The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-03
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1860

The cutlery raised by the English Press and
Parliament on the subject of the contemplated
transfer of Nice and Savoy to France, IS scarcely
likely to impose upon anybody on TINS side OF the
water The question, it is true, is one in which
we in America have no immediate or personal
concern. 1t is only as it involves the general
principles of international law and public JUS
tice, that we have any interest in it; and view
ing it in this light, we think it may be safely
affirmed, that by the proposed measure of
annexation, those principles will not be vio-
lated. France desires the cesson by Sardinia
OF two provinces, situated on the French side of
the Alps. Sardinia makes no objection, and the
people of the provinces who are most interested,
are either Indifferent upon the subject or are dis
posed TO welcome the change of rule. Only in
England is there any excitement manifested in
relation to the matter, or any disposition shown
to interfere with the arrangement. How purely
gratuitous any such interference on the part of
England is, it is hardly worth while to consider.
The question is one altogether between France
and Sardinia. If the latter is willing, we do not
see who else can object 1t cannot be pretended
that the peace of Europe, the interests of other
nations, will be seriously affected by the transfer
to France of a strip of territory hardly exceeding
in extent the Eastern Shore of Maryland-which
1T would be in the power of France, at any time
to occupy by force of arms-which is separated
from French territory only by an insignificant
stream, instead of being cut off, as it is from
Sardinia, by barrier of lofty mountains-and
whose people are much more nearly allied to those of
France than of Italy, by the afinites of race and
language, and by the relations of trade Neither
can it be said under the circumstances, that any
injustice will be done to the people of the prov
inces; nor, if there were, would England be en-.
titled to interfere If Sardinia, the parent State,
consents to'the dismemberment there is no prin-
ciple of public law whichwould authorize the inter
position of any third power to prevent it. It is
simply therefore, the universal apprehension of the
power and greatness of France which hassezed upon
all classes and parties in England, which neither
English statesmen Journalists are able to con-
ceal, and which has found expression equally in
the debates in Parliament, in the cartoons of
Punch and in the famous letter of the Liverpool
Brokers-that has created any opposition in Eng
land to the measure. The arguments by which it
is attempted to justify that opposition are as
childish as the motives which have prompted it
are unworthy of the dignity of great nation 1t
is said, for example, that the assent Of Sar-
DINA has been bought by France-that it is
the price of French acquiescence in the annexation
of Tuscany and the Duchies to Sardinia. Now it
matters little how the consent of Sardinia was OBJ
tanned, provided that assent is given. Nations,
ind v;1 in +Io bol &c
ing without motive, or making sacrifices without
at least, an expectation of compensation Ger
tanly, the consideration offered to Sardinia, in
the present instance, is an ample one. The acqui-
sition of Tuscany and the Duches is of infinitely
more Importance 10 Victor EMMANUEL than is the
retention of Savoy. If as is also charged, the
bargain goes further back, and ante-dates the
late war-and the cession of Savoy and Nice
was the condition upon which the assistance of
France was rendered in that war-the assent of
Sardinia becomes, if possible, even more natural.
To French assistance Sardinia owes not only the
acquisition of Lombardy, but the preservation of
her own independence. Her territories were in
vaded by Austria, and she was saved by France
when England stood sullenly by, and was appa-
rently willing to see the last hope of Italian
liberty and nationality crushed out under the iron
heel of Austria. Certainly, the assumption
ofEngland to interfere now or even to be heard
in the matter, is as impertnent as her conduct du-
ring the war and the negotiations which fol-
lowed, was discreditabe. Jealousy of France
prevented her from participating in the struggle
which freed Lombardy and the Duchies, and eal-
ousy of France prompts her to interfere now,
when the arrangements which have for their OBJ
lect definite solution of the Italian question are
in process of peaceful consummation Hardly less
preposterous is the suggestion, on the part of the
English journals that the consent of the Savoyards
to Il change of masters has been purchased by
French gold. Already, to all intents and purposes,
the Savoyards are French - their language is
French as much so as is the patois spoken in Nor
mandy, Brittany, Languedoc, or any of the re-
moter provinces Of France. All their trade is with
France and the greatest hindrance to its growth
is the French tariff, which annexation will remove
The advantages of forming part of great
and prosperous Empire are not without
inducements also to the inhabitants of a
poor province, upon whom the burdens
of taxation and the CONSUMPTION fall heavily.
Yet, overlooking all these considerations, English
men affect to think it impossible that any portion
of the subjects of constitutional government
like that of Sardinia should be willing to trans
fer their allegiance TO a despotism like that
of France 1t is to be doubted whether the
Savoyards have any such appreciation of the
blessings of constitutional government, as their
English friends credit them with 1t NAV even be
doubted whether among Englishmen themselves
there are not many who might be tempted by a
prospect of even less immediate and material ad-
vantage than annexation promises to Savoy-to
exchange their present form of government for
one equally despotic with that of France The
gravest doubt of all is whether the change will
be as much to the disadvantage of the Savoyards
as Englishmen endeavor to make out-whether
most Of the loose talk that is uttered in Parlia-
ment and finds its way into the journals, about
"Imperal tyranny" ''the iron rod of despotism,"
&c, &c, is not the merest balderdash in the
world. 1t is a question whether, at this day,
France is not suited with government quite rs
well adapted to the wants of the people and the
country, as is the case with England; and whether,
in the aggregate the amoant of individual free
dom enjoyed in the one country is not nearly the
same rs in the other. Of social freedom there is
infinitely more in France than in England more in
fact than in any country in the world. 1t may also
be questioned whether the French ouvrier to-day
is not every whit as respectable and as self
respecting as the spinners of Manchester or the
grinders of Sheffield. English sympathy for the
Savoyards is as uncalled for as it is hypocritcal
1t is too late for Englishmen to attempt to elevate
into objects of national European interest a
people whom they have been in the habit of stig-
matizing and carcaturng as beggarly race OF
cretins and organ-g FINDERS.
EXTRAORDINARY PROFITS OF SOUTHERN MANUFAC-
TUREs-The last annual statement of the Eagle Cot
ton Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ca, sets
forth that their factory began operations in 1882
but, after, a disaster to the dams caused loss
of seven months time; added to which, the diff