The Daily Dispatch: February 6, 1865., [Electronic resource]

The comments of the London Times, published in a late issue of this journal, on the suggestion, which has been thrown out in some of the public prints, that European recognition might be obtained by the sacrifice of slavery, have at least the merit of great plainness of speech. The journals which advocated that curious project can be at no difficulty in understanding the Times. It is a great thing to be relieved from suspense and doubt by a prompt, sledge-hammer blow, that puts you at once out of your pain. We scarcely wonder that the Times says we "must dream dreams and see visions" in the Southern Confederacy to entertain some of those eccentric notions with which we occasionally startle the world.

The Times can see the point of employing negro soldiers; but upon the scheme of emancipation to obtain foreign recognition it puts down its foot promptly and flatly. "Every State of Europe," says the Times, "acknowledged the Republic when it was governed by a Constitution permitting slavery as fully as the Southern States permit it now.--Why should its abandonment by the Confederacy buy a recognition that is withheld for many other reasons?" Precisely! What could be more sensible? Nay, the Times goes further; and, as if to put us out of our misery in case we entertain any eccentric notion of a European protectorate, says that England will certainly decline it, and it knows no other European Power which would accept the offer. It is the case of the Netherlands over again — no one would receive us as a gift. We may, therefore, save ourselves the trouble of abolishing slavery. The best authority now assures us that slavery is not the reason we do not obtain European recognition.

The truth is, neither Europe nor the United States desire the abolition of slavery. It is indispensable to the commerce of the world. It is valuable, besides to Europe in drawing off the attention of its own pauper population from the contemplation of their domestic grievances. The imaginary horrors of African slavery kept constantly before the eyes of teeming and discontented multitudes of the Old World prevent them from brooding too intensely over their own grievances, and make their own condition appear comparatively comfortable. In the meantime, slave-grown products are a necessary evil ! Europe knows well enough that the cotton of the Gulf States is the best that the world can produce, or it would long ago have obtained its cotton elsewhere. We could much sooner obtain European recognition by threatening than promising to abolish African slavery. They would sooner interfere to prevent emancipation than to secure it.

We are glad that the Times has not only put an extinguisher upon the project of abolition, but has given us to understand that the interests of Europe would not permit any European State to accept the Southern Confederacy even if we should tender them the gift. It is true, no rational being in the country has seriously entertained any such suggestion; but, after such mad projects as have been broached, there is no knowing what moonshine dreams may next flit across the human brain. Let us understand them once for all, that we must either belong to ourselves or to the United States.