Gazette and sentinel., 1861-06-15
Blockading the North.

Probably nothing has done more to
injure the United States in the respect
Of European nations, than Mr.. Lincoln's
blockade of the Southern States. This
act, following 30 close upon the new
tariff, has undoubtedly created the i'm
preston abroad that the party in power
here is narrow, intolerant and blindly
vindictive in all its purposes and plans.
The law il relation to blockades is 50
well understood and admits of So little
doubt as to its requirements, that 10 a
distant spectator, MIR. Lincoln has pla-
ced his administration in q position ( .
be laughed at or despised, according to
the temper and disposition of the be-
holder. A blockade, to be regarded by
other nations, must be complete-it
must be an actual and not Il paper
blockade. And this we have not the
power to do, even were our navy ten
times as large as it is.
The Southern States have wei two
thousand miles Of ocean and gulf coast,
with two hundred and forty-nine har-
bors to be blocked up. We have not
over fifty ships of wal that we can
bring to u blockade. This would give
one vessel to every five harbors which
we propose to watch. Who does not
see that such a blockade must be a fail
ure and i farce? Such paper block
AIDES have long been r~cpudiatcd by the
international law of civilized nations.
And II We attempt to punish violations
Of 1t 10y seeing on the commerce of
neutral nations, we shall surely bring
on Il wal between ourselves and them.
England has already directed a large
naval force TO these shores to protect
her commercial interests, and France is
about to do the same. Both Of these
Governments have already sufficiently
Indicated what their course will be so
that this attempted blockade will injure
us far more than it will the South. Our
own capitalists and shipowners must be
the principal sufferers. We have here
tOfore enjoyed IA monopoly of the coast
ing trade, which has given employment
for an immense number Of our ships
aud our men. All this we shall now
lose. The principle that free ships
make free goods, which both we and
the Southern States, are bound to re-
spect, Will give the monopoly Of the
trade we have hitherto enjoyed to for
eign SHIPS.
Northern manufactures which have
found their best market in these South
crn States, will, under this attempted
blockade, be excluded, while the wares
of Europe will take their place by be-
ing transported i'll neutral vessels, and
10y those who have already assured us
that our paper blockade will not be re-
spccted. Thus is the administration
striking a fatal blow ut our own manu-
features, at our own commerce, and at
our own capital. This blockade is
rather u blockade OF our own than of
Southern III 1t is a blow dealt
at the power and prosperity of the North.
And, when that blockade is ended, the
pernlcious effects will still remain with
us. Already has the blockading mes
sage given an almost supernatural I'M
petus u manufacturing plans and EN-
teryriSes ia the South aud the longer o
blockade should continue, the more and
more independent would the South be
Of us, while we should simply blockade
ourselves aud lock up the greater part
OF our manufacturing capital for all
time To come. "a
Mr.. Lincoln is now blockading New
England, depriving her OF employment
for her ships and markets for her goods.
He is bIockading New York in striking
down our and locking up our
best customers. He is blockading the
great West, in depriving her of the
natural and most profitable outlet for
her productions. And the longer he
shall continue such a blockade, the
worse it will be for US, and the better
for the South in the end. This block
ade is a fitting second act, of which the
Morrill, tarH was the first. in the Re-
publican drVtna of the downfall of the
American Union, and the destruction of
the industry and commerce of the north
ern States. The third act will be, if
reason ever returns To its deserted
throne, the. downfall and death of the
guilty party which has wrought all this
bloody ruin in pursuit Of an abstract
folly about negroes. .
CREvAssEs.-On Thursday, the Maren-
go levee gave way, letting in the water
of the Mississippi and Overlooking sew
eral plantations in the 40" Friday
night, the levee around the go" also
gave way, letting the whole body of
water into Lake Concordia, filling it up
and causing some damage to several