[boubinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 163 



The testimony of the historian is no less clear and positive. Mai-shall's 

 lang'uage is thus strong : — 



" That the imbecility of the Federal Government— the impotence of its 

 requisitions— and the iniattemtion of some o/f the States to its recommenda- 

 tions, would in the estimation of the world, abase the American character, 

 oould scarcely be termed a predictiO'n. From its inability to protect the 

 general initerest, or to comply with its political or pecuniary engagements, 

 already had that course of national degradation commenced, which such a 

 state of things must necessarily produce." 



Again he says : — " The Confederation wias apparently expiring from mere 

 debility. The last hopes of its friends having been destroyed, the vital 

 necessity of some measure which might prevent the separation of the integral 

 parts of which the American Empire was composed became apparent even 

 to those who had been willing to perceive it." 



Such, then, was the condition of the American Confederation after their 

 Independence had been achieved by sacrifices, self denial and fortitude that 

 all must admire, whatever opinion as to the merits of the contest may be 

 entertained. 



What are the United States now ? This map answers the question. 

 Nearly half in superficial extent of the northern continent is embraced within 

 their limits — lan ocean is the territorial limit on either side, the Gulf of 

 Mexico on the south — 'Britisih soil on the north — and twenty-five millions of 

 people occupy and own tbis vast domain. 



Harper's Magazine for last month contains a very innpressive review and 

 comparison of the several census taken in the United States since 1790. 



On the population and territory the article decants in a tone high indeed, 

 but warranted by the facts. We are told that the laiwi of growth has been 

 remarkably uniform. In sixty years it varied but little from thirty-four 

 per cent.: — in ten years, and assuming thirty-three and one-half as the 

 decimal increase for the next half century, at the end of another sixty years 

 the Republic will contaiin one hundred and thirty millions of people. Its 

 territorial extent is stated as nearly ten times the size of Great Britain, and 

 France combined ; three times that of the whole of France, Britain, Austria, 

 Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland and Denmark together. 



It would, sir, be as vain as ignoble to attempt to decry the national 

 position of the United States. America stands high among the nations ; and 

 vigorous in youth— pressing onward and upward, well may her sons be 

 dazzled in the prospection of her destiny. Tear after year the wilderness 

 retires before the energy and endurance of her people ; and her commerce 

 spreads more widely over every sea. Her ^Egis guards her humblest citizen 

 in the remotest lands, until the title of an American citizen is as secure a 

 pas&poKt as of old was that of Roman. 



What has achieved this great result ? Union — ^effective confederate Union. 

 Would it have been thus had the state of imbecile and imperfect comfed- 

 erajtion continued, that Lafayette deplored and Washington mourned over, 

 reproved and redressed ? 

 Assuredly not. 



Let it be remembered that when Washington showed the evils of dis- 

 union on the commercial relations of his country her population did not very 

 greatly exceed that of the British North American Colonies at the present day. 

 The dissiimilarities in the circumstancas of the United States, and the 

 British Colonies,, do not, I think, prevent the application of this example. 



Foreign negotiation was necessary for the commercial arrangements 

 required by the United States, and with us the Imperial Parliament exercises 

 this duty. But it is clear that the commercial relations of the provinces will 

 demand a special consideration controlled by their own circunustances and 

 interests ; and Union may be found requisite to give efficacy to these con- 

 siderations. 



