Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-31
English Opinion,
b. s. CowEN.

Notwithstanding the hostile course of the
English press toward the North, intelligent
Englisbmen continue to assert that the sym
pathies OF the best portion of the English
people are heartily. enlisted in our bchalf.
The New York Post prints private letter
from a distinguished barrister of London,
who declare that the English press repre-
sent neither the heart nor the intellect of
that country, except after very pale fee
bic rofracted manner 1t is ever ready to
furnish pleader for the worst cause, or
hireling to decry the best. He presents
the following interesting view ofthc matter !:
There is always difficulty in ascertain.
ing the real character of public opinion las
1T is calied) IN n country Ike this. where
there Is such conglDmeratioD of races and
such normal complication of interests and
principles. The press with ls is mainly in
the hands Of Scotch and Irishmen. The
metaphysics and chopped hay of the one,
and the fire and-tow blaruey of the other do
not represent the English mind. SO far as
my experience goes in pretty wide circle,
the English are fairly with the Northefners.
When we had to deal with Slavery, the most
potent advocates for its continuance were
generally Scotch or Irish writers. Yo, are
aware that there is strong anti. Puritan
feeling iu John Bull; aud yet he finds tho
leaven Of it leavens even him. There is an
amazing force, too, in his aristocratic, ,eudal
feeling but the democratic leayens il too,
and IL fast becoming the settled base of all
progress. With these antagonisms harmon
lied, or in course Of being so, trom day to
day, there Is an amount OF good sense and
good feeling, and recognized right or liberty
OF tree speech, and free printing, clear of
AL class interests, all mobs whether of st.
Johns or st. Giles, which admit of any tests
for truth Or falsehood and give them fair
play.
The Times may do as il likes for Rotbs-
child, Punch may find fun in our absurdities
or yours; the Telegraph may pocket its
dirty dollars, and abuse you of the North:
the Chronicle take your part, or the Daily
News veer about bewilderingly the maga-
zines OF the quarterlics may Try to represent
these partial and one sided dogmas; but, my
friend, depend upon it that the dreadful
coDvulsion whlcl, threatens the fair fabric of
your political life and organization is looked
upon by the really thinking and really pow
ertul men and womon here as portcntous
calamity. Do mot identity British sentiment
, at this your crisis with any portion Of the
British press. fyou could 4enl over here
a han llAe Encrson, or Longf.llow, or Ever
cit, todo as Paul did at Rome, anl il, his
individual capacity, open up the whole case
for the consideration of the English pubic.
on behalf Of The Fedcrnls and point ous the
wickedness and impplicy Of ever recognizing
as government the rebels who have dared
to Insult our common humanity with such a
programme OF II constitution Us jeff Davis i,
the aspect OF our press toward you would
soon change, the best Reason, that would
rule at last, would have free course, and
there would be q cheer for your Union from
the hoar mountains ot the North to the
tocnling valleys OF the South. which would
make ihe bo!dcst statesman here ponder well
before he presumed, either in the national
isolation OF in coniedeyacy, with crafty allies,
to act on the dc iacto doctrine of an asserted
sovereignty i'll the successful Seccssonists de
facto. '" :
A letter from an American in London, in
the New York Methodist takes similar
general view Of tho matter. We quote n
passage:
The ma s,cs--the great middle class--the
yast body ofreligious people in England are,
/ believe, with us, heart and sonl 1t is
true, these classes have little political power
in the ordinary and peaceful workings of
the British Constitution. In qliet times a
few aristocratic families govern, the country
pretty much as they please. But whenever
a great crisis comes, and the middle class is
thoroughly aroused, its movement is maies.
tic and overwhelming. The free. trade
struggle and the anti-Slavery struggle are
cases in point Should the aristncratic mar.
ty in England he impelled by its hatred or
its fears ofrepublican institutions to commit
the Government to decided policy against
the United States, such as the breaking OF
the blockade, or the recognition Of the slave
Contederacy you may look for another move
ment Of the British people, as grand and
majestic rs the two notable ones to which
have alluded.