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

f IHE AMERICAN GRIM,

The ninth annual show in connection with the
Guilelford Agricultural Association took place on
Tuesday, followed by a dinner at the White Hart
Rotel, under the presidency of Mr. W. E. Elkins,

the Mayor.
Messrs, Briscoe and Cubitt, Onslow and Bovill,
the members for the western division of the county
and the borough, were among the guests, and there
were also present Major Onslow, the Rev. G. Portal,
Messrs. More, Molineux, H, Currie, S. Hayden,
Murray Marshall, H. Marshall, Mr. John Ellis, and
some of the best agriculturists of the county.
Subjoined are the remarks of the principal
speakers on the American crisis :

The Rev. C. PORTAL (rector of Albury) said that
if war should unhappily arise between the two

countries he hoped there would be no more of that
maudlin sentimentality of which we had heard so

much, about the Americans being our blood rela-
..

Lions and that a war with them would be as bad as

a civil war at home. [lt was all nonsense. America
separated from us a century ago, and since then
the population had been recruited from every coun-

try in the world. In New York there were 200,000
Germans, and those who knew what " points" it

took to establish similarity of breed must be aware
what sort of similarity now existed between us and
that country. (Hear, hear.) He was very much of
the opinion of the writer who said that a Yankee
was as groat a parody on an Englishman as a mon-

key was upon the human race.
Mr. BRISCOE, M.P., regretted that his sense of
duty would not permit him to abstain, in accordance
with their general rule, from all allusion to politics,
because he felt that he ought not to refrain from
saying a very few words in reference to a subject
whieh occupied a large share of the public mind
as the state of our relations with America.
Although he had no information beyond what
was derived from the daily prints, he thought
that the British public really was not at the present
moment in a position to exercise a very sound judg-
ment upon what had taken place. We were not yet
sufficiently aware hew far the act which agitated
the public mind had been sanctioned by the instruc-
tions given by the Cabinet at Washington; but so
far as could be gathered from the press, it appeared
that the captain of the San Jacinto had distinctly
declared that he had acted entirely on his own re-

sponsibility. He felt that it was a subject of very
grave moment, and that the consequences might be
extremely serious to both countries. He was in-

clined, however, to entertain the hope that no rup-
ture might take place in the friendly relations be-
tween England and America. (Hear, hear.) War
was a calamity in whatever light they viewed it—
politically, commercially, morally, and socially. It
was a gigantic evil, and he should rejoice, and he
was sure every Englishman would rejoice, if with
honour it could be avoided. (Cheers.) Of course the
dignity of the country must be maintained, but he
should be glad to find any means of averting the
calamities of war consistently with the honour of
the nation. (Cheers.) The despatch forwarded to
Washington by Earl Russell contained, it was said,
a firm demand for reparation and for a disavowal of
the act which had justly excited so much indigna-
tion. Some time must elapse before the answer to
that despatch could be received in this country, and
he trusted that in the interval no attempt would
be made to inflame the public mind with a de-
sire for vengeance and retaliation. He hoped
that the Cabinet at Washington would at once
frankly disavow the act which the captain of the
San Jacinto had committed ; and, if so, he was
satisfied that all England would rejoice. (Hear.)
It was supposed that the House of Commons would
meet on the 7th of January, long before which
time the answer to the despatch would be re-
ceived. When Parliament met a great responsibility
would rest upon those who had the honour of
a seat in the House of Commons. Deeply sensible
of that responsibility, he should be guided by a sense
of what was duo to the honour of the British flag,
and also of what was required of a highly civilised
and Christian country, and should be disposed to
concur in any measures which would be the means
of averting the great and serious calamity of war.
(Cheers.)
Mr. G. CUBITT, M.P., said that he would gladly
have avoided the subject of America ; but, as he sat
on the opposite side of the house to his hon. friend,
he felt that he must allude to it. He believed that
there had been general satisfaction throughout the
country at the neutral course which we had hitherto
adopted in the American dispute. We had seen
with great regret the States of America separating,
not without bloodshed, but likely to plunge into
the midst of a most sanguinary war. Perhaps it
could hardly be expected that the Northern portion
of that country should be ready to sever the con-
nexion with the Southern when it was looking for-
ward to the dominion of the whole continent, and
When its rise—but of yesterday—to the strength of
a first-rate Power had perhaps made it more ambi-
tious and sanguine as to the future than others,
looking to the peculiar state of its Constitution,
might have been apt to imagine. Although we
might have been prepared for a disturbance in
America, we certainly were not prepared for the vio-
lent animosity against us which had been exhibited
by a portion of Northern States. Although, there-
fore, rather taken by surprise by this recent out-
rage, the feeling of the people of England was
unanimous that those who were under our flag
should be as safe as those who took refuge on our
shores. (Hear, hear.) Mere sentiment or feeling,
however, was not of much avail upon this occa-
sion, because the question was one which must be
settled by those who were learned in international
law. The law officers of the Crown who had been
consulted were of opinion that a breach of inter-
national law had been committed. Satisfaction for
this had been demanded by the British Govern-
ment. He was sure that that had been done in a
temperate and firm manner, and we 'might hope
that ample satisfaction would be given. Although
we might hope, however, for a happy issue, he
feared that we must be prepared for the worst, and
he was sure if the honour of England were im-
pugned, that there was not a man in the country
who would not feel that that honour must be vin-
dicated. (Cheers.) He had been delighted to see,
in the discussions which had taken place since the
occurrence, the calm and dignified attitude of the
country; there had been no empty menace, no un-
worthy boasting, but we had shown that dig..
nified front which a country having ample means
of defence at command was enabled to show. We
had fortunately raised a glorious army of Volun-
teers, so that, if the necessities of warshould require
us to send a large force abroad, the country would
not be left defenceless. At the time of the Indian
rebellion an uneasy feeling prevailed, because we
were obliged to depend upon the loyalty of an ally
fur safety; and, although he trusted that we might
still depend upon that loyalty, it was for a great
country to depend upon nothing but its own re-
sources. He was not generally a supporter of the
Government, but on an occasion like the present,
however they might differ on such matters as
church-rates and the representation of the people,
when a question of peace or war arose all parties
merged into one, and it was the duty of every mem-
ber of Parliament to give them that warm support
which they might need, and which, for the happy
issue out of such a war as might be impending,
could not be too freely given. (Cheers.)
Mr. BoVILL, M.P., said that when they found a
lawyer addressing them on the all-absorbing sub.
ject of the Trent, they might expect, perhaps, an
opinion ; but he believed that the whole country
had already formed an opinion ; and certainly, after
the learned and able discussions of the daily press,
which had brought forward all the learning,
knowledge, and intelligence of the most intelli-
gent men in the country, they could have no
difficulty in forming an accurate judgment on the
matter. His opinion was that a wrong had been
committed—an outrage and insult to the British
flag. (Cheers.) If that had been done inten-
tionally we were bound to resent it, and the best
course was to resent it instantly. (Cheers.) We
should not in the first instance treat it as an in-
sult, but ask for an explanation and demand the
delivering up of those who had been wrongfully
taken from under the British flag. If it were then
explalued that the outrage was not intentional we

should forgive it in the same manner as we pardoned
the grossest insult the moment it was explained that
it was not intended. (Cheers.) There would be a full
opportunity, immediately the remonstrance went
forth, for America to repudiate the act o' the cap-
tain of the San Jacinto ; but if it should not be
repudiated, we must be prepared to assert our
honour and independence, and to protect ourselves
from insult, from whatever quarter it might
come. He trusted we should hear no more of
not being fully prepared with a most efficient
navy ; and large as the expenditure might be,
and although it might involve some increase of
taxation, or prevent its diminution, he trusted that
the Government and the country would see the
necessity of being fully prepared for protection and
to resent any insult that might be offered. (Cheers.)
What would be the consequences if at this moment
we were unprepared ? Should we have to submit to
insult, and if we did would that avert the calamity
of war? Why if this act had been committed inten-
tionally, and we passed it over, the inevitable result
would be the infliction of still grosser insults, until
at length we were forced into a war against our will.
He therefore commended the Government for de-
manding repudiation of this;act, and trusted that we
would show a bold front and take ample precau-
tions for the protection of our Canadian provinces
from the risk of an invasion. All our preparations
would have been ineffectual if we could not have
spared the troops from this country, and therefore
he congratulated England on the possession of that
splendid and gallant bodyof Volunteers whose loyalty
enabled us to dispense with a large portion of the
regular army. (Cheers.) He trusted that in these
circumstances even his hon. colleague (Mr. Onslow)
would give in his adhesion to the Volunteer move-
ment. (Cheers and a laugh.)
Mr. ONsLow, M.P., said that, with respect to our
foreign policy of non-intervention, happily all
people were agreed. All were satisfied that, so long
as that was adhered to in a spirit of firmness and
decision, our conduct could not be objected to by
foreign Powers; and, so long as we did not refuse
ourimoral support to those who were worthy of
sympathy we need not fear the bugbear of invasion
or the horrors of a European war. But there was no
Englishman•in existence who would calmly stand
by and see the Government submit to an inten-
tional insult ; and if there were any nation so
ignorant as to fancy that we would submit to it, it
was our duty to teach them better, and to inform
them that they could not touch us with impunity.
(Cheers.) He trusted that the difficulty with Ame-
rica might be arranged at once; or, if not, that it
might be decided by arbitration. We had very pro-
perly discarded duelling in private life. It was a
most unfashionable amusement, and he trusted that
the great duelling of nations might become equally
unfashionable and equally a remnant of the past.
In these days of foreign troubles we had fortunately
at the head of the Government our jastly popular
Hampshire Premier—(cheers)—and he was satisfied
whatever might occur, that there was no man who
could better sustain the dignity and honour of the
country than the noble lord. (Cheers.) He trusted
that Lord Palmerston might be permitted to see his
time out as Prime Minister of this great and pros-
perous country, because he believed that a change
of Government at the present moment of Euro-
pean commotion and American convulsion would
really be a national calamity. Parliament would
shortly be assembled, and when they got there—
whatever might be their political differences—every
true representative of the people would swamp his
own particular opinions in the one patriotic idea of
maintaining those principles in which consisted the
best safeguard for the interests and welfare of our
common country►. (Cheers.)
No other speaker touched upon the questions;

SUSSEX.

HORSHAM, Wednesday.

The annual show of fat stock in connection with
the Horsham market, took place in this town to-
day, when there was an unusually large and cre-
ditable exhibition. In the evening a dinner took
place at the Black Horse, at which Mr. W. 11.
Seymour Fitzgerald, M.P., presided. There were
also present Sir Charles Burrell, M.P., Mr. S. Cave,
M.P., Col. Barttelot, M.P., the Hon. H. Wynd-
ham, M.P., Mr. P. Burrell, Mr. C. S. Dickens
Captain Pipon, the Rev. F. Vincent, and a nume-
rous gathering of the gentry and farmers of the
district.