Canadians in the American Civil War: Extracts from the Morning Chronicle (Quebec)

Several underlying issues had the potential to divide enthusiasts.

August 1847

The most basic was the choice between United States-style federation and a legislative union on United Kingdom lines. Similarly, potential conflict between those who saw union as a step towards independence, and those who sought reinforcement of imperial link was blunted by relegating such developments to the longer term. Lastly, we should note two chicken-and-egg conundrums underlying the debate.

The first related to the intercolonial railway: The political scientist Benedict Anderson reverses the relationship: With two different language groups, it was difficult to conceptualise common identity in personal terms. When the Canadian Assembly discussed the scheme in February , Christopher Dunkin reviewed political controversy since and commented: I choose to start with a speech by J. Johnston, premier of Nova Scotia, in Although his oration had no obvious effect, it is an appropriate starting point because of its links with two previous examples from the prehistory of proposals for a union of the provinces.

Johnston had been a Nova Scotia delegate to an abortive conference on the subject convened by Lord Durham at Quebec in As a Conservative, Johnston also linked his ideas directly to the British American League of ten years later. Railways and telegraphs were overcoming inherent the challenge of internal distance. Canada needed winter ports on the Atlantic seaboard, while Nova Scotia needed a hinterland. United, the provinces could look to an impressive future, to include westward expansion to the Pacific. In , negotiations were about to start, under British auspices, for a trade treaty with the United States.

Johnston argued that a union of the provinces would enable Nova Scotia to defend its inshore fisheries, a resource to which the Americans demanded access, and a bargaining pawn that others might too easily surrender. Johnston used two arguments not shared by other enthusiasts. First, he argued that the history of the province of Canada proved that there was no obstacle to political partnership between French- and English-speaking colonists.

This ran counter to arguments advanced within Canada itself which were generally based on the need to create increased an increased measure of federal space between the two language communities. Secondly, he attributed the growth and prosperity of the United States to its federal system, a point that would be flatly denied by another Nova Scotian, P. Not to be outdone, the opposition leader Joseph Howe contributed an even larger oration in support of his favourite scheme, the integration of the colonies with Britain through parliamentary representation at Westminster.

That there was no Parliament at College Green. Of Scotland at this moment? That there is no Parliament at Holyrood. Fundamentally, Howe thought the idea premature: The following year saw the first of a series of pamphlets by the Nova Scotian P.

Hamilton was dogmatic, and inclined to drag irrelevant enthusiasms into his diatribes. Although tireless in circulating his publications among to leading figures in both Britain and the provinces, even travelling to Canada to lobby its politicians, he can hardly have persuaded many of them of the soundness of his judgement.

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He was a memorable phrase-maker, but his command of language suborned him into a hey-presto! He argued that a federal division of powers was impracticable, especially since the colonies did not control their own external relations. A weak federal legislature would be irrelevant. Local interests would play off the two levels of government, bringing the system into disrepute.

Macdonald entertained similar views, and even used identical terminology. However, Hamilton, like Johnston, saw the need for administrative devolution.

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Three-quarters of a century did not constitute a fair trial. Railways would annihilate distance, and union would speed up railway construction. By , there are faint indications that the subject was implanted deep in Canadian political consciousness. In March, the subject was raised in the Legislative Council. Before we could reach them or they us, we must have a railway, and until then to talk of a political alliance was, to say the least, to lose time.

A revealing indication of the Canadian political sub-conscious surfaced in a leading article in the Toronto Globe , in April , rejecting call for annexation made by a New York newspaper:. Should the time come when the present relation of England and her American Provinces would cease to exist, it is not only probable, but morally certain, that instead of seeking annexation to the States and becoming entangled in the distractions and endless controversies which the American constitution has engendered, a confederacy of all the Provinces would be cemented, and then a great northern power would be formed, while the anarchical principles that are everywhere rending the state of society in the Union, would be excluded.

From onwards, the two solutions -- Canadian federation and British North American union -- sometimes competed and occasionally overlapped.



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There are similar traces in suggesting that British North American union was lurking at the back of the political mind. A new arrival in Canada that year was quickly converted to the idea of intercolonial union. He aimed to build a political career by linking Irish-Catholic votes to Montreal business interests. Hamilton claimed McGee as a convert.

Another Nova Scotian influence upon Canadian political debate from is important but hard to document. That summer, the provinces sent delegations to England to lobby for British-guaranteed loan funding for the Halifax to Quebec railway project. The Nova Scotian premier, J. Johnston, tacked the union of the provinces on to the negotiating agenda. The talks were fruitless, but they provided a rare opportunity for contact between politicians from the different provinces. It was probably at this time that the Canadians, led by John A.

Macdonald, became aware of Nova Scotian interest in a possible union. His articles were important in arguing a specifically French-Canadian case. An Ultramontane Catholic who stressed the twin principles of authority and obedience, he rejected both the society and the expansionist threat of the United States. Naturally, he opposed outright legislative union, the project so often designed to suppress francophone identity, and dismissed any thought of closer integration with Great Britain.

But while he believed British North American independence to be inevitable, he was happy to postpone the break with Britain for as long as possible. Federation would ease the eventual transition to complete independence. The Maritime provinces were too small to stand alone, while Canada needed a winter outlet on the Atlantic. A wider union would bring railways to the sluggish Maritimes. Material interests -- such as trade, customs, major public works, post office, militia and criminal justice -- would be handled centrally.

The moral sphere such as family and property issues would be provincial responsibilities.

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Both Alexander Morris and A. Galt, who publicly argued for the union of the provinces in , were Lower Canada Britishers, and Morris at least was fluent in French. The province of Canada passed through hotly contested elections in midwinter Luther Holton, a Montreal politician and businessman, urged George Brown, the Upper Canada Reform leader, that the province could be reshaped into quasi-federal union.

Brown was initially sceptical. We will be past caring for politics when that venture is finally achieved. Bartlet Brebner, Columbia University; Dr. Lanctot, Public Archives of Canada,secretary. Notes on the work of the International Committee and on the relationof Canadato it wereprinted in the REvtgw in June, , p. A list of newspapers which have been publishedin Ottawa from to Primarily American but contains a section on Canada, arranged by provinces and cities.

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Quebec, August 12 th , Yesterday we had information by it of the rumoured surrender of the city of Mexico to General Scott, after a battle had been fought between the opposing forces, at Rio Frio-4 miles from the capital. If true, it is difficult to say what effect this capture of the capital will have upon the Mexicans; they are a people more obstinate than brave.

It is anticipated that Quebec will be in telegraphic communication with the United States seaboard before the arrival of the 19 th August. The fever rages amongst the Emigrants with unabated virulence; and so full had the Marine and Emigrant Hospital in this city become, that it was judged expedient by the Commissioners of the Hospital to refuse admittance to sick residents. This determination on the part of the Commissioners led to a correspondence between our Board of Health and the Government for the use, as an hospital, of the Cavalry Barracks situated without the gates, at No.

The government acceded to the request, and the building will be immediately occupied as such. On the 30 th ultimo, Lieut. Beckwith, of the Rifle Brigade, died at Kingston, of consumption. On the 8 th instant, Capt. Pollen, of the same corps, died of congestion of the brain, at Montreal. Since the arrival of the Brigade in this country, they have to lament the loss of three officers of rank,-Colonels Ireton and Beckwith and Captain Pollen.

Notwithstanding the great heat and excessive drought which the country has experienced this summer, the prospects of a plentiful harvest are highly flattering. Our farmers are now busily engaged with haymaking, which is an abundant crop. As regards the potato, we have not yet heard of any appearance of the rot; and indications, we believe, are in favour of a good yield of fruit from the orchards. Trade has been dull, both here and at Montreal, since the commencement of the season; and the number of strangers who have visited the two cities has been much less than usual.

Our spring business was, in the first instance, considerably influenced by the late opening of the navigation; then came sickness and death in the train of emigration. To these causes, we suspect, are mainly attributable the languour which has crept over and prejudicially influenced business transactions generally, to the present period. Along with much melancholy truth a great deal of exaggeration respecting the prevalent sickness has unfortunately been put into circulation, and has unquestionably been the cause why so few American strangers have visited the province this year compared with former occasions.

The number of Emigrants arrived up to yesterday is 74, At the same period last year, 27, Increase in , 46, Some apprehension exists amongst our citizens we believe that in winter the Typhus or Ship Fever will be more destructive to human life, and more infectious than at the present season. The Board of health seem to labour under the same delusion; and "look to that period with anxiety and alarm.

But he says more; he states that "a period is fast approaching when, from the nature of the climate of this country it will be impossible to keep emigrants any longer at Grosse Isle. In winter,-especially in this country-hospitals and houses are more easily supplied with fresh, pure air, than in summer-a stove in a room decomposes partially the atmospheric air, and would wholly, where not fresh air admitted; but a ventilator in the window will let in fresh air when wanted, and one in another window opposite will permit a fresh current of pure, cold, air to pass through the room and take the place of the heated and vitiated air, which invariably ascends, as often as may be needed-an experiment so simple, that it can be frequently repeated without inconvenience to any one; and in a room so ventilated, unless the poison generated by the patient's body be inhaled, there need be little fear of infection.

It will be seen by our extract from an exceedingly able work by Robert Williams, M. Thomas hospital, London, on "Morbid Poisons," that in speaking of the treatment to prevent the Typhoid Poison he says: Lind affirms that the simple heat of a close confined fire, or the heat of an oven is a destroying power that no infection whatever can resist ;" It will be further observed that a heat of Farenheit[sic] renders the infecting virus, contained in flannels or other articles of clothing, perfectly innocuous.

This some Egyptians who were wise in their generation, knew. Men were found in Egypt fool hardy enough to wear shirts, which had been taken from the bodies of persons who had died of the plague, and to the astonishment of the uninitiated escaped unscathed; but knowledge is power; it gives to some money; to others shirts. The knowing Egyptians quickly learned that the infected linen being exposed on the sand to a powerful sun lost its infectious qualities, and they profited by their knowledge, and wore cheap shirts. Leydoyen's Disinfecting Fluid, that which the Government Commissioners have gone to Grosse Isle to experiment with, owes its disinfecting power chiefly to the fact of its being capable of preventing the disengagement of sulphuretted hydrogen in chambers and hospitals, by destroying the poison.

A common stove has the like virtue;-it rarifies the air, and hence there is a great probability that the prevailing disease will abate very considerably in winter. Extreme dry cold, too, would have, in our opinion, a similar effect to excessive dry heat, so that a Physician or Clergyman, even leaving a patient's bed in that season with infection about his clothing, is very apt to lose it on going into the open air. We do not mean to say that no exertion should be made for obtaining accommodation for the sick; nor would we blame the Board of Health for doing all they can, to obtain it; on the contrary they deserve praise; and we are rather more desirous to allay alarm than to check the laudable exertions of the Board in their endeavours to procure suitable buildings for those who may be sick.

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Quebec requires an Hospital for the reception of the Town poor, as much in ordinary times as now. It should have had one long ago; but better late than never. With regard to the "period fast approaching when from the nature of the climate of this country it will be impossible to keep emigrants any longer at Grosse Isle," the Board of Health will confer a favor by answering the following queries: Can wooden temporary erections not be as well, and as easily heated at Grosse Isle as elsewhere?

Can stoves not be obtained for them'[sic] Would it be more difficult to heat a wooden temporary building in that plaguy spot than it was to heat the temporary wooden huts, built on the St. Lewis Road for the accommodation of the sufferers by the great fires? Is it much colder at Quebec than at Grosse Isle? Is all communication with the Island then cut off?

She reports having passed only five or six vessels bound up. George left for River du Loup this morning with a few passengers. Spoken-Ship Richibucto , from Quebec for Liverpool, on the 13 th ult. Blenham and two children, J. Browning, Miss Johnson, and R. On Tuesday last, the head-quarters and right wing of the Rifle Brigade left Montreal for Upper Canada, and the remainder of the regiment the day following.

The number of deaths at the Montreal Emigrant Hospital, for the twenty-four hours ending the 11 th inst. We have this morning, accounts from Grosse Isle to yesterday.

Ship Arrivals Quebec, Canada August part 2

There had been no further arrivals since the date of our last statement; and no amelioration in the sickness and mortality. Fortin and Breadon, of the medical staff at the station, had fallen sick of the fever. It appears that he was busy paying out a warp, which the steamer Alliance , then passing, got foul of, and his foot becoming entangled was nearly twisted from the leg, leaving it hanging by the tendons and skin of the heel, the small bones being entirely crushed. He was sent to the Marine Hospital by Dr. Russell, where we understand, the limb was amputated.

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On Wednesday last, a young man, about 17 years of age, named Lauriau, whose family reside in Mountain Street, in going on board the steamer John Munn , at the Napoleon Wharf, fell from a plank and was drowned. His body was recovered yesterday and brought up on a bier to the residence of his parents, where a coroner's inquest was held and a verdict returned of accidental death. Arrivals at the Albion Hotel July [sic] Mr.

Clement Hurd and lady, New York; Mr. Von Cobbe, Germany; Mr. McBlain, New York; Mr. Boyd and lady, Philadelphia; Mr. Bruce and lady, Cumberland; Mr. Addison Putnam, Lowell, Massuchusetts[sic]; Mr. The death of Mrs. She was kind and attentive to the patients entrusted to her care, scrupulously clean in her wards and indefatigable in the discharge of her duties as nurse. Though surrounded by disease and death in its worst forms-knowing no interruption, and no relaxation-this exemplary and devoted woman toiled through her arduous duties of the present season under an impression that her own life would be the forfeit.

To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle. Dear Sir,-Your readers may feel interested in looking upon "things as they were," and contrasting them with "things as they are. For further particulars enquire of the Printers. It came by the way of Toronto and Buffalo. When the end required was effected, the wire was replaced.

Latest From Grosse Isle We have intelligence this morning, from the Quarantine Station up to yesterday, at noon, at which time there were: The detention of the healthy emigrants at the east end of the island, is said to be the cause of their falling sick and dying by scores. The deaths in that locality, within the last four days, amount to the large number of In fact, all are sick. The last rites of the church were administered to Catholics on the 12 th. Yesterday, before 10, a. The number of sick remaining to be admitted, from vessels in the stream and the healthy tents, is over Fortin went up to Montreal in the Rowland Hill very sick.

The number of convalescents brought up by the steamer Neptune yesterday, was-men, 43; women, 32; children, 53; total, We are sorry to learn that the Catholic Clergy of Montreal has lost another of its members, the Rev. Hudon, Vicar General, who died yesterday of fever contracted at the sheds. We also learn that Monseigneur Bourget is dangerously ill with the same disease.

Roy, one of the vicars of St. Rochs, and the Rev. Paisley, Curate of Fossambault, who has been assisting at St. Rochs Church for some time past, are both at the General Hospital Nunnery, dangerously ill. The Montreal papers say, the Bank of British North America is about to erect a building for their accommodation in Hamilton. There have been received in the United States, from the whale fisheries, since the first of January last, by ships, 40 barques, and 6 brigs, 58, bbls.

Of sperm, and , bbls. We received yesterday the two first numbers of a Reform paper published at Cornwall, entitled the Freeholder. It is to be a weekly publication, and judging from the specimens we have received, we think it will prove a very useful journal. Speaking of the crops in that part of the country, the Freeholder says: In some localities the "fly" has done damage, but nothing, we should say, to tell against the general return. The Cobourg Star gives an excellent account of the state of the crop in that neighbourhood. The Toronto Herald , again, speaks rather despondingly[sic], and says that the disease has made its appearance in that neighbourhood.

In the course of a couple of weeks we shall be in possession of more accurate intelligence. There are complaints in regard to Potatoes-not from the disease, of which there is no appearance as yet-but from want of rain. If the drought continue much longer, the return from this root will bes mall[sic]. We are informed by farmers living in the vicinity of Bytown that the present Wheat Crop will not be at all as good as it was generally expected it would be. In some places the winter wheat is totally destroyed by the fly and worm-not worth the trouble of harvesting.

Other descriptions of grain present a promising appearance, and the Potato is excellent for so far. Quebec Mining Company We copy with much pleasure, the following paragraph relative to the above enterprise from the Lake Superior News, of the 31 st ultimo: Chippewa came down from the Canada shore of the lake on Sunday last, whither she had been with a cargo of lumber for the Quebec Mining Company, bringing with her from the works of that Company several barrels of rich specimens of ore.

Some of the specimens gray sulphuret of copper are certainly equal to, if they do not surpass in richness, any thing of the kind we ever met, and elicit the admiration of all who examine them. We take pleasure in congratulating our excellent friend, Capt.



Matthews, the Agent, as well as the Company, at these early developements of mineral wealth. We have always heard the Pointe aux Mines district reported as not inferior to the most famed section of the Lake, and certainly, the reports hence and the specimens that have arrived, bear ample testimony of its correctness. Loss of life , Loss of life, , Loss of life 1,, Total loss of Life, 3,, She was afterwards boarded by the Schr. Wilkinson, of the Brig Reindeer , arrived yesterday, reports having passed a quantity of barrels of flour on the 27 th ult.

The ship Corea ; Finlay, arrived on Saturday, exchanged signals on the 10 th ult. Attention, Keating, cleared at New York for Quebec on the 10 th instant. Launches-- On Saturday morning last, Messrs. Oliver safely launched, from their shipyard, St. Rochs, a beautiful new bark, of tons measurement, called the Mary Jane. She was immediately towed round to port by the steamer Lumber Merchant , and entered outwards for Liverpool.

They are both entered outwards for Liverpool.