Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-11
Abolition Views of Great Britain and the In
terests of France

Il
forcs says the Charleston Mercury the abolition staea
manshp of the British Godernmant. Aud his exposi'
tons Of aimed by this policy deserve the atten-
toD not only of our own people, as partially accounting
for the hostility of that Government towards
those who would other have been their best custom:
err but also the earnest consideration OF France Spain,
aud the civilized world To each, and to france in par
tcuar tie success OF that policy which will destroy the
capacity Of the Confederate States TO produce tropical
productions, is frGught with consequences vastly mo-
mentous in the relations of other ecu tries to Great
Britain. We have endeavored repeatedly to point out
the conflict of interests and the dangers Of her designs
pro.ecated under the cloak of philanthropy Her views
and those OF other nations not identical.
The policy of the British Government in regard to
negro slavery has been long avowed and proclaimed
1t was uaugurated by that remarkable act of public sui
eide committedthry years ago, when that Government
in aboisaing slavery in the British West Indies, CON
yered is airest and richest colonies into wasts OF
deserts and apges. Too late to repent, she must
cove, her ground by aboitionizng the world and de-
stroyng in like the advantages Of ohers II was
again divulged in It's diplomacy with Texas, before the
annex alton Of that State when it proered to secure
the acknowledgment of Ms independence from Mexico
on condition of the Abolition OF slavery; and after
wards when, under the searching diplomacy Of Mr..
OALHoUS the broad declaration was extorted from Lord
ABERDEEN that Great-Bri:an was constantly exeriog
herselo procure the abolition of tllvery Though
out the.world" The fact thea is the facs now; the
policy avoWed 1874 is the policy which has been per
sisted in ever since, and is pursued nerty g
at this moment Speaking, il his celebrated letter to
Mr. KING Of this leading measure CT the British Gov
.;l.sr.
She no only seeks to revive aud Increase her own
capacity toproduce tropical productions, but to di-
minsh and destroy the capacity of those who have
so far outsTpped her in this btanch Of enterprise
In pursuit of the former she has cast her eyes her
East India possess ons-to Central and 10 Eastern At
r:cl-wth the of establishing colonies there, and
even to fesore substal italy, the slave trade itself
under the epecSus Of transporting free laborprs
from Africa TO her Vest Ipda possessions in order, If
possible to compete successfully with those who have
refused to follow her policy of abolition. But ttese
all sord but uncertain aud distant hopes of establishing
/ "her superiority. Her main reliance ia on the other
aitsrnative-tOc pple destroy the productions Of
- her successful rivals There is but one way by which
cit can be done, and that is by abolishng African
slavery throughout this continent and that she open
" avows to be the constant object Of her POLICY and
exert0ns. Il matters not how, or from what motive,
60 it may be done-Whe, her it be by diplomacy, infu
ence or lerce by secret or open means and whether
e" the motive bo humane or self b, without regard to
motve means manner. The thing itselG shoald il
be accomplished would pat down all rivalry, aud give
her the undisput5d supremacy in supplying her
wants and those of the rest of the world. Itwoud
90 give her the monopoly Of cotton productions.
"0f what would be the consequence if this object
Of her ucceasing soicuds and eIertions should be
effected by the abolition Of negro slavery throughout
this continent idea may be formed from the i'm
" meuse dminutiOn of productions which has followed
abolition in the West India p9ssessio But great
that has been, 1t is nothing compared Withw
would be the effect if she should succeed in abolish
" ing slavery in the United States, Cuba Brazil and
throughout this continent. The experiment in her
own colonies made under the favorable cir
| cumstances IL was brought about gradually and
peactably by the steady and firm operation ofthe pa
rent country, arm.d with complete power to prevent
=" or crush at all iRsurreconary moVemen;aon The
| part of the negroes, aud able end dispoged
to nlAn the full the political and social ssoen-
dency OF the former masters their former slaves.
IS not at all wonderful that the change of the re-
latops of master and Save took place, under such
| " cIoumstances, without volsnce and bloodshed,
aud hat oder and peace should havebeen preserved.
Very different would be the result OF abolition should
{" be eff cted by the influence and, exerons in the
possession of other coultTigs on this continent and
especially in the United Sases; Cuba and Brazil the
great cultvators of the principal tropical products Of
America To form correct como p:ion of Wha. would
81 be the result them, must look not 10 Jamaica,
" but to ST. Domingo, for example. The change would
q be followed by uniOrgiving hate between the two
tween & EN- for the superiority; oro or the other
- would have to be suugAted, extirpated or expelled;
and dssolaton would overspread their terri oTies
in S. Domingo, from which it would take centusies
TO recover. The end would be that the superiority in
cultiyating the geat tropca staples would be trans
ferred from them to the British tropical possess
They are Of vast extent and those beyond the Cape
of Good Hope possessed of an unlimited amount of
labor, standing ready by the aid of British capital,
to supply the cehcit which would be occasoned by
tha
States Cuba, Brazil and other counties cultivated by
slave labor on this continent the increased
price, in consequence, would yield profit It is the
sue ,eSsiu ccnlpstton of that labor which keeps the
prices Of the great staples low as to prevent their
cultivation with profit ia the possessions of Great
Britain, by what she is pleased 10 call free labor. II
she eau destroy It's competition sho will have mo-
nopoly in those productions. She has all the
and fertile possessions in both desscom
| 90 mand OF O. pal and Abor-au ample power to sup
press disturbances and preserve order throughout her
/ " wide doininions. =
"Dismissipg then the stalesand unfounded plea Of
philan hrepy, it be that Frarce and the other
great Continental poWeTsAseeing what must be the
result of this policy for the accomplishment of which
England is constantly eIerng hetself-are prepared
to back her in her efforts to effect itS What possible
motives can they have to favor her cherished policy!
Is i not better for them that they should be supplied
with tropical products in exchange for their LABOR
from the United States Brazil Cuba aad this eonli
nent generally than to be dependent on one great
monopoz ng power for their supply3 Il it not bet
ter that they should receive them ct the low prices
which competition, cheaper means OF production and
nearness MARKET would furnish them by the former
Ethan to givs the high prices which monopoly, dear
labor and great distance from market would impose
it not better that their labor should be exchanged
with continent rapidly increasing 10 population
"and the capacity for consuming and which would fur
'nish, in the course OF few generations a market
nearer to them, and OF almost unlimited extent,
"the products of their industry and arts than with old
and distant regions whose population has long since
preached its growth3"