New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-31

The Earl Of Derby lately announced in bic place
in the House If Lords. in relation TO the recent
British ard French occupation Of Canton, his hope
that the idea Of territorial oggrsudzenent, beyond
." that security which is absolutely necessary for
the mainteI aDce CT tie peaceful relations OF com
'merce" would never enter The head OF any
British Minister. Yet 1t would hardly be safe to
take this declaration as quite conclusive as to the
policy Of the British in China, or, even if We did
receive it 10 that character to conclude from It that
territorial aggsndizement is moi, after all, the most
probable result if not the real object Of the pending
operations. We are TO consider, IT. the hrst place
that the present war against China was not COM
meaced nor favored by the presen. British Prime
Minister. He warmly opposed the policy OF com.
menciDg that wer-an opposition, doubtless, founded
in part ON BIZ. objection to territorial aggrandlze-
mcnt in that quartei-an aggrsndizement when, IL
rot the immediate and openly object OF
the war he might easily foresee would become its
final aim and result Not only had the Earl Of
Derby no hand in commencing this war, but there
is al.o every political probability for believing that
his Ministry will not last long enough to enable
him, though ever 90 DESTROYS Of it. 70 bring the
rupture with the Chinese to conclusion; so that,
after ALL the opinions which he expresses upon this
subject, as they did not prevent the commencement
of hostilties, so they can hardly be get down as
likely to control their prosecution or to decide their
termlL alton.
Still more than this, the Earl of Derby himself
while seeming to deprecate in emphatic terms the
policy of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in China, yet
opens at the same time wild, door for it as the
most determined advocate Of that policy could pos
sibly desire. lie does not repudiate in toto the
policy Of territorial acquisition in China. He only
hopes it vii not extend beyond that security
(Which is absolutely necessary for tn maintenance
"ot ibe peaceful relations Of commerce." Now
it was through this very door Of the maintenance
"of the peaceful relations of commerce, that the
English East India Company hundred years ago
entered upon the conquest Of INDIA conquest
which, from the acquisition of ground upon which
10 place forts for the protection Of their factories
has gradually extended over such vast territories
aggrandizeulents not pursued, go at least the En-
glnh have always maintained in any spirit OF
domination or conquest, but forced upon them,
against their nclinstions and in ,l Of them
selves, by the necessity Ct their position as traders.
These acquisitions, so they aver, became one after
the other, " absolutely necessary for the hsnte
finance Of the peaceful relations of commerce,
the only choice left them being that of allowing
themselves to be excluded from the trade of
the country, or Of maintaining themselves in IT
ss cOnquer0rs.
Under the exception admitted by Lord Derby,
as wide a career would seem TO be opened for Brit
ish conquest in China as il India nor is it very
easy to any limit short of the entire subsection
of the whole empire-a subsection Like that which
now extends over India-at which the absolute
necessity" of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the
maintenance of the peaceful relations of COM
"merce," can stop. The maintenance Of these
peaceful relations of commerce" was made the
occasion Of the opium war and of the territorial
spsrandizement of Great Britain by the acquisition
of Hog Kong. The maintenance Of these same
peaceful relations has been made the occasion of the
new war against China and of the occupation Of
Canton. 1t is but reasonable to suppose that with
tie extension of the points Of contact between the
British and the Chinese "the absolute necessity for
"the ma1 tenance Of the peaceful relations of COM
"merce" will constantly press them Cd, as in India
10 Few territorial aggrandzements, very soon con-
verting as in India, the peaceful relations of COM
merce into occasions for protracted and continu-
Gus war of which there appears no termination
except in unlimited conquest. Even territorial
occupation and the assumption of government, to
Judge from the example of India, does not afford
airy security that the military operations shal at
length give way TO the peaceful relations of COM
merce. TIE late Indian revolt affords new proof
that nat is obtained by tie sword must be kept BY
the sword and how difficult If not impossible it is
to tase peaceful relations upon mere military supe
riority.
Tie peaceful relations of commerce afford
pleasant topic Of defamation, and may serve alike
with the British public and with US to sugar the pill
of taxation and expenditure and to quist tender
censciences. Yet after all We cannot help be-
eyins that theterritoral aggrandizements OF which
Indis has been the scene, and the popularity in En-
gland Of the pending aggressive war against the
Chirese. grow lot so much out of any commercial
views as out of the same fllbustering propensity
which stimulates among US schemes FIR the regen-
Grafton of Central America the liberation Of Cuba
and tie Amercahilation of Mexico. Aud what
tends 70 confirm US in this opinion is, that The same
Anne rican journals from which these fllibusterirg
schemes of cur own receive the greatest counte-
race AID encouragement look with decided favor
OF the operations ofthe British in China and express
No little rexstcn tina. our Goyernmep. has declined