MEMORANDUM

The Comittee of the Executive Council have had under their consideration the Despatch of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle of the 21st August last,

In this Despatch His Grace directs attention to the present state of the defences of this Province, to the anxiety which is entertained by the British Government in regard to them, and to the measures, which in His Grace’s judgment are uecessary, on one hand to fulfil the expectations of Great Britain, and on the other to place Canada in a posi-

which now exists,” and he proceeds to set forth certain suggestions of Her Majesty’s Government in reference to this subject. The opinions of Military authorities are appealed to, to show that any troops furnished by England would be unequal to the protection of Canada, without the efficient aid of its own people; and suggestions are offered in regard to the form in which this aid may be most advantageously rendered. His Grace states that the population capable of bearing arms should receive that organization, and acquire that habit of discipline which constitute the difference between a trained force and an armed mob; and that fifty thousand [50,000] is “the smallest number of men” which the Province should have in a state of partial familiarity with

1) Sessional Papers 1863, No 15, (dernière pièce, non indexée), — Sessional Papers, 1808! Kc 63, supplementary return, April 16th, 1868.

drill and other military duty. It js recommended that one Company of each Battalion aumber og a oltis, 0r more, should be drilled every year, hat the training one ana" number of men may thus be gradually effected.

na ions Of this character and to this extent are calculated, His Grace remarks, fn conforte mProve the credit of the Proviuce in the money maskets of Born In conformity with this view, His Grace exzresses himself convinced of the desira-

Grace proposes, he recommends “that its administration and the supply of, funds for its support should be exempt from the disturbing action of ordinary politics.” The expediency of defraying the charge for the Militia, or a certain fixed portion of

desirableness of uniting the defensive measures of Canada with the defensive measures of the other British Provinces on the American Continent, “that ot:e uniform system of

reciprocated by the Canadian people. The promptitude and liberality with which Her Majesty’s Government provided for the protection of the Province when, on a recent occasion, danger: seemed to menace it, are fully appreciated and it is gratifying to know that the loyalty and ardor manifested by Canada in an emergency which her people had done nothing to produce, and were wholly unable to prevent, are, in turn, duly understood and valued by the Home Government.

It is not doubted that the same mutual regard and confidence will be exhibited in any communication or negociation which may follow His Grace’s Despatch. At the same time however, it is felt that in dealing with a question affecting so deeply the present and future welfare of the Province, care should be taken to base any arrangements, that may be entered into upon something more soli, than entiment, more enduring than any proposal not -ecognizing the rights and Interests of the Canadian people.

Before proceeding to express an opinion upon the Propositions contained in His Grace’s despatch, Your Excellency's advisers cannot refrain from recalling the circums-

proposed was in itself highly objectionable, but because it established a machinery Penie ana its character, and at variance with the habits and genius of the Cora?

The Volunteer organization, Your Excellency's advisers were convinced, is that alone through which the military snirit of the people must find vent in a period of peace. In case of an actual emergency, Your Excellency’s advisers are persuaded, the response to an order calling out the Militia would be unanimous, But there is a decided aversion to compulsory service, except in the presence of actual danger.

With their knowledge of the unwillingness of the people to act under the compulsory system — with the very strong and general expressions of preference for the

alone eace.

Jonse rsion

1pulthe

ed by Parliament, and, as its members believed, reflected jp the sition of the people, is that : hich Commended itself to the judgment of the Executive Council. They

ongst the chief obstacles to every

vote for the previous year ice would justify a Governthe presence of emergencies 881,970; in 1862, $250,000.

ment in asking at the hands of the Legislature, except in which as * In 1861 the appropriation was

.. AITENURAT RS à PÉANERR RTE eu eee .

and their exertions during that

they have proved how fully they appreciate the importance of the subject Despatch: and they look forward Without any misgi

which will vindicate the Wisdom, patriotism and loyalty of the co pursued.

Unquestionably, the plan proposed is in part experimental. Everything of the kind must be so at the outset. Military tastes and aspirations have not been cherished by our people, and the attempt is now for the first time to be made to accustom them to

ment cannot too carefully consult the feelings and habits of those on whom reljance the more Youthful and active part

urse they have

» SO Soon as jt the general principles

of the policy herein set forth, but Widening and modifying their action in conformity

with the teaching of their present trial.

The proposal of His Grace to organize and drill not less than 59 for the first time presented to the Province. The measure prepa Yernment and rejected by the Legislature, contemplated the formati extent, and Your Excellency’s advisers cannot disguise their Opini is averse to the maintenance of a force which would seriously tax its resources to a degree justifiable only in periods of immi

The people of Canada doing nothing ] and having no knowledge of any intention on the part of Her Majesty’, bursue a policy from which s0 dire a calamity would Proceed, are unwilli

seem to foreshadow, perhaps to provoke, a state of things which would be disastrous to every interest of the Province. On this ground their representatives in Parliament assembled rejected the proposition to organize 50,000 men, or, indeed, to commit the Province to a much smaller force; and recent elections in various localities embrucing more than one third of the population of the Province, have shewn that in this respect public feeling has undergone no change. So far as is known, not a single candidate has ventured to declare himself in favor of a measure so extensive as that which was prepared by the late Covernement, and is now again recommended by His Grace. Your Excellency’s advisers therefore find themselves fortified by public opinion. Their own estimate of what is required and of what may most advantageously be done, is confirmed by the calm judgment of the people.

His Grace recommends “a basis of taxation sounder in itself than the almost exclusive reliance on customs duties,” the cvident intention being by cirect taxation to obtain an increase of income commensurate with the increase of expenditure which would follow the organization of the large force proposed. Without entering into a discussion of the relative merits of direct and indirect taxation, Your Excellency’s advisers feel that it would not be prudent, suddenly or to any large extent, to impose direct taxation for military purposes. This is not the occasion for adopting a principle hitherto unknown in the fiscal policy of the Province, and assuredly this is not the time for plunging into an experiment for which the people of the Province are unprepared. No more serious mistake can be committed than to conduct an argument upon the supposition that the ability of the Canadian people to sustain taxation is greater than has hitherto been acknowledged in the fiscal arrangement of the Government. The wealth of the country is in its lands. If the people are in the enjoyment of comparative wealth, it is so invested as to be not readily available for the production of a large money income. Your Excellency’s advisers believe that no Government could exist that would attempt to carry out the suggestion of His Grace for the purpose designed.

The maintenance ce? the Provincial credit abroad is undoubtedly an object which the administrators « ti.: affairs of the Province should at any cost accomplish. Your Excsllency’s advisers submit that their various measures demonstrate the sincerity with which they are striving to preserve the public credit unimpaired. They contend, however, that not the least important of the agencies to be employed to this end is the exhibition of a due regard to the means at the command of the Province. They hold that they are more likely to retain the confidence of European capitalists by carefully adjusting expenditure to income, than by embarking in schemes, however laudable in theinselves, beyond the available resources of the Canadian people. That they are not unwilling to try to the utmost to comply with the suggestions of the Imperial Government is evidenced by the manner in which the projected Intercolonial Railway has been entertained. Their conduct in this matter should relieve them from every imputation. At the same time, they insist that they are and must be allowed to be the best judges of the pressure which the Provincial credit can sustain. They'are prepared, subject to certain conditions, to encumber this credit with liabilities arising out of the Intercolonial Railway, but they are not prepared to enter upon a lavish expenditure to build up a military system distasteful to the Canadian people, disproportionate to Canadian resources, and not called for by any circumstance of which they at present have cogni-

Another suggestion embraced in His Grace’s Despatch is well calculated to excite surprise. Your Excellency’s advisers allude to that portion of the despatch in which His Grace proposes to remove the control of funds required for Militia purposes from the domain of Parliament. His Grace is evidentiy aware that the proposition wears the aspect of “an interference with the privileges of the representation of the people”, and it is certain that any measure linble to this construction never will be, and ought not to be, entertained by a people inheriting the freedom guaranteed by British Institutions. The Imperial Parliament guards with jealous care the means of maintaining and naval forces of the Empire. Its appropriations are annually voted, most powerful minister has dared to propose to the House of Commons the abandonment of its controlling power for a period of five years. If the disturbing action “of ordinary politics” is a reason for removing the final direction of Military preparations from Parliament, it is in every sense as applicable in England as in Canada. What the House of Commons would not under any circumstances of danger entertain, le not Mhely to be entertained by the Legislature of Canada. Whatever

evils are incident to representative institutions, the people of a British Province will

not forget that they ::: trivial in comparison with those which are inseparable from ‘arbitrary authority. Popular liberties are only safe when the action of the people retains and guides the policy of those who are invested with the power or directing the affairs of the country. They are safe against military despotism, wielded by a corrupt Government, only when they have in their hands the means of controlling the supplies required for the maintenance of a military organization.

A union for defence is proposed by His Grace the Secretary of State for the Co- ‘lonies. A union of the British North American Provinces for the formation and maintenance of one uniform system of military organization and training, having a common defensive fund and approved by Her Majesty’s Government. A union whose details would “emanate from the Secretary of State,” and whose management would be entirely independent of the several local legislatures, Your Excellency’s advisers have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that any alliance of this character cannot at present be entertained. An Intercolonial Raïlway scems to be the first step towards any more intimate relations between the British North American Provinces than those which now exist. The construction even of this work is by no means certain. Although this Government, looking at it mainly as a means of defence, has entertained the preliminaries in common with delegates from the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, it is premature just now to speculate upon the possible political consequences of an undertaking which may never be consummated. Certain it is, however, that there can be ro closer Intercolonial union of any kind until increased facilities for inter-communication are provided; and equally certain that the Provinces, supposing them to be hereafter united, will never contribute to an expensive system of defence, unless it be subject to their own control. Speaking for Canada, Your Excellericy”s advisers are sure that this Province will continue to claim the exclusive right of directing the expenditure of the public moneys,

Your Excellency’s advisers now turn to the general principle which underlies the argument of His Grace. That the right of self-government has for a correlative duty the maintenance of provision for defence, is a proposiiion which in the abstract is indisputable, but it is only indisputable in the case of Governments of States which are sovereign in themselves. As between a Colony and the Parent State it cannot be said to exist in the same sense.

A British Colony must submit to all the consequences of conflicts produced by the policy wh'ch Her Majesty's Government may carry out in the interest of the Empire at large. It is not enough that a Colony endowed with self-government provides for the preservation of peace and order within its own boundaries. It is not enough that a Colony so situated must endure all the consequences of a line of action which its own Legislators have no voice in originating, and towards the termination of which they can do nothing, A further responsibility is held to attach to the Colonial relation. The Colony, although the theatre or ruinous hostilities, must furnish its quota in aid of the Imperial army and contribute a share to the attendant expenditure.

In the case of Canada, the strongest advocates of the new theory of the Colonial relation are compelled to admit — that an exception to the general rule must be made. — Even they who demand the Withdrawal of all troops from self-governing Colonies are obliged to concede that some special allowance must be made in favour of CanaCa. Their reasons for an exceptional policy towards this Province ure apparent. Situated on the border of a vast and powerful Republic, with a frontier extending upwards of a thousand miles, with no deep back country to sustain it, and accessible in case of war at numerous points, it is admitted that Canada should be assisted to the full extent of the Imperial resources. The despatch of His Grace seems in some measure to conflict with this view. His Grace, while promising liberal assistance, contends that any available supply of regular troops would be unequal to the defence of the Province — and that the main dependence of such a country for defence must be upon its own people. Your Excellency’s adivers would not be faithful % their own conyictions or to the trust reposed in them if they withheld an expression of their belief that without very large assistance, any efforts or sacrifices of which the people of the Province are capable, would not enable them successfully and for any lengthened period to repel invasion from the neighl:oring Republic. They have relied for protection in some degree upon the fact, that under no conceivable circumstances wili they provoke war with the United States, and if therefore Canada

should become the theat:e of war resulting for Imperial poliey, while it would cheerfully put forth its strength in the defence of its soil, it would nevertheless be obliged to rely for its protection mainly upon Imperial resources; and in such an event it ie their opinion that they would be justified in expecting to be assisted in the work of defence with the whole strength of the Empire,

It is not necessary at this stage of their history, tv put forward assurances of the readiness of the Canadian people to assume whatever responsibilities beleng to them as subjects of Her Majesty. Their devotion has been exhibited too often to be ,open to doubt or depreciation. They have made sacrifices that should relieve them from suspicion, and which Her Majesty's Government should remember as a pledge of their fidelity. No purtion of the Empire is exposed to sufferings and sacrifices equal t

Your Excellency’s advisers advert to these contingencies of our position, not to justify inaction but to shew the nafairness of demands predicated upon alleged selfishness and sloth on the part of Conada. They simply point to consequences which ît is criminal to conceal, and to dangers which it is folly to deny. So far as their own policy is concerned, they are content to rely upon a fair interpretation of the measures they have adopted and others that are in contemplation. They have reminded Your Excellency that the appropriation obtained from Parliament is as large as the state of the finances will allow it to be and they have glanced at their plans for the purpose of proving the wisdom and justice of their course. Their anxiety is io do all that ought to be done, and to do this in a manner acceptable to the Province. They have a right to claim, therefore, that their exertions shall be considered in the temper and the light in whicu they have hcen undertaken, confident that time will vindicate the sagacity of their measures and the loyalty of the Canadian people. They will be happy to learn that their efforts receive the approval of Her Majesty’s Government. Whether this hope be realized or not, they are satisfied that they are acting in conformity with the wishes and interests of the people, whose confidence elevated them to their pfeseni responsible position, and whose will they are bound in all cases to respect.

Éertified, WM. H. LEE, C. E €.

Executive Council Chamber Quebec, 28th October, 1862.

Dépêche de Lord Monck au Duc de Newcastle ()

Government House, Quebec, October 30, 1862.

My Lord Duke.—Your Grace is already aware of the receipt by me of your despatci: No. 163, of August 21st, on the subject of the Militia organization in Canada.

2. Immediately on receiving that despatch 1 referred it to my Executive Counci! for their consideration and report. I did not press for any immediate answer, as th: subject is one of considerable present importance, and opens up questions calculated to exercise great influence on the future relations of the Empire and the Province. The recent advent to power of my present advisers rendered it therefore only a matter of fairness that full time should be a!lowed them to discuss and decide an issue of so mucl moment.

{1} Sessiona! Papers, 1869, No 15, pièce 18,-—Sesslonal Papers, 1568, No 63, page 5.

ceport on the despatch of Your Grace, and a statement of their policy in reference to the matters alluded to in ft. Min, of Council. 4, 1 have now the honor to transmit to Your Grace the accompany- Ing Report of the Executive Council, authenticated by my signature, on the despatch referred to it.

5. I will not enter into the discussion of an which should subsist between England an

contribute to that abject, anything should be don the differsnce of opinion, if any, ef Canads is one of degree only a to apply rayself to the practical püt Your Grace in possession of

y understood, I must draw your attention to the present condition of the Militin Force of the Province, as regulated by the existing law.

7. Your Grace is aware that what is calied ü Sedentary Militia embraces the whole male population of the Colony between the ages of 18 and 60. The men are divided into battalions, regularly officered; but from the circumstance that this battalion organization is territorial in its character, it is obvious that it is not available for

the purpose of actual service, because if You called out for service a battalion of the Sedentary Militia you would depopulate of its male inhabitauts the district to which the battalion belonged, and would leave wholly untouched the population of the surrounding districts.

8. It is thérefore evident that in the event of circumstances arising which would necessitate the calling out of the Militia for defensive purposes, the regimental or battalion organization of the Sedentary Militin would afford no help towards embodying the men in battalions, so as to render them useful for actual service. Some mode of performing this necessary work wouid have to be extemporized at a moment of comparative alarm and confusion, and the necessity for this would certainly cause great loss of time, if it would not lead to the entire failure of the attumpt to raise an effective force.

9. 1 have entered into this explanation because I am convinced that the want of any preliminary organization pervading the whole country is the great difficulty which would have to be practically encountered, if Canada should now be compelle” to defend herself against foreign attack, and that any system of preparation for de;ence which failed fully to meet this difficulty would be comparatively worthless.

10, The plan of the Government contained in the accompanying Report may be stated as follows :—

(1) Brigade Majors are to be appointed in each district.

(2) Drill Associations to be formed of officers and non-commissioned officers of Sedentary Militia, who are to be superseded if they refuse to learn their drill.

(3) Enrolment is to be secured of a fixed quota in each district of first class service men, in companies and battalions, with officers.

(4) Volunteers in future to be clothed, but none paid.

(5.) Drill rooms, armories, and rifle ranges to he procured for the Volunteers, as cireumstances permit. À

It will be seen that the Executive Council proposes to deal with the difficult; above referred to in this manner. It proposes that the Brigade Majors throughout the country should secure the enrolment in companies and battalions, within their district, of such quota as shot ld be appointed of the first class service men, unmarried men and widowers without children, between the ages of 18 and 45.

11. This enrolment appears to be entirely independent of the Volunteer or Active Force organization, and instead of consolidating and systematizing the voluntary action of the people, appears to me more likely to confuse their minds by the introduction of a third system of enrolment, in addition to that of the Sedentar:: Militia and the Active Force.

12. This enrolment is meant to supply the want of any organization now fn existence by means of which, on na sudden emergency, a portion of the Militia might be embodied for active service in a. short space of time; but unless the ma whose names are enrolled are put on the same footing with regard to their engagement for services as the Active Force, who bind themselves to serve for five years, there is no security that the enrolment will ever produce any practical result, as there is nothing to compel the unenrolled men to serve ‘“hen called on.

13. There does not appear to be any. inducement held out to men to place their names on these lists, or to serve when called on, in the way of supplying them with arms, clothing, or any other benefit to excite or maintain a military spirit amongst them. It is in fact an atten: .t to reintroduce, in a worse form, class B of the Active Force, which it is proposed : ; this Rem t to abolish, on the ground of the unsatisfactory manner in which the distinction of classes in that force operated. (Class B in the Actice Force is that portion of the Volunteers which has hitherto served without pay, in contradistinction to Class A, which received a certain amount of pay each year.) 1 therefore think the measure would prove entirely nugatory, and that without some inducement no men would give their names, and that it will therefore fail to provide what I feel certain is the great desideratum of the defensive force in Canada, pamely, a machinery erected in time of peace by means of which, at the approach of war, an organized and embodied force could be at short notice turned out.

14 The plan proposed does nt, as regards system or organization, touch the Volunteer Force of the country at all; nor does it propose to give any effectual form or direction to the excellent spirit by which the people are animated.

15. On the whole, I cannot concenl from Your Grace my opinion that, as regards the cardinal necessity of the time — a systematic organization of the Forces of the Colony for defensive purposes, — the plan indicated by the Government contains no principle calculated to produce effective results, and that the only attempt made tu grapple with the difficulties of this portion of the subject will prove completely illusory.

16. With respect to the other proposals of the Government 1 do not find any fault. It is highly desirable to foster a military spirit in, and to promote the acquisition of military knowledge by a people circumstanced as the Canadians are, and the measures proposed to be adopted seem to me, as far as they go, calculated to promote these ends.

17. Ientirely approve of the abolition of the distinction between Class A and Class B in the Active Force, and of the proposal that in future the Government shall supply to the Volunteers everything necessary for their equipment and drill—Class A of the Volunteers giving up for the future their distinctive claim for pay, and being put on the same terms as Class B.

18. The question of Militin organization has been argued all through this Report as if the only choice that existed, consistent with the maintenance of a moderate expenditure on the Militia, was between the plan indicated by the present Government and that brought forward by my late advisers and rejected by Parliament, In order that there may be no misapprehension on this point, I beg leave to place before Your Grace the enclosed “Heads of a plan for the organization of a Militia Force of 50,000 men”, a copy of which I gave the head of the Government when 1 desired a report on your despatch.

19. It will be seen from the estimate appended to this memorandum that, supposing the expense to be spread over a period of five years, the annual cost to the Colony of this system would not be much, if at all, beyond the sum appropriated for Militia purposes in the last session. É

20. Although the supply of men by means of the ballot is named in this memorandum, as an alternative if a sufficient number should not be produced by the plan of volunteering, it forms no essential part of the scheme, and my own confident conviction is, thàt so loyal is the spirit of the people, and s0 strong their desire to put themselves in a position effectively to defend their homes and institutions, that the number of men proposed to be raised would have been easily obtained by the voluntery action of the population.

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21. Under this plan it was proposed to leave the drill to the spontaneous desire of the people for learning it; to provide them with all the means of acquiring military knowledge, and permit them to adopt the times and seasons most convenient to themsolves for its acquisition.

22. have a strong conviction that if this or some similar plan were put in operation, a very large ameunt of drill would be voluntariiy submitted to by a considerable proportion of the inhabitants of Canada. The Citizen Scidiers of the Province would become personally interested in improving their discipline, and increasing their knowledge of ‘he military art: a spirit of emulntion amongs! different corps would arîse. The com lete battalion organization: would enable the different regiments to turn out for field exercise on holidays, ant other periods at which they might desire to do s0. And on the first outbreak of war the Province would have an army possessed, not only of the will, which is common to all Canadians, but of the power to insure that an enemy should not obtain a footing in the country before aid is forthcoming from other vort:ons of the Empire.

… 23. And all this would be done by mereiy #iving systematie form to the voluntary action of the people, without in any way inierfering with their industrial pursuits, trenching on their personal freedom of aciion, or imposing additional pecuniary burdens on the Province.

24. With regard to the suggestion contained in Your Grace’s despatch as to the consolidation into one force of the Militias of the British North American Provinces, did not fail to consult the Lieutenant-Governors of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, when they were here last month. The conclusion we arrived at is similar to that expressed în the Report of the Executive Council of this Province, namely, that the means of communication are not as yet süfficiently easy to enable the three Provinces beneficially to avail themselves of the services of a common head to their Militia Forces; s0 that even if other difficuities in the way of the plan did not suggest themselves, fiat would in itself be a bar to the scheme for the present.

I do not myself believe that the move would be acceptable, either to the Canadians œæ to the inhabitants of the Lower Provinces.

T'have, &c., (Signed,) MONCK.

Dépêche du Duc de Newcastle à Lord Monck (1)

(Na 197) Downing Street, 20th December, 1862.

My Lord,—1I have the honor to acknowledge your despatch of the 30th of October, ferwarding a Report of your Executive Council upon my despatch of August 21st, uccompanied by observations of your own upon that Report, and especially upon the ,lan which ft contains for the further organization o! the Canadian Militia.

I greatly regret to find that that plan, while effecting some improvements in the present system, will yet, as regards the systematic organization of the Force of the Colony for defensive purposes, prove, as you observe, “completely illusory.”

You also lay before me heads of another plan for the formation of a Militia Force of 50,000 men, which I concur with you in regarding as a measure of a more substantial character, and more worthy of the great Province of Canada than that proposed by your Executive Council.

I shall not attempt to discuss the details of either of these schemes. I will only express an earnest hope that the patriotic spirit which animates the Volunteers of Canada may be turned to the best account for the defence of the country—an object which I conceive would be most eff2ctually attained by forming them into battalions @ the Active Militia Force, within defined divisions of the Province; not indeed to the exclusion of other volunteer associations, but with an eye in the first place to the completion of that territoris! organization, which is, as you justly term it, “the cardinal necessity of the time.”

(1) Sessional Papers, 1863, No 15, pièce 14. — Sessional Papers, 1868, No 63, page 8.

The Report asserts that, “in the opinion of your advisers, no Government could that would attempt to carry out my suggestions” for the raising of a force of with

50,000 “partially trained” Militia.

£ if fe FF

ple would condemn a Government which should effectually provide for of their country, even if the necessary ex should exceed the sum of me,

annum. :

The Report expresses great surprise at n suggestion made for the Militia, or for a fixed portion of it, should be voted for a verlod of three or five years. Such a measure they say “will never, and ought never be entertained by a people inheriting the freedom guaranteed by British institutions.” 1f any reasons În its favor, they think that they are “in every sense as applicable in Engiand as in Canada,” and they conclude with the sentiment that “popular liberties are safe

1 beg you will point out to your Ministers, in reply to these observations, some mate rial circumstances which have escaped their notice. The terms of my despatch show that I was well aware that the in question, if adopted by the Legislature, would be, to a certain degrec, a surrend of the strict constitutional rights of the Representatives of the people, It would probably, however, occur to them that popular liberties would be in little danger from a body of citizsen soldiers while within the Province, not only without exciting any such fears, ut with the hearty approval of its people and Government, a force of regular troops, whose number would be fixed at the discretion of the Imperial Government, and whose cost would be defrayed by the Imperial parliament, Again, if the number of Imperial troops were made to

It is far from my wish (ns seems to be suggested by the Report) te diminish the control of the Canadian Parliament over their own affairs: but on the other hand, the amount of exertion which England could make with any advantage must depend very much on the manner in which that control fs exercised — that is to say, on the disposition to proscet the Colony which is shewn by the Provincial Government and the people of Canada.

It is difficult to see how, when my despatch contemplates legislation on the subject of the Militia by the Canadians, and not the Imperial Parliament, the Executive Council can justify such grave apprehensions of an invasion of their liberties.

These considerations will show that the general doctrines referred to by the Report have little application to the present peculiar case of Canada, and little force against the suggestion of my despatch, which, however, I have no desire to press upon the attention of your Government, upon whom and the Parliament of Canada must rest the responsibility of providing adequate means for meeting the efforts of the Mother Country to secure the safety of the Province.

The report dwells at length upon the fact that the policy of the Empire in all its relations with foreign powers, upon which peace and war depend, is regulated by the Imperial Government and Parliament, over which Canada has no control. I agree with the Executive Council in regarding this ctreumstance as one of primary importance, as lying indeed at the very root of the relations between the Mother Country and her Colonies with respect to military and naval defences. They cannot fail, however, to see that Canada, though liable, as they repeatedly point out, to be involved in Imperial wars in which she may have no immediate interest, has yet a manifest interest, under al efreumstances, in contributing to maintain the power of the Empire of which she

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