Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-25
EsULTTo OUR FLAG.

The telegraph and Mail are scattering over the
country the news Of fragrant and inezcusible out
rage perpetrsisd by Great Britain upon our flag in the
Gulf Of Mexico within sight Of our coast. We have
nov accounts Of the following ten outragss:
Ship Tropio Bird, fred into, boarded and
Bark Clara windsor, fred into, boarded and
searched
Bark Glenburn, overhauled at sea.
Bark W. II Chandler, boarded and searched while
lying at anchor in the port Of ssgus Ia Grsnde.
Twelve other vessels also boarded and searched
in the harbor Of Ssgua Ia Grande.
Brig Robert Wing fred into boarded and searched.
Schooner WingOld, fred into, boarded and
searched.
Schooner Cortes, seized, and now detained at
Schooner N. B. Borden, fred into, boarded and
searched
Schooner Mobile, fred into. boarded and
searched
The British Government has always been distiR-
guished for its arrogance towards other nations.
With much that is honorable and heroic in the
character Of her people, with history embellished
by the glorious achievements Of her soldiers and
statesmen, England has not been content with the
proud consciousness Of her acknowledged worth,
but has constantly sought to assert her superiority
and establish her supremacy over every power on
earth. With littlensss Of spirit, unworthy Of
great nation, she has regarded each rising State as
q rival, and looked upon its advancement with
Jealousy and suspicion.
Such is Englands past history. OF late she has
grown nervOusly sensitive about her position IN the
society Of States, and like all characters Of equivo
cal standing, grows e1acting and insOlent the
more her responsibility is suspected She evidently
feels that she is losing caste among her associates
The prestige Of her invincible name is gene. Her
power has ceased to spread terror among her enc.
mics Her support is no longer sought by those
who once saxiously claimed her protection. Her
naval glory paled before the splendOr Of PEREY's
and DEcATURs fame, and the proud title Of " Mis-.
tress Of the Seas was wrested from England for
ever Her war.Worn legiOns learned to fater in the
face Of a foe, and fed dismsyed and defeated from
the bloody field Of New Orlesns The Banner Of
Britain was not foremost in the fight the plains
of the Crimea, and the chiyalry Of France claimed
precedence over English TalOr under the walls Of
the Mslakof The enslaved and degenerate chill
dren Of India have foiled the armies Of England,
and the conquest Of a colony mas almost exhausted
q power which could once march triumphsntly and
uncbaIlenged ever a continent. She feels that her
honors are waning, that her strength has declined
snd that she is lettering feeby into imbecily and
dOtage.
Something must be done to sustain her falling
fortunes. She must maintain her responsibility
among the powers Of the earth. Her rulers deter
mine on policy by which they may still make show
Of confident strength. They will cover up their
weakness by intimidation and bravsdo. They have
always been insolent in their intercourse with
other natiOns-they will become insulting. They
have always been arrogant-they will become ag-
gressive They will win the respect Of the worldly
violating the laws of nations, by disregarding all
treaty stipulations, and committing an outrage
against common right and justice, the very atrOety
of which, they hoped, would secure them against
retaliation. Bot let England dismiss such hopes.
Neither her weakness nor her audacity will protect
her against the resentment Of an injured aud in
suited nation. We are already groaning under the
accumulated wrongs which she has hesped upon
u.s. We have not forgotten the unsvenged wrong
which ocoasioned Mr. CRAMPTON's dismissal; the
constant interference with our foreign relations
which has characterized the policy Of Great Britain;
herinterruption Of our commerce; her repeated IN
suits 10 our citizens This is as much as proud
people can bear But now British vessels are in
suling our flag in the Gulf Of Mexico. English
officers, under the direction Of the English Govern
ment, are firing into boarding. and searching our
merchantmen. From fifteen to twenty American
vessels, with the American flag flying At the mast
head, have been shot at, boarded and searched BY
insolent LieHtenants Of the British navy.
The honor Of the nation requires that we should
avengs this indignity. We have been satisfied long
enough with empty apologies Let the nation de-
msnd reparation. If it is refused, let the demand
be repeated in the stern, deep voice Of the cannon
and enforced at the point Of the bayOnet.
We rejoice to see that Gen. CAss maintains the
doctrine for which we fought in 1872, that the
flag protects the cargo" and that no nation has
right to violate the protection Of that flag under
any pretence whatever. We are glad also, that the
Secretary of the Navy has ordered powerful force
to The Calf Of Mexico The proud spirit Of Eng
land has quailed before the thunders of our aTil-
Iery. Her assumption Of the right of searching
our vessels has been rebuked and her insOlence
ohastised in days gone by. Let the same treat
ment be repeated and our rights will be respected
and our honor restored.