Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-29 00:00:00

never be so imprudent, as to think of entering into
such a conflict. Their conduct throughout the whole
proceedings which have prepared the way for the
impending hostilities, has been such as to discourage
any such apprehension ; and we did not hesitate,
therefore, on the instant, to declare our honest con-
viction, when an interpretation was sought to be fixed
upon certain expressions of the First Minister of the
Crown which implied the design of taking part in
the threatened war, that it was altogether a mistake
—that no such design could ever for a moment be
entertained—and that no more was meant than that
England, with the clash of arms re-echoing over the
Continent, in the hands of such legions as were going
forth to the deadly combat, should be fully prepared
to stand on the defensive, and effectually protect her-
self, should any danger arise to her in the spread of
such a conflagration. That we were right in our con-
victions, the Premier's own words, on which we
have before remarked, must incontestably prove.
Some of these avowals were so explanatory, as well
as so explicit,—so explanatory, we, mean, of the
actual position in which the country stands, as well
as so explicit as to the policy that is to be pursued,
—that, at so critical a moment as the present, they
deserve to be calmly and seriously considered. One
cause of anxiety, if not of alarm,—or, at least, one
expression that was taken advantage of to produce
that feeling,—was the Minister's remark that
England should assume a position of armed
neutrality. Not, however, as it has now been
explained by Lord DERBY,—" not that we should
maintain that armed neutrality for the purpose of
joining one or other of those parties with whose
quarrels, whatever we may think right in point of
reason or in justice, we have nothing to do,—nothing
to call for our interference on the ground of our
national interests or national honour—so far -I say
from desiring to join with either of theseparties, that
armed neutrality ought to be for the purpose of
maintaining the position which we have held, and
which so long as possible we are deterntned to hold,
namely, the position of perfect and entire neutrality,
free from all engagements, unfettered by any
obligations and promises, and perfectly free to use
the influence—Goo forbid that I should have to add
the arms—of England, in such a manner and in such
a case as we might, as the circumstance of the times
arise, consider to be called for by the interests, th`e
honour, and the dignity of the country." Surely no
right-minded Englishman can possibly object to
this. It is his country's just and true position
I towards such a war.

And it must have been most satisfactory to the
country to be assured, as it was, on the same
occasion, by the First Lord of the Admiralty, that it
is in a condition to maintain, with the utmost vigour,
so necessary a position. " There cannot be a man in
this country," said the right hon. gentleman, " who
does not earnestly hope —I may say, who does not
devoutly pray, that the peace of the world may yet
be preserved. There cannot be a man who does not
pray, if unhappily the horrors of war are to befall
Europe, that at least England may be able to pre-
serve a dignified neutrality. But lam sure the feel-
ing must be equally unanimous that if our neutrality
is to be respected—if our power is to be felt, it is
indispensably necessary that England should be in a
position to assert that power; and, above all, that
the navy of England should be in a state to protect
the interests of the country. It is my duty, therefore,"
he added, " to state that her Majesty's Government
have not been unmindful of these considerations ; and
if, unhappily, war should arise in Europe, it will be
found that in the Mediterranean and in the British
Channel there will be squadrons powerful enough to
uphold the dignity and to protect the interests of
England." This, it must be admitted, is no unim-
portant assurance. It must, we repeat, have given
great satisfaction to the country to receive it at
such a moment of alarm. Why, the interests of our
maritime commerce, if nothing else, may require the
protection of such squadrons, in the channel and.
elsewhere ; for who knows to what desperate resorts
one so unscrupulous as LOUIS NAPOLEON may be
driven, when once embarked in a contest from which
not only does England stand aloof, but which she
has condemned and denounced as inexcusable and
criminal. Our country's interests in the Mediter-
ranean also may require to be defended.
Still, we have the further assurance, that not only
is a position of neutrality, yet of defence, to be main-
tained, but that opportunities will yet be sought for
of putting a stop to a conflict so direful to all involved
in: it, and presenting so evil an example to the world,
" Our anxious desire is," was Lord DERBY'S repeated
assertion, "to maintain peace for ourselves ; and I
will go further and say, that even if the sword should
be drawn, and war should unhappily break out,
England will maintain a watchful and an observant
attitude,—observant not for the purpose of profiting
by the weakness or calamity of others, but observant
for the purpose of watching the slightest gleam of
light which may break forth amid the gloom of war,
which may show the reasonable probability of the
dispersion of the clouds, and afford ground and
opportunity for the interposition of the pacific
influence of England." Such, then, is the dignified,
such the high and honourable position in which_
England really stands to the war which so imminently
threatens to desolate some of the fairest portions of
Europe. They may call the exposition of it at a
moment like the present "a hustings appeal," if they
like. But if it is the appeal which is made .to the
country —or if it is any material portion of that
appeal—sure we are that the response to it will not
fail to be congenial and hearty.

A VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS FOR BIRKENHEAD.—An
address, of which the following is a copy, was circulated in
Birkenhead yesterday :---

Feeling deeply sensible that the time has arrived when individual
efforts are absolutely necessary to be exerted, as well as Government
measures, for the defence, if not the actual safety of our country
in this time of approaching war, we earnestly call upon all those loyal
subjects of Her Majesty residing in or near Birkenhead, to join us in
forming a Rifle Club, to be styled the " Birkenhead and Cheshire
Rifle Club." Without entering into the subject whether the existing
state of continental Europe is such as to warrant our preparing
ourselves for the worst, we would respectfully submit, that the use
of the rifle as a weapon of defence has been notoriously neglected
by Englishmen; and, while'every adult of every nation in Europe
have been trained to the use of arms, we are most deplorably
ignorant of their use, and consequently would be placed at great
disadvantage if obliged to defened our homes from an invading foe.
But, supposing no higher object is in view than the manly, healthful,
and amusing exercise of rifle practice, we trust that this appeal
will meet with a ready response, so that this our Birkenhead and
Cheshire Rifle Club may soon muster its 300 members, when no
doubt Her Majesty would give it her patronage and an appropriate
title.

[The document was signed by a number of gentlemen
who were desirous of carrying out the proposition.]