Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-12
The Dln,eul,ie. with England.

- =
The vonmnous correspondence between the
United States and Great Britain, both in regard TO
the enlistment difficulty and Central American
affairs, has been laid before the public by order OF
Congress. Not having space 10 publish the docu-
ments themselves-and if we had, most OF our
readers would not have The time and patience Pc
ruse them-we propose to give the main poih's VI
dispute rather 10 explain the present posture Oh
affairs, for the benefit of those who depend upon
US for the news of the day. The enlistment cues
ton is now the most prominent and threatening =
and in regard to it we frankly admit that we do
not fully comprehend all the matters in dispute.
Indeed it has been gravsy charged in this country
that Lord Palmerston, the British Prime Minister,
is in the same predicament. Mr.. Marcy's last
dispatch to Mr.. Buchanan is so long and technical
that unprofessional readers may well get belonged
in perusing it. Under these circumstances, Il is
fortunate that Mr.. Dallas has been appointed Uni
ted States Minister to Engglsnd. as "Philadelphia
lawyers" are generally thought 10 be especially
skllf1l in deaiing, with knoity questions. But TO
the facts, so far as we can ascertain them.
1t became known in this country in March last,
that scheme was on foot for recruiting wlthla
our limits, soldiers for the British Army, in spite
of all our laws on the subject. Criminal proceed
ngs were instituted against the guilty parties, and
complaint was made at the same time to the Brit
sh Government. In reply, Lord Clarendon, the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, informed Mr.. Buch'
anan that recruiting office had been opened in
Nova Scotia but that the individuals engaged in
recruiting in the United States acted upon their
individual responsibility and had no authority for
their proceedings from any British official. Lord
Clarendon also stated that instructions had, on the
22d of June, been sent to the Governor OF Nova
Scotia TO stop the enlistments. He Furthermore
expressed much regret that the laws of the Unit
led States had been violated. Mr.. buchanan de-
clared himself entirely satisfied with this eXPla-
nation. Meanwhile, however. the trials of the
agents in this country had developed facts proving
couclusvely that Mr.. Champion, the British MIN
ster, and several British Consuls deeply
implicated in aiding the enlistmens. On recelV-
ing this news Mr.. Buchanan withdrew his ex-
pressions of satisfaction at The explanations and
disclaimers previously made. From that time to
the 2Sth of December correspondence beiweea
the two Governments was kept up, but without
arriving at any conclusion. All that could be OBJ
tanned from the British Government was, that re
grets had already been expressed, that there was
M inf IN wiz h nd at ha
cruiting had been discontinued On the date last
mentioned Mr.. Marcy wrote his long letter to Mr.
Buchanan, to be laid before Lord Clarendon. He
shows that while the British Government aust
have known in April that the enlistmenls were re-
garded here as Illegal no steps were taken to pvt
stop to them till June and even after thatdate,
so late as August, British officials, including Dir.
Crsmpion, were actively engaged in promoting
them. After treating of various teclncaliiies. TO
which we have referred, he concludes by demand
ing the recall of Mr.. Champion and the Consnls.
Up to this time no reply has been received to this
paper, and it appears from statements made oy
Lord Palmersion in Parliament, that the British
Government is waiting TO receive some information
from its officers in the United States. 1t is not
probable that the demand will be complied with.
Mr.. Marcy having pretty we'll brought home the
offence to the British Government ITSELF it is not
likely that it will punish the officers who merely
carried ont its wishes. A refusal will doubtless
result in the dismissal OF these officers by our
Government. What the upshot will be cannot be
foreseen, but war about matter so trihing, com
paratively, is not to be anticipated. John Bull is
undoubtedly in The wrong. He wanted soldiers.
and to get them resorted to expedienis not at all
comporting with his high pretensions; and his
shutting course during The diplomatic correspon-
dence is anything but creditable. But he has al
ready paid rather dear for his laundering He
obtained two hundred soldiers from the United
States, which cost him, it is said, one hundred
thousand dollars. Very likely if be had succeed
ed better, he would have persevered uotwtlstand-
log our remons'rance.
la regard to the Central American difficulty,
formal proposition to submit the question in dis.
pute to arbitration, has been rendered by the Brit
sh Government The Cabinet at Washington
will not accept it, the treaty of 1850 will probably
be abrogated, and new one will be concocted as
soon as the enlistment affair is adjusted. But this
whole matter may be settled conclusively before
the high contracting powers find time to resume
it. ':President Walker" has recently declared
the whole territory in dispute, part OF Nicaragua,
thus taking it out of the Jurisdiction of either Pres
ident Pierce or Queen Victoria