Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-03-14

|
ding slavery Is the assertion that slavery is morally
wrong and inexpedient
Whenever the South takes the distinct ground, that
her Institutions righteous, honorable and exprdi
ent, rs those of the Nortb she will fnd her defence
easy. Until she does this, until she asserts her equu
ty in morality, as we'll as in right, che invites nay
she usties, the attacks of abolition
| THE IMPENDING WAR WITH GREAT BRI-
TAIN.
The Indifference with which the people of this
country appear to regard the contingency Of a war
with Great Britain presents striking contrast 10 the
anxiety aud agitation which the possibility Of that
event has excited among our antagonists. The acts
of the British Government and the tone of the Br.
tish press show that 10 England war with the Uni
ted States is anticipated with certainty which de.
mands instant preparation for tho couteat Military
operations against this country are debated with on
cir OF grave earuestness, while troops and ships arc
rapidly concentrating in the vicinity Of the theare vi
war. Yct while regiments Of red coats are muster
ing in Canada and squadroIs Of steamships Rre hover
ing on our coas,-whle the enemy is deliberately
preparing to lauuch the thunderbot of war upon our
ds:enceles. cities, and to rsvage our country with fire
and sword our people repcsing in stupid Iehargy
or urs absorbed in the petty intrgues OF ephe'neral
poce This is not the moment to discuss The causes
of 80 irrational n temper of the public mind. The
duty Of the journalist is to employ all his influence
in awakening the country to sense Of the peril and
! TO III. pccess? of immediate and adequate prepare-
ton.
J. Perhaps not one person who reads these "orus' oe'
lieves there is the remotest possibility OF war
between Great Britain and the United States; wEich
conclusion is the result not OF Intelligent rerecllo"'
Int of thouphtles. sef.conceit. Americans have IN
dulged in applause OF their own prowess, and IN con-
temntuous commisera,ion Of Engand's decsdence'
until they begin to speak of rupture with this coun-
,v ss an not of suicidal folly TO which Great Britain
can be driven byno provocaon. we cannot cheF'sh
n more dangerous delusion In the day when Inc
British power eliminated British pride was not more
sensitive to insult prone to resentment thah III
this very moment Never were the energies OF Hfea'
Britain 80 collected, her capacity Tor aggressive
war 80 meuacing 10 her foes. She feels n" eNha"7'
ton from the brief struggle with Russia but hh"s III
the more perfect discipline OF her troops IN 'he DEF
ter zatiou Of her resources, aud IN her more
: comp.te ornaments, elements OF power with when
she ia preparcd to atone for the b!unders o. racIc
no;cv aud n defective administration. Perhaps, '""'
she rather solics than shuns all opportunity to re-
e cover her pres,iee. The concet Of mpregnab!ty
with which we iattpr ourselves, vanishes before the
scrutiny of common sense. Our Navy. however ga!-
,,n in sniri. is hardly match for single British
souadron, The Notifications Of our coast would oppose
scarc.y any resistance the destructive inEtraIn-nt7
of modern warfare. Our people are brave, even To
rasbuess; but the battle Of B!adensburg suggests
d,ubt if the honor aud security of tn" country can
, be trusted to Il miscellaneous mob OF gentlemen
The impetuous valdr of militia might be wasted
in vain, against the stubborn ranks OF disciplined
{ so,derv. The triumph which exhaustlees re-
t sources and indomitaLIe courage would achiev" IN
the end mus. be purchased by incn!cn!ahie loss o!
! property and many severe reverses Of fortune.
Nor does Gr.st Britain admit any commercial de-
na,Jauce IN this country which binds her TO pcrpc
,a, nance T, ,s doubtful if she has not the support
of ,oupd philosophy in the opinion that II is as hectS
. s,r us TO sell a. for her to buy. And, thongh shr
.ctnow,edpes the possibility Of discomfort anu d's
rhauce among her operatives, she proposes TO reta
late hv exciting insurrecton among the slaves OF inc
South.
/ pu, M matter from what motive or with what Oh
loot il ia ;pdispu,abe that Great Britain is resolved
upou war with the United States rather 'han conce'e
~ 49,. a.,,srds of our government. What are these
a
demands7 Are they such that we can aoa'e no'n'NH
Of their rigor g.,
Nav d;f6,ulty with Great Britain is complicated og
d,,h,s d;sputs. First in dignity and Importance Is
:, ,-.-.,, ,ourhiur the construction Of the Clay
.Buwsr treaty. BY our Interpretation that treaty
dsn,;ves Grsa, Britain of the Mosquito ProtecloTac
and the possession of the Ruatnn Islands. She us-
putes the Justice of this construction ana refuses to
;,C Arng
ty is right
The sense in which Great Britain regards the
CLAYTON Bulwsr treaty. not pnlpnhly absurd that
it admits of 10 argument. On the contrary, II was
in that very sense that the treaty construed at
the time Of It. negotiation, by persons OF Intelligence
of critical acurnen Some of the friends Of the treaty
would no. sustain it In the Senate, until :ts verbal
ambiguity on the very issue In dispute, was removed
by declaration from Mr.. Clayton, that the British
Minister concurred in the American Interpretations
The writer Of this article maintained from the begiu-
Ming that Great Britain would not abandon her pre-
tensions in Central America, III consequence OF the
COW eation Of Messr,. Clayton and Buwer, and Tor
this reason as we'll because of the fact that the con-
veutio involved the United States in IN "entanglirg
alliance and arrested the expansion OF our country
towards the South, be applauded Judge Douglas for
bis oppostion to the treaty. Right or wrong, how
ever, Great Britain will f. before she submits to
our Genauds. Shall we then surrender our cln'n'-
Or shall we refer the matter to arbtrhtiuni Neither
policy is essential to the preservation OF peace. Since
eucII party honestly aud persisently insists on An an
tarouisc construction Of the treaty. The logical de-
dncon is. that the treaty be abrucnted, aud the re-
,,tions of Great Britain and the United States IN Cr
tral America be restored 10 their original state For
IL, tSis is the policy both Of satety and OF inttres-
We will thus avoid Without sacrifice OF honor,
and will acquire an influence In Central America
which we had renounced by the foolish slipuntons OF
tim CLAYTON. Bulwer treG.y. We have reason TO be.
l;eve TINT ,bj. IS the adjustment Of tho Central Ame
r;can difficulty which the President will propose I"
| the British government.
The other dispute is perfectly clear and slmp.e as
illustrated in the luminous dispatches OF Secretary
Marcy. In ensting troop. our SOIL Great Britain
violated the municipal law and insuted the sovereign
dignity of the country We demonstrate, and for re-
paration get an equvocal and conditional apology.
But, after his apology Great Britain persists in tie
very offence from wh'ch 'he PROMISED TO dss''f'
verbal explanation will not now satisfy HONOR
The agents OF the British Government who thus
| eontemptuousy spurn our admonitlon ana deiy our
vengeance must be dismissed from the country, 1t the
British Ministry refuse to recall them. The removal
of Mr.. Champion may result in temporary sus
pension of diplomatic relations, but cannot possibly
provoke war.
In the event of great national emergency it is
the peculiar prerugsve Of the people of this country
to instruct the Government by an imposing express
siou of public opinion.
This privilege becomes supreme duty, when the