第4章

InEngland,theWar—office,withtheassistanceofafewmoreclerks,easilytobefoundamongtrainedmilitarymen,wouldbeuptothetransactionofalltheadditionallabouranarmyof300,000volunteerswouldentail;

therearehalf—payofficersenoughtotake,saythreeorfourbattalionsofvolunteerseachundertheirspecialinspection,and,withsomeeffort,everybattalionmightbeprovidedwithaline—officerasadjutantandoneascolonel。Cavalry,ofcourse,couldnotbeimprovised;butaresolutereorganisationoftheartilleryvolunteers——withofficersanddriversfromtheRoyalArtillery——wouldhelptomanmanyafield—battery。Thecivilengineersinthecountryonlywaitforanopportunitytoreceivethattraininginthemilitarysideoftheirprofessionwhichwouldatonceturnthemintofirst—rateengineerofficers。Thecommissariatandtransportservicesareorganised,andmaysoonbemadetosupplythewantsof400,000

menquiteaseasilyasthoseof100,000。Nothingwouldbedisorganised,nothingupset;everywheretherewouldbeaidandassistanceforthevolunteers,whowouldnowherehavetogropeinthedark;and——barringsomeofthoseblunderswhichEnglandcannotdowithoutwhenfirstsheplungesintoawar——wecanseenoreasonwhyinsixweekseverythingshouldnotworkprettysmoothly。

Now,looktoAmerica,andthensaywhataregulararmyisworthtoarisingarmyofvolunteers。

TheProgressofFeelingsinEnglandKarlMarxProgressofFeelingsinEnglandLondon,Dec。7,1861

ThefriendsoftheUnitedStatesonthissideoftheAtlanticanxiouslyhopethatconciliatorystepswillbetakenbytheFederalGovernment。TheydosonotfromaconcurrenceinthefranticcrowingoftheBritishpressoverawarincident,which,accordingtotheEnglishCrownlawyersthemselves,resolvesitselfintoamereerrorofprocedure,andmaybesummedupinthewordsthattherehasbeenabreachofinternationallaw,becauseCapt。

Wilkes,insteadoftakingtheTrent,hercargo,herpassengers,andtheCommissioners,didonlytaketheCommissioners。Norspringstheanxietyofthewell—wishersoftheGreatRepublicfromanapprehensionlest,inthelongrun,itshouldnotproveabletocopewithEngland,althoughbackedbythecivilwar;and,leastofall,dotheyexpecttheUnitedStatestoabdicate,evenforamoment,andinadarkhouroftrial,theproudpositionheldbytheminthecouncilofnations。Themotivesthatpromptthemareofquiteadifferentnature。

Inthefirstinstance,thebusinessnextinhandfortheUnitedStatesistocrushtherebellionandtorestoretheUnion。ThewishuppermostinthemindsoftheSlaveocracyandtheirNortherntoolswasalwaystoplungetheUnitedStatesintoawarwithEngland。ThefirststepofEnglandassoonashostilitiesbrokeoutwouldbetorecognisetheSouthernConfederacy,andthesecondtoterminatetheblockade。Secondly,nogeneral,ifnotforced,willacceptbattleatthetimeandundertheconditionschosenbyhisenemy。

\"AwarwithAmerica,\"saysTheEconomist,apaperdeeplyinPalmerston’sconfidence,\"mustalwaysbeoneofthemostlamentableincidentsinthehistoryofEngland;butifitistohappen,thepresentiscertainlytheperiodatwhichitwilldoustheminimumofharm,andtheonlymomentinourjointannalsatwhichitwouldconferonusanincidentalandpartialcompensation。\"

TheveryreasonsaccountingfortheeagernessofEnglandtoseizeuponanydecentpretextforwaratthis’onlymoment’oughttowithholdtheUnitedStatesfromforwardingsuchapretextatthis’onlymoment。’Yougonottowarwiththeaimtodoyourenemy’theminimumofharm,’

and,eventoconferuponhimbythewar,’anincidentalandpartialcompensation。’

Theopportunityofthemomentwouldallbeononeside,onthesideofyourfoe。IsthereanygreatstrainofreasoningwantedtoprovethataninternalwarraginginaStateistheleastopportunetimeforenteringuponaforeignwar?AteveryothermomentthemercantileclassesofGreatBritainwouldhavelookeduponawaragainsttheUnitedStateswiththeutmosthorror。Now,onthecontrary,alargeandinfluentialpartyofthemercantilecommunityhasformonthsbeenurgingontheGovernmenttoviolentlybreaktheblockade,andthusprovidethemainbranchofBritishindustrywithitsrawmaterial。ThefearofacurtailmentoftheEnglishexporttradetotheUnitedStateshaslostitsstingbythecurtailmentofthattradehavingalreadyactuallyoccurred。\"They\"(theNorthernStates),saysTheEconomist,\"arewretchedcustomers,insteadofgoodones。\"ThevastcreditusuallygivenbyEnglishcommercetotheUnitedStates,principallybytheacceptanceofbillsdrawnfromChinaandIndia,hasbeenalreadyreducedtoscarcelyafifthofwhatitwasin1857。Last,notleast,DecembristFrance,bankrupt,paralyzedathome,besetwithdifficultyabroad,pouncesuponanAnglo—Americanwarasarealgodsend,and,inordertobuyEnglishsupportinEurope,willstrainallherpowertosupport\"PerfidiousAlbion\"

ontheothersideoftheAtlantic。ReadonlytheFrenchnewspapers。Thepitchofindignationtowhichtheyhavewroughtthemselvesintheirtendercareforthe\"honorofEngland,\"theirfiercediatribesastothenecessityonthepartofEnglandtorevengetheoutrageontheUnionJack,theirviledenunciationsofeverythingAmerican,wouldbetrulyappalling,iftheywerenotridiculousanddisgustingatthesametime。Lastly,iftheUnitedStatesgivewayinthisinstance,theywillnotderogateoneiotaoftheirdignity。Englandhasreducedhercomplainttoamereerrorofprocedure,atechnicalblunderofwhichshehadmadeherselfsystematicallyguiltyinallhermaritimewars,butagainstwhichtheUnitedStateshaveneverceasedtoprotest,andwhichPresidentMadison,inhismessageinauguratingthewarof1812,expatiateduponasoneofthemostshockingbreachesofinternationallaw。IftheUnitedStatesmaybedefendedinpayingEnglandwithherowncoin,willtheybeaccusedformagnanimouslydisavowing,onthepartofasingleAmericancaptain,actingonhisownresponsibility,whattheyalwaysdenouncedasasystematicusurpationonthepartoftheBritishNavy!

Inpointoffact,thegainofsuchaprocedurewouldbeallontheAmericanside。England,ontheonehand,wouldhaveacknowledgedtherightoftheUnitedStatestocaptureandbringtoadjudicationbeforeanAmericanprizecourteveryEnglishshipemployedintheserviceoftheConfederation。

Ontheotherhand,shewould,onceforall,beforetheeyesofthewholeworld,havepracticallyresignedaclaimwhichshewasnotbroughttodesistfromeitherinthepeaceofGhent,in1814,orthetransactionscarriedonbetweenLordAshburtonandSecretaryWebsterin1842。Thequestionthencomestothis:Doyouprefertoturnthe\"untowardevent\"toyourownaccount,or,blindedbythepassionsofthemoment,turnittotheaccountofyourfoesathomeandabroad?

Sincethisdayweek,whenIsentyoumylastletter,Britishconsolshaveagainlowered,thedecline,comparedwithlastFriday,amountingto2percent,thepresentpricesbeing893/4to7/8formoneyand90to1/8forthenewaccountonthe9thofJanuary。ThisquotationcorrespondstothequotationoftheBritishconsolsduringthefirsttwoyearsoftheAnglo—Russianwar。ThisdeclineisaltogetherduetothewarlikeinterpretationputupontheAmericanpapersconveyedbythelastmail,totheexacerbatingtoneoftheLondonpress,whosemoderationoftwodays’standingwasbutafeint,orderedbyPalmerston,tothedispatchoftroopsforCanada,totheproclamationforbiddingtheexportofarmsandmaterialsforgunpowder,andlastly,tothedailyostentatiousstatementsconcerningtheformidablepreparationsforwarinthedocksandmaritimearsenals。

Ofonethingyoumaybesure,PalmerstonwantsalegalpretextforawarwiththeUnitedStates,butmeetsintheCabinetcouncilswithamostdeterminateoppositiononthepartofMessrs。GladstoneandMilnerGibson,and,toalessdegree,ofSirCornewallLewis。\"Thenobleviscount\"isbackedbyRussell,anabjecttoolinhishands,andthewholeWhigCoterie。

IftheWashingtonCabinetshouldfurnishthedesiredpretext,thepresentCabinetwillbesprung,tobesupplantedbyaToryAdministration。ThepreliminarystepsforsuchachangeofsceneryhavebeenalreadysettledbetweenPalmerstonandDisraeli。Hencethefuriouswar—cryofTheMorningHeraldandTheStandard,thosehungrywolveshowlingattheprospectofthelong—missedcrumbsfromthepublicalmoner。

Palmerston’sdesignsmaybeshownupbycallingintomemoryafewfacts。

Itwashewhoinsistedupontheproclamation,acknowledgingtheSecessionistsasbelligerents,onthemorningofthe14thofMay,afterhehadbeeninformedbytelegraphfromLiverpoolthatMr。AdamswouldarriveatLondononthenightofthe13thMay。He,afteraseverestrugglewithhiscolleagues,dispatched3,000mentoCanada,anarmyridiculous,ifintendedtocoverafrontierof1,500miles,butacleversleight—of—handiftherebellionwastobecheered,andtheUniontobeirritated。He,manyweeksago,urgedBonapartetoproposeajointarmedintervention\"intheinternecinestruggle,\"

supportedthatprojectintheCabinetcouncil,andfailedonlyincarryingitbytheresistanceofhiscolleagues。HeandBonapartethenresortedtotheMexicaninterventionasapisaller。Thatoperationservedtwopurposes,byprovokingjustresentmentonthepartoftheAmericans,andbysimultaneouslyfurnishingapretextforthedispatchofasquadron,ready,asTheMorningPosthasit,\"toperformwhateverdutythehostileconductoftheGovernmentofWashingtonmayrequireustoperforminthewatersoftheNorthernAtlantic。\"Atthetimewhenthatexpeditionwasstarted,TheMorningPost,togetherwithTheTimesandthesmallerfryofPalmerston’spressslaves,saidthatitwasaveryfinething,andaphilanthropicthingintothebargain,becauseitwouldexposetheslave—holdingConfederationtotwofires——theAnti—SlaveryNorthandtheAnti—SlaveryforceofEnglandandFrance。AndwhatsaystheverysameMorningPost,thiscuriouscompoundofJenkinsandRhodomonte,ofplushandswash,initsto—day’sissue,onoccasionofJeffersonDavis’saddress?HearkentothePalmerstonoracle:

\"Wemustlooktothisinterventionasonethatmaybeinoperativeduringaconsiderableperiodoftime;andwhiletheNorthernGovernmentistoodistanttoadmitofitsattitudeenteringmateriallyintothisquestion,theSouthernConfederation,ontheotherhand,stretchesforagreatdistancealongthefrontierofMexico,soastorenderitsfriendlydispositiontotheauthorsoftheinsurrectionofnoslightconsequence。

TheNorthernGovernmenthasinvariablyrailedatourneutrality,buttheSouthernwithstatesmanshipandmoderationhasrecognizedinitallthatwecoulddoforeitherparty;andwhetherwithaviewtoourtransactionsinMexico,ortoourrelationswiththeCabinetatWashington,thefriendlyforbearanceoftheSouthernConfederacyisanimportantpointinourfavor。\"

ImayremarkthattheNordofDecember3——aRussianpaper,andconsequentlyapaperinitiatedintoPalmerstonsdesigns——insinuatesthattheMexicanexpeditionwasfromthefirstsetonfoot,notforitsostensiblepurpose,butforawaragainsttheUnitedStates。

Gen。Scott’sletterhadproducedsuchabeneficentreactioninpublicopinion,andevenontheLondonStockExchange,thattheconspiratorsofDowningStreetandtheTuileriesfounditnecessarytoletloosethePatrie,statingwithalltheairsofknowledgederivedfromofficialsourcesthattheseizureoftheSouthernCommissionersfromtheTrentwasdirectlyauthorizedbytheWashingtonCabinet。

TheCrisisOvertheSlaveryIssueKarlMarxTheCrisisOvertheSlaveryIssueLondon,December10,1861

TheUnitedStateshasevidentlyenteredacriticalstagewithregardtotheslaveryquestion,thequestionunderlyingthewholeCivilWar。GeneralFremonthasbeendismissedfordeclaringtheslavesofrebelsfree。AdirectivetoGeneralSherman,thecommanderoftheexpeditiontoSouthCarolina,wasalittlelaterpublishedbytheWashingtonGovernment,whichgoesfurtherthanFremont,foritdecreesthatfugitiveslavesevenofloyalslave—ownersshouldbewelcomedandemployedasworkersandpaidawage,andundercertaincircumstancesarmed,andconsolesthe\"loyal\"ownerswiththeprospectofreceivingcompensationlater。ColonelCochranehasgoneevenfurtherthanFremont,hedemandsthearmingofallslavesasamilitarymeasure。TheSecretaryofWarCameronpubliclyapprovesofCochrane’s\"views\"。TheSecretaryoftheInterior,onbehalfofthegovernment,thenrepudiatestheSecretaryofWar。TheSecretaryofWarexpresseshis\"views\"evenmoreemphaticallyatapublicmeetingstatingthathewillvindicatetheseviewsinhisreporttoCongress。GeneralHalleck,Fremont’ssuccessorinMissouri,andGeneralDixineastVirginiahavedrivenfugitiveNegroesfromtheirmilitarycampsandforbiddenthemtoappearinfutureinthevicinityofthepositionsheldbytheirarmies。

GeneralWoolatthesametimehasreceivedtheblack\"contraband\"withopenarmsatFortMonroe。TheoldleadersoftheDemocraticParty,SenatorDickinsonandCroswell(aformermemberoftheso—calledDemocraticregency),havepublishedanopenletterinwhichtheyexpresstheiragreementwithCochraneandCameron,andColonelJennisoninKansashassurpassedallhismilitarypredecessorsbyanaddresstohistroopswhichcontainsthefollowingpassage:

Notemporisingwithrebelsandthosesympathisingwiththem。IhavetoldGeneralFremontthatIwouldnothavedrawnmyswordhadIthoughtthatslaverywouldoutlastthisstruggle。Theslavesofrebelswillalwaysfindprotectioninthiscampandwewilldefendthemtothelastmanandthelastbullet。IwantnomenwhoarenotAbolitionists,IhavenouseforthemandIhopethattherearenosuchpeopleamongus,foreveryoneknowsthatslaveryisthebasis,thecentreandthevertexofthisinfernalwar。Shouldthegovernmentdisapproveofmyactionitcantakebackmypatent,butinthatcaseIshallactonmyownhookevenifinthebeginningIcanonlycountonsixmen。

Theslaveryquestionisbeingsolvedinpracticeintheborderslavestatesevennow,especiallyinMissouriandtoalesserextentinKentucky,etc。Alarge—scaledispersalofslavesistakingplace。Forinstance50,000slaveshavedisappearedfromMissouri,someofthemhaverunaway,othershavebeentransportedbytheslave—ownerstothemoredistantsouthernstates。

ItisratherstrangethatamostimportantandsignificanteventisnotmentionedinanyEnglishnewspaper。OnNovember18,delegatesfrom45NorthCarolinacountiesmetonHatterasIsland,appointedaprovisionalgovernment,revokedtheOrdinanceofSecessionandproclaimedthatNorthCarolinawasreturningtotheUnion。ThecountiesofNorthCarolinarepresentedatthisconventionhavebeencalledtogethertoelecttheirRepresentativestoCongressatWashington。

NewsFromAmericaKarlMarxNewsFromAmericaLondon,Dec。13,1861

ThenewsoftheHarveyBirch’sfateandthepresenceofthecruiserNashvilleinSouthamptonharbourreachedNewYorkonNovember29,butdoesnotseemtohavecausedthesensationaleffectonwhichcertaincirclesherecountedjustasmuchasothers,theanti—wargroups,fearedit。Onthisoccasiontheforceofoneshockwavewasbrokenbythatofanother。

ForNewYorkwasjustinthethroesofanelectioncampaign,sincevotingforanewmayorwastotakeplaceonDecember3。Mr。Russell,theenvoyofTheTimesinWashington,whoruinshisCeltictalentbyaffectedEnglishness,pretendssupercilioussurpriseatthispre—electioncommotion。

Mr。RussellofcourseplaysuptotheillusionsoftheLondoncockney,whoimaginesthattheelectionofaNewYorkmayorisjustasmuchadisplayofantiquatedtomfooleryasistheelectionofaLordMayorinLondon。

ItiswellknownthattheLordMayorofLondonisnotconcernedatallwiththegreaterpartofLondon。HeisnominallytheregentoftheCity,amythologicalphenomenonwhichattemptstoprovethatitreallyexistsbyproducinggoodturtlesoupatbanquetsandbadjudgmentsincasesofinfringementofpoliceregulations。OnlyinthefancyofParisianwritersofvaudevillesandofnewsitemsforthepressdoestheLordMayorofLondonstillremainanimportantpoliticalpersonage。TheMayorofNewYorkontheotherhandisarealpower。Atthebeginningofthesecessionmovement,thenotoriousFernandoWood,thepreviousMayor,wasabouttodeclareNewYorkanindependentcityrepublic,ofcourseinagreementwithJeffersonDavis。HisplanwasthwartedbytheenergyoftheRepublicanPartyoftheEmpireCity。

CharlesSumnerfromMassachusetts,amemberoftheSenate——wherehewasattackedbyacane—wieldingSenatorfromtheSouthatthetimeoftheKansasaffair——madeabrilliantspeechontheoriginandhiddenmotivesoftheslave—owners’rebellionatawell—attendedmeetingintheCooperInstituteofNewYorkonNovember27。Afterhisaddressthemeetingpassedthefollowingresolution:

ThedoctrineoftheemancipationoftheslavesofrebelsadvancedbyGeneralFremont,aswellaspronouncementssubsequentlymadebyGeneralBurnside,SenatorWilson,GeorgeBancroft(thefamoushistorian),ColonelCochraneandSimonCameron,whichpointtotheanticipatederadicationofslaveryasthecauseoftherebellion,expressamoral,politicalandmilitarynecessity。ThismeetingconsidersthatpublicopinionintheNorthisnowdefinitelypreparedtosupportanypracticalplanfortheeradicationofslavery——thisnationalmisfortune——thatmightbeproposed,anditregardssucharesultastheonlyconsistentconclusionofthisfightbetweencivilisationandbarbarism。

TheNew—YorkTribunemakesthefollowingremarkaboutSumner’sspeech:

\"TheallusionofMr。SumnertothecomingdiscussionsofCongressonthissubject\"(slavery),\"willkindleahopethatthatbodywillunderstandwhereSouthernweaknessandNorthernstrengthreallylie,andwillseizetheinstrumentalitybywhichtherebellionistobebroughttoaspeedyandfinalextirpation。\"

ApersonalletterfromMexicocontainsinteraliathefollowingpassage:

\"TheBritishambassadorplaysthepartofanenthusiasticfriendofPresidentJuárez’sAdministration……PeoplewellversedinSpanishintriguesassertthatGeneralMarquezhasbeeninstructedbySpaintorallythescatteredforces,boththeMexicanandtheSpanishelements,oftheChurchparty。Thispartyisthensupposedtouseanopportunity,whichisexpectedtopresentitselfsoon,tobegHerCatholicMajestytoprovideakingforthethroneofMexico。AnuncleoftheQueenissaidtohavebeenchosenforthisoffice。Sincethemanisoldhewouldinthenaturalcourseofeventssoonquitthescene,andasanyclausedesignatingasuccessorwastobeavoided,MexicowouldreverttoSpain。ThusthesamepolicywouldcarrythedayinMexicoasinHaiti。\"