The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-28 00:00:00

THE PROSPECT OF PEACE IN AMERICA.

[no following le tin from Prof /woe Goldwin Smith ap-
poses in tin Daily News of this wanton.]

TO THZ LOTTO!' OF THZ DAILY HaWB.
Sie,—At the time of the Chicago Convention,
it was confidently announced in this country that
the Fedora's, finding the war • complete failure,
were on the point of making peace. This annotune-
ment, being believed by the oommercial world,
caused great confusion and loss ; but no one who
vat in America at the time could fail to be aware
that it was utterly unfounded. The attempt of the
Chicago party to haul down the national flag was
received by the nation with • bunt of scorn,
and had no practical effect but that of confirming
the loyal majority iu their resolution to prosecute
the war to a victorious issue.

Now, however, if I mistake not, we may discus
for the first time the glimmering dawn of peace.
This civil war arose out of the "irrepressible con-
flict" (to se Mr. Seward's memorable expression)
between two opposite systems of society, the one
based on slavery, the other on freedom ; between
two contradictory sets of principles, those of
• heathen oligarchy on the one band, those of
• Christian commonwealth on the other. Long
foreseen, and often predicted, the crisis el this eon-
' filet has ease at lea. So inevitable waits
whoa theeesntagheistic pow, ware in prawn** of
each °thew that to discus its merits on legal
grounds seemed almost like discussing the legality
of a thunderstorm or an earthquake. It has raged
not only between the North and the South, but in
the North aqd in the South. The most important
effect of the victoria gained by Northern arms in
Southern fields was their influence on the course of
opinion at the North. The great battle was that
which was fought at the polls iu November between
the supporters of Lincoln and those of M'Clellan.
There it was that the American people decided that
slavery should die, and that the Commonwealth
should live. _ _ _ _

Since that day the result has not been doubtful,
and it is now becoming apparent. Physically,
morally, and politically, slavery and oligarchy
have succumbed. Free labour and free govern-
ment have won the day. Maryland is free.
Louisiana is free. Missouri is about to amend
her constitution in the iuterett of freedom. De-
laware—even the obstinate bigotry of family-ridden
Kentucky—cannot long maintain its isolation.
Slavery is practically at an end in Western Virginia
and Tennessee. A great tidal wave of anti-slavery
sentiment is rolling with wonderful rapidity and
resistlees force over States where a few years ago
the name of Abolitionist was a reproach. The pro-
slavery journals of the North are all striking their
colours. And now, even at the South, the cause for
which the sword was originally drawn is being aban-
doned as hopeless, and the vision of a great empire
having Slavery fur its corner-stone has wised away
from the minds iu which it was conceived. The pro-
posal to arm the negro as a fellow-soldier in a
struggle for independence is the repudiation of
every principle, political and physiological, on
which the defence of slavery rests.
The amendment of the Federal constitution
abolishing slavery for ever may possibly be passed
by the outgoing Congress, and will, at any rate, be
by the incoming one ; and this will put the
passed
I to the revolution.
Slavery gone, no question remains but that of
State right*. The legal doctrine of State rights
has been tainted by the lawless treason of the slave-
owners. • But it is not iu itself tremos; nor is the
opposite doctrine of a centralized nationality, to
which the exigencies of this straggle have natu-
rally given a temporary ascendancy at the North,
tallaWdottlY jitiklayslisjo4s JAirdteat
6; mq of the nation that it can admit of no dis-
cussion or compromise.
Federation, not the centralized nationality into
which divisions of race and language, and the force
of external pressure have driven the nations of
Europe, seems to be the destined constitution of the
new world. It suits all the circumstances of a
single race, with similar political tendencies, but
with a strong love of independence, spreading
over an immense region, and, as the Ame-
ricans will soon be, without a neighbour or
an enemy. It combines every advantage of in-
ternal peace, external security, and free commercial
intercourse incident to centralized nationality with
the freedom of development, the variety of cha-
racter, the emulation, the comparative experience,
without which there can be no true greatness. It
is also the real talisman of empire. A centralized
nationality must have certain territorial limits ; a
federation need have no limits but those of the

North American Continent. And few, probably,
who have examined American institutions will
doubt that they arc aouni, strong, and pure in
proportion to their local character, and that as
they become more centralized the opposite qualities
appear. The last Presidential election was an ex-
ceptional case : its grandeur belonged to the crisis,
not to the institution.

The exigencies of the present struggle, as was i
before said, have produced a strong leaning towards I
centralized nationality. They have also produced a
leaning towards a Dictatorship of the Executive.
In both cases the nation ought to beware, lam its ,
permanent interest should be compromised by the
natural tendency of the hour.
Even a legal right of secession, to be exercised
not by fraud and violence, but with due notice and '
with due provision for all Federal interests and
liabilities, though the name is at present execrable
to the ears of loyal citizens, would probably be
devoid of any practical danger. Slavery being out
of the way, there is no couceivable inducement to
secession left, unless it be some question of taxation
arising out of the excessive increase of the debt. In
the case of the central States the idea would be ab-
curd ; and in all cases the inducements to union,
political and commercial, seem overwhelming. No
doubt, even a theoretical concession on this point
would be in itself an evil ; but it might be
better than a continuance of the horrors and a per-
petuation of the animosities of civil war.
It is in regard to the question of State rights,
and to the possibility of a peace based on a reason-
able recognition of those rights, that the loyal wing
of the democratic patty (including both the demo-
crats who voted for Lincoln and those who honour-
ably acquiesced, as many did, in the national deci-
sion) may, perhaps, render an inestimable service
to their country.
Enough has been done for glory, if glory could
ever be won by civil war. The soldiers of Grant,
Sherman and Sheridan, the seamen of Farragut
and Porter have forced calumny itself to own that
a nation supreme in industry can, when the need
arises, make itself supreme in arms. Nor can his-
tory ever mistake the victor's moderation for a
•doubt of victory. The result is now sure, though
dreadful carnage, increase of debt, and embitter-
: ment of the fend between those who are hereafter to
be fellow citizens may yet remain.—l am, ttc.
GOLDWIN SMITH.I
P.S.—Whenever pesos is mentioned the spectre
;of the Confederate debt rises in the path. The
utmost probably that could be done in that direc-
tion would be to permit the holders of Confedeiate
securities to turn them at a very low rate of dis-
count into securities of the Federal government.
This would, at all events, have the effect of binding
, the holders to the Union.

BOARD or TRADE, WRITZHALL, JAN. 26.—Tbe
Right Hoeourable the Lords of the Owmarittee of Privy
Coupon for Trade bare received, from the Secretary of
MAW for Fonip Affairs, s oopy of a despatch from bet
Majesty's Maud at Relsiopon, stating that rye, core, oats,
wheat sad barley. flour, pits, malt, gess sad potatoes, may
be imported tato, sod imported from, the Grand Doohy of
noised, hoe of Customs duty.—Gawitc.
The Bev. Edward badman, 8.A., has been
hewed to the ears of Badlesmare ; and the Rev. Wm.
Fredk. Whiteohureb, M.A., has bees Lemma to the cure
of Laddewhelli both hi the county el Boat

*AA

CHUJ9H ExrzNOW!. Arrit
r cusrappr.
A meet* was held in the Music-hall, Canter-
bury, yesterday afternoon, to form • diocesan society for
the object of aiding in the erection of sew churches
sod the incenses of acoonsmodation is adellegenes; the
erection of personage houses ; sad inewasing tee endow-
ment of beeelloas under Mi. • year. Visoosat Smear,
load-lieuteeeat of the county, presided ; end vas supported
by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Many& Camden,
Earle Ambient, Stanhope, sod Beemmy ; Lard Harris, Lout
Yahoo, Sir J. D. Bligh, Sir Walter Stirling, the seuslisre
far East Keel, G. Hardy, luq., 11. P., Mr. Bendard Hem
sad roast of the leading gentry sad clergy lb* Met*
The CIAISIGUI having opened the proosedings,
The ArchbWhop of CAIMULBORY wopoeed the first taw
lotion, as follows_:—" That the wee sad sulargewssMdf
amebas to weed We deboieuey d @harsh assemsaallilw
is the dimes, and the Worsts. of small
of the number of residences foe the
ii inbetall7=ll
the parbhes, we objects deserving of °CmMediate mad esespile
191CLIderquis Caspar briefly seconded the resolutloW
which was carried unanimously.
Earl fivsernoiu propoesd—" TWA • sedety be selaWisind
under the name of The Canterbury oossass Marsh
Buddiag sod Endowment Society' for the PtiPaat of peb
mating, pecuniary aid, the4ellewiog objects c-1. Iwo
wsetwa osier,,.orb pel; as We ponds..
..asitoshie eal
sad chapel. in thcee part of
church acceenecollatiou is required. I. Thwe swiewsrawl
newly erected olcurchee or chapels, by suironeeting local
benefactioes raised for that purpose. 3. The twelves of
each eadowmente of eiistang amebas as do sal Aid •
stipend of 2001. • yeas to the incumbents. 4. The erection
of parsonage beams, or the pumice*e of buildings to be used
as Inch. in plates when at present no residence is presided
for the iscumbeat."

The Dean of CANTISBUIT, in oscooding the resolaidast
explained the restrictions which impede the operation., of
the Ecclesiastical 000Mil8101111111. .

The wolatioa was then put wt 011T611.
Lord Roma= expressed his, concurvelace in the views of
the Archbishop respecting the Diocesan Society working in
conjunction with the Incorporated Soviet . He advocated
the general restoration of offertory sot• and eon-
chided by Proposing, " That his Grace the Archbishop
of Canterbury be annually to Moue a poly
toed letter, requesting sermons to be preached, and
oolloctions to be made, in the churches of the
diocese, in behalf of the society ; and that In order to pro-
mote a cordial co-operation with the lecerporated Sagely
for Building and Enlarging Churches, as well aa to relieve the
clergy from the burden of advocating the Haim. of two very
similar societies, cue-fourth of the total mount of scab
collections shall be annually paid over to the Incorporated
Society, on condition that applications for sermons in aid of
its own peculiar funds shall not be made by that scaly in
this diocese."

-----
Bir IL C. Duna, Bert., M.P., sanesded the necktie°,
which am also adopted.
The meetingaasaitinwaedsaddrnndb7 Sir Break Bridges,
M.P., 0. Hardy, Baq., M.P.. Mai Amber* the Hoe. BM
J. D. }Nigh, Lord Mahon, Mr. Fienriord Hops, sad Mr. H.
HOW*, sod resolutions for the appointment at Mina% Goat-
mitten, &a, having bus pared, the proneedinp tersairated.