Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-01
wORCB 8 T FIR,
TUESDAY. APRIL 4. IsGe.
sECEssI0NIsM DOWN IN ENGLAND.


The presidents message, proposing meas
ures to encourage the abolition of slavery in
this country, has produced great impression
in England. Sc we learn by the Jura, which
has arrived at Portland and this was expect
ell by careful observers of public sentiment in
Europe The Charleston Mercury has told its
readers that the southern people have no ade-
quaie conception Of the strength and influence
OF European prejudice" against slavery. The
rebel commissioners had encountered this 'pre-
judiee" in France and England. II met them
everywhere and embarrassed all their machin-
atiops. In both countries there was a strong
disposition TO favor their cause some being
anxious to bring all possible disaster upon re-
publican institutions, and some anxious to de-
stroy the great and powerful nation on this
side Of the Atlantic by dividing it.
Among the ruling class in England this dis
position to injure the great republic was very
active. They believed that a dissolution of
the Union would result in the establishment
of English supremacy in North America. So
they fastened indecently to recognize our
rebels as "a belligerent power But public
opinion could not be satisfied with the propo-
sition 10 fraernize with reasonable conspir~
acy to perpetuate and aggrandize slavery. 1t
shrunk from the proposed alliance, and finally
compelled the COVE rnment itself to hesitate
and draw back. So powerful is the sentiment
in Europe against slavery, that secession
agents there have sought favor for their cause
l,l,
and in England they communicated TO the
government statement in which they argued
deliberately to prove that the president was as
much in earnest to uphold slavery as the reb
els themselves. Ii does not appear to have
been very successful.
The presidents message on slavery sweeps
away the main argument on which secession
sympathizers in England have relied. They
have represented diligently that the southern
rebellion was caused by the Morrill, tariff, and
that the north was on the whole quite as anx-
ious to perpetuate slavery as the south, its aim
being 10 keep the south in a condition of COM
mercial and industrial vassalage. Such rep
resentation could not influence many OF the
English people who read aud think. Never
theess it has had some effect, and was useful
in argument but the presidents message
breaks it down completely. The most auda
cous English advocate OF secessonsm will
hardly venture to repeat it.
Intelligent observers in Europe see very
clearly what some of our northern people do
not see as they should, that there can be no
peace or safety for this republic until the
political influence of slavery is dead beyond
the possibility OF revival. The secessionists
understand very well that this influence is
hostile to republican institutions. l. has
turned them against democratic principles.
1t has trained Them to despise what they call
vulgar majolities." Ii befooled them with
the notion that they were the ruling class"
Their first intention was TO assassinate
President Lincoln, seize Washington, over
turn the government, and transform the re-
public into a despotic slave empire. Failing
in this, their next aim was to establish
slave despotism in the south and extend il
over Mexico. These men must be crushed
and the institution that breeds such politicians
must be made incapable of repeating its devil
tries. By Misunderstanding a disposition not only
to put down the rebellion, but ais to remove
the barbarism that caused it, our government
will seem to all the world to be wisely at work
to save the republic; and it will be supported
by the public opinion Of every civilized nation,
let The moAarchies aud aristocracies OF Europe
talk and intrigue as they please