Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-10
TIE CONFEDERATE STATES AND GREAT
BRITAIN.
We subjOin two articles from the London Times re-
ating to the interests Of the Confederate States:


THE WITHDRAWAL OF Ma. MASON.
Rron the London Times, Sept. 20
When application was made for prospective guar.
autee Of property 10 be transferred by the Confederate
Government 10 British subjects 10 order to protect t
from destruction by the Federal forces the Foreign Of
6ce declined 10 commit itself We may be that the
same attitude has been preserved by Lord Russell 10 all
his unofficial dealings with Mr.. Mason The post of
that gentleman since his arrival in this country has been
peculiar and in some respects painful We rsked war
with the United States in reality 10 Vndicate our own
maritime right, bu apparently TO procure ourselves the
| honor of visit from the Southern Commissoner-
Something like years Las passed away since the
Trent aar and yet the object of his miss on remains
uraccomplished. France has proposed mediation, If
not recognition but England has steadily adhered to her
principle snd declined TO treat With the South at pre-
sent as an ind pendent State Mr. Adams is sill the
only American Minister acknowledged by the Foreign
Office aud any communication that Mr. Mason may have
had with that Department wanted the character aud
| forms of diplomatic intercourse. THIS pds doubt a
great trial Of temper and patience proud and loyal
Southerner aud zoe are Informed that Mr.. Mason,
or those uh0n he represents bear IL longer He
has at length been recalled By President Darts and for
the present tcs presume the Confederate States H hare
40 dcersdit d emissary IN Great Britain.
We are rot disposed to dwell upon the petty motives
more or less Gre ditsbe which have been suggested to
account for this significant act But adequate and
probable explanation of be imagined aud beyond
that we need not 60. The Confederse5 expected more
Of US than they have received at our hands and like
the Federss they dsgusted because they have not
got the one thing which they demanded The Federals
already possessed the rights Of equal power and all
the advantages which the Confederales could hope to
derive from recognition, while their naval superiority
enabled the to avail themselves freely of markets
\ Yet all this did col tent them they wanted TIE
moral sympathy and applause of the EDgsh people,
and falling 70 command this they have not ceased to
| nnhIc ua kindn f nv ia
precisely what the Confederaes have Poyed since
it became manifest that the struggle really of
independence Nor is this all for they have VIGOROUSLY
received assistance from individuals in this country
which Fgt.or wrong could not have been tolerated by
the Law WITHOUT giving the United States fair ground
of complat gainst US and which, though not so toll
Grated aud furnished Nish the utmost secresy, has
brought us 70 the verge Of war. But these obi
cations great as they are fail win us the gratitude of
the Confederates so long as the coveted boon-the
boon of reoOgntOn-is withheld by our Government
Now this plea for recognition though the cogent
all TO the mind Of Southener precisely that which an
English statesman is bound TO critCe with the greatest
jealousy The theory Of recognition ia, that the fact
r. cognzed should be fat doeOmpl aud in no degree
brought about by the recognition itself l. is one thing
10 say that the Confederate States ought to be de-
pendent and that il would be better for the future
peace Of America if they 80; il ia another 10 say
that this independence is achieved The two PROPOSE
ous at that stage Of the conflict seemed almost equya.
lent but the seQual has shown that Lord Russell could
not have treated them such without violating the
usage, if not the Law, of ions Meanwhile we have
scrupuously abstained from encouraging false hopes
The reception of Mr. Sidel by the French Emperor at
Compegne last autumn and the statement about
the Florida in the MonttetT may possibly have been
open 10 msoor slTucoD; but, with ore exception no
unguarded word has fallen from an English Minister
| and 10 that case IL was speedily corrected
The truth is that bare recognition not accompanied
oilo NV in he nf
would not produce the effect anticipated from It. Il Is
possible that if England and France had recognized the
South at q much carrie; period, 1t would have added
strength Confederate cause because exceptional
aud questionable have been interpreted, not
wtht ut reason as proof OF an intention to interfere
1t is possible that recognition at later period, when
the evil war shall have "burnt itself out" may give
weight and stability to the ultimate settlement But re
cognton-tbat H. SIM pie reoognition-noR would pro-
badly be almost ruthless is das to the Vaor and pa
iotisa of the South TO confess that they longer need
a,V prestige whch foreig, pOoer could confer upon
them II due to tie fsceiF successes Of the North 10
admit that the time for deeiaring the seeding States to
haze established ear independence has not get arrived
sHlPBUmDISG ToR BELLGERESrs
From the London Times C.ty article
Much surprise is excited among the impartial mer
chants in the city the doctrines promuga by
al writer's from day to day. on the question OF neutral
obIigation aud the Liverpool iron clads The law as
the commercial world understand IT, is that vessels of
war may be built here Tor any State, whether bege
rent or otherwise provided they no. built aud sent
to sea with the intention that British subjects should
them for hostile purposes. The natural impression
would be that this law should be strictly adhered to I'M
Ill changed by Parliament and the aim OF the persons
who argue the matter would appear TO be not TO pro-
mote but TO prevent the exercise of neutrality They
make no demand that should be enforced for
stopping the supply Of munitions OF war TO the North
err STATS nor TO the entclng OF British subjects from
Ireland aud elsewhere to recruit the Northern armies
The CCnfederates may be shot down by English made
cannon but the Federa must not have their cotton and
tea seized by English built ships In matters Of this
so the only plan must be TO declare that we rea
dy TO build make any instruments for Wheh we can find
customers to pay us-even supply OF Greek hfe, II II
should be wished for. Even the FeieEas themselves 60
as far in their pretensions some Elglshmen found
10 90 for them Aud ouly toree weeks back the New
York journal OF Commerce admitted tia, II England
stopped the iron cad il would be oay fair she should
stop the supply of aud ammunition 10 themselves.
As 10 the argument that international laN prevent
vessels being built for belhgerent might at future
time p,oVe highly beneficial 20 ourselves, all that
be said th regard u it is that there will be time
enough to considerit when the UHitd States have sig
iel their wish change their present law since there
can be few who will suppose that if we now, without
some guarantee set opposite prcc dent, that prece
deat will be held sacred in favor surprising any
time We should be at with them There would be
objection 10 a discussion of the whole matter in Parlia
ment where the psrAm unit necessity OF keeping open
our trading rights, and Of not allowing them to be
feed to suit the desires Cf Government, to avoid
temporary disquetule would b. duly argued; but it is
felt BY many persons that these eRhoitltions
to The ministry to stretch override the actual aw in
anticipation Of parliamentary action are likely prove
very injurious, and also, at they bear unpleasant
resemblance 20 the views of the Federal politicians who
are ready utterly to disregsr every point of their
Constitution on phase of exigency. When it was
| 4. huh anti IN M inf
seizure of the iron.c ads with without law the
ground that their departure would bea signal the
United S ates attack US, blow was struck at the
cause Of peace which it would be difficult 10 repair
Every must have noticed that the Wild threats against
this country, with which the New YORK press niaue
their ignorant and credulOus reads s, have gained
strength With every concession made he the subms
zion to France in the face Of her bold defiance Of all
their most cherished IDEAS and dOgmls developed pre-
| C selv to SIN lar extent system which tends 10