The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESD4Y, MARCH 17, 1841

Devoutly deprecating as we do the possible contingencies of
a war with the United States, less on account of its immediate
or remote consequences to Britain than of the irreparable evils
it must inflict upon civilization and humanity ae large, it is ne-
cessary,to contemplate these contingencies in a
ov
nd nevertheless,reasonable spirit. We would, consequently, re-
mind our transatlantic rivals, that, should those extremities
occur which they a-e so gratuitously endeavouring to pro-
voke, they must find themselves at a disadvantage with this
country heretofore unknown to them in any previous contest.
When the memorable insurrection began, which ended
in their national independence, it was based upon
the existence of certain undeniable grievances that
engaged the 'sympathies of a very considerable por-
tion of our !dome population. Both in Parliament and out of
doors there was a large sec,ion of their then fellow-subjects,
who, they did not positively approve of the rebellion, ap-
pro ‘ed still less the political maltreatment which was said to
nave enkindled it ; and the two-fold consequence of that se-
rious difference of opinion in England as to the reasonable-
ness of the dispute, was, in the first place, a corresponding
confidence on the part of the insurgent Colonhts with
respect to the justice of their cause ; and secondly,
such a proportionable want of rigour and public sup-
port in the military movements of the, British Ministry
of that day, as tended in no small degree to render them in-
effectual. On the present occasion matters are in a very dif.
ferent state. If ever, a people were cordially united, both as to
the justice of their cause, and the firmness of their determination
to prosecute it to a favOurable issue, it is the people of Great Bri-
tain in their existing dispute with America. A false sense of
honour we can afford to dispense with. Our appetite for military
glory, if ever it had a place in British policy, has been long
since satiated to the full. But the paramount necessity cf pre-
serving our dependencies from lawless aggression, and of pro-
tecting the life of a British subject who has done his country
good service in that particular, can never be permitted, con-
sistently with our national honour, to give place to any other
considerations whatever, even though war, with all its calami-
ties should be the inevitable consequence. Perhaps the Ame-
ricans will breathe a little, and think of this.
This is wholeso:ne counsel. The Americans will
act wisely in weighing it carefully. Some among
them affect to believe that if they hang Mr.
M'LEon England will not go to war. They are
mistaken. England will make war, and in
making it the Government will have the cordial
sympathy and support of all parties and factions
in this country. There ought to be no mistake
on this head, as otherwise the citizens of New
York might take it into their heads that they
might hang a British subject with impunity. We
warn them not to indulge in the cherishing of
such a delusion. It is folly even to dreatn of it.
But we have strong hopes that peace ma:: still
be preserved. When the Americans come to
reflect on all the losses they would sustain, and
the little gain even victory would bring them--
a result hardly possible—we have litle doubt
that they will see the wisdom of avoiding a hos-
tile collision with this country. The quarrel at
present is entirely of their own seeking. They
have not yet placed themselves in any position
from which they cannot retreat with honour.. As
the Federal Government has yet expressed no
opinion respecting Mr. M'LEop's case, the giving
him up cannot he regarded as concessions wrung
from the fears of the United States. It is there-
fore competent to the Executive to, declare that
there exists no right to detain Mr. WLEon, and
thus voluntarily set him at liberty.
We have received with the American Journals
the Report of the United States Commissioners,
respecting the Boundary Line, which shall
appear in The Sun to-morrow.

In the House of Lords list night the Tithes
Composition (Ireland) Bill was, after a short
discussion, postponed for a week.
Mr. STANLEY, the Secretary to the Poor-law
Commissioners for Ireland, was called to the
bar, and examined touching the contradictory,
or fahe returns which had been made to the
House of Lords, concerning the appointment of
Mr. BUTLER as returning officer for the Clonmel

Union. After a lengthened investigation, tl e
evidence was ordered to be printed; and Mr.
PHELAN, the Assistant Poor-law Commissioner,
to attend at the bar on Monday next. Their
Lordships have engaged in an inquiry as to how,
why, and wherefore, appointments under the
New. Poor-law are made in Ireland, which pro-
mises to occupy their valuable time for several
evenings. They adjourned over to-day.
In the Commons a brief discussion ensued on
the preentation of the Report of the South
Western Railway Bill, which was in the end
ordered to be engrossed.

Mr. HUTT brought forward his motion relative
,o the Sound dues, and moved a resolution that
:he King of DENMARK was not entitled to levy
hem, and that they ought to be revised.

Lard PA LMERSTON disputed none of Mr. HUTT'S
statements, but he requested the Hon. Member
to withdraw his motion, because the Government
had entered into negotiations with the Danish
Government on the subject. That Government

had evinced a candid disposition, but our Go-
vernment could only object to such dues as
were illegally levied. He hoped that the nego-
tiations might be brought to a conclusion in a
quarter of a year.

- Sir ROBERT PEEL thought that the delays
which had already ensued made this a case tbr
the interference of the House. There were
many reasons why the Government of Denmark
should desire to remain on good terms with
England, and he thought the present manifesta-
tion of the opinion of the House would have a
beneficial efiect. If the existing negotiations
failed, the Hon. Member could renew hiS motion,
when it.will, no doubt, have a proper effect.
After a few observationsby Mr. LABOUCHERE,
Mr. WHITE, Mr. VILLIERs, &c., the previous
question was put, and Mr. HUTT'S question was
not put.

Mr. EASTHOPE moved to print the petition of
Mr. BAINES with the Votes of the House, for
the purpose of founding a motion on it on
Thursday. From a misunderstanding of the
Hon. Member's intentions, and from a misunder-
standing as to the nature of the petition, the
motion was at first. opposed by Lord HOWICK
and others, but was ultimately acquiesced in.
Mr. BAINES obtained leave to bring in a Bill
for the better enrolment of burgesses; and the
ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in
a Bill to facilitate the administration of criminal
justice in the boroughs of Manchester, Birming.
ham, and Bolton.

The House adjourned soon after Seven.

We are glad to see that our views of Mr. LA-
BOUCHERE'S colonial policy, and of the paramount
necessity
which now prevails to improve the re-
sources, by liberating the trade, of the country,
arc shared and powerfully enforced by the Times.
That journal said yesterday :
The measures introduced by Mr. Labouchere to the Howe
of Commons on Friday evening for the relief of the corn.
merce of the West Indies and the North American colonies,
are a very scanty application of the principles %N hieh the Right
Hon. Gentleman laid down, a very tardy advance in that able
policy of Mr. Huskisson, which has now been aprauded and
abandoned for fifteen years, and a very slender instalment of
those commercial benefits which the people of this country and
of our dependencies demand from the Legislature.
It is to be wished that Air. Labouchere would endeavour to
defend himself for doing so little, not for doing so much ; or
rather that he would dare to front the honourable opposition
which might be roused by a more extensive application of the
principles he adopts. It was justly remarked in the coure
of the debate, that it is a galling spectacle to see the duties of
the colonies lightened, whilst nothing is done to remore the
most onerous and unprofitable restrictions borne by the people
of the mother country.
To the colonists themselves, however, Mr. Labouchere is
unquestionably granting a •considerable measure of improve-
ment; and they will learn from the principles which will now
once more, we trust, be recognized by the Imperial Legisla •
tore, that their real interests are to be promoted by a relaxa-
tion of the restrictions bearing upon them, rather than by an
increase of the restrictions imposed for their protection upon
trade in general.

We asked on Monday—" Why, if the colonies
are so worthy of consideration, the mother coun-
try is neglected ?" The Times says "it wasjustiy
remarked that it is a galling spectacle to see the

distinguished specimen of perfect Republicanism
absolutely treated the rumour of his being an
Abolitionist as a calumny so foul as to require
from him a reference to the history of his life in
repudiation of it !
But general as is the present excitement, it is
impossible that the Government of the United

States can be blind to the dreadful consequences
of a deadly struggle with this country. For
whenever there is a war between England and
America the struggle will indeed be deadly. It
will be a war on our parts against the very prin-
ciples of the United States' nationality—against
the very existence of slavery throughout the
New World. The very object of the war would
sanctify it in the eyes of every man, woman, and
child in the British dominions. We might be
beaten, but assuredly we would break up the
Federal Government, and put an end to the
Union. That we would be victorious in such a
war is, however,the confident opinion of nineteen-
twentieths of the people of England. The following
remarks, which we find in an article in th• Times
of this morning,accord so entirely with our views,
and appear to us so well worthy of the serious
attention of our transatlantic neighbours, that
we quote them here :