A Game to be Blocked.
An article in the Richmond
Whig of yesterday, records our attention to a subject to when we have long designed to call the attention of Congress.
About two months since, an English newspaper-- at present we forget which of them it was -- contained an article in which the
British public was congratulated upon the certain prospect of obtaining the usual supply of cotton without breaking the blockades and offending the
Yankee Congress.
The channel pointed out was
Mexico, that country having been excepted in the general law against exporting cotton through any other than the
Confederate ports.
The paper in question, after indulging in certain generalities about the irreversible laws of trade, and the superiority of the laws of demand and supply to all blockader and prohibitory tariff, stated that during the
Russian war
England received through
Germany every article of
Russian production of which the stood in need, as freely as the had obtained them during peace, although, of course at the expense of some inconvenience and considerable additional cost.
It then proceeded to develop the plan for obtaining our cotton through
Mexico.
We are surprises that Congress has hitherto over looked this precious scheme, and we earnestly, entreat their immediate attention to it.
It is obvious that if this door be left open, it is useless to close any other.
It will defeat the whole legislation of Congress upon that vitally important subject.
It is absurd to suppose that either
England or
France have any particular affection for us. The Government of any country which indulges in special partiality for any other country, is false to its own people.
Governments must consult the interests of the people they govern.
It is the interest of both
England and
France to keep on good terms with the
Yankees, and unless some more powerful interest renders that impossible, they will keep on good terms with them.
They can only be induced to break this blockade by absolute necessity.
Unless they can obtain the usual supply of our cotton, they must both become bankrupt.
It is possible, indeed, that a revolution in each country might be the consequence of a failure.
Consequently they will not hesitate to board the
Yankees and raise the blockade, if they cannot obtain their supplies in any other way. If, however, we permit them to establish a route for cotton through
Mexico, they will never break the blockade at all. They certainly will not do it from any abstract love of the
Confederate States.
Congress, it is understood, will adjourn this week.
We trust they will settle this matter before they go home.
They will observe from the telegram in our columns this morning, that the
Queen, in her speech to Parliament, declares that she will be strictly neutral in the war between the
Northern and Southern States of this Union.
Let us stop this vent to our cotton, and then see whether she can carry out the policy of neutrality.
Let us see how long she can retain her crown without breaking this blockade.
And if she break this blockade, the
Yankees, at least, will consider her as no longer a neutral.
There can be little doubt that Lord Palmerston was encouraged to put this declaration in the mouth of the
Queen by the prospect of an abundant supply of the raw material through
Mexico.
Oh! the cunning little lease.
We cannot doubt that our Congress will put an end at once to all hopes from that quarter.
He anything with the cotton — throw it in the sea, bury it in the earth, burn it, pick it to pieces and scatter it to the four winds of heaven — but do not let
John Bull have one ounce of it, unless he gets it through the
Confederate ports.
We shall soon see whether Lord Palmerston will dare to advise persistence in a policy which must, of necessity, create a revolution in
Great Britain; which may cost the family of Gueler their throne; which
must produce a financial crisis that will shake the
Eastern Continent from
London to
Pekin like an earthquake.
We care not what course the
Queen of
Great Britain may see fit to pursue.
If she can do without us, we can do without her. Let her be neutral.
if she chooses.
If she does not want our cotton, we will not force it on her.
