Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-16
From the London Times, Oct. 25.
nifty between Great Britain and


ofreinorcing the West India squadron and thus in.
torposing powerful fleet between this country and
the North American continent. his proceeding
will we doubt not call forth from a large portion Of
tbp American press that species OF mild and tempe
ra,e comment in which they delight whenever the
conduct Of England is in question. and little polit
cal capital is to be manufactured by making her the
obiect of nvective and depreciation. We shall be
,od. no doubt of the fendish hatred of England to
Republican America, and of the insolent menace be-
hind which she wells her insidious and treacherous
designs Without the slightest wish 10 reflect in any
zyav on the press which allows itself to be made the
vehicle of such statements, or upon the constituent
aes whose votes are found TO be influenced by such
caumnies, we wish to point out TO the good sense
and moderation of the American people the causes
which have led us, even In time OF war, to increase
our squadron in their seas, and may possibly lead US
still further in direction, the first steps toward
which we ale now most unWIlllngIy taking.
We entreat then, the American public to believe
Notwithstanding the assertions to the contrary with
which they are asslduously piled, that there is no
marty or body OF in this country that regards
hem with any other feeling than that of the utmost
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 We have neither the wish the
right to inrude our opinion on that form of govern
rnpnt which has been established in the United
States but we have, and we claim the right, to take
every reasonable precaution against that spirit of
unbrdIed license which the present government of
the United States inclined to tolerate At this
moment North America is in profound peace with
the whole world yet il is not the less true that in
her ports fitting out at this moment piratical fill
clustering expeditions, destined to carry war and
hlOOdshed into the dOminIons of an unoffending
neIghbOr. These expeditions do not receive the
sanction OF the American government, are not equip
ped by its funds, will not be conducted by It's officers
5ut their preparation is nevertheless well known TO
he m mist md
check from that quarter This federation, we are
willing to suppose, proceeds from weakness merely
and would be exchanged for vigorous action, only
that the power TO act IS utterly wanting
The American people so free that thew will not
be controlled by government OF their own creating
and though laudabIy eager for the preservation of
ner own dignity and the assertion of their own
rights, cannot bring themselves to tolerate an Exec
uuve sufficiently strong to compel respect for the
lights of neutral nations. 1t is because we see no
hope OF finding in the United States government
capable OF preventing It's citizens from waging pr
war on their own account against the best friends
and rucst allies OF the great republic that we are
most unwillingIy compelled, in the midst of the
great European struggle in which are engaged, to
assume defensive attitude, in order TO rampIe out
the first sparks OF this fire, and prevent COnfagra
ion which, if once allowed to spread, may cause
IDcalcuable misery to the human 1t is the mis-
fortune Of the American republic that she contains
within her borders so many desperate and lawless
men II Is still more her misfortune that she does not
possess organization sufficiently powerful 10 crush
,lese criminal attempts. That which she cannot do
are compelled at least so far as the dWeSs enter
prses directed against ourselves go, to do for her.
We cannot wait patiently till these lawless ennis
,mIes OF nsurrectOn and plumber have set their feet
within Her Majesty's dOminiOns, and encountered
there the resistance which Is to OVerwhelm their
wild and desperate schemes. We cannot wait till we
IRE placed in the terrible dilemma of either sparing
men 10 whom clemency is cruelty TO the human race
If which they the enemies, of inficting lust
punishment, which may be the means of int1aming
aganst us the passions of the American people and
ealng to disastrous and fratricdal war. We will,
IT. be possible prevent the crime that otherwise it
would be our duty most severely to punish, and this
We do In the name and in the hope of peace. We
cannot believe that those who now engaged in
rolling unhappy men for these desperate and crimi-
nal enterprises really contemplate the success of a de-.
upon Ireland, for instance, probable, even
possible. All they can hope is that the miserable
tate sure to attend such wretChed a1venturers may
he the means of inlaming the public mind against
England, and stirring up the passions OF the people
to a point which might render war inevitable. I his
c0nsummaton it the duty of the American Govern
men if it can, to prevent-and as it cannot, of the
Government against which such attempts are aimed,
by all means 10 avert. If we can prevent these ex-
petitions from sailing or intercept them IN mld-ocean
shall have done much toward averting the danger
hat must arise should they be carried out to their
natural development. The course of action we have
adopted is bold but for that very reason we believe
1t 10 be prudent and safe.
We are fully aware OF the advantage that such d
proceeding gives to those ever active emissaries o.
1scoI, who necessarily employed in every State
VI the Union in stirring up the feelings OF the pOpu
lace against this country. That which is mere
measure of sef-defense against laWless force they
Will represent as an insult offered to the lawful Gov
eminent Of the country they will decalm, they vii
Islort, they will eXa5gerate, but we must not oml
prepare against real dangers because our prepare
ions may be honestly misunderstood or designedly
mlsrepresented. England has every wish and every
interest to remain at peace with America. The i'm
mense trade which we carry on with her, the cOmmu
nifty OF language and of blood, the absence OF any
ground of dispute or subject Of rivalry, all plead
1orclby in the same direction How strange that
under such circumstances, we should be driven tt
arms merely because it is the will of portion OF TIT
sovereign people TO make upon US, unsupported
and unapproVed but also neither prevented nor ar
rested by the Government! We desire above al
lungs a continuance of peace but if it be the de
termination of any large portion of the people of The
-AIeQ States to force war upon us, we shall know
low to meet it and repel it, without relaxing for az
instant our grippe on the throat OF the reeling ant
offering giant of the North.
But Is it for the credit of those free institutions 81
often yauned as all that is wise, perfect and liberia
10 The face of the earth, that friendly and kindred
-aon ardently desiring peace should feel itself com
IeIed 10 stand on the defensive, not because 1t ha
say serious dispute with the Government OF thlS Ire
ana happy community, but because that Government
unwilling or unable to prevent its citizens from 60
ny forth 10 murder and to plumber in the dominion
~, an unotfendng ally? Are these the garland
with which the tree or freedom ought to be adorned
are these the laurcls with which the temples O
..e goddess should be bound England has som
."m to be called the nursing mother of freedom
"-1 Aet cluZens are Tree because they know how t
.ey low 10 subordinate their Individual wills t
lie law the supremacy of which constitutes the prn
opal distinction of civilized community.