The New York herald., 1869-12-27

N0rtnwcstern Sta tes OF WISCONSIN, "uu A'nue
sofa and of the Territories of Dacotah and
Montana. We suppose it is intended to en-
brace the whole of the basin of the Saskatche-
wan river, from the Rocky Mountains eastward
to Lake Winnipeg, and the drainage OF the
lake on the east, and on the south, including
the Red river of the North, a region covering
an area of not less, we dare say, than three
hundred thousand square mles-a beautiful
region for cereals, cattle and sheep equal In
dimensions to seven or eight States OF the size
Of New York, and no doubt capable OF sup
porting twenty millions of people. In fact,
after the Canadas, New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, the Northwest Territory is all that
remains of the British Possessions east Of the
Rocky Mountains adapted to profitable cultiva-
tion. All the rest, like Alaska, is worthless,
except to the hunter, the trapper and the fish
erman.
From all that we can learn so far the strength
of this Rupert's Land revolt lies in the settle
ments Of the valley of the Red river of the
North. The sources Of this river are in that
extensive table land of beautiful fresh water
lakes which no man has numbered, on the
northern half Of Minnesota. From this mag
nifcent tableland of fine forests and countless
fresh water lakes we find interocking the head
springs of the Red river, which, through Lake
Winnipeg passes north into Hudson Bay, and
the head springs of the Mississippi, which flows
south into the Gulf of Mexico. The Red river
for some two hundred miles is the boundary
line between Minnesota and Dacotah, and for a
hundred miles and more before it enters the
British Possessions is navigable stream.
Just this side the British boundary line, in the
northeast corner of Dacotah, lies the princi-
pal settlement of the river, the town of
Pembina. 1t is the halfway trading post of
her Britannia Majesty's settlers Of the Winni-
peg basin, where they make their exchanges
during the summer, by boats up the Red river
and by OK teams or pony carts across the
country to the Mississippi, those French Cana
dians and half breeds bring over, to con-
siderable extent, themselves, their buffalo
skins and their furs to st. Paul, and
take back in exchange their dry goods and
groceries. During the winter even they still
drive pretty brisk traffic over this route with
dog sleds. With such business intercourse
these Red river or Lake Winnipeg French
Canadians have become pretty thoroughly
Americanized. Impenetrable, roadless forests
and morasses cut them off from Canada, and
hence they naturally call tho new government
sent out to them from thu quarter "a strange
government They don't know anything
about it. Their business and social relations
are with the people Of the United States, and
hence their declaration of independence.
But through all the southern tier of the
British provinces of North America, from sea
to sea, among the French Canadians, Fenians,
traders and spectators, disatfection, in one
form or another, against the British govern
ment exists. 1t is daily widening, too, and
assuming movement for annexation to the
United States. At the same time, we see that
the anarchy OF Mexico can only be cured by
absorption; that the Centrel American States
down to Darien may be secured without diff
Guilty, and that we have but to say the word and
Cuba and St Domingo are ours without war,
and almost without money, while their value
to us would be without price or beyond calcu-
lation. What is our national administration
doing, however, In behalf of this grand pro-
gramme, north and south, Of manifest des-
tiny?" Very little, though General Grant is
a man Of Western progressive ideas, large and
enthusiastically American. But he has an
amiable old gentleman ia the State Depart
ment of the ancient order of conservatives,
who, in regard to Cuba or those Alabama
claims, for instance, still interposes the diff
Guilty, what will England do? or what will
Napoleon think? or 'what will Mrs. Grundy
say?" Thus the administration is waiting
upon events while it ought to be shaping and
deciding them. What, then, can we say2
Only this Do, Mr.. President, give us new
Secretary Of State and new departure.
Tr1r EryupAr -IIpdDr Tho rro r,o