The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-12-17 00:00:00

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TIIE AMERICAN DIFFICULTY.

The impression that a war with the Units%
States is imminent appears to he gatherin
strength. The capture of the Southern COM-
missioners has been welcomed, not only by the
lower classes of New York, but to a great
Ixtent by the educated portion of the community,
As evinced by the banquet at Boston to Captain
IWilkes, and the published opinions of Messrs.
(Sumner, Everett, and others. For a long time
4 the public feeling in the Northern States
I been growing inure and more adverse to
!England, and the extraordinary activity at
present going on in sending out armaments to
,Canada, is said to be in a great measure attributable to the attention of Government being
drawn to the tact by the late despatches of Lord
Lyons. It is also stated, on excellent authority,
that General Scott's mission to Franco was to
obtain the support of the Emperor for the
Northern States, in the event of a rupture with
England. It is understood, however, that the
attempt has signally failed, and that Gene-
ral Scott, in consequence of the non-success
of his negotiations, has hastened back to
Washington to endeavour to avert the war.
Whether or not ho will be successful, time alone

The election of surgeon to the Dorset County
hopital is now a jair orcompii. The Guyer-mos
net on Thule.lay last at the board-room, and after
casting up the votes, declared the result to be as
bilious :- •For Mr. Tudor, Gill votes, reeerdcd by
'295 voters; for Mr. Ellison, bee votes, recorded by
313 voters; so that, although three-fit:ha of the
uliscriliers were in favour of the hest named gentle-
, his opponent was declared duly elected by a
jority of 75 votes, against a majority of lee
euveruors. For his success, Mr. Tudor is MlNlMS-
ionably indebted to the "lids" some of our Dor-
levier magistrates well know how to make use of,
but more particularly to the overwhelming "inflo-
ws" of 11. Williams aud J. o. Buttes. Veers— and
ir Richard Glyn, one of whom, we believe, alone
1 more than half the requisite number of
otes to produce the majority. That subscrilecie
iliould have the power of recommendiug patients to
participate in the hospital charity in exact propor-
tion to the amount of their subscriptions, ie un-
.loubteelly both correct in principle and wise in
!practice ; but that they should possess votes in a
like ratio in the election of officers of the institu-
tion, appears to us to be open to serious objections
ler any circumstances, and in a high degree cal-
culated to produce the most disastrous results. We
ere aware it has been argued, that by giving a sub-
riber a vote at an election for every pound sterling
,bscribed by him, an in lucement is held out to
iersons to nubile:4.ow more largely to the funds of the
lospital. This is true to a certain extent, but the
erguinents that might be adduced against sueli a
:nurse are equally streng. In some counties how
aiany parish and dietrict agricultural exhibitions
have been broken up, simply because two or three
exhiliiters in that parish er district, year after year,
obtained all the prizes. The other farmers said,
"we cannot afford to compete with these two or
three gentlemen, and as we cannot expect to derive
pecuniary benefit, it is miens for us to subscribe our
money." We admit that in the ease of our agricul-
tural Intuits, many reasons might be brought for-
ward to demolieh their theories, because good :Me
male will always pay the proprietor better than bad,
.unl buides, the exhibitions are valuable, not only
as giving a stimulus in the improvement of stock,
hut also in entitling the parties interested in these
;natters to discover the good and had points in their
own and their neighbours' animals, lint in the ease
.if the Derect County Hospital the matter is some-
what different. If the possession of votes is an in'
.luceinent for some half-dozen criuntry 'squires ambi-
tious of carrying everything their own way to sub-
-cribe, Mime lees ambitious and having less fund*
it their command, are likely to he affected in a con-
trary direction. There can be no doubt that the
greater the amount of sympathy and interest excited
in favour of an institution, the object of which is to
:meliorate the condition of our more unfortunate
fellow creatures, the better. If • certain sum has ta
be nixed for the carrying on of a charity, we hold
that it is desirable there should be as large a mini.
her of subscribers as possible. A man naturally feels
a greater sympathy for, and interest in, an object to
*tech he gives his money than he otherwise would
do. It is not always the largest stuns that carry
with them the greatest amount of sympathy. The
,welow who threw two mites into the Lord's treasury
gave more than those who threw in more than fifty
times their value. Of course we do not object to
those who are bleeseil with a large proportion of this
werlers goods, to give of their abuudance—and the
more they give the better—but what we do object
to is, that on account of their abundance, two or
three should be enabled to carry their point againe
lie wishes of their Ku opulent, but not less zeal
leiglibours. The result of the late election of in -
gem to the Dorset County Hospital proves incontes
tably that the losing candidate was the more popular
no among the electors. The election was not one
if merit ; it was not in accordance with the voice of
he majority ; but was simply a pounds, shilling,
aid pence affair. And can this be deemed a satis-
factory state of things ? We think not. Can the
institution, if matters are thus to be carried ou in
'uture, be condueted in a way that shall produce
To judge by the straws thrown up just now t, oi best results? We are decidedly of opinion that
see which way the wind blows, there wouldithe reverse must be the case; and sincerely desiring
appear to he a split in the Conservative we do that the object the promoters had in view
camp on the American question. Nor need this in establishing the hospital may be fully realised,
he a subject for much surprise. The l'rers, A
we Woßla strongly urge upon the great body of the
Conservative organ of the Newdegate Schoel, . . .
u.liscribers the neceseity of a revision of their rule-,.prophesies to be very indignant at the conduct of
Minister,, for resting their demand for the ear lw it from us to desire to dictate what the scale
release of Meesm Slidell and Mason, on "a mere should be upon which future votes are given, bat if
lawyer's quibble." Our Anti-Ministerial Con- , after the first vote for el, every £4 or £5 in excess
temporary say s.—" It is sometimes advantageous . ehould give a vote instead of every pound sterling,
to narrow a question, in order not to leave ;it we are confident that as ehe votes would be more
wider field for controversy thou is necessary equalised, a greater amount of stability and bar-
Possibly her Majesty's Ministers were influenced ninny in the carrying on of the affairs would cense-
by this consideration when they chose to narrow
neutly be the result. One thing is certain; in
a great question of inteniational law down to a q
these days of enlightenment and progress, a hundred
single point of form. But they could not have .1
adopted a course more impolitic and unsatis- will not submit:their votes being neutralised by the
factory. It is at least doubtful whether, when opinions of some two or three individuals, neither
the issue may be war, it is at any time expedient mentally nor umrally their superiors, and possessing
to rest a mina kW upon a mere point of form--; no other advantage over them than their length of
for this necessarily makes it appear as if the, purse. If the farmers to eie we allude with-
nation were fighting for a trifle. In the present:
..,jese. their support to an association from whose
case her Majesty's Nliiiisters hare not only done
interest* they felt themselves excluded, may we
this, but they have done it in such a way as to .
rout expect that the subecribers to the Hospital fund
cut the ground from under their feet. It was
open to them to demand reparation will come to the conclusion, if the present state of
for the ontraeo as a violation of the things is allowed to exist, that their votes are ase-
broadeet principles of iuteruational law. ;4lem, and that for all practical purposes they may as
It was also open to them to do se OR the ground • well he without them? We have heard that such
that the Cabinet of Washington has not recog- , is likely to lie the case. The subject is one that
lased the Southern States as belligeleuts, hut. demands the serious consideration of the parties
simply tut rebels ; and, therefore, that the seizuree .
lamented. A word to the wise is sufficient.
if these " rebels," when under the protection of_
the British flag, was a flagraut violet on of the - - - -- ---- - - ' --- - -
rights of whim, condemned by the very prim DORCHILsTER PITCHED CORN NIARKET, Saturday,
pies_t if/member 14.—We hail a genii attendance at the
ciple on which the Federal Government
t' irn Exchange, but the tone o the trade was dull,
claims itself to be carrying on the war. But lier
and where forced sales had to he mule, a decline in
Majesty's Minister, have followed neither of
price was the result ; but the opinion generally was
these courses. They have admitted, not directly that prices will rally after ('hristmas. Time beet
indeed, but by implication, that if the captain of • wheat fetched £l7 per head; ordinary nins, £l4 to
the San Jacinto had carried the Trent into port. el 6. For barley no demand, but best samples held
itinel den American Admiralty Court had de-;. firmly. Peas amid buns plentiful and cheap.
'clued the pa.sianigers contraband, the comuiis- elusive BAKER AND ENSOR'S CHRISTMAS SALE,
Monet. might have been lawfully seized, though Sat eelay, December 14.—There was a very large
lender our protection- A great outrage has un- alttemlance of butehers, dealers, fanners, and others,
n questioably been committed upon the British. and flue show cf stock WAS a very pleasing eight. e 64)
flag ; but her Majesty's Ministers, by a strange': tat beasts of real Cinistinas quality were offered for
eanpetition, and al sold except three. Mr. Bridge,
misfortune have chosen to rest their deuiands
for satisfaction upon a mere lawyer's quibble, of Wynford Eegle, dieposed of live, averaging £23
each • Mr. Groves Bootee) nine averaging £24
and that not a very tenable one." To this the
each; Mr. Groves,'Nlelcombe, eight', averaging £25
Morning Herald, the recognised organ of the ; ach ; three extraordinary fat beasts, tbe property of
Derby school, replies,—" As the perusal of twee elle J. Strangi.. sold at £3e, £3h, and £4ll each, the
articles in the last number of the Press, tinder- best twine purchaeed by Mr. Ha) ward ; Mr. Edward
the headings of ' Cams Belli.' and • War with Pope's Devon heifer (a perfect model of a little
America,' might lead to • considerable misappre- Devon) was knocked down to Mr. Boyt, of Piddle-
hension, we lose no time in declaring that many tou n, at £3O; Messrs. James, of Mappowder, one
of the sentiments expressed in those articles ow, sold to Mr. Benne, for £3l ; Mr. W. Dun-
completely at variance with the views of the Com lee ',caste 8"1(1 freet XIS to £24 Me- There was
servative party, both in and out of Parliament a short supply of sheep and Down wethers, sold fro.in
ss. to 545. each ; horned wethers from 455. to sas.
Ii) long as they insist upou the fullest reparation
for the late outrage on the British flak" Eight supenor horned wethere, grazol by Mr;
Hussey, of Ilchester, sold for from ses. rel. to 6115.
each. Barreners sold well. At the close of the
pale, after a little difficulty in ascertaining as to who
were the purchasers, the lots were taken away by
the buyers to all parts of the country. Mr. lloyt's
heifer was too fat to walk home, so it broke the
journey by being comfortably housed at Stinsford.
DORSETSHIRE PuI'LTRY. -- The Crystal Palace
show was held last week, and has proved itself quite
the show of I eel, for every other exhibition was
quite eclipsed, and specimens hilly entitled to first
prizes at Birmingham were hardly commended at
the Palace. We were pleased to find our own
minty foremost in prize-taking, and with such
specimens as no other county could produce. Mrs.
Henry Feeikes took third prize for Cochin Chins
finels, and had several other pens highly commended.
William Manfield, June, Esq., took Noma prize
for Malays' first prize for Ins improved Dorset geese,
which weighed 6511 w. the pee of three ; third pria
for ornamental waterfowl; second prize for turkeys
and several yaw pens highly ceuruisinleil. Four 0,

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.0 tell. The probability is that the President,
who is honest, though weak, might, were he
left alone, be inclined to lapse into a right state
of feeling, and make the reparation whichl
England demands, but the mob and the poli-
ticians now in power are likely to be inclined for
war. They have a long cherished opinion
that they have the power to inflict vital injury
to this country. Even men who know the
relative resources of the two countries; think
they have nothing to fear. An American, in a
letter to the Morning Star a few days since.
boasts that his Government could create a'
miscellaneous fleet impromptu ; that they could'
fiend forth privateers infinite in number and
invincible in excellence ; destroy our navy,
drive our commerce front the seas, and acquire
Canada and our West India Islands for their
possessions. This idea having taken so firm a
possession of the Yankee 'Wild, is a great tempta-
tion to Mr. Seward and his party to commence a
war with Great Britain. They have not it is.
true, formally accepted the act of Captain Wilkes,
but they have not repudiated the act, and their
organs have unanimously accepted and applauded
it. Had they wished for peace, it would have
been more di:milled to give I, the Commissioners
before they were asked, than to wait till after-
wards, but not wily have they not dune this, but
they have not even raised the question of subi IB-
ing the question to an adjudication. There is an
unwillingness on the part of a section of reflec-
ting men in our country, to believe in the proini-
bility of a war with America, seeing that it
would be an act almost amounting to madness in

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the Federal States, to force a war upon us now
that they are engaged in a difficult civil struggk
1111011 g themselves. But these Melt forget that
nothing is impossible to democracy in revolution ;
:ind that there being, even on tbe admission of
the most sanguine Americans, no head st
NVashington, the mobocracy aro by no means
likely to forgo the present opportunity of giving
way to their passions. We are not prophets to
decipher what a few weeks hence will make
plain, but it cannot be denied that the present
aspect of the American horizon is dark and
lowering.
. .

Since- the above was in type, a summary su
the President's message has reached us. It
makes no mention of the outrage on the Trent,
but breathes war and defiance to this country.
The States are called upon to put themselves
in a stets of defence along their coasts, and
Congress is asked to provide depots for the stormn
of arms and provisions in the field, the reason
assigned being, foreign danger accompanied by
domestic difficulty. It is also recommended
that Federal ships of war should be authorised
to recapture the prizes and cargoes taken by
"pirates," and that consular courts in Eastern
• tries should be constituted prize courts.
Besides the summary of the President's message
the same telegrams informs us that
Congress had passed a vote of thanks to the
Captain of the San Jacinto. What the Congress
dictate the President must "approve," and it if
consequently to be hoped our Government will
not lose a moment in preparing for the worst.

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