Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-11-25
Public ssatinsut n Europe concerning the
United States:

Public sentiment n Europe concerning the
United States:
A correspondent ofthe N. Y. Times who
writes from Paris, France. over the sigma
ture of aDick Tinto," in recent letter up
on the above subject, gives the following
facts, incidents and reflect ore:
The disgraceful brawls in Congress; the
6llibuste rism which seems to faint the
whole popular mind, the general fseling
that we take Cuba to save our peculiar in
stituticns;" the new doctrine that Slavery
is blessing, and as suci must be perpef-
uated; the removal, by an act Of the nation
al Legislature, Of an ancient limit to the
extension Of slavery; the passages between
Benton and Petit, the decision in Kentucky
that gentleman may murder schoolmas-
ter and be acquitted by Judge and Jury. the
appointment Of such creature as Borland
as Foreign Minister, aid the consequent
destruction of Greytown; the demand of ten
millions Of dollars for fillibustering purpo
ses by the President; the Irish and
German riots, the drama Of the negro Burns
and the United States at Boston--these,
and multitude of minor incidents. includ-
ing murders, slanghters by railroad and
steamer, losses by fire and shipwreck, COM
mercial panics, bank explosions, railroad
robbing by Cranes and Schuy lers-these
are a II made 10 pass and repass before the
public eye, losing nothing Of the sinister
and revolving light they cast upon our coun-
try and our people, through the glaring ma
lightly of editorial comments.
Various other causes have contributed to
make our country and our people unpopular
with the masses of France. Among them,
| may specially not our position in respect
to slavery. Uncle Tom has been read by
all classes; twenty editions are for sale in
bookstores. 1t has been dramatizcd, en-
graved, Autographed, versified and set to
music; and thus wrought into the popular
mind by every appliance Of literature and
art. In its nature, it is work that APP
peal. with intense sympathy to the hum
bier classes.
And as if it were the design of our coun-
try to vindicate and enforce the terrible
portraitures Of this dark romance, the Ad-
ministra,ion Congress, the slaveholding or
gans, have all recently, set before the
world series of acts and declarations, ma
king Slavery appear to be National In
stitution, cherished by the Government,
and favored by North and South, as God
and benefcient nstitution-compatible
with American liberty and with Christianity
and essential to their full development
among US! / cannot better illustrate
what | mean than by narrating an anec-
dote.
An American friend Of mine was called
on few days since, for settlement Of bill
by Paris wine merchant, when the fol-
lowing conversation occurred.
Wine nqerchant-What do the Americans
think of the war!
American-They do not take a partisan
interest in it.
WINE nlerchant-And why not!
Amsrican-It seems to them only strug-
gle between the Despotisms of Europe, in
which the people have little interest, about
which they were hardly consulted. When
We see struggle in which the masses Of
Europe are concerned, then we shall SYM
pathize with them.
Wine merchant-I am astonished to hear
a man of you position make statement 80
n ot oriously inexact. have read the
American papers andI see that an act has
passed by your Congress. removing
from certain territory an ancient barrier to
the exte nsion Of slavery therein.
American-That was, however, rather
a theoretical than practical measure.
Wine merchant-It strikes me as highly
nraetical. because it was measure avow-
edlv gratifying to the slave interest. 1t
was so intended by the President and the
1T was SO received by the
slave holders; It was voted for by a majority
az both Houses of Congress, members Of
the free states participating in the affirma-
tive vote. Now, does not this show, that
Slavery is a National and cherished institu-
ton among you!
Americaa-It may wear that aspect here,
where YOU have only artial view of facts;
but the men who brought forward the meas
ure YOU allude to were only seeking private
ends. TWAS, in short, bid for the Presi-
dency.
Wine userchant-Yes; so ! understood it.
It was the move of politicians, but why
did they thus pay court to Shareholders, be-
cause they are the masters of the country.
its opinions, policy, patronage. If it were
as YOU pretend, merely local institution
Won would net see the President, Senators
a whole Congress, making court to it. No,
sir. il is clear that slavery is a nation estab-
iishmept in the United States, and is the
great key to your policy, domestic as wei
as foreign. In your national elections, you
must have President and Vice President
favorable to slavery. tits to serve the cause
of slavery that spirit OF lawlessness has
b en- evoked thre.t n ng Cuba, Mexico, and
indeed the whole tropical portion of Amer.
lea.
American--You are drawing very large
differences from very small premises. What
you say is true only in appearance and up