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    Untitled Article

    PRESIDENT BUCHANAN'S POSITION . At the receipt of intelligence from the other side of the Atlantic this week , there has been jwu ^ tbiug like a shout- of exultation , under ' the belief that some danger if not disgrace lias ibefalleoi the star-spangled banner . The sting . of the news lies in a report that five hundred of the "United States troops , supposed to be a detachment of the Utah , expedition , had been attacked and killed by a party of Indians near the Missouri Biver . Judge ! Echols had

    forwarded a report from the Utah expedition of a Tory opposite tone . But on account of the difficulties inherent in the expedition , and - also , it is said , on the strength of a report by Ca ^ t-am Van Yxiet of his observations at 'the Great Salt Lake City , President Buoha : nan , it is asserted , has deferred the expedition for another year . " Failure ! " cries

    the English reader . There is , however , no reason to regard the determination , even if it be true , in that light . On the contrary , a year lapsing is a gain to the United States . During this season , Bbigham Xotjn g has been using all the energy of a desperate mau . Any expedition detached against him would have to meet his forlorn hope after passing immense tracts of desert . But in the rear

    of the Mormon leader , as everybody knows , is an increasing discontent amongst his own people , which will be very much greater next year . No doubt the American Government may safely calculate that an expedition in the present year might suffer severe loss , but that by -this time next year our allies the malcontents in the Mormon camp will have half done the work for us , if not entirely .

    Another of the lucky reports which have created satisfaction amongst certain parties in England , is the account of the bread riots in New York . The democratic Mayor in that city has been popularity-liunling to a desperate extent ; he called upon the banks for larger * assistance' to the commercial classes , lie demanded employment for the destitute , and proposed the purchase of flour and other food by the municipality in order

    to be distributed to workmen at cost price . 2 sTew York is always filled with a large emigrant population , the indolenb and cunning part of which is inclined to rest for rather a longtime on the way Westward , if it can obtain the means of subsistence by any kind of stratagem . The present disturbance offers a complete holiday for such a class . Want of employment is acknowledged , destitution recognized , and any man who is without means has an admitted claim to receive it at

    the hands of the Mayor . Accordingly , a perfect army of English , Germans , Irish , Swiss , including probably some of the Anglo-German Legion , waited upon the Mayor and asked him for employment or bread . The worthy magistrate was unable to honour his own promissory note , and was actually reduced to the Teeource of running away . A grand triumph for the English who look on , and learn from the picture nothing hut the gratifying fact , that an American city can nave its destitute like one of the Old World , and can be the scene of bread riots like Manchester , London , or Paris .

    It is assumed that the head of the democratic party , the President of the United States , must be at the mercy of the mob and of the same counsel as the Mayor . "We have already shown how melodramatically false are these got-up bread riots , and it is well known that so far from sharing the opinion of Mr . Mayor , President Buchanan has distinctly denied the assumed duty oi banks to ruin themselves and their depositors by ' accommodating ' all persons in need ; Mr . Buchanan liaving strictly enforced his policy upon the banks of the l ? edernl district "while sustaining the Bub-treasury law .

    When he first acceded to office , we expressed a strong conviction that , applying his acute and powerful mind to the actual circumstances of the Union , he would be able to guide the Republic through its troubles without difficulty , and with a great advancement in the influence of the Republic . One of the most recent steps which he has taken has gone far to confirm our calculation . A special Commissioner is appointed to the Court oi Brazil , for the purpose of concluding a

    commercial treaty , by which it ; is hoped that the South American empire will grant reciprocal free trade with the North American republic . Should that be so , a large extension of the North American trade in cereals will bring large profits to the citizens and increased food to the Brazilians . The Anglo-Americans already consume immense quantities of Brazilian coffee . There are many other commodities that would be exchanged under an increasing trade with proportionate

    augmentation to the wealth of both countries , but there are other considerations . Attempts have been made on . this side of the Atlantic to keep up a certain angry combination against the traditions and policy of the United States ; and the attitude maintained by France and England especially has compelled the ITederal Government to increase its expenditure in naval defeuces . By an extraordinary want of sagacity , our Premier has accompanied this treatment of the Union with an obstinate refusal to be friends wibh

    Brazil . Our Government has almost broken off relations w ith the South American empire on pretexts the most frivolous . And it has done so notwithstanding the repealed desire of the Brazilian Government , of the Liberal party in Brazil , and the commercial classes , to draw still closer the friendly relations with Great Britain . Thus Lord Palmekston has thrown away an ally that might have maintained some kind of balance in our favour to the North ; and the President of the United States , without resorting to any unfair or oblique course , is takiug full advantage of Lord Palieekston ' s mistake .

    At the same time Mr . Buchawan , it is well known , desires to remain on the most friendly terms with the people of this country . We have the strongest grounds for saying so ; and if it is among the evidences of unaccountable inconsistency ou Lord Palmebston ' s part that a Commissioner has been

    appointed to settleCentral American differences , it is among the evidences of friendly feeling towards this country in Washington that the prospect of settling these differences is hailed as a welcome event . A . strong and national government in Washington will always be favourable to the genuine and substantial interests of the English people .

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    THE TIEDMONTESE AND BELGIAN ELECTIONS . CoNSTiTTJTioisrAL Government is upon its trial in two of the- minor states of Europe . Piedmont has just passed through a general election , and Belgium is about to undergo a similar process . The similarity of their positions has been recognized by the press of the two countries , and has evoked an expression of mutual sympathy at once very creditable and ver y encouraging . Belgium , as a successful and flourishing example of rational and orderly liberty and progress , is respected throughout Europe . The King is honest , the Liberal party vigorous ; but both are opposed by the exclusive , bigotry of an aggreaaive ecclesiastical faction , reactionary in its tendencies , despotic in its sympathies , hostile to free opinion , and essentially unnntional . Some of its members , no doubt , are honourable and patriotic men , and oven

    friendly to constitutional principles , but the majority are fatally perverse . Between this party and that of progress , Leopoid occupies ^ position of no littl e delicacy . A Protestant himself , he is the ruler of a large Catholic population , and it is not his duty to become a religious partisan . However , the clerical majority in the late Chambers are responsible for the confliet which

    has been forced upon the country , and it is in vain that thev accuse M . JJogier of provoking an unnecessar } ' and untimely agitation . The reply of that thorough Liberal and able-. ¦ statesman , in his circular to the governors of province s , was singularly dignified and conclusive . With M . Rosier at the head of a government including M . FHihtE-OuBAN and several other

    Liberals equally distinguished 1 , it may be hoped that the elections will restore the balance of tho Legislative Chambers . The constituencies will call to mind that to the present Minister of the -Interior they were formerly indebted for administrative improvements of special importance . From his antagonists nothing can be expected beyond a series of obstinnte and reckless endeavours to

    convulse the country by reactionary experiments . Belgium , upon the 10 th of December , may wisely take warning from events in Piedmont . Both states have dangerous neighbours—Imperial France , Imperial Austria . Both contain Church parties representing the sleepless jealousy of Eoman Catholicism ; in both it is by union alone ih at the Liberals can hope to obtain an established mastery .

    But in Piedmont a false sense of security pervading the Liberal ranks , the indifference of some and the petulance of others , have contributed to swell the forces of the reaction . The alliance of certain ultra-Liberals with the ultra-Catholics has been not only a mistake 3 but a crime . It has conferred an advantage on the enemies of all freedom , and the minority of the ecclesiastical opposition is once more formidable . Had the advice of

    Brojtfeiuo been adopted , the constitutionalism of Piedmont would have stood upon a loftier basis . But some of the party have avenged their disappointments at the expense of their patriotism . The result of the Piedmontese elections has been to show that the clerical party is still powerful and active . Although numerically inferior , it undoubtedly represents a large class of the community , which believes in the oracles of the Armonia . The

    Piedmontese Parliament consists of 205 members . IFrom the latest accounts we learn that , of 198 members already elected , 122 are Liberals of the left and centre , 03 reactionists , and 3 . 3 doubtful . Of the majority , 80 are Ministerialists , 22 independent Liberals , and 22 of the extreme left ; the whole of these , no doubt , will support the Government in any

    political struggle with the right , or reactionary party . Among the 13 described as doubtful we believe that 8 aro more or less Liberal . There is thus a large working majority favouring a policy of independence and progress . But when it is considered , what expectations were formed before the elections took place , the return of 63 reactionists is decidedly a

    disappointment . In tho new House the different ranks oi society are variously represented . There are 55 noblemen—22 of wnom are Liberals—90 advocates , 12 physicians , 10 professors , 8 general officers , 8 priests , 5 colonels , 3 engineers , ' 3 attorneys , 3 captains , and 2 bankers . Count Oavouh ' s nepliew , tlio Count CiiA . itiiE 8 A . LiMioui , is among the new members . Biiofj ? ichio has been returned by tho united efforts of the Turin liberals , no man in Piedmont being more universally respected . Tho electors , we aro glad

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    1140 : "'' - ^ l—_ THE LEABEB . [ No . 401 , November 28 , 1857

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 28, 1857, page 1140, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2219/page/12/