Washington sentinel., 1856-02-07
ENGLISH ARIsTOCRATs AND AMERI-
CAN SNOBS.

The London Times of the 18th January, has
an article on American affairs which is in keep
ing with the usual course of that journal on
that subject
For q foreign nation to send into the very
heart of our country officers duly authorized to
raise recruits for the purpose of fighting against
another nation with which we are at peace,
with which we have solemn treaties and with
whose cause We sympathise, may, we think, be
deemed gross offence, and gross insult for
which ample reparation should be required, or
ample punishment Inflicted. Particularly do
we think SO when that offence has been COM
mitted against us, by our bitterest and most
ancient enemy-England,
When, however, ample atonement is made
for the injury and the insult, we think that all
recollection oft shonld be obliterated and terms
of frienship reinstated.
Says the London Times
"On the subject Of British recruitment in
| the United States, the President concludes his
version of the story with the statement that he
had presented case to our Government in
order to secure, not only a cessation of the
wrong, but its reparstion, and that the subject
is still under discussion. 1t is not denied that
| the wrong has ceased, and it can hardly even
| be maintained that IL was consummated by the
effectual enlistment of single individual into
the British service. The President, indeed,
alleges that the attempt was obstinately and
Systematically continued even after the official
remonstrance against it; but that could not
arise from the utter impossibility of stopping
at once number Of distant and independent
proceedings carried on without quite SO much
concert and plan as is thought. However, the
whole affair was stopped before, as we have
observed, any mischief was done; and, what is
more, reparation was made-reparation that
would be thought ten times more than sufficient
by the digni6ed courts Of the older world. On
this side of the Atlantic, when mistake has
been made an apology is offered; and to reject
that apology, and demand some fanciful com.
pensation for the supposed wrong, is always set
down to the sensitive jealousy Of the man who
has his character and position still to make.
In fact, a readiness to accept an apology is here
thought quite as much the mark Of a gentle
man, nay, more so, than a quickness to resent
an ;ndignity. Every fellow has the latter, but
it is only the gentleman who has the former.
We are sure that there is not society of gen
telemen in Europe who would not think suf-
the wrong had been stopped even before actual
accomplishment, and its improperly admitted.
What more President Pierce requires he does
not say in his message, but, as the direct bear.
ing Of the United States law on the point is
now admitted, and there is no chance Of Bri.
tish enlistment being again attempted in the
Union, any further reparation' demanded by
the United States Government must be some
thing more than the vindication Of its honor,
respect to its neutrality, and obedience to its
laws. 1t is matter on which we conceive the
British Government will be guided by prece
dent 1t will deal with the United States as it
would with France or any other European
court; and if, Notwithstanding, the United
States should demand more, the people Of this
country will not submit to undeserved and
gratuitous humiliation"
The Times either humors US as children,
treats Us as snobs, or abuses us as pickpockets.
In the above extract, we are spoken Of as a
low, vulgar, ignorant halfraised set Of people,
totally regardless Of the rules Of propriety and
good breeding observed in European coun-
tries"
1t may be put briefly in this form The |
English secretly send officers into the heart Of !