The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-12 00:00:00

LOZD STANLBY Olt 11

' azazdas Q 113112707.

A eputation Ins the—Peste fkriaty and others
waitedd, by sppointsseet, epee Leadildeeley, et taw Foreign-
oMee, on Tiesdey. Amos; them preset wani—Mr.
Edward Baines, M.P., Sit Fronds Oresdey, But, !LP.,
Mr. Charge Hadfield, M.P., Mat Jere hem Pins, ALP.,
Rey. Newman Han, Rev. Dr. Brea, Rev. Henry Richard,
Rev. John Rom, Rev. O. W. Were% Rev. &mug WAR,
Rev. Frederick ?Teller, Rev. James Spoof, Professor Leone
Levi, Mum. Jeeeph Sharpies, liitchin, William Tebbe
London, L. A. Cherneromow, John Cmaington, Georges
Dornbusch, James Henderson, John Oromn, Elbassys
' Clark, John Hilton, John Ridley, W. S. Corner, William
Holmes, Henry Steffy, Robert Alsop, William Muds
Smith, Washington Lyon, F. W. Mame, ke.
Mr. BAINES, It.P., h.asoug introduced the deputaioa.
Mr. Ham RICHAItD, secretary of the Peace Sestet',
read the memorial, which expremed regret that the
enlarged demand should have limn urged en the part of
the United States, hot submitting that there is nothing in
the questions proposed for arbitration, even as now de-
fined by the American goveriumnt, wins' it, if they can-
not be otherwise arranged, would justify the rejection of
that seethed of settlement. After rmding the memorial,
Mr. Richard said his lordship was aware that they hod
asked for and obtained this vpolissit with his
before the question towhich the memorial relatlscedilk,2
been brought forward in the Rouse of Commons. Had
that diesusion taken place previously, in all probability
they would not have thought it aseemmy to have
troubled his lordship at all. Still they cannot regret that
they had this permission to wait upon his lordship to-day,
were it only that it *fiords them the opportunity of ex-
pressing their admiration, their medial gratitude, for the
whole tone and spirit of the speech which his lordship
had delivered an that 001112i0D-10 wise, so calm, so gene-
rous, so conciliatory, so adapted in every respect, as they
thought, to exorcise • salutary and lasting influence on the
relations of the two countries. He believed he would be
only • the feeling of all present if he added that,
as it to him, the same spirit had marked the
g administration of the foreign affairs of this coun-
try ever since they had been in his lordship's hands.
Rev. Newman Hall, Rev. Dr. Brock, and Sir Francis
Crossley, all of whom had visited the United States since
the war then briefly addressed his lordship, all of them
concurring in the statement that, though no doubt •
strong feeling existed as respects the conduct of this
country during the war, which frequently found very
strong expresidon, yet that the only preatiad grievance to
which much importance was attached was that of the
Alabama, and that, if that were out of the way, the great
',publicise party of the States would cordially promote
kindly feelings towards this country.
Lord &ANL= said that he thanked the deputation
for the honour and pleasure of this interview. It was
quite unneeemary that Mr. Baines should apologize
te him for their paying him this visit; for though
ne
doubt almost everything that can be said ea this
,abject has been said, he was very glad to use them,
as nothing more strengthens the hands of • minister
than to feel that be is supported by the sympathies of large
end intelligent bodies of his countrymen. He could
assure them that the government, end be thought he might
say any government that might come into power in this
country, was as anxious to maintain peace as they were.
War, no doubt, was the great antagonist of civilisation,
and, bad as war would be for any country, perhaps for so
country is it of greater importance to maintain peace than
for England. We are burdened with • very considerable
debt, and our taxation, though not intolerable, will not
boar augmentation without seriously affecting our pro-
ductive power. He was folly conscious of the magnitude
of the interests involved in the question of peace or war
with the United States. lie must al that he never
felt the same amount of alarm on this subject as had
been expressed by come friends for whose judg-
ment he had great respect. He had listened with
much dearest to the remarks of Mr. Newman Hall,
and the other gentlemen who bad visited America, on the
state of public feeling there. He bad also been in America
for several months, though that was twenty years ago ;
and though no doubt they often use Moog language, he
found, to use • homely phrase, that their bark was worse
than their bite. The strong heritage was perhaps their
means of letting off the steam of popular discontent ; but
when they came to the actual arrangement of affairs, be
theaght they were much more moderate and reasonable.
And he thought they were not likely to be less so now ;
for they are now, like ourselves, bound in heavy securities
to keep the pests. He felt, as the memorial mid, that
it would be an honour and happiness to himself and
kis colleagues to bring the matter to • satisfactory
settlement. And while he agreed with Sir Francis
Crossley, that it might not be necerseary to be
very rigid about the terms, still there must be
• feeling of reciprocity. It is only reasonable
to expect that if concessions be made on one aide, conces-
sions should also be made on the other. If the demands
were too exorbitant, it would render it mere difficult to
bring about the unanimity which was an very desirable.
He could not state the preciseterms on which • compro-
mise may be effected, bat he bad little doubt that if they
were met, as he hoped and believed they would be, by a
corresponding spirit of conciliation on the other aide,
mouse would be found tout the question at rest. Wear,
bear.) With regard to the general question as to the
foreign policy of this country, there had been a great
change of late years, and he thought he could emigrate
late the members of the Peace Society that their prin-
ciples were besomiur more popular. It is now
known threnghout Europe, and, much as other mis-
time may have been puzzled by it, it is acknowledged
as a feet, that the policy of Ragland is • policy of peace.
Unfortunately at the present moment it is not so over the
world. Never, perhaps, was there • period when arms-
meats were so large, and the rumours of war were more
frequent. Bat this rennet last always. Out of this state
of confusion and transition there mud of necessity cotes •
better elate of things. There are financial, among other
reasons, why this cannot go on much longer, since military
expeadinue most nearly lave reached its limit ; when
there will come • period of comparative disarmament,
and, let us hope, of general peace. And then, gentlemen,
continued his lordslup, you will have the satisfaction of
knowing that the ideas end principles you have been pro-
pagating will have bad much to do in bringing to pass this
better ceaditien of things. His lordship thanked the de•
putatioe for the friendly terms in which they had spoken
of himself. (Cheers.)
Mr. Line, on behalf of the deputation, cordially
thanked his lordship for his kind reception.