The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-16
EDITORS coRREsPoNpENcE
From our regular correspondent
4 rs PHlLADELPHrA. Nav Ia. \

5slas g syi ePHiLADELrHiA, May IA, l845.
The article in Monday evenings Union, and the
orcible and straightforward extracts from the lead
ing Irish papers, the best evidences that could
be furnished of the misrepresentation Of, and the
treachery to, the people Of Ireland, by Mr.. oCon-
nell. The Dublin Freeman's Journal contains an
article, written with intelligence and candor, in the
course Of which the danger to England in war with
thiS country, is clearly pointed out. Such ~ar
ntrer tch unite Ireland or spen England, in its behalf
The American people may be somewhat unpopular
in England, on account of the bitterness with which
they have been assaed by British writer's; but there
Is very ,aIge ana overwhelming portion Of the
people OF Great Britain, who have not forgotten
that ours is truly the last refuge of the oppressed
and who STILL among all the msfortunes craving out
Of low wages and little labor turn TO the land Il; The
West, as To hope that has been long and fondlv
cherished, where all free alike, aad where toll Is
sure of its reward In the dense population of the
swarming manufacturing districts of Great Britain,
there smothered more deep and bitter complaints
against the policy of the English government than
have yet been made public there are also many
strong minds of great natural intelligence among
the laboring poor, who have not hesitated to de-
nounce the cruees of the rich i'm their treatment Of
the masses. Whenever the suppressed breathings Of
these popular discontents find even constrained ut
erance, the details of the almost inconcevabe suf
erngs ofhe English poor have been found to be awful
indeed. The records of Parliament alone contain
enough of the sad and melancholy statistics of their
utter desttution and misery to prove that the peo.
pie Of England cannot be unanimous in favor Of any
unholy war with the United States. 1t will form,
even to Sir Rober Peel, subject for grave consid
Grafton, whether the withdrawal of all supplies Of
cotton, which must inevitably follow any war be-
tween England and the United States, will not drive
the already half-starved laborers Of the United
Kingdom into open and desperate rebellion-whether
the increased sense of their sufferings and wrongs
will not make them them ready to follow any one
'bold and brave enough" to lead them and it is a
wel-established fact, which history abundantly
proves, that people once reused in such a
cause, do not stop until they have accomplished
some great and fearful result. 3
England is not potent enoughto prevent her dis
contented populace from asking themselves how
much they will gain in any war with America; and
whether even the triumphant success of her Males
give their children bread. They will answer these
questions, not only men who have suffered long
and keenly, but with q perfect knowledge of the
condition of Great Britain and under the belief that
a government which fears to rely upon the people,
can never succeed in war merely for dominion, in
this intelligent age. The recent outburst against
Mr. Peel for his course on the Maynooth grant,
while it may have been created by an excitement
common to religious sects, is certainly significant, al
this time of more than merely sectarian prejudice
In ireland, the American people are confessedly
and, from the very nature Of things greatly esteem
ed. Even Mr.. O'Connell's volunteered opposition
and abuse against the United States have not been
sufficient to lose the confidence and affection of
his countrymen, to lead them forget that thou
sands of lrishmen, their friends and relations, are
enjoying the blessings of civil and religious freedom
in this country; or that we have ever been ready to
aid them, by and our sympathies.
The name of American" continues to be the certain
passport, in spite Of Mr.. O'Conne To their hospi-
tality and regard. There are many reasons, which
need not be repeated here, why such war as would
be declared BY Great Britain against the United
States would be odious in Ireland; and the Dublin
papers have faithfully reflected the opinions of the
people in their intelligent comments the Of
the wing and tory leaders. So much for the state
of things in the United Kingdom.
The aspect of things here, in our own coun-
try, 10 certainly most cheering. The great mass
Of the people of all parties will sustain the
sentiments Of the Presidents inaugural in re-
gard to our foreign relations The voices
Of the disaffected will be overwhelmed by the
loud tones of millions of freemen, who "know their
rights, and, knowing, dare maintain them" We
may not be well prepared for war Great Britain
for our trade is peace not war; the triumphs Of
country, those which have been achieved by its in
situations rather than by its armies We do not 20
abroad plumber the people ofoher countries ofheir
wealth; or, for mere purposes of ambition, despo
them of their territory, and make them our slaves
first losses in any with Great Britain would be
ours. do not believe in the picture which has
been so often drawn, (and always overdrawn, }
and which represents as the leading result Of the
three first weeks Of conflict with England, the
great Atlantic cities RACED their foundation stones
by the irresistible war-stenmers of the enemy No!
think better Of my countrymen; and while fbelieve
that we should always be well prepared, | be-
eve also that we should now be able to protect our
harbors, and the entrances of our harbors,
FULLY against any foreign power. A very intelligent
and experienced sea-captain assured me, the other
day, that he would undertake to blockade the chan
mel at the breakwater, one hundred miles from Phil
adelpha, simply by claiming three or four vessels
together, and dropping their anchors in the stream;
and so effectualy, too, TO prevent the approach
even of the most powerful steamers He would, Of
course, employ other means than those to make the
scheme succeed-such as placing sufficient force in
the vessels, and increasing the number Of guns but
he declared TO me that he entertained little doubt of
the success Of the plan. The crisis, however,
would create the most potent deences and should
have no difficulty in maintaining the character we
| established long time ago. If landing were eff.
fected no one doubts the result then. BY means Of
railroads, stretching into the Interior and link
ing us, with their iron arms, with the distant
counties IN Pennsylvania, fifty thousand volunteers
would pour into Philadelphia at days notice, and
would aid to swell the large and overwhelming mill
tary force in this immediate vicinity. The issue
would not be doubtful, nor the contest protracted.
But may Providence keep us from a war The
age is averse to war. The means and facilities for
the destruction Of life have increased fearfully,
within the past ten years. TO make the bravest
stand appalled, before assuming the fearful response
bility, such the result of conflict between two
great nations would be. have, however, deemed
the views which have hastily presented. in the
preceding remarks, as not unworthy of your
columns, and to show, however imperfectly, that il
war must come, they who predict our downfall,
or who say we shall be worsted in the
struggle, regard the aspect neither as men of judg-
ment, nor as Americans. In reference to Great
Britain, believe, with the organ of the Irish PEG.
pie, the Dublin Froeman's Journal: ENGLAND will
be especially cautious of going to with Ameri-
ca or dashing herself against the compact constitu-
ton of her States, when she reflects that America is
a country with whom foreign nations ambitious
to become united, ,che she herself is country from
hose mercess grippe kindred nations struggle to be re-
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