Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-22
sTRAws SHOWING HOW THE WIND BLOWS.

The London papers, with very patriotic but most
unusual unanimity, deYOting their energies to
common issue-the discussion of American affairs
Being in quandaTy what TO say, they fall back
chiefly upon the subject with which they are most
acquainted through fiction, and the least informed
by facts. As they must say something about this
country to meet the exigencies into which Palmer
ston has flung them by rejecting the Dallas Clsren-
don treaty, they naturally take up a theme which
allows full scope for their prejudices.
The London Times takes Mr.. Eli Thayer's pleasant
paragraphs very seriously to heart almost as much
as 'Fhe South" and our Virginia contemporaries
Confessng 20 much dependency lately con the sub
ject of slavery in the New World the philosophic
oomposure of the Times is greatly bestifed at the
prospect of the planting Of Virginia although it
perceives that the press Of the Old Dominion is not
unanimous in welcoming the 'friendly invasion" Of
Mr. Thayer. But it is consolation to the Times TO
remember that ''great natural laws make themselves
felt through all the turmoil Of political strife and
in spite of all the resolutions of national prejudice
Nature, it holds, has proved that slavery cannot
conquer what it coves, and is incapable of holding
its own. On these grounds there is some hope yet
left for America, even though, as the doubtful old
Times says "SOutherners all powerful in the Cab
met"
The London NsDs thinks it very significant, that
'while Governor Wise and other Old-fashioned Vir-
ginians have been raving about dissoving the Union
for their party objects, Northern capitalists have
prepared this scheme, with no small encouragement
and aid from citizens-even from neWspapers-of
Virginia itself"
The London Advertiser of April 20 says; ''The
recent decision, that man af negro descent is
can be citizen of the United States, is likely to
produce all the intestine conflict which we predict
ed would be its necessary result" a Daniel come to
Judgment Daniel
''The progress of Democratic opinions" much an
uOys the London Globe. That journal believes the
supremacy of Democracy ''has quite destroyed
in the United States that which We hold to be the
safeguard of justice-the appointment of judges
for life" WOfully impressed with the exigen-
ey Of the case, it Weeps aloud, ALREADY the Su-
preme Court, we are told, gives party judgments"
The London Chronicle is In pRroXysm of excite
ment. 1t says: "The late news from the United
States contains very alarming tidings. The slavery
problem has attained wider significance, and will
demand more prompt solution than was heretofore
deemed possible" The Manchester Guardian fails
to remember more audaciOus denial of law and
justice than the bred Scott decision; and the London
Star takes Chief Justice fancy to account for ar
guing that, at the Declaration Of Independence, the
case Of the negro was not considered, it being the
fixed and universal opinion of the civilized world
that Africans inferior order Of creatures,
and as much politically as socially unfit for assoca
ton with the white race. The Star brings upa
solemn judicial decision of Lord Chief Justice
Holt in 1905, in which he declared " that the law
of England afforded warrant for holding anybody
in slavery, and that in this respect negroes did not
differ from any other men.
The London Telegraph sees that we have an eye
on Cuba; that we are fomenting quarrel between
Spain and Mexico, to have an excuse for clutching
the latter ourselves And the Morning Post exhibits
the belligerent frenzy Of my Lord Palmerston. 1t
says:
s. We have the means in our hands of putting down
the Cuban slave traffic, if we will but use them,
without the aid of the Spanish or any other govern
ment Since diplomacy has failed US, it is time we
should try some other method of accomplishing our
purposes.
If this does not brighten US, we must be incOrri-
gible
The London Herald thinks that religion is going
to be the death of us Our present position is the
growth Of years, not the work of day, it says
which remark is certainly entitled to respect for its
antiquity
Look Ut contnues) at the religious institutions
Of America split up into many ridiculous sects
and creeds as there are castles amongst nation Of
HindOOs. Their very names-the Dunkers and Sha-
kers, MOrmonites and Johnsonites-are mockery to
religion; aud what is worse still, they lend them
selves under the guise Of religion, maintain sla-
very; and call it an institution Of Providence.
By these running commentaries on Americanpol- ]
tiles our readers may seeto what shifts the English
papers are put to keep up the fire. They, at the
same time exhibit craving desire to say something
calculated to sting US, and in SO far may be regarded
as straws to show US what way the wind blows |
Washington States.