The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-29
Tho New Treaty with Canada.

The New Treaty with Canada.
Mr.. Secretary Seward and Minister Thorn
ton, Ambassador of Queen Victoria to the
United States, have, as we are informed from
Washington, opened an official correspondence
preliminary and with the view to the negotia-
ton and perfection of a new reciprocity treaty
between the American people on the one
of the confederated colonists, on the other
General Butler, in his capacity of chairman of
Congressional committee, was embarked the
other day on board revenue cutter at one OF
the New England village ports-where the
event produced quite sensation-and steamed
of for Prince Edward Island, charged to
endeavor to arrange for more friendly haul
and ready barter of Goldfish and behring's be-
tween the Gloucester fishermen, the Boston
shopkeepers and the liege subjects of her
infer that the United States government is, at
most serious and difficult moment in
the history of our home politics and internal
affairs, about to tack the dead weight Of con-
sideration of the Anglo-Canadian secession
entanglements, with the annoyances of Cabi-
net treatment of the petty jealousies and make
shift policy of the North American Dominion,
to it's own peculiar executive embarrassment
an official undertaking which must be regarded
as unnecessary, unwise and likely to be profit
less as it is certain to be thankless in result.
In England the Crown has become convinced
that the menacing situation which exists in
Nova Scotia, as well as the Independent atti-
tude which the majority of the inhabitants Of
that province maintain towards the parent
authority, is due to the fact that there exists
no treaty of reciprocity in trade between them
selves and the United States, and that the
nakedness and poverty of the colonial position
per Sc become more and more apparent each
day from the want of the pro6ts-all
on one side-which accrued under
the instrument which lapsed lately by
expiry of limitation. To Mr.. Disraeli and
the English Cabinet this view presents matter
for serious consideration, and there is no doubt
but that the Premier instructed Mr.. Thornton
to apply to Secretary Seward to lend him a
crisis, and that Mr.. Seward has responded
favorably.
This we regard as misdirection of feeling,
ifnot grave error Of judgment, on the part Of
the American Secretary. With respect to the
condition of affairs in Canada we have no SYM
pathy with Mr. Seward in any attempt to re-
lieve England from her colonial troubles. We
do not want to get her out of the repeal agita-
ton in Nova Scotia. We do not require an Anglo
imperial dominion on our border. Twelve
years ago leading London journal, controlled
at the time by the late Lord Palmerston,
sent forth an editorial prophecy, supposed to
be from the pen of that eminent statesman, to
the effect that the day was not distant when
Canada, so far from being absorbed by the
United States, would become the centre of
rule for the whole American Continent. As
an Offset to this hope and in dissipation of a
long cherished British idea we say, let the
principle of colonial disintegration just evolved
in Nova Scotia extend and progress to its
legitimate conclusion, and permit the free
annexation of all or any one of the provinces
to the Union to result from. the solution.
Mr. Seward permits his official opportunities
to pass. He has accomplished nothing in re-
gard to the Alabama claims payment, but is,
on the contrary, likely to play into the hands
of Britain in an attempt to help her out of her
dominion troubles by treaty negotiations, sup
ported, it may be, by Congressional resolu-
tons. Did Great Britain afford comfort or aid
to the American Union in the dark days
of its difficulty? The ''belligerent" recognition
of Lord Russell, the Alabama, the Bahamas
blockade runner station, guns, food and
ammunition for the Southern armies,
make the reply. Did England ever confeder-
ate peoples or territory but with an eye to the
future aggregation of new dominion to the
more solid centre? Never. Why, then, should
we encourage her policy at our own doors
There remains one certain cure for the Cana
dian situation, one remedy for Anglo Canadian
border smuggling, one anodyne for Nova
Scotian discomfort. 1t is annexation to the
United States. The colonists will take the
remedy If Doctor Seward will only stand aside
and permit them.
Tho MIDDLE In the South.