“He spoke under the impression that the English
Government was about to permit the Confederate iron-clads
to leave this country, and he interpreted their previous
policy by this supposed breach of neutrality. Every candid
man will make allowance for words spoken under provocation,
and distinguish them from the utterances of settled
malevolence, such as we were accustomed to hear from the
American statesmen now at Richmond, and still hear from
their allies in the Northern States.”
In a second article, the same journal criticized the speech at
length, saying:--
“It is a strange delusion. It makes one wonder whether
it is still possible that a republican legislator, now
blinded by panic and perplexed by jealousy, should even
yet recover his sense and temper, and see the case as
others see it.… Instead of using his influence, as the
friend of many Englishmen, to bring the two peoples to a
clear understanding, and the calm temper which arises out
of it, he has nourished and propagated a delusion, and
has applied all his powers of influence and eloquence to
raise and kindle the passions of his countrymen against a
nation which, if not accustomed to flatter, is capable of
a sound and durable friendship with a people exhibiting
such qualities as the citizens of the Free States are
manifesting now. The American people have nothing to fear
from us, while they treat us justly. We believe that Mr.
Sumner knows this as well as we do, however he may be for
the hour beguiled into passion and error.”