The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-04 00:00:00

TEE AMERICAN RIFFICUL2Y.

THE HON. R. H. DUTTON, M.P.

At the annual root show of the Batley and South
:ants Farmers' Club on Monday, in the Market-

hall of Botley, the Hon. R. H. DUTTON, replying
for the county members, touched upon the late out-

rage committed upon the British flag by an Amer
can war-ship, and said :—However much we migh
have regretted the American internal disruption,
how much more must we regret now to see the
Northern States embroiling themselves with an
European Power. This country had agreed to be
perfectly neutral in respect to the American civil
war, and had so conducted her affairs since the
differences began ; but yet, in the Northern States,
for some time, there had been an evident wish to
pick a quarrel with the mother country. It was
only the other day we were wondering how we
should treat the affair of the Nashville Confederate
steamer, which had come into Southampton after
taking a Federal prize ; and while orders on this
affair were still pending, came the startling event
of one of our own vessels being boarded by a ship
carrying the flag of the Federal Government. The
first great question was, would our jurists decide
this to be a hostile act, or not ? He at first cer-
tainly thought it must be an act of aggressive
character ; and now there was no difference of
opinion, as both the Government and the great
jurists who advised the country all considered the
act as an aggressive one. He was very glad to see
the Government, of which Lord Palmerston was
the head, acting so promptly, Though he was not
exactly a supporter of the Premier he did not think
the country could be in safer hands. (Hear.) He
thought no Government could have lasted one week
after meeting the Parliament if they had not taken
the course just adopted by her Majesty's Ministers.
(Hear.) There was no taxpayer in this country
who would refuse to pay his share of any extra
cost to carry that demand of restitution out.
(Hear.) Then, how would our demand be met
in America, thought they ? He doubted if there
would not be some hesitation in giving up these
men, and then instant war would ensue. It would
not, however, prove, if it came, a costly war for us.
Happily for us, and unhappily for America, the
navy of England was never in a better condition,
and if it did attack them it would make a perfect
havoc of their carrying trade, which was to them
of immense importance, as they did all their own
coasting trade, with their own bottoms, from the
whole of the American lines to California, and they
could not employ foreign shipping. It will then be
but a matter of a few weeks for the English vessels
to cripple their whole strength. America had many
great commercialtowns on her coasts, but they pos-
sessed, none of them, any fortification whatever
that could withstand even the onslaught of our very
old-fashioned three-deckers. If these things be con-
-1 sidered in America they must be mad to rush into
war ; but he was afraid that country was not ruled
at present by its wisest men. Their chairman had
said just now that monarchical Governments were
on their trial, bat it certainly seemed that demo-
cratical Governments were on their trial.
and