Xxxrv,) THE AMERICAN WAR. 837

secede, seemed to him at first to be the author of the strife. 1861.
Another reason why his sympathies wavered was that though Zr 57.
the Southerners were slaveholders, their interests made them
Free Traders. As we have seen more than once, Cobden was
always prone to be led by his sympathies as aneconomist. The
hesitation, however, did not last long. He tolerably soon came
round to a more correct view of theissues at stake, partly under
the influence of Mr. Bright, whose sagacity, sharpened by his
religious hatred of slavery, at once perceived that a break-up
of the American Union would be a damaging blow to the
cause of freedom all over the world. At the beginning of the
struggle, they happened to meet Mr. Motley at breakfast.
With a good deal of liveliness Cobden attacked something
which Mr. Motley had been writing in the newspapers in
favour of the Northern case. As they walked away down
Piccadilly together, Mr. Bright remonstrated with Cobden’on
these symptoms of a leaning towards the South, The argument
 was continued and renewed as other arguments had
been between them. The time came for Cobden to address
his constituents st Rochdale. “Now,” said Mr. Bright, with
a final push of insistence, * this is the moment for you to
speak with a clear voice.” Cobden’s vision by this time was
no longer disturbed by economic or other prepossessions,
and he was henceforth as generally identified as Mr. Bright
with support of the Northern cause.
The interest in the conflict soon took a practical turn.
The circumstances of the war very speedily raised great
questions connected with the maritime rights of belligerents
and neutrals, and Cobden threw himself energetically into a
discussion which was of vital importance to Great Britain.
His activity between the date of the Commercial Treaty and
the time of his death was principally directed to two objects
 ; the improvement of international law as it affects commerce
 in time of war, and the limitation of expenditure upon