11 JANUARY 1862, Page 15

THE CONDUCT OF CANADA.

XTOTHING, during this last dispute with the Federal Government, has been so remarkable, or to English- men so gratifying, as the course of our North American colonies. They have acted like English counties, displaying not merely loyalty, which might have been expected, but a hearty sympathy with our action which was almost beyond hope. We would ask those gentlemen who disbelieve in political institutions to explain why the Canadians, of all mankind, should so thoroughly understand the impulses their next-door neighbours fail so miserably to appreciate. They 'have no better means of knowing the views of Great Britain than the people from whom they are separated by an ima- ginary line, or half a mile of river. English news arrives in New York almost' as soon as in Halifax, and sooner than in Quebec. The domestic relations of England and Canada are scarcely more numerous than those between England and the Eastern States, and the commercial bonds were, until lately, very much weaker. The tie of blood exists in the one case as much as in the other, while that of language, which we believe without much reason to be so strong, is more complete with Americans than the people of Lower Canada. We have within living memory been compelled to constrain the Canadians ; we have till lately legislated for them in a spirit of the narrowest selfishness, and we have even now a habit of neglecting dependencies which must be infinitely galling. Yet the Canadians, throughout this affair, have not misunderstood us for an hour. While the Americans were convinced that any demand for the restoration of Messrs. Mason and Slidell was impossible, the Canadians calmly awaited a declaration of war. The journals only laughed at American ignorance, and affirmed, long before a word had reached them from this side, that the British Government would demand instant and plenary reparation. When the news reached Quebec, the merchants on 'Change, those very "hahitans" whose loyalty French writers affect to doubt, re- ceived it with enthusiastic cheers. They would have to bear the first brunt of the war. Their property and trade, and means of communication, would be the first sacrifice to the armed hordes which the mob of the Eastern cities threatened to pour upon our borders. The quarrel was none of their seeking, nor did it in any way affect their immediate or pecuniary interests,—those powerful motives which, as Mr. Kinglake asserts' supersede such sentiments as in- dignation and honour. Yet the dealers of Liverpool were not more enthusiastic than the seigneurs of Canada. The province was heartily unanimous. The news found them almost defenceless, but a unanimous people can act with the promptitude of a despotism, and find resources to which none but a free government ventures to appeal. The Go- vernment called out the militia, and 35,000 men have already responded to the call. Officers were there in profusion, and the men were drilled under cover, in buildings provided by the wealthier class. Volunteer companies were instantly formed, and already, it is said, twenty thousand men are ready for rifle drill. Arms were supplied from home. The foundries were set to work to rifle the smooth-bore cannon, of which there are plenty in the colonies. The " habitans" joined in the movement as freely as the people of Upper Canada. The coloured men formed themselves into com- panies, certain, whatever their discipline, to fight with all the energy of despair. The Lake population offered a Volunteer Naval Reserve. And, finally, the Irish, on whom the Federal Government almost relied, declared themselves to a man at- tached to the Imperial cause, and their most prominent leader solemnly warned his compatriots in the States that the day of American sympathies was past, that if, trusting to kinship and creed, they joined the invading force, the Irish of Canada would defend the Government they preferred, and the guilt of "fratricide" would not rest with those who armed to protect their own. And all this was accomplished with as little noise or stump oratory as followed the volunteer movement in our own country. The Canadian journals write like our own provincial press, and with the exception of one threat to occupy Maine, their tone has been that of resolute self-defence, and of a reliance on English help almost wonder- ful in its completeness. After all that has been said in Parlia- ment about the expense of our colonial garrison, the speeches of Mr. Bright, and the supposed tendencies of Mr. Gladstone, the Canadians no more doubted that we should fight to the last in their behalf—than did those who criticized the ex- penditure. A deep and strong sense of content, a feeling that they are justly treated, seems to have spread through our North American possessions, and given, as it were, substance and form to the sentiment of English loyalty. Much of the feeling displayed may arise from hate of the "Yankees," as keen in the Canadas as in the Southern States ; but much more springs from a clear and distinct preference for monarchical institutions. The Canadians feel that "under the shadow of that guardian throne" they at least do not wither, and in any contest with the Americans we may rely on. them as frankly as on the people of Corn- wall. For American purposes we have in them a reserve of three millions of brave hearts.

Parliament does not forget these things any more than the English people, and England has at this moment an opportunity of proving how deep is her interest in the pro- sperity of Canada. The direct railway from Halifax to the St. Lawrence ought to be at once completed. Whatever the result of the civil war, we cannot remain for ever de- pendent on the Federal Government for access to our own provinces. The sum demanded, 60,0001. a year, is less than a fourth of the subvention now paid to one English mail company,. and under the guarantee the local government can prevent those intrigues, and perhaps those blunders, which have hitherto made Canadian railways such costly and unre- munerative concerns. We must for some years to come garrison Canada, and the mere saving in the number of troops required will almost provide for the expense of the guarantee.