Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25
THE WAR QUESTION.

Sol up d rover III the only IN con-
nexion with the recent seizure of an American
steamer at Havana, but also on all other occasions
in which any thing possibly can be said to stimulate
angry passions and excite feelings between us and TO-
reign Governments, allow me to offer few remarks on
the subject not only regards the transaction
Havana over which such noise and outcry have been
made but also the subject generally, the dispo
ston too frequently exhibited in certain quarters en-
bro our foreign relations, without any regard dignity
or consistency of action part to the
quences upon the interests of the country which would
be seriously injured by " q little war"
The country is at present going her way rejoic
ing in the high road of progress prosperity and hap
pness without any previous parallel to it in the history
of any nation, not in that of and it GER
tany should be for trivial unnecessary that
the present exuberant national prosperity Should be in
jured or destroyed
have heard the opinion expressed and regret say
from quarter connected with great political influence
that the country was in such plethora of wealth.
sources prosperity and population that abso-
utey necessary; but hope and believe that but few
Americans would agree with such sentiment and,
the contrary that would be universally condemned if
not execrated by the great body of the people of the
United States Any Administration which would recklessy
or without sufficient cause plunge this nation into war
would be held to fearful responsibility by the American
people, though the latter would stand by the country
and see it through and out of such war; if not with
success, at least without dishonor.
Few among u.s. and certainly not the writer would
counsel submission to insult wilfu wrong from any
foreign nation but at the time vast majority of
this nation wou1 be opposed to hasy and unadvsed
ton unreasonable demands for any presumed injury
rights insult to nationality and it would be
great and fatal mistake our statesmen should allow their
action be governed influenced by the absurd
ngs of the fbuter portion Of the press Of the United
States. ...s
The recent seizure of the Black Warrior by the auhor
ties of Cuba has been made the occasion for exhibiting
vast deal of unnecessary and absurd vaporng Among
the suggestions which have been called forth by the above
event is which think would be eminently disgrace
full to the nation if carried into effect and it is mortify
to every possessing proper national feeling and
pride that should have been mentioned with any
degree of appreciation allude to the proposition to
repeal neutrality laws regards Spain If really
have any just cause of complaint with her which, on
her refusal to grant the proper redress would be
for hostilites in Gods name let go to with her
in fair and honorable manner and prosecute that
according to the usages Of civilized nations; but do not
let be guilty Of the nefable and poltroon
cry, whilst nomnay at peace to issue declaration that
all the roebooters pirates buccaneers and fibuseIs of
the world may congegate in ports with consent
and receive aid and encouragement prey upon the
territories, subjects, ad commerce of Spain. Save at
least from the execraon of the civilized world by thus
procamng ourselves the grand piratical nation of the
nineteenth century. Let have in preference to such
of action with all its consequences-war with
Spain, with France, with England, war with the
word-but fair, open, honorable war; with all its car
nage losses, and devastations rather than allow the
ton to sagger under such load Of nfamy the adop
think that greater SANDER promulgated against
any President than the suggestion which read in
than of the fbuster journals that Mr.. PIERCE in
his proposed message Congress the Black Warrior
affair, would recommend measure of the kind. was
fully convinced that it perfect impossbty for any
President of this Union to sink himself low such
proposition would have done and therefore felt the
least apprehension the subject. The day. trust is
far very far distant when these United States in rghting
their wrongs will have adopt piratical mode for eff
fecting the object. '..". .......... ...
As regards this question of the Black Warrior cannot
help thinking that disposed to preciptatey,
not to say unreasonably 1t was the act of Spanish
subordinate any rate and the seizure confessedy
for violation of the laws of the island. The
suffering parties, however allege that they had been time
and again previous voyages permitted to do the
thing for which their seized and by their
showing the only of complaint is that their
previous violation of well known law punished
and that punishment follows without being put upon
their guard not to commit the offence in future.
We evidently disposed to ahead in way in
order to obtain redress, without waiting for
PLANTATION from the Spanish authorities for their motives
and cause of action in this case The owners of the
steamer say that they have oil previous voyages when
stopping Havana entered and cleared if in ballast
though always with cargo board but not intended
be landed Havana They also asserted that the Brit
sh steamers always did the thing and acting Con-
sui there confirmed this statement his official letter to the
Department of State But such not the fact and he
has been obliged in subsequent despatch to contradict
his previous statement. Every one must admit how
deeply censurabe he for officially stating such fact
having an important bearing grave national ques-
ton without first fully ascertaning the correctness of it.
Now suppose the Cuban authorities show that the state
regards the Black Warrior having thus made
previous entries in this manner is also incorrect it
in the case Of the British steamers The natural in
ference certainly is that the Cuban authorities would
allow privilege to American steamer which de-
MED to British one and that if the Black Warrior did
thus make her entries ct the house in ballast the
of the fact and that this is the first time they have
ascerained to the contrary At any rate is it any thing
but fair and reasonable that the Cuban authorities should
be allowed tell their side of the story, to offer
proof if they so in contradiction to the statement
Of the compliments? am far from saying the statement
Of the captain of the Black Warrior to his previous
mode Of entering his cargo is not correct; the
trary have little doubt but that it is but still his