Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-18

and international character have now
reached point Of the most grave ana
intsese iatsrest Hitherto the attention
Of our people has only been directed TO
..ahe. s.rils bet aeen the North and the
South-the struggling OF the Govern
ment to assert ito power and its rights
AGAINST the Vaccinations OF traitors
against the wicked assaults of those who
wouId strip The nation Of its chief glory,
and rob the Union Of its present and
promised grandeur. But out OF this
strife has arisen another, and we may
say an equally important trouble which
threatens TO most seriously tax our
every energy as a nation, and produce
scenes Of blood and carnage such as Will
equal, II not surpass anything noted
down upon the pages Of the worlds
history. 1t is difficult for our people,
who, tor long years, have tasted or
dreamed of naught but tue blessings OF
peace and unparalleled prosperity, to
realize that We are now living in most
important day, and standing upon the
threshhold Of events unequallcd 10 the
history OF the world. But such is the
case.
Our country is about to engage IN q
struggle not only with rebels, but with
a most powerful nation, which is IN
deep sympathy with the enemies Of this
Government. Already is the pretended
oEense given and resented, and the de-
tails Of the quarrel made up. Nothing
remains to be done but to arrange few
uuimportant preliminaries, and the fight
will commence IN good earnest.
1t has already been virtually decided
in our national cabinet, that Captain
Wilkes was warranted in Selling the
persons of Mason and Sldell from the
British mail steamer, the Trent, and IT
hes been very strongly intimated that
the Government will take no backward
step In that matter-wlll not make an
apology for what it esteems no wrong,
and will not render up the persons OF
those whom it has right to hold. The
matter is in q nutshell-thcre is no
possible chance for any misunderstood.
ing.
Taking this view Of the case, we con-
clude that within the next thirty days
we shall sec the virtual commencement
OF actual hostilities between the United
States and Great Britain. A vessel will
be cent for the persons Of Mason aud
Slidcll. Lord Lyons will make formal
demand for them, and will be refused.
He will demand his passports, and the
two great powers OF either continent
will stand arrayed against each other
What will then pass we leave for the
future to reveal. We are strong in men
to fight, strong in determination to
maintain our rightful grounds, strong in
means toscarry on war upon those
grousds. ! The country is in an intense
state Of agitation, and waiting for the
disclosure of events which are to follow.
The day Of waiting will not be long
one.
The President has expressed himself
very decidedly within day or two as
favoriug a cautious, pacific policy to-
wards foreign Governments at this pecu.
liar time. zone war at a time!' was
his remark to an impetuous gentleman
who was endeAvoring to show the power
Of this country to beat England in a
conflict upon our shores, should such a
result come.
ANOTHER Observation-Disclosures
for the arrest of Slidell and Mason null
tiply. The latest and probably the
most pat is that of the British steamer
Teviot, which carried ont as passenger
the ex-President Of Mexico, during the
war between the United States and that
country. Our country demanded an
apology Of England, which was promptly
given.
The NORTH EsrERN FoRcE.-The
Chicago Times says that the aggregate
force of the North West in the field
and ready to take it, must exceed taco
Hundred and fifty thousand, or nearly
one.half the grand army Of the Union
What spectacle is this of country
the greater part Of which thirty years
ago, was little more than a wilderness
THERE was q destructive freshet in
California last week. Sacramento
Marysville and Stockton suffered severe.
ly, the loss in the first named place, be-
ing estimated at 100000. Immense
damage was also done to farm property.
At last advices the waters we're receding
SEsrEScED.-C. q. Flint, Esq, late
editor of the Chicago Democrat, and