Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-03-06


them. For our oWn sake, as well as hers. We
could most sincerely wish that the machine Of
Government in the great Republic worked lii
us more smoothly, and was not so apt TO get
slogsed IN some places and stimulated 10 viO-
lent and destructive action in others. Differ.
anees hsg lrlSen, as they will arise occasion
ally betwl IN the best friends-between US and
the Amenean Republic. War, always OdiOus
and destructive, would be against such an en-.
enemy thousand times more revolving than
against any other To sweep her commerce
IRON the seas, to destroy her navy, to ravage
her seabosrds. would be feats neither difficult
nor dangerous TO sPoWsr with such forces as
Great Britain now possesses. but little would
be the honor and heavy the loss Of this suicidal
triumph. r......
We are unwilling to 6gbt, but because we
fear our enemies for never we're conditions Of
combat more unequal than those would be be
tween Great Britain and the United States Al
this moment. but because we cannot bring our.
selves to receive them as enemies at all. When
Lucsn spoke of more than civil war, he must
surely have alluded TO such war as would be
Waged between Great Britain and North A.
merica. The parent devastating the fair inher
itance Of the child, kindred hands employed in
roofing out that prosperity tn, increase Of
which has overaoWed in tide of riches into
this island. are subjects too painful for contem-
platiou. and from which the mind of every En-
gls.man turns aside with uncOuquerable dis
gust. Let US have war. if need be, with any
other nation, but not with those colonies-the
Proudest historic monument we possess, the
most enduring memorial Of Anglo Saxon great.
ness.
Yet what can We do, and how avert that
which this extraordinary nation, or those who
have at least the legel right to speak in its
name, seem to be determined to bring upon us?
Were the whole attention OF the public mind
Of America bent upon the question, we might
hope for satisfaction and reconciliation but
what is to be done with a nation which is drift.
ing heedlessly into war with people possess
ing splendid army and the finest navy in che
world. while itpossesses, in truth, neither the
one nor the other A few thousand soldiers
scattered over an immense continent, and yes
sells carrying in all about 500 guns, are literal.
ly all the resources with which the United
States confront the enormous fleet and we'll.
trained armies Of England, about to be set al
liberty by the impending peace With Russia
If we were the aggressors-if, taking advan.
tage Of the enormous disparity of our forces.
we had been mean and base enough to force
quarrel on an unc cffending neighbor--no words
would have been sufficiently vigorous to repro-
bate our conduct; but what is to be said when
Power utterly helpless in military and naval
resources insists on fixing US with a quarrel
which we have as little pOWeFto avoid as it has
adequately to carry out
We find, indeed. in America an Executive
Government, which is, ready enough to ex
change defiance with US, but that Government
is on the eve Of its dissolution, and it is we'll
known TO be using quarrel with Great Bri.
tain as means of courting popularity for the
coming elections. We have difference with
itin regard to certain places in Central Amer.
lea and the Interpretation Of treaties relating
to them. Whether we are right or wrong in
our view of the case We will not stop to inquire;
at any rate, we have adopted the most concii.
atOry step in our power, for we have offered
to leave the quarrel TO the arbitration of any
impartial State, and to abide by whatever award
may be given,
America rejects this offer, and continues the
argument, which succession Of letters and
memorials have worn completely threadbate.-
Meanwhile band Of pirates. issuing from her
own shores, seize upon portion Of the dispu,
ted territory, and, SO far from repressing their
outrages we find the naval forces Of tie United
States engaged in assisting them against the
authorities Of the State which they have nva-
ded, Our offers OF an amicabe referance are
refused. and armed violence, seconded by the
forces of the State, is let loose to seize by
force that which. we in vain beg them to refer
to friendly arbitration.
If we turn to another cause of quarrel--Lhe
enlistments in Canada of American citizens fot
the English service in the Crimea, we find a.
quarrel temperately urged aud vehemently
pressed BY the American Government, notwith
standing our disclaimer of any intention 10 ViO-
olate their municipal laws. and our offer of the
amplest satisfaction to the offended digaity Of
the States. Amends more than enough to sat-
isfy the offended pride and wounded ssnsibili.
ty Of any private gentleman, have been offer
ed to the American Cabinet, but offered in vain.
They cannot be content with satisfaction unless
itbe attended with humiliation, and require
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