The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-06

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.
We think the time has arrived when it behooyes the
country FIX its attention the state of our relations
with Great Britain least with sufficient earnestness to
determine where if at all any danger exists of war be-
tween that country and the United States We in the
United States uow have before all the elements OF a
right understanding Of the question: by means OF the pub
lshed documents regarding Central America and recruit
ing for Brsh service together with the speeches on the
subject delivered in the American Senate and in the two
houses of the British Parliament
On the 25h of October last there appeared in the Lon
don Times leader full of mendncious COLONIZATION and
rerocious denuncaon of the United States It's exclusive
topic and sole ground of attack the imputed nonexe
cuton of our act of Congress orbdding foreign enlist
ments in the United States. ..... ,...
Who could have imagined that, for period Of
eight months prior to the appearance of that
article Great Britain herself through her envoy er-
raordinary 10 the United States had been systemat
caIly engaged in raising military recruits within our
territory in violation of the local law and Of our national
sovereignty that for long time previous there had been
no libusterng in the United States except such bad
perperaed by the British envoy and his recruiting
officers that mutudes OF persons under prosecution
for violations Of the law committed in the vain attempt
raise recruits evasion of the law that of the
guilty parties had been duly convicted thus scattering 10
the winds the foolish idea of the British government that
in what they had been doing they had not nrnged The
of Congress and that during the months Of June,
July August September this outrage the rights Of the
United States had been the subject Of very goodhumor
ed correspondence Mr. Marcy and Lord Clarendon
OF all this the Times is careful say word No
human being on reading the article In the Times would
have suspect any such incidents had occurred
On the contrary Great Britain, engaged in wholesale
violation Of neutrality laws with her agents already
convicted therefor undertakes to talk of the awIesu.ss
of our people and the mbeclity Of government the
very moment when our courts were naictipg condign
punishment British agents apprehended in unlawful
lstments in tho United States.
Meanwbils for upwards Of two years another great
question had been pending between the two governments
that of the refusal commended of Great Britain to
execute the spulatons Of the Cayton-Bulwer conven-
ton We had stipulated in 1850 that neither of would
occupy or exercise dominion over any part Of Central
America She pretended to understand by this that she
not thereafter to begin to occupy begin to
tres, We insisted that she not thereafter to
cupy or exercise Nay, conceived that Der assumed
construction paipably sfer-thought and wrong
fu one But of this great controversy the London Times
said not word
simultaneously with this mendacous and infamous out
break Of the London Times It announced in London
that the British West India naval squadron was TO be
largely reinforced with view Of reference TO the
United States What view This impossible to com
prehend by anything which appeared 10 The London Times
which ascribed it to hibusterng in the United States
We in this country knew that hlibusering had been
going on except that Of British agents and recruiting Off
Our minister in London had knowledge of that but
not of any other fibustcring in the United States
Accordingly, Mr.. Buchanan called on Lord Clarendon
for explanations he had right to do Lord Clarendon
stated that the object of the British feet to stop Rus
sian privateers fitting out in New York. Mr. Buchanan
denied that there any Lord Clarendon replied that
he was sure there was at lenstnameiy "a steamer
described in particular manner, which he lord Caren-
doul detailed by three dispositions which bad been for
warded by the British consul at New York TO Mr. Cramp
ton who had brought the subject to your Mr Marcys)
notice and you had promised TO inquire into IL" So
writes Mr. Buchanan Mr. Marcy under date Of Novem-
Der Q, 1858.
Now Il seemed superlstyey ridiculous TO everybody in
the United States that Great Britain should send feet
the American for the purpose OF
intercepng little Russian prvateer reported 70 be -
ting out 10 New York II was incredible Nobody 10 the
United States believed H. We at the time made pub