Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-04
THE CHARGES AGAINST MR.. CHAMPION.
From the London Times, March /;

From tue London Times, March l3l
It appears to be necessary in the United States
that everything should there be protracted beyond
European proportions. Not only rivers and rail.
ways, but speeches, debates, correspondence and Diff
fculties are there measured by the mile or the CEN
fury. The ,OiO miles o. ocean have something to do
with this; SO also are the want OF facility and prompt
action inseparable from Federal institutions. But,
apart from these accidental nggravatiuls, our Ane-
rican cousins have a wonderful way of spinning out
things. From the first separation Of the two
countries" Says Mr.. Buchanan, in his speech at tho
Mansion-house, There has unfortunately always
been a group Of unsettled questions" AT, then,'
as he further observes, There is q cloud now impend.
ing over their relations" this is no more than al
ways has been, and it would Hppeur, always is to be.
AZ far Us England is concerned, we may certainly
say, without fear OF contradiction, that il il neither
tho wish nor the interest Of our people to quarrel
with the United Suites. We never knew anything
about the misunderstanding till we saw it blazing
away in the American papers, and then the only
anxiety Was to put it out us speedily ~ possible. No
uation ever swallowed 30 much at the hands of un-
other as we did III the case Of American "sympnthy'
with the Canadian Instructions; and at this moment
We should probably endure more from our jealous
cousins than from most other people. As for our i'll
terest, we certainly have no territory to win across
the Atlantic Tue -Quy profitable investment We
Of the ports, Which,, on the outbreak oi war, We
should have to blockade. suppose says the Box
ton Chronicle, "that the English should burn New
York-that is no more than the New Workers do them.
selves once in every five Years; and when they mad
destroyed that village they would have the satislac,
ton of knowing that they had burnt .SlOO,OO0,OWO
worth OF property belonging to their own country
men, As for honor and glory in that part OF the
world, We only wish to keep what We have, as we
are very well aware We should meet with many MIS-
haps in q war with q people whose only difference
from ourselves is that they hive no Court, arlsiocra-
cy, half.pay list, or Horse Guards. If then there
must always be d little cloud coming up, and q group
OF unsettled qucstious,i il does not arise FROM any morbid
taste for annexation aud glory On our part. Let me
Americans say whether they are equally dlslntercsted,
equally Indifferent, or rather equally anaious there
should be no quarrel between Us.
As for this particular diliculty-the affair OF the
recruiting-it can never be settled, but must survive
us and our children, unless the Americans Will state
their whole case, and let US know really what 1t Is
they want 10 quarrel about. Apologize ana explain
as We will, they ae always finding q nest egg ior
another stage Of the difficulty. They now ullegc,
that when Mr.. Buchanan said, last October, that he
should have "inuch satisfaction" in transmitting Lord
Clarendou's explanation, Mr.. buchanan had not Deeh
fully informed a5 to the facts OF the case by hls own
Government, and was not, therefore, i'll a position 10
accept Lord ClarendOn's explanation. But what pos
sible end Of controversy does this leave Us, when It
lie evident that nU apology il safe against a fresh de-
mand Ii is now said that Mr.. Cranpton has com.
United m Intentional and perseyering lnlractlon Oh
American law, aud that the evidence of this fnct on
ly t%ranspirsd after the representative OF the AEneri-
cun Government in this country had expressed Nun
self satisfied. Thereupnn the American Government
demands the recall of Mr.. Cramptun and oil the con-
| bulS indicated. But Oei0rC inc Americans Hluuc lIls u
maud--before they allowed it to d become a party ques-
ton in the States, and to figure in all their Journals as
the text Of a forthcoming triumph over England
they would have done well to publish the whole oithe
case, and not leave tho British public still in the dark.
They would have done we'll to state their case aud stand
upon it, instead ofcontinually re-openlng it and adding
! fresh matter. In this country We require a complainant
to state his case fully, and we do not permit him to
20 on adding fresh matter to meet the defence. Oth-
srwise some trials would never end, but would 20 Oh
till doonsday. If the American Government can
prove that Mr.. Champion has committed such a
violation Of the American law as, in regard to It's
quality or it's magnitude. is usually followed by inc
recall of the Minister and his agents, then are Hc qn'ts
sure that tie British people rW be only to- ready 10
make that amcnde, and that no .Ntniste, r'Hdars stand
6ctLpeen 1t and justice. But then the complaint and
the satisfaction must be set out in due form, and
founded ON sound precedent. An American journal
before US, while it processes the most moderate ana
pacific temper, says that the American Cabinet has
been governed solely by the determination 10 make
such an example Of Mr.. Champion as shall prevent a
repetition of his offences for all future time. At the
same time; it describes the English as a sensitive
proud, and, at times, naughty people, who do not like
TO be called to account. These ara but vague
expressions. The Americans have to prove that
Mr.. Champion has committed a certain offence, and
further, that il is OH offence so great as to deserve the
recall of the offender. Unless these points be made
out, the British people will not permit the Americans
10 be the sole arbiters, both Of facts aud Of right, on
the face Of the earth. They will he governed by law
and usage, and not by the fuctsating and hyperbollc
demands of American Ministers.
The question does not concern MIR. Champion alone,
or the enlistment alone, or any number Of pending
difficulties alone, or the present generation Of Eng
lishmen and Americans alone, but the relations OF the
two people Tor all time 10 come. Is it to be conceded
that America IL always to be allowed TO fabricate its
own grievance, 10 state It's own case, and reopen that
cnse as often as it pleases, to lay down its own law, to
assess its own damages, to be judge and jury on eve.
nv case between Us, to demand whatever it may hap
pen to think will make the example" most striking
and most memorable ! If so, then England is net a
country worth living in, aud the sooner we quit its de-
graded pale, and transfer our allegiance 10 our Trans
atlantic couquerors and oppressors, in some distant
region, where we can neither Cypress nor he oppress-
ed, the better for the dignity of our character and the
honor of our species. We observe tn. American
Journals lay much stress on certain resolutions agreed
to by the Manchester Chamber uf Commerce, depre-
catory of war, aud they seem 10 think there is q por-
ton of the British community too intent on private
gain to care much for national humiliation. We
would advise these journals, however, not to assign too
much meaning to the ready.msde phrases IN which
the English are wont TO express a general sentiment.
In all Manchester there is probably not O single man
who would return even a civil answer to any high and
mighty neigbbor who for some affair required him to
dismiss 4 number Of his servants. Nobody stands
more On his dignity than a Lancashire manufacturer,
or is less disposed 10 let others lay down the law
When the occasion comes, these people will feel, and
honestly avow, that the rule of public md Of private
life il the same, and that neither individuals nor ma
tons can submit to dictation without loss Of honor
and position. The Engli.hman will submit to arsu-
nent; he will bow 10 just authority he will invite
not bow his Judgment to that Of another people; he