Year: 1861

English Ministerial View of the American


War.


The Duke of Argyll was entertained on the
10Th OF October, at a banquet given by his
tenantrY. In responding to a complimentary
sentiment, he made the following discrimina
ting and judcious suggestions upon American
affairs There has been some fear expressed
lately that the Inconvenience which is likely
to arise in this country from the contest in
America is so great thar there will be a pres.
sure upon the government to Interfere in that
contest, Or at least to take some steps which
may ultimatei Involve us in it, | have too
high an opinion Of the good sense and of the
pubic principle OF the people OF this country
to believe that any such pressure will be put
upon the government; and ! must add that
have too great confidence in the firmness and
principle of the government and parliament OF
this country TO believe that they will be will.
ing to submit to such pressure if it were put
upon them. 1t is our absolute duty, | need
hardly tell you, to remain entirely neutral in
that contest-(applaOse) land not only is it
our duty to remain neutral as regards action
but L think il is to very great extent our
duty to abstain even from Offering advice
though 1t might be conceived in Il kind and
friendly spirit. No good whatever can result





which was lately offered Il have no doubt
with the best intentions) by the Emperor OF
Russia to the contendiug parties in America.
The answer which the Americans will inlall
bly, give TO any such interference will, however
civiy expressed, vr, ually amount to this -
owe are very much obliged to you for your
kind advice; we have no doubt that it is con.
ceived in the best spirit and with the best in
tententiOhs but there is a general rule in this
world that every man should attend to his own
affairs aud there is this additional reason for
doing so in the present caSe-tlat it is quite
evident that you don't understand ours -
That is the answer which virtually the Amer
leans have actually given, and which, am
convinced, they will continue TO give 10 all
such counsel. Because, after all, the truth is
this, gentlemen, that mere general advice TO
compose their differences, without any specific
suggestion us to the terms upon which those
differences are to be adjusted, is always held
by the Americans to imply indirectly, even
though it be not intended, that the objects for
which they are contending either unwor-
thy or at least trivial and unimportant Nov,
whatever we may think Of that contest, in
fairness to our American friends we ought TO
admit that no more tremendous issues were
ever submitted to the dread arbitrament of
war than those which are now submitted 10 it
upon the American continent. | do not care
whether we look at it from the northern or
from the southern point of view, Take the
mere question of what is called the
right of secession. l know OF no gov.
ernment which has ever existed in the world,
which could possibly have admitted the right
of secession from its own allegiance. There is
a curious animal in Lochtyne, which ! have
sometimes dredged up from the bottom of the
sea, and which performs the most extraordi,
apl Ia IF ettit,i 4
self destruction, 1t is peculiar kind Of star
fish, which, when brought up from the bot
tom of the water, and when any attempt is
made to take hold o it, Immediately throws
off all its arms-its very center breaks up, and
nothing remains of one of the most beautiful
FIRMS in nature but thousand wriggling lrag.
ments Such, undoubtedly, would have been