The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-21 00:00:00

dependence. The naivete of the admission that IS
included in the complaint addressed to Mr. Adams
is refreshing and suggestive. It is not easy for the
statesmen of despotically-governed countries to un-
derstand the action and power of public opinion in
England. Our Ministers are responsible to the Le-
gislature and the nation, and are subject to the law.
Mr. Seward can do many things Lord Palmerston
would not venture to attempt. A constitutional
monarchy cannot be compared with a Republic' e
The Federal Secretary of State should perceiv
that he has the advantage of us. But he scareelY
does justice to those who are " the advocates °r
defenders of the United States ; and it is to be re
gretted that Mr. Stanley, who happens to be the sou
of a Minister, did not, while he was in Arneriicat,
" observing for himself," set Mr. Seward rig .1...
with his friends. The " persons who, howev:/
great their ability and worth," are 'dismit
without a word of thanks, have most reason to
hen
+. w
precate the publication of this despatch. tea
Mr. Seward speaks of the forbearance of the wmthe
States to England," he entirely misapprehends ter
policy of the English Government and the charae
of the English people. We have asked for no fere,
bearance, and we are not aware that we have de.
ceived any. This country is not accustomed °l ire
pend upon the generosity of other countries. vie
are responsible for all we have done, and at va
have failed to do. Her Majesty's Government 'an/
endeavoured by every legal means to prevent anb'',
violation of the neutrality they determined to
serve ; and, so far from having shown an " etiej
ing and unyielding disposition" towards the Fero,
Government, they have, as Mr. Adams well Icn°,.e.
gone somewhat out of their way to meet the repay
sentations which have been made to them. The to
officers of the Crown are not answerable for mr.
failure of the prosecutions they undertook. Itesj,
Seward requires further information on that iloe
he can obtain it direct from his own agents•
yell
proceedings have, no doubt, been expensive as m that
as mortifying to the Federal Government ; no,
is eot our fault. We have fulfilled our obligalaill
and the sense of having done our duty vrill stiteen
us. In truth, it is our forbearance that has
imposed upon ; but we can afford to let that
P re-
Mr. Seward should, however, understand that 3t i$
proach addressed to the Queen's Governmellto
accepted and shared by the nation ; and if the
of public feeling be such as he deplores, it is for its
to consider whether it is expedient to aggravate a
impatience or to intensify its sympath3r., ding,
matter of right we should be found to be unPeloese
We cannot bate a jot of our independence. d if our
is no coercion of opinion in this country ; an
red
re,
policy is not loud and menacing, 11' lise;7of
sents principles that are ratified by the ed 0
nations, and which we are thoroughly prepa,o4
maintain. Mr. Seward, it is plain, was exceeTlisaTer
angry with France when he wrote to his All.' the
in England. We, however, had no hand Tsfo,c-
subversion of the exican Republic. It is t 4.1" slice
tory to us to know that an international 13„"—stion
has been abated, but the honour of the Orthere;
belongs to the Emperor of the French. wed
fore, the Federal Secretary of State feels aggsri;
on that score, he can if he pleases write to tile
but it is neither civil nor dignified to write A-mote
Imperial Government through us. We han,%oth,
to do with the Mexican revolution than wertroyeu
the secession. France, and France alone,,nes opean
the hope of annexation in that quarter. •"-';diolbr
, jealousy of the United States was, and is, s ter
out of the question. The Monroe doctrine is
tainly understood in Europe, and there are,, bav6,
tunately it Powers on the Continent th;gisna-
adopted upon a safe and petty scale. But j'appfe,„"
and France have not evinced any desire t°
priate American " notions ;" and, under siwio be
circumstances, it is impossible that they she vie
jealous of the Federal States. On the cOntriiTs /101
should all be glad to hear that the war Nvide„ht t`j,
exhausting North and South alike was hr°l th3,‘
an honest and honourable conclusion ; and, e
be an offence to either of the belligerents, to great
plead guilty to it. We may be wrong, but tone waY
majority of people in this country see onlY °„d eite
to peace. Still, this is simply an opinion) a-reover'
apart from our policy. Mr. Seward, 111°,ips;
while he publishes this correspondence ellarr%fitl/
with provocations and injuries, is actuanYfro to, air
by our neutrality on the Canadian n 4 tour
proceeding, it may be too confidently, on
L antes he pretends to disregard and despise.