The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-18

raj vessels taken up
1he Montgomery Commissioners to
France and Eng Conn
mercfal Treaties Between the Southern
Confederacy and European Powers.
While Mr. Lincoln and his advisers are vent
ing shortsighted spite over the evacuation Of
Fort Sumter, by rudely repelling the Commits
sioners from the seeding States, and have thus
missed the favorable moment for initiating a
reconstruction Of the Union, the government of
the new Southern republic is m oulding its des-
TIMES with skill and forethought, aud is COM
polling from its adversaries the unwilling
tribute which folly ever pays to wisdom, and
weakness to strength. The seifishness incon-
sistency, and suicidal blindness Of the Washing
ton administration, united to the mercenary
legislation Of the late republican Congress,
present such sad and deplorable contrast with
the energy, sagacity, unanimity of action, and
statesmaplikc ability OF the Cabinet and repre-
sentatives Of the people, at Montgomery, that
the whole world will yield tho respect which
The latter challenge, while it cannot but be
shocked and amazed at the unlocked for imbe-
cility of the former. The Powers of Europe
have, for four months, been contemplating with
that anxious concern which only self-interest
can inspire, the affairs of tho United States; and
now, at the very moment when the efficiency
and diplomatic acuteness Of the South, stands
forth in the boldest relief from the degradation
to which fanaticism, venality, discord, and tho
rottenness of q bad cause, have reduced the
dominant party in tho North, England
and France are about to be called on
to recognise the independence of the
withdrawing members of the American con-
federation, even at cost Of the dspleasure Of
those that remain behind. That they will de-
eide to do So admits Of but small doubt; and,
when the circumstances Of tho Gaze are con-
sidered, they will be abundantly justified in
their determination.
The Hon. VIM. L. Yancey, Of Alabama; Col
A. Dudley Mann; and Judge p. A. Ross, of
Louisiana are the three special Commissioners
that the federal government at Montgomery
have selected to negotiate recognition by the
Courts Of Paris and London, Of the indepen-
dence of the seven seeding States, and to pro-
pose such commercial treaties, as may establish,
upon permanent basis, the future relations of
the three Powers. The fear of the reopening
of the African slave trade Is the solitary OBJ
lection which was offered to friendly relations
with the South, when the subject was recently
discussed in the British Parliament, and that
has been amply provided for by an article in
the Montgomery constitution. The people of
France are mere than disposed to welcome the
Southern confederacy into the great CONTRA
ternity of nations. According to the latest
news from Paris the Moniteur, the official jour.
nal Of tho imperial government, had expressed
the deepest indignation at the increase of
duties imposed by the Northern United States
upon French productions" and the Pays
had already exclaimed; "Let the indepen-
dence Of the South be recognized; that SER
vile insurrection openly and boldly preached
in the pulpits Of the North, may cease to be
an ever present danger. In no part, perhaps,
Of the continent, regard being had to the popu-
lation, do there exist men more eminent and
gifted, with nobler or more generous sen.i-
ments, than In the Southern States. No coun-
try possesses lovelier kinder hearted and more
distinguished women. To commence with the
| immortal Washington, the list Of statesmen who
have taken part in the government Of the
United States shows that all those who have
shed lustre on the country and won the ad.
miration Of Europe owed their being TO that
much abused South. And-strange coinci-
dence-while Southern men presided over the
destinies Of the Union Its gigantic prosperity
was the astonishment Of the world. In the
hands Of Northern men that edi1ce, raised with
90 much care and labor by their predecessors,
comes crashing down, threatening to carry with
1t In Its fall the industrial future Of every other
nation.v
The impotence with which the republican
administration Of Mr.. Lincoln has alternated
between its desire 10 adopt an aggressive,