Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-20

burning hatred 10 Treat Britain, and most OF
whom are commercially and reasonably jealous
of any affront offered TO their independence.
1t is very natural that such men, having but
little time to devote to reading or inquiring for
themselves, should be full of Indignation and
jealousy when they are told, upon the faith of
the highest legal authority in the Government,
that a friendly power has violated their laws
and committed a systematic series of outrages
against their independence. We may believe,
and perhaps they themselves believe, that these
charges are made without any serious inten-
ton of producing hostile relations with Great
Britain, but chiefly with the view of ~iniuenc-
ing the Presidential election of 1856 but,
nevertheless, the accusation does its work, and
the Philo-Russian portion of the press is pro-
vided with a fresh text for the theme upon
which they are never weary OF descanting, the
feelings of the multitude are embittered, and
a chronic state Of discontents is created, which
only too surely prepares the public mind for
the efforts of those political incendiaries who
are never weary Of endeavoring to divide two
nations whose destiny, race, language, institu-
lions, and interest all point to the closest unity
and concord. We rejoice to find in the Anne
rican press a journal wise and independent
enough to repudiate this species of official agi-
tation, and we only trust that under such guild
ance the good sense of the nation will appre-
ciate and repudiate the in1ammatory language
Of the ttorney-General.
But, while we have thus felt it our duty to
mark our disapprobation of the infammatory
language employed by Mr.. Gushing, zoe confess
aoiM great regret that ue are anabe to excuse the
conduct Of our government tn this matter. We
are quite sure that nothing was further from
the intentions of the English Ministry than to
do anything which might wound the suscepti-
bility of American citizens, or imperil the good
understanding between the two countries; but
like men intent on a great object, they did not
sufficiently regard the difficulties and danger
that lag an the acay Of its accomplishment.
They felt how important it was to obtain, in
the shortest possible time, an efficient force
with which to carry on the war against Russia.
They knew how large a number of persons
there are in the United States always ready to
engage In any desperate enterprise, and they
naturally thought that the Crimea might afford
as attractive a battlefield as any other. Prob.
ably, also, they believe that the free would
sympathize with the cause of freedom, and
dreamt little either of the affinity schieh seems
to eaist betaoeen democracy and despotism, or
the extreme jealousy excited by what is termed
IN America the unnatural alliance between
England and France. But all this, though it
may extenuate, does not, IN oar opinion, excuse
the conduct ofLe British Government Ia enter
ing on the course Of action so likely TO rouse
The irritable susceptibuities Of the american
people, and to afford an opportunity for those
who only desire an occasion of raising their
own importance at the expense of the peace
and welfare OF two great nations. 1t was not
worth while for the sake of a few recruits more
or less to risk even the possibility of a rupture
with America, or to stir up those angry pas
slons which seem ever ready to arise even from
a less justifiable cause. 1t was a false step,
and we rejoice to hear it has been retracted.
No amount of buster or misrepresentation on
the part of American statesmen shall ever IN.
duce us to vindicate that which is not in itself
justihable by any s~ophistry or extenuation. We
must express our surprise that the British
Diplomatic and Consular agents In the United
States did not Immediately transmit TO their
Governments such Information as would at
once hare girea II a proper sense Of the danger
II aods mourning, and brought these M-adriSed
attempts at enlistment 10 as speedy a close as
possible. However, the error has been made
and fairly atoned for, and we can only hope
that the large proportion of the citizens of the
Union who have no political interest to serve
by tanning the flames of discord between the
two nations will not permit the untoward cir
cumstances that have taken place to be made,
in the hands of designing men, the means Of
fostering a spirit of mutual and groundless
hostility. We have never been disposed to
yield one poiut of national dignity to any
threats or determinations, even of the State
with wuom we are above all things anxious to
maintain friendly relations, nor would we now,
although involved in a mighty war, counsel any
mean or timid compliance. We are strong
enough to maintain our right, and to yindicate
it, if need be, in the last resort. But we re.
gard such a course with unfeigned adherence
and repugnance, and, although forbidden to
trust in the moderation Of a portion, at least,
of the American Government, we still rely with
confidence on the good sense Of her people, and
the innumerable reconciling influences that
continually mediate between us.