True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-11
THE PROPOSED MEDIATION.

Britain would be involved in the compli-
cations of the Eastern question, and that
she must accordingly cease to look "with
eye of peace but assume the "wrinkled
'front.' of "grim-visaged war;" we were
told that very respectable committee of
the Society of Friends in England had
been appointed for the purpose of person
ally visiting the Gar, and entreating him,
in words of characteristic meekness and
humility, to adjust amicably the diferen-
ces between him and the Porte, and thus
save Europe from the horrors and curse of
war. 1t is said the committee had the de-
sired interview. Nicholas listened, treat
ed them kindly, and spoke to them ho-
neyed words, no doubt; for Nicholas is a
diplomat of the Talleyrand school. Their
mission ended, they returned home. The
arrogance, pretensions and warlike demon
strations of the Gear were abated not a
jot Onward his armies marched, from
the Pruth to the Sereth, from the Sereth
to the Danube, and still onward, until
checked by the heroic valor of the Turks
at Silistria. The spirit of peace manifest
ed by the committee was surely commend
able; but the folly and fruitlessness of
their embassy was too plain not to cause a
smile of levity,
The age of Quixotism has not yet passed
away forever, and perhaps never will
There are persons of a certain tempera-
ment and cranial conformation, phrenolog-
ically speaking, ever ready to gird on their
trusty amor and mount their 'Rosinantes,'
and sally forth in quest of adventures, un-
til sad mishaps teach them the folly of their
self-imposed missions A short time since
the Hon. Fire-eater Clingman-one of our
modern Solons and wiseacres-introduced
into the House of Representatives at Wash
ington, resolution, requesting the Presi-
dent OF the United States to tender me-
diation by this Government between the
belligerent powers of Europe. We have
known many ludicrous things done in the
exacting service Of Captain Buncombe, but
it is not so with this. We do not believe
that Congress Or the American People will
regard the resolution as other than ridic-
ulous attempt upon the part of the Hon.
Fire-eater to attain worldwide celebrity
as the Great Pacifcator of the caldron of
war, boiling and foaming with the strife Of
its varied OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AFRO.
gance, expressions, wrongs, which have
been accommodating for centuries, deep-root.
cd animosities, the hatred of races, super.
stitions, bigotry, delusions, amounting to a
belief of Divine direction, the integrity Of
nations, rights ofpeoples and national pride
If there be power on earth that can ap
pease the inward throes and conyulsions o.
Vesuvius, and prevent its eruptions, ther
might we take hope that the issue of the
proposed mediation might be otherwise
than that of the peace embassy to St. Pc
: tersburg.
But, to treat the matter seriously. Ii
what attitude shall we be placing ourselves
before the people of the other continent by
: proposing such mediation? Taking as {
basis of national conduct the principle O
the Monroe doctrine, the American people
have declared that in their own affairs anC
their intercourse with the governments O
the Americas, they will neither obey no
submit to dictation from abroad Regard
ing the Western world as peculiarly tn,
home of Liberty, they have desired to pre-
serve it, as far as possible, free from con
ditions imposed or profered by European
powers. Every intimation of mediatio,
, from abroad in their difficulties has beel
spurned, and so we'll is this understood
that we do not think, that in any event
such mediation would be profered TIL
} People of this country may regret the ex
, istense of the war, and ardently desir
: peace;-Smith, because provisions are high
| and he thinks the war makes it; Jones
8 because the times are hard, and he think
j the war causes it; and Brown, because h
: thinks war is morally wrong. But if ou
Y of the elements at work at present, the aG
vent of the reign of Liberty is to be has
tened, rather than profer mediation, eve
q though in other respects meet and prope,
which would retard that event, we woul
Say to the belligerents-
! clay on Macduff"
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