The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-10


pe, w. H. Weld, o. Fl. p. Stem, and Henry Plat
are authorized to receive new subscribers, and make
collections for the "Union"
We are requested to say the same gentlemen are
authorized to make collections for the aGlobs."
THE ENGLISH PRESS ASSAILING THE
CONDUCT AND CHARACTER OF THE
UNITED STATES.
The restless foot of English adventure has press
ed every region of the habitable globe; and feeble
nations have succumbed to the power Of the British
nurse and the havoc Of the British sword. 'sHer
march is on the mountain wave, her home is on the
deep" This well-turned period is not more poeti-
cal than true Her bards, statesmen, and advocates
Of every grade, amusingly contend that the "wood-
Fired by ambition, elated with power, and confident
of superiority in every manly art, they hardly con-
slider admissible to question the justice of English
policy, or the wisdom of English principles and
opinions. Not content with a sweeping supremacy
which reaches over three-quarters of the grooming
globe, the English pen assails us for the natural dis
position evince to assert our rights, and to pro-
we inhabit. If any enlargement of our confedera-
cy be proposed--no matter what mutual desire,
what reciprocal benefit, what kindred institutions,
or what social proximity, prompted the proposition
I've are fercely assailed by distant Englishmen,
who never had rightful interest in the matter, and
who have always abetted every acquisition to the
British crown which money or violence could ac-
complsh. To give their attack on the American
character the semblance of propriety, they raise
and propagate imputations against us which are
lighter than the down upon the thiste's beard, and
much more easily blown away. In their heated
anxiety to tarnish our name, to question our power
and to sneer at the progress Of achievements in
political science, they forget the force and justice
with which much sounder imputations may be sore.
ly fastened on themselves
The "London Times" the Liverpool Mail
"Willmer's Times," and other journalists in foreign
parts, openly accuse us Of wanton perfdy, of VIC.
lated engagements, and of greedy appetite for ter.
ntonal dominion beyond our righful claims. They
boldly preferred this sweeping charge, in language
still more pointed and offensive than any we have
venured to write. But TRADE without argument, and
impeachment without proof, can hardly satisfy thi,
upright age. For ourselves, demand the evidence
challenge its existence, and nriie the scrutiny
mortal ingenuity TO specify the instance in ,ohich thes
United States hare toroged their creditors abtset
The confidence Of foreign States, planted laole a,,t
oppressive foot upon the soil Of the human race.
II, in the heat and turmoil of the passions, from
lack of Judgment, or forgefuness of duty, an Amer
lean officer has sometimes overstepped the proper
boundaries Of his public trust, the act has been al
ways reproved by the appellate supervision of hi,
own government. When feeble and defencelesl
powers have sometimes mistaken their wsest policy
and have imposed on the natural generosity of ou
temper, we have acted like Christian people
and have coolly advised them to depart from tn,
evil of their ways. When, in 1912, the wrongs ant
insults which England piled upon our unoGendinf
country, forced us into bloody and unequal con
uoversy with that strong and warlke monarchy
we came out Of the conflict, quarter of century
ago, with debt of one hundred and ten millions
Of dollars quartered upon the general charge. Ye
90 creditor Of the United States, foreign or domes
TIC, will dare assert that he has not been fully anG
honorably satisfied to the very syllable of our un
sertaking. We admit that the hasty and improv
ident legislation Of several Statesactors upon the
separate judgement and exclusive responsibility
(which the United States had no constitutional an
hority to control created obligations which, beine
unsatished, have greatly impaired their credit w,
regret it, and deplore it. But the conduct of III,
United States proves that they never created sucl
obligations, and have wisely refused to approx,
them The fundholders themselves comprehen,
and acknowledge this distinction; and every Briton
who has any knowledge of the history and consti
tu'on of our country, must perceive the justice o
It, Stockholders who avoid delinquent States, ar
ready and anxious to negotiate advances to the gen
eral government, whose credit and stocks continu
above par. Even now, while we write, stocks ISSUES
by the United States command premium highe
than could be obtained for the issues of any othe
nation of the world.
To appreciate the English criticisms on the credi
and finances Of our republic, we should ponder o.
the condition and consequences of that massey an
immcasurable debt which nothing but the whirlwin
OF revolution can ever lift from the British isle
When her unconscionable scribblers accuse us of
wicked rapacity for foreign lands, only remem
Der that the thunder of the British guns, and tn
destroying sweep of the British sword, have rouse,
inc fears, blasted the happiness, and extinguishe'
the power of more people than the western cont
ment Of America contains The weary sun mus
always dart his golden beams upon some portion o
mat interminablc territory which England has mas
tered by diplomacy or force.
British editors should remember that the arrows o
ealumny never wound, unless when propelled b,
@chers who enjoy a reputation for candor an,
truth, and who have induced mankind to believ
mat they abhor defamation, as crime which moth
ing could induce them to commit. If the assailan
practse what he openly condemns, his missiles
however adroitly aimed and vigorously hurled
VIII always fall without effect, like the dull and fee
Dle slug which hypocrisy forces from the wind-gu,
Oh impotent folly and malignant hate. In our sen
uments upon national conduct, we should confine GU
aVermens to the limits of truth. The organs of tn
neart and understanding were given for beneficen
ueSRne and Qhould h. 4.