The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-22

the uncompiimentary things he has been saying
of us.
The Remarkable Position or England
and France Towards tho United states,
Our dispatches from Washington to-day con-
vey intelligence of the most important and re-
liable character with reference to the intentions
of the government in case any foreign Power
whatever shall give aid or comfort to the rebel
Statee. There will be no mincing Of matters in
suoh an event, whether the assisting Power be
England or any other nation. Measures of the
most unmistakeable kind win be adopted to-
wards any country that may assist the seeded
States in this contest, even though they were
to involve every Power in Europe in war.
Upon this point we are informed that the Presi-
dent and every member of the Cabinet enter
tain but one view, and are animated by butone
sentiment. Confident Of the support and rely
ing upon the energy and courage, of the people,
the government at Washington have decided
not to hesitate for an hour as to the course they
will pursue, should England in any way render
aid to the States now in rebellion against the
lawful authorities.
The late news from Europe shows that the
position which England and France occupy
towards this country is a very peculiar one.
1t is clear that the British Cabinet is wavering
between the sentiment of the people and the
interests of certain classes. One portion of
the Cabinet-the Russell wing-is inclined to
sacrifice all its former principles for the sake
of its pocket, while another portion the
Palmerston wing is disposed to stand by prin-
ciple at any sacrifice. The part which the or
gans of the opposition are playing is merely
TO embarrass the government. Bat we Judge,
from the declarations of Lord John Russell,
that no definite policy with regard to the re-
cognition Of the South, or the legality of let
tiers of marque, has yet been decided upon, and
we conceive that there is a wide difference of
opinion upon the subject existing in the British
Cabinet, which may ultimately lead to a serious
split. The comparison instituted between
the rebellion at the South and the insurrec-
ton in Greece in 1926 is not pertinent by any
means. and we take it has only been used as a
cover for the cotton interest. By the distinct
declaration Of the Convention of Paris in 1856,
privateering was pronounced to be piracy and
England was party represented in that Con-
vention 1t becomes difficult to understand
how the law officers Of the Crown, as Lord John
Russell states, can have come to the opinion
that the Southern confederacy must be treated
simply as belligerents. 1t appears, however,
that a month ago all the Powers repkesentciNs,t
the Paris Congress were notified by the State
Department that this government is willing to
accept the code they adopted at that period,
which declared privateering TO be piracy
measure which is calculated to take the British
government a little aback. 1t is evident that
there is now terrible struggle going on in the
public mind of England between sentiment and
interest between principle and pocket f.; be-
tween philanthropy on the one side and the
cotton interest on the other.
Meantime Louis Napoleon will manage to urge
on England into taking sides in our difficulties.
France as NJ. Thouvenel said, does not act
hastily in matters Of this sort, as her conduct
towards Italy demonstrated; but France is not
hurried on by the imperative necessity for a
cotton supply No doubt Louis Napoleon
would not regret to see England aiding and
abetting the Southern States, course which
might involve her in war with the United
States, her great commercial rival-and which,
according to the decision come to by the
Cabinet at Washington, it assuredly would
and thus compel her to send her fleets over to
this country, weakening her power in Europe
and enabling the ruler of France to carry out
his complicated policy with Russia. Italy and
the other Powers, leaving poor England COM
pletely in the lurch.
The rebellion in the South is destined to
affect the interests Of more nations than our
own. We are now entering upon new era in
the progress Of the world, more fruitful, per-
chance, Of change than any which has pre-
coded it.