The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-15 00:00:00

of fact, between the contending Northern an,

Southern States of the American Republic•—
kindred in its tone, bearing, and charac-
ter to that other proclamation of neutrality for-
merly issued by this country between Greece
and Turkey, and that more recent, and in some
respects, more memorable proclamation of neutrality
in obedience to the sentiments enunciated in which
we held aloof while the legions of France and of
Austria were contending for the mastery upon the

plains of Lombardy. These documents, in truth,

are in themselves amongst the most signal evi-
dences the world has afforded to it of the beneficent
growth of civilisation. They are indications of a
course taken by us, directly contrary to that pur-

sued in more barbarous times by our remote pro-
genitors. Of old the mere noise of battle acted
upon the impetuous souls of men as the
sound of the trumpet is described in " Job"
to have acted upon the thews and sinews of
the war horse. It is still the same to
this day among all the savage races ; the mere fact
of a conflict drags those who are not already
engaged in it, by an apparently irresistible impulse,
into an active participation in the struggle. One
side or the other is chosen, upon the spur of the
moment, with passionate impulsiveness. The clash
of swords meeting—causes every other blade to
spring from its scabbard. It has ever been thus in
the elder and ruder days of chivalry—it is even
thus still to this time among the yet surviving
races of barbarians. Humanity is the visible and
appreciable gainer in this matter in proportion to
the wider and wider diffusion of the benignant
and rational principles animating the
whole
complex framework of modern civilisation. We
have gradually come to recognise the simple truth
o
that, Because any other Powers ray be contending
l
amongst themselves to the life and to the death, it
does not, therefore follow by an inevitable neces-
sity that we, ourselves, must thereupon perforce
buckle on our armour, for the pure lore of fighting,
and join, upon one side or the other, in the bloody
strife of the - belligerents. Even we, the great
fighting race of the Anglo Saxons, we who have
carried our conquer:ng arms to the uttermost ends
of the Earth, into remote regions that the ancient
Romans, the lords in their day of the then Known
World, never dreamt of-7even We the warlike
descendants of the Briton and thevikin_
g have come
to recognise the reasonableness, and not only the
reasonableness but the dignity and honour,of hold-
ing aloof, strictly and scrupulously aloof, from san-
guinary struggles in which we are in no way, in
which we need never in any way, be directly or in-
directly implicated. Dictated though the policy of
non-intervention or neutrality undoubtedly is alike
by reason and religion, by common sense and Chris-
tianity—it is nevertheless in the history of the
nations of the earth, as a recognised fact, a compa
ratively recent innovation.

Here, once more, in our own annals, through
the conspicuous medium of a Royal Proclamation,
the word at Inrge has signal testimony afforded
to it that England is so strong and so just,
in other words is so rational and so civilised, that

she can not only avouch her neutrality in no am-
bignous terms, but, while doing so, can warn her
own children in the most solemn accents from any
participation whatsoever in the strife that is now
desolating the North American continent, As
spectators merely of that conflict upon the op-
posite shores of the Atlantic, we have
already to endure a sufficiently bitter afflic-
tion. The belligerent forces there are so re-
cently and so closely of our own kith and kin,
that they are still to us as our own fellow-country-
men. It is in the vivid appreciation of this that
Her Britannic MAJESTY and her Government have
found the incentive to the utterance of that
earnest and impressive adjuration (so to speak) with
which the Royal Proclamation, published in last
night's Gazette, closes so very emphatically. Our
Sovereign Lady therein, in three concluding para-
graphs of her Proclamation solemnly warns "all her
loving subjects,"and "all persons whatever entitled
to her protection" against doing anything deroga-
tory of their duty as subjects of a neutral Sovereign.
It is a prohibition, this warning, against entering
into the military or maritime service of either of
the contending parties—here, in last night's Pro-
clamation happily, and most adroitly, distinguished
from each other as " the Government of the United
States of America," and certain Southern States styl-
ing themselves" the Confederate States of America."
It is a prohibition against maritime service espe-
cially of any kind whatever—that is against any
subjects of the QUEEN serving as officers, sailors or
marines on board any ship or vessel of war or tran-
sport in the service of either of the contending par-
ties, Or even on any privateer bearing letters of
marque, of or from either the American United
States, or the American Confederate States, Govern-
ment. After enumerating a great variety of other
acts of complicity with the belligerents, or of direct
participation in their struggles, acts, each and
all, each separately and all collectively, hereby de-
clared to be illegal through this neutral trumpet
call of the Royal Proclamation—the document
ends with this explicit declaration—" And we do
hereby declare that all our subjects and persons
entitled to our protection, who may misconduct
themselves in the premises, will do so at their peril
and of their own wrong, and that they will in no
wise obtain any protection from as against any
liabilities or .penal consequences, but will on
the contrary incur our high displeasure by
such misconduct." Such is the suitable echo
ringing from the " White Lodge" here in
England, in answer to the war blast recently
sounded from the " White House" in America. For
our brethren across the Atlantic we can but
breathe the old prayerful ejaculation, "May God
defend the Right !" For ourselves we can hardly
do better while closing these remarks, than reite-
rate that loyal cry of " God Save the Queen !"
with which, according to ancient custom (in ap-
pearance so egotistically), these Royal Proclama-
tions all terminate.

On Monday a debate began in the Oldest Con-
stitutionally governed country in Europe, which
may be pregnant with the gravest consequences.
The Diet, indeed, which is now assembled has been
in abeyance for some dozen years, while Austrian
tyranny has run riot in the land, but, though the
summons which now convenes it may be of ques-
tionable authority, those members who think so,
yet regard it as an opportunity of reassembling, and
they have met, and are now in vigorous discussion
on the best mode of asserting their undoubted
rights.

The opportunity is that of a reply to the Im-
perial Speech delivered by the Representative of the
SOVEREIGN. The Moderate party, headed by a
very able man, the Minister of Justice in 1848, M.
PEAK, proposes the usual form of an " address " in
reply. The Advanced Liberals, of whom the late
CountTELEKI was the head, propose a memorial. In
the statements and demands to be embodied in either,
the two parties entirely agree. The debate turns
on the form. But then this form involves the grave
question of acknowledging, or the contrary, that
FRANCIS JOSEPH is King of Hungary. One party
allege that the abdication of FERDINAND V. does not
include the Hungarian Crown ; an argument with
which the stolen KOSSUTH note has rendered our
readers familiar, it having been one made promi-
nent in the pleadings before Vice-Chancellor
STUART. M.- D EAK, on the other hand, contends
that the throne of Hungary is de facto vacant,
and that FRANCIS lOSEPX is the claimant under
the Pragmatic Sanction. To us there would seem
to be a good deal to be said on either side; most
certainly the Emperor of AUSTRIA has not fulfilled
the legal conditions requisite to his claim to be re-
garded as the King of Hungary. He has neither
secured the explicit abdication of the throne by the
two prior claiinants, nor proffered himself to be
crowned in the legal form at the right time. On
the other hand, in the midst of so much informality,
if he can be accepted as King de facto, awaiting his
coronation, 31. DEAN may be right in thinking that
the Hungarians will stand on equally good ground
in dealing with him. He must then be crowned,
must take the oaths, which are full and precise,
and which guarantee the fundamental liberties of

union.

the summoning of the representatives of the
annexed provinces], our fundamental laws recog-
nised, our Parliamentary Government and respon-
sible Ministry replaced, and all the remaining off-
shoots of the absolute system lopped off ; unless all
these preliminary conditions are fulfilled, all fruit-
ful deliberation, all reconciliation, is impossible."
It is obvious that with these views firmly held
by the most moderate men in Hungary, Austria
must either enter on the path of legality or on
that of violence. The Unity of Hungary with the
Archduchy—of the Great Kingdom of nearly fif-
teen millions of inhabitants (if we include Tran-
sylvania) with the petty Archduchy of about two
millions, and including the kingdom of Bohemia,
and numerous other small provinces and nation-
alities, of not more than about eighteen millions—is
a mere theoretical figment, a paper scheme of Ger-
man Bureaucrats, utterly without foundation in
historical fact or legal right. Will the EMPEROR
and the Imperialists follow the Warsaw example,
amd try what bullets and sabres can do ? Will
they meet
.the demands of the Diet, as legitimate
as those of our parliaments under the STUARTS, by
force ? A temporary triumph is possible enough ;
The Russian and German tyrants are strong. The
vile soldiery of one nationality in a composite
Empire like that of Austria, can always be
made to shed the blood of another nation-
ality, and the Hungarians are unarmed. BENEDEK
is traitor enough to his native land to lead
Italian and Tyrolese conscripts against her, and
wide-spread horrors might be the result—the first
result. A second might be that bitterly hated by
so large a kingdom, the weakened empire would ill
support a second shock which might soon be given
her from the South and West. Her alternatives are
to be the weakest of empires with the largest of
armies, or to humble herself to the acknowledgment
that Hungary is rightfully an independent and
powerful kingdom.

A question was asked last night in the House of
Lords which assuredly would never have been heard
there but for the present weakness of the United
States Government—whether the cession of St.
Domingo to Spain had received the sanction of the
French and English Governments, and if so whe-
ther due precautions had been taken that slavery
should not be introduced into the Island. Lord
BROUGHAM, was, of course, the veteran in the Anti-
Slave-Trade cause who put the question. In doing
so he took occasion to say a word of pity for the
master of the slave, who he said deserved it
next to the slave himself, because the inheritor by
no fault of his own of a vicious and criminal system,
He had some fear that injury might even now be
done by speaking too hardly of American slave-
holders. We might ourselves be disposed to share
his lordship's commiseration for those whose inheri-
tance from their ancestors was a few dollars, much
nearly worthless land, and a large stock of human
cattle—did these unfortunates but feel their mis-
fortune. The fact, however, is that they glory in
slaveholding ; that civilians hold it to be political
perfection, and that clergymen proclaim it to be a
Divine blessing to both master and slave. For such
impenitence in shame and crime we must confess
that pity seems to us entirely mis-directed.
However, the great Slave Republic is now so
weakened by its slave•holding aristocracy, that it
is compelled to look on while Spain, which was to
have been bought out of Cuba—and if it would
not sell, to be driven out—re-appropriates its old
share of St. Domingo. Mr. LINCOLN cannot help
it, and certainly Mr. JEFFERSON DAvIS cannot—
will England object ? Lord WODEHOUSE held
that it was entirely the province of the Spanish
Government to decide whether it would accept the
cession. We gather from his remarks that
the Spanish Government professes a kind
of Savoy and Nice modesty on the sub-
ject ; that she will accept the- cession if
the inhabitants of the island generally desire it.
With three thousand Spanish troops there as the
Returning Officers, an appeal may be made to
universal suffrage and the ballot, in which case
the result can be little doubtful. But, why are
these troops wanted if the consent of the inhabitants
is to be asked ?—the answer is that the Dominicans
have already loudly complained that their Gover-
nors are traitors; that they do not wish for annex-
ation ; and there have even been disturbances,
which, of course, the Spaniards, who want to give
the same kind of liberty as the French bestow at
Rome, suppress, in the interest of—" Order."

The Spanish Government has, however, assured
our Government that slavery shall not be intro-
duced into St. Domingo. A fact of which Lord
WOODHOUSE was " glad" to be able to assure their
lordships. We should hare shared his pleasure
did not another fact occur to our recollection—
that Spain had taken half a million of our money
under an engagement to put down the slave trade
in her dominions, while Cuba remains the great
mart of that hellish traffic, baffling all the exer-
tions of our cruisers, and putting us to a heavy
annual expense. Lord BROUGHAM thought it
would be a favourable time to'call for the re-
payment of our money—would it not be better
to notify Spain that we will not recognise, nay,
that we would resist at all costs, her assuming the
government, or protectorate even, of St. Domingo,
unless she first puts a stop to the slave trade. Let
her understand that her word is worthless, and let
her bear the consequence. Lord WODEHOUSE
thought it would be difficult for her to maintain
slavery in one part of the island while the other
part was free. But how long, under the annexa-
tion policy, would it be free ? The French part
would soon follow the fate of the other part, and
we should soon have but another Cuba. Our
Government ought to have securities as well as
promises.

he nation.
The vital struggle would seem to us, at a dis-
tance, to be on the contents of the address. Here
.here.is no difference of opinion among all deserving
he name of Hungarians. M. BEAK is an eminent
urist and a moderate man, but, in common with all
his countrymen, he stands on the legal rights of
Hungary, and no one is more competent to state
and maintain them. He affirms that the union
between Hungary and Austria is a purely personal
one ; that not a trace can be found of a " real"
He remarks that had it been a real
union, Hungary would never have been _
allowed to retain her constitution; the proofs The Countess Amherst had an assembly last
of M. DEAR's proposition are ample and con- evening at the family residence in
arenGros bveennoar-saudaret.o
an-
elusive. It will be utterly impossible for thel,EmPE- ALBERT-GATE
that ll
splendid°" residence and its contents have
.s
ROE and his Germans to meet the Hungarians in ar-
permanently into the possession of the French
nou
gunient, especially if passed this
the latter are disposed to make Government. The first object for which its doors are to be
the best of a worthless prince. M. DEAR'S party thrown open willh bflet of
a chtharitabelie,trei,r aivainzg.,ased grand
s rs
efeaenucy
are so. The demands
with which the following
quotation from M.DEAR'S speech concludes may of June.
hbeazvaiaLfber the
been fixeedneto take eplaces thereat on the 6th and 7th
be unpalateable but the conciliator
enough in-
YOUTHS' CLUB AND INSTITUTE.—On Monday
, y
troduction ought to be Worth something to the evening. the Bishopth of LotnddonThretshidedxcaetlltehnet
edliu'shtrfiebruhteioyns
Germans in their false position :—" Neither power which
nor greatness (said M. DEAR) is the object of
Government. Power is only a means ;
the object
is the happiness of the people. If the prince, who lire': eheatse aun establishedeenneee in the Aedeelaide Gallery by the
Rev. Henry White, chaplain of the Savoy. More than 203
lads, engaged in workt durfintg te
he day, have in thaevapilaesdt thyeemar-.
selves
so ffet the
writing,ead v anaagreisthomehtic,
drawing,su
singing, English
once considered the absolute system as the safest grammar, and Scripture history have been established, and
instrument to secure that happiness, is convinced, ches, draughts, and other games are provided in the read-
ing. room. Yesterday evening Dr. Jelf, the Principal of
by an experience of twelve years, that by that King's College, granted the use of King's College Hall for
system the goal cannot be reached, and, acting the annual ceremony, and a very large number of gentle-
men and ladies were present, as well as the boys and their
under this conviction, has determined to adopt the
friends. On the platf rm were the Bishop of London (who
Constitutional system, and without flinching to presided) and Mrs. Tait, the Rev. Dr. Jelf, the Rev. Pro-
persevere
in that course—if the prince wishes that fessor Plumptre, Sir Walter James, Bait, Revs. J. E.
the withered roots of confidence and trust shall Kempe, C. C• M Robins, J. Aldrich, H. White, T. Wode
sho•
house, Mr. Thomas Hughes, F.
&c. Mr. White, who was
w signs of life and throw out new shoots, then much cheered, gave an interesting account of theh inaftiLtute,
he will treat our representations with the utmost
doni s prztrreishsuatendd
tihts pro.spects.,thandfethwenwethrdesßeifs
keinpdness to-
respect. Only, by the act of coronation does the each of the recipiene ptsr:zesllwis lordship gave an impressive
King of Hungary become legally the King of Hun- address to in his happiest style, and warmly eulo-
gary. But the coronation has conditions precedent y
well-deserved e
Eisehis (caleluini
eg forth a perfect s
c t
lordshipstorm
woafs applausefoflowed
required by the laws, whose previous complete fulfil- , by- Dr. Jelf (who mentiongedsintli.at Mr. White had been one
awe iS asolutely essential. Unless our constitutional of the most industrious of the King's College students),independence is re-established unimpaired, the ter- Professor
The eveningPluraptre,SirV4:ed most
Walter James, Bart., and
Th
othere
ritorial and political integrity of the law secured ; gentlemen.band
def
the
19th Middlesex, composed of many pleasantly.
wet:dem of
unless ur Landtag is made complete Eby the institute, played the bishop hit) the hall.

LATE t,T N.E

TOULON, MA 15,

The whole squadron stationed here has received
orders to sail on the 20th inst., with all the steam

transports.

MILAN, MAY 15.

The Perseveranza of to-day announces that a
priest in the service of the reactionary party, and
a bearer of compromising papers, has been arrested
at the Roman frontier.

TURIN, MAY 15.
The Italia of to-day denies the reports of an ap-
proaching modification of the Ministry.

VIENNA, MAY 15.

The official Wiener Zeitung of to-day says :
"If the inhabitants of those communes of Hun-
gary whose taxes are in arrears should still refuse
to pay them, notwithstanding the requisition of
the Special Commissioners, the communes will be
militarily occupied until two-thirds of the arrears
due be paid."

MALTA, MAY 13, 745 P.M.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, with the
Empress of Austria on board, arrived here at 5
o'clock this afternoon, and was afterwards followed
by "the Osborne.
The health of her Majesty is much improved.
It is doubtful whether she will land.
The yachts leave to-morrow for Trieste.

VIENNA, MAY 14.

The Emperor received to-day the members of
the Lower House of the Reichsratb, who presented
to his Majesty the Address in reply to the speech
from the throne.

The Emperor, in his reply, said that it was his
intention to retain not only the unity of the
Empire, but also as much as possible the autonomy
of the provinces.

Letters received in Paris from Turin give a denial
to the news published by the Patric that the king-
dom of the Two Sicilies was about to be militarily
occupied, and state that the military forces in
Naples will merely be increased.

QUEBEC, MAY 4.

In the Canadian Parliament a division on an
amendment to the supply estimates resulted in
favour of the Government by a majority of ten