FEDERATION OF NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1075, 25 April 1867, Page 5

FEDERATION OF NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

(Prom the Home iVe/t-.v.) It would be difficult to exaggerate the transcendent importance of the Bill for the Federation of our Nortli American Colonies, which lias been rend a secoud time in the Ilouse of Lords. Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia form a cluster of provinces in each of which, the same laws are administered, but by distinct governments and legislatures. Tho group has an apparent but not a real homogeneity ; and to remedy this defect, wliicli might nc productive of grave inconvenience at a future time, it is proposed to abolish the boundaries ■which serve to isolate them. The project has been well received by tlic colonists themselves, and it bas been warmly advocated by tlieir most trusted statesmen. INo surprise ought to be felt at the efforts of a small though not insignificant part}' in Nova Scotia, wlio are endeavouring with all their might to render the scheme abortive. JNova Scotiahasan organised arm of defence in fifty-nine thousand trained volunteers ; and it is no wonder that some ofher politicians feel convinced that whilst she is able to protect her territory and thrive in her isolation, much will be lost and nothing gained by the proposed connection. We are assured by Lord Carnarvon and STonck that this view of the situation is confined to a class ; and the assurance is borne out by the tact that the Nova Scotian legislature hc.a adopted the measure by a large majority. The plan, of government for tlie new Federation has been roughly sketched in an outline. A Governor-general appointed by tbo Crown will represent the Imperial Executive ; a general Parliament, consisting of a Lower and Upper Ilouse, will legislate for the common interests of the united provinces ; whilst local Parliaments will deal with all subjects that need not be referred to tho higher Assembly. This arragement will necessarily involve a mass of agreements in detail as between the binding parties; and we shall be prepared to hear of controversies with regard to particulars conducted with the old colonial stubbornness. Such differences, however, will count for little as opposed to the growth and spread of the conviction that a solid and satisfactory union is essential to the welfare of all concerned. As long as the provinces are detached, or only hang loosely together by the tie of a vague, intangible sympathy, they can never be equal to the demands of a great national emergency such as that which threatened them last year; and they must continue to be a scource cf cost and weakness to us. It is not our policy, and certainly it is not our interest, to found communities in America and Australia without the hope that at some future day they would relieve us of the responsibility of fostering and protecting them. We have discharged every obligation when we have helped them to develop the free spirit of our institutions, modified as circumstances may require, and taught them to depend upon themselves. This done, our relations can be straightened by reciprocity of good feeling and the kindly affinities of race. Canada is taking these truths to heart, and the first result of their reception istlie effort to condense ifito one arm tlie power that is distributed throughout four. Everyone will wish the endeavour the success which it eminently deserves.