Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-06
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
The Cotton QuesIIOn--.WhO Holds Back
Ihe Article from Sfe Commercial World!
From the London Tines. November II

The Cotton Question--sWhO Holds RacE
the Article from sfe Commercial World
From the London Tines, November IL
For ths moment the army before Washington
| occupies less of public attention in America thar
| the naval expedition which is to make the deeen
on the Southern coast. On the 2sth of October
| everything was ready; the troops were on board
! the large fleet of transports; General Sherman
! had embarked board the Wabash friQate and
had issued his directions respecting the landing
| the men -: l-.-..-.' -. "
A powerful naval force, comprising twenty-four
ships each carrying twenty four guns is to protect
the troops in landing, and, unless the published or
ders are intended to deceive the enemy It NAV be
possible for those acquainted with the cOast to form
guess as to the point which this powerful force
is threatening The surf boats and others are cana
bic Of landing at once between three and four
Thousand men. The largest eau hold one hundred
men, the smaller ones seventy each The landing
Is to be ia three lnes the boats not only of each
company, but each regiment and brigade, will
land abreast, and as far as possible in order of
battle. The number tof troops commanded by
GeD Sherman is not as great as first reported, but
1t is still sufficiently formidable. There are
about 10000 soldiers, principally New Eoglauders
and New Yorkers, and the fleet will furnish q na-
val brigade should the landing be successfully ef
fected.
1t is of no use to speculats on matters that will
be certainties in few dsys; but from the general
feeling Of the Northern people and the mast polcv
expedition is intended for the capture Of some South
ern city or hsrbor which will not only give good
military I,Osition, but also enable the government
to proclaim the raising Of the blockade at one pon
from which cotton can be brought. The Cabinet of
Washington ia. of course desirous that the charge
of depriving Europe and the world of one of the
great nscessaries of life should cease 10 be valid
The immense interest Of England, and in scarce
ly less degree of France, in the export of cotton
from the South, cannot but prejudice the CONNER
oal cla ses Of both countries against government
which appears to be the obstacle to the worlds |
trade. In spite of the affected indifference of the
Northerners to European opinion on the war, they
must feel that with the growing embarrassmeuts
OF our manufacturers, and the distress of work
ing classes there must be increase of bitterness
against themselves, which may produce iAconven>
ience and even danger. 1t is desirable, therefore
to show that not they but their opponents are the
real withholders of the cotton supply. II they can
seiz. port and open it even noninay to the trade
they thereby take away the ground of COMPLAINT
which Europe had against them.
They show that it is not they who prevent cotton
from coming out, but that 10 is the Southerners
who keep it in. That they win get Gotten in any
lsrge quantities one can believe, for the Con.
federsts or the State Governments will, of course
take care that every bale, and probably every ne
gro, shall be removed from the neighborhood of
the enemy. But stil the Federals will have salts
fed, to extent the demands of foreign nations
inasmuch they will be able to say to US or to the
French: Here is pOrt enter it. and take all the
cotton you can get you are at liberty to trade with
all whom you can find to trade with youO The
military objects of the people do not seem quite so
clear. Seldom; in the history of war, has much :
good been done by the occupation Of points on an
enemys coast, and on such. an immense territory
little impression can Be made by expedihonary !
force advancing from the sea, and having no base
Of operations except its vessels and some half :
ruined town. The hope of weakening the South> o
era army on the Potomac by diversion has, no :
ioubt, had much TO Go with the dispatch Of the ex
DedtoR. --. P
The necessity of being ready st mere points than
1ne will bear hard on the Confederate Government,
md though the South has an excellent system of =
railways, and can bring men to any point of the y
coast in very few days yet considerable force q
md what is still more important large quantity
If materials Of war, must be kept in each Of the
,reat Southern cities in order to prevent surprise
md the loss of many millions worth of property.
Is to the creation of a Union party in the neigh
,orhood of the captured city, wherever it may be-
bat is q STAFF on which the Government can hardly b
ely, for, even granting that there is section of e
be people willing to compromise and restore the Il
JniOn, it is hardly likely that any adhesion to the
federal cause will be possible in the presence of
army and people exasperated by In I,
ssIon. --... ~ -.-. 81 pl
Time must show what the Federal calculations if
re, and how far they are justified. A scarcely th
important part of the last relates to the is
nGncial state Of the Southern Confederacy. Here h
We see the real advantage Of the North over its %
pponents. The Cenfederates are poor-very poor; &C
nd though from time Immemorial poor nations sc
ave fought successfully against rich ones. yet it
only been when they have been animated by in th
snse devotion to their cause. The SOutherners th
ndurance will be more hardly tried that his oil
oursge. .- -.. fc
The advance of the Northern armies through
rscts of country without roads fords is q dan II
er which the Confederstes may afford to disregard,
ut the pinch Of poverty will be keen and they must 81
earn to bear it. The circular of Mr.. Memminger W
Il the produce loan is well worthy the attention pl
those who would fairly estimate the condition of
be South The Secretary of the Confederate Treas h
~ asked firstly whether, during the eontinu- ca
nee Of the blockade, any efforts should be made cl
procure further subscriptions and he returned ju
very clear answer to the effect that subscriptions
valuable to the Government during the block bC
de after it the blockade simply suspendng ths pC
Ompletion of the transaction which will take hs
lace when the cotton can be sold. The sec0nd pa
Oint on which the Confederate public wished for
formation was ---r..-. .-.... r.. Ia
Whether the government would authorize prom "
es to be held out of aid to the planters inN tt
ueement to further subscriptions" Oa this point tn
II. Memmnger pronounces clearly also, though it of
,ems not quite satisfactorily to the planters. ne
These gentlemen desire government should make yC
lem advances of treasury notes. now the only th
eney of the South security of their cotton Mr.
emmingeT, in replyygiVes his opinion that this