AN INVITATION TO CANADA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1166, 5 December 1863, Page 3

AN INVITATION TO CANADA.

('New York "World,' Aug. 28.) A few weeks since, in commenting upon the feverish feeling which was manifesting itself in Canada, we said: — " It is probable that, as our civil war draws to a close, there will be intermittent war panics springing up in Canada. Our unsettled controversies with England, the exposed condition of the provinces, and the assumed greed of the Yankees, mil be incitements to keep our neighbours in constant fear of an invasion, with its attending scenes of devastation and suffering. To escape these panics, we take the liberty of making a suggestion to the Canadian press. Let them all come out for dissolving the connection between Canada and the mother-country, and agree to become part of the United States. This would insure peace for all coming time, and give the Canadian people a share in the glorious destiny of the United States. Our neighbours had better think this thing over. Strangely enough, since this was written Canada has had two " fear of war " panics, the one arising from the foolish story started by Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee touching the intention of the Yankees to invade Canada with 100,000 men, and for which Mr. Seward was given as authority, and the other growing out of the following sensation editorial from the Toronto ' Leader' of the 26th, which has just come to hand:— " Intelligence of the most startling character has come to us through a channel which leaves no doubt ot its correctness. Certain persons in Canada have been detected in a treasonable correspondence, the object of which was to invite, and, if possible, to induce the Federal Government to invade the province, overthrow British supremacy, and bring us under subjection to the Lincoln dvnasty. '" This correspondence has been perused by Mr. Archibald, the British consul at New York, who has communicated the fact to the Imperial Government. The persons concerned in this traitorous correspondence will, we presume, be arrested and brought to trial. If our Government should f'jel that it would be compromising itself or its friends, it will doubtless be able to obtain the necessary information by applying to the British | consul at New York ; but if it should fear to make such a move the facts will naturally come back from England in an official shape. But time should not be given to allow the conspirators to escape. What can .we expect, however, from men who believe that no armament, is the best armament for Canada ? There is' no mistake about it, we are surrounded by traitors. Men who admired the American Government when it was a Republic, and contained many points calculated to challenge admiration, now as eagerly worship the despotism which has supervened.; and many of them fancy they are consistent.'' Of course there is no more truth in this story than there was in M'Gee s, the fact that it was published in a widely circulated paper, and created an uproar throughout the provinces, shows that the '* Kanucks and " Bluenoses " are in a very uneasy frame of mind. They know that our civil war is drawing to a close; that we will soon have an immense, veteran, Unemployed army; that serious questions are pending between us and Great Britain, arid that in the event of a war, which they deem inevitable, Canada lies along our northern border'defenceless and indefensible. Hence these nervouß

panics, which will multiply as months roll round. What makes the matter worse for the Canadians is the positive statements ill Par! ainent and the English press that in the evGiio of a war no holp can. bo expGotod from the mother country. The men and money must be raised, and the defences erected by Canada itself, to fight the battle with the greni republic. It is clear that there is only one sensible coui.reopen for the Canadians. Let them org;.:iise three or four separate governments, and apply for admission as states into the North American Union. " The only way to conquer destiny," said Novalis, " is to submit to it." The advantages of a union between Canada and the United States to the people of the provinces are very obvious: (1.) It would insure them exemption for ever from all the horrors of war. (2.) It would save them the enormous expenses the mother country is trying to impose upon theiii in the way of fortification. (3.) It would give them the boon of absolute free trade with the States. (4.) It would give them the benefit of Yankee energy and capital to develop the resources of Upper and Lower Canada; and (5.) It would give them a share in the destiny of this great nation. (' New York Tribune,' Aug. 29.) The ' World' commends to the Canadians annexation to the United States, and says: "As to Slavery, the Kannucks need not adopt it unless they like. It is their affair, and the affair of each State for itself." The Canadians don't see it. Once annexed to the re-United States, an army of negrocatchers, with their revolvers and bloodhounds, would invade and overrun their country, keen on the scent of fugitives from Southern slavery. Now, those gentry have to keep their revolvers and bloodhounds on his side of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence. Even when they sent after a slave who had killed the slaveholder who undertook to stop his flight, British Courts refused to surrender him, though claimed under the Extradition Treaty as a felon. Annexation once effeeted, all this would be bravely altered. But let us get rid of Slavery, and the tendency of the Canadas to union with the States would be resistless as the law of gravitation. We should greatly deprecate any war with Great Britain as tending to defeat so desirable and fit a consummation.