The daily union., 1846-05-02

and sustained excitement The sitting was sus,
pended for more than twenty minutes. The minis
ter Of the interior claimed the right to reply. We
may hereafter give a brief summary Of his argri-
ment On the next day, the proposition of M.
Remusat rejected by 232 votes against ls4;
maj ionty for the ministers 45.
VIEWS OF AN AMERICAN BEYOND THE ALLAN
TIC.
Our attention has been called, by an intelligent
friend, to the following letter. from the Philadelphia
Ledger, Of Wednesday last; and we agree with hi n
that it contains some views Of much strength and
consequence-and that they not calculated to
embarrass the present relations between the two
countries. We desire peace-an honorable peace
and would now do nothing to embitter and ex-
asperate Great Britain, and prevent an amicable
adjustment, conformably with the rights and honor
Of our country. But this letter. whilst il touches
the springs, does nothing to clog their smooth and
harmonious action.
As to the London Times, we suspect this ntelli-
gent correspondent attaches too little importance to
its character. 1t is true, the Times" is iberal
and almost rabid in its treatment Of America. But
it is conducted with great ability; and though it is
not the organ Of the government it is to great ex-
tent possessed of the confidence of Lord Aberdeen
the minister of foreign affars-the department with
which we are most intimately concerned. The
"Times," indeed, is considered as more or less his
mouthpiece and supports his foreign policy just in
| the same manner as the London "Morning Chron-
Gle" advocates the foreign policy of Lord Palmer
ston. Ii is these accounts that we have attached
so much consequence to the revelations Of the
"Times," whilst we disclaim the narrow spirit in
which 1t distorts almost everything connected with
the manners and institutions of America.
Correspondence of the Public Ledgerl
BRUssEL,, March 29th, 1886
GENTLEMEN: There was great rejoicing at the
peaceable news from America, not only in England,
| but on the whole European continent. On some of
us (Amerleans) the news did not produce very fa-
vorable effect. We liked the vote on giving notice
to England in the House, well enough though we
| could have wished it to have been unanimous; and
reoiced at the prospect that the notice was also
to be given in the Senate though we thought the
second resolution more than unnecessarily tame and
| umd. 1t has produced that effect in Europe and
revived the abuse of the British press of our inst-
| tutions in an extraordinary degree. For the first
| time since the pending Oregon negotiation did the
British press dare to come out with distinct propo-
sitlon, as sort of utmatum, such the joint nav
gatlon of the Columbia river the possession Of the
arrival of President Folks message, and the diplo-
| matte correspondence between Mr. Buchanan and
Mr. Pakenham, the London Times, Chronicle, and
Globe spoke Of nothing but consanguinity and the
ties thereby created "of bones of their bones and
flesh of their flesh, &C. but whenever thew think US
divided or peaceably inclined they instantly relapse
into bullying-talk of "Amercan bluster,' and the
like. Now it is precisely this undertaking of our
| character and resources that | most dread; for
should the British ministry adopt its line n,accord-
ance with these views of the press war would be-
| come inevitable on both sides.
| British arrogance would be promptly repelled by
all parties in the United States and then England
having gone too far to retract with honor would in
spite of her peaceful ncnation be forced into war
| with us. But if the first cannon be once fred the
war takes of itself by creating new causes of|
war as 1t proceeds. 1t is for this reason that our
statesmen ought to speak firmly, because frmness is
| sure to preserve peace much more readily than |
vaciating, half-provoking, half.apologizing con-
duct. Ii our statesmen pronounce opinions which
are not warranted by the spirit and wishes of the
people, they only lead England into error, and put
their country in false position, without in TRUTH
doing anything but endangsring the peace of the
country.
have given, in my previous letters, a hundred
reasons why England should wish for a continuance
of friendly relations with the United States. bnt I
have never reflected on the probability of England
taking courage at want of union and the fear
apparently at least--entertaned by portion of our
public men and the press Of the danger of provoking
the wrath of England We on this side of the water
know that the power Of England is extravagantly
oVerrated IN the United States, and that it ought not
great as 1t is, to enter largely into our computa.
ton OF right and wrong Surely nothing can be
more pusillanmous, and calculated to degrade us in
the eyes Of the civilized world, than the question
which | see SO often asked in various journals
"What will England say to this'" "Will England
not take 1t as an offence, declaration Of war2n
questions In be cd b,yo N Ill
which respects itself The true questions which
ought to be asked, and the only one which ought TO
be our chief-if not our sole guide-is, "What are
our rights!n "Who is wrong in the premisesy,
We may yield after our right is established: bur Ia
submit our rights to the decision Of foreign nation
or even to submit them to negotiation, would he a
dangerous precedent and for this reason especialv
feel glad at the statesmanlike, philosophic manner
in which Mr.. Buchanan has declined the submis-
sion OF the title 10 Oregon to arbitration
He was supremely in the right and those nm
hedged diplomatic soothsayers who disapproved of
his conduct, supremely ridiculous and stupid Av
stupid beyond the power Of expression in the Enc,
lish language. II was the only course the admins
tration could with dignity pursue; all DIPLOMATS
man1uvres on the part Of Mr.. Buchanan a la Met
ternlch OF Talleyrand, would have only degraded
Inc PRESIDENT, degraded our institutions and d.
graded and belied the honest and upright ntent;on.
OF our people. have already, in a previous le,,sr
expressed my views To the utter absurditv of on,
statesmen initiating copying the diplomatic hsbs
Of Europe. healthy, powerful state has No nssd os
Discrimination, and succeeds best by irmness Again.