The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-07
I,ord Rrougha am.

The insult OF Lord BRoUGHAM 10 Mr.. Dali
LAS, at the International Statistical Congress
derives no peculiar significance from the per-
sonage from whom it proceeded. There are
| some men who are born with talent and
| taste for saying disagreeable things, and whose
principal pleasure is the only one which we
! have reason to suppose relieves the monoto-
| nous misery of the Prince of Hell-that of
| making other people uncomfortable. From
| his earliest youth, Lord BRoUGHAM has been
| one of these ILL., natured and unhappy wretch
| es, more vigorous in abuse than in manhood,
| and never so happy as when he could impale
| his adversary upon some sharp personality
and hold up the tortured victim TO the derision
| of the crowd. That was his reputation at the
| bar and In Parliament. He blackguarded wit
nesses and bullied lawyers, whenever they
would permit it; but let them once turn upon
him, and the lion became instantly transformed
into the lamb. This popularity of BRoUGHAM
was observed long ago in the House OF Com
mons well as at the bar. and, in the former
assemblage, it brought him into trouble on
more than one memorable occasion. We were
not, therefore, surprised at his late insult to
Mr.. DALLAS, especially upon ii subject on
which the eccentric peer has become as
much a monomaniac as JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
who somewhat resembled BROUGHAM in his
versatility of genius and varied accomplish
| ments. But it was the appreciation given TO
that insult by the respectable assemblage in
which it was offered that elevates it to inter-
national importance. That Assem- blage was
presided over by Prince ALBERT aud many
high personages of the realm, and representa-
tiyes from various nations we. present. 1t
was by such a body that the malicious sneer
at Mr.. DALLAS, and through him at his coun-
try, was applauded and approved.
The conduct OF Mr.. DALLAS on this occasion
is denounced by some American journals and
commended by others. 1t is the opinion of
some that he should have answered a fool
according to his folIy;'' of others, that he
should have awaited himself OF the occasion TO
remind the assembly present that Great Bri-
tain, in spite of the remonstrances of our
country, had forced upon us that state of
things which drew from Lord BkoUGH IAN his
derisiye sneer that the commerce and manu-
features of England and the whole civilized
world are dependent upon the labor of that
institu ton which he denounced. We are glad
that MIR. DALLAS pursued neither OF these
courses. We are proud that he treated
BRoUGHAM personally with silent scorn, and.
rs Southern men, grateful that he did not
CODueSC6Eu ~ 1Rue the question with those
who are determined not to be convinced
Fact upon fact, statistics upon statistics, ar
gument upon argument, will avail nothing
against the blindness and iavereracy of preju-
dice and passion. Perhaps if Mr.. Dallas had
taken his hat and walked quietly out of the
assem- bly,, he might have rebuked more point
eddy the insult he had received. But doubt
less he had good reason for the course he pur
Tha
ever, these distinct intimatons of the real
sentiments which are entertained towards the
United States abroad. Happily we do not
need their friendship. We have grown to
power and pros perity in spite OF them. and. at
this moment, they are dependent upon Amer
lea for the very necessares of life, for the
clothing that covers them, and the bread that
keeps them from starvation
We yield to none in admiration of the praa,
and good qualities of English character; nor
dom of that mighty Empire. We do not know
that she is worthy of especial denunciation
because, like every other nation, she is gov
erned by her own interests, without any other
regard to principle than that which is ex
torted by difference to the public opinion of
the world. We are aware that even on the
subject which was seized by Lord BRouGgAM
for the purpose of insulting Mr.. DALLAS. she
does not stand alone in the Old World for it
was at an International Congress that this in
suit was offered, and by men representing VA
rious European nations that it was approved.
With the exception of our old and generous
friend, Russia, and one or two smaller Euro
pean powers there are none who have hesi-
tated to divert the attention of their own
miserable subjects and serfs from the most
AFFECT political and social miseries, in their
own country, to the fancied tribulations of
laborers in a distant land. But it must be ac.
knowledged that, in the work of agitation ag-
gression and insolence, Great Britain has led
the van. 1t has been by her initiated per-
sisted in, forced upon the United States and
upon the world with degree of steadiness.
energy and determination which has arraved
almost all mankind against the United States.
and divided the United States against itself
so that at this moment we seem on the verge
of the most portentous internal conynl-
sions. All this is, beyond all doubt, the work
of British policy, influence and gold having
for its object the qualification of both reyenge
and interest. We care not what honeved
phrases are employed to disguise the real state
Of sentiment; but whether IL be an Interna
tional Congress or an International Prize
Eight, the fact is made clear that Bunker Hill
Yorktown, and American ndependence-that
Lundy's Lane, New Orleans and that re-
markable naval struggle, in which. from first
to last, the striped bunting brought the
mistress OF the deep to her knees-haye neither
been forgotten nor forgiven.