The Empire County argus., 1856-04-26

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES Our readers
will see by the foreign news, and the Congressional
proceedings says the Boston Journal of 5th ult.,
that the relations between this country and Great
Britain look more and more menacng, though we
certainly cannot bring ourselves to believe that the
pending difficulties will result in a war. 1t would
appear by the last advices from Europe that Lord
Palmerston has SO efectually succeeded in pulling
the wool over the eyes of the British public thai
even the opposition, whose peace proclivities are
well known, deem it necessary 'to rescue English
honor from Republican insult" We presume that
English politicians find it full profitable to cater
to the national pride of the British public as do
certain American politicians who are harping on
the war string. They have their reward in in-
creased popularity.
But the British press and public have been led
by Lord Palmerston upon the wrong scent Thev
have accepted his assertion that an apology has
been offered for the completely of British officials in
the recruiting business, whereas the correspondence
which has just been submitted to Congress shows
that no sufficient apology was offered but rather an
attempt was made to justify the act 1t is evident
ly the shuft1ing evasive policy of Lord Clarendon
which has complicated the negotiations Had he
frankly acknowledged, at the ontset that his poy
ernment was in the wrong, and apologized for the
course of the British minister and the consuls at
New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati, who had
unquestlonably infringed upon the laws of the
United States the matter would probably have
been dropped. But he provoked an argument
upon the general question of the legality Of the
course of the British agents, in which Mr. Marcy
was not slow to indulge him. and the result is a
demand for the recall of the British minister.
Failing to obtain this, the President will undoubt-
edly. If he has not already done So give him his
congo All this comes of ingulging passion for
diplomatic controversy
1t would be simply absurd to suppose that the
dismissal OF minister would initiate war be-
tween two countries whose interests Enthusiastically
point to peace as not merely desirable, but necessa-
ry The British government may sulk for while,
and refuse to receive an American minister but it
will be very cautious about making caSus belli
II the enlistment affair the only cause of diff
terence between the two governments there would
be no reason to apprehend war
But the British politicians are on the wrong scent
IN the other question in dispute between the two
governments, and may create much ill-feeng be-
fore the truth becomes known. They have been
informed by Lord Palmerston that the ministry has
offered to submit the Central American dispute to
the arbitration of some friendly power But it ap-
pears by revelations which have Just been made at
Washington that no such proposition was commu-
nlcated to our government and the curious fact has
come out that the offer to submit to arbitration has
been slumbering in the breeches pocket of Mr.
Champion This unaccountable blundcr of the
British minister has thus led Lord Palmerston
widely asray, and those who are indignant at the
uncompromising spirit alleged to have been exhib
tied by our government, base their patriotic out
bursts upon false premises