The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-22 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1864.

The manifesto of the Confederate States comes
very appropriate at this juncture, and from its tone
and sentiment it appears to be free from that jealous
disposition and vehement expression which so often
mar the effect of the American declarations. So
much calumny has been uttered relative to the
Southern States by those who should have known
better, and their garbled statements have so often
bewildered and taken in the ignorant and mis-
informed, that it seems to be a right and fitting
thing for them to come forward and declare their
purpose, explain their meaning, and give expression
to their feelings. It is styled " Joint resolutions
declaring the disposition of principles and purposes
of the Confederate Stated in relation to the existing
war with the United States,"and through the whole
tenour of its course it keeps to the text and fulfils
its promise. It sets ant by stating that it is due
to the great sacrifices which have been made that
the public opinion of the world be enlightened as
to the nature and character of the struggle in which
they are engaged, and there can be no doubt that
there is ample justification for the adoption of such
a course, and that many will be glad to meet with
much a document, comprising as it does a summary
of the chief objects and the great aim which
those belligerents have had in view from the
commencement of the struggle which has occupied
the attention and riveted the notice of the world.
It would have been impossible for this manifesto to
have been drawn up in a better manner—its style
is vigorous and its language statesmanlike. it
reflects great credit on SEFPERSON DAVIS, ;rid is
in keeping with all we have seen of his conduct
from the outset of this memorable mutest. The
opinions herein rut forth de not,
belong to any
State or appertain to a particelhar
people they are
part of the great principles which are the heritage
world, and
sad property of all the nations of the
more especially those which can claim, like , the Con-
federate States of America, to have had a free
existence which their fathers fought for and gained
at so much cost and sacrifice. Whether we regard
its broad outline of principles, its determined advo-
cacy of freedom, or its calm review of the events
that have occurred during the war, it must appear
that this enunciation is alike fair and honourable.
It does not require a very great scope of fancy to
picture to ourselves what terms the Federal States
would have made use of had they been issuing a
statement of this class or character. We should
have been treated to the • mest extravagant
assertions, the bitterest rancour, and the
moat vehement j d
n-ignatiOa relating to their

opponents. On the eentrary, in this manifesto
there is particular .2are lest offensive terms
be employed. A w titer of history, Writing
impartially of past tea nsactions, could not discourse
more quietly and collectedly than do these expo-
nents of the objects f;or which they are struggling.
In the first place it, is laid down that nothing but
necessity would h Ave induced them to take up
arms, and that wit enever their enemy ceases from
its persecution t hey will willingly accede to
the proposals for peace. This is as much as could
be expected frora the Congress of States that have
exhibited such zeal, ardour, and patriotism in the
prosecution of their purpose. " Hereditary rights
and cherisheal institutions," are worthy of
being preseeved, and much as the beholding
world may deplore the sad havoc and disastrous
consequences of the war, all must admit that the
efforts aro not fruitless nor the object unworthy of
the strife. Pro aris et focis is an axiom of univer-
sal renown, and the world as it grows old can give
us no better watchword to send forth with our
armies into the field, and inspire our community at
home with zeal and vigilance. Every one of fore-
sight must be aware that the Confederates are fight-
ing for their existence, for their status in the world,
as free citizens of independent cities, and the good
wishes of all haters of tyranny and oppression
go with them to their arduous encounters,
and trust that the day is not far distant when
a termination will be put to this fearful struggle in
the only satisfactory manner that can possibly
issue, and the end will crown the work which has
been so assiduously performed. This Manifesto is
another proof that the Confederates have displayed
of their partaking far more than their rivals of the
genuine Anglo-Saxon sentiments. Not alone have
these been exhibited by their dauntless bravery,
but by their indomitable spirit, which reverses
could not quell nor disparity of numbers affect. It
is also in their moderation in writing and speaking
that we recognise the germs of that calmness and
reticence which, as much as our arms, have mad©
us mighty, and given strength to our councils, and
effect to our representations. The truth put for-
ward in this declaration cannot be gainsaid, end
years of fighting have attested to the veracity of
the assertion, that the world must see that eigh!,
millions of people in so large a territory, with so
many and such varied resources, and animated with
such a spirit of resistance, cannot be conquered.
This is so evident that it is alike distressing and
irritating to find the fact wilfully ignored by the
Federals, the sharpest among whom must have re-
cognised the utter fallaciousness of their task long
before this. Perhaps the most effective passage
here met with:is the one which denounces the attempt
made by the invaders to transfer states and indepen-
dent citizens as though they were rebellious subjects.
This is emphatically designated as a " solecism in
terms, as well as an outrage on the principles of
public law." It is something to say that, after these
• years of strife, these unequal struggles, and the
constant temptation to violence, the Confede-
rates have earned the right to call themselves
honourable claimants for independence and worthy
champions of a just cause. Their opponents have
failed utterly and completely in winning respect
for their motives or their actions. Their conduct
has been distinguished by traits unbecoming savage
communities and utterly unbearable among civilised
States. It is to the lasting honour of the Confede-
rates that their course has been marked by no such
unworthy events, and there is no reason to gainsay
the justice of their appeal when they, in confidence
and faith, "commit their cause to the enlightened
judgment of the world, to the sober reflections of
their adversaries themselves, and to the solemn and,
righteous arbitrament of HEATEN."

The project of embanking the Thames is one of
the most important of the various schemes for
improving and adorning the metropolis. It has
been talked of so long that it has come to be looked
on in many quarters as almost a Utopian vision,
and the public were fain to content themselves with
the prospect of still retaining our noble river as an
insalubrious and unsavoury highway for traffic,
instead of being, as it might be, the source of health
and comfort to the passer-by. The air blowing
across pure running water is as fresh and healthful
as the vapours arising from foul water is injurious
and obnoxious. We had some years ago so strong
a lesson on this Point that it startled even our
apathetic Legislature, and sent the members hurry-
ing from their committee rcotns. Of what avail
was it that they should carry on their delibera-
tions in Mr. BARRY'S gorgeous and costly structure,
when all the ingenuity of the architect could not
render its ornamented walls impervious to the
noxious vapours arising from Old Father Thames ?
The consequences of the unwholesome effluvia to
those employed daily on its banks or in its naviga-
tion were more serious, and had the evil reached
its height in a cholera year the results might have
been frightful. As it was, the question of what
was to be done with the Thames rose into iranae-
diate prominence, and every one had some scheme
or device for ameliorating its condition. Happily
the great main drainage scheme has done good
service since that time, by diverting the sewage of
the metropolis. It is this scheme that has directly
hastened the carrying out of the long talked of em
bankment, for the inconvenience of constructing
low level sewer under the busy and crowded high.
ways north of the Thames was so great and so
obvious that the idea of an embankment at once
suggested itself to the Board of Works. They saw
that by this plan they would not only carry
out a great public want and provide a much
needed thoroughfare, but they would have the
opportunity of completing their drainage scheme
without causing any inconvenience or interfering
in any way with the vast traffic of the metropolis.
They therefore submitted Ceti; views on the matter
to Mr. COWPER, 'who beought the necessary Bill
before Parliament, Eyed the great work was set in
hand. It is, in face, only marvellous how a wealthy
and energetic T.eople like ourselves, possessed, too,
skill, can so long have de-
of such engiaseasing
layed such, a necessary reform. Whether we con-
sider the value of purifying the river—the
imreortance of relieving the traffic—or the orna-
ment which the Embankment will be to the
Metropolis, we must feel some surprise that it
was not set about before. The unhealthy
vapours, the dismal mud-banks, the wretched
little piers which supply our vast steamer traffic,
and the mighty stream
.of life and business daily
rivaling and chafing along Fleetestreet and Cheap.
side have all been bolne with the constitutional
patience of Englishmen under evils of gradual
growth and venerable antiquity. If we could
obtain an miurate history cf the loss of time and
temper, the injury to business, the annoyance and
inconvenience occasioned by one week's stoppages
and delays in the Poultry during the busy time of
the year, we should probably stand aghast at the
aggregate of mischief during the last twenty years,
There was
no valid or actual reason why the
work should
not have be en done long
ago. Certainly We were not waiting for
money or means, for financial credit or for
engineering skill. The covetousness of proprietors
has had something to do with the delay, but the
active spirit with which the metropolitan railways
are being carried forward leaves no zoom for 41411

impediments. If a private speculation can be car-
ried on in face of opposition, surely a great national
undertaking for the benefit of the many need not
stand still to suit the.whims or wishes of a few, For
the Embankment will undoubtedly be a public advan.
tege. It will profit both poor and rich ; both alike
will gain a pleasant highway for recreation, and will
have the immense advantage of purer air and water,
besides the relief to the over-crowded streets. Ac■
cordingly, after so many delays and difficulties, the
great work is now begun in earnest, and on Wed-
nesday afternoon the foundation stone was laid at
Westminster, opposite the Board of Control, and
the Thames Embankment fairly inaugurated.
There were present at the interesting ceremony the
First Commissioner of Works, the late Commis..
sinner, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board,
the engineers and contractors engaged, and many
others. The scene was a striking one; and when Mr.
TRWAITES declared the first stone duly laid, and the
answering cheer rose up from the surrounding spec-
tators, to be caught up by the workmen and navvies,
in the yard, it was no wonder that more than one
artist strove to catch its prominent features. For
the work is no mere ephemeral triumph of the
day, no building which, however grand or costly,
is merely a matter of speculative prodt, but it is
to be one of those creations of art and science which
is to carry down the fame of a nation from one
generation to another. Even as the old water
gate, which is to form part of it, has survived all
the other traces of the splendour of Buckingham
House, and has outworn dynasties, so the Thames
Embankment may present its noble frontage to
the river when the present boundaries of Europe
and America are matters of the past. Stretching
from the old City Cathedral to the grand Gothic
Abbey at Westminster, it links the past and the
present, and if no skill of modern times can rival
those venerable structures, the magnificent high-
way which is to unite the two will at least testify
to all succeeding time that the present generation
of Englishmen have inherited something of the
genius, the daring, and the energy of their fathers,