Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-04-12
AN ENGLIsHMAN IN AMERICA.

The following article appears in the London Ship
ping and Mercantile Gazette:
I TO The Editor Of tho Shipping and Mercantile Ga
zette:
Sir: have made the tour of the States of
North America, and think it probable can give
your readers some useful information landed at
New York city ten months ago, and haze spent my
time studying the character and customs of those
people, and must confess that if remained years
the result would be the same; and I know but very
little about them. But upon one point-national
pride-men, women, and children are all alike, and
the idea of any nation of Europe, the whole of
them put together conquerng this country is per-
fectly absurd to them. Everybody reads the papers,
and good-humored urchin Of twelve years used to
rate me soundIy at Philadelphia for our failures at
Sebastopol. The best version of American sympa-
thy was given few days since. When the war
commenced the Turks were the weaker power, and
our sympathies were with her. After the alliance
it was three against one and our sympathies went
fr Russia; but, should France join Russia to.mor
against England, our government could not pre-
vent its citizens from not only sympathizing with
England, but assisting her with mate al aid
This heard from very intelligent man, who
do not think suspected my nationality; 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 l suspected,
and when spoke Of the probability of war, was
answered. that Unite folks wouldn't let nigga fight"
But, says |, 1.-THE blacks from the. West Indies
will come here and help you to gain your freedom"
What! black soger come here; let 'em cum den,
massa; let's fight de nigga know, and Gar Almighty
give em gosh!" Ii not in the same language
the same feeling was expressed.
have visited all their national armories, and al
though the country at peace the greatest activity
prevails; all the old condemned, and by
next Spring nearly 100000 Mimic rifles will be
ready ior distribution, besides Colts Clarks, and
nth Mr. ir.r lUSfn 10 al
kind Of gun Tor the navy. The range, with
solid shot, is nearly five miles; with SHE'LL some
what shorter, and the explosion Of the shell renders
conflagraton certain to a great distance Those are
called, by those at work them, the secret gum
But what the secret is could not ascertain. Since
the war rulnors have been obscrvant of all and
everything that could give me clue to their feel
ings general, and their confidence is great in
their own strength, that the most dilfident speak
only OF the consequences and the result. In COM
pany with party Of merchants, most Of whom were
engaged in trade with England preached the war
subject, and as,oslicd 10 find them ndifler-
ent about the consequences.
One Of them, largely interested in cppcr-ships,
in answer 10 q 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 furnish guns OF long range; no British man Of
war can catch them except steamer, and they cam
not in good breeze, SO we must take chancrs."-
But where will you get yOul menu Nv here
We have 81 OUO enrolled fishermen who will flood
seaports and will tell you candidy that in less
than SIX months after war is declared there Will be
SUI Of the fastest vessels in the world ahoat pri
vateers and an English merchantmen will not be
able to show herself Ut sea. hat if we lose few,
We will make it up in the end. Two steamers were
launched few days since, each about 4, QUO tons,
built in eight months and it is just as easy to build
81 in the time or less" But your coasts
not defended. Remember you have 10 Sebastopol
nor Cronstadt.' Nor do we want any. We have
few petty forts, but should any nation attempt
invasion, he will meet them with hands and hearts
equal to any, superior to most; and VIC can concen-
trate 5OO,OUO men at any point on our coast in few
Gays. Let the alarm be sounded at this moment,
and in few hours 81, QUO men will make their
appearance armed and equipped" This sounds like
Dragging, but it is fact. This city New York;
has near that number enrolled and equipped; every
man keeps his rifle at home or i'll the private armory
OF the company to which he belongs, aud find it
the same throughout the country.
have frequently met with boys of IL and IA,
with gun and game-bag, starting At early dawn for
the woods, Tor here they can shoot game wherever
found. " ar is argued against by every body
something to be avoided but the idea Of backing
out TO avoid does not appear enter the mind Of
anybody. Some of the papers speak OF the Presi-
dents message d,sparaglugy, but the people are
with him. anu caiiddiy believe he would be cleo
ted If the election came off to-day. And regret l
cannot defend my country at this time as l wish.-
The Bulwer-Clayton treaty IS plain and explicit, and
these people uon t and wont understand double
meanings III treat Taey say the man with the
whi.c hat does not refer to The individual in the
white cap, aid my Lord John Russell acknowledges
the American interpretation. There are thousands
OF men here that the Americans would be glad to
get clear Of but that does not justify England in
breaking their laws by enlistng them and my Lord
PalmelstOn's instructions something like tell
ing man to stab his neighbOr but to hurt him.
Ii the treaty, Clayton and BulwerD is adhered
to, we have the States pledged to occupy it,
Central America,) for, say what We will they will
stick to the treaty and it will never be annexed
abrogate it, and in less than ten years it will be
of the States of the Union The Canadians are
very loyal Set and think they could take possession
of the States at a moments warning. They have
caught the habit of Dragging from their neighbors,
without having the wherewith to brag on. A trip
up the lakes the most convincing proof
have of the difference between the two people. In
tue American well-fnshed cities and towns,
saw.nnils, railroads running in every drection-in
fact, you seldom lose sight Of the ocomotivc-and
there are innumerabe steamers at every landing
On the Canadian, where there are settlements, you
see the well-kept, comfortable dwellings, the smooth
sheared lawn, and everything wears air of COM
fort; but little or no business, with the exception of
the great railroad. However, they are rapidly inn
proving; but should there be war, the largest and
best portions Of Canada lost to us. Quebec,
Halifax, and other points would bother them. But
to sum up my own observations after every oppor-
tunity that one man could have afforded him, the
result would be as follows: Mexico, Cuba, and the
whole Of Central America in the South, including
Cuba, would be annexed and have little doubt Of
Canada in the North; millions of treasure and thou
sands OF valuable lives lost England forever; our
commerce crippled in every sea, and some fighting
that will gladden. the hearts of tried soldiery.
Now, what can we gain? foot of territory p
We don't want it; and if we did, six feet for the
majority Of our brave fellows, fear would be the
extent Naval or military glory We don't want and