The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-12
wednesday Morning, April 12, 1865.
r.,m lne Wa,Ainaton cAronicEe.
English sensibilitY.

sion of blood. There was all the Wnio' Az ~
true, a sinister aspect about the beneVoien'
remonstrances of our English frlends' Dec@uso
they were always accompanied Dy very cohn-
dent predictions that the Union coula never
regain possession of its reyolted members
Earl Russell and Lord Palmerston, though
perfectly disinterested neutrais, could never
listen with patience to the idea that the Union
was to be restored, while the more frank and
outspoken tories made no scruple in saying
that they did not desire that result. At length
the fact has become palpable to all the world
that the rebellion is rapidly failing, the Confed-
eracy is coliapsing, and the giant strength
and energy of the great Republic was never
before so well understood on the other side Of
the Atlantic. The effort is to bring out the
real feeling and wish Of the English aristocra-
cy. to exhibit the chagrin, mingled with ap-
prehension, which has overcome that arrogant
and selfish class of men; and, at the same
time, to demonstrate the cause of their un-
pleasant forebodngs. 1t is the guilty con-
sciousness of having wronged the American
Government and people, and the fearful look
ing-for OF judgement which always haunts the
mind of the wrong g-doer.
The Government of the United States has
made no threat, nor intimated any latent pur-
pose OF making war upon England. On the
contrary, assurances have repeatedly been
given OF the earnest desire on the part Of this
country to maintain peace, notwithstanding
the uniriendly conduct of Englishmen in fit
ting out armed cruisers to prey upon Ameri-
can commerce, and the unfriendly haste with
which the Government of Great Britain &C.
knoWledged the guilty slave-breeding traitors
as "beligerents." But it IL the the conscious
ness that these acts were wholly unjustiaable,
that their hostile character will be patent to
all the world, as soon an the rebellion shall be
suppre5sed-it is this that troubles the minds
of the English aristocracy, and not any men
ace OF war that has proceeded from this side
of the water.
During the paralysis which the National
Government suffered for short time before
and after the organization Of the rebel Con-
federacy, the British public, or at least the up
per classes of that country, jumped to the con-
clusion that the Union was irrevocably dis
solved. They saw in the not distant future a
powerful slave-holding republic in the South,
and they were not indisposed to help on the
work OF disintegration by urging on their
Government an acknowledgment of the rebel
conspiracy as government de fdcto, expect
ing soon to be called upon to acknowledge it
as government de jure. The bslligerent,
were placed on footing of equality, and neu-
tralty was proclaimed. But while the Gov
eminent claimed to be neutral, the merchants
and the nobility and gentry went to work with
energy to give aid and eontorS to the rebellion.
They welcomed the rebel emissaries to Eag-
land, they feasted and toasted them, they call
ed public meetings in order to awaken inter-
est for them, with view to constrain the
Government to intervene. They subscribed
money to build ships OF war TO prey upon
American commerce, and the Government
took no efsctual or hearty measures to pre-
vent the hostile ships from sailing from British
ports. Those ships were permitted to return
freighted' with the spoil taken from American
merchants; liberal supplies of munitions OF
war were sold to the rebels; the sea swarmed
with blockade-runners A British island, of
Charleston, became depot of supplies for the
s'Coutederacy," point d appui for rebel com
merce. All these acts of hostility to the Union
were based on the assumption that its dissolu-
ton was inevitable, and if the event had justi-
fed tho prediction, it is probable that the
world would have approved the action which
was based on it. But from the standpoint o
a restored Union, full OF energy, and blessed
with victory, with large army and a great
navy, on the one hand, aud on the other the
sSouthern Confederacy," a thing of the past
only remembered as hideous dream Of {
pandemoium, the case looks different. The
civilized world, the tribunal which at once
makes and interprets the law Of nations, will
agree with the Government of the United
States in maintaining that to recognize a re
bellion in the first throes of its violence, as q
government de fdcto clothed with belligerent
Rights, and entitled to the active sympathie
and assistance of the subjects of friendl,
power, is an uafriendly and unlawful act
The British people will take this view of the
case upon sober reflection; and the British
Government, constrained by public opinion
will arrive at the same conclusion. The justic'
of the claims on the part of the United States
Government. for the spoiations upon Ameri
can commerce, viii be acknowledged, ,remuner
alton will be awarded, and there will re
main no ground of controversy or misunder
standing between the two countries. This
the issue which Lords Palmerston and Russo
will have to confront before their constitu
ents. The war will be political, and internal
batween the Palmerston Administration anc
the British public; but we have no serious ap
prehension that it will result in clash OF arm
between the two nations.
As to the British North American colonies
there will be no war on that score. Nobod
IN the United States desires their annexation
by force of arms. If war should come. the
would unquestionably be the battle ground
but itwill not come on their account TIL
country was much disappointed and disguste,
to see developed among the Provincials Sc
much sympathy with the Shareholders rebel
lion. The fact is not creditable to sheir sin
cerity as tho noisy opponents of slavery; bu
1t awakens on the south side of the st. Law
renee no new ardor in favor of annexation
Prior to the reciprocity treaty, our Norther
nsighbors were strongly attracted toward tn
United States, and began freely to discuss tn
policy of annexation; but that measure, which
in the ordinary conditions of human nature
seemed SO well calculated to draw closer th
bonds Of fraternity which united the Proviu
ces with the States, was followed by the YER
opposite consequence. The former war
made rich and prosperous at the expense q
our people, and the effect was to initiate then
with prid-, and to ALLEVIATE them from us.
Notice has been given that the treaty vii
be abrogated during the present year. and tn
Provincials will fad themselves RENTED 4
their former restricted privileges of tradt
This course is taken on the part of tba Gov
T., ;rit of