Newbern weekly progress., 1861-06-04


S,,uTuERs PRIy ETEERs.-In case ofa rebel
lion in the territories of any government, other
Governments may adopt either OF two lines OF
action. They may take no notlce oil the dis
turbance which is going on or they may re-
cognize the State Of insurrection, ana treat
each of the contendng parties as 81 var Wlth
each other This latter course has bceh aCop-
ted in tire present instance by the foreign MIN
stcr and in this respect he has acted WltR
perfect prudence and in complete accordahce
with international Law. Whether province
in state of rebellion is to be treated as pro
visionally independent power has always been
cosidered matter of discretion. 1t may 'oe
said that where as in the case Of America,
half the continent has risen in arms against
the other half, and has i6aUGurated an indepen-
dent Government-mOrc especially when the
peculiar Constitution of the United States IS
considered according to all prececent, the
Southern Confederation must be treated as an
independent power, and as entitled TO beAlGer-
eDt rights.
But the recognition of those rights is a step
not to he taken without the gravest considers
ton of its consequences. No power was ever
more free to act according to the clear dictates
of Justice and humanity than Great Britain IN
reIation to this conflict 1t is apprehended
that in strict law President Lincoln is still en-
titled to treat all these American subjects who
adhere to the cause of President Davis as trait
ora and to punish the South American crul-
sels as pirates AS this principle, however,
if strictly followed would certainly lead to
terrible bloodshed and intolerabe atrocities, it
is obvious that the Northern and Southern
combatants will treat each other as regular en-
cmics, and observe, as far as possible, all the
uSares of war This, however, will take place
without any recognition of the only ground on
which such claim could legally be based
the independence of the Southern Con1eoefa-
CIV. 1t is political question worth conslaetI
inr. whether such dc fact0 concession hlShL
not be made to the Southern authorizes by
England; an exemption from the ilablilties OF
pirates, without acknowledging in them the
belligerent rights which would give them un-
necessarily title te interfere with our com
merce and IA, Sc league of siavenoioers TO
place among the nations of the world.
The London Star of the 18th says:
The resolution of the North to crush seces-
sion by force, involves the denial OF the right
of each one the seeding States to determine
the conditions of its own national existence
! When State Convention has adopted an or
dinancc declaring its withdrawal from the cd
eral Union, even those citizens who may have
voted in the minority against it cannot out
feel that refusal 10 recognize its validity is
! denial ofthoir own political independence. In
/ this consideration lies the strongest ground
| far anticipation that the South may exhibit 1t
! self as united in defence as the North IS show
! ing itself in attack. If this should be so, 1t Is
scarcely possible to hope that any thing short
! of sudden awakening of the combatants TO
common sense can avert protracted and san
culinary struggle.