Year: 1862

SiAsy suouSouu, lnSteau OI SIX tnOuSanu Oollors'
to make his rest comfortable "between two
feather beds"


The SHYLOOK OF THE LONDON Stock Ex-
CHANGE WNCNG-When the attitude Of Eng
land was most threatening, and a violation Of
our blockade was seriously talked of in Lon
don, we took occasion to remark that, in the
event Of Great Britain committing such a
breach of international law as the forcible re-
opening of our Southern ports, we should be
perfectly justified in retaliating by sweeping
aside all our relations with that country, save
those of belligerent character, and confscat-
ing British investments in the United States.
This has touched the English Stock Exchange
very sorely, and the English press, and
especially the leading stock jobbing organ-the
London Tnmes-has worked itself furious on
the subject. The latter quotes our re-
marks at length in its leading articles, and
cannot find words strong enough to ex-
press its indignation. 1t confesses itself
thoroughly disgusted by this threat of wholesale
robbery, as it chooses to term it. 1t denounces
ais in unmeasured language as cheats and repu-
diat0rs, and affects to shed tear over those
who have been unfortunate enough to have
anything to do with those wretched American
securities 1t raises its hands in holy horror at
the reckless want Of principle shown by our
press and people, and it tells us that our sug-
gestion has excited general feeling of aversion
even among those who have the happiness not
to be holders of property here. If the nine
hundred millions of dollars invested by British
capitalists in stocks and other American secu-
rites should be lost in the vortex Of financial
ruin, it would be one thing but to wilfully
seize the money would be quite another and a
much more serious affair, an outrage, indeed,
that England could not retaliate.


After abusing us without stint it appeals
to our national conscience, and quotes
the words of Mr. Seward, contained
in letter written in 1889, where he says that
no persons in America ever dreamt that their
government could be guilty of so gross viola
tion of faith as to coniscate in time of war
money invested in American securities in time
of peace. But circumstances alter cases, and
when Mr.. Seward wrote that there was no pros
pect of our ever being in the position in which
we now find ourselves. We are struggling for
our national existence, and the blockade is one
great element Of our strength in suppressing the
rebellion. If, therefore, John Bull Comes at
such time to overthrow all our plans and
strike fatal blow by forcing the blockade, we
shall be right in treating him as an international
burglar, unworthy of any consideration beyond
his condign punishment.


We now see where the shoe pinches. The
British Shylock Of the Stock Exchange is afraid
of losing his pound of flesh. When he heard of
the capture of Mason and Slidell, he thought
the desired opportunity had arrived for him to
come over here and break the blockade and cut
his pound of flesh with impunity; but since he
heard that Mason and Slidell were to be sur
rendered, he has looked disappointed and chap
fallen, and moved grumbling out Of court. He
dinds that the case has assumed quite new
complexion. We have thus much security
against England interfering with our blockade,
that if she does so her people will have to pay
nine hundred millions of dollars for it, and the
English government will find themselves in
volved in costly and disastrous war-a war
which would enable France to carry out her
pTOJects III ltaiy anu UerInaiiy simultaneously
with Russia in Turkey, overthrowing Austria
and closing the highway to British India, and
destroying the balance of power in Europe and
the supremacy Of England forever. But the
dread of losing the nine hundred millions will,
we think, be sufficient to prevent Great Britain
taking that step which might otherwise be re-
sorted to, even in the face Of the political dan
gers to which it would inevitably give rise.
The Shylock of the London Stock Exchange
wnces at the thought of the possible sacrifice
of his pound of flesh; and herein lies our
safety.