The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-04-08
EVANsvIIIE IND. TUESDAY MoRNtFG. April, 5, 1856.
OBJ 9ailg gpurnal,
AN ENGLIsHMAN IN AMERICA.

The folotSiag article appears in the London
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette: .a5du
To the Editors of the Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette: SIR, | have how made the tour oil
the States of North America, and think it prob
able can give your readers some useful in
formation / landed in Ne& York city ten
months ago, and have spent my time in study
ing the character and customs of those-people,
and must confess that if / remained ten YEARS
the result would be the same; and know very
little about them. But upon one point-na-
tional ipride--men, women and children are
all alike, and the idea of any nation in Europe,
or the whole of them put together. conquering
this country, is perfectly absurd to them.--
Everybody reads the papers, and good hu-
mored urchin of twelve years used to rate me
soundly at Philadelphia for our failures at Sc
baStopol. The best version of American SYM
pathy was given me few days since. When
the war commenced the Turks were the weak
er power, and our syinpathies were with her.
After the alliance it was three against one, and
our sYmpathies went for Russia; but should
France join Russia tomorrow against England
our government could not pleveRt its citizens
from not only sympathizing with England, but
assisting her with material aid. This l heard
from a very intelligent man, who l do not
think suspected my nationality; and firmly
believe it. In the South spent some time on
the plantations, and many times held long con-
yersations with the slaves; and always with
th6 same result. They are much better satis-
fed than | suspected, and when spoke of q
probability Of a war, | was answered, that
white folks couldn't let nigga fight" "But,"
said /, ''the bla6ks from the West Indies will
come here and help you to gain your freedom"
what! black soger come here; let 'em cum,
den, massa; let's fight de nigga, know, and
Gar Almighty we give 'em goshn' If not in
the same language tho same feeling was ever
expressed.
| have visited all their national armofes,
and although the country i at peace, the great
est activity prevails; Ill the old arms are con-
demned, and by next spring nearly 1900 600
Mimic rifles will be ready for distribution; be-
sides Colts, Clark's and others. ... . Fl
A Mr.. Alger, at Boston, is now engaged on
fiew kind of gun for the navy. The range,
with solid shot, is nearly five miles, with she'll
somewhat shorter, and the explosion of the
shell renders conhagration certain to great
distance. Those are called, by those at work
on them, the secret gun. But what the secret
is l could not ascertain. Since the war rupors
| have been obSeryant of all and every thing
that could give me clue to the feeling of the
people. This is not difficult to come at, for
the feeling is general, and their confidence is
So great In their own strength that the most
difiident speak only of the consequences and
the result. In company with party of mer-
chants, most of whom were engaged in trade
with England; broached the war subject, and
was astonished to fird them so Indifferent about
the consequences. Ono of theffi, largely in
terested in clipper-ships, in answer to 3 ro-
mark of mine, that he would have to lay up
his clippers MOT bit of it," said he, ''they
will make capital privateers; the government
will furnish guns Of long range; no British
men-of-war can catch them except a steamer,
and they cannot in a good breeze, so we must
take chances" "But where will you get
your men?" "Where! We have $4,000 en-
rolled fishermen who viii food our seaports,
and will tell you candidly that in less than
six months after war is declared there will be
500 of the fastest vessels in the world atoat as
privateers, and an English merchantmen will
hot be able to show herself at sea.
What if we lose few, we will make it up
in the end. Two steamers were launched a
few days since, each about 4, 900 tons, built In
eight months, and it is Just as easy to build so
in the same time or less'' "But your coasts
are not defended Remember you have no
Sebastopol nor Cronstadt." "Nor do we want
any, We have a few very pretty forts, but
should any nation attempt an invasion, he will
meet him with hands and hearts equal to any
superior to most; and we can concentrate 800
600 men at any point on our coast IN q lew
days Let the alarIh be sounded at this mo-
ment, and in few hours near $4,000 men will
make their appearance armed and equipped" J"
This sounds like Dragging, but it is fact.
This city (New York; has near that number
- rroan
rifle at home or in the private armory of the
company to which he belongs, and find it Is
the same throughout the country. | have fire.
ouenty met with boys of IL and Ia, with gun
and game-bag, starting at early dawn for the
woods, for here they can shoot game whenever
found War is argued against by everybody
as something to be avoided, but The idea oil
backing out to avoid it does not appear to en-
ter the mind of anybody.
But the greatest injury to all parties, and
may say to the world, would be the making o1
this nation of %, 100000 warlikc people; and
once instilled with the love of war, the propa-
gandists of Europe would have fearful ally.
/ The last years crop of wheat is officially given
at ITO, 100000 of bushels, and everything else
in proportion, so that we cannot starve them
! out; and, from my own observation, would
rather see England contending with the whole
of Europe than against this country. am nc
croaker, nor have l any doubt of the power
and wealth of my beloved country, and, II Iced
r be, could again handle musket for her honor
and glory; but the day that war is declared 6e,
= tween these two mighty rivals contest will
be commenced that will bring more horrors
lin its tram than the world ever yet witnessed
q There is another item which am like tc
: forret. Many Of my countrymen place great
t ldsnendence on the aboltionists, or friends o
y freedom, in this country: but assure yor