The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-09-16

ment IN Beliigerent Rights, solemnly de-
clares "neutrality" between the two
equal parties; as if the declaration of
equality was not an insult to the National
Government, and the declaration OF neu-
trality was not moral absurdity. oHen-
sive to reason aud all those precedents
which make the glory of the British name
Even if the Proclamation could be 9TH
erwise than improper at any time in such
rebellion, j. was worse than q blunder
at that early date. The apparent rela-
.ions between the two powers were more
than friendly. Only few months be-
fore, the youthful heir to the British
throne had been welcome everywhere
throughout the United Ststes-except in
Richmond-as in the land of kinsmen.-
And yet-immediately after the tidings
of the rebel assault on Fort Sumter-be-
fore the National Government had begun
to put forth its strength-and even with
out waiting for the arrival Of our newly
appointed Minister, who was known to be
at Liverpool on his way to London, the
Proclamation was suddenly launched -
| doubt if any well-infofmed person who
has read Mr.. Dallas dispatch OF the Cd
of May, 1861, recounting conversation
with The British Minister. will undertake
to vindicate it in point of time. Clearly
the alacrity of this concession was unhap-
py, fer it bore an air of defiance, or at
least of heartlessness toward an ally Of
kindred blood engaged in the msinten-
ance of its traditional power against an
Infamous pretenslon. But it was more
unhappy still, that the good genius of
England did not save this historic nation,
linked with so many triumphs Of freedom.
from a false step, which, under the guisc
OF neutrality" was betrayal of civili-
cation itself.
ltis difficult to exaggerate the conse-
quence Of this precipltate. unfriendly and
immoral concession, which has been and
stillsis an oserfowing fountain of mischief
and bloodshed-hac fontede1ipaa clades;
frst, in whatlit youehsafes to rebel slave
mongers on sea and.in British ports and
secondly, in the impediments which it
takes from British subjects ready TO make
money out of slavery-ail of which has
been. declared by undoubted British au.
,hority, Lord Chelmsford, Of professional
renown as Sir Frederick Theslgsr-now
an Ex -Chancellor-used these words re-
dently in the House Of Lords: "If the
Southern Confederacy had not been rec
ognized as a belligerent power, be agreed
with his noble and learned friend ILord
Broughsm, that, under these. circum-
stances. if any Eng nglishmsn,wtre.to fit.out
a priva;eer for the purpose ps assisting
the Southern States against the Noitherp
states, he would be guilty Of piracy. =
But all this was changed bv the Queen 9
Proclamation. For The rebel slave mon
ger there is the recognition OF his flag;
/ for the british sdbject there is the oppor-
tuuity OF trade. For the rebel slave
lnoneer there is fellowship aud equality
for he British subject there is anew Gus
toner. TO whom he may law fully sell Arm
strong guns of choicest British workman
ship, and, as Lord Pa'merston tells VI
even ships Of war too, TO be used in be
half OF Slavery. What was unlawful i
suddenly made lawful, while the ban il
taken from au odious felony. 1t seem
almost superfiuous to add. that such
concession, thus poten; in its reach, mus
have been direct encouragement ant
overture to the rebellion. Slavery itsel
was exalted when barbarous pretender
battling 10 found new Power in IT
hateful name-without so much as a sin
Gle port on the ocean where prize coul
be carried for condemnation-werc YET
In the face of this essential deteienc,
swiftly acknowledged as ocean bellieei
while. as consequence, their plrss
ships, cruising for plumber IN behalf {
slavery, were acknowledged as Nations
. ships. entitled to equal privileges wit
the National ships Of the United States
This simple statement is enongh. 1t
! vain to say that such a concesson was
: necessity" There may have been
: strong temptation to it, constituting, PEI
$ haps, an imagined necessity, as Wit
! many persons there is strong tempt'
ton to slavery itself. But such
9 concession to slavery -mongers, hghtin
{, for slavery, can be vindicated only
! SLAYER is vindicated. As we'll undertai
9 to declare 'speutrality'' between right ar
y wrong-between good and evil-with
d concession to the latter of Belligerel
!. Rights and then set up the apology
II s'necessity."
y ~ 1t was natural that an act SO c
n sentially unfriendly in character and 81
It in the alacrity with which it was don
!. should create throughout England an u
friendly sentiment toward us, easily stlr
3 ulated to a menace of war.
Il He then details numerous instances
y querulous fault finding and menaci
It buster, on the part of the British &c
y ernment. The British prepared for "
:; over the Trent affair, lectured us on
= violation Of our own Constitution, prott
N ted against the stone blockade Of Charlie
h ton, abused us as barbarians for maxi
e, medicines acontraband Of war, in all
J. which we were supported By British P
cedents.
Then followed an official TRADE agai
the Presidents Proclamation, because