Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-02
COLUMBIA.
Memorial for its Annexation to the United
States.

States.
The following is the full text Of the
memorial presented to the President
of the United States by the people OF
British Columbia, praying for the In
nexation of that territory to the Uni
ted States:
To His Excellency the President of the
United States:
Your ~memOrialists beg leave most
respectfully to represent that We are
residents Of the colOnyOf British Co
Iumbia, many of US British subjects,
and all of US deeply interested in the
welfare and progress of our adopted
country; that those who are British
subjects are penetrated with the most
profound feelings of loyalty and devO-
ton to her Majesty and her Govern
ment, and hope thatall entertain taR
her feelings of the greatest attachment
and to the country; that while we
thus indulge such feelings we are con
strained by the duty we owe to our
selves and families, in view of the con-
templated severance of the political
ties which unite this colony to the
mother country, to seek for such pO-
litical and commercial affinity and
/ connection a will insure the immedi-
ate and continued prosperity and
well-being of this, our adopted home;
that this colony is now suffering great
depression, owing to its isolation,
scarcity of population and other
causes too numerous to mention; that
! we view with feelings of alarm the
avoWed intention of her Majesty's
| Government to confederate this col
Ony with the Dominion of Canada, as
we believe such a measure can only
lead to still further depression and III
innate injury, for the following rea
sons, viz:
That confederation cannot give US
protection against external enemies
or foreign foes, owing to the distance
Ofthis colony from Ottawa; that it can
not open to Us a market for the pro-
duce of our lands, our forests, our
mines or our waters; that it cannot
bring US population, our greatest need,
as the Dominion itself is suffering
from lack of it; that our connection
with the Dominion can satisfy no SEN
timent of loyalty or devotion; that
her commercial and industrial inter-
ests are opposed to ours; that the tar
ifs of the Dominion viii be the ruin
Of u farmers and the commerce Of
! our chief cities; that we are instigated
by every sentiment of loyalty to her
Majesty by our attachment to the
laws and institutions of Great Britain,
and our deep interest in the prosperity
of our adopted country, to express
our opposition to a severance from
England and a confederation with
Canada. We admit that the DOmin-
ion may be aggrandiZed by cOnfedera-
ton, but we can see no benefit, either
in the present or in the future, which
can accrue to Us therefrOm; that we
desire a market for our coal and lum-
Der and our fish, and this the DOmin-
ion seeks for the same produce of her
own soil; she can take nothing from
US and supply Us nothing in return;
that cOnfederating this colony with
Canada may relieve the mother cOun-
try from the trouble and expense Of
fostering and protecting this isolated,
distant colony, but it cannot free US
from our long enduring depression,
owing to the lack of population, as
aforesaid, and the continued want of a
home market for our produce.
The only remedy for the evils which
be5et Us we believe to be in close
union with the adjoining States and
Territories. Weare already joined by
a unity of objects and interests Near
~ all our commercial relations are
with them. They furnish the chief
markets, we have for the products of
our mines, land and waters; they sup
ply the colony with the most of the
ue-cessaries of life; they furnish Us with
the only means of communication
with the outer world; and we are
even dependent upon them for the
means OF learning the events ia the
mother country or the Dominion Of
Canada.
For these reasons we earnestly de
sire the acquisition of this colony by
the United States. 1t would result at
once in opening to Us an unrestricted
market for our product, bring an in
hUX Of population, and with 1t induce
an investment of capital in our coal
and quartz mines, and in our forests.
It would insure US regular mails and
communication with the adjoining
oNeAACo ah0 4CAAALDAAEoT anu Nl1lOAAu
them with the world at large. 1t
would lessen the expenses of our Gov
eminent by giving u representative
Institutions and immediate control of
our domestic concerns, besides giving
Us protection against foreign invasion;
and with all these we would still be
united to a people of our own kin
dred, religion, and tongue, and a
people who for all time must
Intimately affect Us in all our relations
iOr veal or woe. That in view Of
these facts we respectfully request that
your E~xceliency will cause this ne
mortal to be laid before the Govern
ment of the United States, and that
in any negotiations pending or
undertaken between your Govern
ment or that of her most gracious
Majesty for the settlement of territor-
ial or other questions, you will en-
deavOr to induce her Majesty to con-
sent to the transfer Of this colony to
the United States.
We believe her Majesty earnestly
desires the welfare and happiness
of all her people, in view of the cir
cumstances that for years she has con-
scented to the annual exodus of thou
sands Of her subjects to the United
and that She will not let politi-
cal traditions and sentiments infiu-
ence her against q measure so earn
desired by the people of this
poor, isolated colony.
Dated British Columbia, Nov. Is, 1869.
The spirit Of annexation is abroad
among the American people. They
are anxious to sever their connection
with Europe, and taking advantage
Of the Capitalization idea which seems
to be prevalent to join their fortunes
to the reunited States. Does this
possible absorption of territory north
and south Of Us fOreshadow "the gath
ering of the natiOns?" Or is it pre-
urinary to the dissolution of States,
30 vainly attempted by the South?