Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-03
ENGLAND AND AMERICA


been waiting for these arms, though the ru-
nor gave Il 10 you some days ago.
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
The telegraph reports that Mason and
Sidell are to be given up to the English de-
mand. Public necessity, which is stronger
with US than the law OF nations is with Eng
land, may require this, but when the fren-
~ Of the day is over and British statesmen
begin to look at things in the light Of reason
and common sense and common right, they
will see that they have made bitter bluuder.
The chaicc which they so eagerly press to
our lips with the threat Of war. they will
drink to the dregs. In the time Of our ma
tional trouble and agony, England has inter-
fered. From the outset she has given her
sympathy to those who would rend our coun-
try From shortsigbted ideas of policy she
has lent her moral support to the wrong
cause and the wrong principle. She has de-
lighted 20 honor those who would overthrow
our free government, regularity and conatitu-
tionslly administered has given them such
counteaance as she secretly and openly could,
and has suffered her aid to go to raise the flag
Of a slave-trading, slave-breeding rebel con-
spracy and coniederacy For our sorrows
she has had taunts For our anxiety to pre-
serve our legal jurisdiction and bounds she
has had derision. Her wishes have begotten
her predictions Of our failure. and now she
sustains her own vessels in violating her
Queens proclamation Of neutrality. She
proposes war to avenge an insult to her flag,
when her law officers Of the Crown declare
that the insult would have been nothing had
We only inflicted a serious and permanent in
jury, and transferred her ship and mails to
our port as well as her - guests" and passen-
gers Our government has yielded to the
passion Of great nation, not to its common
sapsa Sc l. 80. "a a.. = 49,
it may be honorable for us to do so. We
have always contended for the principle that
neutral ships should not be searched in time
Of war. She has denied it, and is now ready
to make war upon us against her principles
to maintain ours. Certainly what wisdom
and honor there are, are on our side and not
tack another nation on another continent in
the hour Of its exigency, for constructive
insult. The cheeks of Englishmen will yet
Jingle with red shame when they shall look
upon their guests rendered up, not because
they were taken wrongmlly, or illegally, but
because they were demanded by an insane
frenzy. we were not prepared to resist. Per-
haps under no circumstances would America
be willing to plunge into the nameless hor-
rors of a foreign war. either to retain or de-
mand Mason and SIidell. That pinnacle Of
craftsmanship is reserved for England to oc-
cupy.
We had hardly ceased paying our popular
and sincere ovations to the son of her excel
lent monarch, when England commenced lend
ing force to the hand that would smite our
national glory to the dust, and disrupt and
bring to shame our Union. Government and
Constitution. And now, when she is weep
ing over the ashes Of the princely consort of
her royal sovereign, she would, in the mad
ness Of her causelcss war-spirit, bring the
evils which Divine Providence has oocasioned
to her Queen. into hundreds and thousands
Of her families and our families, and increase
the woes Of wdowhood and orphanage to an
unlimited extent. We would not rashly in
terpret the hidden mysteries of Gods provi-
dence but more than one mind, more than
one soul, must recently have looked upon the
mourning royal family of England, growing
for their dead, as the striking admonition of
Heaven to her people and statemen, against
the needless injuries and horrors they have
ragged to nhict upon the homes of two coun-
tries that are the same in origin, history, Ian
guage and destiny. England may still follow
the tendencies of her infatuatiOn, but it will
be bitter thing in the end for those who
have first wished to humliate our people in
their dark distress, and still intend to assault
and break them. England does not hold the
destinies Of this Republic in her hands. If
our virtue forsakes us not, Providence will
not cast as OFF, and it will be dark day for
Britain, when the sword shall leap from every
hand that her strength has spoiled, her
jealousy crippled, her cowardice insulted. and
the enemies that she has armed shall gather
for her humiliation and overthrow.
~ On Wednesday morning of last week,