The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-24
AnncXAtIOn.


Senator PoMERoy Of Kansas offered in the
Senate on Thursday last resolution re-
questing the President to open negotiations
with the Government of Great Britain, to as
certain whether the British North American
Provinces c@n &c annexed to tho United
States upon terms honorable to both parties.
This proposition is probably regarded as a
wise one by some of the more ardent and
thoughtless among our people. We observe
also that movement in favor of annexation
IL going on in Nova Scotia and New Bruins
wick. Societies are organized, public meet
iDgs are held, speeches are made, and pam
phlets in favor of annexation are distributed.
All this is 80 much labor lost, especially
the rcsolutiC of Senator PoMERoY it can
come to nothing. Great Britain cannot con-
sent 10 the annexation of her colonies to the
United States, md the efforts Of the friends
of annexation ON the north of the border
will all be of no avail, except so far as they
may influence public opinion in their own
neighborhood.
The destiny of the North American Prov.
inces is independence. They arc separated
from the United States by the Great Lakes
In the centre, and by the st. Johns and the
81. Francis rivers on the east. They have
every resource necessary for the establish
ment Of an Independent power. They have
q Constitution formed for this very purpose,
and capable, Ike the Constitution of the
United States, of indefinite expansion over
new provinces and territories. Great Britain
has already proclaimed her desire to sec
them set up upon their own account and
take place in the family of nations. As
they now stand, they are to her a cause OF
great weakness and were they separated
from her and formed into a. friendly State,
with a republican, aristocratic or monarch
cal government, the strength and security of
the parent country would be much increased.
She has accordingly of late improved every
proper opportunity to stimulate them to such
apolicy. There is no doubt that whenever
they may resolve TO enter upon it, she will
afford them every possible facility and advan.
tage. This then is what they ought to do,
and what patriotic men within their borders
and judcious men without ought to urge
npor ;heir consideration.
The idea of annexing these Provinces to
the United States however much ii may flat.
ter the vanity oftheorizing statesmen among
ourselves, or however agreeable it may be
TO impatient spirits in the Provinces, is en-.
tirely impracticable The majority of the
people north of the line are opposed Ia
1t, and cannot DO brought to favor
IT. and the pride and prestige of Great
Britain render it equally inadmissible. Let
this notion, then, be dismissed SO far as pos
sible from the minds of practical politicians
everywhere let the Provinces enter upon
their career of independence, and let us here
in the United States give them all suitable
encouragement and aid in taking this grea'
step. No feelings but those of friendship
ought to be cultivated between the two coun
tries. We arc neighbors and our interest,
in many respects are identical. With indie
pendence, our relations must become mucl
more intimate and the sooner the new ma
tion is formed and put in motion, the bette
for the Canadss, the better for England, an,
the better for the United States.