The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-11-16
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.
II is not in my power to announce any
change in the conduct Of foreign powers.
no such action has been taken by the
Christian nations Of Europe as might Justly
have been expected from their history,
from the duties imposed by international
law, AMI from the claims Of humanity. II
10 charitable to attribute their conduct TO
no verse motive than Indifference to the
consequences 1t struggle which shakes
anly The Republican portion Of the Ameri.
can continent; aud not to ascr;be to de-
sign q course calculated to ensure The pro.
longation Of hostilities.
No instance in history is remembered by
me IN which nation pretending 10 exer-
cise dominion over another. asserting its
Independence. has been the first to csnce de
the existence OF such independence. No
case can be recalled to my mind in which
neutral powers have failed to set the ex-
ample Of recognizing the independence Of
nation, whsn satisfied Of the inability af
its enemy to subyert its Government; and
this, too, IN cases where the previous rela-
tion between the coutending parties had
been conirssediy that of mother country
and dependent colony not. as in our case,
that OF co-egual States united BY Federal
compact. II has ever been considered the
proper function and duty Of neutral powers
TO psrfarn the ofice ofjudgieg whether in
point Of TACT the nation asserting dominion
Is able TO make good its pretensions BY
force OF arms, and il not. by recognition ol
the resisting party, to discauntenance the
farther continuance Of the contest. And
the reason why this duty is incumbent on
neatral powers is plainly apparent when
we reflect that the pride and passion which
bind the judgment of the parties to the
canhict cause the continuance of active
warfare. aud consequent useless slaughter
long after the inevitable result has be.
come apparent 10 all not engaged in the
struggle. 80 long, therefore. as neutra
nations Tail by recognition Of our indepen.
drnce to announce that, in their jujgme II
the United States are unable 10 reduce the
Confederacy 10 submission, their csnducl
will be accepted by our enemies as taci
encouragement TO continue their Efforts
and as an implied assurance that belief il
entertained by neutral nations in the sue.
cess OF their designs. A Hirect stimulus
whether intentional or not, is thus applied
to securing continuance of the carnag,
and devastation which desolate This cont
nent. and which they profess deeply 10 de-
piore.
j The disregard Of this just, humane, ant
CHRISTIAN public duty by the nations o
Elrape is the more remarkable from th,
TACT that authentic expression has lens
since been given by the Governments o
both France and England 10 the conviction
that the United States are unable to con-
guer the Confederaey. II is now more
than two years since the Government o.
France announced officially TO the CabiRetl
Of London aud ST Petersburg its own con
cluslen that the United States we're unabl,
to achieve any decisive military success.
ln the answers sent BY those powers M
intimation Of q contrary opinion was con.
seyed aud II is notorious that IN speeches
both ~ and Oh, Of Parliament, the member,
oi Her Britannic. Msjesty's Goyernmep'
have net hesitated 10 express this cenyic'
.lon in unqualified terms. The denial o.
our righr under these circumstances is s,
obviously unjust. and discriminates 80 un.
ialrly 10 favor oi the United States, tha
neutrals have sought TO palate the wronl
OF which they are conscious. BY professinl
to consider 10 opposition TO notorious truth
and 10 the known belief Of both belliger.
enis, that the recognition Of our irdepen
dence weuld be yalueless without thsi
further Intervention 10 the struggle aI
Intervention Of which we dlsclaim the de.
sire and mistrust the advantage. We sssl
no favsr. we wish no intervention. ",
know ourselves fully competent to main
tain our swn rights and indepeadsse,
agsinst the invaders Of our country, IN,