Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-04-03
An Englishman in America Opinions on
the Chances of War


don Stamping and Mercantile Gazette:
To the Editor o. the Shipping and Mercantile Ga
zette:
SIR:--I have now made the tour of the
States of North America, and think it prob
able that | can give yonr readers some use
full information. | landed at New York
city ten months ago, and have spent my
time in studying the character and customs
of these people, and must confess that if |
remained there ten years, the result would
be the same; and l know very little about
about them. But upon one point--nation-
al pride-men, women and children arc all
alike, and the idea of any nation in Europe
or the whole fthcm put together conquer
ing this county, is perfectly absurd to
them. Everybody reads the papers, and
a good humored urchin of twelve years
used to rate me soundly about our failures
at Sebastopol. The best version of Amer
lean sympathy was given me few days
since When the war commenced, the
Turks were the weaker power, and our
sympathies was theirs. After the alliance
it was three against one, and our sympa-
thies went for Russia; but, should France
Join Russia tomorrow against England,
our Government coald not prevent its cit
liens from not only sympathizing with
England but assisting her with mate Rial aid
This heard from very intelligent man,
who did not think. suspected my nation
atty; and firmly believe it. In the South
spent some time upon the plantations,
and many times held long conversations
with the slaves, and always with the same
result They are much better satisfied
than | suspected, and when spoke of the
white folks wouldn't let nigga fight
But, said l, the blacks from West In
dies will come here and help you gain
your freedom
What! black soger come here; let 'em
cum, den, massa let's fight dc nigga, l
know, and Gar Ami ghty, we give them
gosh!'
If not the same language, the same feel
ing was expressed.
| have visited all their national armorics
and although the country is at peace, great
activity prevails; all the old arms are con
demned, and by next spring, nearly 500,
600 Minnie rifles will Ee ready for distri-
button, besides Colts, Clark's and others.
A Mr.. Alger, at Boston,; is now engaged
on new kind of gun for the Navy. The
range, with solid shot, is nearly five miles,
with shell somewhat shorter, and the ex-
plosion of the shell renders conflagration
certain at great distance. These are
called, by these that work at them the
secret gun. But what the secret about
it is l could not ascertain. Since the war
rumor | have been observant of all and
everything that could give me clue
to the feelings of the people. This is not
difficult to come at, for the feeling is gen
eral, and their confidence, so great in their
own strength, that the most diifident speak
only of the consequence and the result
In company with party of merchants,
most of whom were engaged in trade with
England, preached the war subject, and
was astonishcd to find tkem 50 Indifferent
about the consequences. One of them,
largely interested in clipper ships, in an
swer to remark of mine, that he would
have to lay up his clippers
Not bit of it,, said he, they will make
capital privateers, the Government will fur
nish guns of long range; no British man
of-war can catch them except steamer,
and they cannot in a good breeze, SO we
must take chances. We have $4,000 en-
rolled fisherman who will flood our sea-
ports, 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 afloatas priyateers, and an Eng
lish merchantmen will not be able to show
herself ut sea. What if we lose few, we
will make it up in the end. Two steamers
were launched few days ago, each about
1000 tons, built in eight months, and il
is just as easy to build 50 in the same time
or less
But your coasts are not defended. Re-
member that You have no Scbastopol Oh
Cronstadt.'
Nor do we want any. We have few
very pretty forts, but should any nation at
tempt an invasion, we will m .et them with
hands and hearts equal to any; superior to
most; and we can concentrate 100000 men
at any point on our coast in a few days.
Let the alarm be sounded at this moment,
in few hours near 1000 men will make
their appearance, armed and equipped
This sounds like Dragging, but it is a
fact. This city New York } has near that
number enrolled and equipped; every man
has his rifle at home, or in the private ar
mory of the company to which he belongs,
and find it is the same throughout the
country. have frequently met with boys
IL and ID with gun and game bag starting
at early dawn for the woods, for here they
can shoot game wherever found. War is
argued against by everybody as something
to be avoided, but the idea of backing out
to avoid it does not appear to enter the
minds of anybody. Some of tire papers
speak of the Presidents Message dispara-
gingly, but the people are with him, and
candidly believe he would be elected if the
election came off to-day. And / regret that
| cannot defend my country at this time
as | could wish. The Bulwcr- Clayton
Treaty is plain and explicit, and these peo-
pie don't and won't understand double