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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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A NATIONAL PARTY . The Sheffield Free Press , with reference to the question of a National Party , speaks with great satisfaction of the proceedings of . a ^ National . L eague which has been commensadatt « S&e * ffield , taid which lias issued four resolutions . The four resolutions contain 'two main topics : they are a protest against Secret IDiplomae * ' , and for Xocal Self-Governnient . On the 'latter subject , we linve no need just no * to write- ; but a few words ¦ will not be amiss , on tlie practical question , how the Americans of the United States manage their diplomacy . We believe the folio-wing is a correct summary of their principles and practice : —
1 . The " Senate , " or Upper House of Parliament , is -with , them the " Treaty-making Power . " The President of the Republic cannot ratify a Treaty , until it has been < liscussed and approved in the Senate , of which he is the mere organ towards -a Foreign power . The discussion is ( in theory ) secret , unless the Senate itself decides that at shall be public ; -which a . lways happens in matters of general interest . Indeed , in nearly all cases , the debate leaks out ; in consequence of which , there is a growing
sentiment in favour of full and formal publicity . 2 . All the despatches sent or received by the Secretary of State , ( who performs the duties of our Foreign Secretary , ) are filed in the Foreign Office ; in theory , immediately ; in practice , within a fortnight . They are here ¦ accessible by right to every Senator , and by usage to « very Ex-Senator , and to all the actual members of the lower House of Congress ( i . e . Parliament ) , Moreover , any citizen , on applying to the Secretary to see any special documents , ordinarily obtains permission .
3 . The President publishes despatches whenever he pleases ; and generally , he publishes , while a matter is pending , precisely those winch are most important , and which our Foreign . Secretary always refuses , on the pretence that publication will be hurtful to the public interests ! It may be remembered that this was done a few years baek by the President , during the ' dispute "with England concerning the fisheries . Even if the President recommend secrecy , it still remains the right of the Senate to judge whether his reasons are sound . 4 . If an Executive of a free state , desire the support of the nation , he must put the nation in early possession of facts . The pretence that it hurts the public service is disproved by . American experience . Their diplomacy is far more effective than ours , nor is the word of then * anibassador or the rights of their citizens ever trifled with as ours .
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THE WAR . TntE state of the intelligence from the Seat of War is perplexing to the min < 3 , military and non-military . In fact , for want of definite news , nobody can understand what is or what is not going ' on . ' Something may , however , be said , and the probabilities marshalled before the reader , with the warning that they are only probabilities . First comes the exact intelligence . The Trent , an English steamer from Bulaklava , brings news to
" Varna up to the 25 th . According to that the siege had proceeded most satisfactorily . The British Engineers had carried their approaches to within 300 yaids of the -works in defence of the place . The French had not been so fortunate ; their batteries were too weak— -and the result , we are told , was that they had been much damaged by the Russian fire . On the other h and , we are told that tho French had carried tho cemetery- * - a position in advance of their lines .
Less certain , but apparently very good intelligence , relates how that on the 17 th the fleet took part in the general bombardment , that thirty-three cannon were dismounted on Fort Constantino , and a bastion knocked to > pieces 5 that tho fort was silenced ; but that tho Allies suffered uevorcly , the Agamemnon , tho Ville de Paris , > and tho Retribution , especially . Tho story is corroborated by the Russians themselves . Tho net result , therefore , would appear to bo that tho right" or British attack upon Sobastopol had been closely pressed ; tho " left" or Trench attack rather repulsed ; tho forts at tho entrance of tho great inlet very much damaged ; two Hussion menof-war destroyed—substantial successes in seven days .
On tho other hand wo are told by tho Russians , that General Ijipramll , recently arrived nt Sebastopol with roinforccnionts , had taken " four redoubts and cloven guns" from the English . Another stoi'y is , thtit tho guns wore spiked in tho Frenoh batteries by a successful sortie . Then it is said that tho Allies have lost f > 0 () cavalry in nn encounter j and that Lord Dunkellin , tho son of tho Marquis of Clanricardc , has been taken prisoner . Now tha right of the British was posted on strong ground , near tho Tohornuyn , and not defended by redoubts . But in tho rear , redoubts hud been thrown up to command tho Balakluva road , and manned by French an < l Turks . Xt is extremely
improbable tliat these were taken . The story is , therefore , incredible . It is remarkable that the admirals who organised and executed the Sinope massacre , Nachhnoff and Kowiilef , have both been wounded , the latter fatally , perhaps ditto the former . The force of the attack of the Allies maybe guessed from the statement , of course only a form of expression , but covering a substantial truth , that the corpses of the besieged infected the air ! Altogether the * iege had progressed well . Lord ltaglan had determined not to waste life in a storm , if he could avoid it ; but to compel a surrender by bombardment .
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THE REV . MR . WHISTON . Whest a man in this country commences a contest with corrupt corporations and secret societies , he is likely to have a long , and probably an unsuccessful struggle . His courage must be high , and his nerve strong . The fact that he has right on his side will not always avail him . Parsons are pugnacious enougli , but unfortunately their warlike propensities too often vent themselves in a wrong direction : polemical divinity , parochial passions , or squabbles with neighbouring parsondom . Not so Mr . Whiston : lie discovered a great abuse : he remonstrated respectfully : he was snubbed : and , had he been meek or timid , would have been bullied . But they had
mistaten their man , and the man had hot mistaken his cause , or the temper of the public . He fought his battle courageously , has benefited his cause , exposed his opponents , set an example which others will follow , and raised himself high in the opinion of all good men . That deputations should wait on him , and testimonials presented in handsome and available forms , everyone must rejoice , except those who are interested in keeping down reforms in Church and State , and keeping the broom out of dark and dusty corners . For all such men , in the language of Lord Brougham in his earlier and stronger days , " stini and sting against the hand that would brush their rottenness away . "
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TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV . R . WHISTON . The valuable testimonials purchased with the surplus fund remaining from the subscription raised in this country and in Van Diemen ' s Land to indemnify the Rev . Robert Whiston for the costs to which he had been put in resisting the prosecution instituted against him by the Dean and Chapter of Rochester were presented to Mr . Whiston , at his residence , adjoining the Cathedral Grammar School , on Friday afternoon last . The articles consisted of a large epergne , a massive salver , a teakettle , and inkstand , all of silver , wrought in the best style of work manship . The total amount of the subscriptions collected was 2 , 245 / , 5 s ., of Avhich 162 / . had been sent from Ilobart-town , 653 / . 6 s . from Manchester and other towns in Lancashire , 162 / . 15 s . from Derby , 250 / . obtained in Kent , and the remainder in the metropolis and other parts of tho country .
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DISFRANCHISEMENT OF FREEHOLD LAND VOTERS . MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM . On Monday last a meeting was held in tho public rooms , Moor-street , Birmingham , to take into consideration tho decisions of the revising barristers upon the question of the value of Freehold Land Allotments , under the statute of Henry VI ., upon which the greatest discrepancies exist in thejudg " ments x-econtly delivered , tho effect of which decisions has been tho disfrnnchisoment of between 100 O and 2000 freeholders , many of whom had been on tho register for years proviousl }' . Tho Chair was occupied by Mr . Scholefield , Esq ., M . P \ , and resolutions denunciatory of the recent decisions , and
recommending mnmodiato measures to bo adopted for thoir renewal , and for obtaining a clear definition of tlio law , vero moved and seconded by tho Mayor of Birmingham , George Thompson , and George E . Donnos , Esqrs . ( who attended as a deputation from the Westminster Freehold Land Society ) . Councillors James Taylor , junr ., Hale , Howoll , Mr . T . A . Ltingford , Mr . Browott ( of Coventry ) , Mr . Allen ( who was professionally ongaged to defend tho votes ol ' tlio Birmingham Society nt North Warwickshire ) , and Mr . llmvkes . Mr . Dunnes has undertaken to draw a short bill , adapted to meet tho case ; and Mr . Scholeflold pledged tho Bupport of himself and colleague in endeavouring to carry it through Parliament . A conference will , in nil probability , bo shortly hold in London upon thin important question .
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ODD PROCEEDINGS . In Dublin they have formed " a society of Protestants anxious to co-operate for the purpose of opposing and frustrating the insidious efforts of Mormonisrn" in that city , to be called " the Dublin Anti-Mormon Society . " At Exeter the Bishop and the Mayor have been contending for—precedence ; the Mayor being victorious according to the Western Times . Zion Chapel , Southampton , was , last Sunday , the theatre of a very odd proceeding . A preacher , strange to the town , officiating for the minister who is sick , disported himself thus : —Suddenly , in the midst of the service , he addressed the congregation , and said : " Dear friends , I think it my duty to tell you there are rogues and pickpockets in this chapel ,
but the police are aware of it , and will take them into custody at the close of this service . " He further recommended all tho people present to take care of their pockets , as he would not be accountable for what should be lost . All this while he kept his eyes fixed on a person in the gallery , who is a most respectable inhabitant of Southampton , and who at length asked him if he meant him , to which the reply was a vehement shout , ' I say rogues and thieves . " In reply to a further question from the same person , as to who and what ho was , as lie should like to know his name , tho stranger told liim " that the wrath of God and damnation would rest upon him ns long as ho lived , " It > vas found that they had got an insane pastor !
Sonic time ago , a fisherman named Thomas Dunn , of Mevagissey , Cornwall , was cited in the Exeter Consistorial Court , for " brawling" in the parish churchyard , whilst attending his grandmother ' s funeral- Tho offence consisted in his not taking oil'his hat when required to do so by Mr . Snmmorsford , tho curate . Tho weather was cold , and Dunn , who is a dissenter , had been ill ; besides , ho said , the Bible did not require it . Tho curate stated in tho articles of complaint , that Dunn " loolced defiantly and impudently at him , " but this is doniod by those present
at tho funeral . Tho case ivns finally adjudicated upon by tho Rev . Chancellor Martin , on Friday , at Exeter , who said tliut tho defendant ' s conduct , if free from premeditated disrespoet , and not actually a breach of tho law , was certainly on tho very verge of it , and tho defendant only " nilrrowly escaped" tho ponnltioB . On tho other lmnil it was much to be ivgrolted that tho R « v . J . Allen , tho proniovent of tho suit , had not tried a quiet and Chrintian rt'inontitraneo , instead of legal proceedings . Tho sentence was that tho articles were not proved , and that tho defendant was dismissed .
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JSEENTORCEMENTS FOB THE EAST . In the cenrrse of last week and during this reinforcements will have been sent out to the army in the East amounting to 4000 men . These are to make up for the casualties of the campaign , and are calculated to bring up our effective contingent of the army to the original number sent out—namely , 30 , 000 infantry , with the usual accompanying force of cavalry and artillery , and commissariat , &c . -Indeed , to render the army still more effective than usual , large additions have been made to the medical and
commissariat , and also the artillery , which even in . the field , without including the siege guns and the guns landed from the ships , is of more than ordinary efficiency and power . Two regiments of the line r the 57 th and 46 th , have by this time joined , to make up Sir G . Cathcart's Division to its proper strength in the field . No new regiments will be sent out . It is found impossible to complete a necessary number of regiments at home up to the war complement in less than three months from this time ; and it is hoped that before spring the whole of the line regiments
may be brought up to the increased number voted in the last session—namely , 1400 men for each battalion —1000 to be ready for foreign service , and the depot to consist of 400 . The regiments lately arrived from Canada to form a large and lasting addition to our available force , nre all in fine health and efficiency ; but they muster no more than 500 or 600 men each , and they must be recruited during the ^ winter to the new war complement , when they will be ready in the spring , if required , to supply the place , or to increase the numbers of our Eastern army . In the meantime the Government is engaged in promoting the efficiency of the army in every possible way .
The bounty for each soldier enlisting has been raised 2 l . t the bounty for the pavalry being now 6 / ., instead of 4 / . j and that for the infantry 11 . 15 s . The standard height throughout tne whole service all round is reduced by an inch . Very large and ample supplies of winter clothing have been forwarded to the army in the Crimea , and an amusing as well as instructive library of new books and newspapers has been despatched to the hospital at Scutari .
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1034 ' THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 4, 1854, page 1034, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2063/page/2/
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