The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-03-22
DlSKAELI AND TIE SOUTHERN CON
FEDERACY.

/
| am able to speak with knowledg gt
on this subject. and I affirm, without
ear OF contradiction. that Mr.. Dis
'aell. although never committing
himself, as Mr. Gladstone and Lore
John Russell did. to the principles
."r which the Southern Confederac,
was lighting, always regarded ''recog .
nltlon,, as possible card to play.
and was quite prepared, at the proper
moment, to play it. The momen'
seemed to have come when Genera,
Lee invaded the Federal States, afte,
having shattered the strength of the
Northern invasion. At that time it
was notorious that the bulk Of the
Tory party and more than half of the
Ministerialists were prepared for
such step Mr. Lindscy's resolution
on the subject had failed: Mr.. Roe.
bucks lo4uence had been equal,
lnef1ectual. But in the face of the
epeated triumphs of the Southern
army, AMI til. possible occupation OF
the capital by General Lees troops.
it seemed hopeless to restrain the
pent.up feelings of the House Of Com.
mons, and Mr.. Disraeli Saw his op.
portunity.
| hal frequent conversations will.
him on the subject, and l perfectly
recollect his saying to me tha: he
thought the time had now come for
moving in the matter. but" he said.
sit is of great Importance that. if the
move is to be made. it should not
| assume a party character, and it is
of equal Importance that the initiative
should come from our ii. e., the Con.
:servative) side. Now, Mr.. Lindsay
carries no wei ght. Lord Robert Cecil
could handle the matter best, but he
IS an avowed partisan of the Confed.
eracy, and would arouse too much
party feeling on the other side. Ii
the thing is to be done, l must do it
myself; and then from all hear and
know, the resolution will be carried.
Lord Palmerston being quite dispos.
ed to accept the declaration of Par
lament in favor of a policy which he
personally approves. But he con-
tlnued, Il cannot speak without
more knowledge of the subject than
| now possess, and l should be glad
il YOU could give me brief, furnish.
ing the necessary Statistics of the
population, the institutions, the com.
mercial and political prospects OF
the Southern States, in order that
when the moment comes / may be
fully armed Iprocured the Eeces.
sary Information from the best au.
thorities, and placed it in his hands.
Every day seemed to bring the mo.
ment for its use nearer, and the gen.
eral feeling III the House Of Com
mons Was perfectly ripe for the mo-
tlon in favor OF 'reco 5nltion," when the
news OF thebattle OF Gettysburg came
like thunder-clap upon the country.
General Meade defeated Lee and
saved the Union, and from that day
not another word was heard in Par.
liamen, ABOUT recognition. A few
4 days ai'terward l saw Mr.. Disraeli.
and ms exact words were, 1--WE near
Is put our foot in it,
| Now the leader of the Tory Oppo
sitlon may have been right or wrong
IN his jud cement, but it was not he
who controlled the Conservative
party. The most powerful influences
on the Opposition side were undoubt
edly the late Lord Derby, through bis
acquai ltance with the anti.slavery
feeling in the manufacturing distr let:
of the North and the present Lore
Derby. then Lord Stanley, whos'
sympathies were always and avowed
Il with the Northern side. But thes,
, two nnblemen would have been pow
erless against the overwhelming feel
, ing of the bulk of the Tory party
+ ami Mr.. Disraeli, mad Lee been trl
r umphant a, Gettysburg, would un
r doubtedly have carried the House Q
) Commons and the country with him