VOTE FOR STRENGTHENING THE CANADIAN FRONTIER. - GLOBE—The folly and
infatuation of wasting the wealth of a country so circumstanced as Great Britain, on the frontier of a colony which neither pays its own expenses nor is likely to do so—which is neither attacked nor likely to be attacked, and which if attacked would not be worth keeping, unless the inhabitants, who are perfectly able, were also willing to defend it, appear to us to exceed the ordinary limits of extravagance. The chances of the occurrence of any war in which Great Britain will be engaged within tlse next twenty years, are not, we hope, great; but certainly, the chances that the nation with which we are to wage war within that time shall be the United States are very small indeed. But if we apprehend a war with the United States, let us take example from our supposed enemy. In consider- ing the power of that Republic for defence, does any rational being think of estimating it by their fortifications or their troops ? Does he not rattier look to the perfect unanimity and vigour of the people, and the state of their finances—(the fruit of economy in time of peace)—which will enable them within a very few years to extinguish the debt which they contracted in war. The strength of America in war arises from her perfect enjoyment of the blessings of peace ; and instead of wasting her resources in guarding against possible dangers, she reserves her full vigour to direct against actual dangers, in whatever quarter they may arise. That which is evidently necessary and indispensable in Canada—that, without which every thing else must be waste of trouble, is, to make the people of Canada desirous to defend themselves. It is the cheapest precaution, and, if we accomplish it, every other will be needless. In a few years, (and the projected fortifications will not be corn. pleted in less time) our North American possessions will contain a population eaqul to that of the United States when they separated from this country. If sods a population be desirous of continuing the union with Great Britain, it must be absurd for the Americans to think of attacking it ; if not, it will be just as absurd for us to think of defending it. Our North American Colonies have many advantages arising out of the connection with this country, which, if not great in reality, are certainly considerable both in the estimation of the colonists and of other people. They have the monopoly of our West
Indian lumber trade ; they have privileges in the importation of their pro- ductions into England, which no other nations enjoy ; and they have the benefit, unquestionably great and real, of almost entire exemption from taxa- tion, as we relieve them lcorn the burthen of military as well as uaval establish- ments. If Canada was also relieved from the annoyance of internal interference, it is difficult to suppose that she would not be attached to time country which conferred on her so many benefits. We could clearly lose nothing by trying the experiment."
Previous page
