ANNEXATION OF BRITISH AMERICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2501, 8 January 1869, Page 2

ANNEXATION OF BRITISH AMERICA.

It was stated in a late Suez telegram that an agitation existed in Canada for annexation to the United States. The opinion? which prevail in the States with regard to such a measure are stated coolly and forcibly enough in an article published in the San Francisco Times, from which we take the following :

_ To take advantage of the bitter feeling that now exists in Nova Scotia against Great Britain and Canada, by holding out to them encouragement for their anuexation to the United States, we think, would be the proper method of commencing the annexation of the whole of British North America. To secure Nova Scotia is securing the keyBtone of the whole. Without Nova Scrtia the Dominion cannot exist. Nova Scotia has the only port on the Atlantic coast not frozen up for several months in the year. To secure Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast, and British Columbia on the Pacific, would effectually end their hope of establishing a railroad from ocean to ocean on British territory j the accomplishment of which would, most certainly, make the dominion a fixed fact, It is their hope of spanning the continent with ut railroad at an early day that makes them so invincible in their determination to force Nova Scotia into the Dominion. That they should hope to establish such a road is most natural. To bring the wealth of India and Australia almost to her own door, and that, too, by her own road, on her own territory, is a project well worthy of Great Britain. And to prevent the formation of n Dominion reflecting a European Government, which would limit our northern extension, and at some future time, perhaps, become our commercial rival, is a project well worthy of the United States.

The advantages of Nova Scotia to the United States cannot be exaggerated. First, because it is geographically the keystone of British America, without it British America can nover ho a Dominion; it is their only outlet to the ocean which is not frozen up for half of the year. Secondly, it would benecessary to the United States to make the remainder of British America safe and easily kept, if seoured. Thirdly, we want Nova Scotia for her own value. Though in area not patter than Massachusetts, New Hsmpshire, and the half of Vermont, she presents a thousand miles of sea coast, which, for quantity and quality of fish, seems to be unsurpassed by the waters of the world. On caoh side of the Bay of Fundy thore island only socond to tlio richest valleys of the United States, and scarcely a foot of her high lands but ia marked as a region of coal, or copper, or iron, or gold, or marble, or gypsum; even her rocks are valuable to the United States. Tho building stone and grindstones used in New England and New York are imported considerably from Nova Scotia, also gypsum and coal. The mineral resources of Nova Scotia would seem to be almost inexhaustible, and as yet they are being worked but barely enough to establish their quality and quantity. Nova Scotia, from her geographical position and her varied resource*, is almost essential to the United States. We want her coal, gypsum, iron, and fish. And even now most of the capital expanded in developing her resources is American, not English or Nova Scotian. Her gold mines are worked almost wholly by American capital.

Am field of commerce,few at first uTT would realise the marvellous ad, t ght annexation of B.N.A. woulS th * trade. In 1563, the exports from L S . our States to the provinces were esX kd 61,000,000 dols, and the import, S d « Provinces about the same With ti the that the annexation of these I'rnvi,,, . Btart United States would gWe to i mm £ f to th ' the start it would giv e todH T n ' m their resource it i« not unroat na rio"' ° f pose that in three years after annex V BaPexports and imports, which betw«.i. ut"' the countries in 1863 were 31,000 000 dl tw ° be 200,000,000 dob. ' ,UOOdol «. would The great reason why go f ew ., m ; Europe to the jmffs*£%*** comparatively few persons care to tmJ\ tbrt a province, if they can do eoua eto emigrating to a place »h£ffi?&s> lion gives them a citizens!,!,, .La a > a " are not citizens of Great \Ui?l°> are merely subjects, They Iml in the Imperial GorernmeK j "° the power, without t| lt r Mi^T^ thdrformofpTer.,mentatpikl? an « n K The late Nova Scotia t.ar„.r ! , ' at an early day, the £ff?/g* H portunity of declaring alt,,'; hej prefer annexation t« Cu » T United States. When ten - * tlie afforded them, we | m "e ,l ( T * result. TlieNovaScotiansiVlalS 6 peoplc-they never wavered in t u. , fi * le to Great Britain, until she „,,,„,!! , yait J right, and liberties-until S'2 thtir to be loyal, or cease to be mn^ri 063 " Though in population they unlT 6 ,"' about 350,000, while they areVt„2 ut °" 7 noble spirit of Howe, they w I i; ' by the to freedom, defying the powe 0 f C •'*" force her shackle upon them ntain to