The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-29

with the conquest Of Lord Clarendon's intima-
cy, and Lord Palmerston's regard, the Cheva-
her Webb has even forgiven the Times for the
fagellation he endured at its hands somemonths
since, and pours his genial philanthropy into its
columns. Our friends from the country may
perhaps wonder at the ease and success with
which the Chevalier passes himself of as the
plenipotent;ary Of the American people; but in
country where three tailors from Tooley
street were permitted to style themselves 1--WE,
the people of England" the Chevalier Watson
Webb may well speak out as ~, the people Of
America" His right is as.good as that of the
knights of the needle; his object quite as meri-
torious as theirs, and his motives as pure.
There are men in England, one would sup
pose, such for instance as Lord Palmerston
himself, who are not so easily duped by tailors
or editors. But very obvious reasons impeded
the free action of their judgment in this in
stance We do not now learn for the first time
that the British ministry have SO little conf
dence in the Justice Of their own cause, and are
SO solicitous about our sympathy that they
in this city should approve their course against
Russia That news is stale; and when it has been
duly weighed, no one can wonder that even
the good will of Chevalier Webb should have
been deemed worth counting. The leaders of the
British ministry may or may not see through
the amabe vanity of the Chevalier; they might
understand him as well as we do, and still go
to the trouble of purchasing the influence Of his
journal with little civility.
We soy that they might do SO but we are
not clear that the bargain would be good one.
The Chevalier for instance agrees to put a
stop to privateering; and in recompense for
this gracious offer, a variety of British jour-
mails are vastly complimentary on one subject.
The tailors Of Tooley street.hardly went SO far
as this; and herein we think they showed
themselves wiser than the Chevalier Webb.
For, as some of the British journals appear
to have taken up the notion seriously, and as
there is some talk Of formal application
being made by the British government, it may
be as we'll to put them in possession of the SEN
timents of the American people on the point.
The United States will not enter into any bar
gain of the kind with any foreign nation.
Whatsoever laws we deem sound and wise, we
shall pass; and that without regard or refer
ence to laws in force in foreign countries on
the subject. Should the British government
request us to DIN them in preventing privateer-
ing, it will be the third request Of the kind that
has come from that quarter and will most
assuredly meet with the same answer as the pre-
vious ones. When Great Britain requested US
to pass law conformity with her for the sup
preston of the slave trade, we refused to do so;
disappearing of the traffic, we declared it pi-
racy, but made no inquiry as to the course
pursued by foreign Powers. Again, when
Great Britain solicited us to join herself and
France in maintaining Cuba in its present con-
dition, we declined the offer our neutrality
laws were in the statute book, and to our mind
were sufficient protection for the trembling
Cubans. So now, if Great Britain begs us to
join her in prescribing privateering, we shall
refuse our laws prohibit the practice. and we
do not deem it necessary to enter into further
stipulations on the subject Had the Chevalier
Webb made as close study Of our statutes at
large as he is doing Of Burke's Peerage, he
would have found in the third volume ample
consolation for his British friends.
England will learn before long, that whatever
protestations Virginia land spectators may ut
ter over Lord Clarendon's mahogany, the Uni
ted States government will take no part or lot
in the coming war. We shall not join Russia
but we shall not, directly or indirectly, involve
ourselves in the embarrassments in which Great
Britain is placed. So far as popular sentiment
in this country is concerned, we are inclined to
think that when it has had time to shape itself,
it will not lean to the side of the Western Pow
ers. We have in this country large number
of foreign refugees and exiles who are bitterly
opposed to the existing governments Of Europe,
and whose sympathies lie entirely with the
democratic masses of that continent. To these,
intelligence Of the defeat of the Allied Powers,
and of aprospect Of popular rising in Eng
land, Germany or France, would be the most
grateful news IN the world. 1t is not improba-
BILE that these men may lead public sentiment
to avery considerable degree. Should the time
come-as it probably will-when democratic
aspirations rise to fever heat IN France, and the
British people rebel against increased taxation,
the sympathies of republican America will not
be, on that day, with the combined sovereigns.
PROGRESS OF THE SEwARD-MITCnEL PLoT.-
We are enabled to state that the plot for the in
vasion of Canada by the Irish, under the gui-
dance of John Mitchell and the advice Of Will
liam II. Seward, goes on bravely. From cor