Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-03-10
from he L0ndcn AthenNam.I
THE ENGLISH PRESS ON

~ ~
AMERICAN RELATIONS.
T The London Atheneuln, from which the fol-
towing sensible remarks are taken, is. as our
readers are doubtless aware, purely literary
journal, and its opinions on subject are, there
fore, the more particularly to be noticed. The
extract below is taken review of ''Squiers
Notes on Central America
The more cautiously we ourselves abstain in
ordinary times from PronouDcing on the course
of our national policy, the more we feel bound
i'll this solemn moment to appeal to the true feel
ings and sedate understanding of our readers on
both sides of the Atlantic against the leyity, the
pride, or the incapacity which would urge the
two nations into war
/ War with the United States! The idea ofsuch
Ia war is incredible. Ifthere be in the catalogue
of mortal calamitics q worse than Civil War,
it is such aconilict as mghtarise between Ameri-
ca and England y civil war liar generally some
basis in reason Some grand principle is at stake.
The sword is drawn i'll defence of freedom-in
defence Of prOperty-in defence of religion. As
in our own civil war, acertaindegrce of Romance,
Of ciivalry and of intellectual activity, often
springs from the conflict and hOurisheS after Its
ciose-the blossom and the fruit of splendid
and deadly contest. But war against Amerl-
ca would have no single redceming point. There
is not-and there never ought TO hc-any real
ground of quarrel with the United States. The
interests Of the two countries are IDENTICAL
Their mora! principles are the same. They have
neither language to separate nor religion to
estrangc them. The same blood flows in the
veins oftlcir people. They have common his
torv-a common literature common tradition.
They possess the same bible. They read the
same Shakespeare and the same Milton. Blake
conquered aud Cromwell! ruled for both. They
have an equal interest in Raleigh, in Hanc, and
in Penn. Nay, their present state IS as Insep-
arabic as their past They still live by the light
of the same old Saxon laws They still drink
tEn iptn rnporinES
whether the springs lie on the Eastern or the
Western shores of the Atlantic. Irving, Bryant
Bancroft, Hawthorne, LoHgtellOw, are admired
with as warm an election in England as Thack
cray, Tcnnson, Dickens, Jcrrold, and Macaulcy
in America. \ war between England and .ameri-
ca would be war of brothers, war of friend
against friend. Ii would DC a vgainst aifini-
ties of race against tile unity ofreiigion, against
the Interchange OF trade. 1t would lie war III
favor of barbaiisTn, piracy, TcstrictiOn-a war
against the bountcS of Nature the enterprises
of genius the advances of civilization. SuchH
war would bring sorrow into every Anglo-SaXon
home in Europe and America, and a feeling of
shame aud humiliation into every AnglO-Saxen
heart. in whatever quarter of the globe it beats.
Such war would close the gospel for nearly
half the Christian world.
We say nothing about material interest. They
60 for much; but the mor1tl tercsts lar out
weigh them. The interchange Of thought is
more tIl.til VI
And for what were we threatened with an inter
ruption Of o II friendly relations with our Antri-
can kindred: Is any principle at issue: Are
our liberties Characterization our property unsafe?
Not in the least degree. Only three slight and
miserable causes for quarrel appeal dispute
about ;he construction of treaty regarding that
interesting savage. the King of MiSquito,-l dis
,.ufe about some wretched sandbankS lying oil
Belizc,-1nda dispute about the attempt to enlist
troops for the CTilnoa. The first two are quite
Insignificant We might as well 60 to warabout
the sovereignty Of Ee-Pic Island. We may be
/ right or we may be wrong in our Ttcrprcta ion;
{ The Americans think we are wrong. There is
( much to DC said on both sides; and VIC all know
that when private persons disagree about tritlcs
a courteous and Conriutory tones soon removes
/ the cause Of quarrel About the third point
the attempt to cnii<tin the Republican territory
We were unuQcStionably in the wrong. In
either case Is our honor engaged; in either case
/ does any principle, which ought to be maintain
cd stand behind the formal terms the diSa-
lgrccment-.hus presenting a true ground of
quarrel as in tue Russian war, which the gent
us of thcnatiOn an seize and accept. Our states
men might-Ind muS;-fnd in the resources of
diplomacy means Of satisfying all interests
without an insane appel tn the sword Where
we are clearly wrong, we should AZ once and
! fully admit our error making whatever repara-
ton is fairly due. 1t Is said that the Washing
ton Cabinet requires the Withdrawal OF Mr..
CHAMPION Surely this is no extreme or reVO-
llutionary request. Personal appropriately las
always been considered sufficient reason EOT
requiring the withdrawal of an cmbasSadOT.--
We could give hundred instances in which
sovereign powers have exercised this right. Tn
der such circumstances Withdrawal docs not i'm
ply ccusurc. II merely implies that The persot!-
al relations Of the ruler and the minister have
become such as to impede the transaction ofPuh
lie business. We were wrong in attempting to
recruit within the UIioa Sir. Champion was
the instrument of the wrong. He has thereby
rendered l.imScIfan object OF suspicion at WASH
ingtun. His withdrawal therefore, at the requc t
Of the American Cabinet would be in accordance
with usage, ard would be n sure pledge Ct the
sincerity of our acknowledgement of the origi-
nal error. Strong nations can afford to be grace
full in their concessions.
The other points are less clear Yet, ifa prop
er spirit of Cancellation prcsidcs at the discussion,
we have no reason t"iear u permanent Disagree
Ement We have right to expect our diplomat
lists and public writer's will approach the discus
sion in a pacific mood Above all things we
dcpiecate Inenacing tone. We cannot read
without indignation the elaborate display Of our
naval and military powers which some Of our
Journals have thought proper to make
Every Eng;isIman feels that he would not be put
down by such parade; and wcmuSt not forget that
OurdesccndantS in America are just rs naughty as
ourselves They have our blOod. our passions, our
acute senSeOf personal honor Against ourselves
the threat of forccis the argument that's sure,
under all circumstances, TO fail. Nor will the
Americans he cowcd by menace of the Baltic
feet. We must argue our point as if no fleets
were in existence, and take our stand on the
ground of history and reason.
INroRrANr CASE FouSDED on CONFIDENTIAL