Year: 1862

that they would put greater and permanent value


upon the natural relations which should prevail


-.t SIR @. c. LEWIS REPLY.


Sir G. c. IEws-The question which the right honorable


gentleman has raised Ii not necessarily involved IN the


discussion Of this estimate - ch is TO meet an eXraor


dnary charge in consequence Of sent out


under tho special crcums tances of this fear


Now, may have been very wrong that our predeces


had not adopted the policy which the right honora


BILE gentleman recommends and had not required that
the colonies should make large expenditure for their
military and naval Defence but inasmach as that
provision had not made her Majestys government
could deal with the circumstances only they existed,
and think Il must be seen that If did not send out lis
force The frontier of Brtsh North Anerica Dould haze


mdiseet unfefended (ear, hear) The right honorable
gentleman has taken perfectly fair and proper course in
calling attention TO very important principle Of policy


which is involved in the case before us. Now, during
the American war; tho Parliament of this country passed
an act by which declared that illegal to tax the
colonies am afraid that IL would be very difficult TO
pass an act declaring 1t illegal for the colonies to tax u.s.


(fiear, hear The question virtually amounts to tax


imposed on tho mother country for the benefit of the
coones but nasmuch as tho colonies dependencies
as we allow them no option with regard TO our foreign
relations, but make them follow in our wake,
make them share our fortunes, and involve them
In our wars, 1t is not unnatural the part of the
colonies to require that very largo portion Of the ex
renso or their naval and military defence shoud be de-


rayeu Dy the mother country 1t IS an unquesonab'e


act that ths has been the with very slight eXcep
lions up TO the present time, and il is matter for the
Consideration Of this House whether change in this es


ablished policy should be effected. There was CON-
mittee appointed last session which went into this sub
lect very fully, and made interesting report The
honorable member for Taunton (Mr A. Mills) has given
notice OF motion founded on the report of that commit
tcc and is his intention to move resolution shortly


IN which the whole of that policy win be brought before
the House. think 1t would be better to
selves until that motion is before u.s. rather than so
into somewhat dcsultory discussion Of that large
question: which is hot confined TO Canada but cxteGs
70 the colonies IN general. (Hear, hear AS l
am on tho case OF Canada, ! Will point out cir
cumstanccs which think will not unnaturaly weigh
with a Canadian. He coeH remember that The fr0ntr
line te,cee Canada and the British Provinces cf North
Ante'ica The hdnd and Ae United States The other


ds some gears ago IN cc'te AMI cas settled By a5ota
tton, conducted ~ Pie'aipondyy from this country


l'ay people thought The line mhih he oJlied ttoe The
United STATES and those IrociRce unfaroraJe 10 the
prorce and that he Gape up rights maih he might haze
retained. (Hear, hear) Well. | am not saying that
the treaty not for the interests OF tho empire but
think it 10 not an unnatural thing that the Canadians
should say W you take the negotiating OF our frontier
out OF hands and bring the Americans close upon
river, If you even concede some portions OF terri
tory'-for ! believe that iact-"it is fair you
should do something TO help us when threatened
with war on that account (iiear, hear think when
we discuss those matters We ought TO put ourselves
IN the position or our coonsis who do not take the
same view many gentlemen in this house inclined
to take. (IIear.) With respect to the time during
which the IS ,0CO will be maintained in Canada, l
hope the honorable gentlemen will not expect give
him or the House any pledge with respect to it.
only say that it is certainty no. IN the contemplation Of the
gre,nnia 10 maintain for any time Ike fire years tte
creased force cch SdS required only by temporary eri
ge,acy, and i0aich cs meant 10 NEE. peculiar 0cds


do not contemplate the necessity Of keeping the present
Of force for long time in Canada but how long
it may be necessary to maintain it there is a matter
upon which am not now able to give very distinct
pledge. With regard to the militia it is certainly
TINT both in Carada and New Brunswick it has not
been very effective, and that there has been neglect
in calling them out and training them but that
sub ect has been brought under the attention of
the Governors by the Colonial Department. and they
have exertei themselves very much and I am
bound to say that the population has responded with
great spirit and readiness for they have Show the TT
most alacry in making petunary sacrifices for their
own defence. (Hcar, hear) l think it would be i'm
possible for mo to express in too strong terms the excel
lent spirit which the entire population Cf the North
Amer cn Provinces have shown On this occasion (Hear,
hoar.) believe they will take measures for mpro, ing
the system Of their militia but the committee must bear
in mind thai the North american Prccinces materially imi
tate he example of their ,,c hoys in the United States acho
Rerr kept up any large standing army Jy hs
cch they forced 10 have recourse TO- They
driven to very extraordinary measures in ortcr to
raise an army, and Of course labor under great d
Guilty in the absence Of trained oces or Of any regular
mt ry system, and hence they forced 70 supply by
lavish expenditure the defect OF regular trained army
(Hear, hear