The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-04-22
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette. ]
WASHINGTON, April z, 1863.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, April Z, 1868.
g We might just as well be at war with
Great Britain. We are at war with her
now, and have been for months, except
that she has been committing her hos
tile deeds with impunity Within three
months we shall make it war in earnest;
and the sooner the better
1t was an eminent man who spoke so,
no longer ago than last Saturday. man
of large experience in public affairs, of
long services and Of high official position.
From the nature of the case, he must have
been familiar With our foreign relations,
and with the feelings aud purposes of the
1t may be that he overrated the spirit
of the Government; or underrated the
possibilities of diplomacy in hands like
Mr. Seward's; but there is 40 quest .en
of the gravity with which our most cmi-
nent men regard our existing relations
with Groat Britain. @ pg
+ Ills asserted by high officials, in habits
of conf aential intercourse at the State
Department, that Mr.. Seward three weeks
ago senta dispatch to Mr.. Adams, to be
communicated to the British Foreign Min
iister, announcing that this Government
would consider tho sailing of another yes
sci like the Alabama from British port
mn untriendly act! An uniriendly act y
is the last expression of diplomacy. It
means casus bctt, and can only be follow
ed by apologies or war!
"a There is no evidence, hoVever, that
such dispatch has been sent, excepting
Mr.. Stewards word. He can not wonder,
| if, after his exploits for the last two years,
his direct issue of yeracity with Count
Mercier, aud the unblushing boasts of his
1 friends about the success OF his .'magnifi-
cent lie.ng," that evidence is regarded as
of questionable weight. It is indeed not
improbable that Nr. Seward should re-
Ispond as he always has, to the demands
of the commercial interests of New Y York, ,
land their tone is warlike in the extreme;
hut on the other hand his constitutional
timidity would seem likely to lead him
rather into protracted arguments than
shorter and sharper measures.
] Tendingste favor this latter view also is
the fact that secret agents of the Govern
Il Iltut udN0 beCu lOt couiC tiiuc Ill LILY Slduu
collecting and collating evidence, in the
form OF depositions where practicable
with regard to the whole subject of these
|rebel vessels, with view, apparently, te
!, make case to be tested by the statutes, a,
Earl Kussel tartly suggested that we NIGH
lido. 1t is even added that other agent,
such names as Vanderbilt and Aspinwal
rlarei mentioned in connection with the mat
ter) are to make an effort to purchase tn,
IL Chinese vessels ), by going prepared t
Ioutbid the rebels, and backed with plent,
j. Ief money to do it. Such expedients ar
'deertainly more in consonance with MI
Stewards general policy than the report
ed course of cutting the knot of .diplo
macy with the short, stern. manly wor
! that the repetition of the offense of whicl
we complain will be treated as an un
) friendly act.
Il Meanwhile the Presidents is being warm
Ily urged, both by the suffering CONNER