Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-27
Poor Spence

l
one in Europe, of whom the rebels would
speak tenderly, it is that fellow called
Spence, known as sort of commercial
agent of the South at Liverpool, as the
Liverpool secession correspondent of the
London Times, and as the author of work
advocating the cause of the Confederacy
abroad. There is no telling how much
dirty work he has done for the rebels
True, there is reason to suppose that his
pocket has not suffered by his operations.
But then just think what business he was
IN. Well now who would suppose that
this very Spence would be selected by one
of the leading Richmond papers for fierce
attack Yet here we have before our ewes.
in the Richmond Enquirer of the goth inst.
a "repudiatiou" of Spence. 1t appears,
furthermore, that Mr.. Benjamin, the rebel
Secretary of State, is desirous of having it
understood that he did not appoint Spence.
1t was Memminger, SO Benjamin's organ,
the Sentinel, says, who appointed Spence.
Let him take the blame. But what is
Spence's SIM Just this. He has written
book and a letter, in which, according to
the Enquirer, he has made the following
admission:
"rhat slavery is a moral evil,' that it
ought to be abolished; that the, indenen.
dence OF the Confederacy ought TO be ac
knoWledged, because that is the way, to en-
sure the ultimate extinction of slavery:
and especially that 'it will be clearly al.
lowable by our [the English) government
to decline to acknowledge their indepen-
dence without express conditions on the
subject of slavery Next the same
Spence, in letter to Mr.. Patterson, of The
Liverpool Board of Trade, (Which we re-.
printed some time ago) said this, speaking
of his aforesaid work:
You will find that held, as now
hold, slavery not only to be great moral
wrong repngant to the age we live in
but also Injurious to the white people of
the South, especially the working class.-
then held, as do now, that the inde-
pendence of the south would inevitably
end slavery under the force of public opin-
ion," - Ot''-7
And the letter ends with a suggestion
that the power of granting or Withholding
recognition is n power which the British
government "might effectually use to the
expiration of this evil"
But poor Mason is also involved in
trouble about the matter too. Hear the
Enquirer further:
"Mr. Mason is in London. He has not
10 any way repudiated that audacious pre-
tension-that England, as a price of our
recognition, may properly exact conditions
oy which we are to condemn and stultifY
ourselves, and admit the right of foreign
powers to interpose in our domestic con-
Germs. The Index,' which is understood
to represent our government in sort of
quasi-oficial way in London, has been
equally silent $50 far as we kuow) upon
this important point. We sincerely trust
it is not considered 'politic' to encourage
this delusion in the English mind by way
OF disposing them TO consent to recognize
US. We are not so weak, not SO poor, in
means or in spirit, that we should stop to
soothe the prejudice of Exeter Hall by this
voluntary and gratuitous abasement. The
contederacy is not, aud must not be. an
humble beggar at Eugland's gate, saying-I
have sinued against Heaven and before thee:
correct and chastise me as thou wilt, ouly
look down with compassion on the low
estate of thine handmaidenI Great Brit
ain be merciful to me, a sinnerW
So, Spence, please consider yourself re
pudiated, and if you will attempt the
wretched business of defending the south,
swallow all the doctrines of the men, whose
money is your reward.