The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPO

any specific proposition, or condescending upon any particular
office, contents itself with saying the impression intended to
be conveyed by the Times is Without adequate foundation.
From this one is led to infer that the Globe has penetrated
the meaning of the Times, although, for reasons best known
to itself, it does not choose to communicate that meaning.
Another subject, and one of much more grave importance
than any mere ministerial shuffle, or Cabinet disruption, has
occupied a large proportion of the public consideration
during the past week, and that is the lowering cemplexion of
our political relations with the United States of America.
For a protracted period, extending now over several years, a
feeling of dissatisfaction has been operating in America
against the mutually friendly and profitable relations which
have subsisted between that country and Great Britain.
True enough, the feeling referred to exists chiefly, if it
be not entirely, confined to that section of American
politicians whose schemes of restless territorial aggrandisement
render them dangerous citizens and false friends. Who in
point of fact find the unjustifiable projects which they enter-
tain against their neighbours' property most severely checked
by British policy, most sharply rebuked by British morality.
This is the class known as the filibustering adventurers, who
acknowledge no soil sacred but their own, and who look,
notwithstanding their outrageous pretensions to political
liberality, more hopefully to the aid of Russian despotism
for carrying out their schemes than to the generous alliance
of a free and intelligent people. That such is the character
of those who seek to disturb the ,relations of amity between
this country and the United States-, is unfortunately no mat-
ter of real safety ; nor is its undeniable truth even a matter
entirely of congratulation. While the intelligence and wealth
of the United States are unquestionably with us, numerous
little points of difference have been allowed to grow up in
our intercourse, which, had they been attended to at the
outset, would have been easily adjusted; but which, having
been allowed to lie over from their-innate insignificance, have
unhappily acquired such a susceptibility. of amplitude, that
in the hands of unscrupulous and designing men they have
been made to assume an importance in their pretended
number, which is sufficient to give those malcontents a means
of seriously annoying their better disposed countrymen, and
materially damaging our interests. To these must be added
the extraordinaryexeeutive blunder of our attempting, covertly,
to recruit for our Foreign Legion in the United States. The
proceedings in this case have been so notoriously reprehensible,
that our Foreign Secretary, the Earl of CLARENDOM, has
been constrained to admit the illegality which our agents
have been guilty of, and, more humiliating still, to make a
virtue of necessity, by renouncing those means of accomplish-
ing his ends in that country which would have been per-
fectly in accordance with the laws of nations. Such is
the unfortunate disadvantage of trusting to expediency,
instead of relying on principles of international law and
justice. That any serious rupture with the American
Republics is imminent at the present time, no one cognisant
of the facts is prepared to believe. The act which• should
kindle the torch of war between the two countries is too ob-
viously the work of insanity on either side to admit of a ready
belief in its occurrence. Still the existence of jarring feeling,
more particularly at the present moment, is to strengthen the
hands of our enemies, while we weaken the resources of our
friends; and it should never be forgotten that every recur-
rence of these jars is a further playing into the hands of our
enemies. The importance of our amicable relations with
America is easily perceived by the alacrity with which even a
threatened rupture of it has been taken up. The nation, we
are told on good authority, " drifted" into the Turko-Russian
war ; no danger of us drifting into a war with our transat-
lantic brethern. If ever that unfortunate event should occur,
which heaven avert, the nation will ring with it from side to.
side before a step so fatal to the interests of the human race
shall be adopted. Its causes will be deliberately and carefully
considered ; and, if after that, an appeal to the last dread
arbitrement of arms should be inevitable, both parties will
buckle on their armour with the stern resolve of champions,
who know the arduous nature of the struggle they engage in.
NOtiecident or chance-medley melee will engage either side, so
far as to prevent an easy adjustment of differences. If the
sword should ever be drawn in such. an unhappy contest, it
will not be till some real and tangible groupd shall have been
shown for such an unhappy contention. Still, both sides
would do well to keep a bridle on their tongues, and to watch
well the tendency of their respective acts. Strife is easily
kindled, but it is no easy matter to controul, if once the con-
flagration is commenced.
However forbidding the aspect of war may be, the part of
men who have embarked in it is to look its evils sternly in
the face; and, seeing these, to try, if possible, and extract
such consolation as may be got from them. Looked at in this
light, the present struggle in which we are engaged, arduous
although it no doubt is, continues to afford hope of a success-
ful and not distant termination. On numerous points victory
still sits upon and gives prosperity to our arms ; each new
advantage paving the way to further and yet more conclusive
successes. By sea and by land the forces of the Allies press
more home upon the resources of the enemy. Our fleets and
armies are in high health and spirits, and flushed by success,
are still eager for the conflict ; the enemy pent up in many
places, in all removed from easily afforded succour, seems
yielding gradually to the destiny he cannot conquer or avert.
In such a position it is gratifying to observe that the national
spirit rises with the exigencies required of it ; and despite the
paltry and pitiful arts of those who, from a conscientious
weakness, or for the purposes of base political intrigue, would
sully the honour of our arms or stigmatise our counsels as
pusillanimous, is still resolved to continue the strife•till it can
be closed in an honourable and lasting peace.
The campaign in the Crimea seems now about terminated
for this year; and, from the precautions used, there is every
reason to anticipate that the next season's operations will be
commenced under auspices more cheering than those which
harbingerel that which is about to be concluded. A peculiar,
if not absolutely gratifying, feature in the present position of
affairs, is the retirement of General SimrsoN, and the appoint-
ment of a new general to command the British army in the
Crimea. Official men of all grades, and red-tapists of every
degree of intensity, have told us, times without number, and
day after day, that we, as a nation, have invariably been unfor-
tunate at the commencement of a war —that, iu fact, the lion
requires to be well beaten before he will put forth his strength.
Whether this be true of the nation or not, it seems unques-
tionably true of those who govern it Ministers, whether
conveying compliments or administering rebukes, appear to be
equally mal-adroit and unfortunate; and the case in hand af-
fords no relief to the unpleasant aspect of the dreary picture
which their proceedings have all along presented. In the recal
or retirement of General Smrsolc, they have acted in a manner
which lays them open to grave suspicion as connivers at the
disparagement of their own chosen servant. In the ap-
pointment of his successor their conduct seems singu-
larly exposed to misconstruction, if not deserving of the se-
verest condemnation. Not because there is any reasonable
ground for doubting the courage or capacity of Sir WILLIAM
CODRINGTON ; but because prior to his appointment they
tacitly acquiesced in an implied impeachment of both.
General CODRINGTON is comparatively a young officer ;--so
much the better, say not a few of our pseudo-military critics,
And probably they are right—but while juvenility is no
enhancement Of legitimate pretence, the circumstances attend-
ing its advancement may be seriously detrimental. Sir W.
CODRINGTON'S experience of actual soldiership is understood
to be almost confined to his military service in the Crimea,
and there his general services are known to be of a most com-
mendable character ; at the Alma he greatly distinguished
himself by his intrepid courage and cool bravery, which
enabled him not only to acquit himself manfully, but which
contributed in an eminent degree to the full success of that
great victory. In the heady and spirit-trying strife of Inker-
man he was also distinguished for the fearlessnessof his courage,
his intrepid valour, and the placid coolness of his judgment,
which again contributed largely in fixing the opposition and
securing the victory of that vital and sternly-contested field.
By these and many other feats besides, he has been favourably
known to his countrymen in their greedy studies of those
deeds of daring which have immortalised our army ; but in
active warfare, it is the soldier's glory or misfortune, as the
case may happen, that the last achievement, at least for the
time being, eclipses all its predecessors. In the case of General
CODRINGTON, his last recorded act was his command of the
unsuccessful attack upon the Roden, on the Bth of September
last.- Since that time to the present, his conduct on that
occasion has been the topic of free and not very complimentary
comment. In the published despatch of General SIMPSON, no
explanation of his equivocal position is made. No step was
taken subsequently by the Commander-in-Chief, or failing
him, by the Government, to clear up the unpleasant
mystery which hung about • that dire event. Without
doubt, ample means were in possession of General Suarsoar
and the government also, effectually to remove any mark for
obloquy upon his name and conduct; but minister and gene-
ral both remained silent, and the public drew au inference
from that silence which was not favourable. Under such cir-
cumstances, it is not singular to find the general feeling one of
wonder that General CODRIIVGTON should be appointed suc-
cessor to General SIMPSON. Those fully informed upon the
subject were aware that in the last as in his previous instances
of distinguished service General CODBINGTON did all that
could be done in the circumstances ; knew that his plans were
carefully prepared and skilfully as well as daringly carried
into execution; and the charge now is that all this knowledge
was concealed, that a gallant soldier and a skilful leader was
left open to attack as a bungler and poltroon. No fault as far
as present circumstances tend to show can be found with his
promotions ; severe reprehension is deservedly bestowed on
those who tacitly acquiesced in censure which a breath could