Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-16
ImpoIicy OF Intervention in the Amerf-
can Quarrel.


1t is perfectly natural that projects Of medi. /
alton or interference should from time te time |
be brought forward in Parliament. The waste |
full and sanguinsry contest in America is GEN !
orally regarded with angry impatience for |
the suicidal folly of the Federalists is almost |
as provoking as the wanton injury which their
policy iuficts on neutral foreigners. The re-
spect which is due to heroic resolution and
warlike aptitude has by degrees induced the
great majority of Englishmen to withdraw
their active sympathy from the bsffied invad-
ers, and at least to admire the indomitable re-
sistance eff the South. The dissentients apol-
ogiEe for their favorite Democracy on the
ground that, in its EXTREMIST need, it has beer
unable to secure the services of a statesman q
general, or even of an honest man but i'm
partial observers cannot but suspect that there
must be something wrong in the constitution
of q society which deliberately submits itself
to the authority of swindlers, of bullies and of
charlatans- In the beginning, both parties
had q plausible ground of quarrel, and by
ISLANDERS are consequently Influenced rather by
the merits of the original controversy. The
Federalists have, from the first, had the ouss
tionable advantage of telling their own story,
and of suppressing the statements and srsu-
ments of their opponents. The result is, they
have convinced all Europe Of the incapacity Of
their Government, and of the hopelessness of
their enterprise. By excluding foreign i'm
ports and by preventing the export of cotton
they have, TO the utmost Of their power, iden-
titled the interests of England and France with
the establishment OF Southern independence
and in tolerating Gen. Buffers extravagant
proceedings they have gene far to MAKE re-
cognition point of honor as we'll as measure
of apparent expedieney. Nevertheless, Mr..
Linsay's motion was properly rejected by the
House of Commons as unadyisable or prema-
ture- There IS no room for simple mediation
Tong as the beLtlgereats hare no common basis of
agreement. The South will only treat on the
assumption of Independence, and if the Fed
eral Government were willing to concede the
Indispensable condition, peace would already
be made. 1t would be idle to propose to the
seeding States mere revision of the Consti-
tuition and the North, if it were prepared to
accept separation and the frontier of the Ohio,
would require no umpire to settle the terms
of the unpalatable arrangement. The use of
| mediators Is to save the honor of litigsnts who,
desl-e an adjustment, and not to enforce the
| abandonment of incompatible preteDsions.
The advocates of mediation are indeed per-
| fectly aware that they mean something more
| than an impartial attempt to terminate the
quarrel Their proposal isspotves immediate re-
eegnition, probable i'uterventioR and contingent
t0ar The bare offer of arbitration would be
4 u4N ANNoly AVlSCtCNy IcGQR-
| milton would be barren and imperative; and
the further step of opening the cotton trade
| by force would Immediately lead to hostilities.
| Even if the English government were pre-
pared to risk d rupure and its consequences
there are preliminary difficulties which require
serious consideration. The Confederates rely
l with reason, on the State organization which
distinguishes them from mere combinations of
! insurgents. South Carolina and Alabama are
known to the United States and TO history, if
not to foreign diplomacy, and if they had
Joined themselves by new compact to the
| neighboring Gulf States, they might fairly
urge that they enjoyed an Independent exist
ence, both in fact and in law. But the Border
states occupy an entirely different position,
| nor is it possible for q foreign government to
| decide between the rival claimants of their
allegiance. The President has lately caused
their governors or military rulers to effer him,
in the name of the citizens at large their re-
| spective quotas to the new levy of 300 900
recruits. Virginia, Tennessee aud Missouri,
as well as Kentucky and Maryland, are treated
as loyal States in the official proclamation, and
in somo of these States partof the population
still adheres to the Union. Whenever peace
is made, the border must be fixed by com.
PROMISE and, in the meantime, the political
unity Of the debatable sections is practically
suspended. 1t would be embarrassing to re-
cognizs Confederacy of sn indefinite number
of States, nor could an acknowledgment found
| cd on the actual condition of affairs reasonably
extend to Territories in the military oecupa-
ton of the Federalists. The English or French
government could scarcely take notice that the
Ioyallsts of Kentucky are likely 10 be alien.
ated by Gen. Buffers eaprices or by General
Hunters enlistment of negro regiments; and
in Louisiana, where the population is unani,
NOUS on the side of secession, the capital is in
the hands of Federal garrison. In the State
| Of Mississippi, the river of the same name il
commanded, except at Vicksburg and at Baton
Rouge, by the enemy's gunboats, and the in.
vadIng force has lately been compelled to evae
, uate Arkansas. A recognition Of any pdrtscs1
lar cluster of States or districts s0ostLd ansoun
to an ,asauthorised adjudication Of the bossadarS
question:.
A still more practical objection to active
: [ measures consists in the obvious inutility Of
simple recognition. Even if the Confederacy
we're considered as Independent in its sover
eighty as France or Russia, the occupation o
part of the coast by the enemy, and tht
blockade of the remaining ports, would still
De conformable to the usages Of war. No Sc
rIous statesman would exercise the undoubte
. right of admitting the Southern Republic int,
. the family Of nations until he was prepared &
follow up the formal proceedings by diplomatic
and commercial intercourse. For the present
the Federal Government, using or abusing it
8 uncontested superiority at sea, has drawn al
impossible circle round the dominion of 1t
enemies. The wanton disregard Of the injur,
which is caused By its operation may perhap
: hereafter justify forcible Intervention, but j
l is not technically cause of war, nor can it b
n disputed without technical offence. As tn
\ legal condition of bell;gerents and neutral
) would be unaffected by the recognition Of tn
7 Confederacy, it follows that England an
b France will allow matters TO remain as the
: are, until they are prepared 70 insist on tn
o restoration of peace, or at least on the with
!, drawal of the blockading squadrons from th
= southern ports. Unless Parliament is prepare
70 TO sanction an ultimatum with q declaration
Z as--.4d, i would be in the highest degre
& sho-tsiebted to authorize by any vote the con