Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-09

Ipon the weakness of the form of Govern
nent or to allege that as an excuse for nom
lction, would be merely an attempt to palm !
,f administrative for constitutional weak
ness.
Dur National Bond of Union-A Story and
n Moral.
In 1889 Daniel Webster visited England,
sent by the merchants of New York and
Boston. The object of the journey was not
publicly disclosed; it was to prevent a war
between Great Britain and the United States
an event not to the taste of the mercantile
population of our cities. The occasion of
the danger which it was the duty of Mr..
Webster to devise the means to avoid was as
follows: .
Out of long. standing jealousy between
the Canadian population of French and that
of English origin an armed conflict had, at
length, arisen. Taking advantage of the
pretense, on the part of the former, that this
was in favor of liberty, filibustering expe.
ditions of persons calling themselves Patri-
OTIS were fitted out from the States of the
Union along the boundary, whose professed
object was to aid the French party, over
throw the Government, and establish a new
one, after the model of the United States.
The expeditions invaded Canada at several
points had few skirmishes with the troops
of the Government, and did considerable
damage to public and private property.
These events became the occasion of not
little excitement in the States. Many SYM
pathized with those who were, as they sup
posed, fighting in favor Of freedom, and of
this sympathy, politicians took the advant-
age, to the extent that the Governments of
the States not only neglected to restrain or
punish those who came within their jurisdic-
ton for the purpose of invading from thence
the domain of Great Britain, but actually in
terposed, by threats and party influence, to
p1eyent the General Government from per-
forming the obligations which it owed to a
friendly power.
The inertia of the Administration of Mr..
Van Buren, under the circumstances was so
apparent that it was the occasion offrequent
and pressing remonstrances on the part of
the British Cabinet and resident Ministers,
and serious apprehensions were entertained
| of collision between the two Governments.
! To avert this, if possible, was the object of
| the mission of Mr.. Webster-not to the
| Government, but to the leading men of Great
J Britain.
It was the business of Mr.. Webster to in
culcate upon those with whom he came in
contact the idea that it was not the want Of
inclination, but the want of power, in the
Administration, which rendered it so dila-
tory in the performance of its duty and en-
gapements; that, in short, our national pol
ity was fundamentally weak, in respect
that British statesmen-not having a cor
responding defect in their own-could not
readily understand. He was to tell them
that the nation called the United States was
made up of separate State sovereignties,
upon whom the bond of union sat so lightly
that any subject of popular excitement was
sufficient to break it for the time; nor could
the National Government do more than re-
main passive until the feeling of insubordi-
nation had passed away that to force State
TO perform its duty in the preservation Of the
national peace, contrary to its inclination
was out of the question; and that to attempt
TO do so would be the occasion of intestine
disturbance, if not of dissolution.
This is the Message which the ablest Amer
lean statesman and lawyer of his time-tht
man to whom was accorded the proud titlt
of "Expounder ofthe Constitution"-wasd de
puted to carry across the Atlantic. For thi
purpose he was supplied with every thing
| :. e 4ka ar,basua dorial charactar tho
was calculated to gain him the notice of tn
great or to attract the attention of the public
He went and was worshiped. The eminen
sought his acquaintance and the multitud
gathered to hear his words and gaze upo
his countenance.
But what message it was to carryl--t
tell the statesmen of the Old World, tn
Smother Country" that the experiment Of
nationality on American soil was so far
failurel None knew it better than he non
could tell It terms more pointed and direct
but amid all the splendor of his state and tn
+ cordiality of bis reception, would not sti
the paramount feeling in his bosom be or
of sorrow? He was there to ask for peat
for the country-not because she deserved
but because her offenses were the effect
= weakness, not of premeditation.
. The story carries with it its own mora
Our Confederated Republic-the realization
u as we have been accustomed to say Of q
that is perfect in government-fails in tho
y points where strength and efficiency are
c the most importance; the capacity for sci
preservation. The enforcement of Il
national laws in any one of the States
= which it is composed, contrary to the will
= the party in possession of the State Cover
. ment, has always been difficult and, in cas-
~ of excitement, impossible. The will of Il
- State has, in large number Of cases, pr
y vailed over that of the nation; nor is the
:. reason to suppose that it will ever do othe
~ wise where there is either passion or intere
as q motive for resistance.
se MODE OF SETTLING TAR1FF DHFERESoEs
is. ISDIA.-In the British Provinces in the Es
or Indies, they have an easy way Of settlil
90, differences between the custom-house ofhe'
in and the importers. If the custom-hoI
offeara consider the price named for a 9