Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-18
Our Foreign Relatlsas.


1t cannon be disguised that the public mind
is becoming somewhat excited on the subject Of
the Unsstis factory relation IN which this C0nfed-
eTacY stands toward neutral foreign powers.
After two years of desperate defensive war
against potent nation; after q long line of
brilliant victories Ia triumphant assertion of our
Independence; after years residence of two
distinguished statesmen of the South in the
capitals Of France and England, waiting, solc-
iting, demonstrating; after the courteous acqui-
escence Of our government in the performance of
consular functions in our courts, by gentlemen
accredited to our enemies, and authorized by our
enemies to reside here and protect che interest OF
Englishmen and Frenchmen after aal thiti
energy in assertion of cur own cause in the
field, aud patient Cancellation toward neutral
nations s5r0sd, we have not advanced, it seems,
one stsp in that public recognition Of cur SOW
ereignty,5to which we are entitled by the laws
of nations. at this hour neither England nor
France preteBds TO have any knowledge of our
existence They still regard the Washington
government rs entitled to treat for us. They
know nothins of Dir. Mason and Mr.. Sidell,
save as private gentlemen Mr.. Adams and Mr..
Dayton are sill '0Hr ministers at these courts.
If British subject is WTongsd or British prop
eTty seized in Virginia, it is to Mr.. Lincoln they
look to for redress, through Lyons or Mercier. II
one of their consuls here should be removed, or
should die, it is IT, Mr. Linceln that his successor
would be accredited.
Now. on all this matter there are two opin-
ions-frst that the an0malous state of things
above mentioned should be ended at once by
the recall of our European commissioners and
disnissal of the eensuls Second, that the
same reasons which dictated our policy eff
courteous forbeaTance and patience at first,
sre still good to induce a continuance Of
that policy for some SINE longer The speech
delivered in Congress this week by Nr. Swan
of Tennessee, (Printed in another column
exposes the argument for the first of these
two courses it will be read with attention
and without intending to pronounce ourselves
for his measures, unequiYOcally and immedi-
ately, we are bound TO say that on bare
statement Of the case, So he has put it, thsre
can be no answer to him. Further, it viii
not DO to reply to Blr. Swan, that this pro-
posed measure of his would be in effect throw
ing down tbs gauntlet to ell mankind. There
would be nothing hostile or offensive, nothing
even abrupt, in Withdrawing commissioners
who are net received, aud in dismissing eonsUls
who, for the last tso years have been no con-
suls to US. Tho step commended by Mr.. Swan
would be no more, as he argues, than the quiet
assertion (abroad IS well as at homo, by our
peaceful attitude toward France and England,
as well as our stern argument of battle on the
frontier that when these States declared they
had resumed their sovereignty and separated
from the Washington government, they meant
what they said. There is no throwing down
of the gauntlet, 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 hsve. We are
willing to leave that matter for the present in he
hands of the government and apprehend that
there may be reasons, as yet unknown to the
country, which justify ths Confsderscy in oe
cupying little longer the humiliating position
in which it stands now
There is nc harm, however IN understanding
and av0wing the true state Of the case. It is
well even to hear expressions of impatienee at
It's continuance and the honorable member
from Tennessee has done service in showing
that this sentiment of wounded national dignity
exists, and putting himself on the record as pro-
testing against submitting to be any longer
treated by foreign nations as a subject Of Abrs-
ham Lincoln.
To show how the anomalous position we oe-
cupy lays Us open to the insolence of our pre-
tended friends in Europe, one need only recall
the audacious lecture administered the other
day by the London Times to our President for
his proclamation against Butler and his bngand
officers. This Tines, when it suits it, can give
encouraging words and praise our heroism, and
fancier patting the heads and pinching the ears
of two bull-terriers to make them fgh. it out.
But read this paragraph Of the aforesaid lee
ture;
The South should remember that they were
the first to draw the sword in this quarrel that
they ross against an established government ia
the exercise Of its legal functions that they OBJ
taiped By the agency Of traitors in that govern
mont, a considerable supply OF arms and money;
and that that Union which they seek to dissolve
is, as events have proved, the dearest wish Of
every true American heart"
We need not dwell upon these outrageous
and insulting Refds but only remark that
foreign newspaper in England is justified in
using these wOrds-evefy one Of them-so long
as We are represented by Mr.. Adams at London
(for officially we ara SO Silly, and SO long as we
slow AF Lincoln to authorize English consuls
to reside in our ports. Yes in the eyes Of Eng
land and France, we are still technically geb-