Daily national Democrat., 1860-05-18
The Cotton Oncs1ion.


The Express, of yesterday, in an article
directed against the alleged eneroachments
Of the North against the South, asserts that.
in case of a dissolution of the Union, England
would side with the south, on account of the
cotton interest. England, it contends, has
always been Jealous Of the cotton manufacto-
ries Of the North, and would like to put them
down. Consequently, she would favor the
South. We care nothing about the result
(for after the dissolution Of this Union, we
think it matters hut little whut happens hut
we are of the opinion, very decidedly, that
the proposition advanced 10y the Express is
not tenabe
The public sentiment Of England has al
ways favored the Abolition movements in
the United States. and the English Humani-
tartan Societies have even gone 80 far as to
send Abolition cmissares 10 this country for
the purpose of effrcting the abolition of
slavery or doing their utmost towards it
The great bulk of the English press has in
variably denounced Southern institutions.
and culogized the North for its opposition to
slavery. The fiercest Abolition writer's and
speakers of this country have been received
with open arms in the highest social and po-
tical circles of England, and have even
Rsked in the especial smiles of the Court
/ Itself They have been feted and toasted.
laudated and bonored. because they were
ALoliiionists. From the throne of Queen
Victoria down TO the meanest hovel in the
realm, the sentiment is against slavery. In
the face of such ii fact us this. to talk about
Engand's blockading the Northern ports,
in case Of a dissolution of the Union. and
taking sides with the Southern wing of the
disjointed confederaey, is rather too big ii
leap from premise to conclusion, to be COM
pretended by ordinary logcans.
The great reason, in a financial and COM
mercal point of view. for which England
desires the abolition of slavery in the United
states is, that she cannot compete with slave
labor in the production of the raw material
(eotton) for her manufactures She can eul
tiyate cotton in the Indies and in various
portions of her tropical dominions, but the
hiring of free labor causes an outlay on the
part of the producer Which forbids his fur
nishing the raw material to the manufae-
turers at as cheapa rate lit can he furnished
10y the slave owners Of the South We're
cotton cultivated in the South by free labor
whether black or white, Why then England
would stand upon the same footing with
the Southern States as producer. Of course
then, it is to her interest, as n matter of gov
ernmeHtal policy, to encourage the North as
against the South, on this question of slavery.
for she knows well that the manufacturers of
the North furnish their manufactures as
ehe"pIy as they do on account Of the cheap
ness OF the raw material in their own vicinity.
owing to slave labor. English mauufaetur-
eis, in order to hold their own with the man
ulacturers Of our Eastern States. are COM
PEELED 10 buy Southern cotton, and the Eng
lish Government feels the disadvantage Of
not furnishing the raw material within The
limits Of her own domnions.
The field of discussion is wide one but
we believe We have met the points set forth
in the Express, and compassed the Object Of
onr article. The question is not one of pre-
judice or feeling, and it makes but little DIFF
ference, politically, on which side the truth
lies, for, as we have said before, after the
dissolution of this Union, it matters but lit
tie to the American People what happens
The hopes of all the liberty loving portion
of mankind are fixed upon this great expert
ment Of a free confederated government
and. if it fail, it is futile to inquire what lies
beyond.