The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-05
7HE INDEPENDENCE or TIE C0NFEDE-
RATE STATES A FACT ACCOMPLISHED.
From the London Herald

KATE DIAIEb Il raw dttUHFIfoHbD'
From the London Herald.
That man mast be endowed with almost
American credulity who continues TO doubt that the
independence of the Confederate States Is an accom-
plished reality. II, ut The outset. Mr.. Seward hU-
self had been asked how long he demanded for the
accomplishment Of the enterprise his Government
had undertaken, he would certainly have been salts
fed with a single year; and would have been con-
tent allow that If at the end OF that period the
Confederates could still keep tho field in Virginia,
the European Powers would De entitled 10 recognize
their independence. Three years have almost
eapsed since the first defeat OF the Federals, and
during the whole OF that time the ConIederates have
fought not a. Spain fought against France during
the uneasy reign Of Joseph Bonaparte, not as the
Spanish colonies fought against Spain, not even as
our own American colonies fought against the
armies Of George Ill, but as Russia fought Napo-
leon in 1915, as Frederick ii. defended himself
against Austria in the Seven Years War. The war
has been waged for the most part Southern soil;
1t has, far, not been war ON equal terms thai the
party has fought for empire and the other only
for independence. But II has way partdk2n OF
the character of an insurectonary, n distinguished
from an international, war. The Confederate Co
veInment has, from first to last held position OF
perfect equality with that of the Northern States
1t has administered, with undisputed authority, the
affairs of its country and the Federal Govern
| ment has been unable to exercise any other than
military power there, and that only within the Ter
| IltOry covered by its Own armies.
The State Governments have gone Oh as regularly
ever; the administration Of the clyll law ~ az
/
ana while in the Northern States the necessities Of
an aggressive have been held to require the eX-
ercise OF military authority superior 10 the law,
! the civil authorities have never been oyel1ldden by
martial law i'll any Southern district not actually
| invaded or threatened by the enemy.
| 10 DENY snch government the status OF indie
pendence accorded to Nicaragua, or TO Greece Ger
taiuly the height OF assurd1tyi and tfls I'M
preston is not weakened when We look To the mil
tary operations that have taken place. II IS true
that at sea the tedeIals have been able TO MAINTAIN
l Il HI hat
enough to impose very serious difficulties IN the
| way Of the export Of any bulky commodities, has
been maintained at every port which has at once so
| good harbor and such means OF communication
| with the interior rs 90 be available for commercial
purposes bat II Ii also true that tho ftderitl7 have
hardly gained single naval success, and have sUs-
| tanned several naval disasters.
1t is true, also, that they have been able to occupy
several points the vast extent Of Southern coast
| which commanded from the sea, and 10 obtain
the control of a considerable portion OF the inland
waters OF the South. They have also penetrated at
| various points the long and indeensIble frontier
| lne and pushed their armies far into Southern
| territory But they have not been able TO conquer
ii Single State; and the chief fruit OF three years OF
warfare, beside the disputed possession Of rennes-
see j. widespread devastation and considerable
havoc among the labOIlng population vi the South.
| Hundreds Of homes and farms have been destroyed
and thousands OF negroes stolen, OF whom the ma
lUiity have been burnt; two or three which he at
| the mercy of gUnboats have been occupied; and
| this is all that has been achieved.
aster in the field they have inflicted half score Of
the terrible defeats recorded iii history Their
| capital, with sort OF brayado, planted hear
their endangered frontier army after army, TO
the number OF several hundred thousands, has been
hurled against it and completely shattered; quar-
ter OF million Of cOlpSeS are maninDg the plans
Of Vi1glnia-and with this result, that Richmond Is
now stronger than ii was, and very much safer
than Washington, and that, instead Of asking
whether Grant can take the city, men, both North
and South, expecting to hear that Lee has taken
hats
has been left i'll the hands OF the victoIs. Sherman
has followed up the long and costly march which
last year had brought the Federal army Of the West
to Chattanooga; he not very 1ttf from Atlanta
but while no one fears for Atlanta, all the friends OF
| the North tremble for Sherman and his army
Charleston has been attacked in vain and after
crushing Iepulses the Federal besiegers driven
| TO amuse themselves by bombaIdment which,
though it succeed i'll killing now and then an iEnO
cent child, numbering bride at the altar, might
be continued for hundred years without bringing
the city any nearer to surrender.
Under these circumstances it seems perfectly alb
| suId that the policy Of European Powers should be
influenced by an attectatiOn 50 palpabe as that OF
uncertainty as TO the issue of the war. No sober
| politician considers that the independence OF the
south has yet to be achieved; it Is only III diplo
matte dispatches that statesmen speak OF the Con-
1t,lerate States merely inchoate nationality :;
but, unhappy, ii is by diplomatic language and not
by expressions OF personal opinion, that Europe can
influence the feelings the conduct Of America. Ii
LORD Russell could speak the Confederate trOS
| enment every speaks Of 1t, he would secure
for England and faithful ally, whose friend
ship would do more than an army OF fifty thousand
men 10 protect the frontier O1 Canada If England
and France would speak through their Governments
the opinion Of their peOpeif they would accord to
| the Government Of Richmond that recognition
which it has received from the public opinion OF Eu
| rope-they would do very much to bring the to
close, and spare the lives Of tens of thousands who
must otherwise perish before the North Will consent
to confess itself beaten. The il-wll OF the North
toward this country is already SO bitter that can
hardly eXasperate 1t.
The United States would 60 to with If
they dared they will not be the likely to dare
it if we prove contempt of their menaces by re-
cognizng the South. On the other hand, If wait
to recognize the Contederates till cannot help 1T,
We shall have no claim on their friendship, and no
right TO their assistance when the North does find
the courage to quarrel with Recognition then,
far from tending TO precipitate war, Is the best
possible guarantee for permanent peace between
selves and the United States and If either PaTEa-
ment the Administration were capable of Il cOuI-
ageOus and tar-sghted policy MIR. lindsay's motion
might have chance OF being carried, and of rem
dcIing material service to the country and 10 man.
kind. But to submit such a motion 10 house which
has lust approved Lord RusSelfs betrayal of Den
mark and in which the authors Of our Polish and
American policy have an obedient majority Of egh.
teen simply to invite defeat to give advantage
to the Northern faction in Parliament and to coun.
teract by adverse parliamentary vote, whatever
effect may be produced by the manifestation OF Eng
lish feeling OF doors i'll sympathy with the South
: and in confident expectation Of her complete anC
speedy triumph
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