Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-15
rrom .hA london Chronicle. April 16.


q New York Journal states that the government OF
the United States has refused to join in any tpar-
tte treaty with France and England for the regula-
ton of future intercourse with China Although IN
form of phrase we 'hope this intelligence may prove
untrue" there is unfortunately but too much reason
70 believe that it is not without foundation. The
tone of the American Presidents inaugural address
sufficiently prepared the world Tor policy OF non,
intervention to be carried almost to the extent OF
purism: and refusal to take part in the European
-or rather, as it at present stands, the English
moven emf against China, would only be necessary,
though we admit somewhat strictly drawn conse-
ouence of the broad principle on which Mr.. Buchan-
an roposes to act. 1t is impossible to attribute 20
such resolution if it really has been adopted, any
motive of the same kind those which often in
fuence American politics. The new President has
passed through the ordeal of election; he is firmly
seated in his chair of Office and he has no intention
again to solicit the sufages OF the people. He has
no inducements therefore, of past prospective orr
gin to conduct bis government on any but broadly
patriotic principles, or swerve from the straight
line of public duty.
Sill we cannot but think that, under any other
Minister but Lord Pamers,on, the British nation
would not have been subjected TO this moral
rebuke 1t is of the first penalties they have TO
nav for having erected il 10 an idol statesman who
to other nations seems but the lncarnae spirit OF war
| Would such an insult have been offered to US had
Sir Robert Peel or even Lord John Russell, been in
power? We will not speak of the Earl of Aberdeen,
because a vulgar prejudice associates his name with
policy of which desire for peace is supposed to
have formed too large pat. But Sir Robert fee'
and Lord John Russell were we'll known to all the
world as statesmen Jealous of the honor OF their
country, and ready to uphold it against all possible
aggressions or insults Yet no American president
would have offered to either of them the deliberate
slight in piled by the step-we admit the wise ana
prudent step-which is said 10 have been taken oy
President Buchanan.
This il is to have a bad name, snd-to deserve it.
| To Lord Palmerston himself, we doubt not 1t Is
matter of but little consequence; rather supJect or
chuckling and self gratulatlon-that he should thus
be tabooed by he most advanced and advancing ma
ton of the Now World-that own flesh and blood,
the descendants of our forefathets, should thus in
the eyes of all mankind repudate ASSOCIATION IN our
enterprises. 1t is the English people who are The
sufferers, FIRST in the disgrace Of being thus g cut "
by the Americans; secondly in the positive loss to-
which-hey will be put by this refusal of co.opera
ton. 1t is impossible to say that hey do not deserve
their fate, for scarcely year has elapsed since the
same Minister who now has brought it upon them,
very nearly succeeded in provoking war between
England and the United States and did actually af
ford President Pierce pretext for suspending nego
tiaons Yet they have once placed him in
position to his ancient policy of universal hos
tlity, and that, too, upon bis appeal to them TO ap
prove acts of outrage and cruelty which have excited
the horror and the disgust of the civilized worl.
There can be but little doub that President Buch
anan desires, in the most marked manner, on behalf
of the American people. 10 express dsapproval, not
merely of the general policy of England while under
the sway of Lord Palmerston, but also OF the partcu
lar proceedings in China which have lately been the
subject of so much controversy We have always
argued that whatever steps ht he taken to obtain
commercial access to that almost unknown world the
| immense Chinese empire, should be adopted IN the
name of the whole civilized nations of the globe. But
we have right to call upon other States TO take
part IN, or to sanction, deliberate diplomatic fraud
and ruthless In arguing Oh behalf of joint
action it has always been with reservation that we
have strictly no right to ask other nations render
their responsibility a cloak for our inquities. Had
the government OF the United States fallen into the
trap laid for them by Lord Palmerston, they would
have given retos pectve sanction his proceedings
of which his parasites would not have been slow to
take advantage AS it is. should President Buchanan
persist in Withholding his assent to the proposed
operatiOn he will have recorded another cOndemna-
tion of the Chinese massacres more signal and far
reaching than the vote of passed by the
House of Commt against Lord Palmerston's policy,
upon the motor of Mr.. Golden.
The Emperor of the French, too. if this nteIli-
gence should prove TO he true, will have received
another pro of the Inconvenience attending that
English alliance which he much cherishes. In
almost stalking his government upon that alliance,
he must have believed that he was associating him
self with the English nation as he himself had known
them-that is 10 say, with a Just, high principle
generous and philanthroplc people, The immediate
basis OF that alliance necessity which arose
tor defending the oppressed against the oppressor.-
Anxious as he is to maintain the alliance, he has
already made sacrifices which ought not 10 have
been demanded from one in his position. The pre-
sent is not the first occasion in which Lord Palmer
ston has led him into the embarrassment During
the last autumn the cordality between the two ma
TONS had very nearly been impaired through the
English Minister'S desire for separate line of &C
ton, and his arrogant determination TO settle the
treaty disputes with Russia by his own individual
will, rather than by the safe and legitimate
means OF conference. The Emperor Napoleon had
to draw largely on his magnanimity, when he sood
by and witnessed the insults heaped the Russ. II
Government because it would not submit to il.suent
dictation Now he finds himself Exposed TO a sill!
great indignity His operation or his mediation
has been sought successfully by evsry civilized State.
Yet ne s at the present moment repudated by Amer
lea for no other reason than that he comes in COM
pany with the arch disturber of the peace of the
world although in consenting to join him in the
proposed Chinese treaty, he undoubtedly must have
done so with desire TO his ally from disgrace
by conuertlng a mercless outrage into combined
step IN the march of civilization
The whole scheme one of the grandest that can be
conceived in the whole range of diplomacy, threat
ened with Illustration through the mstrust inspired
IN the American government by Lord PaImerston.-
For we feel assured that President Buchanan would
never have refused TO cooperate with England and
France IN commercial movement, of the character
which few days ago we ldicated as being in con.
temptation by the cabinets of London and Paris 1t
Is not The present, but the future, that is dreaded
IL is not the letter OF treaty that would be objected
to, but the spirit in which it might afterwards be in
terpreted. The Americans have lively recollection
OF Lord Palmersons former exploits in these respects
They remember how the PLAIN and palpable meaning
OF the American law was strained and perverted in
order TO convert the United States territory into
recruiting ground for the British army We can
understand that they would be very glad to ,on the
rest OF the world in endeavoring by fair means to