Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-03-06
The sympathy and Counsel OF Our
British Cousins.

The following passage concerning American
affairs occurs in Queen Vctorias late speech from
the throne
"Serious differences have arisen among the
States of the North American Union. 1t is i'm
possible for me TO look without great concern
upon any event which can affect the happiness
and welfare of people purely allied to my sub
iects by descent, and closely connected with them
by the most intimate and friendly relations. Ny
heartfelt wish is that these differences may be
susceptible of satisfactory adjustment. The in
terest which take in the well being of the peo-
pie of the United States can not but be increased
by the kind and cordial reception given by them
to the Prince of Wales during his recent visit to
the Continent of America"
In the debate which followed in the House of
Lords, Lord Derby touched upon the same topic
as follows:
at is impossible not to feel the deepest concern
at the threatened disruption of that great Union,
as it must effect the happiness and welfare OF
that country. There is no man in the country
who would not view with the deepest anxiety and
regret the disruption OF community which, with
out claiming perfection for its Institutions, and
certainly under various disadvantages, has yet
procured for its people an amount of prosperity
almost unparalleled in the world, and an amount
of personal freedom only inferior-and l think
it is inferior-to that enjoyed in this country.
But it is impossible to look at that threatened dis
rupton-ony possible to be effected at the cost of
the horrors of civil war-without looking also at
the effects il would produce on the manufactures
of this country Its first effects, at all events
would be most disastrous to one branch of our in
dustry. Unfortunately it does so happen-l trust
it will not be long so-that we have been almost
exclusively dependent on the cotton of America.
1t will be of the highest advantage if the threat
ened disruption should lead those who are most
deeply iEterested-I do not think the Government
can interfere with their individual exertions-tO
turn their serious consideration TO the best means
of averting the danger involved in the failure of
the supply of cotton from the United States by
promoting AN increased supply from othersources.
Such supply can be had in many parts of the
world, provided means be taken for encouraging
its growth and import"
So much for British sympathy which we hope
is none the less genuine because mingled with
considerations of sef-intereSt Now for British
counsel which we may easily Judge on its own
merits.
Lord Brougham has just published an essay on
the British Constitution, in the excellent preface
to which he thus lays down the principle of pro
gress in free countries generally:
The history of our Constitution, in church and
in State is the history of compromise; and it re
bounds nightly to the national power, for it re-
cords the wisdom and the virtue of the commu-
nifty in all its portions. The rival powers of the
Government-the various interests of Glasses
the differences of partes-all by their contentious
have secured the rights of the pc ople, and in
sured the good management of their affairs. But
the permanence of the structure through many
conflicts is the result of the wise and vrtuous de
termination of all-powers, classes, parties-that
mutual opposition shall end in mutual concession,
to avert the risk of destruction. In England,
the fercest conflicts have led to moderate
changes, for the most part Improvements, of the
system. In France, the struggles ofparty have
generally ended in revolution"
Here of course is no allusion to our particular
troubles; but here below, in a letter addressed by
his Lordship to the Birmingham Conference, is
an allusion to our troubles, and very earnest
recommendation of the above mentioned princi-
pie as the true remedy for them:
JAMES Var), January 10, 1861.
| my DEAR Hull have again to express my
great regret at not being able to attend the con
ference. You may well believe how deep an in
terest / take in it. There wants some such thing
to give one comfort in these times when such un
toward events are it is to be feared, in progress.
The difficulties unhappily nterposed by various
causes (some OF kind not easily removeD to the
settlement of Italy under a constitutional govern
ment, freeing her from the worst tyranny OF
modern times, and, above all, the alarm felt by
all the friends of human improvement at the risk
of disunion in America, are naturally upperrnost
IN one mind at the present time. How much it
is to be wished that the conendng parties in both
Italy and America would take a lelf out of our
books, and learn the wisdom as well as the virtue
of compromise and mutual concession Our
Constitution is the genuine result of this wisdom.
heartily wish success 10 the conference, and be-
lieve me- etc, BRoUGHAM."
This counsel is to the point in every respect.
Its business can not be contrOverted. 1t carries
with it besides the authority of one of the ripest
political philosophers and one Of the most ardent
lovers of civil liberty that the age has produced.
1t is counsel which every Republican leader
should blush to gains:Iy much, more reject 1t is
counsel which we confidently believe the Repub-
lican masses will joyfully adopt the moment they
have fair opportunity. In the name of all that
is right and proper and decent, let fair opportu-
nity he oiyen TO them Ioui.riHe journal