Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-05
ANNEXATION.

Nincclt Colycr, of New York, on We'd
mortal signed by number Of property
holders and business men of Victoria, to
be followed by another, which will contain
the names of all the British merchants and
places. in favor of transfer of British
Columbia to The United States. The Pres
] ident, the next day, returned to Mr.. Col
yer Il verbal reply that he had read the
: memorial with great interest, and sent it
, to the Secretary Of State.
Mr.. Colycr also showed the memorial
| TO Senator sumner chairman of the Com
mittec on Foreign Relations, who, after
, reading it, said the movement was inn
| portant, and could have but one termina-
ton. Meanwhile our Government waits
| for the movement of England, which is
fast seeing the uselessness and impracti-
cability OF European empire in this hem
| isphere Both the President and Senator
! Sumner desired their replies to be made
! known to the memoralists. The follow
ing is the memorial:
To las Ereeilency the President of the United
States So.
Your memoralists beg leave most respect
! fully to represent that we are residents OF the
Colony OF British Columbia, many of us Brit
ish subjects, and all deeply interested in the
welfare and progress OF our adopted country
| that those that are British subjects are penc-
trated with the most profound feelings OF
loyalty to her Majesty and her Government,
and that all entertain for her feelings OF the
greatest attachment and to the country. That
while we thus indulge such feelings, are
constrained by the duty owe to ourselves
and families, in view of the contemplated
severance OF the political ties which unite this
colony to the mother country to seek for
such political and commercial affinity and
connection As will insure the immediate and
continued prosperity and weh-bcing of this
our adopted home.
That this colony is now suffering great de-
preston owing TO its isolation, a scarcity of
| population, and other causes too numerous to
mention.
That we view with feelings of alarm the
! avowed intention of her Majesty's Govern
! ment to confederate this colony with the
! Dominion of Canada, as we believe such a
measure can only tend to still further depress-
| ion and ultimate injury, for the following
reasons. viz That confederation cannot give
us protection against internal enemies or for
| eign foes, owing to The distance of this colony
from Ottawa. That it cannot open to us n
market for the produce of our lands our for
ests our mines, or our waters. That il can
not bring us population-our greatest need
as the Dominion itself is suffering from lack
| of it. That our connection with the Don,in-
ion can satisfy no sentiment of loyalty or de-
hnr cia al and In str ial
interests are opposed to ours. That the tariff
of the Dominion will be the ruin of our farm
ers 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 coniedera-
ton with Canada. We admit the Dominion
may be aggrandized by confederation, but we
| can see no benefit either in the present or
| future which can accrue to us theretrom.
| That we desire market for our coal and
| lumber and our fish, and this the Dominion
| seeks for the same produce of her own soil
She can take nothing from us, and supply us
nothing i'll return.
That contederafing this COLONY with Cana
| da NAV relieve the mother country from the
trouble and expense of fostering and protect
ing 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 home market for
| produce.
The only remedy for the evils that beset us
we believe to be in close union with the
| adjoining States and Territories. We are al
ready joined to them by unity of objects and
| interests. Nearly all our commercial rela-
tons are with them. They furnish the chief
markets we have for the products of our
mines, land, and waters. They supply the
colony with most of the necessaries of life.
They furnish us the only means of comniuni-
! cation with the outer world, and we are even
dependent upon them for the means of learn
| ing the events in the mother country or the
Dominion of Canada.
For these reasons we earnestly desire ''the
acquisition of this colony by the United
! States"
1t would result at once in opening to us an
! unrestricted market for our produce, bring an
influx Of population, and with it induce the
| investment Of capital in our coal and quartz
mines, and in our forests.
/ 1t would insure us regular mails and com
munication with the adjoining States and Ter
ritories, and through them with the world at
| large.
1t would lessen the expense of our Govern
and immediate control of our domestic con-
Germs, besides giving us protection against
foreign enemies, and with all these we should
still be united to people of our own kindred,
religion, and tongue, and people who for
| all time must intimately affect us in all our
! relations for veal or
| That in view of these facts we respectfully
request that your Excellency will cause this
memorial to be laid before the Government
! of the United States, and that in any negotia-
tons which may be pending or undertaken
between your Government and that of her
most gracious Majesty for the settlement OF
territorial or other questions, that you will
endeavor to induce her Majesty to consent to
the transfer OF this colony to the United
| States.
We believe that her Majesty earnestly de-
sires the welfare and happiness of all her
people, in view of the circumstance that for
years she has consented to the annual exodus
| of tons of thousands of her suhiects 10 the