Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-13
OUR RELATIONS WITH ExcL,Sp

The press Of the country is much occupied
at present with recent naval movement in
England, which savors strongly Of war between
that country and the United States. This
movement, the particulars of which we gave in
our last issue, is thus described in the first SEN
which we also gave to our readers. Says the
Times.
"The English Government is emitting no
| opportunity of reinforcing the West India
| Squadron, and thus interposing a powerful
fleet between this country and the North
American continent"
No satisfactory reason is assigned by the
Times, or any other English journal, that has
fallen under our eye, for this sudden move,
ment. An idle tale about an American inya-
sion of Ireland is vaguely limited at, but no
one, we presume, attaches any importance to
that. No one in this country, we venture to
say, ever heard Of such a movement, until the
last foreign news reached our shores Why
should we wish to invade Ireland?, What
could be the object of such invasion? Surely
no sufficient and satisfactory answer can be
given. The best portion of the population of
that country has invaded US, not as enemies, but
as friends. They have come here to enjoy ra
tional Liberty, and TO derive from their honest
labor profit which was denied them at home.
1t has been suggested in some quarters that
the cause Of the assemblage in the West In.
dies of this English naval force is to be found
in the fact that in interdicting the Allies from
recruiting within our borders for their Crimean
armies, we have manifested hostility which
demands vigilance. Others again attribute it
to the rupture Of the treaty in regard to Cen.
trail America. Others still refer it to American
designs on the Island of Cuba
Whatever the cause may be, the thing itself
is war movement, which will touch the pride
and fire the patriotism of our whole people.
1t appears to US that our contemporary, the
National Iatelligencer, takes but superficial
view, when it says:
at is not our present purpose to make any
commentary upon these and other conlectures
We shall await the receipt of authentic intell-
gence. Whatever may have been the motive
that prompted the article in the London Times
it is certain that IT has met with but little favor
in England. Not withstanding the constant
efforts OF mischievous or unrehecting minds TO
stir up prejudices and bad feeling among the
people of the two countries we believe there
never was time when sound statesmen saw
less reason for disturbing the amity and good
will which pervade the great body of the citi.
zens Of both nations. The London Times, il
should be remembered, is not a Ministerial
organ, and cannot therefore be regarded as
representing the views and feelings Of the
British Cabinet. It's propensity to deal in
taunts and sneers towards this country has
heretofore been INDUCED without producing
any impression. That its present bellcose
tone is not approved by the British press or
people may be learned from the subjoned
extracts, which we obtain from other English
papers"
The hteltgencer treats the subject as though
nothing had been done by the English Govern
ment in the premises, and as though the Lon.
don, only, Times was endeavoring..to create a
difficulty between the two countries
Now, the London Times, as we understand
it, only publishes what the English Govern.
ment has done, and then proceeds to speak
approvingly of it. 1t announces that " the
English Government is emitting no opportu-
nifty Of reinforcing the West India squadron,
and thus interposing powerful feet between
this country and the North American cont.
nent."
This being the action ofthe English Govern.
ment, where is the propriety or the force Of the
Iatelligencer's remark that its 1.-THE Times
present "bellicose tone" is not approved by the
British press or people The "bellicose tone
Of the Times is a small matter. 1t is the
"bellicose" action Of the English Government
that is important
The Times speaks as though it spoke by an
thority in its article on this subject, and, while
its explanations are are altogether vague and
unsatisfactory it yet puts forth some ideas tha
challenge criticism. II talks like bigoted and
ignorant Englishman, when il declares that oui
Government is too weak to check those "despe
rate and lawless men" known as Fillibusters
1t represents our institutions as unsub,antial
in6rm, and feeble, and our Government as q
mere rope Of sand. II says:
AT this moment North America is in pro
found peace with the whole world; yet il is not
the less true that in her ports are fitting out al
this moment pirstical 6llbustering expedi
tons, destined to carry war and bloodshed into
the dominions Of an unofending neighbor
These expeditions do not receive the sanction
OF the American Government, are not equipped
by its funds, will not be conducted by its Off
GERS, but their preparation is nevertheless vel
known to the President and bis Administra.
ton, and receives no check from that quarter.
lhis liberation, we are willing TO suppose, pro
ceeds from weakness merely, and would he
exchanged for vigorous action only that the
power to act is utterly wanting The Ameri-
can people are SO free that they will not be
controlled by a Government Of their own
creating, and, though laudably eager for the
preservation Of their own dignity and the asser.
ton Of their own rights, cannot bring them.
selves to tolerate All Executive sufficiently
strong to compel respect Of the rights Of foreign
nations"
The Times assumes that 6llibustering expe.
ditions are now fitting out in our ports, but
/ does not Indicate thair rlocos of daet;nat;on