The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-02
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
The Mal has q leader upon the internal i'm
proveueut matters now before the Legislature
No more favorable time than the present for Legis
lative action on the great leading lines can be rea
sonably anticipated. The agricultural interest !"
In most healthy condition, and at no time "h''A
many years could the farmer have borne an =,
crease of taxes with less inconvenience tnan 'e
present And Notwithstanding the manufacturing,
mercantile and AGRICULTURAL interests favor internal
improvements the legislature refuses 10 'nee' ue"
expectations The Mail calls upon the Lesl.'"-
ture 10 decide at once-secure co"i'nah'a''oA
with the ohioforget sectional and local interests
and restore the old Commonwealth to her former
posi,,op at the head of the Contederacy. The MAJ
has several other editorials on general subjects.
The W1i9 alludes to the passage in Lord Ciar-
eudon's late speech in the House OF Lords deciar'
ing that the union between England and France re-
lated not only to the Eastern question, but had re-
ference to the whole world. This speech exclteo
the "anglophobia of Gen. Cass, who called the at
tention of the Senate 10 the subject Although the
W1is admits the possibility of the United States
being drawn into the general war, it does not zee
what good could be effected by any resolutions 1t
b not worth while for US to show our hands. We
are q. liberty to pursue whatever course we may
choose-provide the means necessary to accom-.
plish any end we may desire; but 1t viii not
strengthen us or weaken our adversaries to tell
them what we are about.
The Enquirer has long and ingenious article On
foreign affairs, and the sympathy which is SO gene
rally expressed in this country for Turkey In It's
present struggle with Russia That sympathy, the
Enquirer contends, is unreasonable. The protec'
ton OF Kossuth and his companions from the ven
geance of the Austrian tyrant created a newborn
admiration for the Turk in this country. The sort
OF protection extended to those fugtives was, how
ever, entirely different from that extended in this
country. The generous protection of which we
read much in the British journals at this partic
lar juncture, was simply the privilege OF residing
within the limits of remote Asiatic village, ham,
pered by the restrictions of prisonbounds and SUBJ
jected to the espionage OF an Austrian police
Much more Is said in favor of the social condition
of Russia than of that existing in England and
France; and whatever ambitious schemes and
cruel incarcerations may be urged against Russia
the Enquirer meets by showing that on the score o.
honesty and mercy, England and France posses;
scarcely better title to regard than Russia. 1t il
also shown that while Russia is "our early and stead
fast friend" France and England our rivals and
enemies; that the war they wage. is founded in
selfish purposes; that the only advantage in this
country from the war will be reaped by the com
mercial and manufacturing interests of the North
which would prosper in the storm, while the South
would be paralyzed The recent declaration OF
Lord Clarendon will open the eyes of the people
OF this country, and it is cause for wonder that
Mr.. Marcy sought an instant interview and expla-
nation of the British and French representatives.
Here, (says the Enquirer have we been lavishing
our sympathy on England and France in their
struggle with Russia, when suddenly we discover
that is not for the protection OF Turkey alone that
they have accumulated these immense resources OF
war, and contracted this close and cordial alliance
Contemplating with jealousy and alarm the mar
vellous expansion of the power of this country by
land and sea, they have concerted scheme for
resting its march and subduing its pride. The En-
Quirer concludes by asking what is the true policy
Of our government under such circumstances
Shall we yield to the influence of England and
France and passivey fall victim to their intrgues
or shall we throw out the hand of friendship to
Russia and thus abate their aspiring pretensions
and counteract their ominous aliancel England
and France hate our republican institutions and
dread our maratime supremacy. Their purpose
is to impair our strength and impede our growth
We have a resource which will not fail in the ex-
tremity to which they seemed disposed to drive U.s.
The Penny Post calls attention to the Militia L aw
of 1852. A more mischievous law, it conceives,
could not have not been enacted. No system o.
public defence can exist, unless it be founded OF
some organization of the militia. If voluute el
corps are needed, they are far more apt to sprin.
out ofthe body OF an organized militia, than out o
any other condition Of the public force While it il
true that in time of peace the militia cannot be dis
ciplined they can nevertheless be organized read,
for instruction as the occasion NAV arise -
The Post proceeds to state other Objectionable fea
lures In the act; and although the enrolment of the
militia is certainlya good feature, it by no mean,
compensates the public for the loss it must sustain
In case OF instruction or invasion, from the NOE
existence of body of organized men. The State
H. in fact utterly defenceless The Post patriotica
ly appeals to the bloody fields of the revolution and
9th last war; to give the contradiction to the lash
ionable assertion that the militia are utterly wo,,b
less
The Eccning Bulletin, by way of answer to the
furious clamor raised by the abo,tonists respect
ing the proposed repeal of the Missouri Compro
mise, cites an array of facts showing that from the
origin of that Compromise down to the present day
the free States have uniformly disowned repudiat
ed and spit upon that measure And yet these peo
pie now assume its guardianship, and character
ize the proposition to abrogate it with the grosses
epithets. According to Greedy, all those who now
favor the repeal of the Missouri Compromise are
"rascals'' What term then will express the ras
cality ofthose the editor of the Tribune inclusive
who have have been striving to nulify said Com.
promise for the last 80 years9
In the New York Independent we find the follow
ing from mother:
But did tell you what time had with my
little Joei"
mo what was it ="
"Why, was showing him the picture of the
martyrs thrown to the lions, and was talking yery
solemnly to him, trying to make him feel what
terrible thing 1t was. MAJ said he, all at once.
oh ma just look at that poor little lion way be-
hind there, he won't get any"
Co. it, L.