The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-29
England and the Privateers.

LETTER FROM PROF. Il. W. NEWMAN.
SIR: We are already engaged in two for
midable wars - in New Zealand and in Japan
We are not clear of third in China. We
look on with alarm at the violent proceedings
in Germany, against Denmark, not knowing
how We may be implicated in that quarter
Apparently through fear, and nothing else,-
we allow Russia to violate the treaty of 1856,
and to set up war fleet in the Black Sea.
capturing our merchant ships if they attempt
to trade with the CircasSials. say it is ap-
parently through fear; for no one who con-
siders our recent ASatic wars. or the zeal
with which the Ministry spraDg TO arms, i'll
the matter of the Trent will easily impute
it to humanity that Lords Palmerston and
Russell wink at the breach of treaty involved
in the Russian blockade.
With such an atmosphere of war around
US | cannot believe that this or any English
Minister would covct American enmitv, not
to say American war. 1t is true at the crisis
Of Northern weakness they breathed flames
and scohed at arbitration, even after learning
officially that PRESIDENT Lincoln had not au
thorzed the act Of Capt. Wilkes, and was
open to friendly representations. Yet, before
the disunion, no English Ministry was ever
L. 1
far more urgently needed. refer to the
systematic Outrages committed at Charles
ton, Mobile, aud all the principal ports of
the Southern States, against our colored sea-
men; outrages which If committed in Bur
nah or Japan, would have been promptly re
piled to by high handed war.
Why do recall this? Partly in order to
show that the charge OF being for "peace at
any price," rests rather on others than on
those who say, Let US do Justice and claim
justice firmly, but let US as little as possible
and as late as possible, take justice by vio-
lence." Still more, refer to the past as a
cue to the future. When the intestine war
shall be closed no English Ministry will re-
gard the enmity of the United States as any.
thing but formidable calamity If in TIE
past We did not dare, for the defence Of col
ored seamen, to encounter a war in which
the conscience OF the whole North would
have been with US, much less in the future
will any Ministry rush into war in vindica
ton of our pirate ships, Shen Eng gland vii
have bad conscience and be divided agains
itself, while the whole Union will be Of on,
heart and mind.
( 1t is not a day too earl y TO take this t.
heart. While write, the cry of one more
English meeting for justice to Poland rise
in my ears. Russia is made obstinate by
belief that she can use the neutral groun(
Of the United States as a "nava. Ease
against US by our own recent and fatal pre-
cedent. The newspapers of st. Petersbur;
avow, what is clear of Itself. The Russiar
feet is gone to America, in order to sail from
American ports against our merchant ships
: if We dare TO take up arms for Poland.
President Lincoln be but coldiy neutral ar,
allow to Russian ships just as much favor a
English ports have shown to Contederat
cruisers, in case Of an Anglo-Russian wal
the Russian fleet will not want water ant
S provisions, nor their steamers want coal.
S In distant sea they will not need to Grip
pie their force by sending back prizes to Ad