The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-14 00:00:00

[Stamped, Id. Additiomalo

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
--•--

A public meeting, under the auspices of the
Emancipation Society, was held yesterday evening at
Hanover-square Rooms, the Rev. W. Lauhrta fa the
chair, to protest against the efforts of members of
t to dreg this country into • war with the United
gtitierPuand to demand the enforcement of the law against
the builders of pirate thin."
The CHAIRMAN said, however much they might differ on
other questions, including the cause of the American war,
they were,i he was sure, perfectly unanimous in deprecating
war between this country and the United States. He
disliked inflammatory @peahen—whether made by Mr.
Roebuck on this side of the Atlantic, or by General Butler
on the other ; but they had • good guarantee against war
in the strong feeling of this scan in favour of pars, and
in the fact that, except in the case of the Trent, in which
it rather yielded to popular' clamour, the Ame-
rican government had done nothing of which Eng-
land could justly complain. -He did not be-
lieve that the English government desired war any
more than the English nation. No government which
numbered among its members such men as Earl
Russell and Mr. Gladstone could pamibly with
for war between England and America. Even
Lord Palmerston, although be sometimes, like some of
their American friends, indulged in a little bunkum, a little
more bluster than became the Prime Minister of Eog-
land, would shrink from actual hostilities. Of all wan, •
war with the United States would undoubtedly be the
most unpopular with th
eme people of ; they would
Auer 41110 904
but so the * ojtVir moan race, rsH
knew that it would be the death-blow of freedom
in all parte of the world. If war should be
entered upon it would be with grim sadness, and
in to the depth of that sadness would be the
indignation against those who had stirred up strife.
Hear, hear.) Let Mr. Roebuck and others who took the
same aide know that if by anything which they did or said
they caused the sword to be unsheathed, their names would
stink in the nostrils of their countrymen—(ahem)—their
memories would be execrated as those of men who, from
selfish ambition of from the love of gain, caused millions to
mourn. It was the duty of that society to do what it
could to avert the war feeling. They might net be able to
do much, but they could at all events lift up their voices
against such inflammatory speeches as had beep recently
made in parliament ; they could tell the government that
there must be nu more Alabaman let loose to prey o u the
commerce of • friendly power—end they could
show the people of the United Stogie that nob speeches as
those tow-hich he had just referred no more re resented
public feeling in Englund than those of General Butler re-
presented public opinion in Americo. He rejoiced to see an
article in the nat.! of Friday last which showed that even
that jeansl was beginning to alter It. comae, and might be
expected at no distant period to range itself on the side of
the North. _ . .

Fear. moved the following resolntiou:—" That this
meeting, believing slavery to be unchristian and opposed to
every principle of justice and humanity, omdially approves '
of the emancipation policy now being carried out by the
government of the United States, and often to the people of
loyal states the anurance of its heart-felt sympathy in the
present struggle against the despotism sought to be prpe-
Waled and extended by the akiveholdera' confederazedin
Mr. J. W. Paorinv seconded the resolution. In
to the came of the Peterhof[, he contended that the
American government were justified in the amuse
which they had pursued, and eulogised Earl Russell
for the calmness and dignity which he displayed
in his despatches on the subject. Cheers.) They
had all heard of "the almighty dollar," bat, using
what had been does already foe the sake of pie this
oountiy should takecare that the love of gold did not
lead it into a disgraceful position. (Hear, hear.) He
strongly condemned the language of Mr. Roebuck and Mr.
Homan in reference to the United Staten

Mr. CONWAY, from Eastern Virginia, who was announced
by the Chairman as an American who bad ematicipstsd •
hunched of his own slaves, said it was absurd to mimosa
that the United States could &mire war with England, as
it would compel her to give up the Southern States. He
was brought up to hate England, but the moment his mind
was turned against slavery his feelings towards England
underwent a change, sad be learned to love this country.
As regarded the irritation between America and England,
he remarked that it arose from the °lmams of their rela-
tionship. His country bad put an unusual check on itself
with respect to neutral vessels, as an examination of the
history of the law oo the subject would clearly show.
The rssolutios was speed to, and another for petitioning
the Hones of Commons was antsequently adopted.

[TWOPENCE