New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-06
THE DISRUPTION OF TIE UNION, AS 1T
WOULD AFFECT ENGLAND.
From The LonGox Economisf.

take the earliest opportunity OF considering the bearing
Of the dissolution Of the American Republic on the in
teresis Of our country both political and commercial
We viii suppose that matters will 90 as they have
begun that the Other Slave States will join South ar
DINA and that Southern Saveholdng Confederation
wiz be formed independent patton, prepared 70
enter into relations with other States.
The first question that arises ia Will England
recognize the independence and sovereignty OF the new
State 7" The natural and spontaneous answer If, OF
course in tie affirmative. Our principle IA, and bas
long been, TO recognize, and enter into amicabe re-
lations with, all de faeo States and Governments
The moment the severance Is complete and admitted,
we aye no concern either with anecedent causes or
proceedings But here difficulty arises. What - our
scuai relation to the new Repubcl IL the whole Union
dissoved or has there merely been separation OF apo
ton of 1T Are our treaties and engagements with o1
sections Of the Union dissolved by the dissolution OF the
Union itselfl-or do they still hold with the North az
with the original BODY with which they were made
Do the Southern Staes in seeding sil remsn ponhu
by the engagements entered into by the Coneueraion
OF which they formed part at the date oil those
mental Or will they hold Themselves liberated ron
IN focp contracts by the same act which has severed
them from their domestic Connection.
These are somewhat difficult questions for interna-
ona ursts 10 decide Probably az far ~ regards the
Northern States they will continue to call and eonsider
tbemselyes as still The UsTED STATES and as hold
ing their former position and treaes-nore the less
that they have lost portion OF their territory. The
real immediate practical problem that lies across orr
patb IL this "Wil the Southern Confederated States
consider themselves bound by those mutual en-
Qagements as TO abstinence from and suIpres-
sion Of the Slave Trade, entered into ard still suosis-
ing between the United States and Great Britain =
Probably not snce Of their chief motives Tor Sc
cedipg IL to be able to renew the Slave Trade. III
tbey hold Themselves freed we do not know how we
can bind them make themselves regard themselyea
as bound. But supPosing our diplomacy were ao ,e
10 obtain this point, the only consequence would
be that they would give US formal notice OF
their intention 10 abroeae those treaties and engage
ments after certain date. We might demonstrate;
we might negotiate but we do not know that we
could refuse TO accept such notice. The practical
shane therefore ia which the question will come be-
fore us If this: Sha recognize their independent
sovereignty, without requiring as condition that
they shall and observe the snti-saversde trea-
ties which subhst with their Northern brethren-or
even accept more stringent ones T. Doubtless we tha
endeavor, and in confsiency and a. matter OF DUTY
ought 70 endesvor, 20 make this condition. snce we
cannot shut eyes 70 their notorious and avowed
design of reviviDg the sbominable trAc, and 70 pre-
tend 10 do no would be 70 surrender the os passion
ey and pertnsciousy pursued object OF our Daionai
policy. We shall urge upon them that the tranc ~
prohibited by international agreement aud by mulpal
law IN every civilized nation IN the world, ana lhn
W can recognize and treat with nation az ciNled
which per,ists in upholoing 1t. They will OF course
refuge to accept such condition, as il would defeat
one of their principal purpOses and Will insist on I'M
conditional recognition. What we tOsdo then IL
might seem that we are simply helpless IN the matter
Three courtes are open TO us-none OF them eDtHeiy
satisfactory.
cordance with our usual practice, and when We have
done 70 NAV proceed TO make the best terms that
we can as TO the anti-saveIrade treaties Bot this
course though the simplest aud easiest would be very
naintnl TO our fee inRs Of humAnityfor cannot dis
pe from ourselves that il would be DeaIly equivalent
10 Unconditional surreI der Or, secondly, we may
formally Ieiuse recognize them, and abstain IRON all
diplomatic intercourse with them unless OF unC 'hey
shs consent TO abstain from and prohibit the slave
trade bnt il Is scarcely likely that this negative pro-
eeedipg would bring them TO terms, as II would not
prevent commercial intercourse, and would at most In
fic, some trifng Inconvenience which might be iet
ga much on one side AS on the other. II choose
,EOhly 10 vary our course and 10 ignore the fact OF
their separation and continue TO regard and treat them
az st part of the United States (which wo1id be rather
a childish mode Of aciOD) all that We could gam would
h. The night of forwarding formal renOn.tranees,
AZ agains! violation Of existing engagements IN care
of any o their citizens being discovered TO be engaged
in The slave trade-remonstrances which they would,
of course disregard and which the treaties give us no
right Of following up by any active measures. Or,
again, we may take up the matter 10 higf-handed
way and while refusing our recognition OF Their inde-
pendent national existence treat any OF their cLens
whom we detect in Carrying slaves AZ pirates sailing
under no known flag and projected by the nation
ahly of no known State. AS 10 TIE adViSi-
tilitv Of 80 decided proceeding, we Will
Dot as yet offer an opinion. But there Is
q fourth and preferable altenatlve-Niz, coTdtdi
agreement between Ourselves and the Northern FEEDER
alton TO prevent the renewal of the traffic al all hazards
and by ali means. Such cordial agreement may now
be attsinsble, but even with u We must bring our
forcbe interference within the limits Of international
morality and usage by procuring from all other ciyi-
lied nations consentaneous declaration rendering the
slave trade, ike piracy, crime against humanity and
TIE world bw, and, az such, punishable by any wit
pess and pnrsuer.
Apart from this perplexing question, we see no res
con for anticipating that q severance Of the
Union, oHce Effected peaceably, and without catas-
trophe, will be Ia any Way injurious to Great
Britain On the contrary, we are not sure that
Il NAV not indirectly be rather beneficial than other
wise In the first place, may expect that America
will be hat less aggressive ess lsolen ad Less
irritable than she has been. Instead Of one Vas State,
acting every foreign question cum toto c0TPorc reg
"a we shall have trio, with different objects and Inter.
ess and by 10 means always disposed 10 act In concert
In cordiay Instead Of one, showing an encioach-
ing and some what bullying front TO the rest OF the
yorh, we shall have too, showing something OF tbs
same front TO each other. Each viii be more occupied
with its immediate neighbor aud therefore less inclined
10 pick qnsrTeb with more distant nations linen, too
for time Ut least, that inOrdnate though most
natural sense of unrivalCd prosperity and power,
which sweed 20 Aatulently and disturbingly in the
breast Of every citizen of the great transIt-
lantic Republic, will receive salutaTy check.
Their demeanor II likely TO become somewhat humber
and more RATIONAL and II WILL therefore, be easier
70 maintain amicsbe and tranquil relations with them
than il has been. In place, too, of Europe being
obliged 20 watch and thwart their nnnexing tenden-
cies the two Federa0ns will probably exercite this
sCt Of moral police each other Neither OF them
will look with uuch compacence on the annexation Of
Ststes or Territories which viii add power and do
minion 70 tie other, and disturb their relative
equilibrium. Unprindpled and reckless Southern
ers. ike Mr.. Buchanan, may talk of seiziug
Mexico, Nicaragua, and Cuba; unprincpled and 10
Aated Norberners like Mr.. Seward may talk 81 sez-
mo ON Canada; but there will be some hope that
we nav leave them TO each ohers mutual control,
and smile at the vilainous cupidies Of both. With
the Northern Federation, TOO we may look TO main
tanning more cordial relations than we have often
heretofore been able to do; only viii tho eIDbsr
rsing question of Slavery, which has caused 30 much
IN o1r sida and 40 much bitter