Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-16
Gte 8lenpBis appeal
THE AMERICAN QUESTION IN TaE
OLD WORLD.
RIoHMoNp. d. %. 80

opportunity 10 write you a few words upon the
condition Of matters in Europe. 1 regret that
the very limited time 1 have before me viii COM
pei me 10 be brief, aud / fear very unmeihodioal
IL style.
When I left Richmond in June last, there was
= very general expectation thai the mauUtactuf
ing necessities Of England and France would
force them to a speedy recognition and Intertef-
euce with the Federal blockade. There was, too
an e0usllv confident impression that the COM
mercisI enterprise Of Eugland would spring at
once to the enjoyment Of the high prices the
blockade established by sending forward cargoes
Of arms. munitions. medicines and other stores
most needed in the Confederacy.
The first thing I learned after my Arrival was
the great error Of these expectations. mmedl-
stely on getting to London, endeayored 70 start
some shipments 70 the Confederate States that
had been suggested BY certain parties from whom
I carried messages, but soon found it an uphill
work. Trade is no where 90 perfectly system
stizsd-I might almost say, ohaHRGtt-ed-ss in
England. An their commercial operations run
In grooves, established by the customs Of eentH-
RES. from which ii IS almost impossible TO divert
it. So long as it is kept within these grooves,
John Bull VIII trade as boldly and promptly and
cbeaply as any one, but viii not 60 cut Of the
sphere Of legitimate traihc-
When / told thsm Of hundred per cent. profits,
they said "tsn per cent. without risk, or even
five, and we are your men; but no range Of
profits, however high, will tempt US taTisk IN
certainties." Those who came back some
months ago, know what untiring efforts We
made for this purpose; bat ] am sorry to say
without the success we confidently anticipated
This mstter, however, shows signs Of continual
Enforcement, and ] hope { e channels OF trade
viii be soon opened. / can say, however, that
powerful combinations Of money and enterprise
ere already formed, TO 60 into operation IN con-
rm-tion with direct southern trade as soon as
-a-E-In-haa HafHar wsnaaHf that the
attention l have given these matters at home for
the last ten years enabled me to be Of some SCI
vice in assisting 70 gat up these combinations,
e fact which ! hops to make duly manifest at an
early day.
The f~ailac Of popular expectations IN refer
enee to speedy recognition and interference with
the blockade was even more strongly apparent,
and should in my opinion, be taken into account
in simple Justice to the Confederate commission
ers in Europe. The difficulties in the way Of q
speedy interference on the part of England and
France, I consider, among other things, to have
been
First-Tbe fact thai both Of these govern
ments are sminently eoHseTvatiUe, which, coupled
with the fact Of both possessing important colo
NAL possessions, made them naturally cautions
in encouraging innovations on the existing sta
tus Of nations, and Of encouraging 8 disposition
TO revolution, that might be turned against them
in some day Of future trials Of their own. Again
a violent change IN America was naturally lndu-
Give Of similar changes ia Europe which, IL
their conservative character, they wished 70 see
avoided.
Sscond-A prevalent impression among near
" sI classes, that the differences between South
and North would be speedily settled, either by a
peaceful division of the late Union or q peaceful
reconstruction. la a natural ignorance OF the
American q~ueston-they coGid not understand
rhy this struggle was commenced OF Way 1t
should continue-espeeialiy when its continl-
ance was sure 70 be materially destructive. IT,
they argued, " this thing b. soon settled peace
ully-and sOon It must-it is OnT policy TO con-
tnue relations thst would ensure 10 England aid
France the trade and good viii OF either section.
~ Third-A very general fear among those par
acularly friendly to the South that she would Do
overrun and conquered in which case they said
We should find q difficulty on our hands from
interference, which would be any EdHg but ad-
vantsgeous OF agreeable The fear was greatly
strengthened BY Tue fact that during ths winter
so many Of tie southern people-and especially
in the border Ststes-showed so much repug-
nance 90 breaking up the Union, and the reports
constantly published by ths northern press Of
the divisions among the southern people and tie
strong Union element which, It was said, would
soon rise and overthrow the new government
Fourb-The influence Of the old national
policy Of England especially to encourage, with
n her own borders, an Independence IN a mo-
nop0ly os manufacturing staples England has
made herself the grand banking house Of the
world by her mammoth manufacturing system
A part OF this was the manipulation Of cotton,
upon which FIVE millions Of her people and q
large portion OF lie rcomuercisi supremacy was
dependant. Her utter dependence on Amer a
for this staple has long bsen 2 terrible thorn n
his side. But fog the happy conjunction OF SOIL
climate and slave labor in the Southern States,
she felt that her own colonies could defy al na-
es0-z ~ fb. rhaan u~o1frerfou ~ roftun and thar
thus adding a virtual monopoly OF cheap manu-
facture to a monopoly Of production, she could
have the entire cotton tTsds Of the world 10 her
own hands. Il was not surprising, therefore,
that 8 large and influential portion OF her people
and press should hail the trouble IN America as
the precursor OF ruin TO slavery, and as such, a
means Of putting this great power exclusively
into her olgn hands. While, therefore, tins party
secretly encouraged the southern revolution as q
means of mutual destruction to a power they
10Th hated and feared, they were very careful net
10 have the government committed TO any policy,
which, By a speedy ending Of the war, and q re-
s~toration Of prosperity 70 the South, would be
totally destructive Of their long cherished dreams
Of a general English monopoly, both in the pro-
duci0n and manufacture Of this most important
article.
Fhh-And the last in this hurried letter, is the
abolition element Of England and her people. I,
: Is not to be disguised that abOltionism al the
outset ofthis var, was the prevailing sentiment
Of the British nation. Ihave Just explained how
II was looked upon as q direct foe TO her ancient
and most cherished policy. But added 20 this
powerful appeal was a genuine hatred and hor-
Tor Of this institution This sentiment, planted
= by the labors Of WlbeTfoTce end Clarks0n, and
Il Of late years BY the actiYe fsnatcism Of many Of
her most powerful writers, preachers, and politi-
clans, stimulated by the artful and insinuating
fctions Of writer's Of Harriet Beecher Stowe
1901 -----.,c. - IA, -,st-~as-r~
features which have made American the greatest
possible boon to the African, had grown 70 be
not only the general, bHt the active and deter
mined sentimen Of the people. It is true thai
manvo Of the strongest ab0liiorists have been
pitching into the Lincoln goyernm ut, but It was
from ANYTHING bat a friendly motive 70 th'
south. and constituted an influence from which
anything advantageous 70 her Cause could D
have thus endeavorel, in this mist hunie,
and imperfect manner, to sketch some Of tia
difnculdes that met orr commissioners on thi
very Threshold o. their mission. That t1el
have addressed themselves 20 these ditlcB!ties
~s9ith zeal and efficiency, will not be doubted b,
millions South, TO whom their abilities Gn'
character are IS familiar as household words
During my stay IN London, I was frequently q
the rooms Of Col n. and can thus bear persona
testimony te his zeal and efficiency. lie seemeS
20 appreciate the necessity Of educating the Eng
Nsh mind to the proper views or the FanoW
difficulties in the wa5 Of his progress, and witt
bRtlimitedpean7 Of sf-eting his objects, WORKED
with uutiring industry for their accomplishment
and. as I have also written, a distinguished
wember Of Congress is. I believe, doing al tia
taleut energy and a peculiar fitness ior bis posi-
eion can Efcomphsh- without any other az
fbsu his intimate knoNiedge Of English chaFae
Ter and that careful stys II procedure whicl
- thorough training IS al plomadst have givel
him. be has managed 70 make the acquaintane
Of most Of the distinguished representatives. o
- Iondon press, whose powerful batteries
sLrs ;n6uenced. are brought TO bear upon til
-. LLr.nl .nursa. inVnIN-. Al