Year: 1861

American Allnirs.


So long as the Government of the United
States confines itself strictly to the measures
necessary to carry into effect that which it
proposes to do for the restoration of the
Union or the suppression of the rebellion, it
is hardly to be supposed that Great Britain
or France, whatever may be the opinions of
their rulers in respect to its success, will
be inclined to employ force to compel either
party to accept terms of settlement by
wbomsoever they may be presented. To
whatever straits they may be reduced for the
want of American cotton or tobacco or how
ever desirous they may be for the abolition
of slavery, it is not probable that they will
find in these things a just, or even plausible,
reason for armed Intervention. If war were,
under any circumstances a permanent na-
tional condition, they might, perhaps feel
impelled 10 do otherwise; but they under
stand, perhaps, better than we do, that the
war must close at length, and that the ques-
tion when the end will arrive is simply one
Of time. They know, also, that they can
bear the privation of trade better than we
can the state of hostility; and that although
their sufferings will be considerable, ours
will be greater.


A good deal has been written and pub
lshed to convince the people of the United
States that our Government is in imminent
danger of being involved in war with Great
Britain and France-especially the former
that, in short, Great Britain being warlike
and unconscionable nation, would be glad to
seize upon this opportunity to humble our
pride, break our strength, and, perhaps, carry
into effect some plans of conquest which she
is imagined to entertain. These articles gen.
orally bear the appearance of having been
written, either to stimulate our Government
to greater vigor against the rebels, or to in
cline it to measures OF peace with them. 1t
is natural for men with ulterior views which
they forbear to acknowledge, and seeking to
promote their ends by indirect means, to
exaggerate; and it seems obvious that, among
US, both the ultra war, and the ultra. peace
parties, have been doing this, with view to
recommend their particular plans for bring
| ing the war to a close.


n
of an acknowledgment of the nationality of
the COnfederacy by Europeon powers, and
| efforts are made to excite apprehension of
the event, and its consequences, as we'll as
to bespeak indignation to be ready in case OF
its arrival. We had better spare our indig-
nation, because it will be useless, and employ
our reason to examine the thing itself, and
make up our minds as to its effects.


Unless considerable changes soon take
place in the position of things in the United
States, such an acknowledgment may bt
expected. Its effect will be that which W.
choose TO give to it, and little more. If w
construe it into an evidence of swami o
sympathy" and cause of enmity, it will b


so; if otherwise, it will not. 1t will no


change the relations between the Govern


ment and the rebels a particlei nor practi


cally the relations between either belligeren


and the European Governments. 1t wi
place no new obstacles in the way of ou
arms, nor will it confer any additions
strength upon our adversaries. 1t will, pc
haps, be an item of evidence to show tha
in the opinion of those Governments, IL
the reinstatement of the Constitution ovt
the seeded States is, for the present, out
. our power; but it will confer upon them L
new rights to interfere forcibly in our qua


rel, nor add to the probabilities that they wi
do so, 1t may be done as preliminary ste
to an offer of mediation; and when it shs
! occur, it will not be irrational to expect son
! efforts at intervention on their part.


b. It is reasonable to believe that our Go
: ernment will be Inclined on its part,
= avoid giving to Great Britain-the pow


from which the most seems to be appr


hended-any just occasion for making W


upon it; and we have, SO far, failed to
, any appearance of belligerent feeliI


toward us, on the part Of that GovernmeI


Great Britain, in her foreign relations, is t
justest Government in the world. This m
= not be saying much, but it is saying SON


thing. Her policy, in respect to other Eul
D pean States, where there are questions
: balance of power coming in TO create exec


tions of the operation of the ordinary rules
international law, is nearly inscrutable
us; and perhaps we had better not assume
pronounce upon it. Her wars with


heathen nations OF the Asiatic cOntine


where che has employed the power of
:. arms for the dissemination of Christian
:, and cheap cotton, opium and orthodo
= might perhaps, if we-a Christian natl
Z, had not given them our aid and approve
IL be set down as another exception. But Q


s;da of thasa har adhAsion IN correct maxi