The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-27
NEWSPAPER.
Mr.. Bright on American Affairs.

lie Hall, ON the evening OF Dec. \. There were
about 20 gentlemen present, among whom
were Mr.. Bailey, NJ. Pr Mr.. George Wi son, and
the Mayor Of Manchester. The galleries were
occupied by ladies.
The Mayor Of Rochdale presided, and gave
in succession the toasis nj "The Queen" "The
House of Parlment," aud The "Health Of MIR.
Golden, NJ. p" all of which were cordially
received. ~ m. Tt
"The Health Of Mr.. Bright" was received
with great enthusiasm Ills speech, in reply,
after brie. acknowledgment of their kindness
to himself, Was entirely devoted to the subject
Of the war In America. That struggle was one
Of the highest interest to England and human
lily at large. Eighty FIVE years $50 they were
colonies sprung from this country. and already
numbering n population of 3, 0O0, 900 souls. A
year ago they were the United States OF Amer
lea, and comprised 30 millions VI people. In
agriculture and manufactures no country In
the world, except our own, could be placed in
comparison with them. They were equally dis
tinguished for their inventions, their enterpris-
Is, their schools. their prisons, and their relig-
ious establishments. The public expenditure
OF these United States was % 900 900 pounds q
year, and they we're able to boast an amount Of
comfort, prosperity and Astounding plenty such
as no other country in any age displayed. hut
But there was another side. While this coun-
try secured the utmos, liberty for the white
population, 1t held the black population In
bondage and degradation. England sowed the
seeds OF the Slavery system. jefferson two
years before tho Declaration Of Independence
issued protest against the conduct and policy
Of the English Government in preventing the
colonists from forbiddlng the importation OF
fresh negroes from Africa. Ultimately every
State was lett to legislae on Slavery for itself.
But the growth Of cotton has increased since
that time, and become an article Ut value TO an
extent which no man dreamed Of when Jeiier.
son wrote. And this cotton, cultivated under
the System, now threatened the overthrow OF
that which is million times more valuable
the Great Republic of the United States. Mr..
Bright then referred to the act Of secession on
the part Of the South. Newspapers say this
question of secession was much like that which
occurred when the colonies reyolted against
the mother country. The question In 1850 was
whether con upt Ministry in Downing street,
and boroughmongering Parliament in West.
minister, should tax 3,0OO,O 600 unrepresented
cOlOnists without their consent. Now, the re-
presentation ofthe South In the American Leg
islature was not only IN complete, but in excess.
Three out of every five slaves are counted as
white men, and the consequence Is that the
South has returned about 20 more members
than il had natural right to do. This shows
that there was no similarity between the two
cases Another reason for the secession alleged
on this side is the protective tariff. No Ameri
can, however attributes the dissolution OF the
Union to that cause. The South has teen DOM
inant during the whole period since the decar-
alton Of independence, and the tariff has exist
ell during that time. There have no doubt been
occasional symptoms Of dissatisfaction, but
when Congress met q twelvemonth ago, to dis
cover how the Union could be maintained,
among all the promises suggested the question
OF the tariff Was never referred to. Whatever
the influence Of the tariff may be, II must also
he remembered that il is as pernici0us to the
West rs 10 the South, but the West has not SCI
coded. The question is not one Ut Protection
or Free Trade Ii is of different and gra'er
character. For 80 years Slavery has CONSTANT
IN been coming TO the surface as the difficulty Of
American politicians The object Of the South
In seeding is TO escape from the votes OF those
who wish to limit the area Of slave territory
What course, asked Mr.. Bright, should Eng
land pursue! We should be neutral. Viewer
neutral in Italy but were not neutral In SYM
pa,hy; and, although no English ships or sol
diers appeared on the shores Of that country,
the sympathy Of England was spoken OF In
Europe, and did much TO establish the free ltal
ian Kingdom. Mr.. Bright then argued that We
had not given q similar cordial 81 mpathy " the
people OF the Northern States ofAmerca, Duke
Of Argyll and Lord Stanley, had spoken with
liberalty, airhess, and friendliness Of the Unit.
ell States. Earl Russell, however, at Newcastle
had misrepresentel the question when he said
the North were contending for empire and the
South for independence; and the leading jour.
nal since Lincoln took Office, had hot published
one fair. honorable. and friendly article on
American affairs. II was asked, "Why should
there be war; why this fratricidal strife! Why
should the North and South not separate peace
ablyr" Mr.. Bright, throughout, thought there
were insurmountablc geographical obstacles to
separation rs well rs strong political ohlec-
tons II the Northern States had done what
some newspaper writers have advised, and had
allowed the South to Withdraw from the Union
without making any effort to retain them we
should have been told that Democracy was a
failure, that the Northern Government was gull
ty Of cowartlce and worthy only OF unneasur-
Ell contempt. These candid friends tell US Amer
lean freedom is gone, the llabsas Corpus act has
been suspended, and other laws and liberties
have been endangered. But had not we sns-
pende,l the liabeas Corpus act during the Irish
Rebellion of 1913, and IL an insurgent army ey-
er encamped within sight Of London what re.
gard would Government have for the personal
liberty Of the subject in any measure they took
for securing the safety of the State, We are
told IL would be better for us IL the U. were
divided, and Sir Edward Lytton had predicted
that there would ultimately be four or five diff
ferent nations or declarations. The former he
considered mean argument, and as for the
latter, he would far rather see the whole OF that
vast continent combined In one great federation
of States where there would be no Customhous-
es but freedom everywhere, equality every
where, law everywhere, and room for the ex-
panding energies Ut our race. Referring to the
seizure of the Confederate Commissioners, he
said he considered the act both impolitlc and
bad, but il might turn out 10 be wholly unau.
thorized by the American Government, and in
this case there was no doubt they would make
ample reparation. No Government had eyinc-
ed greater desire 10 be guided by wise and
moderate cOunsels In the construction OF cases
In the maratime law. Ii was said this was only
one Of series acts showing ill.will on ON the
part Of the North There would be irritating
accidents in the course Of this struggle. Let
us be calm. Recolect how we were dragged
into the Russian war; We drilled intoit. II
cost El00, 0O0, 900. II cost the lives OF 40 600
Rnglshmen. II injured our trade; 1t doubled
the armies Of Europe, and II did not accomplish
q single thing that was promised. Statesmen
now said in exculpation, (which couli We do
In the frenzy of the public mini Al that timer
Don't let them add TO the frenzy, and don't let
us be driven. Mr.. Bright then read IN extract
from Gen. Scott's letter, which was loudly
cheered and concluded by reminding the meet
ing of the large number of English people who
have emigrated during the last fifteen years to
the States. Only Misrepresentation the most
gross, or calumny the most wicked, could IN
yolye In war people with such close ties. In
few years the 20 900 900 free men IN the North
will be &c, C00, 900, or even 10000. 900, lie
prayed Il might not be said among them that
In their darkest hour Of need the English peo-
pie from whom they sprung. had looked with
Icy coldness on the trials and sufierngs OF their
Il. al - III