The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-22

Lord Palmerston's Opinion OF tho Block
u ndc-Warning to Our Government.
We publish to-day an article on the
blockade from the London Post the
organ Of Lord Palmerston. Its tone is bit
ter and defiant, and deserves the attention
of our government. 1t defes the United States
to annex Cuba or Canada, and says that
"Maine and the agricultural West have a far
greater chance Of separating from the Union
and joining Canada than British North America
has of throwing its fortunes with the enfeebled,
dslocated and dismembered neighboring re-
public" 1t adds that "the government Of Eng
land can only deal with de jure governments"
and that sit is a fact that the South has
achieved its independence" This shows the
malignant daifaas of the British government,
and it is well that we are forewarned, provided
we are also forearmed. Ii is very evident that,
in consequence of the battle at Manassas. the
British authorities are meditating the acknow-
Judgement Of the independence of ''the South"
and that the Post is throwing out its feelers in
this article, the practical part of which bears
on the blockade.
The Post says that admiral Milne,
the commander of the British North American
squadron, has officially reported that the
blockade is totally insufficient" From this
statement Lord Palmerston, in his organ, draws
the inference that "the cotton ports in the South
are practically more free than those Of the
North" (alluding to the tariff AN inference
which not only Admiral Mines assertion
enabled the British government to draw but
the hard facts, which cannot be gainsayed, Of
numerous ships escaping the blockade. In our
telegraphic news by the Canada, published yes
terlay. the following paragraphs appeared
The Canada reports the arrival out Of the following
sells from blockaded ports Of the South
Arrived FRI IN Savannah, Genoa, AT Deal
Arrived from New Orleans, Kaler, at Barcelona.
By an article from the Liverpool Post Of
August 6, which we publish to-day, it appears
that the ship Harriet, of Dublin had arrived at
Liverpool. laden with cotton, from Mobile. We
are all aware that recently ships laden with
turpentne, hemp, and other naval stores, had
run the blockade from ports of North Carolina
to Nova Scotia. and yesterday a ship arrived at
this port from the West Indies with turpentne
which had also undoubtedly run the blockade
from North Carolina, but to iegaiise its entry
was compelled to clear from neutral port.
British merchants and ship0wners are well
aware of these facts and will embarrass their
government if they do not act upon them. The
English ambassador at Washington assures
our government that his government will re-
spect the blockade, and has no intention OF
breaking it. But in the language of diplomacy
this evidently means that it will be respected
provided it is efficient; but if not. not. Eng
land is a commercial country, and commercial
interests are paramount to all others When
committee from the New York merchants ap-
pealed to Mr.. Seward against the Morrill, tariff,
his answer was that the commercial interest
was only a fraction of the whole interests of this
country, while the case was different in Eng
land, where an appeal from the merchants
would settle any question with the government.
1t is, therefore, extremely probable that unless
the blockade is very soon made effective and
sufficient, the British government will be so
urged by the mercantile interest to pronounce
it null and void that it will have to yield
to clamor. Our government, therefore,
ought to take warning in time, and
instead of being angry Gas it is stated they
were) with Capt. Hickey, of the Gladiator, for
reporting to Commodore Stringham that the
blockade was inefficient, we think they ought to
thank him for putting them on their guard. He
was only doing his duty, and the fact that he is
able to pilot himself in and out of this port
proves that he is an efficient officer, who will
know how to do his duty on more stern occa-
sion. should it ever arise. The circumstance OF
his refusing pilot, we think, is not without its
significance. But however that may be, if the
representations Capt. Hickey made be true. he
is not to blame, but the imbecility which per-
mitted snch loose blockade. If the Blockade
was not effective it ought to have been made
So 1t is the part of true wisdom and states
manship to give heed to all those premontions,
instead of repenting when it is too late.
NAVAL AND MILITARY Enthusiastically
standing the notorious inefciency Of the block
ade and the inadcquacy OF our cruising squad
ron to capture or prevent the depredations OF
priyateers, Tie government has so far hesisated
or declined to purchase the feet of five large
steamers offered at u fair valuation by Commo-
dore Vanderbilt that he has at length with
drawn them. 1t has acted similarly with regard
to other offers from our merchants of highly
serviceable craft, and, having thus thrown away
opportunities that would have been seized with
avidity by the rebels, the result is that our COM
merce is the prey of pirates, and vessels to AMI
from the ,iritish provinces and the Southern
ports are regularly running the blockade. Tie
Navy Department in thus acting is repeating the