Franklin, mentioned to be “pitifully unwell,” returned residence, accompanied by a Montreal couple who took “such liberties in taunting at our conduct in Canada,” he reported, “that it got here nearly to a quarrel.”
Congress appointed a committee to research the Canadian fiasco, producing a protracted record of causes however omitting the apparent: The Canadians had no real interest in revolt. As Father Carroll famous, they didn’t consider themselves oppressed. Not solely did their pursuits refuse to align, but additionally the Canadians entertained very totally different concepts about authorities. It was nearly as if Canada have been a international nation.
For all of the miscalculations, neither Franklin nor Washington may relinquish the thought of annexing Canada. Nor may the Marquis de Lafayette, who was promised a command of two,500 males and given directions to invade. By some means the expedition was meant to go out in February, not a super time for a Canadian “irruption.” Nobody had bothered to provide the troops with winter clothes. Congress referred to as off the mission, which Lafayette had described as a “hell of blunders, insanity and deception.” His second in command was left questioning if those that had cooked up the ridiculous plan had been traitors or idiots.
On the finish of the Battle of Independence, earlier than the 1783 peace negotiations, Franklin tried a Hail Mary go: Ought to the British not supply up Canada as reparations for the numerous cities that they had burned? Absolutely a gesture of excellent will was so as. The British didn’t discover the thought compelling.
Regardless of the vexed historical past, we appear — not less than one among us appears — to be right here once more.
It isn’t straightforward to beat up on modern-day Canada, which hasn’t offended anybody because the nice Turbot Battle of 1995 (Spain, fishing rights). For all of the early American missteps, not less than within the 18th century, the motives have been clear: The northern colonists felt weak to British and Indian assault. As Washington had it, Canada “would have been an essential acquisition, and properly well worth the bills incurred within the pursuit of it.” Right this moment, there isn’t a sane motive, except mugging a sovereign nation that occurs to be each your closest pal and your most trusted buying and selling companion constitutes affordable international coverage. Even George Washington could be hard-pressed to put in writing an enchantment to trendy Canada — the land of common well being care, common maternity go away and inexpensive tuition; a rustic with a way of decency, gun management and superior life expectancy; a rustic that also teaches cursive handwriting — that might persuade it to unite with its southern neighbor. We don’t seem like working collectively to the identical objective. Pepé Le Pew isn’t going to get that cat.
