The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-20
trrop the Richmond Enquirer, February ~
Oar Foreign Relations

lsiion iD which this C6nfederacy stands
toward neutral f9reign powers, After
two years Of a desperate defensive war
against potent nation after long line
Of brilliant victories in triumphant as
seriion Of our independence; after a
years residence Of two distinguished
Statesmen Of the South in The Capitals
Of France and England, waiting, solioi-
ting, demonstrating; after the courteous
scquiescencc Of our Government 10 the
performances Of consular functions in our
courts, by gentlemen accreditaed 70 our
enemies, and authorized by our enemies
90 reside here and protect the interests of
EDglishmen and Frenchmen; after all this
energy in assertion of our own cause ia
The field, and patient Cancellation toward
neutral nations abroad, we have not adj
vanced, il seems, one step in that public
recognition Of our sovereignty, 10 which
we are entitled by the laws OF nations.
At this hour neither England nor France
pretends to have any knowledge OF our
existence. They stu regard the Wash
inglon Government as entitled to treat
for US. They know nothing OF Mr.. Ma.
son end Mr.. Sidsll, save as private gen
tlemep, MIR. Adams and Mr.. Dayton are
still our Ministers at thgte courts. II
British subject is wronged or British
property seized in Virginia; it is to Mr..
Lincoln they look for redress, through
Lyons or Mercier. Ifone Of their consuls
here should be removed, or should die, it
is 10 MIR. Lincoln that his successor would
be accredited.
Now, on all this matter there are two
opinions--.frst, that the anon alous state
OF things above mentioned should be
ended at once by the recall of our Euro-
pean Commissioners and dismissal OF
the consuls. Second, that the same rea-
son which dictated our, policy Of courte-
Gus fOrbearance and patience at first, are
still good 70 induce continuance Of that
policy for some time longer, The speech
delivered in Congress this week by Mr..
Swan, of Tennessee, exposes the argu-
ment for the first Of these two courses;
il will be read with attention; and with
out intending TO pronounce ourselves for
his measure, unequivocally and immedi
ately, we are bound 10 say that on bare
statement Of the case, as he has put it,
thu re can be no answer 10 him. Further, il
will not do TO reply TO Mr. Swan, that
this proposed measure of his would be
in effect throwing down the gauntlet TO
all mankind There would be nolhiRg
hostile or offensive, nothing even abrupt
in Withdrawing Commissioners who are
| not received and in Diminishing Consuls
| who, for the last two years, have been no
Consuls to as. The step recommended
by Mr.. Swan would be no more, as he
| fs.h naA
as well as at home, by our peaceful atti.
tude toward France and England as well
as by our stern argument ct battle on tue
| Rroniitr,) that when these States declare
they had resumed their sovereignty and
separated from the Washington Govern
meht, they meant what they said There
is no throwing down of gauntlets, no
challenge or defiance in the case.
Yet we say that we do not pronounce
at this moment for the proposed cutting
short of those fictitious foreign relations
we have. We are willing TO leave that
matter for the present in the hands Of
the Government; aud aPprehend that
there may be reasons, yet unknown to
the country, which justify the Confeder-
acy in occupying little longer the hui
initiating position in which it stands
now.
| There is no harm, however, in UNDER
standing and avowing the true state OF
the case 1t is well even TO hear express
sions of impatience at It's continuance !;
and the honorable member from Tennes-
see has done service Ia showing that
this sentiment of wounded national dig
] nifty exists, and putting himself on The
record as protesting against submitting
TO be any longer treated by foreign ma
| lions as a subject Of Abraham Lincoln
To show how The anomalous position
we occupy lsys US open TO the insolence
of our pretended friends in Europe, one
| need only recall the andaciOus lecture
administered the other day by the Lon
don Times TO our President for his proc
lamation against Butler and his brigand
officers. This I lines, when it suits il,
can give as encouraging words and
praise our heroism, and taunt the Yam
KEGS with our victories, like dog fan
cier patting the heads and pinching the
ears Of two bull'terriers, so make tbem
fight il out. Bat read this paragraph Of
the aforesaid lecture
"The South must remember that they
were the lirst TO draw the sword in this
quarrel that they rose against an eslab-
lished government in the exercise of its
legal functions; that they obtained, by
the agency of traitors in that govern
ment a considerable supply Of OF arms
and money and that the Union which
they seek to dissolve, is as events have
proved, the dearest wish of every Amer
lean heart"
We need not dwell upon these outra-
geons and insulting words, but only
remark that foreign newspaper in Eng
land is justified in using these words
every one of them--so long as We are
represented by Me- Adams at London,
(Ior, oilioiallywe are so still, and so long
as we allow MIR. Lincoln 10 alhorize
English Consuls 10 reside in our ports.
Yes, in the eyes of England and France,
we are still technically rebels !" we rose
against our legal government, exercising
legal functions. Southern statesmen are
traitors; the public arms in southern
States were not our arms, and the "Union"
is still "the dearest wish Of every Amer
lean heart" Mr. Dayton says II Is, and
they consent TO know American hearts
only through MIR Dayton.
This can not go on long; and it is
good 90 DO assured that the natural i'm
patience inspired by seli-respect and
high spirit, begins 70 show itself We
trust the day will come shortly, when
the President, who certainly feels our
false position more acutely than any
other man, will himself recommend that
il be made to cease