New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-22

been al :"c1 : 90! Is , a. a ai rs tho who
system Of international law. Sheer necessity has
sometimes been pleaded in defense of interven.
tons in themselves indcfensbe; yet no enlightened
public jurist has ever regarded them without
suspicion. A State might, indeed, in defense
of its very existence OveIleap all the barriers
of precedence; but the assertion that a supply
of cotton is necessary to the very existence OF
the British Empire is one which we have not
yet heard, and do not expect to hear in that
quarter The only possible ground of CON-
plant is o certain commercial inconvenience.
But tho same authority which assumes that
position of public afiairs in the United States
which prevents the culture and expectation OF
cotton, iustGes exterior interference, would
have been quite as forcible and quite as equt-
able if it had declared war against us, upon
the passage of the Morrill, Tariff. Foreign
powers have quite as good right to dictate
our whole policy as any part OF it. In any
case, the sole plea must be that of seIfinserest.
These sre undoubtedly the views which will
be taken by every public-spirited American
of that mnatory and dictatorial spirit which
finds its vent in London lending articles. But
these are considerations which concern our
selves alone 1t is unquestioDably true that as
members of the great family Of nations re-
ceiyiug and coDferrng beneiits, there are du-
ties which We owe to o common humanity anu
civilization. 1t is not enough for lis seinsh'y
TO feel that neither our pleasure nor orr proht
is promoted BY these internal distractions.
Owing so much Of our greatness to our COM
mercial intercourse with the rest OF The world,
il becomes us TO see TO it that such intercourse
is not needlessy interrupted IN any particular.
Tint cotton cannot now be cultivated Oh ex-
ported. is an accident Of the war for when
We cannot be Justly censured: but we are re-
sponsbe to all the world for vigorous aud
intelligent prosecution OF hostllltles, ana Tor
tie speediest possible resumption OF ordinary
trade. IL is our own fault if we do net, to
foreign eyes appear to be thoroughly in earnest
Distant and disinterested Observers understand
thoroughly the cause OF our troubles; ana they
wait in wonder to see when, 1t ever, we are
la strike at the vulnerable lrts OF Rebellion.
Tie policy of the Reyol.ers il purely Pro-
Slavery; and Us the issue has been iranhly-
not by implication but directy-tendered By
the chiefs of the seeding party, foreign
critics must certainly be at little loss to
comprehend why we have been go am
iably coy in accepting it. There are,
of course. difficulties which they cannot rightly
understand. We are, undoubtedly, through no
fault of our own embarrassed by the fact that
several Slave States yet preserve their hdeity
to the Union. This, il must be admitted. rem
ders legislation upon Slavery as an institution
of the Union delicate task; but, under the
plain and simple rule that 4 traitor has no
rights ard under that other rule, universally
recognized, that the Public Safety is tie High
est Law, there is 10 reason why we should
not long ago have recognized tue freedom Of
hundreds OF thousands OF negroes, who have
been enancipa,ed by the crimes Of their former
owners. We might, long sgo. have had fly
battaons OF blacks in the field, making the
further prosecution Of the Rebellion almost an
mpossibillty. But the curse of doubt when
attac'es 10 Human Slavery, AID to all things
connected with it, has been upon us, and, We
fear is. to some extent, upon us still. With
enormous power in our hands, we have hes-
tated 10 use it, although by every Law of God
If Nature, and of Nations, we were entitled,
in this bitter struggle, 10 the alliance and as
slstance of the Slaves. We do not wonder
that foreign writers are u little ietchy when
they mark the puslllaDmty with which every
que ,ion connected with Slavery is here dis
cussed, if lot decided. They do not know
through what long years Of acquiescence in
unreasonable demands and of submission 10 an
insolent dictation, it has been strengthened.
And if We are to re.establish tie Union sim
ply that we may re-esabsh Slavery, then we
admit TINT good men all over tue world may
rightly pronounce this war to be as purposeess
az it is cruel, and as barbarous as 1t Is
bloody.