第4章

类别:其他 作者:John Keegan字数:8210更新时间:18/12/18 09:58:29
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。\"