Latest from Europe.
The Steamship
America arrived at New York on Sunday with
Liverpool dates of the 18th ultimo.
The Cession of Five Mexican States to France.
The most important item tellisence is that relative to the
French in
Sonora; important in view of the recent news from
San Francisco of
Dr. Gwin's movements in
Northwestern Mexico.
It was rumored in
Paris that
Marshal Bazaine had received orders
to occupy Sonora in the name of France, and to hold it as a material pledge for the payment of the indemnity owing by Mexico. One of the
French journals asks the question, whether getting and keeping possession of this security will not cost more than the amount of the mortgage money.
Europe and the Confederacy — the question of recognition with the Abolition of slavery.
The London
Times discusses a belief, which it has seen recently expressed in Southern journals, that slavery is the only existing obstacle to the recognition of the
Confederacy by European Powers.
It says:
‘
That sacrifice is contemplated as possible, and proposed as a politic measure.
The Southerners have carried a long step forward the idea which the employment of negroes in their armies-seems to have originated.
The plan of arming negroes as a measure of defence has made it still more familiar.
The arguments for and against such a measure, the necessity for it, and the value the negro would attach to freedom as the reward of military service, must be perfectly well known to the white population of the
Southern States.
On these points they cannot easily be deceived, but
as to the effect of an offer to abandon slavery in its present form in propitiating the Governments of Europe, the Confederates may easily deceive themselves. To any scheme of emancipation effected by the
South itself,
England, as a nation, would certainly offer no word of opposition; on the contrary, we should rejoice in the change, and wish it every success.
But we know well that slavery is not the only cause of the secession of the
Southern States; nor is emancipation the real object of the
North in carrying on the war so persistently.
The negro and his condition were only one among many causes of the rupture.
The tendency of the republic to separate existed from the day it was constituted, was seen, dreaded, and, under certain conditions, predicted by its first founders.
Those conditions have been brought about, and a fierce civil war is the consequence.
The negro was introduced into the quarrel by an afterthought.
Let the Southerners offer to emancipate their slaves immediately, and propose it to the
North as the sacrifice by which they are ready to purchase its recognition of Southern independence.
The offer would be rejected as valueless, and submission and return to the
Union would be insisted on as the only conditions of peace.
Every State of
Europe acknowledged the republic when it was governed by a Constitution permitting slavery as fully as the
Southern States permit it now. Why should its abandonment by the
Confederacy buy a recognition
that is withheld for many other reasons? Dwelling on this them, the Southerners have indulged in speculations which induce a doubt whether they do not dream dreams and see visions.
That they would prefer, in case of the worst, to submit to any government than that of the
North, we can well understand; but a "protectorate" of
England,
France or
Spain can be only a strong mode of expressing a hatred of "the
Yankees."
We know of no European Power likely to accept such as improbable offer. England would certainly refuse the gift.
France, with its recent
Mexican experience, would, we think, "decline, with thanks. " And the idea of propitiating
Spain, the most obstinate slavery-supporting government in the world, by a proposal to abolish the system, is so eccentric as to throw doubt on the reality of the whole discussion.
’
Loss of the steamer Lelia.
The blockade-running steamer
Lelis,
Captain Thomas B. Skinner, (of
Richmond, Virginia,) was lost off the coast of
England on the 17th ultimo, on her first trip out. Among those on board was
Captain Sinclair,
Confederate States army.
She had left the Morsey, and off Armshead was caught in a gale.
She was put back for the
Mersey, but cou-
