Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-06
From TIE London Herald, Derby orgsnD Nov 2.
THE FEDERAL BLOCKADE AS AFFEJIlNG THE
TRADE OF NEUTRALS

Lord Russell aud the Cabinet have now something Sc
rous 10 think about in the matter OF American block
ade and each step they take will form precedent for
future ursts. The latest phase which the question has
assumed in the fast and loose policy OF the Federal Gov
erpment il exceptional aud extraordinary. We believe
IT, in fact TO be unsupported by any precedent, and to
he wanting in respect 10 other Governments. Taking
advantage of the act Of the 18th February l79S which
would to bear cases OF irregular clearing from
one American port to another and Of the act Of
March, 1897 which would seem to grant the power Of
RENTING ne imposed under the act OF 1898, We are led
TO understand that such American vessels have from
time to time run the blockade have been released al
though British ships for doing the tbiug have been
Condemned Further il appears that American vessels
arisiug in American port from another with rregu
ar ca'ancsiu other words which have run the block
ade-,re no. to be interfered with in future, under
Instructions from the Federal Treasury, while tish and
other foreign vessels are Presume TO be still liable
70 capture aud subsequent condemnation In the Fed
ersl prize courts.
Twou,d be idle for us to see what the Federal Gov.
ernment is now driving at; but the bow may be drawn
AZ a venture Time viii be gained by this new federal
.,heme and In the interval the Federal Government will
try is hand at the fugaton OF the South from the
s,a board II the attempt is attended With success then
The blockade will be raised formally but II bad luck FOL
lows the Feieraleause to Savannah and New Orleans
tho blockade will not be r.ised. And 10 the meantime
the privileged American vesels would take ice, Holsters
oystsrs and other decacies not conraband 10 the oc
cuped cotton ports and carry back with them all TIE
cotton that could be had Presuming this to he the reS
ae which the federal Government intends 10 take, 1t
NAV be asked whether Lord Russell and the BRITISH Gov
srnnent will lend themselves to its b,ng tried? VIII
Lord Lyons be instructed ssk explanation from Mr.
Ssvard and Mr. Seward BIS permiaei to deliberate
and confer and stir up in the same breath the angry
element Of which American society Is composedf
IF 40 we do no. hesitate to affirm that more grave
responsibility never assumed by the constitutional
advisers of the Crown. 1t would be the responsibility
of determining whether four millions OF dependent peo
pie arc this winter to be employed whether the great
eat branch Of our national industry temporarily TO be
destroyed: whether our commerce Is TO be convu's
more seriously than it has been, and the pillars Of
the constitution shaken By political demagogues 10 their
base Or the other hand 1t Is open to Lod John Rus
sell and the Cabinet to confer with France and the other
powers interested aud to demonstrate With the Federal
tioyernlen. in terms which will command attention,
and not involve delay. Cotton We will do without If
the law of nations is 10 he oontayencd bat cotton we
must have the moment it Is Illegally withheld We have
rights as peutrals which the Federal Government must
rPspect and interests aud honor as ration TO which
disingpnuousnes must not be made 10 bend When the
Federal Government released the American vessels
Sbch had run he blockade, the decision Of Judge
B,,s in the case Of the Hiawa,ha and the other British
shp, should have at once been aside and when the
Fsdara Government Welded to the camor Of the Amer
lean ship owners, and merchante ard cotton spinner
BY the Instructions given to the New York Custom
House Collector it became lawful for the slips Of all
nations to resume without m0lesauon peaceful inter
course with the Southern States.
In crisis like the present we have no desire to be
f,utdndng but Lord Russell and the government must
be sensible of their grave miscalculaon in American
Matters and Of tho serious nature OF the concessions
which they have made aud made In vain The right OF
nation to blockade its own ports has been given up;
paper blockade has bsen recognz,d and ships worLiDg
10 the Southern for information and leaving ports
before which force had been stationed have been
captured and condemned. The time viii come when
each .pd sll Of the concessions may be brought before
Parliament and the wisdom Of the proceedings called it,
70 question And it will be remembered that at the be-
ginning of the American difficulty Lord Russell felt a.
sured that there would be fighting and when the fight
ins did begin that the numbers and resources oil TIE
North would at once prevail 1t vond be needless to IN
ours how far these misBfOTmed and narrow views shap
ed he course of the coal ion policy the want policy
Now, however judgement must be exercised and com.
mon atstesIn ansnip displayed Opinion Is now we'll
formed auOag all classes the merits Of the contest,
ard there will be no further eiicsnce In the House Of
Commons VIA. Is said out Of doors daly will De re-
peated in doors When Parliament assemblies, and on
every point information will be required Let ~ hope
that the Government will be prepared, tia. the most
will be made from now till then Of our cause and the
Federal Government in the meanwhile will see the folly
&C dragging this country or any oher country INTO
the struggle Its hapds should now be iul enough Tor
the winter sy have set In already and lef the South
stronger and much more determined than 1t was In
March To involve this country any other IN the con.
test would fhus lead Inevitably 10 the fce being turned
aud to the South being received into the community Of
nltious Ultimately, even Ii u1assi'ted, such fesut
appears nov inevitable but assisted The result would OF
course be fastened while the Federal States would enor-
mousy increase their financial and other troubles What
ever the Federal Government the British Government
may do, President Lincoln and Mr. Seward cannot reckon
longer on tho forbearancs oftho British people for
tra5 has been taken advantage Of and msconstrued.
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