Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-11-21
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.

The bubble of the recent war rumors has ex.
nloded somewhat sooner, and with somewhat
more upmistakable sound Sf the collapsng bub.
Bile. than we had anticipated; though we suppo-
sed from the first that the idea Of war with Eng
land, from any cause of difference now existing,
was mere chimera. But we have now before
us the evidence that the whole thing, from be.
ginning to end, is fabrication, the object of
which has apparently been 10 influence the mar.
kets, like tho famous story of the capture OF
Sebastopol year ago. II has had its effects
and sumo spectators made handsome proht
by the panic in Liverpool reported by the last
steamer. 90,
The National Intelligencer of Tuesday failed
TO reach. us. but that paper of "Wednesday has
the following significant paragraph:
ain our brief paragraph of yesterday, referring
10 recent correspondence between the Govern.
Of the United States and that of Great Britain,
it was inadvertently stated that the latter had
not repied to the request 10 make known den.
ni,ely its construction of the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty. The reverse is the fact. The British
Government has made reply, agreeing to the
construction of our Government and submitting
different construction, but leaving the question
open for further negotiations. The correspon-
dence has not been angry or unfriendly in lis
tone on either side. Indeed, from the uroanlty
and courtesy which is known to characterize Inc
parties entrusted with it, no harshness or dlplo'
ma,ic improperly could have been expected.
This disposes of the Central American ques-
ton very quietly, and very much to the taste OF
all reasonable people. The cats and ra,s-the
Kinneys and Walkers, and their Spanish equiva.
tents, may make prey of that miserable region,
but tho lions and eagles will not quarrel over
such ignoble spoil.
In ,he Washington Union of the same date,
we find still more comprehensive declaration,
evidently coming from an official source. Al
the conclusion of Il long article discussing the
motives that could have led to the recent very
stupid and malicious demonstrations of the Lon.
don press, the Union uses the following decisive
language:
"Whichever of these various conjectures as
to the object ofthe proposed expedition is cor
rect-if any such expedition there be, which Is
in itself very doublful-in every view OF the
subject, it contains nothing which ought IN the
least to trouble the equanimiiy OF this country,
or which threatens in The slightest degree the
public peace. We are satisfied, upon such in
ouiry as we have been able to make, that no
cause, inducemeut, or plausible pretext OF war;
or even of serious misunderstanding, can be
found in any. question now pending between
the two countries, and that, therefore, no appre-
hension on the subject need be entertained by
the friends of peace, either in Great Britain or IN
the United States"
So ends the farce, which has, however, been
not exactly farce TO portion OF the merchants
of the two countries
The laughs will be very discordant in Liver
pool, ut least In this country the effect has
been trifing. But there is one grave lesson TO
be learned from it, which is worth remembering.
The first news of possible war with the Uni,
ted States reversed and disordered the Liverpool
markets. What would be the reality OF such
nm event! There has never existed before go
great a trade between two nations as that which
Is now carried on between England and the
United States. To break it up by war, would
be to- tear asunder the main life-currents Of both
countries. Fifty millions of people would In
stantly feel, by the mere fact of war, without
reference to the ravages of actual violence, that
the value of all their property had suffered de-
preciation-that blight had fallen on the earth
that the ground was cursed for their sake.
Compared with this, the licensed robbery OF the
seas, the plunder and burning of cities, and the
deadly collision of hostile fleets and armies,
would be small calamities. For The working OF
such woes to humanity, we ought to have a
great and noble Justification; one which would
not only safety the passions of the present, but
the calm and severe judgment of posterlty.
Charleston Mercury.