Recognition
The English Government is still waiting for a more "convenient season" for recognition.
There is no Government in the world which observes so great a degree of reticence in its diplomacy as the
British.
Nor is there one in which the people and the
Legislative Department defer more entirely to the Ministry on all questions touching the foreign relations of the
Government.
It is quite sufficient to a member of Parliament who moves a resolution or submits an inquiry to be informed by a member of the
Cabinet that the resolution would embarrass the
Government, or the inquiry could not be answered with a due regard to the public interest, to induce the withdrawal of the resolution and abandonment of the inquiry.
So we see that
Mr. Roebuck--although a somewhat impracticable person, and although he had introduced his resolution very earnestly and ardently — yields as passively as a bee that is sprinkled with water, and is hived along with his resolution by the
Ministry According to Lord Palmerston, "Her Majesty's Government do not see that the opportunity has arisen" "for advising the re-establishment of peace in
America !"
The discussion of this subject is with the
Foreign Powers, the
Confederates are not pressing it. It might have died months ago for us. We may look on and or criticise what falls from
Ministers of State about us with no small amount of composure, since we ask nothing and expect very little if anything.
We know who our fast friend is in the
European diplomacy.
That man is
Louis Napoleon.
He is as much the friend of justice, however, as he is of us, in this matter.
It is not probable that his inclination or his interests will permit of long delay in recognizing the Southern Confederacy.
England we should think would be forced to concur, but this may be a mistaken idea.
She may not be satisfied with the amount of blood that has been shed — she may not think the heroism and constancy displayed by our people entitle us to her recognition.
But whatever she thinks the course of events cannot be stayed.
As a nation has been made against her whole military power, one may at least be made without her recognition !
