The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-10

1t is not our habit to suspect our fellow citi-
zens when they utter sentiments of patriotism,
and give vent to apparently honest expressions
of indignation against those who wantonly as
sail the Government and People of the United
States. 1t is delightful, indeed, to hear our
Republican friends declare how vahantly they
will maintain the honor of the Republic, and
how they will put down its foes. Republicans
do moi often utter patriotic sentiments; and 90
we are more inclined to commend their conduct
in reference to the outrsges recently commit
ted upon our merchant ships in the West India
waters.
But, after all, we cannot forego the opportu-
nifty of recording prophecy upon this matter
We believe our whole Republican family, I'M.
der one pretext or another, should the search
question become serious, will turn their backs
upon the Government and trot over to the Brit
ish Washington Union.
The Union and its party are disappointed
How they would have exulted, had Republican
members of Congress pursued the course taken
by the Post and Tribuae, of New York-had
they apologized for the British outrages, advo
Gated the British claim to visitation, and de-
claimed about the overwhelming power of Eng
land Behold these sectional fanatics "
would have been their language; "willing, in
their mad crusade against Southern institu.
tons, to sacrifice the honor and interests of
their country, to join with its enemies, to pan
der to British schemes of universal empire |
Now, as always, it is left to the South and to
the Democratic Party to maintain the honor
of the flag and the independence of the Rspub-
lic"
Better counsels controlled our Republican
friends in Congress. Much as they abhor the
slave trade and deplore the prostitution of our
flag, they could not, without denying princi.
pie, vital to the freedom of the seas and the
independence of sovereign States, admit for a
moment the British claim. They saw no con.
Act of duties. They were ready to maintain
alike the Independence and honor of the flag
to resist the establishment on the high seas, of
a despotism and at the same time to hunt
down piracy and the slave trade. So they
thought and spoke; and the unscrupulous Pro.
Slavery Party. which had foudly hoped to win
glory by cheap display of patriotism, found,
much to their modification, wonderful una.
nimity of opinion. There was no chance at all
for setting themselves up as the peculiar cham
pions of the country's honor. In fact, the
patriotic sentiment was 80 strong, that Mr.. Blu.
chanan and his friends are constrained to play
the part of conservatives. They have the re.
sponsibility, and it is for them to indicate what
ia to be done. So far, their policy is to await
the result of communications with the British
Government, and meantime to obtain from the
Senate a calm assertion of the true doctrine in
relation to the claim of visitation, and firm
expression Of the determination of the Ameri.
can People. The Republicans make no oppo-
sition-they unite ia support of this policy.
Does the Administration want anything more?
What impertinence, then, to be casting impu.
tations in advance upon Party which has
shown at least equal zeal for the honor of the
country. equal jealousy of its rights
The Union has INDUCED itself in "prophe-
cy." We viii indulge ourselves in an assertion
and an opinioa. The assertion is, that the Ad.
ministration has not asked and does notdesire the
passage of any law investing it with any more
power than it now possesses in relation to British
outrages, which is merely to protect american
cessels against UisitGtion, not to punish the
outrage. The opinion is, that if it should ask
Law of that kind, such sooalld be the opposi-
tion of large portion Of the delegation from
the South, that it could be enacted only by the
al n E IL. Po,,,bI;no,, Por},,