The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-06

States In sef-deience into the attitude OF begeIent
This attempt 10 distinguish betwixt individuals and
nations parties 10 war, Is no better than piece oil
jesuilical sophistry, With the exception Of women and
children every individual member OF nation al wal is
more OF less party in that because he assists in
supporting il in way other. This is espe
cially the with all those engaged in foreign
merce, for money the snews of war and in modern
times il is from that governments derive
great portion OF their for annoying eoereng
each other To cripple the commerce oil nation is the
suest means OF bringing about peace, and il is phne-
pay by that England has maintained her prepon-
derancy on the ocean.
But the tables have turned, demonstrated during
the late with Great Britain, when, Notwithstanding
that preponderancy, her suffered much more
severely than that OF the United States. II will suher
still more IN any subsequent war, unless we should be
taught by our attentive monitor the Times, which has as
sumed supervision Of American morals and politics. that
cutting lhIoats is bagaelle when compared with
sezng the property enemy the high seas The COM
mercal marine OF the United States is now in great
measure, composed of the swiitest merchantmen and
in the world, and our sailing vessels engaged
in commerce are OF class which may at little expense
be converted into pvateers almost equal IN force, and
superior in speed, 10 soops of-war. They are among
the efficient of all The OF the United States
Tor annoying and bringing TO reason an arrogant com
mercal enemy like Englan and 1t IS certainly hoped
we may not be driven from their employment by the self
ish hypocTca cant OF the organs OF the most canning
OF nations
Should we voluntarily divest ourselves OF this tormi-
dabe weapon must in future depend on our navy alone
for defence or annoyance and England, being thus freed
from the necessity of protecting her commerce. will be
full liberty employ the whole force OF her navy in raw
aging coasts, destroying our war, or IN any
other mode Of civilized warfare she may be pleased to
consider most phanthropic-tha is TO say, most to her
advantage. Relieved in great measure from the ne
| ae he hn
abed TO employ the whole of her naval force against that
OF the United States, in any other mode that may be
thought expedent and thus, by voluntary act OF
our own shall have Invested ourselves OF one OF our
most efficient means of defence and annoyance.
There is another view of the which should not be
forgotten very large portion OF the British and French
naves consists in propeers, which cannot
be employed distant cruises because they are incapa-
BILE of carrying sufficient fuel enable them TO keep The
sea for more than or three weeks lme and have
no speed under canvass. They may do well enough in
the narrow between England and France, but on
the broad Atlantic. and still broader Pacific, could make
little impression commerce, for they could moi
overhaul OF our sailing merchantmen except in
calm very light breeze and would hardly be fairly
out at sea before they would be under the necessity of
putting back for supply of coal The navies of Eng
land and France are therefore, not IN condition favor
able to war on the commerce of the United States and
il is doubtless from perception OF this that they have
lately become conscenously scrupulous 10 the
rality Of prsa,eering AS to their clumsy merchant
Ships they might them all into letters OF marque
if they pleased, and they would be able down
one OF our clippers. or if they did, would only catch
Tartar.
But the Times-,ban which no oracle can utter fall
lacy with more solemn and imposing gravityis pleased
10 say that " the seizure of private property has
paratlvey lille effect the fate OF empires; and the
time will probably when that practice will be as
4 At h,5 .l-
ready is by land"
Now lei us pause moment, and inquire TO the OBJ
scts and motives which usually nstgae nations TO
They may all be generally ciassed under The two heads
Of interest and honor and the end sough, for is the pro-
lection of the yndication OF the other. And
how either OF these TO be attained when resort had
to force Is it not by beating the enemy and annhila
ting his armies. OF by Gripping his until he is
no longer capable of resistance And hat mode for
complishing the latter can be etectua than cutting
up that commerce from which he derives, in great
ure, bis capacity for cutting lbroats and inficng
long train Of evils on our peaceable citizens
Neither is it true, great Mentor gravely
seris that "he OF private property has compare
lively little eiiec, The fate Of empires !" and least OF
all is it true with respect 10 Great Britain. That empire
exists but by commerce, and all her wars let the preex
be what it will, have Tor their object It's protection or
tension The prize is not much glory gain ; and
there would be end 10 her if il not for the
manner IN which they Affect her commercial interest
The moment that suffers the merchants begin 10 camo
and the other national Interests 10 sympa,hze with them
Ii has become losing game, and The it is dis
continued the better. II is in this way alone that the
roEance oil Great Britain has been checked and il
may safely be inferred that but for the immense losses
OF private property sustained during the last war; through
the American prvaeeTs, that would not have been
bough BIT to so speedy conclusion The truth is, that
nations are but great OF individuals, and
II Iii ihn
batants did not partake in the evils OF 10 which
they have become auxlass by approving and support
ing H. see no reason why might not become per
petual or at least continue until the parties had
men TO offer up on the field OF blood The question:
them resolves itself this; l. II better TO decide the
quarres of nations by the efusion OF blood alone,
by diyestng our enemy Of those by which he
is enabled the more eheciually TO cut our bross and
infic all sorts OF iniunes'
II Is conceded point that our mercantile marine is
superior that OF either France England and that in
time OF war prvateers the swest, the most
efficient aad enterprsng, in the world. They are there.
fore an overmatch for either both these nations in
this species of warfare On the other hand, the nsv.s
Of France and England far superior in force TO that
OF the United States Now, would respectfully propose
10 that warchu superintendent OF foreign and do
mestic affairs the London Times, that England France
and the United States, being sucb excellent terms"
should mutually agree lha, should in future en-.
rey cease on the ocean, at least that Reiher party
should be permitted bis superiority 10 The prejudice
OF the others There w0ud BE- something like reciprocity
in this as being a wayer OF superiority by all parties.