The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-24
The Griefs of England.

-AO NA1oAo VI AAS lttAu,
The Trent affair is apparently matter of
such trifling consequence, even in the most ex
aggetated English version OF it, that it may be
fairly asserted that if war between England
and this country grows cut Of it it will be be-
cause Eng is determined to 60 to war with
US on some pretext and finds this one con-
venient and opportunc as any that she has any
reason to expect. The tone of much of the press
of that country, notwithstanding its constant
professions of neu trality, has been from the out
set Enthusiastically in the interest of secession
1t would be doing that portion Of the press,
and the British people whose opinions it rep
resenta, however, great injustice, to ascrlbe
its sympathy with Jeff Davis to any commisscr-
alton for the condition of an oppressed people,
or to any ignorance of the real wckedness and
great wrong Of the rebellion. John Bull, though
IN many respects almost crminally ign orant of
this country, yet knows enough of us, Of our in
situations, and OF our form of Government, to
understand the real issue between the North
and the SOUTH AMI 70 know that Justice, and
civilization, and Republican liberty are lighting
under the Stars and Stripes, while injustice,
wrong, barbarism and love of different form
Of Government, from that our Fathers made,
are upholding the banners of secession. But if
he knew only this, we should hardly expect HIM
to interfere to help either side, as he is un-
doubtedly most excellcntly Indifferent specta-
ter Of any conflict between right and wrong
that has no effect upon the business or the peo-
pie of England.
But the griefs Of England are some of them
older than the rebellion and many of them, in
some sense, irrespective Of it. Great Britain
would like the world for q market, and looks
with the graves. suspicion, and with jealousy
almost warlike, ut any abridgem mt of this mar
ket This country has tor many years furnished
most excellent place Of sale for her immense
manufactures. The South has never been a
manu- featuring people, bat has always bought
largely, though generally through the Northern
cities, Of English stutf3 The North has also,
under the low tariffs Of many years, imported
and consumed hundreds Of millions Of dollars
annually of the products of the cheap labor of
Great Britain. The rcyUision of 1857 stopped
some Of this, as it cuItaiod and dried up our
own means to pay,-and subsequently the Nor
rll tariff has checked importauCns 10 50 great
an extent that for the last year the balance of
trade has been in our favor, and specie has been
continually flowing in upon US FROM Europe by
the arrival OF every steamer. The moned in.
rercsts of England grumbied seriously at this,
complaining of it as though i. was Il matter in
which they had right to dictate policy to
oar Government. Their sorrow, however, be-
CINE very much intensified when to our tariff
WAS added blockade Of the Southern ports :,
aas English ships were prevented from snug
ding their wares into Jeflom, or smuggling
out the cotton which they deemed necessary to
keep til, mills of Manchester running on fall
time.
It las also b.en very plainly seen hy the mon
led interests Of Englnd' that, if the North
should come to rule this Republic, j! Northern
ideas and Northern principles Of seli-dalcot,nc,
should prcdomnatc II the councils 81 The Ma
ton, if Northern energy, aud Northern enter
prise, and Northern skill should have dominion
from the Atlantic to iho Pacific, and from The
Lakes to the Gulf England would be com
pclcd ia short time to bid goodbye to Amer
lea as her market, and would be forced to lool