TheNorthAmericanCivilWarLondon，October20，1861
FormonthstheleadingweeklyanddailypapersoftheLondonpresshavebeenreiteratingthesamelitanyontheAmericanCivilWar。WhiletheyinsultthefreestatesoftheNorth，theyanxiouslydefendthemselvesagainstthesuspicionofsympathisingwiththeslavestatesoftheSouth。Infact，theycontinuallywritetwoarticles:onearticle，inwhichtheyattacktheNorth，andanotherarticle，inwhichtheyexcusetheirattacksontheNorth。
Inessencetheextenuatingargumentsread:ThewarbetweentheNorthandSouthisatariffwar。Thewaris，further，notforanyprinciple，doesnottouchthequestionofslaveryandinfactturnsonNorthernlustforsovereignty。Finally，evenifjusticeisonthesideoftheNorth，doesitnotremainavainendeavourtowanttosubjugateeightmillionAnglo—Saxonsbyforce！WouldnotseparationoftheSouthreleasetheNorthfromallconnectionwithNegroslaveryandensureforit，withitstwentymillioninhabitantsanditsvastterritory，ahigher，hithertoscarcelydreamt—of，development？Accordingly，mustnottheNorthwelcomesecessionasahappyevent，insteadofwantingtooverruleitbyabloodyandfutilecivilwar？
PointbypointwewillprobethepleaoftheEnglishpress。
ThewarbetweenNorthandSouth——sorunsthefirstexcuse——isameretariffwar，awarbetweenaprotectionistsystemandafreetradesystem，andBritainnaturallystandsonthesideoffreetrade。Shalltheslave—ownerenjoythefruitsofslavelabourintheirentiretyorshallhebecheatedofaportionofthesebytheprotectionistsoftheNorth？
Thatisthequestionwhichisatissueinthiswar。ItwasreservedforTheTimestomakethisbrilliantdiscovery。TheEconomist，TheExaminer，TheSaturdayReviewandtuttiquantiexpoundedthethemefurther。Itischaracteristicofthisdiscoverythatitwasmade，notinCharleston，butinLondon。Naturally，inAmericaeveryoneknewthatfrom1846to1861afreetradesystemprevailed，andthatRepresentativeMorrillcarriedhisprotectionisttariffthroughCongressonlyin1861，aftertherebellionhadalreadybrokenout。Secession，therefore，didnottakeplacebecausetheMorrilltariffhadgonethroughCongress，but，atmost，theMorrilltariffwentthroughCongressbecausesecessionhadtakenplace。WhenSouthCarolinahaditsfirstattackofsecessionin1831，theprotectionisttariffof1828servedit，tobesure，asapretext，butonlyasapretext，asisknownfromastatementofGeneralJackson。Thistime，however，theoldpretexthasinfactnotbeenrepeated。IntheSecessionCongressatMontgomeryallreferencetothetariffquestionwasavoided，becausethecultivationofsugarinLouisiana，oneofthemostinfluentialSouthernstates，dependsentirelyonprotection。
But，theLondonpresspleadsfurther，thewaroftheUnitedStatesisnothingbutawarfortheforciblemaintenanceoftheUnion。TheYankeescannotmakeuptheirmindstostrikefifteenstarsfromtheirstandard。
Theywanttocutacolossalfigureontheworldstage。Yes，itwouldbedifferentifthewarwaswagedfortheabolitionofslavery！Thequestionofslavery，however，asTheSaturdayReviewcategoricallydeclaresamongotherthings，hasabsolutelynothingtodowiththiswar。
ItisabovealltoberememberedthatthewardidnotoriginatewiththeNorth，butwiththeSouth。TheNorthfindsitselfonthedefensive。
FormonthsithadquietlylookedonwhilethesecessionistsappropriatedtheUnion’sforts，arsenals，shipyards，customshouses，payoffices，shipsandsuppliesofarms，insulteditsflagandtookprisonerbodiesofitstroops。FinallythesecessionistsresolvedtoforcetheUniongovernmentoutofitspassiveattitudebyablatantactofwar，andsolelyforthisreasonproceededtothebombardmentofFortSumternearCharleston。
OnApril11（1861）theirGeneralBeauregardhadlearntinameetingwithMajorAnderson，thecommanderofFortSumter，thatthefortwasonlysuppliedwithprovisionsforthreedaysmoreandaccordinglymustbepeacefullysurrenderedafterthisperiod。Inordertoforestallthispeacefulsurrender，thesecessionistsopenedthebombardmentearlyonthefollowingmorning（April12），whichbroughtaboutthefallofthefortinafewhours。NewsofthishadhardlybeentelegraphedtoMontgomery，theseatoftheSecessionCongress，whenWarMinisterWalkerpubliclydeclaredinthenameofthenewConfederacy:Nomancansaywherethewaropenedtodaywillend。AtthesametimeheprophesiedthatbeforethefirstofMaytheflagoftheSouthernConfederacywillwavefromthedomeoftheoldCapitolinWashingtonandwithinashorttimeperhapsalsofromtheFaneuilHallinBoston。OnlynowensuedtheproclamationinwhichLincolncalledfor75，000mentodefendtheUnion。ThebombardmentofFortSumtercutofftheonlypossibleconstitutionalwayout，namelytheconvocationofageneralconventionoftheAmericanpeople，asLincolnhadproposedinhisinauguraladdress。ForLincolntherenowremainedonlythechoiceoffleeingfromWashington，evacuatingMarylandandDelawareandsurrenderingKentucky，MissouriandVirginia，orofansweringwarwithwar。
ThequestionoftheprincipleoftheAmericanCivilWarisansweredbythebattlesloganwithwhichtheSouthbrokethepeace。Stephens，theVice—PresidentoftheSouthernConfederacy，declaredintheSecessionCongressthatwhatessentiallydistinguishedtheConstitutionnewlyhatchedatMontgomeryfromtheConstitutionofWashingtonandJeffersonwasthatnowforthefirsttimeslaverywasrecognisedasaninstitutiongoodinitself，andasthefoundationofthewholestateedifice，whereastherevolutionaryfathers，mensteepedintheprejudicesoftheeighteenthcentury，hadtreatedslaveryasanevilimportedfromEnglandandtobeeliminatedinthecourseoftime。AnothermatadoroftheSouth，Mr。Spratt，criedout:\"Forusitisaquestionoffoundingagreatslaverepublic。\"If，therefore，itwasindeedonlyindefenceoftheUnionthattheNorthdrewthesword，hadnottheSouthalreadydeclaredthatthecontinuanceofslaverywasnolongercompatiblewiththecontinuanceoftheUnion？
JustasthebombardmentofFortSumtergavethesignalfortheopeningofthewar，theelectionvictoryoftheRepublicanPartyoftheNorth，theelectionofLincolnasPresident，gavethesignalforsecession。
OnNovember6，1860，Lincolnwaselected。OnNovember8，1860，amessagetelegraphedfromSouthCarolinasaid:Secessionisregardedhereasanaccomplishedfact;onNovember10thelegislatureofGeorgiaoccupieditselfwithsecessionplans，andonNovember13aspecialsessionofthelegislatureofMississippiwasconvenedtoconsidersecession。ButLincoln’selectionwasitselfonlytheresultofasplitintheDemocraticcamp。DuringtheelectionstruggletheDemocratsoftheNorthconcentratedtheirvotesonDouglas，theDemocratsoftheSouthconcentratedtheirvotesonBreckinridge，andtothissplittingoftheDemocraticvotestheRepublicanPartyoweditsvictory。Whencecame，ontheonehand，thepreponderanceoftheRepublicanPartyintheNorth？Whence，ontheother，thedisunionwithintheDemocraticParty，whosemembers，NorthandSouth，hadoperatedinconjunctionformorethanhalfacentury？
UnderthepresidencyofBuchanantheswaythattheSouthhadgraduallyusurpedovertheUnionthroughitsalliancewiththeNorthernDemocratsattaineditszenith。ThelastContinentalCongressof1787andthefirstConstitutionalCongressof1789—90hadlegallyexcludedslaveryfromallTerritoriesoftherepublicnorth—westoftheOhio。（Territories，asisknown，isthenamegiventothecolonieslyingwithintheUnitedStatesitselfwhichhavenotyetattainedthelevelofpopulationconstitutionallyprescribedfortheformationofautonomousstates。）Theso—calledMissouriCompromise（1820），inconsequenceofwhichMissouribecameoneoftheStatesoftheUnionasaslavestate，excludedslaveryfromeveryremainingTerritorynorthof36degreeslatitudeandwestoftheMissouri。Bythiscompromisetheareaofslaverywasadvancedseveraldegreesoflongitude，whilst，ontheotherhand，ageographicalboundary—linetoitsfuturespreadseemedquitedefinitelydrawn。Thisgeographicalbarrier，initsturn，wasthrowndownin1854bytheso—calledKansas—NebraskaBill，theinitiatorofwhichwasSt[ephen]A。Douglas，thenleaderoftheNorthernDemocrats。TheBill，whichpassedbothHousesofCongress，repealedtheMissouriCompromise，placedslaveryandfreedomonthesamefooting，commandedtheUniongovernmenttotreatthembothwithequalindifferenceandleftittothesovereigntyofthepeople，thatis，themajorityofthesettlers，todecidewhetherornotslaverywastobeintroducedinaTerritory。Thus，forthefirsttimeinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates，everygeographicalandlegallimittotheextensionofslaveryintheTerritorieswasremoved。UnderthisnewlegislationthehithertofreeTerritoryofNewMexico，aTerritoryfivetimesaslargeastheStateofNewYork，wastransformedintoaslaveTerritory，andtheareaofslaverywasextendedfromtheborderoftheMexicanRepublicto38degreesnorthlatitude。In1859NewMexicoreceivedaslavecodethatvieswiththestatute—booksofTexasandAlabamainbarbarity。
Nevertheless，asthecensusof1860proves，amongsomehundredthousandinhabitantsNewMexicodoesnotyetcounthalfahundredslaves。IthadthereforesufficedfortheSouthtosendsomeadventurerswithafewslavesovertheborder，andthenwiththehelpofthecentralgovernmentinWashingtonandofitsofficialsandcontractorsinNewMexicotodrumtogetherashampopularrepresentationtoimposeslaveryandwithittheruleoftheslaveholdersontheTerritory。
However，thisconvenientmethoddidnotproveapplicableinotherTerritories。
TheSouthaccordinglywentastepfurtherandappealedfromCongresstotheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates。ThisCourt，whichnumbersninejudges，fiveofwhombelongtotheSouth，hadlongbeenthemostwillingtooloftheslaveholders。Itdecidedin1857，inthenotoriousDredScottcase，thateveryAmericancitizenpossessestherighttotakewithhimintoanyterritoryanypropertyrecognizedbytheConstitution。TheConstitution，itmaintained，recognisesslavesaspropertyandobligestheUniongovernmenttoprotectthisproperty。Consequently，onthebasisoftheConstitution，slavescouldbeforcedtolabourintheTerritoriesbytheirowners，andsoeveryindividualslaveholderwasentitledtointroduceslaveryintohithertofreeTerritoriesagainstthewillofthemajorityofthesettlers。
TherighttoexcludeslaverywastakenfromtheTerritoriallegislaturesandthedutytoprotectpioneersoftheslavesystemwasimposedonCongressandtheUniongovernment。
IftheMissouriCompromiseof1820hadextendedthegeographicalboundary—lineofslaveryintheTerritories，iftheKansas—NebraskaBillof1854haderasedeverygeographicalboundary—lineandsetupapoliticalbarrierinstead，thewillofthemajorityofthesettlers，nowtheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates，byitsdecisionof1857，toredowneventhispoliticalbarrierandtransformedalltheTerritoriesoftherepublic，presentandfuture，fromnurseriesoffreestatesintonurseriesofslavery。
Atthesametime，underBuchanan’sgovernmentthesevererlawonthesurrenderingoffugitiveslavesenactedin1850wasruthlesslycarriedoutinthestatesoftheNorth。Toplaythepartofslave—catchersfortheSouthernslaveholdersappearedtobetheconstitutionalcallingoftheNorth。Ontheotherhand，inordertohinderasfaraspossiblethecolonisationoftheTerritoriesbyfreesettlers，theslaveholders’partyfrustratedalltheso—calledfree—soilmeasures，i。e。，measureswhichweretosecureforthesettlersadefiniteamountofuncultivatedstatelandfreeofcharge。
Intheforeign，asinthedomestic，policyoftheUnitedStates，theinterestoftheslaveholdersservedastheguidingstar。BuchananhadinfactboughttheofficeofPresidentthroughtheissueoftheOstendManifesto，inwhichtheacquisitionofCuba，whetherbypurchaseorbyforceofarms，wasproclaimedasthegreattaskofnationalpolicy。UnderhisgovernmentnorthernMexicowasalreadydividedamongAmericanlandspeculators，whoimpatientlyawaitedthesignaltofallonChihuahua，CoahuilaandSonora。
TheunceasingpiraticalexpeditionsofthefilibustersagainstthestatesofCentralAmericaweredirectednolessfromtheWhiteHouseatWashington。
Intheclosestconnectionwiththisforeignpolicy，whosemanifestpurposewasconquestofnewterritoryforthespreadofslaveryandoftheslaveholders’
rule，stoodthereopeningoftheslavetrade，secretlysupportedbytheUniongovernment。St[ephen]A。DouglashimselfdeclaredintheAmericanSenateonAugust20，1859:DuringthelastyearmoreNegroeshavebeenimportedfromAfricathaneverbeforeinanysingleyear，evenatthetimewhentheslavetradewasstilllegal。Thenumberofslavesimportedinthelastyeartotalledfifteenthousand。
Armedspreadingofslaveryabroadwastheavowedaimofnationalpolicy;
theUnionhadinfactbecometheslaveofthethreehundredthousandslaveholderswhoheldswayovertheSouth。Aseriesofcompromises，whichtheSouthowedtoitsalliancewiththeNorthernDemocrats，hadledtothisresult。
Onthisalliancealltheattempts，periodicallyrepeatedsince1817，toresisttheeverincreasingencroachmentsoftheslaveholdershadhithertocometogrief。Atlengththerecameaturningpoint。
ForhardlyhadtheKansas—NebraskaBillgonethrough，whichwipedoutthegeographicalboundary—lineofslaveryandmadeitsintroductionintonewTerritoriessubjecttothewillofthemajorityofthesettlers，whenarmedemissariesoftheslaveholders，borderrabblefromMissouriandArkansas，withbowie—knifeinonehandandrevolverintheother，felluponKansasandsoughtbythemostunheard—ofatrocitiestodislodgeitssettlersfromtheTerritorycolonisedbythem。TheseraidsweresupportedbythecentralgovernmentinWashington。Henceatremendousreaction。ThroughouttheNorth，butparticularlyintheNorth—west，arelieforganisationwasformedtosupportKansaswithmen，armsandmoney。OutofthisrelieforganisationarosetheRepublicanParty，whichthereforeowesitsorigintothestruggleforKansas。AftertheattempttotransformKansasintoaslaveTerritorybyforceofarmshadfailed，theSouthsoughttoachievethesameresultbypoliticalintrigues。Buchanan’sgovernment，inparticular，exerteditsutmosteffortstohaveKansasincludedintheStatesoftheUnionasaslavestatewithaslaveconstitutionimposedonit。
Hencerenewedstruggle，thistimemainlyconductedinCongressatWashington。
EvenSt[ephen]A。Douglas，thechiefoftheNorthernDemocrats，now（1857
—58）enteredthelistsagainstthegovernmentandhisalliesoftheSouth，becauseimpositionofaslaveconstitutionwouldhavebeencontrarytotheprincipleofsovereigntyofthesettlerspassedintheNebraskaBillof1854。Douglas，SenatorforIllinois，aNorth—westernstate，wouldnaturallyhavelostallhisinfluenceifhehadwantedtoconcedetotheSouththerighttostealbyforceofarmsorthroughactsofCongressTerritoriescolonisedbytheNorth。AsthestruggleforKansas，therefore，calledtheRepublicanPartyintobeing，itatthesametimeoccasionedthefirstsplitwithintheDemocraticPartyitself。
TheRepublicanPartyputforwarditsfirstplatformforthepresidentialelectionin1856。Althoughitscandidate，JohnFremont，wasnotvictorious，thehugenumberofvotescastforhimatanyrateprovedtherapidgrowthoftheParty，particularlyintheNorth—west。AttheirsecondNationalConventionforthepresidentialelection（May17，1860），theRepublicansagainputforwardtheirplatformof1856，onlyenrichedbysomeadditions。
Itsprincipalcontentswerethefollowing:Notafootoffreshterritoryisfurtherconcededtoslavery。Thefilibusteringpolicyabroadmustcease。
Thereopeningoftheslavetradeisstigmatised。Finally，free—soillawsaretobeenactedforthefurtheranceoffreecolonisation。
Thevitallyimportantpointinthisplatformwasthatnotafootoffreshterrainwasconcededtoslavery;ratheritwastoremainonceandforallconfinedwiththeboundariesofthestateswhereitalreadylegallyexisted。Slaverywasthustobeformallyinterned;butcontinualexpansionofterritoryandcontinualspreadofslaverybeyonditsoldlimitsisalawoflifefortheslavestatesoftheUnion。
Thecultivationofthesouthernexportarticles，cotton，tobacco，sugar，etc。，carriedonbyslaves，isonlyremunerativeaslongasitisconductedwithlargegangsofslaves，onamassscaleandonwideexpansesofanaturallyfertilesoil，whichrequiresonlysimplelabour。Intensivecultivation，whichdependslessonfertilityofthesoilthanoninvestmentofcapital，intelligenceandenergyoflabour，iscontrarytothenatureofslavery。
HencetherapidtransformationofstateslikeMarylandandVirginia，whichformerlyemployedslavesontheproductionofexportarticles，intostateswhichraiseslavestoexportthemintothedeepSouth。EveninSouthCarolina，wheretheslavesformfour—seventhsofthepopulation，thecultivationofcottonhasbeenalmostcompletelystationaryforyearsduetotheexhaustionofthesoil。Indeed，byforceofcircumstancesSouthCarolinahasalreadybeentransformedinpartintoaslave—raisingstate，sinceitalreadysellsslavestothesumoffourmilliondollarsyearlytothestatesoftheextremeSouthandSouth—west。Assoonasthispointisreached，theacquisitionofnewTerritoriesbecomesnecessary，sothatonesectionoftheslaveholderswiththeirslavesmayoccupynewfertilelandsandthatanewmarketforslave—raising，thereforeforthesaleofslaves，maybecreatedfortheremainingsection。Itis，forexample，indubitablethatwithouttheacquisitionofLouisiana，MissouriandArkansasbytheUnitedStates，slaveryinVirginiaandMarylandwouldhavebeenwipedoutlongago。IntheSecessionistCongressatMontgomery，SenatorToombs，oneofthespokesmenoftheSouth，strikinglyformulatedtheeconomiclawthatcommandstheconstantexpansionoftheterritoryofslavery。\"Infifteenyears，\"saidhe，\"withoutagreatincreaseinslaveterritory，eithertheslavesmustbepermittedtofleefromthewhites，orthewhitesmustfleefromtheslaves。\"
Asisknown，therepresentationoftheindividualstatesintheCongressHouseofRepresentativesdependsonthesizeoftheirrespectivepopulations。
