The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-03
The Beginning or the Real Struggle Be-
tween the Two Confederacies.

political, between the two confederacies, North
and South, may be said to have fairly COM
menced. and we recognise the opening of the
battle in three or four events which have come
to pass within the last few days. First in the
Inauguration of the Morrill, tariff on Monday
last; second, in the tone of the English press
upon that measure, as demonstrated by the
papers which arrived here yesterday by the
Borussia and New York; third, in the instruc-
tons said to have been impaired to our repre-
sentatives going abroad by Mr.. Seward; and
fourth, in the circular addressed by Mr.. Chase
to the Collectors Of Customs at the North, pro-
hibiting entries Of goods in bond about to be
shipped to the ports of the seeded States.
Let us treat these incidents seriatim, and en-
deavor to arrive at the inevitable result to the
future of both confederacies
The operation of the Morrill, tariff, as mani
tested in the New York Custom House for
the past two days, and as we have de-
scribed it in our columns, verifes all that
has been predicted of the ruinous complica-
tion and confusion with which it was GER
tain to surround the importing interests of this
city; and as regards its effect upon the revenue,
there can be no doubt from the present pro-
ceedings, that although for a month or SO the
receipts of the Custom House may increase
that is to cay, while the merchants are taking
out Of bond those articles upon which the du-
ties are lowered-after that time the revenue
will fall off immensely, in proportion to the de-
crease Of importations On the first day Of the
operation Of the new tariff $4,000 worth of
sugar and molasses was withdrawn, and SO
with other goods upon which the duty
is lessened, and which were rushed into
bond in large quantities since the tariff was
passed. When this spasmodic influx Of money
to the treasury declines, as it soon will, the
government at Washington viii find an alarm
ing decrease in the revenue to be the conse-
quence Of the Morrill, tariff. Many importations
yet to arrive will be subject to much confusion.
OF the steamers which arrived here from Eu-
rope yesterday, two of them bring cargoes,
portion Of which must be levied upon under
the old tariff, and portion under the new.
For instance, it is provided that all merchan-
disc shipped on or before the 18th of March
can enter at the reduced rate Of the old tariff,
but all goods shipped subsequent to that date
must pay the exorbitant duties Of the Morrill,
law The Borussia left Hamburg on the 18th,
Havre on the 18th and Southampton on the
10th of March. Hence her Hamburg cargo
comes under the old law, while the goods
shipped in the two latter ports come under the
provisions of the new law. And in like man
at Bremen on the 18th will only have to pay
the old rates. while that taken in at Southamp-
ton on the 10th must pay the new rates of
duty. This provision Of the new tariff was
affecting the trade of some of the manufacture
ing districts in England; for we find that great
activity was observable in Newcastle to hurry
off its chemicals and its coal for the American
market before the 18th of March, in order to
escape the prohibitory duties now imposed
upon these articles; and also in Rochdale, to
make up its shipments of woollen goods with
like purpose But this is, as it were, the last
spirit Of trade In these articles with the North
ern ports, for the Morrill, tariff virtually ex-
cludes them.
1t is evident, from the tone of the English
press, that all questions of American politics are
completely absorbed in that country by the
great commercial issue involved in the solution
OF the Northern and Southern tariffs. Slavery
is swept out of notice altogether there is no
longer word to be found about the negro;
the vital question there now is which confede-
raoy shall receive most favor in view of the
manufacturing interests of England, and The
verdict in every quarter is on the side of the
South; for, says the London Telegraph, mot
withs 'anding all HE sympathy for the free
States, we cannot suffer our industry to be cut
up by the roots in order that slaveholding
faction may be Frustrated" And the same
journal says:-"France and England will no
doubt combine to thwart the Cabinet at Wash.
ington in any efforts it may undertake to
coerce the cotton States by shutting them off
from the trade of Europe" This is emphatic
in favor OF o recognition of the Southern con-
federacy. And in connestion with Mr.. Lin
coins alleged project of blockading the South
ern coast, the same paper adds" We cannot
afford to see the Southern ports blcckaded for
month, week, day. II Mr.. Lincoln at
teupts to blockade them, the European law of
blockade will be put in force, and the navy of
the republic will be at once powerless upon
the seas" The ondon Times, Ne,oS and Globe
are equally distinct upon this point. The Times
SAYS that Mr.. Lincoln, instead of ignoring the
Southern contederacy, should recognise it as a
reality; and it gives deserved credit to the
sagacity Of the Southern statesmen by adding,
that while the North is passing prohibtive
tariff. the Confederate States are acting with
marked prudence and propriety"
From these expressions it can be seen that
the commercial necessities Of the case are com.
pelIing public opinion in Europe to side with