The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-10
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
GREAT BRITAIN & THE UNITED STATES,


From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
GREAT BRITAIN s. THE UNITED STATES
THE SPECIAL MISSION.
We trust that the editorial recently published in
the Madsonian upon the subject of the Special Mis-
sion, is not founded upon any information possessed
exclusively by the Government or upon any bellige-
rent views entertained by the Executive. The art-
cle it seems to u.s. must be regarded as unkind IN
its tone, if not uncaed for. But perhaps we have
attached unnecessary Importance to 1t, for although
the Madisonan is the official print, it does not follow
that even upon such grave topics as war between
Great Britain and the United States, its editorial
speculatons should at all be identified with the views
of the Government. The intended visit of Lord Ash
burton TO this country, has been received by the
American press generally as earnest of kindness
and good and wishes, manifesting disposition to
reconcile the difficulties between the two nations not
only speedily possible but in the fairest and
most honorable spirit Great Britain says to us in
this act we send you gentleman specially quail
fed to treat and who is kindly disposed towards the
United States, inasmuch his wife is native Of
that country and is not only deeply interested in its
general prosperity, but has large personal estate
there" Lord A. moreover, is gentleman advanced
in life, moderate in his views and likely to prove
conciliatory in his conduct generally Surely then
such messenger should be received with frankness
and magnanimity, and the spirit manifested on the
other side, should be responded to on this.
we regret, uHen, 10 Ilfu III any quarter, ulspOs-
ton to consrue the visit of Lord A. INTO any other
than pacific movement. But perhaps we have mis-
taken the tone of the Madisonan. Perhaps our
temporary desires merely to Congress from its
torpor and to induce the Representatives of the peo
pie to carry out the excellent suggestions of the Sc
cretaries of the Navy and of War. If So approve
his purpose fully and cordially, and go with him heart
and hand Let our defences be strengthened in any
event. Let position be SO fortified to enable
US to look and feel like nation. Let us cultivate
L.,.
power and at the same time not prove unmindful by
our acts, of the mighty movements which steam en-
erprse has already introduced into the navy of Great
Britain, and which are about to be emulated by
France.
Weregret that the tone and purport of our re-
marks Cd the special mission of Lord Ashbur-
ton should have been Inexperienced, as they
appear TO be in the paragraphs above quoted
We can perceive no reason why the article
written by US should be regarded as unkind IN
its tone; much less can we discover grounds
for the inference that the views we gave might
be Z" founded upon any information possessed
exclusively by the Government, or upon any bel
ligerant views entertained by the Executive"
We did not and do not suppose that any difficulty
can exist in compromising the whole scope
and bearing of what we wrote.
In the first place, we have not shown any dis
position TO construe the visit of Lord Ashburton
into any other than pacific movement. On the
contrary, we distinctly stated that we regard the
special mission as an indication Of the sincerity
and anxious wish of the British Government to
prevent a collision. We said, also, that we
viewed the selection Of Lord Ashburton as con-
6rmatory Of the pacific disposition of that coun-
try, and we assigned for our impression reasons
very similar to those given by the Inquirer. The
tone of that article was not unkind. 1t was as
jealous in expressions Of friendly appreciation of
the pacific disposition manifested by Great Bri-
tain as the most ardent advocate of peace could
desire. We demonstrated perfect reciprocity
Of the amicabe feeling exhibited on the other
side.
We deemed that more was called for, and
that we were bound by our du ty as journalists
TO invite the attention OF the people 10 another
aspect which the mission presented. We thought
that the country might be seduced into belief
that all danger Of rupture between the two
countries was entirely removed, and that the
adjustment of all differences was certain, be-
cause Great Britain had indicated change in
her course Of policy, and made advances to-
wards a pCaceable arrangement Of all the
defences we thought it dangerous that we should
be lulled into an undoubtng confidence Of peace,
when war is possible. The questions on which
Lord Ashburton has been delegated to negoti-
ate are Of very delicate complexion and, be-
ry possibly, even he may find his efforts unsuc-
cessful in procuring a peaceable settlement of
them, though we are certail that his spirit of
Cancellation is fully reciprocated by the Ameri-
can Executive Should he fail in accomplish
ing the objects of his mission, we said, and we
repeat our assertion, that not only must war en-
sue, but that il will be precipitated by the mis-
sion. The negotiations will now proceed more
rapdy-and the crisis be hurried
This view Of the possible result of Lord Ash
burton's visit we consider obvious. 1t insinu-
ates no doubt of the sincerity of Great Britain
not intimate that her object, in appointing the
special mission, is TO hasten the war; it merely
states known fact, that the questions involved
in the negotiations are so difficult of adjustment
as to furnish grounds for doubt whether they can
be peaceably seltled-though both the treating
powers are equally anxious to avoid war-and,
from the fact, deduces the inference that, if they
are not peaceably settled, tn at war would come
sooner than if the mission had never been ap-
pointed. In these remarks there is no unkind-
ness Of tone whatever.
E5The U. S. flag was hoisted for the first time on