THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 100, 1 September 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1866.

The Panama Mail" brings later, details from Europe than those supplied by the mail via Suez, but the telegraph has.anticipated the facts. Consequently the intelligence is. deprived of its chief .interest/ The, American news is of course"/ later, and/it contains several items of importance. "the most striking feature in the American intelligence is the &tateiuent» -that a proposition has come before the United States House ..of Representatives, for the admission of The, British American provinces into the. ./ Union.'/ Whether this has arisen from any encouragement given, by the British, dependencies,, or.

that it is merely^n idea' emanating from the member- who submitted it, it is not the less significant that such a proposition has been made. It woxild appear from the wording of the proposition that the' contingency had been contemplated of making an offer of admission to the Union to the provinces concerned and .to /the British Government, and evidently the probability .o£ acceptance was looked upon as a~possibility ' not very remote. .Had this Jiot been the feeling the Legislature would htolly have treated the matter as seriously as it appeal's to have done. It will be seen from the American newa published "in another column that it is propos&d in the event of the British colonies accepting the ofter, to take the responsibility of the, debts of the various provinces up to a certain amount, at a rate "of interest not exceediug 5- per cent. It is just possible that this proposal of amalgamation with the -United States may have .arisen from the delays and difficulties which have prevented the consummation ofthat Federal Union of the British provinces' which has been agitated for some time past. Perhaps also the recent Fenian demonstration may have had some influence in the matter. It is not difficult to- forsee that failing the actual independence of the British American Colonies, they must in the course of time ally themselves witli the United States. There is nothing unnatural or unreasonable in such a prediction. The policy of England towards her colonies has of late years been to throw them on their own resources. The tirno has gone past for the idea that the mere possession of colonies is indespensible to the EmpireMost, if not all the tictualadvantages which Great Britain derives at' present from her American colonies, would, remain whether they detached themselves from Imperial control under an. Independent form .of Government, or formed portion of the great Anglo-Saxon '"Republic. It is hardly doubtful that England would consent to the independence of her American possessions, provided that were accompanied by a due recognition of their obligations. And JSngland would neither, gain nor lose whether the colonies detached them_ selves for the purpose' of self-govern, ment, or proposed to adopt the institutions and projection of the United ' States. On the other hand the proposal •that has been mooted, of admission to the Union offers many advantages, which self independence could not do. The United States is the only power froni which the British provinces could • receive any attack, whilst it is. the only power ' that can afford prompt and .efficient -protection. Should the contingency ever arise of a war between Great Britain and tho Federal Republic, the conquest of Canada would be one of its probable results. We are not surprised therefore that the proposal of union has been made, and we confess we should not be surprised to find it ultimately accepted. The Mexican news is very unfavorable to the security of-the new Empire. The Republican party, which has for so long been split up into innumerable factions, appears to have- united in a common effort to drive, out the invaders and upset., the new government. An important success is reported to have attended the Republican forces,, in the .capture and occupation of Matamoras and we are told that the Imperial" cause is at a very low ebb throughout the whole of Mexico. This, coupled with the withdrawal of the French troops, and the extreme improbability of Napoleon using any further efforts to establish the throne of Maximilian,- lead» to the opinion that his reign will not be a,very long one. The Fenian leaders in America .appear to-be as active as ever; in their violent determination, but it is improbable that there will he a repetition of the recent fruitless s invasion of Canada. Indeed this programme seems to have been abandoned for another more foolhardy and ridiculous— the invasion of li'eland itself. ' , , The telegraphic news relating to the progress of the war in Europe is confirmed by the details furnished by the present opportunity. The advantage appears so far to be decidedly on the side of Prussia,"" ' The English news is unimportant.