Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-03-01

Our RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND. The
Washington Union of Tuesday last has
an important editorial in relation to the
condition of our affairs with England. -
After referring to the fact that the SEN
ate has called upon the President to com
municate the correspondence and docu-
ments concerning the violation of our
laws by British officials in recruiting
soldiers for the British army, it says:
We venture to say--and we do not say
it lightly-that Lord Clarendon's state
ment in the House of Lords Chat Eng
land had offered an Apology is substan-
TALLY incorrect, and we shall be greatly
disappointed if this is not the judgment
of both countries when the documents
shall have leen made public.
1t has been said that an apology has
been rendered by England to the
United States for the wrong done to their
laws and sovereign rights, and that our
government has refused TO accept it, and
an effort is made by the organs of the
British ministry to impress the English
people with the belief that President
Pierce's administrati on is unreasonable /;
but, from what we have heard ofthe CORE
spondenee, we venture to assure our read
ers that the facts therein contained will
expose this strategem, and prove to the
satisfaction of every candid man that no
such apology has been made.
The documents will enable the people
of the United States to judge of the mer-
its of the case, and of the grounds on
which Lord Clarendon's accuracy is i'm
peached. If we are not much mistaken
as to the disclosures which viii be made
by the doc umcnts, it will be found that
our laws and territorial rights have been
openly violated by British officials within
our jurisdiction, and that not only no
offer of satisfaction, or even acknowledge
ment of error, has been made, but acts
most manifestly in violation of our laws
are defended and justified. For exercis-
ing the privilege of complaining, and
respectfully suggesting that VIC are enti-
tied to some redress for n fatal blow struck
at our sovereignty, we are threatened by
the organs of the British ministry with
visit to burn our cities, devastate our
coasts, and kindle the flame of servle
war. To make this buster little more
redoubtable, we are told that the French
feet is to take part in this pleasant pas
time. With France our relations are,
as all the world knows, on the footing of
cordiality and friendship; and it is be-
lieved that there is mutual desire that
they should so remain. 1t is not, there
fore, very probable that the Emperor of
the French will accommodate his ally with
his fleet for such an enterprise.
Come who may, or what may, Great
Britain may take this assurance, thatthe
United States will claim due respect
for her national rights and will persist
in asserting them. This country will
never consent to open its territories to
the recruiting agents of Adventures or
potentates. If it yields to British pre-
tensions in relation to recruiting, it must
give up. its claim to be an independent
nation; if we are not much misinformed
the recruitment question has assumed a
graver aspect than it is generally sup
posed to wear
Ii the acts of British officials, approx
ed and vindicated by their government,
are to pass unnoticed the United States
are Inundated in the eyes of the world ;
they are not an independent power I'm
der the principle which England claims,
she may not only exercise upon our soil
one of the highest rights of sovereignty,
but, if she can establish it. she throws
open our country to the recruiting SER
geant of every nation on the globe.