The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-11-17
American FilIibustering.

| The English Government is emitting no
opportunity Of reinforcing the West India
Squadron, and thus interpreting powerful
fleet between this country and the North
American Continent This proceeding will,
we doubt not, call forth from large portion
Of the American press that species Of mild
and temperate comment in which they de
/ light whenever the conduct Of England is in
I question, and a little political capital is to
be manufactured by making her an object
Of invectre and depreciation. We shall be
| told, no doubt of the iiendish hatred of
England to Republican America, and Of the
/ insolent menace behind which she wells her
insidious and treacherous designs. Without
tie slightest wish to reflect in any way on
the press which allows itself to be made the
vehicle OF such statements, or upon the con-
stitucncies whose votes are found to be in
| flucnced by such calumnies, we wish to point
out to the good sense and moderation Of the
American people, the causes which have
led us, even in a time Of war, to increase
/ our squadron in their seas, and may posi-
! bly, lead us still further in a direction, the
first steps towards which We are now most
unwilingly taking.
/ We entreat then, the American public to
believe, notwithstanding the assertions to
the contrary with which they are so assidu-
ously piled, that there is no party or body
of men in this country that regards them
with any other feeling than that Of the Ut
most good will, or would wish for them any
other fate than the enjoyment Of the utmost
public freedom which is consistent with the
utmost private liberty and security.
At this moment North America is in pro-
found peace with the whole world; yet it is
not the less true that in her ports are fitting
out at this moment piratical iillibustcrng
expeditions, destined to carry war aud blood
shed into the dominions of an unoiIcndipg
neighbor These expeditions do not receive
the sanction of the American Government,
are not equipped by its funds, will not be
conducted by its oiliccrs-but their prepara-
ton is, nevertheless, well known to the
President and his Administration, and re-
ccycs no check from that quarter. This toll
Grafton, we are willing to suppose, proceeds
from weakness merely, and would be ex-
changed 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 Government Of their own
creating, and though laudably eager for the
preservation Of their own dignity and the
assertion Of their own rights, cannot bring
themselves to tolerate an Executive suili.
GENTLY strong to compel respect for the rights
Of foreign nations. 1t is because we see no
hope Of finding in the United States Gov.
eminent capable Of preventing its citizens
from waging private war on their own ac-
count against the best friends and trucst al
lies Of the great Republic that we are most
unwillngly compelled, even in the midst Of
the great European struggle in which We are
engaged to assume n defensive attitude, in
order TO trample out the first sparks Of this
fire, and prevent a conhagration which, if
once allowed to spread, may cause ncacu.
liable misery to the human race. It is the
misfortune Of the American Republic that
she contains within her borders 50 maj Y
desperate and lawless men; it is still mo e
her misfortune that she does not possess an
organization sufficiently powerful to crush
these criminal attempts. That which she
cannot do We are compelled, at least so far
as the lawless enterprises di ectcd against
ourselves so, to do for her.
We cannot wait patiently till these lawless
cmlssar es OF instruction and plumber have
set their feet within her Majesty's domin.
ions, and encountered there the resistance
which is sure to oyerwhelm their wild and
desperate schemes. We cannot wait ill we
are placed in the terrible dilemma Of either
sparng men to whom cemency is cruelty to
the human race Of which they are the enc
mics, or OF inticting just punishment,
which may be the means Of iniaming agains,
US the passions Of the American people and
leading TO disastrous and fratracda war
We will, If it be possible, prevent the crime
that otherwise il would be our duty most
severely to punish, and this we do in the
name and in the hope Of peace. We canno,
believe that those who are now engaged in
enrolling unhappy men for these desperate
and criminal enterprises really contemplate
the success Of descent upon Ireland for
instance, as probable, or even possible. All
they can hope is that the miserable fate sure
to attend such adyenturers may be the means
ofinflaming the public mind against England
and stirring up the passions Of the people tc
apoint which might render war inevitable
This consummaton it is the duty Of tho
American Government, if it can, prevent
and, * it cannot, Of the Government against
which such attempts are aimed by all mean.
to avert. II We can prevent these exped
tons from sailing, or intercept them in mid
ocean, We shall have done much towards
averting the danger that must arise should
they be carried out to their natural develop
mcnt. The course Of action we have adopted
is bold, but for that very reason We believe
it to be prudent and safe.
We are fully aware of the advantage that
such proceeding gives to those ever activ,
cmissarics Of discord, who are necessarily
employed in every State OF the Union il
stirring up the feelings Of the populace agans
this country. That which is a mere mcasur,
OF sclEdcfence against law,css force they
Will represent as an insult offered to the law
iul government of the country; they vii
declalm, they will distort, they will eXag
geratc, but we must not omit to prepare
against real dangers because our preparations
may be honestly misunderstood or designed
~ msreprcscntcd. England has every wish
and every interest to remain at peace with
America. The immense trade which w
carry on with her, the community oilanguagC
and Of blood, the absence of any ground o.
dispute or subject Of rivalry, all plead forci
bly, in the same direction. How strange
that, under such circumstances, we shoult
be driven to arms merely because it is tn,
W. VI " icip'H VI tlt ScNtINleU HtOplc u
make war upon us, unsupported and unap
proved, but also, neither prevented nor ar
rested by the Government. We desire, above
all things, continuance Of peace, but, if il
be the determination Of any large portion Of
thc,pcople Of the United States to force wal
upon us, we shall know how to meet n ant
rcpcl it, without relaxing, for an instant
our grippe on the throat of the Keeling and
tottering giant Of the North.
But is it for the credit of those free insti
tutons, so often Wanted as all that is wise
perfect and liberal on the face of the earth
that friendly and kindred nation, ardcntly
desiring peace, should feel itself compelled
to stand on the defensive, not because it has
any serious dispute with the Government OF
this free and happy community, but because
that Government is unwilling or unable to
prevent its citizens from going forth to muir.
der and to plumber in the domnions of an
unollending Ally? Are these the garlands
with which the tree of freedom ought to be
adorncd-are these the laurels with which