The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-05
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TIMES.

/ NO. n
s,x The Rev, Sydney Smith, and ihst dessne-
rate Amsricsn, ths Rev. Ne. Lessitt rsrs adjuncs'
in manufacturing public opiaien ~ Hsand. Ihs
one tells YOU Ill The Amerscass gould. n they
could, have Long and bloody wars with England be-
cause you better clothes and ride 10 better car
ragss the other tells you that he knows that The
siayeholders have resolved 10 make war upon Eng
land for the benefit Of slavery. ! have explained,
that, il VIC TO have with England II VIII be
for the possession OF Oregon and that that question
affects particularly the interests OF the North
eastern and Northwestern States; but have said
that If war comes, the South will put nierpreta-
ton upon The motives Of England which will excite
their deepest Indignation. Hence, in case Of war,
all sections Of the country will be united, and 1t
will be conducted with spirit and energy hitherto
unexampled.
| Is there cause to apprehend collision between us
and if so, can it be avoided Is it not the interest
and the duty both Governments to cultivate peace,
and to establish il on the most permanent basis
That nations well as individuals are responsible to
public opinion, is admitted by Sir Robert Peel, who
on more than one occasion has urged that repeal
of your discriminating duty on slave-grown sugar
would be used as an argument TO prove that your
efforts to abolish slavery and the slave trade not
dsinterested. If often happens, that in communi-
lies, where each is playing pait persons give credit
to others for sincerity which they do not them
selves profess and that hence they believe the mass
to be actuated by set Of motives, when in truth
they are controlled by another; and it sometimes
occurs, that when tho parties themselves become
convinced that they have been in error they are new
ertheless impelled in the same direction, some by
motives Of personal interest," and others by wish 10
appear consistent This we believe 10 be the present
condition Of England. Before giving the reasons Of
that belief, will dispose of the assertion of the Rev.
MIR. Lcavitt-which is, that she know that the slave
holders in the United States had long since deIibe-
rately and de6ntively resolved to bring about state
OF war between the two countries, for the teneta Of
starery" Now, II Mr. Leavitt had said that the best
inf rmcd statesmen Of the South have long entertain
ed aprrehensons that England, under the hope of
abolishng slavery, would seize on the first favorable
pretext 10 make war on America he would have told
the truth and he might have added, that in case Of
such war, the South would give the most vigorous
resistance But he should have qualified his asa. r.
lions by saying that the whole South are convinced
that It is their interest to preserve peace, and that
on all occasions the South have been uniformly fav-
orable to peace. 1t is true that they see in the past
measures and present policy Of England Of APP
prehension but they rely the identity of their
tsrests with those Of the great body OF the people of
Engand-on the progress Of more liberal and correct
views Of public policy, and upon tie public opinion
and spirit Of the age, which is for peace. In copfr
nation of this, and as directly contradctng Mr. Lea
vt's statement refer you to an extract of letter
from correspondent in New York TO J. Scoble,
Esq, dated Goth March, 1843, and published by the
British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Spciety in the IN
i-SiGrery Reporter of the l7th May, le43. The wri-
ter says
"You cannot but have noticed the strong des.re
manifested on the part OF Mr.. Calhoun TO maintain
peace with England. He doubtless feels that war
would not only endangcr his prospects, but the sta
bility Of the slave question"
This writer says truly, that Mr.. Calhoun has mani-
Iosted string desire TO maintain peace with Eng
land, but be entirely mistakes the motive. Mr.. Cal
houn is governed by enlarged and liberal views of
public policy and not by sectional personal consid
cTatons. He and his friends are the advocates of
peace, and will do all that is proper 10 be done to
avoid war and they believe that the BEST if not
the only means Of doing this, is 10 harmonse and
consolidate the interests OF the two countries 10
render war impossible. But cannot so well or so
forciby express Mr. Calhoun's opinions he him
self has done in letter to me, dated 9Th Of Septem-
Der, lS43 lie says
Z" / have read with interest your letter II gives
much and important information which confirms my
previous impressions. | have, in the present re-
markable state OF things, not been nattente TO the
course OF events in England and had come 10 the
CONCLUSION that il would take the turn you anticipate
England has but one elternative--to harmonise her
interest with that of the other portion Of the civilized
or resort To force TO maintain her pre-emnence. IL
she adopts the former, freedom Of commerce and
Don-interference with the Institutions OF other nations
must be the basis Of her policy but If the latter she
must prepare for universal conflict with the civilized
world. The danger IS that she will select the latter
II so, 1t will present Of struggle and violence
unparalleled IN the history Of the world, which will
end in her downfall but II thr former ii will open
page Of prosperity and ciyzaio ion never before
known on the globe
Strange as II may seem, the decision of the corn
law question and the sugar duties will go far to de-
eide this great issue. In the advanced state Of CON-
merce and the arts the great point Of policy for the
older and more advanced nation is TO command the
trade OF the newer and less advanced, and that
not be done but by opening free trade in proy,s-
ions and raw materials with them. The effect of the
contrary policy rs, not only to cripple their
and manufactures, by curtailng exchanges but TO |
force the newer and less advanced portion to become
prematurely their competitors. This England now
and feels and that TO remedy the evil the corn
law and sugar duties lin favor Of her colonies)
be repealed that she must resort to force main
tain her commercial and manufacturing superiority.
II force is rcsorted TO- the blow will first be struck
at the United States, Brazil and other slave holding
countries The reason is obvious I, is indispcnss
BILE to give her monopoly Of the great sta Piles they
produce, and through them monopoly of the trade /
Of the world. The abolition OF slavery would trans
fer the production Of cotton, rice sugar and forth
TO her colonial possessions, and would consummate |
the system Of commercial monopoly which she has |
been so long and Systematically pursuing"
| may add, that the opinion OF Mr.. Calhoun so
forcbly put, is now the opinion 6s very large ma
joriiy OF the American people, and thai for the
Oregon on any other prctence, will be attributed
to desire to emancipae our slaves, because you
have ascertaned that neither in your colonies nor in
the East Indies you produce cotton rice, sugar
&C. in competition with slave labor, and that there
fore you cannot monopolise these great staples bo,
by abolishng slavery in the United States, in Cuba,
and Brazil
In The debate on the sugar duties, in February last
Sir Robert Peel said