Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-03
UbeJree 4t&ag
BURLINGT
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. Q. lsGI.
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT
BRITAIN.

All the fume and bluster, all the ndigna-
tion and railing, all the threatening of war
and vengeance against the United States
Government, all the rumored decisions Of
crown lawyers and ministerial cabinets on
the Mason and Slidell affair, which have
come to Us from England, thus far, are built
upon the oue-sided statements Of the officers
and passengers Of the Trent, and the SIAN
derous stories about the sentiment IN this
country. which have flied the English jour
nais. Not word has been herd, yet, of
the Effect produced there by the official
rep rts OF CommudJre Wilkes ami Lieuten-
an FITiax.
Among the i4lszhoods Us abroad to
mo7e th public Indignation, none are more
eff cJiye than those which assert an intention
on tb- T.rJ Of our naval oficers and the
chief men Of our government to IHSat the
British naucn The fact to the contrary
that ins cad Of desire to insult there was
a desire TO oblise and concilIate them,
and that there has been no Thought on
our part of contravening the require
mepts Of international law,-when known
there, will most certainly produce re-
action, at least in the minds of candid men
and they wall think none the worse OF u
for not yielding what is plainly our right
to sudden demands equilly unreas nab.e and
intemperate.
We have given no credence to the ire
quent reports that the Briti-h 6 v-rnment
laya doSn an offensive ulHHGtlnH 10 begin
with, ror to those which say our Govern
ment will grant what may be demanded OF
them, be the demand right or wrong,
simply because they feel that they must
stave of war with E gland at this time
no matter at what cost OF national respect
or honor. OF course all will be glad t.
avoid war with England, or with any
power but If in defiance Of what Is right.
a war is forced upon us, the loyal part OF
the nation will meet 1t with an energy and
self-sacrifcing spirit corresponding to the
greatness Of the demand.
We doubt not that the English Govern
ment would 20 to war with US IN moment,
If they felt sure that war would result IN
the dismembermeDt and debasement Of our
National power, and without working a
disastrous result to themselves. But on
heither of these points can they feel sure.
Contrariwise, they know very well that
such a war would expose some OF theiI
dependencies TO fearful cOmmotion, and that
even their home government would find
itself exposed IN ways which they DO no
ike to think Of. Meanwhile it costs then
nothing to indulge their people in clustering
aud threatening and the public excite
ment furnishes a good occasion for new
distribution Of their military forces, so tina
in case Of either pubic war or interna
disturbance. the people will DO kept il
subjection by the presence Of troops, Just a
ready to be used against them, if there Is a
OCCASION, US against i loreign enemy.
The proposition IS thrown out in some
papers that if Great Britain GGHdnd
Mason and ShdeIl Of US, whether such de
mand be well founded or not according t
international law. our only pr4deRt way nov
is to yield Al once-reserylng to onrselye
the determination 10 fight her for her insC
fence at a future day, when the rebellion
of our Lands. We take 10 part IN th,
Jerry-Sneak sort Of policy. II on Ia
DISCUSSION OF the subject, it becomes app
rent that We ovgh to give Mason and Slide
ND. we should cheerfully do it. IL will be
our credit to do so. Ii the ,wo govesnmen
can not agree, it viii be fair aud honOrat
to both to submit the point Of difference
an impartial ricndly power. and TO abb
its decision. That Is all which the Brlu
Government can decently ask ior, and
which our Government cOuld eoDcede' VIII
out bringing lasting disgrace to iiseit d
irreparable injury on the nation we
not think lightly OF the contest which
now have on our hands, nor undervaiue
greater difficulties We should have to c.
iend with If Great Bsitlin were to j
her force 10 that Of the -ebs.s. But 10 81
cumb to an unlawful and humiiiati
demand for ter OF such a result would
the veEy way 10 insure 1t. To show
uumistakeablc readiness to meet it if
cones. = the surest way to prevent
Wsowsi. e ou-se!gYs. &c occ posteri,yr
humanity, to allow the whole world {
free psspIs IS powerful. ss nunsrc
ss wealthy as we sre, nstiOn in the