The republic., 1851-07-12
An Independent Republic and "A Foreign
Alliance.

"We believe that England would acknowledge
US independent republic, and come in and trade
with as, simply passing these blockading ships by;
and it, in their passage, these ships should fire on
them, why, broadside from an English steamship
would settle it, think, rather to the disadvan-
tage of Yankee revenue blockade cutter"
[Can,dsn IS. CO. Journal.
We quote the above paragraph because it
embodies belief-gaining circulation in the
South-that some foreign government will
give "aid and comfort" to the advocates of dis
union.
We have no wish to be understood as indi-
eating the purposed policy of the Admnistra-
ton. We trust the day may be far distant
when it may become their duty to determine
what is 10 be done in an exigency SO painful
We offer only our own speculations. But we
deem it duty as public journalists to discuss
even remote possibilities, which, adopted as con-
clusions, may tend to encourage popular opin-
ion in favor of civil war and disunion.
We therefore reason upon the ideal alliance
of any North American State with foreign
government, as measure upon which the poll
cy Of this Government has been determined by
its past history-a measure which reason teaches
us is impossible.
The paragraph which is penned with little
trouble assumes an event which in most other
cases has involved much difficulty. The ac-
acknowledgement of an 60 independent republic"
has been always measure of much delicacy
amongst foreign powers. Our own revolu-
tionary struggle continued for many years be-
fore any European power deemed our prospects
of success strong enough to justify interference
or acknowledgment.
Our own Government declined for many
years to acknowledge the independence OF the
Republics Of South America. Even the recog-
milton of the nationality of Texas was post
poned until there was decided evidence of the
inability of Mexico to recover possession Of the
country. The rule of recognition has ever
been the ability of the recusant State to main
tain her position.
We distinctly say we mean not to impute to
the State of South Carolina any want of Prov
ess. We offer no opinion as to the ultimate
result of an unhappy contest with her sister
States. But we affirm that from the nature of
things there could be no immediate recognition,
upon the principle which has been acted upon
by this Government, and by almost all others.
The clause Of the Constitution forbdding all
such "alliances," would Of course render
them illegal, 50 long as a State continued a
member of the Union. So long as her right to
abandon it was denied, she could exercise no
right of separate negotiation with foreign go
vernment without rightful cause Of offence to
this.
The paragraph which we have quoted pro-
poses, however, commercial relation with
England. We might show of how little value
such a relation would be to an Independent At
lantic State which was cut off from any perrnis-
sion to send her imports into the interior for
consumption; which would be surrounded by
custom houses, and secluded by system of
dillerental duties. We might instance Cana
da, which has been before Congress for reci-
procity system of duties that will enable her to
attract to Montreal and Quebec the trade of the
United States. 1t would be easy, we think, to
prove that "free-trade" burdened with the
impoets necessary to maintain separate gov
eminent, but deprived ofany right cf commercial
| intercourse with consuming interior, would be
less advantageous than a moderate and stable
rate of duties which provides at the common ex
Pense for protection against foreign aggression,
and leaves to the States the important measures
of promoting their internal commerce, of build
ing up their physical resources, and thus of in
creasing their political power. But since it is
our duty as journalists to deal calmly with even
the more remote possibilities Of secession, we
may suppose that it has resulted in the estab-