The Portland daily press., 1863-02-10
Tuesday Morning, February 10, 1863.
Public Opinion in England.

The following letter, which has been pub
lished in the London newspapers, exhibits the
prevailing shades OF English opinion respect
ing the American war. 1t is addressed to Mrs.
Stowe by Archbishop Whately:
PALACE, DUBLIN, Jan. 9, 1863
Dear Madam I'm acknowledging your let
ter and pamphlet take the opportunity of
laying before you what l collect to be the
prevailing sentiment here on American affairs.
or course, there is a great variety Of opinion,
as may be expected in country like ours.
Some few sympathize with the North, and
some with the South, but far the greater
portion sympathize with neither completely.
but lament that each party should be
making so much greater expenditure of life
and property than can be compensated for by
any advantage they can dream of obtaining.
Those who are least favorable to the North
are not so from any appreciation of sla-
very, but from not understanding that the
war is waged in the cause of abolition. 1t
was waged, they say, ostensibly for the resto-
ration the Union, and in stfestation of this,
they refer TO the proclamation which announc-
ed the confscation Of slaves that were the
property OF secessionists, while those who ad-
heled to the federal cause should be exempt
fom such con;scation; which, they say, did
not SAVIOR much o. zeal for abolition.
Many, who have great dislike to slavery,
yet hold that the South had at least as
much right to secede as the Americans had
originally to revolt from Great Britain And
there are many who think that considering
the dreadful distress we have suffered from
cotton famine, We have shown great forbear-
ance in withstanding the temptation to recog-
nize the southern States and break the block
ade. Then, again, there are some who are
provoked at the incessant railing at England,
and threats of an invasion of Canada which
are poured forth in some Of the American pa
pers.
There are many, also, who consider that
the present state of things cannot continue
much longer il the Confederates continue to
hold their own as they have done hitherto,
and that a people who shall have maintained
their Independence for two or three years will
be recognized by the principal European pow
ers. Such appears to have been the proceed
ure of the European powers in all similar cas-
es-such as the revolt Of the Anglo-American
and Spanish American colonies, of the Hay
items and Belgians. In these, and other like
cases, the rule practically adopted seems to
have been to recognize the revolters, not at
once, but after reasonable time had been al
lowed TO see whether they could maintain
their independence, and this without being un-
derstood to have pronounced any decision
either way as TO the justice of the cause.
Moreover, there are many who say that the
negroes and people of color are far from being
kindly or justly treated in the northern States
An emancipated slave at any rate, has not re-
ceiyed good training for earning his bread by
the wages Of labor; and IL In addition TO this
and his being treated as an outcast, he is ex-
cluded, as it is said, from many employments
by the refusal OF the white laborers to work
along with him, he will have gained little by
taking refuge In the northern States.
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