The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-31

under negotiation between the United States
and Great Britain, the Administration, accord
ing to usage, bore itself spiritedly towards the
English Government; this was necessary to
satisfy the demands of the masses, who, with
no desire for war with England, still would con-
denim an Administration timid and compro-
missing in its foreign policy. But, will there be
WARP Mr.. Clayton is very much ineensed
Mr.. Weller talks in great swelling words: Mr..
Cass begins to rumble, as if giving indications
of a coming eruption: and even Mr.. Seward
will not volunteer to "hold in :" the valorous
Administration. Washington correspondents,
too, imbibing patriotism from the drippings Of
the Attorney General, grow beligerent, and
one might suppose that the country is on the
brink of war with the greatest naval Power
in Christendom.
But, the question recurs-will there be war
All, we have yet to hear the voice of the
" Christian Civilization" as our correspondent
imagines it, of the Oligarchy. They have not
yet spoken emphatcally: perhaps they have
been hoping that the philanthropists and money
war-or that the Republicans would band them
selves in opposition. Then, they might have
peace, and at the same time get to themselves
great credit for being the spirited defenders of
the country's honor ready to beard the lion in
his den, but for the "Black Republicans who
love English Abolition SO well, that they could
not think of rebuking English ambition!
Will there be war? we again ask Let no
opponent of the Administration, especially no
Republican, give himself any uneasiness. That
is a question he is not called upon to decide.
The Republicans have no part or lot in the Ad-
ministration, no control over it. 1t and the
Slave Oligarchy, whose agent it is, must settle
the question of peace or war. They have got
themselves into difficulties let us see how they
will get out of them. They will doubtless pom
der well the matter, and, before arriving at
decision, take full view of the bearings of
the question on the peculiar interests of the
OGgarchy. War may divert public attention
from the Slavery controversy, and yet it may
not. Never was the controversy warmer than
during the Mexican war. And then, how
would war affect the market for cotton Would
Britain make special exception in favor of
that staple, and, while ravaging the Southern
coast, receive Southern cotton on its ships for
transportation to Liverpool? How would war
England was interested in the preservation of
what is called "slave property" held in the
Colonies. In 1856, having abolished it there,
she is not unwilling to see it abolished every
where. Is our Southern coast we'll fortified Z?
Where is our weak point? In a war with
vast, naval Anti-Slavery Power, would the
presence of three or four millions of slaves
render us invulnerable? And how would war
affect the North Hurt its commerce. but stim-
ulate its manufactures Capital driven from
ern resources would be equal to any emergen-
cy; and would the free men Of the North and
West be held back from the Canadas, as they
were by an imbecile Cabinet during the last
war? Providence works in inscrutable ways.
How remarkable, if war, begun by profigate
political gamblers, should result in the extinc-
ton of Slavery, and the annexation of British
North America!
Great events are wrapped up in this question
of peace or war with Great Britain-no won.
der the Oligarchy begin to consider. Who
knows but " Christian Civilization" may again
triumph? Ges-the Oligarchy are considering
the subject. Mr.. Mason of Virginia, and Mr..
Butler Of South Carolina, observing the hot
haste Of Cass and Clayton, deprecate premature
are evidently inclined to take
the matter coolly. They cannot be very anx-
ious to give notice to Great Britain of an early
termination of the Treaty. The Union too, the
Presidents organ, after having been bubbling
over with hot patriotism for months, has under
gone sudden cooling it is scandalized by the
givings out of the Washington correspondents,
that war is coming. The Union is placid-it
begs leave to assure the commercial classes,
that although things are delicate" they are
not dangerous. The truth is, the President has
heard from Calhoun Conservatism, speaking
through its organ, the Charleston Mercairy, as
follows
ave have examined the whole CORRESPOND
ence with care, and the conviction is clear. that
in the treaty of 1850 the Government OF the
United States believed the Mosquito Protecto
rate effectually extinguished, and that
henceforth that Central America was free from
any controlling influences of European Powers.
That the people of the United States believed
the same thing, we need not assert. That the
British Government never meant to relinquish
this Protectorate, is now affirmed and thus the
position of the two Powers is distinctly defined
,lohl IL
ences are pursued to their extreme, the result
will be inevitable war.
s. But there are several reasons that forbid
US to believe that this difference will lead to
war between the two countries The immedi
ate consequences of war would be in the high
est degree disastrous to both nations; and of
this the people on both sides of the Atlantic
are equally convinced. 1t would, in fact. in.
volve the destruction of almost the whole AT
lantic commerce.
"The value of the matter in controversy Is
very small, whether to Great Britain or The
United States. The former Power has bound
herself not to colonize, or occupy, or fortify,
any part of the Mosquito Coast and even with,
out such bond, the United States have the Sc
curity of nature that such occupation will never
be made by Europeans. They cannot lire there
and that is the reason why the country was
never heretofore occupied by Spaniards or
Englishmen.
1t is country of marshes, marsh.fevers.
alligators, mosquitoes, and savage men. They
rule over 1t because they alone can inhabit it.
The colonization of this region by Great Brit
ain, or by the United States, is pure chimera.
10 IS only the african race, under the ynIe of
energetic and intelligent masters, that can eper
make 1t the abode Of aceohh and civilization
We have no hope of bringing it to this condi.
ton; and the Government of the United States
can have no hope The utmost result of a con