Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-11-07
Mutterings Of War.

The signs indicate that there is probable
ity that the United States may soon be in
viewed in war with England, France, or Max
imilian in Mexico, and, it may be, with all
at the same time.
The United States Government demands
from the British Government compensation
for injuries done to American citizens by the
Alabama and other Confederate cruisers
which sailed from British ports, which the
latter positively refuses to grant. In the
language of a contemporary, Mr. Seward de-
mands indemnity, as matter of justice, and
Earl Russell refuses it as matter Of honor.
A 'scommission" is rendered on that side and
rejected on this, and there the matter stands.
Now as to Mexico. In April 1864, wher
the United States had its hands pretty full
with attending to the Southern Confederacy,
so-caned, the u S. House of Representatives
passed, by unanimous vote, the following
resolution
"Resolved, &c, That the Congress of the
United States are unwilling, by silence, to
leave the nations of the world under the i'm
preston that they are Indifferent spectators
of the deplorable events now occurring in the
republic of Mexico; and they, therefore, think
fit to declare that it does not accord with the
policy of the United States to acknowledge
monarchical government, erected on the ruins
of any republican government in America,
under the auspices of any European power"
The New York EUening Post asks, "Does
any one believe that Congress will care less,
now, about the French usurpation in Next
co than it did at time when our own per-
petuity as nation was endangered?''
In late speech of Mr.. Seward delivered
at Auburn, N. Y, he used the following en-
phatic language:
~ eap ect that sce shall see republican M
situations, scherever they have been heretofore
established throughout the American CONT
neat speedily vindicated, renewed and REIN
Uigorated."
In this connection the Richmond Bulletin
says: "Of the temper in which such warn
ing and menace would be received by the
4Aiu A\"PoiSOu, VIC PiCSuiiiO eHOIV 10 III foom
for doubt while Macmillan, for his part,
has already made his war speech, and vowed
to shed, in defence of his crown, every drop
of that blood which is now call Mexican"
The feeling which is to determine the
course of this country, must be sought among
the people of the Northern States-not here.
The South wants war with nobody, and upon
no cause. She is too much engrossed with
her own sorrows, and has too much to do in
repairing her desolations, to think about, or
care about, either Mexico or the Monroe doc
triDe, Macmillan or Napoleon. She wants re-
pose,and has no feelings to waste on the outside
world, whether on the other side of the gulf
or the other side of the sea. But the peo-
pie and presses of the North are in different
mood; and it is they who hold the power and
have the votes that are to direct it,"
Before the u. S. Government becomes In
volved in war with Foreign Nations it should
restore the people of the South to all their
Constitutional rights. It would not look we'll
to go to war with Macmillan to secure the
rights of Mexicans, when constitutional rights
were denied the citizens of the Southern
Stat es.