Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Thackerayno notice. It was said that the law authorities had sodeclared, and a very noble testimony to the loyalty ofEnglishmen, I think, was shown by the instant submissionof high-spirited gentlemen, most keenly feelingthat the nation had been subject to a coarse outrage,who were silent when told that the law was with theaggressor. The relief which presently came, when, aftera pause of a day, we found that law was on our side, wasindescribable. The nation might then take notice of thisinsult to its honor. Never were people more eager thanours when they found they had a right to reparation.I have talked during the last week with many Englishholders of American securities, who, of course, have beenaware of the threat held over them. “England,” says theNew York Herald, “cannot afford to go to war with us,for six hundred millions’ worth of American stock isowned by British subjects, which, in event of hostilities,would be confiscated; and we now call upon theCompanies not to take it off their hands on any terms.Let its forfeiture be held over England as a weapon interrorem. British subjects have two or three hundredmillions of dollars invested in shipping and other propertyin the United States. All this property, togetherwith the stocks, would be seized, amounting to ninehundred millions of dollars. Will England incur this tremendousloss for a mere abstraction?”Whether “a mere abstraction” here means the abstractionof the two Southern Commissioners from under ourflag or the abstract idea of injured honor, which seemsridiculous to the Herald, is it needless to ask. I havespoken with many men who have money invested inthe States, but I declare I have not met one Englishgentleman whom the publication of this threat has influencedfor a moment. Our people have nine hundredmillions of dollars invested in the United States, havethey? And the Herald “calls upon the Companies” notto take any of this debt off our hands. Let us, on ourside, entreat the English press to give this announcementevery publicity. Let us do everything in our powerto make this “call upon the Americans” well known inEngland. I hope English newspaper editors will print it,and print it again and again. It is not we who say this205