Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-12
RAWLINs AMI CANAnA

%Iarch next Gen. Rawlins, Grants
chiefof staff, viii be thepower behind
the throne, Mr.. Joseph MediIl, who
is, we believe, one Of the proprietors
of the Chicago Tribune, the leading
Radical organ in the northwest, has
addressed letter to Rawlins in
which he informs that gentleman
that the people of the United States
want Canada and must have it. If
Great Britain refuses to cede it as an
indemnity for the Alabama claims,
why all that the United States has to
do, according to Mr.. Medill, is to
cross the border and take possession.
Mr. Medill regards any argument in
the matter as futile. 1t is sufficient
TO know that We covet Canada, its
vast forests, its wheat and barley
lands, its fisheries and its fuFs.' Any
scruples which New England may
have about further territorial ag-
grandizement can be easily over
come by appealing to her cupidity.
"She needs Nova Scotia for its COAL
says Mr. Medill Nor is it at all
probable that the Western States
will object, for they desire to get
possession of the st. Lawrence, that
river being "their natural outlet to
the Atlantic Ocean" Under such
circumstances, why should we
trouble ourselves about such a trivial
matter as the reluctance Of the peo-
pie Of Canada to be annexed, or the
fact that the region in question does
pot belong to US, but really does be-
long to somebody else? When a
man wants his neighbours estate why
should he bother himself about such
foolish things as legality, or respect
for good morals ? Title deeds
are but so much waste parchment to
him who wants the property and is
able to seize and hold it. Besides in
these latter days, might and not right
is the supreme law, and nothing can
be more conclusive than Mr. Medilps
historical citations in support of the
eminent propriety Of taking what
does@4ot belong to US. How" he
asks, did Prussia enlarge her area
one-third, and add eleven millions to
her population? How did France
get Savoy and Nice? How did
Great Britain get Canada from
France, and how did she get her In
dian Empire? OF course with such
examples before US it would be ridi-
culOus to hesitate 1t is true our
quarrel with Great Britain, in respect
to the Alabama claims, is in process
of amicable adjustment 1t is also
true that the Canadians themselves
are quite contented with their con-
dition. They know very well that
they have only to express their de-
sire for entire independence of Great
Britain to have their wishes gratifed
withouta struggle. They know also
that if they are annexed, either
forcibly or otherwise, to the United
States, obey must bear their proper
ton of that enormous burthen of
taxation under which our people are
groaning. The Canadians are lightly
taxed. They are blessed with a
metallic currency,while we are cursed
with an irredeemable paper one,
worth about seventy cents on
the dollar But what matters ? Why
should We not absorb the Canadas to
revenge ourselves on Englend Mr..
Mcdill's bill of Indictment is enough
to provoke just anger in much
more sanity people than we are.
Great Britain has wronged us, he
says. She has inflicted terrible
harm upon us She has tried to de-
stroy oar Union, and did almost de.
stroy our foreign shipping. She has
made no apology or reparation.
Finally, and in this lies her unpar
donahle sin, 4" Reverdy johnson la.
dis9raced us, and proved himself al
old turnkey and a disgusting snob.
Ii, then, Gen. Grant wants an oppor
tunity to immortalize his administra
ton and place his fame high above
all Presidents who have preceded
him, let him say to Great Britain
we willgive you receipt for all ou
damages '-tiunkeyism aud snob
berry included" and one hundre,
millions Of dollars into the bargain
and take all your North America
\. colonies. If England should dar
to reject this most magnanimou
proposition, all Grant will have t
DO is simply to step over the horde
and take possession. 1t is Mr.. No
dills opinion that within the briC
space of ninety days Great Britai
would have no North American co
Cnies left More than this, he ev
IDENTITY believes that with the frs
blast of Grants bugle, the Canadian
would accept their manifest de'
tiny" and England humbly acceI
" the situation"
What part Gen. Rawlus is to pla
IN this matter we do not know; bU
it is clear that Mr.. Medill has marke
out for him distinguished caree
But why stop at such 4 tribe as Can
ada? Is not the whole of I'll
American continent waiting to /
g., 4