Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-04

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'fnk1fst Tfesidsnf Davis has tas game III, his
hands, and can secure the Independence OF the
South either with the assent of The North II de-
spite Of IL. according 60 his pleasure. 4
The clue 10 this stdrihg mystery Is 70 be found in
the statement, frmly credited ~ America, that the
Emperor Of Mexico has conveyed in Trust 90. the
Emperor OF the French the northern portions Of tho
Mexican territory, 70 be held and administered by
French siceroy, in liquidation of the claims oi
France upon the Mexican government, This 'ces.
sion, it is assumed Ia the North, could not possibly
occur without the recogntion Of the Southern Con-
federaey by France, and that recognition, is
further assumed would at once be followed by this
country and the other great Powers Of Europe[
The Prescriptions current on this subject are
strengthened by the snicipstions entertained Of an
emancipation policy on the part Of the Confed-
crate government. Ii Is expected that Genersl
Lee will decree the liberation OF the negroes Of
the South, and call them freemen INTO the
ranks Of bis armies. Such measure, IL Is argued,
would not only furnish the Confectionery with
two hundred thousand soldiers, but could reeope
te obstacle which preUets the governments of IEa-
rope from recognising he Independence of the Hoh
era States. The new confederacy would no Logger
represent slaveholding power the injurious stigma
would be efiaced, and the European States might
welcome the Southern republic without offence or
scandal. From all this it follows that President
Davis, the Federas will not grant lin acceptable
terms OF peace, may continue the war on conditions
more favorabie than before, with France probably
for an ally and the other Powers OF Europe for
friends, and that the North, rather than encounter
this opposition at the present period Of the
struggle should at once 10 TERMS even on the
basis, ii necessary, OF political separation.
The surprise felt in this country at 50 marvellous
change OF prospect will be Increased IN no small
degree by general incrednhty. The organs u the
French government have, onr readers are aware,
denied the truth OF the reports Ia circulation re-
speeding the convention with Mexico, The Aiheri-
cans, it is true, are firmly Impressed with leef
in the story, bAt they sso believe IN story which
We are better able 10 estimate, and ifthey nista
Ken in obe case they may be 50 in another. They
have for some time persuaded themselves, and
are now fully convinced, that if the South xou ID
but break with the INST tuition Of slavery We
should be ready Ia step but Of neutrality aud re-
cognze the government Of President nayis.-I
ton ichaere for his pc aSton, though we are not
altogether surprised At its prevalenco The more
ardent Bartsahs 9th North In this country have
50 strenuously and persistcntly represented the
Whole war Us hero struggle for slavery on one
side aud emancipation on the other that the'fed-
erals may perhaps have regarded our neutrality as
due only to our national adherence 90 the South
ern institution. They may not unnaturally sup
pose, therefore, that the removal of this harrier
would allow our sympaihies to set In towards the
South, aud terminate the importantly which we
| have hitherto maintsined We do not hesitate to
say that sgch alresumptiOn Is bdSed Oh compile iy-
gO,11pes NJ the redt opinions OF EnglishInen Our
neutralhy has not been founded ON any balance OF
Northern or Southern claims 10 favor Disermi-
nation of trat kind has doubtless determined the
Iprvate sympathies OF individuals, hit IL has not
regulated the policy OF our Governaients We
have been neutral in this war from mere Abstract
principles at public policy. We have stood aloof
bacguSe IL esould have been the extreme
of political folly 10 interfere, because the war was
none of our war, and because desired to re-
main at peace. Our recognition Of Southern
| Independence would. when II was made be
dictated by considerations applicable not 10 this
case merely, but to all such cases. and would be
wholly unconnecfed with the professions, whether
political or moral, of the confederacy Inter-
national law and usage give US awple guidance for
Our conduct. 1t il well kpwa and established M
| der what circumstances new governments may be
recognized without offence aud when the Confed-
crates have achieved the necessary position they
will obtain recognition apart from any reference to
their proposed institutions. The. emancipation Of
slaves ia the South would undoubtedly demosh the
arguments hitherto employed by adyocaies q
tue North. IL would render il impossible for any
orator TO declam against slaveholding empire,
TO describe the Southern armies as fighting for what
all Englishmen regard as serttable ab0minaton A.
IL would make II absolutely clear that the feierals
were lighting, not for the freedom OF the negro or
the soil, but for imperial dominion, and nothing
else THIS 1t would certainly do, but not MOTE. II
would leave the question of recognition exactly
IL
OF publc law applied without bias or favor.
The policy OF the Federals on this question has
been strange compound of apprehension and de-
ances They have expressed the greatest alarm at
the idea of British interyGntiop aud yet they have
almost necessarily challenged It. To Judge from
one hall of their words and acts, there is nothing
which they deprecate. strongly; to Judge from
ths other, there Is nothing for which they care so
little. In one way another they seemed to have
kept the vision before their eyes till il appeared
reality, and have now persuaded themselyesof the
imminenee of an event which VIC ia this country
have not much as contemplated Our st llnowL
edge of our supposed Intentions was derived from
American descriptions We never imagined tlat the
resolutions of Gen. Lee on the subject OF slavery
would produce any modification of our national poll
cy. We should heartily rejoice TO slavery abolish
ed, but the abolition of slavery would not affect the
considerations which have dictated our neutrality
in the American war. That neutrality has been
steadily maintained and We may confidently affirm
that it has given satisfaction to the vast majority of
the people OF this country. There Is no dissats-
faction with this policy how, viii the Coniede.
rates induce 10 depart from sare principles Of
action by domestic reforms, however laudable they
may be. That they should be anxious to see tie
power OF Great Britain thrown into the against
that OF theft enemy iatural enough but that the
Federas should be disposed to preeptate such an
event is absolutely inc redible What feelings or
fancie may possess them we cannot tell but ofhs
they may be well assured, that have never will
lingy departed from our duties as neutrais and
that II ever Transformed from cutrals into