and as nearly modelled after
the United States, as is consistent with
their avowed allegiance to the British
crown In the first place, we see union
of several colonies for mutual advantage,
just as happened here hundred years
ago, each colony having its Local Legls'
lature, aud collectively controlled by
central government. Lord Monck is
simply the Queens represen tative. He
appoints his Crbinet, as does the Presi-
dent of the United States. The two
Houses of Parliament are elective. Sut-
frage is free and universal. The decimal
system has been in vogue for some years,
and the dollar corresponds with our spe'
Gle dollar in value. A national currency
will soon be substituted for the miscelr
laneous bank notes now in circulation,
and will thus be uniform with our own
whenever we resume specie payne nts.--
There will be specie deposit security of
33 per cent. upon the first issue of 50,
100000, and 20 per cent. for each addi-
tioual 81, 900 900, besides a deposit with
Barring Brothers, at London, OF the unl>
ted debentures of the several Provinces
A new and liberal tariff will be adopted,
operating uniformly in all parts of the
New Dominion The posta. service will
be improved and extended. There will
be a central Treasury, with sub treasury
at the chief commercial ports. Laborers
are already at work upon the Western
Extension Railroad the link between
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will be
Immediately completed, and ground bro
ken for the long talked Of Z" lntercolo>
NAL" Provision for the local army aud
navy will follow.
This is the plan as laid for the future.
1t is radiant with promise. Neverthe-
less very large portion of the population
lack faith and avow it openly. They are
apprehensive of untried experiments
The country is in transition state, when
all is uncertainty, hesitation, and chaos.
There are dozen inharmonlous poll ltlcal
factions, each with policy of its own.
Some are exclusively British in their
proclivities others as decidedly Ameri>
can and there are numerous intermedl-
ate shades of opinion. The lower Prov
inces dislike to lose their individuality,
and aro jealous of Canadian preponderN
auce. They have yet to learn practically
that their Confederation is a strict part
ners hip-the members with more or less
capital sharing the profits and advanta-
ges proportionately ly-and that consequent
ly the smaller Provinces, with their less
or revenues and lesser populations, must
hold inferior place to Canada At press
ent they believe that tho effect of the
plan is to give Canada the oyster and
themselves only the shells. In the midst
of these perplexities business becomes
deranged money was never so scarce /;
real estate never so low bank stocks de-
preciate, while the rate of interest Is
higher; laborers find little employment
and low wages capital lies idle; all
kinds of business languish ; and there is
an unprecedented efflaxs of the people to
the States. 1--WE speak moro particular
ly of the Lower Provincos.)
In such an unsettled state of affairs it
is natural to look in every direction for
relief. All are striving for the attain~
ment of one grand object-namely, the
improvement of their present political
status and the advancement of their ma
tsrial prosperity; Whatever step will
most surely conduce to such results, the
inhabitants will be ready to take. There
are now but comparatively few earnest
advocates of annexation bu. when COM
mercial intercourse is actively cultivated
by the United States SO us to become
profitable to the Provinces aud render
the interests of the two countries mutual
and identical; when the ouerous taxes
which we now endure are reduced, so that
the advantages will largely outweigh the
burdens to be borne then our neighbors
will fnd the inducements hard to reject,
and will look more favorably upon the
question of annexation. Under our
present policy however, VIC are simply
using every means to discourage any la
tent inclination of the Sort We have
repealed the Reciprocity Treaty, which
was one Of the strongest cords of union.
We restrict trade by oppressive imposts
We tax lumber at such rate that our
ship-yards are idle, and we cut ourselves
off from the rich timber, districts of the
Provinces, while we look about in vain
for means to supply that deficit in our
own resources which increases annually.
We pay enormously for plaster, which
exists ia the Provinces in vast quantities
and would fain seek a market. The val-
liable coal-felds of Nova Scotia are very
many of them worked by Americans, all
of whom are suffering from the effects of
our existing narrow policy. There is a
large amount of American capital inves>
ted in the Provinces in mines and manu>
factures and miscellaneous enterDrises