Feburary 8, 1855
Annual Report to Parliament and Her Majesty's Government
Office of the Governor General of Canada
February 1, 1855
On the Question of the French and the Annexation Movement in Canada
Although the local populace here continues to favour the idea of 'Responsible Government', i.e. a local Parliament of some sort, the concept remains more dangerous than helpful at this time. Althought the recent promise of reduction on corn tariffs was well-received, the war with Russia continues to go on and many here are openly talking about the future of the province. With a local parliament, I frankly fear that the organization of the Quebec-quois French along with a growing pro-annexation movement among the English-speaking colonists continue to represent a danger of tossing the province into the hands of the United States. I recognize that the movement of colonists en masse from Ireland to New Ireland, British Columbia, and Victoria territories has allowed for rapid development of those areas, but I can not help but worry such a strategy may backfire on us if we do not take care. Defence of New Ireland will be difficult as the Irish still despise us for the suffering from the famine that occurred there until only late last year. Victoria and British Columbia are literally on the other side of the continent, were it not for our Forts in the area I doubt we would hold the region for long.
Settlers continue to move into the Victoria territory from the neighboring Mexican territories of Oregon and Deseret. While the coastal areas are settled by a plethora of nationalities the inland tends to be settled solely by small Mormon colonies in a pattern of townships numbering about 100 souls with surrounding farmland settlers numbering perhaps 300 to 500 more. Three of these colonies are known to exist in Victoria and the Mormons are quite apt at converting the local natives and other populace to their cause, the Blackfoot being among those most recently turning to the Mormon faith in considerable numbers. Their tendency to produce large families also lends to concern as they are the main white settlers in the whole of eastern Victoria at this time, never mind that they now have their own province recognized within the Republic of Mexico which they and the natives therein almost exclusively populate as well. Western Victoria and coastal British Columbia are also of concern as American settlers along with Irish, English, and increasing numbers of Chinese also begin to come into the area. The new town of Tacoma seems to be close to the border with British Columbia, whose able governance by James Douglas has not only kept the area firmly in British hands but whose division of the colony at 49 degrees latitude allowed the agents of the Hudson Bay Company to continue governance of the newly-named Victoria territory south of that.
This also does not include the rising threat of pro-annexation movements in upper Canada by the English-speaking colonists already established here. I do not doubt that the repeal of the Corn Laws will help eliminate some of this but without more drastic action I worry about the future of the Province. While talk of a Reciprocity Treaty from London allowing for free trade with the United States has reached my office I am not sure if that would help or hinder the cause of pro-British colonists at this point. Perhaps most concerning is the emergence of the leader of this annexation movement, a Mr. John Abbott, whose skills at speech honed during his practice of law over the last decade have made him a focal figure of the movement. An established politician named George Brown is also helping to lead the movement, he is now mayor of Montreal as of the election only a few months ago. I believe that we have an ally in another local politician here named John Macdonald who serves as a rallying point for the loyalists, but the tide here is near turning and I believe that a local Parliament with powers sufficient for self-governance would prove more of a hindrance than a boon at this time.
As for the inquiry about a railroad in Mexican California to connect to Salt Lake City I do not believe that one is beyond the planning stages at this time. If any railroad is of concern in Mexico it is the one recently completed along the Tehuantepec Gap, the others are still either on the drawing board or only the planning stages so far as I know. The opportunity to create an independent Republic of California inclusive of the Mormon Territories remains the dream of some in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and elsewhere, but for now the Mexican government remains in firm control of the area under the very able administration of Governor Pico. He is also governor of the emerging Mexican territory of Oregon until its own legislature is set up, word is the border town of Barcelona just south of Victoria Territory will be the new capital there.
Annual Report to Parliament and Her Majesty's Government
Office of the Governor General of Canada
February 1, 1855
On the Question of the French and the Annexation Movement in Canada
Although the local populace here continues to favour the idea of 'Responsible Government', i.e. a local Parliament of some sort, the concept remains more dangerous than helpful at this time. Althought the recent promise of reduction on corn tariffs was well-received, the war with Russia continues to go on and many here are openly talking about the future of the province. With a local parliament, I frankly fear that the organization of the Quebec-quois French along with a growing pro-annexation movement among the English-speaking colonists continue to represent a danger of tossing the province into the hands of the United States. I recognize that the movement of colonists en masse from Ireland to New Ireland, British Columbia, and Victoria territories has allowed for rapid development of those areas, but I can not help but worry such a strategy may backfire on us if we do not take care. Defence of New Ireland will be difficult as the Irish still despise us for the suffering from the famine that occurred there until only late last year. Victoria and British Columbia are literally on the other side of the continent, were it not for our Forts in the area I doubt we would hold the region for long.
Settlers continue to move into the Victoria territory from the neighboring Mexican territories of Oregon and Deseret. While the coastal areas are settled by a plethora of nationalities the inland tends to be settled solely by small Mormon colonies in a pattern of townships numbering about 100 souls with surrounding farmland settlers numbering perhaps 300 to 500 more. Three of these colonies are known to exist in Victoria and the Mormons are quite apt at converting the local natives and other populace to their cause, the Blackfoot being among those most recently turning to the Mormon faith in considerable numbers. Their tendency to produce large families also lends to concern as they are the main white settlers in the whole of eastern Victoria at this time, never mind that they now have their own province recognized within the Republic of Mexico which they and the natives therein almost exclusively populate as well. Western Victoria and coastal British Columbia are also of concern as American settlers along with Irish, English, and increasing numbers of Chinese also begin to come into the area. The new town of Tacoma seems to be close to the border with British Columbia, whose able governance by James Douglas has not only kept the area firmly in British hands but whose division of the colony at 49 degrees latitude allowed the agents of the Hudson Bay Company to continue governance of the newly-named Victoria territory south of that.
This also does not include the rising threat of pro-annexation movements in upper Canada by the English-speaking colonists already established here. I do not doubt that the repeal of the Corn Laws will help eliminate some of this but without more drastic action I worry about the future of the Province. While talk of a Reciprocity Treaty from London allowing for free trade with the United States has reached my office I am not sure if that would help or hinder the cause of pro-British colonists at this point. Perhaps most concerning is the emergence of the leader of this annexation movement, a Mr. John Abbott, whose skills at speech honed during his practice of law over the last decade have made him a focal figure of the movement. An established politician named George Brown is also helping to lead the movement, he is now mayor of Montreal as of the election only a few months ago. I believe that we have an ally in another local politician here named John Macdonald who serves as a rallying point for the loyalists, but the tide here is near turning and I believe that a local Parliament with powers sufficient for self-governance would prove more of a hindrance than a boon at this time.
As for the inquiry about a railroad in Mexican California to connect to Salt Lake City I do not believe that one is beyond the planning stages at this time. If any railroad is of concern in Mexico it is the one recently completed along the Tehuantepec Gap, the others are still either on the drawing board or only the planning stages so far as I know. The opportunity to create an independent Republic of California inclusive of the Mormon Territories remains the dream of some in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and elsewhere, but for now the Mexican government remains in firm control of the area under the very able administration of Governor Pico. He is also governor of the emerging Mexican territory of Oregon until its own legislature is set up, word is the border town of Barcelona just south of Victoria Territory will be the new capital there.
