8z0 LIFE OF COBDEN. [omaF.
1861. withdraw its name from the contract, it would be difficult
Zr. 57. to disprove its right of doing 80; and the Federal Government
would have no means of maintaining its claims either
by force or by right” He then goes on to argue that
rong the States united by the Federal tie there may be
some which have a great interest in maintaining the Union
on which their prosperity depends; and he then remarks—
‘Great things may then be done in the name of the Federal
Government, but in reality that Government will have ceased
to exist.” Has he not accurately anticipated both the fact
and the motive of the present attitude of the State of New
York? Is it not commercial gain and mercantile ascendency
which prompt their warlike zeal for the Federal
Government ? At all events, it is a little unreasonable in the
New York politicians to require us to treat the South as
rebels, in the face of the opinion of our highest European
authority as to the right of secession.”
The Trent Affair,
“ Midhurst, Dec. 8, 1861. (To Iieut.-Ool, Fitzmayer.)—
» + + +» In reference to our latest complication with the
United States, it is I hope possible the Government ab
Washington may disavow the act of their officer.® If not, it
will I expect be nothing more than a diplomatic and legal
wrangle. I think, however, the American Government are
very foolish to take such a course. I confess I have not
much opinion of Seward. He is a kind of American Thiers
or Palmerston or Russell—and talks to Bunkum. Forbu-¥
Messrs. Slidell and Mason, two Commissioners from the Confederate
Btates to Europe, were passengers on board the West India mail steamer
Trent. Captain Wilkes, of the United Stateg war-vessel San Jacinto, stopped
the Trent by firing a shot across her bows, took the Commissioners forcibly
out of her, and sailed away with them (Nov. 8). After an interchange of
torrespondence between Lord Russell and Mr, Seward, and the despatoh of
British troops to Halifax, the men were given up, and reached England on
January 29. (See Irving’s Annals, » 814)
