Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-25
From tie Nao York Herald i9h1
BRITISH NEUTRALITY AND The BREAKERS

IFrom tie Nsw York Herald i9M1
BRITISH NEUTRALITY AND The BREAKERS
AHEAD.
The news from Europe by the last arrivals 10 well cal
cu ed TO open the eyes OF the Amer people, II had
been too hastily assumed that Eogand medted no hoe
tiy against u.s. because she had given away upon one
po;nt of the prvateering question She said she would
not admit the prvseers OF either Of the begerens in
10 her ports She could hardly refuse TO do that afer
agreeing with the other great Powers OF Europe TO abo
sh prvatetrng between each other and after asking
our government accede to the terms Of the treaty Of
Parii Besides, If she contemplated with us, IL
would be game to commit our government now against
urvateeriug which would render the United States help
less against her the ocean, and enable her TO ruin
commerce on every We hope, therefore. that the
administration at Washington will now il il has not al
r. ady done So propose - England to abolish the cap
ture of the private property OF enemy by pub
lie vessels at sea- it has long been abolished on land
This will test her sincerity. II she does intend to
break the peace With she have objection II che
means war she will certainly refuse do it As to the
o.h.r Powers of Europe, hold their Of
friendship be made IN good faith But there is reason
10 doubt the professions of the British government and
we ough. be prepared for the Her prohibition
against privateers entcrng her Forts calculated TO
ull US into false security She has yet abandoned
the claim that British sailors captured by 10 Southern
prvaeers not pirates and must not be hanged She
may raise a point of international law there wh
least expect IT, perhaps in the Of the OF the ga
yannah if any of them should happen TO be British sub
iects Not content with putting established legitimate
government on the footing with ireebooters in the
matter OF prvateerDg, she declares she will permit
our public shipeofwar to take prizes into her ports
This is the shadow cast before by coming Where
the shoe VIII pinch most and where Great Britain will be
nos likely 10 make her stand is 10 the Of the block
ade As yet the cotton crop is not ready and she Is
still but it will. be ready by the Is. OF October II she
get cotton then, or ia not likely TO get soon, 1t
is very far from impossible very improbable that she
will pick quarrel with government. Meantime, she
will have assembled her shps-owar along sesboard,
and if we should not be better prepared then, than
are now, our ports, our shipping and commerce would
be at her mercy.
The course of the British government in this conflict
is wholly unjus.fabe. Were the present war between
the American Government and Mexico or any other in
dependent government, the case would be different.
But it Is a to put down rebellion in the United
States ald no external power has rgat to Interfere
ANY interference is act OF hostility cause OF wsr
Lord Lyons the British Ambassador, and Lord joan
Russell have both intertered The English Minister at
Washington has furnished the information
on which the English Minister at home acted. and
the act Of Lord John Russell recognising the South
Confederacy bellgerent was nciplent, covert
hostility a Quasi act of war; which is now followed
up by insulting declaration that our cruisers with
prizes will be excluded from British ports. II
satisfactory explanation is not given, or ii any further
acts of hostility ventursd on, the President
would have right to dismiss Lord Lyons, and to issue
proclamation declaring that war existed and further,
the Chief Magistrate might retsate and commence war
nv Selling all the British shipping in harbors. The
war with Mexico is case in point The Mexican Gene
raj mad inaugurated hosies and Gen. Taylor crossed
the Rio Grande from Texas into Mexico aud commenced
war before t declared by Congress. The act was
approved by Congress and by the nation and General
Taylor elected next President. There can be DO
doubt that Congress would fully sustain Mr.. Lincoln
should he adopt similar course. What would be the
consequence
While war With England cannot make our condition
any worse than it isss already at war, and IL
Sin for penny in for pound"-ou the other hand it
would utterly ruin her. Bad as her position would be
without cotton she would be ten times if she went
10 with to obtain H. She would not only not sue
csd but would lose all her trade with her best Gus omer
and her commerce would be driven from every In
stead OF four FIVE millions of her population being de-
prsei Of employment for lack Of supply Of cotton
here would be millions begsared by war with the
Uri.ed States.
The position of Eogaud is peculiar. She wants cot
ton which she OILY get here Her aristocracy would
rejoice that this republic failed and they would care
nothing for difficulties, il they not affected
themselves. they could only get cotton they would be
glad that the American people cut each others hroais
till doomsday The tories conservatives, as they are
now called, being the "outs," take advantage OF the
times to embarrass the liberals wings, who are the
ems and TO drive them to with the United States
elgued with the seryatves and stimulate the admin
straon Lord John Russell calculated, perbap>, upon
soaring the American government into submission TO his
Of blockade and to his indirect recognition
Of the Southern Coniederacy. The British Government
might fresten Wall street. il might Brighten a Glass
but il could never frghten the American people
1t easy for the United States to rase iailon of
men for land Grmies if necessary while IF the English
government DO not make satisfactory stipulation with
Vi; or keep the word of promise 10 the but break il
- the bopv prvateer would sweep every sea- aud
England for the third time would be taught the maritime
supremacy Of the American people L. the last war mos
of the Insurance companies refused to take the risks Of
her ships s any price, and thOse who did added thirty
three per the former premiums In the space OF
tEo years eight hundred Of her vessels captured
the cargo OF alone, laden With silks being worth !
100000 Liverpool and dlsgow uttered their loud Ia
and though, the London Times boasts
the British navy then numbered "a thousand pennants"
it could protect its commercial marine from the
fare of public and private cruisers. What was done
then could be done With greater facility Our ships
are far than they wers At that time and
can always outsa those Of Joha hull Let the English
government beware