Glasgow Courier. — 1862-01-09 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE AMERICAN DIFFICULTY.  The Times says everything the Africa has brought is of a reassuring character; but it thinks it a duty to dissect impartially the news as it arrives, and to cheek any too violent exhilaration as promptly as too strong a depression. We all hoped for peace, and we all think that the chances are now in favour of peace. When, however, we examine critically the tidings which have just arrived, we fail to gather from them that absolute certainty which seems to have taken possession of the commercial mind. In the first place it is to be remarked, that there is in this news, asin all that has preceded it, the same remarkable absence of any expression of opinion by those who will have to decide the question. It then remarks on the contradictory statements hitherto received; and as to any speeches of the members of the Cabinet, if the Cabinet of Washington were in any degree like the Cabinet of St. James's, capable of intelligible interpretation; but in America each head of a department says and does what he thinks will conduce to his own popularity, or to the furtherance of his special duties. The mconsietency of the Secretary of the Navy and of the Treasury suggests the conclusion that they either do not know what the decision will be, or that their knowledge does not influence their statements. On the 20th Dec., the tainor of the English despatch had been for several days as well known in Washington as it was in England. If, therefore, the intention was to restore the men, the immediate interest of the Federal Government was to make it known all over the world that there would be no war with England. It was wicked cruelty towards the bankers if Mr Seward was able to give an intimation of this kind, and yet omitted to do so. It was a species of political suicide in Mr Lincoln not to make such a declaration if he had resolved to give up the Commissioners. In a crisis such as that in which America now is, a few days confidence is worth millions of money. Is it not, then, strange that they give no hint of the surrender of the prisoners? It concludes by hoping, with the rest of the world, that all may yet be peace. That there is a strong probability that Mason and Slidell will be given up we are all agreed, but till the intelligence as to this point is much more explicit than that received by the Africa we cannot think that the uncertainty is past. The Poet says we are,however, in possession of some definite information, and can now trace the course of events more clearly than by the wavering, light of New York journalism. It is no secret that the instructions sent out to Lord Lyons were of a nature no less conciliatory than firm; and that whilst the English Government required the absolute surrender of the persons of Mason and Slidell, and an ample apology for the outrage on our flag, they had directed our Minister not to proceed with haste or peremptoriness. Lord Lyons then having communicated with Mr Seward on the 19th, and having detained the Africa two days, might have, telegraphed by Cape Race to intercept her, if, in 48 hours, Seward, having consulted the President, had received instructions to pursue the course we have indicated. As it is understood that no each telegram has been received, we may conclude that in that space of time no decision of such a nature was arrived at. This is the utmost extent of news which the Africa brings. We only know further than this, that there is some reason to believe that the relations of Lord Lyons with the American Government have hitherto been of a courteous and not unfriendly character. The decision, therefore, remains still a matter of spectilation. Our Minister would not fail to present our demands by the 22d or 23d, and this would give the Federal Government till the 30th ult. for their final decision, if they were to avail themselves of the limit of time understood to be fixed. We may, therefore, be certain that the answer is on its way to this contry, and we may receive it by the very next packet hat its arrival in any ease cannot be delayed beyond the 9th or lOth inst. We may be certain that Lord Lyons would not lose an hour on the morning of the 19th in seeking an interview with ' Seward, and informing him unofficially of the course which his Government had adopted. It is obvious that this generous mode of proceeding, in the event of the President ani Federal Cabinet being peacefully disposed, might spare them the humiliation of seeming to accede to a peremptory demand, and would give them the Opportunity of voluntarily offering the reparation which we seek, and which, in the event of their declining, we are prepared to insist on. Supposing the affair of the Trent to be satisfactorily *staid, we must not flatter ourselves that all difficulties and dangers of the disturbance of peace are disposed of. We are not yet out of the wood, which has in it many crooked sticks. Behind the Trent affair looms black and large the blockade question. which France is resolved to bring to an issue.— Emmirier.