The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-04
WASHINGTON CITY, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER A, 1858.


French army in the enemy territory. To effect such
purpose the whole French navy employed in the exped
ton might be sacrificed and yet the object attained
That it is which England apprehends not very serious
competition on the part Of France with her maritime
power or transatlantic possessions
And now what guarantee exists there for the peace of
the word after careful consideration of the present po
sition of France and England A veIy great one, /
think Each country knows that, in of war, de-
eisirs blow mua Be struck by which either of them may be
disabled for long tme entirely TO exist
great world-power When such stakes involved,
tions do not easily go to warcertany not for slight
The defeat of England would change the face of
the civilized world that OF France might change every
existing form of government in Europe. Such dirclu
consequences cannot be courted by either party and
hence both viii negotiate for long time before they
to open rupture Yet 1t be denied that France
even with this view Of the subject appears to occupy
the vantage ground. She may lose her whole navy and
yet be secure from invasion and develop power land
which, was the during the first French empire
might prove the terror of her enemies. England on
the contrary, II invaded would not only lose her
prestige Throughout the world but be deprived for long
time if not forever, from exercising controlling infu
on the politics of the world England, therefore
in war between the two countries, risks than
France and it is but reasonable suppose that coris
to mortal combat In addition to this England is rich
and all property from its very nature conservative and
peaceaby inclined. Her commercial policy only
ceye its full development in time of peace and her
uiactures depend foreign markets Thus far, then
France has the advantage in quarrel with England ;
while the other hand the policy of the Emperor has
been to isolate England completely from her continental
neighbors, that in quarrel between him and Great
Britain England will stand alone dependent entirely on
her own resources.
In connexion with this subject let us look the po
stion of the continent OF Europe Here at per
ceivc that the in the Crmca has only served to de-
tach Austria from the Holy Alliance and to lay the
foundation to perfectly good understanding between
Russia aud France. The Russian minister here has
ceived every species of attention from the Emperor Ma
polcon, while Lord Cowley less representative of
Engand than account of his personal merit and high
qualities is the Z. friend of the Emperor With Aus
tra, acts Of conventional and diplomatic ciyy
exchanged and although no rupture actually threat
ened it is perfectly understood that she viii not be al
lowed to have her way, if Russia and France
prevent it, The affairs of Europe, then, in posi-
ton which do not threaten war in the course Of short
tme but peace is only maintained by alliances based on,
and fortified by armed ncutralties While this state Of
things lasts it is not likely that transatlantic politics will
be seriously interered with and have doubt in the
cessui teegraphc conncxon with the United States
sincere and oyerfiowing with sympathies Of nterna
onal character The United States are perhaps at this
moment the only power whose friendly and pcaceable
intentions England may rely, and it is not likely, there
FORE that English statesmen will that irritating
policy towards which is capable Of sacrificing to a
mere phanthropic abstraction unaccompanied, his
tory has shown by any substantial benefit to any class
of human beings, the peace of the world, and the
prospect Of harmony and good fellowship with their
American brethren. England has solemnly
avowed to the whole civilized world that she has
no right to search our vessels and She has done so
Internationally, without the pledge Of General Cass,
anybody else to with her into treaty stpuations
for the purpose Of easily verifying the flag If she have
any propositions to make and these prove acceptable to
the United States such treaty may be concluded but
whether the treaty is made hereafter, not at
all England cannot the practice of searching
vessels without accepting beforehand all the conse
quenccs which must flow from such prcmeditated insult
to our flag and national character.
The question to the duchcs of Hostein and Lauen
burg assumes quite serious character but Germany
is habitunlly moving slowly, and as Denmark has al
ready partially yielded it is not likely that blood viii be
split bullets exchanged The Emperor of the French,
who has tho ambition of rewriting the international law
of Europe, and of putting constructions on superan
nuacd phrases SO to render them nelgble to all the
world has declared that the Danish Hoscin question
purely German one, and its final settlement entire
ly within the domain of the Germanc confederation.
Denmark therefore, will not appeal from the decision of
the Gcrnanc Diet at Frankfort to the European Pen
tarciy.
The ZAerein conferences have begun at Hanover The
admission Austria into the is tho first thing that
will be discussed then will follow the tariff of imports,
in which the United States have not little interest.
shall keep you informed of all that is done, likely to
be done in the premises. +. J. q.