The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-26
NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY. JUNE 2s 1851

The waxiiks Attitude or England ana
Oux HaxbeF Defeaoes.
The Intelligence which we published yester-
day from Havana, Of the arrival of British
war vessel and her Instructions, taken In Gen.
nection with the late advices from England, that
about four thousand troops and Q number Of
gunboab were to be immediately sent out,
renders 1t necessary for our authorities at
once to place themselves in q position that
will enable US to successfully resist ell sggres.
sions from "per6dious Albion" the greatest
pharisaical hypocrite Of the present century.
1t Is evident from the action Of the British go.
vernment that the Cabinet Of ST. James intends
to force quarrel between the United States
and England, and thus carry ont the policy
which she inaugurated in her aid to the aboli-
tonists, to break up and divide this country,
and thus dispose Of her most formidable rival
for the commerce of the world. Her present
course shows plainly that her past friendships
are only hollow boasdngs, made to deceive.
and that while we Toasted, danced and made
lion of Albert Edward, the heir apparent, we
were spending our money and friendly greet.
ings In reality upon representative Of one Of
our worst enemies-the worst, because she has
not the honesty to be Straightforward and
open in her opposition, but, under the cover of
pretended friendship, seeks to plunge the iron
to the very heart Of our nation.
Nowthat recent events have removed tho mask
and enabled us to ascertain the length, breadth
and depth of John Bulls love for this country, 1t
becomes necessary for our authorities to bestir
themselves and make preparations for the
worst. We have several times called the atten-
ton of the public to the condition of the forts
and defences in our harbor; but there seems
to have been no movement towards perfecting
them, unless il is on the part of the Chamber Of
Commerce. From the most reliable official re-
ports of the condition OF our forts in all the
Northern harbors, we are in no condition to
resist an aggressive movement of the British
government should it's ministry decide to be-
come allies with the South, and bolster up the
institution Of slavery, which England has pre-
tended to despise. The Cabinet under Bu-
chanan, laboring for the disruption Of our
Union in season and out of season, sent to
the Southern forts and Notifications all
our first class guns, and placed just enough
men ON guard to make it convenient to
walk in and seize them when they were ready.
In this way they have left the forts at New
York. Boston and Philadelphia almost desti-
tute of the means Of defence, having only the
old fashioned thirty-twe Founders and guns of
less calibre mounted in them (not one of the
improved modern guns Is to found there),
to be used in defence of the vast
amount of property which the forts
were erected to protect in times Of war.
This condition Of affairs should not be al
lowed to continue, even If there was not the
slightest apprehension of danger, much less
now, when we know the real from the pretend
ed attitude of England. If the administration
at Washington is so much engrossed with the
belligerents in the South as not to have time to
look after our defences, then let Gov. Morgan
convene the Legislature at once, in order that
it may take all the necessary steps to make
our harbor and oil approaches to our city i'm
pregnable. A like course should be adopted
by the other Atlantic States at the very earliest
possible moment. History does not furnish an
instance where John Bull respected the rights
Of any other nation when it was his appa-
rent interest at the moment to do otherwise,
unless he was forced to it from fear of summary
punishment. The best way and the only way,
therefore, to secure his perfect neutrality IN
the present contest is to place ourselves in q
position to successfully resist all attacks. Let
our authorities proceed at once to overhaul our
forts, remove the old style guns, and replace
them with the most approved rifed cannon and
columbiads Let one of these guns be placed
at every portfolio, and let all our first class
merchant steamers be converted into vessels. Of
war. Then, and not until then, can we expect
perfect neutrality on the part of the English
government. Such at least is the lesson that
her past history teaches us; aud let us be wise
and profit by it. We repeat, the intelligence
from England is ominous. Let our authorities
move at once and prepare for the worst.
A VOICE FROM THE HoUsa OF CoMM0Ss-It
win be remembered that Mr.. Gregory, one of
the Irish members Of the British Parliament.
some time ago gave notice that he intended to
move for the recognition of the Southern rebel
confederacy under JEFF. Davis-a movement,
however, that has not taken place; for, to use
laconic phrase, Mr. Gregory has been entirely
shut up" on this recognition question. Baf
fed in his attempt to advocate his measure in
his place in Parliament, he has, however, as
last resort, written a long letter to the Times,
in which he says all that he would too gladly