Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-06-18
ANIERICAN AFFAIRS IN ENG
Trrom DC Iondou TImes. IN 29th,l


From the LondOn Times, May 29th.1
The American question assumes month by
month with each interchange of communications
between the two Governments, moro serious,
a more anxious, a more threatening aspect
The apprchensions of to-day become the Ger
tainties of tomorrow and claims the existence
of which could never have been anticipated are
ono by one urged upon u.s. 1t really seems as
If demands on one side and concessions on the
other had reached their utmost limit; as if so
much had been conceded in peace, that nothing
was left TO be grasped by war; as if America
had obtained and England had yielded all that
the most powerful country could asS-all that
the fecblcst nation which retained any sense of
dignity and self-reSpect could possibly give up.
We have wounded most uuiutentionaily the suS-
capabilities of America by doing only what VIC
had right TO do-that is, by establishing q re-
cruitinS station in our own colony on the from
tier of the United States. The United States
from it, and VIC apologize. The ground is SHIFT
cd. We are told that We have offended against
the sovereign rights of the Republic. We dis
claim the intention. Then the recall of our
Minister and ConsnlsiS demanded, on the ground
that they have directly infringcd American law.
We reply that the accusation rests on evidence
utterly unworthy of credit; but that, If 1T can
be Substantiated by credible witnesses, we will
not fnil to punish the delinquent officers
Here the matter remains for thcprcscnt; and
as far as we are concerned, we fear here 1t must
remain, for we can imagine no further conces-
sion which can be made without actual disgrace.
We cannot, for the sake Of any object, however
important, tarnish the national character by
committing ourselves to a gross and deliberate
injustice-an injustice not palliatcd by the We.
hemence of popular feeling or the strength of
honest, though mistaken convictions, but dicta-
ted solely by fear-the meanest of passions,
though the most powerful of motives
We will not suffer ourselves to purpose that
there is any truth in reports which have reach
ed us that the internal affairs of the Union have
arrived at point which renders it necessary to
seek in foreign war diversion from domestic
discord. Such wild and dangerous counsels are
unworthy the position and alien from the spirit
Of the great Transatlantic community, whose
wisdom and fortune it has been to wiring from
peace conqucsts more successful and more dura-
BILE than have ever been attained by the most
successful war. History affords abundant in
stances where the unprincipled ambition Of pow
crful States has urged them on to provoke an
unequal conflict with smaller and weaker COM
munitics; but that State should rush into war
with another, at least its equal in all those re-
sources which are necessary for military success
while that country, so far from offering any pro-
vocation, is cxhausting every eXpedient to avert
the threatened collision, is indeed instance of
conduct which VIC no not care to characterize
further than by the observation that it is totally
unparalleled in history. Let us for once, we
trust without arrogance, venture to propose our
own example to the United States as one not
wholly unworthy Of imitation. When the dis
pute with regard to the Oregon territory began
to assume really formidable prctentiOns, and
seriously to compromise the relations of the two
countries Great Britain, actuated by her sincere
desire to put an end to so threatening state of
affairs, waived all ceremony, put aside all cti-
quettc. selected that person whom she believed