The Placer herald., 1865-04-01
From the London Weekly Dispatch.
Recognition Of the Confederates.

tuo ot"ttS WHICH IIuU formed tno PROVINCES,
she named them separately, and entered into
relations Of anity with each individually
Cesson OF territory is a sovereign right
Could the Federal Government cede a single
State or village in that State TO any other
Power? When Lord Ashburton adjusted his
treaty with the Government at Washington,
which concerned primarily the boundary be-
tween Canada and the State of Maine, the
latter refused TO permit the Union to adjust
the marches, on the express ground that the
territory OF the State of Maine belonged to
the people of Maine, and the United States
had no jurisdiction in the case. In ike
manner, when British subjects and citizens
of color were seized in English ships in the
Southern ports and detained in prison until
the outward clearance Of their respective
vessels, Lord Palme,son challenged the out
rage, and demanded satisfaction of the Fed
elaI Government But the authorities at
Washington declared that the act was that
not of the United States, but Of Louisiana,
sovereign and independent within its own
territory. 1t was sovereign and independent
as against the claims Of England; but it be-
came rebel whenever it asserted It's sove-
reignly against the North. Washington
discaimed all connection with Louisiana;
but it would not suffer Louisiana to dsavow
its partnership with Washington.
The casuistry Of this question must be
brought to some logical conclusion. An
American State is not an English county.
It's territory belongs confessedly to itself. 1t
sells it, and reckons the price in its revenue
When the United States desire to erect for
| f., OF ,uithp tba,
permission of the local Legislature. If they
require sites for Imper, erections, they
must pay for the ground to the State within
which they are reared. Fort Sumter was
the property Of Carolina, and every soldier
in the garrison was under the Jurisdiction of
the local State authorities. On what princi.
pie of neutrality is it that we recognise the
Government at Washington to be that Of
the United States, any more than the Exec
utive at Richmond? Is it simply that the
North was first in the field to call the other
rebels? So long as Abraham Lincoln was
the constitutional mouth-piece Of the Union,
as regularly elected by the whole States of
the Federation, there might be some reason
for the ground which, perhaps, we too has.
tly assumed. But, in March, when he will
cease to be the elect Of The whole, and will
be only the object of sectional choice of
portion Of the whole estates of the Fedora
ton, how can we recognize bin as chief Of
the Commonwealth, any more than Jefferson
Davis? A President is not a King. lie has
no subjects. The territory of monarchy
belongs 10 the Sovereign, the land owners
being but vassaIs holding in trust for the
public benefit. But the territory of each
State in either or both Federatons is con
ttssedly that of the community within it,
When native of another State enters it, he
becomes the subject of new laws and diff
terent Executive. 1t raises armies, it builds
and equps ships Of war Of its OWN, which
are subject exclusively to the commands of
the Governor elected by that particular com
munity. 1t eves its own taxes it contracts
its own debts. In every act it asserts by
implication underived and SOY ereien power
Tell us-we put the question with confidence
to any constitutional lawyer-what will be
the diplomatic and International relation of
Abraham Lincoln TO the British Government
in March next? viii he be then de tacto
the ruler of the Southern States-in arms
against him-holding their own against him
exercising all the recognized functions of
an independent commonwealth? Will he be
their governor de jure? BY what lava TO
rule them, must not he have their votes by
the very constitution of his office? Have
they elected him? Will the Senate reckon
the suflrages of the thirteen slave States in
The scrutiny of the ieturns? by what sign
or ear-mark will the States of Europe recoc-
nize the chief magistrate of the American
Confederation? Is it enough for anybody to
say that he is so? Then why not Jefferson
Davis? We have indeed beard it asked if
Ireland is not a sovereign State, and did not
we call the Irish rebels? 1t has been urged,
is not Scotland kingdom, yet England de
cared her to be in state of rebellion in
Ills and l745. We reply distirclly-no.
There never was separate regular Govern
ment, either in Ireland or Scotland The
real majority of the people in neither coun-
try were ever in rebellion The Scotch and
Irish members never seeded from Parlia
ment-were regularly returned to Parlia,
ment-governed the country, and voted on
all measures necessary to put down the re
belIion of a portion only, and that the least
important of their nations Respectively
Even had it been otherwise, the insurgents
would not have been rebels to the British
Parliament, to which they owed no allie.
glance, but only to the Sovereign. In Amer
lea, Abraham Lincoln is Sovereign by legal
vote for four years. lie is nothing when his
term expires until he is re created by the
same power that set him up at frs,-a pow,
er to which secession has put an end.
There is surely more in the return OF Lord
Lyons than mere failing health. To remain
as Minister of this county to Washington
would become recognition by England of
the status of Lincoln as President OF all the
States. Our representative is Withdrawn
now that the awkward question may not
arise when March comes, We shall see
what we shall see,