Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-14
Canadian Independence.

W. Foster, Esq, of Knowlton, Canada
for the Montreal Witness, of Monday
containing the proceedings of an impor
tant meeting which was held at Waterloo
on Saturday afternoon last. The meet
ing was largely attended, some two thou
sand people being present. The object o
the meeting was the discussion of ths
question of Canadian Independence The
assemblage was addressed by the Hon
John Young of Montreal, also BY Hon L
G. Huntington, member Of the Provin
cial Parlia neut, and by Hon. Brown
Chamberlain. The latter gentleman op
posed the views of Young and Hunting
ton. We have hitherto said but LITTLE
upon this question of annexation, but al
the addresses on this occasion present in
telligiblo views upon both sides, giving +;
survey of tho whole subject, we lay ex
tracts of the discussion before our read
ers. The people Of the United States are
looking on this issue with increasing in
terest, and it is well that more considera
ton should be given to it.
Mr.. Young spent some time in review
ing his past career, to show that because
he now advocates independence, it was
from no lack of loyalty to the mother
country. He did not consider the ques.
ton one of loyalty or disloyalty, but one
of interest. He took the ground that the
United States afford the natural market
for the great bulk of the productions Of
Canada, and yet,because Canada is a part
of Great Britain she has to submit to be
barred by our tariff, whereas, if she
should become independent, undoubtedly
free trade relations could be established
between the two countries and both be
benefited thereby. British connection
costs Canada four millions a year in
duties, and destroys all that free exchange
of industry, which, in the natural order
of things, ought to exist between all and
every part of this continent.
On the subject of Canada's relation with
England he said:
The statesmen and press Of England are
weekly speaking in most unmistakeable
terms as to our duty in this. matter
England is not going to thrust US away, or
force US out, but when we read what is
said about US, we ought to have spirit
enough to ask England to let Us 20, and
that too without any alienation. Eng
land would, believe, consent to our
Independence, and when independent,
believe such treaty could be made with
the United States for reciprocal trade in
agricultural and other products and for
certain manufactures as would, in the
highest degree, prove beneficial to the in
habitants OF this country. Nor in such
treaty should free trade between the
two countries, be overlooked. How this
matter may appear to others | know not.
but with the knowledge | possess Of the
commerce and RESOURCES Of this country it
appears to me Of vast importance
There is every reason TO believe that
when the people of this country are in a
position TO treat with them for a treaty a.
regards the reciprocal interchange of our
natural products and manufactures, that
they will be met by the Same liberal
spirit To build Notifications and rail
ways for military purposes, which cnnnot
be defended on any commercial principle,
as TO create "A tax, for their construction
and maintenance, which will prove "A mill
stone round the necks Of the people OF the
Dominion, and ia merely wasting our
means. What we want il the develop
ment of our country, and TO make avail
able its vast resources England has
turned her coal and iron to the best ad-
vantage, but the stock Of coal and iron in
the Dominion and the United States il
forty times greater than in England, and
if the industry Of thirty millions has
made England what she il, what will the
industry of the people IF this continent
yet effect on this continent. 1t must, |
think, be evident that we can stand alone,
and that we should not persist in perpctu-
ating a connection with England, which
her statesmen declare il weakness to her.
On the contrary, we should make up our
minds to take a new position. That
position is not Confederation, but, in my
opinion, that Of National Independence
In this way, our good old mother England
will be relieved from responsibility on our
account, and will be largely benefited by
our progress.
Mr.. Huntington speeah occupied some
time III reply to those who have criticized
his able address recently delivered at
the Missisquoi Couaty Fair, and in this
he fully viriiaated himself for i ..a~inr
the most ongro ing question Of TIE
period at gathering 81 tar.n r, wao.t
vital interests are ST. involved In IT. lu-
ton H. rciutel the idoi that iuacprr-
dcncc would lead t. imsapli Sc augx ,tian
to the United st.tts On this -uljea. he
said
Nobody would my .ij4if ,he Amari-
cans were paoFl..of 100000 Like ot..-
selves We know that thc mere freedom
of commercial intareour-r .wuuid produce
no such results. because our experience
under the Reciprocity Treaty Is an uu-
answcrahie illustration Our people de-
sired to b. friend with their An, ricun
kinsmen, but there was no dream Of sur.
rendering their poli'ia5l autonomy. 1t
follows Therefore that cur only fear would
be in the aggressive Oh position OF our
neighb5rs. | dealt with this fear in
my former speech, aud | -hall not repeat
the argument But ! SIX il the Amer
icans want 10 be aggressive towards
us, why are they not 20 now? Why
don't they abr'g0te the bonding
system ? You may say that they are
afraid Of England, but that would
be no cause OF quarrel, and there is no
doubt that by such Il course they might
make us thoroughly comfortable. | ven
tured the other day at Bedford to predict
that the Americans, far from adopting
towards US the policy OF barbarians,
would respect our wishes aud encourage
US in our aspirations for nationality Of the
Dominion. They might prefer Annexa-
tion, but no intelligent American dosires
to annex an unwilling people, and l have
declared that the Americans when
the question was fairly understood by
them would aid by all proper means the
establishment of our Independence. And
my prediction mas been thoroughly iusti-
fed by the tone of the American press.
inst now il suits the views of the Gov