Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-17
IMpORrANTNEws FROM ENGLAND

INFORMANT NEWS FROM ENGLAND
Our dispatches received yesterday
morning contain news OF the most vital
and the most stirring importance. The
British government, it seems, has taken
nnder adyisement the Mason and Slidell
capture, and in the cabinet OF the nation
has. to use the unmistakablc language OF
the London Times, declared it to be a
clean case of infringement upon interna-
t,onal law, and that the United States
government must make an apology and
return Mason and Slidell." The same
paper likewise adds, that the refusal
Of tho United States to make reparation
tor the Mason and Slidell affair will re-
suit in three things: lst, the breaking
and destruction OF the Southern block
ade; I'd, the complete recognition OF the
Southern confederacy; 3D., the complete
blockade OF Northern ports"
Here. then, we have the matter pre-
sented in its fullest form. II we take 1t
for granted that such is the firm conclu-
sion and the ultimatum OF the British
Government, we may well conclude that
war has not yet begun, but that it IS
soon to commence, and in such immense
proportions ss never before shocked the
face Of the earth.
We are not OF the opinion that the
Cabinet at Washington will profier an
apology, or render up the persons OF
Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Let the
consequences be what they may, right
there the Issue is to be joined, and right
there tho fight will commence.
England has now got what she mas
been looking for for months-an excuse
for rccc gnizng the Southern Confedera-
cy and waging war upon the United
States. Long ago she commenced this
preparation. When she sent her first
cargo Of troops into Canada, she was
preparing for war Oh this continent, and
her preparations in that quarter ever
since have been to the same end.
But what of the ability Of the British
Government to carry out the above
mentioned consequences She threat
ems to break and destroy the Southern
blockade. She can do it. She threat
ems to recognize the Southern Confeder-
acy. She can do that. She further
threatens to visit upon our heads the
blockade of the Northern ports. Under
existing circumstances, the same power
which would enable her to break the
Southern blockade, would enable her to
blockade Northern ports. We have
virtually no navy to compete with that
OF Great Britain and moreover that our
coast defences are unfortunately not now
in that state Of preparation that is cacu-
lated to maintain position against so
formidable power. 1t ia therefore
highly important that the most extraor-
dinary action should be commenced TO
strengthen the land and naval defences
Of this Government. Every energy and
every means must be brought into requi-
si,ion to enable us to cope with the
rising storm,
We confess that we did not apprehend
the opening of such a state of affairs, but
they are upon us, and The course to be
pursued will be soon marked out.
SLAYER QUESTION AGAIN.
Our neighbor yet seems to harbor
the opinion that but for the institution
of slavery constant peace and harmony
would have continued to exist in our
land, and that with slavery such a state
can never be achieved. We understand
him to argue now as he has for years
past, and as other abolition demogogues
and scribbles have argued, that the only
bar to national brotherly love and ma
tionaI prosperity is the negro-pure and
simple, and nothing else. Hence it
would seem that all our noble institu-
tons, all our magnificent enterprises,
together with all that would or could
make US the most powerful and happy
nation upon the face of the globe-that
peace, prosperity and allis choked Off
by the negro.
Let nc see about that. We have been
and still are of the opinion that it is not
30 much from the fact that slavery exists
and that,negroes are held in bondage, that
has caused this national enlargement
and the past pickering between the
North and the South, as the accursed
propensity among unprincipled politici
ans and demagogues in the land to make
slavery hobby. Because slavery has
existed in the South, have the agricultu
raj and commercial interests of our north
ern States been crippled! Has the mar
Ia g.