The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-07-14
From the Globe.
A PEACEFUL TRIUMPH.

There is now no room for reasonable
doubt that Great Britain is about to give
up, once and for all, her assumed right to
visit, in time of peace, vessels bearing the
American flag, in order to ascertain their
SC. as to put stop to the slave
trade in all but Amirican vessels. The
law officers of the British Government
have formally given their opinion that no
such right exists under International law,
and without express treaty; and it has been
publicly announced in and out of Parlia-
ment. by leading British statesmen, and by
the British press, that, in accordance with
this opinion, the Government of Lord
Derby is ready to resign this long asserted
right and restrict itself to an international
ocean police, to be hereafter agreed upon
by treaty with the United States.
There is double cause for rejoicing at
this result, so Unexpectedly and even dis.
agreeably peaceful to the vultures that
would like to see conflict between Great
Britain and America, in order that they
might glut their ravenous maws amid the
dreadful carnage. First, and above all,
we may well rejoice that we have at last
succeeded in effecting the recognition of
our claim to understood freedom of the
seas. For this principle we have reso-
lutely contended eve: since we became q
nation; for this we engaged in disas-
trous war; and for this we were. as ever
ready to fight again, and to the last ex-
tremity. 'Frighted Peace that had had
time to. pant since the war with Mexico,
seemed again about to be driven from us,
both in the East and West, by the fierce
alarm of foreign and domestic war. But
the double trouble has passed away from
her; aud again she spreads forth her white
Wings over land where content and
plenty, undisturbed by civil commotion or
external foes, lie down in quiet at every
door. On land, the 'spirit-stirring drum
and the ear piercing ffe' shall no longer
rouse our warlike people to deeds Of dar.
ing their hereditary enemies from abroad,
or their brethren natural friends ut home;
aud on the sea, we shall not need to try
our prowess on the British sailors bold, .
for the defense of the world. d.enrichlng com
merce of our enterprising merchants
Here are. then, two great triumphs: tri
umph of national independence and right
: by the secure acknowledgment, by ou
persistent opponents in England, of q prin
eiple of natural liberty for which we hav
SO long boldly struggled; and q triumph
of humanity, by deliverance from the hor
rors Of war that would assuredly hav
been without parallel for its ruinous re
suits of life, property and national pros
perity. s.-'
English pride must suffer keenly in thi
surrender of her much-prised, abused righ
+ but, with sensible. mercantile forecast, sh
+ has preferred such surrender to the enol
. nous evils of war. She loved her cherish
ed claim; but she loved peace more. In til
. words of Shakespeare. she desired 'notf
ing but peace and gentle visitatien;' but. g
the two were wholly incompatible, she mo-
!, tilted her pride, for the protection of ht
. dearer interests, and concluded to keep Il
e peace ~
We think this "peace is of the natu1
I Of conquest" securing us all the advan
I ages of successful war without its expens
4 loss of life, and general distress. As sue
$ we cannot too greatly rejoice at it VIII
all civil disorder that lately threatened I
' removed; with kindly relations with all Il
. nations of the earth that could do US har
= and with no further let or hinderance
/. our universal commerce; we have nothil
:. to impede our onward march in nation
prosperity, but sectional jealousy. For
. time, at least, this has left US; let US 81
8 to it that it shall return no more to plag'
e US.