The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-01-28

America as one of the Grea, Powers.

/ d5 one oil the OTeut EOWeEs.
| The Journal des Debats of December 23d,
in an article on the Presidents Message,
signed by S. De Sacy, makes use Of The fol-
lowing language:
The political relations between North
America and Europe are developing Them
selves. Commerce is The sole cause; but
what is The extent of the field which il oc-
cupies al this moment, and what subject
| does 1t not affect? The message mentions
two subjects which indicate how America
penetrates, day by day, deeper into the heart
of European questions. The first is the pay
ment Of the Sound dues. Undoubtedly, al
the insligaiion of American ship owners, the
government of the United States, taking
here, contrary 10 custom, the initiative, made
| known 10 Denmark that il did not under
| stand that The merchant flag of the United
States was obliged TO recognize these rights.
The cabinets of Europe have been COM
PEELED, TO greater or less extent, 10 follow
the course of America on this point. In
consequence of the policy of the cabinet o!
Washington, conferences have been held,
| negotiations have followed ,,,and We arc COM
PEELED 10 submit ourselves TO the will OF
America. The Sound Dues, feudal insii-
tuition, for which no proporiona,e equivalent
is returned, but respectable from its aniiqui'
,y, will be abolished. So far as Europeans
are concerned, il will be at the price Of
considerable indemnity, bu, there is reason
10 believe that the Americans will escape
without any indemnity.
The other subject, which has more gen.
eral import, is the abolition OF the right o!
priva,eertnS in time of war, as well as
more exact definition of what constitutes
blockade. The Congress of Paris, by reso-
luton, which will rebound in history TO the
honor Of our age, as we well remember, raj.
lied unanimously upon The principles OF mar
thine right for which France, nnder The old
regime of the frs, Empire, had so urgently
insisted. There will be no more letters Of
rarque, and the neutral flag will be respect
ed. The United States, taking the lead
again in this path of progress and security
for private property, have demanded that moi
only shall blockades be defined with the
utmost exaclness, thus doing away with all
paper blockades, but that vessels of war shall
no longer exercise the right Of making re-
prisa!s upon commerce. This complete as.
similalion between war OIL land and naval
| warfare, so far as private property is con-
cemed, has received the assent of Russia,
and, as we are informed by the message of
President Pierce, that of the Emperor of the
French, although the official solution of this
new proposition is yet 10 take place. Under
the present circumstances, on The question
of the Sound Dues, the American Union, as
we see, begins 10 exercise remarkable in
ropean cabinets. In fact, il enters thus at
once into concert with The powers in a man
ner most 1alteriug 10 its self-esteem and its
reputation. for, as its flatterers will not fail 10
tell it, It's aclions seem 10 imply right of
control over even a jurisdiction in cases OF
appeal.
The moment has come when we must ask
ouselves if ii does not concern the whole
world that America should enter into the Eu-
ropean system in all open and official man
ner. II is great Christian power, whose re-
lations have become inseparably connected
with those of Europe, and which virtually
fui6lls the condition of possessing great mil
itary resources on sea and on land Ii un-
doub,edly has distinct interests, but all great
powers have them; and The Stale which has
no special, we'll defined interests, with The
resources 10 make them respected, will be,
for that very reason, cut sallel''e to The
others. But the American Union has also
great and common interests with all OF us.
On the day on which she took her official
place in the Congress OF European powers,
the peace of the world would have acquired
one precious guarantee more, aud could be
secured ugains, many accidents. For the
Americans themselves this would be an in
comparable advantage. II, u2 10 this period,
they have not entered into those political as
sociations which obtain from time 10 tlme
in the governments Of great civilized states,
il has been from causes which have ceased
10 exist, Formerly the United States were
weak, distant and without exterior influence;
at present they are strong, their exterior in.
fuence is becoming more apparent, and BY
the improved facilities Of communication,
they are now only few days dstan, from
us. For themselves, that isolation, which
might at first glance seem charming posi-
,ion, is really filed with disadvantages which,
at any given moment, may turn into dan
ge-s.
A LEGISLATIVE ScENE.-A scene occurred
in the Illinois House of Representatives, on
the 9Th inst, which was more remarkable
or its singular.y Than lis decency. The
House before org anizalion, elected Speak
er, pro tenn. The Clerk of the former House
-, tho oh,;r ill Coaakar was reuu-