Year: 1862

From the Richmond Examiner, Nov s.


The greatness of America is recent
revelation to Europe. With the North
and South confederated under the old
government, the United States possessed
a military power and an abundance of re-
sources of which her citizens, even in the
excess of their. self-complacency, never
dreamed, But few minds in Europe had
any idea ofthe power Of the young giant
of the Western World. One or two of
their public men, as Cavour or Napoleon,
might have apprehended, by the force of
their genius, the military magnitude of
America. But it was generally dim
speculation in Europe. Our boasts ofmil7
itary prowess were frequently ridiculed by
| the British press, and passed as transat-
lantic buster. But this war has shown
that even these boasts fell far short of the
reality. It has revealed to the world an
enormous power that overshadows whate-
yer there is of military display in modern
history, and has amazed the most arrogant
nations of Europe.


Within eighteen months of this war, the
North and South have raised larger armies
than those of the first Napoleon; iron-clad
fleets have been launched capable of de-
stroying the combined navies of England
and France; two millions ofmen have been
put in the field; and yet the internal sys-
tenn of the industry of the country and the
ordinary pursuits Of peace, have been but
little interrupted, unless from the excep-
tional cause of the blockade of the South
ern sea coast. Had the North and South
continued as one nation, there could scarce
ly have been any limits to the achieve
ments of their military power. England
could never have checked it. We could
have overrun the continent, taken Canada
in the teeth Of combination of all the
European Powers, and crushed England
alone, as an eggshell under the hammer.


The bloody and unhappy revelation
| which this war has made of enormous mill
tary resources, has naturally given to Eu-
rope, and especially to England, an extra
| ordinary interest in it's continuation.
| Nothing could be more contrary to the
wishes and policy of England than that the
war should end in reuniting the North and
South, and consolidating and renewing in
rivalry to her a military power which is
now wasted in internecine strife. That the
Union never shall be restored is a foregone
and settled conclusion with the British
government. 1t would not now hesitate
for moment to recognize the South, un-
less firmly persuaded of our ability and
resolution to carry on the war, and unless
| it had another object to gain besides that
of permanent division in the nationality
and power of her old rival That object is
the exhaustion of both North and South.
England proposes to effect the continuation
of this war, as far as possible, to the mu-
tual ruin of the two nations engaged in it,
by standing aside and trusting that, after
vast expenditures of blood and waste of
resources, the separation of the Union will
be quite as surely accomplished by the self
devotion of the South as by the less profit
able mode of foreign Intervention. To the
advantages she hopes to gain from this
separation, she desires to add those which
she expects from loss and ruin to both
North and South in long war. Her pres
ent policy of neutrality with reference to
the war, is founded in the confidence that
the South is able to achieve her independ-
ence, and that the prolongation Of hostili-
ties does not risk her subjugation


In this unchristian and inhuman calcula-
ton, England has rightly estimated the
spirit and resolution of the South. We are
prepared to win our independence with the
great prices of blood and suffering that
England has named. But we understand
her in this matter, Behind her mask of
conscience and pharisaical precision, there
turks hideous and devilish purpose.