The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-27
The Destruction OF Greysown- Jur Chances
OF a War with England.

The Destruction OF Greysown- 1ur Chances
ola War with England.
From the Kingston (Jamaica) Journal August a.
The Greytovn affair has led many to conclude
that rupture bet cen Ameri aud England ia
unavoidable. and the question has been asked in
that case, what are we to do in this city for food
We can hardly bring curse ves to believe that the
pro- ee0ings in question will lead TO a rupture be-
tween tw . nsiions whose mutual interest it is to
maintain close alliance and the best understand.
ing with each OF err. 1t is true that we sometimes
n ad exceedingly offensive aud mighty beLcose az
tcles in some OF the Ameri an journals, In refer.
many in the United States who, having nothing TO
lose, and scarcely any CLAIM to be regarded a.
American citizens, would be happy to witness
America embroned with ENGLAND, Or any
moil and confusion, they may be benefited
in their circumstances. The American
government, however, and the American people
(properly SO called). with all who have anything
70 lose by war, will not be ready to rush into
one, or to disturb the good understanding which
exists between the two nations and ought to be
encouraged and promoted by every fair and honor
able means; Notwi.hstsndiug the declaration made
the Cyane, we are Of opinion tcat he has exceeded
his instructions, and his government will, when the
matter Is brought under its notice by the British
government, say so aud con- emn his conduct
Such wapton and reckless proceedings as those
which took place at Greytowa can reflect no credit
upon the American government, or nation, and
there 10 reason to doubt that the former, jealous
of its cbara ter, will disavow having authorized
them. Mutual explanations will, no doubt, lead to
the settlement OF this question, and the indemni6
cation Of the parties by the American government,
Wh0ee property has 30 want01ly been destroyed.
But our estimate Of the pa iic tendency OF Amer
can c0nsuls may be erroneous, and the disposition
for war in the United States Of America may be
stronger than we are aware OF. Ia that case, and
should America and England. unhappily, be brought
into collision, what shall we do, who Deepen.
nrNOn n fOP an m Ant IND or Iapnno
quantities, of the articles which we daily c0nsu ne
The immediate effect OF RI .ture between the two
countries will 10 doubt be to increase the prices
here of the commodities usually received by us
from America. We are not 30 com tely depend.
ent, however, upon that country, as not to be
able TO Draw supplies from other sources. Tue
very increase OF price which the disu bed relations
between the two countries will occasion, will bring
us supplies from ether quarters. Demand will Gre
ate supply, and there s little room for doubt that
as long we can AFFORD to pay for the articles which
We require, they will be brought to our market.
The time was, and we quite we'll emember IL, waen
al the articles Of wet provisions which aie nov
purchase from the United States, were brought
from the United Kingdom, and we know OF no rea-
con why our supplies may not again be drawn
which enabled the English consumers Of sugar
snd coffse to pnrchase from Cuba, Porto Rico,
and Brazil, also enables tue Jamaica consumers
OF pork, beef, butter, LAID, &C., TO purchase of
right to buy in the cheapest market. Sae con-
ceded to her colonies similar right, and hence the
trade which bas sprung up in the cheaper, but I'M
quest0nably inferior, articles Of American pro1uc-
ton. The supply Of this ls'ter being cut OF, and
prices having increased as to render it profitable
for importers to procure the superior goods, we
shall soon have these, and II will be found that we
are not 30 dependent as some people would have 1t
believed Il at we are, upon the Ane lean mar et
for food. Whatever -four can be had In any gu n.
titles we may receive nom Canada, which is fast
rivalling the United States in ihe production OF
manufacture. ourselves. Beyond, therefore, the
inc essed price we shall hive TO pay for supsriO
articles, We shall sufr no inconvenience from rup-
ture betwt Ell ErglaId and America But itmay DO
said that our consumers cannot afford to pay in
creased prices for many Of the articles Ia gene
raj use. The reply TO this must be, IL persons can
lot sTord to purchase good article particularly
in The case Of vet provisions they had much better
90 without It. Some Of those row sold, and con.
srmed by our people, are positively unfit for human
food, and ought to be seized and thrown into the
sea- To deprive them OF these would be to do them
service; whilst the money usually Paid for them
might be expended IN the purchase OF something
better, snd more wholesome. Dried and pi ckled
fish, which enter largely into consumption in this
island, partly from long habit, and partly from the
high price Of sailed pork and beef, will continue
with -four from those Provinces, and pork,
jsrd ond candles from the mother country, make
up the principal items OF imports for general con
sumption. Com and ground provisions m y also be
uad Irt III our nelgnOOr8 In Hayu, and the opposite
p0r' 8 In South America. There was tune in the
history Of this island, wien, notwithstanding the
existence Of slavery; and the dread which the very
name Of Saint Domingo irs ired that leland SUP
piled us with large quantities of corn, yams, pou =
try, DC. Alien laws rightly enforced TIL then, aud
subse quently gave way to the dread Of starvation
ard Hsytien crafts crowded our harbor. Now,
happily, all grouncs OF fear have been re-
moved, exceDt, perhaps from the minds
Of few old croakefs In the parish OF
Portland, who are dIeadfully alarmed at
the prospect, real or pretended, Of that parish
being presided over by a "c)lorsd" Custos, and Of
Jamaica becoming a second st. Domingo; and we
can freely admit Haytiens, and consume Hsytien
produce, without fear Of infection, Of suffering
from contact. Bnt we may do something ourselves
to prevent want or starvation, and with little
stirring up we have no douot our people WILL The
pressure Of want Is very strong, and the screw o1ce
applied, much benefit would, we think, result lit
be " good economy and wise policy TO plant sun
cient quantity of food for the preservation OF the
lives Of the inhabitants (and who will deny tia. it
IL r) parties here, In the prospect of a var with
America, will hardly neglect to produce themselves,
and urge others to do Likewise, suficency to meet
the wants Of the country, and render 1t Independent
OF foreign growers.