The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-10-31
Mr.. Gladstone on America.


declaring the views Of one member OF the
British Cabine, upon our national troubles.
Mr.. Gladstone is Chancellor OF the EIcheq-
uer, and his speech shadows forth what may
DO the action of his government, provided
the English Ministry can so mould public
opinion in England, that the opinions set
forth in the speech in question, shall be gen.
orally adopted by the English people. The
importance, then, which may be attached to
this speech induces US to give it entire:
"I for one, said the right honorable gentle
man, exercising my own poor faculties, as
best could, have never felt that England had
any reason connected with her own civil inter-
ests for desiring the disruption ofths American
Union. can understand those who say that 1t
Is for the general interest OF nations that no
State should swell 10 the dimensions Of con-
,inent. | can understand those who say-and
confess IL to be my own opinion-that II is
greatly for the interest Of the negro race that
they should have to do with their own masters
alone, and not-as has hitherto been the case
with their own masters backed by the whole
power of the Federal Government Of the United
States. (Cheers.) Because, pray observe, that
that has been the state Of things that has sub
sisted heretofore, and to which some, l think
mistakenly, in the interest Of the negro, have
thought Il desirable to return.
The laws by which the slaves have been gov
erned have been laws made not by the Federal
Government, but by the owners ofthose slaves;
but the enforcement OF the laws made by the
owners of the slaves has not rested in the hands
Of the owners Of the slaves alone. They have
had right-a constitutional right by the Con-
- - a.. L.. Il
against their own slaves in the execution OF the
laws that the slave owners have made by the
whole power Of the American Union. l can,
therefore, very well understand the argument
of those who think that IL is particularly to be
desired In the interest of the negro race, that
the American Union should be Reconstructed
But must confess, for reasons that need not
now explain, that do not think that England
has had any interest in the disruption OF that
Union; my own private opinion Is that ~ was
rather the interest of England that the Union
should continue. know that IL is not an opn-
ion generally shared; but at any rate, gentle.
men, whatever view we may take OF that, L
think we all feel that the course which her Maj
esty's Ministers have endeayored TO pursue
namely, that Of maintaining strict neutrality
under all circumstances that have heretofore
passed-has been a right course, and has been
the expression Of the general sense OF the COM
be no doubt, that where two parties are in great
evaporation, il is not at all unlikely that he
who observes strict neutrality will offend
both; because in point Of fact, the state OF
mind in which his conduct Is likely to be judy
ell Of for the moment by either disputant Is not
state Of mind in which il is fair that We should
expect from them perfectly impartial conclu-
sions.
But what we may naturally expect Is this,
that an honest course of neutrality will be rec
ognized-that course, mean, which we have
pursued 10 this day-will be recognized af,er
this unhappy struggle has passed away, and
when the circumstances shall be calmly viewed.
But must confess it appears to me that II
either party have a right to find fault with us,
Il is the Confederate rather than the Federal
party. (IIear hear.) mean this, IL we have
deyiated at all from neutrality, our deviation
has been against the Confederate rather than
the Federal party. The course we have taken
has been this 4: We have preserved perfect
neutrality, but we have permitted the export OF
arms and warlike stores-we have permitted 1t
20 two parties-to the Coufederates, all Of whose
ports were blockaded by the Northern feet, and
to the Pederals, who have had perfect power to
import whatever arms and stores they pleased
think that course has been the right and just
course; but think the very statement of the
fact proves that at any rate we have not dis
played q bias untayorabe TO the claims OF the
Northern States. (Cheers.)
But now, gentlemen, would for moment
make an appeal to you on behalf Of the people
Of the-Sorthern States--l mean 50 far as re-
CARDS our appreciation OF their position
Greater allowances are to be made TOR heat and
evaporation in the state of public opinion in
that country under present circumstances than
perhaps could ever fairly be claimed by any
other nation. Only consider what their pre-
yious history has been. They have never drank
the bitter cup Of misfortune, disappointment
and modification. They have had but TO will
that q thing should be done, and 1t was done.
Their course has been course OF prosperity
and advancement without example or without
q single break.
Well, gentlemen, il is not in human nature
that people who have been subjected.to an
experience so fattering, 50 soothing TO human
selfloye, should at once learn. with perfect
good grace, 10 accommodate and submit itself to
the necessities of our human condition. (Hear
hear.) IL is easy for US to suffer. We have
suffered before. We have gone through the
very agonies of these acknowledgements against
which the Northern people Of the United States
are now struggling. We have gone through
Il, and now that we have gone through 1t we
know that il was not q bad thing after ALL
(IIear) But they have not gone through 1t,
and all say is, let US bear with them all we
can. Let US keep toward them q kindly tenn
per-let US not allow ourselves to be adversely
criticised ON that side CT the water--let US be
very cautious Of adverse criticisms upon them
from this side of the water. Depend upon 1t,
that curse steadily pursued will bring its re-
ward, and IL is the course which they have q
right, upon every ground Of good will, courte-
sy, aud christian feeling, to expect that we
should pursue. (Cheers)
Why, gentlemen, they are our kin-they
were at any rate, II they are not now; our GUS
toners and we hope they will be our customers
again. But they have shown also, under all
circumstances, when their good feeling could
have fair play. they have warm affections to-
ward England. Never let us forget, whatever
momentary irritation may cross the minds OF
that people-neyer let US forget the reception
IL the Prince Of Wales. (Cheers.) Let every
Englishman engraye upon the tablets OF his
heart the recollection of that memorable day;
and II occasionally he may be tempted to an.
ger at seeing his country Inexperienced or
misrepresented, let him calm his tendency TO
excited sentiment by that recollection. (Cheers.
We know quite well that that people-l mean
the people OF the Northern States-haye not
yet drank Of the cup-they are still endeayor.
ing TO hold II FAR from their lips-they have not
yet drank OF the cup which, Notwithstanding
all the rest Of the world sees they must do. We
may have our own opinions about slayery-we
may be for the South or against the South, but
there Is no doubt, think, about this-Jef Da-
Wis and the other leaders Of the South have
made an army-they are making, II appears, a
nayy-and they have made what Is more than