Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-28

Another British View of american Sc,
cessiOn-A London Journaps Defense of
the Free States.
The London Netrs of the 9Th, in reply to
correspondent who had taken up defense
ofthe Secession States, has the following;
From the early days of the Republic, and
especially for the last thirty years, the po.
liiical representatives of the South have
been stealing and snatching the liberties of
the. North, for the purpose Of sustaining
their own untenable social arrangements;
and the Northern men submitted to the en-.
croacbment till the whole world cried
shame upon the poltroons. at. H." is not
aware that the South has ever attacked any
Northern institution. Indeed Is it pos
sible?
Has he forgotten the putting down the
right of petition, in the days of John Quincy
Adams and the systematic violation of the
mails and the demand for the extraditon
of writers and speakers who used their right
of discussion Of a moral and economical
topic2 and the violation of the personal lib
erty guaranteed by the Constitution, of every
citizen travelling in any part of the United
States2 A free press, a free pulpit and plat
form, rights of federal citizenship in all parts
of the national territory, are Northern insti-
tutions; and these have been attacked by the
South not only with invective, but with tar
faggot and stake.
When at last the South demanded the
virtual and legal extension of slavery over
the whole Union, then, at very late hour,
very few Northern Representatives at
tackled the institution of slavery; and the
wrong was, not in doing itthen, but in not
having done it from The hour when the first
encroachment on any-body's political liber-
ties was proposed, for the sake of the ''pe-
culiar institution"
We have never been wanting in sympathy
for the genuine troubles, and sorrow for the
Affections of the South; but "T. H." should
remember how rudely all sympathy has been
rejected, and how thoroughly It has been for
feited by the act of adoption of slavery as
chosen policy and fundamental institution
in the South. Up to the time of that sdop-
ton something might be said in the way of
excuse, on the ground of the evil being in-
berited; but that time has long been passed.
| When the South said, Evil, be thou my
| good" and strove to force the evil upon
every body within reach, the time for sym.
patty was over.
We agree with ct. H." that the negroes
are not worse treated, in regard to their
bodily needs, than formerly; and that the
treatment has probably been improved.
| This is a natural consequence of the eyes of
! society at home, and Of the world abroad,
| litionists. But we think "T H." mistaken
| when he assumes that the demand for cotton
has compelled the continuance and aggrava-
| ton of slavery,
According to the testimony of the planters
themselves, one-ninth of the labor which
produces cotton has long been white labor.
| They say that for some years there have
been 1000 white cultivators of cotton in
| their States. But for their own folly and
! HUilfnlnaSa fhara mint uou haua baau
several millions of free laborers aud no
slaves. In that case, there would have been
more cotton, much more wealth, and pros
perity of every kind; more intelligence,
more liberty, and entire safety for the Re-
public.
The temporary poverty among the work.
people of the free States, at the close of 1857,
adverted to by ST. II" was owing to great
financial crash and he can hardly be una
ware that the ordinary condition of the
Northern laborer is the most prosperous in
world. His compassion is more required for
the ''mean white" of the South, who may
not work, though he has nothing to live on,
and for the negroes, whose calamity is moi
toll, but privation of all the rights of hui
manity.
1t is only in a very qualified way that il
ought ever TO be said that the stakeholder
can not rid themselves of their curse. They
could have done it at any time, and they
could do it now, if they would But tbs
will is precisely the thing wanting. They
perhaps can not now bring themselves into
the requisite state of mind but this is the
only obstacle. Emancipation has always
been practicable, and is practicable now
and will inevitable prove itself to be SO in
one way or another.
Meantime, the prospect is as dreary as car
well be. The most intelligent and opuleut
of the planters are flying from the scene o.
revolutionary tyranny; and the neighbor:
whom they have despoiled and depressed are
taking their revenge by marauding, under
pIetense of rebellion. South and North are
both very guilty. The difference between
them now seems to be that the South pro
fesses to be impenitent, while the North il
mending its ways. Under any view, the
time for compromise is past; and no fTient
of social and political liberty can regret it
1t is not case for compromise.