Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-10-14
A Gun Spiked.

A Gun Spiked.
"The reports from Lancashire apprise
us that the first nsutterings Of the long
expected storm are already heard. Mills
are acorking short time, manufacturers
are reducing wages, and operatives are
assembling an trouble and alarm to dis-
cuss the prospects before them. While
once more discussing this momentous
question we cannot omit to observe that
since our first notice of the subject the
continuance of tho American supply has
become less probable than ever. 1t is
now beyond question that tile liberation
If tile siaOes belonging to secessionist pro.
prietors has been formally proclaimed
ty the Federal commander in the State
Of Missouri as condition of the ,oar.
1t is difficult, however, to imagine that
such rule of action could be confined
to single State, or that Gen. Fremont
will not, as he attempts to descend the
Mississippi, announce the same resolu-
ton in other States which he may sue
coed in reaching. His colleagues in
command, too. will be compelled proba-
bly, to follow the example, SO that the
result will be either general emdncipa
ton, II northern arms should acquire
any considerable ascendency, or dgita-
ton and tumult, tuen If the South
should hold its opn. 1t is hardly pos
slblc that abolition should be thus loud
y ard officially proclaimed without
some effect on the slave population, SO
that in any event the industry Of the
South must be seriously .jeopardlzed."
The above extract from the London
Times indicates the view we have SO
often taken in this paper OF the relations
OF England to the slavery question. We
have had no doubt, from the beginning
Of the rcbelion,-and that is from the
| first moment when abolition received
consideration "a a practical question:
that English sentiment would change
that, instead of accusing us for holding
slaves, it would trcmble lest We should
emancipate them.
Emancipation, of course, is the destruc-
ton of southern production. 1t is urg-
ed for that reason. 1t would mean,
therefore, that England should not re-
ceve southern cotton. The Times, then,
in this article announcing tEeout burst Of
photographed storm" naturally turns
to Fremont's proclamation as cause Of
alarm to British manufacturing interests,
the logical deduction from which is, that
those interests are with the rebels and
against the government. "They have
gone and done it." mutters the Thur
derer; ''the Yankee rascals have allow
ed Fremont to declare emancipation.
What will we do for cotton 2"
The Times has been VIGOROUSLY hos
tile TO the United States, and expects
that the answer to its question will be
that the British Ministry will send a
fleet to break the blockade and help the
South. Thus we see the real object Of
the English policy in urging the aboli-
tionists OF this country to their extreme
positions. AS Great Britain is largely
dependant upon the South for cotton, she
desires to get rid of the Federal revenue
laws, and SO to obtain the South as her
exclusive customer. Hence every step
against slavery tended to drive slavehod-
ers into her arms, and now Fremont's
proclamation is set down as one of the
grievances we have committed against
her.
But God Almighty and President
Lincoln have spiked that British gun.
"The first mutterings Of the long expect.
ed Storm will be terribly increased, ,llim-
itably prolonged, if to lack of cotton is
added lack OF bread, and we have the
bread, notwithstanding the South has
cotton. An embargo on the expectation
Of the first would be a more fatal blow
than the blockade of the last. The bread
is what God Almighty has done for us.
On the other hand, President Lincoln
has modified the proclamation. He says
to the British people, in effect 81 will
cut Oft your cotton supply. l will not
free the negroes, and so render the
Southern States Improbable to the U.
5. and to the world. Wait little, and
| will open The ports and send your cot
ton, if you will pay for it while, on the
contrary, it your rulers interfere to aid
the South, you will drive me to emanci-
patton and at the same time yourselves
to starvation. So, tell Lord PaImerston
and Lord John that all the harm that
comes to You in this struggle will orig
mate with themselves and their South
ern friends"
So President Lincoln has aided in
splking the gun which the London
Times and the English manufacturers
and Gen. Fremont had got ready to
bang away at us with.
The wisdom of this policy fthe Pres.
ident is every day made more apparent.
tie understands that we cling to the
South because it is valuable to Us, and
that England wants it because it would
be valuable to her. II the slaves were
emancipated, it would be valuable to no.
body. He therefore will not oblige Eng
land by throwing the South into her
hands, nor destroy the Southern market
by freeing slaves, SO that when the re-
bellion is crushed our machines will find
desert ins cad Of a profitable field for
their industry.
| Thu IT,. nls