American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-02-22
The English Press on the War.
THE DERBY ORGAN ON THE RECOGNITION OF
THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

[From the London Herald, January l.
! We do not desiie, by an attempt at
persuasion on our part, to hurry this Gov
eminent and people into precipitate res
olution on so momentous matter. But
the question that lies before US, and one
that presses for a speedy answer, is,
whether it be right or not that we should,
without delay, recognize the independence
of the Southern Confederacy? We say
without delay. That sooner or later it
will have to be recognized, is inevitable.
The question is, whether it should not be
done at once?
We are left to our free choice in the
matter. Wheaton, Coke, Yatal, and all
international jurists have clearly laid this
down. Wheaton affirms that, in the case
of the revolt of province, of an empire
or state 1.-The first thing for foreign states
to do is to allow belligerent rights to both
parties in the conflict In the next place,
foreign Government may, if it please.
recognize the independence of the rev olt
ed people. or enter into treaties of com
merce or amicable relations with it. The
mere recognition cannot Justly be regard
ed by the other belligerent party as an
occasion of war. The period of recogni
ton is left to the option of the foreign
states. But repeated precedents-such
cases as the revolt Of the Belgians, the
South Americans, the Greeks, the Swiss
Cantons-bave established the practice of
recognizing de Jacto Governments. even
before the parent state has chosen to ad
NIT their independence. This fact, that
o.1 ,,oh "a
cognized, without delay, establishes sort
of right to recognition. which may very
fairly be pressed upon US by the Confed
crate States. That is de .fdcto Govern
ment, which possesses all the machinery
of State and manages its own concerns,
and which its enemies have no reasonable
expectation of subduing by means of law
full war. Who can suppose that by such
means the North will ever subdue the
South? Seven millions of men, united by
their hopes, their animosities. and their
fears, have stood up successfully for nine
months against all the ornaments that
have so furiously been hurled against
them by the twenty-one millions of the
North. Iuch by inch they have contested
their ground. and inch by inch they have
Z
and put to flight every army that has taken
the field. They are in better position
now than they were when they common
ced the contest. Every day adds to their
determination to accept 30 terms, to agree
to no compromise with the enemy. They
feel themselves separate nation. and
separate nation they have resolved to be
henceforth We do not speak of the r,er-
its of the quarrel. but only of the attitude
of the combatants and the prospects of
the strife. The North may lay waste.
with its fleets, the fourishing coast towns
of the South /; it may tilt out its cargocs
of stones to choke up the inlets provided
for the interchange of amieable relations
between peoples by bounteous Provi-
dence, more mereiful than man TO man
it may land its armies in the swamps to
harry the planters, and do battle with the
yellow fever; it may send its steam
squadron down the broad river, and burn
Mobile and New Oaleans-but all this
will not bring it one jot nearer to the end,
all this will but add to the fierce intensity
of hate which the injured Southerners will
bequeath to the yet unborn. Secure IL
their stubborn patriotism. in their firm
resolution to conquer their liberty or die.
the men of the Confederate States will
maintain the struggle till their enemies
are exhausted by their efforts, and desist
from their utter powerlessness TO protract
it further. If it causes such losses in the
North. and necessitates such tremendous
sacrifices as the world has never dreamed
of before, what must be the silent pain,
the untold agony of the smaller and weak
er people that is too proud to let us hear
its cry Before they ask for foreign aid