The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-20 00:00:00

AMERICAN DEVELOPMENTS.

IF the horizon of English politics presents
nothing interesting at present, it is impos-
sible to view the aspects of American affairs
without much curiosity. The feeling in the
States is every day becoming more excited on
the exasperating subject of slavery, and cer-
tain developments are being manifested in
American life which are extremely remark-
able. Foremost amongst these latter is the
singular aptitude for the manufacture of war-

891

weapons shown in the States. An old taste
for " soldiering" was visible in the Americans
from an early stage of their history. Travellers
were facetious about their love for calling each
other " General" or " Colonel." But some-
thing more deliberately warlike is shown in
the rare ingenuity so continuously applied iu
the direction of firearms.
Whether we listen to accounts of tourists
returned from America, or take up the journals
and reviews of the States, our ears or eyes are
sure to be rivetted by accounts of some
" newly-modelled rifle-musket," or of the
" sword-bayonet fur the navy," with particulars
of " SHARPE'S Rifle Manufacturing Company,"
or of the " Ames Company at Chicopee, Massa-
chusetts," not forgetting the latest improve-
ments from Colonel COLT. The subject of fire-
arms is one which seems to possess special
attraction for the American invention. For
weapons of all kinds there is, doubtless, a con-
siderable demand in America. The settlers in
the " Far West " take some. The large militia
force demand others—more for show than use.
The mercantile navy, also, call for others, and
in the Slave States the masters and overseers
keep up an active home market, besides the
requisition of sportsmen. The fact, however,
that there is such intense application of
American ingenuity in the manufacture of fire-
arms proves, we think, that there is a strong
tendency to military ambition in the American
mind.

It is in this particular point that we can
recognise most distinction between English
and American society. Mr. MILL, when re-
viewing the first volumes of DE TOCQUEVILLE.B
profound work, remarked that " Tho United
"States might be considered as a sort of pro-
" vincial England." Such may be the case in
all that refers to social life, and its petty

(though not unimportant) observances. But
while distinctions can be seen between
"provincial England " and our Transatlantic
Anglo-Saxons, along with calculating propen-
sities, there are developed amongst the
Americans a singular impulsiveness and
excitability. In a few generations their
" race " has become a new type. The physical
nerve, and consequent restlessness, of the
American is extraordinary; and that fact must
tell in the long run on the politics of the
States. Climate alone is not the cause of the
excitability of the American character. Its
domestic politics are confessedly the most
exciting, and the most personal in the world.
Its elections, its journals, its duels, its debates
in Congress, all show that result ; and the
question arises, how long will all that excita-
bility remain without bursting forth into
military enterprizes.
We shall, therefore, be anxious to see how

- •
Mrs. STOWE'S new work will be received in

the States. Such a question as slavery never
could remain unsettled, or an " open " one,
with a people of such ardour as the Americans.
Looked on from any side, the subject is most
perplexing and profound, and it is one upon
which vast results will depend in the intellectual
prowess and personal spirit of the leaders at
either side We fear that the " niggendifficulty
can never be solved by the controversy of the
tongue and pen. Passions, self-interest, the
arrogance of superior re.ce, and the interest
of the States generally, as opposed to separate
portions of their confederacy, are all at work to
complicate this mighty question. We can
imagine with what bewildered perplexity PEEL
in America would have looked upon such a ques-
tion as slavery; and there appears to be a class
of politicians in the States who are waiting
" the logic of events " to give a solution to the
question. On either side of it, as it rests now,
a g; eat man of action would produce vast
results, but as yet we see no signs of such
a personage making his appearance.

892

Sortign 6.orresponbtatt.

BRUSSELS, September IA.
AMIDST the jarrings of rampant Romanism and
insatiate despotism, the streams of pacific commerce
irresistibly work their way. There is no better
instructor than want. The demand for that which
is not possessed is regardless of obstacle to obtain
the supply and facilitates reciprocity of benefit.
Free trade cannot deserve the name, when one hand
gives and the other refuses. Much loss and still
more suffering would have been spared had the
maxim been earlier recognised. The Belgian
association " pour les reformes Douaniers " held its
first meeting on the Bth, preliminary to the inter.
national congress, which will take place on the 22nd,
23rd, and 21th of September. The two questions to
be proposed to the members of the congress are :-
1. " What are the artificial and natural obstacles that
oppose themselves to an extension of commercial
relations in the country which you represent?" 2.
S' What are the practical means proposed, or to be
proposed, in each country, to destroy or diminish the
obstacles to an extension of foreign trade ?" All the
English towns have expressed their approbation of
the commercial congress, and have signified their in-
tention to send deputies, except Liverpool, and that
chan6er, for the present, together with the Brussels
Chamber of Commerce, has dissented from the
policy cf the congress. Holland, Germany, Sweden,
Norway, Piedmont, and England adhere to the prin-
ciple that, to use the language of the association,
"Le tarif protecteur est une contribution prelevie
sur la masse au profit de quelques privilegies. C'est
cette intquete qua l'on doit faire disparaitre ii tout
prix. Not less praiseworthy is the " congres de bien-
faisance " which has met and held its first meeting
under the presidency of M. Ch. Rogier. He defended
the society from the attack of the Jesuits as having
materialist and social tendencies, which he com-
pletely disproved. The Jesuit should remember that
although one should give all one's goods to feed the
poor, without the charity of spiritual benevolence it
availeth nothing. Charity rejoiceth not in the dark-
ness of conventual ascetism, dwelling on the abstrac-
tion of original sin and imaginary ills, but rather re-
joiceth in the truth of Gospel light, that encourageth
industry, and bringeth content and peace. The
speakers were MM. Ward of London ; Wolowski,
Scrive, and Perrot, from France ; Shubert, Leman,
and Hubert, of Berlin; and Baurnhauer, de la
Hayes and Jolles, of Amsterdam. Mme. Frederika
Bremer, the Swedish novelist, was present.
In the magnificent display of the Imperial coro-
nation at Moscow a gallant determination was shown
to brave reverse and to challenge the assertion of
exhausted resources. Russia possesses ample means
for rapid recovery. These are comprised in the abun-
dance of agricultural produce—far more than sufficient
for home purposes—in mineral wealth, in almost
exclusive articles of commerce, in an industrious
population, in a military organisation or the masses,
and, lastly, in a loyal devotion to the sovereign and
Head of the Church—amounting almost to a per•
sonal worship. With these combinations of national
resources, it would be difficult for Richard Cobden
so to crumple up the country that it should never
again present a fair surface. That the resolve of the
present Emperor is to develop its internal production
of wealth, improve its commerce, and thereby raise the
moral standard of the people, is generally admitted.
There might have been a tinge, somewhat, of boast-
fulness in the extravagant gorgeousness of the
Moscow coronation, and the ostentation extended to
other persons in the pageantry. At the evening re-
ception of the English Ambassador in the Graziani
Palace, there was a full muster of the several embas-
sies, excepting that of the French, an omission which
was probably accidental. It was further remarked
that, on the day of coronation, M. de Morny assumed
the privilege of having equerries at each carriage
door, a courtly etiquette of peculiar distinction
usually reserved for the person of royalty. It may be
truly said that the courtesies and appearances of
goodwill between Russia and the potentates of
Europe displayed at Moscow were highly satisfac-
tory, and it will be well indeed if that promise of
good be kept for the future.
A new Ministry has been formed by the Prince
Kairoakan, at Bucharest, in the following manner:—
President of the Council, M. Constantine Canta-
cuzem ; Minister of the Interior, the Beyzade, Con-
streitine Ghika ; Justice, M. Constant ne Balatziano ;
Finances, M. Constantine Sontzo; Public Instruction
and Worship, M. Scarlati Cretzulesco ; Secretary of
State, ad interim, 14, Alexmder purnitreseo ; Comp-