The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-12
The English Press ON American
A6airs...What fl thought OF the


American affairs, the secession move
ment, and the new tariff, continue to be
the most exciting topics of discussion in
the English press The London Times of
March 10, reviews Mr.. L1NcoLN's inaugural,
and draws from it but little hope Of peace
full solution. 1t says:
In his inaugural the President confines and
intrenches himself behind the express powers
which the Constitution has given him, and re-
fuses to recognize any other. He is capable of
considerable flights of fancy, but cannot eman.
cipate himself from the shackles of q merely
legal mind. He looks into his bond, and he
finds there that he is bound to execute the law
in all parts of the Union, and to preserve the
federal property, and he intends to execute
the law and preserve the federal property &C.
cordingly. What the consequence of perform
ing these acts may be it is not for him to con.
slider, his business is to execute the law; let
those who made the law answer for the rest.
The Times believes that instead of "seek-
ing by constitutional reasoning, to influence
men who have placed themselves out of the
pale of the Constitution altogether" the
President should recognize secession as
reanty. IL continues:
We do not say that he ought to recognize
the right to secede, which clearly does not
exist, any more than the right to rebel against
the English crown claimed by the American
colonies, existed as part of the English con.
stitution. We do not say that the President is
bound to treat as legal the confederacy which
has risen up in opposition to his own; but what
we maintain is, that as wise man, q patriotic
magistrate and good citizen, he is rendering
an evil service to his country if he does not
deal with things as they are, instead of as they
ought to be. When civil war is as imminent
as it appears to be at this moment in America,
it is well to admit the only possible aterna tive,
that of hearing what terms the South is pre-
pared to propose, in order to avert so dreadful
calamity. The last alternative always re.
mains, and the fratricidal sword will not have
lost its edge by remaining in the sheath q few
weeks longer. But the course adopted, fair as
it may sound, leaves no hope or possibility OF
reconciliation. The South cannot be heard,
because it must not be recognized; and acts
which must lead to civil war are to be done
rather than admit that things which render
civil war possible have actually occurred.
The Times then reviews the utter failure
of the last Congress to propose any measures
of reconciliation, and especially points to the
high protective tariff just adopted, as calcu-
lated to prevent reconstruction and to
still farther ALLEVIATE the Border States from
the Union. But while it finds nothing to
praise, and much to censure in the action
of the Republicans, in turning its attention
to the proceedings of the Southern Confed-
eracy, the Times is strongly commendatory.
We quote the following as showing the
spirit of lengthy article, in that journal of
March 20:
Perhaps the most interesting columns in the
American newspapers are those which are
devoted to the Congress of the Confederate
States. The first essays of the new confedera.
cy are evidently guided by strong desire to
appear well in the eyes of the world. While
the North is passing prohibitive tariff, and
while its newspapers are specializing on the
possibility of balancing the loss of the cotton
region by the annexation OF Canada, the Con-
federate States are behaving with marked pru-
dence and propriety. Perhaps their enemies
will suggest that they are making parade of
modesty and truculently asserting their inoffen-
siveness. But whatever their motives, their
acts are exemplary. 1t may be that they want
the sympathy of England against the govern.
ment of Washington I; it may be that they sim.
ply want our dollars; but they are evidently on
their very best behavior. AS there are false
prophets who might deceive the very elect, so
these Southern politicians are SO plausible that
they might almost induce Mississippi bond
holder to trust the fellow ctizeus of Jefferson
Davis.
The London Standard of March 10, has
long article, which doubtless represents
the views of the all powerful manufacture
ing classes. 1t holds that no paper block
ade of the Southern ports will be allowed
by England and France, but that any block
ade, in order to be valid, "must be effectual."
"There must" says the Standard, be ships
of war cruising of every outlet of the South,
along thousands of miles of coast-or, in
other words, from North Carolina to the
Rio Grande; and whence are they to comet
The navy of the United States would not
supply one tenth part of the necessary force"
1t then says:
France and England will, no doubt combine
to thwart the Cabinet at Washington in efforts
it may undertake to coerce the cotton States,
by shutting them off from the trade of Europe.
Notwithstanding all the sympathy which the
English nation entertalns with the opinions of
the free States We cannot suffer our industry
to be cut up by the roots, in order that the
slavehOlding faction may be Frustrated. There
is public law in existence, sanctioned by the
last Congress of Pairs, which lays down dis
tinct principle, and from which the great pow
ers will suffer no departure. If the United
States are to emerge from the present crisis of
their affairs, they must accomplish the task
without running the greatest manufacture
of this country. Lancashire and
South Carolina are too intimately united for
the slightest symptoms of fOrbOdings of paral-
yss in the one not to spread CONSERVATION
through the other. If, then, President Lincoln
should attempt to suspend the commerce of
the Southern States, the European law of
blockade must be put in force, the effect of
which would be that the navy of the republic
would at once be powerless upon the seas.
President Lincoln has the interests
of the Union to protect, and Lord Palmerston
is bound to defend those of Great Britain; but
the former canuot be suffered to blockade our
flag out of the Southern ports, or the latter be
stimulated to any partisan advocacy OF North
ern ambition.
The NeVs, Post, Globe, and Chronacle
indicate the same views, though in less
decided language. They draw little hope