The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-18
a Question for Diplomacy Rather than Arms

A. the first excitement caused by the blust.r-
ing and defiant tone Of a portion OF the Eng
fish perss on the Mason and Slldell affair sub
sides the apprchensions of an immediate. or any
collision with England seem also to be quoted.
When the American people take into account
tic interests to be subservcd ny war with one
ri tic first powers of Europe, and how it can
Aui increase the burdens Of the war for the sup
preston Of rebellion, and enhance the labor
through which the Government must reach such
u result they certainly arc disposed to carefully
consider the necessity for a foreign war, instead
vi ras!ly entering upon it 1t is reasonable
sIso to presume that when the British Govern
rlcnt rcckons the cost Of war with this Coun-
sry, the injury it must be TO its own commerce
,hc destruction Of private fortunes and the dan
scr to its public interests that mus, inevitably
5olcw upon it. the danger of trouble with its
di.voutcnted and poorly fed population at home,
she not improbable spre lding Of this conflict Of
srlus among all the nations of Europe the pcs.
sib'e upheavins Of the uneasy millions Of the
old world as they witness the free Republic Of
America again struggling fer life against
crowned heads and imperial armies, it will
pause and carefully proceed in negotiation that
rashncss CT passion may ut any moment telmi-
nate by the thunder of cannon that will rcvor-
h,ratc throughout the civilized world.
Though England wants cotton, the cost of u
sar with the United States with its long train
81 possible disastrous consequences, will unques-
iionably lead that power to settle the difficulties
growing out Of Capt. Wilkes act, by diplomacy
i'll preference to war.
1t being. then, apparently so much for the in
:crest Of both Nations to avoid war, if posi-
bly, consistent, with an honorable and far ad.
instment of what appears now to be the cause
fquarreI, there seems to be no good reason Why
such IA desirable result may not be reached. Oar
government has not yot committed itself 50 far
M the matter that it cannot acccdc to any prop.
osit!on OF settlement upon the basis Of the laws
Of Nations and the usages of bellgerent powers.
IL ha, no. acknowledged or assumed to defend
the act of Capt. Wilkes, but on the contrary,
has boon wisely retcent concerning it. Pres-
ident Lincoln can, without National dshonor,
Ike any course in the premises that the facts
and the law may warrant, and il is now unfair
to presume that England will demand anything
more. The press Of England has doubtless very
puch exaggerated the bclligerent attitude of the
British Government, and when Lord Lyons lays
b'iorc the President his instruction, from home,
sley will possibly be found to be far less warlke
" tone than their drdnt-couriers have led us to
expect Discussion and diplomatic corrcspor-
dsnce will cnsuet and if conducted in proper
splri, each day will add to the strengths of the
peace party in England, and also show to us the
necessity of standing upon our rights simply
rshout being inhu need very much by our feel
lnss or our prejudices.
Crockett motto, " BE sure you re right, thor
e ahead is Il very good one for the Nation a
this time. We have one war on our hands il
which we know we are right, and in which W
mean to " 80 ahead until we achieve the vic
tory We waited long, many Of is though
much too long and suffered ndisnlties and il
suits without nun bcr to our flag and TO os
citizens, insults which we would not have born
AN hour from a foreign power, before we rclu'
family took up arms. We are in no particuls
need Of additional enemies. though we shoul
doubtless BE- able to manage them il the
hold ,t,,i,; - take a larl n,' with OF