Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-12-13
The Anglc-American Difficulty.


| shirt which seems so suddenly and so inoppor-
| timely to have taken possession of the Govern
ment of the United States. The great constitu-
| eney Of the whole United States being far too
! large and intelligent to be Influenced by the gres-
ser arts of corruption aud several of the present
Government having their eyes on the reversion.
arv occupation of the White House. the power
that Is placed in their hands for the public good
| is abused and perverted for the purpose OF infn-
encing the coming appointment OF President,
and. although the end sought be not war itself
but only so much warlike enthusiasm as may be
required to give votes and popularity in the
coming contest, vet we verify believe that war
itself-yes war between the United States and
England with its ruinous losses, its fearful COLI
iicis and its absolute certainty of an indecislye
and profiiless result pouid be cheerfuHy dccfp-
ted by Gen. Pierce, Mr. Marcy. or Mr.. Cush-
ing as an infinitely smaller euHthm their otcn
election from place and porer, dndthe transfer
Of The management Of public affairs 10 Other
hands Some very uncomfortable reflections
cannot but suggest themselves to arising
out of this state ofthings. The first is that we
cannot hope by any amount Of concession TO pac-
ify or reconcile a Government actuaied by such
motives and objects. Were warlike demon
stration against England really portion of the
foreign policy of the United States for the pur-
pose of carrying out objects, however visionary
or wrong headed, we should know what to do,
and give way if concession possible and
honorable. and, if not. should endeavor to
convince those who seekn quarrel with "a that
they have more to lose than to gain by forcing
us to the final abitrameni of war; But what caa
we do with Government whose foreign policy is
policy at all, hut merey an electoneerlng trick
which so far from representing its own citizens. Is
really playing us off against them, and seeking TO
put Us in the most invidous light not from any
Il oil p1al ity I'm
merely that it may make a good thing out of the
excited feelings of its own subjects! So long as
the Government is really and bona fde, acting
for what it believes the interest of its own sub
iects so long as it really has foreign policy,
however wrong headed and perversc, it is emit
tied to respect and consideration; but when It's
foreign policy is policy al all, but mere trick
played off for the purpose of coming election,
cannot but feel thot there is some grave de-
feet in the theory or working of institutions
which thus permit the most precious interests of
nations to be trhed with aud clustered away.
The truth is, that for a very considerable num-
Der of years the successful candidate for the
Presidential chair has had 10 took to foreign
politics as has passport 10 place and po,cer. On
internal questions public opinion in America is
now SO much divided, that to give decided nd
heson any party is to rouse the most furious OPP.
position from every other hut popular com
mander like jackson, Harrison. or Taylor, or a
person identified with some great external move
ment, as Mr.. Polk Nth the annexation of
Texas. can unite parties disagreeng on internal
politics and find in the cry of war or annexation
a ralyng point which no merely internal ques
ton can give him. The ministry of General
Pierce formed on the principle Of annexing
Cuba, and giving the fullest development to that
questionable spirit of enterprise which has ex,
tended itself so much during late years among
the more unsettled classes of the United Staec.
His Presidency is now drawing to a close, and
, nothing has been done towards realizing the
flaming professions with which il was Inaugural
ted. IT the game is not to be given up wholly
for lost, the few months that remain must be dill
igently employed for the Government Of Mr..
Pierce is discredited and unless something can
be done to reanmate popular enthusiasm in his
favor. he stands no chaneee of reelection
Surely one of the main objects of popular in
sttufIons Is to secure perfect sympathy be
tween the governor and the governed, - that
while Kings and Queens plotting for their
own dynastlc interests, the Chief Magistrate of Il
republic may have no end III view but the re.
nown of his own administration and the public
good. But how can this be accomplished, if
rom the beginning to the end of his quadrcna
term of Office the President is to be thinking Of
nothing else but how he can manage that office
us to procure his reelection for another four
years 1t was not for the sake of giving him
the opportunity of AN advantageous canvass. but
Tor the general good of the States.hat the Amer
lean people elected their President, and that
trust is rs much betrayed if it be bartered away
for public SURFACES as if it were sold under the
most vulgar and open conditions of venality. 1t
wonld be really we'll worth considering in the in-
ierest ot peace and umity with the whole world,
In the preservation of which community *
more deeply concerned than the United States,
whether il might not be well TO take away this
temptation to foreign aggression Tor electioncer-
| ing purposes from future Presidents and Cab-
nets, by dsquaIifying the existing President and
his Ministers from being candidates for their Of
fees at the next election. The secret has been
| found out, that ii is by foreign wars foreign
| disputes that majority of votes is to be obtain
"a. and that so long the existing President is
! also an embryo candidate, wars or disputes are
sure t. he provided to order. and supplied in
| quick succession SO long as the demand cuntn-
! ues.
| We turn from this exhibition of wan{on and
narrow minded srlfshneSs, sporting with the
welfare OF two great nations. 10 the NOR" agree
able contemplation of the manner in which free
! press Is made 10 temper the evils and irrec-
ularites al free government. In the pages of
! independent American journals. we find the
! shameful and heartless policy of getting up a
| war for the sake of an election exposed with the
utmost freedom aud boldness every motivcis un
veed. every pretenoe is anal zed,and the whole
! lmposture Is laid bare to the eyes of a mutton
with force and clearnes> which would fond.
! " hope rob it of every chance of success 1t is
thu, that. in free discussion, we find the rene
! dy for such evils as grow side by side with the
enormous advantages of the free and unfrt;ered
aclonof large masses of men. If the American
! Government assumes the ignoblr office of d.lu-
ding it. subjects, it is ct any gratifying 10
II think that there is a twin power IN the State
free and enlightened press capable of restrain
! ing this license within the bounds of reason and