Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-13

The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger gives some tolerable
good reasons for the distrust with which
Americans regard the British md French
alliance:
We have cause to distrust the Franco
British or Anglo French alliance for FIVE
distinct causes referring to the past, and
filling US with no small opprehensions as
to the future. ~.
The first time that England aud France
acted together. was during the negotia7
tions preceding the annexation of Texas.
1t was then that the representative of Eng
land, Capt. Elliot, and the representative
Of France, Coant Staligny, joined hand in
hand not to promote either French or En-
glish interests-for neither of them were
involved in the question-but to prevent
the annexation because it would add to
the power and dominion Of the United
States. 1t was gratuitous act of jeal-
ouSy and i'll will towards this country,
showing that our progress was looked up
ON with an evil and Jealous eye. This
might have been expected from Great Bril-
tain, but not from France, for whose pros
perity we had always cherished lively
desire, and for whose generosity towards
us when we most needed 1t, we had al
ways felt warm gratitude.
Tho second time we had occasion to ro-
Cret the Anglo French alliance was when
we were invited TO join in a tripartlte par
ty TO preserve the Island of Cuba to the
crown OF Spain. That invitation was a
little better than an insult to US. England
and the United States might as well have
invited France to tripartite treaty to pre-
serve the Rhcinish Provinces to the King
OF Prussia or Belgium as it is; or France
and the United States might have invited
England TO tripartitc treaty for the pur-
pose Of preventing the annexation of ano-
Their kin dom TO the British Empire in In
dia. The invitation betrayed jealousy on
the part Of Great Britain, and-most I'M
accountable to us-also on the part Of
France, as regards the progress and de-
veIopmcnt Of the United States.
The third time that France and Eng land
i7ined hand IN, hand to thwart the views
OF the United States was when the annex
alton of the Sandwich Islands was seri-
o1sly entertained by the Government
The possession Of these Islands by the U.
States, if France cherished her old affec-
lion for the U. States, and followed hel
traditional policy, would be desidpratum
for our old ally. ltwould cqualize Eng,
ljsh and French interests in the Pacific b.
third maratime power. already practi-
cally established, legaliziug its CONNER
Cial acquisition. The departure of France
from her own interest to subserve the in
.terests Of Great Britain is, even at this
moment, painful subject to the United
States.
Again, the United States having a very
large West India trade, and no depot for
coal in any Of the Islands, while every
maritime nation is there represented, dc.
sires the acquisition of port in the Is
land of St. Domingo. The desire is no
sooner known than France and England
again unite TO thwart our design. The
acquisition of such a port By the United
States could not injure either England or
France, but it might possibly turn out to
the advantage Of the United States, and
for this reason our oil ally deserts us, and
supports the pretensions Of arbiIer on the
ocean of Great Britain.
10 cap the climax, there is an Island in
the Pacific on which an American Captain
first discovers guano. He lands and fer
Cos in the spot, and returns to the United
States and communicates his discovery to
his Government. Steps are taken TO ac-
Quire tie Island; bat here again France
and England protest, because forsooth !!
many years ago an English Captain look
ed at the Island us he passed II!
These are the causes which make this
Government, and a very large class of the
people of The country, look with distrust
and apprehension on the Anglo French al
Nance, Us Ioreboding them no good and
this it is which engenders sympathy for
the cause Of the Russian Autocrat.
had almost forgotten to speak Of the
Clayton Bulwer treaty. What was it that
made England extend her protectorate to
Greytown, and made her take forcible pos
session of the Bay Islands? 1t was the
acquisition by the U. States of California,
which, AZ once, beyot on the part Of Great
Britain, the desire to cut off the means of
communication between the Eastern and
Western coast She intrigued in Mexico
during the war, and employed all her
means and energy to cause The Te&nHnte-
pee project TO fall through. and then APP
piled her energies to seize upon San Juan
dc Nicaragua. Here, too, France sided
with England, as if to make the transit a
European question against America.
The. Emperor Of Russia, however he may
have sinncd against liberty in Europe
and his trangressions in that respect are
n doubt great-has keptfaith with the U.
States; and however the principles Of his
government are opposed to the principles
underlying our form of government, the
material interests Of the United States and
those ofRussia are made identical. by the
operation of the Anglo French alliance,
however friendly we may feel towards our
Old generous ally, France, and whatever
similarity there may exist between the
RHitish cnyernaent and our OWL