Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-29
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE
The American War.

Prom the london Saturday Rsyisw
The North Americans continue to indulge the
rabid animosity against England, and at the San
time prove their uabounded confidence in Euglis
moderation and good faith. By breaking the bIOcl
ade the Government could relieve the cotton manu-
lecturers from impending Distress and it would q
! so practically put an end to all hope of restoriR
the Union. IL is true that the cost and evils OF tn
| war which must ensue would largely outweigh tn
! Inconvenience arising frem short supply of cot
ton; but the determination of the Government an,
the country to abstain from any hostile act Is found
ed on regard for international law, and not OF
any fear Of collision. The abusive language
OF the Northern press has been perfectly consist
ent with the unfriendly conduct Of the Cabinet
at Washington, and IN both quarters a forward
sBd Cfhcious afeclatiOn Of confidence in France
has induced ut the same time, q sycophantic re-
speet for desPetisn, and desire to inhct slight
and annoyance upon England. Identical commu-
nicstions, forwarded at the same time from Paris
and from London, have produced replies which
were studiOusly d1here2t; and Mr. Seward demanded
tie recall of the English Consul at Charleston for
ObeyiDg orders which his French colleague at the
same port, was allowed to carry out with perfect
impunity. Il happens that subserFieney and adu-
lation have failed Of their intended effect at the
Tuileries, while Downing street has remained IN.
moved by calculated petuleDce and i'll breeding. It
is thought possible that the French navy break
the Southern blockade and there is little doubt that
the Emperor Napoleon would at once adopt hos
tile measures against the North American SQUAD
ron, if he could obtain the assent and cooperation
of England. The employment of the Orleans Prin-
ees in the Federal staff viii add motive of per-
sonsl irritation to that political dislike of the Nor
thern States which the French Court scarcely
cares 10 conceal. On the whole, however it is
probable that the prudent aud peaeeable policy of
England will cave Mr.. Lincoln and Mr. Seward
from the disaster of an irresistible European inter>
Vention.
The chief interest Of the war is, for the present.
centred In Missouri, when General Fremont after
transferring his headquarters from St. Louis to JEFF
ferson. City, was according to the latest accounts
preparing to march further West, for the purpose
of Offering battle to not unequal enemy. The Con-
federates had evacuated their recent conquest II
Lexington apparently, that they might concentrate
their forces in the field According to one account
General McCull0eh had been for some weeks dea
but other reports represent him ss preparing to eff
feet junction with General Price, which would
give the confederate force large preponderanee in
numbers. The only reliable information recently
as to the Missouri campaign consists in
dispatch from Washington to ST. Louis, announcing
that General Fremont is not deprived of his com
msAd. As the President is said to have remarked.
with characteristic elegance Of language, It is not
the time to swap hOrses when you are swimming a
river" II seems possible that such an arrange !
ment might have transcribed the power of the Gov
eminent General Fremont's proceedings display |
an independence worthy of Wallenstein himself /
and, if he obtains decisive victory, he may prob>
ably set the Cabinet at defiance.
Meanwhile, the authorities at Washington seem
inclined to revenge themselves for their inability
to control the CommandersIn-Chief by encouraging /
characterization among the otHeers. Colonel Blair, |
brother of the Postmaster General was lately ar
rested by General Fremont, on the charge of hav-
ing madc irregular and ibellous communications /
to the President. Having been released, and again
arrested, he has published string Of accusations
against the military superior which would probab-
bo,- LII -
had served in any European army. General Scott
has, nevertheless peremptorily ordered his uncon>
iitional release and General Fremont takes the 4
field under the pressure Of accusations, which, if
hey are well founded, prove him wholly unworthy
Of the confidence of this Government MANY of /
Colonel Blair's charges are simply criticisms on
General Fremont's conduct of the campaign, which
10 subordinate officer ought to have been allowed
% make without mourning exemplary punishment
complaint that the General was dilatory in re-
pairing to the military district in July last would
eem more to concern the character of Mr.. Cam
ron or General Scott, who must have been gers
ecty acquainted with General Fremont's move
nent.
The strangest Of Colonel BlRirs articles of aecu-
alton refers to deliberate act of political disObe
hence. He declares that General Fremont has
withheld obedience from the Presidents formal or
er to modify his celebrated proclamation and that
e has since the date of the order, printed and cir
ulated numerous copies Of the document in its
riginRl form. The puzzled English reader, igno~
ant of American institutions, wonder that Colonel
lair is not shot, and that General Fremont is not
ecalled. For the present, it would seem that the
1ost extravagant military pretensions are not uns
opular, and yet the brother of Cabinet Minister
hay be guilty of mutinous conduct with the GER
ainty Of receiving efficient protection at Washing
IN. The ultimate triumph Of the modern WallenS !
tein or of the American Piccolomini viii depend s
n the issue of the campaign in Northwestern Mis-
ouri. The Confederates appear to have defeated
r postponed the expedition which was to have I
leared the Mississippi from the conflux with the
Iisseuri to the 1t remains to be seen whether
ley are strong enough to hold their ground sganst
be Federal army, which they have hitherto bafisd
Laws are for the time silent in the midst Of arms
ut some faint protests are occasionally uttered
gainst the revolutionary despotism which are uni
ersally popular with the rabble. The Senator's and
eegates Of Maryland in prison, but their pred
sessoFs in the Legislature published a protest !
gsinst Federal usurpstion which proves to demon
ration that the assumed prerogatiYes Of the Gov
rnment are wholly inconsistent with the COnstitu. :
on. a Southern newspaper has discovered a for~ 0
bile argument for the maintenance of State rights
recent litigation between the States Of 6hlo P
I'D Kentucky. In the autumn Of 1859, 8 free col. {
red man, against whom an indictment had been c
'und in Kentucky for abetting the escape Of q
ave- fed into the territory of Ohio. The Governor
Kentucky formally required the surrender Of Z
le fugitive, but the demand was refused on the Q
FOUND that the alleged crime was no offence under D
e laws Of Ohio. The Governor eff Kentucky then '
,plied to the Supreme Court Of the United States &
k1cG