Year: 1860

From the London Saturday Review Of Nov. II


Nothing can be more rational than the
skepticism which leads men of experience
to doubt the occurrence of any very great
event which is very confidently predicted;
and, if the event be an American event, in
credulity is increased by the knowledge
that the American people have principles
Of barking which are entirely distinct from
their principles of biting. Still, there are
some symptoms which make it worth while
10 attend to the contingency Of a separation
between the Northern and Southern States
Of the Union. If there is one sign which
clearly shows that an American is genu-
inely uneasy, it is the abatement ofhis COM
merclal confidence, and we now learn that
as soon as it became more than probable
that Mr.. Lincoln would be elected TO the
Presidency, American securities declined
seriously in all parts of the United States.
II does not seem to be thought Tor one mo-
ment that any act Of armed rebellion is
meditated by the Shareholders, and they ap-
pear to be too divided in opinion for there
to be much chance of their concerting a
plan Of simultaneous resistance. But one
or two Southern States, peopled by bigots
Of more than ordinary furious temper, have
announced that they mean to take course
which is certainly alarming. They propose
to instruct the Senators who represent
Them in the upper House Of Congress, 10
resign their seats, and then they intend to
abstain from hlliDg the vacancies. The
Senate, in which all the States are equally
represented, is the knot of the Federal Un-
ion; but there do not seem TO be any means
Of compelling an unwilling State TO contri-
bute delegates 10 it, nor is there any known
constitutional fiction by which the empty
places can be taken 10 be filled. The with
drswal of part OF the Senators would
amount 10 de facto separation much more
difficult TO deal with than overt treason
against the commonwealth.


As soon as il becomes worth while &c
discuss the establishment of separate fed.
Grafton Of the slave-owning States, the con-
sidera,ions which suggest themselves are
such as 10 make US wonder at the folly of
the undertaking. The least drawback on it
is It's erpensiueness. At preseat,the cost Of
the general government is most unequally
distributed between the North and South;
and though in the Southern section these
expenses are much larger than in the
Northern, from the greater inaccessibiity
Of the country, the amount contributed by
the slave States to the revenue which pays
them is out Of all proportion smaller than
the smount raised from the States of free
soil. This, however, is trifling treason
Ter valuing the Union, compared with 9TH
ers. Is 1t possible that the planters do not
perceiue that their connection NTH the
Northern STATES has The effect, as 1t uere, of
insuring their peculiar institution? Looked
at .mpdrtialiy, ii is much more like confri-
rance for keeping up negro serr;tude than
Ueaken,ng II. The Utmost outrage with
which they are menaced by Mr.. Lincoln
and the Republicans is a Congressional
measure prohibiting the introduction of ne
gro slavery into the Northwestern Terrific
ries of The Union. Even this disadvantage
is not necessarily consequence of the Re
publicans carrying the Presidency; for
Congress is still hostile to the Republicans,
and the Southern planters, who are unani-
nous themselves, and allied with power
rul minority in every Stale Of the North,
have q reasonable prospect of even now
thwarting their antagonists policy. But if
the Southern States once succeeded in con.
stItuting separate federation, it is surely
clear that every question now pending be-
tween themselves and the North would be.
come at once an international question.


Every point now at issue in the domes-
tic forum Of Congress would come under
the cognizance OF the general society of ma.
tions. What sort Of division of the unset
tied territsry now belonging to the United
States would ever be agreed upon between
the Northern and Southern declarations no.
body can pretend even 10 conceive; and
this is the very difficulty which seems 10
show that the severance could never be ef
fected without bloodshed. IT Is PLAIN,
HOWEVER, THAT EVERY ATTEMPT OF THE
SOUTHERN STATES TO EXPAND BEYOND TIE
TERRITORY ABSOLUTELY SECURED TO THEM
WOULD BE RESISTED, NOT SIMPLY BY THEIR
NORTHERN EEIGHBoRs, BUT BY THE WHOLE
STRENGTH OF EUROPEAN cIvILIzATIos.-
The mere reckless spirits Of the South are
pushing on their quarrel in the belief that.
if they were once disembarrassed of the
Union, they could rend province after
province from Mexico, and fill each sue.
cessive acquisition with their slaves. Bur
EUROPE WOULD HAVE A WORD IN THE
MATTER. IT Is SIMPLY THE INcsRPoRA.
TIoN OF THE NORTH WITH THE SouTH
WHICH PREVENTS EUROPEAN STATESMEN
FROM TREATING THE AXEExATIoNs OF THE
UNITED STATES AS AvowED EXTENSIONS
OF THE AREA OF SLAVERY. They cannot
now upbraid confederacy, Of which more
than half the members have no slaves, with
conquering and annexing merely in the in
terest of cotton and negroes, bnt there
would be no scruple about taxing the South.
ern federation with designs which il would
be st no pains TO conceal.


Nor is there, we take it, the slightest
doubt that the free States would rather as
sIst than impede the efforts Of European
diplomacy. The Monroe doctrine would
be destroyed by the very fact of separa-
tion. and Northern Union, once divided
from the South, would not be long in max.