The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-05-21

OF arbitration in case Your govern
ment cannot accept the opinion of
our law officers on the unhappy Trent
affair. | suspect there is q section
OF our government disposed for war
but | know there is another section
disposed for peace, and hope Your
government may act calmly, and un-
influenced by the insults of some of
our journals. SO as to give strength
to the section that is in favor Of
peace. | heard yesterday that Mr..
Adams had received from the Presi-
dent an approval Of the view he had
expressed some time ago to Lord
Palmerston, that his government
would not be likely to authorize the
stOppage Of our West India steam
erS to search for the Southern en-
vOys. and that the President had writ
ten this after he had received intel
ligence Of the %stoppage of the Trent.
Should this be correct then, I hardly
see how your government can hest
tate as to the course they should
take, and that course must do much
to ensure peace.
The Times and other journals, but
the Times chiefly. have sought to
create the opinion that your govern
ment. and Mr.. Seward principally.
seeks war with England; and l feel
certain that if you can battle them
in this one instance. opinion here will
e much against them ana in your
favor. Unfortunately whilst hereto
fore cotton has beer. the GREAT bond
of peace between the United States
and England, now it is acting in a
contrary direction. Men think what
ever the evils of war with you, at
least it would give us cotton-they
care little for the monstrous cost. if
the price is War-and thus cotton
acts at this moment rather adverse
ly than favorably to peace.
Mr.. Golden writes to me again
about the blockade. 1t would indeed
be fortunate if you could permit the
trade to be reopened. but | tell him [
do not see how it can be done if
the struggle is to be continued. He
fears, as | also fear, that unless some
thing decisive can be done soon on
the Potomac, that if the present crisis
be got over. other questions Of diff
f1culty will arise, Or will be made, to
form an excuse for England or
France. or for them both. to recog-
nize the South and to AXE steps for
raising the blockade of the Southern
ports.
Mr.. Golden too condemns the stop
ping Of the ports by sinking ships
laden with stores. as being barbarous
and permanently hostile to commerce.
But war is barbarous. and this is
: but an act Of war. AS regards
Charleston. l suppos Beaufort or
, Port Royal may be substituted, and
may be a much better port. | men
1 ton this point to show what we are
$ thinking Of and talking about.
l I have seen a letter from a Cabinet
t Minister here. and an influential one.
arguing that the sending Of forces
t to Canada now is necessary as a
: measure Of p~recaution. as they could
4 not be sent during the winter il mat.
I tiers should come to the worst. and
! that 1t should not increase the diff.
Guilty Of a peace course on your side.
/ believe opinion in Europe is against
/ you on the Trent seizure. and that any
: concession you can make will obtain
e you much good will in Europe, and
r that Jour friends will most rejoice at
r it. l think. too. that this is the view
taken by some Of the e.. S. ministers
and consuls in England and in
Europe. I wish you all success in
8 your efforts to promote peace. II
f the two governments wish it. it surely
e cannot be in much peril.
JOHN BRIGHT.
[Private] Rochdale, Jan. II, 1852.
Dear Mr.. Sumner-Tour letter OF
h the 23d ult. reached me on the 7th OF
t this month. 1t showed such evi.
o denceS Of anxiety on your part that il
made me intensely anxious. and [ was
r not prepared for the tidings of the
n following day. which announced the
!. settlement of the question which was
r the main cause of Immediate danger
Q | need not tell you how much | re-
e jOice, or how much ( admire the dig
;: nifty and tact with which the matter
has been dealt with in the dispatch O.
It your government, so far as | have
yet seen of it. The war-monger:
here are baf1ied for the time. and
cannot but believe that a NOR,
g healthy opinion is gradually extend
q ING itself on all matters connected
S with your great struggle.
e Mr.. Golden wrote to you about tn
e blockade, and suggested what may ap'
l. pear impracticable. perhaps, in hi
e g~reat~anXiety to have removed an.