Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-19
Cotton andIlhe HIockaae.
Fron DE Lanaon Tinsa.

i Even now it ia said that there prevails amOuE
certain classes in lancashire wish to see our Gov
ernment take more active part In American afaira
The manufactures are beginning TO be indignant
that the great staple Of the world should be with
held, and ali Europe brought into discomfort or se-
tual want IN order that the ambitious States Of the
North should extend theiF'sway over people who
have rejected it, and who, according TO the eanons
which American writers themselves have laid down,
should be allowed to choose their own institutions
and work out their own destiny As the interest Of
people is, so for the most part viii be their priu
eiples. Whatever may have been the feelings Of the
Manchester world on slavery, whatever may have
been their opinions on English Interference IN for
egn quaFres they take IN this question the part Of
the cotton growers Of America. If the North does
not emaneipate the slaves, why should IL forbid the
transmission Of the produce which slavery gives 70
mankind?
No principle is involved in the contest and no
Engishmen, they think, may with safe conscience,
take which side they ike. Their interests bid them
to sssist the South in getting their cargoes across
| the Atlantic, and, as we keep up large navy, it
will be better employed In raising the blockade OF
Charleston and New Orleans than In cruising be-
tween Mediterranean ports or lying at Gnch0r at
Spithead
To break the blockade of the Confederate ports
is therefore likely to be the counsel Of the extreme
party among the manufacturers. That such z stey,
would be taken by our Government they viii, per-
haps, hardly venture to hope, but they may think
that loud Outery producing chance Of 9 collision
between the two countries, may dispose the people
of the Northern States TO cone to terms and put an
end to the war.
Thus the two communities which live by cotton
the growers in he Southern States and the manu-
facturers here-may be found combined in the same
pOlicy-thst is, TO enforce the Acknowledgements Of
Southern independence by enbroiing England with
the North. Il is beyond doubt that the Southern
people have all along counted such demands being
made in Engsnd as those of which We are now
speaking. We should be sorry that any such con-
vietons could gain ground in the SOUTH for il is no
part OF our duty 70 interfere IN this unrighteous
quarrel, and feel sure that Englrnd would rath-
er undergo such suffering than break through the
plain rules of international law Having reeog-
nizqd the COnfederates as beuigerents, we are
bound by laws which admit Of 10 doubt or debate
70 respect the blockade which the Northern States
have established.
This blockade has been duly notified, it has al
ready been acknowledged by our Government, and
submitted to by our naval officers on the station.
To break it in any way would be an act Of war
against the Government Of the Gated States, and
any hostilities which might follow would constitute
unjust war our part, which, whatever its
issue, would stain the reputation Of this country,
and expose Us to the just reproaehes Of the Ameri
cans 10 after times. such acts, We feel sure, Eng
land viii not commit even 70 save her great manu-
facture. Whenever the Northernsrs have establish
ed an eeetusI blockade; they viii be free to keep
it up, without interference on our part
But here another consideration arises. Is the
blockade everywhere efectuG: Il certainly is not
As might be expected, when few frigGtes and cor
vettes undertake to seal up three thousand miles Of
coast tn re IS n the great majority Of places no
blockade st all. Few only Of the American vessels
steamers and these not Of the fastest class.
The consequence IS that vessels are running the
blockade every day. The Federal authorities are
just now in great passion because steamer-ths
Bermu5a-has got into Savannah with = large
cargo Of munitions Of That such thing can
be done at Of the principal Atlantic ports show
how Intellectual must be the general blockade Of the
COST.
We would therefore remind the Government Of
Washington that it is only real blockade that for
eign nations are bound to recognize Bat We must
also remind our Lancashire friends that the event
also shows that the cutting of of the cotton sup
plies is the work Of the South IS much as Of the
North If ships can get in, they can also get out
and, if the South desires 70 send cotton it has
not lacked the opportunity. But It seems 70 be
quite true that all the cotton expectation hss been
forbidden by the Confederate Government in order
that foreign nations msy be forced to take 4 side
in the quarrel. It would i'll become England %
make herself the tool Of such machinstions.