The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-12
Address of Member of Parliament
on RecOgnitiOn.

on Recognition.
Mr.. G. w. Bentink; M. P, made
sneech at Kings lynn, from which we
extract the following relative to the pub
lic sentiment of England:
yhy is it that whereverone goes, in all
n,rts of England, one always finds, thor
Lonohlv as | believe, the institution OF
layery is detested in this country, every
man sympathizing strongly with the
! Southerners, and wishing them all sue
cess? [Cheers.l do not beg the CUES
r 49,, Int all can say is, that so far as
nv, experience goes, throughout the
/ Ia1ctb and breadth of the land, wherever
| 7 have travelled, l have never met the
hroon who has not at once said, MY wish
/ a. Gre with the Southerners." Why is
| tbot9 | think there is more than one
raoson for it. In the first place, the good
sense of Englishmen has shown them
that the question of slavery must be en-
{ tiroIv eliminated from the discussion; that
! il is altogether a thing apart; and that it
is mere hypocricy and fraud to try to in
troduce it. There is no reference to the
question whatever in considering the re-
Iative position ofthe North and the South
or the relative position Of this country
With reference to these two belligerents.
the South, as have ventured to think,
from the way in which you have remark
ed. you agree with me that we all do?-
J We do so for these reasons-frst, they
!. have fought, to do them justice, with
degree of gallantry almost unexampled,
under circumstances of the utmost diff
-culty, under every description of priva-
ition; they have fought like heroes for
their homes, their wives, and their chill
dren. [Cheers. That alone IS enough
to enlist the sympathy of Englishmen,
and l trust in God the time will never
come when it will not enlist their sympa-
thies. But there is still stronger feeling.
The turn of events have resolved into
this; Englishmen love liberty, and the
south is not only fighting for life but that
which is dearer than life-his liberty
Hear, hear. He is fighting for his home,
for his liberty: he is fighting against one OF
the most grinding, one of the most gall
ing. one of the most irritating attempts to
establish tyranical government that ever
disgraced the history of the world.
Cheers.
I venture to think that in itself is suf-
ficient ground for what l believe IS the
universal sympathy, with one or two ex-
ceptions, which is felt on the present oc-
casion toward the men of the South. This
frightful struggle has been going on for
nearly two wears, and | would ask wheth-
err it is possible in history to find records
of such attempts at the establishment of
an individual tyranny as is to be found in
the history of the last two months of the
Northern States. There is no doubt that
the great mass of Englishmen loath tyr
amy in all its shapes; but they especially
loath the description of tyranny which has
been practiceo on the inhabitants of the
Northern States during the last two years
by what is called Republican Govern
ment. And if that alone were sufficient
to explain the strong feeling in favor of
the South which exists in this country,
there is tenfold stronger reason for it,
and that is in the downright barbarism
and brutality-I use strong words, but
| contend that they are justified by cir
cumstances, and | am prepared TO abide
by them-which have characterised those
who have had the conduct of affairs in
the Northern States.
l have already adverted to the procla-
nation which was lately issued, as a tar
DIV and lame attempt to induce the peo-
pie of this country to believe that this is
an abolition" war, because. after all, all
their legislation, and all their acts, have
reference TO us, and our opinion of them.
They think Of ..etI;ifs eiSe. Tho only
n,
England, and they have not heard much
that will please them, should think, for
some time past. Laughter. The pro-
clamation really was piece of clap-trap
in the first place to catch the people of
England. Look at its real meaning and
its real bearing. The object of it was to
encourage and arm the blacks, to infuri-
ate a misguided people, to put arms into
their Mands;. and to generate, merely
for purposes of aggression upon men
whom they cannot defeat in fair fight,
one of the most horrible massacres of old
men and women and children that ever
disgraced the annals Of the world This
is the proclamation which has made such
q sensation during the last few weeks,
and that is enough in itself to disgust ev-
cry honest man with the author ofsuch
document But there is worse than that
l ask you, is there anything upon re-
cord that can be compared to barbarities
practiced by certain Gen. Butler Thearl
upon the defenceless inhabitants of New
Orleans? Recollect that the inhabitants
of that unfortunate town are reduced to
old men, women, and children. Surely
in the nineteenth century, and in q coun-
try that claims the slightest right to call
itself civilized nation, the position of
old men, women and children would have
established some claim to sympathy and |
tolerance, at least, if not to kindness
But what has been the effect on this bar |
barian? Why, there is no act of brutal |
ty which he has not been prepared to adj !
vocate and practice against defenceless |
women, and he has followed that up en-
couraging, in every possible way, the |
butchery of the whites by the blacks
This has been done in cold blood, and in |
open defiance of all humanity and of all |
civilizations; and [ say, that so long as
such acts are performed, and are avowed |
by the Government of the Northern |
States, they cease to have a claim to be |
ranked among civilized nations. Hear
hear.
| ventured to think that there is but |
one rational one just, one beneficial |
course for this country to pursue, and |
that is at once to recognize publicaly and |
the independence of the South
ern States. 1t appears now to be perfect
ly hopeless that the North should ever
the South. There is no prospect |
of termination of this horrible sacrifice
of human life except by the recognition
of the Southern States by this country
and France; and, therefore, upon that
ground alone venture to urge it. What
has been the effect of this war in America
,,poo vOenSA u0ption Of tho ,1or,,lo