New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-04
RRITIsH KNLIsTMBNTs.


in every stage of the proceedings upon the Central
American question: and the enlistment in this cOun-
try of recruits for the Crimea Mr. Champion is
not the only dignitary in the case who mods. The
fact appears TO be that the entire British Cabinet
as well as their Extraordinary Envoy in the United
States, have been so engrossed by the Russian war
and its varied relations to lose the capacity Of
clear thinking other subjects. Thisis strikingy
evinced in a recent debate in the House Of Com
mons, the chief parts in which we're played by Mr..
Roebuck and Lord Palmerston, and which we
transfer at length to smother page of this paper.
On this occasion the particular subject OF dis
cussion was the enlistment question, and Lord
Pamerston ratified away with the air Of one who
hid at least read the official correspondence be-
tween the two Governments. But whoever peruses
his Lordsbip's remarks will perceive that he is not
only very poorly informed as TO the facts, but is
destitute Of correct notions respecting the whole
matter.
According to Lord PamerstOn, what the Ameri-
can Government complains of is that after the
British Cabinet had expressed their regret for the
violation of our laws by their agents, which we
had objected to- those agents continued the course
of conduct thus apOlOgzed for. This, he contends,
is not the fact; the recruiting, he alleges, was
stopped as soon as it was objected to; and accord
ingly he holds up this country as making difficulty
without cause Herein his jaunty and face Lord
ship falls intentionally or not, into complete mis-
representation of the case. The truth is that the
recruiting was prosecuted long after the Imperial
Government was perfectly aware that it was Often
sve TO the United States. In his last dispatch on
the question: Mr.. Marcy states that his protest
against such enlistment was before the British
Cabinet in April, and should have been followed
by their complete suppression by the LIST of May at
the furthest; but the business was actively con-
tinued through May June and July, and was not
finally stopped until August. Such is the blrnder
of Lord Pamerston in pretending to state the
American side Of the controversy. Is it too much
to hope that when he shall become Thoroughly
enlightened ON the subject he may revise his con-
illusions, and acknowledge the justice of the con-
siderations urged by Mr.. Marcy
In the entire course Of the dispute it has never
been minated on the part of the United States
that if the British agents had promptly desisted
from their Illegal proceedings, it would have been
regarded as in any degree repairing the wrong, or
generating the parties engaged from due re-
sponsibility. The demand for reparatiOn for vio-
lated law would still have been in force till satisfied
by some adequate atOnement. AL the talk which
is made about an "apOogy having been offered
by England is the idlest pretense. There has been
no apology and no acknowledgment The British
authorities have persisted, and do now persist, in
maintaining that they have committed no offense-
violated no law. They have done more than
simply declare themselves willing to desist from
what they were doing, because the American
Government took umbrage at it. Is this
to be called an acknowledgment, reparation, an
apology Indeed, the truth of the case probably
is that the recruiting was abandoned here because
it could not be made successful. Distractions
were thrown in the way, and it was found the
sch. me would not pay. Mr. ROebuck states in
the debate in the Commons that Mr.. Howe and the
other agents in this business spent hundred
thousand dollars, and got but two hundred men.
When it was found that the expenses were so large
aud the net profits so small, it is no wonder the
enterprize was abandoned. Here was reason
enough. If the job had proved profitable and
plenty of men had been forth coming at reason
able cost we presume Mr.. Bull would have gone
on till his ranks were full. This is his way in
such cases, and we must be pardOned for the sup
position.
We see it suggested that we should be very
generous to our grandfather over the water for his
little peccadilloes displayed toward US. We GER
tainly have no grudge against our venerable ances-
tor, and are disposed TO treat him with all becom-
ING courtesy. At the same time there is an ap-
parent prOprety in telling him just what We think
of his character and conduct, even though he may
not be enlightened BY the information. If our
rights are Genaced nfringed, if our territory or
our laws are violated by his agents we believe
| that decent manliness requires an adequats
reparation, and if just responsibility for
such conduct is lodged, and the reparation denied,
then the work of satisfaction should be taken into
our own hands. This is especially true when the
| ease is so simple as in the enlistment question.
| There is certainly no nation in this world that
needs to be taught cyility toward other powers
mere than England. Her statesmen, and espe-
cally the Premier now in power, are notorious for
carrying things with high hand when it suits their
purposes. They are never tender of other peoples
corns when they happen TO be in their path. Dog
ged stubborn and superciliOus, Britain bears sway
in all quarters of the world without the
redeemiDg graces of gentleness or generOs-
ity. John Bull is simply lusty and burly
He is fellow of few words, and with
him il is often word and blow, with the blow