The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-22
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

Jun EOh6AUN hEL611ONo.
The threatening articles in the London Times,
in relation to America, seem to have produc-
ed more alarm in England than in this coun-
try. Certainly they awakened on this side Of
the Atlantic little apprehension of rupture,
although the insolence of their tone provoked
feeling of resentment. To such an extent,
however, was the public mind disturbed in
England, that immediate war was apprehend-
ed in some quarters.
The Liverpool Post, on the I'd instant, just
before the sailing of the Pacific, issued an ex-
ira, containing the following announcement:
"Rupture aoith An,erica.-Private messages
by telegraph, state that the American Minister
in London has demanded his passports, or an
equivalent to it, from our Government. News
so astounding might be received with incredu-
lity but we can only say that holders of cotton
are acting on the report, and there is sensa-
ton on Change.
"The agent of the Associated Press at Liv-
erpool, having addressed an inquiry to Mr..
Buchanan as to the truth of the above an
nouncement, that gentleman promptly forward
ed the following explicit contradiction OF the
rumor:
"London, Night of November 2.-The Amer
lean Minister to the Agent of the Associated
Press, Liverpool: 1t is not true that the Amer
lean Minister has demanded his passports from
the British Government. There is no founda-
ton for such report.
"The telegraph agent, not feeling at liberty
to make use of this information, gave it no
publicity in England, where, as yet the rumor
of q rupture remains uncontradicted.
The Liverpool Times, of the Sd inst, has the
following:
yesterday, rumor prevailed here and in
London that the American Minister at the
Court of ST. James had either been recalled or
would leave for the United States by the pack
| ct which sails this day. We happen to know,
through a private source, that Mr.. Buchanan
| had an interview with Lord Clarendon on Tues
day last, in the course of which his Lordship
! assured the American Minister that the British
| Government were informed, on unquestionaJle
authority that ships were being built and fitted
| out in the United States for the express pur-
| pose of making a descent on Cuba, on the Brit
ish West Indies, and on other parts of the Brit
| ish possessions. But the interview between the
| English Foreign Minister and the American
Ambassador was so friendly, that the last named
| parsonage was to have dined with Lord Claren.
| don yesterday-Friday.
"Since this friendly interview, however, took
| place, an article has appeared in the London
| Times, which Mr.. Buchanan may think is calcu-
| lated to compromise him in the eyes of his own
| Government and the American public, and he
may have resented the information which it
| contains as breach of confidence. This arti-
Gle may have annoyed Mr.. Buchanan; for,
although substantially correct, many matters
pass confidentially between a Minister and the
Government to which he is accredited, which
cannot be given to the world without breach
| &c ;plo at:c tt crob ho ha in,
the present instance-and we are merely assn
ming it, to account for the rumor which prevail
ed in London yesterday-it amounts to nothing
more than a misunderstanding between our
| Government and the Ambassador; in a word,
a personal affair. The probability is, that there
| is not word of truth in the rumor; for, assu-
redly, up to Tuesday last, as we have stated, the
most cordial feeling existed between Lord Clar-
endon and the American Ambassador"
| The article of the London Times, referred to,
| may he found on our first page. and is in a diff
| ferent tone from that which marked the one
| threatening this country with the vengeance of
| England. Some things in it deserve special
attention.
For example, it asserts that when the war in
the East broke out, England received from the
United States spontaneous, hearty, and salts
factory assurances ofsupport-our Minister, Mr..
Buchanan, testifying "to the cordial sympathy
of the Cabinet at Washington, and the nation
over which it presided" We have nc doubt Of
the general truth of this statement. Public
sentiment, so far as it was expressed, was
against Russia and in feeling, so was, doubtless,
the Administration. In another place we refer
to the fact that one of the editors Of the Ad-
minstration organ, the Union, retired from his
post in consequence of having written Pro-
Russian editorial. The Slave Power soon de-
cided for Russia, and against the Allies and
g the Cabinet at Washington" changed its
ground Its ministers and agents abroad ceas
ed to give assurances to the Allies of the SYM
patty of the United States with their cause
What an illustration of the rule of the Slave
Interest in this country
The London Times laments that the Ameri-
can Minister and British Government had alike
mistaken the disposition of the American Peo-
pie. "The sympathies Of the land of Free
dom were found in great measure to be enlist
ed on the side of Russia" This is not true
The American Minister and the Cabinet at
Washington had mistaken the sentiment of the
Slave Power. That declared for Russia-the
American People had no organ through which
to express their views. Because few news
papers, aud the agents of the Administration
abroad, volunteer in the advocacy of Russia, it
does not follow that the American People. Gin
great measure" are on the same side.
There is little warm partisanship on either
side, but, beyond the circle specially under
Administration influence, the sympathy of the
American People, in great measure, is with
Turkey and its defenders. AS to the feeling
produced by the attempts at enlisting recruits
for the Crimea, the London Times, relying, we
suppose, upon certain class of New York
papers, who manufacture all sorts of important
intelligence, for the sake of quickening their |
sales, ridiculously exaggerates it. Nobody but |
Caleb Gushing, who neglects no opportunity |
to deliver learned opinions in the newspapers, |
cared anything about it. 1t occasioned not the |
least popular excitement. Nor was the British |
Minister made the object of "unmeasured |
abuse and vituperation." All this exaggera-
ton of the Times is of piece with great deal |
of defamation in the English press, evincing
the most inexcusable ignorance of the state of
things in this country.
The fact remains, that the British Govern
ment has strengthened her naval force at the
West India station. This, of itself, might have
provoked speculation, but would have awaken
ed no alarm. 1t was the bullying and affected
mystery of the Times that caused all the ex.