As soon as the blockade was established, the British and French governments gave the Confederates the same rights in their ports as the United States had. 在封锁建立之时，英国政府和法国政府就像对待美国一样向南方联盟开放其港口。

The Southerners then sent two agents, Mason and Slidell, to Europe to ask the foreign governments to recognize the independence of the Confederate states. 南方联盟随之派梅森和斯利德为代表到欧洲要求外国政府承认南方联盟各州的独立。

Captain Wilkes of the United States ship San Jacinto took these agents from the British steamer Trent. 美国圣"雅辛托"号船长维尔克斯将这两个人从英国特伦特号汽船上带走。

But Lincoln at once said that Wilkes had done to the British the very thing which we had fought the War of 1812 to prevent the British doing to us. 但是，林肯立刻说维尔克斯对英国人做出了一件大不敬的事，这件事一如1812年美国发动战争阻止英国人对美国所做的事。

"We must stick to American principles," said the President, "and restore the prisoners." "我们必须恪守美国的原则"，总统说，"释放被关押的人。

They were given up. But the British government, without waiting to see what Lincoln would do, had gone actively to work to prepare for war. "梅森和斯利德被释放，但英国人积极投入战备，根本不管林肯要做出什么反应。

This seemed so little friendly that the people of the United States were greatly irritated. 这看起来极不友好，美国人民被深深激怒了。

406. Lincoln and Slavery. 406．林肯与奴隶制

It will be remembered that the Republican party had denied again and again that it had any intention to interfere with slavery in the states. 应当记住，共和党人不止一次地否认他们有意干涉各州的奴隶制，

As long as peace lasted the Federal government could not interfere with slavery in the states. 随着和平的延伸，联邦政府不可以干涉各个州的奴隶制。

But when war broke out, the President, as commander-in-chief, could do anything to distress and weaken the enemy. 但是，当战争爆发时，作为总司令的总统可以做任何事来让敌方遭受痛苦，削弱他们的战斗力。

If freeing the slaves in the seceded states would injure the secessionists, he had a perfect right to do it. 如果解放已经脱离联邦各州的奴隶能损伤那些脱离联邦的人，总统完全有权力解放奴隶。

But Lincoln knew that public opinion in the North would not approve this action. 但是，林肯知道北方的公共舆论会反对这个行动，

He would follow Northern sentiment in this matter, and not force it. 这件事要考虑北方人的情绪，而不可强制实施。