InEngland，theWar—office，withtheassistanceofafewmoreclerks，easilytobefoundamongtrainedmilitarymen，wouldbeuptothetransactionofalltheadditionallabouranarmyof300，000volunteerswouldentail;
therearehalf—payofficersenoughtotake，saythreeorfourbattalionsofvolunteerseachundertheirspecialinspection，and，withsomeeffort，everybattalionmightbeprovidedwithaline—officerasadjutantandoneascolonel。Cavalry，ofcourse，couldnotbeimprovised;butaresolutereorganisationoftheartilleryvolunteers——withofficersanddriversfromtheRoyalArtillery——wouldhelptomanmanyafield—battery。Thecivilengineersinthecountryonlywaitforanopportunitytoreceivethattraininginthemilitarysideoftheirprofessionwhichwouldatonceturnthemintofirst—rateengineerofficers。Thecommissariatandtransportservicesareorganised，andmaysoonbemadetosupplythewantsof400，000
menquiteaseasilyasthoseof100，000。Nothingwouldbedisorganised，nothingupset;everywheretherewouldbeaidandassistanceforthevolunteers，whowouldnowherehavetogropeinthedark;and——barringsomeofthoseblunderswhichEnglandcannotdowithoutwhenfirstsheplungesintoawar——wecanseenoreasonwhyinsixweekseverythingshouldnotworkprettysmoothly。
Now，looktoAmerica，andthensaywhataregulararmyisworthtoarisingarmyofvolunteers。
TheProgressofFeelingsinEnglandKarlMarxProgressofFeelingsinEnglandLondon，Dec。7，1861
ThefriendsoftheUnitedStatesonthissideoftheAtlanticanxiouslyhopethatconciliatorystepswillbetakenbytheFederalGovernment。TheydosonotfromaconcurrenceinthefranticcrowingoftheBritishpressoverawarincident，which，accordingtotheEnglishCrownlawyersthemselves，resolvesitselfintoamereerrorofprocedure，andmaybesummedupinthewordsthattherehasbeenabreachofinternationallaw，becauseCapt。
Wilkes，insteadoftakingtheTrent，hercargo，herpassengers，andtheCommissioners，didonlytaketheCommissioners。Norspringstheanxietyofthewell—wishersoftheGreatRepublicfromanapprehensionlest，inthelongrun，itshouldnotproveabletocopewithEngland，althoughbackedbythecivilwar;and，leastofall，dotheyexpecttheUnitedStatestoabdicate，evenforamoment，andinadarkhouroftrial，theproudpositionheldbytheminthecouncilofnations。Themotivesthatpromptthemareofquiteadifferentnature。
Inthefirstinstance，thebusinessnextinhandfortheUnitedStatesistocrushtherebellionandtorestoretheUnion。ThewishuppermostinthemindsoftheSlaveocracyandtheirNortherntoolswasalwaystoplungetheUnitedStatesintoawarwithEngland。ThefirststepofEnglandassoonashostilitiesbrokeoutwouldbetorecognisetheSouthernConfederacy，andthesecondtoterminatetheblockade。Secondly，nogeneral，ifnotforced，willacceptbattleatthetimeandundertheconditionschosenbyhisenemy。
"AwarwithAmerica，"saysTheEconomist，apaperdeeplyinPalmerston’sconfidence，"mustalwaysbeoneofthemostlamentableincidentsinthehistoryofEngland;butifitistohappen，thepresentiscertainlytheperiodatwhichitwilldoustheminimumofharm，andtheonlymomentinourjointannalsatwhichitwouldconferonusanincidentalandpartialcompensation。"
TheveryreasonsaccountingfortheeagernessofEnglandtoseizeuponanydecentpretextforwaratthis’onlymoment’oughttowithholdtheUnitedStatesfromforwardingsuchapretextatthis’onlymoment。’Yougonottowarwiththeaimtodoyourenemy’theminimumofharm，’
and，eventoconferuponhimbythewar，’anincidentalandpartialcompensation。’
Theopportunityofthemomentwouldallbeononeside，onthesideofyourfoe。IsthereanygreatstrainofreasoningwantedtoprovethataninternalwarraginginaStateistheleastopportunetimeforenteringuponaforeignwar？AteveryothermomentthemercantileclassesofGreatBritainwouldhavelookeduponawaragainsttheUnitedStateswiththeutmosthorror。Now，onthecontrary，alargeandinfluentialpartyofthemercantilecommunityhasformonthsbeenurgingontheGovernmenttoviolentlybreaktheblockade，andthusprovidethemainbranchofBritishindustrywithitsrawmaterial。ThefearofacurtailmentoftheEnglishexporttradetotheUnitedStateshaslostitsstingbythecurtailmentofthattradehavingalreadyactuallyoccurred。"They"（theNorthernStates），saysTheEconomist，"arewretchedcustomers，insteadofgoodones。"ThevastcreditusuallygivenbyEnglishcommercetotheUnitedStates，principallybytheacceptanceofbillsdrawnfromChinaandIndia，hasbeenalreadyreducedtoscarcelyafifthofwhatitwasin1857。Last，notleast，DecembristFrance，bankrupt，paralyzedathome，besetwithdifficultyabroad，pouncesuponanAnglo—Americanwarasarealgodsend，and，inordertobuyEnglishsupportinEurope，willstrainallherpowertosupport"PerfidiousAlbion"
ontheothersideoftheAtlantic。ReadonlytheFrenchnewspapers。Thepitchofindignationtowhichtheyhavewroughtthemselvesintheirtendercareforthe"honorofEngland，"theirfiercediatribesastothenecessityonthepartofEnglandtorevengetheoutrageontheUnionJack，theirviledenunciationsofeverythingAmerican，wouldbetrulyappalling，iftheywerenotridiculousanddisgustingatthesametime。Lastly，iftheUnitedStatesgivewayinthisinstance，theywillnotderogateoneiotaoftheirdignity。Englandhasreducedhercomplainttoamereerrorofprocedure，atechnicalblunderofwhichshehadmadeherselfsystematicallyguiltyinallhermaritimewars，butagainstwhichtheUnitedStateshaveneverceasedtoprotest，andwhichPresidentMadison，inhismessageinauguratingthewarof1812，expatiateduponasoneofthemostshockingbreachesofinternationallaw。IftheUnitedStatesmaybedefendedinpayingEnglandwithherowncoin，willtheybeaccusedformagnanimouslydisavowing，onthepartofasingleAmericancaptain，actingonhisownresponsibility，whattheyalwaysdenouncedasasystematicusurpationonthepartoftheBritishNavy！
Inpointoffact，thegainofsuchaprocedurewouldbeallontheAmericanside。England，ontheonehand，wouldhaveacknowledgedtherightoftheUnitedStatestocaptureandbringtoadjudicationbeforeanAmericanprizecourteveryEnglishshipemployedintheserviceoftheConfederation。
Ontheotherhand，shewould，onceforall，beforetheeyesofthewholeworld，havepracticallyresignedaclaimwhichshewasnotbroughttodesistfromeitherinthepeaceofGhent，in1814，orthetransactionscarriedonbetweenLordAshburtonandSecretaryWebsterin1842。Thequestionthencomestothis:Doyouprefertoturnthe"untowardevent"toyourownaccount，or，blindedbythepassionsofthemoment，turnittotheaccountofyourfoesathomeandabroad？
Sincethisdayweek，whenIsentyoumylastletter，Britishconsolshaveagainlowered，thedecline，comparedwithlastFriday，amountingto2percent，thepresentpricesbeing893/4to7/8formoneyand90to1/8forthenewaccountonthe9thofJanuary。ThisquotationcorrespondstothequotationoftheBritishconsolsduringthefirsttwoyearsoftheAnglo—Russianwar。ThisdeclineisaltogetherduetothewarlikeinterpretationputupontheAmericanpapersconveyedbythelastmail，totheexacerbatingtoneoftheLondonpress，whosemoderationoftwodays’standingwasbutafeint，orderedbyPalmerston，tothedispatchoftroopsforCanada，totheproclamationforbiddingtheexportofarmsandmaterialsforgunpowder，andlastly，tothedailyostentatiousstatementsconcerningtheformidablepreparationsforwarinthedocksandmaritimearsenals。
Ofonethingyoumaybesure，PalmerstonwantsalegalpretextforawarwiththeUnitedStates，butmeetsintheCabinetcouncilswithamostdeterminateoppositiononthepartofMessrs。GladstoneandMilnerGibson，and，toalessdegree，ofSirCornewallLewis。"Thenobleviscount"isbackedbyRussell，anabjecttoolinhishands，andthewholeWhigCoterie。
IftheWashingtonCabinetshouldfurnishthedesiredpretext，thepresentCabinetwillbesprung，tobesupplantedbyaToryAdministration。ThepreliminarystepsforsuchachangeofsceneryhavebeenalreadysettledbetweenPalmerstonandDisraeli。Hencethefuriouswar—cryofTheMorningHeraldandTheStandard，thosehungrywolveshowlingattheprospectofthelong—missedcrumbsfromthepublicalmoner。
Palmerston’sdesignsmaybeshownupbycallingintomemoryafewfacts。
Itwashewhoinsistedupontheproclamation，acknowledgingtheSecessionistsasbelligerents，onthemorningofthe14thofMay，afterhehadbeeninformedbytelegraphfromLiverpoolthatMr。AdamswouldarriveatLondononthenightofthe13thMay。He，afteraseverestrugglewithhiscolleagues，dispatched3，000mentoCanada，anarmyridiculous，ifintendedtocoverafrontierof1，500miles，butacleversleight—of—handiftherebellionwastobecheered，andtheUniontobeirritated。He，manyweeksago，urgedBonapartetoproposeajointarmedintervention"intheinternecinestruggle，"
supportedthatprojectintheCabinetcouncil，andfailedonlyincarryingitbytheresistanceofhiscolleagues。HeandBonapartethenresortedtotheMexicaninterventionasapisaller。Thatoperationservedtwopurposes，byprovokingjustresentmentonthepartoftheAmericans，andbysimultaneouslyfurnishingapretextforthedispatchofasquadron，ready，asTheMorningPosthasit，"toperformwhateverdutythehostileconductoftheGovernmentofWashingtonmayrequireustoperforminthewatersoftheNorthernAtlantic。"Atthetimewhenthatexpeditionwasstarted，TheMorningPost，togetherwithTheTimesandthesmallerfryofPalmerston’spressslaves，saidthatitwasaveryfinething，andaphilanthropicthingintothebargain，becauseitwouldexposetheslave—holdingConfederationtotwofires——theAnti—SlaveryNorthandtheAnti—SlaveryforceofEnglandandFrance。AndwhatsaystheverysameMorningPost，thiscuriouscompoundofJenkinsandRhodomonte，ofplushandswash，initsto—day’sissue，onoccasionofJeffersonDavis’saddress？HearkentothePalmerstonoracle:
"Wemustlooktothisinterventionasonethatmaybeinoperativeduringaconsiderableperiodoftime;andwhiletheNorthernGovernmentistoodistanttoadmitofitsattitudeenteringmateriallyintothisquestion，theSouthernConfederation，ontheotherhand，stretchesforagreatdistancealongthefrontierofMexico，soastorenderitsfriendlydispositiontotheauthorsoftheinsurrectionofnoslightconsequence。
TheNorthernGovernmenthasinvariablyrailedatourneutrality，buttheSouthernwithstatesmanshipandmoderationhasrecognizedinitallthatwecoulddoforeitherparty;andwhetherwithaviewtoourtransactionsinMexico，ortoourrelationswiththeCabinetatWashington，thefriendlyforbearanceoftheSouthernConfederacyisanimportantpointinourfavor。"
ImayremarkthattheNordofDecember3——aRussianpaper，andconsequentlyapaperinitiatedintoPalmerstonsdesigns——insinuatesthattheMexicanexpeditionwasfromthefirstsetonfoot，notforitsostensiblepurpose，butforawaragainsttheUnitedStates。
Gen。Scott’sletterhadproducedsuchabeneficentreactioninpublicopinion，andevenontheLondonStockExchange，thattheconspiratorsofDowningStreetandtheTuileriesfounditnecessarytoletloosethePatrie，statingwithalltheairsofknowledgederivedfromofficialsourcesthattheseizureoftheSouthernCommissionersfromtheTrentwasdirectlyauthorizedbytheWashingtonCabinet。
TheCrisisOvertheSlaveryIssueKarlMarxTheCrisisOvertheSlaveryIssueLondon，December10，1861
TheUnitedStateshasevidentlyenteredacriticalstagewithregardtotheslaveryquestion，thequestionunderlyingthewholeCivilWar。GeneralFremonthasbeendismissedfordeclaringtheslavesofrebelsfree。AdirectivetoGeneralSherman，thecommanderoftheexpeditiontoSouthCarolina，wasalittlelaterpublishedbytheWashingtonGovernment，whichgoesfurtherthanFremont，foritdecreesthatfugitiveslavesevenofloyalslave—ownersshouldbewelcomedandemployedasworkersandpaidawage，andundercertaincircumstancesarmed，andconsolesthe"loyal"ownerswiththeprospectofreceivingcompensationlater。ColonelCochranehasgoneevenfurtherthanFremont，hedemandsthearmingofallslavesasamilitarymeasure。TheSecretaryofWarCameronpubliclyapprovesofCochrane’s"views"。TheSecretaryoftheInterior，onbehalfofthegovernment，thenrepudiatestheSecretaryofWar。TheSecretaryofWarexpresseshis"views"evenmoreemphaticallyatapublicmeetingstatingthathewillvindicatetheseviewsinhisreporttoCongress。GeneralHalleck，Fremont’ssuccessorinMissouri，andGeneralDixineastVirginiahavedrivenfugitiveNegroesfromtheirmilitarycampsandforbiddenthemtoappearinfutureinthevicinityofthepositionsheldbytheirarmies。
GeneralWoolatthesametimehasreceivedtheblack"contraband"withopenarmsatFortMonroe。TheoldleadersoftheDemocraticParty，SenatorDickinsonandCroswell（aformermemberoftheso—calledDemocraticregency），havepublishedanopenletterinwhichtheyexpresstheiragreementwithCochraneandCameron，andColonelJennisoninKansashassurpassedallhismilitarypredecessorsbyanaddresstohistroopswhichcontainsthefollowingpassage:
Notemporisingwithrebelsandthosesympathisingwiththem。IhavetoldGeneralFremontthatIwouldnothavedrawnmyswordhadIthoughtthatslaverywouldoutlastthisstruggle。Theslavesofrebelswillalwaysfindprotectioninthiscampandwewilldefendthemtothelastmanandthelastbullet。IwantnomenwhoarenotAbolitionists，IhavenouseforthemandIhopethattherearenosuchpeopleamongus，foreveryoneknowsthatslaveryisthebasis，thecentreandthevertexofthisinfernalwar。Shouldthegovernmentdisapproveofmyactionitcantakebackmypatent，butinthatcaseIshallactonmyownhookevenifinthebeginningIcanonlycountonsixmen。
Theslaveryquestionisbeingsolvedinpracticeintheborderslavestatesevennow，especiallyinMissouriandtoalesserextentinKentucky，etc。Alarge—scaledispersalofslavesistakingplace。Forinstance50，000slaveshavedisappearedfromMissouri，someofthemhaverunaway，othershavebeentransportedbytheslave—ownerstothemoredistantsouthernstates。
ItisratherstrangethatamostimportantandsignificanteventisnotmentionedinanyEnglishnewspaper。OnNovember18，delegatesfrom45NorthCarolinacountiesmetonHatterasIsland，appointedaprovisionalgovernment，revokedtheOrdinanceofSecessionandproclaimedthatNorthCarolinawasreturningtotheUnion。ThecountiesofNorthCarolinarepresentedatthisconventionhavebeencalledtogethertoelecttheirRepresentativestoCongressatWashington。
NewsFromAmericaKarlMarxNewsFromAmericaLondon，Dec。13，1861
ThenewsoftheHarveyBirch’sfateandthepresenceofthecruiserNashvilleinSouthamptonharbourreachedNewYorkonNovember29，butdoesnotseemtohavecausedthesensationaleffectonwhichcertaincirclesherecountedjustasmuchasothers，theanti—wargroups，fearedit。Onthisoccasiontheforceofoneshockwavewasbrokenbythatofanother。
ForNewYorkwasjustinthethroesofanelectioncampaign，sincevotingforanewmayorwastotakeplaceonDecember3。Mr。Russell，theenvoyofTheTimesinWashington，whoruinshisCeltictalentbyaffectedEnglishness，pretendssupercilioussurpriseatthispre—electioncommotion。
Mr。RussellofcourseplaysuptotheillusionsoftheLondoncockney，whoimaginesthattheelectionofaNewYorkmayorisjustasmuchadisplayofantiquatedtomfooleryasistheelectionofaLordMayorinLondon。
ItiswellknownthattheLordMayorofLondonisnotconcernedatallwiththegreaterpartofLondon。HeisnominallytheregentoftheCity，amythologicalphenomenonwhichattemptstoprovethatitreallyexistsbyproducinggoodturtlesoupatbanquetsandbadjudgmentsincasesofinfringementofpoliceregulations。OnlyinthefancyofParisianwritersofvaudevillesandofnewsitemsforthepressdoestheLordMayorofLondonstillremainanimportantpoliticalpersonage。TheMayorofNewYorkontheotherhandisarealpower。Atthebeginningofthesecessionmovement，thenotoriousFernandoWood，thepreviousMayor，wasabouttodeclareNewYorkanindependentcityrepublic，ofcourseinagreementwithJeffersonDavis。HisplanwasthwartedbytheenergyoftheRepublicanPartyoftheEmpireCity。
CharlesSumnerfromMassachusetts，amemberoftheSenate——wherehewasattackedbyacane—wieldingSenatorfromtheSouthatthetimeoftheKansasaffair——madeabrilliantspeechontheoriginandhiddenmotivesoftheslave—owners’rebellionatawell—attendedmeetingintheCooperInstituteofNewYorkonNovember27。Afterhisaddressthemeetingpassedthefollowingresolution:
ThedoctrineoftheemancipationoftheslavesofrebelsadvancedbyGeneralFremont，aswellaspronouncementssubsequentlymadebyGeneralBurnside，SenatorWilson，GeorgeBancroft（thefamoushistorian），ColonelCochraneandSimonCameron，whichpointtotheanticipatederadicationofslaveryasthecauseoftherebellion，expressamoral，politicalandmilitarynecessity。ThismeetingconsidersthatpublicopinionintheNorthisnowdefinitelypreparedtosupportanypracticalplanfortheeradicationofslavery——thisnationalmisfortune——thatmightbeproposed，anditregardssucharesultastheonlyconsistentconclusionofthisfightbetweencivilisationandbarbarism。
TheNew—YorkTribunemakesthefollowingremarkaboutSumner’sspeech:
"TheallusionofMr。SumnertothecomingdiscussionsofCongressonthissubject"（slavery），"willkindleahopethatthatbodywillunderstandwhereSouthernweaknessandNorthernstrengthreallylie，andwillseizetheinstrumentalitybywhichtherebellionistobebroughttoaspeedyandfinalextirpation。"
ApersonalletterfromMexicocontainsinteraliathefollowingpassage:
"TheBritishambassadorplaysthepartofanenthusiasticfriendofPresidentJuárez’sAdministration……PeoplewellversedinSpanishintriguesassertthatGeneralMarquezhasbeeninstructedbySpaintorallythescatteredforces，boththeMexicanandtheSpanishelements，oftheChurchparty。Thispartyisthensupposedtouseanopportunity，whichisexpectedtopresentitselfsoon，tobegHerCatholicMajestytoprovideakingforthethroneofMexico。AnuncleoftheQueenissaidtohavebeenchosenforthisoffice。Sincethemanisoldhewouldinthenaturalcourseofeventssoonquitthescene，andasanyclausedesignatingasuccessorwastobeavoided，MexicowouldreverttoSpain。ThusthesamepolicywouldcarrythedayinMexicoasinHaiti。"