Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-12
THE LONDON TINES AGAINST INTERVENTION.

Prom the London Ines, J,nuaryes.
Mr.. Massey belongs that section of our public men
to whom We look for sober and serious views of sspg
events He ia not great rhetoricau nor mau Of very
fervld imagination but he ia well Informed by historical
study and be has received the testimony Of the House
of Commons to his knowledge ard assduity in hs cleo
ton 10 the post Of chairman OF committees. When,
therefore, Mr. Massey goes down to meet his constu-
ents expect common sense view OF the present as
pect OF affairs and when remember that those con-
stusnts form Part of the great Lancashire body Of op
erati,es who are suf,rng from the high price Of
cotton and from the other consequences OF the dsorgan
lied state OF Americs, are curou; 70 see how lar
common sense viii be acceptable to population under
such prvations From the information gathered by the
Manchester Examiner, We learn that throughout the
manufacturing districts OF the North there are at this
moment % 600 operatives entirely out of employment,
and l6l 900 working short time II IL not 10 the bo-
rough OF Stafford thst this distress is mcss intense but
it's population cannot be quite beyond the influence OF
the events by which it has been caused II Is not won
derfu therefore, that the stoppage OF the mills and the
decline OF trade the only topics which interested
both orator and audience that silly attempt to in
terpose discussion upon reform was oyerborne at once
BY the general of the assembly. Whe ever work.
men aud their representatives now meet no other con-
sderaton occupy them but the irqhry-how long
is the world be disturbed by this American war; and
when again shall peace restore security to commerce aud
wages 10 industry!
We have for a long time looked upon the state Of
things now existing in America with no other object
than lray to weigh the merits and dement's Of the
parties engaged We have in the excess Of our Eng.
iish generosity seemed ashamed TO calculate how
own national interests were affected by what going
on We appear rather to have been seeking for side
with which we could sympathse, and while we
seeking in vain were yet ain to admit that all our
Inconvenience ought 10 be patiently borne for the
sake OF giving the eombsants fair play The time ia
rapidly approaching, however nhen patience pH be
IN a iNfO
tsrbsd by cause which, although Mr. Massey ia pleased
to call Il "a frighu war" seems to be destitute alike
of ell the dignity and of all the interest Of war At
fret there was indeed mastering to battle ard there
was good reason that the nations shou hell their
breath aud look on. But sirce the affair of Bull Run
there has been no herosm, or danger or real fighting
among the millions of men in arms; the only real ear
uestness shown has been in destroying The property of
all mankind The North destroys harbor as angry
woman has sometimes smashed looking-gsss; and the
Federal government keeps up yeXatous and inefec
i've blockade less with any hope OF reducing the South
Tran for the splenetc purpose d making s the world
share Ia her pryations In all this there has been no.
thing to txeiie admiration or our sympathy, or our
terror or our horror What little respect had for
such combaants was Of course 10 favor OF the weaker
side but tbs Confederate sdysosasys did not attract
much t5rIrds ths II is exceedingly credabs TO the
selfdenia al justice Of our people tha, during all this
time our operative classes have Suffered in silence
All our aborirg population knew that, as Mr. Massey
ca which no man able TO undersand-which had no
beginning aud no end-whch had no, cause and would
have no .fect-and which had not been digned by
glorious action but has yet called out 10 stop
this v1r TO break Ibis inlJsetire blockade to prevent
the uanton demolition OF natural ha bors which the
common property Of all who navigate the hurricanein-
tested coasts II America had been tried as we have
been tried can il be believed that her population would
have remained 20 patient and so long sun.r:ug! II
America bad been tempted by the appearance Of q
- l. Id k..n
offered the assistance OF powerful ally, will any
believe that the populace OF New York and the Cover
aors and Judges at Boston would have refrained from
Indignation meetings and riotous assembsges to compel
th-r government, IL coercion had been necessary, TO
take every advantage that offered itself Yet far
We kuoE not meeting has been held 10 Lancashire for
pressing our government to interfere, aud we believe
there has been everywhere resolution TO let the matter
nrooeed until the North had had full and fair opportu-
nifty Of reganiDg her empire over the South.
Either however this resolution is nov giving way, or
there il conviction spreading that sufficient time has
been Afforded Mr. Massey has Just given voice to this
teelirR now 90 widely spread among operatives
When he I'd is'ed his constituents upon points Of pub
10 policy he was met By freq !snt Interruptions and hos
die cries bu, when he asked rt!i,r thSiH EeieH' and
psp,r blockade pds TO Be srEdg pseitd" he unit
al hia audience and bis Quss ion answered by vocf
ons cheering which other portion Of his speech had
elected Il was notorious said the speaker, that the
French Government had repeatedly and earnestly
altar ed with our government join them In putting
and 10 that which was no blockade. Applause Our
desiring rather TO the side Of hat
right and jrst than TO have any inpuIation brought
,gainst them had hitherto resisted the opportunities OF
France But how much longer was II to last Was
tbis inc fcen aud paper blockade 10 be eternsiiy
spsctsdf No, no. Were We 10 cIpect our great
uoighbor, France, to sromt - be star'edF mo
Were We In this year 1852 for the sake Of favcrirg
fcroolou, aud frantic civil war to allow the great ports
of commercs be closed, al tho operations of trade
IN b., suspended credit 10 be desauget, unof ndng
persors to he sut sced TO unparalleled prvaons, and
many of our poorer counrymen 20 be absolutely redd
ed 20 pepury and staryaton9 mo mel Three cheers
for NJ Masseynl Tdese cheers at Siliord which is es
damn ac borough as any Ia England, and whera the
phlo American party of Ctter days mustered strong,
tu pret,y clearly what is going among masses.
We can hear the whis;ng OF the rising Wind. i this
war s 10 LAT, we shall have an agitation both out
of doors and in the House o. Commons and pressure
put upon the Government LOT unset interference 10
break the bio EIDE.
We would lament any sioi ayitetiOn, and lament ts
success E1gand hss behaved with such disnteres:ed
patience and with sucl ml tal neutrality in this great
matter that il would be neither right nor polite IN her
4, throw a.ay In moment the character she has de-
served at such self sacrifcs Let France interfere il
abe pases France nterfersd before TO give inde.
nsndepce TO the United States aud she is welcome to do
the same good service to the COnicderates Our true
nocy is to su,r little longer and let the event work
itself out Ii will not be lorg It may, indeed, be
doubtful whether our interference would not rather re-
lard then hasten the desired event Of opened ports and
large supply OF cotton. 1t il ne0sr be said By tt'
asrt gsnsrdiior Of Angio.AGz5n -i@r'caa' that they
O,re once united IN poosrfi na.ior Jgi that England
rced on " 6y maiegoltnt jsd'oGy, had rijieay d.
pjied thsra and had taken advantage Of hdt, bt for
her t-Jui have been todRsi0y dSeord 10 sunder them
rsvsr No one N tell what the result Of such in.
reference might be- either or hereafter, but every
one can see yht must be the certain end OF this torpid
war Of exhaustion il lei. to ts6E Let u' then, pursue
our honest policy Of standing quito Gloof. Our sympa
thles our moral inhienos public opinion, diFo
macy are all free we may bestow them as we please
bn. let US not fire gun upon that coas Better to re-
fuse to any ineiciency in Observation-Disclosures, even
TO endure anything which, with decent selfrespect We
dare endure, rather than to 60 armed into this quarrel
Il cannot now last long the bubble is evellg every
moment Sand aside, Mr.. Massey, and Lot It burst
THE TREATMENT OF UNION PRISONERS AT RICH