New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-06
A WORD WITH FOREIGN POWERS

The complex character Of the American Gov
ernment. with its State sovereigntes aud its
Federal Union, has always been mystery and
q puzzle TO Foreigners. This is not surprising,
for the repeated collisions between the Federal
aud State authorities, and the antagonistic theo-
ries Of our people ia regard TO the proper sphere
Of each, prove that our Government has been
puzzle even to ourselves. The contest now
wagiog for the preservation Of Che Republic,
pa takes Of I'll. compiexiy. aud has, beside,
many embarrassing characteristics peculiar 70
itself.
Viewed in one aspect, it ia War, in the inter-
national sense of that term-as really az the
recent conflict between this country aud Mexico
though far more imposing IN IT. dimensions and
important in its consequences than any previous
contest on the North American continent. 1t
exhibits, both to ourselves aud 10 foreign States
all the embarrassing aud repusiyo features Of
civil gar between rival factions Of the same
nation. But, as il the strife must be eudlcss In
its complications, it is not ike the civil wars Of
the English Roses. nor the eyer-occurriog con-
sulsions In Mexico; but it assumes the form Of a
tho Union, each large and well defined, and
easily recognized at home and abroad. Subject
to unamportant exceptions, the world regards it
as a war between tie North and the South-be-
tween she Free-Labor States of this UniCn and
the Slaye.Labor States.
But though this DO Is outward aspect, it should
ever be remembered that while the people OF the
Northern states are, with trivial exceptions, unit
IN the support Of their ancient institutions, large
masses Of tho citizens OF the Southern States are
hostile to tho new government which seeks TO sway
lis sccpter over them. Tricsed by conspratOrs,
aud coerccd By terroy and brute force into seeming
submission TO the rule Of the usurpers it is believed
that in some of the Seeded States twO-thlrds of
the people, and in the aggregate Of States, ma
jorty, are a. heart loynl 10 the Government which
the North Is putting forth all lis energies to uphold.
The States which initiated the Confederate re-
volt have not been wholly unsuccessful IN giving
10 this unnatural rebellion, q. tho bar Of EuG0pe,
tho plausible air of an attempted peaceful re-
sumption of certain reserved rights; which re-
sumption having been iorcTby resisted by tho
other parties to tho compact, they have been
compelled 70 take up arms in the cause OF
national Independence. The insidlOus heresy OF
" State Rights" Us embodied in the Calhoun
Code Of political ethics, has beOn recently urged
with grent industry upon many Of the leading
minds OF Europe. A Judgement has doubtless
been made in public opinion. Tie result il. that
in the estimation Of some foreign statcsmen aud
Journalists the abstract right Of secession inheres
in our American pOlity, and therefore the armed
Union is not causeless Rebellion, out a fightful
Revolution.
But. notwithstanding this plausible seeming.
the contest now shaking the American CONT
neht is simply an effort on the part oi tho
United States Government 70 put down rebel
lion agGinst its lawful authority. Formidablethou
the revolt bc--sectionGl though is be--it Is attn
sheer rebellion against constitutional govern.
meut, modelled after the freest and wiscst poll
ties of ancient aud modern times-a rebellion
causeless and fraudulent in ts inception, and most
wicked and despoiic in lis aims. The history oi
the world does not afford It's parallel in ine1cus-
sbene,s sud wnltoness. The recent sepoy
revolt IL the Indies, which England crushed WIN
an iroa hand, MAS thousand times more
iusafatle and plsusiblo in the impelins causes
and the ayowed objects Of tho insurgenss
Vowed IN this light, European nations can'
il they will understand the purpose oil inc 'asI
land and naval ornaments ncw being oEganl4ed
by tho Federal Government. They are 10 DO
employed in crushing this rebellion. On the
laud, their special object is to hold al the Fed
eral property nov in its possession in the revolt
ing States, and to recsptare sucA as has been
taken fron il by sbe rebels. And especially to
protect loyal citizens and punish traitors ia those