The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-26
American Affairs IN the British Par
lament.

al AZ "a -ffAsAA ~ At-1tAtD ~ 49,
affairs occurred in the British House OF
Lords on the eth inst The Earl Of
Derby opened It by reference 10 propo-
s.tions before the United States Senate
providing FOR the abrogation Of the Re-
ciprocity Treaty and the suspension OF
the Convention regulating the number
of armed vessels 10 DO kept on the
Lakes by the United States and Great
Britain. He regarded these PROPOSE
tons as symptoms Of hostility and ag
gression; and thoufbt them unkind,
inasnuoh as the neutrality of Great
Britain in the war with the rebels had
been most favorable to the United
States He seemed TO spprehend that
an attack on Canada was contemplated
al some future period. The sympathies
of the Earl are with the rebels. Il
would afford him crest qualification TO
be assured Of the permanent dismem-
berment Of the Union; for the reason
that be is convinced that British inter-
ests would be subserved thereby.
Lord Granville, in reply, reminded
Derby that the United States shave had
some cause for irritation arising out Of
the Confederate raids across the from
tier"
Earl Russell admitted that the Uni
ted States have reason for the prevail
ing irritation, in the fact that vessels
have been 6tted out in England 70
prey upon American commerce; and
that the rebels have made the Canada
frontier the base Of hostile excursions
into the United States. lie thought it
not unnatural that the United States
should be indignant when they found
the lakes used for wariike operations
against them; he could not expect
that this would be permitted, and our
government remain without the means
of defence on the lakes. lie regarded
the rebels as attempting, by making
Canadian soil the basis Of belligerent
operations-of robbery and murder
to embroil Great Britain and the Uni
ted States in war
These admissions are significant
coming IS they do after our successes
at Savannah and Fort Fisher They
e7ince the progress Of better and wiser
sentiments touching American affairs
in the British cabinet. There is stil
room for further progress; and
we do not doubt that it will
eventually take place.
But while admitting that we have just
cause FOR irritation, Earl Russell indeed
questions the justnoss Of our claim for
indemnify for the destruction Of cur
merchant marine by tire Alabama and
other privuteera, and he cites prece-
dents from certain dealings with Spain
and Portugal in support Of his objec-
ton; bat these precedents, IS the New
York Herald justly remarks, amount
70 nothing, Tor England herself has
never yet accepted for the guidance of
her policy the precedents set by weaker
nations, nor are we much controlled by
them ourselves. Our business now is
70 make precedents, not to follow them.
However We can wait for change Of
opinion upon this question alec. When
Lord Russell and the other statesmen
of Europe learn that Richmond has
falleA and the rebellion Is ne more, as
they soon viii, this and all other claims
we may have to make will be very
agreeably adjusted. There viii be very
little cayil or dispute about them then.
We viii have proved ourselves a nation
90 great, so strong, so powerful that it
will become polite TO conciliste, and
dangerous to resist Us. The statesmen
of Europe we're waiting for hard facts
TO convince them Of the power Of this
republic to crush its enemies, enforce
its policy, and maintain its dignity as 8
great military and maritime nation,
before they would Admits capacity to
establish our democratic institutions as
a permanency, and they have them
now 70 their hearts content