Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-09-06
BREAKING THE BLOCKADE.

+ There are many who have an Hide
3 fined apprehension that England and
France will break the blockade for the
sake Of securing supply of cotton, and
this, doubtless, has its tendency to depress
the the public mind and prevent resto-
ration of confidence. But this appreben-
p sion will vanish upon n calm considera-
tion of some of the consequences of such
E, breach of international Obligations
Such a violation of the law and customs
Of nations would establish bad prece-
dent of itself, and would result in war
with the United States, which would be
more damaging to the commercial inter
ests OF the two countries than total ces-
saton Of the supply of cotton. They
would be likely to lose their supplies Of
breadstuffs from this country, which is of
even more Importance TO them than that
of cotton. Upon this point an observing
writer in the New York Times says;
" But if it be true that four millions
are dependent on American cotton, how
many are dependent for bread If you
will turn to the commercial columns of
the Times, you will find that in The cur
rent commercial year we have exported
from this country fifty millions Of bush
els Of grain, to say say nothing Of beef,
pork, lard, &c. y portion OF this grain
is corn, but the bulk Of it is wheat and
flour. Now, making the largest allow
ance for consumption, this makes bread
for seven millions of people. Three
fourths OF this grain has gone to Great
Britain, and consequently we have in the
commercial year of 16G0.Gl, furnished
the British nation with bread for five
millions Of people. Il may be said that
this will not be the case in another year.
Possibly in one year it may not. But
this dependence on other countries Tor
bread has been uniformly increasing for
forty years. Nothing can prevent its
increase but a change in the commercial
policy of that country"
The loss Of trade, also, which would
result from a war with this country would
! Ue not the least or me evns nom wnlcn
England and France would suffer.
Again, a supply OF cotton could not be
obtained by breaking the blockade. To
remove the impediments to the export of
this staple, sufficient naval force must
be concentrated upon two or three ports
to drive away our cruisers. Surprising
this to be successfully accomplished,
fleet Of merchant vessels much larger
than France and England can possibly /
spare from other branches of commerce I
must be obtained and loaded. Allowing
that this seemingly insurmountaJle OBJ /
stacle were overcome, our cruisers would .
overhaul and capture large numbers Of
their cotton ships, and thus the scheme,
as commercial speculation would prove
to be failure 10 OBTAIN supply OF
cotton under existing circumstances would
require such a combination OF favorable
circumstances that we may safely set 1t
down as utterly lmpraclcable.
This is doubtless well understood in
England and France And this, rather
than any respect for international law or
regard for this country, will prevent
England from breaking the blockade
Upon this point, some remarks in two Of |
the leading London papers are sienif-
cant The London Post Lord Palmers-
toms orcon savs.
..Ir The blockade he ;oefacfuaL neutral
..-,-,..o. ,.;II oo,,naro,;,or, srtf,.r I;,de
;r;orv. # ,G.c,naI the first principles of
rn,Jic law fell ns that we must obey with
=, .l ,,,aa bo,,,o,,o. d;soorooo,Io tho
...',,;o,;,, ,,o,,.o for ono oroo, stonlo or
pr;r.h industry and Rrit;.b wealth .
To the same nurport !. the following
,..a, n,o ,.,,,n of ror1 Do,hy brs
u. o'i NV
showing that the administration ana OPP
position leaders concur in their views up