Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-05
British Outrages Oh the AmericaH Flag

British. Outrages Ga the American Flag.
The frequent repetition on the part OF
British vessels Of the insult which has pro-
duced such Simultaneous burst of indig-
nation from every quarter Of the Union,
leaves no doubt in the mind of every sensi-
bic man, that the officers of these vessels
are only systematically carrying out the
command Of their government. 1t is con-
tended by the admirers and apolcgists Of
Lord Derby, that this policy was inaugural
ed by Lord Palmersten before retiring from
power, for the purpose Of embarrassing the
present Administrations that 1t was bomb
thrown into the enemy Us camp by the late
Administration in its retreat, and that Lord
Derby will, on its being required Of him,
make satisfactory apologies for a policy SO
insulting to friendly power, and so ruin,
+ Gus to his own Administration-fo no one
can doubt the unpopularity in England Of a
war with the United States on such trivial
and unjustifable grounds as the present.
1t is not our object to refute or sustain
this position In the present article, but we
tkink it both just and charitable to doubt.
unless more conclusive proof is produced
than we have yet seen, that an English
statesman would be guilty of the great
crime of involving his own and a friendly
nation in all the horrors Of war, for the vile
purpose of advancing his own political pros
poets, or still worse, Of embarrassing the
Administration Of an opponent But the
question is not, who is the author of this
insane policy-;t matters little Whether it
was done by the fallen Minister to ruin
Lord Derby or by Lord Derby. in defiance
of all the principles Of praaaaee and states
manshig -the effect on US is the same and
we think it is a.settled principle that every
Administration is responsible for the ac-
tons Of its predecessor. The question is,
what is our Government to do under exist
ing circumstances We have little doubt
that Gen. Cass could enter into Giplo-
matte correspondence with the British Min
lister and obtain from his Government am
pie and sufficient apologies for its ontrae
gcous actions, and tbnsssshe DISPUTE would
be s:r,slss}t:yg~1d al listed, most honorably, we
Suppose, it would be said by both parties
But this sort Of adjustment will not satisfy
the American people, now fully aroused to
a sense of the gross insult offered to their
fag-,it looks toe sauchlike splitting in ones
face and politely asking pardon, but rcfus-
ing even to wipe It off; and the man who
would rest satisfied with this apology would
Mold the same honorable position, which the
! United States satisfied with a simple apollo
gy from Great Britain will We must
have some PREPARATION policy which the
press of the Union seems to advise, is to fit,
out o squadron and sink or capture that i'm
pudcat little steamer styz We would so
farther would have our Government
cal out all our whole.naval force which can
be spared, aad sweep the Gulf Of Mexico
and the seas around Cuba, and sink, cap
ture or blow up every British vessel known
OF suspected Of having searched an Ameri-
can vessel, or Of an intention to do SO, and
skeR being on an equal footing with Mr..
Bull, we think Secretary Cass might, with
all propriety, Immediately enter on diplo-
matte correspondence with the British {, ov-
eminent, and after exchanging noutual a.
Tologies, the two nations may, if they
choose, again become, for all anybody cares,
perfectly friendly and loving sisters.
We are glad to see that Congress has en-
sered into this matter in the right spirit, and
that there is hope that the .yexed question
of the right of search will be finally settled
either at the point Of Mr. Cass S pen Of Of tic
bayonet.
T0FnayiO.
We understand that a violent tornado Wis
ted portion Of our county last Monday
evening, extending from Long Glade TO