Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-18
British Views of the Secession Move

AMERICAN INFATUATIoN CONCERNING ENGLAND.
From the London Economist, Jan. 26th, 1871
There is something truly astonishing in
the infatuations which seem to possess the
politicians in the Southern States of America.
They have not only persuaded themselves
into something that has all the strength. if not
the intellectual sceight of u moral conviction,
that the cause OF slavery is a holy and sa-
cred cause in which they who suffer loss are
heroes and martyrs, but they have also fully
persuaded themselves that all who differ
from them are the unfortunate subjects of a
mere fanciful halluciniition which the slight
est pressure OF real self interest will dissi-
pate at once. They seem really to believe
that England is as ready to support them, if they
can but offer her sufficient interested n'OtiUe for do
ing so, as she would be, for similar induce
ments, 10 sustain Italy against Austria, or
Prussia against France. Cotton is King
they cry. "England wants eur cotton, and
if we can give 1t her. cheaper than she now
at present gets it, there is nothing Manches-
ter and Liverpool would not do to attain
such an end" Accordingly, they bestow
fruit less ingenuity on plans for entrapping
England into lending them the aid of her
protection against the Federal Government.
The leading men Of South Carolina and
GeOgia are said to have hit on the following
scheme ''If the United States Government
attempt to collect the revenue on foreign in
ports at the South by placing revenue cut
tiers off the different haroors, then the seced-
ing States, not deeming it expedient to de-
clare war, will pronounce for direct taxation
as the exclusive source of revenue, passing
an ordinance to that effect. The foreign
ministers at Washington will then be inform
ed that the ports of the Cotton States are
thrown open for the entrance of foreign
merchandise free Of duty, and that any du-
ties imposed by the United States Govern
Inent are levied contrary TO law, and without
authority from the Southern Confederacy-
The revenue question will then be transfer
red from the South to Europe. 1t will be-
come a question with France or England,
whether or not it will defend the free-trade
rights thus conferred on its manufacturers
against the revenue duties of the Northern
States. And in such an appeal to British or
French eupidity, 1t Is expected the national
sympaty for free negrOiSm will yield to the
national interest in favor of free trade"
1t is LqnentGbLe 10 see such infdtLation as this.
Have South Carolina and Georgia really per-
suaded themselves that mercantile men in
England would even wish that their Govern
ment should interfere in a struggle between
the Federal Union and the revolted States
and interfere on the side of those whom they
deem wilfully and fearlully in the wrong,
simply for the sake of buying their cotton at
a cheaper rate? We think we may safely say
that there IS not commercial body in this kingdom
that a0oId endure to see the British G0UeTnnent SO
ftEess to It's aUOaced principles Of action, heach
eTous to It's auo,Ced synpatiies, for The sake Of Sc
curing a mercantile saiH 10 this kingdom 1t is
true we do not wish to see the struggle be-
tween the North and the South prolonged.
We believe no civil war could equal it in
horrors and we hold also that-if, indeed, all
classes amoug the people of the South are
bent on separation as they seem to be, and
not merely carried away by the excitement
of the moment, and the urgency of the
meaner part of the pOpulation-no forcible
interference On the part CT the North can pos
sibly avail. But, assuredly, while the
struggle is undetermined-whi the Federal
Government still endeaYors and hopes to en-
force its authority over the whole territory
rightfully subjected to its sway, no brides,
however enormous, would induce the English
people-or any class among them, however
directly interested in the result-to lend its
aid to a revolt which they believe to be
utterly unprovOked, the result of the worst
political passions, aud likely to end in the
general degradation of the Southern States.
These Southern gentlemen seem 10 us to haze lost
all the instincts Of national honor, ard 10 haze lost
them so entirely that they hare ceased to belieUe IN
their existence elsechere, rChen they calculate on
corer IL t0ih aCeU deserved infamy. If there is |
one rule of national action more than anoth- |
er to which we have pledged ourselves deep |
ly, it is the rule of non-intervention between |
revolted subjects and the Government to |
which they are supposed to owe allegiance: |
nav. we do all in our power to secure the |
adhesion of other European Powers to the |
same course. Now, do these sharp Southern |
ers really believe that England will not on |
ncyb ha 10 heir I'D
break through it against the whole current |
of their political sympatbies. but avow to |
the world that they do it for the sake OF gain, |
and gain alone? Where would highlands |
political influence in Europe be after such |
an act as this? Would she not be set down |
as unworthy to be heard again in interna-
tional councils? If private gentleman |
openly takes a bride to throw his convictions
to the wind, would any of these Southern |
gentlemen deem him fit company for them?
And, if not, it is not at least usual on this
side of the Atlantic to regard nations hon.
or as less sacred than an individuals.
The truly melancholy side of these strange |
on the part of the Southern |
States is the evidence which they give of a
completely distorted standard of Judgment
on all subjects. at least, that touch the one |
great interest of their political life. They |
have cried out so long that all scruples about |
slavery are cant and affectatiOn, that they
not only believe it, and believe that aOe be-
lieve it, but they even expect us to make a |
sacrifice of political credit and consistency
by avowing our previous insincerity, and
this for considerations that would certainly |
never hBve induced US to interior in behalf |
of Hungary or Italy, whom we did desire to |
aid with all our hearts. Such infatudtion is
absolutely appalling. 1t seems to indicate that |
a kind of monomania blinds the Southern
States on all subjects closely connected with |
their cotton and their slaves. We doubt if |
ace can say will open their eyes,
But we are at least bound, in the name of |
the mercantile classes of England, to tell |
them that any proposal to intervene on thar be-
half in the struggle against The Federal Government
of The Ui7ioa scosiLd be secuted no,ohere ruth more
scorn and indignation than in those districts Of |
England irhick ssolld benefit mos by free trade |
.clth the United States.