The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-05 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMM—The reception of Sir Frederick Bruce by
President Johnson augurs well for our future rela-
tions with the United States. It was a formal act,
but it was accompanied with cordial expressions on
both sides, which divested it of formality and jus-
tify us in regarding it as a fresh earnest of amity
between the two Anglo-Saxon nations. The occa-
sion was singularly favourable to the exchange of
those kindly feelings which, in spite of temporary
misunderstandings, have never been extinguished.
For the first time since the great Civil War broke
out, we have been enabled, without any sacrifice of
principle, to show an unqualified sympathy with the
American people. The tragical end of President Lin-
coln, in the very hour of triumph, and when he had
earned by his ',moderate counsels the respect of this
country, has been the means of bringing us face to
face under the influence of a common sentiment.
It has gone far to break down the ice of reserve and
suspicion which embittered every difference of opinion
on subjects that had already divided America
against herself, enabling us to appreciate the devo-
tion of the Northerners to a cause which they be-.
lieved to be high and holy, and the Northerners to
recognise the true nature of the motives which dic-
tated our neutrality. If this only had been the effect
of Mr. Lincoln's murder, he would not have died in
vain. It was in this spirit that Sir F. Bruce spoke in
presenting his credentials, and it was in this spirit,
as we hasten to acknowledge, that President John-
son replied to him. The first duty of the new Mi-
nister was, of course, to offer condolences on the
death of the late President, wilh whom he was to
have had his first interview on the previous Satur-
day. Sir Frederick assured Mr. Johnson with per-
fect truth that the event would call forth an unani-
mous burst of horror throughout Great Britain. He
then proceeded to express her Majesty's earnest de-
sire to maintain friendly intercourse withthe United
States, and her ",hearty good wishes for their peace,
prosperity, and welfare." He declared, on behalf
of his Sovereign, whose letter to Mrs. Lincoln will
touch the Americans more than any official declara-
tion, that she had nothing more at heart than to re-
main on the most amicable terms with the Federal
Government, and pledged himself to carry out this
intention to the utmost of his ability. President
Johnson not only accepted these assurances most
graciously, but entered somewhat fully into the
principles which should govern the two nations in
their dealings with each other. He pointed out that
Great Britain and the United States are " exposed
to frequent occasions of misunderstanding" by the
very fact that their mercantile connexions are so in-
timate, their territories in one direction conter-
minous, their language the same, and their laws
similar. Hence the need of greater " mutual for-
bearance." If we look, says the President, to the
numerous sources of discord engendered by these
circumstances, we might be tempted to despair of
peace, or at least of permanent goodwill, between
two such rivals. If, on the other hand, we look to
their common heritage of freedom, to the " prin-
ciples of civil rights and constitutional liberty" esta-
blished throughout their dominions, we might be
led to expect an identity of policy, if not an inti-
' mate alliance. Experience shows that neither atti-
tude is inevitable, but if Great Britain and the
United States must pursue respectively: an indepen-
dent course, they may at least continue to be good
friends. " Each is charged with the development of
the progress and liberty of a considerable portion of
the American race. Each, in its sphere, is sub-
jected to difficulties and trials not participated in by
the other. The interests of civilization and humanity
require that the two should be friends. I have al-
ways known, and accepted it as a fact honourable
to both countries, that the Queen of England is a
sincere and honest well-wisher to the United States.
I have been equally frank and explicit in the-opinion
that the friendship of the United States towards
Great Britain is enjoined by all the considerations of
interest and sentiment affecting the character of
both." This is pacific and statesmanlike language,
and our American brethren may feel sure that it will
meet with a response ou this side of the Atlantic.
There never was a grosser calumny against Eng-
lish public opinion than the statement that any class
in this country, at any period of the war, desired a
rupture with the United States. There were those
who thought that it would be forced upon us; there
were a very few who were so far carried away by
Southern partisanship as to clamour for recognition
with little regard to consequences. But we confi-
dently assert that no political section, and we firmly
believe that no organ of English sentiment, has ever
advocated a hostile bearing towards the Federal
Government. A great deal of latitude in speaking
and writing must be condoned in times of excite-
ment, and especially in two countries where the
freedom of the press is unlimited. If all the
sharp criticisms and harsh judgments of the last
four years were carefully culled from the columns
of the British and American press by some male-
volent person, they would doubtless present a very
aggravating appearance. H all the facts and mis-
apprehensions which gave occasion to them were
treasured up with a fidelity equally unsparing, they
would perhaps cause as much irritation as before.
Happily for the harmony of States, as well as for
the peace of families and individuals, bygones soon
pass into byegones.. Time, which, in the words of
Washington, " changes men as well as things," is
ever busy in erasing the records of past animosities,
and a benevolent natural law works a perpetual am-
nesty of that which is best forgotten. The truth is
that many of those sayings which have given most
pain to the English or the_American public ought
never to have been repeated beyond the audience to
which they were originally addressed, still less to
have been telegraphed in a mutilated form, without
their context, to those who would least relish them.
Great as the advantages of modern publicity are, it
has some drawbacks, and one of them is the uni-
versal currency which it gives to a hasty expression.
Everything that an American Minister or General
may say to a boisterous crowd of patriotic sere-
naders reaches our ears with cruel precision of de-
tail, every loose idea of an English member of
Parliament respecting the origin and objects of the
war is reported without explanation at New York.
A great deal of mischief has been done in this way,
and the well-considered despatches of the two Go-
vernments have for that reason received less their
due share of attention. It would be too much
to say that nothing will be found in those of our
own Foreign-office which we could now wish to
modify, for the same marvellous course of events
which carried President Lincoln with it, and of
which President Johnson owns himself the passive
instrument, has deeply influenced the views of
European observers. Upon the whole, however,
we have no reason to be ashamed of the tone in
which Lord Russell has conducted the correspond-
ence, and no reason to complain of that in which
Mr. Seward has represented the interests of Ame-
rica on trying and critical occasions. We earnestly
trust that a like dignity and courtesy may continue
to characterise all communications between the two
Governments, and as for what " Historicus" calls
" idle words of provocation employed by irrespon-
sible persons," let us take his wise advice, and
suffer them to be buried in the grave of President
Lincoln.

POST.—Yesterday the investigation of the Road
murder was advanced one further stage, and Con-
stance Kent was committed for trial at the eusuing
a-ssizes. The evidence brought forward substantially
confirms the prisoner's own confession, and leaves
less and less reason to suppose that she is under any
insane delusion in owning her guilt. Under what-
ever maniacal frenzy she may have acted, there can
be no reasonable doubt that she did the deed. At a
later stage it will be proper to inquire into her state
of mind in 1860, since then, and now. But the pre-
sent is not the time for entertaining that question.
She has made a voluntary and formal declaration
that she murdered her half-brother with her own
hand ; and a less formal acknowledgment that she
used her father's razor as the instrument ; that she
concealed and destroyed a night-dress which, from
its stains of blood, might have led to her detection ;
that she was not incited to this crime by any per-
sonal malignity towards the poor child, but by a
desire to revenge herself upon her stepmother. Since
that period she has seen the heinousness of her
offence, and, from a sense of duty, gives herself up
to justice, as the only reparation now in her power
to make, and the only practical pledge of the since-
rity of her repentance. The evidence adduced yes-
terday is virtually the same as that brought forward
when the prisoner was arraigned four years ago.
Some slight variations in the medical evidence are
the only things at all noticeable, but they do not
touch the question as to whether the prisoner com-
mitted the murder, but only as to some details in its
perpetration. All the rest is repetition, but with a
circumstantiality which proves all that was needful
when taken in connection with the prisoner's own
statement. The case for sending her for trial was
so complete that the solicitor acting for the family
declined to cross-examine witnesses or take any steps
at the present stage. A reluctant admission was drawn
from Miss Graem, the sister superior of the Home
at Brighton, that Miss Kent had acknowledged the
murder to her, and Mr. Wagner has already said
that she made a similar statement to him. And
so the matter stands until next month, when, at
the Salisbury Assizes, the trial will be proceeded
with. In the present inquiry, as in the previous
one, the want of a public prosecutor is painfully
demonstrated. Strictly speaking, there is no one to
conduct the case on behalf of justice and the Crown.
There are, in fact, three parties concerned—the girl
herself, who is her own prosecutor—the girl's friends
as represented by Mr. Rodway—and the police.
The object of the girl is to fix the guilt upon her-
self ; the object of Mr. Rodway is said to be to dis-
credit her confession by evidence on the unsound

state of her mind ; while the object of the police is
to confirm the charge which the prisoner has made
against herself. We cannot but think that in a
case of such complexity it would have been wise
for the satisfaction of the public, fair for the Bads:
faction of justice, and merciful to the self-accused
girl, if the Home-office had appointed one of her
Majesty's counsel to conduct the prosecution. The
clerk of the magistrates at Trowbridge is reported
to have had an interview with the Under-Secrets/
at the Home Department, with the object of elt-
pressing the wish of the Trowbridge Bench that no
one should represent the Crown at the investigation
held yesterday, in order that every chance of escar
should be given to the unhappy young woman yin.°
has given herself up to justice. Sir George Gre
hay IS
said to have acceded to that proposal, and to have
left the case entirely in the hands of the police. 11 e
cannot think that either the Trowbridge Bench or
the Home Secretary has been well advised. What
mercy, or what chance of escape, or what conside-
ration, consistent with the interests of truth and
justice, is the accused likely to obtain at the hands,
of the magistrates or the police which she would n°"
have received at the hands of a Queen's counsel of
high standing, of practised judicial mind, and
charged with no mission but that of operating vo."'„,,
all parties in eliciting the real facts of the case ?
is a new thing in the administration of justice to
ask the Crown not to employ counsel in order that a
prisoner—even though pleading guilty--may ba)
a greater chance of life. The questions which
re-
main for the decision of the jury are siroll
these three—Did Constance Kent commit
the murder ? what was the state of her inind,d
the time ? and what the state of her mu'
now ? Out of these questions great difficulties
and complications may arise. If the evidence,
now produced be not more complete than it was
four years ago, the prisoner cannot be conviete.°,
except upon her own confession. She alone supPheg
the missing link. If the solicitor for the family n._511
discredit the confession by any proof of present It'd'
sanity, the whole case must again break down, But
the prisoner cannot be again placed upon trial. rd
if no proof of present or recent unsoundness of mind
can be sustained, the confession must stand, a!;
the evidence—incomplete without it--receives °l`
the confirmation required. In that case there can
be no doubt that Miss Kent was the murderess;
But then will arise the question as to her state.,e'
mind at the time. This is best known to the Earn
and they only can supply, the required evidence. 1;
the task of proving insanity at one or both of thel
periods it is said Mr. Rodway will apply himse.„.
and he is entitled to every latitide in its prosect,
tion ; but we beg to urge that even if Constanc7t
Kent be of unsound mind now, yet her stateine44
may in its main facts be true. And although tu4t
might not be sufficient to justify her conviction:
would go far to fix the culpability on the right po,
son, and by consequence to vindicate all sv't.
though more or less suspected, were really innecbeilyo
It is perfectly possible that Miss Kent may ''54,0
been under irresistible maniacal influence wheil ~oe
committed the murder, and under no such infhtp,
now when she confesses it. Or she may have
perfectly mistress of her own actions then: the
under unsound influence now. In either case, 64..
evidence of insanity must be strictly scrutiniseu,edit
pecially that which is brought forward to disl the
the confession. We ought to be told in dettwearo
history •of Constance Kent for the last four Jting
and a half ; and instances of conduct indici.a, 1,0
unsoundness of mind ought to be produced. .-t)0
not do to jump to the conclusion that she is InTor
because .she has made this confession, nor to
be
dude on mere a priori grounds that she haa,ao of
brought to a morbid state of mind by the 00
religious restraint which she has recently led•
proofs of recent insanity are forthcoming, the the
dente produced by the police, since it confirtne,,,
A
confession, must pro Canto be taken as true.
state
of
quiry may then properly arise as to her sta, oo
mind when the deed was committed ; and it 7,, of
this inquiry, and not on that of her present 4%1
mind, that her conviction or acquittal on the gr°
of insanity must ultimately turn.