Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-05
The Southern Commissioners i'm Eng
laad.

. lzk<A
The Southern Commissioners i'm Eng,
land.
Some doubt has been expressed by our coten
pOrares respecting the reliability of the statement.
first made by our Washington correspondent, that!
the British Government had refused to receivei
sthe Commissioners from the Confederate States, !.
cas- representatives of a nationality" and thats
the proposed commercial recognition by the mu
tual appointment of Consus, was also declined.
This incredulity arises, we presume, not so much!
from belief that the indicated will not bel
adopted by Great Britain, as from the fact that
the news did not first make its appearance in the!
ssensation columns of their own sheets. Whether
correct at this time or not-and we do not doubt;
that our correspondent had full warrant for the
estatsment-we suppose no one acquainted With
the facts and usages of nations in such cases wii
seriously doubt the course indicated will be pur
sued by the Queens Ministers in dealing with thel
tquestion which our difficulties have forced upon!
their attention.
! 1t would be unusual for the great powers to ex-
tend c formal recognition to n Government which,
has had so brief an existence that of the Con
federate States The practice so general as tol
Ebe pronounced well nigh universal, is to allow al
Ssufcient time to elapse for the power claiming nj
splace in the family of nations, to demonstrate its
liability maintain its independence, and to make
good its pretensions before the world. This may
Erequire longer or shorter probation according TO-
circumstances, but where such independent ex-
&istence is resisted by nation powerful as the
g United States, it would be absurd to expect an
aimme6iate recognition, unless the party making
Die was willing to become in some form or to some
7extent party to the controversy. The Confed-
Eerate States have indeed assumed proportions and
8nstituted a Government of no small magnitude,
and thus far have exercised Jurisdiction over the
territory claimed by them, with but slight inter
Eruption from any quarter. Within the last few
Hdays, however, large bodies of Federal troops
Nhave entered the territory claimed by the Confed
lSerate Government, and there is every indication
Sathat its pretensions will be resisted by ali mears
Vat the command Of the Federal Government.
#Whether such resistance will be successful, is a
Mpoint which neither Great Britain nor any other
Hforeign power is obliged to decide in advance.
81 Hence the propriety of the action said to have
Hbeen taken by Lord John Russell in the case
E3We do not believe that the authorities of the Con-
Efederate States expected, at This time, any differ
Gent result from the mission. But they were per-
Afectlv aware of the importance of presenting the
GquestiOn in the most favorable light to the con-
Elaboration the great powers to the end hat the
gaction taken in the premises might be taken un-
S,derstandingly, and their demand for recognition
Esrest upon the best possible basis.
H To our minds the policy pursued by the British
EGoyernment seems thus far to be in harmony
Hwth public law, and in accordance with sound
Sand enlightened policy To complain of her neu
&tralty in quarrel purely American, in which
Xnether her territory her dignity is called in
HquestiOn, proves, as it seems to Us, willingness
@to disregard the golden rule, and to FIND fault
sSwith other nations, for pursuing course in ex-
Xact harmony with the uniform practice of the
AUnited States. England refuses to take part in
Gthe quarrel, but in view of the extent and re
sources of the Confederate States, and their APP
APPARENT ability to make an earnest assertion of
8their pretensions, she cannot decline 20 recognize
3them as belligerants, who are to be treated by
9other nations as parties to n war which they can
e not spouse in behalf of either side, and whose
Determination may be awaited before hastening to
Erecognize the Confederate States as an independ-
E3ent power.
81 Such is the present attitude Of England upon
athe great issue which now agitates this country,
Fand attracts the attention of the world. Whether
5that attitude will continue to the close of the
Histruggle, must depend much upon the length of
E5the controversy, and the principles which may
Ggovern its prosecution. We have right to in
i5sist that the leading powers no less than those
dof smaller magnitude shall observe respecting it,
sthe recognized principles of public law and con-
1form their action to the uniform practice towards
3belligerents. This is our strong point, and we
s3think those who now ask those powers to depart
s9irom such principles, would do well to consider
Aiwhether the time may not come when such de-
departure, in a direction different from tina. now de-
E3sred by jealous advocates of the war. may be
5consonant with the feelings and interests of the
Escountry with whom we have the most intimate
iScommercial relations. If this war shall be pro-
ESlonged to period very remote from the present
lAand the blockade of Southern ports be made eff
sfective i'm accordance with the plans and purposes
..aof the Government at Washington, no small in
Inconvenience might arise, in quarters not naturally
!Ahoste to this country, inclined to interfere
SSbetween the contending parties.
"a The present supply of cotton available for man.
3ufactures in Great Britain and the Northern States
sSof America, is, We suppose, equal to something
6like six months consumption. If the policy OF
l&cutting off entirely the commerce of the Confed
lSerate States, and preventing them from selling
s3their surplus products receiving from abroad
Aneeded supplies, can be rigidly enforced, it viii
Enot be long before other parties than those imme
sxdiatey interested in the controversy will become
nterested, if not in its result at least in its early
determination. OF foreign nations, none can have
$50 deep stake in this matter as Great Britain
Nippon her manufactures depend in a vital measure
t3the happiness, the prosperity, and almost the ex
&stence of large portion of her population. What
E6ever may be the case ten, twenty or fifty year:
Whence, the British factories not noU be kept in
emotion without American cotton. Should the
EDrcsent supply become exhausted and the block
fz"uc pre- Sh' iuiehci sh puchtS lrOHi tnlS country
Git is easy to imagine the deep concern which the
SGovernment and people of England would fee
s3for their own security and commercial prosperity
n Present appearances do not indicates speedy
Hadjustment of the troubles now upon US, nor car
f{the wisest heads fix period beyond which they
Emay not extend. The nearest approach tC
Gprophecy on this point, appears in a morning CO
Temporary of the coercion stripe which puts fortl
Ethe opinion that if the United States had one hun
IoFI.. al T..
lyhundred thousand men under canvass, GIVE car
EcRUsH OUT THIS REBELLION NEXT WINTER, OR WI
EsNEvER CAM" This is rather indefinite, ant
Xmeantime Great Britain, although disposed to re
aspect the blockade, and to abstain from interior
Eence of any sort, may nevertheless begin t.
kshave some anxiety about her own condition, anC
interpose friendly inquiries to how her supple
Sof an important staple are to be obtained withou
Eoffense to our Government. Under this state o
ssfacts, our opinion is, that the wisest cours
Eawill be found in allowing the great powers o
t2Enrope to be neutral if they WILL and i'm not re