The New York herald., 1865-12-08
: Relations With Engisad snd

MessdBt fttefrlug 10 our rel6tIOnS WIN cngiauu
was received in Congress with emphatic and
unanimous applause. That portion OF the
Message simply recites the hostile acts COM
mitted against us by Great Britain during the
recent war, and concludes with the significant
remark that, "for the future, friend ship be-
tween the two countries must rest on the basis
Of mutual Justice" From this remark we in-
fer-and England may a. well accept the same
construction-that there Is 10 be no friendship
between the two countries for the future until
full Justice Is done us for the injuries
inflicted during the recent rebellion. IF we
do not choose to go to war at present, that is
no reason why we should either forget or for
give the many wrongs which we have suffered,
and which the President clearly and suocinctly
recites. The formal accordance Of belligerent
rights to the insurgent States the supplies Of
materials of war sent to the rebels from British
manufactures the ravages of British pirates
sailing under the flag Of a nation that did not
exist-these outrages upon the United States
demand compensation and apology at the
hands OF the British government and, since
even arbitration has been refused they fully JUS
tify us in declaring war against Great Britain,
although we shall consult our own convenience
as to the time when war is to be declared.
Under these circumstances the Presidents stern
and menacing tone towards England is exceed
ingly appropriate, and it is unanimously en-
dorsed, approved and re-echoed by the country.
A quotation from the New York cores
pondence of the London Spectator, published
in these columns on Wednesday, shows that
our Interpretation of the Presidents remark in
regard to our relations with England is quite
tails of q conversation with Secretary Seward,
in which Mr. Seward said that he had told Sir
Frederick Bruce, the British Minister. that " the
way towards anything more than the present
relations of mere formal amity between the
two peoples and governments must be led by
the British people and the British government
If the British were content with our present
attitude towards each other, we were; but if
any change were made in it for the better it
must be of British making" Mr.. Seward
added that eve were the aggrieved
party and that "it was not for us to
seek reconciliation" Ho concluded this
verbal despatch to Sir Frederick Bruce by
stating that "nothing could be expected from
us but to stand upon punctilio, as well as upon
our essential rights, and insist upon both in the
minutest particular" and tina. "this was as far
as the people of this country would allow any
administration to 60 in that direction"-mean-
ing in the direction of Cancellation. Mr.. Seward
= -. L. T. q. Trln ho
might have explained that it is with the great
est difficulty that the American people are
| induced to be satisfied with even "formal
| amity" towards q government which has in
suited US so grossly, injured us so wantonly,
and refused reparation 80 impudently and un-
justly. Beyond all question, war with Eng
land would be most popular, and had not
| President Johnson wisely resolved to settle
| UP all our internal difficulties before
dealing with our foreign relations, and had not
the people Acquiesced in his decision because
Of their confidence in his patriotism and ability,
the recent Message would certainly have con-
tanned declaration Of war. But we know that
we shall lose nothing by waiting. Neither the
| debt that England owes us nor our power to
collect it will be lessened by time. And
| Canada will not move out Of our reach in the
meanwhile.
Message which refers to France is in marked
contrast with its tone towards England. Presi-
| dent Johnson does not forget, and the Ameri-
can people cannot forget, that, while England
has always been our bitterest enemy, France
is our old and trusty friend. If to England the
President speaks sternly, to France he ad.
dresses rather remonstrance than q threat
Nevertheless, it is impossible for him
| to overlook the fact that the attempt
to establish foreign monarchy upon
the tomb of the Mexican republic is an act Of
indirect hostility towards the United States,
and he therefore reasserts the Monroe Doctrine
in terms which are perfectly plain without
being in the least degree menacing. He evi
IDENTIFY hopes and expects that France will
withdraw from Mexico quietly and without q
war, and he says nothing which can in any way
render more difficult the delicate problem Of
retiring gracefully from an untenable position
which the Emperor Napoleon is called upon to
solve. The President is clearly determined to
place upon France the onus Of the quarrel If q
war shall become necessary to vindicate the
Monroe Doctrine. He speaks Of European
Power challenging the American people te
the defence Of republicanism against foreign
interference" and, although he cannot say
that we will refuse such challenge
he does say that we would regard
it as a great calamity, and he hopes that i
will never be offered. "We rely" he adds
"upon the wisdom and justice Of European
Powers to respect the system Of non-inter
ference which has 80 long been sanctioned
by time, and which, by Its good results
has approved itself TO both continents
| The Emneror NnnoleOn cannot fail to ad