The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-15 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

(From the Paris Papers of Sunday.)
The leading articles of the Paris Journals are almost ex-
clusively on the Eastern question, and on the dispute between
England and the United States. We subjoin some extracts
on the latter subject, which are not without interest. The
Constitutionne/, in allusion to the remark that the desire for
war manifested in the United States is but the expression of
a discomfited party seeking to create embarrassment for the
new Government, says :
" As far as we can judge from the information communi-
cated in the journals and letters from the United States, it is
not a party, but the entire country, which has expressed its
inflexible determination to put down the pretensions of
England. The real question with the Americans is not as
to whether Al‘Leod shall or shall not be hanged, or whether
their territory shall be enlarged by a few hundred leagues,
which are contested. These are the reasons assigned, and
riot the cause of rupture. What the Americans desire is, to
deliver themselves for ever from the presence of the English
in Canada, and to free the new northern world from the
patronage of Europe ; and for this they have warm auxiliaries
amongst the Canadians themselves, who have by so many acts
of bold resistance and so many sacrifices, shown their dislike
of the yoke which is imposed upon them. In this respect,
then, the war which appears to he at hand will, in the United
States, be a national one, and no Government can, on this
point, modify the general feeling of the country, or even hesi-
tate to fellow the general impulsion. The rights of the Exe-
cutive are very limited, too. limited perhaps by the constitution.
The nation has delegates, but in reality it governs by itself.
What it demands its agents must execute, and the shades of
political opinion which distinguish the two great parties, and
which are very slight, have no importance as to the solution of
a question upon which public opinion, and the representatives
of the Stages and of the Federal Union, have pronounced their
will unanimously."
The Courtier Francais considers a war as imminent, but
offers some reflections on the subject which do honour to the
writer, and which are the more important, as appearing in a
Journal which has been charged by the advocates of the peace
policy with a desire to put an end to the tranquillity which
has so long existed in Europe, and by which the United States
have so amply benefited. It says—
" We hope that, on the eve of a struggle which would cause
a great effusion of blood, and which presents no chance of
compensation for the calamities of war, the two Governmen's
will give way to reflection, and feel some remorse for the
passions which have led to the present danger. France, in-
deed, has no reason to be afflicted at the prospect of a war
between England and the United States, for such a war might
be for us, so far as a selfish policy is concerned, a source of
joy and triumph ; but we must be above the paltry sugges-
tions of private interest. Viewing the question on a larger
basis, such a war would interrupt the commercial relations
which connect the two continents, and which during the last
25 years have reached a vast extension. In this point of view
the war would be a calamity for Europe. War sometimes
promotes the cause of civilization. Thus the English could
have rendered vast services in India, if they had ameliorated
the condition of the people whom they subjected. So, in con-
quering Algeria, we shall sooner or later have the power of
doing good to the uncivilized tribes with whom we are now
contending. But on what principle can a war between the
English and the Americans be beneficial? The London
journals announce the intention of stirring up the slaves
of the Southern States to revolt ; and, on the other hand,
the citizens of New York and the Maine have probably the
intention of stirring up revolt among the oppressed French
colonists in Canada. On both sides, then, social war
would be added to foreign war, and the contest would be car-
ried on at the same time by scaffolds, and by cannon. What
an example for the civilized world ! If war should take place
between these two nations, it will not be a war of principle,
for there is no question of right involved; it will be a con-
flict prompted by ambition and fed by pride ; that is to say,
the most odious spectacle that could be offered by human
nature. We will not inquire which of the two countries
could do most harm to the other. They are both powerful,
and both persevering and obstinate in their designs. Eng-
land has an incontestible superiority at this moment, and her
first blows would be strong ones With 11 ships of the line,
15 frigates, and 39 smaller vessels of war, the United States
would find it difficult to contend against the most formidable
navy of the universe ; but they have sailors and a warlike
population, and money will not be wanting for the building
of ships. England has been unfortunate hitherto in her wars
with the United States, and her Government may desire to
take signal vengeance for the past. The reminiscences of
the past, on the contrary, raise the pride of the Americans,
and they hope this time to take possession of Canada, and to
drive the English from their continent. This is tl.e chapter
of illusions of both countries ; the reality will be terrible. If
war should take place, it will fall upon the two nations as a
judgment from Heaven upon their reciprocal insolence, and the
Satanic pride which led to it. The United States will thus
expiate their ingratitude to France, which made them what
they are, and England will pay the penalty of her dislo) al in-
tervention in the East."
The Gazette de France takes a different view from that of
the Courrier, as to the probable effect of a war between Eng-
land and the United States, in the interest of France :
" The consequences of such an event," says the Gazette,
" would be immense for us. All our commercial interests are
engaged in our relations with America. Our silks, our wines,
our jewellery, our furniture, our articles of fashion and luxury,
form a large capital ; all this would be placed in jeopardy, for
the first act of the English would be to blockade the ports of
the Union."
The National displays none of the calm reasoning and good
feeling of the Courtier. It is rather like the evil spirit breath-
ing into the lungs of its intended victims the means of com-
mencing and prolonging a contest, which it desires shall be de-
structive to both. It urges the Americans to war, and pro-
mises that, if they will strike the first blow towards the free-
dom of the Ocean, they will find auxiliaries. It concludes an
article full of violence towards England, and in which it de-
clares that the Whig Government is desirous of war as the
only means of directing public attention from its incapacity
and mismanagement, with the following paragraph :
"We hope the • United States will be firm and resolute to
the end. It will not be the first time that they have lowered
the British pride, which has always increased in insolence with
the humility of its adversaries. Let the Americans bear their
own history in mind; they will find in it just grounds for con-
fidence, and the whole world will be indebted to them if they
succeed in shaking a power, whose immoderate ambition is the
source of annoyance and anxiety both to old and new States."