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"'He was afraid that if we had to consult the Colonies, with respect to
a treaty with a foreign country, the effect would be that in such
questions the Colonies would be independent.'
"It is well specially here to note, that the Government of that day,
speaking by Lord Clarendon, considered it as a condition, that the
person highest in dignity, authority, and ability should be selected as
the fittest negociator; and that Lord Derby gave a caution which all
who regard the British Empire as 'one and indivisible,' must coincide
in. It will be seen hereafter how, in the present case, the actual
Government has departed from both the condition and the caution.
"An extract from a letter from Mr. John Bright, M.P., to Mr. Joseph
Aspinall, of Detroit, Michigan, in response to an invitation to attend
the Reciprocity Convention, held last year, will illustrate the
benevolent idea of the treaty, and exhibit the opinion of a
distinguished admirer of the United States upon the renewal of the
instrument. The letter, itself, is dated London, 10th June, 1865. 'The
project of your convention gives me great pleasure. I hope it will lead
to a renewal of commercial intercourse with the British North American
Provinces, for it will be a miserable thing if, because they are
in connection with the British Crown, and you acknowledge as your Chief
Magistrate your President at Washington, there should not be a
commercial intercourse between them and you, as free as if you were one
people, living under one Government.'
"To make 'one people,' though living under two separate Governments,
was the great, and has been the successful, object of Lord Elgin and
Mr. Marcy.
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