Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-03-23
Policy OF the Western Powers Towards the
Southern Confederaoy.

| ~ III Tue rcVelatlon OF the dangers which
would accrue to Europe from break up on
the other side Of the ocean bepowerful enough
to modify the too hastily and generally ex-
pressed impression in favor of the Northern
States2 Without much hoping it, we sin
cerely desire it,; for the public opinion of Eu-
rope could, by pronouucing itself in time,
arrest catastrophe which most seriously
compromises its commercial interests
| 1t is scarcely year since the Emperor,
with the boldness which springs from pro-
found conviction, ipauguratcd new com
mercial policy, by adopting an economical
system, destined to give agriculture and
trado an impulse which would place France
IN the front rank among commercial nations
anu develop her maritime relations in all
quarters of the world
These ideas naturally lead us to examine
whether European predictions and interests
are not on the wrong track in abandoning
themselves uurcservedly to the doctrines of
the Northern States.
The Northern section cannot change its
commercial Instincts they are a consequence
/ OF Its very nature. 1t will bo after as we'll
as before the dissolution of the Union in flu.
turc as it has been in the past. country
adapted exclusively to the raising of grain.
with commercial and manufacturing 'popu
lation. In other words, the North docs now,
and will hcnccforth more and more. compcte
with European industry, for already in default
of the monopoly of manufactured products
towards which she is tending, sho becomes of
necessity an intermediary between European
manufacture and the Southern consumers.
The South on the contrary, produces two
great staples which are, to Europe. objects of
the highest noccssity-cotton and tobacco
She Is a producer of nccossaricsand con.
sumer of manufactured productions Has it
ever been seriously contemplated the commo-
tion which the failure of single cotton crop
which supports so many branches of trade,
and, directly orindirectly, affords employment
to more than ten millions of hands-would
produce?
In regard to tobacco, without mentioning
the deficit in the State budget which would
result from its annihiation, could our popu-
ations so easily forcgo product which more,
perhaps, than sugar, coffee and cotton, consti-
tutes for them an imporious necessity. There
is no need to disguise it, the deprivation of
those two staples would assume amongst us
the character of public calamity.
Neither must it be forgotten that it is those
two staples which pay almost entirely for
French manufactures sent to America, and
which amount in value to more than 800.
100000 francs.
But let us continue. The South, far from
| having, like the North, rival interests with
Europe, has, OH the contrary the same or
rather co relative interests. Confined. in
short, to the extensive cultivation of those
| articles which Europe cannot do without the
South has bcon compelled up to the present.
In spite OF constant protests, to pay an cnor-
nous tribute to the North, in the shape of
Custom II louise duties for no other reason than
to protect Northern manufacturing interests
without any advantage to hcrsclf-at least,
unless We choose to consider it an advantage
tor the South to aid against her will Gov
ernmcnt which docs not fear to proclaim open.
y its sentiments of hostility and aversion
MIR. Lincoln has declared that the time for
| compromise has passed. If, returning to sen,
timcnts worthcr great nation, the North
permits the new Confederation to be mistress
of the pentudc of her rights, then the pic
ture changes at once. Commercial liberty
becomes the Fundamental law of the Southern
Republic; her ports will be free to the com
mcrcc of Europe. whose merchant marine
will he quite naturally substituted for that of
the North
1t sulfces to call the attention of publicists
to these facts, in order that they may endtavor
to moderate, in Europe, the too ardent desire
of changing suddenly the position of one
particular class of the human family.
let us not be deceived the South exhibits
so much rashncss and audacity only from the
belief taught it by the European press, that
the inhabitants of the South, too weak in
numbers torcsist its attacks, will not find on
this side of the Atlantic single generous
sentiment, much less moral support. VIII
philanthropy so far blind European commerce
as t. make it forgetiul of its own interests
we 90 not think So and already England.
profoundly moved, awakes at length to the
reality; she begins to measure the whole ex
tent OF the disaster which menaces her manu-
facturcs; she no longer disputes the fact in
spite of her Abolition Tendencies, that her
commercial interests depend in great niea-
sure on the prosperity Of the South, which
Europe has deep interest in seeing pre-
served, at least temporarily, her Institutions,
now attacked with so much vchcmcnce.
The question is plain one We have said
that the South, far from being the aggrcssor,
as it seems to be generally supposed was the
victim OF Northern prctcntions. Those re-
cent words of the Emperor also find an echo
in the bottom of our hearts" France has
no desire to mcddle in any way where her in
tercsts are not at stake in fine if she has
sympathics for what is great and noble SHE
does not hesitate to condemn everything that
violates justice and the rights of nations" -
Public opinion will appreciate them on both
sides of the Atlantic and will find for the