104 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
the gathering of the militia from all parts of Canada at the Tercentenary 
celebration at Quebec in 1908 the Canadian Army for the first time in 
its history, took the field completely equipped in every particular; 
cavalry, artillery, foot, army service, hospital and commissariat, a 
perfect organization which received the commendation of Lord Roberts. 
Had there been such conditions in 1866 much trial of makeshifts 
and endurance would have been saved to those who then answered 
their country’s call. 
Te DELAYED NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
In closing these personal reminiscences of the Fenian invasion of 
1866 and in view of the fact that diplomatic thanks were then promptly 
transmitted to the United States by the Governor-General and the 
British Government, it may be well to add some records upon the 
neutrality of the United States Government and its people, gleaned 
from recollection and a somewhat extensive reading of the documents 
and papers of that period. 
Andrew Johnstone, the Vice-President had, upon the assassination 
of Abraham Lincoln in April, 1865, succeeded to the presidency. A 
position of political unrest followed. The new president from Ten- 
nessee, a man of doubtful views and character, had been chosen for the 
election contest, not for his personal abilities but as a sort of running 
mate to attach support from the war democrats and the south to Lin- 
coln, the potent presidential candidate of the north. 
The evil of the separation of the Executive power from the Legisla- 
tive which is so embarrassing in the constitution of the United States, 
and so contrary to the responsible system of our modern British Consti- 
tution, at once became evident. 
The new President and his Congress, which was dominantly Repub- 
lican, came into immediate and constant conflict, so much so that 
finally the President was placed under impeachment. Under such 
circumstances the broader dealings of the nation with other nationalities 
were submerged under the exigencies of party politics and local partizan- 
ship. 
The rival armies of the Civil War had been disbanded, a million of 
men set free from military service. The Fenian agitators, unchecked 
by either political party and perhaps encouraged by animosities aroused 
by the recollections of the destruction done by the “ Alabama,” blatantly 
conducted their agitation and open preparations for the invasion of 
Canada in the early spring of 1866 had been publicly announced and 
conducted. Yet neither President nor Congress interfered. 
From the 10th May, 1866, the Marine Insurance Companies, 
foreseeing trouble, refused to insure cargoes through the Welland 
