The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-06

it will at all events mitigate its force. will
increase the difficulties of the ferocous enterprise
winch these enemies of humanity propose; it is the
only alternative, except ~the most absct humIia-
ton HencefOrth, we venture to predict, there
will be no difference of opinion in Virginia as to
the course OF duty, of interest and of honor
Translated from lie Pays of Paris, Feb 13I
THE OLICY OF THE WESTERN POWERS
TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY.
VIII the revelation of the dangers which would
accrue to Europe from break up on the other side
OF the ocean be powerful enough to modify the too
hastily and generally expressed impression in favor
OF the Northern States? Without much hopipp it.
we sincerely desire it; for the public opinion of En-
rope coud by pronouncing itself in time arrest n
catastrophe which must seriously mnrorn;so -,
commercial interests -
1t Is scarcely year since the Emperor with the
DoldnesS which springs from profound conviction,
lnaugurated new commercial policy by adoptinr
an economical system, destined to give agriculture
and trade an impulse which would place France
In the front rank among commercial nations and
oeVelope her maritime relations in all quarters of
the world. Prohibition has ceased, and the com.
mercla treaty of January %, 1860, opens way cal
culated to reestablish the natural order of tbnGs
and conduct France, gradually but infallibly to a
reform the most complete, and above all, the most
radical. Everything conduces to Lead us thither.
Her nature, her conformation and her features show
US the principle of commercial liberty written in
indelibe characters.
These ideas naturally lead us to examine whether
European predictions and interests are not on the
wrong track in abandoning themselves unresery-
edy to the doctrines Of the Northern States.
The Northern section cannot change its CONNER
clai instincts; they are consequence of its very
nature 1t Will be AFTER as well as before the dis
solution of the Union, in future as it has been in
the past country adapted exclusively to the rails
ing OF grain, with commercial and manufacturing
population, whO struggle obstnately to obtain for
their merchant marine the entire of the traffic and
transportation between Europe aud the Southern
States; her policy would lead her even to throw
her manufactured productions on the Southern
markets, into which she endeavors by every means
to prevent the productions of European manufac-
lures from entering. In other words the North
does now, and will henceforth more and more COM
pete with European industry for already in default
OF the monopoly of manufactured products to.
wards which she is tending, she becomes of neces-
sltY an intermediary between European manufac-
ture and the Southern consumers
In 1856 and '57, years of dearth in Europe the
Northern States were able to supply our markets
with grain for two years at relatively low prices
IN spite of the increase in freight. IT, then the
development OF their trade and agriculture sup
| ported by the sympathies of Europe continued to
progress, their prosperity would be very serious
danger to us, for later it would lead to
! the invasion of our markets
me south, on the contrary, produces two great
staples which are, to Europe, objects of the highest
| necesslty-cOtton and tobacco. She is A producer
| OF necessaries and consumer of manufactured
| productions Has it ever been seriously con.em-
! plated the commotion which the failure of single
| CDttoH Crup-Wnlcn supports so manY branches of
trade, and, directly or indirectly affords employ
| ment to more than ten millions of hands-wouid
fh fhhrodducs! have we at the time, thought of
the disturbance which would be cre.tad IN ~ = ~
its OF the working classes by the snnme;a eG nao
That other article which is TO them so great
! source of comfort?
! In regard to tobacco, without mentioning the
| dehcit IN the State budget which would result
| from its annihilation, could our populations so
easily forego product which, more perhaps than
sugar, coffee and cotton, constitutes for them an
lmperlous necessity. There is no need to disguise
it; the deprivation of those two staples would as
| sumo amongst us the character of public calamity
And yet, such would be the inevitable and speedy
result OF the separation of the United States
that event should take place peaceabiy, and not
under the menace and blows of Northern agcres-
sion, approved, with too much levity by writers
who do not appear to understand that seryile
would be the inevitable consequence of federal
| war.
Neither must it be forgotten that it is those two
staples which pay, almost entirely, for French
| manufactures sent to America, and which amount
| IN value to more than 300 600, 900 francs
| But let us continue. The South, far from hay-
ing, Ike the North, rival interests with Europe
has, on the contrary, the rather co-reative
interests Confined, in short, to the extensive cul-
| tiVatiOn of those articles which Eurone cannot do
| without, the South has been COMPELLED up to the
present, IN spite of constant protests, to paw an
| enormous tribute to the North, in the shape of
Custom House duties, for other reason than to
protect Northern manufacturing interests without
any advantage to herself-at least unless we
choose to consider it an advantage for the South
| to aid against her will a government which does
| not fear to proclaim openly its sentiments of hos
tlilty and aversion. MIR. Lincoln has declared that
| the time for compromise has passed. The South
| on her side, has suffered too much to hesitate
| longer. She has decided to withdraw, and several
OF those States are about forming new confedera-
| ton. If the North declare war against her she
| will defend herself and will be most certainly
| drawn into an abyss, the effect of which will
be cruelty felt in Europe; for then four million bales
YpI ha yap,tgV
| the tobacco crop will be annihilated IT, on the
| other hand, returning to sentiments worthier a
great nation, the North permits the new confeder-
alton to be mistress of the plenitude of her
rights, then the picture changes at once. Com
mercial liberty becomes the fundamental law of the
Southern republic; her ports will be free to the
| commerce OF Europe, whose merchant marine will
be quite naturally substituted for that of the North
| Europe will double her exports, and the South
| the population of which exceeds twelve millions
| viii exchange her productions for objects of Eu-
| ropean, and particularly French workmanship
In TACT, they have not forgotten that France was
their mother country; and, faithful to the tradi-
tions of their fathers, they have preserved their
| manners and customs, and are well aware that
| France alone can furnish those thousand and one
notions which crown her industry with renown.
1t suiices to call the attention of pubicists to
these facts in order that they NAV endekvor to mod
crate, IN Europe, the too ardent desire OF changing
suddenly the position of one particular class of the
| human family. nation cannot, with reason, de-
sire the realization of its phosophic aspiration at
the cost of sacrifices, the very nature of which
| would at once compromise the individual well-be-
ing OF its citizens, and the commercial prosperity
| of the country.
The press which represents European interests
VIII perhaps hesitate to lavish further its boundess
eulogies and approval on policy, the practice of
| which would but hasten the ruin and destruction
of Southern marts, which are, after all, its proper
| markets.
Let not be deceived; The North exhibits so much
rashness and GHaaciy only from the belief taught IL
| 6y the European press, that the inhabitants of the
South, too aCeak numbers resist its attacks ,oU
not find on this side Of The Atlantic single generous
throphy so far blind European commerce as to make
1t torgettul OF its own interests? We do not think
so, and already England, profoundly moved awakes
at length to the reality; she begins to measure the
Whole extent OF the disaster which menaces her
manufactures; she no longer disguiSes the fact in
spite Of her a6olton tendencies that her commercial
interests depend an great measure on the prosperify
Q? the South, 'ohich Europe has deep interest in see
ing PreSeroe, at least temporarily her institutions
no0 attached '1,tb much Uehemence.
The question is plain one; we have previously
SAID that the South, far from being the aggressor as
at seems to be generally supposed, the Uictinl of
norther" pretensaons. Those recent words of the
| Emperor also find an echo in the bottom of our
| hearts:-"France has desire to meddle in any
way where her interests are not at stake; in fine,
1t she has sympathies for what is great and noble
| she does not hesitate to condemn every thing that
violates justice and the rights of nations" Public
| opinion will appreciate them both sides of the
Atlantic, and will find for the great interests at
stake IN the American crisis a solution which may
be satisfactory to al-namely, an amicable sepa-
ration, without conflict and without war, instead
OF a secession by violence, or Union maintained
by force.
SECRETARIES HoLr AND THoMPsoN.-The National
IHtetagencer of yesterday contains letter from Mr.
Holt, late Secretary of War, in review of an ad-
dress of Hon. Jacob Thompson, late Seeretarv of
the Interior, to bis constituents at home. Mr..
Holt denies that there any trick or colIusion
between him and General Scott in sending the Star
OF the West to reinforce Fort Sumter He saws the
troops were despatched under the express order of
the PRESIDENT, and republishes the letter of Mr..
buchanan TO prove this fact. Mr.. Holt is very Sc
we're upon MIR. Thompson, and processes strong
devotion to the Union
:, he charges Mr.. Thompson with violation of
the secresy of the Cabinet in giving information to
the people of Charleston in reference to the coming
Oh the Star of the West q fact which Mr. Thomp,
son boldly avows in his address, because it prevent
ed the landing of troops which Mr.. Holt says were
concealed under the guise of an unarmed vessel.