Studies in American History 
203 
lature sent a memorial to Congress requesting the ratification 
of the Alaska Treaty, opposing the transfer of the Hudson 
Bay territories to Canada, and closing with a resolution 
that the legislature of Minnesota would rejoice to be assured that 
the cession of northwest British America to the United States, accom- 
panied by the construction of a northern Pacific railway, are regarded 
by Great Britain and Canada as satisfactory provisions of a treaty which 
shall remove all grounds of controversy between the respective countries.®*' 
The expediency of negotiating a reciprocity treaty with 
Canada was still under consideration. On March 27, 1868, 
Hatch was instructed to secure information in regard to com- 
mercial relations with the British North American provinces, 
to supplement a report which he had already made on May 
6, 1867, in response to the House resolution of July 9, 1866. 
January 12, 1869, his report was submitted. After review- 
ing the effects of the treaty of 1854, and referring to the 
aggressive policy of Canada in building railways and canals, 
he concluded that any commercial treaty in order to be thoroly 
reciprocal should be comprehensive in details, so neither party 
could evade its spirit or substance.®^ 
By the close of 1868 and during the year 1869, there was a 
growing sentiment that the annexation of British America 
was the best solution of the irritating international problems. 
Joseph Medill of the Chicago Tribune in a letter to Sumner, 
December 2, 1868, urged acquisition as the only adequate 
solution, and suggested the payment of a million or two mil- 
lion of dollars to save British pride. Prominent newspapers 
suggested that England, to secure a new and real friendship 
between England and America, should promptly and frankly 
tender to the United States in full satisfaction of the debt 
she owed us not only the amount of the Alabama claims due 
to individuals, but also “the relinquishment of her sovereignty 
on this continent”. Some urged the pressure of claims as 
the best means to get Canada as compensation. Chandler in 
an aggressive speech proposed to obtain by negotiation a 
peaceful surrender of all the British possessions in North 
America as a basis for the settlement of our claims, at the 
same time suggesting that 50,000 Michiganders could seize 
Canada by force in order to conquer a peace. “We cannot 
Senate Miscellaneous Documents, No, 68, 40-2, March 31, 1868. 
House Executive Documents, No, 36, 40-3, Vol. IX, 21. 
Netv York Herald, February 3 ; Neio York Tribune, February 22 and April 7 ; 
New York Times, March 30, April 13 and 22, and August 28, 1869 ; Smith, England and 
America after Independence, 367. 
